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/
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.
The latest publication of the monthly UK House Price Index (UK HPI) shows that the average price of a property in Scotland in March 2017 was £137,139 – an increase of 0.7 per cent on March in the previous year but a decrease of 1.0 per cent when compared to the previous month. This compares to a UK average of £215,848, which was an increase of 4.1 per cent compared to March in the previous year and a decrease of 0.6 per cent when compared to the previous month.
The volume of residential sales in Scotland in January 2017 was 6,239 – an increase of 2.0 per cent on January 2016 but a decrease of 25.4 per cent on the previous month. This compares with annual decreases in sales volumes of 16.6 per cent in England, 2.3 per cent in Wales and 28.5 per cent in Northern Ireland.
Registers of Scotland business development and information director Kenny Crawford said: “Average prices this March showed a modest increase when compared to March 2016 and there have been increases in every month since March 2016 when compared with the same month of the previous year.
“Sales volumes figures for January 2017 showed an increase in Scotland of 2.0% when compared with January 2016. This is also up by 0.8 per cent when compared with January 2015 and up by 34.1 per cent when compared with January 2013, but down by 3.9 per cent when compared with January 2014.”
The top five local authorities in terms of sales volumes were Edinburgh City (764 sales), Glasgow City (700 sales), South Lanarkshire (396 sales), Fife (391 sales) and North Lanarkshire (305 sales).
The biggest price increase when comparing March 2017 with March 2016 was in East Dunbartonshire where the average price increased by 10.7 per cent to £196,332. The biggest decrease was again in Aberdeen City, where prices fell by 6.3 per cent to £163,050.
Across Scotland, all property types except flats showed an increase in average price in March 2017 when compared with the same month in the previous year. Semi-detached properties showed the biggest increase, rising by 2.3 per cent to £144,261, while flats decreased by 0.1 per cent to £98,012.
The average price in March 2017 for a property purchased by a non first time buyer was £164,434 – an increase of 0.6 per cent compared to the same month in the previous year. The average price for property purchased by a first time buyer was £110,789 – an increase of 0.8 per cent on the previous year.
The average price for a cash sale was £126,030 – an increase of 0.1 per cent on the previous year – while the average price for property purchased with a mortgage was £141,899 – an increase of 0.6 per cent on the previous year.
Sixty per cent of organisations in the renewables sector believe the Scottish Government is likely to achieve its target of meeting half of Scotland’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2030, according to a survey by Brodies LLP.
The survey, which canvassed the views of organisations and individuals active in the renewables sector, found that a substantial majority believe the target is achievable, despite challenges including recent changes to the UK Government’s renewable electricity subsidies regime and the absence of any subsidy regime of similar scale in the heat sector.
Asked to identify the policy measures that the Scottish Government should take to help it achieve its target and overcome the current challenges facing the sector, respondents identified giving priority to new developments such as energy storage, encouraging the development of district heating and the continued deployment of the most efficient onshore wind technologies.
Earlier this year the Scottish Government published a draft Energy Strategy for the period up to 2030. It sets out a vision for a low carbon economy that is to be achieved by transitioning away from oil and gas and placing greater reliance on renewable energy sources. The strategy also proposes a shift away from electricity being the primary focus to one in which all energy sectors contribute, by setting an “all-energy” target.
More than three-quarters of respondents (77%) identified storage technologies as the priority to “keep the lights on” by balancing the supply and demand for electricity produced from renewable sources as part of a new “energy mix”, which aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions. Energy storage can provide back-up power to meet peak demand and boost supply when renewables output falls due to weather conditions. Eleven per cent of respondents said low carbon peaking plants should be the priority, followed by gas fired plants (8%), and coal fired plant and importing electricity from England (both 2%).
One of the principal areas of focus of the Scottish Government’s draft Energy Strategy is moving the agenda on from electricity to the decarbonisation of heat, which still accounts for more than 50% of Scotland’s energy supply. This could be achieved in a number of ways, however the only approach over which the Scottish Government currently has policy control is district heating. Asked which single policy measure might facilitate the creation of new district heating schemes, half of respondents said requiring developers to install district heating in new developments, 18% said requiring energy consumers to connect to such schemes, 15% said providing business rates relief for developments with district heating schemes, 13% said public sector capital contributions and 4% said granting developers the power to compulsorily purchase land for networks.
The Scottish Government’s strategy also sets out an ambition for Scotland to be the first part of the UK in which onshore wind energy schemes thrive without subsidy. Asked to identify the single most useful change that the Scottish Government could make to promote onshore wind development, respondents identified three key policies which the Scottish Government could introduce: public sector power purchase agreements, facilitating increased turbine tip heights and introducing a legal presumption in favour of re-powering existing sites (28%, 24% and 24% respectively).
Commenting on the survey results, Keith Patterson, Co-Head of Renewables at Brodies LLP, said: “The energy sector is accustomed to change – it has lived with it for the past decade. Economic and technological changes are transforming the electricity sector, seemingly by the day. Much of this change has been spurred by policies seeking to drive the decarbonisation of our energy supply. Yet, despite all the change, we have only touched the surface of what is required if we are to decarbonise our energy supply –Scotland is transforming its electricity supply but we are only at the starter’s gun as far as decarbonising transport and heat are concerned.
“Perhaps the most important aspect of the draft Energy Strategy is that it signals that heat will now be the focus of Scotland’s decarbonising efforts. Again, the draft strategy does not say how heat will be decarbonised, but climate change targets published around the same time imply that Scotland’s domestic and commercial heat supply will be approaching carbon free supply by 2032. Even if Scotland does not hit this target, it promises a truly transformative future for Scotland’s heat supply.”
To read the full report on the survey’s findings, visit http://brodi.es/allenergy17.
DLA Piper in Scotland has launched a Data Protection Officer Training Academy to help businesses avoid hefty fines when a new data protection law comes into force next year.
The law firm is the first in the country to offer an initiative of this type dedicated to training organisations that collect, manage or handle personal data to mitigate identify fraud and reduce opportunistic cyber-attacks.
During a two-day accredited course, taking place in Edinburgh on 5 – 6 June, senior members of DLA Piper’s global Data Protection Privacy and Information Security group, along with renowned industry experts, will educate and up-skill businesses on new EU law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), effective from May 2018.
GDPR introduces a stringent new regime for the collection, storage and use of personal data, including severe penalties for misuse. It carries some of the very highest sanctions for non-compliance, including revenue based fines of up to 4 per cent of annual worldwide turnover.
Head of DLA Piper’s Intellectual Property and Technology UK practice, John McKinlay, said: “Compliance with GDPR is going to mean all companies will have to alter their data security practices, with many having to make radical changes to ensure their current policy and protocol is extremely stringent.”
“It will become compulsory for businesses to be able to demonstrate how they comply with GDPR by showing that they genuinely take data privacy obligations seriously. Failure to meet these requirements will mean expensive fines.”
“The new law comes into force in one year, which isn’t long for companies that have to adopt an entirely new data security and management system across the whole organisation.”
The Academy, which DLA Piper also successfully delivered in Brussels and London recently, covers topics including how to reduce the risk of data breaches, what to do if a breach takes place, handling complaints and how to respond to regulatory investigations.
Following the course, participants will be armed with the necessary knowledge of relevant legal, technical and operational skills to successfully fulfil the role of a Data Protection Officer. They’ll also receive a comprehensive toolkit comprising supporting guidance notes and template documents to use in the role.
For more information about DLA Piper’s Data Protection Officer Training Academy including how to attend, contact angela.saunders@dlapiper.com
Global chain MGM Muthu Hotels, which already has a strong foothold in the UK, has moved into the Scottish market, with the acquisition of five prominent hotels, in a deal facilitated by property firm Colliers International.
The largest deal sees Ian Cleaver’s Highland Heritage Limited sold, from the asking price of offers in excess of £4.5m, to Singapore-headquartered MGM Muthu Group. A former merchant seaman and well-known North West businessman, Mr Cleaver started Highland Heritage in the mid-1970s, and built it into a £8m turnover company, which uses its own fleet of 16 liveried coaches to shuttle tourists to the hotels in Tyndrum, Dalmally and Oban.
The deal, in which Colliers International acted for the seller, comes shortly after the commercial property firm successfully sold another iconic Highland hotel to The MGM Muthu Group, the 63-bedroom Newton Hotel in Nairn. The Newton was once popular with Charlie Chaplin, who took numerous holidays there with his family. It was sold by Colliers on behalf of a London-based corporate owner which was seeking to rationalise its portfolio, and carried an asking price of around £4.0m plus VAT.
Alistair Letham, the Scottish Director in the UK Hotels Agency team at Colliers International, said: “These two sales to a rapidly expanding international operator are a great outcome for everyone involved. Muthu is an ambitious luxury chain which will be well positioned to further develop the potential of these excellent properties in a way that will be welcomed by the local economy. We are pleased to have used our market expertise and international connections to bring about these deals, which see businesses that have invested and grown in the Highlands reap their rewards, and properties move on to the next stage of their history and growth.”
The Highland Heritage Limited sale includes the Volvo coaches and four hotels: the 96-room Royal Hotel, which is a magnet for wildlife, with a masterful touch of stunning views, and the 132-room purpose-built Ben Doran Hotel, nestled in its own sheltered seven-acre garden in the mountain village, on the northern edge of the Loch Lomond National Park, both in Tyndrum. The Dalmally Hotel is a true haven with 99 rooms, commanding breath-taking views in the heart of Strathorchy, perfectly situated to make the most of the historical, cultural and natural delights of Argyll and Bute. The 66-bedroom Alexandra Hotel in Oban, with 26 more rooms in planning, offers gorgeous views across the Oban Bay.
Julian Troup, Head of UK Hotels Agency at Colliers International, commented: “Considerable interest was expressed for the business and assets, which follows a pattern of increasing demand for U.K. provincial hotels. We are seeing an emerging trend of increased demand for quality provincial hotel opportunities from a diverse buyer set, including international investors, who have been attracted by weaker sterling and improving trading prospects; private buyers attracted to the benefits of a lifestyle opportunity to corporate investors attracted to favourable returns and real estate alternatives. Since the beginning of 2016, over 15 per cent of U.K. hotel sales completed by Colliers were to international buyers.”
The MGM Muthu Hotels Group is known for its selection of carefully handpicked spectacular hotels, reflecting the unique character of their destinations, varying from Spain, Portugal, France, Cuba, Canary Islands, Madeira and the UK. MGM Muthu Hotels currently has 27 hotels in their flourishing portfolio, promising excellent service and a touch of home, with a holiday ambience.
Monicca Maran, Corporate Director of MGM Muthu Group and K.Ranjan, CEO of Highgate Asset Management Ltd, who assisted with the acquisitions, said “We are extremely thrilled about the five properties that spell a surreal scenery magically enveloped in the enchanting views of Scotland! Our premium service, excellent standards and charismatic hospitality entwined with the deep appreciation of the historical and cultural landscapes of the hotels will embellish our need to diversify our portfolio, to extend to the community and provide the best holiday experience to all travellers.”
The Highland Heritage sale did not include Kilchurn Castle, the 15th century redoubt of the Clan Cambell on the banks of Loch Awe, which is owned by Mr Cleaver and had been offered for sale alongside his hospitality business. It is currently managed by Historic Scotland.
We are delighted to announce that the next Arts & Business Scotland Development Forum will take place at the National Galleries of Scotland on Thursday 1 June.
This event is also being promoted through our Resourcing Scotland’s Heritage programme, which through funding from HLF, has enabled Arts & Business Scotland, together with our heritage partner organisations, to encourage capacity building and skills development in fundraising across Scotland’s heritage as well the arts sector.
As the event is relevant to both the arts and heritage sectors, we are expecting a broad demand for tickets and therefore advise booking as early as you can to ensure that you have a place to attend.
The Topic in Focus is Capital Fundraising, which will provide a unique opportunity to hear from two speakers with considerable experience in this area. They will share their insight into and knowledge of the capital projects they have been instrumental in delivering.
Alan Horn, Director of Development at the Glasgow School of Art, will share his stories on leading on various capital projects. These include the award-winning and innovative £12.7m Kelvingrove Refurbishment Appeal, the successor Riverside Museum Appeal and the £32m Mackintosh Campus Appeal to reinstate the Mackintosh Building within the heart of a rejuvenated campus following the devastating fire in 2014.
Gill Poulter, Heritage Director at Dundee Heritage Trust, will share some key learning points and top tips from the significant capital fundraising achievements made by the Trust, to deliver the High Mill Project, Verdant Works.
We also pleased to announce that our sponsorship story will be on the ongoing developing partnership between National Galleries of Scotland and Aegon UK. From the initial sponsorship of the MC Escher exhibition matched by a New Arts Sponsorship Grant to most recent sponsorship of The Goldfinch (a flying visit from iconic painting).
This event is completely free to arts, heritage and business members of Arts & Business Scotland, as well as invited business guests. There is a small charge of £10 for non-members.
For full details of the event and booking please visit:
http://www.aandbscotland.org.uk/events/2017/06/01/development-forum-edinburgh/
I’ve been lucky enough to do some travelling in recent weeks and it’s interesting to compare our culture with others – the warm welcome and hospitality of the East, their work ethic and culture of enterprise, their generosity of spirit and friendship. Maybe the sunshine makes everyone happy – it worked for me, or was it the brief relief from the politics of home. No talk of Brexit, General Elections and Indyref#2. Bliss.
My admiration for the Eastern culture made me reflect on emerging economies and how Scotland is at risk of falling behind as the pace of change and technological advancement continues to accelerate. The pace of change is now the fastest it’s ever been, but it will never be this slow again. We cannot ignore the new era of algorithms, social media and robotics that run our lives, manage our homes and allow us to browse, compare, order and pay for goods and services at the tap of a screen.
How does Scotland compare at this level? Do we have the culture to adapt and compete? We talk about being world class – but what does that mean? What takes a business from emerging, to mature, to world class? And how do we create businesses that are global market leaders?
For Scotland to flourish we need a strong and stable economy across a diverse range of sectors. We need wealth and job creators who reach out to the rest of the world to trade our products and services.
Scotland has real strength in its education system. The innovative research and development in FInTech, robotics and AI regularly lead to spin-out companies from our universities. We are world leaders in the Oil and Gas service sector, in Financial Services and we have abundant natural resources in fish, agriculture, aquaculture and talent. And of course we have whisky – 80% of food and drink exports come from the golden nectar that is Scotch whisky – the best in the world.
So, there’s no shortage of products, ideas and enterprise. But the challenge we are faced with is – how do we harness this and create global businesses that surpass the start-up years and accelerate to scale and market leadership? We need to lead, educate and support entrepreneurship, recycle the knowledge and experience from our successful business leaders. We need high speed digital connectivity and we need to encourage the ambition for international trade whilst ensuring businesses have access to international markets to support them in competing on the world stage. And we need a skilled workforce to help build these businesses – a workforce that is diverse, ambitious and resilient.
The Scottish Government can only deliver its economic strategy if the business community is strong and grows significantly in the coming years. The public sector accounts for over 50% of the workforce and real growth in employment and the tax base can only come from the private sector. If we want to improve public services, we must pay for them.
The Scottish Chamber Network and other business organisations are working hard to ensure we embrace these opportunities and also have the support to compete and fully exploit the advantages we have in abundance. Scotland is open for business and never mind the Silk Road – we have the Tartan Highway!
Edinburgh businesses vie for prestigious green accolade
Six businesses from Edinburgh have been shortlisted for this year’s Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards – Scotland’s leading environment awards scheme. Wind and Cloud Travel, Grease Monkey Cycles, Edinburgh Leisure, Mercat Tours, Soilutions and Celtic Renewables have been chosen as six out of 24 Scottish businesses.
Companies from all over Scotland entered the Awards, which recognise businesses that contribute to Scotland’s sustainable development through improving processes or developing new products and services.
Wind & Cloud Travel, shortlisted in the Transport category, is an Edinburgh-based tour operator, offering German speaking eco, hiking, trekking, whisky, sailing, food, rail and photography tours for individuals and small groups in Scotland. Grease Monkey Cycles, also shortlisted in the Transport category, is a cycle servicing company who also lend courtesy bikes to customers if necessary and guarantee a turn-around within 48 hours.
Edinburgh Leisure, shortlisted in the Management (large) category, is a social enterprise created to manage and develop sport and leisure services on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council. Mercat Tours, shortlisted in the Management (small) category, operates scheduled and private walking tours of the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle and Blair Street Underground Vaults.
Soilutions shortlisted in the Environmental Product and Service category, provide remediation of contaminated soils and waters on sites to remove the need for disposal of contaminated materials to landfill. Celtic Renewables, also shortlisted in the Environmental Product and Service category, is one of the most innovative companies in sustainable biofuel, commercialising the copious residues of Scotland’s most iconic export, the £4-billion malt whisky industry.
The awards aim to encourage efficient use of resources, improvement of environmental performance, enhancement of business competitiveness, and support for wider sustainable development.
2014 has seen a streamlining of the Award categories, comprising Management (SME and Large), Environmental Product or Service, Transport, Co-operation, Hydro-Nation, Circular Economy and Micro Business.
Winners of the 2013 VIBES Awards include Airdrie based, Albert Bartlett & Sons Ltd., Dryden Aqua Ltd., Rabbie’s Small Group Tours and Vegware from Edinburgh, Whitmuir Organics from West Linton, Peeblesshire and Biomatrix Water Solutions in Morayshire. Many of the 2013 winners signed up as VIBES Ambassadors in 2014, promoting the benefits of entering the awards to their wider business networks.
Gillian Bruce, Chair of VIBES, commented: “The VIBES Awards have been recognising champions of sustainability for 15 years it is encouraging to see so many entries from such a wide range of sectors from across Scotland in 2014.
“Scotland’s businesses have proved yet again to be blazing a trail in their sustainable practices and every one of those on the shortlist can be proud of their achievements.”
The VIBES Awards ceremony, which is a great networking opportunity for like-minded businesses, will take place at the Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow on 27 November 2014. Details are available from www.vibes.org.uk
Sponsoring the event and award categories this year are Business Stream, Albert Bartlett and Sons Ltd, ScottishPower, Scottish Government, Zero Waste Scotland, Lothian Buses Ltd. and NetRegs. The University of Stirling Management School is a venue sponsor.
The VIBES Awards are a strategic partnership between Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Scottish Government, Scottish Water, Scottish Enterprise, Highland and Islands Enterprise, Zero Waste Scotland, Energy Saving Trust and the 20:20 Climate Group. The Awards are further supported by CBI Scotland, the Institute of Directors, the Federation of Small Businesses and Bright Green Business.
The Awards are accredited by the RSA Environment Awards Accreditation Scheme (www.rsaaccreditation.org).
