Lothian is delighted to welcome the return of its hugely-successful Doors Open Day Event, after a four-year absence.

The bus operator’s Doors Open Day event will take place on Saturday 23 September from 1100-1500 hrs and will feature all the family favourites that have made the event such a huge success in the past.

As well as the chance to take a closer look at a variety of Lothian vehicles including open-top tour buses and executive coaches, visitors of all ages will have the chance to get their faces painted, burn off some energy in the Kids’ Zone, browse Lothian’s latest merchandise, and even take a tour through Lothian’s bus wash.

Many key partners will be in attendance on the day as well as representatives from VOLVO, with vintage vehicles on display from the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum as a nod to yesteryear.

Lothian will also have a stall dedicated to all things ‘sustainability’ where visitors can test their dexterity on the electric bus buzzer game, as well as learn more about the company’s new net zero strategy.

The popular event runs in conjunction with the Doors Open Days – Scotland’s largest free festival that celebrates places and stories, new and old – across September. Refreshments including burgers and ice cream will be available to purchase on the day, courtesy of Lothian’s catering team.

Entry into the event is free, however donations are encouraged. Lothian’s Charity of Choice, VOCAL – Voice of Carers Across Lothian – will be the recipients of any donations made.

Gaynor Marshall, Communications Director for Lothian, said: “Lothian is delighted to be hosting Doors Open Day again this year.  It has been a much-loved event throughout the years and we are excited to bring it back for residents and visitors across Edinburgh, the Lothians and beyond.  

“Our Doors Open Day event would not be possible without the incredible effort of the teams across our business and we look forward to showcasing the best of our business during the afternoon.”

Do you want to be better able to support your neurodivergent colleagues and staff? Or are you simply looking to become a more inclusive employer generally?

Our Neurodiversity Works! training course, delivered online over 3 sessions, is aimed at anyone who is responsible for managing staff, recruitment or developing organisational policies and practice. The course is also suitable for individuals interested in making their own work practices and teams more inclusive. The interactive sessions are informed by lived experience of neurodiversity and are delivered by our talented neurodivergent trainers.

The course will help you to develop best practice when recruiting and supporting neurodivergent staff, and to create a more inclusive and welcoming work environment for all colleagues.

Training dates:

Thurs 2 November, 1.30 – 3.15pm

Thurs 9 November, 1.30 – 3.00pm

Part 3 Thurs 16 November, 1.30 – 3.00pm

Contact: training@intowork.org.uk

Book here: https://tinyurl.com/2p8p8cmw

Cost: £95 per participant

The Royal Commonwealth Pool is holding a taster weekend on Saturday, 23^rd and Sunday, 24^th September, with the chance to access their fitness classes, swim, and gym for £3 for the entire weekend, bookable online or in venue – perfect for those wishing to try before they buy.

Affectionately known as ‘the Commie’, this iconic venue rich in sporting history, which has hosted three Commonwealth Games in 1970, 1986 and the diving events in 2014, has a top-spec gym, Edinburgh’s only 50-meter pool, diving facilities, and fitness studios with a variety of classes, including spin and Les Mills classes.

To take advantage of this offer, people will be required to sign up online here or in venue and book for the activities they wish to try.

Edinburgh Leisure is also running their September campaign, so for customers joining in September, there will be no joining fee and gives access to member benefits like priority bookings, free gym introductions and 1:1 Instructor Sessions.  There is no contract and it’s possible to freeze or cancel your membership at any time.  So, wherever you’re at on the map or in life, Edinburgh Leisure has activities to help you enjoy a healthy, happy and active life for less.

See all information about the Taster Weekend here.

Recycle Scotland and Corporate Moves are delighted to introduce Isabel Wilson-Beales as their newest addition to their growing team. In her role as Business Executive, Isabel brings a profound commitment to sustainability and a keen eye for fostering growth.

Corporate Moves provides expert relocation and installation services to businesses across Scotland and the UK. Working in partnership, Recycle Scotland is the leading office furniture recycling solution, operating a business model where they collect redundant furniture and match it with companies seeking a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to buying new.

Isabel’s unwavering enthusiasm and dedication to the shared vision will undoubtedly have a significant impact as the teams continue to grow and reshape how workplaces responsibly manage excess furniture and embrace sustainable furniture solutions. Isabel will play a pivotal role in driving their collective efforts to deliver seamless and sustainable workplace solutions across the UK.

For more information go to www.corproate-moves.com / www.recycle-scotland.co.uk

Ahead of this week’s interest rate decision, new research by the BCC Insights Unit shows nearly half of firms say the cost of borrowing is negatively impacting their business. 

When asked if their company is directly impacted by the current interest rate – whether positively, negatively, or not directly, a survey of 726 organisations found: 

• 46% of firms overall said it was having a negative impact. 
• 9% said it was having a positive impact. 
• 45% said they were not directly impacted.
• The business-to-consumer sector (such as retailers and hospitality firms) are far more likely to report negative impacts, rising to 61%. 

Businesses were then asked why the current interest rate was having a positive or negative impact, depending on how they answered the previous question.

For those reporting negative impacts, businesses cited increasing borrowing and mortgage costs, alongside reduced demand from customers. For those reporting positive impacts, firms generally mentioned higher returns on cash reserves.

The research was carried out between 17^th July and 11^th August. The results come as the BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey has shown growing concern over interest rates, with 41% reporting this as a concern in Q2, compared to 36% in Q1. The quarterly survey also showed fewer firms are expecting higher price rises.

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said:

“With all eyes on the Bank of England later this week, our data is a timely reminder about the pain many businesses are suffering because of rising interest rates.

“Firms tell us every day that they are struggling to pay off debts and finding it difficult to take out loans.

“Business investment is fundamental to the economic growth everybody wants. Firms will only be able to invest when the financial burdens, including interest rates, ease.

“The Bank of England has indicated rates are nearing their peak. Businesses need clarity and certainty this week, that an end to the cost-of-borrowing pressures are really on the horizon.”

In an era marked by political uncertainty and frequent changes in leadership, it is evident that both local and national Government have faced significant challenges in recent years. The memories of 2022 linger – a year that witnessed four Chancellors and three Prime Ministers, a revolving door of Cabinet Ministers, and even the birth of new Government Departments such as the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Against this backdrop, the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce is calling for a Modern Industrial Strategy for Scotland, advocating for the Scottish Government to take the bold and innovative step of removing long-term economic strategic planning from the political cycle.

We are pushing for a Modern Industrial Strategy for Scotland that garners broad cross-party support, and addresses “short-termism and politicisation” that have often impeded genuine and meaningful progress. More importantly, the Chamber is determined to put its shoulder to the wheel in assisting the process and plans to reconvene influential city business leaders to help gather the views of diverse industries, ensuring that the proposed strategy resonates with the real-world needs and aspirations of businesses.

This initiative follows the Chamber’s successful convening of the Edinburgh Business Resilience Group, which, two years ago, produced the impactful “Prospectus for Growth” document. This document, which has fed into policy-making, was the result of the efforts of approximately 60 business leaders who, over several months, delved into an array of critical topics including economic recovery, talent and skills and key sectors in the city such as hospitality and tourism.

The Chamber maintains that our economy underpins our country’s ability to offer its people good employment, opportunities, health, education – and is too important to be subjected to short-term thinking.

Liz McAreavey, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: “We need a long-term Modern Scottish Industrial Strategy, developed along cross-party lines to remove short-termism and party politics from the equation. Our ambitions around the wellbeing economy, fair work agenda and net zero targets depend upon a successful economy, and it is too important at this vital time that we make good, sustainable, thoughtful and strategic choices that will ensure the future is bright.

“Such a strategy, conceived and led in partnership with industry, and aligned with existing strategies -such as those focussed on innovation and skills – would bring everything together, creating a cohesive, overarching and long-term aim for the development of our economy and our society.

“But we do not intend to leave our interest there. As before, the Chamber will convene business leaders and key stakeholders from Scotland’s Capital to give their time and enormous expertise to help shape this Industrial Strategy.”

Since the initial Prospectus for Growth was published two years ago, Joanne Davidson, Policy Director at the Chamber, added that the challenge posed by the lack of long-term strategic thinking had become glaringly obvious.

“Inconsistency and instability are the enemies of a successful economy. In the past two years, the UK has had 3 Prime Ministers, 4 Chancellors of the Exchequer; Scotland has had 2 First Ministers and 2 Cabinet Secretaries for Finance and the Economy. We have a Conservative UK Government, an SNP-led Scottish Government, and a minority Labour-led city council.”

The first Prospectus for Growth came off the back of a two-year global pandemic and lockdown, and Brexit.” Only now are the consequences of both these seismic events – allied now to the war in Ukraine – becoming crystal clear.

“Stubbornly high inflation, which risks becoming embedded in the UK economy more than any other leading developed economy; critical skills shortages; rising costs; wages inflation; and what appears to be an ever-increasing burden of legislation and regulation are hampering efforts to bring the cost of doing business crisis under control.”

In the recent update to Prospectus for Growth, the Chamber made the following key points:

On re-setting the relationship between policy-makers and business the document says: “Some progress on this issue has been made since the publication of Prospectus for Growth. At a city level, a new Cross-Party Edinburgh Economic briefing is being held quarterly by the Chamber and partners and is well attended by politicians and influencers from government at all levels. At a national level, the New Deal Group, announced by the First Minister and Chaired by Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy has been convened with Chamber representation. However, much more is needed.

“We would like to see earlier, more constructive meaningful engagement and consultation, and the establishment of a more formal forum at a local level where politicians can engage, hear and better understand the voice of business”

Joanne Davidson reinforced that the Chamber was determined to play a positive role in the essential need for improved discourse between government and business. She said: “Edinburgh’s economy continues to make progress despite the challenges. This leads us to think that so much more could be achieved if we had greater engagement and co-operation, greater understanding of what businesses need to create opportunities and wealth for our citizens, and the long-term thinking essential to replace the threat posed by short-term political expediencies.

“In the spirit of the Scottish Government’s recent commitments to re-set the relationship with business, which was the underlying theme of the Prospectus, and with a new administration at local government level, we feel that now is the time to re-engage on many of these still valid issues.”

The Edinburgh Chamber remains committed to engaging with business on this important topic, gathering real-world views and insights we can take to policy-makers. We will continue to advocate for a Modern Industrial Strategy that provides a cohesive, long-term strategy for our economy, supporting businesses by providing certainty which is essential for future planning and growth.

Join us for a delightful evening of indulgence at the Scottish Honey Tasting Experience! Get ready to savour the rich flavours of Scotland’s finest honey varieties. This in-person event will take place on Thursday the 19th of October 2023 at 415-417 Saint James Square #Level 4, Edinburgh, EH1 3AE

Immerse yourself in the world of honey as our expert honey sommelier Gino will guide you through a unique tasting journey. Discover the distinct characteristics and aromas of different types of honey, sourced locally from Edinburgh, Lothians and other picturesque locations in Scotland.

During the experience, you’ll have the opportunity to sample a wide range of honey varieties, learn the story of the bees that produced them, and finally unwind with fellow honey lovers for a convivial dinner.

Whether you’re a honey enthusiast or simply curious about the wonders of honey, this event promises to be a sweet adventure. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to taste the natural sweetness of Scotland.

Book your spot now!

To find out more visit us at www.simplyhoney.co/about

SHE Scotland CIC invite you to share our celebration of International Day of the Girl and our brand new SHE Strategy Launch on Wednesday 11^th October.

SHE welcomes partners, funders, SHEROs and all our friends to hear how SHE aims to support girls and young women become more empowered, supported, aspirational, and improve their life chances.

SHE will set out our aims, our mission and plans to compliment current Scottish Government policy, enhance existing programmes and develop exciting new opportunities to influence and partner service providers for women.

The evening will include feedback from partners and funders,  sharing research from Napier University, celebrating SHE’s impact and launching our mission/aims for 2023-2025.

Please RSVP: shescotland@outlook.com or use the QR code provided by Friday 6^th October.

SHE looks forward to sharing our strategy and plans to positively impact on the health and wellbeing of women in Scotland.

Jason MacGilp, Chief Executive for Cairn Housing Association, has been appointed as Changeworks’ newest board member. Jason will be instrumental in providing governance in support of Changeworks’ strategic aim to decarbonise Scotland’s homes to tackle the climate emergency.  

 

Jason brings over 35 years’ experience through his work across a range of senior and executive roles working in housing associations and local government. Having sat on the boards of the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Jason has a track record of collaborations on driving service change and improvement and working with partners to achieve business growth. 

 

Changeworks, Scotland’s leading environmental charity, works with partners, housing associations, local authorities and other government branches to drive transformation in energy efficiency and to tackle fuel poverty. Changeworks has had long-standing partnerships with several housing associations working to provide more energy efficient homes for tenants and helping housing associations meet net zero targets. This includes Cairn Housing Association, which has homes across Scotland, from Thurso through to Newcastleton.   

 

Del Redvers, Chair of the Changeworks board said: “With his background as an experienced social housing professional, his collaborative, values-based leadership skills and his commitment to tackling the climate emergency, Jason is an excellent fit for Changeworks. We look forward to welcoming him onboard.” 

 

Jason said: “The local, national and international importance of halting global warming, tackling the inequalities of fuel poverty and providing safe, affordable and warm homes and heating systems requires urgent and sustained action at all levels. Changeworks’ work has never been more important, and I am delighted to join the board to contribute to maximising Changeworks’ impact.”