Specsavers is launching its first ever graduate development programme for recently qualified audiologists and hearing aid dispensers.
Applications are now open for the Specsavers Audiology Graduate Programme, a brand-new opportunity open to qualified audiologists with HCPC registration or those on track to qualify and be registered by September 2026. Applications are welcomed from local final year students and graduates of Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.
Specsavers is currently the only major UK audiology employer offering a clearly defined, national, structured audiology graduate programme offering a guaranteed salary alongside structured clinical, leadership, and business development. Graduates will also benefit from ongoing support from experienced partners and central support teams and clear progression routes into permanent roles and/or business ownership.
Successful applicants will be based within a Specsavers hearing care practice – which can be either in a store or with a home visits service – for 18-months where they will complete a training programme to providing strong foundations for early career audiologists. Graduates will be able to build and develop clinical, leadership and business skills – learning how to drive clinical excellence and deliver exceptional patient care and customer experience.
Laura Monaghan, Head of Careers for Specsavers Hearing Care, said: :‘Our first audiology graduate programme provides an excellent springboard into a fulfilling and rewarding clinical career.
“We’re looking for people who care about doing the right thing for patients, enjoy keeping quality and service standards high and are wanting to combine their clinical skills with experience in leadership and business operations.
“We’ll give successful applicants structured early-career support, with help from our expert office teams and store partners, so they have everything they need to succeed.
‘Specsavers is a family business, and each practice is owned and run by its clinical and retail directors. We have been certified as a Great Place to Work for the last three years in the UK and Ireland and are ranked number 12 in 2025’s World’s Best Workplaces™.
‘Unlike many graduate opportunities, this is not just a job vacancy, but a nationally-supported graduate pathway with consistent training and a variety of avenues for progression. If you are a passionate, ambitious, and hard-working Audiologist or Hearing Aid Dispenser that is ready to learn how to lead and grow in audiology, we’re waiting to hear from you and look forward to giving your audiology career an excellent launch pad.’
Alongside having HCPC registration as an Audiologist or Hearing Aid Dispenser – or currently studying for an audiology degree and due to qualify and register by September 2026 – applicants will also need a full UK driving licence and the right to work in the UK.
When we think about heart health, we often focus on cardio exercises like walking, running, or cycling. But did you know that your bottom, AKA the glutes, can play a surprisingly important role in keeping your heart healthy?
Your glutes are the largest and most powerful muscle group in the body. They are essential for everyday movement, posture, and balance. When they are strong, being active feels easier and is sustainable, which supports long-term heart health.
In this month’s Healthy Tip, Luca van Cleemput, Healthy Heart Coach at Heart Research UK, explains why strengthening your glutes is about much more than aesthetics, and discusses how it can help protect your heart.
Why do glutes matter for heart health?
Strong glutes power everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, standing up from a chair, or carrying shopping. When these muscles are weak, other parts of the body, like the lower back or knees, often compensate. Over time, this can lead to discomfort and reduce daily movement.
Regular activity is one of the most effective ways to protect your heart. Research shows that even small increases in daily movement, like walking more, are linked to a lower risk of heart disease. Strong glutes make movement feel easier, which helps you stay active consistently.
Luca explains: “Cardio is essential for heart health, but muscle strength is often overlooked. Strong muscles support heart health, bones, balance, independence, and long-term quality of life.
“For best results, include regular cardio along with at least two strength-training sessions per week. Since the glutes are the body’s largest muscle group and support everyday movement, they’re a great place to start.”
Glutes, energy, and metabolism
Because the glutes are such a large muscle group, strengthening them has benefits beyond movement alone. When muscles work, they generally use glucose for energy. Therefore, doing strength training regularly helps improve blood sugar control and supports insulin sensitivity, which is important for overall health and specifically heart health.
Luca adds: “People often think strength training has to be time-consuming. In reality, even simple glute exercises done regularly can help your body manage blood sugar and support heart health over time.”
Maintaining muscle mass as we age is also important for supporting a healthy metabolism. From mid-life onwards, we naturally begin to lose muscle, a process called sarcopenia. Because muscle burns more energy than fat, even at rest, losing muscle gradually lowers the body’s resting metabolic rate. This means we burn slightly fewer calories over time at rest, which can make gradual weight gain more likely, even if eating habits remain the same.
Luca explains: “Even simple glute exercises done consistently can support your metabolism and help you burn more calories at rest. Strong glutes aren’t just about aesthetics, they support your heart, weight management, and independence as you age.”
Carrying excess weight, particularly around the waist, is linked with higher blood pressure, cholesterol, and an increased risk of heart disease.
Keeping large muscle groups like the glutes strong helps preserve overall muscle mass. This supports weight stability, a higher resting metabolic rate, and better long-term metabolic health.
While glutes are the largest muscles, strengthening other major muscle groups, including the legs, core, and back, complements glute strength. Building overall muscle mass supports everyday fitness, makes daily movement easier, and reduces the strain on joints.
Stronger glutes make exercise feel easier
When your glutes are doing their job properly, activities like walking, cycling, or climbing stairs require less effort from smaller muscles. This reduces fatigue and improves movement efficiency.
Lower-body strength also helps your body cope better with aerobic exercise. Strong muscles make everyday activities feel easier and more manageable, even at the same pace or intensity. This makes it easier to maintain moderate-intensity activity, the level most strongly linked with improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, and overall cardiovascular fitness.
In simple terms, when movement feels easier, you are more likely to do it regularly. And when it comes to heart health, consistency matters more than intensity.
Strength training works best alongside regular aerobic activity such as walking, cycling, or swimming. Together, they provide the strongest protection for heart health.
Posture, balance, and injury prevention
Weak glutes can contribute to poor posture, such as slouching or excessive arching of the lower back. Over time, this may make daily activities feel more tiring.
Strong glutes play a key role in balance and stability. They help control movement at the hips, which is essential for staying steady when walking, turning, stepping up or down, or getting out of a chair.
As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass and strength if it isn’t regularly challenged. Reduced lower-body strength increases the risk of falls, a major cause of injury and loss of independence in older adults. Even short periods of inactivity following an injury can negatively affect heart health, as people often move less and lose confidence in their ability to stay active.
Luca adds: “Glutes play a surprisingly big role in preventing falls. Keeping them strong stabilises your hips, which can help you move safely and more confidently every day, especially as you age.”
Maintaining glute strength improves balance, reduces the risk of falls, and supports long-term independence. Even small improvements can make a meaningful difference.
Simple ways to strengthen your glutes
You don’t need a gym or heavy weights to start strengthening your glutes. Simple exercises at home can be adapted to suit different abilities.
The UK physical activity guidelines recommend muscle-strengthening activities at least two days per week. These sessions do not need to be long and can use bodyweight alone.
Examples of glute-strengthening exercises:
Sit-to-stands from a chair
Glute bridges
Step-ups
Glute kickbacks
Romanian deadlift
As your strength improves, exercises may feel easier. Gradually increasing repetitions, adding an extra set, or introducing light resistance (from a resistance band or dumbbells) helps maintain progress. Small, steady increases are safer and more effective than sudden large jumps in intensity.
A good rule of thumb is that the last few repetitions of an exercise should feel challenging, but you should still maintain good form and breathe steadily.
Luca explains: “Strength training should feel challenging, but not overwhelming. Start at a level that suits you and build up gradually.
“Choose exercises you can perform without pain and focus on perfecting your technique before increasing intensity. This is the best way to get all the benefits of a specific exercise.”
Remember, the goal isn’t necessarily large muscles. It’s to maintain strength, support everyday movement, and protect long-term heart health.
Bringing it all together
Strong glutes are more than just an aesthetic goal. They:
Make everyday movement easier
Support heart health and blood sugar control
Helpmaintainweight and metabolism
Reduce the risk of falls and injury
Contribute to overall muscle strength, functional fitness, and independence
Incorporating glute exercises into a total-body strength routine provides maximum benefits for your health, both now and in the long term.
Download Heart Research UK’s Free Resource
To help you get started, we’ve created a ‘Glute Strength for Everyday Movement’ exercise sheet. It includes simple, step-by-step exercises to support mobility, balance, and heart-healthy movement, with options for different ability levels.
These exercises focus on movements that strengthen not just the glutes, but other important lower-body muscles too, helping you build functional strength that supports everyday life.
Download the free resource and take the first step towards stronger glutes and a healthier heart:
A group of Scots who have all been diagnosed with cancer will take to the catwalk later this month to model some of the latest fashions in the closing show of this year’s Edinburgh STYLE event.
The Catwalk for Cancer Research, organised by local charity Business Beats Cancer Edinburgh on behalf of Cancer Research UK (CRUK), will take place at 7pm on Saturday 28th March in the city’s St James Quarter.
The fund-raising show, billed as an opportunity to ‘Look Good and Do Good,’ will feature 20 individuals who have all experienced their own journey with cancer showcasing a broad range of curated pre-loved fashion items supplied by CRUK.
Glaswegian Danielle Quinn, 41, a finance manager and founder of a social media content creation business, is among those taking part. Danielle is living with a rare form of ovarian cancer.
Just days before Christmas 2023, she was admitted to hospital where doctors drained six litres of fluid from her abdomen. She later underwent major surgery which turned into a complex seven-hour procedure, during which surgeons removed ten organs after discovering cancer had spread across her abdomen.
Danielle was diagnosed with stage three low-grade serous carcinoma, a rare form of ovarian cancer that often affects younger women. Following her diagnosis, she initially opted for hormone therapy rather than chemotherapy in order to manage the disease while maintaining her quality of life. However, the cancer returned in October 2024.
Despite ongoing treatment and the challenges of surgical menopause and long-term cancer care, Danielle remains determined to use her experience to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and the realities of living with the disease.
She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be involved in this event where I’ll be modelling some incredible fashions while also sharing my own cancer journey. Cancer is something we still don’t talk about openly enough, and I’m determined to do what I can to help raise awareness and encourage more conversations about symptoms, diagnosis and support.”
Others taking part in the Catwalk for Cancer Research event include Motherwell-born operatic soprano, Monica McGhee who will model and sing at the event. The 37-year-old, who has performed in some of the most prestigious opera houses in the UK and across the world, survived a 2017 diagnosis of thyroid cancer with her career now back on track after two years of treatment in London.
Among those joining her on the catwalk later this month are Gwen Shaw, a 50-year-old tour guide who has lived through Stage 2 breast cancer, for which she was diagnosed in 2022, and businesswoman Jacqui Gale, who sits on the board of Scottish Enterprise. Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2020, Jacqui underwent a stem cell transplant in 2021 and is now committed to helping others with cancer.
Jacqui, who is also a board member of Business Beats Cancer Edinburgh, says: “Life is precious. I want to do everything I can to keep loved ones together for longer, help people reach milestone birthdays and bring forward the day when all cancers can be beaten.”
All participants of the Catwalk for Cancer Research show will be supported by Ian Tod, an Edinburgh-based fashion stylist who has developed a solid reputation in the creative industry across the UK.
The event will be compered by Kylie Reid, the founder of egg, one of the UK’s largest platforms for women in business. The evening will also feature a charity supermarket shop with pre-loved clothes as well as clothing donation stations, live entertainment and a fashion photography exhibition and art gallery.
Business Beats Cancer Edinburgh has raised nearly £800,000 since its inception in 2019. The locally-focused charity, which also holds an annual fund-raising dinner and sponsored walk of the city’s Seven Hills, is now on target to surpass £1m in the year ahead.
Tickets for Catwalk for Cancer Research are now on sale with all the event’s proceeds going towards funding vital life-saving research in the city.
The show is part of this year’s Edinburgh STYLE event, running from 25th to 29th March, bringing together fashion, beauty and culture in the heart of the capital. The programme features a wide array of runway shows, trend-led talks, live music and in-store experiences.
GRASSMARKET COMMUNITY PROJECT ANNOUNCED AS THE NEW CHARITYPARTNER AT NETWORKING CLUB, ‘LOVE YOUR BUSINESS’
Grassmarket Community Project has been announced as the latest annual Charity Partner at business networking club, Love Your Business, which has attracted over 4500 attendees and 220 guest speakers since it started in 2018, including the Californian eco-entrepreneur Paul Tasner from PulpWorks.
Love Your Business, which runs monthly at Black Ivy Hotel in Bruntsfield, was founded by Michelle Brown from the eponymous PR agency which she started in 2014. The aim, which continues today, is to help start up and growth businesses to share skills, contacts, referrals and support each other.
Speakers who have shared their entrepreneurial and personal journeys over the years, include Chris van der Kuyl, the chairman and co-founder of the video game company 4J Studios, Social Bite co-founder and motivational coach, Alice Thompson, and former Scotland international rugby player, Scott Hastings.
This month’s speaker on Thursday 26th March is Laura Thomas, the founder of the luxury lifestyle brand, Laura Thomas Co., who will be sharing her inspiring journey around setting up the business 12 years ago and opening her store in North Berwick four years ago. Her products are 100% natural and chemical-free and the packaging comes from recycled coffee cups and clients include Balmoral Estate, Old Course Hotel in St Andrews and Ballintaggart Hotel.
Over the past seven years the networking club has also supported a different charity each year with a percentage of ticket sales and marketing support.
This year’s partnership with Grassmarket Community Project will help to raise even more awareness of the much-needed emotional and practical support they provide for vulnerable people in the city to help enhance their life skills, develop confidence, increase their resilience and encourage self-reliance and independence.
The charity, which was founded 23 years ago and has 33 staff and 116 volunteers, offers everything from a befriending service and employability and training guidance to 25 free weekly activities like woodwork, gardening, meditation and literacy classes and runs a community cinema.
They also have a Coffee Saints café onsite in the Grassmarket and behind St James Quarter, a Tartan Shop with their very own tartan, and hire out event space for corporate events and weddings.
Helene van der Ploeg, Chief Executive Officer at Grassmarket Community Project, said: “We are honoured to have been chosen by Michelle to be her Charity Partner this year.
“As a charity incorporating social enterprises, we really value this partnership, which will help build vital networks among businesses and increase our profile through Michelle’s extensive marketing knowledge and skills.
“This will make such a difference in helping Grassmarket Community Project have a powerful voice for the thousands of people in our city, struggling with complex challenges and living in poverty, barely able to afford the essentials of life.”
Michelle said: “When I first learnt about the Grassmarket Community Project, providing emotional and practical support and services for people in the city who are struggling, I knew immediately I wanted to partner with them to help raise even more awareness of the great work they are doing.
“I’m really looking forward to working with Helene and the team to ensure more people know about the support they can get and locals and visitors to the city know about their tartan shop, café, venue hire and cinema screenings to help keep the charity going in the long term.
“Thanks to everyone who has bought a ticket for Love Your Business over the years and helped to support every Charity Partner.
“There are still tickets left for the networking event on the 26th March with my very special guest speaker, Laura Thomas, who has a wonderfully inspiring story to share.”
Chancellor confirms over £50 million for low income families who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices.
The price of kerosene – the fuel used for heating oil – has been especially affected by the conflict in the Middle East and has risen faster than other fuels such as petrol and gas.
Government announces intention to regulate heating oil sector to introduce new consumer protections, alongside securing agreement with industry to quickly improve customer experiences.
Families are to benefit from over £50 million to help people pay for the rising cost of heating oil. With winter drawing to a close, and families struggling with the rising price of heating oils, this government is committed to helping ensure that vulnerable families are able to heat their homes and access hot water.
Scotland will receive £4.6 million.
The price of kerosene – the fuel used for heating oil - has been particularly impacted by the conflict in the Middle East and is currently double that of crude oil.
In Great Britain, unlike gas and electricity customers, those who heat their homes with oil are not covered by the energy price cap, meaning they are exposed to more immediate energy price hikes.
Many, including some of the most vulnerable households, will need to pay an upfront lump sum to top up their tanks in order to maintain their heating and hot water.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “Heating oil prices have spiked sharply, and I know that for families in rural communities that is a real and urgent problem.
”That’s why we’re putting over £50 million of support to help the people who need it most, including funding for the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver support in Northern Ireland where this issue hits hardest.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “This government is committed to fighting people’s corner in tackling cost of living pressures. With this investment, alongside new measures to protect customers against any unfair practices, we are standing up for the British people.”
To bridge the gap, the Chancellor is announcing over £50 million of targeted financial support, helping low-income households in rural communities who have no choice but to top up their tanks at a time when prices have risen so significantly.
In England, funding will be distributed by local authorities via the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF), which comes into effect from 1 April, targeted areas with higher rates of oil heating.
This is a particular issue in Northern Ireland, where a greater proportion of homes rely on heating oil, and we have allocated £17 million to support them. England will receive £27 million, Scotland £4.6 million and Wales £3.8 million.
This funding has been allocated based on census data, reflecting where the greatest need is, and it will be allocated directly to the devolved governments, with the expectation that it will be used to support vulnerable households.
Heating oil is different from other sectors in the energy market as it does not have the same consumer protections and is not regulated by Ofgem. The government intends to introduce new consumer protections for heating oil customers and is rapidly exploring new ways to step in and ensure households are better protected.
This includes:
An agreement secured with industry on a strengthened Code of Practice to rapidly provide enhanced protections to customers, including greater flexibility on delivery volumes and improving price transparency and formalising a Priority Customers Register – meaning all customers who are vulnerable are eligible for prioritised support in times of disruption.
Introducing stronger consumer protections in the heating oil market, which could cover dispute resolution, a greater variety of repayment options for those facing hardship, greater price transparency and enhanced protections for vulnerable groups such as the elderly.
Supporting the Competition and Markets Authority’s plans to carry out a more comprehensive examination of the UK’s heating oil industry.
Exploring the creation of a new ombudsman or appointment of a regulator, such as Ofgem, to champion consumers, and taking powers to do so through the Energy Independence Bill.
Working with the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that protections are fit for purpose for Northern Irish households, who are particularly reliant on heating oil.
In addition, the Chancellor earlier this week wrote to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to ask that it remains vigilant across heating oil prices and supports CMA action to tackle unjustified price increases.
The government will not tolerate profiteering or unfair practices and urge customers to share any evidence of price manipulation with the CMA.
Vulnerable households who are facing immediate financial difficulties as a result of rising heating oil prices are encouraged to contact their local authority to find out what support may be available to them.
An action-packed free gardening workshop for children
Dobbies is teaming up with Gabby’s Dollhouse to bring an extra special spring themed experience to families at its Edinburgh store with a free-to-attend Little Seedlings Club on Saturday 4 April, packed with fun and creativity.
Gabby’s Dollhouse is a kid-favourite, cat-tastic show by Dreamworks that follows Gabby and her cat friends in their adventures around her magical dollhouse. Each episode is filled with fun, crafts, baking, music and problem solving.
This April, the Little Seedlings will step into the magical world of Gabby’s Dollhouse for a 60-minute Easter adventure bursting with springtime fun at the Edinburgh store. Joined by Eggy the Easter Kitty Bunny, children will discover the wonders of the season, from learning about baby animals to blooming, colourful flowers, before diving into hands-on activities and a fun filled in-store quest.
The workshop will begin by welcoming Gabby and her kitty friends, before Eggy hops in to sprinkle some Easter magic and share fascinating traditions from around the world. Little Seedlings will then set off on Gabby’s Easter Hunt, inspired by the celebration in Kitty Fairy’s Fairy Tail Garden, before learning about the bright, beautiful blooms that spring brings.
To round off the adventure, every child will create their own adorable kitty or bunny planter, filled with cat grass seeds. A perfect take-home reminder of their magical day.
Dobbies’ Event Programme Manager, Ayesha Nickson, said: “We’re delighted to welcome fans of Gabby’s Dollhouse to our April Little Seedlings Club and team up with Dreamworks on a truly special Easter workshop at our Edinburgh store.
“The interactive, hands-on event is a wonderful way for children to celebrate the start of spring and learn more about animals and flowers that come to life at this time of year. We’re looking forward to watching the Little Seedlings enjoy a magical Gabby’s Dollhouse Easter adventure at Dobbies.”
Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Club is a free-to-attend workshop that typically takes place on the first Sunday of every month in the Edinburgh store. The workshops are suited for children aged 4-10 and covers a range of seasonal topics set to inspire the next generation of gardening enthusiasts.
For those looking to get involved in Gabby’s Dollhouse Little Seedlings Club at Dobbies, and book a free space this April, visit www.dobbies.com/events.
• 1,000-capacity fanzone to screen Scotland matches and key World Cup fixtures
• Early bird tickets from £10 including a drink for Scotland games
• Family-friendly screenings and daytime replays so fans of all ages can enjoy the tournament
Football fans in Edinburgh will have a new destination to watch the world’s biggest sporting event this summer, as Gyle Shopping Centre prepares to host the Edinburgh World Cup Fanzone – a vibrant outdoor hub where supporters can gather to experience the tournament together.
Running from 11 June to 19 July, the fanzone will bring the excitement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to the capital with giant screen match broadcasts, live hosts, fan competitions and a lively matchday atmosphere.
With many fixtures taking place overnight due to the tournament being hosted in North America, organisers will also introduce family-friendly daytime replay screenings, allowing younger fans and families to enjoy the biggest moments of the World Cup together in a lively shared setting.
As Scotland prepare to compete on football’s biggest stage for the first time in nearly 30-years, the tournament represents a hugely anticipated moment for supporters across the country. The Edinburgh Fanzone will provide a dedicated space for fans to come together, celebrate the national team and soak up the atmosphere of the world’s most watched sporting event.
Located at Gyle Shopping Centre, the purpose-built fanzone will host up to 1,000 supporters per screening, making it one of the largest public viewing destinations for World Cup matches in the city.
A Festival Atmosphere for Football Fans
Fans attending the fanzone can expect a lively matchday experience including:
• Large outdoor screen showing live World Cup fixtures • Matchday hosts and special guests for Scotland games • Licensed bars and food vendors • Deck chair seating and covered viewing areas • Competitions, giveaways and fan engagement • Family-friendly replay screenings for late-night matches • Brand activation zones and fan experiences
The venue will screen all Scotland matches, alongside the majority of tournament fixtures, ensuring supporters have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the World Cup with fellow fans.
Tickets Now on Sale
Tickets are now available for Scotland match screenings, with early bird tickets starting from £10, including a pint or soft drink. Capacity for Scotland games is expected to sell quickly, with strong demand anticipated from fans eager to watch the national team in a shared atmosphere.
All other fixtures will be accessible to fans throughout the tournament, making the space a welcoming hub for supporters of all nations.
The fanzone will also feature premium covered seating, allowing fans to enjoy the games in comfort regardless of the weather.
Easy Access Across the City
Located in west Edinburgh, Gyle Shopping Centre offers excellent transport connections, with direct access via the Edinburgh Trams and multiple Lothian Buses routes, making it easy for fans across the city to attend. Motorists can also benefit from straightforward road access and nearby parking facilities.
In addition, rail passengers can travel via Gateway Station, which provides a direct and convenient train link within close proximity. This strong connectivity ensures smooth access for those arriving by public transport or car.
With a lively festival atmosphere planned throughout the tournament, organisers expect the fanzone to attract between 15,000 and 20,000 visitors across the five-week event.
Tickets and Information
Tickets for Scotland games are available now, with early bird tickets starting from £10 including a drink.
You might wonder – what’s that got to do with mental health?
Well, a lot, actually.
Money’s harder to manage if you have a mental health problem. And being in debt makes it harder to look after your mental health.
That’s why it can feel really difficult to get out of a debt – mental health cycle.
Thankfully, if this is something you recognise, there are organisations out there ready to help you. Check out these organisations or our website for more help and support.
Global beauty leader will open its first Scottish “temples of beauty” in St James Quarter in Edinburgh and Silverburn Glasgow later this year.
A host of brands like rhode and Haus Labs will be available to shop in person for the first time on Scottish soil.
Sarah Boyd, Managing Director for Sephora UK: “Opening in both Edinburgh and Glasgow this summer is about bringing double the energy, double the access, and double the magic to a country that has long been calling for it”.
GLOBAL leader in prestige beauty Sephora UK has revealed it’s set to open not one, but two stores in Scotland this summer, after years of passionate calls from fans north of the border.
The LVMH-owned beauty powerhouse is bringing its signature black and white stripes to Edinburgh and Glasgow later this year, following immense demand online.
The investment into Scotland has been hailed by members of the beauty and business communities alike, as the brand is set to open the major stores in quick succession within the same home nation for the first time.
The Edinburgh store will be located at St James Quarter and will boast 4,961 square feet of dedicated shopping space, while the Glasgow store will open at Silverburn Shopping Centre, spanning 5,048 square feet.
Hoardings will appear in both store locations imminently, playfully displaying the iconic black and white stripes with a Scottish nod as Sephora says, “Twice the stripes, twice as bonnie!” in both Silverburn and St James Quarter.
Both stores will be will be fully stocked with Sephora UK exclusives and selective brands, giving fans the chance to shop the likes of rhode, Haus Labs, Makeup by Mario, Merit Beauty, INNBeauty Project, Tower 28 and recent newcomer Half Magic for the first time ever on Scottish soil.
Sarah Boyd, Managing Director of Sephora UK, said: “”The Sephora UK team and I are thrilled to finally reveal that we’re bringing our ‘temples of beauty’ to not one, but two incredible Scottish cities this summer – with fans crying out for a Scottish beauty playground.
“It has been three years since we opened our first UK store; from the very beginning we’ve been searching for the perfect locations for us to open in the region – and we are so happy to have found them in Edinburgh’s St James Quarter and Silverburn Glasgow.
“Opening in both Edinburgh and Glasgow this summer is about bringing double the energy, double the access, and double the magic to a country that has long been calling for it.
“Scotland also steps into a landmark summer, so the timing couldn’t feel more meaningful, and Sephora UK is proud to play a part in a special season that is set to make its mark in the history books.
“We know how eagerly our Scottish customers have waited while we expanded across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and we truly want to say thank you for your patience and loyalty.
“Now, Scotland, let’s get even more bonnie together!”
Anne Ledgerwood, Estate Director at St James Quarter, said: “The opening of Sephora’s first store in Scotland is a major moment for both St James Quarter and Edinburgh’s shopping scene.
“As one of the most influential names in global beauty, its arrival brings a new retail experience to the city and an exciting addition to St James Quarter’s growing beauty line-up.
“Sephora’s immersive concept and curated brand offer will our give customers something truly new, whether they are long-time fans or discovering the brand for the first time.”
David Pierotti, General Manager of Silverburn, added: “Sephora coming to Glasgow marks such a big moment for the city and the west of Scotland and we are so pleased to be home to its largest store in the country.
“Our commitment to delivering an award-winning, first-class retail experience for our guests is demonstrated through our diverse offering of leading names across fashion, lifestyle and beauty.
“I know our community in Glasgow will be very excited to see another globally recognised brand join us and we look forward to welcoming them to Sephora’s ‘temple of beauty’ here at Silverburn.”
The openings mark a major milestone in the retailer’s ambitious expansion journey, bringing its “temples of beauty” even closer and more accessible than ever to communities nationwide.
What’s more, following the launch of its Belfast store in February, the Scottish store openings will mark a defining moment as they signify a proud presence across all four nations of the United Kingdom.
As well as some Scottish firsts, the stores will also feature TikTok-viral favourites featured as part of the retailer’s ‘Hot on Social’ edit, including Glossier, Glow Recipe, Rare Beauty, Sol de Janeiro, Tatcha, and Kosas.
Customers at the Edinburgh and Glasgow stores will be able to enjoy personalised redeemable beauty consultations, gift-wrapping and engraving services, as well as immersive in-store experiences designed to inspire confidence and creativity.
The new stores will also be among some of the first to introduce Sephora UK’s Beauty Scan technology, which allows Beauty Advisors to use an advanced lens to analyse a client’s skin for a more individualised consultation and personalised product recommendations, including oil and hydration levels and foundation shade matching.
What’s more, in line with Sephora UK’s commitment to a seamless omnichannel offering, shoppers will also be able to continue the Sephora shopping experience via the Sephora UK app for exclusive product offers, as well as the MySephora loyalty programme, where clients can earn points on every purchase in-store and online, unlocking exclusive rewards, surprise gifts, early access to launches and invites to special events.
The opening of stores in Edinburgh and Glasgow respectively feed into Sephora UK’s expansion strategy to open their iconic “temples of beauty” alongside the retailer’s new, small format boutique stores, which were recently announced to debut this summer at Soho’s Carnaby Street and Shoreditch’s Old Spitalfields Market.
This updated strategic approach to Sephora’s UK expansion is cemented in the aim to bring prestige beauty to all corners of the UK. Like the calls for stores opening in Scotland, the boutique formats were a direct response to Sephora’s highly passionate and engaged beauty community requesting for different kinds of shopping experiences with the high street shopper in mind – a testament to Sephora’s commitment to listening to its fans on how and where to best show up with their new stores as the retailer expands.
The blend of Sephora’s boutique formats and destination shops with a large sales floor aimed at discovery takes a modern approach to retail, delivering different kinds of shopping experiences for its wide-ranging clientele, reinforcing Sephora UK’s commitment to making premium beauty accessible to all.
The Edinburgh FluteFling concert returns with another lineup of some of the finest traditional flute and whistle players around.
This year’s performers are Claire Mann (Dumfries and Galloway), Tom Oakes (Edinburgh), Tina Jordan Rees (Glasgow) and Hammy Hamilton (County Cork, Ireland).
Expect music from Scotland and Ireland mixed with more recent tunes too. Inventive, dynamic and creative performances all in a friendly setting.
Heart of Newhaven Centre 27 March 2026. Doors open 1930 Performances 2000-2200 BYOB
