Streetwear brand make their mark following Business Gateway support

Two Midlothian based entrepreneurs have successfully launched a new clothing brand following support from Business Gateway.

Launched in April 2020, MC Apparel is a fashion clothing brand created by Midlothian locals Michael Surgeon and Liam Chisholm. The team identified the opportunity and were motivated to launch their second business after their first paused trading due to COVID-19. 

Working closely with Business Gateway, MC Apparel received a variety of start-up support services including support to create a business plan, marketing and networking opportunities, as well as accessing online resources such as webinars and advertising tutorials. 

This guidance from Business Gateway ensured the team were able to adapt their business model to meet the challenges posed by the pandemic and increase margins by shifting from early drop-shipping to stock holding, this enabled  MC Apparel to improve quality control and reduce delivery timescales for customers.

Michael Surgeon, Founder of MC Apparel, said: “We gained a wide range of support from Business Gateway and this meant the process of launching our new business went smoothly.

“ The team at Business Gateway Midlothian have been very supportive during this period and the online workshops we attended were invaluable, helping us to develop a digital marketing strategy that allowed us to reach our target audiences even with the challenges of lockdown.

“I would recommend anyone who is starting out in business to get in touch with Business Gateway. They are always there when you need them and if they don’t have the answer, they can signpost you to the right person or resource.”

When COVID-19 restrictions ease, the team at MC Apparel are looking forward to organising photoshoots to showcase the clothing range and have plans to collaborate with local fashion brands to give away 20 t-shirts to support a local charity.

Annie Watt, Business Gateway Lead Officer, said: “It’s impressive to see how Michael and Liam have adapted to lockdown, identifying an opportunity to launch a new business and taking it forward. 

“They have been incredibly proactive, accessing a range of Business Gateway resources, attending workshops and arranging one-to-one sessions via Zoom to receive guidance and support on development plans.

“Recent research by Business Gateway revealed that despite the challenges, COVID-19 has not hampered peoples’ appetite to start a business, and Michael and Liam’s experience is a testament to this.

“While it is a difficult trading environment, I would encourage anyone with an idea for a new business to get in touch and see how our resources, advice and support can help get it off the ground.”

For further information about how Business Gateway can help you start your business, please visit https://www.bgateway.com/resources/help-for-start-ups-the-support-available-for-your-start-up

Morrisons goes glitter-free

Morrisons has removed glitter entirely from its own-brand ranges of greetings cards, gift wrap, seasonal items and horticulture in stores.

This means all Morrisons cards, crackers, wrapping paper, present bags, flowers, plants and wreaths are now 100 per cent glitter-free. Glitter is made from tiny particles of plastic and is an ecological hazard if it becomes dispersed on land, rivers and oceans – where it takes hundreds of years to degrade.

The move extends to non-seasonal as well as seasonal lines meaning Morrisons shoppers can shop more sustainably all year round. Soluble inks, foil and paper reliefs will instead be used to decorate Morrisons FSC certified paper cards, wrap and bags to give them a festive feel.

Morrisons has also removed all plastic toys from its Christmas crackers, which will be completely plastic-free this year.

All contents – such as games and gifts – will now be made out of paper, metal or wood and are designed to be kept and reused. The cracker shells will be made from FSC accredited cardboard and decorated with a metallic basked ink – which means they can be recycled at kerbside, along with their packaging.

In a further move to make Christmas more sustainable, Morrisons has also reduced the amount of plastic packaging on cards and decorations. The majority of Morrisons cards will come boxed in recyclable cardboard and 100 per cent of packaging on cards and decorations can be easily recycled by local authorities.

The supermarket is also introducing a wide range of ‘no plastic’ felt, hessian and wooden Christmas decorations.

The move to ban glitter and reduce plastic in Christmas ranges means that Morrisons will be removing more than 50 tonnes of plastic from its shelves during the festive period, and more across non-seasonal lines all year round.

Christine Bryce, Morrisons Home Director. said: “Every time a cracker is pulled, or a card is opened, plastics have been used…but just the once. So, we’ve taken glitter and plastic out of our festive range this year – so that our customers can enjoy their festivities without worrying about the environmental impact.

“This means that we’re now 100 per cent glitter free across all our own brand ranges which is an important step in the fight against plastic pollution.”


Morrisons glitter-free Christmas cards are in store now. Crackers, decorations, wrapping paper and gift bags will be appearing on shelves throughout October and November.

In May, Morrisons increased its target to reduce own-brand plastic packaging from 25% to 50% by 2025.

For more details on Morrisons commitments around plastic visit:  https://www.morrisons-corporate.com/cr/corporate-responsibility/.

First-ever virtual Get Online Week levels up digitally excluded UK

A national campaign to reach the 9 million people in the UK who are unable to use the internet fully returns next week – held virtually for the first time ever.

As the UK is thrown into a harsh Winter with intensifying restrictions, Get Online Week will see hyperlocal community partners assist and facilitate digital learners at hundreds of events.

For the first time in the campaign’s 15 year history, community organisations will run hundreds of life-transforming events in a variety of locations – all with no cost to the attendees. These COVID-safe events will minimise the need for in-person contact, with local support for those needing help to get online.

Pandemic restrictions show the internet is an essential skill critical for everyday life. It allows almost half of all British workers to work from home1, helps isolated people stay connected, and makes sure children can stay on track with their schooling. 4 out of 5 people polled in a recent survey say digital technology has been a vital support to them in lockdown, and 78% say the pandemic has escalated the importance of digital skills.2

However, 7.6m workers are facing redundancy or reduced hours and pay due to COVID-193, and 82% of jobs required digital skills, even before the pandemic4.

Improving the UK’s digital capability is the solution. It will reduce the devastating economic fallout of the pandemic by protecting livelihoods, in turn, it will improving the wellbeing of millions of people.

Supported by BT and the Department for Education, Get Online Week is here to help make sure that everyone in the UK has access to free, friendly and local support to improve their digital skills.

From Zoom interview masterclasses and CV workshops to online coffee mornings and Skype quizzes, events right across the UK will help people grow their essential digital skills and confidence with digital.

Get Online Week is delivered by Good Things Foundation, the UK’s leading social and digital inclusion organisation. The charity helps people develop and improve their digital skills and teaches them how to use the internet safely and confidently, so they can be happier, healthier and better off.

Helen Milner, Chief Executive at Good Things Foundation says: “Now more than ever, digital skills are critical to the wellbeing of the most vulnerable people in our society. Locked-out and locked down, they’re facing a bleak winter.

“Get Online Week will begin to transform the lives and experiences of the 9 million who lack confidence, helping them find the support and resources they need to stay connected to society and essential government services.”

Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s consumer brands says: “As our world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, having the skills and confidence to access digitally-enabled services has never been more important – whether that’s being able to message a loved one on WhatsApp, or order groceries or prescription medicines online.

“It is clear these services are a lifeline for millions of people across the UK and we have a responsibility to make sure those with lower digital skills are not left behind, especially in the face of such uncertain times. This is why we are proud to support Get Online Week 2020, so we can continue our work to ensure everyone is able to learn the skills they need to access vital services and stay connected to friends and family.”

If you’d like to take your next step to making more of the internet – or want to help someone else do so – you can find your nearest Get Online Week event at www.getonlineweek.com.

Centre for Cities analysis of latest unemployment stats

Centre for Cities has launched a new interactive online tool to track unemployment in the 63 largest cities and towns in the UK. You can explore this here.

You can see here some key statistics from the newly released data today covering the period up to September 2020:

  • The number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits has increased by 1.4 million since March and now stands at 2.7 million people.
  • Birmingham has overtaken Blackpool as the place with the highest unemployment rate in the country. Almost one in ten adults in the city are claiming unemployment related benefits.
  • Slough, Luton, London and Crawley remain the places that have had the largest increases in people claiming unemployment-related benefits since the March lockdown.
  • Slough, Luton and Crawley have also all had the largest increases in unemployment in the past month.
  • While also slowing down, the number of young people claiming unemployment-related benefits is rising at a faster rate than the number of adults overall.
  • Half of large cities and towns have seen no change or decrease in claimant count compared to last month.
Percentage point change in unemployment claims March – September 2020
HIGHESTLOWEST
RankPlacePercentage point changeRankPlacePercentage point change
1Slough5.61York2.3
2Luton5.42Exeter2.4
3Crawley5.13Oxford2.6
4London4.84Swansea2.6
5Bradford4.45Cambridge2.7
6Northampton4.36Preston2.7
7Brighton4.27Warrington2.8
8Birmingham4.18Mansfield2.9
9Liverpool4.19Barnsley2.9
10Blackpool4.110Belfast3
Percentage point change in unemployment claims August – September 2020
HIGHESTLOWEST
RankPlacePercentage point changeRankPlacePercentage point change
1Crawley0.51Blackpool-0.3
2Slough0.32Mansfield-0.1
3London0.23Barnsley-0.1
4Derby0.24Exeter-0.1
5Bradford0.25Doncaster-0.1
6Coventry0.26Preston0.0
7Aberdeen0.27Portsmouth0.0
8Birmingham0.28Glasgow0.0
9Oxford0.19Swindon0.0
10Brighton0.110Edinburgh0.0
Overall unemployment claimant count rate, September 2020
HIGHESTLOWEST
RankPlacePercentage RankPlacePercentage 
1Birmingham9.81York3.6
2Hull9.72Exeter4.2
3Blackpool9.53Cambridge4.3
4Bradford9.54Oxford4.6
5Liverpool8.95Oxford4.6
6Luton8.76Reading5.1
7Slough8.57Edinburgh5.1
8Sunderland8.38Warrington5.4
9Middlesbrough8.39Preston5.4
10Blackburn8.210Norwich5.6

Further analysis of this data by Centre for Cities Senior Analyst Elena Magrini can be read here.

All of our work on unemployment and the labour market can be read here.

Letters: Black Cat Day

Dear Editor,

Cat lovers have a lot to celebrate this Black Cat Day (27 October) with Cats Protection’s news that black and black-and-white cats are no longer overlooked as they once were.

Since we created the awareness day in 2010 to highlight that black cats took longer to rehome than other cats, they now spend 11 days less on average in care than before, prior to moving to their new loving homes.

Around 65,000 black or black-and-white cats have been homed through our adoption centres in the decade since the campaign started, a remarkable 44% of all cats homed through our centres during that time.

We would like to thank readers for their support and for helping us make a real difference. Not only do these cats now spend less time in our care, but each year thousands celebrate the day and engage with our #BlackCatDay hashtag on social media.

Throughout the campaign, Cats Protection has explored reasons why black cats might be less popular, working to change perceptions and buck the rehoming trend. These included black cats being seen as unlucky or not photogenic in selfies.

We would love to invite readers to celebrate and showcase their black cat knowledge by hosting a quiz for friends and family while also raising vital funds for their local branch or centre.

More details about the quiz and Black Cat Day can be found at www.cats.org.uk/black-cats 

Yours faithfully,

James Yeates

CEO, Cats Protection

Scottish Parliament consultation: Increasing tenant protection

Holyrood’s Local Government and Communities Committee is seeking views on a new Bill which aims to increase private tenants’ protection by limiting rent increases and allowing them to seek a “fair” rent. 

The Fair Rents (Scotland) Bill, a Member’s Bill from Pauline McNeill MSP, would prevent a landlord of a private residential tenancy from increasing rent in any year by more than the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus 1%.

The Bill seeks to provide greater protections for private tenants by allowing them to apply at any time to a Rent Officer for a ‘fair open market rent’ to be set for a property. In deciding the application, the Officer would take into account matters like whether the property has poor energy efficiency or is in a bad condition.

The Bill would also make private landlords enter more detailed information about their property in the Scottish Landlord Register, including the monthly rent charged.


Local Government and Communities Committee Convener James Dornan MSP said: “The proportion of households in private rented housing now stands at just under 15%.

“As the private rented sector in Scotland has grown over the last couple of decades there have been various reforms to tighten the regulation of landlords and give tenants more rights. But the stated ambition behind this Bill is to change the balance of power further. It would cap rent increases to 1% plus CPI and to allow tenants more scope to challenge rents.

“We are keen to hear views about whether this further change is necessary and whether the provisions in the Bill are workable and will have the intended impact.

“We also want to find out what the financial impact of this Bill would be upon private tenants, landlords, the wider rented sector and others, and we welcome the opportunity to hear views on this proposed legislation.”

The cap on rent rises imposed by the Bill and the right to seek a “fair open market rent” apply to holders of ‘Private Residential Tenancies’ which have been the standard type of tenancy since 2017. The Bill will not impact rent-a-room agreements where the lodger rents in the owner’s home.

The Committee’s call for view closes on 7 December and you can give your views here: https://yourviews.parliament.scot/lgc/fair-rents-bill

Portobello community embraces My Beach,Your Beach campaign

A summer of learning, celebrating and caring for Portobello Beach has come to a close, as environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful reports on its My Beach, Your Beach campaign.

Launched in mid-July, just as we were easing out of lockdown, the campaign aimed to help improve water quality at six of Scotland’s well-loved beaches through targeted interventions to encourage better attitudes and behaviours.

Now, as we look to the autumn and winter, it is heartening to see that despite 57% of people thinking dog poo is an issue and 35% believing litter is an issue at Portobello Beach, 66% of those surveyed in the area have said they are willing to pick up litter when visiting the beach to leave it cleaner than they found it.

The successful campaign raised awareness of the potential impact on bathing water quality by dog fouling and encouraging gulls by feeding and leaving litter.

The third year of the My Beach Your Beach campaign was a little bit different – extending it to two more great beaches, Irvine and Troon – and also taking community engagement online in the face of lockdown measures, to encourage those who live locally to get involved and celebrate their beach.

Campaign messaging appeared on the bins along the promenade, encouraging people to dispose of waste responsibly.

This was supported by anthe interactive online programme aiming to celebrate and engage people with their local beach, through information about local environment, landscape and heritage, quizzes, photo galleries and a virtual ‘Doggy Ambassador’ competition, reaching nearly 10,000 people.

 Although impact monitoring was not possible this year, 90% of locals surveyed had seen at least one campaign message and 83% said that they would like to see more campaign activity like this in the future. Last year, the campaign achieved a 53% reduction in litter as compared to the previous year and a 40% reduction in dog poo too.

Paul Wallace, Campaigns and Innovation Manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We know that, in many cases, people only need a small nudge to do the right thing and take better care of their local environment.

“This summer, our local neighbourhoods became even more precious to many of us.  For those #LuckyToLiveHere by the beach, the unprecedented pressures of more people taking holidays and day trips in Scotland, consuming more single-use items and take-away food and using limited services, such as toilets and bins, were felt.

“We’re grateful to both council staff and members of local community groups like Keep Porty Tidy, Friends of Porty Prom and Portobello Timebank for working to keep the beach clean for everyone to enjoy and are delighted to find that, following following this summer’s campaign, over 60% of people from communities locally have shown an interest in picking up litter at Portobello beach when they visit, to leave it cleaner than they found it.

“Cleaner sands can lead to cleaner seas – a win, win for our beach environments and communities.”

Cllr Lesley Macinnes, city council Environment Convener, said: “Our beaches and other open spaces have been so important for people to enjoy in recent months as we’ve all had to adapt to the coronavirus restrictions.

“It’s really important then that we look after them and keep them clean and tidy for everyone to enjoy. This campaign has been really helpful in supporting the hard work of our waste services department getting across that message and celebrating Portobello.”  

The campaign, funded by the Scottish Government and supported by SEPA, was led by Keep Scotland Beautiful alongside its Upstream Battle and Clean Up Scotland campaigns and annual Beach Awards.

All six of the beaches selected for this campaign have faced challenges in improving the quality of their bathing water as measured by SEPA, and research confirms a significant link between behaviour on the land and the cleanliness of the local seawater.

Find out more about Portobello Beach by visiting its campaign web page at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/mybeachyourbeach/

Record number of Edinburgh parks win Green Flag awards

Thirty-four of Edinburgh’s parks have achieved Green Flags in the 2020 national competition, which recognises high quality green spaces.

The city received almost half of the 77 flags issued in Scotland. Two city parks, Saughton Park and St Katharine’s Park, received the status for the first time in 2020, joining the other 32 parks already waving their Green Flag.

The Green Flag Award is the UK’s national standard for parks and green spaces and is administered in Scotland by Keep Scotland Beautiful. To make sure the Capital’s parks are kept to a high standard, each year the Council checks all its parks and gardens using Green Flag Award criteria. This inspection is carried out by formal Green Flag judges along with other Council officers, Council partners and members of the public. From this assessment, each park is given a parks quality score.

Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Donald Wilson, said: “The awards are given to those parks that give everyone access to a safe, clean and pleasant green space where they can relax, play and exercise and I’m delighted that so many of our parks have achieved this important and much sought after recognition. 

“The quality of Edinburgh’s parks continues to improve in spite of these challenging times. I am very proud of all our award winning parks and of those who work all year round, and in all weather to keep our parks beautiful.”

Culture and Communities Vice Convener, Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, said: “This is fantastic news, parks have proved to be real havens this year and my thanks to our hardworking parks staff for their continued care for our much-loved parks through challenging times. My thanks also to dedicated Friends of Parks groups for everything they do. I would encourage everyone to explore our parks this Autumn.”

The Council has been taking part in the Green Flag Award scheme since 2007, when two Green Flags were achieved.

Our Green Flag Parks are:

  • Braidburn Valley Park
  • Burdiehouse Burn Valley Park
  • Corstorphine Hill
  • Craigmillar Castle Park
  • Easter Craiglockhart Hill Local Nature Reserve
  • Fairmilehead Park
  • Ferniehill Community Park
  • Ferry Glen & Back Braes
  • Figgate Park
  • Hailes Quarry Park
  • Harrison Park
  • Hermitage and Blackford Hill Local Nature
  • Hopetoun Crescent Garden
  • Inverleith Park
  • King George V & Scotland Yard Park
  • Lauriston Castle
  • Lochend Park
  • London Road Gardens
  • Morningside Park
  • Muir Wood Park
  • Pentland Hills Regional Park
  • Portobello Community Garden
  • Prestonfield Park
  • Princes Street Gardens
  • Ravelston Woods Local Nature Reserve
  • Rosefield Park
  • Seven Acres Park
  • Spylaw Park
  • St Margaret’s Park
  • Starbank Park
  • Station Road Park
  • Victoria Park

Concern over Edinburgh care home failings

An Edinburgh care home is failing to provide adequate care to residents despite THREE visits in September, according to the latest fortnightly report by the Care Inspectorate to the Scottish Parliament.

Guthrie House Care Home on Lasswade Road, which is operated by Four Seasons Healthcare Group, was first visited by inspectors on 1 September, when a letter of serious concern over failings was issued. This was followed up by a visit two days later with representatives from NHS Lothian.

Inspectors found ‘people did not have sufficient access to fluids and were not supported promptly when in pain or distress. We were concerned about the care of residents, cleanliness of the environment and equipment, compliance with infection prevention and control and staffing levels’.

When inspectors visited Guthrie House again on 23 September they found no improvement in the support offered to indivudals experiencing pain and distress. Medication procedures were weak and there was no improvement to the quality of documentation relating to the support provided.

Commenting on today’s report, Lothian MSP Miles Briggs said: “This is deeply concerning that Guthrie House still hasn’t made the necessary improvements to cleanliness of the home and residents who are in pain are still not being supported promptly.

“Full compliance with PPE guidance is crucial to ensuring that care home residents are safe and there can be no exceptions.

“Guthrie House has been repeatedly warned about cleanliness and following PPE guidance. Strict protocols must be put in place to turn the level of care at the home around.

“There are still a number of care homes in the Edinburgh and Lothian who are not following PPE and social distancing guidance fully and the message of full compliance must be reinforced.”

Scottish-Parliament-fortnightly-inspections-report-14-Oct-2020Download

Stockbridge Salon reaches final of The Big One UK Awards

It’s a great year for local salon, MARKDAVID, based in Stockbridge, who have learned they have made the final of the Tribu-te Magazine The Big One UK Awards 2020 in The Design One Category.

The Big One UK 2020 awards are brainchild of the hairdressing industry trade magazine Tribu-te Magazine and were created to recognise UK hairdressing talent, both emerging and established.

The Design One category was open for eye-catching and chic salon design within the UK industry and to enter the salon had to submit four photographs showcasing the salons exceptional interior and décor, as well as credits of the photographs and details of the salon.

MARKDAVID was then chosen as one of seven finalists for The Design One category by a panel of judges, including editors from the international editions of Tribu-te and esteemed hairdressers and ambassadors from the awards three sponsors L’Oréal Professional, Great Lengths and Paul Mitchell.

The winners and trophies will be announced and awarded in November.

The salon, which opened in November 2019, has been an incredible success in its first year of opening with this award being the second the salon have finalised for this year with its interior design.

The salon also finalised for trade magazine, Salon Businesses Salon Business Awards in the Design Salon category, where they will find out their fate and if they have won the award in November in a digital grand final streamed live to the salon.

Mark McCarthy, owner of MARKDAVID, said: “To be a finalist for the Tribu-te The Big One Awards 2020 is incredible, I’m on such a high! I put a lot of time and effort into the design of my salon and ensuring it would be a relaxing and luxurious space for clients and enhance their experience in the salon.

“From the colours to the furnishings and the small finishing touches, I wanted everything to be perfect and the salon to have a unique and exclusive feel. For the top industry awards to recognise the effort put in and to appreciate this, it’s a great feeling.

“We are also currently expanding the salon further and I cannot wait to show everyone the new space and design!”