Day: April 5, 2020

Bright Red Sparks shortlist announced

The shortlist has been unveiled for the third Bright Red Sparks awards, which showcase innovative products and services developed by start-ups, spinouts, fledging companies and entrepreneurs.

The popular awards, an initiative of Edinburgh Napier’s Bright Red Triangle enterprise hub, will this year move online as a Facebook live event on the evening of Tuesday April 14.  

Trailblazing students, staff and alumni from across the University community will compete for more than £10,000 in prizes, with food, clothing, cleaning and media businesses among a wide range of projects hoping to impress the judges. 

The 19 shortlisted enterprises across six categories will be assessed for everything from the viability of their ideas and clarity of planning to thoroughness of research and potential for growth.  

Nick Fannin, Head of Bright Red Triangle, said: “The Bright Red Sparks Awards are a salute to all the enterprising students, staff and alumni from Edinburgh Napier University. We are in awe of the creativity, determination and energy of all of our University community to solve problems, to capture opportunities and to build businesses with purpose. 

 “Due to the current lockdown we have taken the decision to cancel the awards ceremony but we wanted to announce the shortlist in line with our original timeline as ultimately we want to be able to award the prize money at a time when businesses and self-employed people really need it. 

“It’s great to be able to reward hard work and we couldn’t have done it without the amazing support from our generous supporters and sponsors, Shepherd and Wedderburn, Morton Ward, Graphic Designer Pro, Santander Universities and the Moffat Charitable Trust.

“The package of support that our sponsors have offered will help our winners at a time when they really need it. We expect great things from all of those shortlisted, so watch out for their names in the future.” 

The 2020 shortlist was drawn up after scrutiny of the entrants’ online application forms, business models and video pitches. 

John Morrison, Senior Associate at law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn, said: “This year’s shortlist only highlights the continued quality of Bright Red Sparks entries, a showcase of the drive and innovative thinking that we need, now more than ever, to build successful businesses for the future.  Congratulations to the finalists for reaching this stage, and we wish you all the very best of luck.”  

Ewan Morton, Managing Director at creative agency Morton Ward, said: “‘It is inspiring to see such bold, brave and brilliant ideas coming from the Bright Red Sparks finalists.

“Not only do these entrepreneurial ideas represent sound business thinking but they also offer hope for the future by embracing digital technologies, the circular economy and environmental sustainability.” 

Bright Red Sparks Awards 2020 shortlist 

Bright Ideas (£2000 prize + in-kind support) 

CupClean cleaning product (Ross McFarland), 10T clothing brand (James Marshall), FoxBox tableware hire service (Linda Freimane)  

Going for Growth (£2000 prize + in-kind support) 

MaRobert’s food and sauces (Maggie Mazoleka), High Tide film and video production (Alex Porter-Smith, Eathan Currie), Monstrous Regiment Publishing indie press (Lauren Nickoemus, Ellen Desmond)  

Business for Good (£2000 prize) 

10T clothing brand (James Marshall), Fine Piece homeware from recycled materials (Kirsty McKain & Rebecca Subido), EQUIPLY supply chain equality (Wai Fong Lam)

Active Citizens (£1000 prize) 

Bloody Big Project period poverty awareness (Hannah Stevens, Brogan Henderson, Sam Calder), Towns of Today personalised guides (Rory Cotter, Morgan Tamplin), pRESPECT reducing child poverty (Viana Maya, Karsten Huttenhain)  

Enterprising Educators (£2000 prize) 

Enterprise Partnership Initiative student entrepreneurship (Dr King Omeihe), Entrepreneurial Leadership Programme developing entrepreneurial thinking (Dr Christopher Cramphorn, Dr Rosemary Alford), Built Environment Exchange sustainable construction (Prof Robert Hairstans, Dr Mila Duncheva, Andrew Livingstone, Carola Calcagno, Wojciech Plowas), Design for Professional Practice career development (Ruth Cochrane)  

Freelancer of the Year (£1000 prize + in-kind support) 

Loïc Bauméa web development, Bright Edge Media video storytelling (John Matheson), Charles Seed Media photographer and videographer  

The awards will be shown as a Facebook Live event at 7pm on Tuesday 14 April via the Facebook page @ BrightRTriangle here  

Sir Patrick Stewart & Miranda Hart – the dream lockdown buddies!

Who would you go into lockdown with? And who’s your nightmare house guest? The results are in!

As Britain goes through lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, the people have named their favourite buddies with whom they’d like to go into isolation with.

The “Desert Island Discs of the Lockdown” carried out by bored home workers from Office Provider Offices.co.uk found that we prefer to be entertained while we’re in isolation, with actors and comedians topping the list.

The poll found that that Sir Patrick “Jean-Luc Picard” Stewart and comedy actress Miranda Hart are the top two people with whom we want to be cooped up with.

“This is a very stressful time for everybody, and the thought of staying home for three weeks doesn’t exactly appeal to many people,” says spokesperson Jonathan Ratcliffe. “So, we might as well make the best of it!”

Dream partners and nightmare cellmates

Offices.co.uk asked 1,100 staff and home workers which living male and female celebrity they’d most like to spend time in isolation with, and we received answers from across the worlds of stage, screen and politics.

“Not that many from politics, truth be told,” says Jonathan. “Can’t imagine why!”

We’ve also listed our favourite reasons why some of these celebs have been chosen.

Male Celebrities:

  • Sir Patrick Stewart (“He’s calm, he’s clever, and he makes a very fine cup of Earl Grey.”)
  • Joe Wicks (“I’m just in love with him that’s why.”)
  • Keanu Reeves (“Come on, I’m an adult single woman, I don’t need to explain”)
  • Jamie Oliver (“Somebody’s got to do the cooking, and it might as well be him”)
  • Michael McIntyre

Female Celebrities:

  • Miranda Hart (“Literally the funniest person on the planet. What’s not to love about Miranda?”)
  • Carol Vorderman (“The kids are off school, and somebody’s got to teach them maths”)
  • Scarlett Moffatt
  • Gemma Collins
  • Stacey Solomon (“Fun to be with and very, very organised. Yes please Stacey”)

We also asked for people they’d most like NOT to be cooped up with for three weeks, and the choices were pretty much a landslide:

  • Boris Johnson (“He’s got a country to run, and I don’t speak Latin”)
  • Brian Blessed (”Shusssssh!!!”)
  • Mrs Brown
  • Katie Hopkins (“Just no”)
  • Gordon Ramsay (“Somebody’s got to do the cooking, and there’s no way I’m letting him into my kitchen”)

“Honestly, can you imagine three weeks in a small flat with Brian Blessed?” asks Jonathan, “GORDON’S ALIVE would get very annoying after the first hour, we’d imagine”

“And the neighbours will be banging on the walls.”

Offices.co.uk recons that people are looking for somebody who is great company, with the added bonus of a skill they can bring to a locked-down household.

“Whether it’s entertaining the troops, helping with home schooling, or turning up the heat in the kitchen, people are looking for somebody who is ideal company,” says spokesperson Jonathan Ratcliffe.

That’s why people have gone for Sir Patrick Stewart, currently enjoying a spell in the public eye with his new series Star Trek: Picard.

“He seems affable company, well read, and a gentle soul. He’d be a terrific house guest.”

On the other hand, people really can’t be living with nightmare company.

“What you don’t want, it seems, is somebody who turns out to be more of a cell mate!”

Charity responds to coronavirus with specialist support for people with sight loss

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland is offering support to people affected by sight loss in Scotland after unprecedented changes to everyday life take their toll.

The current social distancing and self-isolation measures can be particularly difficult for registered as blind or partially sighted people in Edinburgh.

In response, RNIB has ramped up telephone and online access to its Sight Loss Advice Service – which offers emotional support and practical advice to blind and partially sighted people and their families.

The service is providing information on a range of issues affecting people with sight loss during this national health crisis.

RNIB’s Sight Loss Advice Service is available to anyone concerned on 0303 123 9999 between 8am and 8pm on weekdays, and between 9am and 1pm on Saturdays.

Advice is also being updated online at https://www.sightadvicefaq.org.uk/independent-living/Covid-19

RNIB Scotland’s Eye Health Liaison Officer service, which is normally based in the Princess Alexandria Eye Pavilion, is also available over the phone to offer practical advice on living with sight loss and emotional support.

During these challenging times, information is vital. In response, we are ramping up our support and services to ensure blind and partially sighted people get the help they need.

We urge anyone in our community who needs us to call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk.

 

Letters: Thanks,NEN

Dear Editor
May I say the social importance of NEN keeping in contact with the community is so helpful. With the isolation being felt by so many having a negative effect.
When this awful plague is over the community must come together and Public Services are an absolute priority for all Councils everywhere, fully funded and protected.
Tony
Tony Delahoy 
(by email)

Calling all Families to ‘Write to Unite’

Young Writers have launched Write to Unite, a creative writing campaign to help raise the nation’s spirits.

Life as we know it has been turned upside-down, and to help take our minds away from being stuck inside, children and adults of all ages are invited to help spread positivity by writing a poem, a story, or giving a thoughtful message to love ones or keyworkers.

First established in 1991, Young Writers works with schools and parents, encouraging young people to engage in creative writing. Morgan Walton, Director, says, “This is an extremely difficult time for everyone across the country. Writing can be a great way to express how you feel, and for children and adults alike it’s important to come together to express a positive message”.

Write to Unite is free to take part in, and the aim of the campaign is to bring people together regardless of background or age. This is the public’s chance to celebrate community spirit and appreciate the elderly, the vulnerable or those who are working behind the scenes every day to keep our world moving during this challenging period.

To take part in Write to Unite, all you have to do is get writing!

Poems, stories, letters – are all welcome. Visit www.writetounite.co.uk for a selection of free resources and templates to inspire creativity. View the trailer at: https://youtu.be/m_lenUHvJC4.

Participants are encouraged to share this great opportunity with friends and family on social media. Use the #writetounite hashtag, and nominate three friends to get involved.

This is a perfect time to get the whole family creating positive memories. Let’s work together to spread some joy and happiness. Let’s write to unite!

For further information please email: info@writetounite.co.uk
or visit www.writetounite.co.uk.

Bringing Britons home

The government increases efforts to bring home travellers stranded abroad by coronavirus (COVID-19) with extra flights and 10 more airlines joining its scheme.

  • charter flights from Bolivia, Ecuador, Philippines and India to bring back thousands of Britons
  • 10 new airlines join government’s scheme to get more British travellers back to the UK
  • FCO extends advice against travelling overseas for an indefinite period

The government is ‘ramping up’ efforts to bring home thousands of travellers stranded overseas by coronavirus with a new package of extra flights and 10 additional airlines joining its scheme to keep commercial routes open and get British people back to the UK.

From next week the government will start to bring stranded British travellers back from India with flights from Delhi, Goa and Mumbai. Passengers interested in these flights from India are advised to check the travel advice for India which we will be updating when booking for these flights opens.

The number of airlines signed up to the Government’s scheme to get Britons home now stands at 14 after 10 new airlines, including British Airways, Norwegian, TUI and Ryanair, joined Virgin Atlantic, Titan, easyJet, and Jet2 who signed up earlier this week.

Since Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced on Monday (30 March) that the government had reached an agreement with airlines, more than 1,450 British travellers have flown home on specially chartered flights.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “Travellers are facing an unprecedented challenge on a global scale, and I know people are understandably desperate to get back to their homes and loved ones.

“We are committed to supporting Britons getting home either through commercial routes we have helped keep open or through specially chartered flights. With more airlines signing up it should mean more flights available but also a fairer deal for travellers by providing more flexibility over tickets and costs.

Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps said: “We continue to work with airlines round the clock to reunite British citizens with their families and loved ones.

“With more airlines pledging support, this huge operation becomes a little easier, speeding up the process and helping ensure a greater number of people return home quickly and safely.”

Where it is possible to get back to the UK on commercial routes by any carrier, the FCO continues to encourage all British nationals to take such opportunities.

The Department for Transport is working closely with airlines to bring those with pre-booked tickets home, either with the airline they booked with or on alternative routes where available.

This includes airlines allowing passengers to change tickets between carriers, where permissible, and offering them the latest information and advice as the situation changes.

  • the 14 airlines that have signed up to the FCO plan are: Air Tanker, Blue Islands, British Airways, Eastern Airways, easyJet, Jet2.com, Jota Aviation, Loganair, Norwegian, Ryanair, Titan Airways, TUI, Virgin and Wizz
  • where commercial flights are available, we strongly urge all British travellers to take those opportunities

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises all British travellers to return to the UK now. Read our latest coronavirus travel advice.

Social Distancing guidance for businesses updated

Social distancing guidance for businesses in Scotland has been updated to help provide clarity on protecting employees in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19).

It provides further information for employers and makes clear that those providing essential services must follow social distancing requirements.

It asks that the owners of businesses and operators of workplaces not required to close by law to consider whether what they do is essential to the efforts in the fight against the virus or benefit the wellbeing of society.

It also asks those employers if they can demonstrate and provide their workforces with reassurance that they are consistently practising safe social distancing and complying with all other standard health and safety requirements.

If the answer to either of these questions is no, workplaces are advised to close.

Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “We recognise that this is an extremely difficult time for businesses in Scotland and I must thank the many companies acting responsibly and taking action to protect their workers and the wider public.

“The updated guidance we expect to be published today by the UK Government does not apply in Scotland. The Scottish Government’s established priority is public health and fighting the virus.

“Workplaces that do not follow the Chief Medical Officer’s clear and consistent precautionary advice may be putting their employees, the wider public and our NHS at risk.  It is essential that all businesses act responsibly to safeguard the nation’s health, well-being and economic future.

“Our updated guidance asks non-essential businesses to consider whether their employees can work from home and, where not possible, they should close on a precautionary basis until such time it is clear to all staff and unions that they can operate in a way that is safe and fully compliant with social distancing as reducing our social interactions will reduce the spread of coronavirus.

“We need essential businesses and their supply chains to continue in their work and show that they are complying with social distancing guidance. We will work with business and trades union leaders so that we can all be clear on how activity can be undertaken safely and in a way that is fully compliant with social distancing. Unless and until such guidance is in place, non-essential workplaces, including construction sites, should close.”

The updated guidance for businesses.

City says Thank You!

There’s been a great response from the people of Edinburgh to help the city get through the current coronavirus pandemic.

  • Edinburgh Partnership thanks the public and voluntary organisations for all their help so far pulling the city through this pandemic
  • People asked to ‘Think Local and Act Local’ and be good neighbours, where they can
  • To keep essential services running and look after vulnerable people Council constantly monitoring how it deploys its staff

We’d like to thank everyone who has been in touch with the voluntary and public sector to offer their skills and time. We know that many of you are keen to also ‘do your bit’ to contribute to this effort and we would like to thank those of you who are trying to find ways to help your communities.

Your kindness and generosity in these difficult times are a reflection of all that is best about the city we share and the people who call it home.

We need everyone to look out for each other now more than ever and being a good neighbour and taking care of those who need help in your building, street or immediate community is going to help get us through – Volunteer Edinburgh has advice and information on how you can help.

If you are part of an existing or newly formed community group please contact EVOC who have developed a directory and are connecting the amazing community responses across the city.  EVOC is working hard to connect supply and demand of food at a very local and community level.

EVOC is asking people to complete this basic form or email info@evoc.org.uk for more information. 

Council Leader, Adam McVey, said: “The voluntary sector is doing an amazing job pulling everyone together and making sure people can help out appropriately following government guidelines. If you are able to help others then please ‘Think Local and Act Local’.

“Where you can, offer support to your wider family, your friends and your neighbours to help ensure that they can receive the essential supplies and medicine that they may need.

“Volunteer Edinburgh has a range of information and guidance on how to be a good neighbour safely. At the moment the best thing that most people can do is still to stay at home, limit social contact and follow NHS guidelines. This really is the most important contribution that can be made to the safety and resilience of the city.”

Depute Leader, Cammy Day, said: “To keep essential services running and support those who are vulnerable, we’re constantly monitoring how we deploy our own staff as well. We’re working to identify where our services need help and at the moment we’re relying on our own internal capacity to meet those needs.

“We’ll be monitoring this over the weeks ahead and will work with Volunteer Edinburgh if we think we need the wider community to help us. In the meantime staying safe at home is the best thing people can do. If you can offer more then it really is a matter of thinking local and acting local.

“I want to make sure the local community organisations have a key contact to make sure we have a joined up approach and would urge people to make connect via the EVOC.”

Ella Simpson, Chief Officer of EVOC, said: “I am incredibly proud to be part of the voluntary sector in Edinburgh. They know their communities so well and have been absolutely amazing in their responses to Covid-19.

“As we continue to respond it is vital that we all work together – volunteers, voluntary sector and statutory agencies – to support the most vulnerable people in our communities.”

Paul Wilson, Chief Officer of Volunteer Edinburgh, said: “People’s response to the pandemic has been overwhelming. In every street in Edinburgh people are helping each other, looking out for their neighbours and supporting the vulnerable and those in self isolation.

“Never before has it been more important to give your time, if you are able to, be a good neighbour and look out for each other. More than any other city in Scotland Edinburgh has always been a city of volunteers, of people who helped and I am very proud to live here.

“Please everyone be safe, think and act locally, continue to support your community in the weeks to come and most of all be kind.”

North Edinburgh’s voluntary sector has rallied to the cause with community organisations pulling out all the stops to ensure the area’s most vulnerable residents get food and essential supplies.

Now three weeks into operation there’s a co-ordinated effort to pool community resources and expertise to get supplies to people in Muirhouse,Drylaw Telford, West Pilton, Granton and Royston Wardieburn.

Do you, or someone you know, need food, supplies or other support during this hugely difficult time?

An information sheet with key telephone contact numbers is currently being produced and should be available over the next day or two, but in the meatime  please email me at northedinburghnews@gmail.com and I will pass on your details to the relevant area organisers.

Remember the key advice: STAY HOME UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY