Small Business Saturday: Government urges the nation to back Britain’s small firms

  • Government calls on the public to get out together and shop local on Small Business Saturday 
  • National celebration of the UK’s entrepreneurs comes off the back of the flagship Small Business Plan to boost the nation’s 5.7m small businesses with the strongest reforms to tackle late payments in 25 years 
  • New ‘Backing Your Business’ campaign launched to help businesses get what they need to thrive, from sole traders and start-ups to high street shops and family businesses  

Help support your local small businesses this busy Christmas period – that’s the message from the government today as it calls on friends, family, neighbours and colleagues to come together and shop local on Small Business Saturday (6 December) – a national celebration of the UK’s entrepreneurs and the 5.7 million small businesses that power our economy.

Small businesses employ 60% of the UK workforce, generate £2.8 trillion in turnover, and are the backbone of communities across the country. New data shows that supporting them this festive season could deliver a £5 billion boost for SMEs, with spending expected to rise 19% on last year.

The launch of the new Backing Your Business campaign comes hot on the heels of the Government’s flagship Small Business Plan, which includes the strongest reforms to tackle late payments in 25 years – designed to help sole traders, start-ups, family firms and high street shops access the support they need to thrive.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said: “This country is home to some of the brightest entrepreneurs and innovative businesses in the world and our Small Business Plan is a key driver to accelerating that potential. 

“This Small Business Saturday is a great chance to get out to your local high streets and support small businesses.

“Whether it’s your local shop, tradesperson, or high street retailer, these are the people who work day and night and power our communities and our economy.” 

Ministers have been out and about vising a range of inspiring small businesses in the lead up to Saturday, including the innovative Stoke animation studio Carse and Waterman, award winning Glaswegian sweet shop Jeavons Toffee, and London’s boutique dog groomers Bow Wow. 

Michelle Ovens CBE, Director, Small Business Saturday UK said:  “Small businesses are the nation’s favourites businesses and they are essential to both their communities and the whole economy. 

“Indeed our research with American Express found 95% of people feel small businesses add value to local areas and 84% believe the nation needs to support them.

“At this crucial time of year for many small firms it is vital that the nation remembers their favourite small businesses and goes out to support them this Small Business Saturday and beyond.” 

If small business across the UK grow by just 1 percentage point annually this could add £320 billion to the economy by 2030. As well as the campaign, the government is focused on delivering for small business by:

  • Tackling late payments with the strongest reforms in 25 years, going further than any previous government.
  • Putting more money in customers’ pockets by taking £150 off energy bills, and freezing rail fares and prescription charges.
  • Raising the rate when small businesses start to pay national insurance.
  • Slashing electricity prices for thousands of manufacturing businesses.
  • Making training for under-25 apprenticeships free for small businesses.
  • Supporting working parents with 30 hours free childcare a week saving £7,500.
  • Capping the increase in business rates as pandemic support measures taper off, with a £4.3 billion package meaning most business property increases are capped at 15%.
  • Doubling eligibility for enterprise tax incentives to help fast-growing firms attract investment and talent.
  • Slashing red tape so that more bars and pubs can expand outdoor dining

Earlier this year, the flagship Small Business Plan was launched alongside the Business Growth Service, which included a series of measures aimed at boosting finance but also tackling the scourge of late payments with proposed laws that would be the most comprehensive reforms for 25 years.

The government has since worked closely with businesses and concluded its consultation on late payments, and it will deliver its response in the new year.

That finance package included a £4bn finance boost including £1bn for start-ups with 69,000 Start-Up Loans and mentoring support, and a further £3bn boost to the British Business Bank that will help lenders offer more accessible small business loans through the ENABLE programme.

Have you seen Aleighsha?

POLICE are appealing for help from the public to trace Aleighsha Brechin, 13, who has been reported missing from Prestonpans.

Aleighsha was last seen 08:30am on Wednesday, 3 December, 2025. She is described as being 5ft 4in in height and was wearing a black hooded jumper, black tracksuit bottoms and white Nike trainers when last seen.

Aleighsha may be within East Lothian but also has links to Edinburgh including Fort Kinnaird.

It is out of character for Aleighsha to be out of contact with family or friends and we are asking anyone who may have seen her to contact us.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 0076 4th December 2025

Looking for a good deal on Christmas presents? #TakeFive

Looking for a good deal on Christmas presents? 🎁

Criminals create fake websites that impersonate big brands. Always verify the site’s authenticity before entering any personal or financial details.

#TakeFive to Stop, Challenge and Protect this Christmas.

✋ Stop: Take a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information. It could keep you safe.

☝️Challenge: Ask yourself, could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

👊 Protect: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve been scammed and report it to us.

#ChristmasShopping

#StopChallengeProtect

PEP Christmas Party: You’re Invited!

We’re excited to invite you to the PEPs Christmas Party!

📍 Queensberry Bowling Club

📅 Thurs 18 Dec 2025 | ⏰ 1–3.30pm

Free entry, meal, entertainment & gift included!

Transport available on request.

Get in touch to book your place-

☎️ 0131 315 4466 | 💌 hello@pepscot.org

25K IN 2025

SCOTTISH BUILDING SOCIETY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS LOCAL CHARITIES MAKING AN IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

Scottish Building Society Foundation has awarded £25,000 in the last year to support community groups and charities across the country.

This year the Foundation supported seven community initiatives across Scotland, providing  grants of up to £5,000 to help deliver life-changing work in their local area.

Since launching in 2023, the Foundation has awarded £155,000 funding to more than 40 charities, providing support to a wide array of areas including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Kinross, Clackmannanshire, Stirling and the Scottish Borders.

Among those supported this year were Forth Canoe Club in Edinburgh, who received money to fund adaptive hand grips, buoyancy aids and a small trailer to help people with disabilities learn canoeing.

In Clackmannanshire, Ochil Trail Association was awarded a grant to support insurance costs for maintaining popular mountain bike and shared-use trails across Clackmannanshire and Stirling.

Bridgeton Community Learning Campus in Glasgow received funding to make its  community centre heating system more efficient for the winter. The Birks Cinema Trust in Perth and Kinross used its grant to strengthen its social inclusion activities within the community.

Works+ in the Scottish Borders upgraded its IT equipment to improve digital literacy and employability among local young people. In central Scotland, Trossachs Tigers Hockey Club in Sterling used funding to launch an indoor hockey programme for children in rural areas.

The Foundation also provided a grant to Duntocher Village Hall to fund essential repairs to the hall’s wooden floor.

Paul Denton, CEO of Scottish Building Society, said: “As a mutual organisation we understand how vital local communities are and we’re here to support them.

“Over the past year, the Scottish Building Society Foundation has made a real difference to communities across the country, from improving facilities and creating opportunities to supporting inclusion and wellbeing.

“It’s inspiring to see how these grants are helping local groups bring people together and make a lasting, positive impact. We’re committed to continuing our support throughout 2026.”

Scottish Building Society Foundation was established by Scottish Building Society to mark the organisation’s 175th anniversary.

Launched in partnership with Foundation Scotland, the Scottish Building Society Foundation aims to establish a best-in-class benchmark supporting community-based organisations and has so far awarded £155,000 in funding to charities since it began.

The Foundation’s sixth round of funding is currently open to applicants, welcoming bids from charities working across a broad range of initiatives from improving community facilities to tackling poverty, supporting older people, funding local events and providing youth education, and opportunities for vulnerable people.

To apply for funding, visit: https://www.scottishbs.co.uk/scottish-building-society-foundation

Fet-Lor closed today

Unfortunately, we have had to make the difficult decision to close FetLor today due to the Vandalism, Disrespect and Anti-social behaviour the young people carried out during and after The Boys Club last night.

The attitude towards staff, the building and community was unacceptable.

We take great pride in providing a free, safe and positive space for young people, but this behaviour has made it impossible for us to operate safely.

Our priority is always the wellbeing of everyone who uses the club, and we must take this step to protect our staff, our building and our community.

There will be NO boys club until January.

Edinburgh Community Solar Co-op celebrates 10 years and 11 million kWh of green energy

FREE TO USE PICS. 26/2/2021. Pics of the roof of Edinburgh City Council’s offices, Waverley Court being fitted with Solar panels, as part of Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative’s share issue. Pic shows some of the fitted solar panels on the roof, with Edinburgh city centre, in the background.

Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative (ECSC) are celebrating 10 years of generating clean, community-owned electricity in the city: and they are getting ready for their next major solar project.

ECSC have already generated over 11 million kWh of electricity by installing solar PV panels on schools, leisure centres and community buildings in the city, this is estimated to have saved more than 2,000 tonnes of CO₂ from being emitted from burning fossil fuels. Their generation last year was enough to power more than 600 homes with electricity.

The solar panels are owned by a community of 600 ordinary people (the majority local) who chose to invest in community shares and receive a fair return each year.

The schools and council buildings which host the solar panels have them installed at no charge, and have benefitted from a cheap rate of electricity – ECSC are estimated to have saved the council over £500,000 in energy costs since launch, helping to redirect funds to essential local services.

Vicki White, Chair of the Edinburgh Community Solar Co-op said: “It’s fantastic to celebrate what we’ve achieved together through our solar panel installations over the past 10 years.

“We’re really proud that we’ve reduced greenhouse gas emissions, saved the council money and funded some really brilliant community projects across the city. Our project is giving people – and the City of Edinburgh Council – a real and practical way to act on climate change.”

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “These numbers speak for themselves – there’s no doubt the Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative has been making a real difference in the Capital over the last ten years, significantly reducing our carbon emissions while saving money in the process, and we’re delighted to be part of this.

“The City of Edinburgh Council has made an ambitious commitment to become net zero by 2030 and initiatives like this are central to our efforts to achieve our goal.”

So far ECSC has installed solar PV panels on 30 sites across the city, including City of Edinburgh Council offices at Waverley Court and 18 schools.

ECSC has another share offer due to launch very soon, when the co-operative will be opening up to new members to help fund a further set of solar installations across the city.

If you would like to be notified when their share offer launches, head to their homepage and click ‘Upcoming share offer: learn more’: www.edinburghsolar.coop/

Winter Welcome: Heriot-Watt University Christmas Concerts

If the winter gloom is getting you down, Heriot-Watt has two events guaranteed to raise your spirits with some festive cheer. 

Our ever-popular Christmas Carol Celebration is taking place at the Edinburgh campus on Friday, December 12th.  Come to the James Watt Centre at 5.30pm for an unforgettable evening of seasonal music and readings. 

Members of the University Choir will be accompanied by the University Orchestra. Complimentary mince pies and mulled wine (alternatives available) will be provided before the concert starts at 6.30pm.  

Matthew Brown, Heriot-Watt’s Director of Music, has promised a memorable evening: “The Christmas Carol Celebration is a highlight of our year, bringing together the community to share in the joy and beauty of the season through music. We can’t wait to welcome you.” 

Tickets are free and early booking is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment. Please secure your place through Eventbrite – and mark your calendar!  

If you can’t make the Christmas Carol Celebration, why not come to ‘A Christmas Carol’ on Wednesday December 10th at 7.30pm?

In the beautiful setting of St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh, the Heriot-Watt Chamber Choir will entertain you with words and music based on the Charles Dickens classic.

Further details and tickets for ‘A Christmas Carol’ are available through

TicketSource. 

Man convicted of rape of teenager in Edinburgh city centre

A 20-year-old man has been convicted of the rape of a teenage girl in Edinburgh on Sunday, 25 May, 2025.

Aaron Strachan pled guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday (Thursday, 4 December). He is due to be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday, 13 January, 2026.

The incident happened in the early hours of the morning in the York Place area.

Strachan also pled guilty to an assault to severe injury which took place in the South Bridge area of Edinburgh on the same date, as well as an assault to severe injury and endangerment of life which took place in the High Riggs area of Edinburgh on Wednesday, 28 May, 2025.

Detective Inspector Gillian Wells, from Edinburgh’s Sex Offender Policing Unit, said: “This was a particularly harrowing attack which was carried out in the busy city centre area and had a profound effect on the young victim.

“The other assaults also demonstrate what a violent individual Strachan is, with no consideration of the consequences of his actions.

“I would like to thank local officers for their excellent work which ensured Strachan was quickly identified and arrested.

“Police Scotland remains committed to tackling sexual crimes and bringing those responsible to justice. I’d encourage anyone who has been a victim of such crimes to come forward and report it to us.

“We’ll thoroughly investigate and have specially trained officers and partner agencies to support you throughout.”

Chief Inspector Trisha Clark, Area Commander for Edinburgh City Centre, said: “We understand that crimes of this nature have a serious impact on the local community. We will continue to work closely with partners to address any such concerns in the area.”