User:Grantfergusson

After leaving school Grant went straight to work for Harrods of London where he began his retail career. He worked his way up from Management Trainee to Department Manager.

When he returned to his native Scotland, settling in Dumfries and Galloway, he carried on his managment career working for Training Company supporting the Government New Deal programme. Whilst working for this company he was head-hunted by Tesco where he went to work as a Training Manager. Three months later he became a qualified Personnel Manager working across his local region and throughout the central belt.

Always keen to better himself Grant then decided to go to University, attending the University of the West of Scotland at the Crichton Campus in Dumfries reading Business and Entrepreneurship. He was joined in this by his wife Ffyona, reading Business and Marketing. During this time Grant and Ffyona were entered into a national business plan competition run by the Scottish Institute for Enterprise where they were delighted to win first place from an entry of approximately 2000.

This big win led to a high level of media coverage and culminated in a programme by Channel 4. With this level of interest Grant and Ffyona felt they had to start the business that had been at the centre of the business plan and so Galloway Falconry was born. The company is now in its fifth year and going from strength to strength with a team of seven (www.gallowayfalconry.co.uk).

Both Grant and Ffyona now work with the University and other establishments on Entrepreneurial and Business matters, specialising in rural enterprise and often being asked to speak at business events across Scotland and mentoring current students.

Grant is now formalising his political aspirations. He is actively working with Conservative Parliamentary Candidate Peter Duncan, former MP for Galloway, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland and Chairman of the Scottish Conservative Party. Grant has also enjoyed working with several members of the Shadow Cabinet on Peter's campaign. He has also recently attended the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester where he was able to make a significant number of contacts.

Locally, Grant is Chairman of the Glenkens branch of the Dumfries and Galloway Scottish Conservative Association. This has only recently been re-established and the committee will be working hard over the coming campaigns.

After attending a recent Candidate Selection Board Grant has now been accepted as an Approved Candidate for the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and is now awaiting selection for a seat.