London’s streets ARE paved with gold …

… but only for the super-elite

Becoming socially mobile – moving into a higher professional or managerial job from a working-class background – doesn’t necessarily mean moving away from where you grew up, according to new research published by the Sutton Trust today. Continue reading London’s streets ARE paved with gold …

Planet-friendly Pester Power!

SCOTLAND’S ‘woke’ kids are bullying their parents into becoming more eco-friendly to save the planet, according to new research by leading comparison site Moneyexpert.com.    

Pester power is becoming a force for good as half of mums and dads (48%) say they have been pressured to go green and save energy by the mini-Greta  Thunbergs in their own home. 

And while you might expect vocal teenagers to drive behaviour change – two thirds (65%) of parents say the pressure is coming from kids as young as 4!      

The study, to mark Big Energy Saving Week, may highlight the visibility and influence that the teenage climate-change activist, and recent events such as the Australian bush fires, are having on the nation’s kids, and their family’s energy consumption habits at home. 

Four in five (80%) parents say the ‘mini Greta’ in their home has talked more or asked more questions about the environment and the climate crisis over the past 12 months.     

Wildlife TV presenter and conservationist Michaela Strachan said: “We are in crisis mode when it comes to looking after our planet. We all need to radically change our behaviour to live in a more sustainable way and we need to do it now.

“Last year was a serious wakeup call when we all became aware of just how serious the challenge has become. It is so inspiring to see that children are leading the way, taking action, encouraging their parents to change and becoming future eco warriors.”  

And as a consequence of this planet-friendly pester power, the most common changes made are walking or cycling more (44%), making more of an effort to turn off the lights (35%), turning down the thermostat (21%), washing clothes at lower temperatures (18%), and taking shorter showers (14%).      

However, despite kids heaping on the pressure, four in five (80%) parents say that it’s actually their children who are the biggest energy-wasters. Half (49%) of parents say they still have to nag their eco-warrior kids to switch off lights in unused rooms, and 29% say their child takes longer than usual in the shower.   

Over the past 12 months 92% of parents have made environmental changes to their lifestyle and to the running of their home, with three in five  (61%) admitting that if it wasn’t for their child, they wouldn’t have realised the importance and impact of their current actions.       

However, despite being inspired to take positive actions, only a quarter (27%) of parents say they currently use a renewable energy provider. And it appears they are a little “green” about how it works. 

30% say they won’t switch because they believe green energy is more expensive than their current energy provider, and more than one in 10 (11%) believe switching won’t make a tangible difference to the climate crisis. 

However, recent analysis by Moneyexpert.com highlighted that for the cost of powering a home with average gas and electricity yearly consumption, savings of over £300 per year can be made by switching to green energy rates.   

A fifth (20%) hold the misconception that a renewable electricity supplier sends energy direct from solar and wind farms into people’s homes, when in reality, everyone gets their electricity from the same grid and it’s a question of how a supplier sources electricity that matches what you use.     

Jason Smith, CEO of Moneyexpert.com, said: “Typically the focus of Big Energy Saving Week is about making ethical choices about energy consumption – and in light of the climate crisis, we want to make people aware that it is absolutely possible to save money in an environmentally responsible way. 

“Misperceptions about the cost of green energy are getting in the way of people taking steps that are both purse-friendly and planet-friendly. With a couple more months of winter, and high energy bills ahead, now is a great time to listen to your kids, re-evaluate your current expenditure, and explore whether there’s a better deal available from a renewable energy supplier.”    

For information on how you can save both money and energy and find a green energy provider, visit Moneyexpert.com.   

Celebrating 50 years at Sighthill Campus (formerly Stevenson College)

Edinburgh College celebrated 50 years of its Sighthill Campus on Monday with a Civic Reception hosted by the Rt.Hon. Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh which saw former students and staff, as well as Deputy First Minister John Swinney, come together to share stories and memorabilia.

Sighthill Campus, which was previously home to Stevenson College prior to the merger which formed the current Edinburgh College, first opened on 6 January 1970 – welcoming students from various educational annexes from across the city.

Stevenson College was born from the Ramsay Technical Institute, which taught Motor Vehicle and Electrical Installations; Torphichen Street which housed the Department for General Education; and James Gillespie’s old school at Warrender Park, known as Dean College which taught Health Education.

The original departmental structure of the College consisted of five departments, namely; Building Services, Engineering, General Education, Health Education, and Commerce. The new Department of Commerce was established in order to focus on Business Machine Operators, Data Processing and Computer Operators to meet an ever-increasing demand in these, at the time, new industrial fields.

The College, which was named after famous Scottish civil engineer Robert Stevenson, continued to thrive and on 1 October 2012 was part of the merger of three colleges across the region to form Edinburgh College and has since been referred to as Edinburgh College, Sighthill Campus.

Today, Edinburgh College delivers more than 700 courses to more than 26,000 students across its four campuses – Granton, Midlothian, Milton Road and Sighthill.

Around 1,300 staff are involved in the delivery of life-changing education across four faculty areas – Creative Industries; Engineering and Built Environment; Health, Wellbeing and Social Sciences; and Tourism, Hospitality and Business.

At the anniversary event, former students and lecturers from pre-Stevenson Colleges, Stevenson College and Edinburgh College shared stories of their time both studying and teaching, while Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills John Swinney MSP delivered a keynote speech highlighting the everlasting importance of further education institutions in providing education and skilling the nation’s workforce.

In addition, a timeline mapping major college events over the past 50 years and various items of memorabilia were on display, while students from Sighthill Campus’ Music Box performed and Professional Cookery and Hospitality Schools College Partnership students served drinks and canapés to the 100-plus guests in attendance.

John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, said: “For 50 years, Stevenson College campus – one of three institutions which now form Edinburgh College – has been a pioneer in offering life-changing opportunities to students in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“In that time the campus has seen many great achievements and continues to do so, and like many of Scotland’s regional colleges it has remained at the very forefront of developing its own agile responses to what it offers as local economic needs have changed.

“I would like to congratulate the College on reaching this landmark milestone, and wish it and its staff and students the very best for the next half century.

“May your passion and determination continue to inspire our communities for many more years to come.”

Lord Provost Frank Ross said: “On behalf of the people of Edinburgh, I was delighted to congratulate the Sighthill Campus on its golden anniversary celebration.

“Since its beginnings in January 1970 as Stevenson College, the campus has provided an all-encompassing facility, bringing together a broad number of courses of study and inspiring countless students.

“Throughout its 50-year history, the campus and its teaching has continued to thrive and be a key part of the community. It has continued to evolve, to grow, and to support and reflect the changing landscape of our city, and I am enthused that this dynamic approach will continue going forward.”

Edinburgh College Principal Audrey Cumberford said: “It is an honour to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of this wonderful centre of education as Principal.

“Of course, there have been many changes over that fifty-year-period. Then the College was home to 3,000 students and now Edinburgh College is one of the UK’s largest further education institutions– teaching more than 26,000 students who come from a vast variety of backgrounds, including many students from countries across the world.

“We look forward to continuing using this space to continue the tradition of providing high-quality education and working with industry partners, ensuring we play our part in equipping the workforce of the future with the skills they need to achieve their goals.”