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95% of school leavers are not considering a career in hospitality

·       Research from Caterer.com highlights long-term challenges facing the sector as majority of 18-24-year-olds see hospitality as ‘just a temporary job’

·       Misconceptions around poor pay and a lack of flexibility are amongst the top reasons why 18–24-year-olds are currently not considering a career in the sector

·       Specialist recruitment solutions partner, Caterer.com partners with Youth Employment UK to change perceptions of jobs in the sector through a series of real-life ‘Hospitality Hero’ videos being used across schools and accessed directly by school leavers

With hospitality businesses facing talent shortages alongside increased demand and higher customer expectation, employers are focused on attracting the next generation of skilled workers.

However new research from specialist recruitment solutions partner, Caterer.com, reveals that 95% of school leavers are not currently considering a career in the sector.

The research highlights the challenges facing pub, restaurant, hotel owners and caterers as they strive to boost the sector’s image following a sharp drop in available talent, particularly from outside the UK.

Whilst Caterer.com data shows a jump in salaries and a record number of roles offering more than £50,000 a year, the research also shows that a lack of information on potential career opportunities has led to misconceptions about the sector with over half (55%) of school leavers viewing hospitality jobs as just a temporary fix and 44% believing that the sector does not offer career progression.

As part of a range of industry initiatives to tackle the problem, Caterer.com has partnered with Youth Employment UK and Choose Hospitality to launch a campaign that will provide school leavers with advice and real-world interviews showcasing the breadth of roles through a range of engaging content.

Parents and the curriculum discouraging school leavers

The research shows that parents have the biggest influence on career choices of school leavers, however just one in five (23%) would encourage their child to pursue a career in the hospitality sector as they believe it offers low pay, has anti-social working hours and there is a poor earning potential. Most parents would prefer their child to explore a career in industries such as engineering, law, management, or finance.

Furthermore, many young people feel that they have not been properly informed about hospitality jobs at school and 61% feel the removal of food technology from the national curriculum has undermined a career in the sector. Any presence of hospitality within the curriculum has historically focused solely on kitchen-based roles, which fails to inform students about the vast breadth of roles and opportunities within the sector.

Positive signs but a long way to go

Despite negative parental influence and only five percent planning to have a career in hospitality, the research shows over half (56%) of school leavers agree that the sector is an attractive career option. Some of the biggest draws are the opportunity to learn new skills (30%), flexible hours (28%), wanting to work with the public (24%), variety (21%) and having the opportunity to travel (17%).

Of those that were not interested in a career in the sector the top factors that would encourage them to reconsider were better pay (37%), good working hours (28%), better earning potential (26%), good career opportunities (23%), and if it was a less stressful career (20%).

Kathy Dyball, Director at Caterer.com said: “In an industry wide effort to attract and retain talent, many hospitality employers have taken great steps to improve pay, offer comprehensive benefit packages and flexible working hours.

“As an industry, we are also taking action to address the misconceptions of the sector, promote the long-term development opportunities and ensure we have a healthy pipeline of entry level talent to move the sector forward. To do this, it’s crucial we reach young people as they make critical decisions about their careers.

“At Caterer.com we have teamed up with Youth Employment UK and Choose Hospitality to create a series of videos showing real-life ‘hospitality heroes’ in action, which will be used as an educational resource in schools around the UK.

“We also know parents play a big role in their child’s career choices, however sadly our research shows that many parents wouldn’t encourage their children to pursue a role in hospitality. Their views on the sector are based on outdated experiences of past generations, and are not a true reflection of how the industry currently operates. These misconceptions need to be continually challenged.

“Our research shows positive signs upon which industry employers can continue to build upon this in their employment packages.”

Breaking the barriers to entry to the hospitality industry

Caterer.com’s campaign in partnership with Youth Employment UK and Choose Hospitality will showcase an ongoing series of videos, featuring real-world interviews with hospitality workers and leading chefs, in schools across the country.

These will act as educational career guides and will showcase to both pupils and parents the world-leading brands and progressive opportunities that the industry can offer from entry level up.

Carlito Carroll, Commis Chef Apprentice at Nobu Hotel London Portman Square, is one of the stars of the Hospitality Heroes series.

Carlito said: “I was studying a variety of courses in school and looking at jobs in engineering when one day I sat down and decided to do something I loved – cooking. It brings me so much joy so I decided to find an apprenticeship course because it would allow me to earn whilst I work and learn!

“I really get excited about coming into Nobu Hotel London Portman Square – cooking, seeing people happy once they eat my food and sharing the same passion as my colleagues.”

James Wingerath, Director at Youth Employment UK said: “Young people have told us that they are not aware of the amazing opportunities available to them.

“The Hospitality Heroes videos and supporting guidance are a great resource to inform young people about the many job roles available in the sector and how to access them.”

Claire Bosi, Editor at Choose Hospitality, added: “We created the Choose Hospitality initiative to inspire and educate people on the vast range of opportunities across the sector.

“We work with many industry ambassadors to share their experiences and demonstrate just how exciting and rewarding a career in hospitality can be.

“After all, who’s better placed to showcase how great the industry is, than people in the industry.”

More than 19,000 new entry level hospitality roles are currently available on Caterer.com, having increased by 71% over the last two years.

Entry level talent can try their hand at the industry with a variety of roles across the country, such as Commis chef roles, catering staff roles and waiter jobs.

There are also numerous ‘earn-while-you-learn’ pathways into the industry through colleges and apprenticeships that provide practical training and skills development at the start of a career.

For more information on vacancies within the hospitality industry visit www.caterer.com.

Dementia Awareness Week: Policy to be shaped by people living with dementia and unpaid carers

People living with dementia are being invited to join a new panel to help shape policy and delivery.  

The national, independent group will also be open to unpaid carers to be sure that Scottish Government is fully considering the impact of policy and funding decisions on those who experience them first hand.

Work will begin with the development of an application and assessment process, with the expectation that it would be established before the end of the year.

Speaking at the beginning of Dementia Awareness Week, Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, Kevin Stewart said: “The voice of experience is a crucial part of our policy making process, and making sure that it is factored in as early as possible in making important decisions is key to improving services across the country. Only someone living with dementia, their loved ones and carers fully know the complexities and nuances of dealing with it.

“We already have a very active lived experience voice in dementia support and this panel will help to amplify it. Dementia activists across the world us the motto ‘Nothing about us, without us’ and this group will put this into practise.”

Dementia Awareness Week takes place annually in Scotland on the first week of June.  This year’s event will run from Monday 30 May to Sunday 5 June and the aim of the week is to raise awareness of dementia and help improve the lives of people with dementia, their families and carers. This year’s theme is ‘Prevent, Care, Cure’ .

To apply to be part of the lived experience panel or for more information, contact dementiapolicy@gov.scot.

Campaigners to hold protest against war-profiteers in Edinburgh tomorrow

At 12pm tomorrow (Saturday 28 May), Edinburgh Campaign Against Arms Trade (Edinburgh CAAT), alongside several other groups, will be holding a demonstration outside the Leonardo offices on 2 Crewe Rd North. 

Leonardo is one of the world’s biggest arms companies and has a long and shameful history of arming and supporting human rights abusing regimes across the world. In 2021 it posted revenues of €14.1bn, which included a year-on-year net profit increase over 142%. 

It is one of the main manufacturers of the Typhoon jet that has been used by Saudi Arabian forces in the bombardment of Yemen. 

Likewise, the T-129 attack helicopter – which was jointly developed by Leonardo and Turkish Aerospace Industries – has been extensively used by Turkish forces in its military operations against Kurdish groups. 

Leonardo has provided arms and support for the Israeli government, despite the decades of abuses that it has inflicted on Palestinians. Only last month the company secured a $29 million contract to provide military helicopters to Israel. 

Protesters will gather for speeches and performances by the San-Ghanny choir, which has been to Palestine, and the ZarifAtToul dance troupe who will be teaching Palestinian dances. 

Melanie Scott, a spokesperson for Edinburgh CAAT, said: “Leonardo is one of the biggest arms companies in the world and has armed, supported and profited from human rights abuses around the world.

“It has backed dictatorships like the one in Saudi Arabia and fuelled repression against people in Palestine and beyond. 

“Despite its devastating global impact, a lot of people in Edinburgh pass Leonardo’s arms factory every day and are totally unaware of the weapons that are being made inside or who those weapons are being sold to.

“That is why we are bringing people together in unity to shine a light on Leonardo’s complicity in these abuses.”

A growing majority in Northern Ireland think Brexit has increased the likelihood of a united Ireland

The 2021 results of Northern Ireland’s leading social attitudes survey are released today (Thursday 26 May) by ARK – a joint initiative between Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University. It shows rising support for Irish unification, nationalist identification and for the NI Protocol compared to 2020. 

The NI Life & Times (NILT) Survey shows 48 per cent support for NI remaining in the Union, but this has been declining since 2016.  

Unionist and nationalist identities have become stronger, and the proportion of those who are ‘neither’ unionist nor nationalist has decreased since 2018.  

These results are analysed in a report released today: ‘Political attitudes in NI after Brexit and under the Protocol’, co-authored by Professor Katy Hayward, Dr Milena Komarova and Ben Rosher of Queen’s University Belfast. 

Key points 

  • Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is seen as the best basis for governing Northern Ireland, with only 6 per cent expressing absolute opposition to it. 
  • There has been an increase in reporting of nationalist identities (from 19 per cent in 2020 to 26 per cent in 2021). 
  • Nearly half of respondents (48 per cent) believe that the long-term policy for Northern Ireland should be to remain part of the UK (down from 54 per cent in 2020).  
  • One third (34 per cent) state they would vote for a united Ireland tomorrow. 
  • 63 per cent of respondents believe that a united Ireland is more likely after Brexit (a rise of five percentage points on 2020).  
  • The plurality of unionists (47 per cent) and majority of nationalists (83 per cent) and those who are ‘neither’ unionist nor nationalist (67 per cent) believe that this is the case.  
  • There has been a sharp rise in unionists saying Brexit has made them less in favour of a united Ireland – from 11 per cent in 2019 to 32 per cent in 2021. 
  • The proportion who think the Protocol is ‘on balance a good thing’ has more than doubled to 33 per cent (15 per cent in 2020). 33 per cent think it a ‘mixed bag’ while 21 per cent think it ‘on balance a bad thing’.  
  • Different identity groups have different opinions on the Protocol. The plurality of unionists think it on balance bad for NI (44 per cent) although 40 per cent think it ‘a mixed bag’. The plurality of ‘neithers’ think it is ‘a mixed bag’ (41 per cent). A large majority of nationalists think that it is on balance good (69 per cent). 
  • Contrary to the Legacy and Reconciliation Bill currently under consideration by the UK Parliament, only 29 per cent support an ending of Troubles-related investigations and prosecutions. 
  • There is majority support for progress in full implementation of the 1998 Agreement. 62 per cent want to see a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland and 59 per cent want to see the re-establishment of the Civic Forum.  

 The report covers four main themes: 

Belfast/Good Friday Agreement 

Support for the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement remains strong in Northern Ireland (65 per cent), with only six per cent wanting to see it gone altogether.  

In something of a boost for Alliance Party demands, 59 per cent want to see key votes in the Assembly passed on the basis of a weighted majority (not necessarily with a cross-community requirement). Only 19 per cent support the current rules for the use of Petition of Concern to block legislation in the Assembly.  

Political identities 

An exclusively Irish (i.e., ‘Irish not British’) identity is now held by the largest proportion of the population (26 per cent, up seven percentage points on 2020), compared to 21 per cent holding an exclusively British (‘British not Irish’) identity (slightly lower than in 2020).  

Those who self-identify as ‘neither’ unionist nor nationalist remain the largest group in Northern Ireland. However, the proportion of this group has shrunk since 2019, and now stands at 37 per cent. There has also been a slight drop in the reporting of unionist identities (from 35 to 32 per cent), and a significant increase in those holding nationalist identities (from 19 to 26 per cent) compared to 2020. 

Constitutional status 

The proportion of respondents who believe the UK will exist in its current form in 20 years’ time is equal to that believing that there will be a united Ireland in the same timeframe (just under four in ten).  

A plurality of respondents (48 per cent) continues to believe that the long-term policy should be for Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK. This is six percentage points lower than in 2020. At the same time, support for a united Ireland as a long-term policy has increased by four percentage points (30 per cent). 

Brexit and the Protocol 

Awareness of, and support for, the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland has increased markedly since 2020. 65 per cent claim knowledge of it. 37 per cent of respondents feel that Brexit has made them more in favour of a united Ireland (73 per cent of nationalists and 37 per cent of neithers).

There has been a steep rise in the proportion of unionists saying that Brexit makes them less in favour of Irish unity (32 per cent compared to 11 per cent in 2019).  

Commenting on the report findings, Katy Hayward, Professor of Political Sociology Queen’s and Senior Fellow, UK in a Changing Europe, said: “If the NI Assembly election of 5 May was a defining moment, it only compounded the the political flux that has troubled Northern Ireland since the Brexit referendum. 

“The NI Life and Times Survey offers a unique insight into how the local population is responding to the realisation that things won’t and can’t be the same again. The differing expectations and concerns reflected in this data will no doubt prove testing for our democratic institutions as well as for our politicians in the months and years to come.” 

The results of the report will be presented in a webinar at 5pm BST on Thursday 26 May by Paula Devine (co-director of ARK), Ben Rosher, Professor Katy Hayward, and Professor Sir John Curtice.

Please register to attend here: 

https://ukandeu.ac.uk/events/public-opinion-and-northern-irelands-constitutional-future/  

StagEHd: Edinburgh’s Theatre Festival

Saturday 28th & Sunday 29 May
Ross Bandstand, Princes Street Gardens

StagEHd is a two day festival of theatre, celebrating the performing arts in Edinburgh.

Born out of a conversation about the commercialisation of Edinburgh’s public spaces, StagEHd is an open access, free-to-attend festival of theatre, featuring the best of Edinburgh’s independent, grassroots and community theatre companies.

The festival began partly as a response to the closure of the city’s arts spaces during the 2020 pandemic, by EGTG (Edinburgh Graduate Theatre Group) in collaboration with other community theatre companies in the city, as an opportunity to showcase homegrown talent to a local audience.

“Significant achievement” in delivery of social security – but “huge amount of work remains”

More than £3.9 billion to benefit 1 million people in 2022-23

A report published today by Audit Scotland has highlighted the Scottish Government’s “significant achievement” in the scale and pace of delivering the devolved programme of social security benefits in Scotland, including seven new payments unavailable anywhere else in the UK.

The report notes that this work continued despite ongoing challenges due to the pandemic. The report further acknowledges that the Scottish Government has continued to successfully deliver existing social security benefits and introduce complex new ones – including Scottish Child Payment, Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment – in challenging circumstances.

The report also recognises the importance of social security in our collective national mission to tackle child poverty, mitigating the cost of living crisis and addressing inequalities.

In line with Scottish Fiscal Commission forecasts, the Scottish Government has committed over £3.9bn for benefit expenditure in 2022-23, providing support to more than one million people. This is over £360m above the level of funding to be received from the UK Government through Block Grant Adjustments.

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “Successfully launching new benefits during the pandemic has been a significant achievement for the Scottish Government, but a huge amount of work remains.

“The government now needs to plan how it will manage to pay for greater social security spending alongside other policy initiatives.

“To demonstrate how it is achieving value for money, it also needs to be clearer about how this extra spending will improve the lives of people living in Scotland.”

Responding to the report, Minister for Social Security Ben Macpherson said: “I am pleased that this Audit Scotland report recognises the significant progress we have made in building a new public service from scratch since 2018 and delivering 12 benefits – seven of which are completely new forms of financial support that are not available anywhere else in the UK.

“We have successfully introduced a range of benefits that are now supporting carers and low-income families with their living costs, including with heating and we are helping disabled people to live full and independent lives.

“This year will see us deliver even more for the people of Scotland. Our Scottish Child Payment will be extended to eligible children aged under 16 and be increased to £25 per week per child by the end of the year, supporting over 430,000 eligible children; and in winter 2022/23 we will introduce our new winter heating payment for low-income households – a stable £50 payment that will support 400,000 low-income households with their heating costs.

“We will also continue to roll out Adult Disability Payment, our most complex benefit, and significantly progress transferring tens of thousands of Scottish disability benefit cases from the DWP to Social Security Scotland.

“I am proud that we have built our social security system with the people who will use it, and appreciate that the report acknowledges our focus has delivered a service built on our principles of dignity, fairness and respect. The report also notes the positive feedback people have shared about their experiences of engaging with Social Security Scotland.

“We have been ambitious in our delivery timeline – including introducing new benefits while dealing with the pandemic – and we are ensuring that we transfer tens of thousands of cases safely and securely from the DWP to Social Security Scotland.

“As well as delivering benefits now and in the period ahead, we are responsibly and ambitiously developing a new social security system that will serve Scotland for many years to come, putting people at the heart of everything we do.”

Social Security Scotland currently administers 12 benefits:

Carer’s Allowance Supplement
Pregnancy and Baby Payment
Early Learning Payment
School Age Payment
Best Start Foods
Funeral Support Payment
Young Carer Grant
Job Start Payment
Scottish Child Payment
Child Winter Heating Assistance
Child Disability Payment

Adult Disability Payment is the replacement for the UK Government’s Personal Independence Payment. It is being introduced in phases ahead of national rollout on 29 August.

nr_220519_social_securityDownload

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: Do you need insurance for your street party?

You may already be in planning mode for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, but have you considered insuring your street party? 

Between the 2nd and 5th of June, it’s estimated that there will be 10 million Britons hosting street parties organised across the UK, according to Country Living. 

It’s no surprise to see how huge an occasion this is! Not only is this a great celebration of the Queen’s 70-year reign, but it’s also a welcome opportunity to reconnect with our community after COVID. We could all do with some good news after all. 

There are so many things to think about when it comes to party-planning, and no more so than when it involves an entire street or community.

A-Plan Insurance have revealed their top tips to throw a Jubilee Street Party:

Planning a Jubilee Street Party? 

The official Big Jubilee Lunch is planned for Sunday 5th June. Here are some helpful pointers to help you decide on whether to plan a street party: 

1. What type of Jubilee Party do you want to hold? 

  • If you are planning a Street Party, you will need to contact your local council. You can do this here or simply give your Council a call if it isn’t listed on their website. 
  • If you don’t need to close the road, you can run a ‘Street Meet’ – if you live in a cul de sac, councils are generally happy for this to go ahead without permission. Otherwise, use driveways, parking areas and front gardens – none of these will require council permission. Ensure you don’t obstruct pavements. 
  • Another option is a ‘Neighbour’s Picnic’, which can be held in the local park, the only caveat is that you cannot have music or a barbecue, but it may work well for sandwiches and cake! 

2. Get your community involved from the start 

Get your neighbours involved – and make sure everyone meets to discuss the Big Day beforehand. 

  • Ask everyone to bring a dish and drink, and don’t forget to include vegetarian/vegan type options. 
  • Consider whether you will buy plastic cutlery, or reduce waste and encourage neighbours to bring their own cutlery. 
  • Consider classic British recipes, such as Scotch Eggs, sausage rolls, Bakewell Tart and Victoria Sponge cake. 
  • If you are using private land, you could consider a barbecue. 
  • If you need crockery, consider buying some mismatched plates from a charity shop, they appear much more authentic, cause less waste and the charity will benefit from your purchase. You could even clean them up and return them for resale. 
  • To keep decoration costs down, get the local children involved in creating bunting, paper waving flags on (paper) straws, and paper chains. 
  • Consider setting up a Spotify playlist and sharing the link with your neighbour’s who can add their music to it as well. Add a few of the Queen’s favourites, such as ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’ by Vera Lynn, and ‘Leaning on a Lamp-post’ by George Formby. 
  • And remind everyone to bring their favourite mug for a cup of tea! 

3. Do I need Jubilee Street Party Insurance? 

As a Platinum Jubilee Street Party is a one-off event, you won’t need a risk assessment or licence for the consumption of alcohol. That doesn’t mean that there is no risk. 

We would encourage anyone organizing a Jubilee party to have street party insurance cover in place. The main risks are: 

  • Burns from barbecues 
  • Food and drink 
  • Trips and falls 
  • Damage to vehicles 
  • Breakages 

Some councils will require proof of insurance, while others won’t. 

A spokesperson for A-Plan Insurance stated: “The Queen’s Jubilee is to celebrate her 70 years of service. Her Majesty The Queen is extremely well respected by many and is well-loved for her oath to duty, love of the people and even her sense of humour.

 “Millions of people want to celebrate this milestone with her and we want to ensure that people are aware of the guidelines before throwing their party.

“To reiterate, as a Platinum Jubilee Street Party is a one-off event, you won’t need a risk assessment or licence for the consumption of alcohol. That doesn’t mean that there is no risk. 

“We would encourage anyone organizing a Jubilee party to have street party insurance cover in place. We look forward to this huge, worldwide celebration.”

Civil Service job cuts: Union responds

NATIONAL STRIKE ‘VERY MUCH ON THE TABLE’

PCS has warned of the consequences for everyone who relies on public services of Boris Johnson’s plans to cut up to 91,000 civil service jobs to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

It is understood the prime minister wants to see civil service staffing levels cut to 2016 levels.

PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka condemned the plans and said: “Cuts have consequences.

Not just on those whose jobs are being sacrificed to throw red meat to the dwindling number of Conservative voters, but on everyone who relies on the services our members provide. 

“The government complains about longer delays for passports and driving licences at the same time as sacking the people who are working so hard to clear the backlog. 

“Let’s be clear, this is not about efficiency. This is about the prime minister trying to create a smokescreen to detract from his utter shambles of a government. 

“He has chosen to cause our cost-of-living crisis and is desperate to point the blame somewhere – and he has chosen to point the finger at hard working PCS members who kept the country running throughout the pandemic. 

“Our members will not be the scapegoats for a failing government. We have our conference in 10 days’ time: taking national strike action is very much on the table.” 

New National Parks for Scotland

SCOTS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE PART IN CONSULTATION

Communities, groups and individuals are being invited to share their views in a consultation on the creation of Scotland’s first new National Parks in almost twenty years.

The Scottish Government committed to establish at least one new National Park in Scotland by the end of this Parliamentary session in 2026, as part of the Bute House agreement with the Scottish Green Party and the Programme for Government.

The public consultation is looking at what people value about Scottish National Parks, and what these areas should deliver in future – in particular, how they can help to protect and restore nature, tackle climate change and promote sustainable land use. This will be followed by a longer period during which communities, local government and organisations will be encouraged and supported to develop proposals for new Parks.

Biodiversity Minister Lorna Slater visited Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park to open the consultation, and speak to pupils at Luss Primary School who have been involved in a local COP 26 legacy tree-planting project.

Ms Slater said: “It is almost two decades since Scotland’s first National Parks in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms were established. Both are home to some of the country’s most outstanding scenery, are internationally important areas for nature and receive millions of visitors each year.

“They work hard to tackle the biodiversity and climate crisis, help manage facilities for visitors, promote responsible access and develop sustainable communities. They have become jewels in Scotland’s crown, and now is the time to add to them.

“We are committed to establish at least one new National Park in Scotland by the end of this Parliamentary session in 2026. To be able to do this in an open and transparent manner, we need to be able to assess any new area which is to be considered for National Park status against a set of agreed expectations. 

“This is where we need your help and ideas. We want to gauge what people want their National Parks to deliver for the environment, culture and the communities within their boundaries.

“I would strongly encourage everyone to take part and ensure your views are heard and reflected in the shaping of this historic expansion of Scotland’s National Parks.”

Read and take part in the consultation on the Scottish Government website.

Edinburgh Napier is Number 1 Scottish Modern for research power and impact

Results of Research Excellence Framework 2021 published

Edinburgh Napier University’s research power has been highlighted in a wide-ranging assessment of research quality in UK universities.

The activity at the University assessed as “internationally excellent” and “world-leading” by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) has leapt from 53 to 68 per cent since the last time the exercise was carried out in 2014.

And the University’s research power metric, which takes into account the overall quality of the submission and the number of researchers whose work was submitted, rocketed from 250 to 718. The feat gave the University top ranking among the Scottish modern or post-1992 universities.

Edinburgh Napier was also the top Scottish modern for research impact.

The improved ratings are all the more remarkable after the University chose to submit the work of more than 250 researchers, up from under 100 last time around, showing the strength and depth that now exists across research areas.

The REF – the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions – is undertaken by the four UK higher education funding bodies: Research England, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), and the Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland (DfE).

A total of 157 UK institutions participated in the exercise, which is used to inform the allocation of around £2 billion of research funding per year. The thoroughness of the exercise is designed to provide accountability for public investment in research, demonstrating its benefits and impact.

REF 2021 – for which submission deadlines were extended due to the Covid-19 pandemic – assessed 21 per cent of Edinburgh Napier’s activity as world-leading and 47 per cent as internationally excellent.

The University’s improved power rating should now see research funding increase as it takes significant strides to grow its reputation as a research-focused institution as well as a teaching one.

The research submitted covered a wide range of academic disciplines, from environmental science and computer science to built environment and social policy. It included projects focusing on mangrove and seagrass conservation, cybercrime-busting technology, offsite construction solutions, cardiovascular health and police stop and search policy.

Of the 13 units of assessment (UoAs) submitted, Edinburgh Napier improved in every single one.

ULT portrait – Nick Antonopoulos, Vice Principal of Research and Innovation

Professor Nick Antonopoulos, the University’s Vice Principal of Research and Innovation, said: “I am delighted to see these REF results firmly placing Edinburgh Napier as the Number One Modern in Scotland, both in research power and impact. This is the outcome of the tireless, collaborative efforts of our academic and professional services staff over the past seven years, for which I am truly grateful.

“These outcomes, and in particular the fact that nearly 70 per cent of our research has been evaluated as internationally excellent or world-leading, provide the best possible confirmation that Edinburgh Napier delivers excellent research with substantial real impact, nationally and internationally.

“These achievements are even more remarkable when we consider the funding that Edinburgh Napier has been receiving, and clearly illustrate that as an institution we deliver considerable additional value for money in research and innovation.”