A leading insurance firm is warning motorists to check their policies before venturing out this week after the latest weather forecasts say two storms will hit Scotland from Wednesday night.
Storm Dudley is expected to bring coastal flooding as it coincides with high tides as well as gusts of up to 90mph and rain. Storm Eunice will follow on Friday with snow and more heavy rain.
Quotezone.co.uk, a leading car insurance comparison website, says any damage to cars caused by driving through flooded roads might not be covered by insurance policies. It warns motorists to carefully check their policies exclusions, and even if routes are partially blocked, drivers should think twice before using waterlogged roads.
Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “Motorists who have taken out third party only or third-party, fire and theft insurance won’t be covered for any storm damage to their vehicles, such as flying debris – only fully-comprehensive policyholders are likely to be protected in those cases.
“With Scotland expected to bear the brunt of the conditions, getting where you need to go without encountering a flooded road could be easier said than done.
“Unfortunately, though, if motorists do decide to drive through these roads, there’s a very real risk that they won’t be covered for any resulting water damage to the car – even fully-comprehensive drivers.”
Greg Wilson advises motorists that have to go out to make sure their cars are roadworthy before setting off. Some insurance providers offer winter emergency survival kits as standard but if they don’t, it is wise to put one in the boot with thermal blankets, torches, phone chargers, emergency food and water rations and a first aid kit just in case.
Quotezone.co.uk compares prices across all types of car insurance, including breakdown cover, helping around 3 million users every year find better deals on their insurance, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products. Recommended by 97% of reviewers on Reviews.co.uk.
East Cairngorms steadily climbing as the destination for walkers and hikers of all levels
The East Cairngorms has much to offer in the way of outdoor adventures – be it skiing, mountain biking, climbing, kayaking, or hiking. Often not included as a tourist hot spot for those ‘bagging Munros’; the East Cairngorms offers a real escape with its numerous and often quieter routes than some of the better-known hiking destinations. The locals say it is one of Scotland’s best kept secrets.
The ease of access to walks of all levels – including numerous Munros – makes it an attractive option for families, retirees, and weekend amblers; as well as experienced hikers looking for new challenges and less explored routes.
Ballater, Braemar and the surrounding villages have witnessed a surge of UK based visitors coming in search of more wild outdoor time – whether it be for a short low incline walk from the villages, or whole weekends hiking in the hills.
Allan Murdoch, Braemar local and long-standing member of the Braemar Mountain Rescue Team says, “The feel of East Cairngorms is quite a bit wilder than the west, which has been very geared towards tourism for a long time.
“I think it appeals that you can get away from it all here; often walking for hours without meeting anyone. We also tend to get a lot drier weather this side!”
With half-term around the corner, the East Cairngorms is the perfect place to get children outdoors and into nature.
Allan says: “It is a great place to spend quality family time, outdoors, exploring together and spotting wildlife. In the winter it is brilliant with kids because you can be safely hiking one day, then the next, drive 10 to 40 minutes (depending where you start) up the road to Glenshee – Scotland’s biggest ski resort and the kids can learn to ski. The snow machine means there is always enough to learn on.”
There’s also plenty of options for food and refreshments in the villages – one of which is The Bothy in Braemar that sits alongside Braemar Mountain Sports shop. (There is a sister business The Bothy in Ballater).
Karen Bruce who runs The Bothy says, “We’ve noticed way more people out and about all year round – more than there used to be.
“We’re busier than we’ve ever been this January. We get a whole mixture of folk in for food – lots of people come here for family walks and stop off with us for lunch. We also get the more serious mountain hikers coming in for breakfast after they’ve been camping in the hills.”
“I think what makes hiking and walking unique in this area is the ease of access – the roads are good; parking is easy, and you can walk directly from Braemar or Ballater and access hundreds of trails of all levels of difficulty.”
“It makes it easy to find adventure, as well as quality accommodation and delicious food! And with our outdoor shop next door – you can pick up any last-minute clothes or kit you might need.”
Many locals have settled in the area because of their own love for the hills, and through their businesses seek to share their knowledge and passion with visitors.
Sarah Hubbard is one such local who runs Cranford Guest House with her husband who is also on the Braemar Mountain Rescue Team.
Sarah says, “We’re so lucky in our positioning – being right in the heart of the national park you have beauty in every direction.
“We’ve noticed a big shift through the pandemic in how people visit – whereas before lots of people used to try to cover the whole of Scotland in a week so would only pass through for a night, most people stay for a few days now and want to really get to know the area and get out for longer full day walks”
“We’re passionate about the outdoors and are very familiar with the local routes so we love helping our guests tailor their routes over breakfast and send them off ordinate survey maps and guidebooks”
Mountain hiking has become an increasingly valuable part of tourism for Scotland. In 2020, according to Visit Scotland, 290,000 British residents took overnight visits to Scotland where adventure sports were part of the trip, contributing £112 million in spend.
To capitalise on this adventure destination, a new campaign, Imagine More, to promote tourism in the East Cairngorms was launched recently by Ballater Business Association (BBA) and Braemar Tourism Group (BTG).
The campaign, which includes a website, promotional video, and trip planner is the first in a series of five which aim to inspire visitors to explore the East Cairngorms as a year-round destination for outdoor activity.
For more information on hiking and walking in the East Cairngorms, head to:
Edinburgh residents struggling with rising energy costs are being offered advice and support with their bills as part of a city-wide campaign aimed at helping those most in need.
Run by the City of Edinburgh Council in partnership with Changeworks and Home Energy Scotland, the campaign seeks to support people experiencing, or most at risk from, fuel poverty with energy savings advice so they can save money on their bills.
As well as helping residents find out if they’re eligible for grants or funding for energy efficiency home improvements, help is also being offered to people dealing with fuel debt and high energy
prices.https://www.youtube.com/embed/fLEMCaTKgdM
In key areas of the city, home owners and private tenants are being urged to call Home Energy Scotland for support, free on 0808 808 2282 and Council tenants are being urged to call the Energy Advice Service for free on 0800 870 8800.
Council Leader Adam McVey said: “This valuable campaign comes at a time when many households across the city will be faced with a choice of heating their homes or eating – due to rising food and energy bills as well as a £1,000 cut in universal credit payments for those who need support most- all contributing to this cost of living crisis.
“We want to do all we can to help make sure people most at need are able to access the advice and support available to them so that they can live in warmer, more comfortable homes.
“I urge anyone in the city struggling with their bills to call Home Energy Scotland or the Energy Advice Service so they can get the support they need today.”
Depute Leader Cammy Day added: “Rising home energy costs are leaving many people across Edinburgh worried about how they will pay their gas and electricity bills.
“We want to make sure that people know there is help and support there for them. If you’re a Council tenant, this is through our Energy Advice Service, run in partnership with Changeworks, and for people who own their own home, support is there from Home Energy Scotland.
“Their advisors have lots of excellent advice and tips to help people save money on bills so get in touch as they will be happy to share them. Making a few small changes can add up to a big difference.”
Laura Webb, Fuel Poverty and Low Carbon Operations Director at Changeworks said: “Through our work delivering the Home Energy Scotland service in the South East of Scotland and providing the Energy Advice Service for City of Edinburgh Council tenants we have seen increasing demand for support as people find themselves struggling with high bills and fuel debt.
“Our expert advisors are here to help and are already working hard to help Edinburgh residents save money and lessen the impacts of rising fuel costs.
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council on this campaign and encourage the people of Edinburgh to get in touch for further support.”
Last year, 790 Council tenants were supported through the Energy Advice Service with gas and electricity billing issues and with support around supplier debt. The service also gained around £170,000 of savings for the tenants.
Home Energy Scotland has also helped 24,000 homeowners and private tenants across Scotland to benefit from the Scottish Government funded Warmer Homes Scotland programme since it launched in 2015. Eight out of ten have received completely free energy efficiency improvements, with each of them also saving on average around £300 on their energy bills per year.
Home Energy Scotland is a free advice service funded by the Scottish Government. They work hand in hand with the Council’s Energy Advice Service to make sure people in Edinburgh get all the support they need from their friendly advisors.
Leading Scottish care home group, Renaissance Care, has set out plans to increase inclusivity and security among its workforce.
The Group, which operates 16 care homes throughout Scotland with over 1,200 staff, launched the initiative in January with a commitment to supplying sanitary items for female staff in all its facilities with the provision of sanitary towels and tampons in all staff bathrooms.
The move is part of the group’s efforts to create a safe and happy working environment and comes following calls from The British Medical Association for these essentials to be accessible to all healthcare staff throughout Scotland.
Corinne Morrison-Gillies, Interim People Services, said: “Sanitary items are not a luxury; they are a necessity and should be treated as such by employers. The nature of our job in the care sector means our staff do not have regular working patterns therefore can easily be caught off guard by their menstrual cycle, adding undue pressure to what can be a challenging job.
“Our staff work incredibly hard, and the last thing they should have to worry about is having access to, what we consider, bare essentials. By having free period products available in all our care homes we hope to remove barriers and create an open and safe working environment for our employees.”
Renaissance Care Group has a strong people service strategy which focuses on learning and development for individual staff members, as well as onus on creating a person-centered culture of inclusivity and care.
Cats Protection is urging the Scottish Government to do more to ensure people who rent their own homes can benefit from owning a pet cat.
The charity says that the widespread use of blanket ‘no pets’ policies is unfair and outdated, and that an overhaul of how pets are viewed in the rented sector is urgently needed.
Cats Protection’s Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Scotland Alice Palombo said: “The pandemic has really highlighted just how important pets are in our lives – whether it’s providing companionship to people living alone, comfort for those with ongoing health conditions or simply a fun and much-loved part of family life.
“Yet as the law stands, it can be impossible for people who rent their home to own a cat. It cannot be right that pet ownership is largely reserved for those people who own their own home.”
Research from Cats Protection’s Cats and Their Stats Scotland report, published in 2021, shows just how important cats are to people who are able to own them – with 94% of owners in Scotland saying their cat is part of the family and 91% saying their cats bring them joy.
The Scottish Government is currently consulting on proposals to allow tenants to keep pets in rented housing, and Cats Protection is asking its supporters to back the proposals.
Alice said: “This consultation is a big step in the right direction and we’re urging the Scottish Government to continue this momentum. Scotland is a nation of animal lovers and it’s only right that everyone should have the chance to own a cat if they wish.”
Mum-of-two Stephanie Wood, of Balornock, Glasgow, is backing the charity’s campaign after she was forced to give up the family’s much-loved cat Whoopie when she struggled to find a new pet-friendly home.
The heart-breaking decision, just before the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, came at a particularly stressful time for Stephanie, who works as a clinical healthcare assistant in two NHS hospitals. It meant her daughters – then aged six and one – faced lockdown without their beloved cat and denied Stephanie the comforting and calming presence of a pet.
Stephanie explained: “Our landlord decided to sell the property we were renting, and I found myself in the position of having four weeks to find a new home. I was aware the lockdown was on the horizon, so it felt like a real panic to find somewhere. When I did find a suitable home, the landlord said she’d only consider a pet once we’d been there for six months.
“It seemed like an impossible situation and we had no choice but to give Whoopie up to Cats Protection. It was heart-breaking – me and the girls are still very upset about it. Whoopie was part of our family, she was fun, affectionate and a big part of our lives. She used to sleep snuggled up to my eldest daughter and she had a really calming effect on us all.
“Working for the NHS during the pandemic was incredibly difficult at times, and I often thought how lovely it would have been to come home to Whoopie, but sadly that was not possible. It just feels incredibly unfair that families like mine are denied such a simple pleasure of owning a pet cat.”
You can support cat owning tenants by using Cats Protection’s simple online form – it takes only a couple of minutes to complete.
Consultation sets out UK-wide approach to introduce mandatory Digital Waste Tracking (DWT) for the movement of waste.
Plans will help track compliance and tackle illegal waste exports and fly-tipping – an issue recently highlighted by the programme BBC Disclosure
Powers in Environment Act mean digital waste tracking can support the effective regulation of waste and track waste and resource flows in a circular economy
A consultation setting out plans for a mandatory digital waste tracking service in the UK was launched on 21 January 2022.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Government have been working with UK partners to develop a four-nation approach to digital tracking of waste movements.
The Environment Act 2021 provides powers for the Scottish Government to develop regulations to introduce a digital waste tracking service in Scotland, which will be implemented by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
The consultation is seeking views on the practical aspects of implementing digital waste tracking across the UK including:
What waste activities and information will need to be recorded
What current waste reporting will be replaced by the new service
How users will be able to enter information onto the service
Who will be required to enter information and when
Alternative provisions for digitally excluded waste holders
Data access controls
Cost recoveryCompliance and enforcement
How we should go live with the service
SEPA urges Scottish businesses and stakeholders to take part in the consultation and provide their views. The consultation can be found on SEPA’s consultation hub.
A mandatory UK digital waste tracking service will transform the way we track waste and resource flows, tackle waste crime and prioritise regulatory activities. It will help SEPA identify actions to support a shift to the circular economy, facilitate strategic decision making and support users to make informed choices about how their waste is managed.
This means those handling waste will record information from the point waste is produced to the stage it is disposed of, recycled and reused. This will enable regulators to better tackle waste crime, including fly-tipping, illegal waste sites, and illegal waste exports.
It will also help businesses and householders comply with their duty of care with regards to waste and help them make more informed choices about how their waste is managed.
As highlighted in BBC Disclosure’s recent broadcast, Dirty Business, criminal activities including fly-tipping, illegal dumping, and the illegal export of waste abroad can blight communities, harm the environment, and pose a risk to human health.
Research estimates £53 million is taken from the public purse every year in Scotland removing illegal waste and serious and organised crime is estimated to cost the UK economy at least £600 million a year.
Scotland generates 11.45 million tonnes of waste a year and DWT will help unlock opportunities to do better things with our waste and resources.
Scottish Government Circular Economy Minister, Lorna Slater, said: “A digital waste tracking system will help to tackle the waste crime that causes such harm to our environment, such as flytipping and illegal waste exports. Having access to comprehensive and up to date information on where waste is generated and moved within Scotland is vital if we are to crack down on waste crime.
“By making it easier to identify opportunities to reduce the waste produced and reuse more of the materials we consume, these measures will help create a circular economy, where materials are kept in use for as long as possible and nothing is wasted.
“Developing and implementing a digital waste tracking system will provide a step change in the quality and timeliness of waste data. This will support decision-making and help us to cut emissions and meet our waste reduction and recycling targets.”
DWT will help to deliver SEPA’s Regulatory Strategy by monitoring compliance with the Duty of Care, enabling timely tracking of hazardous waste, facilitate better data analysis to identify waste crime and provide data to support the development and monitoring of sector plans.
It will also enable the identification and tracking of materials and resources to facilitate their more efficient use in the circular economy, supporting the objectives of SEPA’s Waste to Resources Framework and Scottish Government’s circular economy strategy.
Ian Buchanan, Chief Officer of Compliance and Beyond, for SEPA said: “Digital Waste Tracking will improve the way we regulate waste and help waste producers and the waste management industry demonstrate compliance and make important decisions about waste and resources.
“DWT will also strengthen our ability to track compliance, prioritise regulatory activities and help prevent waste crime, including illegal export of waste.
“We are clear in what we expect of businesses of all sizes, from SMEs to specialist companies. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
“SEPA will continue to invest significant regulatory effort in monitoring waste movement and waste exports to ensure compliance and will use a variety of approaches to successfully detect, disrupt and deter illegal activity in Scotland.
“Waste crime has a real impact on local communities and legitimate business. It can cause serious pollution, puts communities at risk and undermines the efforts of legitimate operators.”
A spokesperson for the Resource Management Association Scotland said: “We welcome the announcement of the Digital Waste Tracking consultation.
“This presents an excellent opportunity to shape the future of waste data and tracking, to help support the Resource and Waste Management Sector in Scotland and the journey to net zero and we will be encouraging our members to respond.”
Clients from every local authority in Scotland have successfully applied for the new Child Disability Payment in the weeks following its national launch.
Following a pilot in three local authority areas, the benefit was rolled out across the country from 22 November 2021.
According to the latest official statistics, almost £400,000 has been paid out between the pilot’s start date of 26 July 2021 and 31 December 2021.
Most applications have been received from Glasgow City (12%), followed by pilot areas Dundee City (11%) and Perth & Kinross (8%).
Clients receiving Child Disability Payment can get payments to cover care and mobility. More than half (52%) of clients were authorised for both, with 47% awarded care only and 1% mobility only.
The care payment is split into three tiers, high, middle and low levels. The highest level has been authorised to 43% of clients, with middle 40% and lowest 17%.
Child Disability Payment replaces the UK Government’s Disability Living Allowance for children.
Those already receiving Disability Living Allowance for children do not need to make a new application as we will contact them ahead of their award being automatically transferred.
Heather from Peebles successfully applied for Child Disability Payment for her child.
She said: “Having previous experience of applying for Disability Living Allowance for children, I was so delighted to see how well the form is designed and it gave lots of guidance as to the information required.
“Being able to do it online in chunks and go back to it is very helpful and makes things much easier. This easier application process will open the door to help more vulnerable children and families to apply.
“I am so grateful as this will make such a difference to the enhancements I can provide for him. The things that bring my son joy are video games and learning skills at forest school.
“Having that bit more money from Child Disability Payment means he can do more courses like this where they work in small groups. That really builds his confidence and self-esteem. The positive experience of this then helps him to cope better with the challenges of the school environment.
“Hopefully this will have the knock-on effect in the long term, boosting his self-worth and encouraging him to make friends. The impact on his education has been incredible.”
Child Disability Payment provides money to help with the extra care and mobility costs children and young people with a disability may have, up to the age of 18.
People can find out more and apply through mygov.scot or by calling 0800 182 2222.
A Glasgow nurse who has had two babies during the pandemic, is urging other mums-to-be to follow her lead and get their COVID vaccinations.
Ali Hair, who is a nurse on a surgical ward at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is mum to Solomon (17 months) and three-month-old Iris.
When she was pregnant with her son there were no vaccines available but Ali jumped at the chance to get one in January 2021. She had her second in March when she was a few weeks pregnant with Iris, followed by her booster in September.
Ali said: “Pregnancy is a very worrying time, but even more so in a pandemic. But I had no hesitation in getting my vaccinations, to protect me, my baby, my family and of course my patients. It’s not new technology; we have had flu jags for years. It’s just a different vaccine and there is strong evidence behind it.
“Pregnant women are at risk of becoming sicker with the virus than other women of the same age and many have been hospitalised. Some have even had to be delivered early and that’s never something you want.
Baby Iris was born on 4 November and Ali started tandem breastfeeding her two babies.
Ali said: “I’m not sure if that was the reason but myself and the babies managed to escape catching COVID at Christmas when our whole family got together. My partner Christopher also escaped it. Twelve out of sixteen people got it, but we were fine.
“I do understand why some women may have reservations as pregnancy is a worrying time, but it was the right decision for me and my family and made me feel protected.”
NHSGGC Director of Public Health, Linda de Caestecker said: “We encourage all pregnant women to get their vaccinations – it’s the best protection you can get for you and your baby.
“The vaccine is safe for women at any stage of pregnancy or breastfeeding so please come forward for jabs if not already protected.”
National survey to determine whether Covid-19 continues to impact puppy buying
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is once again calling on puppy owners to take part in a national online survey to understand the pre-purchase motivations and behaviours of owners of puppies purchased during 2021.
Data from the survey, known as “Pandemic Puppies – The Next Generation”, will be used as a comparison to previous years (2019 and 2020), to determine whether the changes in puppy buying in the UK seen during the COVID-19 pandemic have returned to their pre-pandemic baseline or persisted into 2021.
Following the major success of the RVC’s first study in 2020, this follow-up study will investigate the legacy of this period and the future of UK puppy buying culture, particularly given pandemic restrictions continue to lift within the UK.
While many owners were likely making well-intentioned purchases, the demand has inevitably increased the risk to puppy health and welfare. Vets are concerned that the pandemic puppy boom is persisting, consequently adding pressure to veterinary services in the UK.
Therefore, the findings of this study will be used to help support owners regarding their dogs’ future welfare as well as informing the approach that key players within the veterinary and animal welfare sectors should take when sharing educational messaging with prospective owners to better promote canine welfare.
Dr Rowena Packer, Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the RVC said:“The COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in the way many of us bought our household goods, with online ordering and delivery a common feature of lockdown life.
“The pandemic also led to changes in the way the UK bought puppies during 2020, due to the many restrictions to travel and social contact during this period.
“Many of these so-called ‘Pandemic Puppies’ became much-cherished companions, helping households cope with lockdown life; however, there are concerns that some owners were duped into buying from unscrupulous breeders. We are interested in whether pandemic-related changes in puppy buying persisted into 2021, so we can best support owners of puppies bought during this period going forward.
“We would love to hear from anyone who purchased a puppy during 2021 to share their experiences.”
Results from the Winter 2020 survey – which involved more than 7,500 respondents – uncovered several changes in buying habits. Owners were more likely to buy a younger puppy, pay a deposit without seeing their puppy, be first-time dog owners with children in their household, and pay more than £2,000.
Other factors included owners being more likely to see their puppy without their littermates and collecting their puppy from outside their breeders’ property or having it delivered.
These pandemic-related changes, such as viewing and purchasing puppies online, and having them delivered directly to owners may be perceived as ‘convenient’ by some but in fact, threaten canine welfare.
Posing harms to both puppies and breeding dogs, understanding whether this online culture is preferred by consumers, and if so, how to change it to protect canine welfare will be key.
“Pandemic Puppies – The Next Generation” is now open for responses, with findings expected by the summer.
Respondents to the online survey must be over 18 years of age, residents in the UK, have brought home a puppy (any breed or cross breed) aged under 16 weeks during 2021, and to have purchased their puppy from a private seller rather than rehomed or bred the puppy themselves.
A partnership agreement to establish two ‘Green’ Freeports in Scotland has been reached between Scottish and UK Ministers.
Following ‘robust’ discussions in recent months, both governments have agreed:
to establish a joint applicant prospectus, with Ministers and officials from both the Scottish and UK Government having an equal say throughout the assessment and selection process
that applicants in Scotland are required to contribute towards a just transition to net-zero emissions by 2045, delivering net-zero benefits and creating new green jobs
that applicants in Scotland are required to set out how they will support high-quality employment opportunities that offer good salaries and conditions, and how fair work practices will be embedded in the green freeport area
Ministers have agreed that a joint offer set out in a prospectus offers the maximum benefits for the Scottish economy as both governments will be able to deliver tax reliefs and other incentives through a combination of devolved and reserved powers.
As a result of the recent negotiations, UK Ministers are expected to provide up to £52 million in seed funding to help establish Green Freeports in Scotland which is in line with funding offered to Freeports across England.
Economy Secretary Kate Forbes said: “I am pleased we have been able to reach an agreement on a joint approach that recognises the distinct needs of Scotland’s economy and enshrines the Scottish Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero and embedding fair work practices through public investment.
“The Scottish Government will have an equal say on all bids, and will expect bidders to adhere to fair work practices including payment of the Real Living Wage.
“Scotland has a rich history of innovative manufacturers and so as we look to grasp the many opportunities of achieving net-zero, the establishment of internationally competitive clusters of excellence will help us create new green jobs, deliver a just transition and support our economic transformation.
“We can only seize Scotland’s economic potential if we create secure, sustainable and satisfying jobs that also help build a fairer, more prosperous economy for everyone. That is my absolute priority and establishing Green Freeports will be integral to achieving this.”
Secretary of State Michael Gove said: “This is a truly exciting moment for Scotland, and I am delighted we will be working together with the Scottish Government to set up two new Green Freeports.
“Green Freeports help inject billions into the local economy, while levelling-up by creating jobs for local people, and opportunities for people all over the UK to flourish.
“By collaborating using opportunities like Green Freeports we can work to level-up the whole of the UK and bring benefits and opportunities to communities that need it most.”
The term ‘Green Freeports’ reflects the Scottish Government’s distinctive net zero aspirations. The UK Government will continue to use the term ‘Freeports’ for its programme in the rest of the UK.
Forth Ports – which owns and operates seven ports on Scotland’s East coast and the Port of Tilbury, which is part of the recently-announced Thames Freeport – has issued a statement following the announcement.
Stuart Wallace, Chief Operating Officer at Forth Ports, said:“We welcome the announcement by the UK and Scottish governments of the forthcoming bid process for two Green Freeports in Scotland and confirm that we plan to participate in this process.
“A Firth of Forth Green Freeport will catalyse the decarbonisation of Scotland’s major industrial cluster, creating 50,000 new, high-quality jobs in renewable energy, manufacturing, sustainable fuels and construction.
“Building on our first-hand experience of freeports, we plan to create an ambitious set of programmes to harness the regeneration benefits of this economic policy.
“The legacy of our green freeport will be the creation of large-scale green manufacturing industries with significant export potential and a sustainable fuel cluster, alongside major upgrades to infrastructure and skills development among young adults to ensure a Team Scotland approach as the UK transitions to a decarbonised future.”
