Covid-19 has had a profound impact on Scotland’s economy, but the cost of the crisis has not been shared evenly. What can we do about it?
About this event
Join us on Tuesday the 24th of August to hear from leading economists and trade unionists about the parts of Scotland’s economy that have prospered during the Covid-19 pandemic, the potential long-term economic impacts, and how trade unions and policymakers can respond.
Speakers will include:
• Laurie Macfarlane, Economics Editor at openDemocracy and Head of Finance at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. Prior to this Laurie was Senior Economist at the New Economics Foundation.
• Christine Berry, economist, writer, and co-author of ‘People Get Ready! Preparing for a Corbyn Government’. Christine was recently appointed as Director of the thinktank IPPR North.
• Jennifer McCarey, Chair of Glasgow Trades Council.
• Richard Hardy, National Secretary of Prospect, a Commissioner on the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Commission, and sits on the STUC General Council.
“By far the best course of action for you and your baby is to get both doses of the vaccine”
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer is urging pregnant women to get the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine to protect them and their baby.
Following a recent study showing evidence of increased hospitalisations, Dr Gregor Smith is encouraging all expectant mothers to discuss the vaccine with their healthcare professionals so they can make a fully informed choice.
The UK Obstetric Service (UKOSS) published research last month which showed the number of pregnant women being admitted to hospital with COVID-19 across the UK is increasing, with many experiencing acute symptoms.
The report also suggests the Delta variant is associated with an increased risk of severe illness among hospitalised pregnant women.
Dr Smith said: “Firstly I want to thank all our healthcare staff for everything they are doing across Scotland not just in relation to the wider vaccination programme but also for their efforts to ensure good outcomes for women, families and babies during the pandemic.
“We have written to heath boards and GPs to ensure they are aware of all the latest evidence-based advice and guidance to enable them to fully discuss the very clear positive benefits of the vaccine with their patients.
“Recent data shows the number of pregnant women being admitted to hospital with COVID-19 has risen, and that is concerning. Evidence suggests that the Delta variant may be associated with an increased risk of severe illness among hospitalised pregnant women.
“We want all pregnant women to have the information they need to make an informed choice, so if you have any concerns or questions, please speak to your midwife, GP, or go along to a drop-in clinic. By far the best course of action for you and your baby is to get both doses of the vaccine.”
Edinburgh Western MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton has been confirmed as the new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. He was elected unopposed.
Mr Cole-Hamilton takes over from Willie Rennie, who stepped down after the Scottish Parliament elections in May which saw the Lib-Dem contingent reduced to just four MSPs at Holyrood.
Following the announcement Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “With everything we have been through Scotland needs new hope right now. As the new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, I want to offer that to the people of our country.
“We no longer have to choose between the Scottish nationalisms of the SNP and the Brexit nationalism of the Conservatives, the Scottish Liberal Democrats are the positive, unifying alternative.
“Our country is a beautiful and dynamic place to live, our people are proud, and our history is magnificent, but over time we have become subdued by the collapse of industry, failing health and disinterest from those in power.
“As we come out of the pandemic, we need to do things differently. Going back to the way things were cannot be the limit of our ambition. We need to bring our country together so we can focus on the issues and the challenges we are all facing.
“Here are some of my priorities:
Tackle the climate emergency, without the baggage of nationalism
Value and reward our carers
Make Scotland the best place in the world to receive an education, once again
Give people the freedom to live the lives they want, without government interference
Give local communities a bigger say
Make Scotland a powerhouse for research and innovation
Closer cooperation with our partners across the UK and in Europe
“We can achieve all of this and more, but only if we get beyond the divisions of the past.
“If you agree with me, you can be a part of the new hope I want to bring to Scotland. Join me and the Scottish Liberal Democrats.”
Lib-Dem leader Ed Davey said: “A huge congratulations to @agcolehamilton on his election as Leader of @ScotLibDems. Alex is a true liberal and tireless campaigner.
“I look forward to working closely with him to fight the climate crisis, value carers, and deliver world-class education and services for Scotland.”
Mr Cole-Hamilton’s appointment was announced by his colleague Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine on the same day as the SNP – Scottish Greens working agreement was confirmed.
Ms Jardine said: “Alex is not just someone who’s in this because of politics, he’s in this because of what he believes and it will be his vision, his views, his direction that will take the party forward into the next phase.
“We all have a job to do in supporting Alex, we all have a job to do in getting the message out there, and we all have a job to do in ensuring that this next phase of our history is a strong, positive one.
“Alex is the one who’s going to lead us forward in portraying that to the Scottish people, winning their support again, and making sure that we change Scottish politics.”
The Scottish Parliament has been in recess since 26 June but resumes on 29 August.
New plans to crack down on puppy smuggling and ban the import of dogs with cropped ears or docked tails have been set out by the UK Government today.
The new powers, which also include raising the minimum age for importing a puppy from 15 weeks to six months and banning the import of heavily pregnant dogs to help protect puppy and mother welfare, are aimed at safeguarding the welfare of the thousands of puppies and dogs that come into Great Britain from overseas each year.
More than 66,000 dogs were commercially imported into the UK last year according to Animal and Plant Health Agency figures. However, evidence shows a recent rise in low-welfare imports and smuggling activity, with border authorities seeing around a 260% increase in the number of young puppies being intercepted for not meeting the UK’s pet import rules – from 324 in 2019 to 843 in 2020.
The proposals are part of a raft of measures included in an eight-week GB-wide consultation which seeks views from the public and stakeholders on government proposals to tackle puppy smuggling and low-welfare imports by unscrupulous breeders and traders.
In addition, the consultation asks the public and stakeholders for views on new penalties for breaching these rules, changes to the detention and rehoming process and whether the proposals should be extended to cover cats and ferrets.
Launching the consultation, Animal Welfare Minister Lord Zac Goldsmith said: “Puppy smuggling is a grim trade, and we are determined to clamp down on it.
“Raising the minimum import age for puppies will help protect thousands of animals that are brought into the country each year and stop criminals looking to profit from the rise in demand for pets.
“We already have one of the toughest pet travel border checking regimes in the world and as an independent nation outside the EU we are going even further by preventing anyone from bringing in dogs which have undergone inhumane procedures such as ear cropping or tail docking.
“These new measures build on our plans to raise animal welfare standards across the board as part of our Action Plan for Animal Welfare.”
RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said: “In recent years we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of dogs being commercially imported into the UK as well as the number of dogs being reported for having undergone mutilated procedures such as cropped ears.
“These are major dog welfare issues that need addressing as a matter of urgency in order to protect dogs from unnecessary suffering and to protect the public from falling victim to criminals who are trying to cash in on these dogs’ value.
“We’re really pleased that the Government – which pledged to tackle these issues among many others in its Action Plan for Animal Welfare – is launching this consultation and we hope that these new measures will be implemented efficiently so that we can crackdown on the illegal dog trade once and for all.
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust said: “We are delighted that today’s consultation could bring us one step closer to ending the abhorrent puppy smuggling trade.
!Over the last six years, Dogs Trust has spearheaded the campaign to crack down on puppy smuggling, after our first undercover investigation in 2014 exposed widespread abuse of the Pet Travel Scheme by unscrupulous dealers, bringing in puppies for sale.
“Since setting up our Puppy Pilot in 2015 we have cared for more than 2000 puppies which were seized at UK borders, often in horrendous conditions. We have seen puppies as young as 4 weeks old being smuggled into the country and dogs with open wounds from ear cropping as well as heavily pregnant dogs close to giving birth.
“We are pleased that the consultation has set out proposals to tackle these issues and hope it results in tougher penalties for these crimes, as currently only a handful of cases have ever been prosecuted and the existing penalties are sadly no deterrent.
“We will continue to work closely with the Government to be the voice for dogs and put forward our recommendations to ensure the proposed legislation effects real change.”
Media vet, animal welfare campaigner, and founder of the Lucy’s Law and #BanPuppyImports campaigns, Dr Marc Abraham OBE says: “This important Government consultation is hugely welcome and will hopefully bring us another step closer to ending widespread cruelty to puppies and their parents.
“For decades, both the legal and illegal importation of young puppies has enabled and encouraged low-welfare breeding practices and dog exploitation across Europe, with puppies often separated from their mothers too early, then sent long distances often riddled with all kinds of disease, straight to their unsuspecting new owners in the UK.
“By introducing these positive dog welfare proposals we can make significant progress in the fight against these cruel practices. I would like to thank the UK Government for listening to the evidence presented by campaigners and hope we can secure these positive changes needed to protect the puppies, their parents, and the British dog-owning public.”
Puppies that are imported too young face a significantly higher risk of developing illnesses or even death.
Raising the minimum age for bringing puppies in to the UK will therefore ensure that they are not separated from their mothers too early and will allow them to develop further ahead of being taken on potentially long and stressful journeys which can have a lasting impact on their temperament and behaviour.
The RSPCA has also recently reported a 620% rise in reports of dogs found to have had their ears cropped, covering from 2015 to 2020.
Ear cropping is a painful process where a dog’s outer ears are surgically altered or removed altogether to make them look more aggressive. The surgical procedure, which has been illegal in this country since 2006, can hinder their ability to communicate with other dogs and their owners.
The majority of these dogs are suspected to have undergone the procedure overseas and under the new rules set out in the consultation launched today they would be banned from entering the country.
Last year the Dogs Trust warned the public about the risk of buying dogs online after rescuing dozens of puppies that were illegally imported into the country.
Victims of this cruel trade included a group of six underage puppies seized at Dover port after being found covered in sticky oil and suffering from diarrhoea (above). The puppies had been illegally imported from Romania and were travelling in the back of a van for more than 24 hours. They had to be shaved to remove the oil from their fur.
In September 2020, four beagle puppies were also found in the back of an abandoned vehicle in Greater London. At eight weeks old, they weighed just two kilograms each and were very hungry and dehydrated.
They are believed to have been illegally imported from the Republic of Ireland, to be sold onto prospective buyers in the UK. After spending three weeks in the care of the Dogs Trust, they went on to loving new homes.
Analysis has shown that University College London is the best university for those seeking creative careers.
Glasgow and Edinburgh have the highest number of creative businesses in each city.
University of Glasgow is the second best university for creative students, with University of Oxford being third.
With A-Level results recently released and students heading to university in the next few months, research has found that University College London (UCL) is the best university for creative students in the UK.
Creative resource DesignBundles.net collated university rankings and data from Companies House and ONS to establish an index score which would reveal the best university to attend for students who are studying creative degrees such as Art and Design at university in the UK.
University College London (UCL) tops Design Bundles rankings as the UK’s best university for creative students as it places second overall on The Complete University Guide (CUG) for artistic and creative courses and has a high number of 293 creative companies registered close to its campus in Westminster.
In addition, the average salary in the Westminster borough is £36,348 according to ONS data; the highest amongst the regions studied in the analysis.
Famous creative alumni from University College London include Christopher Nolan, who directed the Dark Knight trilogy, sculptor Anthony Gormley and illustrator Raymond Briggs.
The University of Glasgow was revealed as the second-best university for creative students, ranking 19th on the full CUG. Despite this lower score, the city hosts a massive 996 creative businesses, offering graduates that choose to stay in the area a large number of prospects within the creative industry.
The University of Oxford obtained the third highest index score due to its high placement on the CUG ranking, coupled with its location amongst 238 registered creative business in the arts and culture sector and an average salary of £27,012 per annum – one of the highest wages outside of London.
Overall, Edinburgh was revealed as the best city for creative students in the UK, hosting two of the top ten creative universities – University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University.
The city is home to a total of 685 business that are in the creative sector, with a number of annual cultural events such as Edinburgh Festival contributing to the city’s status as one of the UK’s top creative hubs.
Commenting on the study, a spokesperson for DesignBundles said: “A-Level results are at an all-time high so it is an exciting time for students heading to University. For creative students, it’s essential to be surrounded by a creative environment which any of these top ten universities appear to provide.”
The study was conducted by Design Bundles, which offers high quality premium design resources and a marketplace which allows graphic designers to register and sell their products.
Top 10 universities for creative students in the UK
Rank
University
Ranking on Complete University Guide
Number of registered creative businesses in the area
SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald, has praised the Scottish Government’s announcement that all residents in Scotland, under the age of 22, will be eligible for free bus travel from January 2022.
This new scheme, extending free bus travel to everyone aged 22, builds on the Scottish Government’s commitment to providing free bus travel to all under-19’s in Scotland which starts this month.
The scheme which is set benefit thousands across Edinburgh, will be delivered in partnership with the Improvement Service, the National Entitlement Card Programme Office and Young Scot.
SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald said: “This is fantastic news for young people in the city, and right across Scotland, that I am certain will be welcomed across the board.
“I am delighted that in addition to providing free bus travel to all under-19’s in Scotland from August this year, the SNP Scottish Government is going one step further and extending free bus travel to everyone aged 22 and under in Scotland.
“From Comiston to Currie, this will be of immense benefit to young people – especially those further outside the city centre like many in areas across Edinburgh Pentlands.
“It will ensure that young people do not have to face financial travel barriers to get to their education or work, as well as giving them more money in their pocket.
“It is decisive action like this that will also help encourage more sustainable travel behaviour from a young age, helping us in our journey to achieving the world-leading climate action targets which the Scottish Government have ambitiously set for us.”
Further information, including details on how to apply for the scheme, here.
Shared programme agreed to ‘build a greener, fairer, independent Scotland’
The Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party Parliamentary Group have agreed to work together over the next five years to build a green economic recovery from COVID, respond to the climate emergency and create a fairer country.
A shared draft policy programme – the Bute House Agreement – has been agreed. It focuses on areas of mutual interest to improve the way Scotland is governed and create a stable platform to meet the challenges Scotland faces.
It details collaboration on the climate emergency, economic recovery, child poverty, the natural environment, energy and the constitution. It includes commitments to:
hold a referendum on Scottish independence after the COVID pandemic has passed, within the current parliamentary session
increase investment in active travel and public transport, including a Fair Fares review to provide a realistic and affordable alternative to car use
a strengthened framework of support for the marine renewables and offshore wind sectors
take forward a ten-year £500 million Just Transition Fund for the North East and Moray
significantly increase the level of the Scottish Child Payment, in order to maximise the impact on child poverty, with the full £20 payment being achieved within the lifetime of the Parliament
designate at least one new National Park by the end of this parliamentary session
enhance marine environmental protection
implement an effective national system of rent controls, enhance tenants’ rights and deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032
invest at least £1.8 billion over this parliamentary session in energy efficiency and renewable heating
establish two new Scottish Government overseas offices in Warsaw and Copenhagen to promote Scotland’s interests in central Europe and the Nordic countries
Alongside the draft policy programme, the draft co-operation agreement sets out the way in which the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party will work together. This will include the nomination of two Green MSPs to be Scottish Government Ministers.
The cooperation agreement also lists a number of areas that are outwith the scope of the agreement, where both sides have agreed to differ.
The draft agreements will now be considered by the respective political parties involved and Ministers will provide an update to Parliament following recess.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Government has reached a ground-breaking agreement with the Scottish Green Party that meets the challenges and opportunities of our time.
“The challenges we face have rarely been greater – the climate emergency, recovery from a global pandemic and an assault by the UK government on the powers of our Parliament.
“Today’s politics can too often feel small – polarised, divided and incapable of meeting the moment – and this agreement is intended to change that in Scotland. It is about doing politics and governance better to find the solutions needed to solve the problems confronting the world today.
“The spirit of co-operation and consensus-building is very much in keeping with the founding principles of our Scottish Parliament. We do not agree on everything but we are coming out of our comfort zones to focus on what we do agree on.
“The agreement delivers bold policy action on pressing issues. A commitment to more affordable housing, a better deal for tenants and action to tackle poverty and inequality. Steps to accelerate our transition to net zero – more support for active travel, transformation of home energy and a ten year transition fund for the North East of Scotland. A focus on green jobs and fair work – and a sustainable recovery from COVID.
“We also reaffirm in this Agreement our shared commitment to securing independence for Scotland, and to giving people the right to choose our country’s future through a referendum.
“It recognises that business as usual is not good enough – we need boldness, courage and a will to do things differently. That is what we offer.”
Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “This is a historic moment, which could not come at a more important time.
“We must build a fairer and compassionate country and we must do everything in our power to tackle the escalating climate and nature emergencies to deliver a just transition for all. That is what this deal will do.
“Fundamentally this is a new approach to politics. We agree on some things and disagree on others – those distinctive voices can and will remain.”
Green Party co-leader Lorna Slater said: “The stakes could not be higher – with the COP26 climate conference coming to Glasgow, Scotland is in a position show real leadership on climate. But this deal is about people as well as the planet.
“Together, we would deliver a new deal for tenants, giving tenants more rights and introducing rent controls to help tackle Scotland’s housing crisis, create a new National Park, and much more.
“That’s why we are pledging to work together to build a greener, fairer and independent Scotland.”
The announcement has not been met with universal joy, oddly enough …
Largest opposition party the Scottish Conservatives say the deal is a ‘declaration of war on working Scots.’
“The SNP and Green coalition is anti-jobs and anti-business. They will push for indyref2 while starting a war on working Scotland. The @ScotTories will stand up for workers against this nationalist coalition of chaos.”
The STUC was quick to respond:
Responding to the power-sharing partnership announcement, GMB General Secretary Gary Smith said: “In the election the Greens said they wanted carers to be paid a £15 minimum, and with the consultation under way on the National Care Service, tens of thousands of staff undervalued on £9.50 an hour will expect Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie to deliver on their promises.
“They also campaigned on a platform to deliver a 12.5 per cent pay rise for nurses, the 4 per cent increase implemented didn’t come close to closing the massive pay restoration” gap after years of cuts, and in 2022 our NHS staff will expect better.
“And workers across our energy sector will be looking on with real concern, they will be seeking assurances that this deal will not be a one-way ticket to the dole queue – it’s as simple as that.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “This shouldn’t come as a surprise. It confirms a long-held suspicion that the Scottish Greens are just a branch office of the SNP.”
Bids received from every nation in the UK as regions and groups of towns were encouraged to apply
The new winner will be announced next year and will be at the centre of the UK’s cultural spotlight in 2025
A record 20 places from across the UK have submitted an expression of interest to become the UK City of Culture 2025 – an all time high of entries for this prestigious competition.
Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway (part of a joint Borderlands coalition bid), Tay Cities (Dundee and Perth) and the city of Stirling fly the flag for Scotland.
The competition, delivered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in collaboration with the devolved administrations, uses culture as a catalyst for levelling up areas outside London and putting new parts of the UK on the cultural map internationally.
Entrants have been tasked with proving that they can put culture at the heart of their plans to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
Regions and groups of towns have been encouraged to apply in this competition, with a number stepping forward from across the UK.
Bidding for the title in its own right has been shown to have a hugely positive impact on a place, for example previous longlisted bids have used the bidding process to bring together lasting local, national and international partners, share a vision for their area and attract investment.
To ensure as many places as possible across the country can take up this opportunity, DCMS are awarding grants of £40,000 to successful longlisted places for the first time to support their long applications.
The winner, which will be announced next year, will take on the baton from Coventry as the 2021 UK City of Culture and be at the centre of the UK’s cultural spotlight in 2025.
The benefits to the winner of the title are huge, attracting millions of visitors and investment and bringing communities together to showcase the place where they live to the country and the world.
Throughout the history of this competition the winning cities have always benefited from financial support to ensure the programme’s success and lasting legacy. Coventry has received over £15.5 million from the Government to directly support its year as UK City of Culture.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “This record number of applications from all four corners of the country is testament to the huge success of City of Culture in generating investment, creating jobs and boosting local pride.
“This prestigious prize creates a fantastic opportunity for towns and cities to build back better from the pandemic and I wish all bidders the very best of luck.”
Sir Phil Redmond, Chair of the City of Culture Expert Advisory Panel, said: “From Derry-Londonderry to Hull and Coventry it has been a difficult and rewarding challenge to select the next UK City of Culture, and the list of potential candidates for 2025 indicates that life in the immediate future is going to be even more challenging!
“The three previous title holders have demonstrated the transformative and catalytic effect culture can bring about, even within places that have been ultimately unsuccessful but have gone on to develop collaborative and sustainable partnerships.
“The list for 2025 also demonstrates the breadth of ambition, aspiration and innovation that exists from coast to coast and nation to nation across the UK and I am looking forward to that challenge of immersing myself once again in the UK’s rich seam of creativity.”
Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 is providing a blueprint for how culture can be at the heart of social and economic recovery.
The city has already attracted over £100 million so far in capital investment to support cultural projects, such as Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry Cathedral and Belgrade Theatre, among many others.
City of Culture status also had a huge impact on Hull and Derry-Londonderry.
Hull saw more than 5.3 million visits to over 2,800 events, cultural activities, installations and exhibitions.
75% of those who visited Hull in 2017 stated that it changed their perception of the city for the better and 9 out of 10 people in Hull thought that UK City of Culture had a positive impact on the city and more than nine-in-ten residents took part in at least one cultural activity.
The twenty bidders will be reduced to an initial long list of bidders in the coming weeks and then cut down further to a final shortlist in early 2022. The winner will be announced in May 2022.
Full list of bidders:
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
The City of Bangor and Northwest Wales
The Borderlands region, comprising Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders, Northumberland, Cumbria and Carlisle City
The British Dental Association Scotland has warned the Scottish Government it must improve communication, and carefully manage patient expectations, as it issued instructions today to Health Boards on delivering free NHS dental care to 18 – 25 year olds, JUST ONE FULL WORKING DAY before the policy takes effect on Tuesday.
The instructions are unlikely to reach practices until next week.
The policy was a centrepiece of the SNP’s May election bid, and plans to abolish dental charges for this age group were introduced over two months ago. Howeever today’s communication is the first formal instruction on how practices should implement the policy.
Many practices will simply be unable to introduce the required changes at such short notice. The eleventh-hour timing has all but ruled out the possibility of delivering necessary staff training for the new arrangements, and the opportunity and introduce appropriate practice management systems.
BDA Scotland has also expressed deep concern over the absence of clear messaging to manage patient expectations. Practices are continuing to operate at low capacity owing to ongoing COVID restrictions, with no capacity to cater for an anticipated spike in demand.
Analysis of Freedom of Information requests made by the BDA indicate over 4 million appointments have been lost since the first lockdown in Scotland, when compared to pre COVID levels, with just 25% of the usual volumes of dentistry delivered. As of April 2021 the service was delivering less than half the courses of treatment it offered in a given month before the pandemic. [1]
Scotland already operates free NHS dental check-ups. Official data from before the pandemic indicated Scotland had 25% higher adult participation rates compared to England, which hints at the scale of demand suppression effects of charges, which the BDA believe are the wrong way to fund NHS dentistry.
The Business Assessment Document for the new policy states that additional costs may arise due to increased Item of Service treatments, but this is “not quantifiable”.
While BDA representatives discussed the change briefly with the Cabinet Secretary in June, at which it stressed the need for clear public messaging, the Scottish Government has acknowledged that no formal public or business consultation on this policy has been undertaken.
David McColl, Chair of the British Dental Association’s Scottish Dental Practice Committee said:“It beggars belief that practices have been given a single working day to prepare for seismic change in how dentistry is delivered in Scotland.
“The rollout of free dentistry will inevitably increase patient expectations and heap more pressure on dental teams who are already struggling to address a colossal backlog.
“Ministers risk creating demand for care that simply cannot be met, and must communicate clearly what is and isn’t available. Failure to do so will only leave hard-pressed colleagues bearing the brunt of patients’ frustrations.
“The Scottish Government hasn’t fully understood the operation of dental practice throughout this pandemic.
“We need better communication and appropriate investment. This is not the way to implement a landmark policy.”
Almost three quarters (72 per cent) of people in Edinburgh promise to be more spontaneous now that restrictions have eased, as they say they’re more likely to live life in the moment, and over two thirds (68 per cent) want to make lots of plans while they can.
New research by Fort Kinnaird reveals that people in Edinburgh are planning to make the most of the rest of the summer, having missed out on what is estimated to be almost a month of non-stop quality time with family and friends since the pandemic began last year.
While many admit they took the simple things for granted before lockdown, such as the freedom to go out when they wanted (44 per cent) and spending time with friends (34 per cent), people in Edinburgh are ready to start enjoying some of their favourite things again.
Over half (51 per cent) put spending time with friends at the top of the list of things they’re going to enjoy the most now that restrictions have eased and over a third (39 per cent) said enjoying more days out.
Meanwhile, for over a third (35 per cent) going to the beach or on a staycation is high on the list of priorities, along with going to the pub (28%), eating indoors with friends (24%), going on a shopping spree (19%) and going to the cinema (17%).
Surprisingly, throwing a party (12 per cent) and seeing an unlimited group of people (16 per cent) are lower on the priority list even after restrictions have eased, suggesting people are looking to spend more quality time with those closest to them.
The research also revealed what those in Edinburgh missed the most when non-essential shops and indoor dining were closed. The top three things most missed about shopping in real life were picking up what you need when you need it rather than waiting for an online order to arrive (34 per cent), the joy of window shopping (28 per cent) and having a big shopping day out with friends (27 per cent).
Meanwhile, when it came to indoor dining, having an evening meal out with friends and family (43 per cent), eating food that has been cooked by a professional (33 per cent) and having someone serve your meal to your table (26 per cent) were the things respondents missed the most.
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “Our research shows that people are gearing up to make up for lost time with loved ones.
“We’ve seen lots of families and groups of friends visiting the centre to enjoy a day or evening out since restrictions started to ease and we’re looking forward to welcoming more visitors.”
Fort Kinnaird continues to have extra measures in place to help visitors feel safe. It remains mandatory for visitors to wear a face covering in all indoor settings if they can, and hand sanitising stations remain throughout the centre along with enhanced cleaning regimes.
