Month: August 2023

Trio of female future tech leaders announced as keynotes for Scotland’s Leading Innovation Summit

Glasgow event in November helps businesses to navigate AI and emerging tech 

Global experts including DowJones emerging technology director and a top New York based virtual AI fashion expert will join Scottish businesses at Scotland’s annual CAN DO Innovation Summit, on 7th November. 

Now in its fourth year and in-person for the first time since the pandemic, the event at Glasgow’s Science Centre connects start-ups and small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with leading innovators and academics to explore how new technologies, leadership and the right business cultures can tackle the challenges faced by Scottish industry and society.

More than 800 delegates and 40 speakers are expected to take part in the CAN DO Innovation Summit, which is funded by Glasgow City Council, Scottish Enterprise and Innovate UK.

The Summit has fast-become a must attend for Scottish businesses from all sectors, with this year’s event providing valuable insights on innovating to build resilience in a tough economic climate and navigating an increasingly virtual and artificial intelligence (AI) enabled world.   

This year’s free to attend summit is spearheaded by female keynote speakers, with a focus on rapid advances towards a tech-driven, sustainable and virtual future. The three keynote speakers are:

  • Elena Corchero, Director of Emerging Tech at DowJones Live and Globally Recognised Tech Futurist (above).
  • Edafe Onerhime, Data Specialist and Global Financial Services Lead, Top Twenty Most Influential Women in Data 2023.
  • Opé M, Fashion Creative and Futurist and Top 3 Finalist New York AI Fashion Week 2023. 

Dr Susie Mitchell, Programme Director, Glasgow City of Science and Innovation (lead agency for the CAN DO Innovation Summit) said: “Scotland is already well regarded as a leader in innovation, but the pace of change has hugely accelerated.

“This summit will support start-ups and SMEs to make the most of AI and emerging technologies, key tools for businesses to thrive in a challenging economic climate.

“I’m also immensely proud to launch the summit with a line-up of local and global female experts, showcasing the talented women in tech and helping to inspire the next generation of diverse leaders.” 

Other speakers and panellists for the event include Nick Rosa, Industry Technology Innovation Lead from Accenture, and Nicola Anderson, CEO of FinTech Scotland. 

Delegates will hear from local and global experts who will share essential tech trends, insights and tools that allow businesses to keep up and stand out. The Summit will also include a raft of business leaders from Scotland’s growing innovation clusters – from health tech and advanced manufacturing to quantum and the digital creative industries. 

Keynote speaker Elena Corchero, Director of Emerging Tech at DowJones Live, said: “No matter your industry there is so much noise when you look at innovation and trends, and what can apply to your business.

“I’m excited to be part of this important event to talk about building a technology manifesto on ‘the why’ and how companies must embed well-being, immersiveness, sustainability and ethics to ensure tech and innovation adoption is challenge-based and purpose-driven.

“I’ll also share information on essential emerging (and merging) tech that businesses need to know about to stay ahead of the curve and embrace a better future.” 

The event will also include an immersive showcase, on Scotland’s largest IMAX screen, of Opé M’s stunning AI-enabled fashion collection ‘Emergence’, for which she received a top 3 award at the first AI Fashion Week in New York City. 

Tickets are now available for delegates to reserve free of charge on the CAN DO Innovation Summit Website, with the event taking place on 7 November 2023. 

www.candoinnovation.scot

Have you seen these stolen cars?

POLICE are appealing for information to trace two stolen vehicles from Dundee. They believe the vehicles may be in Edinburgh.

In the early hours of Thursday, 24 August, 2023, a silver Mercedes with registration plate R50 DTT was taken from outside a premises on Westerton Avenue, Broughty Ferry. A second vehicle, a black Volkswagen Golf with registration plate RO70 RVP, was also taken.

Officers believe these vehicles may be in Edinburgh and are appealing for anyone with information which may assist them to get in touch. A Police Scotland Spokesperson said: “We are appealing to anyone who has seen these vehicles to get in touch.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 0570 of 24 August, 2023.”

Women’s sport to be boosted by new investment scheme

Women’s sport investment is set to be boosted by a new scheme launched by the Department for Business and Trade, the Women’s Sport Investment Accelerator.

In association with Deloitte’s Sports Business Group and supported by the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport, the new initiative will run for a year starting from autumn 2023.

It will bring UK-based women’s sports rightsholders – leagues, teams, competitions and events – who are seeking investment together with industry experts and sports investors.

The new programme will provide a series of sessions offering market insights, connections and networking events alongside comprehensive mentoring for rightsholders who are looking for investment.

Elite women’s sport competitions such as the FA Women’s Super League and Netball Super League are among those which could benefit.

Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani said: “We want to make the UK the world’s top destination for women’s sport investment, and with this new scheme we can build on the Lionesses’ fantastic World Cup run to help attract investment in women’s sports’ next success stories.

“This is an open goal for women’s sports leagues, teams and competitions looking for backing and will give rightsholders the tools they need to secure investment and drive growth.”

The application process is open to rightsholders of any UK-based women’s sports leagues, teams, competitions or events aiming to attract investment and boost their growth.

It is also being made available at no cost to taxpayers, with all speakers and mentors providing their time and expertise on a pro bono basis and the scheme being delivered through DBT’s partnership with Deloitte, who are providing event space and facilitating several of the scheme sessions.

Investment in women’s sport is growing rapidly and the popularity of the Lionesses’ run to the final of the Women’s Football World Cup demonstrated the scale of the opportunity available, in an industry expected to be worth over £1 billion a year by 2030.

Lisa O’Keefe, Secretary General for the IWG on Women and Sport, said: “The Women’s Sport Investment Accelerator is a fantastic initiative for the UK and one which the IWG is very pleased to support.

“This year has been exciting for women’s sport around the globe, and we’ve seen some superb performances on the field of play and fanbase growth off it. The standard has risen, and the increased long-term investment has undoubtedly played a part in this.

The Accelerator pilot programme will help women’s sports teams and leagues capitalise on this opportunity and help push forward women’s sport.”

Rightsholders for UK-based professional women’s leagues, teams, competitions, and events seeking investment can apply to take part in the programme via the following link, by 8 September 2023: https://eu.eventscloud.com/website/12237/.

A fifth of Scottish parents have been reduced to tears by the school morning routine

  • Nearly a fifth of parents in Scotland have been reduced to tears whilst getting their children ready for school
  • Almost half don’t feel like good parents during the morning routine
  • Over a third of parents feel anxious about the morning routine
  • 42% regularly argue with their child when getting ready for school

New research reveals the strain the morning routine and school run are having on families in Scotland.

The study found that, on average, parents feel stressed at least two mornings a week, whilst 10% report feeling this way every day. 38% report that their children also get stressed during the morning routine.

Running late, getting children out of bed, and children being slow at getting ready are the three biggest contributors to stress, according to Scottish parents.

The research, which was carried out amongst UK parents by leading name label manufacturer, MyNametags.com, found that mothers in Scotland are more likely to be negatively impacted than fathers.

This could be because mums take responsibility for the majority of the morning tasks, according to the results of the survey. Mothers were responsible for making breakfast in 86% of the families researched, alongside packing their child’s lunch box (93%) and school bag (88%), ensuring they are in the correct school uniform (89%), and taking their child to school (68%).

As a result of the stress of the morning routine, nearly a fifth (19%) of parents in Scotland say they have been reduced to tears, nearly half often don’t feel like good parents, and more than a third (36%) feel anxious about it.

This is impacting the whole family, with 42% admitting they argue with their child during the morning routine and 34% saying their child has gone to school upset. This is causing nearly a third of parents (30%) to worry that the morning routine is damaging their relationship with their child.

Some Scottish parents are even considering taking extreme action to minimise the strain of the morning routine, with 19% admitting to being tempted to homeschool their child permanently to avoid it altogether.

Despite the pressure of getting children ready to leave the house in the morning, the research found that the journey itself is more positive. The majority (69%) of parents agree that the journey to school is an opportunity to spend quality time with their child and three quarters (76%) say their child enjoys the journey to school.

The results also suggest that the way families spend their morning has an impact on their experiences. Families who walk to school together are most likely to enjoy the journey, whilst those who eat breakfast together are 39% more likely to have a positive morning.

Lars B Andersen, Managing Director of MyNametags.com, comments: “At My Nametags, our work is centred around making parents’ lives easier, so we’re always interested to explore the pressures facing modern families. As a parent myself, I know first-hand how the school run can impact family dynamics, both positively and negatively.

“It’s saddening to see that so many families struggle with the pressure of the morning routine. However, our research shows that parents are not alone in feeling stressed or overwhelmed – I can definitely relate to that and so can many other parents across the country.

“It’s also heartening to see that the precious time parents get to spend with their children during the journey to school is generally a positive experience, offering an opportunity for families to reconnect after a hectic start to the day.

“I hope the research brings comfort to parents across the UK and reminds them that, whatever their morning routine, we’re all in it together.”

Find out more about the impact of the morning routine on family dynamics.

Healthy Heart Tip: Healthy Bank Holiday

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

Healthy Heart Tip: Healthy Bank Holiday

Breakfast

Always start the day with a good breakfast as this sets the tone for the day and encourages you to choose healthy options at other mealtimes.

Consuming a breakfast rich in protein will help keep you fuller for longer and a portion of wholegrain carbohydrate will give you the energy you need to power your morning.

Why not try scrambled egg and avocado on wholegrain toast or fresh fruit with low-fat yoghurt and low-sugar granola?

Choose healthier drinks

Consuming too much alcohol can have a negative impact on your heart, but the good news is there are so many healthier and delicious, alcohol-free drinks available nowadays.

A simple soda water with fresh lemon is delightful, or you could try a gut-loving kombucha or simply choose alcohol free versions of the alcoholic beverages you usually consume. These drinks generally contain fewer calories than normal soft drinks and alcoholic tipples and won’t leave you with a fuzzy head the following day.

Drop the guilt

Bank holidays are usually a time when families and friends meet up to enjoy some quality time together. Often this includes an abundance of less healthy food and drink options to tempt us.

Avoid over-indulging, by giving yourself permission to enjoy a moderate amount of food and drinks that are higher in sugar, salt, fat or alcohol, and enjoy it without feeling guilty.

If you are planning a BBQ this weekend, you might want to check out our Healthy Tip on BBQs. 

For more tips on how to stay healthy, sign up for weekly healthy tips at:

www.heartresearch.org.uk/health-tips.

Organisers CICV celebrate another successful Green Home Festival

Clearer messaging is needed to help the public and ‘myth-bust’ the journey to net zero

Scotland’s second Green Home Festival has been hailed another resounding success – but its organisers have also insisted that government and industry must work closer together to deliver clearer guidance and “myth-bust” the misinformation around low-carbon living.

More than 500delegates signed up for the five-day renewables jamboree organised by the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV), enjoying a week of practical assistance and advice to help homeowners on Scotland’s journey to becoming a net zero nation.

The festival, held from 14-18 August as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, saw packed houses for 11 shows on a range of renewables topics, including preparing for a heat pump, taking a fabric first approach and converting churches into low-carbon social housing.

Co-organiser Gordon Nelson, Scotland Director of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “The Green Home Festival again served as a clear demonstration of the public’s growing demand and enthusiasm for sustainable technologies and it was extremely satisfying to see full houses for most of our events.

“It was particularly encouraging to see so many homeowners and community groups attending, engaging and asking questions, and good to see senior industry representatives sharing ideas to help spread the message that low-carbon living is possible if we want it.

“Such enthusiasm shows that there IS appetite for information on green living across the board from all quarters and it’s important we now keep up this dialogue and continue the momentum – we simply can’t afford to stand still.”

However, co-organiser Fiona Hodgson, CEO of plumbing and heating association SNIPEF, warned: “Discussions at the festival showed that there is still a significant degree of confusion and misinformation around the costs and benefits of low-carbon technologies, much of which hinders people from making informed decisions about sustainable living. 

“It’s therefore vital for the government and the construction and energy sectors to work collaboratively to create a more consistent and cohesive messaging strategy to counter and myth-bust this misinformation.

“By showcasing the benefits of sustainable living and explaining the significance of the low-carbon transition, we can help engage and inform the public, fostering a more sustainable future for all. It is time to leverage the momentum from the Green Home Festival to create lasting, impactful change – something we at the CICV intend to carry forward.”

The festival was launched on Monday 14 August by Minister for Housing Paul McLennan, who told guests: “Events such as the Green Home Festival can play a huge part in increasing understanding of the changes we need to see in our building stock and of zero emissions heating systems in Scotland.”

Scotland’s Home of the Year judge Anna Campbell-Jones also took centre stage on the opening day to discuss how to make kitchens more eco-friendly, with contributions from Scottish Water, SNIPEF and Scotland’s largest construction trade association, SELECT.

Other sessions which drew crowds to the Scottish HQ of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in central Edinburgh included shows on garden rooms and offices, options for hybrid heating, community heat networks and powering the home of the future.

As well as CICV members, guest speakers included representatives from Built Environment – Smarter Transformation, Home Energy Scotland, Page\Park architects, the University of Edinburgh, Worcester Bosch and Edinburgh Napier University.

John McKinney, co-organiser of the Green Home Festival and Secretary of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors, said: “In addition to offering the public practical advice, the festival reinforced the importance of seeking out the right industry professionals and accredited contractors who are members of relevant trade associations.

“We were keen to get across the message that competent, trusted tradesmen will deliver quality advice and projects – be it for a greener kitchen, a new heating system or a garden office – which was received well by delegates throughout the week.”

Organisers have now made many of the festival presentations available to download online, with the webinar free to watch again online as the CICV continues to gather feedback and draft plans for the 2024 event.

Alan Wilson, Managing Director of SELECT and Chair of the CICV, said: “The second Green Home Festival built on the firm foundations laid down last year to deliver a wider variety of shows to even bigger and more enthusiastic audiences.

“We are grateful to Mr McLennan and Anna Campbell-Jones for attending, showing their commitment and helping raise the profile of renewable technology and low-carbon living. We now hope to harness this enthusiasm and make the 2024 event even more of a success.”

The festival is the latest in a string of practical and constructive initiatives launched by the CICV since its creation at the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

Made up of 28 trade associations, professional services bodies and companies, it has maintained a steady supply of information and practical advice to the sector as well as carrying out surveys, producing animations and posters, hosting webinars and maintaining close dialogue with government.

Holyrood’s Finance Committee to hear from North Coast people about Scotland’s Budget challenges

MSPs from the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee will visit Largs next week (Wednesday 30 August) to hear from local people about Scotland’s Budget challenges.

The visit is part of a parliamentary inquiry into the sustainability of Scotland’s finances.

It follows the Scottish Government’s forecast that public spending in Scotland is set to outstrip income expected by £1 billion in 2024/25, rising to £1.9 billion in 2027-28.

This means the government is forecasting that it will not have sufficient money to fund the spending it currently wishes to make.

The politicians are meeting with local people, organisations and businesses to hear their views on what the Scottish Government’s priorities should be in its 2024-25 budget.

Their views will help inform the committee’s scrutiny of the government’s budget in the autumn.

Finance and Public Administration Committee Convener Kenneth Gibson MSP said: “The focus of our work this year is how the budget for 2024-25 and beyond will ensure Scotland’s finances are sustainable in both the short and longer-term.

“It is an incredibly important subject matter given the forecast budget pressures and longer-term demographic challenges in Scotland.

“Coming to Largs and talking to North Coast people – including businesses, third sector bodies and residents – will enable us to hear different views of the impact of the Scottish Government’s tax and spending decisions.

“And that matters because the budget and the long-term sustainability of Scotland’s finances will affect everyone in the country.

“I am delighted that we will also meet the following day in Seamill to discuss our committee’s work programme for the forthcoming parliamentary year.”

Participants will be asked to give views on:

  • what should the Scottish Government’s priorities be for its budget in 2024-25, given the challenges that Scotland faces next year, and in the years ahead? 

Police appeal following fatal crash on Stevenson Drive

POLICE are appealing for information following a fatal crash in Edinburgh.

Emergency services were called to Stevenson Drive in the Balgreen area around 3.30pm yesterday (Saturday, 26 August, 2023) after a crash involving a car and a 70-year-old female pedestrian.

The pedestrian was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where she died a short time later.

The 23-year-old driver of the car, a black Mercedes C-Class, was arrested in connection with a road traffic offence.

The road was closed while crash investigations were carried out and reopened around 9.50pm.

Officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Police Sergeant Jill Kirkpatrick said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman who died at this very difficult time. We will continue to support them as our enquiries progress.

“I’m appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time and saw what happened to get in touch. Drivers with dashcam footage of Stevenson Drive in the time leading up to the crash are urged to review it and bring anything of significance to our attention.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 quoting reference 2403 of 26 August, 2023.

Read more – https://ow.ly/Xn9450PEKhE

Tomorrow: Knit & Natter!

We’re so pleased to welcome our lovely ladies back for another term of Knit and Natter!

If you’re interested in learning a new skill or want to work on your own craft project in a relaxed space and enjoy chatting with other women, why not drop-in and give it a go?

Hope to see you tomorrow!

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#community#learn

#give

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