Cinnabon, the makers of the world’s most famous icing covered cinnamon rolls, which started out it in Seattle in 1985 and is now in over 48 countries, is set to open its first site in Scotland in The Centre, Livingston this summer.
The American bakery specialises in freshly baked large and mini Bons, which come in a variety of flavours, including the original roll which is the Classic Cinnabon with Makara cinnamon and signature frosting, ChocoBon and Carmel PecanBon.
Visitors to The Centre, Livingston, which is one of the largest in Scotland with over 150 shops and eateries, will also be able to enjoy various drinks to accompany their Cinnabon sweet treats, including espressos and Chillatas milkshakes at the new kiosk which will be located in the heart of the shopping centre.
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “We are really looking forward to the arrival of Cinnabon, which is guaranteed to be a big hit with fans and those yet to try them out, and we are delighted to be the first site in Scotland to welcome them.
“This is a very exciting time for us at The Centre, Livingston with the recent opening of Rituals and Cinnabon coming soon, which are both great additions to our existing portfolio of fantastic places to shop and dine out.
“We are planning to announce the arrival of even more fantastic new brands to The Centre, Livingston which will really enhance the overall experience for our visitors.”
Local Edinburgh organisations receive transformational grants to expand community programmes in Lochend, Craigentinny and Restalrig.
The Ripple Project celebrated local community enterprise this weekend, distributing £10,000 of vital funding grants to support community initiatives.
Now in its third year, ‘LCR Stands Up’ is a participatory budgeting programme, which this year saw over 600 residents in the Lochend, Craigentinny and Restalrig area vote to back 6 local projects, who each received a grant of up to £2,000 each.
The grants are funded by several private donors, including Harbour Homes, who are the owners of The Ripple’s community hub in Restalrig.
This year’s chosen projects are ‘Lochend Boxing Club’, ‘Tai Chi and Tea @ Craigentinny Garden’, ‘Just Dance at Disneyland’, ‘Investing in Youth Drama’, ‘The Botanical Mural at Craigentinny Primary School’ and ‘Mindfulness for Wellbeing’.
‘LCR Stands Up’ is led by Tristan Green (above), Community Action Worker at The Ripple, who commented: ‘One of the key benefits of participatory budgeting is that our local residents have democratically chosen who receives this additional funding to enhance our community.
‘We’re proud that over the last 3 years we’ve been able to support initiatives with almost £50,000 of funding. This year’s grants will be used across a spectrum of initiatives, including those supporting greater mental health, the creation of a new mural at a local primary school, the upgrade of fitness equipment at the local boxing gym and helping 20 children go to Disneyland Paris to take part in a performing arts programme.
‘I’d like to thank all of our amazing donors and to SCDC for their continued support of The Ripple and the LCR Stands Up programme and to our local community in North East Edinburgh for their dedication in offering vital voluntary initiatives to support and enhance the lives of residents in such a challenging financial and social climate’.
For anyone looking to find out more about how to get involved in participatory budgeting or support future ‘LCR Stands Up’ campaigns, contact Tristan at Tristan.green@theripple.org.uk or visit www.rippleproject.co.uk.
Cameron Hutchison, 13, is taking on the gruelling challenge to raise money for Mary’s Meals
A young teenager from Edinburgh is aiming to cycle the West Highland Way in just 24 hours for charity later this month.
Cameron Hutchison, 13, and his dad, Colin, 55, are taking on the challenge on mountain bikes for international school feeding charity Mary’s Meals, in the last week of June.
Mary’s Meals, founded in a shed in the Scottish Highlands, provides a daily school meal to more than 2.4 million children in 17 of the world’s poorest countries including Haiti, Malawi and Syria. The promise of a nutritious meal encourages children to the classroom where education is key to a brighter future.
Cameron plans to support the charity by cycling the 96-mile (154 km) route from Milngavie to the foot of Ben Nevis in Fort William, with 4,312 m (12,143 ft) of ascent along the way, non-stop.
Kind-hearted Cameron says: “I really enjoy riding my bike and I love that Mary’s Meals supports the world’s poorest children. Doing something for charity always makes me feel better but also reminds me of how fortunate I am.
“Hikers normally take between four and seven days to complete the trail or three to four days to complete it by bike. I’ll be aiming to cycle the whole route in just one day. My little legs are going to be working hard!”
Throughout June, Mary’s Meals is running its annual active challenge, From Dalmally To Malawi. By signing up to the challenge, participants will take part in a virtual journey from Dalmally, the village in the Highlands of Scotland where Mary’s Meals was founded – only 12 miles away to the closest point on the West Highland Way – to Malawi, where the charity served its first life-changing school meals.
People can take part in From Dalmally To Malawi in any way they choose, whether walking, running, swimming or cycling, like Cameron. The money raised through sponsorship from family and friends will help to feed hungry children living in the world’s poorest countries.
The charity hopes people will be inspired by Cameron to add their miles for From Dalmally To Malawi, this month.
Dan McNally, Head of Grassroots Engagement at Mary’s Meals, says: “What an inspiration young Cameron is! Not only is he attempting a really tough challenge, but he’s also raising money to better the lives of hungry children. No matter how he finds the West Highland Way, Cameron can hold his head high thanks to his fantastic fundraising.
“We’re not asking you to take on such a difficult challenge, why not get active for Mary’s Meals this month too? Whichever way you want to move, if you sign up for From Dalmally To Malawi, your miles will help us reach our cumulative team goal!”
To sign up for From Dalmally To Malawi, please visit:
There’s something for everyone this summer at the National Galleries of Scotland, with lots of free events in Edinburgh across the National, Portrait and Modern to discover.
Dive deeper into the Galleries exhibitions with ticketed tours from the experts. Explore the fascinating stories behind the art with tours and talks. Be swept away with magical music performances in the Portrait and National. Bring the whole family along for fun accessible events or try your hand at creating your own art in the joyous Drawing Room workshops.
Visitors can get an insight into the exhibitions, acquisitions and collections with captivating talks from National Galleries of Scotland’s curators and guest speakers in person at the National and streamed free online.
Older kids Friday after school art session at The National Galleries of Scotland.
Delve into the wondrous imagination and spectacular installations of leading contemporary artist Do Ho Suh with guest speakers Amie Corry, Director of Publications for Do Ho Suh and independent curator Fatoş Üstek.
Be whisked away to the sun, sea and society of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in a special opening talk for An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location with Professor Kenneth McConkey. For those fascinated by Scottish history, join Jim Phillips, Professor of Economic and Social History at the University of Glasgow and author of Scottish Coal Miners in the Twentieth Century.
Looking at the Before and After Coal exhibition, he will explore the meaning and relevance of the strike 40 years on. Uncover the new works in Scotland’s national collection with a special look at the rare Encounter by Remedios Varo 1959, the first oil painting by the artist to enter a public collection in the UK.
Be immersed in magical free live music events all while soaking up the beautiful art and surroundings of the Portrait and National gallery. With performances from Live Music Now musicians, including clarinet quartet The Four Keys, Mexican guitarist Morgan Szymanski joins Scottish violinist Roo Geddes and Mexican singer-songwriter Lavinia Negrete.
In July, celebrate American Independence Day with the Phoenix Duo. Edinburgh-based Sangstream Folk Choir perform a programme of songs about the challenging lives which miners and their families have faced over the centuries inspired by the Before and After Coal exhibition.
Older kids Friday after school art session at The National Galleries of Scotland.
Experience the galleries with a tour guide and learn the fascinating history and stories behind the art. Get to know the artworks and themes in the new Scottish galleries at the National in the Scottish Art in Focus tours which take place every month on Saturday afternoon.
Learn more about the changing landscape of Edinburgh and Scotland and the people who made it all happen. For those wanting a more detailed look into Edinburgh’s evolving cityscape and how it captivated the imagination of artists, join the Inside Out: Edinburgh Old and New walking tour.
Those taking a trip to the National Galleries of Scotland’s summer exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy, An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location, can join the Sunday Afternoon Tour on Sunday 28 July. The tour travels through the key themes from the extraordinary life of the Belfast-born artist, from Scotland to New York via Paris and Morocco.
Indulge your own creative energy with The Drawing Room workshops. Offering a unique space to playfully explore creativity and drawing, with absolutely no experience necessary to get involved in these hands-on making sessions. These joyous sessions bring fresh, relevant and accessible approaches to drawing from some of Scotland’s most exciting artists
Be inspired by the empowering world of Woman in Revolt! at Modern Two, with the workshop looking at how mark-making can also be conceived as sculpture, installation, video, writing, textiles and more.
For those unable to make it to the gallery there is the opportunity to get involved online via Zoom with The Drawing Room Kitchen Table. Exploring some favourite experimental drawing exercises and techniques, aimed at boosting drawing confidence.
There are free family activities for all ages and stages to enjoy, as well as accessible events for visitors with specific access needs. Weekly Family Friday events let your children’s imaginations run wild.
Older kids Friday after school art session at The National Galleries of Scotland.
With mornings dedicated to little ones expect interesting textures, lights, sounds and sensory art-fun. Later in the afternoon older kids can get involved in the trails, new play activities and, of course, hands-on making with artists. Sensory-Friendly Sundays for families with children with additional support needs, ensure a quiet, comfortable space is available at all times.
For adults, discover fascinating audio-described and deaf led British Sign Language tours for visitors with a visual impairment.
With events for exhibitions including Woman in Revolt!, Do Ho Suh and Vermeer. With the opportunity to meet other people, see artworks in the gallery and take part in creative activities. All with access to a comfortable quiet space.
The Royal Highland Show, running from June 20th – 23rd 2024, promises to offer an unforgettable experience with a wide array of trade stands featuring everything from artisanal crafts to cooking demonstrations and agricultural machinery. With over 800 exhibitors spread across the 110 acre site, it is set to surprise and delight show-goers with this year’s theme being ‘acres of epicness’.
For the foodies:
Stuffed full of food and drink, the show offers boundless opportunities to sample Scotland’s finest produce. There are also cookery demos on offer in the Food for Thought Cookery Theatre, with some of the country’s top chefs including Head Chef at The Globe Inn, Fraser Cameron, FutureChef Winner, Phoebe Lawson, and Head Chef at Benugo, Emma Clark-Szabo, to name a few. There will also be a huge choice of food vendors serving everything from haggis neeps and tatties to freshly prepared fish and chips and from lobster rolls to Greek gyros.
With Scottish staples such as Mrs Tilly’s, Mackies of Scotland, Innis and Gunn and Highland Park, there are options for those with a sweet tooth or looking for a tipple to tide them over. The world-renowned Johnnie Walker whisky will have a pop-up bar showcasing their vintage truck, ensuring the taste of Scotland’s quintessential whisky is shared with visitors. There will also be a Taproom Bar from Innis & Gunn.
For the shopaholic:
For the avid shoppers, a vast range of retail opportunities await, spread across numerous shopping villages, offering clothing, shoes, crafts, gifts, pet supplies, art, toys and a range of premium shopping outlets which can be found at the Countryside Village. Event attendees also might be surprised to find the Renewable Village, offering a variety of sustainable products and services including wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, tidal, biomass companies and more.
This year the Home and Gift Hall has had a layout revamp and now includes the Scottish Handcrafts Championships. There will be a number of notable clothing retailers available such as Beaumont & Bear, Elm of Burford and Lanx Shoes. Hoggs of Fife, known for its hand welted country footwear, will also be offering a 20% discount on all items for RHASS members.
For music lovers:
For those wearing their dancing shoes, the West Stage line-up is not to be missed. Performances to suit all music tastes from folk rock and swing to reggae and opera will take place in addition to daily ceilidh sessions.
Additionally, tickets are available to purchase for the Royal Highland Hoolie presented with Farmer’s Bash which is back with eight live folk and country music acts performing on the evenings of Friday 21 and Saturday 22 June. From viral sensation Nathan Evans, Scottish folk pioneers Tide Lines and the eclectic sounds of the Peatbog Faeries, the diverse range of sounds offers a little bit of something for everyone.
For families:
Experience a world of fun and creativity at the Royal Highland Show, where kids go free! Explore and discover activities linked to food, farming and the working countryside under one roof at the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) Discovery Centre. Circa Alba’s exciting mix of movement and circus skills, including juggling, parkour, capoeira, along with professional face painting and Annie the alpaca and her family from the Alpacas Trekking Centre, will let little imaginations soar. Dive into abstract art where kids can engage in animal-themed arts and crafts, creating personalised keepsakes to take home.
For the farmers:
The Royal Highland show offers farmers the chance to see some of the best livestock and machinery available up close and personal! As well as the latest labour, time and money-saving gadgets being on display at the RHASS Technical Innovation Awards.
The Scottish Association of Young Farmers (SAYFC) will also be present throughout the show, with visitors encouraged to stop by and experience what it means to be part of Scotland’s largest rural youth movement.
David Tennant, Head of Royal Highland Show, said:“This year’s Royal Highland Show is bigger and better than ever and it’s all thanks to the wide variety of exhibitors. The diverse array of trade stands is a true celebration of everything Scotland has to offer in agricultural heritage, artisan crafts and rural communities.
“We are on track for a sold-out show, so if you’d like to experience a mix of entertainment, sample Scotland’s wonderful larder and see the very best in livestock, from the traditional to the unexpected, it’s worth purchasing your tickets now. It’s not to be missed!”
Explore a wide variety of products and services at the Royal Highland Show. Mark your calendars for June 20-23, with limited tickets available please visit https://www.royalhighlandshow.org/ to book your spot.
Programmes for the show can be purchased from the Official Royal Highland Show Merchandise Shop opposite the Main Ring clock tower or from roving sellers throughout the site.
Please drink responsibly – UK Chief Medical Officers recommend men do not regularly exceed 3-4 units daily and women, 2-3 units daily.
Campaign to empower LGBTQ+ community to share their stories
Leading Scots charity calls for Edinburgh to share what Pride means to them
A Scottish charity is calling on members of the LGBTQ+ community to come forward and have their voices heard on what makes them proud to be a part of Pride.
The new campaign, #ProudBecause, launched by LGBT Youth Scotland, aims to gather unique stories and perspectives of what makes people proud as part of Pride celebrations.
Set to run in conjunction with the historical (Un)seen (Un)heard campaign, launched last summer, workshops will be held at five Pride events across the country, including Edinburgh Pride Youth Space on 22nd June.
Mhairi Crawford, Chief Executive of LGBT Youth Scotland, said: “After the inspiring stories we heard last year through the (Un)seen (Un)heard project, we’re eager to see even more people get involved this year with #ProudBecause.
“It’s vital that we make sure that voices of young people are heard within the LGBTQ+ community as they after often greatly underrepresented.
“This project will aim to give members of the LGBTQ+ community the chance to come forward and share what Pride means to them, this is a brilliant chance for them to share their stories.
“We’ve got a full calendar of workshops we are due to run this Pride and I can’t wait to see everybody out in full force celebrating what it is that makes them unique, it’s always a fantastic experience speaking to young people at Pride, and it gives me real hope for the future.”
Beyond physical events, LGBT Youth Scotland champions digital participation, offering an online platform where young people can contribute to the evolving (Un)seen (Un)heard archive.
This digital space ensures accessibility and broadens the reach of the campaign, allowing for a diverse collection of experiences and stories to be shared and celebrated.
When asked what Pride means to them, one participant said: “It’s a combination of celebrating who we are, celebrating how far we’ve come and sending a message that we need to keep moving forward onwards and onwards as the years go by.”
Another added: “Pride events, do kind of connect me to the history of LGBTQ people as a community.
“I think pride is something that cements these very disparate groups of people who only really are connected by the fact that they’re discriminated against for various queering features of themselves, it’s kind of an event that brings people together as a unified whole that makes them go: “oh wow, we’re actually not just individual people. We are a group of people”.
“I think even if somebody is an objectively extremely weird person, pride is a way to say “Look, I’m here, and I’m a human being that is here, now, in front of you.”
Launched in 2023, the (Un)seen (Un)heard project held 43 workshops, gathering almost 200 submissions from over 340 participants.
By integrating the key messages of pride, participation, and visibility, the #ProudBecause campaign and (Un)seen (Un)heard workshops are set to leave a lasting impact on Scotland’s cultural and social landscape.
LGBT Youth Scotland continues to lead in promoting health, well-being, and equality, marking itself as a cornerstone of support for the nation’s youth.
The Insect Café won in the ‘individual cake’ category at the National Scottish Baker of the Year Awards 2024/25
An Edinburgh bakery business that uses insect protein in its baking is looking to expand its operations after the owner accessed specialist support from Business Gateway.
The Insect Café was launched by Nahla Mahmoud in October 2023. Its products which use four varieties of insects in the baking process, range from nutty cricket brownies to spicy mealworm cakes. Keen to promote the nutritional and sustainable benefits of insects, Nahla’s bakes are high in protein and have a low carbon footprint, using UK suppliers for the insects themselves.
Using no butter, no preservatives and no artificial ingredients, the range of baked goods mean are high in nutritional value. Nahla aims to make nutritious food accessible and affordable.
Nahla sells her bakes at the Grassmarket Market in Edinburgh, which takes place on the first and third Saturday of every month.
She is now looking to increase the number of locations where she sells her baking, including potentially looking at premises for a café. She’s had a positive reaction to her bakes and is naturally met with curiosity, so she can let people know the benefits. She has a lot of returning customers, including those coming to her after a run or cycle.
Thanks to the popular reception for her bakes, Nahla has now been able to give up her full-time job in International Development to focus fully on The Insect Café. Her recipes are inspired by recipes from her childhood and her travels, as well as experimenting with new flavours and combinations.
The Insect Café won in the ‘individual cake’ category for their Larva cocktail ball at the National Scottish Baker of the Year Awards 2024/25 and was also nominated in the Customer Choice category.
Through Business Gateway, Nahla has received support from local adviser, Jeff Hume. Jeff has provided 1:1 support to Nahla, and signposted her to seminars and webinars on marketing, business planning, growth planning, market research and employment.
Through Business Gateway, Nahla was also signposted to a start-up grant from the City of Edinburgh Council which helped her set-up the business. She was also able to take on her first two members of staff, summer interns, thanks to the support.
Looking to the future, Nahla plans to make use of Business Gateway’s Research Service to identity new locations to exhibit at, as well as helping Nahla with looking for an ideal premises to set up a permanent café.
Nahla Mahmoud, owner of The Insect Café, said:“My Business Gateway adviser Jeff has been a fantastic support in setting up my business and helping me with growth. The whole service is a brilliant support.
“It’s an unusual business concept but is one I truly believe in, and I’ve had a lot of happy returning customers who see the health benefits and appreciate the delicious bakes.”
Jeff Hume, Business Gateway adviser, said: “Working with someone who is as passionate as Nahla is about her business has been fantastic.
“She has worked hard to build her business and the fact she is seeing such progress and can look to the future for her brand is really exciting and shows her enthusiasm.
“We’ve been glad to be able to support her on her journey and to provide her with specialist advice that’s been key to growing her business.”
To find out more about how Business Gateway can help your business, visit:
1 in 8 workers now in employment that offers little or no security, says union body
Insecure work has risen nearly three times faster than secure forms of employment since 2011, analysis shows
TUC accuses Conservatives of presiding over a “race to the bottom” on employment standards
Union body says New Deal for Working People urgently needed
The number of people in insecure work has reached a record high of 4.1 million, according to new TUC analysis.
The analysis of official statistics shows the number of people in precarious employment – such as zero-hours-contracts, low-paid self-employment and casual/seasonal work – increased by nearly one million between 2011 and 2023.
Over that period insecure work rose nearly three times faster than secure forms of employment. While the numbers in insecure work increased by 31%, those in secure employment increased by just 11%.
The TUC estimates that 1 in 8 workers in the UK are now employed in precarious employment. However, in some parts of the country, such as the West Midlands and the South West, this number has risen to 1 in 7.
Low-paid industries have fuelled most of the growth
The growth in insecure work since 2011 has been fuelled mainly by lower-paid sectors of the economy.
In care, leisure, service occupations and elementary occupations the number of people in precarious employment has rocketed by over 600,000 (+70%) since 2011.
Insecure work pay penalty
Today’s analysis also shows that people in insecure work face a severe pay penalty compared to other workers.
People on zero-hours contracts earn over a third (35%) less an hour, on average, than workers on median pay.
And the pay gap between workers in seasonal (-33%) and casual (-37%) work and median earners is also stark.
New Deal “urgently needed”
The TUC says the huge rise in insecure and low-paid work highlights the need for boosting workers’ rights and making work pay.
The union body says Labour’s New Deal for Working People would be a “game changer” if delivered in full – with the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation.
In April the Chartered Management Institute polling of managers revealed strong support for key New Deal policies:
More than 4 in 5 (82%) managers said granting workers fundamental day one rights was important.
3 in 4 (74%) managers said a ban on zero-hours contracts was important, and
3 in 4 (74%) managers said the publication of ethnicity and disability pay gaps was important.
The polling also revealed that 80% managers believe workers’ rights should be a top priority in national policies, while 83% said such changes can positively impact workplace productivity.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “We need a government that will make work pay. But over the last 14 years we have seen an explosion in insecure, low-paid work.
“The UK’s long experiment with a low-rights, low-wage economy has been terrible for growth, productivity and living standards.
“Real wages are still worth less than in 2008, and across the country people are trapped in jobs that offer little or no security.”
On the need for change, Paul added: “We must end the Conservatives’ race to the bottom on employment standards.
“The New Deal is an opportunity for a reset. Delivered in full – it would be a game changer for millions of working people.
“As well as preventing workers from being treated like throw-away labour it would stop good employers from being undercut by the bad.”
If delivered in full Labour’s New Deal will:
Strengthen collective bargaining by introducing fair pay agreements to boost pay and conditions – starting in social care.
Introduce ethnicity pay gap reporting and disability pay gap reporting.
Ban zero-hours contracts to help end the scourge of insecure work.
Give all workers day one rights on the job. Labour will scrap qualifying time for basic rights, such as unfair dismissal, sick pay, and parental leave.
Ensure all workers get reasonable notice of any change in shifts or working time, with compensation that is proportionate to the notice given for any shifts cancelled or curtailed.
Beef up enforcement by making sure the labour market enforcement bodies have the powers they need to undertake targeted and proactive enforcement work and bring civil proceedings upholding employment rights.
Paul Lawrence officially takes up the post of Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council today (Monday 17 June).
Succeeding Andrew Kerr, who retired at the weekend after nine years in the role and 42 years of public service, Paul will work closely with the existing management team and Leader Cammy Day to drive forward key priorities for the Council.
Welcoming Paul to the post, Council Leader Cammy Day said: “On day one of his new role, I’d like to warmly welcome Paul Lawrence to the position of Chief Executive. We have much to look forward to as we build on the improvements we’ve already made to council services and continue to deliver on our ambitious priorities for the Capital.
“This is a busy year for the city with plans for new schools and housing underway, improvements to transport links and designs for the UK’s first visitor levy to be shaped. That alongside our continued investment in the essential services we know residents rely on every day and, of course, the forthcoming election.
I’d also like to pass on my best wishes and thanks to Andrew Kerr for his many years of dedication, hard work, and leadership. After an impressive 42 years’ worth of commitment to public service I wish Andrew a truly happy and healthy retirement with his loved ones.”
Having served as the Council’s Executive Director of Place since 2015, Paul Lawrence starts his role as Chief Executive with extensive experience running the city’s planning, housing, transport, regulatory services and environment services, as well as economic development and culture.
Paul began his local government career in 1990 as Arts Director for Durham City Council before moving to Northern Arts as Assistant Chief Executive in 1997. He went on to spend 10 years at Newcastle City Council as Head of Culture, and later Assistant Chief Executive, before becoming Corporate Director, Place, at Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council in 2010.
Incoming Chief Executive Paul Lawrencesaid: “It is a real privilege to begin serving as Chief Executive. This is a city I am proud to have called home for almost 10 years.
“Having served as the council’s Director of Place since 2015, I’m fortunate to be able to bring a deep understanding of the challenges and exciting opportunities facing Scotland’s capital to this role. In the busy weeks and months ahead,
“I’m pleased this experience will allow me to get to work quickly. And I have much work to do – not least serving as the Returning Officer for the general election in less than three weeks’ time!
“I’d like to congratulate Andrew on his retirement and thank him for his many, many years of service. I’m delighted to get started and to build on his achievements.”
Andrew Kerr took up his post as Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council in July 2015, having previously held the same role at North Tyneside, Wiltshire and Cornwall Councils. In 2021, Andrew was awarded the OBE for services to the public sector in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list.
Speaking on his last day, Andrew Kerr said: “I’m hugely proud to have dedicated my entire working life to local government and public service and I know Paul will lead this council with the same passion and dedication.
“I’m confident that under his new leadership, the City of Edinburgh Council will continue to go from strength to strength, delivering the best services it can for the people of this incredible city.
“I’m fortunate to end my career here in Edinburgh and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone I have worked with, for their unwavering commitment to this city.
“It has been an honour to work with such talented and resilient colleagues during both prosperous and challenging times. I wish everyone well for the future.”
