SP Energy took a trip to First Bus Caledonia Depot to see the impact of Glasgow’s first electric buses, which they funded through their Green Economy Fund in 2020.

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The electric buses have been fully funded as part of the £20million Green Economy Fund to support Glasgow’s mission to become the UK’s first net zero emissions city by 2030, while boosting the local economic growth and improving air quality.  The award allowed for the purchase and operation of the first single decker electric buses in Glasgow whilst also future proofing First Bus depot with electric bus chargers to allow more electric buses to be introduced into Glasgow’s transport network in the future.

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First Bus was the city’s first commercial bus operator to introduce fully electric vehicles with routes across the city. Since the launch, the buses have been driving cleaner air for the city by saving 2kg of CO2 per customer journey.

Duncan Cameron, Managing Director of First Bus Scotland, said: “Introducing Glasgow’s first electric buses was a historic moment for the city on its journey to reducing carbon emissions. SP Energy Networks’ funding has enabled us to deliver a successful trial of electric buses. Learnings from this project have played a pivotal role in accelerating our decarbonisation journey and helping us improve air quality across Glasgow as we continue towards our target of a fully zero-emission fleet by 2035.”

To find out more about the Green Economy Fund, click here. (opens in a new window)

Aerospace engineering company Leonardo has won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category, for technology that aircrew and soldiers have said makes them feel safer when they have to fly into danger zones.

Leonardo is one of 226 organisations across the country to be recognised with a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise. The Innovation Award category acknowledges the ingenuity of Leonardo’s infrared countermeasure (IRCM) technology, which protects aircraft against heat-seeking missiles.

Typically, such missiles are deflected when an aircraft ejects pyrotechnic flares, however because they have a limited supply of such devices, it makes them vulnerable to attack once expended. The company’s latest IRCM developments include a product called Miysis that deflects missiles by ‘dazzling’ the threat’s infrared (IR) guidance system with a powerful laser, throwing it off course. This enables fast reaction times to deflect multiple incoming missiles simultaneously, overcoming the limitations of current flare technologies, allowing safe aircraft operations over conflict areas, or indeed wherever the enemy might try to employ these small highly-portable missiles.

First-hand feedback from both soldiers flying as passengers and aircrew operating the aircraft has confirmed that they don’t want to fly without the protection afforded by the system, because of its ability to deflect multiple missiles coming towards an aircraft from different directions.

Leonardo Project Engineering Manager Murray MacKenzie said: “An end user comment that sticks with me is that the pilots won’t fly without it, and will ask if it is on board before flying on a mission. I was present at a briefing by a senior member of the military who said it is one of the few bits of technology that is not only revered by service people, but also their families, as it helps to bring their partners, parents, sons and daughters home alive and safe.”

The Leonardo business in Edinburgh previously won Queen’s Awards for Enterprise for Innovation in 2011 and International Trade in 2010. Leonardo employs over 2,000 highly skilled people at its Edinburgh site and over 7,500 across the UK. Engineers who have heard the soldiers’ and aircrew’s testimonials have felt great pride that the work they carry out on a daily basis at the company’s site in Edinburgh has helped users feel they are more protected. Amongst them are David Gourlay and Alastair McFarland.

Dave Gourlay, Leonardo’s Edinburgh-based Head of Campaigns, clearly remembers being a passenger in a flight departing Kandahar at night with all the external and internal aircraft lights turned off.

Dave said: “It was pitch-black as you would expect and I remember looking at the engine exhausts as they glowed red hot on full take-off power – thinking they were a potential target for any heat-seeking missile. Then I remembered being thankful knowing our technology was on board protecting us. It is a discreet capability that is rarely in the limelight. A bit like a goalkeeper with such a giant reach that the opposition can never score a goal…. that’s the sort of goalkeeper we create at Edinburgh.”

Alastair McFarland, Head of Strategic Initiatives at Leonardo said: “Under that small sapphire dome is an incredibly accurate, powerful laser. The team in Edinburgh is immensely proud of our technology and the trust placed in their engineering by aircrew around the world.”

Whilst the technology was previously available for large aircraft, the company has packaged advanced electro-optical and laser technology into a compact design. This means that it can be carried on smaller aircraft, such as light battlefield helicopters or larger aircraft where space is a premium, protecting aircrew on all platforms.

Leonardo in Edinburgh first emerged when it was transformed from a green field to a factory in just 18 weeks in 1943, in response to an urgent requirement for the production of gyro gun sights for the RAF’s Spitfire in the Second World War. This acted as a springboard for the creation of new electronics, some of which had never been seen before, including airborne radar, lasers and self-protection systems.

The Queen’s Award is now in its 56th year, and is regarded as amongst the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning businesses able to use the Queen’s Awards Emblem for the next five years. Applications for Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2023 open on the 1st May 2022. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise

Soaring inflation in the UK construction sector exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine means that businesses should focus on securing a resilient supply chain and getting the basics right to guard against further shocks, according to Turner & Townsend.

The global professional services business’ latest UK Market Intelligence Report (UKMI) shows significant upward revisions to its quarterly forecasts – particularly the inflationary predictions for 2022.  This is driven by rapidly rising energy costs as the impact of the war in Ukraine resonates through global supply chains.

Turner & Townsend’s central forecasts for tender price rises in 2022 now sit at 8.5 percent for real estate and 6.0 percent for infrastructure, much higher than that of the Winter 2021/22 predictions of 4.5 and 4.0 percent for the same period.

The Ukraine conflict has had a significant near-term impact on inflation, but these exceptional conditions come on top of layers of issues including pandemic and Brexit disruption. Despite relatively little direct reliance on oil and gas imports from Russia, the nature of the global market means that elevated energy prices are at the heart of the latest spike, with monthly indices for crude oil, diesel and premium unleaded increasing by 99.4, 33.8 and 30.5 percent month on year in March alone.  This has impacted logistics costs as well as materials with energy-intensive manufacture processes such as brick, cement and steel.

Turner & Townsend’s analysis points to a sustained impact from these multiple factors through 2022 but indicates a settling of conditions thereafter, with long-term tender price forecasts for 2025 at 4.0 percent for real estate and 5.0 percent for infrastructure.

The new UKMI report argues that businesses must keep ‘cool heads’ in the face of these pressures, calling for pragmatic, flexible procurement and greater collaboration with the supply chain.  It underscores the importance of getting the basics right – with clear planning that factors in time for early engagement with suppliers, better understanding and apportioning risk and maximising value over hitting target costs.

Turner & Townsend also warns that the major risk to the industry as a whole is that inflation distracts from the vital work being done by businesses to achieve and target wider goals such as Net Zero, driving productivity gains or embedding social value into their operations.

If tender prices continue to rise rapidly, Turner & Townsend warns that there could come a tipping point at which early-stage projects are put on ice and clients postpone their capital investment decisions in larger numbers than they are presently doing. Pointing to how the industry has navigated the disruption of the past few years, the report makes the case for immediate cost pressures to be considered as part of a programmatic approach to capital investment that targets these systemic challenges.

Andrew Outram, director and head of real estate, Scotland, at Turner & Townsend, said:

“This year started with a lot of promise for the Scottish industry, with COVID-19 numbers predicted to continue to fall due to the vaccine roll out, industry orders were looking likely to return to pre-pandemic levels. Whilst both these points have more or less come true; the increase in cost of living, caused mainly by the energy crisis and events in Europe, has affected building material manufacture prices and has created new pressure to contend with. A little-known fact in Scotland is that many operatives (skilled and unskilled) have been lost to the industry in the last two years and we have not yet seen the effect of this shortage on labour prices.

“This volatile situation could continue until at least the end of the year but the construction sector has shown considerable resilience when faced with other crises in recent years. To navigate this period, we need to be very alive to these industry changes and pressures and make sure clients are informed and up to date at all times regarding the impact this may have on their projects and programmes in the changing situation. More than ever, clients need confidence and need to be provided with relevant information in order for them to be able to use their best judgement around costs and programme to achieve project goals and objectives.”

The firm confirms the appointment of thirteen new directors across key areas, including Construction, Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Financial Regulation, Planning, Projects, Real Estate, and Tax

Burges Salmon has announced the appointment of 13 new directors, with effect from 1 May 2022.

These promotions reflect Burges Salmon’s ambitious strategy for growth across a number of key areas and specialisms including Construction & Engineering, Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Planning & Compulsory Purchase, Projects, Real Estate, and Tax, Trusts, and Family.

This large round of director appointments reinforces the firm’s continued focus on delivering an exceptional service to its clients, and each new director will add considerably to the success of the firm moving forward. The new directors are:

Ellen Williams (Construction & Engineering)

Lauren Luscombe (Construction & Engineering)

Julie Book (Corporate)

Anna Davis (Corporate – Funds and Financial Regulation)

Caroline Brown (Dispute Resolution)

Lucy Redman (Dispute Resolution)

Jamie Cameron (Employment)

Sarah Sutherland (Planning & Compulsory Purchase)

Lucy Owens (Projects)

Paul Clark (Real Estate)

Will Hall (Real Estate)

Hannah Petherick (Tax, Trusts, and Family)

Tim Williams (Tax, Trusts, and Family)

Burges Salmon’s Managing Partner, Roger Bull, says: “It is gratifying to be able to announce these director appointments at the firm. Combined with the 10 new internal partner promotions this year, these appointments very much emphasise our ambitious growth plans as a business. Each new director is an exceptionally talented lawyer within their field, and will have a significant role to play in fulfilling our vision of being the market-leading independent UK law firm.”

 

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has appointed Lieutenant General (Retired) Giles Hill CB CBE to its Board of Directors.

Giles replaces Robin Brims as Chair of the Military Committee and brings with him over 35 years’ of leadership and operational experience in the British Army.

Having recently retired in December 2021, his last appointment was Deputy NATO Coalition Commander in Afghanistan.

Prior to that he was Assistant Chief of Defence Staff in the Ministry of Defence. He has led organisations – both national and international – in every military operation the UK has participated in since 1990.

In 2014, he was awarded a CBE and was made a Companion of the Order of Bath (CB) in 2020. He has also been awarded the United States Legion of Merit for his operational leadership.

He joins the Tattoo as it prepares to return this summer with its ‘Voices’ Show, which will represent the collective power and connection of voice through a spectacular combination of music, dance and military precision from some of the world’s leading armed forces and cultural performers.

Giles said: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining the Tattoo team at such an exciting juncture in its long and proud history. I very much look forward to working with the Board and the great team to build on this legacy.

“I am also pleased to be able to work with a team that supports our Military Charities and other great charitable causes.”

Buster Howes, Chief Executive at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “As we embark on a new era for the Tattoo, our military roots will always remain.

“Giles has a wealth of very recent international military experience and an extensive network, which will be invaluable to the Board and Senior Management Team as we seek to evolve the Show creatively, commercially, and as a charity.

“I look forward to working closely with Giles, and the rest of the Board, to continue our connection with audiences, performers, military and stakeholders across the globe.”

For more information about The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo visit https://www.edintattoo.co.uk/

Show stopping traditional dance and music show will attract more than 60,000 visitors 

A dance and music extravaganza which encapsulates the best of Scottish culture is expected to attract more than 60,000 visitors at its new Edinburgh home.

The Spirit of Scotland, featuring traditional dance, song, storytelling and music, has proved a huge hit with tourists and is forecast to grow its popularity further when it opens in April at the prestigious Surgeons Quarter.

Running all year round, the sell-out programme which includes a four-course dinner, attracts more than 300 customers to each of its seven evening shows and adds to Surgeons Quarter’s growing reputation as one of the Capital’s premier hospitality venues.

Featuring up to 12 performers each show, including children and adult dancers, the packed itinerary celebrates Highland dancing, sword dancing, bagpipe and accordion performances, and includes a balladeer.

Resident bagpiper is Pipe Major Andy Coulter, who during his military career took part in the Trooping of the Colour and Beating Retreat on Horse Guards Parade and has played for Her Majesty The Queen and Heads of State on many occasions, while professional toastmaster Philip Henderson will have guests raising a glass as he swaps salutations for guitar and vocals.

Bruce Davies, who performed for many years at Edinburgh’s long gone traditional music and dance mecca Jamie’s, is the host with the most, while accomplished accordion player David Vernon, who has performed the world over and played for former Polish President Lech Kaczyński, squeezes out the best of traditional folk music tunes.

The Spirit of Scotland is extremely popular with North American and Australian tourists but also is a great favourite with domestic visitors to Edinburgh and non-English speakers.

John Keenan, Managing Director of Spirit of Scotland, said: “Location is key to a show like ours and we are delighted to be hosting the very best of traditional Scottish song and dance at this stunning venue in the centre of Edinburgh.

“Bringing together a rip-roaring selection of Scotland’s cultural heritage under the roof of the outstanding Surgeons Quarter is a winning formula for visitors to Edinburgh who want a glimpse of the rich tapestry of music and dance which runs through the spine of the country.

“The show is more of a visual and hearing experience than based on dialogue, so in addition to our visitors from North America, Europe and Australia, it has a really strong appeal with non-English speakers.”

Spirit of Scotland is also a culinary feast and as part of the ticket package, guests will enjoy a traditional four course Scottish dinner with an alcoholic or soft drink.

Scott Mitchell, Managing Director of Surgeons Quarter, said: “Anchoring Spirit of Scotland at Surgeons Quarter cements the venues status as one of Edinburgh’s premier hospitality and tourist destinations and we are delighted to be able to showcase the cream of Scottish traditional artists to more than 60,000 visitors each year.

“The quality of performers and performance will be matched by the quality of the food plated up for our guests and produced in-house by our expert chefs to offer a truly unique visitor experience.”

Surgeons Quarter is the commercial arm of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) which hopes exposure to thousands of international visitors visiting Spirit of Scotland will encourage many to enjoy its main visitor attraction, the Surgeons’ Hall Museums in Nicolson Street.

Scott Mitchell added: “With significantly increased footfall at Surgeons Quarter anticipated for Spirit of Scotland, we hope many of our guest will learn about and be keen to visit our museums which, while markedly different from our strong traditions of music and dance, have played a central role in establishing Scotland’s reputation as a world leader in surgery, pathology and dentistry.”

Surgeons Quarter promotes, sells and manages all commercial activities held within the RCSEd campus. It includes facilities for conferences, meetings, private events, parties, weddings and its own four-star hotel Ten Hill Place. All profits support the charitable aims of the College which are education, assessment and advancement in surgical standards worldwide.

For more information on events, conferences and meeting space at Surgeons Quarter visit: https://www.surgeonsquarter.com/conferences-meetings/

International guests can book directly by visiting Surgeons Quarter’s own travel agency at: https://www.sqtravel.co.uk/

To book for Spirit of Scotland https://spiritofscotlandshow.com/home

Leith-based social enterprise recognised for excellence in sustainable development

A vibrant social enterprise based in Ocean Terminal, Leith has won one of the UK’S most prestigious business accolades, recognising outstanding achievement in social and environmental sustainability, coupled with significant and responsible business growth.

The Edinburgh Remakery, an environmental social enterprise based in Scotland’s capital, has been honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise. Announced today (Thursday 21 April), The Edinburgh Remakery has been recognised for its excellence in Sustainable Development.

The Edinburgh Remakery is one of 31 organisations across the UK to be awarded recognition in Sustainable Development.

The Edinburgh Remakery teaches and adopts sustainable practices around repair and reuse to prevent valuable materials and resources, such as electronic devices, from going to waste, and reducing pollution and carbon emissions. In this way, the social enterprise aids the urgent need to change the UK’s economy to one that is more environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable.

Elaine Brown, CEO of The Edinburgh Remakery said: “Receiving the Queens Award for Enterprise is an amazing achievement for us.

We’re delighted to receive this recognition for our work in sustainability, and it is a great testament to the role of social enterprises in creating positive change in our communities. Putting people and planet first is at the heart of our operations, and this award is a triumph for the circular economy and its vital role in helping Edinburgh and the UK hit their ambitious net zero targets, ending waste and pollution, and helping people to Waste Less, Live More.”

In 2021, the Edinburgh Remakery collected 39 tonnes of electronic waste collected from businesses and individuals across the UK, 352 people were taught repair and reuse skills to help them mend and extend the life of their belongings, and 412 free electronic devices were gifted to people in need across Edinburgh to tackle digital poverty and social isolation.

Now in its 56th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning businesses able to use the esteemed Queen’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.

The Edinburgh Remakery team will head to Buckingham Palace next month to formally receive their Queens Award for Enterprise.

The University of Edinburgh needs your help to shape the future of work for self-employed people over 50!

If you are aged 50 or above (or approaching 50) and self- employed, researchers at the University of Edinburgh would like to find out more about any health issues you experience while working, and involve you in the design of products and services to support healthy ageing as you work.

Taking part in this study will involve various individual and group activities over a period of 10 months. You will work together with researchers and other participants to come up with possible solutions to health-related challenges and problems affecting you and others while at work.

To thank you for your participation in the study, the research team is offering up to £100 in shopping vouchers.

For more information visit shaw.business-school.ed.ac.uk.

Want to take part? Get in touch with the project via email:

shaw@business-school.ed.ac.uk

Scotland’s Just Transition Commission has visited Peterhead Power Station to see how plans for a new low-carbon plant would deliver significant benefits to workers and communities in the north-east of Scotland.

SSE Thermal and Equinor are developing Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station, which would become Scotland’s first power station equipped with a carbon capture plant to remove CO2 from its emissions. The project would connect into the Scottish Cluster’s CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, which underpins plans to deliver one of the UK’s first low-carbon industrial clusters.

The new Peterhead plant would not only allow the site to continue providing flexible power to keep the lights on while backing up renewable generation, it would also secure low-carbon jobs for workers in the region and create significant socio-economic opportunities.

This week, the site hosted members of the independent Commission, which is tasked with scrutinising and providing expert advice on the Scottish Government’s sectoral and regional Just Transition plans, covering the social implications of the net zero transition and reporting annually on progress in ensuring a greener, fairer future for everyone. Rachel McEwen, SSE’s Chief Sustainability Officer, is part of the Commission.

As part of the visit, the Commissioners heard about progress in the development of Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station and met with a range of workers, including four of the ten apprentices who started work at the site in 2021.

In 2020, SSE became the first company to publish a Just Transition Strategy, which outlined how the company will approach the social implications of delivering net zero; from jobs and training, to working with communities and ensuring no one is left behind.

Over the last 18 months, SSE has become a leader on the just transition to net zero, ranking at the top of the World Benchmarking Alliance’s just transition assessment of 180 global companies. In February, it set four core business goals to 2030, which included a goal to champion a fair and just energy transition by guaranteeing fair work, committing to paying fair tax, and sharing economic value.

Richard Hardy, Just Transition Commissioner, said:

“The conversations we had with workers and apprentices at Peterhead Power Station underlined the need for decisive leadership as we accelerate the changes necessary for a net zero future: leadership and engagement with workers and communities is vital for a future that doesn’t repeat the mistakes of the 1980s.”

Hannah Bronwin, Director of Business Development for SSE Thermal, said: “Our project at Peterhead will not only make a major difference in reducing carbon emissions and supporting a stable and secure transition to net zero, it will help retain jobs in the north-east of Scotland and create significant economic benefits across the wider region.

“The Just Transition sits at the heart of SSE’s strategy, which is why we were delighted to host Scotland’s Just Transition Commission at the site. We were able to illustrate the importance of Peterhead for Scotland’s energy future, and the potential for our carbon capture project to kick-start wider industrial decarbonisation across the north-east and beyond through the Scottish Cluster.”

In January, SSE Thermal and Equinor entered the Peterhead project into a UK Government competition which aims to support industrial clusters to decarbonise. The project is currently undergoing evaluation as part of the second phase of the process. At the end of March, a Section 36 planning application was submitted to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit.

The proposed new station could capture an average of one and a half million tonnes of CO2 a year, which would represent at least five per cent of the UK Government’s 2030 target for carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The entrepreneur, cook and TV star, Dame Prue Leith, visited Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh this week to find out about some of the University’s teaching and outreach projects  currently making a difference to people’s lives.

Prue, who is Chancellor of Queen Margaret University, spent two days learning about a range of the University’s teaching initiatives, including its impressive tutoring initiative which is helping secondary school pupils in East and Midlothian catch up with learning that was lost during the lockdown months.

While touring the university projects, Prue also received an update on the plans for the development of the land around the campus and QMU’s plans for an Innovation Hub, which will be part of the Edinburgh Innovation Park, and funded by the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Deal. During a walk in the campus grounds, Prue also saw the University’s newly planted ‘Wee Forest’ and learned about the development of an Outdoor Learning Hub. The Hub, which will take shape throughout 2022, will be a valuable resource that connects students, the local community and the teaching profession in nature. QMU’s Outdoor Learning Hub will not only provide opportunities for community engagement, it will be an invaluable resource for QMU’s next generation of school teachers who are developing outdoor learning skills.  These new skills and knowledge will help teachers enthuse children about the natural world, encouraging them to develop a love of nature and outdoor life, and an understanding of its importance to health and wellbeing.

Queen Margaret University’s Principal, Sir Paul Grice, said: “We are always delighted when our Chancellor comes to visit as she is very focused on learning about our latest work and how it’s making a difference to the lives of others. Prue always makes time to meet our students and hear about their experiences. She is also very willing to share her wisdom and experience as a food educator and entrepreneur, which can be very inspiring and motivating for both staff and students. Her continuous drive, curiosity, boundless energy and positive attitude to life and learning make her a great ambassador for Queen Margaret University.”

This year QMU celebrates its 50th anniversary of drama and performing arts education. To mark the occasion, Prue viewed an outdoor exhibition in University Square which celebrates some of the University’s alumni who have gone on to have careers as actors, performers, writers, directors, producers, cultural managers and entrepreneurs. To find out more about QMU’s 50 years of drama and performing arts visit: https://www.qmu.ac.uk/alumni-and-friends/50-years-of-drama-and-performing-arts/ and listen to QMU’s Alumni Podcast Series ‘Going off script with …’  at www.spreaker.com/show/off-script-with.