Hundreds join Barnardo’s on top of Forth Bridge

It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that has brought joy to those seeking adventure and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Scotland’s leading children’s charity. And now, a precious few were once again able to stand atop the iconic Forth Bridge to help raise money for Barnardo’s Scotland.

The charity’s ‘Your View’ event allows members of the public one of the most sought after and unique experiences in Scotland – namely the chance to ascend 361 feet up the historic bridge and enjoy an uninterrupted 360-degree panoramic view of the Edinburgh and Fife coastline.

Your View is in its sixth year – run in conjunction with Network Rail and Balfour Beatty – and another lucky 900 people travelled from all across the world to take part – including visitors from New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada, Denmark and Portugal.

More than 6,000 visitors in total have experienced the event and there have been no fewer than ten marriage proposals on the vertiginous viewing platform since 2017. Best of all, though, the event has now raised more than £375,000 to fund the work of Barnardo’s Scotland.

The latest couple to get engaged atop the bridge were Laura Dowds, 34, and Connor Robertson 31, from Armadale, in West Lothian. The couple met in 2020, and Laura admitted that she had no idea that she would be engaged by the time she set foot back on terra firma.

Laura explains: “The proposal was a complete surprise! Connor didn’t even tell me that we were doing the bridge viewing until we arrived in the car park, so the whole day was a pleasant surprise from start to finish.

“I was stunned to say the least; I couldn’t believe my eyes seeing him down on one knee! The amazing photographer managed to capture lots of snaps of our special moment, too, and we are so grateful to have these fantastic memories.

“We don’t have a date for the wedding yet, as I’m going to let Connor recover from all the work he put into the proposal! But it will be local and hopefully in the next year. We’re so excited for this exciting new chapter.”

Along with the proposal, Laura said that the couple thoroughly enjoyed their Your View experience: “Your View was one of the best things we’ve done together – getting to be up on top of the bridge and taking in some of the most amazing sights.

“I’d recommend it to anyone. The volunteers were amazing, too, from getting history about the bridge being built, to the friendly and helpful staff joining you as you make your way up in the hoist.

“It was a day we will never forget. Barnardo’s is an incredible charity and we’re over the moon that all of the money from tickets goes straight towards the great work that they do.” 

Martin Crewe, Director of Barnardo’s Scotland, said: “Your View proved once again to be a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience for those lucky enough to secure a ticket. We want to thank all of those who joined us over the weekend as this is a crucial fundraiser for Barnardo’s Scotland as we continue to support children, young people and their families throughout the country.

“Your View would not be possible without the generosity of Network Rail and Balfour Beatty, and I wish to thank both organisations and our wonderful volunteers for making this special weekend happen. And I very much would like to congratulate Laura and Connor for their historic moment.”

Barnardo’s Scotland intends to use the funds raised to continue to deliver employability support in 12 local authority areas across Scotland from five hubs in Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, Edinburgh and Paisley.

Cliff Graham, Head of Operations for employment, training and skills in Scotland at Barnardo’s, said: “Barnardo’s Works provide employability support and training to 1,100 young people a year in Scotland. We provide one-to-one support, informal group work, vocational training and work experience across a range of programmes.

“Our services aim to provided holistic support with a range of pathways that allows young people to move into a positive destination such as employment, apprenticeships college or further training. We are delighted to benefit from this funding as it will help us provide additional support and IT equipment to our service users across Scotland.”

Alan Ross, Director of Engineering and Asset Management at Network Rail Scotland, said: “We’re so proud to once again have hosted the Barnardo’s Your View event at the Forth Bridge. The event continues to be a valuable opportunity to raise vital funds for young people and their families across Scotland.

“Although the sun wasn’t shining, it was still a fantastic weekend for all involved, and the marriage proposal at the top certainly brightened everyone’s day. Enormous thanks goes to the staff and volunteers for making the day another huge success.”

At Barnardo’s, our purpose is clear: Changing childhoods and changing lives, so that children, young people, and families are safe, happy, healthy, and hopeful. Last year, we worked with thousands of children across Scotland through more than 150 services and partnerships.

Across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we provided essential support to 373,200 children, young people, parents and carers through more than 800 services and partnerships across the UK. This included 173 services in Scotland. For more than 150 years, we’ve been here for the children and young people who need us most – bringing love, care and hope into their lives and giving them a place where they feel they belong.

Over the course of the financial year 2023-24, more than 16,000 people volunteered for Barnardo’s across the UK – a total of 1.7 million hours of their time. To donate, volunteer or fundraise, please visit: www.barnardos.org.uk/get-involved/raise-money.

Canal Tow Path attack: Can you help Police?

POLICE are appealing for information after a man was seriously assaulted in Edinburgh.

Around 7pm on Sunday (13 October), a 31-year-old man was cycling eastbound on the Union Canal Tow Path, near Harrison Park, when he was approached by a man, who assaulted him.

The cyclist attended at hospital for treatment and was later released.

The suspect is described as being between 20 and 30 years old, around 6ft tall, of medium build, with dark eyebrows and possible facial hair. He was wearing a blue hooded top, grey tracksuit bottoms and possibly white trainers.

Extensive enquiries are ongoing and officers are appealing for anyone with information to get in touch.

Detective Inspector Gordon Couper said: “A man has been seriously assaulted and it is imperative that we trace the individual responsible.

“A dedicated team of officers are working on this and I would like to reassure the community that we are doing everything we can to trace whoever is responsible.

“We have been gathering CCTV footage from the surrounding area, which is being reviewed.

“But I would also be very keen to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have information which can assist our investigation.

“Please think back – did you see anything suspicious? Or did you see someone matching the suspect’s description in the area on Sunday evening?

“Any information, or footage, could prove vital, so please do pass it on to officers.

“Officers will remain in the area while enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with any information, or any concerns, can speak to them.

“Information can also be passed by calling 101, quoting incident number 2814 of Sunday, 13 October, 2024. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.”

Revealed: Scotland’s most stolen cars

AUDI A3, HONDA CIVIC & FORD FOCUS ARE SCOTLANDS MOST STOLEN CARS

  • Further research finds that almost 1 in 5 (18%) motorists have had their car stolen before, equating to 7,608,568 UK drivers.(1)    That’s as 14% of Scots admit to having their car stolen.
  • More cars were stolen from streets outside the victim’s home (37%) in Scotland than any other location.
  • With car thefts affecting so many drivers, Confused.com has launched a probability tool. Drivers can use this to find out how likely thieves are to steal the car they’re considering.
  • Rhydian Jones, car insurance expert at Confused.com shares advice on car theft prevention, and what to do if you need to make a claim

The Ford Fiesta is a firm favourite among drivers, with around 1.5 million on UK roads.However, it’s also the most targeted car by thieves, new data reveals.

The data, released by Confused.com, highlights the number of stolen vehicles since January 2018, with certain models and areas facing a significantly higher risk. This is based on customers who have made a claim for ‘theft of car’ on their insurance in this period.

In total, 10,346 thefts of Ford Fiesta have been reported since January 2018, according to car theft claims declared through Confused.com. This averages around 2,000 thefts per year, making it the most targeted car in the UK. Volkswagen Golf follows, with a total of 9,526 thefts over the same period, and BMW 3 Series ranks third with a total of 9,148 thefts.

Make and model (Car)Units stolen
Ford Fiesta10,346
Volkswagen Golf9,526
BMW 3 Series9,148
Ford Focus6,664
BMW 1 Series6,286
Mercedes-Benz C Class5,698
Audi A35,551
Range Rover Sport5,472
Vauxhall Corsa4,992
Vauxhall Astra4,357

However, the most targeted cars can vary by area of Scotland. For example, in Glasgow, the Audi A3 is the most stolen car. Yet in Edinburgh, a Honda Civic tops the list as the most reported stolen vehicle in the past 5 years.

The Scottish cities with the most stolen cars include:

CityMost stolen car
GlasgowAudi A3 SE
EdinburghHonda Civic S
AberdeenVolkswagen Touareg R Line Plus
MotherwellSAAB 9-3 Linear SE
KirkcaldyRenault Clio Dynamique

With so many drivers falling victim to car thefts, Confused.com has launched a new tool which shows the likelihood of a car being stolen.

This is based on the make, model and variant. Users can input the car they own, or are considering buying, into the tool and receive an estimate of its theft risk.

Armed with this knowledge, car buyers can make more informed decisions about their purchases.

In total, more than 250,000 thefts of cars have been reported since January 2018, according to Confused.com’s data. But the issue goes back further than this, as research found that almost 1 in 5 (18%) UK drivers have experienced car theft in the past. That’s equivalent to 7,608,568 motorists.

And according to the research by Confused.com, thieves aren’t always being particularly cautious with their methods, which suggests anyone could be at risk. In fact, more cars were stolen from streets outside the victim’s home (28%) than any other location, followed by their driveway (15%).

And it seems thieves are using a range of methods to successfully steal cars. Almost 1 in 4 (23%) stolen cars were hot-wired, 1 in 4 (22%) had their windows smashed and unfortunately 1 in 10 (10%) had their house broken into to steal the keys.

But it’s not all bad news as almost 9 in 10 (87%) of those who had their cars stolen said it was retrieved. Almost 2 in 3 (62%) said the police found it and 15% said they found it themselves. And technology clearly plays a role.

Over 1 in ten (14%) said they had security footage that showed the car being stolen, either from their own devices or their neighbours. A further 12% said they had a tracker on their car when it was stolen, which enabled them to find where it had been taken to.

It shows that having additional security pays. And as we head further into the winter season, getting closer to the clocks coming forward, drivers are being reminded to use car theft prevention devices. However, worryingly 28% of drivers admit they don’t use any additional security on their car.

But for those taking extra precautions, the most popular were found to be steering locks (19%), GPS trackers (17%), parking in a garage (17%) and putting car keys in a faraday pouch (12%). One in 10 also said they use a car key signal blocker as keyless car theft seems to be on the rise.

But it isn’t just the stress of having their car stolen which affects victims. In fact many were also left with significant financial burdens. Whilst the majority of cars are returned, almost 9 in 10 (87%) said their cars were returned damaged. On average, drivers had to spend £364 to repair damages and £671 to top up the cost of a new car.

With car thefts having such a significant impact on victims, it’s important that drivers are considering extra measures to keep their car as secure as possible – especially if their car is among the most targeted by thieves.

Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance, comments: ““Having your car stolen is a stress on both your life and your living costs too. And with general car insurance costs at extreme highs, the impact of having your car stolen is proving to be a burden on drivers and the price they pay for their car insurance.

“That’s why it’s important that drivers do all they can to protect their cars from thieves. And there are many ways to do this. These include:

  • Checking your car is locked – This might sound like an obvious one, but this is especially important with more modern cars having keyless locking systems. It’s easy to forget to double check or lock your car in the first place. It’ll also impact your claim if your car is stolen and you’re not sure if you locked it or not.
  • Hiding valuables in your car – don’t leave any valuables like handbags, tech or money visible in your car. This could make it more attractive to break into and steal.
  • Investing in car security – steering wheel and handbrake locks are effective ways to protect your car from thieves. The brightly coloured locks also act as a visual deterrent.
  • Installing a tracking device – although this doesn’t prevent your car from being stolen, it can improve its chances of being recovered.

“Taking measures to protect your car can help ensure that it doesn’t become a target. And if you’re changing your car, use our car theft probability calculator. This can help you work out how likely thieves in your area are to steal that car model.”

City council by-election details

Colinton/Fairmilehead by-election candidates announced

The candidates standing in the forthcoming Colinton/Fairmilehead Council by-election have been confirmed.

Twelve candidates have been nominated to stand in the by-election, which is due to take place on 14 November.

The candidates standing for election are –

  • Bonnie Prince Bob, Independent
  • Mev Brown, Independent
  • Mairianna Clyde, Scottish National Party (SNP)
  • Neil Cuthbert, Scottish Conservative and Unionist
  • Sheila Gilmore, Scottish Labour Party
  • David Ian Henry, Independent
  • Tam Laird, Scottish Libertarian Party
  • Grant Lidster, Reform UK
  • Richard Crewe Lucas, Scottish Family Party
  • Daniel Aleksanteri Milligan, Scottish Greens
  • Louise Spence, Scottish Liberal Democrats
  • Marc Wilkinson, Independent

Returning Officer for Edinburgh Paul Lawrence, said: “With nominations now closed and a month remaining, residents of the Colinton/Fairmilehead ward can start considering who they will vote for in the upcoming by-election. It’s important to make sure you’re registered to vote by 29 October in order to participate.

“Councillors play a vital role in our democratic system, making key decisions that impact our city. I encourage as many residents as possible to take part in this by-election.”

“The election will use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, where voters rank candidates in order of preference by assigning numbers rather than just marking a single cross. You can choose to vote for as many or as few candidates as you wish.”

Poll cards will be delivered to registered voters in the area from today (Tuesday 15 October) including further information on when and where to vote.

If you live in the Colinton/Fairmilehead ward you must register to vote by 29 October and anyone wishing to vote by post can sign up for a new postal vote up until 30 October. 

You can also apply for someone to vote on your behalf via proxy voting, with the deadline for new proxy vote applications on 6 November (for registered voters). 

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm and will be at:

  • Charwood
  • Fairmilehead Parish Church Hall
  • St. Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church Hall
  • Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre
  • Pentland Community Centre

The electronic election count will take place on Friday 15 November starting at 9:30am. 

The by-election follows the resignation of Councillor and former Transport and Environment Convener Scott Arthur, following his election as the MP for Edinburgh South West on 4 July 2024.

Find out more about the Colinton/Fairmilehead by-election on the Council website.

George IV Bridge assault: Do you know this man?

Police have released an image of a male they wish to speak to who may be able to assist with their enquiries into an assault which took place on Saturday, 14 September, 2024 on George IV Bridge. The incident took place at around 8pm.

The male (pictured above) is described as a white male, medium build, mid-30s, approximately 5ft 9” tall with short dark hair. He was seen to be wearing a red short sleeved polo shirt, dark skinny jeans and white trainers.

Detective Constable Adam Campbell said “I would urge the male pictured or anyone who may recognise him or has information about this incident to contact us as soon as possible.

“Anyone who can assist is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 3442 of 14 September 2024. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.”

Edinburgh rail users and tourists get chance to learn vital lifesaving skills

  • St Andrew’s First Aid to deliver free CPR demonstrations at popular locations to mark Restart a Heart Day.

Scotland’s only dedicated first aid charity, St Andrew’s First Aid, is providing Edinburgh locals and tourists with a chance to learn lifesaving CPR skills at open demonstrations held in the heart of the city this month.

To mark ‘Restart a Heart Day’ (16th October), an initiative led by Resuscitation Council UK to increase the number of people who survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, St Andrew’s First Aid will be delivering free public demonstrations across three city centre locations.    

Passers-by will be invited to get involved with CPR demonstrations, as well as learning how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

They will also be encouraged to practice what they have learned, gaining insightful feedback from St Andrew’s First Aid Community Engagement Trainers and Volunteers, to ensure they are prepared to step in and help, if they witness someone having a cardiac arrest. 

Jim Dorman, Director of Operations and Community Engagement at St Andrew’s First Aid said: “We usually mark Restart a Heart with one day – but this year we decided it needs to be noticed – so we’re carrying out a roadshow across the full month of October, with free demonstrations taking place up and down the country.

“The importance of knowing how to administer CPR correctly can really be the difference between life and death for those receiving it. It’s our ambition to have as many people as possible learning these vital skills that could ultimately save a life.”

St Andrew’s First Aid Community Engagement Trainers and Volunteers will be in attendance at the following locations:

  • Edinburgh Castle: Wednesday 16th October: 11am-4pm
  • Edinburgh Haymarket Train Station: Thursday 17th October – 11am-2pm
  • Edinburgh Waverly Station: Saturday 19th October – 11am-4pm

Between April 2022 and May 2023, there were 3,161 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Scotland*. Charities such as St Andrew’s First Aid are making it their mission to create a nation of lifesavers, by providing easy to access and free training to the public.

To find out more about St Andrew’s First Aid please visit: www.firstaid.org.uk

* https://www.scottishambulance.com/media/10dn0df0/ohca-report-2022-23.pdf

Tabletop Sale at Royston Wardieburn

SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER 10am – 12 noon

Our Tabletop Sale is on Saturday 26th October 10am-12noon

❤️ We would love to see you all there!❤️

As well as all out amazing sellers, the management committee will also be running a tombola to raise funds to support the work we do within the centre (community meals/outings etc,)

If anyone would like to donate anything for our tombola then please get in touch/drop off at centre by Thursday 24th.

Granton Church marks 90 years in Boswall Parkway

A Granton church is this week marking 90 years since, on Monday 22nd October 1934, the foundation stone was laid by the Duke of York (later King George VI).

Under the foundation stone there is a cavity holding a casket containing ‘The Scotsman’, ‘Life and Work’, extension scheme documents, architect’s description of the Church Buildings, a list of contractors, the name of surveyor and Clerk of Works, note of the cost of building and a copy of the programme used at the ceremony when the foundation stone was placed in position.

The move from the old Granton Parish Church building at the foot of Granton Road up to Boswall Parkway was seen as an opportunity to be closer to the new housing schemes of Wardieburn, East Pilton, Royston and Boswall, and the new church was opened in February 1936.

The church has been serving that new community ever since. Today’s work now includes lunches, coffee mornings, Friday drop-ins, and the hugely popular Share ‘n’ Wear service.

For more details, including an archive film of the Duke of York’s visit, go to the church’s website at grantonchurch.org.uk.

Aspiration and specialist support are key to young disabled people thriving in the workplace

The House of Lords’ Public Services Committee publishes its report ‘Think Work First: the transition from education to work for young disabled people’

The House of Lords Public Services Committee has published its report, ‘Think Work First: the transition from education to work for young disabled people’.

The report concludes that young disabled people yearn to work and to thrive in their careers but far too many are written off and told that ‘people like them’ can never succeed.

The Committee believe we have to change this; we have to start with the presumption that young disabled people are fully capable of thriving in work, as long as they have the appropriate support, with aspiration and ambition at its heart. At every stage of a young disabled person’s development, from nurseries and schools to job centres and employers, we have to Think Work First.

Speaking on the report, the Chair of the Public Services Committee Baroness Morris of Yardley said “This report provides a blueprint for the new Government to implement its commitment to getting more young disabled people into work.

“It highlights how to put in place appropriate support for young disabled people and employers so that the system is both cohesive and effective.”

To address this, the Committee has recommended the Government focus on early support and intervention, ensuring that young disabled people can access and then remain in work once they leave education. It must also work with employers to ensure they have the tools and support they need to create inclusive workplaces and uphold the rights of disabled people.

young-disabled-peopleDownload

Other significant key recommendations from the report include:

  • Co-production: It is vital that young disabled people – both those that are yet to leave education and those who have already made the transition – are able to be fully involved in helping to design and shape the services that support them.
  • Vocational profiling: This is a particularly effective way of identifying a young disabled person’s aspirations from an early age and can help schools and colleges to put the right careers support in place from the start. The Committee believes the Government should make vocational profiling a standard part of careers information, advice and guidance for young disabled people in schools.
  • Joined up support: The Government should work with local authorities to improve the availability of ‘ready to work’ programmes, such as that provided by ThinkForward, to support young people from school until they are settled in work.
  • Supported internships:. The new Government should honour the commitment of the previous Government to double the number of supported internships and take steps to make as many young disabled people as possible eligible for them: not just those with Education, Health and Care Plans. Internships should be particularly targeted at those with the highest support needs.
  • Education:. The Government must review and improve the support that young disabled people receive while in education, and it must also properly support local authorities to deliver EHCPs, both in terms of application timelines and the robustness of decision-making.
  • Careers advice: Many of the young disabled people who spoke to the Committee highlighted the poor careers advice they had received, and the Committee heard evidence from several witnesses of a lack of a systemic, specialised approach to training careers advisers working with young disabled people. The Government should review the training that careers advisers and leaders are expected to receive, making in-depth special educational needs training mandatory.

In order to ensure that these recommendations are implemented, to help young disabled people access work, Baroness Morris said: “We’ve asked the Government to provide us with regular updates on its progress with implementing our recommendations, and we look forward to receiving its response to this report.

“We want to see positive changes in the form of planned programmes and demonstrable actions not only to get young disabled people into the workplace, but to ensure they can thrive in their jobs, develop successful, sustainable careers, and realise their full potential.

“There are many excellent innovative schemes tackling the barriers that young disabled people face when trying to enter the workplace and helping them to make the transition from education to employment. However, we found that these are the exception rather than the rule and this has to change.”

International Investment Summit secures £63 billion and nearly 38,000 jobs for the UK

  • Total of £63 billion of private investment committed around International Investment Summit, more than doubling amount secured at 2023 Global Investment Summit
  • New investments today include £6.3 billion in UK data centres as well as world class UK university Imperial College London
  • Innovative investment projects announced over the last month across infrastructure, renewables and life sciences will create close to 38,000 new jobs across the UK

Nearly 38,000 UK jobs are set to be created across the UK after a total of £63 billion of investment was announced around today’s International Investment Summit, turbocharging growth and innovation across the country. 

The record-breaking total figure more than doubles the £29.5 billion committed at last year’s Global Investment Summit and spans partnerships across the infrastructure and tech sectors, including over a billion pounds in new investments announced today by DP World, Associated British Ports (ABP) and Imperial College London. 

Through serious, stable governance, the UK is attracting tens of billions of pounds of new investment which is crucial to the government’s driving mission of delivering economic growth. Today’s historic figure demonstrates that businesses have confidence in Britain as a place to invest. 

The investments follow immediate action taken by the new government to reform planning, focus on AI and data centre expansion, and set a clear commitment to net zero by almost doubling the funding for renewable energy projects. 

Four major tech firms based in the US have today announced £6.3 billion in UK data centres which is critical to enhancing the UK’s AI capacity – in turn fuelling Britain’s economic growth and spurring on AI development. Data centres store the vast amount of information and data needed to power AI, and store the information generated by AI to keep the systems running. 

ABP, the UK’s largest port operator, has committed over £200 million to a joint investment with ferry company Stena Line in a new freight ferry terminal at the Port of Immingham, significantly boosting the capacity and resilience of UK trade with Europe. It is expected to create around 700 jobs during construction and around 200 permanent jobs once operational. 

Leading UK university Imperial College London is also today announcing a £150 million investment to secure a new R&D campus to add to its rapidly expanding deep tech ecosystem in West London. The new campus will expand scale-up capacity in the WestTech Corridor, supporting the UK’s innovation sector and driving investment, economic growth and job creation. 

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “Global investors should be in no doubt that under this new government Britain is truly the best place to do business. The record-breaking investment total secured at today’s Summit marks a major vote of confidence in the UK and our stability dividend across industry and innovation.

“We’re determined to deliver economic growth in every part of the UK and these investments, together with our forthcoming Industrial Strategy, will give global businesses the certainty they need as we lead the charge for the innovation and jobs of the future.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “After the investments secured as part of this summit, my optimism for Britain burns brighter than ever. It’s a sign of the confidence in the British economy.

“And it matters because it will support the growth of businesses big and small across the U.K. Helping them create new jobs and making people better off.

CEO of ABP Henrik L. Pedersen said: “We are delighted that the Development Consent Order (DCO) for the Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro Terminal (IERRT) has been granted in a timely way by the Secretary of State to allow us to move forward with investment.

“The IERRT project is a key component of our strategy to strengthen the UK’s supply chains and improve trade connectivity, whilst also bringing substantial economic benefits including the creation of hundreds of jobs during construction and ongoing operations.

“IERRT forms part of the intended £5.5bn pipeline of UK investment we have in front of us over the next 10 years and we look forward to working closely with the Government to deliver the right conditions to realise this investment.”

President of Imperial College London Hugh Brady said: “Imperial College London is investing in its ambitious vision for a new globally competitive deep tech innovation ecosystem in West London.

“The Imperial WestTech Corridor will act as a powerful engine for investment, inclusive economic growth, and job creation at a local, regional, and national level supported by the Government’s emerging Industrial Strategy.

See below for a list of all the investments announced in the run-up to and during yesterday’s International Investment Summit:

  • Iberdrola doubling their investment in the UK, through Scottish Power, from £12 billion to £24 billion over the next 4 years. This includes £4 billion for the East Anglia 2 wind farm off the Suffolk coast which was unlocked by this Government’s expanded allocation at the most recent wind auction round. Iberdrola Executive Chairman Ignacio Galan CBE confirmed on Friday that the UK has become their largest Investment destination. 
  • Blackstone confirmed a £10 billion investment in Blyth, Northumberland to create one of the largest artificial data centres in Europe, creating 4,000 jobs, including 1,200 roles dedicated to the construction of the site. 
  • Amazon Web Services announced an £8 billion investment last month which is estimated to support around 14,000 jobs per year at local businesses, including those across the company’s data centre supply chain such as construction, facility, maintenance, engineering and telecommunications. 
  • CCUS investors (including Eni, BP and Equinor) reached a commercial agreement with the government that will unlock £8 billion of private investment to launch carbon capture clusters in the heartlands of the North West and North East of England, directly creating 4,000 jobs and supporting 50,000 jobs in the long-term. 
  • Orsted and Greenvolt confirming that the Government’s recent expanded offshore wind auction means their projects will unlock £8 billion (Orsted) and £2.5 billion (Greenvolt) of investment respectively in their planned offshore wind farms. Orsted says its commitment will see thousands of jobs for local people, while Greenvolt says it will create up to 2800 construction jobs.  
  • CyrusOne, a leading global data centre developer headquartered in the United States, announced plans to expand their investment into the UK to £2.5 billion over the coming years. Subject to planning permission, the two data centres should be operational by Q4 2028, projected to create over 1,000 jobs both directly and within its immediate design and construction value chain.   
  • Octopus Energy have committed to a £2 billion investment in renewable energy generation, including four new solar farms in Bristol, Essex, East Riding of Yorkshire and Wiltshire that will power up to 80,000 homes as well as breaking ground on a new 12 MW battery in Cheshire which Octopus say will store enough power for nearly 10,000 homes every day. 
  • SeAH Wind has made an additional £225 million investment into wind technology manufacturing in Teesside, thanks to new backing from UK Export Finance, and expects to create 750 direct jobs by 2027. This brings their total investment into the site at Teesworks up to £900 million and will help them make their ongoing factory build – one of the biggest facilities of its kind worldwide – even bigger. 
  • CloudHQ is developing its new state-of-the-art £1.9 billion data centre campus in Didcot. The hyper-scale data centre is currently in development and will help meet the UK’s growing demand for AI and machine learning. It will create 1,500 jobs during construction, and 100 permanent jobs once fully operational.  
  • Macquarie supporting investment of £1.3 billion into new green infrastructure including its Island Green Power solar farm in Stow, as a result of planning consents having been granted by the Government, and its Roadchef portfolio company installing electric car ultra-fast charging points across its sites along the UK motorway network. 
  • ServiceNow also confirmed its commitment to the UK market, with plans to invest £1.15 billion into its UK business over the next five years. The investment will not only support the future development of AI in the UK, expanding its data centres with Nvidia GPUs for local processing data, but also support new office space as the company significantly grows into employee base beyond its current headcount of 1,000 employees.  
  • Manchester Airports Group is investing more than £1.1 billion in London Stansted Airport to expand its existing terminal by around a third, help secure new air routes to key business and leisure destinations, boost local supply chains and create 5,000 jobs. This includes around £600 million to extend the terminal and £500 million to deliver a suite of improvements to the existing terminal building and wider airport estate. 
  • Eren Holdings confirmed a £1 billion investment in the redevelopment of Shotton Mill in Deeside, North Wales which is set to become the UK’s largest recycled paper manufacturing campus. This is expected to safeguard 147 jobs and create a further 220 when the site is fully commissioned. 
  • Network Rail and London & Continental Railways are creating a new property company which will attract additional private and public sector investment with the potential to deliver brownfield regeneration schemes across the rail estate with a value exceeding £1 billion. 
  • CoreWeave is building on its £1 billion investment announced in May and the opening of its European headquarters in London by investing a further £750 million-plus in the UK to support the demand for critical AI infrastructure. The investment in the UK is CoreWeave’s second largest investment in a country following the USA.  
  • DP World are investing up to £1 billion in their London Gateway container port operation. This new investment will fund two additional berths and a second rail terminal. Once built, the berths will add vital transport capacity and increase the resilience of UK supply chains, enabling businesses to access domestic and international markets and supporting the Government’s growth and decarbonisation missions. 
  • Holtec, a major US advanced nuclear engineering company, has confirmed a significant investment of £325 million in a new factory in South Yorkshire which will supply materials for civil and defence nuclear industries. They say this will create up to 490 direct and 280 indirect jobs annually during the construction phase and 1,200 direct engineering jobs created over 20 years. 
  • BW Group proceeding with a £500 million investment, which includes new battery energy storage projects in Hampshire and Birmingham. 
  • Eli Lilly and Company is collaborating with government through a memorandum of understanding which will see the pharmaceutical giant intending to commit £279 million to tackle significant health challenges – including obesity. Lilly also plans to launch the first ‘Lilly Gateway Labs’ innovation accelerator in Europe to support early-stage life sciences businesses to develop transformative medicines and technologies. 
  • Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s largest port operator, has announced a £200+ million investment in a new freight ferry terminal at the Port of Immingham, boosting the capacity and resilience of UK trade with Europe. This is expected to create around 700 jobs during construction and 200 permanent jobs once operational. 
  • Imperial College London investing £150 million to build The WestTech Corridor – a new innovation ecosystem in West London which will act as a powerful engine for investment, inclusive economic growth, and job creation at a local, regional, and national level. 
  • Haleon has received planning permission to develop a new £130 million Global Oral Health Innovation Centre in Weybridge, Surrey. This state-of-the-art facility will primarily support Haleon’s global oral health business by developing new products that advance consumers’ better everyday health.