Edinburgh-based designer Andrew Glidden donating all profits from the sale of 52 sketches to Alzheimer’s Research UK during week-long exhibition.
Andrew Glidden on George Street
Workplace wellbeing – 52-week sketching challenge
Design Agency owner Andrew Glidden found himself spending the whole day working at his desk and eating lunch at the same desk, barely moving beyond his chair. He set himself the challenge of heading out from his George Street studio once a week for a whole year to do a quick sketch of whatever took his fancy, no client, no brief, just for the fun of it. The rules were simple – 15 minutes maximum, no rubbing out!
Social media encouragement
After posting images of his weekly creations on social media, interest grew and questions about an exhibition were asked. Initially Andrew had no plans for exhibiting or selling, but nearing the completion of his year-long challenge, and with encouragement from friends and followers, an exhibition of all 52 has been planned, along with a book documenting the sketches and journey.
Alzheimer’s Research UK
Never intending it to be a commercial enterprise, but with requests to buy the sketches being made, Andrew has decided to donate all profits from the sale of the original sketches during the week-long exhibition to Alzheimer’s Research UK, an organisation close to Andrew’s heart as his father, former Hearts 1956 Scottish Cup-winning captain Freddie Glidden, now aged 91, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Dementia a number of years ago.
Kyle Lockhart, Alzheimer’s Research UK Regional Fundraising Officer for Scotland said “We are so grateful to have the support of Andy at his upcoming art exhibition. There are around 7000 people in Edinburgh and 70,000 people in Scotland with dementia and the condition has a devastating effect on families.
Alzheimer’s and the other forms of dementia are now one of society’s biggest medical challenges, but overcoming them isn’t impossible. Our mission is to make life-changing breakthroughs possible for people with dementia and fantastic fundraising efforts such as Andy’s, are vital in helping us achieve this, both through raising vital funds and helping to spread awareness of the condition”.
Exhibition details:
52 in 52 – One year of weekly 15-minute sketches of Edinburgh and beyond
Venue: White Stuff, 89 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3ES. 2nd Floor
Andrew Glidden and Claire Mackenzie Department Manager at White Stuff
OPENING TIMES
Sat October 20 – Friday October 26, 2018
Sat 14:00 – 18:00
Sun 12:30 – 17:00
Mon 12:30 – 18:00
Tue 12:30 – 18:00
Wed 12:30 – 18:00
Thurs 12:30 – 19:00
Fri 10:30 – 18:00
Quotes – Andrew Glidden:
“As a professional commercial designer, I found myself spending almost the entire working week sitting at my desk in our George Street studio in front of the computer, eating lunch at the same desk. I needed to break the cycle. But how? After an inspirational visit to the Royal Scottish Academy Summer Exhibition in 2017, I hatched a plan. Get out of the studio one lunchtime a week for a whole year, and do a sketch of whatever took my fancy. And to make things interesting, set a maximum time limit of 15 minutes per sketch, no more. Oh, and no rubbing out”
“With no client to satisfy, and no ambition beyond the therapeutic process itself, the journey began. Tentative at first, growing more liberated and free by the week. “I draw what I feel, not what I see” was my mantra. Friends and colleagues were encouraging, and all of a sudden here we are. The year has passed, all 52 sketches completed, an exhibition and a book – who’d have thought it?”
“I approached White Stuff in George Street as I had been to a number of exhibitions there and remembered the beautiful space on the second floor – I also have a fond attachment to the White Space building, being a frequent shopper when it was the Grays Ironmongery shop. Since my Design Agency is in George Street, and many of the sketches are of George Street and surroundings, exhibiting there seemed very appropriate – Claire, the Deputy Managing Director at White Stuff and her team have been incredibly supportive – I can’t thank them enough for helping to make this happen”
“Since the whole idea was never intended to be about making money, I decided the purest conclusion was to donate all profits from selling the original sketches at the exhibition to a worthy cause, and since my 91-year old father suffers from Alzheimer’s Dementia I, which is a terrible disease, I chose Alzheimer’s Research UK in the hope that some good may come from the donation which would benefit all in the future.”
About Andrew Glidden
Andrew Glidden studied at the Edinburgh College of Art in the early 1980s and spent almost 20 years living in London and working all over the world as a professional commercial designer.
He set up his own creative design and branding agency with his wife Anni in 1997, before moving the business lock, stock and barrel to Edinburgh in 2002, where it continues to thrive.
Instagram: @andyglidden
Andrew Glidden
Creative Managing Director
Glidden Design and Brand Communications
115 George Street
Edinburgh EH2 4JN
Tel: 0131 226 4744 Mobile: 07973 432 572
-Two Stagecoach employees reach the final in the Unsung Heroes award
-Three award categories recognise work at St Andrews depot
-Stagecoach East Scotland nominated for Top Shire Operator
-Express City Connect network in the running for Sustained Marketing Excellence
Stagecoach East Scotland are finalists at the UK Bus Awards 2018 within six award categories.
The company has once again been shortlisted for a number of awards, covering categories including Marketing, Innovation, Customer Service, Operations and for employee success.
Stagecoach has reached the shortlist for Top Shire Operator once again this year, and their St Andrews depot are once again in the finals for Top National depot, an accolade won by the St Andrews team in 2016.
Within the marketing category, it was announced that the Express City Connect network is in the running for the Sustained Marketing Excellence award for the third year in a row, with the team picking up the silver trophy in the category last year.
A project entitled ‘How to catch a bus’, which was trialled in the St Andrews area in conjunction with Deloitte Digital has also been shortlisted within two award categories – Putting Passengers First and New Horizons.
Lastly, two Stagecoach employees have also made the finals for the 2018 award ceremony. Thomas McGovern, who works at the two Park and Ride sites in Fife has been nominated for his high standard of customer service and John Millar, Allocation Manager for Blairgowrie depot, has been shortlisted for going above and beyond his operational role at the local depot.
The announcement was made by the UK Bus Awards on Tuesday 9 October.
Mark Yexley, Chairman of the UK Bus Awards, said: “To reach the final, teams have to demonstrate outstanding levels of performance and excellent customer service. To be up there as one of the best bus companies in the country is a great achievement. It’s an honour to be able to recognise these businesses, and in turn all their employees. We wish the whole team at Stagecoach East Scotland the very best of luck at the awards on the 20 November.”
Stagecoach East Scotland carries around 32 million passengers per year, has 1,300 employees and a fleet of over 460 vehicles. The company’s consistent growth in passenger numbers, investment in both new, high quality vehicles and ticketing and route technology has caught the interest of the UK Bus awards panel nominating Stagecoach East Scotland for Top Shire Operator.
Paul Thomas, Managing Director, Stagecoach East Scotland said: “To have seven shortlisted entries at the UK Bus Awards is an exceptional achievement and I’m very proud of the team in East Scotland for their consistent service delivery and customer focus which has taken us to this position.
“Our staff are the core of the business and I’m thrilled that Thomas and John have reached the finals of the Unsung Heroes award. Both go above and beyond to help our customers and fellow colleagues and truly represent unsung heroes in our operations.
“All of our staff are dedicated to providing punctual, quality and friendly bus services and these nominations are a real testament to our employee commitment. Particularly in St Andrews, where they previously held the accolade of top national depot and have been directly involved in a further 2 category nominations due to the project work with Deloitte Digital in trying to make bus travel even easier for our customers.
“We’ve been able to develop our Express City Connect network significantly this year through the opening of the Forth Road Bridge as a public transport corridor, a new service to Glasgow and the launch of 19 brand new, innovative new low entry coaches. Our marketing department have done a sterling job of attracting new bus users to the network and it’s great to see their hard work recognised on a national level.”
Stagecoach nationally is in the running for 27 awards overall at the 2018 UK Bus Awards including Operator of the Year.
The two nominated employees, as well as various Stagecoach East Scotland representatives will attend the awards in London in November to see if they can bring home the trophies for the wider team.
For more information about Stagecoach bus services visit www.stagecoachbus.com
Employee ownership offers great solutions for business owners looking to improve performance or plan for the future. The Scottish Government is doing the right thing by backing it, writes Douglas Roberts
The Scottish Government recently announced a plan to make Scotland the ‘best country in the world for employee-owned (EO) businesses’ and wants to increase the number of EO businesses fivefold by 2030.
Employee ownership can be an excellent strategy for succession planning, exiting a business, and/or boosting performance.
A recent survey of 100 EO businesses by the Employee Ownership Association found they have higher levels of productivity and efficiency than non-EO businesses, better workforce retention and recruitment, and a strong record of encouraging employees at every level to drive innovation – itself a way to fuel resilience and growth.
There are also tax benefits for both owners and employees. Owners who sell more than 50% of a company to employees receive capital gains tax relief (as long as certain conditions are met) so they pay no tax on the sale. Owners can retain a minority stake so they still benefit from future profits and a sale. Furthermore, staff in an EO business are eligible for (but not guaranteed) a tax-free annual bonus of up to £3,600.
The benefits can be reaped across different sizes of business and sectors too. While the most famous example of an EO business in the UK is probably the huge John Lewis Partnership, it has worked well for a business with nine employees.
Lindsays most recent convert to EO was one of the UK’s leading book production companies: Palimpsest Book Production Company, established by Craig and Ruth Morrison in 1994.
Craig and Ruth chose the EO model as a solution for securing the future of the company and giving the employees the opportunity to participate in the future of the business. Lindsays helped them set up an Employee Ownership Trust which now holds a controlling interest in the business on behalf of the 21 employees.
There’ll be around 500 such businesses in Scotland by 2030 if the Scottish Government’s plans come to fruition. Currently there are just over 100, generating combined turnover of around £940 million.
So, how does EO work and how does a business go about it?
There are three types of employee ownership available – direct, indirect and hybrid ownership – each with its own pros and cons:
In each case there will be practical and commercial decisions around, for example:
-the value of the business
-employee engagement and incentivisation
-how to raise finance to buy out the owners
-the tax implications
-the pace of the buyout
All decisions about moving to employee ownership also need to made in the wider context of tax, employment law, protecting intellectual property and other assets, and the overall financial climate and landscape for raising finance (either through mainstream lenders or other sources). If the business is family-owned there may be relationship and succession issues to factor in as well.
It is vital that any move towards EO should be made with advice from EO advisers, lawyers and accountants who have expertise in this area.
Douglas Roberts is a Director in Lindsays’ Corporate and Commercial team.
Dentons has announced the sponsorship of two upcoming awards in Scotland with a focus on women and their achievements. The firm is a headline sponsor for the forthcoming Business Women Scotland and Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 2018 and will also be sponsoring an award category at the Scottish Women in Sport Annual Awards 2018.
Dentons’ involvement in these two awards events follows the firm’s recent appointment of Scottish partner Amanda Jones as its first-ever Women’s Advancement Director. In this new role, Amanda focuses on the development and progression of women lawyers to partner and leadership positions. Outside of Dentons, Amanda is also Chair of the Women and Girls in Sport Advisory Board in Scotland, which was established by the Scottish Government to provide independent advice to the Minister for Public Health and Sport on female participation and awareness raising in all areas of sport and physical activity.
The Business Women Scotland and Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 2018 will mark the achievements of women-led businesses. They will celebrate the entrepreneurial talents of women across Scotland and help to create more business role models to inspire the next generation of leading women. In addition to Dentons being a headline sponsor for the event, Amanda Jones is also a judge for the awards. The awards ceremony will take place on 2 November 2018 in Glasgow.
At the Scottish Women in Sport Annual Awards 2018, Dentons is sponsoring the ‘Coach of the Year Award’. The awards will celebrate, recognise and reward the achievements of female athletes and respective support staff and volunteers. The awards ceremony will take place in Glasgow on 9 November 2018.
Amanda Jones said: “It is a privilege to be supporting these awards and celebrating the achievements of women in Scotland. These awards recognise the contributions made by women to boost Scotland’s economy and level the playing field – so to speak – in sport. They are helping to raise awareness, change perceptions, and generate further opportunities for Scottish women – something we are very pleased to get behind. We wish all the nominees the best of luck.”
ScotRail will next week reach another important milestone in its plan to build the best railway Scotland has ever had, with the first Inter7City high-speed train entering service for customers.
The Inter7City train, which will run initially between Aberdeen and Edinburgh from Monday (15 October), is the first of the iconic upgraded high-speed trains that will connect Scotland’s seven cities – providing a boost for commuters, tourists, and business travellers.
Key features of the high-speed trains include:
- More seats
- Increased luggage space
- At seat power sockets
- More toilets
- Better on-board hospitality
The upgraded train will offer better connections for customers and will help deliver ScotRail’s improved timetable from 9 December 2018.
ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes said:
“This is another major milestone in our plan to build the best railway Scotland has ever had.
“Our Inter7City service will provide more seats, better services, and more comfortable journeys for our customers.
“The investment we are making in these iconic trains is a clear sign of the ScotRail Alliance’s commitment to building a bigger and better railway for the whole of Scotland.”
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure, and Connectivity Michael Matheson said:
“The entry into service of the first fully upgraded high speed train (HST) is to be welcomed and I look forward to seeing more follow in the months ahead.
“Passengers have looked forward to the arrival of the fully refurbished HST fleet which will bring significant improvements for travellers on our inter-city routes between Scotland’s seven main cities. ScotRail and Wabtec, its supplier, have given assurances they remain focused on ensuring the full fleet is in service as quickly and efficiently as possible, meaning even more passengers will soon benefit from faster trains which have the latest standard of comfort, accessibility and catering provision.
“The boost in seating provision will help support the overall 23 per cent increase in capacity being delivered during 2019 as rail continues to grow in popularity across Scotland.”
Virgin Trains launches its half-term ‘Rookies Academy’, giving train fans aged 5-11 the chance to go behind the scenes of the railway
Keeping the children busy during the school holidays can be hard work, and a blow to the bank balance to boot. This half term, Virgin Trains has just the ticket for parents searching for inspiration; ‘Rookies Academy’ is a brand-new series of free activity days taking place at 13 stations across the West Coast route over the school break.
This October, ditch the duck pond, turn off the tablet and give your little locomotive lovers the chance to see how the railway really works. ‘Rookies Academy’ activity days will offer children aged 5 to 11 a range of exciting experiences*, including the chance to:
- Make a station announcement
- Learn how to dispatch trains from the platform
- Meet a train driver for a tour of the driver’s cab onboard a Virgin Train
Gary Campbell, Station Manager at Virgin Trains says: “We know children love trains, and we see so much enthusiasm for the railway from children travelling through our station. Every day we are asked lots of questions by young train fans who tell us how much they would like to work on the railway when they grow up, so we are excited to be offering our ‘Rookies’ some hands-on, real-life experience at stations along our West Coast route this half term. Make sure you pre-book your ticket to guarantee your place, as we unfortunately aren’t able to let ‘Rookies’ in without one!”
Book your place on our website from 15th October https://www.virgintrains.co.uk/rookies
PLEASE NOTE PLACES ARE LIMITED. PRE-BOOKED TICKETS ONLY. NO WALK-UPS ON THE DAY. 800px × 250px –
A training company launched by Scots entrepreneur Gio Benedetti has secured a series of lucrative contracts during a frenetic six month burst of activity.
Hamilton-based Green Cross training operates throughout the UK and has won several high-profile deals to provide first aid and health and safety training.
A major success was secured by signing up to provide courses for all Coca Cola’s UK employees.
The company has also landed contracts to provide similar services at Edinburgh City Council, Highland Council, Scottish Borders Council and the local authority in Newcastle.
Their existing impressive portfolio of clients also includes Coca Cola, Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury’s and BT.
The additional contracts come after the serial innovator and the father of celebrated violinists Nicola and Stephanie invested £1 million on innovative systems.
Now there are plans to double the sales force and plans for expansion through the acquisition of other training firms.
The new contracts comes in the wake of the appointment of Caroline Meikle as business development director.
She said: “We have an impressive array of high-profile clients and every business in every sector in the UK is now on our radar as potential customers.”
The company has established itself as one of the biggest independent provider of courses in the UK with around 50,000 trained last year alone.
Mr Benedetti, who has built and sold businesses worth around £100 million in a stellar career, said:
“Anything I have been involved with I have built from a start-up. It is the same with this company. We have invested significant funds in innovative training management systems. That is now paying off.”
Key to recent growth is the £1 million ‘Green Cross External Management System’ (GEMS) training system which offers clients quick and easy access online 24/7 to plan and up-date courses.
Caroline Meikle said: “Our innovative systems keep our cost base down and our clients are able to monitor and control the training activity independently through the GEMS network.”
She added: “I am in advanced negotiations with some huge brands who employ thousands in a variety of sectors including retail and hospitality.”
Mr Benedetti said: “Caroline is the person who can bring the level of customer service excellence that our customers demand.”
The Italian-born Scot launched his business career when he started a dry-cleaning business at the age of 18. It grew until Mr Benedetti had built one of
After witnessing 20%+ sales growth in the last FY, Traveleads has appointed Sally Cassidy, currently Sales Director for West of Scotland/Aberdeen, to the position of Head of Sales to run the UK sales operation.
Sally will be tasked with building a larger sales force and developing a dynamic sales strategy to maximise on Traveleads’ combination of award-winning service standards and leading technological solutions, serving clients with a variety of both complex and point-to-point travel requirements.
Sally commented Sally commented “I am delighted to have this opportunity to lead an innovative and enthusiastic team, we have some very ambitious plans to expand our client base in other areas of the UK as well as our home bases, and I’m thrilled at the prospect of maintaining continued growth at this exciting time.”
Sally Cassidy
Traveleads is a leading independent TMC, with specialist divisions working in corporate travel, sports travel, television & film production, energy/offshore travel and MICE. Traveleads is a member of GTMC – the professional body for travel management companies in the UK.
For more information, please contact: David Walsh, Marketing Manager dwalsh@traveleads.net 0113 245 7745
Digitising workflows will bring transparency to the supply chain
Edinburgh Napier has joined forces with Eyecademy to use blockchain technology to develop verifiable records for the supply journey of ethically-sourced food.
The collaboration with the Glasgow-based leading data and analytics provider will be among the first projects undertaken at the university’s new Blockpass Identity Lab, which uses cutting-edge blockchain research to drive innovation.
A blockchain is a growing list of records or blocks, which is secured using cryptography and resistant to modification.
The new research project aims to use the technology to overcome difficulties around the provenance of organic produce, reassuring consumers of ethical sources, countries of origin and producers in the journey from farm to table. In this application, blockchain technology can be used by countries like Scotland to protect and promote national brands on the international stage.
The collaborative technology could also be used in further applications to follow supply journeys for raw materials from a variety of industries, connecting producers, distributors, regulatory bodies and consumers.
The collaboration is supported by the Scottish Funding Council’s Innovation Voucher scheme, which is administered by Interface, who work with businesses to translate their ideas into dynamic briefs for academics.
Professor Bill Buchanan, Director of the Blockpass Identity Lab, said: “Edinburgh Napier is keen to work with innovative companies like Eyecademy around blockchain to take full advantage of this new world we are creating.
“The application of blockchain and tracking methods will allow us to create a trustworthy trail for food and thus support both the providers and their customers.”
The Blockpass Identity Lab was built at Edinburgh Napier’s Merchiston campus as part of a £600,000 collaboration between the School of Computing and Hong Kong-based Blockpass, who are using blockchain technology to develop platforms which allow users to retain control of their personal data.
Liam Bell, the lead blockchain researcher in the lab, said: “We are delighted to integrate Eyecademy into the lab, and will continue to work with them in the development of their product.
“They have a long track record of success in the industry, and see great potential in the integration of blockchain and advanced cryptography with food provenance.”
Brian Rutherford, Operations Director of Eyecademy, said: ‘With more than 10 years of experience providing data and analytics solutions in Scotland and nationwide, we are excited to be working with the world-leading collaboration of the Blockpass Identity Lab.”
“Using innovative technology to provide and develop business solutions is at the heart of what we do, and we are confident that our combined efforts will continue to push the boundaries of Scotland’s technological growth.”
Edinburgh Napier has a strong track record of success within the Scottish Funding Council’s Innovation Voucher programme.
Dr Siobhán Jordan, Director of Interface, said: “There are numerous mutual benefits to business partnering with academics as demonstrated by Edinburgh Napier University and Eyecademy. Through tackling real-life challenges and opportunities, they can learn from each other and grow their knowledge and expertise.
“Funding through Innovation Vouchers can be pivotal for companies as they research and develop products, services and processes, enabling them to tap into our world-leading universities.”
Miller Homes’ latest development in the east, is positioned on the southern edge of Scotland’s bustling capital city. Less than a mile from the City Bypass, Highbrae at Lang Loan boasts quick access to Edinburgh’s vibrant shopping scene, world renowned theatres, live music venues and museums, as well as the beautiful, open green spaces surrounding the city.
Closer to home, daily life is made easy with Straiton Retail Park which is home to an Asda, Next, Sainsbury’s and Ikea is close by. The vast and rolling Pentland Hills are also on the development’s doorstep, offering memorable walking experiences – particularly at this time of year, when the heather takes on wonderful winter hues. Straiton Pond Local Nature Reserve provides plenty of exploring opportunities and King Acre golf course offers the chance to play a round of golf within scenic countryside all year round.
The development itself offers a contemporary selection of energy efficient four and five bedroom homes, perfectly positioned within the catchment area for great primary and secondary schools and just over two miles from the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
Highbrae at Lang Loan is the first of the homebuilder’s developments to feature its new home styles, which cater to the needs of modern family life. The homes, which have been named after Scottish clans, have been designed to make the most of natural light and space.
There are six new housetypes released for sale, all carefully designed to fit perfectly with how modern families live. Highbrae at Lang Loan has something for everyone, including the four bedroom Mackie with a stunning bay-windowed lounge to the elegant five bedroom Lockhart, with double garage, elegant winding staircase and standout master bedroom.
The development also features the Mackintosh which is a great option for growing families. The welcoming entrance leads the way to a lounge, which is flooded with natural light from a stunning bay window. The impressive open plan kitchen and family area is perfect for modern life and entertaining and the addition of a contemporary kitchen island creates a space for cooking preparation and can be used as a stylish breakfast bar. An adjoining laundry room keeps everyday clutter at bay.
A formal lounge, elegantly entered through double doors, and dining room are ideal for entertaining family and friends, and the flow of the downstairs space allows for an additional room at the front of the home, which makes for a great home office, a cosy den or even a playroom for little ones.
A central landing leads the way to four bedrooms upstairs and a beautiful master bedroom, complete with double fitted wardrobes and private ensuite. Thoughtfully built with family living in mind, two of the bedrooms share a Jack and Jill ensuite and there is also a main bathroom, meaning there is plenty of room for a large or growing family.
Also available at Highbrae at Lang Loan is the four bedroom Pringle, a beautiful home designed to give families the freedom and flexibility to make it their own. The Pringle features a lounge at the front of the home, with a contemporary bay window, and a modern open plan kitchen and family area downstairs, perfect for relaxing and entertaining guests. The laundry roon and a WC add practicality to the home without compromising its style.
Upstairs there are fourbedrooms, one of which includes an ensuite shower room, and a family bathroom with separate bath and shower. A large window ensures that the master bedroom is filled with light, and the room also features a contemporary ensuite and stylish fitted wardrobes.
Homes at Highbrae at Lang Loan are selling from nearby development, South Gilmerton Brae and Miller Homes is offering a £2,000 option voucher to personalise homes on all new homes reserved this year (until 31 Decemeber 2018), with a move-in date of before 31 March 2019.
For more information call 03331 220 300 or pop into the marketing suite at South Gilmerton Brae from Thursday to Monday between 10.30am and 5.30pm.
