Entries open for 2023 VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards
Environmental trailblazers from Scotland’s business community are being invited to showcase the link between environmental and economic success by entering the 25th annual VIBES awards this spring.
Open to businesses large and small across the country, the awards recognise those who champion sustainability by reducing pressure on the planet’s resources and winning schemes focused on everything from accelerating action towards net zero, embracing circularity and increasing biodiversity.
Officially launched by SEPA CEO Nicole Paterson at an event in the capital on Wednesday 1 March, the 2023 awards will feature three new categories: the Just Transition Scotland Award, the Vision in Business Scotland Award and the STV Green Fund Award, with a £30K campaign partnership with STV up for grabs.
Other categories include the Product Scotland Award, Service Scotland Award, Circular Scotland Award, Sustainable Transport Scotland Award and Nature Rich Scotland Award.
Nicole Paterson, SEPA CEO said: “Thriving, successful and sustainable Scottish businesses will be those that recognise the link between environmental and economic prosperity, and with record breaking entries to last year’s VIBES awards, it’s clear that Scottish businesses agree.
“The journey towards sustainability is a challenging but necessary one and I, like many others, have been encouraged and inspired by the commitment and action from VIBES winners over the years.
“We saw energy efficient businesses charge ahead at the 2022 awards and I’m sure this year’s entrants will once again demonstrate effective solutions to some of our biggest challenges.”
The VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards is a partnership between the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), The Scottish Government, Energy Saving Trust, Highland & Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, Scottish Water, Zero Waste Scotland and NatureScot.
This year’s judging panel includes Franceska van Dijk, Deputy Chair, SEPA, Robbie Kernahan is Director for Green Economy at NatureScot, and Jane Morrison-Ross, CEO, South of Scotland Enterprise.
Businesses have until 5pm on 14 April 2023 to submit their free application. Finalists will be announced in May before the annual awards ceremony in November.
For more information on VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards, please visit www.vibes.org.uk.
Scottish members of a grassroots ‘community rail’ movement are joining forces to support a shift to greener, healthier, fairer transport, and encouraging people to ditch the car for one in five journeys when they can.
The country’s network of community rail partnerships, supported by Community Rail Network and Paths for All, used the 2023 Rail Scotland Conference to launch their ‘Let’s go for 1 in 5’ campaign, in support of Transport Scotland’s commitment to cutting car use by 20% by 2030. They used the conference to explore how the rail industry can play a key role, working with communities, to support more sustainable journeys that work for everyone and protect our climate.
From the Borders to the Highlands, Scotland’s community rail partnerships engage communities with their local railways and stations, enabling and encouraging more people to get around sustainably by train. Since the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow, they have been raising awareness of how green rail is compared to driving (see statistics below), and working with communities and rail partners to make it easier to use the train combined with walking, wheeling and cycling, buses and community transport.
Transport is the largest contributor to climate emissions in Scotland. In response to the climate emergency, Transport Scotland has committed to reducing emissions by 75% by 2030, and net-zero by 2045. Rail accounted for just 1% of UK domestic transport emissions in 2019, despite representing 7% of the total distance travelled, and for a 30-mile journey, travelling by train instead of by car can reduce emissions by up to 86%.
Community Rail Network chief executive Jools Townsend told the conference how community rail, and the new campaign, contributes to Scotland’s vision of a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system. This allied to some of the major themes of the event – which also featured an address from Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth MSP – such as modal shift from road to rail and the rail network’s net-zero targets.
Ms Townsend said: “Cutting car use by 20% is crucial to tackling the climate emergency, and it can unleash great benefits for communities and families too, by improving health and wellbeing, addressing the cost of living, and making our streets and communities safer, nicer places.
“But we know it’s not so simple as ‘persuading’ people to ditch the car: as well as raising awareness we need to break down barriers and widen access to public and community transport, combined with walking, wheeling and cycling.
“Community rail and other locally-led initiatives have a vital part to play. We’re all about helping communities to feel confident and positive about rail and sustainable travel, addressing issues and worries people might have, and helping communities to have a voice and shape a green and inclusive transport future.
“We’re encouraging communities across Scotland to get involved, and for drivers to consider how they can help Scotland make the ‘1 in 5’ switch, to more climate-safe and community-friendly journeys.”
Community rail works across Britain to develop the place of railways and stations at the heart of local communities, and help communities get maximum benefit from rail. This growing, thriving grassroots movement, brought together under Community Rail Network, is made up of 76 community rail partnerships and 1,200+ station friends’ groups and other local groups.
The partnerships are supported by Community Rail Network and the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, funded by Transport Scotland and administered by Paths for All. This support helps to develop projects and deliver work promoting sustainable journeys with rail at their heart.
Graham McQueen, Smarter Choices, Smarter Places manager, said:“Paths for All’s Smarter Choices Smarter Places Open Fund is about supporting local and community-based transport solutions to the climate crisis.
“We want to see more people walking, cycling and using more sustainable forms of transport for their everyday journeys. Projects like this that encourage people to get out of their cars and travel more sustainably are fantastic examples of how grassroots community organisations can lead on the changes we need to make happen”.
Huge charitable effort from Greene King pubs across Scotland as they raise a phenomenal £193,743 for Macmillan Cancer Support in 2022
Greene King’s total raised for Macmillan Cancer Support tops an incredible £3million in 2022, the highest 12-month total
Greene King has raised over £14million during its10-year partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support
Greene King pubs across Scotland raised an amazing £193,743 for Macmillan Cancer Support in 2022 to help people living with cancer.
The brilliant fundraising efforts by pub teams and the generous support of customers means that the money raised can be used to support the 155 Macmillan professionals currently funded by the charity across Scotland such as specialist dietitians, therapists and the iconic Macmillan nurse.
Greene King, the UK’s leading pub company and brewer, has now raised a staggering £14million for Macmillan over its 10-year charity partnership. The tenth year marked a record breaking £3million annual total for the charity. This equates to £342 raised every hour in 2022, which is enough to fund a Macmillan nurse for a whole day.
There was an outstanding effort from kind-hearted regulars and team members at Greene King’s Smiddy Inn in Cumbernauld where a phenomenal £12,518 was raised over the past year.
There was a busy calendar of fundraising events at the popular Ben Lawers Drive pub involving the pub team, regulars and the wider community. Highlights included walking the Rob Roy, the family fun day and taking part in the Edinburgh Tartan Track as well as a host of raffles, hampers, quizzes and bingo nights.
Julia Hutton, general manager of the Smiddy Inn, said: “We are just so proud of everyone’s efforts here at the pub. We were determined to pull out all the stops and set our targets high. And we did it!
“This really was a team effort. The fun days, craft days and Christmas market were great. At every event we have a raffle table, it’s simple but effective and keeps the money rolling in. We go around the pub with collection buckets and people are always happy to pop some money in.
“Our thanks go out to everyone who works here and all our customers. What a year it has been. We have a wall chart showing what we have raised so everyone can see the progress we are making. We’ve had fun in our fundraising and it’s been great to do our bit. Let’s see what we can do in 2023!”
Alison Ramsay, senior social impact manager at Greene King, said: “This is proof that charity really is at the heart of all our pubs. What better way is there to celebrate our 10-year partnership with Macmillan than by having a record-breaking 12-months of fundraising.
“Our teams and customers are simply brilliant to have raised over £3million in 2022. Sadly, we all know someone living with cancer but we know every single pound raised in our pubs helps.”
Local Macmillan Relationship Fundraising Manager, Kirsteen Plop, said: “What a fantastic effort. A big thank you and well done to all the Greene King team members and customers at the Smiddy Inn in Cumbernauld for their amazing fundraising. £12,518 is such a brilliant total.
“Right now, Macmillan is needed now more than ever, and we want to be there for people living with cancer in our community. Macmillan services, such as the innovative and free 12-week Macmillan Move More – North Lanarkshire programme which offers a wide variety of gentle exercise sessions in a number of locations, make a real difference to the lives of people living with cancer and we simply couldn’t do what we do without the support of our partners like Greene King.
“We’re immensely grateful to everyone at Greene King for their continued and generous support of Macmillan and the millions of pounds that the partnership has raised over the years.”
One of Edinburgh’s leading third and voluntary sector organisations is set to take forward plans to find a sustainable community-led future for the Gorgie City Farm site.
Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC) has agreed to manage a community-led project to find a possible solution, following discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council after the closure of the site last month.
EVOC is one of three partners that make up Edinburgh’s TSI (Third Sector Interface), helping to support and develop the city’s community and voluntary sector, with a role to develop robust solutions and approaches that underpin strong organisations.
Their role will not be to run the farm, but to work with local community, and all stakeholders. This will result in a stronger plan for Gorgie City Farm to re-open, with a strong sustainable plan for the future.
The first step will be for EVOC to bring together a Steering Group – expected to include representatives from the local voluntary sector, campaign groups, the local community and the Council – to work on identifying proposals that could secure its future.
The partnership Steering Group will start from the principle that it will bring together city experts in key respective fields, to support local volunteering through to organisations who have social enterprise aspirations, and connect these together.
Bridie Ashrowan, Chief Executive of EVOC, said: “We understand that Gorgie City Farm is very important to the Gorgie and the wider Edinburgh community, the many people who have visited, volunteered or worked there, and the City of Edinburgh Council.
EVOC has a long history of supporting community and voluntary organisations, helping them to get established, to grow and assess how to develop, and being the honest broker, to focus minds on the task ahead.
“We are committed to taking a community led approach to this project, learning from other successful collaborations in the City.
!We have no vested interest in the future of the Gorgie Farm site and will step back if and when a community-led partnership has been established, through the work of the steering group. This will lay the ground work for Gorgie Farm site having a fighting chance of long term viability.”
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “I’m delighted we’ve got EVOC on board for the Gorgie City Farm site as they have a proven track record in supporting local organisations that need expert advice. At the heart of the work they will be taking forward are options for a community-led, collaborative and financially sustainable future for the site.
“I want to thank everyone who has been working so hard both publicly and behind the scenes to find a solution. The work by the campaign groups, volunteers and other partners has been really impressive and shows the strength of feeling towards this valuable community asset which benefits all communities across the city.
“I’m sure the coming months will be exciting times as EVOC brings people, groups and organisations together to look at options for a sustainable future for the Gorgie City Farm site. I look forward to them presenting a sustainable vision for the future of Gorgie City Farm to the local community soon so everyone in the city can enjoy all it has to offer for years to come.”
John Swinney thanked for “support, wisdom and friendship”
Deputy First Minister John Swinney has announced he is leaving the Scottish Government after nearly 16 years.
He will stand down as Deputy First Minister once a new First Minister is appointed later this month and return to the backbenches. He is the longest serving Deputy First Minister on record, having held the post for almost nine years, and also served as Education Secretary and two tenures as Finance Secretary, latterly in an interim role.
In a letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Mr Swinney says it has been an “honour to serve Scotland” and that he has always sought “to transform the life chances of everyone.”
In her reply, the First Minister pays tribute to Mr Swinney’s “deep care and attention to the wellbeing of our nation” and says she could not have wished for a better “partner in government”.
Mr Swinney’s letter to the First Minister
It has been the privilege of my life to serve in the Scottish Government since 2007 as a Cabinet Secretary with responsibility first for Finance and the Economy, then Education and Skills and finally Covid Recovery. It has been my honour to serve Scotland as your Deputy First Minister since 2014.
These have been demanding commitments to fulfil over nearly 16 years and I have decided that, when the First Minister is appointed later in March, I will stand down from government.
When I joined the Scottish National Party at the age of 15 in 1979, our political prospects were poor and I could scarcely have imagined that over so many years I would have the opportunity to serve Scotland in government in the way I have.
In all that I have undertaken in government, I have tried to listen carefully to different views and be open to the ideas and thoughts of people in Scotland. I have sought always to transform the life chances of everyone who lives here. I have acted to make Scotland a fairer, more prosperous and more confident country that I believe would be assured with Independence.
In all of that work, I have deeply valued the advice and professionalism offered to me by so many outstanding civil servants with whom I have had the privilege to work. They are a credit to their service. I have been touched constantly by the kindness of people in Scotland and their understanding of the many challenges with which we have to wrestle in Government. I am grateful to my ministerial and parliamentary colleagues for their collaboration and support. And I am indebted to you for your leadership, constancy, friendship and loyalty.
I will continue to faithfully represent my constituents in Perthshire North and look forward to sitting with you on the back benches of the Scottish Parliament to continue our contribution to Scotland’s cause.
Thank you for the opportunity you have given me to serve my country.
The First Minister’s reply
Thank you for your letter.
Your contribution to our nation, almost 16 years in government is considerable, indeed unique. Therefore, while I – perhaps more than most – completely understand your decision, I still felt a real sense of sadness when you told me of it.
As Finance and Economy Secretary in our newly formed Scottish Government in 2007, you steered us successfully through budget after budget, laying the foundations for a long list of policy successes.
You were also the architect of a new partnership with local government, and helped negotiate a a new financial settlement with the UK Government, the Fiscal Framework, rebuffing in the process attempts to strip Scotland of funding.
As Education Secretary, you piloted reforms that are now delivering progress in our mission to close the attainment gap. You presided over an increase in teacher numbers and opened university education to record numbers of young people from the poorest backgrounds.
Perhaps most significantly for the long-term, you delivered the biggest expansion in early learning and childcare in our country’s history – a transformation that will change the lives of future generations of children for the better. I know you are as proud of this policy as I am – and rightly so.
Your role in Scotland’s recovery from Covid also merits special mention. From the darkest days of the first lockdown, you led our work on the ‘four-harms’ approach that guided exit from public health restrictions. From a more personal perspective, your friendship and wise counsel during the pandemic, which was by far the most challenging period of my tenure as First Minister, was invaluable and helped me through some really tough days.
You returned for a second, interim tenure as Finance Secretary just as UK Government mismanagement was causing calamity in the nation’s finances and economy. However, in the face of spiraling inflation, you focussed firmly on protecting the most vulnerable, tackling child poverty, addressing climate change and building sustainable public services.
Bringing to bear all your experience of government – and the deep care and attention to the wellbeing of our nation that I know you feel – you helped protect thousands from the full impact of the cost of living crisis. Securing funding for the expansion of the game-changing Scottish Child Payment was the most important of many initiatives.
There is so much more that I could highlight. Over almost 16 years in government, more than eight years as Deputy First Minister – indeed, the longest serving Deputy First Minister so far – you have made countless contributions to the good of our people and our country.
In short, I could not have wished for a better partner in government than you, and there is no doubt that our Scottish Government would have achieved much less had you not been in it.
Please accept my thanks for your support, wisdom and, above all, friendship as together with Ministers past and present, we sought to make Scotland a better place. As I said when I announced my own departure from office, serving as First Minister has been the privilege of my life – having done so with you by my side as Deputy First Minister has been an honour.
As for the future, I know you will continue to serve Scotland well and that you will be, as you always have been, a source of good advice and wise counsel to our party, government and movement. I look forward to this new phase – for both of us – as we move to the backbenches and make way for the new generation who will now lead Scotland forward.
Cllr Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, officially opened the new Granton Early Learning and Childcare building with Head Teacher Lorraine Cusack and Senior Early Years Officer Lesley Watt yesterday.
Five new settings based on primary school sites – Craigentinny, Granton, Nether Currie, St John Vianney and St Mark’s – have opened up in the Capital in the past few months providing places for an additional 500 children.
Cllr Griffiths said: “This is an exciting time for early learning and childcare in Edinburgh with five new settings opening recently providing places for over 500 children.
“As a Council we will do everything we can to ensure our children get the best possible start in life on their journey to becoming successful learners and confident individuals.”
Police in Edinburgh have released images of a man they believe may have information that can assist them with their enquiries into a serious assault that occurred on Greenside Place, Edinburgh, at around 12.30am on Monday, 23 January 2023.
The man is described as white, around 30 to 40 years of age, and of a medium build. He was wearing a multi-coloured hooded top and dark-coloured jeans.
Constable Euan Murray of Gayfield Police Station said: “A 28-year-old man was treated for serious injuries as a result of this incident. We would ask that the man in the images or anyone who may recognise him to get in touch as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0103 of 23 January 2023. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.
Eat Out Edinburgh 2023 is set to make a tasty return to the capital for a second year for locals and visitors alike to enjoy amazing offers from Edinburgh city centre’s best eateries for two weeks – from 13th to 26th of March.
Restaurants, cafés, and bars from St James Quarter to Charlotte Square, George Street to Princes Street will be participating, with many returning after a fantastic turn out in 2022.
The capital’s dedicated Business Improvement District (BID) will be the setting for this foodie fortnight run by Essential Edinburgh. Celebrating the best of food, drink, and hospitality, over 30 participating venues are already confirmed for the campaign, including Edinburgh favourites Badger & Co, Lady Libertine, Hawksmoor, and Le Monde, and new favourites like Ka Pao, 63rd + 1st, and Duck & Waffle.
Confirmed venues to date include offers like:
Grazing by Mark Greenaway: Enjoy a delicious 5-course Tasting Menu for Two & a Bottle of Wine for £99
Baba: £25 per person for a 4-course set menu lunch
Bread Street Kitchen & Bar: For £29 per person, enjoy a welcome cocktail and a three-course set menu
Tigerlilly: 20% off food for city centre workers by quoting ‘EAT OUT’ when booking
Ka Pao: Set lunch menu for £17.50 per person featuring a small plate, curry, jasmine rice and a side
A full list of participating Edinburgh venues and offers is now live on Eat Out Edinburgh’s website, with special tasting menus, set menus, events and exclusive offers for city centre workers to attract bookings and increased footfall throughout the campaign period.
From business breakfasts to leisurely lunches and evening gatherings over dinner and cocktails, the Eat Out Edinburgh campaign has been designed to bring friends, family, and colleagues together and whilst supporting the city’s vibrant hospitality sector.
This year, the campaign is partnering with KidsOR – the Edinburgh-based charity provide lifesaving operations to children in need across the globe, allowing diners to support the charity through donation options at select participating venues.
Lothian Busses also returns as a partner for 2023 with city centre offers open to Lothian bus employees, and promotion for the event being shown on bus screens across the city throughout the campaign.
Roddy Smith, Chief Executive & Director, Essential Edinburgh, said: “This years’ celebration of Edinburgh’s iconic food & drink scene stands to bring together an even greater array of venues with set menus, events, and special offers exclusively for city centre workers.
“Our hope is to bring people out to socialise, find new favourites and experience exciting meals created by some of the city’s best-known spots. Whether you’re a local, from the wider Lothians region or visiting from further afield, we know there will be something on offer to suit all tastes.”
Tickets for the National Museum of Scotland’s summer exhibition Beyond the Little Black Dress go on sale tomorrow, Friday 3 March.
Tickets for the National Museum of Scotland’s summer exhibition Beyond the Little Black Dress go on sale tomorrow, Friday 3 March, 2023.
The major fashion exhibition, which runs from 1 July to 29 October 2023, demonstrates how an iconic wardrobe staple has become a blank canvas for designers to convey political and cultural ideas.
When Coco Chanel introduced her simple short black dress in 1926 it was hailed by US Vogue as “the frock that all the world will wear”. From Chanel’s pioneering day dress through to innovative modern creations, the exhibition uses the lens of the ‘LBD’ to explore representations of gender, race, sexuality and subcultural styles.
Featuring classic fashion houses such as Dior, Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent, Beyond the Little Black Dress also includes garments from contemporary designers like Comme des Garçons, Maximilian, Molly Goddard and Gareth Pugh.
To mark tickets for Beyond the Little Black Dress going on sale, a pair of images by photographer David Eustace have been unveiled.
Georgina Ripley, Principal Curator of Modern and Contemporary Design at National Museums Scotland said: “We are delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for our biggest ever fashion exhibition, Beyond the Little Black Dress.
“These new images by David Eustace, one of Scotland’s best known photographers, give visitors an exciting taste of what they will see in the exhibition. Featuring two looks by groundbreaking British designer Gareth Pugh, they demonstrate how contemporary designers are subverting expectations and putting their own mark on a wardrobe staple.”
The photographs show Scottish model Zelda Smyth in two striking Gareth Pugh dresses, which will be featured in the exhibition. One is hand-embroidered with black plastic drinking straws and the other embellished with bin bags woven into extraordinary forms. The ‘neo-goth’ designer regularly challenges classical fashion norms and uses unexpected materials to disrupt the conventions of high fashion.
David Eustace said: “Beyond the Little Black Dress explores how designers are really pushing the creative boundaries to challenge what we think we know about an iconic garment, and that’s particularly evident in these two striking dresses by Gareth Pugh.
“Little black dresses made of bin bags or plastic drinking straws might not immediately evoke a sense of glamour, but their clever construction, the manner in which they move and the way the light plays on the materials transforms them into high fashion pieces worthy of the red carpet. They were a joy to photograph and I look forward to seeing them on display in this unique exhibition.”
Sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Beyond the Little Black Dress spans a century of fashion, considering the role of the colour black in a global context. The issue of sustainability of the fashion industry is pulled into focus, looking at the future of production, including garments that utilise smart technologies.
Black British design is celebrated through looks from Maximilian, A-COLD-WALL* and Joe Casely-Hayford among others.
Beyond the Little Black Dress will be accompanied by a publication and programme of events. Tickets will be available to book at www.nms.ac.uk/littleblackdress.
National Museums Scotland Members free.
Book in advance to save, general admission: Adult £12-14.50, Over 60s £10-12.50, Student, Unemployed, Disabled, Young Scot £7.50-10, Under 16s Free, Carers Free
Proposals for a replacement Liberton High School have taken a major step forward after the planning application for the new school was approved yesterday (Wednesday 1 March 2023).
The plans for the school, which will have capacity for 1,200 pupils, were approved by Councillors on the Development Management Sub-Committee.
Construction is due to begin in May this year with the new school planned to open in 2025.
The three-storey building will consist of a variety of inspirational and inclusive spaces for learning. Classrooms, studios, workshops and science labs will connect and work with shared collaborative areas and breakout spaces, providing learners with more personalisation and choice over their learning environment.
Sports facilities include a floodlit multi use games area, basketball court and athletics facilities. The current tennis and beach volleyball courts and mountain bike trail will be retained as will the sports block.
A new fitness suite and dance studio will be provided to complement the existing sports facilities. There will also be outdoor learning spaces and a grassed amphitheatre.
A key part of the new school will be the community campus features as it will include non-educational facilities such as a café, library and flexible workspaces.
The school will be constructed to Passivhaus standards designed to meet the city-wide aspirations for our schools to be as energy efficient as possible in response to the Climate Emergency and Edinburgh’s 2030 Net Zero target.
Councillor Joan Griffiths, Convener of the Education, Children and Families Committee at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “The new school campuses we’re planning are innovatively and sustainably designed so they are inspirational places for learning for the next generation of young people creating a vibrant and thriving learning environment.
“The Liberton Community Campus is a really exciting project which provides an amazing opportunity to create, as part of an inclusive net zero-carbon city, a community lifelong learning and sports hub to replace the existing school.
“This means public services can be co-located with links to active travel networks, green infrastructure and public transport networks. This Community Hub vision for the building to be ‘more than a school’ aligns with our 20 Minute Neighbourhood Strategy – to localise and co-locate services, making them more accessible for communities and to improve the experiences and outcomes for everyone.
“This is all part of the Council’s plan to support the wellbeing of everyone and end poverty and isolation in Edinburgh.
