More than a quarter (26%) of workers are worried that artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to job losses, according to a new survey.
Workplace expert Acas commissioned YouGov to ask employees in Britian what their biggest concerns about the use of AI were.
The poll also found that just under a fifth (17%) were worried about AI making errors, while 15% were concerned about a lack of regulation.
Acas Interim Chief Executive, Dan Ellis, said: ““Some employers may be looking to embrace new technologies as a way to cut costs, increase productivity or make workers’ jobs easier.
“There can be concerns from staff when new technologies are introduced at work and it’s clear from our study that their biggest worry is that AI will result in job losses.
“Bosses should have clear policies on the use of AI at work, remember that it is not a perfect technology and have open conversations with employees around its use.”
Some top tips for employers from Acas on the use of AI at work include:
· Employers should develop clear policies regarding the use of AI in the workplace and should consult employees and any representatives on its introduction. If there is an expectation that certain roles begin using AI, that could mean a change of terms and conditions.
· Employers investing in AI should highlight how it can improve employees’ roles and reassure staff that human involvement will still be needed.
· Organisations should remember that AI is not perfect, so outputs should be checked for accuracy, tone and bias. AI should be cited when used and staff may require training on how to get the best outputs.
· A company’s data privacy policies will apply for the use of AI, and it is wise to check with your IT team for approved platforms. Employees should be careful entering any information that is business sensitive or personal into public tools. Any information that you do enter could be made public or used by others, so check company policies on the use of AI in the workplace and be aware of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
Acas is holding a special conference next month with experts that will debate the introduction of AI in workplaces. For more information please visit here.
Hotly-anticipated stage adaptation premieres in Perth prior to Scottish tour
Kirsty MacLaren, Kyle Gardiner and Finlay McKillop lead a multi-talented ensemble as legendary outlaws the Clown and the Wolfman take to the road once again
A hilarious and heartfelt new musical, produced and directed by the team behind the original cult-classic Scottish film with Perth Theatre, and music inspired by songs and themes of the legendary band Big Country
The show premieres at Perth Theatre tonight and runs until 10 May, before a Scotland-wide tour including Stirling, Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh, & Glasgow until 28 June.
Restless Natives: The Musicalkicks off its long-awaited Scottish tour this weekend, with the first production pictures giving a look at the show that will thrill and delight audiences across Scotland this Spring.
Produced and directed by the same team who made the cult classic 1985 film, alongside co-producers Perth Theatre, Restless Natives: The Musical sees the iconic outlaw duo the Clown and the Wolfman ride again in a new stage musical. Recapturing the film’s winning humour and enduring heart, and featuring music inspired by the songs and spirit of Big Country, the show will delight devotees of the original film – and capture the hearts of a new generation.
Rebelling against their drab urban lives in 1980s Wester Hailes, intrepid underdogs Ronnie and Will become Highland Highwaymen, holding up buses and winning international renown while fleecing tourists with Scottish charm and panache. Tour guide Margot believes these Robin Hood heroes can restore national pride, but the police are closing in. Will this be the end of the story – or the beginning of a legend?
Leading the cast as Ronnie and Will, AKA The Clown and The Wolfman, are young stars Kyle Gardiner and Finlay McKillop, with Olivier-nominated Kirsty MacLaren co-starring as Margot. The multi-talented ensemble cast also includes Ross Baxter, Robin Campbell, Ailsa Davidson, Caroline Deyga, Stuart Edgar, Sarah Galbraith, Ava MacKinnon, Alan McHugh, and Harry Ward.
Restless Natives: The Musical premiered at Perth Theatre on Saturday 26 April where it runs until Saturday 10 May.
The show then hits the road for a tour to selected Scottish venues including Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling, His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen, Eden Court in Inverness, Leith Theatre in Edinburgh, and The King’s Theatre in Glasgow.
Edinburgh residents are being urged to check their cost-of-living support to claim everything they are entitled to.
With 80,000 people living in poverty in Edinburgh – including close to a quarter of all children – tackling inequality and preventing poverty remains one of the biggest challenges facing the capital.
As it’s revealed that households could be owed up to £80 million in unclaimed benefits in Edinburgh, the council has rolled out two new self-help tools to make it easier for people to check what they’re owed.
A DIY benefits calculator, Entitled To, and a one-stop-shop for other forms of financial support, Lightning Reach, have been made available online.
A campaign has been launched to highlight these tools, urging residents not to leave their household budgets to chance.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said:“It’s a worrying time for lots of people who are struggling with rising costs and we want to make sure that every household is claiming all the benefits they are entitled to. If you go online, you’ll find our DIY benefits calculator which makes it straightforward to check what you might be owed, so that you can then apply for support.
“Our efforts to tackle poverty in Edinburgh have put almost £24 million into the pockets of those who need it most, but around £80 million in benefits remains unclaimed. It’s my hope that this campaign will help to challenge the barriers – stigma, complexity and lack of awareness – that prevent people from accessing the support they should be getting.
“I urge everyone to check their cost-of-living support and to get in touch for more advice or support as needed.”
Linda’s story
Linda, 59, has been a full-time-carer for her brother since their mother passed away almost 10 years ago.
She said: “I worked from the age of 17 and in my late 20’s I bought my own home and a car. But in 2015, my mother suddenly became unwell. She spent six months in intensive care on a ventilator and then passed away.
“I very suddenly became a full time carer for my brother, who has additional support needs. I had to stop working and sell my house to go live with him and my life changed completely.
I went from ‘having it all’ – a job, a house, holidays and savings – to having next to nothing. The stigma associated with having to ask for help and being judged for having to rely on benefits has probably been the hardest part.
“I wish I had sought help earlier than I did. I wish I had set my pride and feelings of shame aside and realised that asking for help is not a bad thing. When life events happen that turn your world upside down, there is help available. The hardest part is knowing where to look to find that help – it can be very challenging – and accepting that there is no stigma in asking.”
Progress to End Poverty in Edinburgh
This July will mark the mid-point between the publication of the Edinburgh Poverty Commission’s final report and the city’s target to end poverty by 2030.
Linda (as above) is a member of End Poverty Edinburgh. Speaking about this experience, she said: “By being part of End Poverty Edinburgh, I have had the opportunity to attend and speak at various meetings and events to raise awareness of the issues which those living in poverty have to face.
“We work closely with the council and others to improve customer experiences when seeking advice and help.
“We try to promote the help that is available which a lot of people aren’t aware of. Being part of this group has given me back a feeling of self worth.”
So far, positive collaboration on a range of initiatives between the council and partners has led to:
• Increasing access to grants and welfare advice by 20% over the last year
• Helping residents to receive almost £24 million in previously unclaimed benefits
• Supporting 5,000 people into work or learning (a 19% increase on the previous year)
• Driving down bills for 900 homes thanks to new energy efficiency measures
• Securing savings worth £206k for tenants through Energy Advice Support (an average of £428 per household)
• Helping to prevent homelessness for 461 households
• Over 9,000 free school meal payments and nearly 8,400 clothing grant awards
• Supporting 95% of all pupils to reach positive destinations after school
• Encouraging payment of the living wage (up 80 in a year to 720 accredited employers)
• Agreeing Council contracts committed to paying the real Living Wage (96% of suppliers, up 14%)
• Introducing a new Regenerative Futures Fund, a third sector led programme bringing £15m of new investment.
Last week councillors agreed to redirect all available council-owned housing stock towards people experiencing homelessness.
New local authority lets will be suspended in all but a few cases as the city council tries to address an increasingly worsening homelessness crisis in the capital.
Edinburgh-based Ruma – home to the largest collection of rum across the whole of Scotland – is adapting to an ever-changing cocktail scene with a brand-new low-waste menu including non-alcoholic & non-rum options, launching an online shop, plus a host of new tasting experiences.
Ruma (Scots Gaelic for Rum) host to over 170 bottles of the spirit – more than any bar ever in Scotland – is celebrating one year in business.
The rum experts are adjusting positively to a rapidly-evolving cocktail scene with a brand-new cocktail menu including a host of non-rum and non-alcoholic options, as well as launching an online shop in time for summer 2025.
Ruma’s brand-new menu is split into five sections based on each drink’s flavour profile: Fresh, Fruity, Short, Smoke & Savoury, and Classics – the idea is to make it as easy as possible for guests to navigate, learn & discover new cocktails – alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic.
Reducing waste throughout, the menu strives to use each ingredient to its fullest. Ruma’s most popular drink, the Spiced Pear Mule – which uses a poached pear syrup from fresh pears – is utilised to the maximum.
Any wasted fruit from the Spiced Pear Mule is then blended with spent wine, to create a new drink – the Mrs Kenmore – which is carbonated alongside a gentian liqueur and Brugal 1888 Rum, to create a fresh, fizzy cocktail reminiscent of sparkling wine.
A new online bottle shop will launch at the beginning of May containing all 170 of the Ruma’s rums available for rum-lovers to enjoy 30ml sample bottles at home. Ruma is also launching a range of canned cocktails for the new menu, handing them out to local businesses and bars to create comradery among independent business owners.
Ruma now offers ‘Rum Experiences’ – bookable each week on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. A tasting flight of three rums, with different categories available such as ‘Taste of the Caribbean’ or ‘Intro to Scottish Rum’.
The bar also hosts ‘Passport Sessions’, a world tour of rum tastings specialising in a different country each month and sampling six hard to find or rare bottlings, taking guests to the likes of Guyana, Haiti, Barbados, and Martinique.
Ruma Co-Owner, Jamie Shields, said: “We opened Ruma one year ago to welcome the largest collection of Rum to Scotland. The response from our loyal guests has been amazing. A thirst for knowledge and interest in where each rum comes from and tastes like is what our staff love talking about.
“In our first year we have seen a demand for cocktails and drinks of all types. At our heart we will always be a rum bar, but we also thought ‘why can’t we offer a range of other drinks too?’ Non-alcoholic options are now key in hospitality. Rather than relegating these to a section at the back of the menu, we believe that guests who are not drinking alcohol should have the same menu experience as those who are, as each has been crafted with as much care as the drinks with alcohol.
“We love championing local. That’s why we serve local beer from Campervan Brewery, and we also have a great wine list by the glass too. Ruma’s goal is to serve the widest range of rum in the country through unforgettable experiences, but also offer deliciously alternative drinks to ensure guests leave with a satisfied smile on their face, and always come back for more”.
Ruma is based at 39-41 Broughton Street in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town serving Scotland’s largest collection of rum.
The team at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline hosted an Easter-themed family fun day for employees and their families.
Amazon employees, along with their friends and families, gathered at Pittencrief Park for an Easter themed afternoon featuring an egg hunt, themed activities and chocolate giveaways.
Jamie Strain, General Manager at Amazon in Dunfermline, said: “We all had such a great afternoon, and it was fantastic to see so many colleagues enjoying time with their friends and families to celebrate Easter.
“I’d like to thank our team and their families for coming along and making it a brilliant day.”
Natasha Blyth, who works at Amazon in Dunfermline, added: “It was great to bring my family along to the park and have a great time hunting for Easter eggs.
“We had a fun-filled time celebrating Easter – thank you, Amazon!”
Parkinson’s UK Get Active, Get Creative Scottish Parliament Event
Hibernian Community Foundation were kindly invited to the Scottish Government to support this event as part of our ongoing work with Parkinson’s UK in Scotland and Walking Football Scotland.
The event celebrated the power that physical activity and creativity has on people living with Parkinson’s. Our Football Development Officer Niamh Westwood and one of our Parkinson’s Walking Football volunteers Neil, were joined by Members of the Scottish Parliament, Trustee of Walking Football Scotland Matt Ramsay, several participants of our Walking Football Programme and other Parkinson’s partners to celebrate such a powerful event.
Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, with almost 13,000 people affected in Scotland. Keeping active has many physical, mental, social and neurological benefits to someone living with Parkinson’s and we here at Hibernian Community Foundation are pleased to play a small part in that journey.
We welcome everyone living with Parkinson’s to our sessions. Our Parkinson’s Walking Football Programme runs every Wednesday at World of Football, 10 New Market Road, Edinburgh, EH14 1RJ from 11am-12pm with refreshments available after the session from 12-1pm.
For more information or to register for the session please email:
Careers leaders across the UK can now benefit from a new STEM careers guide to help drive passion and interest amongst young people for a future in engineering and technology – predicted to grow faster than any other sector between now and 2030.
‘Advancing STEM careers provision in schools’ has been created to support those responsible for careers programmes in schools inspire students to view engineering and technology as an exciting, meaningful and accessible career option.
The free resource highlights tips with practical strategies grounded in the latest research.
Rebecca Healy, Careers Inspiration Manager, EngineeringUK, said: “The guide acts as the latest digest of current research about what works to increase young people’s awareness and inspiration about STEM careers, saves time and helps career leads bring to life the dynamic world of STEM.
“Engineering and technology careers span every sector, from sport to space. Engineers play a key role in improving sustainability and achieving net zero and they’re in demand at all levels, from apprentices to technicians, graduates to postgraduates.”
Developed in collaboration with EUK Education’s Careers Working Group, the free resource aligns with the Gatsby Benchmarks (England) and the Careers Education Standard (Scotland), to ensure that career planning is both effective and comprehensive.
EUK Education Careers Working Group includes careers inspiration experts from a UK secondary school, STEM Learning, UCL Engineering, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Physics, BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institution of Engineering and Technology
More young people need to be made aware of opportunities and different entry routes into the sector, which employs around 6.3 million people, as employers are reporting skills shortages and difficulties recruiting. Currently around 16% of the UK engineering and technology workforce is made up of women.
Séan Harris, Deputy Director General and Director of Membership at the Institution of Civil Engineers, commented: “The Institution of Civil Engineers recognises the vital role that career leads and educators play in inspiring young people and showcasing the exciting, diverse opportunities that a career in engineering can offer—particularly in addressing global challenges such as achieving carbon net zero.
“As an active member of the EUK Education’s Careers Working Group, we are proud to support the launch of this new STEM careers guide.
“We hope it provides practical, actionable guidance to help career leads elevate STEM careers both within the school curriculum and as part of a broader careers education programme.”
Recently, John Swinney announced that he would bring the 2025-26 Programme for Government to 6th May, which will situate the PfG exactly one year before the Holyrood election in May 2026 ((writes Fraser of Allander Institute’s MAIRI SPOWAGE)..
Normally, the Programme for Government is the annual opportunity for the Scottish Government to set out its policy priorities and the legislation it plans to pass in the coming year. This is usually published just after the return from the Summer recess, setting out both political statements and policy priorities but also (importantly) the legislation that the Government wishes to progress during the parliamentary year.
The First Minister has said he is bringing the statement forward to “enable a full year of delivery” before the Holyrood election.
The PfG that was set out in September was the first opportunity for John Swinney and Kate Forbes to set out their agenda since taking the leadership in Spring 2024. Our thoughts at the time are here – but broadly we welcomed the clear statement of the government’s prioritisation and what they would put first (tackling child poverty) above all else. Whether the government’s spending and policy decisions have actually been consistent with that may be a matter for debate.
Given the relatively short time that have elapsed since John Swinney’s first PfG as FM, there will be significant scrutiny of the document published on the 6th May – how have the policy priorities changed? What was promised in September which has now been sidelined in the run up to the election? And, given the limited legislative time left between now and March, what legislation has a realistic chance of making it through before the parliamentary session comes to an end.
Look out for our analysis on 6th May on the PfG!
Further fiscal fun in May
The PfG won’t be the last opportunity fo the Scottish Government to set out policy priorities.
On the fiscal side, the SG will publish the Medium-Term financial Strategy (MTFS) on 29th May. This will be accompanied by new forecasts from the Scottish Fiscal Commission, and is the SFC’s opportunity to produce forecasts that are consistent with the OBR forecasts that were produced alongside the Spring Statement in March.
In terms of the forecasts, we can expect (probably) that the view of the SFC on growth prospects for this year are likely to have worsened. The OBR in their forecasts in March cut growth for 2025 from 2% to 1%, and a number of independent forecasters have cut the forecast for the UK significantly. This is because of the impact of global uncertainty and turmoil, but also due to policy decisions by the UK Government such as the employer national Insurance increase.
The MTFS itself aims to focus on the longer-term sustainability of Scotland’s public finances and support a strategic approach to financial planning. The publication of this document alongside the Spring forecast is supposed to support the year round budgeting process in Holyrood, allowing the pre-budget scrutiny of committees in the Summer and Autumn to be based on up to date and meaningful information.
However, the MTFS to date has not really been successful in achieving these aims. It appears to be a strategic document, but has more often than not felt like a political statement, more aimed at managing expectations of what might be funded than in setting out a credible central scenario.
One of the issues with the MTFS is that there is no detail on how the spending projections contained within it are arrived at, and therefore it is impossible to scrutinise the priority of each and how realistic they are. When we come to try and understand the net fiscal position, we are often unable to reconcile the MTFS with any in-year spending changes. This throws into question its usefulness as a document. It is also why it has largely been abandoned by those scrutinising the Scottish Government – especially when it has not always been published when it was due.
See our commentary on the last version of this published in May 2023.
In addition to the MTFS, The Scottish Government said it will publish a Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan alongside the MTFS 2025 for the first time. The Government say this will support fiscal transparency and a foundation for longer-term financial planning, and announced this in the Autumn in the run up to a debate about fiscal sustainability in the Scottish Parliament.
The MTFS is supposed to address fiscal sustainability, and the fact that the Scottish Government is creating a separate one casts doubt on the usefulness and the seriousness with which the SG treats the MTFS – and therefore how seriously we should treat it.
However, let’s see what it contains, and we will analyse the contents in detail when it is produced on 29th May. We would expect that it will say something about pay and the size and shape of the public sector in Scotland. Given that around half of Scottish Government current spending is on pay, any long-term-focussed document that does not have a specific view on the size of employment and rate of growth in payroll over a number of years cannot be regarded as credible.
We understand there are also other documents that are likely to come over the summer, such as a plan for Public Service Reform, and a plan for a shift to prevention, particularly on public health.
The issues on pay and public sector size are very relevant to Public Service Reform as well as fiscal sustainability, as it is likely that we will have to drive reform which delivers more productive public services with fewer people than work in the public sector today.
