‘Raising the Bar: Communicating sustainability and circular economy effectively’ is happening on 13 September, 4-8pm at ECCI in Edinburgh.
Registration is open and free and there’s more detail on the eventbrite page in the link, but the basic pitch is below!
This is a mini-hackathon and workshop for comms and marketing professionals looking to up their game on the emerging requirement for knowledgeable, trustworthy and effective communication around sustainability, circular economy and low carbon. Well-known Scottish dairy business Mackie’s will set the scene and present a sustainability-related scenario that’s live for them. Attendees will then roll up their sleeves and gain practical experience through an ensuing hackathon-style workshop where we’ll work in teams to develop a campaign idea to be judged by a dragons’-den-style panel of leading business, communications and sustainability players. We’ll finish up with some great networking with panelists and attendees and, of course, a few drinks.
We want to help PR/comms and marketing professionals raise the bar and start to see their strategic role in helping a business understand when and how to embed sustainability into the business case and bottom line. We want to encourage this critical industry to get connected to emerging sustainability trends and feel confident about incorporating them into brand and marketing strategies for the future. We’re partnering with the PRCA for this and PRCA Scotland will offer CPD points to attendees – so it’s a great training opportunity for comms/marketing teams and for agencies, with good networking too.
Please help us share this event to your networks – whether your own team or agencies you’ve worked with or have relationships with – or with your wider mailing lists. Tweets and links below, a few graphics to share on social are attached along with a full brief of the event with key messages and an overview. If you’d like to run a news piece or longer listing for your events page or blog we’d be happy to help! Please get in touch with us via communications@2020climategroup.org.uk or reply to me directly.
Tweets – or feel free to use your own! Please use #RaisetheBar and tag us so we can retweet.
• #RaiseTheBar Communicate #sustainability & #circulareconomy better with @2020ClimateGrp & @PRCA_Scotland FREE tix > http://bit.ly/2t0wXny
• Are you a comms or marketing pro? Join us 13/09 for #RaisetheBar & up your game on sustainability & #circulareconomy http://bit.ly/2t0wXny
• Are you a comms or marketing pro? Join @2020ClimateGrp 13/09 for #RaisetheBar & up your game on #circulareconomy http://bit.ly/2t0wXny
• Join @2020ClimateGrp 13/09 for #RaisetheBar & up your game by communicating #sustainability better. FREE tix here > http://bit.ly/2t0wXny
Registration Link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/raising-the-bar-communicating-sustainability-circular-economy-effectively-tickets-36080576977
A new report published today [Thursday 15 June] has found that the Borders Railway is attracting new workers, homeowners and tourists to communities served by the line.
The independent study highlights that the service has been a major factor in decisions to relocate to the area, with 50% of users who had moved house and over 80% of those who changed jobs stated that the railway had been a factor in their decision. There was also a tourism benefit, with 23% of visitors stating that they would not have made the trip without the line.
The results will be discussed at the Scottish Transport Summit in Glasgow today during a session on the role of transport in boosting the economy.
Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands said:
“The reopening of the Borders Railway was a momentous occasion for residents along its route, bringing with it economic, education and employment opportunities. This independent report provides solid evidence that the communities along the line are beginning to feel the benefit of our investment. The route’s popularity was already undisputed and we will continue to work with all the Blueprint Group members to ensure that it continues to act as a catalyst for further social and economic regeneration.”
Danny Cusick of Scottish Enterprise, who chairs the Borders Railway Blueprint Group, added:
“This has been a very thorough study and it provides us with valuable insights into how the line is helping the whole region. There’s also a lot we can learn as we progress our shared efforts to maximise the economic, environmental and social benefits of the line. We are determined to build on this success further in coming years to establish the Borders Railway region as an excellent location for business, living, leisure and learning.”
The report, commissioned by Transport Scotland and the Borders Railway Blueprint Group, was carried out by Peter Brett Associates with the aim of evaluating the project’s success a year on from its reopening.
It also examined the impact the line has had on visitor numbers, passenger views of service quality and real and perceived barriers to use for those not using the service.
The key findings including
Social and economic impact:
• 39% of respondents of the user survey were traveling on a tourist day trip or overnight stay. 34% of these were traveling to the Scottish Borders or Midlothian.
• More than 65% of tourist users stated that the rail line was a factor in their decision to make their trip and 23% stated that they would not have made the trip were it not for the line. (In January 2017 a separate report also showed there had been a significant improvement in key tourism performance figures in the first half of 2016, compared to the first half of 2015 when the railway was not yet open.)
• There is evidence that the Borders Railway has affected peoples’ residential choices and choice of workplace, as more than 50% of users who had moved house and over 80% of those who moved employment since the reopening of the line stated that the railway had been a factor in their decision.
• More than 90% of respondents agreed that the railway promoted access between the Scottish Borders / Midlothian and Edinburgh.
• More than 90% agreed that it improved access for those without a car and 85% agreed it encouraged a shift from the car to public transport.
• 79% agreed that it improved access to Edinburgh’s job market.
Service use:
• Commuting is the most common journey purpose. There was also a large volume of leisure users and a considerable number of trips for education. (In December 2016, Borders College reported a 74% increase in applications.)
• Approximately 50,000 (36%) of the estimated annual single trips recorded via the sample were ‘new trips’.
• Passenger numbers are higher than forecast at all Scottish Borders stations and lower than forecast at all Midlothian stations.
• Tweedbank accounts for the biggest component of demand and Edinburgh Waverley is the most frequent destination.
• Overall, there was a high level of satisfaction with the quality of the service.
Modal shift:
• There has been a modal shift from car and bus to rail.
• It is estimated there were 40,000 saved car journeys annually.
• The shift from bus to rail equates to an estimated 22,000 annual bus journeys.
Non-usage and improvements:
• The most popular reason for not using the service was a greater convenience offered by car.
• Lower bus fares, the greater convenience of bus and the use of the National Entitlement Card on buses were also popular responses to why the service wasn’t used.
• 37% of non- and one-off users stated that improvements to the railway would encourage them to use it.
• The most popular improvement requested is lower fares.
• Users were least satisfied with the availability of staff, facilities and services at stations.
The research was carried out before the service improvement plan announced by Scotrail in November 2016 took effect. Since the study, Scotrail has also put in place extra seats on peak-services and, in January 2017, opened a new customer hub at Tweedbank, offering locally-produced refreshments and toilet facilities.
In April, Transport Scotland announced that extending the Borders Railway will be one of the options considered by a new study looking at improving transport provision in the south of Scotland across all modes including road, rail and public transport.
A new campaign – Borders Railway: More Connected – is underway to promote the benefits of working and investing in the area.
One of the UK’s largest food packaging companies, Smith Anderson Group, has agreed a new financial package with Barclays, including day-to-day banking, invoice discounting and a facility to help manage longer-term foreign exchange (FX) exposures.
The deal follows Smith Anderson Group’s recent £35 million European contract win with the world’s largest fast food chain McDonald’s, which will see the company expand its operations to supply select markets in Central Eastern Europe. The agreement was secured in part by the company’s increased competitiveness due to the weaker pound.
Smith Anderson Group is a family-owned business that has been in operation since 1859 and now has over 200 employees. It produces up to 60 million paper bags per week at its custom built facility in Kirkcaldy, Fife, suppling big brand names such as McDonald’s, Harrods, Starbucks, Waitrose and Boots.
With European trading now on the cards for the business well into 2020, Smith Anderson Group approached Barclays to discuss longer-term FX management.
Michael Longstaffe, Chief Executive at Smith Anderson Group, commented: “Securing the extended European contract with McDonald’s was a great achievement for the business. With this, however, came a degree of uncertainty, especially around the Pound to Euro value, so we felt it was essential to lock-in a foreign exchange rate to provide us a level of assurance and guaranteed margin.
“Barclays’ offering was second to none and they recognised our ambitions for long term sustainable growth. The entire process has been made simple by the team and as a result we’ve now moved over our day-to-day banking and invoice discounting facilities as well.
“I firmly believe that our partnership with Barclays and our new agreement with McDonald’s will consolidate the company’s position in the marketplace, helping us to achieving our vision to be Europe’s leading provider of paper packaging solutions.”
Paul Smith, Corporate Development Director for Barclays in Scotland, said: “Companies are operating in a challenging and uncertain market at the moment but Smith Anderson has taken advantage of the opportunities the current climate offers for growing international trade.
“Managing foreign exchange exposures has always been a complex task for businesses of all types but we have a range of FX services and expertise that help reduce the risk of volatility. We’re keen to help even more companies like Smith Anderson realise their global ambitions and successfully navigate the changing economic landscape.”
Xeretec – Xerox’s largest MPS reseller – has acquired Landscape Group, the UK’s most accredited HP MPS and Solutions Specialist, in a move that creates a new managed print powerhouse.
The acquisition brings together two of the biggest resellers of two of the world’s largest print brands, offering new and existing customers the expanded Group’s technical knowledge, toolsets, service capabilities and market expertise.
In addition to uniting the companies’ skill sets, the customer experience is enhanced too, giving them access to an even broader range of advanced A4 and A3 multifunction devices from both Xerox and HP. Landscape brings with it exciting new service offerings, including HP’s Device as a Service (DaaS). This combines innovative devices, lifecycle services and HP’s expertise into an all-inclusive, HP-managed solution – with per-seat, per-month cost certainty for customers.
The companies share core values of customer care, transparency, service delivery, value for money and commitment to long-term relationships, benefitting new and existing customers alike. The companies expect the acquisition to drive additional customer demand and they are both recruiting now in order to upscale their sales and support operations, creating new employment opportunities across both businesses. The acquisition ensures greater scope for Xeretec and Landscape employees to develop their career within a growing, secure, successful and dynamic organisation.
Commenting on the acquisition, Steve Hawkins, Xeretec’s Chief Executive, said: “The game-changing acquisition of Landscape Group is a transformational moment for Xerox, HP, our customers and our staff. Xeretec will continue to consolidate and develop its longstanding commitment to the Xerox brand, building on its exceptional track record of success. This best-of-breed acquisition plays to the strengths of both respected brands and both resellers, while introducing new complementary HP devices and value-added services like DaaS to even more customers. With the potential it offers customers and staff, we are thrilled to see the Landscape Group become a Xeretec Group company, and we warmly welcome its team to the existing Xeretec family.”
Founded in 1996, the independently-owned Landscape Group’s engineers and sales team are specialists in the full range of HP printers and HP Managed Print Services. It is one of HP’s
Platinum Partners for Managed Print and it is also an HP Authorised Service Delivery Partner. Following the acquisition, the Landscape Group brand will remain and become a Xeretec Group company and it will continue to be based at its location in East Hampshire. To ensure consistency and assurance for its customers, all customer relationships, service and support will be served uninterrupted by the Landscape Group’s staff.
Speaking about the acquisition, David Smith, Landscape’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “This announcement represents a real milestone for our current and future customers, who are, without doubt, the most important part of any business. But it also brings new opportunities for our staff and partners. By combining Landscape’s 20 years plus of dedicated HP expertise, the scale and nationwide reach of Xeretec and HP’s impressive new entrance into the A3 MFP market place, customers now have an obvious route to investigate what a $50BN “new comer” can offer to enhance their IT infrastructure.”
George Brasher, Managing Director of HP in the UK & Ireland, added: “Landscape has been a highly valued HP partner for many years and we congratulate both companies on what is an exciting acquisition. It comes at a pivotal time for HP, as we set out to disrupt and reinvent the A3 copier space and provides the perfect foundation for Landscape to play a major and highly successful role in that.”
This in no way changes Xeretec’s core relationship with Xerox, and the acquisition of Landscape means the Xeretec Group with Xerox and HP in its portfolio is now even more favourably positioned to effectively meet the changing print needs of a diverse range of customers across multiple industries; scaling from SMEs to corporates, whether UK based or located overseas.
Follow Xeretec on Twitter or follow its regularly updated series of print industry related blogs.
Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group are interested in what businesses have to say about the proposed changes to the way Scotland uses (and acquires) energy.
They’ve developed a short survey to ask businesses what they think. Please have a look and submit your thoughts and opinions. It’s very short and easy to do!
They’ve also developed some simple visuals to help explain key points of the strategy. Have a look and feel free to downward and use them: Energy Strategy Visual Summary
Why are Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group doing this?
The Scottish Government recently set out its long-term vision for the future of our energy in Scotland. This draft strategy will be used to guide detailed energy policy over the coming decades. It will have a tremendous impact on how we use energy and our energy supply. In the very near future Scotland is looking to further decarbonise electricity and to largely decarbonise heat and transport. No matter what your business model is this is going to matter to it.
The focus of the strategy is on:
• improving energy efficiency and increasing renewable energy supply;
• aligning efforts with Scotland’s Economic Strategy and National Performance Framework;
• developing smart, local energy systems.
Scotland’s transition to a low carbon economy will have implications for businesses of all sizes and across all sectors. We are a business led initiative which provides leadership and encourages collaboration across industry, commerce, government and civic society to help meet a collective vision Scotland’s ambitious carbon reduction targets and sustainable economic development. Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group want to know your views, from a business perspective, on the potential opportunities and concerns around this energy transition.
Whether you are a business owner, investor or leader or an employee or consultant, your thoughts are wanted on how your business or industry will be affected and what the opportunities are for your business in the low carbon transition.
If you are interested in more information about the draft Energy Strategy itself, click here to see visuals to help summarise the key details of the strategy.
If you’d like to read the full Scottish Government Draft Energy Strategy it is available to download here.
Or contact Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group directly if you have any questions or would like more information. Please email: communications@2020climategroup.org.uk.
Ryden and joint agent Montagu Evans have signed up St Andrews Timber at 5 Stenhouse Mill Lane in Edinburgh. The industrial/trade unit extends to 1,123 sq m (12,098 sq ft) and is situated on a site of 1.1 acres. The rent at the property is £67,000 per annum.
The joint agents acted on behalf of the previous tenant (Eastern Holdings Ltd) which previously occupied the premises as a repair and service facility for Mazda and Nissan. This operation has now been relocated to a new purpose-built showroom and workshop within the Eastern Western Motor Group Luxury Car Village at Newbridge. The Car Village now boasts Mazda, Nissan, Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Mini, Toyota, VW and a recently opened Car Deal Warehouse.
Neil McAllister partner at Ryden, said: “The unit at Stenhouse Mill was one of the few quality industrial buildings left in the Edinburgh with the benefit of adjoining yardage. Now, more than ever, there is a scarcity of good quality industrial accommodation available in the city of Edinburgh and the surrounding area.”
