Blairgowrie butcher forced to close, Dundonian teenager’s Spanish business and Fife vet owner counting cost of building firm’s collapse

Welcome to Business Matters, The Courier’s weekly business newsletter. Here you’ll find all the latest business news and insights from Dundee, Angus, Fife and Perthshire.?

This week, we explain why a Blairgowrie butcher is shutting up shop, a Dundonian teenage tycoon’s second Spanish business and how the collapse of a Perthshire firm meant a Fife vet hospital went more than ￡1m over budget.

Blairgowrie butcher to permanently close after car ploughed into shop

A Blairgowrie butcher has been forced to close her business permanently after a car smashed through its window.

Wendy Donald took on the former Ewarts of Blairgowrie in the summer of 2023 and had built up a popular reputation.

However, everything changed in October 2024 when a Ford car careened into the front of the premises - leaving her with the difficult decision to liquidate the business.

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Dundonian teenage tycoon acquires second Spanish business

It’s not every day you hear of a Dundee teenager who runs his own hospitality business, let alone two in Spain.

Well, 17-year-old Mitchell Carling is doing just that after acquiring a new venue next to his original purchase - a Rangers FC supporters bar when he was just 16.

Mitchell Carling bought a Rangers FC supporters bar in Benalmadena in the Costa Del Sol last March, despite not being old enough to drink.

He has revealed his plans to keep growing his business empire.

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Multi-million-pound Fife vet hospital opens after months of delays

A Fife vet hospital costing millions of pounds has opened after months of delays caused by the collapse of Perthshire firm Hadden Construction.

Purpose-built Ferguson Veterinary Clinic in Glenrothes was due to be completed in October last year.

However, the demise of Aberuthven’s Hadden Construction in September meant it had to find a new contractor to finish the job.

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Dundee law firm’s new leader started as trainee 16 years ago

A Dundee employment lawyer who relishes “David and Goliath” cases has become the new senior managing partner at top city law firm MML.

Ryan Russell joined the company as a young trainee 16 years ago.

The news follows the retirement of founding partner John Muir, who announced he was stepping down earlier this year.

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Dundee businessman on growing family lift business Caltech to new heights

And finally, Dundee businessman Andrew Renwick has been chasing leads for his family firm from the age of nine.

While most children his age were delivering papers, Andrew would be stamping suppliers’ invoices, sorting cheques and writing customer addresses.

Three decades later and the 42-year-old is now managing director of Caltech Lifts.

Started by his father Howard in 1978, Andrew has grown the company to be one of the largest of its kind in Scotland.

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