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A review of the publicly-funded contribution rates paid to help deliver modern apprenticeships (MAs) will be undertaken soon to ensure they continue to meet the country’s economy priorities and maximise public value.
Contributions are made to training costs for around 39,000 MAs each year from £90 million of Scottish Government funding. The review will look at the levels of contribution.
It will also assess how the current approach, delivered by Skills Development Scotland, operates across key sectors and age groups, while meeting the Scottish Government’s priorities for growing the economy.
Ministers committed to a review when Parliament was considering the Tertiary Education and Training (TET) Act – passed by MSPs earlier this year to simplify the funding system for post-16 education and skills. The first stage of this review will get underway later this month.
Higher and Further Education Minister Ben Macpherson said: “Apprenticeships help create positive futures for people, including many of our school leavers, as well as developing the skills required to meet the changing needs of the 21st century economy.
“The Scottish Government recognises that there are financial pressures surrounding the current apprenticeship model. That is why we are reviewing contribution rates, to look at whether current public funding for the Modern Apprenticeship programme is still appropriate and sustainable, as well as meeting our priorities and Scotland’s labour market needs.
“The Scottish Government will do more to help ensure that smaller employers can recruit more apprentices, for the benefit of their businesses and those in training.”
Scottish Training Federation Chief Executive Stuart McKenna said: “The Scottish Training Federation welcomes the Minister’s commitment to review funding rates for modern apprenticeships.
“To ensure the continued success of the programme, it is essential that we review the current funding model to ensure it remains fit for purpose.”
Dear Letters Editor,
Many families are getting ready to celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, but for too many female cats, motherhood looks very different.
Cats Protection is campaigning to ensure cats are not forgotten by decision‑makers in England. As part of our Cat Manifesto, we are calling on Westminster to introduce regulations on cat breeding, and to ban the breeding of cats with extreme characteristics.
A lack of breeding regulations leaves female cats at risk of being used as breeding machines, producing multiple litters a year in poor and sometimes dangerous conditions. These cats are often kept solely for profit, with little regard for their health or wellbeing.
Stronger safeguards would help ensure female cats are better protected, and that anyone breeding cats meets clear welfare standards.
Motherhood matters – for humans and for animals. This Mother’s Day, we are asking readers to join us in calling for change, to give cat mums and their kittens the best lives possible.
The Government has left cats behind by failing to include any regulation on cat breeding in the new Animal Welfare Strategy.
Readers can add their names to our open letter calling for urgent action here:
Yours faithfully,
Annabel Berdy,
Cats Protection Advocacy & Government Relations Manager
A pupil at an Edinburgh school has designed an eco-friendly guitar that can switch between acoustic and electric sounds, allowing musicians to change tone without needing multiple instruments.
The design uses interchangeable components to alter the guitar’s sound, removing the need to buy multiple instruments and helping reduce material waste.
Chester, aged 19, from Edinburgh, began developing the idea after noticing how expensive it can be for musicians to own several guitars to achieve different sounds.
He designed a single instrument capable of producing multiple tones while also using more sustainable materials, including FSC-certified wood and water-based finishes. The design also allows parts to be repaired or replaced rather than the whole instrument being discarded, helping reduce waste.
Chester said: “The guitar’s most unique feature is a removable modular block which houses all of the electronics and pickups. Different pickups create different tones, which is why musicians often need several guitars to achieve particular sounds.
“With this design, guitarists can swap components and customise the sound of the instrument, even mid-performance.”
Working on the prototype for more than a year, he experimented with a range of materials, from traditional timber to experimental resin, before refining the final design. The result is a fully functioning guitar that can be adapted for different styles of music.
Florence Chapman, Head of Faculty for Technologies and Creative Arts and Design Technology teacher at Merchiston Castle School, said: “This is a brilliant example of how the disciplines within STEM can work together to complement one another in producing a single creative outcome.
“Chester has used knowledge from subjects like maths and physics alongside design and music to create something genuinely innovative. Projects like this show how pupils can take an idea, test it, refine it and turn it into something real.”
Music lover Chester added: “I’ve played guitar for about six years and realised that musicians often need several guitars to achieve different sounds, which can be really expensive.
“I wanted to see if it was possible to create one instrument that could produce the sound of many guitars while also being more sustainable. It took a lot of trial and error, but seeing the final guitar working has been incredibly rewarding.”
The guitar has already been tested by fellow pupils and teachers performing classic rock tracks in the school’s music department.
Chester added: “I play in a band with my friends at Merchiston called Sleet. We play 80s and 90s rock music, including Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead and Red Hot Chili Peppers. It would be amazing to see John Frusciante play this guitar one day.”
Chester, a senior prefect at the school with a strong interest in both STEM and design, plans to study Design Engineering at university.
He hopes to continue exploring the intersection between design, engineering and music in the future.
To learn more about Merchiston Castle School, please visit:
Edinburgh’s pop-up arts festival announces final takeover of iconic factory with weekend headliners Jenny Hval and Valtos Presents: High Water Mark
Hidden Door is set to stage a final spectacular takeover of The Paper Factory, a massive industrial site in west Edinburgh, for the 2026 edition of the multi arts festival.
From Wednesday 3rd to Sunday 7th June 2026, the site will be reimagined as a living, evolving space, giving audiences one last chance to rediscover this iconic location before the festival moves on.
“Returning to The Paper Factory for a final year allows us to go deeper into the history and texture of the site,” said Hazel Johnson, Hidden Door’s Director. “We aren’t just putting on a show; we’re building a myth.
“The support from Creative Scotland allows us to develop an ambitious programme that will treat the space as a living, breathing canvas, where the work of our artists and performers becomes the architecture that shapes the festival.”
Friday and Saturday headliners revealed
Festival organisers have also revealed the weekend headliners who will take to the stage for The Paper Factory’s final shift.
On Friday 5th June, Norwegian singer-songwriter, record producer, and novelist Jenny Hval pushes boundaries with a live performance that demands to be witnessed firsthand, with her experimental, feminist and avant-garde work scooping several notable awards.
The night will climax with a special late night club presented by EPiKA, Edinburgh’s own femme techno collective.
On Saturday 6th June, Skye natives Valtos bring a dancefloor-ready take on their already unique sound with their acclaimed DJ/Live hybrid project High Water Mark, fusing folk and electronic beats for an energetic and dynamic experience.
The action will then move to the club space with Fred Deakin (Lemon Jelly/Club Life) taking audiences through the decades of his legendary Scottish club nights.
Creative collaborations
Once again, Hidden Door is working with a wide range of creative partners to build an eclectic programme offering something for everyone, including:
The festival’s full programme of music, art, performances and special events will be revealed in April.
The announcement follows confirmation of vital support from Creative Scotland’s Multi-Year Fund, a major funding commitment that secures the future of the festival through to 2027 and enables the volunteer-run charity to embark on ambitious planning for 2026.
Tickets on sale now
Tickets for each evening of the festival are now available online at http://hiddendoorarts.org/tickets
As always, the festival will be free to explore during the daytime, with tickets on sale for the evening line-up from 6pm each day.
Open Calls for Hidden Door 2026
Hidden Door is currently inviting submissions for dance, spoken word and music acts to be part of the 2026 programme: https://hiddendoorarts.org/call-for-submissions/
Hidden Door is committed to ensuring fair pay for all artists. The funding from Creative Scotland, alongside ticket revenue, donations and sponsorship, means the festival has created paid opportunities for thousands of artists and performers since 2010.
Hidden Door is a volunteer-run, independent charity that organises cultural events in Edinburgh.
It works to transform forgotten urban spaces into temporary platforms for new and emerging artists, musicians, theatre-makers, film-makers, dancers and poets.
Since its inception, Hidden Door has attracted over 70,000 visitors to its events and created a vibrant showcase for over 3,000 artists.
Foxlake Adventures, East Lothian’s award-winning outdoor adventure destination, has officially announced it will reopen for the 2026 season on April 3rd, debuting a completely revamped wakeboarding programme designed to get more people on the water than ever before.
Known for offering a wide variety of unique and exhilarating adrenaline-filled outdoor activities, Foxlake Adventures is gearing up for its busiest season to date. From Foxlake’s unique Foxfall ropes course to the high-energy Aqua Park, the East Lothian destination provides an escape for everyone – from adrenaline junkies to families looking for a memorable day out on their doorstep.
This season, Foxlake Adventures is putting wakeboarding front and centre, introducing a completely revamped range of sessions designed to welcome first-timers, develop regular riders and bring the wakeboarding community closer together. New for 2026, the RiDE Session offers a 15-minute coached set on the water, a high-excitement way to build skills or ride freely after exploring what else the site has to offer.
For those looking to take their first strokes on the board, Foxlake’s Learn 2 RiDE session provides 45 minutes of expert, qualified instruction, complete with structured training to guide beginners from the dock to the water with confidence.
Rounding out the new programme is the Jam Sessions. An hour-long social session for groups of up to four riders, where participants can take turns on the water, share skills and enjoy the kind of community spirit that has always set Foxlake’s wakeboarding scene apart.
James Barbour, Director of Foxlake Adventures, said: “The winter always feels a bit long when you’re waiting to get back on the water.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome guests back this April. All our offerings – Aqua Park, Ringo Rides, and stand-up paddleboarding – are returning in 2026, and we have now created an improved programme for wakeboarding, leaning on the experience of our dedicated and growing community.
“Foxlake Adventures is ideal for those serious about making 2026 their year on the water. We’re looking forward to a fantastic season ahead and can’t wait to welcome everyone back.”
To learn more about Foxlake’s array of offerings or to book your session, you can visit https://www.foxlake.co.uk/.
Wild water swimming – and the landscape in which it is embraced and enjoyed – has inspired a new exhibition of paintings.
Hymn From a Valley by Ryan McGoverne opened to the public yesterday (Friday March 13) at Dundas Street Gallery in central Edinburgh. It runs until March 22.
Invited guests from Lindsays, the city legal firm sponsoring the exhibition, enjoyed a special preview evening on Thursday.
The collection of oil paintings depict figures immersed in natural bodies of water, many of them locations from throughout the Lothians and Scottish Borders.
Ryan, who lives in Biggar, said: “The work is inspired by our natural landscape and open water wild swimming – celebrating a life-affirming, temporary disconnection from the modern world.
“The paintings reflect a need to stay connected with nature at a time when technological progress draws us further indoors and deeper online.
“Each work shows a simple nourishment for the soul. They make a positive and quiet statement about action – about embracing life, nature and beauty with courage and curiosity.
“They depict places of accessible tranquility found just behind our roads, towns and cities, capturing the emotional and physical experience of cold open-water immersion.
“I am really grateful to Lindsays for their sponsorship, which has allowed me to share this work, of which I am incredibly proud.”
The exhibition is a celebration of immersing yourself in nature – something Ryan himself has done in order to create the work, which is in the tradition of Impressionist greats including Degas and Manet.
The artist, who completed a Masters in Fine Art through Cardiff University and Kansas State University, began exploring landscapes in detail following the coronavirus pandemic.
He discovered the diverse and accessible beauty of the landscape which surrounds where he lives.
And, looking at how people spend time in it, became intrigued by wild swimming and cold water immersion as its popularity has grown across Scotland – so much so that he too is now also a wild swimmer.
Ryan, who is also a corporate and commercial photographer, said: “I thought I couldn’t do it. But then I got to know people who convinced me otherwise.
“In January last year, I took myself to a reservoir. It was obviously one of the coldest times of the year. It felt amazing.
“The exhibition celebrates that feeling. It’s a call for people to get out there and enjoy the wonderful, accessible landscape that we have.
“Cold water immersion is good for the soul – for your mental and physical health. It can give you huge confidence – such a boost. The work which features in the exhibition celebrates that.”
Guests at Thursday’s preview evening were impressed by what they saw. They included lawyers and clients from sponsors Lindsays.
Ryan has been commissioned by the firm for many years in his “other” role of corporate photographer.
Andrew Diamond, Managing Partner at Lindsays, said: “This really is an impressive and memorable collection of work.
“It really gives you a sense of not only the elation that cold water immersion gives, but the confidence that flows from it.
“It is a reminder too of the amazing landscape that we are blessed to have – and how taking time away from our screens to enjoy it can make a positive difference to our lives.
“As a firm, we have worked with Ryan for over a decade. It’s a pleasure for us to be able to support this side of its work.”
Lindsays has a strong track record of supporting the arts. The firm has supported the ArTay programme in Perth in recent years, as well as sponsoring a number of events in Edinburgh, including Van Gogh Alive with SAMH, Art Friends of St Columba’s Hospice and Postcards for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation in previous years.
More details about Ryan’s work can be found at www.ryanmcgoverne.co.uk.
I’ve used the time since the knife attacks in the Calders last Monday to reflect on the strong sense of community that we enjoy here in Edinburgh – and on the many benefits that come from our incredible diversity (writes City of Edinburgh Counci leader JANE MEAGHER). As Nelson Mandela famously said, ‘our differences are our strength ’.
What has struck me most following this isolated, albeit frightening incident, is the way that those in the community were able to rally and unite in the face of adversity.
This was abundantly clear when I visited the Calders to spend time with the community and with council colleagues in our schools, early years centre and in our housing service – all of whom were impacted by what had happened.
What stood out was the selfless way they focused on the safety and wellbeing of those in their care – and I want to thank everyone who played their part during and after the incident, including of course the Police and other emergency services.
I was particularly heartened by the conversation I had with local shopkeeper, Mr Hussain, whose store was badly damaged by the attacker. Despite what he’d been through, he spoke proudly of the kind-hearted support he’d received from across the community and how they’d helped him clear up his shop.
We are all reminded in these circumstances of the need to stand together – and of the importance of community spirit and tolerance.
From our long-standing links with the Norwegians and Poles during and after World War II to the thousands of Ukrainians, Afghans and Syrians who now call Edinburgh home, we’re proud to be a city of sanctuary – welcoming all those who come here in search of a better life.
Many have lived here for generations and some of our best loved institutions – cafes, bars, restaurants and other family businesses – are only here thanks to incomers. Those who care for us, either in the community or in hospitals include people from other parts of the world. Our city and its culture are all the better for it.
Sadly, there are those who will seek to spread hate, division and misinformation on the back of last week’s incident. Of course, people have a right to make their views heard, and to travel great distances to do so, but I condemn the opportunism and ignorance shown by some, particularly online.
One way we can combat such intolerance is to recognise and celebrate the strength and diversity of our communities across the city, comprising people from all walks of life, cultures, and backgrounds.
It was timely, then, that earlier this week councillors agreed a new Equal Edinburgh framework, which will help us do just that. We want all residents to be able to easily access and benefit from the services that meet their needs – without stigma and in a way that suits them.
Developed in partnership with our communities and partners, we hope that this will also help to reduce isolation, while fostering good community relations across the city.
We’re lucky to live in such a welcoming and diverse city. Our strength lies in all those who call Edinburgh home – our shared experiences sit alongside our differences – and we all have a part to play in keeping it that way.
This article first appeared in Edinburgh Evening News (12 March)
What’s really beneath your feet? Dig into the hidden world of soil with our new exhibition Earth Matters, opening next week.
Marking 300 years since the birth of James Hutton, the Edinburgh-born geologist who transformed how we understand the ground beneath our feet, 30 artists unearth the beauty and brilliance of the living ecosystem.
Open daily from Friday 20 March at Inverleith House Gallery, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Earth Matters is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and the Edinburgh Geological Society with special thanks to The James Hutton Institute.
Officers from Police Scotland’s serious and organised crime unit have recovered a firearm in Edinburgh.
On Thursday, 12 March 2026, specialist officers searched a wooded area near to Niddrie Mains Road in Edinburgh and discovered a firearm and ammunition
It’s currently unclear if the weapon has been used in the commission of a crime however it will now undergo stringent forensic analysis to establish any wider connections
The recovery is part of ongoing investigations into serious and organised crime across the central belt of Scotland.
Detective Chief Inspector George Calder said: “This recovery will be a significant blow to organised crime groups, I have no doubt this firearm would have been used in violence, which would have resulted in serious injury, or worse.
“I hope this latest find helps to reassure the community of our continued resolve to target those involved in organised crime and demonstrates our commitment to dismantling these groups.
“The public may not always see what we are doing but rest assured a significant level of work is ongoing to disrupt these criminal networks. We are never complacent when it comes to serious organised crime.
“We continue to work closely with our colleagues in partner agencies and the public, sharing information, resources and intelligence in stamping out this illegal activity.
“This is in line with our commitment to achieving the aim and vision of Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy Taskforce.”
