North Edinburgh News – Page 730 – The NEN

Yotel Edinburgh pledges charity support with Pride!

YOTEL Edinburgh is pledging its support for Pride month by investing in updated LGBTQ+ awareness training on allyship and history for staff, as well as donating 100% of proceeds from a charity cocktail and mocktail to LGBTQ+ helpline charity Switchboard.

Switchboard provides support through phone, email and instant messaging for people who may feel isolated in their community, have an issue or question they want to discuss or are simply looking to talk to someone who shares their experience.

The UK’s national LGBTQ+ helpline has provided support to millions of people since its inception, promising that all calls are confidential and no topic is off limits. The helpline operates 10am-10pm daily, and can be reached by dialling 0300 330 0630 – find out more at www.switchboard.lgbt .

YOTEL Edinburgh’s stylish bar and restaurant Komyuniti will roll out the ‘YOTEL Pride’ cocktail and mocktail for the month of June , as well as YOTEL Crew across the UK taking part in updated LGBTQ+ awareness training.

Priced at £6 and available until 30 June, 100% of proceeds from the cocktail and mocktail will directly benefit Switchboard. Switchboard answers on average 18,000 calls a year, with each call costing the charity around £17 for wrap-around support which means they can be there for each and every caller.

Pledging support for Pride, YOTEL has invested in LGBTQ+ training sessions for YOTEL Crew across the UK, led by Polly Shute, Co-Founder of ‘Out and About’ and former board member of Pride in London.

With training sessions specifically tailored to hospitality staff, Polly’s sessions for YOTEL include open discussions on how to be an ally, LGBTQ+ history and challenges in the workplace.

Guests in YOTEL Edinburgh can also directly donate to Switchboard via digital ‘Tip Jar’ QR codes located in the hotel’s rooftop bar and restaurant Komyuniti for Pride month. So guests can donate an amount of their own choosing to the charity, even if not purchasing a cocktail or mocktail!

Stephanie Fuller, General Manager at Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline said, “We are delighted to be supported by YOTEL as part of its Pride campaign in 2022. Switchboard is the national LGBTQ+ helpline in the UK, and the visibility of our helpline that this partnership will bring across the UK is vital.

“Each year our dedicated team of listening volunteers hold over 18,000 conversations with people in need of support with conversations ranging from, but not limited to coming out, sexuality, gender identity, isolation, and mental health.

“Each call costs us around £17.00 for all the wrap-around support which means we can be there for a caller. The support and visibility this partnership will provide cannot be understated, ultimately it will mean our confidential non-judgemental service will continue to be there 10 am -10 pm, 365 days a year by phone, instant messaging and email to support people from the LGBTQ+ communities that need someone to listen.”

Polly Shute, Co-Founder of Out and About Festival, organiser of Southbank Surfing and YOTEL consultant said: “It’s great to see a brand as big as YOTEL pledge its support for the LGBTQ+ community with proceeds from the sale of the Pride cocktails this month.

“Through my work, I’m keenly aware of the discrimination and injustices our community continue to face, some of which do occur in the hospitality industry. It’s essential we educate people on how to be an ally, and I’ve enjoyed starting conversations with YOTEL about how brands can better interact with LGBTQ+ patrons and staff.”

Olivia Donnan, Vice President Brand & Communications at YOTEL HQ said, “We’re thrilled to partner with Switchboard and Polly Shute to celebrate and support Pride in our communities across the UK. At YOTEL, we strive to be an inclusive space for every guest, visitor and Crew member and are pleased to continue our ongoing work supporting the community through donations and training this June.”

James Stocker, Brand Manager for Whitley Neill said, “We’re delighted to support YOTEL during Pride month and hope guests across the UK enjoy this special cocktail. As Pride celebrates 50 years in the UK, we’re glad to be able to support the community in some small way.”

For further information on Switchboard visit www.switchboard.lgbt, follow the charity on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or call 0300 330 0630.

Royal Bank of Scotland’s Report on Jobs reveals hiring activity slowdown

Hiring activity slows notably amid steep decline in staff availability

Slowest increase in permanent placements since February 2021
Temp billings growth falls to four-month low
Permanent candidate availability contracts at record rate

May data signalled a further increase in recruitment activity across Scotland, according to the latest Royal Bank of Scotland Report on Jobs survey.

However, the rate of expansion slowed noticeably on the month, with permanent placements and temp billings rising at the weakest rates in 15 and four months, respectively.

This coincided with a further rapid decline in candidate availability, with permanent staff supply falling at an unprecedented pace in May, while vacancies continued to rise strongly. As a result, wage pressures remained intense.

Permanent placement growth slips to 15-month low in May

The number of permanent staff appointments across Scotland rose for the seventeenth successive month in May. Anecdotal evidence indicated that increased client activity and improved market conditions resulted in higher permanent placements. Though sharp and comfortably above the series average, the rate of growth eased for the second month running to the weakest since February 2021.

Moreover, the latest upturn in permanent staff appointments across Scotland was slower than that seen at the UK level for the first time in five months.

Scottish recruiters noted a marked rise in temp billings during May, thereby extending the current sequence of growth to 21 months. Recruiters often attributed the latest increase to strengthening client demand and the resumption of projects previously on hold due to the pandemic. However, the respective seasonally adjusted index declined from a seven-month high in April, to signal the slowest upturn in four months. The expansion was also softer than the UK average.

Record contraction in permanent staff availability

As has been the case since February 2021, permanent staff availability decreased across Scotland during May. Furthermore, the rate of reduction was the fastest on record and rapid. Panellists blamed skill shortages and a competitive labour market for the latest downturn.

Permanent candidate numbers declined at a quicker rate in Scotland than that seen across the UK as a whole.

Latest data signalled a sustained fall in temp candidate availability across Scotland in May. Moreover, the pace of contraction quickened for the second month running to the fastest since August 2021. Recruiters stated that robust demand for staff, workforce shrinkage (particularly a drop in European workers), and skills shortages had all reduced temp staff availability.

The rate of decline across Scotland outpaced the UK-wide average, which in contrast eased slightly during May.

Starting salary inflation eases to seven-month low

Starting salaries for permanent joiners in Scotland rose for the eighteenth consecutive month in May. The pace of wage inflation eased to the slowest since October 2021 but remained steep and historically elevated. Recruiters often mentioned that a tight labour market and increased competition for staff had driven up starting pay.

Average hourly pay rates for short-term staff across Scotland rose during May. The latest upturn extended the current run of temp wage inflation that has been observed since December 2020. According to panellists, some staff had negotiated higher pay due to the increased cost of living. Though the rate of inflation accelerated slightly since April, it was nonetheless the second softest in ten months.

Softest rise in permanent vacancies for three months

Scottish recruiters noted a further rise in permanent vacancies during May. The pace of growth softened to a three-month low but remained robust overall and was quicker than the UK-wide average.

Across the monitored sectors, IT & Computing saw the fastest rise in permanent vacancies, followed by Accounts & Financials. However, the rate of increase for both eased from the preceding survey period.

May data signalled a strong uplift in temp vacancies across Scotland. While outpacing the UK-wide trend, the rate of vacancy growth eased from April’s recent high but remained marked. The upturn also extended the current sequence of rising demand to 20 months.

IT & Computing noted the sharpest rise in vacancies, with Blue Collar posting in second place.

Sebastian Burnside, Chief Economist at Royal Bank of Scotland, commented: “Scotland’s job market saw a further marked increase in recruitment activity during the latest survey period. However, hiring momentum eased for both permanent and temporary staff to the slowest in 15 and four months, respectively, as the supply of staff deteriorated rapidly.

“Moreover, permanent candidate availability fell at the quickest rate on record in May. Additionally, rising living costs and the growing imbalance between the supply and demand of labour exerted strong and sustained upward pressure on wages.

“While the loss of hiring momentum was inevitable following the sharp rebounds in activity seen after the easing of pandemic-related restrictions, it is hoped that any slowdown will be limited as overall demand for staff remains robust.”

GB-SC_Jobs_ENG_2206 Download

Letters: Life-saving X-ray Appeal

Dear Editor,

With household budgets facing increased pressures due to the rise in the cost of living, at vet charity PDSA, we’re issuing a life-saving X-ray appeal to help us continue providing essential care for sick and injured pets whose owners struggle to pay for their treatments.

X-rays sit at the heart of our emergency treatments and help us to diagnose why a pet is in pain. Amazingly, PDSA carries out one X-ray every two minutes across our 48 Pet Hospitals but, at £135 per procedure, they are a costly yet critical part of our work to get our beloved pets back on their paws.

Our devoted veterinary teams provide free and low cost care for thousands of UK pets every day, offering them a fighting chance of survival and the ability to return home to their loving families.

Please help us so we can continue to provide urgent care to vulnerable pets by visiting www.pdsa.org.uk/x-rays-at-pdsa.

Any donation you can give will help give a poorly pet the life-saving X-ray and care they so desperately need.

Thank you,

Lynne James

PDSA Vet

#SavedByXray

Musselburgh Racecourse partners with Harvey Nichols and Bonnie & Wild for Stobo Castle Ladies Day

Musselburgh Racecourse has partnered with the beauty team at Harvey Nichols Edinburgh and upmarket Food Hall Bonnie & Wild to offer a unique raceday package for Stobo Castle Ladies Day on Friday 5 August.

As part of the luxury package, the beauty experts from Harvey Nichols will be offering appointments from 8:30am until 11:30am and encouraging customers to indulge as they get raceday ready with a full-face makeover.

Additional fragrance consultations, skincare treatments and hand and arm massages will also be available on the day. Prestigious beauty brands including Armani Beauty, Estée Lauder, Dior, Fenty Beauty, Hourglass, Laura Mercier, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Pixi Beauty, Tom Ford and Yves Saint Laurent will be present and on hand to pamper guests at the event.

The beauty appointments will be followed by a delicious brunch from Bonnie & Wild, which will include a tailor-made mocktail on arrival and a selection of delectable dishes from the sophisticated Food Hall, and finished off with a glass of Prosecco to raise a toast to Ladies Day.

Aisling Johnston, Commercial Manager at Musselburgh Racecourse, said: “It’s great to be working with two renowned Edinburgh-based businesses to create this unique package for this year’s Ladies Day.

“It’s going to be a big occasion for people and so we felt it was nice to offer something that will make people feel their best ahead of a great day at the races.”

Tickets cost £132 and will include a 45-minute beauty appointment with a makeup artist from Harvey Nichols Edinburgh, the Prosecco brunch from Bonnie & Wild, transport to and from Musselburgh Racecourse, and a Raceday ticket to Stobo Castle Ladies Day.

Richard Morris, General Manager at Harvey Nichols Edinburgh, said: “Our beauty experts will be primed and ready with an amazing range of brands we carry in store to help people get ready for the exciting day ahead.”

Kate Russell, General Manager at Bonnie & Wild, added “Ladies Day is an important day in the Edinburgh calendar and all of us at Bonnie & Wild are delighted to be welcoming racegoers along before the festivities begin.

“I’m sure they’ll love the bespoke mocktails and beautiful brunch dishes we’ll have available for them, and all topped off by a glass of beautiful bubbly. A perfect start for a day at the races.”

The Bonnie & Wild Bar will offer a full range of alcoholic drinks from 11am (soft drinks and other refreshments will be available all morning), before guests are transported to Musselburgh Racecourse in style to enjoy all the glamour of Stobo Castle Ladies Day.

Book your tickets here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/355103342657

To find out more about Stobo Castle Ladies Day please visit:

https://www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk/view-fixture/stobo-castle-ladies-day-2022

Another branch bites the dust

Granton Square … Goldenacre … Davidsons Mains, no more. And another Royal Bank of Scotland branch will join the Lost List when Stockbridge Branch closes it’s doors for the last time on 4th October.

In a letter to RBS customers, Local Director Mark Scanlon explained: “Closing branches is always a difficult decision and not one that we ever take lightly. So, we wanted to try to explain why we’ve had to do this.

“The simple reason is that the way businesses bank with us has changed. The shift towards digital means many of our customers now manage their money online. With fewer people going into branch, we’ve had to make some really tough choices. Which is unfortunately why we will be closing our Edinburgh Stockbridge branch on 4 October 2022.

“You can, of course, use any other Royal Bank of Scotland branch. And you can manage your money online through our Digital Banking service or via Bankline without having to go into a branch, To find out more go to: business.rbs.co.uk/ways-to-bank .”

So that’s okay then !

Victory for workers’ rights in INEOS refinery appeal

Unite members working at the INEOS refinery at Grangemouth have won a legal battle that strengthens collective bargaining rights and will prevent employers bypassing unions to impose pay deals on employees.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ordered global chemical firm, INEOS, to pay compensation to 28 Unite members employed at its Grangemouth site of £3,830 each, after it tried to impose a 2.8 per cent pay award on them in 2017. Their union, Unite, had previously rejected the offer.

This latest ruling strengthens the law on ‘unlawful inducements’ to surrender trade union rights. It builds on the ground-breaking Kostal UK Lytd v Dunkley and ors case, which Thompsons successfully won alongside Unite the Union last year.

Neil Todd, trade union specialist at Thompsons Solicitors, said: “This is a key victory not only for the Unite members involved, but for all workers in trade unions across the UK.

“The right of a recognised trade union to collectively bargain on behalf of its members is fundamental to workers’ rights and this judgment makes clear that it should be respected by employers.

“Along with the Kostal case, a spotlight is finally being thrown by the courts on trade union bargaining rights and it’s not looking good for employers who think they can ignore trade unions when they choose”

The Unite members argued that imposing the pay increase outside the collective bargaining process amounted to an unlawful inducement to give up collective bargaining rights.

Documents disclosed during the legal proceedings revealed a member of the firm’s senior leadership team had suggested the company needed to “engineer a way to get rid of Unite and replace them with a different representative body” after its members refused to vote in favour of the proposed offer.

The initial tribunal in 2018 ruled in favour of the workers, but INEOS appealed the judgment and that appeal was subsequently delayed pending the outcome of the related Kostal UK Lytd v Dunkley and ors case, which had progressed to the Supreme Court.

The Kostal case saw Unite members, again represented by Thompsons Solicitors, successfully take legal action against their Rotherham-based employer for trying to bypass union pay negotiations

. This was a ground-breaking case, billed at the time as the most important trade union rights case in over a decade – and the first case in the UK’s highest court on trade union bargaining rights.

Mr Todd said: “This victory sends a clear message to employers. One, you won’t get away with issuing statements of intent to vary an employee’s pay and deem that offer accepted if the employee continues to work.

“And two, you can’t simply declare something to be “a final offer” to suggest collective bargaining is exhausted and then bypass the recognised trade union to make direct approaches to workers.

“We are delighted to build on our ground-breaking Kostal case. Both cases make clear the central role trade unions play in the workplace and should give comfort to union members up and down the country.”

Unite says that the long-anticipated Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) judgment has huge ramifications for workers everywhere.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “This is an important legal victory for Unite and the wider trade union movement.

“Employers everywhere should take note. Unite the union will use every tool at its disposal to defend collective bargaining and will not tolerate employers like INEOS trying to bypass their obligations to negotiate.”

Scotland’s Census ‘ready to move to next stage’

Almost 2.3 million households completed census – Opposition says the process has been shambolic

The extension to the census collection period saw an additional 200,000 households complete their census, it was announcedyesterday.

Setting out progress to Parliament, the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson announced that the national return rate increased by 8.7 percentage points since the start of the extension to 87.9%, bringing the total number of households providing a response to Scotland’s Census 2022 to almost 2.3 million.

The level of national census returns provides a strong position to build up a picture of the population, as National Records of Scotland moves to the next phase of the census.

Mr Robertson said: “The census is a once in a decade exercise and plays an important role in decision making for Scotland. I want to thank everyone who completed the census, your responses will help shape the future of vital public services across Scotland.

“I also want to give my thanks to all of the people involved over the past few months from the hundreds of field staff, contact centre agents and census officials who were instrumental in ensuring the voices of households across Scotland were heard.

“We extended the collection period to ensure that as many people as possible could have the opportunity to complete it. Since the start of the extension, we have seen significant progress with 10 local authorities achieving a return rate of more than 90% and 28 local authorities having a return rate of more than 85%.

“This data will provide us with a strong position as we move to the next phase and turn this data into actions that will benefit people across Scotland.

“There have been many important lessons learned over the last few months and which we will consider for the future of the census. The evaluation of Scotland’s Census 2022 will help us develop a better understanding of what has worked and make informed recommendations for the future.”

Through a combination of census returns, individual administrative data, the Census Coverage Survey, and adjustments using aggregate administrative data, NRS will be able to proceed effectively with the next phase of census.

A target was set to achieve 85% or more for each Local Authority area. On 1st May this had only been achieved in one Local Authority – it has now been achieved by 28.

“SHAMEFUL”: £4 billion of unusable PPE bought in first year of pandemic will be burnt “to generate power”

The Department for Health & Social Care (DHSC) lost 75% of the £12 billion it spent on personal protective equipment (PPE) in the first year of the pandemic to inflated prices and kit that did not meet requirements – including fully £4 billion of PPE that will not be used in the NHS and needs to be disposed of.

There is no clear disposal strategy for this excess but the Department says it plans to burn significant volumes of it to generate power – though there are concerns about the cost-effectiveness and environmental impact of this “strategy”.

In a report today the Public Accounts Committee says that as a result of DHSC’s “haphazard purchasing strategy” 24% of the PPE contracts awarded are now in dispute – including contracts for products that were not fit for purpose and one contract for 3.5 billion gloves where there are allegations of modern slavery against the manufacturer.

The Committee says this only exacerbates DHSC’s “track record of failing to comply with the requirements of Managing Public Money even before the further exceptional challenges of the pandemic response”. It also raises concerns about “inappropriate unauthorised payoffs made to staff by health bodies”, with the planned large-scale NHS restructuring “increasing the risk of this happening again.”

Dame Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said: “The story of PPE purchasing is perhaps the most shameful episode the UK government response to the pandemic.

“At the start of the pandemic health service and social care staff were left to risk their own and their families’ lives due to the lack of basic PPE. In a desperate bid to catch up the government splurged huge amounts of money, paying obscenely inflated prices and payments to middlemen in a chaotic rush during which they chucked out even the most cursory due diligence.

“This has left us with massive public contracts now under investigation by the National Crime Agency or in dispute because of allegations of modern slavery in the supply chain.

“Add to that a series of inappropriate, unauthorised severance payoffs made by clinical commissioning groups in the first year of the pandemic and the impression given falls even further from what we expect.

“DHSC singularly failed to manage this crisis, despite years of clear and known risk of a pandemic, and the challenges facing it now are vast, from getting the NHS back on its feet to preparing for the next major crisis. There are frankly too few signs that it is putting its house in order or knows how to.”

Further information:

NSPCC Scotland encourages people to support Childhood Day to help keep children safe

As thousands of people come together across Scotland and the rest of the UK today to back the NSPCC’s Childhood Day, the charity is emphasising that everyone has a responsibility to keep children safe from abuse and neglect.

NSPCC Scotland is calling on communities to play their part in a collective effort and is encouraging people to log any concerns they have about a child, contact the NSPCC if they are unsure and support Childhood Day by donating.

Childhood Day is the NSPCC’s flagship day of fundraising that takes places on the second Friday in June every year.

Adults and children around Scotland are getting behind Childhood Day to help keep children safe, with communities hosting fundraising events and schools taking part in the NSPCC’s Big Breaktime. This is an extra hour of play where they can remember the special things about childhood whilst raising vital funds for the charity.

Caroline Renton, Supporter Fundraising Manager for NSPCC Scotland said: “Last year, the NSPCC Helpline made 897 referrals about abuse and neglect to agencies in Scotland. With the support of local people, ringing the NSPCC Helpline if they have concerns about any child, we can help protect children from abuse.

“As people get behind Childhood Day today, they demonstrate an understanding that we all have a responsibility to play our part to prevent abuse and neglect.

“There will be volunteers in towns and cities throughout Scotland collecting for the NSPCC, so we would be extremely grateful for your support.”

This year Lidl GB, who have supported the charity for five years and Sky Cares, Sky’s commitment to supporting the communities where their customers and employees live and work, are sponsoring the NSPCC’s Childhood Day as retail and media partners respectively. Both partners have helped to raise awareness of Childhood Day, as well as holding their own activities with their colleagues across the UK to help raise vital funds.

Following the launch of Childhood Day in April, the NSPCC has been encouraging people to volunteer at cash collections scattered across Scotland between May and early June, take part in the Big Breaktime, fundraise by hosting an event in their community or donate to the charity.

People can still get behind Childhood Day today and support the NSPCC by donating at nspcc.org.uk/donate

The NSPCC is urging anyone with concerns about a child, even if they’re unsure, to contact the NSPCC helpline to speak to one of the charity’s professionals.

You can call 0808 800 5000, email help@nspcc.org.uk or fill in the online form.

Fuel to hit £2 A LITRE? Tips to help you save at the pump

As households across the UK brace themselves for the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, CarStore’s Personal Advisors offer some tips to follow in order to improve fuel economy.

Mark Akbar, Managing Director at CarStore, said: “As prices at the pump are increasing rapidly and the cost-of-living crisis escalates, it’s more important than ever that drivers make the most out of every drop of fuel, improving driving economy and saving themselves money in the process.

“At CarStore our Personal Advisors are committed to listening and putting our customers’ needs first and we want share any informed, impartial advice that we can to make our customers’ lives easier and more affordable.”

“There are many different techniques and habits you can incorporate into everyday driving that will have a positive impact on your vehicle’s fuel economy. Try following even just a few of CarStore’s tips and tricks below and you may be pleasantly surprised just how much difference a change in driving style and habits can make to the miles per gallon you’ll achieve.”

Check your tyres & Tyre Pressures

One of the biggest factors in terms of fuel economy is the performance of your tyres – they are, after all, the only thing that connects your vehicle to the road. Having your vehicle’s tyres inflated to the correct pressures has a significant impact on your vehicle’s fuel economy. Under-inflated tyres can have a detrimental effect on your mpg by as much as -2.5%.

Always anticipate

Simply anticipating what is likely to happen in front of you when driving will greatly improve your efficiency as well as reduce wear and tear on your car’s brakes. While maintaining your focus on the vehicle directly in front of you, take the time to look further ahead to see what’s going on. If there’s a red light, try to lift off the accelerator a little earlier than you might normally, without taking it to extremes of course. If the lights change, you’ll still be rolling and you’ll spend less time getting up to speed, using less fuel in the process. Simply put, the less time you spend with your foot on the accelerator, the less fuel you will use.

Accelerate and Decelerate Smoothly

When the lights turn green, don’t stamp on the accelerator and get up to speed as fast as physically possible. Accelerate briskly but smoothly, reaching the desired speed in a reasonable time frame so as not to frustrate your fellow road users behind you. Don’t wait until the last minute to come to a standstill either, lift off the gas nice and early and brake gently until you come to a stop.

Remove Excess Weight

The heavier your car is, the more fuel it will use trying to get from A to B, so anything you can do to make it lighter will save you money. Roof boxes and bike racks are the main culprits, but simply having a good clear out of what’s in the backseat and the boot can have a positive impact as well.

Check Your Speed & Use Cruise Control

Always being mindful of the speed you’re travelling at is good, safe practice anyway, but it can help in terms of fuel economy too. Motorists should adhere to speed limits at all times so as they aren’t breaking the law, but saving money is another solid reason to do so. For instance, travelling above the national speed limit at 80mph instead of 70mph will use an extra 10% of fuel, as well as cost you extra money in speeding fines too. Cruise control only helps the situation too. Slowing down and speeding up increases fuel usage in a big way, so letting the car maintain the exact cruising speed for you whenever possible is simply the most efficient way to get around.

Use Your Gears Properly

It’s not part of the driving test to learn how to use your gears efficiently, you simply have to be able to use them to get the car to move at various speeds. However, to make the most out of every drop of fuel and maintain maximum efficiency, it’s vital that you’re always using the right gear at the right time. Be careful not to over-rev the engine, as this will use more fuel, and make sure you don’t labour the engine by being in a gear that’s too low for the speed and terrain. Generally, petrol cars are at their most economical between 1500 and 2500 rpm, so you should aim to change up to the next gear whenever you exceed the higher end of that band. For diesels, it’s between 1300 and 2000 rpm.

Service & Maintain Your Car

Ensuring that your vehicle is in tip-top mechanical shape is vital when making sure that fuel economy is as good as it can be. A car that has its engine serviced regularly and in line with service schedules using the correct parts, fluids and lubricants will work better and be more efficient than one that isn’t. It’ll be more reliable too. Wheel alignment (also known as tracking) can also have a negative effect on fuel economy too, and it can be knocked out by something as simple as a pot hole in the road, so make sure you get it checked regularly.

Avoid Unnecessary Idling

When the car is standstill and the engine is turned on and idling, you’re getting precisely 0 miles per gallon from your fuel. This is because fuel is being used but you aren’t going anywhere. So, waiting for a mate outside their house? Turn the engine off. Eating your burger at the drive thru? Turn the engine off. And yes, even if you’re defrosting your car, if you want to save fuel, you’ll have to turn the engine off. Modern cars with “stop/start” technology save fuel by turning the engine off while the vehicle is stationary. If your car has this function, keeping it turned on is the best thing you can do for fuel economy.

Use Air Con & Heating Functions Wisely

As a general rule, anything that drains the car’s battery in any significant way is also a drain on your car’s fuel tank. This is because it uses the alternator to charge the battery back-up, which is powered by the engine, which needs fuel to work. Air con is the biggest culprit here, increasing fuel consumption by around 5-7% in town driving. At higher speeds the effect is less noticeable, and using the air con at motorway speeds is actually more efficient than having the windows down because of the drag that’s created. Heated seats, heated steering wheels, heated windscreens and anything else heated will use extra fuel too.

Don’t Coast

Many drivers, particularly those who are used to driving cars from the ’70s and ’80s or even earlier, will swear that putting the car into neutral while going downhill or coming to a standstill will reduce fuel consumption because the rpm is lower. This is not true, certainly not of modern vehicles. Simply leaving the car in gear and coming to a stop – without labouring the engine – means you won’t be using any fuel at all. This is because the engine is using the drive. Coasting can also be dangerous too, as you’re less in control of the car.