Day: November 22, 2022

Please bear with us: Lothian Buses chief issues public appeal

This is an appeal to all of our customers, and all who want to see Lothian Buses thrive again.

As a society we’ve gone from standing on doorsteps, applauding key workers and paying tribute to their efforts, to a much less tolerant approach.  It’s present wherever you look – in shops, restaurants, and most definitely on buses.  It seems many people are less patient, less accepting and much less forgiving.

I know that our service isn’t always delivering for our customers as it should be right now and I’m sorry.  It’s definitely not how we as a company want it to be and I know we still have work to do to get it right. I know how frustrating it is to wait at a bus stop only for the bus not to turn up or to watch the street tracker increase the number of minutes’ wait when it should be counting down.

Please be assured that Lothian Buses is doing everything possible to get back to operating the reliable bus services that the people of Edinburgh expect and need.

To our customers… Please see our people as human beings – people who are at their place of work and are deserving of your respect and courtesy.  Our drivers and other customer-facing people are seeing a huge increase in abusive behaviour. 

It’s abhorrent and completely unacceptable. If you are frustrated with our service and feel that we have let you down, please remember that it’s not the fault of any individual colleague.  They are doing their very best in incredibly difficult circumstances.

And to our colleagues… I am truly sorry that your working day looks as it does just now.  I know that you are the people who have remained loyal to Lothian Buses and continue to come to work in very difficult circumstances. 

Please know that we are doing everything possible to recruit the drivers we need and to retain the ones we have.  We are running an extensive recruitment campaign, we’ve evolved our training programme, we are adding new benefits to our employment offering, and we are working hard to modernise rotas so that we can offer a better work/life balance.

We are slowly turning a corner with driver shortages, and we will get back to being a service that customers can rely on.

And in the meantime…

Please bear with us, and with our people.

Sarah Boyd

Managing Director, Lothian Buses

Bigger than Hogmanay!

Report finds Royal Highland Show contributes more to Edinburgh’s economy than Hogmanay celebrations

An independent economic impact report commissioned by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) has found that the Royal Highland Show contributes £39.5 million annually to Edinburgh’s economy – more than Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations. 

Held every year in June, the event attracts in the region of 200,000 visitors across four days to celebrate the best of Scotland’s food, farming and rural life. Appealing to both rural and urban audiences, the Show is a major marketing platform for producers, exhibitors and businesses from across Scotland and the wider UK. 

Staged in Ingliston at the Royal Highland Centre, the Royal Highland Show sees up to 6,000 animals competing, with other attractions including a food & drink hall, Scotland’s Larder, sheep shearing, musical entertainment, rural crafts, forestry, show jumping, machinery and educational experiences. The Royal Bank of Scotland is a long-term partner of the Show, having been its headline sponsor for 41 years. 

With an average visitor spend of £147, the Show is a key sales opportunity for exhibitors.  Visitors spent more on accommodation (21%) than any other expenditure category, with overnight visitors typically staying in Edinburgh for 2.5 nights. This is closely followed by spending on food and drink on site, and other spending (both 19%). This other spending includes purchases of agricultural equipment. 

This is the first time that the economic impact of the Show has been assessed on a comparable basis to Festivals Edinburgh.

Carried out by BOP Consulting, it finds that the Show generated additional output in Edinburgh of £39.5m – with this corresponding to a Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employment of 674. The Show has a wide reach, with 74% of visitors travelling from across Scotland to attend. 

Royal Highland Show 2022

RHASS Director of Operations, Mark Currie, commented: “The economic impact and reach of the Royal Highland Show is significant, and this report demonstrates the importance of the Show as one of Scotland’s largest and most well-attended events. 

“Visitors and exhibitors come from far and wide to connect, be entertained, to sell and to buy, and it is widely acknowledged to be the best platform for rural Scottish businesses in the country. 

“We are fortunate to have a loyal and engaged audience, and one that is only growing as the Show evolves into a truly global event – this year more than 200,000 people from around the world tuned in to watch the Show online.” 

The full report can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/RHSreport

The 2023 Royal Highland Show takes place 22nd – 25th June 2023.

For more information, visit royalhighlandshow.org.