Month: June 2026

New study reveals a third of employers are likely to make redundancies by January 2027

A new survey from Acas has found that a third of employers (33%) are likely to make staff redundancies by January 2027.

Acas commissioned YouGov to ask British businesses about their redundancy plans between February 2026 and January 2027.

The poll revealed that 46% of large businesses are likely to make redundancies and one in five (21%) small and medium sized (SME) businesses said that were likely to do so over the same period.

The Government has recently consulted on new law changes outlined in the Employment Rights Act 2025 for employers that want to make collective redundancies across their organisation. Acas has published its response to the consultation.

Acas Director of Dispute Resolution, Kevin Rowan, said: “The results of our poll reveal that a third of businesses are considering redundancies by the start of next year.

“Organisations should look at all possible alternatives to redundancies first, but if employers conclude they have no choice, then they have legal requirements they must follow. This means they must consult with staff early to seek their views, or risk being subject to a costly legal process.

“In 2027, the Government’s Employment Rights Act will introduce new consultation requirements if redundancies are proposed across multiple sites. Acas recommends that the Government ensures employers and trade unions understand the value of collective consultation and have the skills to work well together.”

If an employer finds there are no other choices than to make redundancies, then there are strict rules on consulting staff that they must follow.

An employer must discuss any planned changes and consult with each employee who could be affected. By law, employers who wish to make 20 or more staff redundant in a 90-day period must also consult a recognised trade union or elected employee representatives about the proposed changes.

If an employer does not meet consultation requirements, employees can take their employer to an employment tribunal. If successful, the employer may have to pay up to 180 days’ full pay for each affected employee.

An employee can also make a claim of unfair dismissal to an employment tribunal on the grounds that they were not consulted, or the consultation was not meaningful.

At the moment, collective redundancy rules only apply if the redundancies are proposed at one workplace. The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a law change that means the rules will count redundancies across an employer’s entire organisation.

An organisation that plans to make a certain number of redundancies across multiple sites or workplaces will have to follow new law changes due to take effect in 2027. The Government ran a consultation to seek views on the changes and what the redundancy threshold number should be that sparks a collective redundancy process for an employer that has multiple sites.

Acas advice is that employers should consider all possible options before considering redundancies as other solutions to their situation could be found through consultation with their staff, employee representatives and unions.

In response to the Government’s consultation, Acas recommended that:

  • the Government make sure that employers, trade unions and staff representatives understand the value of collective consultation and have the skills to work well together; and
  • the Government should also pick a threshold for consultation that is easy to understand and does not require complex systems to calculate, as this would help avoid procedural disputes and reduce administrative burdens.

For Acas’s full response to the Government’s consultation, please see: 

https://www.acas.org.uk/public-consultation-responses

Acas’s advice for staff and employers about redundancies is available at: 

www.acas.org.uk/redundancy

Celebrate Pride Month at Vue Edinburgh with a selection of LGBTQ+ titles

This Pride Month, Vue is celebrating with a curated line-up of queer cinema – including a timeless classic, a modern favourite and a brand-new release. 

Kicking off the season is an adaptation of Alysia Abbott’s best-selling memoir Fairyland. Produced by Academy Award winner Sofia Coppola, the film follows a young girl whose life is uprooted by her father following the death of her mother. Landing in 1970s San Francisco, dad Steve flourishes with the freedom to develop his writing and date other men, however his bohemian lifestyle clashes with the expectations of parenting. 

Be transported to 18th century France as one of the greatest love stories ever told, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, returns to screen from 3 June. The critically acclaimed film follows Marianne, who is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse, a young woman who has just left the convent. As the two women orbit one another, intimacy and attraction grow, with the portrait soon becoming a collaborative act of and testament to their love. 

Arriving from 5 June is Madfabulous, the true story of fabulously flamboyant Henry Paget as he claims his aristocratic inheritance in 1890s North Wales. His theatrical flair disrupts the upper-class elite, much to the delight of the townspeople. Alongside his cousin Lily and loyal butler Gelert, Henry navigates suffocating traditions, scheming relatives, and the long shadow cast by his estranged father.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, The Birdcage is sashaying back onto the big screen as part of Vue’s Pride season from 6 June. Expect lots of laughs in this 90s cult classic, as gay cabaret owner (Robin Willians) and his drag queen companion (Nathan Lane) agree to put up a false front so that their son can introduce them to his fiancée’s right-wing moralistic parents, played by Dianne Weist and Gene Hackman.

Rounding off the season, animated intergalactic sci-fi Lesbian Space Princess will be arriving on the big screen from 20 June. Watch as Princess Saira, from the planet Clitopolis, travels the GAY-laxy on a chaotic rescue mission to save her ex, who is being held ransom by the Straight White Maliens. 

Ian Chester, General Manager at Vue Edinburgh, said: “At Vue we’re committed to showcasing films that reflect the rich diversity of our audiences and this Pride we’re especially proud to highlight stories that celebrate and represent our LGBTQ+ communities. 

“We can’t wait to welcome film fans to switch off and immerse themselves in human stories with big emotions, deep connections – and moments that stay with will last long after the credits roll.”

To find out more, visit www.myvue.com

Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland deliver £3,000 funding boost to two Edinburgh groups

COMMUNITY FUND SUPPORT FOR SCRAN ACADEMY


Sandy Young/scottishphotographer.com

Charitable organisations across the country are already benefiting from a share of Barratt and David Wilson Homes Scotland’s £63,000 Community Fund for 2026, with two groups in Edinburgh being awarded funding in the first four months of the year.

Part of the UK’s leading housebuilder Barratt Redrow, Barratt and David Wilson Homes Scotland’s Community Fund supports charities and community organisations delivering positive impact in the areas in which it builds.

Since the start of the year, two organisations in Edinburgh have shared a total of £3,000 in funding to support their work. The funded projects span a diverse range of community initiatives, reflecting the breadth of support being delivered through the fund.

Edinburgh-based catering social enterprise Scran Academy was awarded £1,500 to support its work providing opportunities for young people to gain meaningful work experience and skills by helping them to transition beyond the classroom to take control of their development.

The programmes engage them in a bespoke and informal skills training journey, accessing qualifications and accreditation that support them to achieve their next training or employment steps. 

Simba Honouring Baby Loss, a charity also based in Edinburgh, was awarded £1,500 to support its services for affected families by helping them create special moments to honour the memory of their baby.

Andrew Morrison, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland, said: “It’s fantastic to see the positive impact the Barratt and David Wilson Homes Scotland 2026 Community Fund is already having on communities across the East of the country.

“The organisations we’ve supported so far are doing vital work, whether that’s providing health and wellbeing services or bringing people together through inclusive community initiatives to make a real difference.

“We’re committed to creating thriving, sustainable communities and we’re proud to play a part in helping these groups continue and expand their work, and we look forward to supporting many more organisations throughout the year.”

The launch of the 2026 Community Fund builds on Barratt and David Wilson Homes Scotland’s long-standing commitment to social responsibility and community engagement. The housebuilders are currently creating a range of new communities in Edinburgh, including Barratt Homes @ West Craigs and David Wilson Homes’ West Craigs Quarter.

The Barratt and David Wilson Homes Scotland Community Fund is funded by the Barratt Redrow Foundation, the charitable arm of Barratt Redrow, which aims to help communities across the UK to thrive. Grants will be available exclusively to registered charities operating in the areas in which Barratt and David Wilson Homes build, including the East of Scotland.

Applications for 2026 funding will close on 30 October 2026 with successful applicants continuing to be selected throughout the year*.

For more information about the Barratt and David Wilson Homes Scotland 2026 Community Fund including eligibility and how to apply, visit:

www.barrattredrowfoundation.org.uk/faqs

For more information about Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, visit:

www.barratthomes.co.uk/ and https://www.dwh.co.uk/

Blackhall Library reopens at D Mains Primary School on Monday

We’re delighted to let you know that we’re planning to open the new temporary Blackhall Library at Davidson Main’s Primary School on Monday (8th June).

The opening hours for the library, alongside a programme of planned events and activities, will be available on the Blackhall Library webpage soon.

Due to essential works the library will be closed for one day only on Thursday 25 June. Unfortunately it hasn’t been possible to schedule these works ahead of the library opening, but we’ve been working with contractors to minimise disruption and limit the closure to a single day.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you all into our new space very soon!

Nationwide installs defibrillators and bleed control kits at all 605 branches to support British highstreets

  • Nationwide is the first banking provider to roll out public access defibrillators and bleed control kits across all branches1 – as it becomes Britain’s biggest branch network
  • All 605 Nationwide branches to have a defibrillator and a bleed control kit installed by end of the year
  • Life-saving training for Nationwide colleagues and communities across the UK run by St John Ambulance
  • 87% of people would feel safer with local life-saving equipment: 97% state importance of free, life-saving first aid sessions
  • Forms part of Nationwide’s commitment to High Street and follows promise to keep all branches open until at least 2030

Nationwide is installing life-saving defibrillators and bleed control kits across its 605 branches, while rolling out life-saving first aid sessions in Britain’s local communities.

In what is thought to be the UK’s largest-ever combined rollout, the initiative builds on Nationwide’s long-term commitment to communities.

Britain’s biggest building society, which now has more branches than any other banking provider after overtaking Lloyds Banking Group, has promised to keep all branches open until at least 2030. The rollout, which will see the kits installed from now until the end of the year, is being done in partnership with Visa, with St John Ambulance working alongside Nationwide to offer life-saving training for colleagues and local communities.

The importance of having life-saving equipment readily available locally for emergency services to deploy if needed – and the crucial role the public can play – is made clear by the facts: without first aid intervention, a severe bleed or cardiac arrest can lead to death within minutes.

Severe bleeding remains a leading cause of death after traumatic injury in the UK, with knife- or sharp instrument-related offences totalling around 53,000 in 2024/20252. And of the 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the country each year, fewer than one in 10 people are estimated to survive3.

Yet, if a patient is defibrillated within three to five minutes of collapse, survival rates increase by up to 70 per cent4.

A national poll of over 2,000 people conducted by Nationwide highlights the gap in emergency support within communities:

  • 87% of people would feel safer knowing there is life-saving equipment available in their local area.
  • 88% say life-saving equipment should be as common as fire extinguishers in public – just 27% know the location of their nearest defibrillator and 9% their nearest bleed kit.
  • 89% of people specifically want more public access to bleed control kits due to the rise in knife crime.
  • 56% would find it easier to remember equipment locations when associated with a well-known brand.
  • 97% believe it’s important to have life-saving first aid training available for free in their local area, with over three quarters (77%) of people saying they would attend nearby free sessions.

Despite the need and support for life-saving equipment, there is a gap around public confidence in using resources. More than one in four (27%) wouldn’t feel confident stopping a severe bleed, while 31 per cent wouldn’t feel confident using a defibrillator. Despite the need for urgent intervention, 42 per cent wouldn’t step in for fear of making the situation worse. It is perhaps why over half (51%) don’t believe a stranger would come to their aid in a health emergency.

The lack of confidence is most prevalent among younger people – 18-24-year-olds are more than twice as likely than over-55s (10% vs 4%) to panic in a life-threatening health emergency.

To help build public confidence, Nationwide is working with St John Ambulance to roll out volunteer-led training in life-saving skills. This opportunity will be offered to 4,000 branch colleagues before expanding into ‘Heart of Community’ sessions, giving local people the knowledge and confidence to carry out CPR, use defibrillators and understand how to treat a severe bleed in an emergency.

Amanda Beech, Nationwide’s Director of Retail Services, said: “Nationwide’s unique reach as the UK’s largest branch network gives us the ability to put life-saving equipment where it matters most – in places people already know and trust in their communities.

“By transforming our branches into visible, emergency hubs, we’re making it easier to access help when every second counts.

“Crucially we’re also offering training to all our branch colleagues, before extending that training into the communities we serve. We want more people to feel prepared, confident and ready to act when it matters most.”

St John Ambulance Chief Medical Officer, Professor Andrew Hartle, said: “We’re so pleased to work with Nationwide and Visa on this project, which so perfectly meets St John Ambulance’s mission to put the power of first aid into everyone’s hands.

“With hundreds more public access defibrillators and bleed control kits across the UK, and thousands more people confident to use them, I am confident many more lives will be saved in our communities.”

The kits will be available 24/7 unless within a shopping centre and can be accessed by the public as directed by 999. For more information on where our branches are located visit Nationwide Branch Finder.

So far defibrillators and bleed control kits have been installed across nine Nationwide branches: Tooting, Peacehaven, Seaford, Eastbourne, East Ham, West Wickham, Maidstone, Northampton Kingsthorpe, and Redhill.

Investigation into residential property arrangements with members of the Royal Family

Royal Family property arrangements vary according to requirements and provider   

  • Seven members of the Royal Family occupy five properties leased from The Crown Estate – the lease terms vary, reflecting factors including upfront premium payments, refurbishment costs and early surrender clauses. 
  • The Royal Household provides eleven working members of the Royal Family with seven residences within the occupied royal palaces at no cost in exchange for their official duties. 
  • Three properties in the occupied royal palaces are rented to non-working Royals – the Household’s policy is to charge an adjusted rent of typically 60% of the open market value. These three rents are currently paid by the Privy Purse.

The rent and lease arrangements for members of the Royal Family differ depending on why the accommodation is required and whether the property is managed by The Crown Estate (TCE) or The Royal Household (the Household), according to a new National Audit Office (NAO) report.

Seven members of the Royal Family occupy five properties leased from TCE. Of these, three properties are leased under the names of individual Royals, one is leased to a company, and the other is co-leased to a Royal and a trust.

Two additional properties are leased to members of the Royal Family for use by their staff.

TCE has established processes for agreeing leases,5 which include seeking independent valuation advice. It uses this information to negotiate final lease terms, which vary depending on the circumstances of each individual property and market conditions.

The differences in lease terms include the value of upfront premium payments; subletting rights; the assignability of leases; refurbishment and renovation costs; and early surrender clauses.

The leases on Royal Lodge, Bagshot Park and Thatched House Lodge have sub-letting provisions. In the case of Royal Lodge, three cottages on the estate were sublet with income generated payable to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. These properties have been vacant since April 2026.

The Royal Lodge lease has an early surrender clause and possible compensation. This means Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who requested early surrender of the property’s lease on 30 October 2025, could be entitled to compensation payment of £301,967.66, assuming the full 12-month notice period is served anddepending on dilapidation costs at handover which, at the time of publication, had not yet been assessed.7

The Household, which manages the land and buildings in the occupied royal palaces, has policies setting out the amount of rent payable for use of space and facilities within the estate. In 2024-25, it generated £3.6 million in rental income by charging for non-official use of residential properties.

The rent due depends on factors including the tenant’s role within the Royal Family or Household, whether the accommodation is required for official duties, and whether it is within a secure location.

Eleven members of the Royal Family have seven residences within St James’s Palace and Kensington Palace and use these at no cost in exchange for carrying out official duties.

Three properties in the occupied royal palaces are rented to non-working members of the Royal Family. In these instances, Household policy is to charge an adjusted rent of typically 60% of the open market value. However, this policy has not always been strictly followed. These three rents are currently paid by the Privy Purse.

The Household also generates income from a further 145 properties used by its staff, who are required to live within occupied royal palaces and contribute a proportion of their salaries towards accommodation costs. In 2025-26, this was 16.7% of gross pensionable salary.

The Monarch is permitted to move properties between TCE and the Household through three legislative acts, often referred to as ‘grace and favour’ arrangements. Contrary to the commonly held definition, these properties are not provided free of charge to those occupying them. Instead, charges for occupying these properties vary depending on several factors, including who the tenant is and the role they perform.

Currently, the Household manages 52 ‘grace and favour’ properties that were previously part of TCE – typically flats and cottages located in Windsor used by Household staff and pensioners.

national audit-office-royalsDownload

British Pipe Band Championships hit new heights as record crowds and bands descend on Ingliston

125 bands from across the UK gathered at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, for the 2026 British Pipe Band Championships on Saturday 30 May.

Hosted by the Royal Highland Centre and the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA), the event attracted almost double the number of competing bands and spectators compared to its debut at the venue in 2025, including a significant increase in Grade 1 entries.

One of the biggest events in the piping calendar, more than 2,300 visitors enjoyed a full day of world-class piping and drumming, drum major competitions and family entertainment.

Mark Currie, Managing Director, Royal Highland Centre, said: “The growth of the Championships in just its second year at Ingliston has been fantastic to see.

“Welcoming almost double the number of bands and spectators demonstrates both the strength of our partnership with the RSPBA and the Royal Highland Centre’s capacity to host major cultural and sporting events.

“The atmosphere throughout the day was incredible and the Championships are becoming an increasingly important fixture in our events calendar. We look forward to building on this success in the years ahead.”

Colin Mulhern, Chief Executive of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, said: “The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association was absolutely delighted with the success of the British Pipe Band Championships at The Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston.

“The event showcased the very best of pipe band competition, with outstanding performances from bands across all grades, creating a fantastic atmosphere for competitors, supporters, and spectators alike.

“The Royal Highland Centre proved to be an excellent venue, providing first-class facilities and a superb setting for one of the major championships in the pipe band calendar. We are extremely grateful to all the bands, adjudicators, volunteers, staff, partners, and attendees whose commitment and enthusiasm contributed to such a memorable day.

“Following the success of this year’s event, The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association is delighted to confirm that we will be returning to The Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, on 29 May 2027 for the British Pipe Band Championships.

“We look forward to building on this year’s success and welcoming the pipe band community back to what has become a truly outstanding championship venue.”

The British Pipe Band Championships will return to the Royal Highland Centre on Saturday 29 May 2027.

Granton Youth invitation

For the next 3 weeks we are inviting you along to attend our P7/S1 youth club on a Monday night at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre 5pm – 6:15pm.

Primary 6’s going into primary 7 can also attend our summer program (which launched last night)

Hope to see some new faces soon,

Gy xx

Edinburgh Zoo archive celebrates 110 years of memories

A special Memories Week exhibition will take visitors through the Zoo’s remarkable past, revealing how generations of memories continue to shape its future

Families, visitors and supporters are invited to celebrate generations of memories as the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo opens the doors to its past this June. The rare archive material, much of it unseen for over 100 years, goes on public display during a special Memories Week from 13 – 21 June 2026. 

The week-long celebration will shine a spotlight on the wildlife conservation charity and the generations of people who have grown up visiting Edinburgh Zoo, from first family days out and school trips to encountering some of its most loved animals.

Highlights include children’s letters addressed to “Mr Zoo Man”, photographs and memorabilia from community events such as a 1927 carnival, and early records from the Zoo’s opening on 22 July 1913, when visitors reportedly left with mud on their finest shoes due to ongoing construction.

The exhibition also reveals how founder Thomas Haining Gillespie described creating Edinburgh Zoo as “an obsession”, despite many believing Scotland’s climate made it impossible to house animals from around the world. Determined to create something different from the time, Gillespie championed a revolutionary “open-air zoo” concept, giving animals more natural spaces and room to retreat from public view.

The early meetings did not always run smoothly. At RZSS’s first annual meeting in July 1909, attendance was reportedly so low that organisers had to call in a passerby from the street to make up the numbers needed to pass motions. Despite this, the focus of these early gatherings remained the creation of a new zoological garden in Scotland.

David Field, CEO of RZSS said; “Edinburgh Zoo holds a special place in the hearts of so many people. Memories Week is a chance to celebrate those connections and the role the Zoo has played across generations.

“We want people to come along, reminisce, share their stories, bring in their keepsakes and be part of preserving this incredible history for the future.

“Some parts of the archive reflect a very different time and understanding of animal care and conservation than we have today.

“We would not attempt to defend everything from the past, but it is important to acknowledge how much has changed over more than a century and how those lessons have helped shape the conservation and welfare values we continue to build on today.”

FetLor’s Pig Race Night!

SATURDAY 6 JUNE from 5 – 7.30pm

THE SCOTTISH ENGINEER, TELFORD ROAD

Our Amazing Parents have some great news!

Hiya!

Pig Race Fundraiser event is this Saturday!

There are very few tickets remaining at £2.50 per head. The event starts at 5pm and will last around 2.5 hours, hosted by The Scottish Engineer, Edinburgh .

Kids are welcome but need to be out by 8pm.

For those already coming, please ensure you bring change. Pig totes will be £2 so the more change you have the better!

Raffle tickets are available now and on the night with some amazing prizes (attach the square).

If you are unable to attend, can you support the night by buying some raffle tickets?!

ALL money raised is going towards the Summer Programme ☀️

All funds can be sent to the following link;

https://www.justgiving.com/page/tracy-gaven-4…

Please leave your name and what you want (event tickets or raffle tickets) and drop Traci a message on 07961751617

Thank you in advance

Pig Race Fundraiser Team