A removal and storage company founded by a former Scotland rugby player has hailed the acquisition of a historic transport firm.

The six-figure deal marks the second such agreement in less than a year for the player who set up the business after “injuries killed off his professional dream at 23”.

Sterling Sinclair Removals Group (SSR) said it has added to its growing portfolio with the acquisition of Tillicoultry firm Glen Transport.

As part of the agreement, SSR, which is headquartered in Stirling, has taken on Glen Transport’s staff, client base and indoor storage facility comprising 260 indoor crates, each measuring 250 cubic feet.

Staffing levels now sit at 30, with a fleet of 22 vehicles.

“When this opportunity arose, it was too good to ignore,” said Neil Adam Sinclair, SSR managing director.

“Glen Transport is one of the most well-established businesses in Clackmannanshire and I am delighted to have completed the acquisition as it now gives us a strong presence in Clackmannanshire as well as Falkirk, Stirling, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

“It is a strong addition to the group. We have ambitious growth plans and are now one of the top five biggest storage and removal companies in Scotland which is very exciting.”

SSR was set up by the former Scotland Rugby U20 player “when injuries killed off his professional dream at 23”.

Since turning his back on the professional sport to set up the firm in 2016, Mr Sinclair, who also played for London Irish, Albi, Rotherham and USA Perpignan, has "thrived as a businessman".

SSR’s growth over the past few years has been underpinned by acquisitions, Larbert Carriers in Falkirk the first one in August 2019. Letford Removals was next two years later, followed by Britannia Edinburgh 10 months ago.

A member of the British Association of Movers, SSR operates UK-wide as well as internationally for both residential and commercial contracts and can include Sir Andy Murray’s luxury Cromlix Hotel among a growing high-profile client base.

“It’s been a busy year and it’s pleasing to see the business continue to grow and evolve,” added Mr Sinclair, who said he also runs Edinburgh and Stirling’s largest container self-storage facilities - a 1.4-acre site located less than a mile from Haymarket in the Capital and a two-acre space in the shadow of Stirling Castle.

“Looking back, it’s amazing how you can grow from one man and a van eight years ago with a dream on a piece of paper to where Sterling Sinclair Removals sits now with luxury hospitality clients and worldwide removals. We have a strong reputation in the sector and want to continue to build on that.”

Glen Transport’s website said it has been trading since 1975 “in local, national, and international moves”.

Airline launches new flight service from Glasgow to historic Irish city

 

A new service between Glasgow and Ireland’s second biggest city has been launched by Aer Lingus with four flights per week.

Cork, on the south coast of Ireland, is the third biggest on the island of Ireland behind Dublin and Belfast and people will now be able to visit it with Irish airline Aer Lingus launching their new flight between Glasgow Airport and the city. Emerald Airlines, the operator of Aer Lingus Regional, will run the flights which will start in October and offer visitors to Ireland a new area to visit outside the capital.

Pressure mounts on First Minister to save jobs of disabled workers

 

Scotland’s First Minister is facing mounting political pressure to save the jobs of dozens of disabled workers at a factory set to lose out on Scottish Government contracts.

Staff at Haven Products in Larbert are facing an uncertain future after they were told their jobs could be at risk when the company’s long-standing contracts to make NHS nurses' uniforms and digitally archive Scottish Government documents end this year.

The factory in Stirlingshire employs 60 people, 47 of which are registered disabled with conditions such as autism and Asperger's Syndrome.