Thanks to funding from the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Leisure were able to bring back a summer of fun safely to their venues across this city and supported 126 children and families living on low incomes to get active and enjoy their summer.

 

The Scottish Government released funding to local authorities across Scotland to help address the negative impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland. The priority for this funding was to provide opportunities that allowed children and young people to socialise and reconnect with peers, get active and most importantly have fun, during the summer.

 

Edinburgh Leisure offered parents or guardians, living on a low income and wanted their child to have the opportunity to take part in fun, engaging and exciting sports this summer to apply for funded places.

 

Spaces were available on Edinburgh Leisure’s swimming, gymnastics, dance, and tennis programmes, with no cost to the family applying. The coaching programmes took place in a variety of venues across the city, at various dates, with some one-day sessions and some full-week activity programmes.

 

Edinburgh Leisure also offered 320 spaces for families to attend their AquaDash Extreme and Clip n Climb sessions.

 

Families who were eligible for the programme included children who receive school uniform and meal grants, care experienced children, young carers, children whose families are in receipt of Universal Credit and children supported by a child’s plan.

 

Tommy George, Community Development Manager at Edinburgh Leisure said: “For many families, finances are really tight and getting involved in activities during the holidays can be prohibitive due to cost.

 

“Thanks to funding from the City of Edinburgh Council, however, we were able to support families living on low incomes to ‘Get Into Summer’ by getting active, learn key skills, build confidence and esteem, as well as having fun, in a safe environment.”

 

Edinburgh Leisure also provided a free football programme for young people from S1 to S6 to take part in and a weekly free ‘Sport on the Beach’ session at Portobello for primary school-aged children.

 

Ryden has made three senior promotions. Nick Armstrong based in the Investment team in Edinburgh and Eddie Fiddes who works in Aberdeen Property Management have both been made Partner. Mark Thom has been promoted to Associate within the Valuation, Lease Advisory & Rating team in Edinburgh. All three joined Ryden in the early stages of their property careers.

The promotions take Ryden’s total number of Partners to 43. The firm is predicted to hit fee targets at financial year end despite the difficult trading conditions of the past 12 months.

Nick has worked in the Edinburgh Investment team for over 10 years building strong relationships with clients. His most recent transactions include the purchase of Prestonfield Park Industrial Estate on behalf of Ribston and the purchase of 43-45 George Street on behalf of Thistle Property. Eddie has led Ryden’s Property Management team in Aberdeen since 2013 and has worked with local and national clients including Knight Property Group, GSS Developments, Gilcomston Investments and Freshwater Group. Mark began his career as a graduate in Aberdeen before relocating to Edinburgh where he provides valuation, rent review, lease restructuring and strategic advice for clients such as The Robertson Trust and Scotmid.

Dr Mark Robertson, Ryden Managing Partner, said: 

“Ryden has maintained a strong business focus during the extended periods of lockdown to ensure that we support our client-facing teams and sustain our market-leading positions. Our people work extremely hard for their clients and the promotions we have made are individuals who have built their career with us and reflect our appreciation of their dedication. Ryden is in a strong position to support clients through the next stage of the commercial property market cycle which is picking up pace in Q2.”

Scottish inbound marketing agency, Who Dares Marketing, has been awarded coveted partner status by search engine giant, Google.

The accreditation was granted just over a year since the business was established and follows an audit of the agency’s current search advertising campaigns against criteria set by Google.

Cameron McHattie, founder, said: “Receiving Google Partner status is the culmination of 12 months of hard work and ensuring that every campaign we run for our clients delivers the maximum value possible. Google set a pretty high bar when evaluating whether a company should be granted this status, so to meet the required standard reflects our commitment to providing high value campaigns to our clients.”

Google partner status is awarded based on various criteria set by the internet behemoth including; spend, campaign performance and certifications, which require at least one person connected to the business to hold up-to-date exams for various digital marketing disciplines.

At present, Who Dares Marketing holds partner status for Google’s core search, pay-per-click (PPC), product, although the agency has plans to gain further accreditations.

Cameron added: “Search advertising is a large part of our offering in which we add value to our client’s businesses as part of a rounded marketing strategy. This also includes, content, social media and web development. The business has ambitious growth plans over the next 12 months and this accreditation should give current and future clients further confidence in our services.”

Accountancy firm Chiene + Tait has announced the appointment of Barry Truswell as one of our team of Audit Partners. With over 15 years of audit experience, he joins the firm from a senior role at Scott Moncrieff.

In his new role, Barry will focus mainly on providing audit and assurance services to SME and corporate sector clients, closely collaborating with Chiene + Tait’s Corporate Finance Partner, Paul Mason and Neil Norman, who leads the firm’s award-winning Entrepreneurial Tax Team.

Barry’s appointment coincides with a strong period of growth at Chiene + Tait. The firm has seen a 14 per cent rise in turnover in the last year while opening new offices in Glasgow and Inverness and also investing in key areas including its Corporate Finance team.

Jeremy Chittleburgh, Senior Partner and Head of Chiene + Tait’s Audit Department, said: “Barry’s appointment brings further strength and depth to our audit team. His experience of working with start-ups, SMEs and large businesses will be invaluable in supporting strong, tailored due process across our client base”.

Commenting on his appointment, Barry Truswell said: “I’m really excited about joining the team at Chiene + Tait. I am particularly looking forward to helping further develop the firm’s approach of working collaboratively with clients across a number of key sectors, including property, entrepreneurs and not for profit, as well as private clients, and contributing to the continuing growth of the business.”

DYW Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian are recruiting a Project Officer to join our small team based in central Edinburgh with travel throughout the region.

We are looking for a confident communicator with the ability to work with employers, young people, teachers, parents and other partners involved in our work.  The role will support the increased engagement with our regional ambitions to involve more employers in informing, inspiring and hiring young people.

Would you like to be involved in delivering a strategy which raises the aspirations and broadens the horizons in young people so they are able to make more informed and supported decisions about next steps, through and after education?

Do you have experience of working in employability, with young people and employers and possess excellent communication skills with a can do attitude?

If yes we would love to hear from you.

Download the Job Description and full job advert.

Barclays has opened the doors to Scotland’s first Eagle Lab, in Edinburgh, in partnership with CodeBase.

The investment will provide a new space for businesses and communities to learn about innovative technologies and boost digital skills, while supporting job creation in the local economy.

The tech-infused space is packed full of cutting-edge equipment for digital fabrication, 3D printing and laser cutting, providing businesses with access to the tools they need to rapidly produce and test prototypes without having to import them from overseas. Some of the entrepreneurial companies who will be using the facilities include Machines with Vision, whose localisation mapping technology can be used to position and guide self-driving vehicles, and Holixica, specialists in 3D visualisation technologies including digital holograms and holographic video displays.

The lab is the 14^th Eagle Lab launched by Barclays in the UK, following successful sites in locations including London, Liverpool, Cambridge and Cardiff. It will operate within the existing CodeBase business incubator and co-working facility, helping digitally empower Scottish businesses while supporting improved productivity and economic growth.

It will also offer resources including expert mentoring and workshops for Scotland’s start-up and scale-up businesses to complement CodeBase’s existing incubator services.

Commenting on the news, Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, said: “This is a great new resource providing Scottish businesses with access to a range of experts, workshops and advice to help our workforces become equipped with the necessary skills to embrace the opportunities of digital technology.

“The Scottish Government is committed to promoting a CAN DO culture of entrepreneurship across all industry sectors. This is important so that the most talented entrepreneurs, from Scotland and elsewhere, can develop their ideas and create the successful new companies we need for our economy to continue to grow.”

The new Eagle Lab is a significant milestone in the development of Barclays’ High Growth & Entrepreneur proposition in Scotland. It will help ambitious high-growth businesses during the scale-up journey, and members of the public and local community groups as they seek to improve their digital skills.

Stuart Brown, Head of SME Scotland, Barclays, commented: “With Scotland focused on becoming a major digital player, it is vital our SMEs and entrepreneurs are equipped with the skills and tools they need to thrive in today’s ever-changing and dynamic economy.

“Whether you’re an inventor, innovator or mentor, our Eagle Lab is the perfect space to digitally empower your business, supporting scale-up opportunities, collaboration and innovation.

“The lab also forms part of our wider growth strategy in Scotland. We are committed to helping ambitious businesses and entrepreneurs flourish, contributing to improved economic prosperity and productivity.”

As the UK’s largest technology incubator, CodeBase Edinburgh is the centre of the tech scene in Scotland’s capital city. It is home to over 100 companies and already offers operator-led scale-up education, flexible office and co-working spaces, mentoring and networking events.

Stephen Coleman, CEO at CodeBase, added: “We are seeing an increase in the numbers of hybrid tech companies mixing hardware and software across a range of sectors, from self driving cars to environmental sensors and medical devices. The Eagle Lab will help us to support many more of these sorts of companies, while driving high-growth business potential.”

For more information on Barclays’ Eagle Labs: https://labs.uk.barclays/

Pictured: (L-R) Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Stuart Brown, Head of SME Scotland, Barclays, and Stephen Coleman, CEO at CodeBase

The latest publication of the monthly UK House Price Index (UK HPI) shows that the average price of a property in Scotland in November 2017 was £145,992 – an increase of 3.6 per cent on November in the previous year and an increase of 1.1 per cent when compared to the previous month.

This compares to a UK average of £226,071, which was an increase of 5.1 per cent on November in the previous year and an increase of 0.1 per cent when compared to the previous month.

The volume of residential sales in Scotland in September 2017. was 9,323 – a decrease of 2.5 per cent on September 2016 and a decrease of 0.5 per cent on the previous month. This compares with annual decreases in sales volumes of 14.8 per cent in England, 6.6 per cent in Wales and 8.6 per cent in Northern Ireland (Quarter 3 – 2017).

Registers of Scotland Business Development and Information Director Kenny Crawford said: “Average prices in Scotland continued their upward trend in November with an increase of 3.6 per cent when compared to November 2016. Average prices have been steadily increasing each month since March 2016, when compared with the same month of the previous year.

“Residential sales volumes decreased in September. The annual decrease of 2.5 per cent when compared with September 2016 in Scotland is in the context of greater decreases across the rest of the UK. The cumulative volume of sales. for Scotland for the financial year to date – from April to September 2017 – was 54,893. This is an increase of 9.1 per cent on the equivalent year to date position for September 2016.”

The top five local authorities in terms of September sales volumes were the City of Edinburgh (1,124 sales), Glasgow City (1,067 sales), Fife (706 sales), South Lanarkshire (595 sales) and North Lanarkshire (451 sales).

Average price increases were recorded in three quarters (24) of all local authorities in November 2017, when comparing prices with the previous year. The biggest price increases were in West Dunbartonshire, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh, where the average prices increased by 10.3 per cent to £106,216, 8.1 per cent to £217,106 and 8.0 per cent to £246,508 respectively. The biggest decreases were recorded in Aberdeen City and Argyll and Bute where prices fell by 4.2 per cent to £163,489 and 3.9 per cent to £127,373 respectively.

Across Scotland, most property types showed an increase in average price in November 2017 when compared with the same month in the previous year. Flat or maisonette properties showed the biggest increase, rising by 7.2 per cent to £108,881. The average price of detached properties showed a decrease of 3.6 per cent to £235,744.

The average price in November 2017 for a property purchased by a first time buyer was £121,574 – an increase of 6.5 per cent compared to the same month in the previous year. The average price for a property purchased by a former owner occupier was £169,670 – an increase of 0.7 per cent on the previous year.

The average price for a cash sale was £135,641 – an increase of 4.0 per cent on the previous year – while the average price for property purchased with a mortgage was £150,733 – an increase of 3.5 per cent on the previous year.

Leading intellectual property practice Marks & Clerk – which has offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen – has been named the UK’s top patent filer.

The firm filed the highest number of Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications between January 2014 and December 2016 according to data published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

The statistics also showed the firm – which has offices across the UK, Europe, North America and Asia – is one of Europe’s top three filers.

The first-place ranking highlights the increasing role of innovation in driving the economy in Scotland and the wider UK.

Globally an estimated 233,000 international patent applications were filed in 2016 – an increase of 7.3 per cent and “the fastest increase since 2011”, according to the WIPO’s Global PCT Leaders Report. Of these, 5,496 patent applications were filed in the United Kingdom in 2016, a 3.9 per cent increase from the previous year.

Paul Chapman, Managing Partner in Marks & Clerk’s Edinburgh office said the firm was proud to be one of the UK and Europe’s top filers of both patent and trademark applications – and said Scotland in particular was a hotbed of innovation.

He said: “That we are again recognised as the UK’s top filer of PCT applications is testament not only to the expertise of our team, but also to the dynamism of the Scottish economy and that of the wider UK.

“Scotland is a global leader in industries as diverse as energy, food and drink and biotechnology. It is great to be part of this innovation, providing businesses across Scotland with the international intellectual property protection they need to continue growing and investing.”

Marks & Clerk’s Scottish offices alone have also filed more than 200 European Patent applications – distinct from PCT applications in that they are filed at the EU Intellectual Property Office rather than the WIPO – since October 2016.

The most popular patent application categories in Scotland include those relating to oil and gas drilling, medical science and materials analysis.

Residents, businesses and other interested parties are being given the opportunity to influence a future design for George Street and the surrounding area.

Design consultants WYG Environment Planning Transport Ltd, in collaboration with LDA Design, are set to hold the first in a series of public drop-in events today (Monday, 15 January) and Tuesday (16 January) to learn more about the needs and views of individuals, community groups and stakeholders.

Participants will help shape clear design objectives for the ‘First New Town’, which encompasses George Street, Castle Street, Frederick Street and Hanover Street. Objectives will build on stakeholder engagement and a set of design principles adopted by the Council last year following a year-long trial to increase pedestrian and cyclist provision on George Street.

The output from these events, against which future designs for the First New Town will be developed, will also feed into the Council’s wider context of the Central Edinburgh Transformation project.

Transport Convener, Councillor Lesley Macinnes, said: “George Street, as part of the First New Town, is one of Edinburgh’s key thoroughfares and is  central to the way our city centre operates. That’s why it’s essential that we involve as many people, organisations and businesses as possible in the discussion about its future.

“Throughout the initial George Street trial we worked with the public to explore needs and desires for the street. We want to reflect this approach with the broader, longer term Central Edinburgh Transformation, creating an overarching plan for a more welcoming, accessible city centre.”

Held throughout 2014, a temporary scheme to transform George Street enabled the close study of its use alongside regular engagement with stakeholders. Outcomes helped to inform the creation of detailed design principles to guide its future development.

WYG Environment Planning Transport Ltd and LDA Design were appointed by the Council in October to draw up a long-term vision for the historic First New Town streets.

Once developed, the new, preliminary design will take into account George Street’s interdependence with intersecting ‘First New Town’ streets Castle Street, Frederick Street and Hanover Street, as well as Charlotte and St Andrew Squares.

January’s drop-in events are open to all members of the public and will be held on Monday 15 (1pm-6pm) and, Tuesday 16 (3pm-8pm) January at The City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1DE.

Leonard Cheshire Disability have become the first charity in Scotland to achieve the coveted Investors in People Platinum Award.

The world-recognised Investors in People standard reflects the very best in people management excellence. The charity have also achieved Gold Standard of the Investors in Young People Good Practice Award and the Investors in Health & Wellbeing Good Practice Award.

Investors in People praised the charity for their strong culture and ethos which is “focused on supporting service users to achieve their full potential.” The report cites the organisation’s ambition of being the best in their field.

Staff within the organisation highlighted the importance of core values which are embedded and strengthen the decisions made when supporting service users. The report made reference to members of staff being “led and developed in line with your values, which are undoubtedly at the heart if everything you do in your organisation… your focus is about decision making with everything centred around the service user.”

Peter Russian, Chief Executive of Investors In People, said:

“Congratulations to Leonard Cheshire Disability Scotland on their hat-trick in achieving Investors in People Platinum, the Health and Wellbeing award and Investors in Young People Gold. To achieve one of these awards at the highest level is impressive enough, to achieve all three is truly remarkable and a real sign of the commitment Leonard Cheshire Disability Scotland has to their people”.

Investors in People highlighted a significant increase in the organisation’s staff retention rate from 71% in 2015 to 87% in 2017. The report cited a whole raft of initiatives which have strengthened staff engagement, including enhanced employee benefit packages, the charity paying staff above the Scottish Living Wage, a strong philosophy around learning and development and a clearly defined career structure. All staff are empowered from day one with individual objectives and involvement in the organisation’s decision-making processes, allowing them to perform to a high standard and achieve their full potential.

The organisation’s success has been praised by the Scottish Government’s Minister for Employability and Training Jamie Hepburn MSP who said:

“Leonard Cheshire Disability Scotland do great work to support people with disabilities to undertake training and development so it is great to see them putting the same focus on developing their own workforce. In line with our Fair Work ambitions, the Scottish Government is committed to supporting all individuals to access and progress in employment, and building satisfying and sustainable careers. I would heartily encourage all organisations to explore how they can benefit from Investing in People accreditation.”

The achievement comes in the 70^th anniversary year of the founding of the charity. Since 1948 the organisation has delivered pioneering social care at the heart of communities throughout Scotland. The charity has been praised for its ambitious and positive approach and is currently experiencing rapid expansion with a number of innovative volunteering and employment programmes for people with disabilities and additional support needs.

Leonard Cheshire Disability Scotland’s Director Stuart Robertson said:

“I am very proud that Leonard Cheshire Disability Scotland is the first charity in Scotland to be accredited with IiP – Platinum, Investing in Young People – Gold and Health and Wellbeing from Investor in People.

I believe this demonstrates the organisations commitment to invest in our staff and the value we place on them. We hope this will make us an employer of choice within the social care sector and by recruiting and retaining the best staff it enables us to continue to deliver support of the highest quality.”