Glasgow and Edinburgh become UK pioneers for new G.fast technology
Thousands of people in parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow can now get some of the fastest broadband speeds in the country as Openreach has begun switching on the pilot areas for its new ultrafast broadband network.
Around 16,900 households and businesses in parts of Sighthill, Gorgie, Corstorphine, Murrayfield, Fountainbridge, Craiglockhart, the Meadows and Morningside in Edinburgh and parts of Linn and Rutherglen in Glasgow are set to benefit from the new ultrafast service, known as G.fast, which provides download speeds of up to 330Mbps – more than 10 times the UK average.
The faster speeds that ultrafast broadband brings means a two hour HD film can be downloaded in just 90 seconds, a 45 minute HD TV show in just 16 seconds and a nine hour audio book in just three seconds.
People living in the pilot areas who want to try the new service should contact their internet service provider to see if they’re offering a service, and to find out more about availability and pricing.
Andrew Hepburn, Openreach fibre programme director for Scotland, said: “A huge amount of effort and substantial investment has already taken place in the development of this exciting new technology. So I’m delighted to announce that we can now start connecting the first people in Scotland to this new technology.
“These pilot schemes are hugely important to us and to the local households and businesses, which will be able to benefit from G.fast. Whether you are somebody aiming to work more efficiently or grow your business, or a household going online for shopping, entertainment or studies, fast access to the internet has never been more important. We know the technology works and can be a major benefit for customers, but these pilots will now help us test and improve all the factors involved in rolling out G.fast on a national scale.”
Kim Mears, Openreach managing director for infrastructure delivery, added: “The UK is ahead of its major European neighbours when it comes to superfast broadband but technology never stands still – that’s why we’re building on our existing fibre network and leading the way in deploying ultrafast speeds.
“We need to stay ahead in order to meet the evolving needs of our customers. G.fast will allow us to do that by building on the investment we have made in fibre to date. It will transform the UK broadband landscape from superfast to ultrafast, and it will reach the largest number of people in the quickest possible time.”
Engineers have spent recent months upgrading the network in several parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow to prepare for the arrival of the G.fast broadband pilot scheme.
The cities were announced as pilot locations for G.fast in October 2016, as part of Openreach’s ambition to make ultrafast broadband available to 12 million UK homes by the end of 2020.
G.fast technology changes the way today’s broadband is transmitted, delivering ultrafast speeds that have previously required fibre to be run all the way to the premises (FTTP). This is significant as G.fast will enable Openreach, the local network business which is part of BT Group, to make ultrafast fibre available to a much larger number of homes and businesses and more quickly than if it had focused on FTTP alone.
It builds on the success of the rollout of superfast broadband, which has already reached more than 442,000 homes and businesses in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Overall, more than nine out of ten premises across the UK can access superfast speeds today with around another 17,000 homes and businesses being enabled each week.
Following the early trials of G.fast in Cambridgeshire, Gosforth and South Wales, the 17 pilot areas have extended that reach even further – already reaching more than 100,000 homes across the UK.
People wanting to take advantage of the new ultrafast technology can find out more about which providers offer this service by visiting www.openreach.co.uk/buyultrafast
The first air service between Edinburgh and the Isle of Man since 2013 has taken to the skies, operated by Scotland’s Airline, Loganair.
The route reinstates an air link with the Isle of Man from Scotland’s capital, with Loganair scheduling up to four flights each week throughout the summer.
Friday and Monday services will continue into the winter season, with fares starting from just £54.99 including a free-of-charge 20kg checked baggage allowance.
Loganair will operate under its franchise agreement with Flybe – with bookings taken via www.flybe.com – until 31 August 2017.
From 1 September, Scotland’s Airline will be flying solo and the new Isle of Man route is currently bookable – alongside Loganair’s extensive route network in Scotland and beyond – via its new reservations system at www.loganair.co.uk and call centre on 0344 800 2855.
Loganair’s frequency has been tailored to appeal to leisure travellers enjoying world-famous Isle of Man TT events or visiting friends and relatives. It will also provide additional options for business travellers or passengers commuting between the two points.
The new schedule is:
Jonathan Hinkles, Loganair’s Managing Director, said: “It’s fantastic to resume services between Edinburgh and the Isle of Man, a route which should appeal to both business and leisure passengers.
“The enhanced timetable includes weekday services, expanding the number of options available for travellers when selecting the duration of trips.
“Fares on the route are competitively priced, starting at £54.99 each way with up to 90% on-sale for less than £100. If you live in and around the Central Belt, this is definitely the cheapest way to get to the Isle of Man.”
Gordon Dewar, CEO of Edinburgh Airport, said: “A direct route between Edinburgh and the Isle of Man is a very welcome return to our extensive domestic network. Flying four times a week will enhance the strong business links between the destinations and offers even more choice for those looking for a short break.”
Passengers will also have access to Loganair’s many onward connections from Edinburgh across its route network in the Highlands and Islands including Kirkwall, Sumburgh and Stornoway. Customers can make a single booking and travel to any or from any of these destinations.
Pictured above: Edinburgh Airport aviation business development manager Jonathan Macneal and Loganair’s head of revenue and sales Donna McHugh (centre pair) with crew members (l-r) Alasdair Cross, Russell Wheatley, Nigel Pybus and Claire Derighetti
On a warm day in May, a group of around thirty (mostly) women joined us at the G&V Royal Mile Hotel for our monthly Inspiring Women in Business Lunch. Our guest speaker was Tracey McNellan, a woman boasting an illustrious career in the fast-paced media industry.
From early on in the event, delegates relaxed in to the comfortable surrounds of the G&V, drink in hand, where they were given the opportunity to network prior to being whisked in to the dining room to hear from our guest speaker.
In something of a break from the norm, this Inspiring Women in Business event was held Q&A style with one of Tracey’s colleagues – Paul Harper of Heart Scotland’s drive time show – quizzing Tracey on a range of topics, from her early career to challenges she’s faced to radio’s place in today’s world. Paul informed the crowd that the last Q&A he hosted was with the lawyers of Steven Avery, the man made famous by the documentary Making a Murderer. This Q&A, he assured, would be much more light-hearted.
They covered Tracey’s career first, noting her background in computing and early love of music, which undoubtedly influenced the direction her life would later take. We learned of Tracey’s determined nature from an early age, where when she told her mother about her intentions to take on a sales role and being told she didn’t have enough experience in sales, she replied with a straightforward; “I’ll learn”. They spoke of her rapid career progression, winning the roles of Sales Manager at only 25 and Sales Director at 29, and her philosophy that – to counter those who believed she was too young for such a senior role – “if you’re capable enough, you’re old enough”.
Radio and the wider media industry are seen as ever-exciting and fun places to work, yet like most businesses they don’t come without their challenges. We heard next of some of the obstacles Tracey has faced in her many roles (and in her personal life, too). She spoke of her earlier marriage, the changes she has seen her workplaces undertake as the media industry has evolved, and her conflict of choosing between her career and her personal life – notably, a career move that would see her move to Nottingham for the role of Managing Director at Capital FM East Midlands, at the cost of leaving behind a life she loved in Scotland.
Tracey couldn’t stay South forever though, and eventually moved back to Scotland for the role of Managing Director at Global Scotland (Heart & Smooth), where even today she and her team face challenges that many radio stations face in a world of constant and rapid technological and societal change. She believes that radio must continue to “evolve and change rapidly”, and that in this time of ‘fake news’ radio must hold on to it’s status as an instant, yet trusted source of information.
We heard a little of Tracey’s life outside of work, too. While she admits that it can be difficult to ‘switch off’, she enjoys coaching other businesses and, while in Nottingham, took up a side project of becoming a yoga and pilates teacher.
Tracey then talked us through a typical day – well, as typical as one could be, given that “no two days are the same, because it’s radio [and] things happen, and we need to react”. That concluded the Q&A, and after applause, lunch arrived. The staff at G&V promptly delivered our plates, a delicious pork belly, followed by a dessert of honeycomb and ice cream, and tea and coffee.
During dessert, there was the opportunity for delegates to ask any burning questions – after which Tracey and Paul had to take their leave. Paul was due to host the drive time show in only a couple hours time and while we were enjoying their company, as Liz McAreavey said, “we’d rather not be responsible for silence on the air this afternoon”.
Our next Inspiring Women in Business Lunch will be held on June 27th at the Waldorf Astoria, where we will hear from Catherine Topley, Director of Corporate Services at Scottish Prison Service. Click here to book your place.
The ScotRail Alliance today confirmed that extra services will be provided for Edinburgh spectators and runners on Sunday 28 May.
The extra trains are due to run between Edinburgh and Prestonpans from early afternoon onwards. All trains will serve Wallyford and Musselburgh stations, near to the finishing line.
ScotRail also advise that, due to platform extension works, a small number of services will start or terminate at Haymarket, rather than Edinburgh Waverley.
A ScotRail Alliance spokesperson said: “Please allow extra time for travel, and buy your ticket in advance, not on the day. The last trains of the day are likely to be busy, so please aim for an earlier service to avoid disappointment.”
Bookings are open for upcoming training events with Arts & Business Scotland, Introduction to Fundraising (Tuesday 13 June in Edinburgh) and A General Tax Guide for Arts and Heritage Organisations (Wednesday 21 June in Glasgow and Friday 23 June in Perth).
Introduction to Fundraising
Tuesday 13 June 2017 | Arts & Business Scotland, Edinburgh
Registration: 9:15am | Event: 9:30am-4.30pm
This popular one day course is aimed at individuals in Arts and Culture organisations who are new to or starting to fundraise. The day provides an overview of the current funding landscape in Scotland and creating an effective case for support.
Full details, address and booking here: http://www.aandbscotland.org.uk/events/2017/06/13/introduction-to-fundraising-edinburgh/
A General Tax Guide for Arts and Heritage Organisations
Arts & Business Scotland are pleased to be running this new event twice, with one in Glasgow and one in Perth.
Wednesday 21 June 2017 | Scott Moncrieff office, Glasgow and Friday 23 June 2017 | Perth Concert Hall, Perth
Registration: 8.30am | Event: 9am-12.30pm followed by lunch and general discussion
Speakers: Kirsty Murray (Tax Director) and Scott Craig (VAT Partner), Scott Moncrieff This new half-day seminar is a must for all financial or budget holding staff and anyone who wants to know how tax affects (and can benefit) arts and heritage organisations and individuals. This session will highlight available tax savings and cover corporate tax, VAT, gift aid, basic rules, common issues and opportunities.
Full details, address and booking:
Glasgow: http://www.aandbscotland.org.uk/events/2017/06/21/a-general-tax-guide-for-arts-and-heritage-glasgow/
Perth: http://www.aandbscotland.org.uk/events/2017/06/23/a-general-tax-guide-for-arts-and-heritage-organisations-perth/
At the heart of a university with a 400 year heritage that is consistently rated one of the world’s best, and centrally located in one of Europe’s most stunning business and cultural capitals, University of Edinburgh Business School offers an experience that few can rival.
When University of Edinburgh Business School approached Heehaw with a brief to promote the organisation to their global audience, we were extremely excited about the opportunity. As part of the project, Heehaw produced several videos including; Student Motivation films; Programme Director interviews; an MBA film and animation and motion graphics videos promoting the school to prospective MBA and Masters students.
Mally Graveson, Heehaw’s Managing Director said:
“We’ve been working on this project for several months and it’s been a brilliant experience to get to know this incredible Business School. All the staff have been super helpful and I’m seriously tempted to sign up for a course! Here at Heehaw we’ve loved promoting such a distinguished organisation to a global audience and it’s great to see the videos on their website”
Mette Friis, Head of Marketing, Student Recruitment & Admissions said:
“We worked closely with Heehaw to develop and expand our use of video in promoting the School to prospective students. Working collaboratively with the team has enabled us to deliver relevant messages to our key target audience in a much more creative and impactful way. I believe it will really help us stand out in the increasingly crowded international Higher Education market.”
The following video is one of the animation videos that Heehaw produced which outlines the benefits of a Masters qualification from University of Edinburgh Business School:
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTfSvuo0uoI
For more information about the University of Edinburgh Business School: https://www.business-school.ed.ac.uk/
For more information about Heehaw: http://heehaw.co.uk/
Lateral City have just launched a brand new co-working space, No.3, located at 3 Warriston’s Close, Edinburgh. This is a new product to enhance an already successful Serviced Apartment business.
No.3 is a brand new, dynamic and engaging co-working space in the heart of Edinburgh’s famous Old Town where entrepreneurs come to grow, creatives come to collaborate and freelances feel free to express themselves. We’ve opened and developed a unique office space for a variety of users, in the heart of Edinburgh, steps away from the famous Royal Mile and Waverley Train station. Pricing and facility information is on our website, along with information about our meeting room which can be hired. We have a total of 30 desks within the space, and have already agreed terms for the rental of 6 desks. Lateral City Apartments is also ‘headquartered’ within the space.
We have launched supporting Facebook and Instagram accounts and would ask that you ‘like & share’ our pages!
As stated on the website, enquires can be sent to our email address: no3@lateralcity.com or we can be contacted on: 0131 510 7718
Report ranked five Scottish markets on key points for investors
Inverness has emerged as the surprise leader in Colliers International’s inaugural Scottish Hotel Index, as a combination of strong levels of demand; rising Average Daily Rates (ADR); a low active pipeline; relatively low development costs and high occupancy levels, allowed it to beat Edinburgh into second place.
Colliers’ Scottish Hotel Index involves the analysis of five locations across Scotland and ranks them according to nine key indicators, to determine the ‘hot spots’ for hotel development and acquisition across the country. It has found that Inverness is the most attractive market for investors, followed by Edinburgh and then Glasgow, Perth and Dundee, and Aberdeen.
Marc Finney, Head of Hotels & Resorts Consulting at Colliers International, said: “Our Scottish Hotels Market Index shows the changes taking place in the sector. The study in particular, highlights that Inverness is not necessarily the best hotel market north of the border, but it is currently providing the best opportunities in Scotland. Inverness has recorded high levels of demand of around 80% over the past four years, which has enabled ADR to rise by 22% between 2013 and 2016. It is cheap to acquire hotel sites there, providing investors with much better value for money than, say, Edinburgh.”
Alistair Letham, the Scottish director in the UK Hotels Agency team at Colliers International, added: “Crucially the index shows that hotel performance is on an upward trend in Inverness, and there is little new stock of guest rooms in development. Despite being expensive, Edinburgh is also on an upward trend and has one of the highest ADR in Scotland and the UK at £93 at the end of 2016. So the capital rightly deserves its position in the UK top ten.”
Highlights
Inverness scored highly and with an overall rating of 3.79, which would put it joint second in the UK, alongside York and behind Chester. Edinburgh is in 5th place in the UK Index.
Inverness led the way in the RevPAR trend, with growth of 8.5%, and also had the highest occupancy rate in the Scottish market with 83.2%.
The city also had some of the cheapest land, alongside Dundee and Perth, and Aberdeen, the smallest active pipeline at under 3% of current room supply, and relatively modest build costs. This allowed Inverness to top the table despite being rated as having only ‘moderate investor appeal’.
Due to data limitations, Dundee and Perth have been analysed as one city, and ranked fourth.
Edinburgh was second with the highest hotel KPIs in Scotland and a ‘very sought after’ investment location, helping it beat Glasgow into third. But its high land price, considerable active pipeline and lower RevPar trend kept it below Inverness for overall investment appeal.
Aberdeen was rated the lowest in Scotland with occupancy rate of 62% and a negative RevPar trend weighing against the Granite City. This is mainly due to the collapse of the oil prices and a large number of new hotel projects.
Mr Finney concluded: “Aberdeen was once the most thriving hotel market in Scotland and the UK but the downturn in oil prices and subsequent offshore activity has hit it hard. It is therefore suffering from a degree of oversupply and tough comparators from previous years. However, that is not to say that it does not have appeal to investors given the market’s potential to improve along with the fortunes of the city’s biggest industry.”
TOP SIX Scottish Hot Spots For Hotel Investment and Development:
1. Inverness
2. Edinburgh
3. Glasgow
4. Dundee/Perth
5. Aberdeen
Methodology
Colliers’ Scottish Hotel Index uses nine Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to score each of the locations a figure from one to five (one being the lowest and five being the highest). The determining indices include land site prices; build costs; market appetite; valuation exit yields; room occupancy; average daily rate; room occupancy rates; four-year revenue per available room trend (RevPAR); active pipeline as a percentage of current supply and construction costs. The ratings are then consolidated into a single figure and ranked to show the markets that are ‘hot’ and those that are not, in terms of a desirable location for investors to acquire an existing hotel or develop a new one.
New alliances open up new opportunities for Edinburgh companies
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce has participated in one of the first network-wide overseas trade missions to China, led by a delegation of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce.
Chief Executive, Liz McAreavey joined senior representatives and business people from Aberdeen, Ayrshire, Dundee & Angus, Glasgow, and West Lothian. The mission explored new trading opportunities and links with business, education and government organisations.
As part of the programme, Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) announced the official opening of a new International Trade Office in the city of Yantai. The formal opening ceremony was hosted by the Vice Mayor of Yantai city, Madame Zhang Bo, together with senior officials from Yantai Municipal Government.
As part of the event, both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding for trade engagement and partnership, designed to achieve an effective channel for exchange of business between Scotland and Yantai.
During the trade visit, Edinburgh Chamber participated in a series of productive meetings with senior business people, highly influential politicians including Vice Governor Wang Shujian, and local government officials as well as national ‘think tanks’ bodies in Beijing, Yantai and Jinan in the Shandong Province
Chief Executive, Liz McAreavey commented: “The Chinese economy continues to grow at a faster pace than western economies and the rate of growth within new cities such as Yantai and Jinan opens up the potential for Edinburgh businesses to promote and sell its goods and services which Chinese businesses and consumers want and need. That demand, together with a more recent policy of ‘opening up’ to new trading partners and overseas alliances by the Chinese, presents a myriad of opportunities for our local businesses to capitalise on.
“The aim of our mission was to strengthen relationships and increase engagement with existing and new contacts in sectors where there are direct B2B or knowledge-sharing opportunities for Edinburgh companies. Yantai is a city of 7 million and SCC’s base in Yantai will enable us to plan a comprehensive approach to exploiting the many opportunities in Yantai and further afield for our members and non-members.”
Shandong Province represents the third largest economy in China with a population of over 97 million and a GDP in excess of 6.3 trillion yuan (£0.7 trillion). It is China’s best wine growing region accounting for over 25% of all wine production. Yantai is the biggest trading port in North China and in 2016, the city imported over $19 billion (£14.7 billion) of goods and services.
Chief Executive, Liz McAreavey also visited the city of Jinan, which is home to one of the first national high-tech business incubators and since its foundation in 2002, it has incubated more than 1,000 small and medium sized science and technology enterprises. It focuses on cultivating fast-growing sectors such as biomedicine, ecommerce, energy, environmental protection and new materials.
Key sectors for Edinburgh Chamber based companies to meet key economic needs in the Chinese target cities include: electronic information, robotics and artificial intelligence, bioscience, R &D and smart technologies, food and drink and even football management.
The accelerated growth of consumers in Shandong province also opens opportunities in consumer goods, recreation and tourism services, financial and professional services and education.
Chief Executive, SCC, Liz Cameron said: “We now have a deeper understanding of how we can achieve the best exchange for business, where the opportunities exist for Scottish organisations and how we can best pursue these.
“We have also identified a number of potential opportunities for inward investment into Scotland and will be working with Scottish Government and SDI as well as other trade organisations to explore these and leverage the momentum of change within China.
SCC intends to return to Shandong Province later this year to conclude discussions on further Memorandums of Understanding and explore new ways to foster co-operation between the two countries.
Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is delighted to announce that Francis Lee’s debut feature GOD’S OWN COUNTRY will open the 71st edition of the Festival on 21 June, 2017.
Shot entirely on location in West Yorkshire, GOD’S OWN COUNTRY is a contemporary tale of self-discovery and emotional-awakening set on the sheep farming hills of rural Northern England. Rising star Josh O’Connor (The Riot Club, The Durrells) takes on the central role of Johnny, a young man carrying the weight of his family’s sheep farm alone until the arrival of Romanian worker Gheorghe (Alec Secareanu). Supporting the central pair are acting stalwarts Ian Hart (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, The Last Kingdom) and Gemma Jones (Spooks, Bridget Jones’s Diary), who respectively play Jack’s stroke-afflicted father Martin and formidable grandmother Deidre. Key cast will be in attendance on Opening night.
Mark Adams, EIFF Artistic Director commented: “We are thrilled to be staging the UK premiere of Francis Lee’s accomplished debut, GOD’S OWN COUNTRY. This hotly-tipped feature debut is one to watch in this incredible year for independent film and perfectly reflects the Festival’s ongoing dedication to delivering audiences the most original and artistically accomplished work in international cinema.”
Johnny Saxby (Josh O’Connor) works long hours on his family’s remote farm in the north of England. He numbs the daily frustration of his lonely existence with nightly binge-drinking at the local pub and casual sex. But when a handsome Romanian migrant worker (Alec Secareanu) arrives to take up temporary work on the family farm, Johnny suddenly finds himself having to deal with emotions he has never felt before. As they begin working closely together during lambing season, an intense relationship starts to form which could change Johnny’s life forever.
Captivating and broodingly beautiful, GOD’S OWN COUNTRY is the award-winning debut feature from writer/director Francis Lee. Bracingly open hearted, this is a thrillingly romantic story set in the heart of rural Yorkshire. Both poignant and moving, this finely crafted British film features a host of standout performances, marking it out as an absolute must see.
Yorkshire-born director Francis Lee commented: “It’s a great privilege that GOD’S OWN COUNTRY has been selected as the Opening Night film of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. After the incredible critical and audience responses to the film in both Sundance and Berlin earlier in the year, I’m thrilled to bring GOD’S OWN COUNTRY to the UK for the first time.”
Following its UK premiere at the Festival, distributor Picturehouse Entertainment will be releasing GOD’S OWN COUNTRY on Friday 1 September, 2017.
Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Wednesday 10 May through the EIFF website. For more information visit www.edfilmfest.org.uk.
The 71st edition of EIFF runs from 21 June – 2 July, 2017.
For further information, please contact: carly.cadogan@ddapr.com or 0207 932 9800
