Month: January 2018

Bosch Home and Garden launches DIY campaign

Nearly half of Edinburgh residents struggle with DIY and have given up hope of ever being able to do it, according to a new study from Bosch Home and Garden. As a result, Bosch has launched its ‘Pass It On‘ campaign to help encourage the next generation to learn vital new skills and become amateur home DIYers themselves as part of their New Year’s resolutions. Continue reading Bosch Home and Garden launches DIY campaign

Scottish investors consider Brexit and low interest rates to be the biggest threats to their wealth

–         Only 3% of Scottish investors say their finances are in better shape than 12 months ago

–         Brexit and low interest rates cause most concern for Scottish investors

–         Just a third (34%) of these investors see inflation as a major threat

Investors in Scotland view Brexit and low interest rates as the biggest threats to their wealth, according to a new survey of over 1,000 UK savers and investors, and 500 High Net Worth Individuals commissioned by Rathbone Investment Management. Continue reading Scottish investors consider Brexit and low interest rates to be the biggest threats to their wealth

Fifty years of winter: who feels the deepest chill?

  • Scotland East takes the coldest and frostiest crown with an average winter temperature of 2.3 degrees and 44 days of frost – 18 days more than the least frosty region England South West / Wales South.

  • Scotland North has the most rain, seeing over 8 weeks of rainy days during winter. That’s 25 days more than the driest region East Anglia which only suffers a month’s worth of rainy days.

  • England South East/Central sees the most winter sun with a total of 180 hours of clear sunshine during December, January and February. That’s 77 hours more than the darkest region Scotland North which sees an average of 103 hours of cloudless sunshine, almost an hour less sunshine a day.

  • England and Wales see 45 hours more clear sunshine during winter than Scotland, and 24 hours more than Northern Ireland.

  • When compared to England and Wales, Scotland has 9 more days of frost, 12 more days of rain and is 1.4 degrees colder on average during winter.

There’s nothing more British than a conversation about the weather, and with winter well and truly here it’s often a moan. Whether it’s too cold, too dark or even too warm to snow, it seems we’re never quite happy with what’s going on outside. Some of us, however, have more reason to complain than others … particularly if you live in Scotland! Continue reading Fifty years of winter: who feels the deepest chill?

Leonardo apprentices create new ‘immersive’ work experience programme

  • The new work experience format at engineering company Leonardo allows high school students to experience what it would be like to have a career in a high-tech business
  • The programme, driven by the company’s engineering apprentices, aims to reflect the real-world impact of engineering and boost students’ enthusiasm for a career in STEM

The value of apprenticeships to Scottish industry could not be more topical, with 2018 marking the launch of Scottish Government’s ‘Year of Young People’ and the UK Government’s ‘Year of Engineering’. It was in the spirit of these two initiatives that apprentices at Crewe Toll-based engineering company Leonardo have created a completely immersive work experience programme for local high school students, believed to be an industry first. Continue reading Leonardo apprentices create new ‘immersive’ work experience programme

Free vaccination is best protection against flu

The Health Secretary and Chief Medical Officer have joined to urge all eligible adults to take up the offer of the free flu vaccination. Latest figures from Health Protection Scotland show just over 41% of those aged under 65, who are considered ‘at risk’, have had their flu jab this winter – but cases of flu have more than doubled compared to the same time last year. Continue reading Free vaccination is best protection against flu

Poem: On This Ground We Stand

On this ground we stand

As the sun splits the clouds

From time to time

While the song is clear to hear

Many a soul is creating their story

 

What makes the place so special?

Is it the people we meet?

The stories we tell?

Or this land?

 

Bursting with imprinted memories

Historical events turned into tales

To share with others

 

What do we leave but footprints,

Litter, glitter and song?

Once our playground

Forever our resting place

 

Waves keep crashing

And the sun will rise again

 

Susanne,

Makin A Brew Craigroyston Parents Poetry Group

Eat green in 2018: Scots urged to eat more fruit and veg

January will see the revamp of the ‘Eat Better Feel Better’ website, which offers practical advice with the aim of increasing fruit and veg consumption, and cutting unhealthy snacking and sugary drink consumption in children. The site has tips and tools for families to help them make simple, quick and cheap changes to how they shop, cook and eat. Continue reading Eat green in 2018: Scots urged to eat more fruit and veg

Constance: Scotland’s social enterprise is world leader

‘Social enterprises are contributing to a fairer, more equal and inclusive Scotland’  – Communities Secretary Angela Constance

Scotland’s social enterprise strategy has delivered more than £7 million of investment in its first year. Since the strategy was launched in December 2016, £1.2 million has gone into free specialist business support, £1.1 million into a national social enterprise incubator and £330,000 to provide social enterprise learning in primary and secondary schools across the country.

Social enterprises are businesses that trade for the common good. They seek to make profits, but are committed to reinvesting these into a social or environmental mission.  Launched at the Grassmarket Community Project, winner of Social Enterprise of the Year 2017, the strategy is Scotland’s first ever long-term plan for the sector and is set over ten years.

Reflecting on the strategy’s first year, Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities, Angela Constance said: “Scotland’s social enterprise sector is seen as a world leader thanks to more than a decade of sustained investment and support. Social enterprises trade for the common good; strengthen our communities, improve people’s life chances and protect the environment.

“Our ten-year strategy demonstrates our on-going commitment to this innovative sector.  I’m delighted to see it helping so many social entrepreneurs to turn their business ideas in reality.  This is just the start and I’m looking forward to see how many more wonderful projects will flourish over the next nine years.

“Social enterprises contribute £2 billion to our economy each year and employs 80,000 people; so they are contributing to the wider economy as well as delivering projects and services in local communities. They are contributing to a fairer, more equal and inclusive Scotland.”

Edinburgh’s social enterprises have continued to flourish. A recent report produced by Edinburgh Social Enterprise (below) shows increased numbers of volunteers, paid staff and turnover: paid posts have increased by almost 10 times in 4 years (3.5 times in 2 years) showing that social enterprise is a growing area for employment, whilst volunteer hours contributed an estimated value of £1.29m to social enterprises for the 12 months to July 2017.

More Social Enterprises are reporting higher percentages of income coming from trade, rather than other sources of income, such as grants, with some members reporting 100% income from trade. Edinburgh Social Enterprises continue to show high levels of consumer facing trade, with 49% selling direct to the public.

In summary, Social Enterprise is creating employment, training and volunteering opportunities: increasingly contributing to Edinburgh’s economy: becoming more robust and sustainable as a sector (against challenging market conditions) and increasingly trading at an international level.

Social Enterprises provide vital support and services to the most vulnerable people in Edinburgh, with 76% of respondents reporting that they have 200 or more beneficiaries.

ESE_Impact_Report_2017