Tag: employment

Warm welcome for Edinburgh’s Project SEARCH interns

A supported internship programme for young people with a disability has welcomed 21 recruits.

Each young person will spend the next nine months gaining work experience within the council or with one of the city’s Project SEARCH partners, which includes NHS Lothian and Virgin Hotels.

Edinburgh Project SEARCH is a programme where young people with a disability, aged between 16 to 29 years, are given the opportunity to complete three 10-week work experience placements across the academic year while also studying for a qualification with Edinburgh College. The programme, which is now in its ninth year, aims to prepare young people to move into mainstream employment upon completion.

Tom Randall joined the council as part of Project SEARCH and has recently gone on to secure a position within the council’s facilities management team. He said:  “I have come; I really feel I can do the job for the Facilities Management team now and Edinburgh Project SEARCH has helped me to do this. 

“Now that I have this job I am really looking forward to feeling like I am a real part of the team and doing a good job with all the tasks. With my first wages I am planning to get a big takeaway!”

Most recent figures show that just 4.1% of young adults with a learning disability and/or autism in Scotland enter secure paid employment following education, compared to 80% of their peers. 

Supported internships – work-based study programmes for 16 to 29-year-olds with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) – dramatically change the employment outcomes for those who take part. 

DFN Project SEARCH figures show that 70% of people who complete their supported internships achieve this and successfully remain in employment.*

Hannah Goodall participated in Project SEARCH and now has a job in the City Chambers. She said: “I was an Edinburgh Project SEARCH intern on the 2022/23 programme. Project SEARCH helped me with my confidence and helped me to prepare and successfully apply for a job with the City of Edinburgh Council.

“I work at the City Chambers in the licencing department. My job title is licensing support assistant. All my colleagues are friendly and supporting. I like knowing that every month money is coming into my account, and I can choose when to take my holidays. I like being independent when I go out to work every day and maybe one day I’ll be able to move out and live independently.

Connor McDermid, another Project SEARCH alumni who enjoyed a placement with Virgin Hotels, has also secured a job since his internship. He said: “Edinburgh Project SEARCH really helped me develop my confidence.

“My work experience placement with Virgin Hotels Edinburgh helped me further develop my customer service skills too. These gave me the motivation to apply for a role as a concierge in the hotel – a job I was successful getting!

“This was all made possible with the support of my workplace buddies and the ‘People Team’ in the Virgin Hotels Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Project SEARCH team.”

Edinburgh’s new starts were welcomed by Council Leader Cammy Day, Planning Convener James Dalgleish and Chief Executive Andrew Kerr at a special induction ceremony.

Celebrating the start of the new Project SEARCH term, Council Leader Cammy Day said: “One of our biggest priorities in the aftermath of the pandemic has been to improve opportunities and outcomes for our young people, including those with complex needs.

“I’m proud of the inspiring and talented group of graduates we’ve nurtured to date and excited for the 21 new recruits. Such internships give these special young people the same opportunities as their peers and space to shine.

“Since 2014 Project SEARCH has been about teaching skills to be an employee as well as learning and a number of graduates have gone on to succeed in getting jobs in the council, which is fantastic! The placements can unlock confidence, build CV skills and be the difference between someone choosing to enter the workforce or feeling unable to.”

Oxfam: Almost two-thirds of women’s working hours excluded from GDP

A staggering sixty-five per cent of women’s working hours are unpaid every week and excluded from official measures of economic activity, according to a new Oxfam report.  

Radical Pathways Beyond GDP highlights how unpaid care – which accounts for forty-five per cent of all adults’ working hours each week globally – is excluded from gross domestic product (GDP) calculations.

The discussion paper looks at how the over-reliance on GDP warps governments’ priorities. Women carry out the majority of unpaid care – nearly 90 billion hours a week.

There is a growing consensus among policymakers and institutions that GDP is no longer fit for purpose as the primary indicator of economic and social progress. 

By excluding many factors that contribute to the overall health of the economy and wider society, the metric steers policymakers towards priorities that are fuelling inequality, gender and racial injustice and climate breakdown. 

The report argues that transformative alternatives to GDP are urgently required and that narrowly defined growth should never be a primary objective or end goal.

The report cites a handful of countries which have made efforts to incorporate alternative approaches into the highest levels of national law and policy, including Scotland. 

But while the Scottish Government describes the transition towards a wellbeing economy as a “top priority”, Scotland’s journey beyond-GDP remains far from complete.  

Anam Parvez, Oxfam head of research and author of the report, said: “Women are being short-changed the world over, pushed deeper into time and income poverty. 

“To add insult to injury, the majority of their work is ignored by official statistics. 

“Unpaid care is a hidden subsidy to the global economy; without it the system would collapse.

“In an age of climate crisis, growing inequality and economic turmoil, there is a strong case that this outdated metric should no longer be the dominant compass guiding policy making. 

“It fails to distinguish whether economic activity is harming or benefitting people and the planet. 

“Government policies and budgets should be guided by a set of metrics that look at the whole picture, including closing the divide between the richest and the rest, instead of relentlessly pursuing growth for its own sake.”  

Scotland’s drive towards becoming a wellbeing economy is underpinned by its National Performance Framework and the eleven National Outcomes which sit within it, as well as by the linked Wellbeing Economy Monitor.  

However, care work is currently invisible within these, despite the Scottish Government saying the National Outcomes describe “the kind of Scotland it aims to create”. 

Encouragingly, Scottish Ministers are in the process of reviewing and refreshing the National Outcomes for the first time in five years.  

Campaigners, including Oxfam Scotland, are calling for the glaring omission on care to be addressed through the creation of a dedicated new National Outcome on Care. 

The A Scotland That Cares campaign is backed by over 60 organisations, including frontline care and health organisations, those representing unpaid carers and parents, and prominent anti-poverty charities and think tanks.  

Jamie Livingstone, head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “The Scottish Government accepts that traditional economic metrics like GDP are inadequate and that women’s contribution to the economy is persistently undervalued. 

“But while it talks a good game when it comes to measuring the things that really matter, now is the time for that rhetoric to be realised. 

“Without carers, Scotland’s communities and economy would grind to a halt yet they are virtually invisible in the Scottish Government’s vision for the country. Now is the time to right that wrong by ending the invisibility of care in Scotland’s wellbeing framework.  

“Ministers must capitalise on the opportunities presented by the refresh of its National Performance Framework and through the upcoming Wellbeing and Sustainable Development Bill to commit to, and then build, a truly caring wellbeing economy that puts people and planet above a blinkered pursuit of profit.”

Aldi recruiting in Edinburgh

Aldi is currently looking to recruit over 20 new store colleagues across Edinburgh.  

In a welcome boost to the local economy, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket is looking for people of all levels of experience to fill roles at its stores across the region including Hermiston Gate, Gilmerton Road, Oxgangs, Commercial Street, and Portobello.  

This includes both full-time and part-time positions including Store Management Apprentice, Stock Assistant, and Store Assistant, all the way up to Deputy Managers.  

The recruitment push forms part of Aldi’s nationwide expansion drive, with the supermarket set to open an average of one new store a week across the UK between now and Christmas. 

Kelly Stokes, Recruitment Director at Aldi UK, said: “As we continue to invest in new stores, we’re looking for more colleagues to join our incredible teams across Edinburgh.   

“Working at Aldi means a great working environment and real opportunities to progress within the business and we look forward to welcoming even more people to be a part of our success in the future.” 

Starting pay for Store Assistants at Aldi is £11.40 per hour with the supermarket also paying for breaks.  

Those interested in applying for jobs can visit www.aldirecruitment.co.uk.   

Final spaces remain on free job skills training course at Fort Kinnaird

A free skills training session to help people take their first step on the career ladder is being hosted at Fort Kinnaird in collaboration with Capital City Partnership (CCP) next week.

Delivered by the Focus on Recruitment and Training (FORTY) scheme, which is based at the centre, the one-week course on retail and customer service skills will give participants an SQA accredited Customer Service qualification, as well as support with CV building, job applications and interview tips, and an opportunity to be interviewed by a recruiting Fort Kinnaird retailer.

The course is open to anyone aged between 16 and 24, will run from 31st of July – 4th of August.

To help local people build their confidence in applying for retail job vacancies, participants will also have the opportunity to hear from Fort Kinnaird employees about their career journeys to date, alongside getting their advice on applying for retail or hospitality jobs.

Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We know how difficult applying for a job can be, so we want to help people in our community take the first step – whether it’s moving into employment for the first time or a jump between careers.

“FORTY provides a fantastic opportunity for individuals to seek advice, learn more about the retail industry and gain new qualifications.” 

FORTY is funded by Fort Kinnaird’s co-owner, British Land, and in-kind support from the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.

To register or to find out more information about the course, please contact Maria at: maria.banaszkiewicz@capitalcitypartnership.org  or call  07856089669.

More information on FORTY and upcoming skills training opportunities can be found here: https://www.fortkinnaird.com/whatson 

Fort Kinnaird is open from 9am – 9pm on weekdays, and 9am – 6pm on weekends.  

Burnt Out Britain?

NEW polling reveals 1 in 2 workers feel that work is getting more intense and demanding

“Gruelling” work intensity is a growing problem in “burnt out Britain”, with workers reporting that they are working harder and longer now compared to previous years, the TUC has warned.

The TUC says increasing work intensity means workers are having to pack more work into working hours – with work often spilling over into their private lives.

The warning comes as the union body releases new polling, conducted by Thinks Insight (formerly Britain Thinks) which reveals:

  • More than 1 in 2 (55%) workers feel that work is getting more intense and demanding.
  • And 3 in 5 (61%) workers say they feel exhausted at the end of most working days.

The polling also reveals workers feel the situation is getting worse. Compared to the previous year (2021):

  • More than a third of workers (36%) are spending more time outside of contracted hours reading, sending and answering emails.
  • 1 in 3 (32%) are spending more time outside of contracted hours doing core work activities.
  • 4 in 10 (40%) say they have been required do more work in the same amount of time
  • 4 in 10 (38%) say they are feeling more stressed at work

The TUC says women face greater work intensity than men.

The polling shows that compared to men, women are more likely to say they feel exhausted at the end of most working days (67% to 56%) and that work is getting more intense (58% to 53%).

Women are overrepresented in sectors such as education and health and social care. These are sectors where staff shortages and other factors, such as burdensome scrutiny and long working hours, have led to increased work intensification.

And women continue to shoulder most of the caring responsibilities at home, which can further add to time-pressures on them.

Burnt-out Britain

Recent TUC analysis revealed UK employers claimed £26 billion of free labour last year because of workers doing unpaid overtime.

3.5 million people did unpaid overtime in 2022, putting in an average of 7.4 unpaid hours a week.

As well as being detrimental to family life, long term-ill health conditions caused by overwork include hypertension and cardiovascular disease, digestive problems, and long-term effects on the immune system, increasing risk of causing autoimmune disease diagnoses.

When workers are tired, or under excessive pressure, they are also more likely to suffer injury, or be involved in an accident.

Perfect storm

The TUC says there are several factors are combining to create a “perfect storm” for work intensity. This includes:

  • Surveillance technology and algorithmic management: Algorithmically set productivity targets can be unrealistic and unsustainable – forcing people to work at high speed. Algorithmic management can also force workers to work faster through constant monitoring, including monitoring the actions they perform and their productivity.
  • Staff shortages:  Low pay, excessive workloads and a lack of good flexible work are key drivers of the staffing crisis. Staff shortages put huge strain on those who remain as they try to plug the gaps, fuelling excessive workloads and long-working hours. This undermines the quality of our public services, and leads to high attrition and absenteeism rates, worsening the workload crisis. 
  • Inadequate enforcement of working time regulations: The working time regulations contain important rights for workers which could help safeguard against work intensification and the consequential health and safety risks, but enforcement of these rights is inadequate. This is in part down to lack of resources for enforcement agencies. The Health and Safety Executive, which is responsible for enforcement of the maximum weekly working time limits, night work limits and health assessments for night work, has had its budget slashed in half over the past decade.
  • Decline in collective bargaining: Industrial changes have combined with anti-union legislation to make it much harder for people to come together in trade unions to speak up together at work. This decline in collective bargaining coverage has led to less union negotiation around work organisation, resulting in work intensification.

Ministers are currently looking to water down rules on how working time is recorded by employers in the UK, which they could impose using powers in the controversial REUL (Retained EU Law) Act.

This could significantly weaken our already-inadequate enforcement system even further, making it more difficult for labour market inspectors to prove non-compliance.

Action needed

The TUC says ministers must take urgent action to tackle burnt out Britain, including:

  • Introduce a new right to disconnect to ensure workers get a proper rest break away from work and make sure that work doesn’t encroach upon a worker’s home life.
  • Strengthen enforcement of working time regulations – that means funding the HSE properly and ditching proposed changes to how working time is recorded.
  • Fix the public sector recruitment and retention crisis, bringing down excessive workloads and dangerously unsafe staffing levels, delivering year-on-year fully-funded pay rises and making improvements to working conditions.
  • Make flexible working a genuine legal right from the first day in a job. People should have the right to work flexibly from day one, unless the employer can properly justify why this is not possible. Workers should have the right to appeal any rejections. And there shouldn’t be a limit on how many times you can ask for flexible working arrangements in a year.
  • Promote collective bargaining to make it easier for unions to speak withand represent workers – including broadening the scope of collective bargaining rights to include work organisation, the introduction of new technologies, and the nature and level of staffing. 
  • Introduce to statutory duty to consult trade unions before an employer introduces the use of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making systems. This would ensure that both the employer and worker can benefit from the introduction of new technologies and that productivity gains lead to decent pay rises for workers.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “No one should be pushed to the brink because of their job.

“Gruelling hours, pace and expectations at work are growing problems up and down the country. This is a recipe for burnt out Britain.

“Chronic staff shortages, intrusive surveillance tech and poor enforcement of workers’ rights have all combined to create a perfect storm.

“It’s little wonder that so many feel exhausted at the end of their working day.

“It’s time to tackle ever-increasing work-intensity. That means strengthening enforcement so that workers can effectively exercise their rights.

“It means introducing a right to disconnect to let workers properly switch off outside of working hours.

“And it means making sure workers and unions are properly consulted on the use of AI and surveillance tech, and ensuring they are protected from punishing ways of working.”

On public sector overtime and the recruitment crisis, Paul added: “Public sector workers can’t keep going on gratitude alone. Staff are getting burnt out and leaving public services in droves.

“It’s time ministers got serious about fixing the recruitment crisis blighting our NHS, our schools and our public services.”

The Botanist: Opening date announced

MORE THAN FIFTY JOBS CREATED

The countdown is on for acclaimed bar-and-restaurant The Botanist to open its doors at St. James Quarter in Edinburgh.

Cocktail lovers will be able to get their hands on the venue’s famous innovative drinks from Monday 7th August, when the venue is set to welcome in guests for the first time. 

The brand is looking for a full team to run operations at its new venue, with 50-60 roles available including both front and back of house staff, from Chefs to Servers to Bartenders, and encourages creativity, individuality and personal flair from its employees. Roles are also advertised for a Duty Manager and Sous Chef to join the growing team.   

Edinburgh’s winers and diners can look forward to The Botanist’s fresh seasonal flavours, reviving botany-inspired cocktails and signature hanging kebabs that they’ll want to keep going back for. 

Live music is another key ingredient in helping to create a relaxed and atmospheric experience-led social space, ideal for family meals, after-work drinks, sophisticated evenings with friends and celebrating special occasions.  

The interior fit-out of the space is currently underway and the brand is renowned for its grand botanical-inspired interiors.  

Guests can expect to enjoy beautiful installations of greenery and exposed brick walls adorned with impressive hand painted artwork whilst they drink and dine. The bar will also feature a dedicated outdoor seating terrace.   

Rachel Guy, Operations Manager at New World Trading Company said, “Our stunning new flagship venue brings the opportunity for exceptional individuals join us. Joining the business at the start of our journey means you’ll be bringing our unique brand to life in Edinburgh with the help of award-winning training.    

“Our in-house Management Academy & Future Managers programme offers transparent career pathways and the chance to progress across our nationwide brand family.”  

To find out more about the opportunities available and apply, visit https://thebotanist.uk.com/edinburgh-roles.   

To stay up to date with The Botanist Edinburgh’s opening and be the first to know about, sign up to its newsletter to be the first to know about exclusive invites and offers for the opening week.  

Tata Group to invest over £4 bn in UK gigafactory creating thousands of jobs

  • Tata Group announces new multibillion-pound electric car battery factory to be built in the UK – one of the largest ever investments in the UK automotive sector.
  • Investment will create up to 4,000 new direct jobs, and thousands more in the wider supply chain – driving forward the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy.
  • New gigafactory set to provide almost half of the battery production needed by 2030 – turbocharging UK’s switch to zero emissions vehicles.

The UK has been chosen as the home of Tata Group’s first ‘gigafactory’ outside India, in a move set to create thousands of jobs and bring a huge boost to the UK’s automotive sector.

Tata Group confirmed the UK had secured one of the largest ever investments in the UK auto industry today (19 July). The gigafactory will secure UK-produced batteries for another Tata Sons investment, Jaguar Land Rover, as well as other manufacturers in the UK and Europe.

The new gigafactory, at 40GWh, will be one of the largest in Europe. It will create up to 4,000 highly skilled jobs, as well as thousands of further jobs in the wider supply chain for battery materials and critical raw minerals, helping grow the economy and take forward the UK’s commitment to net zero.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Tata Group’s multi-billion-pound investment in a new battery factory in the UK is testament to the strength of our car manufacturing industry and its skilled workers.

“With the global transition to zero emission vehicles well underway, this will help grow our economy by driving forward our lead in battery technology whilst creating as many as 4,000 jobs, and thousands more in the supply chain.

“We can be incredibly proud that Britain has been chosen as home to Tata Group’s first gigafactory outside India, securing our place as one of the most attractive places to build electric vehicles.”

Mr N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, said: “The Tata Group is deeply committed to a sustainable future across our business.

“Today, I am delighted to announce the Tata Group will be setting up one of Europe’s largest battery cell manufacturing facilities in the UK. Our multi-billion-pound investment will bring state-of-the-art technology to the country, helping to power the automotive sector’s transition to electric mobility, anchored by our own business, JLR (Jaguar LandRover).

“With this strategic investment, the Tata Group further strengthens its commitment to the UK, alongside our many companies operating here across technology, consumer, hospitality, steel, chemicals, and automotive.

“I also want to thank His Majesty’s Government, which has worked so closely with us to enable this investment.”

The investment of over £4 billion represents a historic moment for the UK’s growing electric vehicles industry.

The new gigafactory will supply JLR’s future battery electric models including the Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar brands, with the potential to also supply other car manufacturers. Production at the new gigafactory is due to start in 2026.

This investment will be crucial to boosting the UK’s battery manufacturing capacity needed to support the electric vehicle industry in the long term. With an initial output of 40GWh it will also provide almost half of the battery production that the Faraday Institution estimates the UK will need by 2030.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said: “Today’s multibillion-pound investment demonstrates that this Government has got the right plan when it comes to the automotive sector.

“We are backing the UK car industry to help grow our economy as we transition to electric vehicles, and this latest investment will secure thousands of highly-skilled jobs across the country.

“Tata’s decision is a major vote of confidence in UK automotive. The Government is committed to making the UK one of the best places in the world for automotive investment, as evidenced by the Automotive Transformation Fund, the British Industry Supercharger, and the strong programme of support for research and development.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said: “This is a huge vote of confidence in the UK and one that will drive growth in our economy, creating thousands of jobs and powering our transition to electric cars.

“Tata Group’s gigafactory builds on the strength of our manufacturing industry and shows we’re on the right track, backing the sectors that will underpin our future prosperity for decades to come.”

Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Today’s announcement from Tata is excellent news. We have been working tirelessly with the company, and across government, to make the case for why the UK is the best place for them to invest.

“This new gigafactory puts us firmly in the fast lane to becoming the capital of Europe’s electric car market, and makes crystal clear how they see the UK as the place to be for their future growth.

“With thousands of jobs on site and in the supply chain, this new factory will be the cornerstone of our automotive industry, backing manufacturers to develop and expand, and customers to make the switch from petrol and diesel.”

Jobs Fair in Leith this Thursday

Leith Job Fair is coming to the Drill Hall! 📢

We’re delighted to be welcoming Joined Up for Jobs (part of Capital City Partnership) to the Drill Hall for the Leith Job Fair.

It’s an employability event for clients to come along and meet directly with employers and partners based in Edinburgh for support in looking for jobs, CV writing, job interview preparation.

📅 Thursday 20th July
⏲️ 10am – 1pm, free entry

Find out more on our website. ↩

Scottish talent invited onto a global stage at the Edinburgh International Festival

  • The International Festival searches for 26 talented dancers to join Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on stage and five pre-professional musicians to join the Mendelssohn Octet in an audition judged by Festival Director Nicola Benedetti.
  • 12 Scotland-based dance artists are invited to take part in a week of artistic development with performers of Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring / common ground[s].
  • Other opportunities to get involved with the International Festival include the London Symphony Orchestra playing for patients and staff in hospitals, flagship Culture Club events in community centres and young people will get the chance to meet The Late Show’s bassist, Endea Owens, in a Youth Takeover Day.
  • To apply visit: https://www.eif.co.uk/jobs.

As part of the 2023 Edinburgh International Festival programme, the International Festival is providing three exciting paid opportunities for dancers and musicians based in Scotland to collaborate with major artists, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dance Base and in a performance of the Mendelssohn Octet.

Each artist will be paid, with travel and accommodation provided, to open the opportunity for equal participation. These projects were made possible by the support of the International Festival’s Learning & Engagement Partner Baillie Gifford Investment Managers.

In partnership with the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the International Festival has created a major professional development opportunity for a diverse and dynamic cohort of 26 emerging dancers aged 18-25 who live in, were born in or trained in Scotland, to rehearse at Edinburgh College with the company and perform in the Alvin Ailey classic  Memoria, on stage at the Festival Theatre on 24 and 25 August.

In mid-May, the Festival will also be inviting applications from pre-professional string players (three violins, one viola and one cello) through an open international audition process for the Mendelssohn Octet.

Musicians will be selected by Edinburgh International Festival Director, Nicola Benedetti, to work with Stefan Jackiw, Jessica Bodner and Sterling Elliott, culminating in an onstage performance in the Festival’s home on the Royal Mile, The Hub, on 10 August.

Outside of the August festival period from 24 – 28 July, the Festival is partnering with Dance Base, Scotland’s National Centre for Dance, to find 12 Scotland-based dance artists to take part in a week of artistic development and workshops with performers from The Rite of Spring / common ground[s].

The dance work premiered at Sadler’s Wells in 2022 and marks the first-time Pina Bausch Foundation (Germany), École des Sables (Senegal) and Sadler’s Wells (UK) have collaborated. At least 25% of the places will be allocated to artists who identify as d/Deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent. This opportunity is supported by the British Council.

In a collaboration with two Belgium-based award-winning puppetry and mime companies, Focus Company and Chaliwaté Company, the International Festival will continue to match artists in a sharing of artistic skills by hosting a professional development workshop with Imaginate and Puppet Animation Scotland, ahead of the UK premiere of their work Dimanche.

Caroline Donald, Head of Learning & Engagement at Edinburgh International Festival said: “We are delighted to share these projects that we work on year-round to connect with people of all ages across Edinburgh, with our values of discovery, connection and internationalism at the heart of each opportunity. 

“By welcoming schools and community groups to International Festival performances, we hope to help people get involved in the arts, be inspired by artists and art forms they might never have come across before and feel part of what we at Edinburgh International Festival do. We may be international, but we are firmly rooted in Edinburgh.”

Alongside the performance and development opportunities, there are also several opportunities for children and young people to engage with the International Festival. 

On the 23 August, young people will be joined by bassist Endea Owens in a Youth Takeover Day, in partnership with 6VT Edinburgh City Youth Café, to explore her commission, and will be invited to The Hub to watch her performance.

Opera Project will return in June to secondary schools across the city, this year exploring the International Festival’s performance of Mozart classic The Magic Flute. A version of the opera will tour schools, with participating pupils offered free tickets to attend the Scottish Chamber Opera’s performance during the Festival.

After the summer holidays, the classes will then be invited to see Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle, with the International Festival working with Sight Scotland and the Royal Blind School to create a bespoke, sensory version for their pupils.

Punchdrunk Enrichment’s The Lost Lending Library will welcome groups of children from ten community groups across the city during the summer holidays, with follow-up immersive storytelling workshops. Stories from the children written during the workshops will be collected and shared, creating a legacy for The Lost Lending Library beyond the Festival.

For people of all ages, the LSO in the NHS Project will bring London Symphony Orchestra players into The Royal Edinburgh Hospital, The Royal Infirmary, The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and The Western General over the 14-16 of August.

LSO players will perform in closed wards, staff wellbeing spaces, and larger, open spaces for patients, staff and visitors. In addition, 100 tickets will be given to NHS staff to attend the LSO’s performance of The Road to Turangalila, presented by Nicola Benedetti and Sir Simon Rattle on 18 August. The project is supported by Tonic Arts, the Arts and Wellbeing leg of the NHS Lothian Charity.

Culture Clubs will bring together different communities in Edinburgh together to share a meal and enjoy a range of artistic performances from the International Festival programme. This year, there will be four Culture Clubs as part of 2023 Festival programme with the first ever BSL Culture club being hosted by Deaf Action. Endea Owens has already been confirmed as a performer for one date. 

For full information on these projects and further information on how to apply, please visit: https://www.eif.co.uk/jobs

Amazon in Edinburgh celebrates Learning at Work Week

A senior programme manager from Fife is sharing his career story during Learning at Work Week 2023 (15th-21st May) with the aim of inspiring others to achieve their professional goals through lifelong learning at work.

Learning at Work Week is an annual programme run by the charity Campaign for Learning. The charity works with organisations around the UK to create activities and fun challenges in the workplace to help employees learn and grow. This year’s theme, Create the Future, explores how lifelong learning at work can help individuals and communities achieve life and work goals, shape lives, drive innovation and achieve organisational ambitions. 

Simon McMahon, who works at Amazon’s corporate office in Edinburgh, has used Amazon’s development and training opportunities to shape his professional career at the company and hopes his story will encourage others to take their career to the next level through the Amazon Career Choice programme.

Simon, who is from Fife, works at the Amazon Development Centre in Edinburgh as a senior programme manager in the UK Impact Team.

Simon joined Amazon in 2010. 13 years and seven promotions later, he has progressed from seasonal employee at the fulfilment centre in Dunfermline to his current role. Simon has taken part in a number of training courses over his years at Amazon, most recently participating in social return on investment studies. 

As part of his current role, Simon is involved in an initiative to donate products to more than 50,000 families in need alongside local charities, businesses and former Prime Minister, Rt Hon Gordon Brown. 

44616 Amazon. Simon McMahon (37), Senior Programme Manager at Amazon EDI5, Edinburgh.

Speaking on his career at Amazon, Simon said: “I’m really fortunate that I enjoy what I do. The roles I have done here have led to a lot of amazing opportunities. Once I started progressing beyond area manager and operations manager, I didn’t see myself working in a social impact and responsibility role, but it’s the best move I’ve ever made and it’s the most fulfilling role I could take on.”

To anyone considering developing their careers at Amazon, Simon said: “Amazon has far more opportunities than you could think of and if there’s something you want to do or learn, you just have to ask. The number of people in my position and beyond that have joined Amazon at entry level and have ended up in a senior management role is staggering. 

Amazon is a company that really benefits people that own their development and learning and I think if you’re motivated, keen to learn and try new things, you can go anywhere.”

Career Choice is an innovative programme which provides funding for adult education, offering to pre-pay 95% of tuition and reimburse employees for eligible fees for nationally recognised courses; up to £8,000 over four years. Courses available include accountancy, HGV driving and software development, and are designed to help employees pursue careers at Amazon or elsewhere.

Since launching in the UK in 2014, Career Choice has seen around 13,000 participants explore a range of opportunities, including starting or returning to school, learning new skills and languages, or earning industry certifications. The most popular fields of study in the UK are transportation administrative and business services and technology.

Amazon also provides opportunities to improve existing skills or learn new ones through internal career progression opportunities such as cross-training, transferring to a different department and promotion into a managerial role.

Oliver Masting, Managing Director at Amazon Development Centre Scotland added: “We’re extremely pleased to have Simon on the team here at Amazon in Edinburgh. He is an example of how much you can achieve if you put your mind to it, and we’re sure that others will be inspired to fulfil their own potential after hearing his story.

“Career development is at the core of our culture at Amazon; employees have a wide variety of opportunities at their disposal, meaning that lifelong learning is possible for anyone. We look forward to seeing the great things Simon and his colleagues will do in their careers in the future as a result.”

Amazon is investing £10 million over three years in training up to 5,000 employees in new skills to meet the UK’s future employment needs outside of Amazon. Amazon also partners with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and local businesses on the programme to identify regional skills shortages and focus training on local demand.

Amazon employees receive competitive pay and comprehensive benefits. Pay starts between £11 and £12 per hour depending on location and employees are offered a comprehensive benefits package, including private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection and an employee discount as well as a company pension plan.

To find out more about a career with Amazon, visit Amazon Jobs.