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.

  • New mobile mapping survey finds more than 34 miles of the North Coast 500 is without 4G coverage.
  • Digital connectivity consultancy, FarrPoint, has made the interactive map freely available to tourists in a bid to raise awareness of connectivity issues in the area and plan accordingly.

Created by digital connectivity consultancy FarrPoint, the new map outlines the level of 4G coverage offered by the UK’s mobile network operators (EE, O2, Three and Vodafone) throughout the 516 miles of road.

After surveying the length of the route which circles northern Scotland with its Coverage Mapping solution, FarrPoint identified more than 34 miles of road without 4G coverage from any provider. In addition, more than a quarter of the route is only covered by either one or two of the four mobile providers.

The digital not-spots extend across some of the most popular tourist hotspots on the road trip – including Inverewe Garden and Estate, the Applecross Peninsula, Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve and the stunning Clachtoll Beach. In addition, the road hugging the shoreline of Loch Eriboll – the deepest sea loch in Britain – was found to be the worst area for mobile coverage along the route, with more than 18 miles of continuous road without any 4G coverage. This will leave travellers with real connectivity issues when trying to access mobile data and making calls and texts.

Despite its undeniable beauty and fantastic scenery, drivers can quickly run into issues navigating the winding country roads, especially if they deviate off the main road to visit nearby businesses or beauty spots. FarrPoint is encouraging drivers to consider downloading digital maps before setting off on the epic road trip so they can be accessed in not-spot areas, as well as checking the level of coverage that specific mobile operators offer.

According to FarrPoint’s analysis, EE was found to offer the best coverage (89% of the route includes access to its network), closely followed by O2 (77%) and Vodafone (76%). Three came last, only providing coverage for 51% of the route – leaving more than 252 miles without 4G coverage.

Andrew Muir, CEO, FarrPoint said: “With stunning scenery and views, the North Coast 500 provides the setting for one of the world’s best road journeys right here in Scotland. But without adequate preparation, the trip could turn into difficulty in parts given the remote nature of the surrounding area and the limited connectivity across the route.

“With more than 34 miles of the route having no 4G coverage from any operator, and hundreds of miles of road only being covered by certain operators, undoubtedly people will experience connectivity issues during their journey. This may appeal to some travellers who are looking to have a break from their digital devices, but it could equally cause issues if drivers get lost or run into trouble. To help provide better peace of mind, we recommend that drivers check their mobile connectivity and download any maps of areas before they set off to ensure they don’t get lost in this remote, albeit undeniably beautiful part of northern Scotland.”

FarrPoint has made an interactive version of the map available for use on its website https://www.farrpoint.com/nc500-mobile-coverage-map, and visitors are encouraged to look at what their operator’s coverage levels are in advance so they can make informed decisions before they travel.

FarrPoint has mapped 4G coverage in other locations across Scotland, the UK and Canada, working with local authorities and governments to assist them in building an accurate picture of connectivity so that infrastructure investment decisions can be made more effectively. To date, the business has advised on more than £3.5bn worth of connectivity infrastructure projects, including £1.5bn in the past year.

Increasing pressure is mounting on Scottish businesses as the cost-of-doing-business crisis hits the bottom line, according to the latest findings from a leading Scottish business survey from the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC).

Firms have reported record levels of concern over inflation and rising cost pressures as the economy restructures following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, creating complex challenges for Scottish businesses.

Adding to the pre-existing obstacles facing businesses, linked to persistent labour market shortages, international supply chain disruption, soaring energy prices and an increasing tax burden, Scotland’s economy is entering into a period of increased uncertainty.

Businesses are starting to feel the impact of reduced spending as consumers tighten their belts and disposable income drops, hitting many firms cashflow and profits, particularly in the tourism and retail sectors where recovery remains lethargic.

With inflation reaching a 30-year-high, the rapid return to economic growth seen following the removal of Covid-19 restrictions is now plateauing with firms being forced to make tough decisions around investment, recruitment, and price rises.

The situation in Ukraine is also deepening business concern with many continuing to seek advice, information and support to make decisions, adapt to rapidly changing circumstances and navigate the challenging times ahead with further international trade disruption likely.

KEY FINDINGS:

  • Record Concern Over Inflation: With UK inflation reaching 5.5% earlier this year, the negative impact on businesses is becoming increasingly clear with all sectors of the economy reporting record high levels of concern. The financial and business services sector (FBS) reported a 15% increase and the tourism sector a 14% increase from Q4 2021 respectively.
  • Cashflow Crunch and Profits Plummet: Businesses continue to report significant cashflow and profit challenges, with high inflation a key driving factor. The construction, retail and tourism sectors all reported decreases in both cashflow and profits, highlighting the impact of rising cost pressures, leaving businesses at increased risk from economic shocks.
  • Growing Cost Pressures: Across all sectors, business cost pressures have increased. Raw material prices, rising energy costs, increased tax burdens and other overheads are leading pressures. Energy price rises and the ongoing global supply chain disruption are cited to be the primary contributing factors to these increases.
  • Consumer Price Rise: In response to rising cost pressures, a record 7 in 10 firms have indicated that they intend to raise the prices that they charge for their goods and services. This is likely to deepen inflationary challenges and further increase the cost-of-living.
  • Retail and Tourism Remain Vulnerable: Despite the continued easing of COVID-19 restrictions over the first quarter of 2022, firms in these sectors have still reported concerning figures for both sales and investment. Retail footfall remains considerably below pre-pandemic levels due to changes in office work patterns and the removal of international travel restrictions have cooled the staycation market.

 

Stephen Leckie, President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:

“Despite a period of relatively strong growth, the latest Scottish Chambers of Commerce business survey reveals that growth is now levelling off as the complexity of the challenges facing Scotland’s businesses start to take hold.

“Firms are becoming increasingly anxious about rising inflation, energy prices and cost pressures. For too many businesses, the focus is still simply on survival.

“Businesses who have weathered the pandemic over the past two years are now seeing problems pile up, one on top of another, as they struggle with longstanding challenges linked to recruitment, planning and managing change and are now being hammered by surging energy prices, inflation and falling consumer spending.

“Consequently, Scotland’s businesses are making serious adjustments to operating models and grappling with difficult decisions on whether to absorb price rises or pass them onto the consumer. Business finances are also being squeezed by Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme repayments, rising interest rates and significant business insurance cost rises.

“The prospect of impending additional tax burdens such as the Workplace Parking Levy, Transient Visitor Levy (Tourist Tax) and the Deposit Return Scheme are further cause for concern amongst already hard-pressed businesses.

“Economic growth is now plateauing because of these rising inflationary and cost pressures creating an increasingly uncertain outlook for businesses, with international trade and the global economy remaining volatile.

“With continued disruption to international trade due to the war in Ukraine, energy prices expected to rise again later in the year and inflation likely to remain resurgent, businesses will be forced to increase prices further, cut back on investment and protect their cashflow and profits to enable them to cope with any additional economic shocks.

“Scotland is approaching a critical point in recovery. Businesses are struggling now.

“That is why the Scottish and UK Government’s need to urgently rethink the impact of new and increased taxes on business if the economy is to be given the headroom it needs to survive this crisis and grow.”

 

On business support:

“Businesses are still grateful for the financial support and assistance provided by both the Scottish and UK Government’s over the course of the pandemic, however, now is not the time to pull the rug out from under the business community.

“Business support needs to be reset and realigned with the economic reality. Businesses need support now and Government intervention must protect the recovery that businesses have worked hard to secure.

“As a priority, the UK Government should seriously consider the introduction of an SME energy price cap to protect smaller firms from some of the major energy price increases, in the same way that households have been supported.

“The Chancellor missed an opportunity in the Spring Statement to deliver for businesses and the subsequent National Insurance increase has been yet another hammer blow for Scottish businesses adding millions to an already heavy tax burden.

“Without meaningful support, businesses will have little option but to raise prices, increasing pressure even further on business and household finances.”

On retail and tourism:

“Scotland’s retail and tourism sectors desperately need additional support from government as their recovery is lagging other parts of Scotland’s economy.

“Both sectors have been amongst the worst hit by the pandemic and the subsequent changes in consumer behaviours. They are also the most likely sectors to operate to tight cashflow and profit margins, and that’s why urgent support is needed now.

“Sustained business support and rethinking the removal of Covid-19 business rates and VAT relief by both Scottish and UK Governments is necessary to facilitate recovery and avoid businesses going to the wall at this critical point in Scotland’s economic recovery.”

 

Commenting on the results, Mairi Spowage, Director at the University of Strathclyde’s Fraser of Allander Institute, said:

“Two years on from the first lockdown, it would be great to be optimistic about the economic prospects for 2022. Unfortunately, global uncertainties and the cost-of-living crisis, which are not unrelated to each other, have doused that enthusiasm with a bucket of cold water.

“Despite the impact of Omicron in December, the economy is now (as of data in January) back above pre-pandemic levels of growth. This milestone in the recovery is of course important: but seems less heartening than it might have done a few months ago given the wider economic conditions.

“Current data suggests that the experience of input price rises for businesses is running at more than double the consumer inflation rate. And as much as many businesses are trying to avoid passing price rises onto customers, something may have to give for tight margin businesses.

“This may mean that these cost pressures may continue to feed through to prices experienced by consumers as more businesses face difficult choices.

“In the face of all these headwinds, it can be difficult not to be gloomy about the prospects for growth in 2022. The Scottish business base has shown incredible resilience through the last couple of years, and was looking forward to a strong Spring and Summer as we look to operate without COVID-related restrictions.

“In line with this resilience, it is important to highlight that these results today show positivity for 2022 despite all these challenges. It will be interesting to see how this positivity evolves as we progress through 2022.”

Spring to Bring Fresh Flavours for Edinburgh Locals

Chef Tom Kitchin and his wife Michaela have announced they will open a new restaurant concept this spring.  ‘KORA by Tom Kitchin’ is due to open later this season in Edinburgh’s Bruntsfield area and will present a passionate celebration of Scotland’s land and sea, in an homage to honest gastronomy, synonymous with Chef Tom Kitchin’s cooking.

KORA by Tom Kitchin is the latest restaurant from the team behind the city’s popular venues, The Kitchin, The Scran & Scallie and The Bonnie Badger in Gullane, and is located in the buzzing neighbourhood of Bruntsfield, on the site previously known as French bistro ‘Southside Scran’, which was forced to close due to flooding, in 2020.

The name KORA, known in Greek mythology as the ‘Goddess of spring, flowers and vegetation’, symbolises Chef Tom Kitchin’s deep-rooted passion for working with the seasons. The name is also a tribute to new beginnings, the significance of nature and using only the freshest produce available, aligned to Chef Kitchin’s ‘From Nature to Plate’ ethos.

Working closely with dedicated local farmers and foragers, passionate growers and sustainable suppliers, the restaurant will take a zealous approach to local and seasonal cooking, with menus to be revealed over the coming weeks.   The destination will include a stylish bar area for those seeking to enjoy a drink or lighter meal, and a 65-cover dining space.

Chef Tom Kitchin confirmed that some of his existing team would be taking on new and exciting opportunities at the forthcoming venue, while the restaurant group will also be creating several new jobs for the city, including Front of House, Reception, Bar and Chef roles.

Chef Tom Kitchin explained; “I am thrilled to bring some great news to Edinburgh by introducing a new dining venue to the city.  We are looking forward to bringing our Bruntsfield property back to life with a new concept, creating a genuine neighbourhood restaurant with a real sense of community.   We want to give locals and visitors the chance to gather friends and family and experience a new dining destination, whether they want to catch up over a bottle of wine at the bar, enjoy a family lunch with the kids, or enjoy a relaxed evening meal, discovering some of the very best ingredients from across Scotland – there will be something for everyone.

“This next chapter is a really exciting one for our entire team and also for the city.  We can’t wait to get back into the kitchen and start cooking some really fresh and exciting new dishes for our guests.”

KORA by Tom Kitchin will see the revival of the former Southside Scran site which attracted a loyal local following, before its closure in January 2020, when it was impacted by both severe flooding and forced pandemic closures.

Edinburgh  in-person business event 13th April 2022 

Capitalise on your opportunities for 2022!  – FREE SEMINAR WORKSHOP 

Who is this course for? 

This course is for SME business owners, CEOs and leaders who want to take a ten-thousand foot view on their business to reinvigorate their strategy.

It is difficult to refocus your business for the future when you feel trapped on the inside in the present, but business in Edinburgh is moving again so now more than ever is the time to develop your strategic roadmap to ensure you have a focused strategy for continued business growth. This workshop will help you do that.

 

What’s in the course? 

In this group interactive workshop you will

  • Share experiences and knowledge with other attendees
  • Start building a structured roadmap for your business
  • Access our free online tools and resources to manage your growth
  • Receive a free follow up one to one health check for your own business

 

What will you learn?

During the event you will learn to create a framework to develop your own business growth strategy using a simple step by step process. You will be given access to tools and advice to help you implement it.

 

What did previous attendees say?

“This was a superb educational experience, which was thought provoking and gave me focus to administer the changes to help my business grow in the future.”  Chris Duffy, Director, CP Property

“A very useful seminar which has really made me think about the fundamental reasons why we are in business.  Worth attending if you’re an SME owner.”  M Roy, Founder, Leith Walk Policebox

 

About your host – Laurence Heron

As a Business Doctor Laurence’s goal is to help Edinburgh businesses to grow and thrive using the tried and tested Business Doctor approach. He has successfully led and run large and small businesses worldwide.

 

Spaces are limited – register now! 

This is a face-to-face event so numbers are limited. We recommend booking early. Refreshments  provided.

 

Click here to book your place https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/302173748817

Please quote code: EC1

 

Date: 13th April 2022

Time: 09:30 to 12:30

Title: Redefine your Strategic Growth Roadmap!

Partner: –

Venue: Malmaison Hotel, 21-22 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH2 1AY

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/302173748817

CONSTRUCTION WORK TASTER PROJECT MANAGER

Contract:  35 Hours Per week, Fixed Term until March 31st 2025

Salary:  £35,000-£37,000

‘Young people are key to our future economic success so it is crucial we do as much as we can to prepare them for the world of work and open up job opportunities for all’

An exciting opportunity to join the Developing the Young Workforce National Team at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and lead on a new national programme as Construction Work Taster Project Manager.

About the role

The Construction Work Taster Project Manager will lead on the development, delivery and embedding of a programme of work tasters specific to the construction industry in Scotland.

This programme of work tasters will encourage talented young people to join and remain within the construction industry. This includes more young people from a greater diverse background including those without a connection to construction who are inspired to pursue a career in construction. You will work closely with the DYW National Team, the Steering Group and the wider DYW network and partners to develop, launch, deliver, embed and evaluate the project.

About you

If you are:

  • Passionate about helping young people to be prepared for the world of work
  • Highly organised, enjoy planning, creativity and innovation
  • An experienced communicator, influencer and networker
  • A great collaborator, strategic thinker and doer

We would love to hear from you! 

The project is based at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce in Edinburgh City Centre, the role would involve hybrid working.

You will have access to learning and development through Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Training opportunities and your personal development plan.

How to Apply:

Applicants will not be excluded on the grounds of sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, race, marital status, disability, age, religion, belief or sexual orientation.

Candidates who consider themselves to be disabled in terms of the Equality Act 2010, and who meet the essential minimum criteria for the post, will be guaranteed an inte rview. Please make us aware in the email application. We will also ensure that we consider and implement any reasonable adjustments a candidate may require to attend for interview or during the course of employment, should they be successful in securing a post.

We look forward to hearing from you.

For immediate release —activpayroll, the leading provider of integrated global and domestic payroll solutions today announced its partnership with Zalaris, supporting medium- and large size organizations with cloud based payroll and HR BPO services globally. Together, the two companies will provide a new standard of truly global payroll offerings for mid-enterprise, multi-country customers.

The demand for excellence and efficiency in delivering payroll services across multiple countries continues to grow, and with this partnership both Zalaris and activpayroll are demonstrating their commitment to matching and exceeding changing customer requirements. The collaboration is intended to provide solutions that deliver flawless outcomes for customers and their employees, whilst dealing with the complexities, compliance needs, and process and reporting demands of today’s complicated and rapidly changing global employment markets.

Jason Allen, CEO of activpayroll remarked: “activpayroll proudly represent customers in over 150 countries and a key strategic pillar is executing market leading solutions with like-minded partners. activpayroll and Zalaris make a very powerful combination and we are delighted to be teaming up at this time. This partnership is very exciting for us both, creating further opportunities to add value for our customers and help them to grow and succeed”.

Hans-Petter Mellerud, Chief Executive Officer, Zalaris said “Working with activpayroll we have found a very agile partner who allows us to offer a comprehensive suite of cost effective payroll and HR services to global enterprises with large employee populations in some countries and small employee populations in other countries that integrates seamlessly with leading HR solutions as SuccessFactors, Workday and Oracle”.

Andy Martin, Business Development Director of activpayroll said “Finding a partner that complements our coverage and also understands the importance of technology for efficiency and the highest levels of customer service required was no easy task. We know that in Zalaris we have not only achieved these aspirations but exceeded them.”

About activpayroll

activpayroll is a leading global professional service organisation, providing integrated global payroll solutions, expatriate taxation services, online HR people management tools and global HR services to over 1,200 companies in more than 150 countries worldwide.

About Zalaris  Zalaris simplify HR and payroll administration, and empower you with useful information so that you can invest more in people. We are a leading service provider of Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions across Europe, serving more than 1.5 million employees monthly. Our consultants have more than 21 years of experience in transforming HR with our clients. Simplify work life. Achieve more. For more information about us, go to zalaris.com.

A company behind innovation to create healthy forest ecosystems which support successful tree-planting has secured £370,000 in equity investment.

Edinburgh-headquartered Rhizocore Technologies produces locally adapted mycorrhizal fungi to enhance tree-planting projects, a key measure in addressing carbon sequestration. The company’s specially developed fungal pellets are used when new saplings are planted helping accelerate woodland regeneration, improve forest productivity, and increase natural capital benefits.

Rhizocore was founded by Toby Parkes, a Biology graduate from the University of Bath who also holds a PhD in Biochemistry; and David Satori, a Master’s degree graduate in Plant and Fungal Taxonomy, Diversity and Conservation from Queen Mary University of London and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The pair developed their business idea with support from the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Innovation Centre. Rhizocore also participated in the Food & Agriculture Science Transformer (FAST) programme. A collaboration between Deep Science Ventures and the University of Edinburgh, FAST is supported by the University’s Data-Driven Entrepreneurship programme to work with innovative high growth start-ups operating in the agriculture sector. The initiative draws applications from around the world.

The seed investment package secured by Rhizocore includes £85K of equity funding via the Edinburgh Technology Fund (ETF) managed by the University of Edinburgh’s Edinburgh Innovations Investment Team, and a further £85K from Deep Sciences Ventures. An additional £70K comes from climate tech investors including David Rowan with £130K investment from Nucleus Capital, specialist investors which provide finance for purpose-driven entrepreneurs tackling planetary health challenges.

The company has also secured around £180K in additional grants from SMART:SCOTLAND, Scottish Edge, the Forestry Commission, and Graduate Career Advantage Scotland. The University of Edinburgh assisted Rhizocore providing strategic business advice including internal and external due diligence support on its recent SMART:SCOTLAND grant application.

Now employing seven staff, Rhizocore will use this additional investment to scale its business across all parts of the UK where local fungi is implemented as part of its production processes. The company will also invest in further strategic partnerships aimed at enhancing woodland ecosystems and increasing carbon sequestration from tree-planting projects.

Rhizocore is currently involved in several existing pilot projects including one with woodland regeneration charity Trees for Life in the Caledonian rainforest, and another with forestry management company Tilhill in the Scottish Borders.

Rhizocore co-founder and CEO Toby Parkes said: “This latest investment will help us scale production as we aim to support the planting of 40 million new trees across the UK every year.

“The range of support we’ve had from angel investors and grant funding bodies is a real testimony to our innovative approach in addressing the challenges of successful and sustainable tree-planting by enhancing local forestry ecosystems.”

Charlotte Waugh, Enterprise and Innovation Programme Lead at Edinburgh Innovations, said: “The University of Edinburgh is proud to support and invest in Rhizocore, a purpose-led business focused on maximising the impact of reforestation projects. The company’s participation in the FAST programme and further support through the Roslin Innovation Centre has helped Rhizocore develop its proposition where it’s now ready to scale for significant growth. We look forward to working with them and supporting the exciting journey that lies ahead.”