Frontline Melrose staff to appear on new series of Paramedics on Scene

Frontline Melrose staff members from the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) will appear on a new series of Paramedics on Scene, which airs on Tuesday.

Lee Myers, Paramedic, and Mark Kerr, Technician will feature alongside SAS’s West Ambulance Control Centre (ACC), West SORT (Special Operations Response Team) and Melrose frontline staff.

Lee and Mark said: “It’s been a great experience working with the film crews and being given the opportunity to demonstrate the work we do within our local community, the highs, the lows, and the effect that has on us and how we cope. It’s not all blue lights and sirens.

“The border towns are close knit communities, and I think the residents take great comfort at difficult times from knowing that they and the crew are likely to be connected either through family, work, or friends.”

Season Six of Paramedics on Scene is on BBC Scotland at 9am on Tuesday and repeated at 10pm on Thursday. It is also available on BBC iPlayer.

The next episode features a woman thrown off a horse, a crew called to a man who has taken some illegal drugs and close to death, and the air ambulance team bring a sick eight-year-old from Campbeltown to the Children’s hospital in Glasgow.

Lee Myers and Mark Kerr, here pictured with Fraser McArthur of Firecrest

PYCP Easter Holiday Activities

🩷🧡💛 Our Easter Programme is here!! 💛🧡🩷

🐰From Next Week we will be running our Easter Programme, please read carefully as some groups and times are different from their usual!

🐥To attend, all children and young people must have a completed consent form – if you have done this from September 2024 you will be covered.

🌸Parents/Guardians will be contacted by staff to confirm spaces on trips, please do not send your child to a trip if you have not been spoken to as they will be unable to attend.

🍫PY Lunches will be on Mon-Fri during the two week holiday, NOT including Friday 18th and Monday 21st – These lunches are for children and young people only.

Spotlight on Scotland’s new generation of theatre-makers

Scottish Youth Theatre is delighted to announce the return of the Trajectories showcase, celebrating new work by early-career theatre-makers at the end of April

Scottish Youth Theatre specialises in connecting young artists with mentors, networks and each other to inspire their practice as they take the creative lead and develop their own distinct artistic voice.

Over 7 weeks, Hannah McGregor, Harry Walker, Margot Conde Arenas, Molly McGrath, Robbie Hail and Taya Sian are working with multi award-winning director Cora Bissett alongside a range of practitioners to experiment, collaborate with one another and develop brand-new work for the showcase event at Assembly Roxy on Friday 25 April 2025.

Cora Bissett, Lead Artist on the programme, is excited to be collaborating with the cohort: “Young artists at the early stages of their career are the very people we need to be bold, intrepid, resourceful, political, inventive and fearless – to keep culture thriving in Scotland.

“I am loving sharing the experience I have but also listening to and facilitating their ideas. I have been extremely fortunate in my journey at various stages to have had elders like the late great.

“Dave MacLennan and the legendary Andy Arnold support me and my ideas when I was starting out. Those elders gave me space and encouragement to try stuff out and grow in confidence. It’s a privilege now to do that for this new generation.”

Trajectories is designed to fully support these 6 young artists through dedicated development and rehearsal time, financial support and a tailored line-up of leading industry professionals.

Harry Walker, one of the young artists on this year’s programme, reflects: “I relish collaborating with other creatives to devise new theatre and often find that I work best as part of a diverse group of artists.

“I value taking inspiration from other people’s ideas and how I can incorporate their feedback into my own work, a process I love reciprocating for other artists too. Trajectories creates the perfect conditions for this – it enables us to share our practices and learn from each other, in a truly safe and supported environment.”

The programme is informed by Scottish Youth Theatre’s consultation with young people around Scotland. The organisation’s 2024 survey found that, alongside high motivation to pursue their creative aspirations, young artists have a shared concern for their future place in the industry and the gaps forming as funded opportunities have receded.

Scottish Youth Theatre’s renewed model of delivery continues to evolve in direct response to the needs and aspirations of the next generation of Scotland’s theatre-makers, with a commitment to working in more places across the country, at no cost to each young artist that participates.

Jacky Hardacre, Chief Executive of Scottish Youth Theatre, says: “We first delivered the Trajectories programme successfully in 2022 in Glasgow and we’re delighted to offer the opportunity again, this time in Edinburgh.

“Forging a path into a theatre career is fraught with challenges and the scaffolding Scottish Youth Theatre provides is needed more than ever. The young artists and the performances they create inspire us to keep showcasing the sector’s newest voices.”

The public showcase event takes the form of a mini festival of performances around the venue. Tickets start at an accessible £6 for the full event and go on sale on the Assembly Roxy website on Friday 4 April. You can find out more about the project, the young artists and Scottish Youth Theatre via their website and social media channels.

Trajectories is produced by Scottish Youth Theatre, supported by Creative Scotland’s National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations and Thriplow Charitable Trust.

Fraser of Allander Institute downgrades growth forecasts

the picture is still one of subdued growth

Economic and business conditions in early 2025 showed limited improvement, as firms across Scotland brace for upcoming cost pressures.

This is according to the latest Economic Commentary from the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde, which covers the latest data on the UK and Scottish economies.

The Institute’s economists have downgraded their growth forecast for 2025 and 2026 to reflect economic conditions in both the UK and the world economy. The Fraser of Allander now expects growth in 2025 to be similar to growth in 2024 at 0.9%, before increasing to 1.1% in 2026.

While GDP in Scotland and the UK grew over 2024, and inflation has continued to ease, the outlook among businesses remains pessimistic.

Inflation fell unexpectedly fell to 2.8% in February, offering some relief to households and policymakers. However, services inflation remains high at 5%, meaning the Bank of England is likely to remain cautious in cutting interest rates over 2025.

The easing of inflation comes just ahead of changes to the UK’s employers National Insurance system, which came into effect as of April. These increases are expected to raise costs for employers and are already weighing on business sentiment.

New data from the Fraser of Allander Institute’s Scottish Business Monitor shows that 94% of firms expect cost pressures to increase in the first half of 2025, with three in four businesses highlighting National Insurance changes as a significant concern.

Professor Mairi Spowage, Director of the Institute, said: “Economic conditions in 2025 are turbulent and uncertain, and are likely to remain so throughout the year. Therefore, the picture is still one of subdued growth. Many of the challenges businesses faced in 2024 – from rising costs to policy uncertainty – have not gone away.

“Added pressures from National Insurance changes and geopolitical instability risk dampening confidence and growth further. These tax changes will start to hit businesses next week, with many scaling back plans for workforce expansion and recruitment as a result.”

Alongside its regular economic analysis, this quarter’s commentary also includes a detailed look at Scotland’s disability and carer benefits system, exploring how many people are receiving support and how much this is expected to cost over time. Spending on these benefits is projected to nearly double between 2020-21 and 2029-30, adding further pressure to Scotland’s fiscal outlook.

The commentary also reflects on the UK Chancellor’s Spring Statement, which contained significant fiscal policy announcements despite efforts to downplay its importance. Cuts to departmental budgets and reforms to disability benefits signal tougher times ahead for devolved budgets.

João Sousa, Deputy Director of the Institute, said: “The Spring Statement had clear implications for Scotland. Although there is a modest short-term funding increase, the medium-term outlook is significantly more challenging, with Holyrood’s budget for day-to-day spending expected to be nearly £900 million worse off by 2029-30.

“We’ll learn more about what this means for Scotland when the Scottish Fiscal Commission publishes its next forecast in May, but it’s certain to be another significant pressure on the Scottish Government’s desk.

“The Chancellor has staked all her credibility on meeting her fiscal rules, but the buffer remains very small against the many risks encircling the UK economy, including those from global trade shocks. If any of those materialise, then we might be back in a similar position in the Autumn.”

You can see the full commentary here.  

MYDG Easter Activities

🐣⭐️MYDG EASTER⭐️🐣

Please see our poster highlighting groups we have on over Easter!

We have different trips happening and these are allocated as best as possible to young people attending MYDG. If your child has been selected they will have a form handed out from a staff member at MYDG.

Any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Looking forward to 2 weeks of fun!

Woman arrested following fatal crash in Corstorphine

A 22-year-old woman has been arrested following a fatal crash involving a car and a pedestrian in Edinburgh.

The incident happened around 5.45pm on Monday, 30 December, 2024, on St John’s Road, between the Drumbrae roundabout and Corstorphine Bank Drive.

The pedestrian, an 87-year-old woman was taken to hospital, where she died on Friday, 3 January, 2025.

The 22-year-old woman was released pending further enquiries.

Council commits over £30 million to tackle Edinburgh’s broken roads

Councillors have agreed to take forward an ‘ambitious suite’ of infrastructure and road safety works in the coming year, worth over £30m.

The Roads and Infrastructure Investment – Capital Delivery Priorities for 2025/26 spreads the capital budget of £25.686m across six different work streams.

Carriageways and footways will receive £18.161m and focus on repairing roads and pavements. Street lighting and traffic signals have £1.220m, which will be used to maintain and improve this network.

Road structures take £1.545m and focusses on road bridges, foot bridges, underpasses, tunnels and gantries. Road operations will get £2.460m and encompasses drainage repairs, bus stop maintenance and surface enhancement. Other asset management and miscellaneous spending amounts to £2.3m.

The additional £12.5m of funding agreed in February’s budget has been integrated into the programme to improve paths, pavements and road conditions.

An extra £12.5m of funding was also agreed last year, with a record 460,000m2 of carriageways and 52,000m2 of footways receiving treatment in that period. The Council’s Road Condition Indicator (RCI), which signifies the percentage of roads that should be considered for investment, also saw a significant improvement in 2024/25.

The council will look to build on these results in the coming year by undertaking a combination of carriageway strengthening, carriageway resurfacing, carriageway surface treatment, footway asphalt, footway flags and footway slurry sealing.

The report also outlines Edinburgh’s Street Lighting Programme and looks further ahead to their Setted Street Priorities in the next six financial years with Frederick Street, Victoria Street and the Shore all featuring for refurbishment.

Edinburgh’s Road Safety Delivery Plan 2025/26 allocates over £6m across the service. As part of this, the Road Safety team will address concerns around the Dalmahoy Junction and prioritise infrastructure improvements for safe school travel, including additional pedestrian crossings.

There will also be provision for Accident Investigation and Prevention (AIP), speed reduction measures and new 30mph and 20mph speed limit reductions over this and the forthcoming year. A full breakdown can be found in Appendix 2 of the report. Road safety progress will be reported to Committee in October, following elected member workshops to drive forward existing priority projects.

These allocations are driven by the council’s main priorities in the year ahead to promote road safety, study road accidents, review our vacant school crossing sites, take preventative measures and offer information, advice and practical training to road users.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said:I’m really pleased that these two ambitious and wide-reaching reports have been agreed.

“Our residents have made it abundantly clear that they want and expect continued investment in our roads network. Road safety also goes hand in hand with road condition and investment, with roads that are better maintained equalling safer roads for our children and young people. This is what I’m committed to delivering.

“From carriageway strengthening in Corstorphine and surface treatment in Seafield, to street lighting in Leith and road safety education in Ratho, we’re focussed on fulfilling our commitments and getting to work for the people of Edinburgh.”

A list of definitions for treatment specifications mentioned above in the Roads and Infrastructure Investment – Capital Delivery Priorities for 2025/26 report are below:

Carriageway Strengthening: A substantial treatment with a minimum depth of 100mm. This includes removal of the surfacing and base course of the carriageway. Deeper excavations may be required depending on existing condition. Deeper excavations are required a bus stops.

Carriageway Resurfacing: This treatment removes the surface course only. The depth of treatment is generally 40-50mm.

Carriageway Surface Treatment: A preventative maintenance treatment. A thin treatment that is designed to slow deterioration of the carriageway. It is used primarily on carriageways that are starting to deteriorate. CEC uses two surface treatments: Surface Dressing and Micro Asphalt.

Footway Asphalt: Break out of the existing asphalt footway. Depth will be dependent on existing condition. Kerbs are generally lifted and re-set as part of this treatment.

Footway Flags: Break out of the existing footway with flags (slabs) being installed. Generally, pre-cast concrete flags are used, however, the following material is specified in the World Heritage Site: Old Town: Caithness Stone Flags New Town: Yorkstone Flags

Footway Surface Treatment: A preventative maintenance treatment. A thin treatment that is designed to slow deterioration of the footway.

Income boost for millions of pensioners and working people

Millions of pensioners will receive as much as £470 more a year added to their State Pension from today, thanks to the government’s’ ‘ironclad commitment’ to the pensions Triple Lock throughout this parliament

  • Millions of pensioners to receive up to an additional £470 in their State Pension this year.
  • Triple Lock means those receiving the State Pension are set to increase by up to £1,900 over the term of this Parliament.
  • Over five million households receiving working-age benefits such as Universal Credit will also see an average boost of £150, with Plan for Change putting more money in working people’s pockets.

This comes alongside the annual uprating of working-age benefits such as Universal Credit, with people receiving those set to receive an extra £150 on average over the course of this year – an increase set to benefit 5.7 million working-age households. Disability benefits such as Disability Living Allowance, Carers Allowance and child benefits are also set to increase by the same amount.

The Triple Lock – which guarantees that the State Pension increases annually by the highest of inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5% – means the basic and new State Pensions are increasing by 4.1%, well above the current level of inflation.

These changes come alongside increases to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, benefiting three million eligible workers across the country. With the National Living Wage increasing to £12.21 for those aged 21 and over and the National Minimum Wage for those aged 18 to 20 seeing a record increase to £10 an hour, three million workers will benefit, with eligible full-time workers set to see an increase in their annual salary of £1,400.

This support is securing Britain’s future through the Plan for Change, which is delivering security and renewal by kick-starting economic growth to put more money in working people’s pockets and rebuilding the NHS.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: “Our ironclad commitment to the Triple Lock gives pensioners across the country the certainty and security they need to live a full life in retirement.

“We are putting more money in people’s pockets and driving up household income as part of our Plan for Change.”

Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell said: “Raising the State Pension and rescuing the NHS – these are this government’s priorities to give all pensioners the dignity they deserve in their retirement. Those who have worked hard throughout their lives, paying into the system, are owed nothing less.

“We’re improving the lives of millions of pensioners through our £7.84 billion additional funding for the State Pension this year.

“That means up to £470 extra in pensioners’ pockets from this week and comes alongside our work to boost Pension Credit uptake, and the £26 billion we’ve invested in the NHS that has seen waiting lists in England fall for 5 months in a row.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “With today’s increase in working-age benefits, and our ironclad commitment to pensioners through the Triple Lock, we are making the decisions that support those who need it in Britain, putting money into people’s pockets and delivering our Plan for Change.

The uprating of State Pensions and working-age benefits amounts to a cash boost of over £6.9 billion, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring pensioners enjoy the dignity and respect they deserve in retirement, while also supporting low-income families.

It also comes alongside proposals for the biggest welfare reforms for a generation. These measures are designed to ensure a welfare system that is fit for purpose and available for future generations – opening up employment opportunities, boosting economic growth and tackling the spiralling benefits bill while also ensuring those who cannot work get the support they need.

That support also includes help for pensioners. The government’s drive to support low-income pensioners has led to 50,000 extra Pension Credit awards since the summer – an increase of 64% compared to the same period last year.

Pension Credit is worth on average £4,300 a year and also unlocks support including help with Housing Costs, Council Tax and free television licenses.

Support also includes a £742 million extension of the Household Support Fund in England, from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026, providing support with the cost of essentials such as food, heating and bills.

Healthy Heart Tip: How to eat a healthy balanced diet

Is there a secret formula for maintaining a truly balanced diet? With the constant influx of conflicting advice and trendy diets, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the information.

Amie Leckie, Health and Wellbeing Specialist and Lauren Hewitt, Registered Associate Nutritionist at Heart Research UK simplify the concept of a healthy, balanced diet and offer practical advice on how to achieve it:

What is a balanced diet?

We often hear the terms “balance” and “moderation” when discussing healthy eating, yet many of us struggle to find that sweet spot.

A healthy balanced diet is one that includes a variety of nutrient-rich foods in the right proportions, providing the body with essential macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals to support overall health, energy, and wellbeing. It emphasises moderation, variety and portion control to maintain long-term health and prevent disease.

What are macro and micronutrients?

When it comes to eating healthy, understanding the role of nutrients in our diet can help us make informed choices about what we put on our plates.

There are different categories of macronutrients. Macronutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats and are the building blocks of our diet. They provide us with the energy to fuel our daily activities, support growth, and keep our bodies functioning properly.

Lauren Hewitt, a Registered Associate Nutritionist at Heart Research UK, explains: “Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for your body and are most associated with foods like pasta, rice, potatoes, bread, and cereal. But they are also found in other foods such as fruits and vegetables and sugar-sweetened foods and drinks such as cookies and fizzy drinks.

“There are two types of carbohydrates – simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates generally include refined, ‘white’ food like white bread, pasta and rice; these break down quickly into energy.

“Complex carbohydrates should make up the bulk of your intake as they release energy more slowly and these include wholegrains like brown rice and wholewheat bread, beans, lentils and vegetables.

“Fats are the body’s second source of energy, and these are used up when we have depleted our carbohydrate stores or when we are consuming a very low-carbohydrate diet.

“Consuming fat is essential, without fats you wouldn’t be able to absorb vitamins A, D, E and K, which are fat soluble and can only be digested when there is fat present. Fats also provide essential fatty acids that the body can’t make itself; these help your body to regulate the immune and central nervous systems as well as help with skin health, brain function and heart health.

“Choose heart-healthy fat sources such as those coming from nuts, seeds, oily fish, avocados and olive oil.

Lauren continues: “Protein is the body’s last resort for energy, used when carbohydrate and fat stores are depleted. While it’s best known for helping repair and rebuild muscle after exercise, it also supports overall health.

Protein is essential for the growth and maintenance of tissues, keeping bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin strong and healthy. It supports the immune system by forming antibodies to fight infections and helps keep you feeling fuller for longer.

“Healthy, high-protein foods include lean meats, fish, eggs and reduced-fat dairy. We can also obtain protein from plant-based sources like chickpeas, lentils, beans, nuts, seeds and tofu. It’s a good idea to include both animal and plant-based options.”

Micronutrients include vitamins and minerals and are needed in smaller amounts than macronutrients, but they are just as important for maintaining overall health, supporting immune function, bone health, energy production, cognitive health and much more. The key to ensuring we consume enough micronutrients is to eat a variety of foods.

How can you achieve a balanced diet?

Eating a varied diet full of different colours can ensure nutrient diversity. Try to include all the colours of the rainbow over the course of each week.

Amie Leckie, Health and Wellbeing Specialist at Heart Research UK, said: “It’s important to understand that we don’t need to cut entire food groups from our diet to eat well and be healthy. All foods can be enjoyed in appropriate amounts, and we should avoid extreme diets that vilify certain foods or whole food groups.

“Eating healthily doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on the foods you enjoy, it just means that you should aim to eat everything in moderation.

“By swapping some of your unhealthier choices for healthier ones, you can still enjoy tasty food and keep your heart healthy. You should start by making one or two swaps, and once these become part of your routine then add in a few more. By doing this gradually, you’re more likely to stick to it, form a new healthy eating habit, and stay on track with your healthy lifestyle goals.”

You can swap to lower sugar versions of your sauces to get started, or you can swap from white bread, pasta, cereal, and rice to wholegrain varieties. Take a look at our Healthy Food Swap Cards for some inspiration.

Even if the food we are eating is healthy, we can still eat too much. We’ve created a handy Portion Size Guide to help you understand what healthy portion sizes look like

Mindful eating follows on nicely from the one above. Slowing down and paying attention to our hunger cues can help us avoid overeating and make better food choices.

What does a healthy meal look like?

Building a healthy plate is a simple way to ensure you’re getting the right balance of nutrients. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  1. Fill half your plate with vegetables such as leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, courgettes, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, asparagus, green beans, brussels sprouts and mushrooms.
  2. Fill a quarter of your plate with healthy proteins like chicken, turkey, fish, tofu and legumes like lentils, chickpeas and beans.
  3. Fill a quarter of your plate with wholegrain carbohydrates such as brown or wild rice, wholewheat pasta, quinoa and buckwheat and/or starchy vegetables such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, sweetcorn, peas, butternut squash, pumpkin, carrots, beets and parsnips.
  4. Include a small portion of healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, or nuts.

Achieving a balanced diet is a gradual process and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Experiment with different foods to see what works best for your lifestyle, and remember that small, consistent changes lead to lasting results.

Scotmid Co-op signs landmark green energy deal to power Edinburgh trading sites

Five co-operative independent society members (ISMs) – Scotmid Co-op, Lincolnshire Co-opEast of England Co-op, Southern Co-op and Central Co-op, who led on the deal – have signed a landmark 10-year corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) with RWE, the UK’s largest power generator and a global leader in renewable energy, to supply electricity from renewable energy sources to over 400 locations across the UK.

Scotmid has committed to the agreement, which will see around 280 sites including Scotmid stores, Semichem retail outlets and Scotmid Funerals, including those in Edinburgh, supplied by the green energy source.

Starting the 1st of April 2025, the long-term contract will provide up to 53 gigawatt hours (GWh) of green electricity per year, enough to power over 400 retail stores, funeral homes, travel agents and more. Sourced from the London Array offshore wind farm in the outer Thames Estuary, this agreement will see significant savings for the five co-operatives throughout the lifetime of the CPPA. Scotmid has pledged that 50,000 Megawatts of its energy will come from the deal.

This pioneering agreement was made possible with the help of Inspired PLC, the UK’s leading energy and sustainability advisor, who negotiated the CPPA, and Shoosmiths LLP, who led the legal negotiations.Notably, this deal was executed in just three months, less than half the usual timeframe, demonstrating the expertise and efficiency of the partnerships involved.

This agreement is a significant milestone in the co-operative movement’s journey towards sustainability. By securing long-term renewable energy, these five independent co-operatives are not only reducing their carbon footprint but also reinforcing their commitment to ethical business practices and environmental responsibility.

Olaf Lubenow, Head of Commodity Solutions UK, North & South Europe of RWE Supply & Trading, said: “We are pleased to support these five independent co-ops in their ambitious climate protection targets.

“This agreement shows how our clean energy solutions contribute to climate protection in all areas of the economy and ensure cost control by securing a long-term power price.”

Craig Strachan, Chief Financial Officer at Scotmid Co-op, said: “At Scotmid, we are proud to join forces with other co-operatives through this innovative Corporate Power Purchase Agreement.

“This collaboration not only strengthens our commitment to sustainability but also ensures we are securing reliable, clean energy at predictable rates for the long-term benefit of our members and communities.

“By working together, we are not only taking meaningful steps towards reducing our carbon footprint but also contributing to the UK’s collective efforts to reach net-zero. This agreement exemplifies the power of co-operation and collective action in driving real change for a sustainable future.”

Karen Hosking, PPA Manager at Inspired, said of the project: “We have facilitated a unique collective Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA), bringing together multiple parties to achieve a common goal.

“Typically, such projects take 18 months, but we accelerated execution to just three months, seizing market opportunities—which is a real achievement within our industry.

“By investing in this existing renewable asset, the ISMs secure traceable renewable energy on a long-term basis, support their sustainability targets, and contribute towards the UK’s net-zero journey.”

London Array is operated by RWE and owned by a consortium of four partners: RWE (30%), Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Greencoat UK Wind PLC, and Masdar Energy UK Limited. It has 175 wind turbines and an installed capacity of 630 Megawatts. From the time of its fully commissioning in 2013 until September 2018, it was the largest offshore wind farm in the world.

Inspired PLC provides market-leading commercial energy and sustainability advisory services to help clients achieve net-zero and thrive in the future low-carbon global economy.

David Cockshott, Chief Commercial Officer at Inspired, added: “Inspired is proud to have built a long-standing partnership with ISM Co-operatives as their dedicated energy consultant. Together, we are committed to driving sustainability and transforming the lives of their members and local communities.

“Our comprehensive energy management services, including flexible energy buying, invoice validation and data management, alongside supporting with compliance, are helping various ISM Co-operatives work towards their ambitious net-zero goals.

“By working together swiftly and effectively, we’ve achieved something monumental that will help each Co-operative take a significant step forward in their carbon reduction journey.”

Shoosmiths LLPa leading law firm with 1,500+ colleagues across fourteen locations, provided the legal counsel for thenegotiations.

Head of Shoosmiths’ E&I sector and PPA specialist, James Wood-Robertson said: “It has been a privilege to support this group of independent Co-ops as they take this significant step towards running clean, sustainable operations across hundreds of stores.

“Our firm is committed to helping our clients navigate the shift towards renewable energy and we are thrilled to able to use our expertise in CPPAs to move the dial forward for businesses like these cooperatives that shape our community.”

For over 180 years, co-operatives have championed ethical business, community ownership and sustainability, following the co-operative values and principles that guide their operations. This landmark renewable energy deal reinforces the co-operative movement’s long-standing commitment to fairness, environmental responsibility and collective action.

The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Co-operatives. This agreement highlights how co-operatives continue to lead by example in tackling global challenges like climate change. By working together, these co-op societies are securing sustainable energy solutions that will benefit their members, customers and communities for years to come.

As the world transitions towards a low-carbon economy, this collaboration sets a precedent for how businesses can work together to drive meaningful change.