SEPA confirms ongoing ransomware attack likely to be by international serious and organised cyber-crime groups

1.2 GB of data theft confirmed

  • SEPA confirms ongoing ransomware attack likely to be by international serious and organised cyber-crime groups intent on disrupting public services and extorting public funds.
  • Cyber security specialists have identified the theft of circa 1.2 GB of data (equivalent to a small fraction of the contents of an average laptop hard drive).
  • Dedicated data loss support website, enquiry form and support line available for regulated business and supply chain partners.
  • SEPA working with Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the National Cyber Security Centre to respond to what is complex and sophisticated criminality. Subject of a live criminal investigation.
  • What is now clear is that with infected systems isolated, recovery may take a significant period.  
  • A number of SEPA systems (including email) will remain badly affected for some time, with new systems required.
  • Priority regulatory, monitoring, flood forecasting and warning services are adapting and continuing to operate.
  • The latest information on the cyber-attack, limited data loss and how to contact the agency is available at sepa.org.uk/cyberattack

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has confirmed it is continuing to respond to an ongoing ransomware attack likely to be by international serious and organised cyber-crime groups. 

The agency also confirmed the theft of 1.2 GB of data and the support available to staff and affected partners, whilst reassuring the public that priority regulatory, monitoring, flood forecasting and warning services are adapting and continuing to operate. 

The matter is subject to a live criminal investigation and the duty of confidence is embedded in law. The agency confirmed last week that following the attack at 00:01 Hrs on Christmas Eve, business continuity arrangements were immediately enacted and the agency’s Emergency Management Team was working with Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the National Cyber Security Centre to respond to what is complex and sophisticated criminality. 

SEPA’s approach continues to be to take the best professional advice from the multi-agency partners, including Police Scotland and cyber security experts, to support its response.

The agency advised that, for the time being, it needed to protect the criminal investigation and its systems . Consequently some internal systems and external data products will remain offline in the short term.

Priority regulatory, monitoring, flood forecasting and warning services are adapting and continuing to operate. 

Terry A’Hearn, Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said: “Whilst having moved quickly to isolate our systems, cyber security specialists, working with SEPA, Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the National Cyber Security Centre have now confirmed the significance of the ongoing incident.

“Partners have confirmed that SEPA remains subject to an ongoing ransomware attack likely to be by international serious and organised cyber-crime groups intent on disrupting public services and extorting public funds.” 

What is now clear is that with infected systems isolated, recovery may take a significant period. A number of SEPA systems will remain badly affected for some time, with new systems required. 

Email systems remain impacted and offline. 

Information submitted to SEPA by email since Christmas Eve is not currently accessible and whilst online pollution and enquiry reporting has now been restored, information submitted in the early stages of the attack is currently not accessible. 

Limited data loss 

Despite systems being certified to UK Government security standards, cyber security specialists have also identified the loss of circa 1.2 GB of data.

Whilst, by comparison, this is the equivalent to a small fraction of the contents of an average laptop hard drive, indications suggest that at least four thousand files may have been accessed and stolen by criminals. 

“We have prioritised our legal obligations and duty of care on the sensitive handling of data very seriously” said Chief Executive, Terry A’Hearn “which is why we have worked closely with Police Scotland, Scottish Government, the National Cyber Security Centre and specialist cyber security professionals day and night since Christmas Eve.” 

“Work continues by cyber security specialists to seek to identify what the stolen data was.  Whilst we don’t know and may never know the full detail of the 1.2 GB of information stolen, what we know is that early indications suggest that the theft of information related to a number of business areas.  Some of the information stolen will have been publicly available, whilst some will not have been” said Mr. A’Hearn. 

Information included:

  • Business information: Information such as, but perhaps not restricted to, publicly available regulated site permits, authorisations and enforcement notices.  Some information related to SEPA corporate plans, priorities and change programmes.
  • Procurement information: Information such as, but perhaps not restricted to, publicly available procurement awards.
  • Project information: Information related to our commercial work with international partners.
  • Staff information: Personal information relating to SEPA staff.

“Staff members affected to date have been notified, are being supported and are being given access to specialist advice and services. Support, including specialist advice from Police Scotland and mitigation services, is also being offered to staff across the organisation.” 

Working with cyber security experts, a dedicated team has been established to identify the detail of business or partner information loss and, where identified, direct contact will be made as quickly as possible with affected organisations.

This will happen across the coming days and weeks as and when more direct evidence of data loss specific to individual businesses and partners becomes apparent. Cyber security advice and guidance for businesses is available from the National Cyber Security Centre.

Links to this advice, along with the latest information on the cyber attack and limited data loss is available at sepa.org.uk/cyberattack 

The site contains information on the scope of data thought to have been accessed, guidance from Police Scotland, a contact form and details of a dedicated data loss support line now available for regulated business and supply chain partners. The support line will not have additional information on affected organisations at this time.

Ongoing response

In addition to working to identify as much of the detail as possible in relation to the 1.2 GB of stolen data, the multi-agency response is focused on eradication, remediation and recovery.

  • Priority regulatory, monitoring, flood forecasting and warning services are adapting and continuing to operate.
  • Delivery of nationally important flood forecasting and warning products has continued, with flood alerts and warnings being issued with 24 hours of the attack on 24 December.
  • Contact centre and web self-help services are being slowly restored, including SEPA’s Floodline, 24 Hour Pollution Hotline and environmental event online reporting.
  • Regulatory teams continue to prioritise the most significant environmental events, high hazard sites and sites of community concern.
  • Teams are quickly working on interim ways to authorise regulated site activity, prioritising nationally important sectors such as food and drink, energy and waste.

That said, the agency confirmed that email, staff schedules, a number of specialist reporting tools, systems and databases remain unavailable with the potential for access to a series of systems and tools to be unavailable for a protracted period. The multi-agency response is working to five clear priorities:

  • Incident response;
  • Supporting staff;
  • Protecting priority services;
  • Protecting Scotland’s environment;
  • Protecting communities.

Regulatory Approach 

In addition to ensuring the continued delivery of priority flood forecasting and warning services, SEPA’s regulatory approach will continue to prioritise supporting Scottish businesses, Scotland’s recovery, environmental events, high hazard sites and sites of community concern. 

The agency will help businesses meet their environmental obligations and prioritise authorising economic activity and will continue its risk based approach to regulation, focusing the most effort on sites or sectors which require oversight or where there is a risk of criminality or organisations seeking to take advantage of the ongoing cyber-attack. 

Mr. A’Hearn said: “Whilst the actions of serious and organised criminals means that for the moment we’ve lost access to our systems and had information stolen, what we’ve not lost is the expertise of over 1,200 staff who day in, day out work tirelessly to protect Scotland’s environment. 

“Sadly we’re not the first and won’t be the last national organisation targeted by likely international criminals.  Cyber-crime is a growing trend.  Our focus is on supporting our people, our partners, protecting Scotland’s environment and, in time, following a review, sharing any learnings with wider public, private and voluntary sector partners.” 

Further information 

SEPA will provide further updates as quickly as possible at www.sepa.org.uk/cyberattack as more information becomes available. 

Whilst the agency continues to work hard to understand and resolve the issues member of the public, regulated businesses and suppliers can find additional information and contact options via:

Find the latest information on how we’re responding to the cyber attack at sepa.org.uk/cyberattack 

For other enquiries, contact us via sepa.org.uk/contact/contact-us-by-email, noting there may be a delay in responding. 

Detective Inspector Michael McCullagh of Police Scotland’s Cybercrime Investigations Unit said: “This remains an ongoing investigation. Police Scotland are working closely with SEPA and our partners at Scottish Government and the wider UK law enforcement community to investigate and provide support in response to this incident.

“Enquiries remain at an early stage and continue to progress including deployment of specialist cybercrime resources to support this response. 

“It would be inappropriate to provide more specific detail of investigations at this time.”

Police: Do the right thing this weekend

A statement from Edinburgh Police:

Last weekend saw an increase in people gathering at parks and open spaces in the city, particularly at Portobello Beach and the Meadows.

We fully recognise the impact the restrictions are having on people’s lives, but it is clear that significant sacrifices are vital to help suppress the spread of coronavirus.

The Chief Constable has made it clear that our approach throughout the pandemic has not changed and officers will continue to support people to follow the regulations and encourage them to take personal responsibility.

We will have increased patrols in our communities to explain the regulations and to encourage people to do the right thing.

Where officers encounter wilful breaches they will act decisively to enforce the law.

For the latest guidelines from the Scottish Government, visit its website here: http://ow.ly/VCDa50D8jZb

Exploring Edinburgh: Six Tours of the City and its Architecture

Famed for its many outstanding gems of architecture, as well as some dismaying carbuncles, the city of Edinburgh is admired internationally.

An informed and focused guidebook by leading architectural critic Robin Ward for locals and visitors now offers us the opportunity to deepen and enliven our experience of its remarkable built environment.

Seeing each building as if for the first time is what Ward invites people to do. A Glaswegian, Ward brims with enthusiasm for the capital, which is now his home.

His commentaries are as well-focused as his own crisp photographs of each building under consideration. Ward is not afraid to make his views clear if he thinks architects and planners have made a mistake but his selection concentrates on buildings, dating from medieval to modern times, that bring him joy.

Addressing the fact that Edinburgh has only recently started to acknowledge its involvement in the slave trade, Ward comments: ‘Edinburgh’s narrative of enlightenment and cultural heritage ignores many ghosts. Those at Sugarhouse Close are from the slave trade – sugar produced by African slaves on colonial plantations in the West Indies was processed at a refinery in the close.’

Six tours, for walking, cycling, travelling by car or public transport, are accompanied by maps which show the location of every building Ward considers and while each tour can be done in a day, the clearly numbered maps make it easy to customise routes. The tours encompass architecturally interesting but lesser known areas far from the city centre. All come with the first-class insights of Robin Ward.

‘Scotland’s capital city is unique for its layers of historic buildings on a volcanic landscape eroded by an Ice Age glacier. No other city shows its social and topographical development as dramatically.’ ROBIN WARD

Publication date: Thursday 22 January 2021.
Exploring Edinburgh: Six Tours of the City and its Architecture by Robin 978-1-913025-57-1 paperback £10.99
Trade Order Hotline: Please call BookSource Distribution Centre on 0141 642 9192

Home Carers to ballot for action over “No Confidence” in COVID testing roll-out

Home carers in Glasgow City Council’s Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) will launch a ballot for industrial action next week, warning they have “no confidence” over plans for workplace testing of COVID-19 and amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the vaccination programme.

Over 1,700 GMB Scotland members will take part in a three-week ballot, running from Tuesday 19 January to Monday 8 February, meaning service delivery in the HSCP could be affected by action as early as the week beginning Monday 22 February.

It follows a massive 93 per cent support for action among GMB members in a consultative ballot last month, a direct response to the Scottish Government’s Winter Preparedness Plan which put home carers to the back of the queue in the roll-out of workplace testing delivery.

GMB Scotland Organiser David Hume said: “There is no confidence whatsoever among our members in their employer or the government to sufficiently protect their health and safety at work. And why should there be?

“They were failed on PPE at the outset of this pandemic, they have been left waiting ten months for workplace testing, and some are already encountering problems getting their first vaccine.

“The HSCP should have been fighting tooth and nail for every resource to protect the safety of their employees and their service users. Instead they have been sitting on zoom calls for nearly a year waiting on guidance from the Scottish Government, only for Ministers to leave councils carrying the can for testing delivery.

“The interests of these key workers have been consistently forgotten and they are being treated negligently by their employer, and this government.”

One in 10 Scots say brain health has deteriorated in pandemic

  • Poll shows two-thirds have thought about improving health, as new Alzheimer’s Research UK campaign encourages public to Think Brain Health
  • Broadcaster Suzi Perry voices campaign film outlining three rules for brain health

More than one in 10 adults in Scotland (15%) believe their brain health has declined since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, new polling by Alzheimer’s Research UK has revealed, with two-thirds (65%) saying the pandemic has prompted them to think about making changes to improve their health.

The news comes as Alzheimer’s Research UK launches Think Brain Health, a bold new awareness campaign to empower people to keep their brains healthy throughout life and ultimately, help reduce their risk of dementia.

The digital campaign is backed by the latest research and focuses on three rules for brain health – looking after heart health, staying sharp and keeping connected.

Think Brain Health is backed by broadcast journalist Suzi Perry, who lost her grandmother Mary to Alzheimer’s disease – the most common cause of dementia. Suzi, known for her work on BT Sport’s Motorsport coverage and F1 coverage for the BBC, has voiced an animation introducing the campaign.

The campaign was developed with the support of Warburtons and parkrun, and is further backed at launch by Alzheimer’s Research UK partner Garmin.

Alzheimer’s Research UK has also worked with the Royal Society for Public Health to launch a joint policy report on brain health, recommending the development of a national brain health strategy to enable everyone to take positive steps to look after their brains throughout life.

The report calls on government and public health bodies to take this opportunity to embed brain health messaging for all age groups, implement cost-effective interventions that promote brain health and fund more research into dementia prevention.

As well as being influenced by our age and genetics, the 2020 Lancet Commission on dementia suggests that up to 40% of dementia cases could be linked to 12 risk factors that we may be able to influence, including high blood pressure, physical inactivity, smoking, low social contact and depression.

With polling showing that people’s awareness of dementia has increased due to the pandemic (11% of Scotland respondents reporting an increased awareness) and a third of people in Scotland (33%) saying dementia is their most feared health condition, the charity believes now is the opportune time to support people to take positive action, particularly with new lockdown measures in place.

Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Think Brain Health campaign aims to increase awareness of three rules for improving brain health:

  • Looking after heart health, by exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet and keeping blood pressure, weight and cholesterol in check.
  • Staying sharp, by taking part in activities that keep the brain active.
  • And keeping connected, by staying socially active and connecting with other people.

Visitors to thinkbrainhealth.org.uk can test their brain health knowledge with a quiz, as well as learning more through expert blogs and articles. The campaign is primarily aimed at people in midlife, who could stand to gain the most from adopting healthy habits that could reduce their risk of dementia.

Having witnessed the decline of her mother with suspected dementia, Mary Sparling is determined to do what she can to maintain her brain health.

The 59-year-old, from Dunfermline, whose mum, Helen, died in November 2019, keeps herself fit playing tennis, doing yoga and walking her black Labrador, Sam. The retired teacher also keeps her brain active by learning Spanish.

Mary said: “Into her 90s my mum was still so sharp. But around April 2019 I realised she was starting to need a lot more support and from there her decline was quite fast.

“It got to the point where she needed 24-hour support, so I decided to retire from work a little earlier than I’d planned to care for her. We were in the process of getting her a formal dementia diagnosis when she died of a presumed heart attack.

“Although in the end it wasn’t a long-drawn out affair, it was still an incredibly difficult and exhausting time. She would have bouts of confusion and delirium that were very distressing and there were times when she didn’t know who I was.

“Having seen what my mum went through it makes me more aware of my own vulnerability. The activities I do provide me with so many benefits, but it also gives me that extra motivation to keep them up by knowing I’m also helping to maintain my brain health.”

Hilary Evans, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll in many ways, and it’s deeply worrying that one in 10 of us fear it’s had a negative effect on our brain health.

“But positively, our polling shows that the pandemic has also made people more aware of their health, so we want to take this opportunity to set out some simple steps to help people think about their brain.

“While national lockdown is making many aspects of our lives more difficult, there are still things you can do every day to look after your brain and the Think Brain Health campaign shows you how.

“Our brains control everything we do, from storing precious memories to helping us read and write – they define who we are. Sadly, every year, more and more families experience the devastation caused when physical diseases like Alzheimer’s take hold of the brain.

“The good news is that while there’s no sure-fire way to prevent dementia, research suggests that 40% of cases could be down to factors that we may be able to influence. We must do all we can to capitalise on this powerful opportunity and ultimately, reduce the number of people who will go on to develop dementia in future.

“There is a clear appetite among the public to improve their health and looking after the brain must become a core part of our approach to good overall health. The time is right for a national brain health strategy to enable everyone to keep their brains healthy – and Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Think Brain Health campaign is an important first step.”

To find out more, visit thinkbrainhealth.org.uk

£45m support package for schools

A new package of £45 million will help local authorities to provide support to schools and families as they deal with the challenges of remote learning during lockdown, Education Secretary John Swinney confirmed yesterday.

Councils may use the funding – sufficient to fund 2,000 additional teachers – for purposes including recruitment of additional staff, additional digital devices or to provide additional family support.

This is on top of £160 million already committed for education recovery since the start of the pandemic, bringing the total additional support provided to more than £200 million since the start of the pandemic. Private and third sector day care of children settings will also receive almost £4 million in temporary financial support.

Mr Swinney has also asked HM Inspectors of Education to commence with a national review of the quality and effectiveness of remote learning across the country with the first report published next Friday, 22 January.

The Scottish Government will ensure all appropriate mitigations are in place to support a safe return including enhancing our testing programme in schools. We expect that pilots of two different testing models – one using in-school testing with Lateral Flow Devices (LFD), and another involving at-home testing using PCR tests – will begin in a small number of schools from next week.

Mr Swinney said: “I appreciate only too well the additional burden home learning is placing on many of our children and their families. After the last period of school building closures we commissioned an Equity Audit, published today, to better understand the impact on children’s learning and health and wellbeing, particularly disadvantaged pupils.

“Since the start of the pandemic our funding has led to an additional 1,400 teachers and over 200 support staff being appointed. The new funding can be used to recruit further staff – which might include teachers, classroom assistants, administrative staff, home/school link workers or other support workers – as well as the resources that families and schools need to support home learning, including additional digital devices where there is any remaining unmet need, and other home learning resources.

“The quality and effectiveness of remote learning across the country will be reviewed by HM Inspectors of Education. A programme of ‘national overviews’, will commence immediately and last for the duration of remote learning. These will seek to identify what is working well and where further improvement is required. These overviews will be published weekly to ensure they are available for everyone to learn and build from, starting week ending 22 January.

“I am aware that remaining open for very small numbers of children creates pressure for some childcare providers, and I can therefore confirm we will make temporary financial support of up to £3.8 million available for each four week period of restrictions to day care of children providers and childminding settings caring for 12 or more children who remain open for vulnerable and keyworker children during these restrictions. We will confirm details as soon as possible.

“If the evidence tells us we can get some pupils back safely, we will do that, and we will ensure the package of mitigations in schools remains robust and tailored to the circumstances we face. As part of that work, we expect that pilots of two different testing models – one using in-school testing with Lateral Flow Devices, and another involving at-home testing using PCR tests – will begin in a small number of schools from next week, helping to inform options for wider rollout.

“I am grateful to our hardworking, dedicated teaching professionals for their intense work to plan, organise and deliver learning. The virus will be beaten, and schools will return fully to intensify our efforts to achieve excellence and equity for all of Scotland’s children.”

Advice and support for parents and carers is available at the Parent Club.

More than 500 drink drug drive offences detected during annual festive campaign

Just over 500 motorists were reported for drink drug drive offences during the annual festive drink drug drive campaign.

During the festive drink and drug drive campaign, which ran between December 1st 2020 and January 3rd 2021, Police Scotland officers carried out 4013 roadside tests. Overall, 508 drivers were detected for drink/drug offences.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams said “It is extremely disappointing to see that people are still willing to take the risk and drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”

ACC Williams continued: “The current pandemic has seen a decrease in the number of vehicles on the road, however our campaign to improve road safety has been as important as ever and was focussed and intelligence led.

“Once again this year, a number of drivers were reported to us by colleagues, friends or family members and I wish to thank everyone who had the courage to report drink or drug drivers and I ask that you continue to report concerning driving behaviour to us. This information helps our officers to act quickly to stop drivers who are under the influence before they kill or seriously injure someone.

“We will continue to take action against those who selfishly put others at risk by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “It is disappointing that some people are selfish and irresponsible by taking drugs or alcohol before getting behind the wheel of a car – putting themselves as well as other road users and officers at risk.

“I commend those who took steps to report individuals they suspected of drink or drug-driving to the police. It can be a difficult decision to make but it is the right decision and they can take comfort from knowing that they perhaps prevented somebody being seriously injured or killed in a collision.

“The laws are in place to keep everyone on Scotland’s roads safe and it is the responsibility of all individual motorists to adhere to them. Police officers will continue to tackle those they suspect to be committing driving offences.”


Breakdown of results:

· 4013 roadside screening tests for drink and drugs carried out during the campaign

· 437 roadside drug screening tests carried out

· 508 people detected for drink/drug offences

· Of the 508 detected, 28 drivers were caught the morning after drinking

Student renters face a financial crisis due to the pandemic

  • Over two thirds of student renters (69 per cent) are concerned about their ability to pay their rent
  • A third of students believe that they would not be allowed to leave their tenancy agreement early due to the pandemic
  • 57 per cent of those who have been self-isolating have not received any support from their accommodation provider
  • 22 per cent of students have been unable to pay their rent in full over the past 4 month

Over two thirds of student renters (69 per cent) are worried about their ability to pay rent with around a quarter having been unable to pay rent (22 per cent) or bills (27 per cent) during the pandemic, a new survey from NUS (National Union of Students) has found. International students and students of colour are most likely to be extremely concerned.

Almost half of students live in rented accommodation of some sort, with around a third believing they would not be allowed to leave their tenancy agreement early due to the pandemic.

These problems are likely to be exacerbated with the most recent lockdown announcement that has left the majority of student renters still liable to pay for accommodation that they are not allowed to access.

The Coronavirus and Students Survey phase III took place in November and involved over 4,000 students, building upon the previous research issued by NUS in April and September 2020. A quarter of students have had to self-isolate during last (Autumn) term, or are currently self-isolating, while a small proportion have had to lockdown.

57 per cent of those who have been self-isolating have not received any support from their accommodation provider. Students have called for more regular check-ins, financial support and food deliveries to support them.

The proportion of students living with parents/guardians has gone up since September, now representing 30 per cent of students compared to 21 per cent. Prior to the pandemic a quarter of students were living with parents indicating some students have had to reconsider their living arrangements as a result of the pandemic.

Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, NUS Vice-President for Higher Education, said: “It is astonishing that the UK government has placed students under lockdown yet are still requiring them to pay rent for accommodation that they cannot legally access. It goes to show the level of disregard that this government has for students.

“We need rent rebates immediately to ensure that students are not out of pocket for rental payments of properties they are not living in. Over two-thirds of students are already concerned about their ability to make rental payments, and this will have only increased with the most recent lockdown announcement. 

“Students deserve better than to be financially punished for following public health guidance.”

Ellen Fearon, NUS-USI President, said: “Governments have been dodging the problems facing student renters throughout the whole of this pandemic. We have consistently raised the fact that students are in a unique situation, being unable to claim Universal Credit and therefore unable to access housing support if they lose their income, but these calls have fallen on deaf ears. 

“In September students were brought back onto campuses only for many classes to be moved online in a matter of weeks and for some students to find themselves effectively locked in their halls. It’s not surprising that so many students feel they have been exploited for profit. Students deserve better than to be used to prop up a failing business model.”

The full survey results are available here.

Five young entrepreneurs from Scotland win national award

Nina Birchard, Lucy Fisher, Elena Höge, Iona Mackenzie and Petra Baiba Olehno start the new year with a boost

Five of this year’s Young Innovator Award winners, announced today by Innovate UK and The Prince’s Trust, are from Scotland. The winners will receive a £5,000 grant, one-on-one business coaching and an allowance to cover living costs.

The Scottish innovators looking to make the world a better place are:

  • Nina Birchard, 24, Glasgow, who has designed the Newborn Rescue Towel, a low cost emergency medical device which provides thermal support and the correct positioning to aid resuscitation in newborns.
  • Lucy Fisher, 25, Aberdeen, who has taken a childhood passion for knitting and turned it into a business. Knit It aims to bring knitting into the 21st century via a new digital platform which enables knitters to have a choice in how they follow a pattern and guides them through creating their new designs.
  • Elena Höge, 28, Edinburgh, who is creating educational games like Wholesome, a mobile forest school experience that teaches children and adults about nature, including how to forage and cook with wild food.
  • Iona Mackenzie, 26, Edinburgh, whose Talk and Grow business aims to take the stress out of finding a therapist for those in need of support in Edinburgh with an online matching and booking platform to pair clients with a number of local counsellors.
  • Petra Baiba Olehno, 30, a Glasgow-based Latvian who wants to create REPAIREL, a one-stop-shop for buying ethical footwear online which allows people to compare information about shoes and brands.

The Young Innovators Awards recognise young people from across the UK with great business ideas who have the potential to become successful entrepreneurs and future leaders in innovation.

Following an unprecedented level of entries, with an 87% increase in applications year-on-year, 64 young people have started the New Year with a boost after getting the coveted award, double the number of award winners/recipients of previous years.

With recent research showing over a third of 18 to 34 year olds want to launch an independent enterprise in 2021, compared to 28% of 35 to 54 year olds, it’s even more important the support is available to those who want to venture into starting a business.

The winners from Scotland, are five of 64 inspiring young people who will receive Young Innovators Awards this year, each benefitting from a £5,000 grant, one-on-one business coaching and an allowance to cover living costs. The programme is set to continue awarding young people from diverse backgrounds until at least 2023. This year, 49% of the winners are female; nearly a third are Black, Asian or from an ethnic minority background; 17% have a disability and the projects cover all regions across the UK.

From a way to help stroke survivors on the road to rehabilitation to support for parents to protect their children online, all of this year’s Young Innovators have ideas that promise to address current challenges. Ideas this year span everything from technology to physical and mental health and from sustainability to fashion.

Commenting on her award and project, Nina Birchard said: “It is a simple, non-invasive positioning aid which ensures open airways while providing thermal support and an aide-mémoire to guide the user through the procedure. It is a novel, game-changing product which is simple to use and easy to produce.

“The Young Innovators Award seems like an amazing, supportive platform to learn, build and launch your business idea. I am so excited to get stuck in!”

Emily Nott, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Innovate UK says: “With 2020 proving to be an incredibly difficult year, maintaining our focus on Young Innovators was a priority for Innovate UK since finding the great entrepreneurial minds of the future is more important than ever.

“Working alongside this year’s winners, Innovate UK will help them grow and develop their business idea to make the world a better, and more innovative place. We can’t wait to see what they achieve this year.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said: “It’s fantastic to see young people so passionate about starting a business. The UK Government is committed to encouraging entrepreneurship and rewarding innovation and hard work.

“Investing in young people has never been more important as we bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic. We have seen truly exceptional ideas from some very worthy Scottish winners. I’m delighted to see their hard work pay off and I congratulate everyone involved.”

Details on all 64 Young Innovators can found here. If you’re an inspiring young innovator, check out how Innovate UK could support you here

Help to warm homes this winter

First award through £7 million fuel poverty fund

A project which helps people struggling to heat their homes has become the first to receive a share of a £7 million fund to tackle fuel poverty this winter.

The Fuel Bank Foundation will receive £444,500 to extend its work, which includes providing same-day support to top up prepayment meters for those at risk of disconnection, and help for households that are reliant on solid fuel – often people living in remote and rural communities.

The £7 million for winter fuel is part of the £100 million winter support package announced by the First Minister in November. The remaining funding will be allocated to other projects which help to alleviate fuel poverty.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “We know the economic impact of the pandemic is taking its toll and this, combined with increased fuel bills as people spend more time at home, can lead people to struggle.

“The £7 million part of our overall winter support package is being targeted to help those most at need. It complements ongoing work, which includes our Fuel Poverty Act, the most comprehensive legislation of its kind in the UK.

“It will complement the other measures we are funding through the £100 million winter package, which will help those on low incomes, children and people at risk of homelessness or social isolation cope with winter weather and the economic impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) and Brexit.

“The Fuel Bank Foundation does tremendous work to help some of the people most impacted by fuel poverty, including those living in remote and rural areas. I am confident this initial funding award will make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Matthew Cole, chair of trustees at Fuel Bank Foundation, said: “The Scottish Government’s commitment to providing funding for our fuel banks through the winter will ensure we can continue providing emergency support at a time when many households will be feeling the pinch from increased winter fuel costs and the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic. 

“We also recognise challenges faced by households using solid fuels and are pleased to be able to introduce support in these situations too.

“Tighter COVID-19 restrictions will mean people spending more time at home and therefore using more energy on heating and lighting and putting extra pressure on their already stretched finances.

“As a charitable trust we rely on funding from central and devolved government, local authorities, energy companies, and other charitable organisations. Their financial support is invaluable to us and to those in society who depend on it the most.”