Top tips for avoiding getting scammed out of your pension pot

It is estimated that more than 1.3 million people have been targeted by unscrupulous regulated and unregulated financial advisors who have pedalled bad advice.

These unscrupulous advisors have persuaded many people to transfer their existing private pensions or extremely valuable defined benefit pensions, to open a SIPP (Self Invested Personal Plan) and to “invest” in unregulated, high risk and illiquid “investments”.

Many people have lost most, if not all, of their pensions which they have been paying into all of their working lives. In some cases, people have transferred pension pots of £500,000 or more into worthless “investments” sold to them by dodgy or incompetent financial advisors who were not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Investments that promise significant returns but deliver losses have led to people losing most or all of their pension funds, leaving them devastated, often traumatised, unable to retire comfortably and often unable to retire at all.

Solicitor Paul Higgins of Pension Justice, a law firm that specialises in assisting victims of pension mis-selling to help recover some of their lost money, says: “That old adage of ‘if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true’ couldn’t apply more than in the case of pension mis-selling.

“We’ve had clients that have been promised huge returns on unregulated investments into things such as storage pods, airport car parking spaces, fractional ownership of property in Cape Verde, carbon credits and more, which sadly have all turned out to be worthless”.

Pension Justice has helped its clients, who have been given bad advice, to recover millions of pounds in compensation and has the following top tips to help people from falling victim to pension mis-selling.

Knowing what red flags to look out for could save a person from making a terrible mistake that could help them avoid losing their pension and ruining their retirement:

1.    Be suspicious of cold calls from financial advisors. As a general rule don’t take cold calls. If you don’t know who they are, put the phone down. If you are interested in talking to them, do some background research into their qualifications and the investments they are offering. Promises of doubling your money are probably worthless. Unfortunately, there are many unscrupulous “advisors” out there who prey on people by offering “free pension reviews”. Under no circumstances agree to anything on the phone or invite them into your home, however convincing, how friendly they are or how much pressure they put you under.

Check with the Financial Conduct Authority to see if they are authorised to provide financial advice.  

2.    Do your homework on the investments offered. Look up pension mis-selling, discuss the investment opportunity with friends and family and ask someone to help you do some research online if you are not internet savvy.  Unregulated investments are highly risky, and you could lose your life savings for the baseless promise of high returns.

3.    Make sure you understand the terms and conditions.  Your financial adviser is in a position of trust and has to communicate the terms and conditions of any products they are selling. They need to ensure you are fully informed before making any decisions. If your pensions advisers don’t explain any terms and conditions, you will likely be able to file a claim.

4.    Ask for a full breakdown of fees and charges. Make sure you find out exactly how much this transfer will cost you in terms of fees and annual charges. Again, victims of mis-selling sometimes end up paying out more money to the advisor than their pension earns. If the advisor is not clear about these fees and charges, then walk away.

5.    You have been advised to transfer your pension from a workplace pension. It is doubtful that it will be beneficial for you to transfer your extremely valuable defined benefit pension and there is a good chance that you will be mis-sold.

Paul said: “If you think you have already been a victim of pension mis-selling, it is possible to get compensation.  Pension Justice have recently helped one client recover compensation.

“She transferred £35,000 from a defined benefit NHS Superannuation Scheme of Scotland pension into a SIPP and thereafter “invested in an Ethical Forestry scheme” which failed. 

“We recently helped another client who had a defined benefit scheme pension with Proctor and Gamble and also a personal pension which together were worth over £158,000. She was persuaded to open a SIPP and to transfer her pensions into that SIPP and thereafter invest over £149,000 in “investments” which subsequently failed. 

“Pension Justice pursued a claim on her behalf to the FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme) and in February 2020 recovered £85,000.00 in compensation for our client, the maximum payable under the scheme.”

H beauty: Harrods opens first beauty emporium in Scotland

Harrods is proud to announce the launch of its first stand-alone H beauty destination in Scotland, in the heart of Edinburgh, on the 30th November 2021.

Following two successful H Beauty store openings across England, the latest H beauty, will be located at St James Quarter, in the heart of Edinburgh’s shopping district. The latest addition to the H beauty portfolio reflects Harrods’ commitment to bringing its industry-leading expertise in creating luxury shopping experiences through its unique curation of brands, to new communities across the UK.

Offering a game-changing beauty wonderland, the 21,000 sq.ft. space embodies the future of beauty, providing an expansive space for customers to enjoy a diverse portfolio of exceptional services and must-have products from over 90 international beauty brands.

The store is an experiential playground where both beauty novices and experts can discover the industry’s most innovative brands in addition to finding their long-standing favourites.

In keeping with H beauty’s ethos of inclusivity, empowerment, and self-expression, the Harrods buying team, led by Annalise Fard and Mia Collins, has carefully curated a spectacular offering that delivers something for everyone and encourages the H beauty community to play, experiment and celebrate who they are through beauty.

To provide customers with an unmatched and elevated beauty retail experience, each H beauty store is developed with the local beauty community in mind and is designed to bring the most important and vibrant products, brands, and experiences to customers, often for the first time.

H Beauty will support local talent and up and coming Scottish brands, whose values directly connect with Harrods own, with its ‘Born & Bred’ offering, featuring local brands such as Vieve, Moo & Yoo, Kingdom Scotland and Lola’s Lashes.

The store also offers the first physical location in Edinburgh for local customers to test, swatch, play and purchase iconic and coveted products instore from the much-loved Charlotte Tilbury, as well as Keys Soulcare and Kora Organics.

Premium brands such as Chanel, Dior and Givenchy sit alongside cult-favourites, some who until now have only had a limited presence in Edinburgh including Westman Atelier, Kylie Cosmetics, and Sunday Riley.

Annalise Fard, Director of Beauty at Harrods, commented: “The opening of our first H beauty store in Scotland is a significant and hugely exciting milestone for Harrods.

“As a leading authority in luxury and the beauty space, we are committed to meeting the ongoing demand for high quality retail beauty shopping experiences outside of London, through the expansion of our stand-alone H beauty stores, and we take great pride in bringing the essence of Harrods Beauty to local communities across different regions of the UK.

“For H beauty Edinburgh, we have carefully curated an extensive portfolio of brands and products tailored to suit the local customer, which this is reflected in the breadth of beauty collections and services available in store.”

H beauty is a perfume paradise, and as the UK’s leading fine fragrance retailer, Harrods intends to bring the best of what is offered in the Knightsbridge Beauty Halls to regional communities across the UK.

The store’s fragrance offering showcases the sectors growth and the continuous demand for luxury perfumes. With a dedicated Fragrance Bar, boutiques by Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Penhaligon’s, as well as access to brand exclusives from Initio, L’Artisan Parfumeur, Parfums de Marly, and Montale, customers can rediscover their familiar favorites and fall in love with new signature scents.

In addition, H beauty’s extensive skincare offering ensures that there are enriching and effective products to enhance your daily skincare routine or address skin concerns, across a range of different price points. 

The store also houses a wealth of innovative beauty gadgets, makeup, candles, and haircare brands that are designed to enhance your inner and outer wellbeing, and up your beauty game with eye-catching looks.

H beauty is an all-encompassing destination for all things beauty and the store is framed by several dedicated boutiques for some of the most iconic names in the industry, from Gucci’s instantly recognisable pastel and floral décor, to Charlotte Tilbury’s glamourous Hollywood-inspired beauty and skincare offering.

Harrods is known for delivering innovative and creative shopping experiences, and at H beauty Edinburgh customers can access interactive make-up tutorials and experiential product testing through state-of-the-art play tables throughout the store.

Additionally, the store’s 14-seat Champagne Bar offers an indulgent menu of patisseries and cocktails created by Harrods’ renowned food and beverage team, providing the prefect space for beauty lovers to sit, sip and reunite with friends.

Mia Collins, Head of Beauty at Harrods, said: “We are delighted to bring the magic of Harrods Beauty to Scotland for the very first time, with our H Beauty St James Quarter store.

“We are so excited to join the avid community of beauty lovers in Edinburgh and we can’t wait to share H beauty and our epic line up of brands & products with them.

“Our new store in Edinburgh features all of H beauty’s iconic signatures including our famous Champagne Bar; the picture-perfect spot to meet loved ones for a glass of something sparkling or a delectable bite to eat, as well as our immersive play-tables and an assortment of new beauty experiences and concepts that will inspire and delight local customers.

“We are bringing a swathe of local and up-and-coming brands, products, and services to our Scottish beauty lovers that aren’t available anywhere else in Edinburgh and I can’t wait to introduce them to this discerning audience.”

Following two successful H beauty openings, the first at Lakeside retail centre in Essex and second at centre:mk in Milton Keynes, H beauty Edinburgh marks the latest chapter in Harrods’ long term strategic plans to bring H beauty to beauty communities around the UK.

The ambitious national expansion will also see two further stores open over the next 12 months in Bristol and Newcastle.

@HarrodsBeauty 

#Hbeauty

https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/h-beauty/edinburgh

Charities bracing themselves as nearly one third of Scots say they may need to take on debt to cover the costs of Christmas

Charities bracing themselves as nearly one third of Scots say they may need to take on debt to cover the costs of Christmas

Nearly one third of people in Scotland (29%) may need to take on debt to cover the cost of Christmas this year, according to a survey of 2,000 people carried out by Censuswide for charity The Big Give.

Nearly one quarter of Edinburgh residents (24%) are not looking forward to the holiday season this year, with money worries being the most common reason, the survey also found.

While lower than the national average (16%), a shocking 13% of Scottish residents are worried they may need to use food banks to help them manage this Christmas.

Thankfully, more half of respondents from Scotland plan to donate the same amount to charities over the Christmas period. Between rising financial concerns and the ongoing health crisis that is the Covid-19 pandemic, the work done by local charities is more important than ever.

A campaign organised by the Big Give and backed by celebrities such as Stephen Fry, Dame Judi Dench, Russell Brand and others is aiming to help. 

The Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s biggest Christmas coordinated fundraising appeal, is supporting over 900 charities to raise funds with the unique offer of matching any donations made during the week of 30th November – 7th December.

Alex Day, Director of The Big Give said: ‘Our study shows that, sadly, people across Scotland and the rest of the UK are facing an imperfect storm; High fuel prices, chronic mental health problems, rising debt, loneliness and fears about Covid-19 will mean that, for many, this festive period will be a far cry from picture perfect scenes portrayed on Christmas cards.

‘Some will rely on charities which will be further and further stretched as demand grows.’

‘That is why, for those who can, supporting charities is more important than ever. Through The Christmas Challenge campaign, we are offering to match any donation made to hundreds of amazing charities through theBigGive.org.uk. That means whatever you can give will go twice as far.’

Capita secures JETS contract extension after supporting 4,000 Scottish job seekers into new roles

Capita plc has announced that it has secured a £7.7m 8-month extension to its  contract to run the Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) programme in Scotland. Capita will continue to run the programme to March 2023. 

Capita launched the Scottish JETS programme in January 2021 and since then, it has  successfully supported over 4,000 job seekers, who had become unemployed due to the Covid 19 pandemic, into new roles in sectors, such as, hospitality, retail, care and construction. 

JETS is a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) programme designed, following the pandemic, to support jobseekers across the UK, who have been unemployed for more than 13  weeks, find work.  

Over the course of the extension, Capita will continue to work with Scottish supply chain partners – including The Wise Group, The Lennox Partnership and Reed in Partnership– to match jobseekers with skilled advisers who will provide specialist and local support tailored to their  needs.  

All jobseekers referred to JETS meet every 10 days with their adviser, who works with them to  make them job ready and improve their knowledge, skills and confidence. JETS participants  benefit from digital interview training and access to a Capita-developed online portal which features: 

• Online learning which provides users with opportunities to get new qualifications for  sectors of the economy that are growing. 

• A skills library which enables users to measure their existing skills and knowledge to help  them decide what the most appropriate online courses are for them to complete. • An AI-powered CV builder which links a user’s CV to a job feed to enable them to access  employment opportunities.  

• An action plan, devised with a user’s JETS employment adviser, and online calendar to  track their progress.  

Mims Davies MP, Minister for Employment, said: “It’s wonderful to see over 4,000 people, like Adam, across Scotland getting back into work thanks  to our DWP JETS scheme.  

“The £500m expansion of our Plan for Jobs will continue to deliver for people of all ages across  the country – giving them tailored support to find that next opportunity and really progress in their  careers.” 

Andy Start, CEO Capita Public Service, said: “We are delighted that we have secured this  extension to our JETS contract. I am proud that our team has helped over 4,000 jobseekers in  Scotland into work.

“Every person Capita has supported into a new role, through our digital tools  and our advisers, is now pursuing a rewarding career and developing their expertise further. In  the coming months, we will help many more jobseekers get job ready by giving them the advice,  support and skills they need to re-enter the workforce. 

“The Covid-19 pandemic is not over and as we continue the rebuilding process, programmes like  JETS are vital to securing the UK’s economic recovery. We will continue to use our extensive  experience of delivering digital services, which support diverse groups of vulnerable people, to  fulfil our role on the JETS programme in Scotland.”  

Adam, a JETS participant who Capita has placed in work, said: “I hadn’t done many job interviews  and I found them nerve wracking. I was in a very difficult cycle before I was with JETS, interviews  wouldn’t go well and I didn’t know what to focus on for the next one. The JETS mock interviews  and online training courses really helped to build my confidence.  

“My JETS advisor always made me feel like there was time for me and she was giving me the  help that I needed. I’ve already recommended the JETS scheme to other people in my life as a  helping hand really does make a world of difference.” 

Some of Capita’s JETS participants are dealing with mental health challenges. Capita offers these  jobseekers free access to a digital mental health platform, designed by Kooth Digital Health, that  provides immediate, anonymous access to self-help materials, an online community and  professional support via accredited counsellors and emotional wellbeing practitioners. 

Additionally, as part of Capita’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, the business has pledged to fund the planting of a tree for each jobseeker it places in sustainable employment.

The  trees will be planted through Revere, an innovative nature restoration finance organisation, across the Cairngorms, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Parks and will help to combat climate  change and biodiversity loss. 

Storm Arwen: Community comes to the aid of stricken log boat

Storm #Arwen tossed the Iron age logboat around and damaged the side. Granton:hub received reports that the boat, which was moored in #Granton #harbour, was in danger.

A big community effort resulted in the boat being paddled away from the harbour wall. Volunteers then pulled it across onto the shore where it is now safe from any further storms.

There will be a repair carried out with the School of Ancient Crafts following ancient methods so an update will follow.

In the meantime we would like to thank everyone for their kind support. Without the local community this would not have been possible.

Granton:Hub

Tickets for the Royal Highland Show 2022 on sale this week

2022 marks the 200th anniversary of the much-anticipated Royal Highland Show. Organisers have announced they will release a limited number of discounted early bird tickets from Friday 3rd December – just in time for the festive giving season! 

Show revellers will be welcomed through the gates of the Ingliston showground from 23rd to 26th June 2022, with lots of celebrations planned to mark the long-awaited return of Scotland’s largest outdoor event. 

Show organisers are expecting more livestock entries than ever before, with exhibitors eager to enter the Royal Highland Show for the first time since 2019. 

The host venue, the Royal Highland Centre, will come to life over the four show days in glorious technicolour with the bleats, cheeps and beats of fine farmyard animals, energetic rural demonstrations, music, shopping and show jumping performances, not to mention the best of Scottish food and drink.  

The 200th anniversary show is shaping up to be a fitting celebration for a momentous milestone in the event’s history, which has grown from just a handful of attendees in 1822 to almost 200,000 in 2019!  

In a change from the usual format, showgoers will be required to purchase entry tickets for specific days (Thursday – Sunday) and must be bought in advance, with the most popular weekend dates likely to sell out quickly. As always, children under the age of 16 will go free with a paying adult.*  

Show organisers encourage those wishing to attend to ‘buy now’ and play their part in the 200th anniversary celebrations. 

Limited discounted early bird tickets are available from 12pm Friday 3rd December. 

Ticket information: 

  • Adult day single admit: £27.50 plus booking fee  
  • Children under 16 will go free with a paying adult (*max 2 children per paying adult) 
  • Parking: £15 for 1 day / £20 for 2 days / £25 for 4 days   
  • Tickets must be bought in advance 

Tickets available at: www.royalhighlandshow.org 

Commenting on the ticket release, RHASS Chairman Bill Gray, said: “With many months in the planning, we are so looking forward to what will be four thrilling days at the Royal Highland Show 2022.

“There is no doubt that we have come a long way since the first show 200 years ago, however the animals remain the star attraction. It is an incredible family day out – after all, where else can you get up close to farmyard animals, taste the best of Scottish food and drink, see world-class equestrians, experience the thrill of the Main Ring parade, or climb aboard a giant tractor? It simply is the best day out. 

“We want all visitors to be able to attend on their preferred day, so our advice is buy now as it is very likely to be a sell-out Show.”  

Communities across Scotland come together to celebrate kindness for St Andrew’s Day

Local communities, businesses, tourist attractions, retail units, charities and transport providers across Scotland have come together to share a message of kindness in the run-up to St Andrew’s Day today, in efforts to highlight the importance of community and compassion for others and the environment that we live in.

A special kindness-themed illustration to support the Scottish Government’s St Andrew’s Day campaign, featuring the message ‘When Kindness is Shared it Grows’ by Edinburgh-based artist Emily Hogarth has been created,inspired by the many small acts of kindness that have made a positive difference to many across the country this last year.   

Organisations right across the country have lent their support across the weekend in the lead up to Scotland’s national day.ScotRail, Loganair and Stagecoach were among the transport groups that displayed and broadcast messages across their networks, from Edinburgh’s iconic Waverley Station to Inverness Station.

From Dundee City Square to Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre and St James Quarter to the V&A Museum, the message of kindness was also displayed in the form of clean graffiti in Scotland’s cities. Passers-by were encouraged to stop and reflect this St Andrew’s Day, and importantly, to share kindness with others. 

Up to 100 individual cultural and community events have been taking place in cities and towns around the country to mark St Andrew’s Day, delivered by EventScotland, BEMIS Scotland, the Fair Saturday Foundation and the English Speaking Union Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Many events were also broadcast online, bringing more people together from further afield to enjoy the celebrations – both in Scotland and beyond.  

The Scottish Government has provided funding support of up to £430,000 to deliver Scotland’s Winter Festivals event programme in 2021/22 which provides a significant opportunity to boost Scotland’s dynamic tourism and event sectors as they progress towards post-pandemic economic recovery and bring diverse communities together to celebrate the resilience, community spirit and shared kindness.

For further information on the Andrew’s Day events programme visit:

www.onescotland.org/st-andrews-day

Dentists: New guidelines will not soften blow of Scottish Govt plans

The British Dental Association Scotland has said new standard operating procedures for dentists published yesterday will NOT restore access to pre-COVID levels.

With high levels of COVID and other seasonal infections, and now the emergence of the Omicron variant, dentist leaders stress they will also do nothing to avert the potentially catastrophic impact of Scottish Government plans to pull away pandemic support from NHS practices.

Patients in Scotland will now be placed on one of two pathways, given the likelihood of them carrying a respiratory illness. It replaces what amounted to a ‘one size fits all’ approach that has been in place since the outset of the pandemic, which reduced capacity across the service.  

Those on the non-respiratory pathway can be managed in line with pre-COVID standard infection control precautions for non-aerosol generating procedures.

However, for an aerosol-generating procedure, enhanced precautions will still be required for non-respiratory patients since pre-appointment PCR testing is not carried out in dentistry. 

Any patient placed on the respiratory pathway and requiring urgent care will remain subject to enhanced precautions for all procedures, which will include maintaining ‘fallow time’ gaps of up to an hour between treatments. 

The new model is unveiled on the day the Omicron variant was confirmed to be present in Scotland. Even setting aside any potential spike in COVID infection, large numbers of patients are likely to end up on the respiratory pathway given typical patterns with seasonal flu and the common cold.

It is anticipated a number of dentists may opt for a ‘safety first’ approach, and use flexibility within new protocols to maintain existing protective measures, particularly given the uncertain effectiveness of triage questions in identifying symptoms of the Omicron variant.   

Over 3.5 million NHS dental appointments have been lost in Scotland since the first lockdown, driven by ongoing restrictions.  

Cabinet Secretary Humza Yousaf wrote to all NHS dental teams last month stating that all emergency support will be withdrawn by 1 April 2022, as part of a new policy to return to the low margin and high volume system the service operated to pre-pandemic.

The move drew criticism from all opposition parties, given the unsustainable pressure it would place on practices. According to a BDA survey conducted at the time 80% of dentists estimate their practices are set to reduce their NHS commitment should the Scottish Government remove emergency support and return to pre-COVID models of care.  

Yousaf told the Scottish Parliament on 3 November that “reform at this stage would be a disruption.” Governments in both Westminster and Cardiff Bay are taking through reforms to their NHS dental systems at this time. 

NHS dental care free at the point of use remains a centrepiece SNP policy. BDA Scotland has said the Scottish Government must change course to achieve that goal, develop an interim funding package to support dentists and their teams as they work through the backlog, and begin work on a new, sustainable model for delivering care.    

David McColl. Chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee said: “Since the spring we have been pressing for a plan to safely ease COVID restrictions, to help increase patient numbers.

“Sadly, these new guidelines will not magically restore services. They land as we head into winter when respiratory diseases are set to skyrocket. And with Omicron now present in Scotland many practices will understandably take a safety-first approach.

“We are still facing massive backlogs, saddled with a system that is unfit for purpose. New protocols will not soften the blow of plans to pull away emergency support at this challenging time for infections and try and return to a ‘business as usual’ model during a pandemic.

“Ministers say now is not the time for reform. Reform won’t wait for millions of patients in Scotland who need NHS dentistry to have a future.” 

Scottish Youth Parliament: Edinburgh elections results

The Scottish Youth Parliament election results 2021 were announced on Monday 22 November. Eleven new Members of the SYP will now represent young people in Edinburgh.

Ten of those elected are from state schools in the city, seven are young women and three are from a Black and Minority Ethnic background.

One remaining seat, in Northern and Leith, will be contested in the new year.

Edinburgh registered the highest number of expressions of interest in Scotland from potential candidates and fielded the most candidates (26) of any local authority.

We also achieved the highest voter turnout in Edinburgh since 2015, despite many of the usual campaigning activities being curtailed because of the pandemic.

Councillor Ellie Bird, Young People’s Champion, said: “I want to commend the astonishing achievements and contributions of all 26 candidates that stood across Edinburgh in the Scottish Youth Parliament election, and warmly welcome the eleven new MSYPs into our city’s elected member family.

“The success of this year’s election is a testament to the commitment and passion of everyone involved in prioritising the voice of young people, at a time when it’s never been more important.

“Due to the restricted access to schools, youth clubs and community centres, candidates have had to rely on their own ingenuity, creativity and sheer dogged persistence to get their message, and their vote, out.

“The determination that these young people have demonstrated in standing up for what they believe in by putting themselves forward for election and to be accountable to their electorate, especially during such a challenging period for young people, is nothing short of inspirational.

“I know they all have a lot to offer their communities and the causes they care about most, and I can’t wait to see what they do next and look forward to working with Edinburgh’s newest group of elected representatives to place young people at the heart of policy and decision making.”

For more information about the election and the successful candidates, please see @edinburghMSYPs