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New research reveals half of Scottish workers want more flexibility at work

Half of Scottish workers want more flexibility – and more than 1 in 3 with children would consider term-time-only working, according to new survey

New survey from YouGov, commissioned by Amazon, explores Scottish views on workplace flexibility
While 51% of workers in Scotland would like more flexible working options from their employer, almost half (44%) say they have NO option to work flexibly at all
More than one in three (34%) of all parents with children aged 18 and under would consider term-time working; an innovative option recently introduced by Amazon for its Operations employees in Dunfermline and across the UK

© Tim George/ UNP 0845 600 7737 Amazon PRIDE: EMA2 Dan Neilson

As parents across Scotland plan ways to keep their children active and entertained during the school holidays, new research reveals that more than one in three working Scottish parents would consider term-time only working to improve work/life balance.

A YouGov poll commissioned by Amazon, reveals half (51%) of working parents in Scotland want more flexibility in their jobs, while more than one in three (34%) parents in Scotland said they would consider switching to a term-time contract.

Furthermore, almost half (44%) of those questioned in Scotland say their current employer offers no opportunity to work flexibly at all.

The survey follows a recent expansion of Amazon’s own ground-breaking term-time working option which aims to help employees and their families. The flexibility guarantees time off during the summer, Christmas and Easter school holidays for parents, grandparents and guardians of school-age children.

Launched as a response to employee feedback, term-time working is now available to thousands of people across Amazon’s operations network following a pilot in the company’s larger fulfilment centres to understand how the option could better support families during school holidays.

The company also recently introduced Amazon Anytime; a flexible part-time contract for a minimum of 80 hours a month, which lets employees pick and mix the shifts which suit their needs – part-day or full-day, day or night, weekday or weekend.

The new survey also reveals:

Three quarters (74%) of working parents in Scotland say flexible working is a priority when thinking about their next job
A better work-life balance (63%) and less commuting (53%) are the top perceived benefits of flexibility for working parents in Scotland

John Boumphrey, Amazon’s UK Country Manager, said: “These findings clearly demonstrate the huge importance of workplace flexibility, and why it matters so much to employees in Scotland and across the UK.

“At Amazon, we’re always listening to our employees and innovating for our people, and we’re delighted to offer these ground-breaking contracts to help provide employees and their families more flexible options.

“We have a variety of different full-time and part-time contracts, and we’ve also provided a four-day working week for our fulfilment centre employees for many years. Term-time working and Amazon Anytime are examples of how we continue to use feedback to support our people, help with childcare needs, and give families more time together.”

Amazon employees can also take advantage of Amazon’s pioneering Career Choice programme, which pre-pays up to 95% of costs for nationally accredited courses in high-demand fields (up to £8,000 over four years), regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon.

Competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and a modern, safe and engaging work environment are provided for Amazon employees. The roles pay a minimum of £12.30 per hour depending on location, as well as up to £33,500 a year for degree-level apprenticeships.

All employees can also benefit from a package that includes private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, and an employee discount – which combined are worth thousands annually – as well as a company pension plan.

Amazon has been named as a ‘Top Employer UK 2024’ by the Top Employer Institute, one of the world’s most prestigious certifications in the field of human resources management.

This award recognises Amazon’s commitment to the development and well-being of its employees. In addition to the UK accolade, Amazon has also been certified as one of the Top Employers in Europe for a second consecutive year.

Amazon was also recently ranked first in the top 50 employers of veterans in the UK by the GREAT British Employers of Veterans, a comprehensive benchmark of the leading companies that employ veterans.

Scotland hosts global cultural leaders for festival hub of international exchange

The Momentum Delegate Programme kicks off in Edinburgh today, Wednesday 7 August, acting as a central hub from the world-leading Festival City to connect key cultural players from across the world with the wider Scottish and international cultural sector.

Every August during the Edinburgh Festivals the capital of Scotland becomes a global celebration of culture and creativity, with citizens of the city and the country joined by artists and audiences from all over the world.

At Momentum, a cohort of producers, government agencies, funders, stakeholders and programmers from invited countries will join a tailored programme of networking and meetings with creative practitioners, policymakers and educators in Scotland.

The collaborations established will enable long-term relationships, platforming Scotland and its artists and art organisations on the world stage and further cementing Scotland’s international cultural reputation.

Led by Festivals Edinburgh, in partnership with Creative Scotland and British Council Scotland, with additional support from City of Edinburgh Council and Event Scotland, the hub will open its doors from Creative Scotland’s Edinburgh headquarters at Waverley Gate.

On behalf of Momentum partners, Julia Amour, Director of Festivals Edinburgh said: “The Edinburgh Festivals are distinctively Scottish yet profoundly international, and we’re delighted to welcome cultural representatives from around the globe to our Momentum programme, where we will help them build relationships with our festivals and the wider Scottish cultural sector.”

The 36 delegates arriving are from Viet Nam, Sweden, South Korea, the MENA region (Middle East & North Africa), Türkiye, Mexico and Poland – as well as two artform delegations for Literature and Visual Arts. Information on each area, its delegates and sessions are available on the Momentum website.

Since 2011, Momentum has brought over 700 international delegates to Edinburgh during the buzz of the city’s August festivals. These have contributed to multiple collaborations, most recently:

Scottish Dance Theatre (SDT) connected with Ciało/Umysł, an international contemporary dance festival in Warsaw, developed from a meeting set up by the Momentum team last year. After the initial introduction, with support from the Momentum follow-up fund, SDT Artistic Director Joan Clevillé visited Poland for Ciało’s dance platform.

SDT’s Senior Producer, Robyn Jancovich-Brown said: “The visit enabled SDT to get a sense of the scene, visit venues, make more connections in the area, and, critically, really understand the cultural and political context in which the artists and organisations are working.

“We’re now talking about next steps and exploring plans for an artistic exchange programme in autumn 2025, in which Scottish and Polish dancers will be able to work together.”

Stanza Poetry Festival Artistic Director Ryan Van Winkle met Manuela Moser from the Cúirt International Festival of Literature from Ireland at Momentum 2023.

Ryan said: “Initially Manuela and I had some great chats just about being new in our roles and the challenges of directing festivals. We stayed in touch, sharing ideas about poets and writers, and then agreed to partner on a grant application.

“That enabled us to have an extra event at Stanza last year, in collaboration with Cúirt International Festival of Literature, called Companion Planting. An artist and an author visited from Ireland to talk about strategies of support and examined ‘care’ within collaborative artistic working practices.

“This was a perfect fit with Stanza’s theme last year. It’s rare to see a project happen that fast; I felt lucky to encounter Manuela, and get something going so quickly.”

Edinburgh Festival Fringe draws back the curtain on sustainable living with its Green Home Festival

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, renowned for its vibrant theatre and comedy performances, is expanding its traditional repertoire to include sustainable home and community living, with the popular Green Home Festival making a welcome return.

Now in its third year, the Green Home Festival will take centre stage at Charlotte Square Gardens from 12 to 16 August. At its newly designed venue, the festival will feature a variety of shows, including workshops, panel discussions and live demonstrations, all aimed at encouraging sustainable living practices.

This year’s programme of free-to-attend shows includes:

Accessing and maximising funding options: Learn how to access all the available funding to help in your home transformations.
Demystifying the retrofit journey: A step-by-step guide to retrofitting your home.
Passivhaus for self-builders: Explore energy-efficient building strategies for self-build projects.
Smart home heating technologies: Discover cutting-edge solutions for heating your home efficiently.
Debunking myths about heat pumps in older homes: Clearing up common misconceptions and outlining benefits of installing a heat pump in pre-1919 homes.
Sustainable materials in construction: From low-carbon bricks to innovative seaweed-based paints and more.

Gordon Nelson, Scotland Director of the Federation of Master Builders and lead organiser, commented, “The Green Home Festival’s ever-growing popularity reflects the increasing demand for sustainable living solutions. We aim to educate, inform, and inspire action towards greener practices crucial for our future.

“Leveraging the popularity of the globally renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe allows us to effectively communicate the essential changes and diverse options available to everyone for a low carbon transition.”

Targeting a wide audience from homeowners and community groups to international visitors, the festival shows that small changes can have a big environmental impact. Featuring a lineup of expert speakers and practical demonstrations, such as a full-size heat pump, the Green Home Festival is essential for anyone interested in making a sustainable difference.

Admission to all events at the Green Home Festival is free.

For more information and to book your tickets, please visit

www.greenhomefestival.co.uk.

Graceful granny celebrates 70 years of performance

Edinburgh local attends her 18th Fringe Festival after seven decades of performing arts

A CELEBRATED 77-year-old performer is marking a milestone as she gears up for her 18th appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, proving that passion for the arts knows no age.

Elizabeth Frances Dell, fondly known as Lyzzie, has been captivating audiences since she was seven.

Now at 77, she continues to shine, delighting thousands of art lovers annually as a dedicated member of the Edinburgh People’s Theatre.

Despite facing a stroke five years ago, Lyzzie has remained undeterred, continuing to audition and perform.

The former teacher and nurse is set to showcase her talents in the Scottish comedy ‘Ne’er the Twain’ at this year’s Fringe Festival.

Reflecting on her journey, Lyzzie said: “I went to the Stage School of Dance when I was seven and that was when I first started getting involved in the arts, from tap dancing and singing to pantomime and Scots comedy, but I truly love all forms of theatre.

“It must have been about 2006 when I started going to the Fringe shows. Even when I’m not on stage, I’m involved in some capacity.

“I really don’t know how many auditions I’ve done because they’re not always successful and you have to accept that. The director knows who would be best for the play, and it’s about fitting in with the whole picture. So, I’m quite happy.

“If I don’t get the part, I’ll do front of house, backstage, or anything else. It’s the teamwork that makes a play work.”

Her latest production Ne’er the Twain – an historical comedy about the amalgamation of Leith and Edinburgh – is running throughout the Fringe at Mayfield Salisbury Church.

Lyzzie said: “It takes place when Edinburgh is going to be amalgamated with Leith and of course Leith didn’t want it, and I learned the history from this.

“When Edinburgh wanted Leith to join up, there was a referendum in Leith and the Leithers just said, ‘absolutely no chance.’ However, Westminster overruled and that is how Leith became part of Edinburgh

“I play Nellie, she’s the old auntie in it and she’s got wee bit secrets to her bow, but she’s a bit of a rogue.”

Lyzzie also puts on regular community performances from shows for the homeless to routines in numerous churches, as well as outdoor performances such as the Edinburgh Easter Play with Cutting Edge Theatre.

None more so benefit from the Edinburgh local’s creativity than the tenants at Hanover Scotland’s Roseburn Court, where Lyzzie has lived for more than 17 years – making her the development’s longest residing tenant.

Lyzzie added: “I’ve been here 17 and a half years, and truthfully, I didn’t want to come at first, but it was the right thing to do. It’s a lovely place to live and I look right onto Roseburn Park and it’s just a nice place to be.

“I’m very lucky to be here. Anytime I have needed help they’ve been tremendously supportive. That’s part of the joy of living here knowing that if anything happens, I will get help and my family doesn’t need to worry. It takes the worry off their shoulders. It’s lovely.

“They have also allowed me to embrace my creative spirit, I help put on regular performances for the other tenants that live here and it really does create a closeknit community.”

Lyzzie hopes that she can continue entertaining people on the stage in whatever capacity she can. She said: “As long as somebody wants me, I’ll do it.

“Whether I am out there performing or helping with props or costumes I just love being involved and putting on a show. Drama is just a very special place to be, it’s just full of amazing characters.”

Tickets for Ne’er the Twain can be purchased on the Edinburgh Fringe Festival website here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/ne-er-the-twain

Hanover Scotland, a pioneering non-profit organisation founded in 1979, empowers independence by providing safe and secure social housing, enabling residents to live fulfilling, independent lives.

With more than 4,500 homes throughout Scotland, Hanover Scotland supports older adults in vibrant local communities.

Guided by values of respect, accountability, collaboration, and inclusion, Hanover Scotland continues to provide excellent, affordable, and modern housing services to meet the diverse needs of its tenants.

To find out more about Hanover Scotland, please visit: https://bit.ly/HanoverScotland

To find out more about Edinburgh People’s Theatre, please visit: https://ept.org

Support for Rock Trust

The Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust (AVCT) is pleased to announce a donation of £3,000 to Rock Trust, Scotland’s dedicated youth homelessness charity.

This funding will support Rock Trust’s efforts to expand their services, including increasing housing provision and introducing their innovative Youth Housing Hub model to Glasgow for the first time.

Rock Trust was formed in 1990 after the discovery that young homeless people had been sleeping rough in the graveyard of St. Cuthbert’s Church in Edinburgh, and since then has grown its operation into Glasgow, the Lothians, Perth and Fife, and is committed to ending youth homelessness.

In 2023 alone, the organization helped over 1,100 young people to avoid, or move on from, homelessness; like Danny, who came to Rock Trust at the age of 16.

Danny was living at home with his mum. Their relationship was troubled to the extent that his aunt had referred him to Rock Trust in the hope that their Early Intervention Programme might improve their relationship through 1-to-1 counselling.

But when an argument between Danny and his mum eventually turned violent, it became clear that he was no longer safe. Rock Trust were quickly able to move him into a shared flat with other young people and a supportive flatmate.

Danny’s support worker has helped him to access financial support and explore his potential. He has started going to art therapy and has completed an external employability course.

At 16, Danny didn’t just need a home, he needed help to process everything that had happened to him, help to discover his potential, guidance on developing essential life skills, and ultimately help to make the transition to adulthood.

Speaking of his experience with Rock Trust, Danny said, “I am more free, I’m happier, and I’m treated like an actual person. I’ve been given opportunities to do stuff and meet new people.

“I think I’m a better person, less antisocial. A lot of bad stuff would have happened if I didn’t have the Rock Trust. I’ve even got a better relationship with my mum now we don’t live together.”

The charity focuses on three strategic pillars: prioritizing prevention, increasing housing availability, and ensuring a focus on future opportunities for young people.

Calum Wright, Trusts and Grants Fundraising Lead at Rock Trust, highlighted the urgency of their work: “Scotland is facing a housing emergency which is disproportionately affecting our young people.

“At Rock Trust, we believe that accommodation, support, education, and employment are the best routes off the streets and away from the misery that accompanies homelessness.

“Thanks to supporters like the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, we can help more young people avoid, survive, and move on from homelessness for good.”

This donation from the AVCT will play a crucial role in Rock Trust’s mission to combat youth homelessness amid rising costs, cuts in statutory funding, and an increasingly competitive fundraising environment.

David Facenna, Corporate Culture Director at Allied Vehicles Group, expressed his support, stating: “Homelessness is a heartbreakingly real prospect for many young people and a frightening reality for others.

“We are proud to support Rock Trust in their vital work to provide immediate and effective assistance to those in need and to help them build a stable future.

Our contribution aims to ensure that more young people have access to safe housing and essential ongoing support to rebuild and lead healthy, independent lives.”

Council wants to hear your views on Community Payback Orders

Edinburgh residents are being asked for their views on Community Payback Orders (CPO) which are given by the Court to people to pay for their crimes as an alternative to a prison sentence.

In particular, we would like to know what you think about the unpaid work part of a CPO which replaced community service in 2011. This is when an individual who has committed an offence does unpaid work in the community.

Examples of unpaid work include:

repairing and reinstating headstones in local cemeteries
developing and maintaining children’s play areas
recycling projects including bicycles and outdoor furniture.

We are seeking your views on the effectiveness of community payback as a way to reduce re-offending and we want to know:

Do you have any experience of people doing unpaid work in your community?
Do you think unpaid work gives people the opportunity to repay the community for the crimes they have committed?
Do you have any ideas about residents, community projects or organisations who could benefit from unpaid work support?

As well as using the questionnaire to comment on community payback you can also recommend groups, residents, organisations or projects that may benefit from unpaid work through the online suggestion form.

Councillor Tim Pogson, Chair of Edinburgh Community Safety and Justice Partnership, said: “Community Payback Orders offer a robust alternative to a prison sentence and allow people to pay back for their crimes through doing unpaid work in the community.

“We are always keen to develop unpaid work opportunities in the capital and the views of our citizens are crucial to this process.

“Past examples of unpaid work include community clear ups, repainting community centres and the ‘Brake the Cycle’ scheme, whereby individuals undertaking CPOs have repaired bicycles for reuse as part of community projects.

“CPOs support participants to learn new skills and gain confidence in themselves and their wider community, all of which contributes to reducing reoffending.

“Through this consultation we want to open up discussion with communities about unpaid work opportunities which is key to properly understanding how CPOs help not only the individuals undertaking unpaid work, but the tangible benefits these bring to communities across our capital city.”

This consultation is open until Monday 9 Sept 2024.

Postgraduate students to showcase their work at Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design

Designs for new products and services, textiles, interiors and fashion garments are among the projects on display at this year’s postgraduate degree show at Heriot-Watt’s School of Textiles and Design in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders.

The Masters Degree Show 2024 features projects from 30 students from countries including the United States, Sri Lanka, India, China, Nigeria, Scotland, Pakistan, Poland and Turkey.

The show is open to the public for one day on Friday 9 August (10am to 4pm), following a private showing on Thursday 8 August for industry partners and friends and family.

Visitors can enjoy the show for free at the High Mill Building in Nether Road, Galashiels, the converted textile mill where the school is based.

The students showcasing their work are graduating from four postgraduate degrees – two Master of Arts (MA) programmes and two Master of Science (MSc) programmes. The MA programmes are Fashion and Textiles Design and Interior Architecture and Design. The MSc programmes are Design Management and Fashion and Textile Management.

MA Fashion and Textiles Design student Rebecca Welsh, from Dunlop in East Ayrshire, Scotland, has created woven cotton textiles that celebrate the life of her late father, David.

“I used objects owned by him as the main source of drawings for my sketchbook,” Rebecca explained. “Each item has a memory tied to it and colours, motifs and patterns in my textile designs evoke those memories. One of my motifs is a frog, which is inspired by an origami frog dad made for me while we waited in accident and emergency when I was younger, after breaking my arm.”

Rebecca previously studied a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Design for Textiles at Heriot-Watt’s School of Textiles & Design and it was during her final year of this degree that her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

“He passed away shortly after my graduation in 2018,” Rebecca said. “I wanted to continue weaving through my Masters degree because I wanted to create a positive memory after such a difficult final year. Dad also helped restore a loom for me – he was a civil engineer and was fascinated by the technical process.”

Rebecca’s textiles are designed to be used for tote bags and small handbags, and feature bands of colour combining different check, tartan and geometric motifs.

MSc Design Management postgraduate Shamita Harsh, from Dehradun, a Himalayan valley in India, designed a career acceleration pathway for women in the workforce, using the skills she learned in product and service design.

The pathway has six career progression steps, including goal setting, leadership training and access to resources such as career accelerators and mentorship, and is based on Shamita’s own experience at work as a journalist and communications strategist.

“I led teams and projects in previous roles, but this wasn’t recognised or reflected in my pay,” Shamita said. “I didn’t have adequate access to career guidance or mentorship that could help with career goal setting.

“I wanted to research career accelerators for women that would bridge this gap and would be accessible to young women professionals from underrepresented groups.”

Chelsie McNab from Peebles in the Scottish Borders is a single mum who returned to Heriot-Watt to study an MA in Interior Architecture and Design. She previously completed a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design at the university.

Chelsie has created a design for a sustainable high school in Peebles. Her approach uses a discipline called biophilic design, where nature is integrated with architecture and urban planning to improve well-being.

“The critical element of my project is a river-centric design connected to the River Tweed through organic shapes and flows throughout the space,” Chelsie explained. “This includes walls with living greenery and encouraging herb gardens in the school’s interior.

“Enhancing connections to nature in this way helps to improve learning experiences and mental health.”

Chelsie completed her degree while looking after her two-year-old son, Mason, and now hopes to work with an architectural firm. She said: “Becoming a single mother and trying to fulfil my career was a challenge.

“But time management and forward-planning helped me through it. I am deeply grateful to Heriot-Watt University for helping to foster my creativity over five years while I navigated the challenges of being a single mum.”

Cath Clark, Postgraduate Programme Director at Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design and Assistant Professor for the MSc Design Management degree, said design skills were more important than ever in industry.

“Designers are key to the success of an organisation,” she said. “Businesses continually have to rethink and reimagine what they do – especially as technology accelerates – and design expertise can give them crucial competitive advantage.

“So design graduates are becoming increasingly valuable to businesses, because they’re problem solvers. Our Masters students have shown huge creativity in their work this year and we’re looking forward to showcasing that.”

Julian Malins, Executive Dean at Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design, said: “Our Masters Degree Show celebrates our postgraduate students and their work and is an important event for us.

“It recognises the tremendous commitment our students have made to their skills and careers. It’s also an opportunity to showcase the talent of our students to industry and to our community here in Galashiels and further afield. We wish all our Masters students the best of luck in their careers.”

Masters students at Heriot-Watt’s campus in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates are also completing their School of Textiles and Design degrees.

Postgraduates at Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design include students with undergraduate degrees looking to enhance their qualifications and skills and working professionals looking to progress their careers.

The School is a centre of excellence in design and dates back to 1883, when classes in weaving, dyeing and chemistry were introduced to train workers for the local textiles industry.

Honorary Graduates include the late British fashion icon Dame Vivienne Westwood. The school’s degree programmes prepare students for roles in industries including fashion design, interior design, textile design, product and service design, digital design and fashion marketing.

The Scottish Borders is at the heart of Scotland’s luxury textile and design industry and is home to manufacturers including Barrie, one of Scotland’s oldest cashmere knitting manufacturers. It was acquired in 2012 by French luxury fashion house Chanel.

Masters Degree Show 2024, Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design

Dates:

Thursday 8 August – 2pm-7pm – private showing for industry partners and friends and family. Register here: Masters Degree Show Opening
Friday 9 August – open to the public, 10am-4pm.

Address: Heriot-Watt University, Scottish Borders Campus, High Mill Building, Galashiels, TD1 3HE

Entry: Free – no tickets required

More information in the Postgraduate students section of our Degree Show 2024 page.

Visual Arts Scotland breaks records with centenary exhibition

Visual Arts Scotland (VAS), a leading platform for national and international contemporary artists, are holding their biggest-ever exhibition in Scotland’s historic Dalkeith Palace this August.

Now and Then: Dalkeith Palace (Part Two) continues a year of centenary celebrations for VAS and will showcase over 540 artworks and 341 artists, making this a record breaking exhibition for the arts charity as it honours its 100th year.

This exhibition celebrates 100 years since VAS was established in 1924 and follows the successful 4 star exhibition, Then and Now: 100 Years Of Visual Arts Scotland (Part One) which took place in Edinburgh’s Royal Scottish Academy earlier this year. Now and Then: Dalkeith Palace (Part Two) will showcase artists from Scotland and beyond, exhibiting a breadth of disciplines across the sprawling 17 room exhibition, including painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, installation, and jewellery.

The exhibition will run from Saturday 17th – Sunday 25th August 2024 and will be open daily from 10am – 4pm with free access. Dalkeith Palace is located just outside Edinburgh and the exhibition expects to reach a global audience as it aligns with the city’s busy festival period.

Tavienne Bridgwater, VAS President, said: “2024 marks 100 years since Visual Arts Scotland was founded. The organisation began as the Scottish Society of Women Artists in 1924 with the aim to empower women after their contribution to the war effort.

“Today, we’re known as Visual Arts Scotland and we’ve spent the past couple of months celebrating our centenary through art fairs, archival reflections, and our successful centenary exhibition (Part One) which took place in Edinburgh’s Royal Scottish Academy and showcased 242 artists and over 300 contemporary artworks.

“Part Two of our centenary exhibition is proving to be even bigger than we’d anticipated and with over 1800 applications, we’re on track to set a new record of participating artists in a Visual Arts Scotland show.

“The exhibition will be held in the beautiful Dalkeith Palace in August, and the palace’s rich history and centuries of stories are fitting with our centenary year ambitions to dig a little deeper into our history whilst also showcasing the best of contemporary art in Scotland.”

Charlotte Rostek, Development Lead for Dalkeith Palace, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Visual Arts Scotland to Dalkeith Palace this August.

“VAS is such a prestigious and dynamic organisation with international reach and this partnership is a perfect match for us as we are beginning to write a new chapter for this beautiful, multi-layered building.

“Dalkeith Palace is one of Scotland’s most significant early classical buildings with an illustrious history reaching back to the middle ages and closely associated with some of our nation’s most important stories.”

“The palace that we see today was the single-minded vision of Anna Scott, the first Duchess of Buccleuch, in the early 1700s paving the way for three centuries of the Buccleuch family’s engagement with culture and patronage of all the arts.

“However, today the palace stands almost empty and, having been very much hidden from public view for more than a century, we are excited to take steps for it to become, once again, a place for culture, community and creativity.

“We can’t wait to see VAS’s artists from all disciplines ‘take over’ the palace this August and very much look forward to a uniquely curated experience. These kinds of partnerships are so important to the Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust as we are re-energising our mission to engage with the past, present and future of this wonderful heritage.’’

Full details on Now and Then: Dalkeith Palace are available here.

Gilded Balloon celebrates Pink Wednesday today with £5 tickets for charity

THOUSANDS OF DISCOUNTED TICKETS WILL RAISE FUNDS FOR WAVERLEY CARE FOR 24 HOURS ONLY

It’s time to paint the town pink once more as Gilded Balloon, one of Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s longest-running venues, kicks off their legendary Pink Wednesday – a 24 hour charity day with £5 tickets for some of the Fringe’s most in-demand shows.

Gilded Balloon’s staff, performers and customers join together to don their best pink outfits and fundraise for this year’s charity partner Waverley Care, all whilst enjoying discounted tickets for Fringe shows, fancy dress, competition prizes and more.

With 130 shows across two venues in 2024, Patter House and the National Museum of Scotland, fans can snap up £5 tickets for comedy, theatre, family, cabaret and more, with a percentage of ticket sales donated directly to Waverley Care, Scotland’s leading HIV and hepatitis C charity.

Acts raising funds for Waverley Care include Jack Docherty in The Chief – No Apologies, Martin Brock, Juliette Burton, Hypnotist Matt Hale, Chris Hall, Pop Off, Michelangelo, Grace Campbell and more, with £5 tickets available for these shows via Gilded Baloon’s box offices and websites.

Visit tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk to view all shows offering £5 tickets today across family, comedy, cabaret, theatre, magic and more.

Ts&Cs: £5 plus handling fees. Tickets to participating shows only, whilst stocks last

Traditionally nicknamed ‘Black Wednesday’ and known as a day of slower ticket sales across the Fringe, Gilded Balloon introduced Pink Wednesday in 2018 to encourage locals and Fringe fans to take a chance on a new show and enjoy discounted tickets, all whilst raising vital funds for charity.

Each £5 ticket sold will see money donated to Waverley Care, as well as charity staff fundraising throughout the day with bucket collections, QR codes and information points.

Waverley Care was founded in 1989 in response to the HIV epidemic in Edinburgh, the charity now focuses on ending new HIV transmission in Scotland by 2030, while continuing to support people and communities affected by HIV, hepatitis C and sexual health inequalities.

Katy and Karen Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloon said: “It’s officially time to paint the town pink again as we launch £5 tickets for one day only, in support of the wonderful Waverley Care.

“Pink Wednesday is a chance for acts, customers and staff to join together and raise money for charity, support our brilliant artists and see some fantastic shows for only £5. It’s a great opportunity to take a chance on something new and buy a ticket for a show you haven’t heard of before, and maybe discover your new favourite comedian!

“We’re thrilled to see so many acts opt in to support Waverley Care by donating a percentage of their ticket sales for today to the charity, as they do unparalleled and vitally important work across Scotland. We hope everyone embraces the Pink Wednesday spirit, dons their best pink outfits today and comes down to get involved!”

Grant Sugden, Chief Executive, Waverley Care said: “Waverley Care is delighted to be chosen as Gilded Balloon’s charity partner for this year’s Pink Wednesday event. This collaboration is an incredible opportunity to tackle HIV stigma and raise vital funds.

“Scotland is on the verge of becoming one of the first countries to achieve zero new HIV transmission. To reach this goal, we need more people to get tested, to improve access to HIV prevention medication Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and to end harmful HIV stigma.

“We look forward to engaging with people attending shows, sharing our mission to end new HIV transmission by 2030, and raising money to support those affected by HIV and hepatitis C across Scotland.”

Waverley Care is Scotland’s leading HIV and hepatitis C charity, and everything they do is guided by the experiences of the people they work with – this ranges from shaping the services they deliver through to how they influence national policy around sexual health and blood-borne viruses (BBVs).

Waverley Care’s vision is a Scotland where anyone living with or at risk of HIV can expect to be treated with acceptance, support and respect. Find out more information and support Waverley Care – www.waverleycare.org

With over 130 shows across two venues including Patter House and the National Museum of Scotland, Gilded Balloon’s programme covers comedy, theatre, magic, kids shows and much more.

Tickets via www.tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk

UK Government unveils AI projects to improve productivity and public services

Government forges ahead with plans to improve the lives of working people with cutting-edge technology, supporting 98 AI projects with a share of £32 million.
New technology innovations set to improve efficiency of prescription deliveries, reduce train delays and help ensure the UK has a skilled construction workforce.
Winning projects span the UK, and funding will benefit over 200 businesses and research organisations.

Companies developing artificial intelligence (AI) to improve safety on construction sites, reduce time spent repairing the railways and cut emissions across supply chains are amongst a number of projects set to receive a share of £32 million in UK Government funding.

Announced today (7 August), almost 100 ground-breaking projects have been awarded financial backing as the government continues its mission to boost productivity and kickstart growth across the economy through AI so everyone is better off.

A total of 98 projects from Southampton to Birmingham and Northern Ireland will receive funding, involving more than 200 businesses and research organisations spanning a range of sectors including public services, driving efficiencies and reducing administrative tasks.

Minister for Digital Government and AI Feryal Clark said: AI will deliver real change for working people across the UK – not only growing our economy but improving our public services.

“That’s why our support for initiatives like this will be so crucial – backing a range of projects which could reduce train delays, give us new ways of maintaining our vital infrastructure, and improve experiences for patients by making it easier to get their prescriptions to them.

“We want technology to boost growth and deliver change right across the board, and I’m confident projects like these will help us realise that ambition.”

Among the projects is V-Lab Ltd, which has received £165,006 to further develop software powered by AI to help people train in the construction sector.

Their system offers immersive, scenario-based virtual simulations of real construction sites to efficiently train workers on risk assessments and safety protocols – helping to ensure the UK has a skilled workforce to deliver the infrastructure the country needs.

As part of the government’s mission to build an NHS which is fit for the future, pharmacies that deliver prescriptions across the country are also set to benefit from this new financial support. A project led by Nottingham-based Anteam will see them working alongside retailers and the NHS to improve the efficiency of their deliveries using AI algorithms.

This technology will match the delivery needs of retailers and hospitals to existing delivery journeys, unlocking under-utilised capacity, cutting carbon emissions and delivering a better experience for patients.

In a transformational change to how our railway network is maintained and inspected, Hack Partners will also lead on the development of an entirely autonomous system which can monitor, manage, and identify defects on rail infrastructure across the country. This represents a significant step forward for the British public, boosting the efficiency and safety of our railway network to deliver a better service for rail users.

The funding announced today will specifically support solutions in ‘high growth’ industries, ensuring AI is at the heart of driving forward greater productivity and efficiency across key areas of the economy.

Cambridge-based Monumo are part of a team awarded £750,152 to develop improved designs for motors in electric vehicles – their 3D Generative-AI Tool is set to improve sustainability across sectors spanning commercial transportation, flight and power generation.

Work on bringing these new innovations to life is already underway as the winning teams begin to develop their solutions to deliver the cost-cutting, efficiency boosting benefits across the UK.

In the field of logistics, Robok Limited are setting to work on their SeeGul AI tool, which uses AI to monitor efficiency, improve resourcing, and identify bottlenecks which hamper productivity for businesses operating warehouses and storage facilities.

Meanwhile, Kelp Technologies are collaborating with fashion retailers Depop and Selfridges to develop real-time pricing and market trend analysis to address the complexity of pricing second hand apparel.

The results of the project will save time and money for retailers and play an important role in growing the second-hand clothing market, reducing waste and greenhouse emissions.

Dr Kedar Pandya, UKRI Technology Missions Fund Senior Responsible Owner and Executive Director of Cross-Council Programmes at UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council said: “These projects will drive AI innovation and economic growth in a diverse range of high-growth industry sectors in all nations of the UK.

“They complement other investments made through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund, which are already helping to boost growth and productivity across the UK by harnessing the power of AI and other transformative technologies.”

The support announced today places UK AI innovation at the heart of the government’s plans to spark economic growth through a productivity revolution. The winning projects are funded through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund to secure the UK’s global leadership in emerging and future AI technologies.

The projects are delivered through the Innovate UK BridgeAI  programme, whose additional support also includes access to training and scientific expertise, expert AI advice and guidance, and greater collaboration between businesses and developers.

It follows the King’s Speech where the government committed to ‘take the brakes off Britain’ through a raft of new Bills, including generating sustainable growth by encouraging investment in industry, skills and new technologies.

A full list of the projects being supported can be found on the UKRI website.