The tough economic conditions which have engulfed Aberdeen for the last four years may be coming to an end with new figures indicating tentative signs of a recovery in the local property market.
Three areas across Scotland also continued to show heavy demand, with Edinburgh, East Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire all breaking the £250,000 price mark in the third quarter of the year.
The Capital remained the most expensive place in Scotland to buy a home with an average price of £267,035, a rise of 3.8%. East Dunbartonshire rose by 9.7% to hit £251,547 with East Renfrewshire seeing a 1.4% uplift to £265,240.
Research for Aberdein Considine’s Property Monitor has revealed that residential property sales in the Granite City have increased for the first time in nearly two years, with a rise of 7.9%. This swing into positive territory backs up recent analysis of the local market by property experts at the firm, which had identified a range of encouraging economic indicators for the city and region.
In a further boost for the area, the value of property changing hands saw a 7.3% uplift, with total sales of £221,963,819.
Prices in Aberdeen also appear to have stabilised, and whilst there was still a 0.5% year on year fall, the average cost of a home was £199,834.
Whilst any recovery remains in its early stages, the figures also provide some affirmation that recent and future investment projects are already beginning to have a real impact, with buyers and investors returning to the city.
There are also indications that the upturn in the energy sector could be having a knock on effect on the wider north east region, with property markets in Angus and Dundee also enjoying a resurgence.
Dundee saw a 4.8% uplift in average prices to £144,113 as well as a 12% increase in the value of sales at £103,499,115. Alongside that, Angus experienced a 12.5% increase in the number of homes sold and an 11.2% rise in the value of the homes sold at £97,720,210.
Jacqueline Law, Managing Partner at Aberdein Considine welcomed the boost for north east market and confirmed growth across the Scottish property market.
“The property market across Scotland is in reasonably rude health, and the fact that three areas have all breached the £250,000 price barrier demonstrates that there remains significant pent up demand.
The upturn in Aberdeen is great news after a prolonged difficult period, and is hopefully an indicator that we are beginning to see the north east emerge from one of its most testing downturns.
There’s still a huge amount of work to do to try and get back to where we were but news of the longer term investment plans for the area, and the oil price having hit $80 this year, hopefully provides the necessary level of optimism to help maintain the momentum.
Critically, the positive effects of a return to sustainable growth in the energy sector should filter through to the rest of the country, providing benefits for businesses across the supply chain.
However, despite the current feel good factor, we can’t ignore the ongoing turbulence in relation to Brexit, as well as the corresponding uncertainty this is causing to both businesses and homeowners.
That said, the energy industry is international in nature and the return of a stable and prosperous oil and gas industry should hopefully provide some insulation against the challenges the country might face over the next few months and years.”
The firm also carried out research among homeowners across the country which revealed that three quarters of Scots paid the home report valuation or above for their property. Just 26% secured a property for under valuation, further underlining the strength of the economy in recent years.
ScotRail is adding more seats to trains for the Betfred Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park.
Celtic play Aberdeen on Sunday 2 December at 3pm, and ScotRail has confirmed it will put extra carriages on trains between Glasgow and Mount Florida – the closest station to the stadium.
Aberdeen supporters are encouraged to consider their travel options, as the three trains to Glasgow prior to kick off, and three trains to Aberdeen after the match are expected to be very busy.
Customers heading to the game are advised to allow additional time for travel, as queuing systems will be in place at Glasgow Central prior to kick off, and at Mount Florida after the final whistle.
Extra staff will be on hand to assist customers and, as with most large events, alcohol bans will be in place.
ScotRail Head of Customer Operations Phil Campbell said:
“This is a really big game, and we’re looking forward to once again help fans get to the match to cheer on their side.
“We will be adding extra carriages to services to try to make things a bit easier for people travelling to and from Hampden.
“But trains will be busier than usual, so we encourage customers to plan their journey in advance and make sure they have their ticket before boarding.”
Represent, the Edinburgh-based PR & digital agency, has appointed Ellis Allan into the role of PR & Digital Account Manager to assist in the management of its growing list of clients and support ambitious growth in 2019.
Bringing a wealth of knowledge about the food, drink and agriculture landscape, Ellis has previously held roles at membership organisation, Scotland Food & Drink and Perth-based agency, Volpa.
Experienced in crafting and delivering creative digital, PR and event communications campaigns, Ellis will be responsible for managing a range of clients, including the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, Royal Highland Show and SCIS.
Speaking about the move to Represent, Ellis said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have joined the fantastic team here at Represent. With a catalogue of amazing clients and a reputation for delivering outstanding results, Represent is an exciting place to develop my career.”
Represent’s managing director, Judith O’Leary, added: “Ellis brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to the role. Her experience and track record working across a variety of sectors makes this a fantastic appointment for us. 2018 is ending with a bang with Ellis joining the team and a host of new business wins. 2019 is looking to be an exciting one for Represent!”
Formerly O’Leary PR, Represent relaunched with a move to a new Edinburgh office in February 2017. Since then, Represent has gone from strength to strength, welcoming new team members, securing new clients and expanding its service offering.
-Entrepreneur of the Year: Derek Pierce, J&D Pierce Contracts
-Scale-Up Entrepreneur of the Year: Steven Gray, ROVOP
-Rising Star of the Year: Michael Corrigan, Trtl
-Intrapreneur of the Year: Robin Watson, Wood plc
-Social Entrepreneur of the Year: Celia Hodson, Hey Girls
-Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Isla Leslie, Estrela
-Academic Entrepreneur of the Year, Dr Caroline Barelle, Elasmogen
The winners of the inaugural Summit Entrepreneurship Awards were announced last night (Thursday 22 November) at a stellar celebration dinner, in Glasgow.
Designed by STV and Entrepreneurial Scotland to honour our most inspirational established and up-and-coming entrepreneurs, from a range of backgrounds and sectors, the prestigious awards highlight the breadth of Scotland’s entrepreneurial talent.
The 2018 Summit Entrepreneurship Awards are supported by Deloitte, Barclays and Scotland is Now. This year’s awards are also organised in collaboration with the Scotland CAN DO movement.
Entrepreneur of the Year was awarded to Derek Pierce, Managing Director of J&D Pierce Contracts, one of the largest structural steelwork contractors in the UK. The company was established in 1975 in Glengarnock, North Ayrshire, providing light fabrication and general blacksmith work. Today, J&D Pierce, employs 350 staff across six divisions and has been involved in prestigious projects including Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow Queen Street Station redevelopment and Gatwick Airport’s new hanger for Boeing.
Richard Slater. Partner and Head of Entrepreneurial Business in Scotland with Deloitte, sponsors of the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award category, said: “The achievements of J&D Pierce over the past 12 months have been remarkable. Derek and his team have enjoyed standout success at a time when Scotland’s entrepreneurs are delivering at home and abroad. Their recent work shows how our local businesses bring tangible benefits to some of the UK’s most significant projects.”
Scale-Up Entrepreneur of the Year was awarded to Steven Gray, CEO of ROVOP. Steven established the remote operated vehicle (ROV) venture in Aberdeen in 2011, building it into a leading player in the oil, gas, offshore wind, telecoms and power transmission industries. ROVOP now has 51 ROVs and 200 staff in Scotland and the US. The company’s global client base includes customers in the UK, EU, Middle East, US, and South America.
Stuart Brown, Head of SME Scotland & Northern Ireland at Barclays, the sponsor of the Scale-Up category, said: “Scaling up is a vital stage in the entrepreneurial lifecycle and one which Barclays is committed to supporting. We have to ensure ambitious companies have the support infrastructure to evolve to the next stage, be that growing revenue, diversifying into new products or entering new markets. ROVOP has done all three. Under Steven’s inspiring leadership, it has transformed from an Aberdeen start-up to a global business in just seven years with strong value and employment created, as well as significant further potential. No mean feat in any sector, but particularly powerful given the recent challenges in oil and gas which made him a worthy winner of this award.”
Eighteen-year-old student, Isla Leslie, MD of Estrela, Kirkwall Grammar School’s 2017/18 Young Enterprise team, was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Cat Leaver, Director at Brand Scotland (Scotland is Now) who supported the category, commented: “It’s incredibly important for us to consider the legacy of the Year Of Young People and continue to celebrate their many contributions and successes. This award is just the beginning of that. The strength and diversity of the applicants in this category was utterly outstanding, reflecting a huge amount of creativity and vision. Isla displayed entrepreneurial spirit and strong leadership in effectively commercialising an idea that has the potential to really scale. We were hugely impressed by the many complex operations, from manufacturing to distribution chain management that Isla and her team have put in place. Congratulations to her and all the wonderful nominees.”
The awards were established to showcase the impressive range of Scotland’s entrepreneurial talent across a mix of industries and sectors, and to shine a light on the people who are creating and growing our most successful enterprises across our private, public and third sectors.
Hosted by broadcaster, Rona Dougall, the awards night at SWG3, was the culmination of a rigorous review of more than 250 nominations to determine the finalists in each of the seven categories. The expert judging panel included some of Scotland’s most successful entrepreneurs.
Sandy Kennedy, Chief Executive of Entrepreneurial Scotland, said: “The 2018 Summit Entrepreneurship Awards build on the success of Entrepreneurial Scotland’s prestigious national awards, established 22 years ago, and showcase the breadth and depth of Scotland’s innovators, change makers and entrepreneurial talent across all sectors. It is more important than ever that we celebrate entrepreneurial role models of all kinds, wherever they are in their journey. Those individuals with a real entrepreneurial mindset are the people who can make the most of emerging opportunities and help us become the most entrepreneurial society in the world.”
STV Commercial Director, Peter Reilly, said: “We are proud to work with inspiring Scottish entrepreneurs every day – people who have established, built and continue to grow thriving businesses for Scotland. At STV we have been privileged to showcase and celebrate fantastic entrepreneurial stories on-air sharing these impressive achievements with Scots across the country. We are delighted to realise the aims of Summit to both inspire future entrepreneurial leaders and to increase awareness amongst consumers of Scottish businesses. A massive congratulations to all our outstanding winners.”
Friday 11th January 2019
Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh
The Business Insider and Scotland Is Now Top 500 Business Breakfast provides business leaders with a unique insight into what they might expect to see happening to the Scottish, UK and Global economies during the year ahead.
Host – Cathy MacDonald
Keynote Speaker – Lord John Kerr
Tickets
Tables of 12 £600+VAT
Tables of 10 £550+VAT
Single Ticket £60+VAT
To receive a 10% discount, before booking a ticket/table please enter EdinburghChamber10 where it says ‘enter promotional code’.
www.insiderbusinessbreakfasts.co.uk
To discuss sponsorship opportunities please contact Aileen Turnbull, aileen.turnbull@insider.co.uk or 0141 309 4909.
The world’s first BrewDog airport bar has opened at Edinburgh Airport.
The bar from BrewDog, Scotland’s largest independent brewer, will offer passengers a range of beers from its Aberdeenshire-based brewery alongside those hand-picked from craft breweries from around the world.
Passengers will also benefit from a specially developed breakfast menu and a lunch menu which features loaded hot sandwiches, salads and all-day breakfast.
The bar will be situated in the new terminal expansion and will be operated by TRG Concessions in an exclusive franchise partnership with Brewdog PLC.
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport said:
“We’ve been working extremely hard to improve the facilities across the airport and this is the latest stage in that project as we deliver a global brand for passengers.
“A world first, it’s brilliant to welcome BrewDog to Scotland’s busiest airport and give passengers from near and far the option of sampling one of the country’s own brands, providing a real taste of Scotland.”
James Watt, BrewDog’s Captain and co-founder commented:
“This is a BrewDog bar like no other. Not only can we introduce more beer drinkers to the power of craft beer than ever before, but we can turn the traditional airport beer experience, into a vibrant hub of excitement and craft beer passion.
“We think of Edinburgh as a second home having experienced the city’s craft beer scene growing into a lively, impassioned hub of innovation and flavour; BrewDog Edinburgh Airport is our third in the city and will serve as a gateway for craft beer to the millions of travellers that pass through each year.”
Managing Director of TRG Concessions, Nick Ayerst said:
“We are delighted to open the world’s first BrewDog Airport bar in Edinburgh, it seems only right that it should be in the capital city of the company’s home nation and will provide passengers with food, drink and a unique experience that they will be sure to want elsewhere.”
Commenting on the announcement that the UK government and EU Commission have agreed a Political Declaration, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“While we welcome the fact that more flesh has been put on the bones of the proposed future UK-EU relationship, the reality is that the clarity and precision businesses need to plan for the long term can only be delivered when the details are hammered out and fully agreed. There are still big questions to answer – including whether businesses will be able to conduct trade between the UK and the EU without significant new barriers or costs.
“For business, this is just the end of the beginning of the Brexit process. Our trading firms will be paying close attention to what happens next, particularly as the proposals are debated in Parliament over the days ahead. Businesses remain deeply concerned about the potential for a political stand-off that leads to a messy and disorderly exit from the EU next March. 
“We have raised a number of important questions with the Government on behalf of business communities across the UK, and their responses will inform our continuing assessment of the proposed agreement and its implications for business, investment and the wider economy – as captured in our practical Business Brexit Risk Register.”
A team of volunteers from Thorntons Solicitors will take part in this year’s Sleep in the Park events in Dundee and Edinburgh to raise money to help end homelessness in Scotland.
The group of 100 including Thorntons’ colleagues, friends and family will join 12,000 others across four cities on Saturday 8 December with the aim to raise thousands. Thorntons is also a proud sponsor of a sleep zone at the event this year too.
Colin Graham, Chairman at Thorntons, said: “We admire the ambition of Social Bite and the aim to end homelessness so we are proud to, once again, show our support for Sleep In the Park.
“It’s an integral part of our strategy as a firm to invest in the local areas where we operate, and we’re committed to supporting these communities.
“A team from our Edinburgh office took part in last year’s event, raising a great sum and boosting colleague engagement. We already have significant interest in participating again this year.”
This is the second year for Sleep in the Park but the 2018 event is to a much bigger scale and will see live performances from Amy Macdonald, KT Tunstall, Lulu and Kyle Falconer as well as guest speakers Chris Hoy, Irvine Welsh and Malala Yousafzai.
Josh Littlejohn, Co-founder of Social Bite, said: “We are delighted to have the support of Thorntons Solicitors who have signed up again for Sleep in the Park. Funds raised through the event will support Housing First – an innovative housing model providing accommodation as well as wrap around support, enabling people experiencing homelessness to break that cycle and reach their potential.
“A huge thanks go to all Thorntons Solicitors staff and their families and friends who have signed up for this year’s Sleep in the Park, and have chosen to join us in our mission to end homelessness in Scotland.”
To donate to Thorntons Sleep in the Park fundraising please visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/ThorntonsLawSleepinthePark2018.
Looking for a new challenge in 2019? Join Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBH Scotland) for a thrilling 100ft abseil at the iconic Falkirk Wheel – the world’s first, and only, rotating boat lift.
The event, taking place on Sunday 12th May 2019, is open to both individuals and teams, so why not get your family, friends and colleagues involved too.
Participants will enjoy spectacular views from the top of the wheel, and an amazing adrenalin rush on the way down, whilst helping to raise vital funds for Scottish charity SBH Scotland.
SBH Scotland provide a lifetime commitment of specialist support, advice and services for parents and families living with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus, from diagnosis through to adulthood.
Every year our Direct Services Support Team support over 4000 individuals across Scotland with a range of services including: a helpline, one-to-one support in homes and schools, combined clinics in hospitals, support groups, financial advice, play sessions, outings and workshops. From our family support centre we’re also able to offer health and wellness checks for adults, parent and baby groups, a sensory garden and an accessible outdoor play area. A further 54,000 people access the specialist information on our website annually.
To take part in the Falkirk Wheel Abseil, we ask each participant to raise a minimum of £120 in sponsorship, which includes a £20 registration fee payable at sign-up. No prior abseiling experience is necessary, expert guidance will be provided throughout the event.
To sign up, and for full event T&C’s, please visit:
https://www.sbhscotland.org.uk/abseil-falkirk/
For more information, please contact Ellie Miles on:
ellie.miles@sbhscotland.org.uk or Tel: 03455 211 600
To find out more about other SBH Scotland events, please visit: https://www.sbhscotland.org.uk/content/treksandchallenges/
ScotRail is spreading some seasonal spirit with the announcement of a winter sale on one of its most popular tickets.
Until 28 February 2019, ScotRail is offering a 20% discount on its Spirit of Scotland travel pass, a combined ticket which gives customers unlimited Scotland-wide travel on train, ferry and coach services.
The promotion gives both regular customers and visitors extra incentive to explore the Highlands, Islands, or anywhere else in the country.
Customers can choose from four days travel over eight consecutive days for £111, or eight days travel over fifteen consecutive days for £143.
The announcement of the Spirit of Scotland winter sale comes weeks after Lonely Planet placed Scotland among its must-see destinations for the second year running.
Further information on the promotion can be found at ScotRail ticket offices or on the ScotRail website.
ScotRail Tourism Manager Alasdair Smart said:
“Our Spirit of Scotland travel pass offers incredible value and convenience, whether you want to explore our country’s incredible Highland scenery, enjoy a festive city break or simply visit friends and family.
“Winter in Scotland can be absolutely stunning and there’s no better way to see it than from a train, especially if you’re enjoying a 20% discount as well.”
