St James Quarter can reveal the award-winning brand The Botanist is set to open its doors later this year as it ventures into Scotland for the very first time.
Renowned for lavish botanical themed interiors, world-famous quirky cocktails and signature hanging kebabs, The Botanist will bring an immersive new experience to Edinburgh in the spectacular St Andrew’s Hall overlooking Leith Walk.
The Botanist will add to a formidable foodie offering that already includes Bonnie & Wild Scottish Marketplace, alongside pitstop dining brands such as Wingstop and Bross Bagels.
Nick Peek, Managing Director at St James Quarter,commented: “Spring has officially sprung here at St James Quarter as we welcome The Botanist to the family. With botanical themed interiors and refreshing cocktails, our customers are going to feel like they have been transported to an idyllic holiday destination.
“At St James Quarter, we pride ourselves on providing world-class facilities that will continuously offer unique and new experiences for our customers and The Botanist is set to do just that.”
Natasha Waterfield, Chief Operating Officer at New World Trading Company said: “Bringing our unique concept to Scotland for the first time is a hugely exciting moment for the business.
“Finding the right space in any location is paramount and St James Quarter is an innovative development that aligns with our brand and proposition. We can’t wait for the residents of Edinburgh, as well as the many tourists that visit the area, to experience our one-of-a-kind offer at The Botanist.”
St James Quarter has gone from strength to strength since opening in June 2021, and offers an impressive and growing list of names at the retail led destination, which includes & Other Stories, Mango, Zara, REISS, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Miele, Next, H&M, JD Sports, John Lewis and many more.
Scotland experiences the third largest annual increase to female unemployment of all the UK’s regions
Scotland just one of three regions to experience annual increase in female unemployment
UK employment rates see a small annual increase, as businesses gain confidence in the post-pandemic era
With International Women’s Day fast approaching, the most recent UK employment statistics do not make for positive reading in Scotland, as the region experienced the third largest annual increase to female unemployment of all the UK’s regions (+7.5%).
However, the collective performance of all twelve regions equates to a small, yet much-welcomed annual improvement to the overall female employment rate, with 72% of women aged 16-64 currently in work. The only other regions to experience a larger increase in female unemployment was the South East (+33.4%) and North East (+24%).
The male employment rate also saw a small annual improvement, indicating that UK businesses are beginning to gain confidence and expand their workforce in the post-pandemic era, with many believing the worst of Covid is now behind them.
However, with workplace diversification still a key factor for businesses to consider during the recruitment process, it is important for employers in Scotland to think carefully about how they select applicants and treat their existing employees.
Tina Chander, Head of the Employment Law team at Wright Hassall, commented: “Given the challenges people have faced over the last two years, it is great to read some positive news with regards to employment rates, as this shows that businesses are beginning to resume operations at full capacity.
“That being said, it is important for employers to continue the progress made in the last decade, whereby we have seen a larger female representation at board level and workforces are generally much more diverse.
“From a business perspective, having a diverse workforce provides a wide range of benefits, as you have different talents, ideas and approaches at your disposal, which allows for a much more complete service offering, with better results delivered.
“Not only this, but all organisations should strive for more inclusivity, as this helps build a positive culture for the business, where employees are treated fairly and equal opportunities are available to everyone, regardless of gender.
“Given the fact that a lot of businesses are currently in the process of recruiting new talent, now is the perfect time for employers to take stock of their current situation, ensuring they bring in experienced individuals, whilst also working towards a diverse workforce.”
An Edinburgh media agency focused on connecting independent businesses with social media savvy students has expanded its presence in the UK and Africa thanks to support from Business Gateway.
Today Agency is a student-driven media agency based in Edinburgh. Launched in 2017, the agency assists independent businesses with creative content creation and social media management, while offering students the opportunity to gain essential practical and paid for industry experience.
Founder Jack Allan started the business whilst at university and, during the 2020 Covid lockdown, completed Business Gateway’s five-week programme ‘Gateway to Investment’ designed specifically to help start-ups grow and secure investment.
The programme provided him with advice on securing funding, covering aspects such as investor research, financial readiness and pitch presentation training.
Today Agency has since opened offices in Manchester and Newcastle, with clients across five UK cities and secured a partnership with The Challenges Group, opening offices in Kampala and Accra with plans to open three more throughout Africa.
Jack also accessed regular 1:1 support from his dedicated business adviser as part of Business Gateway’s Growth Service. He received a strategic review of the business plan to identify new opportunities and priorities, advice on PR and marketing, as well as specialist support in international expansion.
Jack Allan, founder of Today Agency, said: “Business Gateway gave me, as a leader, the opportunity to speak to mentors and think critically about the business. This helped greatly in assessing our next steps and has provided us a platform to successfully expand our business operations worldwide.
“There is a significant opportunity for our business to grow internationally over the coming years. Across Africa, we’re seeing dynamic ideas originating from the likes of Rwanda, Ghana and Uganda which is exciting. Businesses and young people across the UK and further afield are ambitious and we want to work with them.
“We have our sights set on becoming the world’s first global student-driven media agency and thanks to the clear advice and direction given by our Business Gateway adviser, we were able to develop our business and are well on our way.”
Lindsey Sibbald, adviser, Business Gateway, said: “It is wonderful to see how Today Agency has taken such an innovative concept and scaled it up with offices not only in the UK, but across the world.
“It is rewarding to see how Jack has achieved his goals, despite the pandemic, reaching a new market in which they are thriving by working with our team. We would encourage all businesses to get in touch and make use of the services we have at Business Gateway, if there are areas where support is needed.”
To find out how Business Gateway can help your business, visit:
73.7% of attendances were seen and resulted in subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within four hours
There were 96,338 attendances, a 1.4% decrease when compared to the previous month, December 2021
More than one in four patients were delayed by four hours or more
6,682 patients were delayed by eight hours or more, a 23% increase when compared to the previous month, December 2021
This is equal to 6.2% of all attendances
2,155 patients were delayed by 12 hours or more, a 30% increase when compared to the previous month, December 2021
This is equal to 2.1% of all attendances
Dr John Thomson, Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Scotland, said:“The health service in Scotland continues to face severe system pressures.
“Emergency Departments remain dangerously crowded with many patients facing extremely long waiting times as ambulances still face delays in offloading patients. These long waits are leading directly to harm for our patients.
“Despite the challenges of widespread bed shortages and staff shortages, Emergency Medicine staff continue to do all they can to keep patients safe. It is the hard work and dedication of EM staff who are preventing urgent and emergency care from tipping over the edge and falling deeper into crisis.
“Frontline workers continue to be pushed to their limit and are experiencing significant moral injury as a result of inadequate bed capacity and patient flow. It is clear that without significant, immediate change, both patients presenting to our Emergency Departments, and the staff working in them, face ongoing harm.
“Emergency Medicine staff will continue to be pushed to their limit unless an adequate urgent and emergency recovery plan is set out by the Scottish Government – this would prevent any threat of derailing elective care recovery.
“In the longer term, the Royal College continues to call for a fully funded long-term workforce plan and for 1,000 additional beds to be opened in the system. The current status quo is not sustainable for patients or staff, it is time to see meaningful action.”
Research from Royal Bank of Scotland reveals Scots spending priorities in 2022
Young people battling desire to splurge post-pandemic with need to budget for the future
Soaring energy costs identified as key concern
As the country begins to look at life beyond the pandemic, new research from Royal Bank of Scotland reveals that nearly half (42%) of young people surveyed in Scotland view spending money on fun as more of a priority post-lockdown.
Despite the renewed sense of freedom and recent relaxation of restrictions, young people are struggling with an internal conflict between the desire to enjoy life and pressures to save, with as many as 85% of 18 to 34-year-olds feeling guilty when splashing their hard-earned cash on themselves.
This is further compounded by social situations, where nearly two-thirds (63%) of 18 to 34 year-olds admit to feeling pressured by their friends to spend money – even when they feel they don’t have enough cash to spare.
Contributing to this feeling of guilt, just over half (51%) of those interviewed confessed that they don’t have a monthly budget set aside for having fun, with nearly eight in ten (79%) admitting that they will need to rethink their spending this year in the wake of energy price rises.
Respondents cited the pandemic – and prolonged periods of lockdown – as key motivators for their changing spending patterns. Almost two-thirds (63%) agree they’re happy to splurge if it means the chance to make memories with friends and loved ones, whilst a third (33%) are keen to make up for the experiences they lost during lockdown.
The findings suggest that the desire to spend more money in 2022, combined with a lack of budgeting confidence and the rising cost of living is mixing together to create a financial storm.
Addressing some of the key concerns raised in the survey, Royal Bank of Scotland is launching a new campaign to help young people balance their longing to make up for moments and memories lost to the pandemic, with the need to set realistic and achievable budgeting goals.
Backing the campaign to support young people, social wellbeing analyst and award-winning businesswoman Charlotte Armitage said: “Dealing with anxiety related to your personal finances is one of the most pressing challenges coming out of the pandemic.
“Financial goal setting can be an effective strategy against the struggle. Momentum is critical and if you have a long-term savings goal, you need to break it down into manageable milestones, give yourself some easy wins and reinforce positive actions.
“After the past few years, it’s certainly okay to have fun and spend your hard earned money on yourself. Taking stock of your finances and getting a clear picture of your spending and saving will allow you to spot those areas where you can make small changes without sacrificing fun, allowing you to create memories and be confident about your financial future.”
Royal Bank is committed to improving the nation’s financial capabilities and will continue to offer every person in Scotland a free, judgement free Financial Health Check. The importance of such services is demonstrated in the research, with over one-fifth (22%) of respondents aged 18-34 citing a lack of knowledge as a reason why they don’t have a financial plan whilst almost one in five (19%) feel they are unable to afford a financial advisor.
Royal Bank is also encouraging customers to make use of new features available through its award-winning app such as the new ‘spending’ and ‘savings’ tabs, which allows customers to easily understand where their money is going and how they’re tracking against their goals.
Commenting on the findings, Malcolm Buchanan, Chair, Scotland Board, Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “It’s vitally important that we continue to listen to young people and understand the everyday challenges they face when it comes to managing their money.
“Whilst everybody’s financial situation is unique, it is through research and dialogue like this that we can design effective solutions and provide the tools to help make dealing with money easier for our customers.
“Royal Bank is committed to providing everyone with the support and skills they need to make responsible financial decisions, which in turn, will help them have fun and make memories.”
Royal Bank continues to make financial management easier and more accessible by providing the following:
· Financial Health Check – A free 20-minute conversation with a banking advisor who provides guidance to make banking simpler, as well as tips for everyday spending and achieving future goals. This could include setting savings targets, advice on tracking monthly spending and creating budgets. Customers can choose to chat in a branch or over the phone. personal.rbs.co.uk/personal/financial-health-check.html
· Royal Bank of Scotland app – Customers using Royal Bank of Scotland’s award-winning app are able to easily see where their money is going with the new ‘spending’ tab which will show them how much they’re spending by category each month, helping them stay in control of their money.
· MoneySense – MoneySense provides parents and teachers with the tools to give young people the confidence to use money responsibly on their own. The programme is the longest-running bank-led financial education programme for young people in the UK. MoneySense is fully digital and downloadable, and can be delivered by teachers in schools.
‘Mums’ the word at Rare Birds Books this Mother’s Day …
This Mother’s Day home of female fiction, Rare Birds, has launched the perfect gift for mamas who love nothing more than to curl up and get lost in an good book.
The Good, The Bad and The Real, is the brand new three-book bundle (£30) offering the crème de la crème of our favourite mums in literature – but not necessarily the ones you would expect …
Split into three categories – Good Mothers (positive portrayals of mothers in fiction), Bad Mothers (negative portrayals of mothers in fiction) and Real Mothers (non-fiction books about motherhood and its impact) – the bundle will have you laughing, crying and wondering where amongst it all your own mother sits.
So, which mums – and which stories – will this bundle explore?
(Good Mothers) Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
A heart-breaking historical novel about the personal tragedy which inspired Shakespeare’s most famous play. An exploration of what a mother will do to protect her children, and the fracturing of family relationships when this is not enough.
(Bad Mothers) The Lost Daughter by Elena Ferrante
When her two daughters leave home, Leda embraces her newfound freedom and embarks upon a solo holiday to an Italian coastal town. But a chance meeting with an unsettling family forces Leda to confront her own past, and the choices she has made as a mother.
(Real Mothers) (M)otherhood: On the Choices of Being a Woman by Pragya Agarwal
Part memoir, part meticulous research, this is an urgent and necessary examination of motherhood, identity, and the continuous societal obsession with women’s reproductive bodies.
Bound in a gorgeous Rare Birds branded box with the books elegantly wrapped, the gift is not only thoughtful, but beautiful.
For those who are keen to delve further into the theme of motherhood, Rare Birds has put together a list that you can pick and choose from to help you continue on your reading journey. Following the above themes, founder Rachel Wood, invites you to decide what being a mum really means …
Books for Good Mothers
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
Can a trans woman, her de-transitioned ex, and his new straight girlfriend all raise a baby together? A witty and wise examination of sex, gender and contemporary family life.
Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Sutanto
A hysterical and heart-warming romcom, in which Meddy’s meddling mother and aunties get more than they bargained for when she accidentally kills the blind date they sent her on.
Where’d you go Bernadette by Maria Semple
When her enigmatic architect mother goes missing before a trip to Antarctica, fifteen-year-old Bee will do anything to find her. A funny and heart-warming look at what happens when motherhood upends your sense of identity.
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison’s heart-breaking novel tells the story of Sethe, a formerly enslaved woman whose life has been spent desperately trying to protect her children. A raw and ruthless depiction of the horrors of slavery, and the power of a mother’s love.
Room by Emma Donoghue
Told from the perspective of five-year old Jack, this emotional novel details he and his mother’s captivity in a single room. Inspired by true stories, this is a searing portrayal of mother’s love for her child.
Books for Bad Mothers
Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
Jeanette Winterson’s fierce work of autofiction narrates her choice to abandon the missionary career her adopted mother had planned for her in order to be with the woman she loves. An unflinching depiction of religious zeal and desire.
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
In this witty and unsettling novel, the struggling artist mother of a young toddler finds herself undergoing a canine transformation. The only thing is those around her seem oblivious.
Hot Milk by Deborah Levy
Sun-drenched and surreal, this novel depicts the strained relationship between Sofia and her mother, Rose, whom she has accompanied to the Spanish coast in search of a cure for Rose’s mysterious illness. A haunting exploration of sexuality, womanhood, and the maternal bond.
Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi
When Antara was young, her mother Tara ran wild – preferring to lavish her attention on the guru of an ashram than her own daughter. Now Tara’s memory is failing her, and Antara bitterly administers the help she needs. This is a sticky, biting novel which asks the question: are we obliged to take care of those who fail to take care of us?
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
In Margaret Atwood’s classic dystopian novel, motherhood is separated from pregnancy, as those women who are fertile are forced to produce children for the upper class who aren’t. But of these, June, longs to be free and reunited with her daughter.
Books for Real Mothers
The Other Mother: A Wickedly Honest Parenting Tale for Every Kind of Family by Jen Brister
A funny and moving look at mothering from the perspective of the ‘other mother’ in a lesbian relationship, addressing everything from IVF to sleep deprivation with the kind of anecdotes that will make you laugh-out.
Motherhood by Deborah Orr
At seventeen, Deborah Orr left Motherwell to attend university against her mother’s wishes. In this gritty and honest memoir, she recounts her girlhood in the industrial town, and the sticky bond between mother and daughter, ultimately asking the question: what does it mean to mother well?
Blue Nights by Joan Didion
Joan Didion’s memoir detailing the death of her own daughter is a gut-wrenching account of motherhood, uncertainty, and ageing. Bleak and beautiful in equal measure, this is a book which will haunt you long after it is finished.
The Panic Years by Nell Frizell
In this poetic and candid book, Nell Frizzel navigates the difficult personal decisions faced by women in their late twenties and thirties. The hardest of all? Whether or not to have a baby.
Mother: An Unconventional History by Sarah Knott
A fascinating exploration of the history of maternity, from medieval royals to 1950s housewives, through the lens of historian Sarah Knott’s own experiences with pregnancy, motherhood, and loss.
NHS Lothian has recorded record numbers of staff levels this year with 23,116 employed by the health board – a 15.1% increase over the past five years.
Scotland wide, more than 155,000 staff have been hired, with increases in whole-time equivalent (WTE) staff for ten consecutive years.
Across NHS Lothian there has been a 4.3% increase in the past year in staffing levels and a 15.1 % increase in the past five years.
Edinburgh Pentlands SNP MSP Gordon MacDonald said: “Our staff across NHS Lothian have shown incredible dedication and commitment to our health service in the past two years and beyond. We will never be able to thank them enough for their heroic efforts.
“Under the Scottish Government, staffing levels in the NHS have increased to record levels. The Scottish Government’s long-term investment in the workforce has accelerated since the outset of the pandemic and we are seeing that in reality, with a 15.1% increase over the past five years here in NHS Lothian.
“The SNP also continues to recognise the effort of our staff having offered them the best pay rise in the UK. They also continue to be the best paid health staff compared to their counterparts in the rest of the UK.”
First shows announced – and they’re udderly brilliant!
Photographed by David P Scott for Underbelly. All rights reserved.
Underbelly has revealed the first 10 shows to go on sale for this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The stellar line-up includes the cream of the comedy and circus crop. Festival goers can purchase tickets via the Underbelly website – www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk.
Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe runs from the 3 – 29 August 2022 across four sites: George Square, Circus Hub on the Meadows, Cowgate and Bristo Square.
McEwan Hall
With over 500 million views online, legendary comedy group Foil Arms and Hog will be back in the magnificent McEwan Hall this year to premiere their new show ‘Hogwash’. A mix of sketch comedy, audience participation and improvisation, get ready for some side splitting laughs!
McEwan Hall will also host Fringe-favourite comedian Jason Byrne with Jason Byrne: Unblocked. Join him live on stage as he unleashes what he does best – guaranteed, pure and utterly unfiltered joy and laughter.
Udderbelly George Square
The Amazing Bubble Man is back for a 14th year with another show of spellbinding bubble tricks to keep the whole family mesmerised. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe favourite will return to Udderbelly George Square with his family friendly show, exploring the breath-taking dynamic of bubbles.
Edinburgh Comedy Allstars returns to the purple cow with weekend comedy line-ups comprised of the biggest, brightest, and most hilarious comedians at the Fringe. Previous performers include a who’s who of comedy giants, from John Bishop, Phil Wang and Fern Brady to Joel Dommett – a sell-out show since 2017 and a must see!
The Cow will also play host to The WhatsOnStage Awards 2022 winnerRob Madge forBest Off-West End Production. Rob Madge: My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do), is the joyous autobiographical story of social-media sensation Rob, who brings to life their childhood rendition of a very memorable performance of a Disney parade. Hopefully, this time no one will mistake Aladdin for Ursula and by all means nobody dare to rain on it.
Circus Hub at The Meadows
Five-star Fringe favourite CIRCA returns to Underbelly’s Circus Hub with Circa: Humans 2.0 – the sequel to its internationally acclaimed and sold-out Fringe 2019 show. A symphony of acrobatics, sound and light, this next chapter of Humans is a tightly woven choreography of bodies pulsing with music. Intimate, primal, and deeply engaged with the challenge of being human.
Circus for all the family, Hotel Paradiso is the irresistibly colourful, loud, and fun show, from Guinness World Record Holders, Lost In Translation Circus. Heart-stopping aerials, stunning floor acrobatics, extraordinary juggling and theatrical storytelling combine to create this follow up to international hit The Hogwallops.
Bristo Square
Bristo Square will play host to Fringe World 2019 Best Comedy Show nominee Troy Hawke: Sigmund Troy’d! and Dave’s Funniest Jokes 2019 runner-up Richard Stott: Afterparty.
Underbelly Cowgate
Paul McCaffrey: We Go Again is a hilarious new stand-up show from the star of Live at the Apollo, Russell Howard’s Good News, Impractical Jokers UK and Stand Up Central.
Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe runs from the 3 – 29 August 2022 across 19 venues and 4 sites; George Square, Circus Hub, Cowgate and Bristo Square. Further exciting programme details will be revealed in the coming months.
Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, directors of Underbelly, said: “The Fringe is where Underbelly started 23 years ago and is the place, we call home. It’s been a challenging few years for everyone – we deserve to laugh, dance, sing and gaze in awe at some of the incredible acts we have lined up for 2022.
“We are incredibly excited at the prospect of Underbelly at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe being back with a bang this year!”
BURNING MONEY: How much you could be saving per year by giving up smoking
Giving up a pack of cigarettes a day could save you up to £4,197 a year – the price of a family holiday abroad.
Cutting out that weekly pack of cigarettes could save you £598 a year, or £2,991 over five years.
Quitting for good could save you up to £41,975 over ten years – equivalent to a 20% deposit on a new home.
You could be saving up to £4,197 a year by giving up a pack of cigarettes a day according to new research, with savings of £598 a year for less frequent smokers.
Vaping experts over at IndeJuice calculated how much money you could be saving based on the average UK cost for a pack of 20 cigarettes over various timespans. They broke down how much you would save throughout your lifetime if you kicked the habit for good, as well as comparing what you could be spending the money on instead.
The research reveals that if you are smoking one pack of cigarettes per day at the average UK cost of £11.50 per pack, you would save £334.58 per month or £4,197 over the course of a year by quitting – the cost of a family holiday abroad for four people, the cost of running your car for ten years or paying for 11 years’ worth of gym memberships.
Someone who regularly smokes a full pack of cigarettes a day can expect to see staggering savings in the long run – banking up to £41,975 over ten years from quitting smoking. This is the equivalent of a 20% deposit on a £200,000 property, the price of a Porsche Cayman or nearly a kilogram of 24 carat gold.
For people who are only smoking a couple of cigarettes a day, the cost can still quickly add up. If you are smoking just one pack of cigarettes a week at the same average cost, you could still make savings of £598 a year, or £2,991 in your pocket over the next five years.
The money saved by quitting for one year, could cover the cost of a three-course meal for you and your significant other 11 times a year, the cost of nine weekly food shops or seven annual Netflix subscriptions.
A spokesperson from IndeJuice added: “Many smokers are already aware of the harm imposed on their body by regularly smoking, but it is easy to overlook the financial savings that could be made by choosing to quit for good.
“When looking at Google Trends data over the past five years, there has been a significant increase in people searching the term ‘quit smoking’ year on year, with the exception of 2021 where there was a 2.3% decrease in searches from the previous year.
“As we emerge out of the pandemic, it is important that we continue to reflect on the health benefits of quitting for good, and the long-term savings offer an additional incentive to do so.”
