Airlink Group

Airlink Group is one of the fastest growing private groups in Scotland, with operations in car parking, property development, document storage and venture capital.

Chairman John McGlynn started the Paisley-based company as a hobby while studying accountancy and law at university and, since opening his first car park near Glasgow Airport in 1994, has seen the business double in size almost annually to become Scotland's largest independent car parking group.

Airlink is now valued around £52m and has international offices in Tallinn, Estonia and New Delhi in India, with a future base planned for China.

The company employs around a dozen workers from the Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – in document management roles, office administration and Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) drivers.

"There's a shortage of PCV drivers in Scotland, so recruiting from the Baltic States has helped us grow quicker," McGlynn explains. "If we can get people that are qualified, it's good for the business now, but it also helps us look at potential European opportunities for the future."

"Our bottom line improves year on year, but the real value will be added when we identify those who can be the leaders of projects in their home countries. If the time comes that they want to go back home, this will add real significant value for us, because getting the right people is always the biggest challenge in doing business abroad."

McGlynn said recruiting from overseas had introduced a range of new experiences to the business and had helped Airlink evolve from a 'this is how we always do things' attitude to become more open-minded about new ideas and approaches.

"I would strongly advise all companies to really embrace the Fresh Talent initiative," he added. "To get more new people in your business from different countries and backgrounds can only be a good thing. I was recently in Poland and so impressed with  two reception staff at the Hotel I was staying in, I offerred both of them jobs.We look forward to them joining us this Summer.Sometimes fresh eyes can give a whole new series of solutions to what might be old problems. If anyone is looking to expand overseas this is by far the best starting point."

More information

• www.airlinkgroup.com