Category: North Edinburgh News

Pennywell up for RICS Social Impact Award

  • RICS publishes shortlist of developments which are transforming the everyday lives of residents
  • 35 schemes across nine award categories have been nominated from Shetland to Dumfries
  • Winners to be announced in April

RICS (Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors) in Scotland are set to vote on a shortlist 35 construction projects to mark their role in transforming communities and the everyday lives of people.

Published this week, the shortlisted construction schemes include ELEVEN from Edinburgh, including Pennywell Phase 2 (residential), Edinburgh Printmakers (heritage, leisure),  King’s Stables Road (commercial) (above) and Ciaran’s House, CLIC Sargent Home from Home (healthcare).

Announcing its support for the Prince’s Trust to help more young people take up careers in property, the awards mark the impact of construction on communities across the country – with voting to take place ahead of the RICS Scotland ceremony on 23 April.

A UK grand final will be held later in September for those successfully nominated from each region – with property expert David Brooks Wilson leading a panel of guest judges to select those projects worthy of the top award.

Matthew Howell, RICS UK Managing Director, said: “The real estate industry plays a vital role in Scotland, and our refreshed awards celebrates the positive impact that our professionals can have on people’s lives and the best of what is built.

“This year’s shortlist features some of the best talent in our profession, and the new Social Impact Awards recognises the significant value these projects have brought to the communities around them.  The judges will have their work cut out deciding on who gets the top award with so many top projects involved.

“I’m also delighted to be supporting The Prince’s Trust in getting young people into construction.  Our shortlists, showcase projects which have been turning people’s lives around, whether that’s through apprenticeships for young people, rehabilitating ex-offenders or regenerating towns and cities to make them more inclusive, and we hope that promoting these will encourage more talent into a profession that can really make a difference.” 

Chair of the award judging panel David Brooks Wilson said: “The real estate sector is an important part of the economy, and this year’s shortlist shows the power of built environment professionals to make a positive impact on society and our communities.

“It features the breadth of work and contributions that our professionals and wider industry make and the difference this profession can make.”  

The awards are divided into nine award categories to include the best examples of development in the commercial, education, healthcare, heritage, infrastructure, land & rural, leisure, residential and student accommodation sectors – with an overall winner also due to be announced.

RICS Social Impact Awards – Scotland Shortlist 2020

Project                                                Region                                      Categories

4 North                                                Edinburgh                                Commercial
Aberdeen Art Gallery                          Aberdeen                                Heritage
Baird’s Close Two                               Edinburgh                                Student Accommodation
Bertha Park High School:  A new
school for a new community               Perth                                       Education
Ciaran’s House – CLIC Sargent
Home from Home                               Edinburgh                                Healthcare
Collective, Caltonhill                           Edinburgh                                Leisure
Cunningham House                            Glasgow                                  Residential
Cupar Burgh Chambers                     Cupar                                      Heritage
Dundee Regional Performance
Centre for Sport                                  Dundee                                   Leisure
Edinburgh Printmakers                       Edinburgh                                Heritage, Leisure
Gairloch Museum                                Gairloch                                   Heritage, Leisure
Glenrothes Energy Network               Glenrothes                              Infrastructure
INTO Academic Centre                      Stirling                                     Education
Kelvinside Academy                           Glasgow                                  Education
Kirn Primary School                            Dunoon                                   Education
King’s Stables Road                           Edinburgh                                Commercial
Mixed-Use Development
National Centre for Children’s Literature
and Storytelling at Moat Brae             Dumfries                                  Heritage, Leisure
North Sighthill Regeneration              Edinburgh                                Residential
NGHA Offices                                     Glasgow                                  Commercial
Ochiltree Community Hub                  Ochiltree                                  Leisure
Panmure House – The Home
of Adam Smith                                    Edinburgh                                Heritage
Pennywell Phase 2                             Edinburgh                                Residential
Perth Transport Futures Project:
Phase 1 Crieff Road                           Perth                                       Infrastructure
Pittodrie Street Student Accommodation:
Getting it right for student living          Aberdeen                                Student Accommodation
Powell Hall & Whitehorn Hall             St Andrews                             Student Accomodaton
Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice Glasgow                                  Healthcare
Robroyston Railway Station               Glasgow                                  Infrastructure
Shawbridge Street                              Glasgow                                  Residential
TECA-creating a world-class
events and leisure complex                Aberdeen                                Commercial, Leisure
The Balfour                                         Orkney                                    Healthcare
The Fraser Centre                              Tranent                                    Leisure
The GRID Building                              Edinburgh                                Education
The Registers                                     Edinburgh                                Commercial
University of Glasgow Campus
Development                                       Glasgow                                  Education
Woodside Health and Care Centre    Glasgow                                  Healthcare

The wait is over: Viccie Baths reopens

Try before you buy – 7 Days for £7

The long-awaited refurbishment of Edinburgh Leisure’s beloved 120-year-old Leith Victoria Swim Centre is over and its refurbished pool reopened to the public yesterday, with some eager customers in the pool at 6am!

While many locals will be familiar with the pool facilities, Edinburgh Leisure are giving locals and potential new members, the opportunity to try before they buy, with a ‘7 Days for £7 promotion, which will run Monday, 2 March until Sunday, 8 March 2020.   This pass is only available online and will be valid for 7 days starting from the day of registration. Terms and conditions apply. 

Located just off Great Junction Street in Leith, ‘Viccies’ has retained its 19th century charm but added a modern twist to provide everything needed for an active lifestyle, including a 25 yard Victorian pool, a large modern gym, two fitness studios and dedicated cycle studio.

Follow on Facebook @EdinburghLeisure

Follow on Instagram @ed_leisure
Like on Twitter @Ed_Leisure

 

New report exposes race inequality in the workforce

Millennials from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are 47% more likely to be on a zero-hours contract, and have 10% greater odds of working a second job, compared to their White peers, according to a new report from the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Carnegie UK Trust, and Operation Black Vote.

BAME millennials are also 5% more likely to be doing shift work, and are 4% less likely to have a permanent contract than White workers.

At the report’s launch in Parliament on Monday 2 March, the authors will call on the Government, mental health services and employers to take action to tackle racial inequalities in access to good work.

The research draws on information from a nationally-representative group of more than 7,700 people living in England who were born in 1989-90 and are being followed by a study called Next Steps.

The researchers, led by Dr Morag Henderson (UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies), compared the employment status of 25-year-olds from different ethnic backgrounds – White, Mixed-race, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Black Caribbean, Black African, and other minority ethnicities. They also examined the mental health of people in different types of employment.

Although BAME workers on the whole had more trouble finding stable employment than their White counterparts, experiences in the job market varied for different ethnic groups.

For instance, Pakistani millennials were more likely to be on a zero-hours contract or be working shifts, and less likely to have a permanent job than their White peers. However, Indian and Black Caribbean workers were no more likely than their White counterparts to be in these types of employment.

Black African 25-year-olds had lower odds of being in a permanent role and were more likely to be doing shift work than White workers of the same age. But Mixed-race, Indian and Black Caribbean millennials had similar chances of being in these types of jobs. Only Black Caribbean 25-year-olds were more likely than their White peers to be working a second job.

The findings held even when other factors that could affect labour market success were taken into account, including gender, family background and educational attainment.

The research also showed that, on the whole, millennials from BAME backgrounds were 58% more likely to be unemployed than their White counterparts. But again, experiences differed for each ethnic group. Although 25-year-olds from Pakistani, Black African, and Mixed-race backgrounds were more likely to be unemployed than their White peers, Indian, Bangladeshi and Black Caribbean adults were no more likely to be out of work.

However, even though ethnic minority groups faced more challenges in the labour market, the overwhelming majority of millennials were in permanent employment at age 25. Indian and White workers (89%) were the most likely to be in a stable role, followed by Mixed-race (87%), Black Caribbean (86%), Bangladeshi (85%), Pakistani (84%), Black African (81%) and other ethnicities (80%).

Unfavourable employment status was also found to be linked to mental ill health. While the greatest disparities were between those who were unemployed and those who were working, millennials in unstable employment also suffered poorer mental health than those not working under these conditions.

The connection between employment status and mental health at age 25 held even when the researchers considered whether the participants had mental health problems in their teenage years.

Lord Simon Woolley of Operation Black Vote said: “This report must be a serious wake up call for the Government, industry and our mental health practitioners.

“The race penalty in the work space is further exacerbated by mental health issues. It’s a double hit if you’re from a BAME community. We can, however, turn this around, but we need collective leadership.”

Douglas White from Carnegie UK Trust said: “Good work can have a really positive impact on people’s wellbeing – but we need to tackle the inequalities in who has access to good quality jobs.

“This report highlights that young people from BAME communities are particularly likely to enter into precarious forms of work. We need policy and practice to recognise and respond to this to ensure that good work is available to all.”

Dr Morag Henderson, of the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, said: “Our findings suggest that broad brush policies to improve employment conditions for BAME groups are unlikely to work for everyone.

“We need to better understand what’s driving the particular challenges different ethnic minorities are facing in the job market.”

Responding to the report, Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE said: “These new research findings paint a familiar pattern that I discussed in my Government Review ‘Race in the workplace: persistent race penalties at the lower pay scale’.

A key solution we recommended, and which remains valid, is the introduction of ethnic minority pay reporting. Until organisations publish data and put plans in place to reduce pay gaps, nothing fundamentally changes. It is time for action rather than words.”

The report outlines 13 recommendations for action, including:

  • Racial inequality, including the ethnicity pay gap, need to be better addressed in Government efforts to improve access to good work.
  • Employers should carry out internal audits of race disparity, in consultation with their employees and with support from trade unions and race equality bodies.
  • Developing guidance for mental health services on how to improve access for ethnic minority groups is an urgent priority.

Race-Inequality-in-the-Workforce-Final

USDAW: Shopworkers need legal protection

Too many shopworkers are assaulted and they need the protection of the law, Usdaw will tell a Scottish Parliament Committee today.

Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw will today give evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee in support of the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill, which is being promoted by Daniel Johnson MSP (Labour, Edinburgh Southern).

The Committee will meet at 9.45am in the Scottish Parliament’s David Livingstone Room (CR6).

As well as taking evidence from Usdaw, the committee will also hear from: Law Society of Scotland; Police Scotland; Scottish Grocers’ Federation; Scottish Retail Consortium; The Scottish Beer and Pub Association; Co-operative Group, and GMB.

Usdaw’s 2019 Freedom From Fear survey of over 1,000 Scottish retail workers shows that:

  • More than 6 in 10 Scottish retail workers experienced verbal abuse.
  • 32% were threatened by a customer.
  • 2.3% were assaulted, which amounts to more than 15* assaults every day across all of Scotland’s shopworkers.

Stewart Forrest, Usdaw Scottish Divisional Officer, said: “Violence, threats and abuse against workers is totally unacceptable and we welcome the opportunity to give evidence in support of Daniel Johnson’s Bill.

“The statistics are shocking, showing that on average a Scottish shopworker can end up on the wrong side of a verbal or physical assault more than once every three weeks. Our message is clear, abuse is not a part of the job.

“Life on the frontline of retail can be pretty tough for many shopworkers and there is still a lot to do to help protect them. We launched our Freedom From Fear Campaign in the face of growing concerns amongst retail staff about violence, threats and abuse. The campaign works with employers to promote respect.

“There needs to be a simple stand-alone offence that is widely recognised and understood by the public, police, the judiciary and most importantly criminals. Retail staff have a crucial role in our communities and that role must be valued and respected, they deserve the protection of the law.”

Voices from the Scottish frontline: 

As part of Usdaw’s survey of violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers, respondents have the opportunity to feed back their experiences, here are some examples from Scotland:

Alcohol: Aberdeen – “Customer under influence refused alcohol and became abusive and threatened staff.” Bellshill – “Because Scottish licencing laws are not clear to customers, I receive abuse on a regular occurrence.” Irvine – “Daily abuse from customers under the influence of drugs and alcohol”. Glasgow – “Couldn’t sell alcohol before 10 am got an earful and told I’d ruined her life.” Aberdeenshire – “Refused customer alcohol as they were drunk they tried to grab my hair and grabbed hold of my shirt.”

Age-restricted sales: Broxburn – “Customers very aggressive when refused sale of age restricted products, particularly alcohol. They think it’s ok to shout and swear at you using language that is disgusting and personal insults.” Fife – “ID’d someone who looked about 19, called a ‘ginger c**t’.” Fraserburgh – “Refused customer cigarettes and they started shouting and swearing”. Stranraer – “I was sworn at when I refused sale of a restricted item without ID”.

Throwing goods: Inverurie – “Customer threw items of their shopping at me as they were unhappy about the price.” Aberdeen – “I asked some youths to leave the store and they started throwing things at me.” Dalkeith – “One time a customer threw a computer at the manager.” Stenhousemuir – “His scotch pie, was not hot, he threw it back at me, and it hit my face.”

Sexual harassment: Fife – “Customer talking to members of staff inappropriately forcing members to be feel uncomfortable.” Moray coast – “Usually more sexual harassment that makes me feel extremely threatened and unsafe” Glasgow – “Got flashed by a customer, have had customers grab me and comment on my breasts.”

Shoplifters: Fife – “Shoplifter tried to head-butt me”. Braehead – “Chasing shoplifters – threatened with knife and syringes.” Glasgow – “Shoplifter tried to headbutt and kick me whilst he was being detained. Threatened to find my family using social media and slash their faces.”

Belittling: Wick – “Asked if I was stupid, spoken to like a child.” Dumfries – “I was asked if I was a normal person or not.” Dunfermline – “A customer once told me he wished I’d go away and kill myself for trying to do my job helping him.” Glasgow – “I have been called a fat cow and a jobs worth from shoplifters”.

Assault: Dingwall – “One customer elbowed me on purpose when I went past.” Greenock – “Was attacked and a fag stubbed out on my face.” Stirling – “Shoplifter pushed me over dislocating shoulder”.

Verbal abuse: Dundee – “I have had customers shout at me if something doesn’t go right and called many names, such as b***h and c**t.” Inverness – “A Woman was very upset about our lack of 10p bags and got verbally abusive.” Kilmarnock – “People being rude and bad mannered if they have to wait more than a minute in a queue.”

After work: Edinburgh – “I have been stopped in the street going home and verbally abused by a family member of a shoplifter that I had caught previously that day. I feel very uncomfortable being put in that situation as these people know where I live and are known to be violent!” Irvine – “Got threatened to be done away with because I closing the store!” Glasgow – “Threat to be stabbed, have car smashed up, to be met when finished work, called names, spat at. The list goes on”.

Coronavirus update

The First Minister attended a UK Government COBR meeting and chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Committee (SGoRR) yesterday to discuss preparations for coronavirus (COVID-19) following confirmation of a first case in Scotland.

At the COBR meeting a four nations Action Plan to tackle the virus was agreed. This will be published in each area today with Scottish-specific information made available alongside the four nations plan.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health will make a statement to Parliament this  afternoon.

At SGoRR Ministers were updated on plans preparedness across all sectors in Scotland.

There have been a total of 815 negative test results in Scotland and one positive test result since the start of the outbreak in Wuhan in China.

According to Scottish and UK protocol all patients presenting with a history and symptoms which may be suggestive of coronavirus will be isolated in hospital or at home and appropriate infection prevention and control measures put in place until tests are confirmed.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The patient who tested positive for COVID-19 is clinically well and is being treated in hospital. I would like to thank the NHS for its response and all of the health professionals involved in the patient’s care and treatment.

“Scotland has been planning for  coronavirus for some time. We expect a significant outbreak in the weeks to come but it is important to note that we are still in a containment phase of the virus. This is where we take all of the steps that we can to contain the infection and prevent it taking hold within the community.

“This phase is particularly important because there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for coronavirus. Early detection measures will continue to be vital in helping to prevent the spread of the virus – everyone can play their part by following the latest health and travel advice, and following basic hygiene precautions, such as washing hands frequently, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.”

The UK Government will lay out its plans to contain the spread of coronavirus later today. These include possible school closures, event cancellations and bringing NHS staff out of retirement.

INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO CONTAIN THE VIRUS

United Nations Humanitarian Chief Mark Lowcock has released US$15 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help fund global efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus.

The announcement came as the World Health Organization (WHO) upgraded the global risk of the coronavirus outbreak to “very high” – its top level of risk assessment. The WHO has said there is still a chance of containing the virus if its chain of transmission is broken.

The sudden increases of cases in Italy, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Korea are deeply concerning. There are now cases linked to Iran in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman, along with cases linked to Italy in Algeria, Austria, Croatia, Germany, Spain and Switzerland.

The UN funding has been released to the WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). It will fund essential activities including monitoring the spread of the virus, investigating cases, and the operation of national laboratories.

The WHO has called for US$675 million to fund the fight against coronavirus. There is a window of opportunity to contain the spread of the virus if countries take robust measures to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients, and trace contacts.

Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock said yesterday: “We do not yet see evidence that the virus is spreading freely. As long as that’s the case, we still have a chance of containing it.

“But swift and robust action must be taken to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients, and trace contacts. We must act now to stop this virus from putting more lives at risk.

“This grant from the UN’s Emergency Fund will help countries with fragile health systems boost their detection and response operations. It has the potential to save the lives of millions of vulnerable people.”

This is a critical juncture in the outbreak. The focus is on containing COVID-19 by strengthening surveillance, conducting thorough outbreak investigations to identify contacts and applying appropriate measures to prevent further spread.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “The potential spread of the virus to countries with weaker health systems is one of our biggest concerns.

“These funds will help support these countries get ready for detecting and isolating cases, protecting their health workers, and treating patients with dignity and appropriate care. This will help us save lives and push back the virus.”

UNICEF is leading on preventative actions in communities across the affected countries with risk communication, providing hygiene and medical kits to schools and health clinics and monitoring the impact of the outbreak to support continuity of care, education and social services.

“At this pivotal moment, every effort must be made to push back against the outbreak,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “These crucial funds will support our global efforts to bolster weaker health systems and inform children, pregnant women and families about how to protect themselves.”

Since it was launched in 2006, CERF has provided more than $6 billion to over 100 countries and helped hundreds of millions of people.

 

Five star status for Jim Clark Museum

As the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum in Duns, Scottish Borders, opened to the public for the new season yesterday, the partners who collaborated on the project are celebrating 5-Star status awarded by VisitScotland.

The museum opened to the public on 11 July 2019 following a £1.6 million partnership project – the museum welcomed 13,000 visitors in its first six months as well as securing its first award, notably from the Royal Automobile Club Historic Awards.

The new museum was visited and assessed by VisitScotland Quality Tourism Advisors and was awarded the prestigious 5-Star Museum grading – the first museum in the Scottish Borders to receive this accolade and one of only nine 5-Star visitor attractions in the region.

Developed and improved for over 30 years, VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance scheme is delivered by a dedicated team of experts who offer valuable business advice and support.

The scheme is not just about driving standards; it aims to help businesses reach their full potential so they can reap the benefits and secure their success. That in turn delivers benefits for the economy of their region and for Scotland’s tourism industry.

For the start of the season, the museum is hosting a new exhibition, Clark on Canvas. This evocative exhibition of artworks depicts 1960s motor racing, when Jim Clark was the dominant driver.

The artwork has been loaned to the museum by the Guild of Motoring Artists, an international group dedicated to automotive art. Visitors will be able to purchase paintings from the exhibition, which runs to 30 November 2020.

Ewan Jackson, Chief Executive Officer for charity Live Borders who operate the museum, said: “As operators of museums, galleries and attractions across the Scottish Borders, it was an honour to have a team working on this project – to secure 5-Star status from VisitScotland reinforces the quality of the team, their creative vision and focus on customer experience.

“Thank you and well done to everyone who has worked with us to secure this brilliant accolade.

“Positive cultural exhibitions and celebrating our local heritage is very much in line with Live Borders’ commitment to communities across the Borders being healthier, happier and stronger.”

VisitScotland Regional Leadership Director, Paula Ward, said: “Congratulations to the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum on this fantastic achievement.

“The 5-Star award recognises the exceptional customer service experience for visitors to the museum and is a great addition to the quality offering in the Scottish Borders.

“Delivering a quality experience that meets, and exceeds, visitor expectations is crucial in making Scotland a must-visit, must-return destination and the re-opening of the museum has been a huge success, helping to propel the Scottish Borders into the spotlight.

“Our Quality Assurance scheme helps businesses to reach their full potential and truly shine. The scheme is about more than just the ‘stars’ on the door – it’s about the entire visitor experience, about investing in your business, driving-up quality and creating jobs.”

Councillor Euan Jardine, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Sport, said: “The 5-Star award is fantastic recognition for everyone that has played a part in making this museum a reality and delivered the highest quality visitor experience since it opened.

“This is an incredible museum which truly does justice to one of the world’s greatest sportsmen and I am sure many more visitors will enjoy all it has to offer in its first full season.”

Douglas Bell, from The Jim Clark Trust, said: “We are delighted with the new VisitScotland Award and congratulations all the partners and supporters involved. It really is a very special museum. 

“The design and display of memorabilia, trophies, film, imagery and race cars are a wonderful tribute to Jim Clark. The staff are warm, welcoming and insightful. Jim was a farmer at heart and now recognised as one of the greatest motor racing drivers of all time. We look forward to welcoming visitors to learn more about his remarkable story to inspire future generations.”

Coinciding with the opening of the museum for the spring and summer tourism season, a new Jim Clark Trail has been announced to enhance the experience of visitors.

The Jim Clark Trail is a 50-mile scenic driving tour celebrating the beauty of the Scottish Borders, the heritage of motorsport and wider culture attractions in the area. The museum has fast become a magnet for classic and sports car enthusiasts.

The new trail is a driving adventure for all visitors to discover the stories and places behind the famous Berwickshire farmer whilst promoting tourism ‘pit stops’ in the region.

Follow the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum on social media #JimClarkMotorsportMuseum @liveborders @JimClarkTrust @scotborders

www.jcmm.org.uk

Local Community Council meets tomorrow

This is to confirm that the next meeting of West Pilton & West Granton Community Council will take place at 7pm in West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre on Tuesday 3 March.
If you are an elected official or community council member and cannot attend then please submit your apologies to me by 5pm on Tuesday.
I attach an agenda for the meeting and minutes of the February meeting.  As agreed last time, we will have a more detailed discussion into the issue of waste, dumping and flytipping.
See you on Tuesday.
Peter Faassen de Heer
Secretary, West Pilton West Granton Community Council

Which? – We need a Pensions Dashboard

Which? is calling for the urgent introduction of a comprehensive pensions dashboard after an investigation exposed how the current system leaves workers struggling to track down and understand their retirement pots.

The consumer champion challenged 12 volunteers to track down key pieces of information about each of their 38 pension schemes, to see what difficulties they faced.

Of the volunteers, nine (75%) encountered gaps in their data, while only three (25%) were able to find all the requested information via paper statements, online accounts and phone calls.

Some volunteers struggled to find the value of their pension or projected entitlement under a defined benefit scheme. One was told by their provider that they had to wait 40 working days – almost two months – for a new statement to give the information.

Several participants discovered worrying errors. Among the top concerns consumers had was missing information – particularly when it came to pension charges and investment strategy, with some unable to find anything at all about either.

Which? also found that even where information was available, it wasn’t always correct.

One participant, 36, from London, had a shock when she started looking at her pension with her last employer, a US-based marketing agency using a UK payroll provider.

For a period of eight months, pension payments had been deducted from her salary, but neither this money nor any company contributions had found their way into her pension account – potentially breaking the law through non-payment of contributions.

Other volunteers found that pension company mergers and takeovers can add to the sense of confusion, with one having historic correspondence from three different providers for the same scheme. This was after her pension company was first taken over by another provider and then her employer switched its nominated firm.

The new research was published as Westminster debated the Pension Schemes Bill, which legislates for the introduction of a pensions dashboard.

In a separate survey, Which? asked more than 300 members across the UK whether they would use a pensions dashboard to manage their retirement and what they most wanted to see included in it.

More than three quarters (77%) said they would be likely to use the dashboard to find out about their pensions.

Among the top requests for inclusion on the dashboard was an update on the state pension, with nearly three quarters (74%) wanting to know how much they’d get at state pension age.

Almost two thirds (62%) were keen to have a projection of their future retirement income, while more than half (55%) wanted to know their current pension value and a similar number (54%) wanted to see charges.

Which? has long called for the introduction of a pensions dashboard to ensure that savers can see all their pensions in one place.

The consumer champion has pressed the government to ensure that a dashboard provides people with relevant information about all of their pension pots in one place – including the state pension. The dashboard must also publish key information such as charges and income projection figures, to ensure savers are equipped with the information they need to plan for their future.

The pensions dashboard project was first announced in the 2016 Budget and the government originally promised to ensure that it was designed, funded and launched by 2019. But a prototype version won’t probably be available until 2021 at the earliest.

Gareth Shaw, Head of Money at Which?, said: “A pensions dashboard could be a game changer for consumers who have struggled for too long with a complex, fragmented pensions system.

“For the millions of pension savers to get genuine benefit from a dashboard, the government must use this opportunity to ensure that it delivers all the information consumers need to see including their charges, income projection figures and state pension entitlement.”

Which?’s Pensions Planner checklist:

  • Get to grips with the basics: ask for an up-to-date statement if you haven’t had one in a while and make sure any online log-ins still work.
  • Update your details: if you haven’t updated your address since moving, your pension statements may end up with someone else.
  • Nominate a beneficiary: after your death, most pension schemes will allow anyone to inherit your pension.
  • Find lost savings: the Pensions Tracing Service is a free service that searches a database of more than 200,000 workplace and personal pension schemes.

Scottish plans for VE Day

A series of events to mark 75 years since Victory in Europe Day has been announced by Holyrood’s Veterans Minister Graeme Dey.

The commemorations will honour the service and dedication of all those who helped secure peace, including those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Events, delivered in partnership by the Scottish Government, Legion Scotland and Poppyscotland, include a parade through Edinburgh on 8 May, a free open-air concert and an RAF flypast.

World War II veterans and their carers are being offered free travel and accommodation in Edinburgh.

Communities across Scotland will be encouraged to host their own commemorative events and schools will be given learning packs to help pupils understand the significance of VE Day.

The Scottish Government and Legion Scotland are providing more than £50,000 to help fund the programme of events.

Veterans Minister Graeme Dey said: “Although three quarters of a century have passed since the end of World War II, we must never forget the sacrifices made by those from across the Commonwealth and Allied nations.

“Their service allowed us to enjoy the freedoms and relative peace we now take for granted and it is important veterans of the War are central to these commemorations.

“I encourage communities from across Scotland to be part of this inclusive, welcoming and poignant event.”

Dr Claire Armstrong, chief executive of Legion Scotland, added: “The 75th anniversary of VE Day is a hugely important moment in our nation’s history. 

“It is a time for communities from across Scotland to join together in celebration and commemoration, and we want to ensure that those who sacrificed so much during World War II take centre stage.

“I therefore encourage applications from veterans and anyone else who directly contributed to the war effort to be part of these events.”

On 7 May 1945, Nazi Germany formally and unconditionally surrendered to the Allied Forces, bringing to an end six years of war.

The following day was declared VE (Victory in Europe) Day and millions of people celebrated, marking the victory with street parties, dancing and singing.

The Scottish Government has moved the May Bank holiday to 8 May to coincide with the VE Day anniversary.

The parade will feature vintage military vehicles, motorcycles from Legion Scotland’s Riders Branch, pipe bands, veterans, current personnel from the Armed Forces, horses and youth groups.

The concert will be held in Princes Street Gardens and will follow the theme of Scotland’s involvement in World WarII .

Those wishing to apply to be part of the VE Day 75 events should email b.ward@legionscotland.org.uk or telephone 0131 550 1562.