Steps to address depopulation and help future-proof communities
A wide-ranging plan to strengthen communities facing population decline, including funding for local-led research, initiatives, and community support has been published.
Projections show that Scotland’s population is set to fall from 2033, with fourteen local authority areas projected to experience population decline over the next decade. The Addressing Depopulation Action Plan will set out the Scottish Government’s strategy to support people to live, work and raise families in the places affected – many of which are rural and island areas.
A £180,000 Addressing Depopulation Fund will initially help three acutely affected local authorities trial ways of retaining and attracting people to their communities. The projects to receive funds will be announced later this year.
Part-funding has been provided this financial year by the Scottish Government for Community Settlement Officers in Argyll & Bute, Highland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, enabling them to continue supporting people living in or moving to those areas. Part-funding for these roles has also been put forward for the next financial year, as well as support for a Community Settlement Officer to be established in Inverclyde.
Dumfries and Galloway Council will receive £30,000 to research the causes of local population decline, to inform the development of future policy interventions.
Launching the plan at the Nevis Centre in Fort William, Migration Minister Emma Roddick said: “The factors that lead to depopulation are complex and interdependent, and every place is affected differently.
“This plan cuts right across government – in policy areas including housing, healthcare, transport and education – to help deliver solutions that address the needs of individual areas.
“Local leaders, councils and organisations are the people who know their communities best – that’s why this plan commits to channelling community expertise and backing a range of local-led initiatives. This will not only benefit the places leading these projects, but could also generate learnings that can be applied elsewhere.
“Bringing together new actions with a programme of ongoing government work, these steps will underpin our work to ensure every place in Scotland is equipped with the population it needs to thrive into the future.”
15,000 loans have now been delivered to support small business owners aged 18-24 since 2012.
Access to finance and advice is available as part of the Help to Grow Scheme to drive government’s ambition to make the UK the best place to start and scale a small business.
15,000 Start Up Loans worth over £100 million have now been issued to young business founders aged 18-24 since 2012.
The Start Up Loan Scheme is government backed finance delivered through British Business Bank, which has delivered over £1 billion in loans to SMEs across the country since the scheme launched in 2012.
The scheme provides invaluable support to young entrepreneurs who are looking to set up a small business – a group which often struggles to get business finance from other sources – and offers an effective pathway into employment, with almost a third of recipients aged 18-24 leaving unemployment thanks to this scheme.
Of all the loans distributed to entrepreneurs under 25, 39% have also gone to female business owners and 24% to business owners from ethnic minority backgrounds. Outside of London, the North West has received the highest volume of loans (1,992), followed by West Midlands (1,591) and the South East (1,291). London has received 3,099 loans in total since 2012.
Among those to receive one of these loans, the most popular industries to launch a business in include retail (£8.5m), hospitality (£5.8m) and arts and entertainment (£2.5m).
Access to finance is a key part of the refreshed Help to Grow Campaign, a one-stop shop for SMEs to find the information they need to start, scale up and grow their own business. The new site brings together the support on offer from the government into one place, making it quicker and more convenient to find the resources business leaders and budding entrepreneurs need to succeed.
Starting a business for the first time, particularly for younger entrepreneurs can be a daunting process. That’s why the government has also – for the first time ever – created a step-by-step guide on how to set up and grow a business in the UK as part of the Help to Grow website.
Small Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “Every large firm started off as a small business and today’s aspiring young entrepreneurs could be the next success story. I urge them to explore how a Start Up Loan could launch their ambitions today.
“Through the British Business Bank, and the Help to Grow campaign, we’ve backed the next generation of business leaders with over £100 million in government backed finance and we’re not stopping there.”
The single biggest way we’re backing businesses is by creating the economic conditions for them to thrive, which is why the government is working hard to deliver on our priorities to halve inflation, grow the economy and cut debt. We’ve made significant progress and it’s clear the economy is turning a corner.
The government is also tackling a key issue affecting small firms – late payments. We are determined to make the UK the best place in the world to do business, which is why Minister Hollinrake launched the Prompt Payment and Cash Flow Review in 2023. Since the report was unveiled, we are looking at how to prosecute large firms who persistently and knowingly fail to adhere to the Payment Practice Reporting Regulations.
We’re also backing businesses through our £4.3 billion package to support SMEs with business rates, the Small Business Rates relief taking a third of properties out of paying rates completely, and extending the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief for a fifth year, we are helping businesses navigate challenging economic times.
Business owner Cory Hibbin, aged 20, is one of the recipients of a Start Up Loan. He took out a £14,500 loan in March 2023 to launch Techie Services. The company, based in Hastings, offers security solutions for residential clients, estates and corporate buildings, including CCTV, alarm systems and network management.
Cory doesn’t live with family or have any financial support from them so his aspiration of setting up Techie Services would not have been possible without the help of the bank’s funding.
He left school at 16 and started an apprenticeship as an IT engineer at a consultancy firm. After developing his skills, he started offering surveillance services on the side of this day job. The client was so impressed that they asked him to work for them full-time.
Cory, founder of Techie Services, said: “I’m not the sort of person who can take on learning from behind a desk so I left school at 16 to do an apprenticeship with a local IT consultancy company.
“While working there, I was working on the side in the evenings and at the weekends. Having been there for four years, I felt like I had gained enough experience to start my own company, which is when Techie Services began.
“I started with one large client, who quickly recommended me to other businesses and individuals, so I took on five new clients in our first six weeks.
I”t hasn’t been easy but it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. The money from Start Up Loans was invaluable in the success of the business – I used it to buy tools for installations as well as supplies for the office.
“While it might seem a big leap of faith to some people, you can’t let the fear of failure stop you from trying in the first place. I urge anyone 18 or above to look into the finance options available to them if they need a hand getting off the ground.”
Richard Bearman, Managing Director, Small Business Lending, British Business Bank said: “It’s amazing to see people in their late teens and early twenties with such ‘can-do’ attitudes and motivation to achieve success in working life.
“Our £100 million funding milestone is a significant landmark and testament to the hard work of Start Up Loans, ensuring anyone with a good business idea like Cory’s, no matter their age, has the access to the funding needed to bring it to life.
“The impact of this on communities across the UK has been huge and we’re determined to keep backing aspirational young people with money and mentoring.”
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK
Healthy Heart Tip: Benefits of physical activity on heart health
Physical inactivity is one of the main risk factors for heart diseases and is associated with a 24% higher risk of coronary heart disease.
In the UK, it is recommended that adults partake in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week plus two sessions of resistance training.
Over six in 10 adults meet this guideline, if one of these is not you, then why not? Your heart is a muscle too!
This muscular organ also needs to be worked out and increasing the amount of physical activity you do is one of the best things for your heart health. In this healthy tip, we share some benefits of physical activity.
What is physical activity?
Physical activity is any form of movement produced by your muscles that uses energy. A few examples include walking, running, dancing, swimming, and gardening.
Heart health benefits
Partaking in physical activity strengthens your heart muscle and decreases your blood pressure. Regular physical activity can improve your blood sugar control and reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a major cardiovascular risk factor.
Changes in your cholesterol levels will become apparent, with your LDL (bad cholesterol) levels becoming lower and HDL (good cholesterol) levels rising.
Ultimately, physical activity is essential for a healthy heart. It strengthens your heart, reduces your chances of developing heart diseases and increases your lifespan.
Other health benefits
Physical activity benefits both your physical and mental health. If these are in good health, it is likely that your heart is too.
Partaking in regular physical activity will help you build cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and improve your flexibility and balance.
You may find that you have more energy after carrying out physical activity due to the rise in your endorphins, this also helps to improve your mood.
Other benefits include improvements in your sleep quality and duration, improvements in anxiety and depression as well as a reduction in the amount of stress hormones in your body.
These additional health benefits all directly or indirectly help your heart too.
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has released global export figures that show the value of Scotch exports topped £5.6bn in 2023. The equivalent of 1.35bn 70cl bottles of Scotch Whisky were exported last year, equating to 43 per second.
The figures, released yesterday, show a decrease on 2022 exports for both volume and value, which the industry says was a “bumper” year for exports as global markets reopened and restocked following the pandemic, as well as the full reopening of global travel retail.
The 2023 figures represent a more normalised depiction of the current state of global exports, with robust growth on pre-pandemic numbers.
Exports of Scotch Whisky have risen by 14% in value compared to 2019, with a 3% increase in volume. However, whisky bosses have also warned that 2023 posed “significant” challenges for the sector both at home and in a number of key markets, warning that maintaining these numbers without more concrete government support in the coming year could hamper longer term growth.
As in 2022, Asia-Pacific continued to dominate as Scotch Whisky’s largest regional market by value in 2023, supported record value exports to China, a market up 165% on 2019, and value uplifts Singapore (19%) and Taiwan (8%). Premiumisation of Scotch Whisky remains a driver in these key markets: single malt Scotch Whisky continued to rise in popularity among a growing cohort of consumers, with double digit growth in China and Singapore on 2022.
Europe remained a key export region for Scotch Whisky for both volume and value, with France once again becoming the industry’s largest volume market – a position briefly held by India in 2022.
Exports to India fell in volume and value compared to 2022, the fall coming against a backdrop of ongoing UK-India FTA talks and the Scotch Whisky industry’s calls for a trade agreement which lowers the 150% tariff on Scotch imports into India, which would lead to significant export growth to the market.
The United States, which has long been Scotch Whisky’s biggest market by value, saw a sector-wide fall in exports of 7% compared to 2022, and 8.5% on 2019, to £978m. Industry figures say that these numbers are reflective of global economic conditions and rising living costs for consumers in the US, which remains a dynamic, competitive market for whisky, and the wider spirits category.
Last year saw companies manage stock levels within market following restocking in 2022, and the industry expects the short-term export dip to realign over the course of 2024. However, the SWA has also warned that 2024 marks a halfway point for the five year removal of tariffs on single malt Scotch Whisky which were imposed in 2019, and has urged the UK government to press for longer-term tariff-free trade for Scotch in its talks with the US administration.
The export figures come a month on from the industry’s latest economic impact report, which showed that the contribution of the Scotch Whisky sector to the UK economy has reached £7.1bn annually, supporting 66,000 jobs across the UK.
Mark Kent, Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association said: “Scotch Whisky has once again shown its export strength despite significant challenges across a volatile global trading environment.
“The figures demonstrate that Scotch Whisky brands and distilleries are investing in their teams, their tourism offering, their long-term sustainability and their global presence to ensure that Scotch continues to be the world’s favourite whisky.
“We know that the Scotch Whisky industry is remarkably resilient as we look at these numbers against the backdrop of rising costs for consumers and businesses, but the figures are a reminder once again that the Scotch Whisky success story cannot be taken for granted.
“We need to see more tangible support from government both at home and in our priority markets in order to continue to grow our export numbers, and the resultant investment, employment and economic benefits that come with that.
“A cut to spirits duty in the Spring Budget would be a step in the right direction, giving the industry platform at home to push forward with international growth. Government must also do away with any notion of restricting the marketing of Scotch Whisky in Scotland, which would have a significant and lasting impact on the industry’s ability to generate future growth.”
UK Government Minister for Exports Lord Offord said: “Scotch Whisky is a major UK exporting success story contributing billions of pounds to the economy and supporting thousands of jobs.
“We want the UK to be an export-led economy and reach a trillion pounds of exports a year by 2030. It’s fantastic to see whisky exports in 2023 continuing to outperform pre-pandemic levels as businesses take advantage of our free trade deals and expand into new markets around the world.”
Research from YouGov shows that soft fruits make up four of the top five most popular fruits in the UK.1 Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is encouraging gardeners of all ages and skill levels to get one of their 5 a day by learning how to grow soft fruits at one of its free workshops in March.
Grow How will take place on Saturday 2 March at 10.30am, providing both aspiring and seasoned gardeners with an interactive setting to gain valuable insights from Dobbies’ gardening experts at its Edinburgh store.
The Little Seedlings Club, tailored for children between the ages of 4 and 10, will be held on the morning of Sunday 3 March.
Dobbies’ Grow How session will be a live 10-to-15-minute demonstration, showing Edinburgh residents how to make the most of their outdoor and patio space by growing soft fruits.
The session will cover what a soft fruit is and the different types, including strawberries, blueberries and blackberries.
Dobbies’ experts will guide gardeners through the process of growing soft fruits, from prepping the garden with the right soil before planting, to caring for the young plants and harvesting the fruits when ripe.
Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Club session will also focus on soft fruits, with children in Edinburgh learning about fruit in general and getting the opportunity to participate in a strawberry growing activity, putting their newly acquired knowledge into practice.
Zoe Stanmore, Dobbies’ Horticultural Expert, explains that soft fruits are easy for gardeners of all abilities to grow. She said: “Soft fruits come in so many delicious varieties, and they can be grown in compact pots, so you don’t need a big space to start growing your own.
“It’s not essential to have a large outdoor space – a pot in a well-lit space is ideal. Fertilise your soil correctly, and if you water and prune as and when needed, you can expect a good harvest.
“The Grow How session will also allow for customers to visit our Edinburgh store and share any challenges they’ve had with growing their own, to get advice and feedback from our team.”
For additional information on free March sessions at Dobbies’ Edinburgh store, visit www.dobbies.com/events.
Continuing the cultural dialogue fostered by the UK/Ukraine Season of Culture, the British Council, in collaboration with the Ukrainian Institute, launches the UK/UA Creative Partnerships Programme for 2024.
The initiative aims to deepen connections between arts organisations in Ukraine and the UK.
Three exciting projects are set to unfold in Scotland as part of this program that will see Ukrainian creatives working in collaboration with artists and established arts organisations here through music, literature, performance, film, animation, and visual art.
In 2023, a successful pilot project saw five Ukrainian artists participating in residencies in Scotland. This bespoke program allowed the artists a reprieve from turmoil and an opportunity to reflect on their artistic practices and the future for the Ukrainian art sector.
We visited the residencies across Scotland, through the Future Reimagined programme. The stories feature the artists at Cove Park, Hospitalfield, Moniack Mhor, and Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop.
Norah Campbell, Head of Arts at British Council Scotland, emphasises the potential of the new UK/Ukraine Scottish projects, saying: “It’s hugely important at this time to allow creatives the space to come together, connect, and spark ideas for the future.
“Over the last two years, we’ve worked with our counterparts and colleagues here in Scotland and Ukraine to build a long-term, supportive connections and it’s fantastic to see projects blossom across the UK with the new creative partnerships programme”.
Lucy Byatt, Director at Hospitalfield who will host a further residency and events project around the theme of Grain this year added: “We’re looking forward to welcoming artists Diana Khalilova and Oleksandr Neselenko at Hospitalfield later this year and continuing our collaboration with curator Kateryna Rusetska from Kultura Medialna.
“Our shared theme of agriculture is important for communities in Ukraine, here in Scotland, and the whole globe. It’s wonderful to see artists connect with colleagues and the local community here in Arbroath.
“I’ve no doubt that this key part of our international programme will sustain networks and relationships in Scotland and the UK for the longer term.”
Projects in Scotland include:
Dnipro-Glasgow Residency: A collaboration between Glasgow Based Art Festival Cryptic and the Dnipro International Festival of Audiovisual Art and New Media Construction, will see a unique three-week residency for a Ukrainian sound artist at Cove Park International Residency Centre in March-April, culminating in a performance at the Sonica Festival in September.
Hospitalfield Collaboration: Agriculture, the countryside, and surrounding political issues will be key themes for a public project and residency programme at Hospitalfield this summer, with Ukrainian artists Diana Khalilova and Oleksandr Neselenko in collaboration with Dnipro-based organisation Kultura Medialna and FEAST Journal. Diana Khalilova will develop a new iteration of her performance project “Public Kitchen” in conversation with the people and context of Arbroath and Angus, while Olesandr Neselenko will continue his research and artistic practice on the impact of the war on the agricultural sector.
New Voices from Ukraine and Scotland: A hybrid program of online events and a two-week residency at Moniack Mhor Writers’ Centre, fostering cooperation between emerging authors from Ukraine and Scotland, facilitated by PEN Ukraine, StAnza Poetry Festival, and Moniack Mhor.
The Scottish projects were named alongside 11 other partnerships between arts organisations in Ukraine and the UK.
Musselburgh Racecourse’s next raceday will raise funds for a charity set up in memory of young farmer George Crawford.
The Farmers Raceday on Sunday (18 Feb) is run in partnership with The George Crawford Trust which helps young people from all walks of life and all abilities to reach their full potential.
George, the late son of Melrose farmers Cameron and Mary Crawford, had a glass-half-full attitude to life and was described as a “natural leader” when he passed away aged only 20 following a road accident in 2018.
The East Lothian course has also partnered with The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Club (SAYFC) and is set to welcome young farmers from across the country for the seven-card £54,000 fixture.
Feature race of the day is the £10,000 Join Tote.co.uk the cream of the crop handicap hurdle (2.45pm) which is followed by the Watch Racing TV Now handicap chase (3.20pm) also worth £10,000. Gates open at noon and the first race is at 1.45pm.
SAYFC members can take advantage of a Young Farmers admission package costing only £15 if booked in advance and £2 from each ticket will be donated to The George Crawford Trust.
Musselburgh Racecourse Head of Marketing, Aisling Johston, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming all our racegoers, including Young Farmers and all farmers alike.
“In addition to the exciting action on track, we will have music throughout the day as well as an after-racing party, so this is the perfect opportunity to mingle and have fun with fellow SAYFC members.”
Retail trade union Usdaw has a delegation of members, reps and officials attending the annual Scottish Labour Conference in Glasgow, Friday 16 to Sunday 18 February. The union is part of a composite on child poverty.
Tracy Gilbert, Usdaw Regional Secretary for Scotland says:“One in four children in Scotland are living in poverty, which is inextricably linked to in-work poverty. It is appalling that Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner has deemed the SNP Government to have ‘absolutely failed’ to deliver for young people.
“While we welcome the Scottish Child Payment, the rising cost of living means the payment is falling in value and more direct support is needed to meet child poverty targets. The lack of appropriate childcare, and the childcare costs families continue to face, lock children in poverty despite improvements in funded childcare in recent years.
“Research shows that families with children make up around half of the families experiencing in-work poverty across Scotland. So, tackling the issue of in-work poverty is critical to ensuring that every child has the best possible start in life and the opportunity to thrive.”
The composite motion to conference calls on Scottish Labour to:
· Prioritise the eradication of child poverty.
· Urgently work with trade unions and the Child Poverty Commission to bring forward a comprehensive plan to eradicate child poverty.
· Increase cash payments to families through mechanisms such as raising the minimum wage.
· Provide safe and affordable housing.
· Address the lack of appropriate, affordable and accessible childcare that families face to help break the cycle of child poverty.
· Introduce meaningful support to address the most urgent priorities facing working people as a result of the cost of living crisis.
Special offers revealed for 40 City Centre restaurants and bars taking part in the festival
Eat Out Edinburgh, the highly-anticipated restaurant festival taking over Edinburgh’s city centre next month, has now released a full list of venues taking part in the campaign, with incredible deals from the most exciting restaurants from Princes Street and Charlotte Square to St James Quarter throughout the entirety of March.
Amazing set menus, special offers and events are now available to browse from each of the 40 venues involved on Eat Out Edinburgh’s website with guests able to book now for dates from the 1st to 31st of March.
The past year has seen an influx of new bars and restaurants to the capital, bringing a variety of new dining experiences to explore during Eat Out Edinburgh’s run, including:
– Willow Tea Rooms: The new traditional afternoon tea spot is opening later this month in the former Starbucks unit with stunning castle views on Princes Street and will be offering a traditional afternoon tea throughout March for £17.95 per person, excluding March 10th.
– RIO Brazilian Steakhouse: The newly opened Rodizio style steakhouse within the Assembly Rooms will be offering their unique menu including unlimited salad bar access and meats served tableside at £34.95 for dinner and £19.95 for lunch.
– The Alchemist George Street: The creative cocktail bar and restaurant’s newest venue on George Street has curated a special menu offering two courses for £20 and three courses for £35.
– Fat Hippo: The new restaurant known for its extensive menu of juicy, decadent burgers has created a menu with a starter, main, and a sidefor £15 from Monday to Thursday throughout the month.
Offers vary from venue to venue, with each location bringing its own unique value with something to appeal to everyone, from celebrating Mother’s Day with a brunch at Duck & Waffle with £29 for 3 Courses or a lesson in mixology with a cocktail masterclass for £25 at the Hard Rock Café.
Eat Out Edinburgh brings friends, family, and colleagues together from across the Lothians for the chance to explore new cuisines and try special occasion restaurants for an accessible price while supporting the city’s vibrant hospitality sector.
Run by Essential Edinburgh, the campaign taking place throughout the capital’s dedicated Business Improvement District (BID) returns this year for double the time after a successful two-week run in 2023.
Emily Campbell Johnston, Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications, Essential Edinburgh, said: “The venues taking part in this year’s Eat Out Edinburgh have gone above and beyond to create really exciting offers for guests that will let Edinburgh locals, visitors and workers in the city centre experience some of the city’s best cuisine at an accessible price.
“The scope of this year’s campaign brings more venues than ever over a longer period of time for a massive celebration of Edinburgh’s unmatched food scene right in time for the Spring season to bring a renewed energy to the city.”
Businesses Participating in Eat Out Edinburgh 2024
Angel’s Share
Auld Hundred
BABA
Badger & Co
Bonnie & Wild
Boozy Cow
Bread Street Kitchen
Cadiz
Café Andaluz
Contini George Street
Copper Blossom
Dean Banks at The Pompadour
Duck & Waffle
Element
Fat Hippo
Fazenda
Gaucho
Grazing by Mark Greenaway at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian
Gusto
Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh
Harvey Nichols Forth Floor
Haute Dolci
Hawksmoor
Huxley
Indian Lounge
Ka Pao
Lady Libertine
Le Monde
Maki & Ramen St James Quarter
Malmaison
Queens Arms
Rabble
Rio Brazilian Steakhouse
Tattu
TGI Fridays Edinburgh Castle Street
The Alchemist – George Street & St James Quarter
The Register Club
The Scottish Café And Restaurant
The Voodoo Rooms
Tigerlily
Twenty Princes Street
Willow Tea Rooms
For more information on each venue, and to keep book, visit:
