Retired international rugby player, Gavin Kerr, has left the scrum behind to take up a new position at one of Scotland’s leading independent property consultants CKD Galbraith.

The 36-year-old former pro is enjoying his new role as Building Surveyor in the firm’s Edinburgh office.

Gavin was capped 50 times for Scotland before retiring from a neck injury in 2010. During the latter stages of his career he studied a four-year degree through the College of Estate Management.

In his new role, Gavin provides the full range of professional Building Surveying advice, including refurbishment projects across residential and rural properties.

He recently passed his APC (Assessment of Professional Competence) – at the first attempt – and is now a qualified Chartered Surveyor and a member of RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).

Gavin previously worked with Savills in Edinburgh having moved from Jones Lang LaSalle in Manchester back to his home in Melrose in the Borders.

Martin Cassels, Partner of CKD Galbraith’s Building Surveying division said: “With his background in commercial buildings of all types, both at Jones Lang LaSalle and Savills, and being from the Borders, Gavin is ideally placed to build on the knowledge and experience and will fit in well to our team. His rugby background also shows that he is a great team player and a valuable asset to our company.”

Gavin Kerr explained: “I bought and sold houses while playing rugby and have always had an interest in that side of things. I even bought my current house in Melrose through CKD Galbraith. Throughout my career I’ve been lucky enough to follow both of my passions – rugby and commercial property.

“I love surveying as it’s not an office bound job. I get to meet people and be out and about on site. As well as the building surveying and refurbishment projects I’m involved with I’ll be looking to expand upon my interest in the rural sector – especially as I was brought up in the countryside.

“As a team player I’m thrilled to be working for a company with such a strong network of people to support me as I gain more experience.”

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Notes to Editor:

Gavin stared at CKD Galbraith at the end of April and passed his APC in May 2013. Before starting rugby at the age of 22, Gavin Kerr was a mechanical engineer. As a professional rugby player, he played for Leeds, Border Reivers, Edinburgh and Sale Sharks. He was brought up in Berwick upon Tweed.

Issued by JK Consultancy on behalf of CKD Galbraith. For further information please contact: Jenny Kumar on 07989 5571989 or email jenny@jkconsultancy.com

CKD Galbraith – www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy specialising in serving the needs of clients. It employs over 200 people in offices in Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles.

The firm provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential, rural and renewable energy sectors throughout Scotland. The company enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson.

CKD Galbraith’s commercial arm delivers partner-led commercial property intelligence across a range of services, including property and asset management, professional services, investment consultancy, sales, lettings and acquisitions, project co-ordination, facilities management and building surveying.

United Auctions’ (UA’s) May Multi-breed Show and Sale returns this year with a strong line-up of 212 pedigree bulls and females.

The annual event takes place on Monday 6^th May 2013 at the Stirling Agricultural Centre, the HQ of Scotland’s leading livestock auctioneers.

And its compact format, in which pedigree cattle are shown and sold in one day, has real appeal to customers at this busy time of year.

It is run in conjunction with a commercial beef breeding sale, which includes 500 store cattle and a show and sale of Simmental cross females.

The pedigree show will be judged by three young judges from the next generation of pedigree cattle breeders.

While Stuart Barclay from Aberdeen, John Barlow from Leyland and Michael Norman from Carlisle have experience at summer shows, this will be their first appearance at an official Bull Sale.

For the second year running, the event has been selected to stage a sale of Longhorns, one of the UK’s most ancient breeds.

It also welcomes a new sponsor – Hendricks Insurance, who relocated its headquarters to the Centre in January this year. The company, which specialises in farming and estate policies, will have a presence on the day with director Ritchie Sherret presenting a prize at the show.

David Leggat, Executive Chairman of UA, said: “It’s a real pleasure to see the younger generation of judges making their mark at an official bull sale and we’re delighted to host the Longhorns’ sale for the second, consecutive year.

“The compact structure of the event with the accompanying commercial sale makes for a busy day with something for everyone.”

The Charolais, Simmental, Limousin, Aberdeen Angus, Beef Shorthorn and Longhorn breeds are all sold under the auspices of their respective breed societies.

Full catalogue details for the Sales are available on the pedigree page of UA’s website along with access to the sale ring’s live webcam. And UA’s Facebook page will share as-it-happens news and updates. Opportunities for photographs are available from Sunday 5th May.

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Issued on behalf of United Auctions by JK Consultancy. For further information please contact: Jenny Kumar on 07989 557198 or email jenny@jkconsultancy.com

NOTES TO EDITOR

Judges

Charolais – Stuart Barclay, South Road, INSCH AB52 6XF

Simmental – John Barlow, Four Oaks, Ulnes, Walton Lane, LEYLAND PR26 8LT

Limousin – Michael Norman, Little Orton Farm, Little Orton, CARLISLE CA5 6EP

Aberdeen Angus – Stuart Barclay, South Road, INSCH AB52 6XF

Show and sale programme

Sunday 5 May
12 noon	Charolais inspection
1 pm	Simmental inspection
2 pm	Limousin inspection
3 pm	Aberdeen Angus inspection
3.30 pm	Beef Shorthorn inspection
Monday 6 May
8 am	Show of Charolais bulls followed by Simmental bulls, Limousin bulls & Aberdeen Angus bulls
11.30 am	Sale of Longhorn bull (1) & females (7) followed by Salers bulls (5), British Blue bull (1)
	Collection of leather halter & neck straps
12 noon	Sale of Charolais bulls (47) followed by Simmental bulls (50) & female (1), Limousin bulls (60), Aberdeen Angus bulls (31) and Beef Shorthorn bulls (5)

About United Auctions – www.uagroup.co.uk

United Auctions (UA) are Scotland’s leading livestock auctioneers and procurement specialists and operate a network of different auction markets across Scotland, including Stirling, Huntly, Lairg, Dalmally, Tiree, Islay, South Uist and an area office and lairage facility at Oban. The company conducts auctions of both commercial and pedigree livestock, including the world-famous Stirling Bull Sales (previously known as the Perth Bull Sales) and provides farm-to-farm and farm-to-abattoir procurement services.

SDF Past President and founder of Dumbreck Decorators, Brendan Keenan has joined the Skills Advisory Group (formerly Construction Skills Group) as an employers’ representative.

His first outing as an SDF representation took place at a recent meeting held in the CITB-ConstructionSkills offices in Inchinnan, Glasgow.

SDF Chief Executive Ian Rogers was also in attendance and, until Brendan’s appointment, had been the sole representative for a considerable period.

The Group discusses key issues facing the industry and is updated by CITB-ConstructionSkills on new entrant recruitment, training plans and training groups.

Members include Scottish Building Federation (SBF), Federation of Master Builders (FMB), Civil Engineering Contractors’ Association (CECA) as well as representatives from various sectors within ConstructionSkills.

The chair of the Group is Ed Monaghan who is Chief Executive of Mactaggart & Mickel Homes and Chair of the Skills and Training Group at Homes for Scotland.

Brendan Keenan said: “I’m really looking forward to working with Ian in maintaining the high profile of the SDF in this Group, which is expertly chaired by Ed, a Painter & Decorator to trade. It’s great to see someone from the same background as most of our members achieving such a high and well-deserved profile.”

Members of the SDF’s National Council met with the Chief Executive of CITB-ConstructionSkills yesterday (Thursday, March 14^th) to discuss SCORE (Scottish Construction Operatives Registration Scheme) and other key Federation and industry issues.

The meeting with Mark Farrar (pictured) took place prior to the National Council meeting held at the Scottish Decorators’ Federation’s headquarters in Stirling.

Accompanied by Scottish-based colleague Phil Ford, Skills Strategy Manager at CSkills, Mr Farrar saw a vigorous two-hour discussion with Council members where agreement was reached on a way forward with SCORE.

Ian Rogers, Chief Executive of the SDF, said: “It was good to host this important meeting with Mark at the Federation’s HQ where he was fully appraised of a range of SDF-related issues by the National Council members.

“We thank Mark for his time and await an update on the actions he has agreed to undertake by the end of the month.”

The Scottish Decorators’ Federation (SDF) met with Bruce Crawford MSP for Stirling yesterday (Monday, March 4^th) at the SDF’s offices at Castlecraig Business Park.

Ian Rogers, in his capacity as Chief Executive of SCORE (Scottish Construction Operatives Registration Executive), fully briefed the SNP MSP on the organisation and made representations to Mr Crawford regarding SCORE being recognised as an equivalent certification scheme alongside CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme).

The discussion with Mr Crawford follows the SDF’s meeting with Danny Alexander MP last month regarding a number of industry issues, including SCORE.

Ian Rogers said: “We’re pleased to have the support of our constituency MSP on the issues that affect our members in Scotland and would like to thank Bruce for his valuable time and assistance in these matters.”

Further meetings with politicians are planned.