• Two thirds (65 per cent) of parents in the UK would use unfamiliar sites to get the most in-demand toys
• Lego Star Wars BB8 is the most in-demand present for children this Christmas (16 per cent), followed by the Paw Patrol Sea Patroller (13 per cent)
• Almost two thirds (63 per cent) of Scots feel under pressure when buying Christmas presents for friends and family
• More than half (61 per cent) of scam victims in Scotland were targeted when buying for someone else
Christmas gift giving pressure is causing Brits to drop their guard and increasing their chance of being targeted by seasonal online scams, according to new data from Barclays¹.
A new study has found that two thirds (65 per cent) of UK parents would use an unfamiliar site to find the must have toys of the year, with 16 per cent saying that the Lego Star Wars BB8 is the most in-demand present for children this Christmas. The Paw Patrol Sea Patroller (13 per cent) and LOL BIG Surprise Doll (12 per cent) follow close behind on their children’s wish lists.
In Scotland, almost two thirds (63 per cent) of respondents say they feel under pressure when buying gifts for their loved ones at Christmas, with one in five (20 per cent) of these shoppers admitting to ‘panic buying’ presents as a result. A similar proportion (21 per cent) visit websites they wouldn’t normally buy from in order to find the right gift.
This stress and panic creates the ideal opportunity for fraudsters to strike; one in five (20 per cent) Scottish gift givers would be willing to register and save their personal details on an unfamiliar website, while 14 per cent would buy from a website without thinking whether their payment is secure in pursuit of the perfect present.
Don’t let the fraudsters win
With nearly one in three (29 per cent) Scots considering present buying to be one of the most stressful aspects of the festive season, second only to battling crowded shopping centres and busy high streets (47 per cent), it’s important that online safety is not overlooked.
Worryingly, just four per cent of Scots shoppers identified the possibility of buying from a fraudulent website as a festive stress trigger, despite the fact that the average victim in the UK loses £893. Instead, people are nearly six times as likely to worry about seasonal overspending (23 per cent), with one in four (31 per cent) resorting to buying their loved one’s gift from whichever website offers the cheapest price to save on cost.
‘Tis the season to be wary
With almost a fifth (17 per cent) of Scottish scam victims having been scammed over the Christmas period, Barclays is warning everyone to stay vigilant when shopping online this December. More than half (61 per cent) of former victims of online scams were buying for someone else when they were targeted, with one in seven (15 per cent) admitting to being more preoccupied with finding the right gift than checking the legitimacy of the website.
In Scotland, clothing topped the list of gifts most likely to get you scammed, affecting 18 per cent of former fraud victims. Electronics (14 per cent) took second place, with health and beauty products (8 per cent), household items (8 per cent) and digital content such as movies, music and computer games (8 per cent) sharing joint third place.
This coincides with some of the most popular gifts on Scottish Christmas shoppers’ lists. Clothing, beauty products and jewellery topped the list of items to buy a spouse or partner, games and clothing took the top spot for sons, clothing and health and beauty products for daughters, and food and drink was the most popular choice for dads.
Samantha White, who leads Barclays’ work to keep customers safe from fraudsters, said:
“Scouring the internet for the perfect Christmas gift can be stressful, but if you lose sight of digital safety and just focus on the price, you could fall prey to festive fraudsters. Look out for ‘too-good-to-be-true’ deals, and always take the time to check that the website you’re buying from is legitimate.”
1 The research was carried out online by Opinium across a total of 2,006 nationally representative adults in September 2017. An additional survey was carried out across a total of 1,700 people who have been scammed, to supplement the national research. Moreover, a survey of 369 UK parents with primary school children was carried out between 24th and 27th September 2017.
With a busy weekend of sport ahead, the ScotRail Alliance has announced it is adding extra carriages to as many trains as possible to services to keep customers moving.
Scotland play their final Autumn Test against Australia on Saturday, 25 November (KO 2.30pm) at the BT Murrayfield Stadium, while Motherwell take on Celtic in the Betfred
Cup final at Hampden Park (KO 3pm) on Sunday, 26 November.
On Saturday, trains to and from Edinburgh will be extremely busy with customers enjoying the Christmas markets and fans watching the rugby. The ScotRail Alliance has
added extra carriages to trains between Edinburgh and the Borders, Fife, Glasgow, Perth, Stirling and Dunblane. Supporters heading to the match are advised to allow
additional time for travel, as queuing systems will be in place after the final whistle.
Customers travelling to Hampden Park for the League Cup final on Sunday will benefit from extra carriages on services to Mount Florida and Kings Park – the closest
stations to the ground. Motherwell fans should travel to Mount Florida, while Celtic supporters will be directed to Kings Park. The most regular trains to Mount Florida
depart from Glasgow Central station.
Extra staff will be on hand to assist customers and, as with most large events, alcohol bans will be in force on both days.
ScotRail Alliance Head of Customer Experience, Graham Heald said: “We’ve got a massive weekend of sport coming up. Scotland will be looking to sign off the Autumn Tests
on Saturday with a win, while the first silverware of the football season is decided at Hampden on Sunday.
“While trains will be extremely busy on both days, we’ve done everything we can to boost the number of available seats for travelling fans and regular customers. We’re
adding as many trains as possible to services this weekend to keep people moving.
“From next year, fans travelling to the games will benefit from more seats and faster journeys on our brand new electric Class 385 and high-speed trains.
“I encourage anyone travelling this weekend to allow extra time for travel, and to minimise the need to queue, buy tickets in advance via our app or website.”
More Scottish businesses will have the opportunity and support to trade abroad, thanks to a new initiative.
Five pilot Local Export Partnerships (LEPs) are being launched by the Scottish Government and Chambers of Commerce to increase the number of firms exporting their products and services.
The partnerships – in Cairngorms; Inverness/Highlands and Islands; Dumfries and Galloway/Scottish Borders; Edinburgh/Lothian and Glasgow/Lanarkshire – will bring together Scottish Development International, local authorities and a range of local support organisations. They will offer support and expertise to companies, particularly SMEs, with little or no previous exporting experience and help them enter international markets.
The Scottish Government is providing up to £400,000 to the Scottish Chambers of Commerce to develop the pilot programme.
Economy Secretary Keith Brown said:
“With Brexit looming, international trade and export has never been so vital to the Scottish economy, but it can seem daunting to businesses who haven’t yet ventured into the field.
“It is crucial that we maximise the help and support available to those firms – particularly the SMEs which are the lifeblood of our economy.
“These pilots will test new approaches to support businesses to export, opening a whole new world to companies and employers throughout Scotland.”
As outlined in the Scottish Government’s Trade and Investment Strategy, the partnership will use a collaborative, One Scotland approach. It will bring together individuals, businesses and agencies to promote an international business awareness and mindset, collaboration around shared trade objectives and mutual learning and support.”
Liz Cameron OBE, Director and Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:
“On behalf of the Scottish Chambers Network, we are delighted to have the opportunity to work closely with The Scottish Government and its agencies in this exciting new Local Enterprise Partnership initiative.
“These new LEPs will build on the strong partnerships we have recently forged with government in the field of international trade, which has already resulted in promising new routes to accessing important markets for Scottish goods and services, notably China.
“The combination of the Chambers’ network at grass roots and the experience and in-market expertise within government and its agencies is a powerful one. This LEP initiative allows us to show what can be achieved for exporters with a Team Scotland approach.”
On 29 November, St James’s Place are hosting an event in Edinburgh where guests will hear from several speakers about the opportunity at St. James’s Place Academy.
St. James’s Place, through the St. James’s Place Academy, believes that changing career to enter wealth management, and build your own business, could be a very daunting thought.
This event will give our guests the opportunity to hear firsthand how individuals have made the transition from an employed to a self-employed career, what it is like to be a wealth manager, including what a wealth manager does, and how you can train to do this with the St. James’s Place Academy.
Guests will also hear about the support we offer all our Academy Partners, along with being able to ask questions of any of our guest speakers.
Details:
6pm arrival drinks & canapes, 6:30pm start and 8:00pm end
Venue:
Melville House
18 – 22 Melville Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7NS
To book: http://www.sjpacademy.co.uk/events/upcoming-event/introduction-sjp-edinburgh.aspx
New trains for Scotland are another step closer as the ScotRail Alliance revealed the interiors of its new fleet.
The new Class 385 electric trains – which are being built by Hitachi Rail Europe – will deliver faster journeys, more seats and better services for Scotland when they are rolled out next year.
One of the first fully fitted trains was recently completed at Hitachi Rail Europe’s Newton Aycliffe plant. Offering bright, modern, contemporary finishes, once in service, customers across the central belt will benefit from:
• Power sockets at each pair of seats
• Free WiFi throughout the train
• More luggage storage
• Cycle spaces in a clearly marked area
• Flexible storage area (prams, golf clubs etc)
• Two wheelchair spaces
• Accessible toilet in every train, including a new ‘assist’ facility to allow companion access to the cubicle while maintaining privacy
• Windows closely aligned with seats
Dedicated first class carriages boast plug sockets at every seat, premium leather seats, LED lighting and more luggage storage.
Class 385s can operate in three, four, six, seven and eight car formations, providing much more flexibility to match demand with capacity. Unlike the existing Class 170 trains, the Class 385 have ‘through’ gangways between all coaches so that every part of the train can be accessed from the inside.
Electric trains mean no diesel engines, resulting in quieter journeys for customers and reduced noise pollution for those living and working near the railway.
When eight-car trains are introduced on the Edinburgh – Glasgow via Falkirk High route, this will improve capacity by up to 44% at peak times.
There will also be more seats during peak periods on the Glasgow / Edinburgh – Stirling / Dunblane / Alloa lines, Edinburgh – North Berwick, and Glasgow Central – Edinburgh via Shotts.
ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes said:
“It’s great to finally see the interiors of our new trains. They look great, and I know customers will agree.
“The finish of these trains will significantly improve the experience of customers travelling with us. Their design has resulted in bright, spacious and accessible carriages – perfect for commuters, business customers and leisure travellers alike.
“We’re building the best railway Scotland has ever had – and providing our customers with modern trains plays a big part in that.”
Mitsuo Iwasaki, Head of Technical at Hitachi Rail Europe, said:
“We expect customers to be really pleased with the interiors of our new trains. We’ve worked closely with ScotRail and various passenger groups to include their ideas into the design and the result is a visible improvement for people travelling.
“In addition to full size tables and more seats, customers will also now be able to stay better connected on their journey with fast WiFi and plug sockets.”
activpayroll, the global payroll and tax compliance specialist headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland has recently launched an office in Frankfurt, Germany to increase the ability to service new and existing customers.
The Aberdeen-headquartered firm had been working with German payroll partner Annette Weinel since 2002, but due to the successful strategic partnership decided to establish their own presence in Frankfurt with the existing German team transferring to activpayroll GmbH.
The Frankfurt office provides German payroll and expat services and will enable to strengthen relationships with current and potential customers with German payroll and tax needs.
Alison Sellar, CEO of activpayroll, said: “I am delighted to finally share the news of our new Germany entity. We’ve substantially invested in this office by upgrading the infrastructure, payroll software, IT and have started hiring additional people to support our growth”.
“Germany is one of the many strategic countries activpayroll has identified with considerable potential, hence we expect substantial growth in the next 6-12 months”.
Annette Weinel, Regional Director – Germany, added: “I am extremely proud to be expanding the activpayroll brand in Frankfurt. A lot of hard work, commitment and enthusiasm have been put into setting up this office and the team are delighted to be a crucial part of activpayroll’s global expansion plans”.
Barclays has announced key appointments across its Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow Business Banking teams as the bank continues to extend its on-the-ground support across the regions for Scottish SMEs and scale-up businesses.
Hunter Inkster has joined the bank as a Relationship Director for the North of Scotland, based in Aberdeen, following a period of sustained growth and business activity in the area. With good knowledge of the North of Scotland including Shetland & Orkney from previous roles in the area, he will be responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of high-growth SME companies with up to £6.5m turnover to help deliver the bank’s ambitious growth strategy in the North East.
Hunter joins Barclays from corporate finance advisor Rickitt Mitchell & Partners having previously held roles with Lloyds Banking Group.
Barclays has also appointed David Loughlin as a dedicated SME Relationship Manager for the Inverness area who will support businesses and help to drive Barclays’ business in the Highlands. His new position comes after seven years’ experience in the bank’s Edinburgh office supporting businesses in the local community.
The bank has also made three further Relationship Manager appointments. In the Glasgow team, Tom Every will look after SMEs from £1m-£5m turnover, and Michael Barclay will oversee SME’s up to £1m turnover. Daniel Farquhar will be responsible for SMEs up to £1m in the Edinburgh office.
The team will report into Stuart Brown, Head of SME who is leading the bank’s drive to expand its SME and high-growth business market share in Scotland.
Stuart Brown, Head of SME Scotland, Barclays commented: “Following a successful period for business in Scotland, the time was right to expand our team on the ground and specifically in these regions, as more businesses are choosing to bank with Barclays.
“The expansion of our Aberdeen team with its first dedicated SME Relationship Director is a result of this growth and also demonstrates our commitment to support businesses in the North East. Hunter brings a wealth of experience while our Relationship Managers are passionate about ensuring our clients receive the best service.
“Following the launch of our £500m SME fund last year, we’re committed to delivering the right financial support for Scotland’s business community. The skills and experience of our new appointments will allow us to further strengthen our relationships regionally with existing and new customers.”
Barclays’ Scottish SME fund was launched in June 2016 to provide access to funding for businesses across all sectors with turnover up to £25m. It forms part of a wider commitment by Barclays to support fast-growing companies with its High Growth & Entrepreneurs programme. The programme offers locally delivered financial advice, business skills development, networking opportunities at a local, national and international level and access to Eagle Labs and RISE accelerators. The Bank also provides a unique Innovation Finance Venture Debt product via an additional £200m fund.
As Scotland prepares for the Pride Glasgow 2017 weekend on 19-20 August, five ScotRail trains will be displaying the rainbow flag in support of Scotland’s biggest LGBTI festival.
The trains will be in service on the Edinburgh – Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk route, and other routes across the country.
The trains were unveiled by Managing Director Alex Hynes at Glasgow Queen Street station. The ‘Pride Trains’ are the latest demonstration of the ScotRail Alliance’s support for Pride Glasgow, following the flying of rainbow flags and banners at Glasgow Central and Queen Street stations in the run-up to the 2015 and 2016 events.
Around 40 ScotRail Alliance employees will join the 5,000-strong Pride parade on 19 August as it makes its way through the streets of Glasgow.
Queen Street Station has a large Pride banner hanging to demonstrate the ScotRail Alliance’s support for the movement, and members of the LGBTI community are being encouraged to consider careers on the railway through adverts in the Pride event magazine.
To help some LGBTI youth groups take part in the weekend’s events, the ScotRail Alliance has also offered free rail tickets to allow their members to travel to and from Glasgow.
Alex Hynes, ScotRail Alliance Managing Director, said:
“It’s great to see our trains fitted with the rainbow flag – a very visible symbol of the ScotRail Alliance’s support for the Glasgow Pride 2017 weekend and the wider LGBTI community.
“At the ScotRail Alliance we want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our customers. We’re building the best railway Scotland has ever had, and we need the best people to do this.
“I would encourage anybody attending Pride Glasgow to come and speak with us about the work the ScotRail Alliance is doing to celebrate diversity and promote equality.”
Alastair Smith, Pride Glasgow CEO, said:
“Pride Glasgow is excited about further developing the relationship with the ScotRail Alliance, so that together we can ensure that LGBTI people feel safe on our transport systems.
“We welcome the commitment the ScotRail Alliance has shown to challenging any form of discrimination on its services. We jointly believe that LGBTI people, their friends and families should feel safe as they travel, not just to the festival but all year round.”
The British Chamber of Commerce Qatar posted the following statement on its website addressing the current situation in Qatar:
The latest market sentiment in Qatar suggests that rather than a negative downturn in business, the effect of the continuing GCC embargo could well herald the beginning of a new boom period for business in Qatar. The Qatar government is expected to announce shortly an injection of funding for a massive new investment programme along with several new flagship projects to boost Qatar’s economy over the short to medium term.
The government has determined that this economic investment is now imperative to ensure future self-sustainability and to pivot away from its previous reliance on its GCC neighbours. The local market has strongly endorsed and welcomed this move and echoed the prevailing sentiment that Qatar should forge a new economic path forward, in keeping with its 2030 vision.
Alongside such sentiment, we hear repeatedly from senior Qatar business sources that they will not forget their friends for showing solidarity with Qatar during this dispute. This presents UK companies with a golden opportunity to grow and strengthen business in Qatar. The next few months may well prove to be a critical window for British companies to explore the Qatar market. UK businesses new to Qatar should consider taking early steps to establish their brand and presence in the market to ensure they are well placed to benefit from the new stimulus being made by the Qatar government. UK businesses who are active and/or represented elsewhere in the GCC region should similarly contact the British Chamber for advice on how to protect existing business links with Qatar and how to pursue the surge in new business.
We strongly advise all UK businesses keen to trade with Qatar, or who wish to take advantage of the anticipated surge in projects and contracts, to make early contact with the British Chamber of Commerce in the market.
For more information, please visit our website: www.bccq.qa or contact us directly via email: info@bccq.qa
Two Edinburgh-based companies will headline a new conference that aims to bring together industry experts and academics from the worlds of food, nutrition and sports science.
Active Root and Tony Fullerton of Stoats will speak at the Cycling & Sports – Opportunities in Food and Drink conference, which is to be held in Dundee on 22 August.
A collaboration between the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland and hosts Abertay University, the event will be attended by Scottish food and drink producers, members of the business support industry and academic staff.
Aimed at stimulating the exchange of ideas, analysing trends and sharing expertise, the purpose of the conference is to build partnerships across the sectors.
Active Root, a new natural ginger based sports drink company from Edinburgh, will provide an insight into their product, which was borne out of co-founder Will Townsend’s experience during the London Marathon.
Tony Fullerton of Stoats will also give a presentation, speaking about his firm’s range of quick and easy snacks and cereals – from porridge sachets, pots, bars and boxes to oatcakes and mueslis.
Some of the businesses signed up to attend are already making cycling and sports produce, while others are considering diversifying.
Networking and speed pitching sessions will take place in addition to a series of talks and one to one sessions.
Organiser Danny Cowe of the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland, who will present a talk on opportunities in the cycling industry, said there is a real chance for Scottish businesses to tap into a global market for sports and nutrition worth over $20billion.
He added: “Cycling and sports products command high price points compared to general food stuffs and this event is an opportunity to look at how food and drink businesses can best reach that market.
“There is a major buzz around sports nutrition and health at the moment, so producing new or enhanced products can only benefit both industry and those participating in sport.”
The Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland is a joint initiative headed by Edinburgh Napier University and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, with project partner Scottish Enterprise. The project is funded by the Scottish Funding Council and Edinburgh Napier University.
From market research to product development; knowledge transfer, testing and product launches, we are here to help Scottish businesses in capitalising in one of the country’s fastest growing sports and to help bring Scottish mountain biking products and services to an international audience.
To find out how the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland can assist a business, please visit www.napier.ac.uk/mtb
