The Movement for Good Awards, spearheaded by the Benefact Group, is set to donate over £1 million to charities up and down the country this year. Now in its seventh year, this transformative initiative invites residents in Scotland to nominate their favourite charities for a chance to receive a donation of £1,000.
Scottish residents can make a nomination at www.movementforgood.com – a simple act that could have a lasting impact. Winners will be drawn at random, and the initiative will also feature special sector-specific draws, with charities able to secure larger grants of £5,000. The timetable for these draws is available on the website, with winners announced throughout the year.
The Movement for Good Awards has donated over £6 million to charities in the UK and Ireland since the initiative started in 2019. The Bonnymuir Green Community Trust in Aberdeen, Dundee Industrial Heritage in Dundee, East Ayrshire Women’s Aid in Kilmarnock and All Bullie Charity Rescue in Glasgow are some of the causes in Scotland that have previously benefitted from the funding thanks to more than 70,000 nominations from the public.
Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, said: “Benefact Group is a family of award-winning specialist financial services companies and the third largest corporate donor to charity in the UK.
“Owned by a charity ourselves, charitable giving is at the heart of what we do. All of our available profits go to good causes and the more the Group grows, the more the Group can give.
“We are delighted to be able to donate over £1million to good causes each year through our Movement for Good Awards and are grateful to all our supporters, including the customers of the trusted insurer, Ecclesiastical, and the responsible and sustainable asset manager, EdenTree.
“Our Movement for Good Awards help charities change lives for the better and we know that for many charities, £1,000 can make a real difference.”
The Benefact Group – a family of award-winning financial services companies – has donated over £230 million to charitable causes since 2014 and was recognised as the third biggest corporate giver in the UK last year.1.With a goal to reach £250 million by 2025, the organisation is committed to ensuring its profits drive positive change.
Nominations are open now at www.movementforgood.com. The more nominations a charity receives, the greater its chance of being selected – so share the link with your loved ones and get involved!
Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.
Newly revealed figures have highlighted the scale of sewage pollution in Scotland, with 165 spills recorded at the Seafield sewage treatment works in Edinburgh last year. These spills resulted in partially treated sewage being discharged into the sea for a total of 890 hours, raising serious concerns about environmental protection and public health.
Managed by the French utility company Veolia under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) agreement with Scottish Water, Seafield is one of nine sewage sites operating under similar contracts.
Across these facilities, more than 500 sewage overflows were reported in 2023, amounting to a total of 3,500 hours of discharge. Major spillages were also recorded at locations such as Newbridge, Blackburn, Whitburn, and East Calder.
Scottish Labour MSP for the Lothian Region, Foysol Choudhury, has called for urgent action to address the ageing infrastructure and improve oversight of sewage discharges.
MSP Choudhury said: “The scale of sewage pollution in Scotland is unacceptable. Communities across the country, including here in Edinburgh, deserve clean beaches, rivers, and waterways.
“The current system is failing, and this must change.”
Mr. Choudhury has seen the Seafield site become a source of concern for residents, particularly after the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) issued a warning in July 2023 advising against swimming at Portobello Beach due to high bacteria levels.
In May 2024, residents were encouraged to report odour and noise issues from Seafield via the Leith Links Community Council’s online nuisance report form to ensure complaints are sent directly to elected officials, including MSPs and councillors, to keep the pressure on to address these longstanding problems.
Choudhury said: “The Seafield Sewage Treatment Works has exposed local Leithers to a series of appalling odour and sewage leaks. What impact does this have on the local environment like the Water of Leith and the Forth?”
“Scotland’s beaches and waterways are among our most cherished natural assets. It’s not enough for operators to claim compliance with licenses— people deserve transparency and action to safeguard our environment and health.”
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR PFI CONTRACTS
The Seafield plant and others like it are managed under PFI contracts, but MSP Choudhury has questioned whether this model delivers for communities. In the Highlands, a PFI sewage plant has already been brought back under public control following the expiration of its contract.
Foysul Choudhury continues to raise questions and engage with local communities to demand greater accountability from operators and stronger action from the Scottish Government when it comes to polluting Scotland’s waterways.
LOOKING AHEAD
The PFI contract for Seafield is due to expire in 2029, at which point the plant will revert to public control under Scottish Water. Mr. Choudhury hopes that this transition is used as an opportunity to overhaul the system, upgrade facilities, and end the cycle of sewage spills polluting Scotland’s rivers and beaches.
Brian Cox (Succession, Braveheart) returns to Scottish stages in a new play by leading British playwright James Graham (Dear England,Sherwood)
The first major artwork to tell the story of Royal Bank of Scotland’s role in the 2008 financial crash
WORLD PREMIERE
A National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival and Dundee Rep Theatre co-production in association with Playful Productions and Neal Street Productions
Make It Happen Written by James Graham Directed by Andrew Panton With Brian Cox
Opening performance of the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival on Friday 1 August 2025, then running until Saturday 9 August. Previewing at Dundee Rep Theatre in late July and at the International Festival on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 July.
Make It Happen is an epic new satirical play by acclaimed playwright James Graham, directed by Andrew Panton, Artistic Director of Dundee Rep Theatre. This unique co-production between National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival and Dundee Rep Theatre marks the return of Brian Cox to Scottish stages for the first time in a decade.
The world premiere of Make It Happen opens the Edinburgh International Festival’s 2025 programme of theatre, music, opera, and dance. It runs for a week at the Festival Theatre from 1–9 August, with previews at the International Festival on 30 and 31 July and at Dundee Rep Theatre from late July.
‘There is no such thing – as too big.’
Behold the rise, fall and fail of the biggest bank in the world – The Royal Bank of Scotland.
Helmed by Fred ”The Shred” Goodwin, with his fervent belief in the wisdom of the ‘founder of modern capitalism’, Adam Smith, the once prudent RBS soon plummets, placing Scotland at the heart of the global financial crash of 2008.
Set in Edinburgh, Make It Happen sees legendary actor Brian Cox return to the Scottish stage for the first time in a decade as Adam Smith, the ghost of fiscal past. Written by James Graham (Sherwood, Dear England), hailed as one of the most influential and finger-on-the-pulse writers of our time, and directed by the award-winning Andrew Panton, this bitingly funny new satire delves into the unchecked growth, spiralling greed and nail-biting hubris that brought the world’s economy to its knees.
This fictionalised satire features a mixture of characters and incidents inspired by real-life events, with others entirely imagined.
James Graham, writer, said: “Like many writers, an Edinburgh stage is the first place ever I dared put a full play in front of an audience.
“To be invited to join the prestigious Edinburgh International Festival programme this summer is an honour and a thrill. And to work with the National Theatre of Scotland, the Dundee Rep, and of course – Brian Cox, whom I’ve been desperate to write for for as long as I can remember.
We still live in the long shadow of the 2008 financial crash and our inability to reset from that inheritance and its divisive legacies, so it feels right to be interrogating it artistically. But we hope to do so in a show full of music and story, larger-than-life characters, cheeky humour, and some ghosts from Scotland’s centuries’ long past thrown in as well…”
Andrew Panton, director, said: ”It’s a personal honour and huge responsibility to tell what became a global story that started in the city close to where I grew up.
“Working with an exceptionally talented cast, creative and production teams, I’m excited to be directing this new play, bringing it to audiences at Dundee Rep Theatre and Edinburgh International Festival stages.”
Brian Cox, actor, said: “I’m excited to be doing a play written by James Graham who is such a great writer.
“It’s been a long time since I played in Scotland – it’s good to be back.”
Jackie Wylie, Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Scotland said: “I am thrilled that audiences will get to experience the combined talents of James Graham and Brian Cox, taking on the collapse of Royal Bank of Scotland in this epic new play, directed by the gifted Andrew Panton, produced in partnership with the brilliant institutions, Dundee Rep and Edinburgh International Festival.
“Dealing with seismic global moments that have shaped our national psyche, at the world’s most significant arts Festival is the perfect project for the National Theatre of Scotland and we are truly proud of this special collaboration”
Nicola Benedetti, Edinburgh International Festival Director, said: “We are extremely proud to present a brand-new play by James Graham, ‘Make It Happen’, which will open the 2025 International Festival in August.
“This co-commission with the National Theatre of Scotland and Dundee Rep demonstrates our ongoing commitment to bringing vital Scottish stories to the world stage, and invites us to examine events that took place in Edinburgh but rippled across the globe.
“Illuminating this year’s festival theme ‘The Truth We Seek’, ‘Make it Happen’ exemplifies the level of ambition and thought-provoking work that defines the Edinburgh International Festival. We cannot wait to see you there.”
Paisley born Fred Goodwin was the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group between 2001 and 2009, presiding over RBS’s rapid rise to become the world’s largest company (by assets) and the fifth-largest bank (by stock market value), and their even more rapid fall in 2008, which coincided with the worldwide economic crisis. Make It Happen is the first major artwork exploring RBS’s role in this tumultuous period in recent history.
‘James Graham is fast becoming the pre-eminent playwright of his generation.’ The Guardian
James Graham is an award-winning screenwriter and playwright, whose recent work includes Dear England (National Theatre of GB and West End) which won the Olivier award for Best Play in 2024 and is currently being adapted into a BBC miniseries.
Other theatre work includes: This House (National Theatre of GB, West End and UK tour), which was chosen by popular vote as the best play of the 2010’s for the major theatre publisher Methuen; Punch (Nottingham Playhouse and transferring to the Young Vic in spring 2025); Best of Enemies (Young Vic, 2022), winner of the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award; Tammy Faye (The Almeida), and Ink (The Almeida), which transferred to Broadway and was nominated for six Tony Awards; Labour of Love (Noel Coward Theatre, 2018) which won the Olivier award for Best Comedy.
For television, James is the writer and creator of Sherwood which first aired on BBC One in 2022 to five star reviews, winning the Royal Television Society Award for Best Drama and two BAFTAS. Other TV includes Brexit: An Uncivil War, broadcast on Channel 4 and HBO, and was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie. His Channel 4 drama, Coalition won the RTS Award for Best Single Drama (2019), and Quiz (ITV and AMC), adapted from his stage play and directed by Stephen Frears, was one of the most watched UK TV dramas of 2020.
Andrew Panton is an award-winning theatre director and currently Artistic Director and Joint CEO of Dundee Rep Theatre. For Dundee Rep, his directorial credits include August: Osage County, The Children, A Christmas Carol, Oor Wullie, Passing Places and Spring Awakening.
He has previously worked with National Theatre of Scotland as director on digital lockdown short Out of the Woods with Alan Cumming and A Sheep Called Skye, and as staff director on the original UK & International tours of Black Watch. He has also directed productions for the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Citizens Theatre Glasgow, Royal & Derngate, Perth Theatre and The Stephen Joseph Theatre.
His recent work includes A History of Paper, which won a Scotsman Fringe First, an immersive production of Peter Greenaway’s The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, and the gig-theatre musical No Love Songs which will transfer to Sydney and New York in spring 2025. Andrew’s work for television includes: Children in Need, The Naked Choir and The Voice (BBC) and he was a creative director for the opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Brian Cox is an award-winning Scottish actor, known for his work on stage and screen. Born in Dundee, he trained at Dundee Rep Theatre before going on to work at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company where he first gained recognition for his portrayal of King Lear.
His numerous accolades include two Olivier Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Recent entries on his extensive list of theatre credits include Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Wyndham’s Theatre) and The Score (Theatre Royal Bath). His screen work includes Succession (HBO), Braveheart (Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox) and Nuremberg (TNT).
Brian returns to Scottish stages for the first time in a decade, last appearing on Scottish stages in 2015 in Waiting For Godot at the Royal Lyceum Theatre. He previously worked with National Theatre of Scotland in 2020 when he played Inspector Rebus in a special digital short, John Rebus: The Lockdown Blues written by Ian Rankin for their lockdown Scenes for Survival series, created in partnership with BBC Scotland.
Creative Team: Set Designer: Anna Fleischle; Costume Co-Designers: Anna Fleischle and Angelica Rush; Movement Director: Emily Jane Boyle; Musical Supervisor and Arranger: Martin Lowe; Lighting Designer: Lizzie Powell; Sound Designer: Tingying Dong; Video co-designers: Lewis den Hertog and Anna Fleischle; Associate Designer: Angelica Rush; Casting Director: Stuart Burt CDG
Supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown
Make It Happen is also supported by the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund through Creative Scotland.
Previewing at Dundee Rep Theatre (late July); opening at Edinburgh International Festival, at the Festival Theatre, (previews Wed 30 & Thurs 31 July) Fri 1 August – Sat 9 August
80% of parents who participated in mediation said communication with the other parent had improved
Parents living in Scotland are being urged to consider mediation as a way to resolve conflict and create a more positive future for their family. The calls come as Family Mediation Week gets underway, running from 27th to 31st January.
Relationships Scotland is the country’s leading relationship support charity. Figures from its Measuring Outcomes Report 2023-24 show that 80% of parents who participated in mediation said communication with the other parent had improved, while 88% saw a reduction in conflict after mediation. Furthermore, 97% would recommend the process to others.
Relationships Scotland is encouraging couples who are considering separation or divorce to seek an alternative to a courtroom confrontation to settle parenting arrangements.
January traditionally sees an increase in the number of parents deciding to live apart as the various pressures that go hand-in-hand with the Christmas period act as a final straw for their relationships.
Janie Law, Head of Practice for Mediation at Relationships Scotlandsaid: “Often families who are experiencing challenges in their relationships will automatically think of court as their only option to resolve these difficult issues, but mediation can be hugely beneficial in helping separating couples agree what works for them, whilst avoiding the court process with all the stress, delay and cost it can bring.
“Family Mediation Week is about raising awareness of the benefits of mediation as a way of helping parents make decisions together, which can result in more positive outcomes for the whole family that would be the case with court action.
“Here in Scotland we find that parents in this position simply don’t know which way to turn. Their life-changing decision to separate brings with it so many tough questions: Where will the children live, and how will we make sure we each spend time with them? How will we sort out the money issues? What about debts and pensions? And even the family pet?”
Family mediation is a process where an independent, professionally-trained mediator helps separating or separated couples work these things out, enabling them to avoid courtroom confrontation. Professional mediators help empower families to take control of their individual circumstances, rather than leaving it to a court to make decisions on their behalf.
A parent who has been using mediationadded: “We are talking in mediation now. It’s completely changed days between us.
“I couldn’t have imagined us being able to do that when we started. We can be civil now and focus on the children together.”
The Scottish Government fund Relationships Scotland to provide family mediation at low cost where children are involved, and Legal Aid may also be available.
Anyone wanting to know more about the benefits of family mediation can visit www.relationships-scotland.org.uk or call 0345 119 2020.
Family Mediation Week takes place from Monday 27 – Friday 31 January 2025.
Following an increase in the number of detections of avian influenza (bird flu) in wild birds and other captive birds, the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer from Scotland and Chief Veterinary Officer from England have declared a national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and other captive birds.
This means that from 12:00 noon on Saturday 25 January, it will be a legal requirement for all bird keepers in Scotland and England to follow strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the threat of avian flu.
Surveillance has indicated that the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus is currently circulating in wild birds in the UK and their risk to poultry and other captive birds is currently assessed as being very high. Maintaining strict biosecurity is the most effective method of protecting birds from the virus.
Keepers with more than 500 birds will need to restrict access for non-essential people on their sites, workers will need to change clothing and footwear before entering bird enclosures and site vehicles will need to be cleansed and disinfected regularly to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
Backyard owners with smaller numbers of poultry including chickens, ducks and geese must also take steps to limit the risk of the disease spreading to their animals.
Public Health Scotland advises that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and Food Standards Scotland advises that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.
Scotland’s Deputy Chief Vet Officer Jesus Gallego said; “While the risk to public health is very low, we are currently experiencing a heightened risk of an incursion from this virus and so it is vital that appropriate precautions are taken to protect poultry and other captive birds from infection.
“The introduction of this zone is a preventative measure, aimed at minimising the effect that this, often devastating virus, can have on Scottish kept birds”.
A package of investment reforms to spur regional growth across the country is being announced to attract investment in all corners of the UK
Ahead of her speech next week on economic growth, the Chancellor has announced a new approach across the National Wealth Fund (NWF) and the Office for Investment (OfI), which will work with local leaders across the UK to support places to build pipelines of incoming investment and projects linked to regional growth priorities.
This new approach will put local knowledge and leadership at the forefront, with tailored strategies for each region, ensuring investment matches local needs and drives sustainable growth. Putting the government’s Plan for Change into action, the goal is to harness growth everywhere to rebuild Britain and usher in a decade of national renewal.
The National Wealth Fund will also trial Strategic Partnerships starting in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, and Glasgow City Region. These partnerships will provide enhanced, hands-on support with tailored commercial and financial advice to help regions develop and secure long-term investment opportunities.
This initiative will play a key role in unlocking investment across sectors such as technology, manufacturing, and green energy, helping to fuel the next wave of economic growth.
This builds on the positive impact the NWF has already had in supporting regional growth. In the last six months, the NWF has created 8,600 jobs and unlocked nearly £1.6 billion in private investment across various sectors, including green technologies, digital infrastructure, and manufacturing.
The news comes the same day as Regional Mayors are set to meet with the Deputy Prime Minister and other ministers from MHCLG, HMT, and DWP in Rotherham to discuss key regional priorities and how government can further support them to achieve their growth ambitions. This meeting will inform the government’s ongoing efforts to align national and local growth strategies and unlock investment opportunities in each region.
On top of this, OfI is working closely with local leaders and industry to turn regional growth plans into commercially attractive investment opportunities. Starting with Liverpool City Region and North East Combined Authorities, the OfI will pilot an approach that connects regions to central government and industry expertise to support them in unlocking private investment.
These initiatives will test how government can work in partnership with regions to see where investment can play a meaningful role in driving growth, which is the best way to improve living standards and put more money in working people’s pockets.
Launching this initiative in Scotland comes in recognition of the nation’s potential to drive forward ambitious projects in support of this government’s growth and clean energy missions.
The government is committed to working in close partnership with the devolved governments through the National Wealth Fund to maximise investment opportunities in Scotland’s cities to deliver growth.
Our cities have huge potential to drive improved living standards and spread opportunities across their wider regions. Bringing the productivity of major cities like Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, and Glasgow to the national average would deliver an extra £33 billion in additional Gross Value Added (GVA) annually, contributing significantly to the government’s Plan for Change economic growth objectives.
The action today comes as the Chancellor returns from Davos, where she has been making the case for investment in the whole of the U.K. Since entering office, the government has been focused on restoring economic stability, which is the foundation of growth, to give businesses the confidence to invest and expand in the UK.
Securing investment is also central to the government’s mission to deliver economic growth which will create jobs, improve living standards, and make communities and families across the country better off as part of our Plan for Change.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP said: “At Davos I’ve been telling some of the world’s biggest investors that the U.K. is a safe bet for their investments, whether that’s in London or Leeds.
“And in our mission for growth, it’s critical that we are growing every region’s local economy, that’s why we are doing things differently.
“Those with local knowledge and skin in the game are best placed to know what their area needs, and our transformative reforms will put local leaders at the centre of a network that will connect them with investment opportunities, bringing wealth and jobs to their communities.”
Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner said: “Growth is at the top of this government’s agenda, and we want to see that growth in every region across the country. That means giving local leaders the powers they need to get their local economies moving, which is exactly what we are doing with our Devolution Priority Programme.
“Today I am meeting with England’s regional Mayors to talk about how to realise their communities’ huge potential for growth – because they know their areas best.”
Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds said:“The UK is one of the most connected places in the world to do business, and investors should be in no doubt that Britain is back on the global stage, helping attract investment into the most productive parts of the UK economy.
“Our forthcoming Industrial Strategy will supercharge eight key growth sectors in the UK economy, unleashing the full potential of our cities and regions and giving businesses the certainty they need as we lead the charge for the innovation and jobs of the future.”
Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray said:“It’s fantastic to see that Glasgow has been chosen as one of four areas where the UK Government will develop investment pipelines. The move will see us engage with local leaders and tap into their expertise to find out exactly where we can best put to use support from avenues like the National Wealth Fund and Office for Investment.
“Encouraging regional growth is key to our Plan for Change, to speed up investment in business and industry, creating jobs and opportunity right across the UK.
“The potential for growth in Scotland is phenomenal and we’ll explore every opportunity to maximise that growth, to put more money in people’s pockets and see living standards improved everywhere.”
Further action to drive regional growth will also include a review of the Green Book, the government guidance on value for money, and how it is being used across the public sector to provide objective, transparent advice on public investment across the country. This review will report back at the conclusion of the Spending Review this summer.
There will also be a new senior taskforce, chaired jointly by HMT and MHCLG permanent secretaries, who will work with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to explore further devolution opportunities in skills, transport, and business support.
The government will expand this engagement to other Mayoral Authorities through senior official working groups, to explore how national government can work with local leaders to ensure they have the appropriate levers available to deliver their Local Growth Plans and unlock economic growth across England.
Mayors are already delivering transformative outcomes, such as Greater Manchester’s Adult Skills Fund, which has supported 17,000 residents in accessing new learning opportunities, and the Bee Network, which is integrating public transport across the region.
This follows the English Devolution White Paper, published at the end of last year, which set out an enhanced devolution framework to ensure strategic authorities have the powers and tools they need to meet local growth ambitions.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said:“This government knows that the best way to achieve its growth mission is by working with mayors and backing our Local Growth Plans to boost the economy in all parts of the country.
“With the National Wealth Fund based here in the heart of the North, driving forward transformational investments in partnership with local leaders, we will deliver the well-paid jobs and the vibrant, well-connected places our communities need and deserve.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said: “Greater Manchester is growing faster than the UK economy but we have got so much more to give to UK plc.
“The reforms announced today will help us to do just that and go much further and faster in support of the national growth mission.
“We particularly welcome the opportunity to work with Government to review the Green Book and how it is used to steer public investment, as the current approach is not working for the North of England.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands said:“This is a great show of faith by the Government in our regions to deliver the growth and high-quality jobs the country needs. The West Midlands is a hotbed of innovation and business talent ready to support the Government’s mission for growth.
“With the Government, I’m focused on delivering growth and with plans for a gigafactory, and three Investment Zones secured, we’re already making progress on creating thousands of new jobs. At the same time I am equipping our people with the skills to succeed in the industries of the future such as advance manufacturing, life sciences and green technology.
“With this new Strategic Partnership, the West Midlands will be one of the best places to do business, with an economy that creates real opportunities and benefits everyone across our communities.”
Cllr Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet said:“This is welcome recognition of the Glasgow City Region’s role as Scotland’s metro region, a vital motor in delivering prosperity and with a track record of securing and delivering on investment.
“Cities and city regions are the vital engine rooms of local and national economic growth and Glasgow’s selection as one of the four strategic partnerships to work with Government on maximising investment opportunities will, I’m sure, contribute to our ambition to become the most innovative, resilient and inclusive regional economy in the UK.”
We will have face-painting, slime-making, a magic show, a drop-in sewing workshop and the opportunity to meet the Muirhouse Library team and lots of great local organisations! It’s totally free – just pop by! We can’t wait to see everyone.
Councillors have formally agreed to introduce Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy scheme. Hailed as a ‘historic moment for Edinburgh’, the decision was taken during a special meeting of the Council held online yesterday (Friday 24 January) .
From 24 July 2026, a 5% fee will be applied to the cost of overnight accommodation in Edinburgh, capped at five nights in a row. Businesses will need to apply the levy to any advance bookings made as of 1 October 2025 for stays on or after 24 July 2026.
The levy is projected to raise up to £50 million a year once established, for the city to invest in protecting, supporting and enhancing Edinburgh’s worldwide appeal as a place to live and visit.
The final proposals for the scheme have been updated to provide accommodation providers and booking agencies with extra time to prepare systems for advance bookings ahead of next summer’s launch.
Responding to yesterday’s decision, Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “What an historic moment for Edinburgh. Introducing this ground-breaking visitor levy means realising a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest tens of millions of pounds towards enhancing and sustaining the things that make our city such a great place to visit – and live in – all year round.
“The scheme has been many years in the making and I’m grateful to Council officers, businesses and residents who have helped shape it, every step of the way. Its introduction is declared today with a huge amount of backing, not least from local residents.
“At all stages we’ve listened to and taken account of the views of industry and other stakeholders. It’s in this spirit that we’ve also extended the amount of time hoteliers and small businesses will have to prepare for the changes that are coming in.
“It’s vital that we continue to work closely as we get ready to launch this scheme and deliver the many benefits it is going to bring. We’ve always said this is a city fund and spending decisions need to be taken with a whole city mindset, and we’ll soon be establishing a Visitor Levy Forum with an independent Chair.
“We’ll also be reporting next steps to executive Council committees.”
Neil Ellis, Chair of the Edinburgh Hotels Association, said: “Edinburgh Hotels Association welcomes the introduction of the visitor levy for its intended use of improving the experience of all visitors – local, national or international – through additional spending.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to further enhance Edinburgh’s reputation on the World stage as a must visit destination.”
https://twitter.com/i/status/1882876043075150079
Donald Emslie, a representative of Edinburgh’s tourism industry, said:“This new income stream presents a unique opportunity to generate significant funds for the city’s long-term development.
“The levy’s potential to generate transformative funds for the benefit of all who live, work, and visit Edinburgh is well recognised and I’m pleased to see a decision made to declare a scheme which will not only support spending on city operations and infrastructure, but sustain Edinburgh’s cultural offering and destination and visitor management.”
There has been some criticism of the decision, however.Fiona Campbell, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said: “We are extremely disappointed that Edinburgh Council has failed to properly appreciate the widespread concerns of our sector who are the ones responsible for administering this tax.
“While the transition period will be altered by a few months, there remains very clear operational impossibilities. In the rush to be first, rather than getting it right from the get-go, their slapdash approach risks undermining the levy before it has even started. Edinburgh will be a guinea pig for this new tax and hopefully other councils will now take stock and learn from the mistakes made.
“While tourist levies are common in other destinations, Edinburgh’s plans make it an outlier. First, it is a tax on a tax: the 5% levy itself is subject to 20% VAT, something unheard of in Europe. Other destinations have a reduced rate of VAT on tourism services, where Scotland does not. Those demanding a levy of 8% or more need a reality check.
Second, this is not an ‘international’ visitor levy paid only by foreign tourists with exemptions for residents, but one applicable to ordinary Scots staying overnight in the capital, those who have already made a financial contribution to local services. And as with all taxes, the only way is up, especially when councils are starved of funds.
“Finally, the credibility of those continuing to blame the tourism industry for all manner of ills, especially the relatively small number of short-term lets, is wearing thin. The housing crisis won’t be solved by causing a crisis in Scottish tourism; and those seeking to respond to the Housing Emergency should focus their ire on the capital remaining an empty homes hotspot.
“We understand the rationale behind a visitor levy but a badly implemented policy will do more harm than good, damaging the very industry it is supposedly meant to support.”
The agreed Visitor Levy for Edinburgh scheme:
Scheme Objectives
The overarching aim of the Scheme is to sustain Edinburgh’s status as one of the world’s greatest cultural and heritage cities and to ensure that the impacts of a successful visitor economy are managed effectively and in support of the priorities as set out in the Council’s Business Plan (or equivalent).
The objectives of the Scheme are therefore to Sustain, Support and Develop:
Public services, programmes and infrastructure that provide an enjoyable and safe visitor and resident experience.
Edinburgh’s culture, heritage and events provision to ensure it remains world-leading and competitively attractive to visitors as well as residents.
The city’s visitor economy, by fostering innovation in response to environmental and societal challenges, enhancing Edinburgh’s global reputation while promoting responsible and sustainable tourism.
Scheme area, start date and duration
The Scheme covers the entirety of the City of Edinburgh Council boundaries and will apply to overnight stays from 24 July 2026, booked and paid for (in part or full) on or after 1 October 2025. It will apply indefinitely, or until the Council decides to end or amend it, and at all times of the year.
The levy rate
The levy rate will be 5%, payable for a maximum of five consecutive nights and will apply at the same level, year-round, across the entire City of Edinburgh Council boundary area.
Accommodation liable for the levy
The levy will apply to all overnight accommodation, including those with an annual turnover below the applicable VAT threshold, based within the City of Edinburgh Council boundary.
This includes:
Hotels;
Hostels;
Guest houses;
Bed and breakfast accommodation;
Self-catering accommodation, including short-term lets;
All paid accommodation on caravan sites and campsites, including temporary tent and campervan pitches;
Accommodation in a vehicle, or on board a vessel, which is permanently or predominantly situated in one place; and
Any other place at which a room or area is offered by the occupier for residential purposes otherwise than as a visitor’s only or usual place of residence.
Certain accommodation providers may apply to the Council for a discretionary site exemption if they meet both of the following criteria:
The property is occupied by a charity or trustee of a charity; and
Overnight stays must be wholly or mainly for charitable purposes.
This discretionary exemption is aligned with the cases where charities may receive mandatory relief from paying Non-Domestic Rates and may be cross-checked with that register.
Accommodation providers who do not charge for overnight accommodation, or who cater fully for individuals who are exempted from paying the levy are not liable for the levy.
Individuals exempted or excluded from paying the levy
The Visitor Levy is payable by anyone staying in accommodation which is not their only or usual place of residence (temporary or otherwise). Individuals who do not have an only or usual place of residence are therefore not required to pay the levy. This includes people who are homeless, refugees and asylum seekers and people whose homes are unfit or unsafe for habitation. In addition, individuals defined in s. 14 (1) of the Act are exempt from paying the levy.
Individuals who are exempt or excluded will need to pay the levy to the accommodation provider and request reimbursement from the Council, unless their accommodation has been arranged and paid for directly via the Council. Reimbursement can be applied for online, submitting relevant evidence (as detailed below and on the Council’s website) and bank details (to enable payment via BACS). Alternative provision can be made for those who do not have internet access.
Evidence which will be required to be submitted includes:
The name of person exempted/excluded;
If exclusion applies, verification of such status from relevant official body (this can include the Council’s Homelessness service, Social services, relevant third sector provider, Police Scotland etc);
If exemption applies, a copy (scan/photo) of the relevant benefit award letter or similar document;
Booking confirmation/accommodation invoice – the name of the person exempted/excluded should be included on this document; and
Proof of payment for overnight accommodation.
The Council will assess the evidence received and pay the reimbursement via bank transfer within 5 working days if the applicant is found to be eligible.
Collecting and enforcing the levy
Accommodation providers within the local authority area will be liable for the levy. They will be required to submit quarterly reports, detailing the total accommodation charges and the total levy collected to a national online visitor levy portal. The levy will be payable at the same time as submitting returns.
Accommodation providers are required to keep accurate records of all transactions that are subject to the levy. The Council will conduct inspections, as required, to ensure compliance with the scheme and remittance requirements.
Accommodation providers who fail to comply may be subject to penalties.
Appeals relating to decisions made by the Council on the operation and/or enforcement of the scheme can be registered following the Visitor Levy appeal process detailed on the Council’s website. The Council will aim to review and process such appeals within 28 calendar days.
Use of net proceeds
The Act stipulates that the net proceeds of a visitor levy must be spent on facilitating the achievement of the scheme’s objectives and on “developing, supporting and sustaining facilities and services which are substantially for or used by persons visiting [overnight] for leisure or business purposes (or both)”.
After administration costs, which includes the establishing and maintenance of a contingency fund, a fixed amount will be assigned to:
Housing and tourism mitigation (£5m p.a.);
Participatory budgeting (£2m over 3 years) with appropriate audit checks in place to ensure that these funds are spent on facilitating the achievement of the scheme’s objectives; and
Reimbursement of 2% of remitted funds to Accommodation Providers, to off-set the administrative cost incurred from operating in accordance with the Scheme and collecting visitor data
The remaining funds will then be split into the following investment streams:
City Operations and Infrastructure (55%);
Culture, Heritage and Events (35%); and
Destination and Visitor Management (10%).
The Council will make decisions on the use of funds after consultation with the Visitor Levy Forum (see details below), with these decisions delegated to the relevant executive Committees.
Reviewing and changing the scheme
The Council will review the scheme every three years to assess whether it is successfully achieving its objectives and to measure the impact of the scheme on businesses, visitors and communities. The review will be published along with a report detailing how the income has been spent and the benefits which the VL-funded projects have brought.
If the Council wishes to make changes to the scheme following the review, it will publicly consult on the change and publish a report detailing the decision and its justification. Significant changes to the scheme will require an 18-month implementation period.
Significant changes to the scheme include:
Increasing the scheme area;
Increasing the percentage rate; and/or
Removing any exemptions
Visitor Levy Forum
A Visitor Levy Forum will be established to discuss and advise on the VL scheme, including the review of the scheme and any modifications to the scheme. The Forum will also be consulted on how the VL funds will be spent.
The Forum will be made up of an equal number of representatives from the community and from businesses in the city’s visitor economy and at least 40% of the representatives must be women. Council officers responsible for the investment streams and officers from the Council’s Programme Management Office will be in attendance at Forum meetings and may make recommendations to the Forum but will not be members of the Forum itself.
The Council will report publicly and to the Scottish Government on
the amount we collect
how we use the net proceeds, (the amount collected minus costs or expenses of operating the scheme)
how we demonstrate that we are delivering the objectives of the Scheme.
Edinburgh’s intentions to introduce the scheme have been communicated to the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) met again last night to co-ordinate the response to Storm Éowyn.
First Minister John Swinney chaired the meeting and has asked people to continue to follow Police Scotland advice and avoid travel in areas covered by the amber weather warning, which ran to 2300 in the southern half of Scotland and 0600 in the northern half.
Current impacts include:
Around 106,000 properties without power
Continuing transport disruption with road closures and rail, bus, flight and ferry cancellations
First Minister John Swinney said last night: “Storm Éowyn continues to cause significant impacts on transport and power networks. Amber warnings for wind remain in place for much of the country, while there are warnings for wind, snow and ice tonight and tomorrow.
“Across the area covered by the red warning road usage has been about 85% less than normal, and that is thanks to so many people heeding the advice not to travel.
“Police advice remains to avoid travel in areas covered by amber warnings, with wind particularly challenging for HGVs, and given the level of fallen trees and debris it will take some time for roads to fully reopen.
“Similarly, rail and air travel has been heavily impacted and people should check their planned journeys before setting off. This will not be a quick return to normal.
“Power cuts are affecting a significant number of properties, and while utilities companies are working hard to reconnect supply in the face of challenging conditions, this will undoubtedly take some time to complete. Companies are focused on supporting their most vulnerable customers and I’d urge everyone to be patient, take extra care and look out for each other.
“Given the levels of damage I expect the recovery and clear up operation will take some time, and I thank all of the emergency services and workers who are supporting people and dealing with this difficult situation.”
SGoRR was attended by the Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, Justice and Home Affairs Secretary Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray; Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth, Rural Affairs and Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon, Acting Net Zero and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin and Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie.
They were joined by representatives from the Met Office, Police Scotland, Transport Scotland, SEPA, transport and utilities companies and resilience partners.
The latest Met Office weather warnings are available on the Met Office website.
Flood alerts are issued by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and can be viewed on their website.
Follow Traffic Scotland for the most up-to-date information on the trunk roads throughout the warning periods, via their website, social media channels and radio broadcasts. Updates on ScotRail services and road conditions are available online.
To report a power cut or damage to electricity power lines or substations call the SP Networks national Freephone number 105. More information on what to do during a storm can also be found on SP Energy Website.
During a power cut firefighters can be called to fires started by candles or portable heaters. For advice on how to stay safe during a power cut visit Scottish Fire and Rescue Website.
