Day: April 26, 2021

Hamilton & Inches unveils beautifully reimagined showroom

Today (Monday 26 April), Hamilton & Inches is celebrating the reopening of its iconic showroom after undergoing an extensive regeneration.

Dedicated to enhancing the customer experience with work undertaken across its showroom, workshops, and service department, this incredible transformation has kept the building’s historic accents at the heart of the restoration, creating a space that celebrates heritage whilst innovating with contemporary design.

To accentuate the glamour of the new showroom, a striking new store front is clad in Scottish Whintone and sees Hamilton & Inches rejuvenate its original design, by installing curved glass panels set in an antique bronze, with jewellery displayed on a carved breccia marble plinth topped in silk.  

Reinforcing its position as a premiere destination for fine jewellery and luxury watches, the focal point of the newly restored showroom is a hand-crafted silver Ginkgo leaf installation fitted above the diamond bar.

This bespoke element was created on the premises by Hamilton & Inches’ master craftspeople with each silver leaf created to honour the team and history which encases the brand. Alongside the installation, clients will be able to purchase a piece of the limited edition Ginkgo collection compromising of beautifully handcrafted contemporary items.

Working closely with Historic Environment Scotland on the plans, Hamilton & Inches partnered with leading conservation practice Simpson & Brown Architects, and founder of award-winning design practice Waldo Works, Tom Bartlett, to restore and revitalise the five-story Georgian building located at 87 George Street.

Mr Bartlett collaborated with Hamilton & Inches CEO, Victoria Houghton, to hand select Scottish materials and furnishings such as curtains from Sinclairs, a professional Edinburgh based workshop, cushions from renowned designers, Timorous Beasties, and leather used for the service desks from local supplier, Alma Leather to further enrich the space and pay homage to its local roots. 

New interior features, influenced by historic photographs of the Victorian Hamilton & Inches, include a traditional design palette, incorporating leather cladding, bronze framing, walnut trims, and silk linings, reimagined, and reinvented for today.  

Each new element accentuates the ornate historic details of the dramatic Georgian ceiling, alongside chandelier lighting, which creates a generous glow that spills out onto George Street.

Upgrades have also taken place throughout the three floors above the Showroom which continue to be occupied by the team’s master craftspeople and their apprentices, who handcraft bespoke jewellery and silver designs onsite.

Newly installed, stylish service desks throughout the showroom floor will enable clients to access ongoing maintenance for their treasured pieces, within a beautifully curated lifestyle area, situated beside the 19th century Adam fireplace.

The lifestyle area offers clients a space where they can drop in to shop, stay for a cup of coffee, or a glass of champagne. Clients will also have access to a more intimate and discreet shopping experience with the private VIP consultation rooms.

Specialist facilities for watch technicians and valuers at ground and lower level have also seen upgrades, including a state-of-the-art Rolex accredited workshop, as well as an expanded Rolex and Patek Philippe presence across the showroom.

In line with the brands’ sustainable ethos, Hamilton & Inches carefully selected local tradespeople for the showroom project, choosing each for their skills, expertise, and like-minded craftsmanship.

By championing local suppliers and using traditional materials, the handpicked organisations have created a trustworthy assurance of quality, ensuring that the showroom delights Hamilton & Inches’ new and returning customers.

Victoria Houghton, Hamilton & Inches CEO, said: “I’m thrilled to unveil the newly restored showroom. This has been an amazing journey, and everyone including local contractors SJS, local chartered quantity surveyors McLeod & Aitken and bespoke joinery and furniture specialists Laurence McIntosh have worked so hard to bring our vision to life.

“The customer experience has been at the forefront of this project since inception. We incorporated residential elements into a retail environment to achieve an inviting and comfortable atmosphere whilst creating a memorable luxury experience.”

Tom Bartlett, Waldo Works founder, said: “It has been a wonderful experience to work with Hamilton & Inches in creating what I believe is the most beautiful store in Scotland.

“It is rare to work with a client who’s focus from the inception was to reflect the quality and design excellence of their product in the design and construction of this intricate showroom.”

Delivering an authentic and bespoke service, the team at Hamilton & Inches is excited to provide customers once again with an unforgettable experience.

To find out more about Hamilton & Inches and the new showroom opening, visit hamiltonandinches.com.

Join the Edinburgh Climate Compact

Call for more organisations to sign up and tackle climate change

Organisations across the Edinburgh are being urged to add their support to a citywide Climate Compact, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the climate emergency.

Ten of Edinburgh’s most significant employers from across the public and private sectors have already committed to the Edinburgh Climate Compact, promising to make changes within their own organisations and sectors which support the city’s ambition of net zero by 2030.

Established by the Edinburgh Climate Commission, the Compact signifies a commitment by organisations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through their operations, influence and leadership, transport and buildings.

Work continues through the Edinburgh Climate Commission to engage with businesses across the capital and encourage more organisations to sign up.

The Climate Compact commits signatories to 16 actions which will lead to clear change within their business practices, including:

  • Publicising what action each signatory is currently taking to address climate change. This includes the disclosure of current emission levels and publishing plans for how they plan to reduce carbon emissions.
  • Committing to retrofitting owned buildings and decarbonising operations to become more energy efficient and sustainable.
  • Prioritising active and sustainable travel in their workforce and investing in a switch to zero-emissions company owned vehicles.
  • Providing training for staff to develop their awareness and understanding of climate change and changes in their behaviour which could lead to a reduction in emissions.

Commissioner Clare Foster, who led the Climate Compact workstream for the Climate Commission, said: “The Edinburgh Climate Compact represents a significant step forward on the path to a new normal of sustainable business practice in a thriving green city.

“With COP26 set to take place in Scotland later this year, there never has been a better time to take stock of what kind of city we want to be, both for ourselves now and as a legacy for generations to come.

“It has been hugely encouraging to see this level of collaboration between different sectors and organisations of this size in Scotland when reducing emissions. I hope this in turn encourages other businesses and organisations to show their support and sign up to the Compact and help make a collective difference to Edinburgh’s emissions.

The Edinburgh Climate Commission will continue to provide oversight and direction to the Climate Compact.

Changeworks Chief Executive, Teresa Bray said: “Cutting carbon is at the heart of what Changeworks has done for over 30 years, and key to this is leading by example.

“We are always looking for new ways to reduce our own carbon footprint and look forward to working with the Edinburgh Climate Commission in the lead up to COP26 and beyond.”

Edinburgh Airport Chief Executive, Gordon Dewar said: “We all have a responsibility to protect our climate and whether we are acting as an individual, as a business or as a collective of organisations, the goal is to become as sustainable as possible and promote Edinburgh’s proactive approach to others.

“Emissions are just one part of the wider sustainability goal and by working together to reduce them, we can work together to preserve the fantastic city that we call home. We are proud to be part of the Edinburgh Climate Compact and the airport’s forthcoming sustainability strategy will further cement our commitment to improvement and change.”

Shepherd and Wedderburn Managing Partner, Andrew Blain, said: “We are proud to have been one of the first signatories to the Edinburgh Climate Compact, which we hope will promote radical action on climate change across the Scottish capital and provide a model for effective public and private sector collaboration that others can follow.

“Shepherd and Wedderburn is committed to supporting a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. We look forward to playing our part and working with the other Compact City Climate Champions to effect change and help Edinburgh achieve its net zero ambitions.”

SP Energy Networks, Chief Operating Officer Guy Jefferson, said: “Our power networks are an important enabler when it comes to Net Zero.

“We’re already investing £7bn to increase capacity on our electricity network and ensure it is ready to accommodate the added demands of electric vehicles and decarbonised heating, therefore facilitating a safe, sustainable, low carbon energy system for the benefit of current and future generations alike.

“There is a real opportunity for businesses to lead by example and demonstrate how we’re making the transition to a cleaner and greener future a reality. That’s why we’re phasing out fossil fuels by electrifying our own commercial fleet and taking steps to manage our waste more efficiently both in the City of Edinburgh and across Central Scotland.

“We know that even the smallest changes can make a big difference if we all pull in the same direction.”

“We’re delighted to join the Edinburgh Climate Compact. Net Zero is the prism through which we take our business decisions, and that has been a profound change. It’s a key reason for us becoming a Principal Partner of the COP26 global climate change conference being held in Scotland later this year. By working together, we can deliver the cleaner, greener and better future we all want, quicker.”

Online giants failing to remove online scam adverts, says Which?

Google and Facebook are failing to take action to remove online scam adverts even after fraud victims report them, raising concerns that the reactive approach to fraudulent content taken by online platforms is not fit for purpose, Which? research has revealed. 

The consumer champion’s survey found that a third (34%) of victims who reported an advert that led to a scam on Google said the advert was not taken down by the search engine, while a quarter (26%) of victims who reported an advert on Facebook that resulted in them being scammed said the advert was not removed by the social media site.

Which? believes that the significant flaws with the current reactive approaches taken to tackling online scams makes a clear case for online platforms to be given legal responsibility for preventing fake and fraudulent adverts from appearing on their sites.

Which? is calling for the government to take the opportunity to include content that leads to online scams in the scope of its proposed Online Safety Bill.

Of those who said they had fallen victim to a scam as a result of an advert on a search engine or social media, a quarter (27%) said they’d fallen for a fraudulent advert they saw on Facebook and one in five (19%) said a scam targeted them through Google adverts. Three per cent said they’d been tricked by an advert on Twitter.

The survey also highlighted low levels of engagement with the scam reporting processes on online platforms. Two in five (43%) scam victims conned by an advert they saw online, via a search engine or social media ad, said they did not report the scam to the platform hosting it.

The biggest reason for not reporting adverts that caused a scam to Facebook was that victims didn’t think the platform would do anything about it or take it down – this was the response from nearly a third (31%) of victims.

For Google, the main reason for not reporting the scam ad was that the victim didn’t know how to do so – this applied to a third (32%) of victims. This backs up the experience of Which?’s researchers who similarly found it was not immediately clear how to report fraudulent content to Google, and when they did it involved navigating five complex pages of information.

Worryingly, over half (51%) of 1,800 search engine users Which? surveyed said they did not know how to report suspicious ads that appear in their search listings, while over a third (35%) of 1,600 social media users said they didn’t know how to report a suspicious advert seen on social media channels

Another issue identified by victims that Which? has spoken to is that even if fake and fraudulent adverts are successfully taken down they often pop up again under different names.

One scam victim, Stefan Johansson, who lost £30.50, told Which? he had repeatedly reported a scam retailer operating under the names ‘Swanbrooch’ and ‘Omerga’ to Facebook.

He believes the social media site has a ‘scattergun’ approach to removing the ads and says that a week rarely goes by when he doesn’t spot dodgy ads in his newsfeed, posted by what he suspects are unscrupulous companies.

Another victim, Mandy, told Which? she was tricked by a fake Clarks ‘clearance sale’ advert she saw on Facebook. She paid £85 for two pairs of boots, but instead she received a large box containing a pair of cheap sunglasses.

‘I’ve had a lot of back and forth with my bank over the past six months, trying to prove that I didn’t receive what I ordered,’ Mandy said. Facebook has since removed this advert and the advertiser’s account.

The tech giants make significant profits from adverts, including ones that lead to scams. These companies have some of the most sophisticated technology in the world but the evidence suggests they are failing to use it to prevent scammers from abusing the platforms by using fake and fraudulent content on an industrial scale to target victims.

The combination of inaction from online platforms when scam ads are reported, low reporting levels by scam victims, and the ease with which advertisers can post new fraudulent adverts even after the original ad has been removed, suggests that online platforms need to take a far more proactive approach to prevent fraudulent content from reaching potential victims in the first place.

Consumers should also sign up to Which?’s scam alert service in order to familiarise themselves with some of the latest tactics used by fraudsters, particularly given the explosion of scams since the coronavirus crisis.

The consumer champion has also launched a Scam Sharing tool to help it gather evidence in its work to protect consumers from fraud. The tool has received more than 2,500 reports since it went live three weeks ago.

Adam French, Consumer Rights Expert at Which?, said: “Our latest research has exposed significant flaws with the reactive approach taken by tech giants including Google and Facebook in response to the reporting of fraudulent content – leaving victims worryingly exposed to scams.

“Which? has launched a free scam alert service to help consumers familiarise themselves with the latest tactics used by fraudsters, but there is no doubt that tech giants, regulators and the government need to go to greater lengths to prevent scams from flourishing.

“Online platforms must be given a legal responsibility to identify, remove and prevent fake and fraudulent content on their sites. The case for including scams in the Online Safety Bill is overwhelming and the government needs to act now.”

Google responded: “We’re constantly reviewing ads, sites and accounts to ensure they comply with our policies. As a result of our enforcement actions (proactive and reactive), our team blocked or removed over 3.1 billion ads for violating our policies.

“As part of the various ways we are tackling bad ads, we also encourage people to flag bad actors they’re seeing via our support tool where you can report bad ads directly. It can easily be found on Search when looking for “How to report bad ads on Google” and filling out the necessary information. It is simple for consumers to provide the required information for the Google ads team to act accordingly.

“We take action on potentially bad ads reported to us and these complaints are always manually reviewed.”

“We have strict policies that govern the kinds of ads that we allow to run on our platform. We enforce those policies vigorously, and if we find ads that are in violation we remove them. We utilize a mix of automated systems and human review to enforce our policies.”

A spokesperson for Facebook responded: “Fraudulent activity is not allowed on Facebook and we have taken action on a number of pages reported to us by Which?.

“Our 35,000 strong team of safety and security experts work alongside sophisticated AI to proactively identify and remove this content, and we urge people to report any suspicious activity to us. Our teams disable billions of fake accounts every year and we have donated £3 million to Citizens Advice to deliver a UK Scam Action Programme.”

A Twitter spokesperson said: “Where we identify violations of our rules, we take robust enforcement action.

“We’re constantly adapting to bad actors’ evolving methods, and we will continue to iterate and improve upon our policies as the industry evolves.”

To sign up to Which?’s scam alert service visit: www.which.co.uk/scamalerts

Business Gateway helps over 34,000 businesses respond to COVID-19

Business Gateway, Scotland’s national business support service, has helped 34,687 established and start-up businesses over the last 12 months as they were forced to adapt and respond to the challenges of the pandemic, according to recent figures.

The service also had to quickly adapt its own services. One-to-one support for businesses and the self-employed and those thinking about starting a business, was carried out via video or telephone calls instead of face-to-face and all previously planned workshops were made available as webinars. Additionally, a suite of new resources was developed to support businesses trying to adapt to new circumstances.

Now, as businesses across Scotland prepare to look to the future following months of closure and tight restrictions, the service is building on its programme of free support and resources to provide business owners with relevant advice and guidance when they need it most.

This support includes national webinars covering key topics – including HR, Health and wellbeing, customer service, business strategy, marketing on a budget and writing a business plan – as well as a series of Back to Business panel webinars where businesses will also have the chance to put their questions around reopening directly to industry partners such as the Federation of Scottish Businesses, VisitScotland and the Scottish Retail Consortium.

Alongside this, business owners are encouraged to reach out to their local Business Gateway office where 1:1 support from an experienced adviser can help businesses deal with issues that they have right and plan ahead.

Additionally, through Business Gateway’s digital up-skilling programme DigitalBoost, businesses have access to a variety of free support and resources to help them gain valuable digital skills with over 660 1:1 sessions carried out over the past year.

Resources include webinars, a digital health check, 1:1 support from a digital expert, online tutorials, and practical guides on topics including online competitor analysis, setting up your digital presence when starting up, streaming your classes, digital marketing to find new customers, selling online & selecting online booking systems.

One business that benefited from the Business Gateway service this year is Isle of Cumbrae Distillers, Millport’s first gin distillery, which launched in September 2020 with its signature ‘Nostalgin’.

The business, led by a five-strong female team; Bronwyn Jenkins-Deas, Jenine Ward, Juli Dempsey, Phillipa Dalton and Lynda Gill, already has plans to expand, with three additional jobs projected for the island in the short term. create two additional jobs in the region.

Bonded by a love of the gin and a passion for the Island community, they met as strangers in a local pub to discuss fundraising for the local town hall and with that, the idea for Isle of Cumbrae Distillers was born.

Business Gateway supported the owners from a holistic, business perspective and signposted to various DigitalBoost webinars, guiding the team through the initial stages of development, and providing advice on taking the product to market.

As well as a suite of start-up support services including advice on company regulations, funding, premises and HR issues, the team accessed Business Gateway’s fully funded workshops throughout the planning stages of their new business venture.

Bronwyn Jenkins-Deas, joint director, Isle of Cumbrae Distillers, said: “Launching during the pandemic was risky, but Business Gateway gave us the confidence in our new skill sets, supported by the DigitalBoost programme.

“The webinars were exceptional, helped us develop our online presence and brand and reach our target audiences.”

Hugh Lightbody, Chief Officer at the Business Gateway National Unit said: “Since this crisis began, our local offices, national unit and advisers have worked tirelessly to provide vital support to businesses and the self-employed across Scotland, and these figures are a testament to their efforts.

“While it is welcome to see more businesses engage with the Business Gateway service, we appreciate that this has been an immensely difficult period for everyone.

“For those thinking about starting up a business, the last year has presented some of the most difficult economic and operating conditions since the 2008 financial crash, so it’s understandable some plans might have been put on hold.

“However, with the focus now firmly on reopening, Business Gateway will continue to provide critical support to businesses at every stage of their journey, guiding them towards a brighter future.”

Drink-drive warning as beer gardens re-open in Scotland

-Insurance giant urges motorists to think twice before getting behind the wheel-

Clare Egan, Head of Motor Product at Admiral, said: “As beer gardens re-open across Scotland, we risk seeing a rise in the number of people tempted to get behind the wheel after a drink, putting other road users, pedestrians, and themselves in danger.

“It’s vital to understand the implications of taking this risk and we’d urge all motorists to think twice before getting in their car to drive after having an alcoholic drink.

“Being caught over the limit can see a driver face up to 6 months in prison, an unlimited fine and a driving ban of at least one year, not to mention the potential life-changing impact it can have if it leads to a crash.

“Those convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol could find their insurance premiums increasing by more than 250% – that’s if they can get insurance at all. But the financial penalties don’t stop there, if you do have an accident while drink-driving many insurers will refuse to cover the cost of damages, meaning drivers could be left with hefty sums to pay including the cost of third-party claims.

“There are many different factors that could impact your ability to drive safely. Weight, age and metabolism all play a part in alcohol tolerance, meaning it is virtually impossible to know if you are safe to drive. Even the smallest amount of alcohol will affect how you drive, so the only way to be really safe is to avoid drinking altogether when you know you are taking the car.

“As the UK slowly eases out of this lockdown, many people will be looking to enjoy the relaxing of some of these restrictions. Make sure you consider another way to get to and from the pub safely, and whatever you do, don’t be tempted to drive.”

CAMRA: Support your local pub!

Consumer group CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is urging pub goers and beer drinkers to get back down their locals wherever possible to socialise safely at pubs, social clubs and brewery taprooms. 

The Campaign is urging people to support their local pub, whether it has outside space that is opening from today or by supporting take-home beer and cider sales from those that cannot open for another few weeks yet. 

CAMRA has also teamed up with other industry organisations, including the Society of Independent Breweries (SIBA), Cask Marque and the British Institute of Innkeeping, to urge people to opt for a pint of fresh cask beer from a local, independent brewery as part of the ‘Cask is BACK, so back CASK’ campaign, championing our national drink which can only be bought and enjoyed down the pub.  

For those unable to reopen from today, CAMRA’s Pulling Together campaign at www.camra.org.uk/pullingtogether allows people to find and support local businesses by listing local pubs and breweries offering take-home beer and cider for collection or home delivery.  

CAMRA Chairman Nik Antona said: “Pubs matter and are a vital part of our communities. We are all looking forward to enjoying the social and wellbeing benefits of being back at the local – and enjoying a pint of delicious local cask beer.  

“It is vital that our pubs and clubs get as much support as possible over the coming weeks and months during this partial reopening. With outside-only alcohol sales and the onerous curfew, many pubs will struggle to make ends meet after an exceptionally difficult 13 months.  

“For those going back to the pub today as well as considering BYOB – ‘bring your own blanket’ – we’d like to ask pub goers to be patient and courteous with pub staff who are doing their jobs in difficult circumstances and with a few extra rules than we are used to when we visit our local.  

“For those pubs that can’t reopen yet, please do consider supporting them with take-home beer, cider and food until they can open their doors inside in a few weeks.”  

Lockdown easing mustn’t create new barriers for people with sight loss, says charity

Lockdown restrictions that ease today [Monday 26 April] must not inadvertently create new barriers for blind and partially sighted people and those with other disabilities, says the national sight loss charity RNIB Scotland.

RNIB Scotland director James Adams said: “With lockdown restrictions easing further today, we’re all looking forward to getting outside to see loved ones and enjoy the warmer weather.

“But we are hearing from many blind and partially sighted people who have lost confidence in going outside after a year of covid restrictions and are anxious about public spaces becoming busier and more cluttered with café and bar tables and chairs.

“Social distancing often relies on being able to see things such as signs, queuing systems or barriers. When you can’t see these changes, they can create new obstacles to navigate and further erode confidence.

“So we’re asking the public to be aware of the challenges people with sight loss might face, and help them to safely social distance as the restrictions change. We’re also reminding local authorities and businesses that the measures in place to protect us must be inclusive to everyone, not just to those who can see them.

“This is the ‘new normal’ we should aim to return to in Scotland.”

* RNIB’s website (www.rnib.org.uk) and helpline (tel 0303 123 9999) has more information on this.

UK sends medical equipment to India to help fight Covid-19

  • Ventilators and oxygen concentrator devices due to leave UK today
  • The support follows a request from India and PM pledge for the UK to do all it can
  • First package due to arrive in Delhi on Tuesday, with further shipments later this week

More than 600 pieces of vital medical equipment will be sent to India to support the country in its fight against Covid-19, the UK Government has announced.

The assistance package, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, includes ventilators and oxygen concentrators from surplus stocks. It will be used by the Government of India to provide vital medical treatment to those suffering from Covid-19 in India.

The Department of Health and Social Care have worked closely with the NHS, as well as suppliers and manufacturers in the UK to identify reserve life-saving equipment that can be sent to India.

India has this week reported its highest numbers of new daily cases and deaths since the pandemic began and is facing severe shortages of oxygen.

Following discussions with the Government of India, the first shipment of equipment will leave the UK today, arriving in New Delhi in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Further shipments are due to follow later this week.

In total, nine airline container loads of supplies, including 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators, will be sent to the country this week.

This equipment will be crucial in helping to save the lives of the most vulnerable in India. The oxygen concentrators, for example, can extract oxygen from the air in the atmosphere so that it can be provided to patients, taking the strain off hospital oxygen systems and allowing oxygen to be provided in situations where hospital oxygen supplies have run out.

The UK is working closely with the Government of India to identify further assistance it can provide in the coming days.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: We stand side by side with India as a friend and partner during what is a deeply concerning time in the fight against COVID-19.

“Vital medical equipment, including hundreds of oxygen concentrators and ventilators, is now on its way from the UK to India to support efforts to prevent the tragic loss of life from this terrible virus.

“We will continue to work closely with the Indian government during this difficult time and I’m determined to make sure that the UK does everything it can to support the international community in the global fight against the pandemic.”

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: “We are supporting our Indian friends with vital medical equipment at a difficult time for them in this pandemic.

“We have all got to work together to tackle Covid-19. India is a very important partner to us, so we’re providing oxygen concentrators and ventilators to help save the lives of the most vulnerable. We will be following up on this first delivery with further support, based on our ongoing discussions with the Indian Government.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: The heart-breaking scenes in India show once again how awful this terrible disease is. We are determined to support the people of India through this very difficult time, and I am hugely grateful to those who have worked hard to make this initial delivery happen.

“This first delivery of life saving equipment will provide much needed assistance and we stand ready to do more. The global pandemic has challenged health systems all across the world and the best way to overcome adversity is to unite and defeat this dreadful disease together.

“This is the just the latest example of UK-India collaboration throughout this pandemic, to the benefit of both countries and the world.”

Check In Scotland launches today

A new digital service to support businesses in collecting contact details for contact tracing purposes, Check in Scotland, is now available in participating venues.

More than 6,400 venues have so far signed up to use this voluntary service for businesses in Scotland, supporting them to effectively collect the contact details of their visitors and customers.

The Check in Scotland service will enable people to quickly and securely provide their contact details by scanning the official Test & Protect Check in Scotland QR code poster via their smartphone camera or by downloading the Check in Scotland app.

Any contact details collected will be held in a secure, encrypted data store unique to each venue for 21 days. Unless information is requested by public health officials as part of their contact tracing efforts, visitor data is automatically deleted on day 22. Venue and visitor details will not be used for any other purpose.

Businesses that can use Check in Scotland include: 

  • pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes
  • tourism and leisure businesses, such as theme parks, museums and cinemas
  • close contact services, including hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, tattooists, sports and massage therapists
  • services run by local councils, such as libraries, leisure centres and registration offices
  • cremation authorities, burial authorities, places of worship or funeral director service rooms offering funeral services
  • places of worship

Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith said: “As travel, retail and hospitality restrictions begin to ease and venues start to re-open, it’s vital that any close contacts of new positive cases can be quickly contacted and given advice to self-isolate.

“Check in Scotland is designed to give businesses an easy way to collect contact details from customers for contact tracing purposes. It is entirely voluntary and up to individual venues to decide what method they prefer to use to collect the required contact details.

“Together with the Protect Scotland app, Check in Scotland will help contact tracers reach people faster if there are coronavirus (COVID-19) cases linked to a venue they have recently visited.

“The faster we can contact people who might have been exposed to COVID-19, the faster we can stop the spread of the virus, and keep moving towards the return of everyday activities.”

Alerts will be sent by SMS, email or letter depending on what details users provide and will be clearly marked as being from NHS Scotland Test and Protect.

The Check In Scotland service is designed to complement the separate Protect Scotland app, which alerts users if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

People will only be advised to self-isolate if contact tracers believe they were in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Otherwise they may be advised to watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, and to book a test only if they or someone in their household displays symptoms.

For more information, go to: mygov.scot/help-qr-check-in