Edinburgh’s Christmas all new Polar Ice Bar will open to the public from Monday 25 November on George Street in Edinburgh’s City Centre
Kept to a chilly -8°C, all walls, bars, tables and decor at this unique sensory experience are made from crystal clear ice using recycled rainwater – the glasses are pure ice as well!
Take a trip to the coolest bar in town before warming up at Edinburgh’s Christmas’ cosy food and drink spots
Edinburgh’s Christmas has today announced the coolest new bar in town, with the city’s first Ice Bar. Visitors are invited to take some time to chill this festive period, at the all-new Polar Ice Bar where tables, chairs and glasses are sculpted entirely from ice.
This unique pop-up bar experience created in partnership with Hamiltons Ice Sculptors and supporting partners Essential Edinburgh, will be located on George Street in Edinburgh’s City Centre and will be kept to a chilly -8°C. Visitors can stay cosy the whole time with warming jackets and gloves provided on arrival.
Inside the Polar Ice Bar, guests will enjoy delicious festive alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, served in an individual pre-carved ice glass, with your first drink included in entry ticket.
Visitors can also take in the bar’s beautiful, engraved ice walls and sculptures featuring winter forests and wildlife, providing the perfect insta-moment for friends and family with group bookings available.
Brand new for Edinburgh’s Christmas in 2024, the Polar Ice Bar is the perfect spot for a cool drink or two with friends, or a cool start to your Christmas party night-out! Warm-up afterwards in George Street’s Coorie Inn, a brand-new Edinburgh’s Christmas attraction hosting a programme of live music, events, and festive workshops, soon to be announced. There are also an incredible array of surrounding bars and restaurants to create the perfect festive night out.
Hamiltons Ice Sculptors’ expert artists will hand carve everything in the bar with sculptures made from crystal clear ice using recycled rainwater.
Edinburgh’s Christmas Polar Ice Bar is open to over 18s and bookable for 30-minute sessions via the edinburgh-christmas.com.
Unique Assembly, producers of Edinburgh’s Christmassaid: “We are thrilled to present the Polar Ice Bar, a brand-new attraction for Edinburgh’s Christmas and the city that is guaranteed to get visitors in the festive spirit.
“Wrap-up warm and come join us for the coolest cocktail in town.”
Roddy Smith, Chief Executive and Director of Essential Edinburgh said: “The Polar Ice Bar will be a great new attraction for George Street.
“As a brand new concept for the city centre it will draw people in to experience something completely different, and then move on to enjoy a drink in our established ‘warm’ bars and restaurants.”
Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions are open daily except Christmas Day, with varying opening dates and times available at the official website. For further information and to buy tickets, please go to edinburgh-christmas.com.
Audiences will have the unique and unusual opportunity to write their own obituaries in a new thought-provoking workshop at this year’s national festival of humanities – Being Human Festival.
This year, the festival celebrates its 10th anniversary, and ‘Obituaries – Landmarks for Life and Living’ is just one of 230 free events taking place in November across the UK in 58 towns and cities.
Experts from Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh will host a creative and interactive workshop that aims to challenge participants to explore their own experiences and celebrate their lives in a new way.
Dr Michelle Elliot, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Dr Giorgos Tsiris, Senior Lecturer in Music Therapy, and Dr Anthony Schrag, Reader in Arts Management and Cultural Policy, will facilitate ‘Obituaries – Landmarks for Life and Living,’ which will invite audiences to think about their life and how they want to be remembered.
Michelle Elliot said: “In an age where social media enables real-time documenting and curating images of everyday life, we invite participants to question what might be the ‘sum’ rather than the ‘parts’ of their lives.
“In most circumstances, obituaries are written after someone’s death, by someone else who is possibly going through their own experience of bereavement. What if we were to change the narrative and ask you to write your own obituary, in life, in this present moment?
“We consider this narrative exercise to be a celebration of, and reflection on, life. It allows you to look back at activities, events, and roles – do they represent what you would want to be remembered for? As you consider your life’s journey to this point, you may find the experience reflective and revealing.
“In this interactive workshop, we will look at examples of obituaries and share in conversations about what everyday life says about who we are and how we live. In this reflective space, we will explore the influences on the stories we live by, live with and perhaps aspire towards.”
2024 marks a landmark anniversary year for the Being Human Festival. Every November over the past decade, the festival invites researchers at universities and affiliated organisations to collaborate with local communities and cultural partners to present hundreds of free public engagement events.
The aim is to celebrate and demonstrate the ways in which the humanities inspire and enrich our everyday lives, help us to understand ourselves, our relationships with others, and the challenges we face in a changing world.
To date, the Being Human Festival has featured more than 2,600 free events and activities, reaching over 260,000 people across the UK.
To tie in with its 10th anniversary, the theme of the festival this year is ‘Landmarks’ and will feature free events across the UK between 7-16th November.
‘Obituaries – Landmarks for Life and Living,’ will take place on 16 November 2024 at St Columba’s Hospice Care, Edinburgh from 1pm to 4pm.
OPENING SATURDAY: National Galleries of Scotland acquires bloody exciting performative artwork by Beagles and Ramsay to Celebrate 40 Years of Scotland’s Photography Collection
Celebrating 40 Years of Scotland’s Photography Collection
This October the National Galleries of Scotland is partying like it’s 1984 with Celebrating 40 Years of Scotland’s Photography Collection, at the Portrait gallery from 26 October 2024 – 16 March 2025.
Step back in time to the 1980s when the National Galleries of Scotland officially began its world-class photography collection.
Explore over 100 art works from Scotland’s national photography collection, dating from the 1840’s to the present day in this free-to-visit exhibition.
Marvel at historic photographs, visit some famous faces and discover an exciting range photographic styles in this eclectic celebration of the nation’s photography collection.
To mark the opening of the exhibition, National Galleries of Scotland has announced the acquisition of an artwork consisting of photographs, film and performance by Glasgow-based artists Beagles and Ramsay.
Sanguis Gratia Artis (Black Pudding Self-Portrait) is a performance piece which features a black pudding self-portrait made from Beagles and Ramsay’s blood.
Exploring the boundaries of the self-portrait, a pint of blood is extracted from each artist and then used to create two black puddings. While the act of making the puddings is central to the artwork, the piece exists beyond the performance with three photographs and a film that has recorded an earlier cooking session.
Sanguis Gratia Artis, translation: blood for the sake of art,will go on display at the Portrait gallery for the first time at National Galleries of Scotland in Celebrating 40 Years of Scotland’s Photography Collection.
The display is made up of 3 photographs including of the artists, black puddings and the ingredients, alongside the recipe for making the black puddings.
Commissioned by the Henry Moore Foundation and Grizedale Arts in 2004 for the exhibition Romantic Detachment at PS1 MoMA, New York, the work was a departure from figurative self-representation. Discover how they bring this art to life in their performance in early 2025 at the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh.
John Beagles and Graham Ramsay have been collaborating since 1996, while also independently teaching at Edinburgh College of Art (Beagles) and Glasgow School of Art (Ramsay).
Working across various media from photography, sculpture and painting to performance and video, much of their work employs self-portraiture as a way to engage with issues of contemporary culture and societal anxieties. They explore subjects such as political disenfranchisement, consumerism and the cult of celebrity.
Alongside Beagles and Ramsay’s display Celebrating 40 Years of Scotland’s Photography Collection showcases the very best of Scotland’s ever growing, 55,000 artwork strong photography collection.
Marking this magnificent milestone, the exhibition reflects on all that has been accomplished in the last four decades and looks to the future.
In the 1980s recognition of photography as an artform was growing rapidly as museums and galleries around the world were looking to establish and grow their collections.
National Galleries of Scotland were no different. Having begun collecting photography in the late 19th century, it was in 1984 that the National Galleries of Scotland collection was formally established.
A world-renowned photography collection, it is regarded as one of the best in the UK. Due to its original remit to collect the very best of Scottish and international photography, the collection has developed over the last 40 years to have global reach.
This lively exhibition explores the major themes, subjects and processes from throughout the history of photography, including works by major photographers such as Julia Margaret Cameron, Robert Mapplethorpe and Annie Leibovitz.
Highlighting the enticing and universal nature of photography, the exhibition will include six themes; portraiture, landscape, documentary photography, archives, inclusion and experimentation.
Find portraits of famous Scots such as, Andy Murray, The Proclaimers, Jackie Kay and David Tennant as well as fun and vibrant portraits such as Viviane Sassen’s In Bloom.
Celebrating the connectivity and nostalgia that photographs bring to people worldwide, the exhibition looks at how this incredible artform can be traced through generations of Scottish photographers and schools of photography. Embracing the eclectic nature of photography, vibrant displays will create interesting contrasts and connections between historic and contemporary images.
Discover how the ideas and subject matters that started with David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson in the 1840s continues to be photographed centuries later with different and modern cameras.
Take pride in the influential alumni of Scottish photography schools whose connections extend around the world, making Scotland a significant home to photography.
Explore the idea of what makes a photograph, reflecting on changing technology and taking a look at artists who are pushing the boundaries of what we might have traditionally thought of as a photograph.
Get a deeper understanding of how photographers have explored the themes of landscape and environment change including a new acquisition by American, Sant Khalsa combining photography and sculpture.
Displayed alongside early Scottish photographs by John Muir Wood, showcasing the beautiful shapes created by trees. This offers a fascinating look at how these two artists explore the same subject matter in completely different ways.
Discover works by revered international photographers, with exceptional photographs from the ARTIST ROOMS collection, jointly owned by the National Galleries of Scotland and Tate.
The exhibition draws a selection of works by globally renowned artists, such as Robert Mapplethorpe and Diane Arbus. This will also be the first time the National Galleries of Scotland has shown work from the ARTIST ROOMS collection by Don McCullin, one of the world’s greatest photojournalists.
Scotland is known as a centre for documentary photography and the exhibition will celebrate this with a medley of the best documentary photographers who have made work in Scotland.
Weaving in some old favourites and new acquisitions this will highlight photographers such as Alfred Eisenstaedt, Eve Arnold, David Hurn, Joseph Mackenzie and Bert Hardy. A wall of Hill & Adamson’s Newhaven fisherwomen will mark an important moment in the development of documentary photography not just in Scotland but in the history of the medium.
Looking to the next 40 years, the exhibition also focuses on acquisitions from the last decade which address issues such as equality, inclusion and diversity. National Galleries of Scotland actively seek opportunities to broaden representation across the collection and the exhibition highlights this as a priority area for collecting in the future.
Representation of female photographers has been a recent priority, with work by artists including Chrystel Lebas, Wendy McMurdo, Chloe Dewe Mathews and Arpita Shah entering the collection.
Anne Lyden, Director-General at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: ‘Photography is a cornerstone of the National Galleries of Scotland, accounting for almost half of the entire collection.
“It is with great delight that we celebrate the medium with this impressive and engaging exhibition drawn entirely from the vast holdings of the nation’s collection.
“Over the course of the last forty years many photographers, collectors, donors, curators, and enthusiasts have contributed to this important world-class collection which belongs to the people of Scotland.
“We are excited to celebrate this anniversary with our visitors through such a dynamic display.’
Louise Pearson, Photography Curator at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: ‘The 40th anniversary is the perfect moment to draw from the full breadth of Scotland’s photography collection.
“This vibrant and fun exhibition includes photographs of famous Scots and works by photographers who have become household names.
“It opens many possibilities in making connections across our country’s photography collection, sharing highlights as well as celebrating lesser-known works.
“We want visitors to join us in celebrating the collection and take pride in Scotland’s contribution to photography worldwide.’
This exhibition is funded by The Morton Charitable Trust and the players of People’s Postcode Lottery
If you’re ready to embark on a journey towards a healthier, more active lifestyle, there has never been a better time to take the first step with a special promotion at Edinburgh Leisure – just in time to drop a few pounds before the Christmas festivities.
From 25th October to 10th November, you can join any of Edinburgh Leisure’s fitness, climb or golf memberships for a joining fee of just one penny. This limited-time offer is your golden opportunity to experience the benefits of being a part of Edinburgh Leisure.
Their memberships are designed to cater to all fitness levels and interests. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just starting out, they have something for everyone. The new Evolve Membership at Meadowbank Sports Centre is also included in this offer.
By taking advantage of this offer, you’ll gain access to 50+ venues, including 17 top-notch gyms, 12 swimming pools, 6 golf courses, 1 world-class climbing arena, and sports facilities across the city. Enjoy the flexibility of choosing from over 750 fitness classes each week, including yoga, pilates, spinning, and more.
Their expert trainers are there to support and motivate you every step of the way, ensuring you achieve your fitness goals in a fun and engaging environment.
And as a member, you can also enjoy additional member benefits like priority bookings, and free gym introduction. There is no contract – and you can freeze or cancel your membership at any time.
So, wherever you’re at on the map or in life, Edinburgh Leisure has something to suit your needs.
The new real Living Wage rates are now worth over £2,262 more per year in the UK than the legal minimum, and over £4,700 more in London
Nearly £3.5bn in extra wages has gone to low paid workers since 2011
The Living Wage Foundation has revealed that the Real Living Wage will increase to £12.60 next year.
Almost half a million people working for more than 15,000 real Living Wage Employers throughout the country are set for a vital cost-of-living pay boost, as the real Living Wage rates rise to £12.60 an hour across the UK (60p or 5% increase), and £13.85 an hour in London (70p or 5.3% increase).
Recent research by the Living Wage Foundation shows that despite inflation easing, many of Britain’s 3.7m low paid workers are still struggling with the impact of years of high prices, with 42% having less than £10 left each week after covering essential expenses, 39% having used a food bank in the past year and 32% have skipped meals for financial reasons.
The real Living Wage vs the ‘National Living Wage’ – the difference
The real Living Wage is different to the government’s minimum wage rate, which for those over the age of 21 is often called the “National Living Wage”. It is a higher, voluntary rate that is independently calculated based solely on the actual cost of living. The Government’s rate is the legal minimum businesses are required to pay by law.
The real Living Wage applies to all workers over the age of 18 working for a Living Wage Employer and is £12.60 an hour. The ‘National Living Wage’ applies to those over the age of 21 and is worth £11.44 an hour.
A full-time worker earning the new, real Living Wage would earn £2,262 a year more than a worker earning the current government minimum (NLW), and £1,170 more than their current pay. In London, a full-time worker on the new real Living Wage rate would earn an additional £4,700 a year compared to a worker on the current NLW, and £1,365 more than their current pay.
Despite the economic challenges, in the past three years record numbers of employers have signed up to pay the real Living Wage, including to their third-party contractors like cleaners and security guards, with 1 in 9 employees now working for an accredited Living Wage Employer.
There are now over 15,000 Living Wage Employers, with recent accreditations including Pieminister, Fred Perry and the National Theatre. They join half of the FTSE 100 companies, household names like Aviva, Everton FC, Ikea, Burberry and LUSH as well as thousands of small businesses, who are choosing to pay the real Living Wage to provide workers and families with greater security and stability.
There are now 180 Living Hours Employers, including abrdn, Aviva, and West Brom Building Society, going beyond payment of the real Living Wage to also provide a guaranteed minimum of 16 hours work a week, a month’s notice of shift patterns and a contract that reflects hours worked.
Over 50 employers who want to ensure their workers never face poverty in retirement are signed up to the Living Wage Foundation’s Living Pension accreditation. Living Pension Employers provide a Living Pension savings level using either a cash (£2,950) or percentage (12%) target, with a minimum of 7%, or £1,720, contribution coming from the employer.
Katherine Chapman, Living Wage Foundation Director, said:“Low paid workers have been hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis and are still struggling to stay afloat amidst persistently high prices.
“The real Living Wage remains the only UK wage rate calculated based on actual living costs, and the new rates announced today will make a massive difference to almost half a million workers who will see their pay increase.
“It’s a challenging time for businesses too, which is why it is so encouraging to see the Living Wage movement continue to grow at pace. This year, we reached the major milestone of 15,000 accredited Living Wage Employers – with half of them signing up since 2021.
“Employers who want to go beyond the Government’s minimum wage and ensure their workers are paid in line with the real cost of living can look to these leading employers and accredit with the Living Wage Foundation.”
The City of Edinburgh Council is a Living Wage employer.
Responding to the news, Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “Thousands of workers across Edinburgh are set for a boost in pay from May thanks to the new Living Wage rate.
“Helping our city’s workers as the cost of living soars, the rate set by the Living Wage Foundation will rise by 60p to £12.60 an hour across the UK.
“Too many people in our city have been pushed into deprivation because of insecure work. It really can happen to any of us and that is why the Living Wage is such a powerful tool for making sure people are paid fairly for their work.
“Considering the increasing pressures businesses are also under, we are so appreciative of the way Edinburgh employers continue to lead the way in Scotland, making Living Wage the norm.”
The city council is supporting calls for fairer pay in local government.
Following agreement by the Policy and Strategy Committee, the Council Leader will write to the Scottish and UK Governments requesting new funding for local councils to support a pay award for all workers, in line with calls from trade unions.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “There are 80,000 people living in poverty in Edinburgh and because of the soaring cost of living, in-work poverty is rising. One of the most effective ways we can prevent hardship is to provide people with a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
“We have close to 20,000 Council workers keeping our city clean, safe and moving and we’re calling on Government to properly and fully fund a fair pay award for each one.”
This autumn, experience the after-dark magic where disco meets modern-day elegance at Lady Libertine, as the subterranean venue launches its brand-new GREY GOOSE® Lates.
Taking over the stylish Edinburgh basement, this exclusive series of two intimate late-night parties promises electrifying performances, signature cocktails, and vibrant disco ambiance.
Kicking off the series just in time for All Hallows’ Eve on Thursday, 31st October from 7 PM until late, the alternative Halloween event will feature a live DJ set from the wildly unpredictable Billy Woods, known for his eclectic and bold beats that are sure to captivate the crowd.
Also supporting the evening is Craig Smith, adding his unique flair to what promises to be a chic, no-tricks Halloween filled with stacked disco tunes.
On Thursday, 21st November, the final GREY GOOSE® Lates event will showcase the smooth sounds of CC:Disco!, renowned for her feel-good sets and the self-proclaimed intergalactic vampire Kitty Kat, delivering an energising disco experience while indulging in Lady Libertine’s signature GREY GOOSE® cocktails.
For music lovers and cocktail connoisseurs alike, GREY GOOSE® Lates at Lady Libertine offers the ultimate evening escape this autumn.
Guests to either event can enjoy a curated selection of cocktails and classic martini serves from Lady Libertine’s bar including: Starry Night – a refreshing signature sip with GREY GOOSE®, Briottet Banana, Aperol, Absinthe, and Raspberry, or Garden of Eden – a long spritz with GREY GOOSE®, Italicus, Limoncello, Absinthe andCremant.
A must try is the Strawberry Fields Forever mixed with GREY GOOSE®, Verjus, Strawberry & Basil Shrub, Basil Leaves, Soda, and Cremant for a fresh, fizzy finish. This exclusive cocktail menu runs until the end of November.
To buy a ticket to experience GREY GOOSE® Lates at Lady Libertine— head to https://ladylibertine.co.uk/whats-on/ Admission to each event is £10 and includes live DJ set entertainment and one cocktail.
Both events run from 7PM until 1AM at Lady Libertine on October 31st and November 21st.
Dobbies Edinburgh store will mark the start of its festive events season with the return of its late-night Christmas Shopping Night this November, in support of its National Charity Partner, Teenage Cancer Trust.
Dobbies’ Christmas Shopping Night, taking place on Thursday 21 November from 5pm to 9pm, is offering customers the chance to experience Christmas, in every sense, as it opens its doors for the popular late-night shopping event.
From fragrant tree displays, twinkling lights and eye-catching decorations, to the sounds of Christmas music and jingle bells, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and experience the magic of Christmas at Dobbies, while browsing its 2024 festive collections and taking advantage of special offers.
On arrival, guests will be greeted with a complimentary glass of fizz and invited to browse up until 9pm to experience Christmas, in every sense. Guests can enjoy some festive food treats and live demonstrations throughout the store, as well as enjoy a special two-course Christmas menu in the restaurant for just £17.
Local community groups can also apply to take part in the evening’s festivities by decorating their very own faux Christmas tree to be unveiled on the night. Entries are now open for schools, charities and community groups, with a number of stores selecting up to three groups to decorate their tree in time for Christmas Shopping Night. Selected groups will be invited to put on a special tree-side performance, with carols, readings and songs. The decorated trees will form part of Dobbies’ magical festive displays and remain on show in the store in the run up to Christmas.
Ayesha Nickson, Dobbies’ Events Programme Manager said: “Our annual Christmas Shopping Night is a fantastic way to get into the festive spirit, while contributing to a great cause. We have raised more than £1.39million for Teenage Cancer Trust since the start of our partnership.
“We’re excited to welcome local groups to take part in this year’s celebrations, including the unveiling of the specially decorated Christmas trees. You can also get your Christmas shopping off to a great start with special offers and gift ideas for all your family.”
Donna Bednarek, Senior Relationships Manager for Teenage Cancer Trust, added: “We are incredibly grateful to Dobbies for their ongoing support and dedication to raising vital funds for Teenage Cancer Trust.
“Events like the Christmas Shopping Night help us to continue to provide life-changing care and support to young people with cancer across the UK. We’re thrilled to be part of such a magical evening, and it’s heartwarming to see the community come together to support our cause.”
Tickets are priced at £1, available at www.dobbies.com and in-store, and all proceeds from ticket sales and fundraising on the night will be donated to Teenage Cancer Trust.
For more information on Decorate your Christmas Tree with Dobbies, visit: events.dobbies.com.
Explore Dobbies’ new season ranges and browse festive inspiration at www.dobbies.com.
Bright Red Triangle (BRT), the enterprise hub at Edinburgh Napier University (ENU), has agreed a significant new partnership with Queen Margaret University (QMU) and Edinburgh College (EC) which will offer entrepreneurial support to their students, graduates and staff.
The formal agreement, which is the first of its kind in Scotland, means more budding entrepreneurs will be able to use services such as advice, training, workshops, and opportunities to turn innovative ideas into business ventures.
The collaboration will also offer specialist support across each institution’s key areas of expertise – including wellbeing, health, food and drink, creative industries, tourism, design, engineering, construction, computing, and AI.
Since its formation in 2005, BRT has supported more than 1,000 start-ups and freelancers from the ENU community. They have access to the BRT Start Up Studio in Edinburgh, one-to-one support from business advisers, online and in-person training opportunities, and a wealth of contacts.
These services will now be extended to students, graduates and staff of QMU and Edinburgh College. In addition, the student and graduate communities will be able to use BRT services at their own institutions, providing those seeking support with more convenience and flexibility, as well as the opportunity to collaborate with entrepreneurs from the other institutions.
Over the last year BRT has appointed two Entrepreneurs-in-Residence – tech sector leader, Nigel Chadwick, and serial entrepreneur and chair of Women’s Enterprise Scotland (WES), Lynne Cadenhead. A new training collaboration with WES, which supports female-led businesses, has also been set up.
The agreement will aim to create a strong entrepreneurial network across the three institutions, in line with the Scottish Government’s National Innovation Strategy 2023-2033 and its Entrepreneurial Campus blueprint.
It is hoped the partnership will help support more people to follow in the footsteps of entrepreneurs like Lauren Leisk. The QMU graduate and founder for Fodilicious, a specialist food company producing the UK’s first low FODMAP certified products for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), has made the most of support services at QMU since graduating.
Lauren said: “I’m inspired by this latest move to partner with Bright Red Triangle, which has an international reputation for entrepreneurial support.
“Scotland needs better services which support women to develop as entrepreneurs – equipping them to navigate the business environment more quickly when they graduate.
“I think that this partnership will only improve support for talented people who harbour ambitions to run their own business. I’m certainly looking forward to accessing BRT services which will help me grow Fodilicious by identifying new routes to market.”
Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal and Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, said:“We take great pride in the many examples of entrepreneurial spirit which have emerged from the Edinburgh Napier community in recent years.
“Bright Red Triangle has an impressive record of helping to transform innovative ideas into viable, difference-making businesses.
“We hope this agreement to extend BRT’s support to the QMU and Edinburgh College communities will offer a platform to more aspiring entrepreneurs, grow the networks of our enterprise hub and strengthen regional partnerships.”
Sir Paul Grice, Principal of Queen Margaret University, said: “We recognise the collaborative power that universities have in creating the entrepreneurs of the future and the impact of this on the economy, and we are pleased that the BRT partnership presents a unique interdisciplinary offering that ensures more students, graduates and researchers in Scotland have the opportunity to access an entrepreneurial education.
“By capitalising on BRT expertise and working collaboratively, we can create a cultural shift which helps more graduates to view entrepreneurship as a viable career path.
“This exciting partnership allows QMU to build on its long-term collaboration with Business Gateway East Lothian by harnessing BRT’s extensive expertise in entrepreneurial support and improving graduate skills and employability by stimulating entrepreneurial mindsets.”
Michael Jeffrey, Vice Principal of Edinburgh College said:“Equipping people with entrepreneurial skills as well as technical and vocational training is essential for preparing them to thrive in today’s dynamic economy.
“At Edinburgh College, we work collaboratively with a range of partners to ensure we are empowering students to not only excel in their chosen careers but to become the entrepreneurs and innovators of the future.
“We’re excited to be joining up with our university partners, through Bright Red Triangle, to tap into the wealth of entrepreneurial support available to students, staff and our wider college community, and provide increased opportunities to access business support and advice across the city.”
Long-standing enterprise and financial education programmes for schools and colleges to cease immediately as Young Enterprise Scotland denied Scottish Government support
Young Enterprise Scotland, a national charity that has delivered enterprise education to schools and colleges for over 30 years, is now at risk of closing after the Scottish Government scrapped established grants and failed to follow through on funding assurances.
The national charity is facing closure due to the Scottish Government’s failure to honour funding assurances and last-minute changes to funding methods.
YE Scotland, which develops entrepreneurial mindsets in young people and educators has been a crucial strategic delivery partner in supporting national ambitions in education and entrepreneurship. The organisation has lost its full Scottish Government grant, which accounts for the majority of its overall income.
If no emergency funding can be sourced, the organisation will be forced to close. Thousands of hours of practical learning to primary and secondary students in the circular economy, teamwork, communication, financial planning, sales and marketing and more will be immediately wiped off the school week.
Students will no longer be able to complete the SCQF Level 6 qualification ‘higher’ in entrepreneurship and up to 31 jobs will be lost.
Last year, YE Scotland supported over 18,000 school and college students through its enterprise programmes, including its flagship Company Programme, which many entrepreneurs credit with setting them on a successful business career. In the past three years, more than 1,000 students have gained a YE Scotland enterprise qualification (SCQF Level 6) to prepare them for further education, work and life.
Young Enterprise Scotland Chief Executive Emma Soanessaid: “We are absolutely devastated that the future of Young Enterprise Scotland now seems untenable with the loss of our major income source.
“Not only will this have a huge detrimental impact on our dedicated staff team, who now face redundancy, but given our extensive reach across Scotland it will also impact massively on the national education landscape and the education of young people in Scotland of which our work played such a crucial role.
“Failing to support this crucial stage of the entrepreneurial pipeline is entirely at odds with strategic priorities reflected in the Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation and the key recommendations of the Entrepreneurial Campus report.”
YE Scotland’s funding has historically come from a combination of a core continuity grant from the Scottish Government, an ongoing pipeline of support from Trusts and Foundations and, to a lesser extent, support from the private sector.
For both the financial years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024, the Scottish Government grant was significantly delayed. This was particularly so in the last financial year with the delay resulting in late submission of the charity’s audited accounts, directly impacting its ability to apply for additional funding.
Over both years, the charity has supported the Scottish Government during their funding delays by continuing to deliver vital services in good faith.
As a provider of education-based programmes that relies on onboarding schools ready for delivery at the start of the academic year, YE Scotland continued to work on delivering its programmes for 2024/25.
Given the charity’s long standing relationship with the Scottish Government, the experience of previous grant cycles and communications from government officials right up until May 2024 about the availability of funding, the charity onboarded around 80% of the schools and colleges it would be working with for the coming year.
However, in July this year, YE Scotland was advised the grant process would now cease with immediate effect, replaced with a competitive process. The Entrepreneurial Education Fund subsequently opened in August, with no consideration being given to work already underway or any costs incurred up to that point.
YE Scotland Chair, Dr Andy Campbell, who is founder of the Scottish Space Network, added: “For over 30 years, Young Enterprise has delivered life-changing opportunities for young people in Scotland, myself included.
“We understand that government budgets can face challenges and delays, particularly in the current climate. As a committed partner, the charity has historically supported the Government’s delays in funding, continuing delivery to ensure our young people’s futures are not impacted.
“Historically, these delays were always addressed, with costs settled and accompanied by thanks and apologies. However, despite this constructive commitment, it now appears that future funding is to be withdrawn — which we can manage, albeit as a vastly smaller organisation and not delivering the vast majority of our current activity.
“However, critically it now seems that our historical outlays will remain unsettled putting the entire organisation at risk of closure. Without emergency funding, the charity will be in a precarious situation, one that could have been avoided. We are ready to engage with Ministers and officers, hopeful that our past support will be reciprocated.”
The charity is seeking immediate emergency financial support to ensure the organisation can survive, albeit in a reduced capacity, maintaining YE Scotland’s crucial role in delivering enterprise education and supporting Scotland’s future entrepreneurial leaders.
Police in Edinburgh are appealing for assistance in tracing Henry Hunter (51yrs) who has been reported missing from Lothian Road area.
Henry was last seen about 1330 hours 21/10/24 in Craigour Place, Edinburgh. Henry’s current whereabouts are unknown and family are becoming increasingly concerned.
Henry is described as being a white male, 6ft tall, stocky build, balding with a short fair / grey stubble beard and habitually wears glasses.
He was last known to be wearing a grey wool flat / penny cap, blue shirt, and black jacket, black trousers, black business shoes.
He was driving a Black Toyota Coupe registration number BG62ZPN.
Inspector Stephen Quinn from Howdenhall Police station says “Henry has been missing for a number of days now, and his family are understandably worried about him.
“We have a number of police resources out looking for him and I am now looking for the assistance from the public in tracing both Henry and the vehicle he was driving. “
If you believe you have seen Henry or have any information please contact 101 quoting incident no. 2181 of the 22/10/2024.
