A reminder of the community meeting being held in Cramond Kirk on Monday!
It will be chaired by the mediator, Keir Bloomer. Keir led the process involving all parties – CBCC and the Brighouse Resident Association.
The number of overdue invoices in Scotland has reached its highest level for this year, according to new research from R3, the insolvency and restructuring trade body.
R3’s analysis of data provided by Creditsafe shows the number of invoices in Scotland that have gone past their payment deadline rose to 593,114 in October – the highest recorded monthly figure in 2022, and 13,941 more than September’s figure of 579, 173.
The monthly rise in late payments has been mirrored across the UK, with the South East of England and Scotland seeing the biggest jump between September and October rising 4.1% and 2.4% respectively.
The number of Scottish-based firms with overdue invoices on their books has also risen, with 101,835 companies failing to meet payments on time between August and October – an increase of 1,016 companies from the previous three months.
Richard Bathgate, Chair of insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 in Scotland, says: “The increase in late payments we’ve seen in October 2022 suggests that more and more businesses are either financially distressed or potentially concerned about their cash flows and that more businesses – those on the receiving end of the late payment – are going to potentially have issues paying their own staff and suppliers.
Richard, who is Restructuring Partner at Johnston Carmichael, continues: “Those businesses that are struggling – whether that’s because they’re behind on payments or because they’re waiting for overdue invoices to be paid –need to have a contingency plan in place for mitigating the issue.
“I urge any directors worried about their company’s cash flows or finances to seek advice from a qualified restructuring professional as soon as they can.
“It can take courage but having an early discussion whilst pressures in the business aren’t severe can be the difference between a successful turnaround or a decline into financial distress.
“You won’t know what tools are available in the toolkit of a restructuring professional unless you ask and if anyone knows how to avoid an insolvency it’s professionals who deal with them every day.”
Drop-in clinics
Until Thursday 22nd December, anyone aged 65 or over and anyone aged 12 or over with an eligible health condition can drop-in to a vaccination clinic (listed below).
Please be advised that there may be a wait to be seen if you drop-in.
If you are required to queue and have mobility issues, or need any support or assistance, please make yourself known to a member of staff.
You are welcome to bring a carer, family member or friend along if you wish.
If you prefer to book an appointment, you can still do so online via the booking portal or by calling the National Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.
| Area | Site | Days | Drop-in times |
| East Lothian | Haddington Corn Exchange | Monday to Sunday | 8.30am – 12pm1pm – 4pm |
| Edinburgh | Ocean Terminal | Monday to Sunday | 9am – 6.30pm |
| Edinburgh | Waverley Mall | Monday to Sunday | 10am – 5.30pm |
| Midlothian | Gorebridge Community Centre | Monday to Friday | 8.30am – 12pm1pm – 4pm |
| Midlothian | Penicuik YMCA/YWCA | Monday to Friday | 8.30am – 12pm1pm – 4pm |
| West Lothian | Livingston Designer Outlet | Monday to Wednesday and Friday | 9.30am – 5pm |
| | | Thursday | 9.30am – 6pm |
| | | Sunday | 10.30am – 4.30pm |
| West Lothian | Carmondean Health Centre | Monday and Tuesday | 9am – 12pm1.15pm – 4.30pm |
| West Lothian | West Calder Health Centre | Wednesday and Friday | 9am – 12pm1.15pm – 4.30pm |
| West Lothian | Strathbrock Partnership Centre | Monday to Sunday | 9am – 6pm |
Charities will be under increased strain this winter as a new poll of 67,000 people shows two in five UK residents are more likely to depend on charities during the cost-of living crisis.
Over a third of residents in Scotland (40%) that took part in the research (5,057) have admitted they are more likely than ever before to have to call on help from a charity. While in contrast 37% said they are likely to reduce the amount they donate to charity due to the increasing costs they’re facing on their energy bills.
While people may be planning to give less money, 34% of residents have said they’re more likely to volunteer their time instead. Two thirds (66%) are more likely to support a local charity rather than a national or international one with 53% of residents choosing frontline charities supporting those most in need due to the cost-of-living crisis.
The findings come as the UK’s largest network of food banks, The Trussell Trust, announced it had distributed a record number of food parcels between April and September this year, with one in five individuals referred to The Trussell Trust now coming from working households.
With charities facing increased pressure, Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards is giving away £120,000 as part of its annual 12 Days of Giving Christmas campaign.
Residents are encouraged to nominate a charity online at
www.movementforgood.com using the online form.
The first draw takes place on December 1st and the last on December 16th with 10 charities drawn every day. Nominations are open until Thursday 15th December.
Winners are drawn at random and the more times a charity is nominated the more chance it has of being selected.
Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, said: “It’s perhaps no surprise that people intend to cut back on their charitable giving at this time, and it is clear is that charities need help more than ever.
“Our annual £1 million Movement for Good Awards have helped thousands of charities across the UK and we’re asking people to take a few minutes of their time to nominate a cause they especially care about.
“Out of some five million companies in the UK, Benefact Group is the fourth largest corporate donor* and has an ambition to be the biggest. As a Group of financial service businesses, uniquely owned by a charity, all available profits go to good causes, and the more our loyal customers support us to grow, the more the Group can give.
“As a company whose purpose is to contribute to the greater good of society, charitable giving is at the heart of what we do and, together, we can help many good causes to continue their love and support for those who need it most in these difficult times.”
This year in June, 250 £1,000 awards were donated. A further 250 £1,000 awards were awarded in September followed by £500,000 of larger grants in October.
A special draw was recently launched to coincide with COP27, giving five environmental charities £5,000 each – a further £25,000 in funding.
Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.
The much-anticipated launch of Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger restaurant in Edinburgh is due to take place on 1 December but the capital’s eager foodies can grab a sneak-peak and bite to eat when the doors open early on the 28th of November for a charity fundraising day.
The launch day will allow guests to enjoy Scotland’s first Street Burger restaurant with all proceeds going to the restaurant’s charity partner, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland. SBH Scotland Honorary Patron, Gordon Ramsay OBE, has also pledged to match all the proceeds from the day to ensure the charity get an extra special festive funds boost.
In a bid to further bolster the charity partnership, from the 29th until the end of December, a £1 voluntary donation will be added to diners’ bills at Street Burger as well as the St Andrew Square restaurant, Bread Street Kitchen and Bar.
The funds raised will help SBH Scotland provide vital support to over 4,000 children, young people and adults across Scotland who are affected by the lifelong, complex conditions of spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.
A spokesperson from Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants said: “We have been working on the launch of Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger for a long time and we are very much looking forward to opening the doors to our first burger restaurant in Scotland.
“This special launch day gives us the opportunity to showcase our food whilst giving back to SBH Scotland and supporting all the incredible work the charity does to help families in Scotland.”
Gordon Ramsay became SBH Scotland’s first ever Honorary Patron back in 2003 when he met the organisation’s Chairperson, Dr Margo Whiteford CBE, at the Great North Run. For nearly 20 years, he has continued to support SBH Scotland through charitable donations and appearances.
Dr Margo Whiteford CBE, Chairperson of SBH Scotland, said: “Gordon Ramsay has been a great friend of SBH Scotland for nearly two decades and we remain thankful to him and his restaurant teams for such continued generosity.
“Funds raised at this time of year are crucial for the dedicated support we can provide now and for the next 12 months. As well as our personal home and hospital support, health check clinics, counselling service and groups we’ve also just extended our financial support service for families affected by the cost of living crisis. We heavily rely on fundraising to reach our annual targets and we are grateful for every pound donated.
“This festive season, we hope all diners visiting Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger will be happy to know that every meal they have will help us continue supporting thousands of families at a time when they need it the most.”
For more information on SBH Scotland and Gordon’s festive fundraiser is so important, please visit: https://www.sbhscotland.org.uk/
Union officials and postal workers from the Communications Workers Union were at Holyrood this week to give crucial updates to Members of the Scottish Parliament on the ongoing postal dispute.
MSPs heard from the CWU about the Royal Mail’s plans to cut 10,000 jobs, dismantle pay and conditions and end the universal service obligation.
Following the talks, Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “I was pleased to meet the CWU reps this week to discuss the future of our local postal services.
“It is vital that Royal Mail urgently make a fair offer to their loyal workforce to quickly bring an end to this dispute. I have written to Royal Mail on a number of occasions regarding the retention of jobs and better pay and conditions for our valued postal workers. I’ll continue to raise this for all those affected and I stand in solidarity with our postal workers.”
Craig Anderson Scottish Secretary of the CWU said: “We were very pleased with the response from MSPs who came along to meet us. They expressed their support for our posties and the services they provide to communities right across Scotland.
“We would encourage all MSPs to join our members on picket lines as we call for fair pay for our posties.”
A new charity endurance walk over some of Scotland’s most beautiful peaks raised over £100,000 in its inaugural year.
The Pentland Peaks Challenge, sponsored by Artemis Investment Management, took place in the glorious Pentland Hills near Edinburgh in late September.
The 179 walkers, including 84 staff from Artemis, chose from three routes. These ranged in difficulty from a ‘Bronze Challenge’, at eight miles and covering three peaks, to a ‘Gold Challenge’ that covered 27 miles and required walkers to scale seven peaks. The participants were supported by 25 volunteers who ensured that the day ran smoothly.
All the funds raised went to two charities. SANE is a national mental health charity that raises awareness, fights to improve services and provides emotional support. Mary’s Meals, based in Scotland, operates globally to provide school meals to more than 2.2 million children daily, giving them the energy to learn.
Derek Stuart, Chair of the Artemis Charitable Foundation, said: “I am incredibly proud that over 200 people took part in this new event. To generate over £100,000 for two amazing charities is a real achievement.
“Each year, our staff raise money and Artemis gives a proportion of its profits to the Artemis Charitable Foundation. Established in 2007, it manages our charitable activities and involvement in the wider world. Our staff and the trustees choose which charities will benefit with a particular focus on ones where the Artemis contribution can make a significant impact.
“The foundation supports ‘core’ charities in the UK and internationally in the areas of health, poverty, education and the environment, and also makes donations to global disasters and emergencies when they occur. In 2021 the foundation donated over £900,000 and the total amount donated since 2007 is £12.8 million.”
The next Artemis Pentland Peaks Challenge is due to take place on Saturday 2nd September 2023.
For further information on how to take part or donate, please visit:
The spectacular sight of a flying visit from Santa marked the start of Conifox Adventure Park’s magical festive extravaganza.
Leaving Rudolph and the other reindeer to rest, he hitched a lift and was helicoptered into the park, at Kirkliston near Edinburgh, by helpers Adventure001 Experiences, specialists in Edinburgh sightseeing trips.
Santa’s arrival kicked off this year’s popular Conifox Christmas Experience which is now even better than ever as Conifox has partnered with events specialists 21CC Productions which is also providing amazing lighting and effects.
From now until Christmas Eve, families can enjoy a carnival of festive fun, immerse themselves in the world of Santa Claus and all their favourite festive characters, enjoy a Christmas Funfair, in partnership with Taylor’s of Edinburgh Funfair, and an outdoor Christmas Market supporting local Scottish traders. There will also be various food vendors and a bar available for evening refreshments.
Among many attractions, they can visit is Whoville – look out for the Grinch! – the Magic Forest, Mrs Claus’ Kitchen, the Elf Disco Village and Reindeer Flying School, Santa’s Sweet Shop and the Naughty or Nice Scanner.
Santa will also be back in his sitting room to welcome every child who will receive a Golden Christmas Coin to exchange in the Toy Workshop for a gift of their choice. Then as darkness falls the winter wonderland lights up with 21CC’s amazing effects.
James Gammell, Managing Director of Conifox Adventure Park, says: “With the arrival of Santa the countdown to Christmas has well and truly begun and we’d like to thank Adventure001 Experiences for whisking him in to get the celebrations started.
“This year, we’ll also be supporting local charity Kids Love Clothes with their Christmas Toy Appeal and to show our support, we will be donating two hundred toys as well as using our Activity Centre as a drop-off point for any new toy donations.
“With your support, we can reach families who are struggling to look forward to Christmas this year so please support by dropping off a new toy whilst you are here.”
The Conifox Christmas Experience runs on selected dates until December 24, with entrance times at 15-minute intervals. Admission to the indoor Activity Centre and Adventure Park is not included with the tickets purchased for Christmas Experience Days or Nights, but they can be booked online.
To book tickets and for full terms and conditions, please visit:
For more information about Conifox Adventure Park please visit:
Scottish law firm Gillespie Macandrew has made a significant charitable donation of £40,000 to be shared between its two charity partners, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) and Alzheimer Scotland.
As part of its ESG programme, in each of the last 7 years Gillespie Macandrew has donated around 1% of the firm’s annual pre-tax profits to its partner charities. In total this commitment has contributed over £210,000 to Scottish charitable causes.
The firm’s charity partners are nominated and chosen by staff and supported through volunteering and other activities. Last year Gillespie Macandrew began a three-year partnership with both ECHC and Alzheimer Scotland.
Robert Graham-Campbell, Chief Executive Officer at Gillespie Macandrew commented: “We are delighted to share the firm’s success with these two very important Scottish charities, particularly during a period of recessionary pressures for organisations and individuals.
Our practitioners deal with sensitive family matters every day and it is therefore very fitting that we support ECHC and Alzheimer Scotland who provide invaluable support to Scottish families.”
Victoria Buchanan, Deputy Director of Development at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, commented: “Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity is thrilled to receive this wonderful donation of £20,000! Being in hospital is tough for children but this donation will make things easier for them and their families.
“Through ECHC’s daily art activities, youth work and family programme on the wards, children can have fun and feel better supported to face whatever challenges lie ahead.
“We’d like to thank everyone at Gillespie Macandrew for their generous donation.”
Caroline Miller, Lead for Stakeholder Engagement at Alzheimer Scotland, commented: “We are so grateful to all of the people at Gillespie Macandrew for their continued support over the past year.
“People living with dementia and those who love them continue to be disproportionately affected by the legacy of the pandemic and the effects of the cost-of-living crisis so it’s vital that we continue to be there to make sure no one faces dementia alone.
“Gillespie Macandrew have made an incredible contribution during our partnership, raising over £40,000 which has all been used to support people living with dementia here in Scotland. Services supported include our network of Dementia Advisors who provide personal support, advice and advocacy and our Freephone 24 Hour helpline which is a lifeline for so many”.
Gillespie Macandrew has a long and proud history of supporting not for profit organisations and staff are given a paid day off each year to participate in charitable or corporate and social responsibility events.
The firm has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth, advising clients on all areas of land and rural business, private client, commercial real estate, energy, tax and disputes, combining a personal approach with industry-leading expertise.
The winners of the SkillBuild National Finals 2022 have been announced, after nearly 80 construction trainees went head-to-head over three days.
SkillBuild, often dubbed the ‘skills Olympics’, is delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) in partnership with WorldSkills UK and offers a chance for trainees to compete in a bid to be crowned winner of their chosen trade.
Following the Regional Qualifiers, which were held at various colleges across the UK earlier this year, the National Finals took place at Edinburgh College on 15 – 17 November. The event attracted roughly 1,000 school visitors from across Edinburgh and the Lothians, exhibiting the variety of skills and career opportunities available within the industry.
SkillBuild is the largest multi-trade competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices, and as competitors progress through each stage, they are tested on their technical abilities, time management, character, and commitment.
The competition is viewed by many as an opportunity to develop confidence, self-esteem, and life skills, along with the potential for the highest-scoring eligible competitors to join ‘Squad UK’ and compete internationally.
Tim Balcon, CITB Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted to have been able to attend yet another year of SkillBuild, my favourite day in the calendar. It’s fantastic to meet all the talented individuals and hear about their career aspirations.
“It’s so important that we support this next generation of talent coming through to industry, encouraging them to pursue their passions and reach their full potential.
“It’s initiatives like SkillBuild that really make a huge difference and I’d like to thank everyone involved in making this year’s competition possible. Many congratulations to all the winners and everyone who competed, you should all be incredibly proud of yourselves.”
Ben Blackledge, Deputy Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “Congratulations to all the medal winners. It is a fantastic achievement, and we hope their success will inspire more people to consider an apprenticeship and technical training as a route to great career success.
“Using insights gained from our competition-based programmes, we work with our partners to raise standards in training, helping to drive economic growth across the UK.”
Audrey Cumberford, Edinburgh College Principal and CEO, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in what has been a wonderful week, a truly inspirational platform of talent from across the UK.
“It has been a privilege for us to host the WorldSkills UK National Finals with SkillBuild and to welcome so many people from colleges and training providers across the UK.
“We have seen an incredibly high standard of skills performance from all competitors, which will be of inspiration to the many young people we had through our doors to spectate. We hope this has opened many eyes to careers in the Construction sector, and indeed to the benefits of competing in skills events such as these.
“Congratulations to all the winners and medallists, and our thanks to all who have made this a fantastic experience for our College.”
The winners from SkillBuild are:
Bricklaying
Gold – Jago Gamblin
Silver – James T-Coleman
Bronze – Shaun Baker
Carpentry
Gold – Andrew Elam
Silver – Ben Price
Bronze – Robin Luscombe
Highly Commended – Eliot Duff
Highly Commended – Osian James
Foundation Skills: Woodworking
Gold – Sam Johnson
Silver – Oliver Sayers
Bronze – Dantina Gillett
Highly Commended – Adam Szewc
Highly Commended – Matthew McCarthy
Furniture and Cabinet Making
Gold – Isaac Bingham
Silver – Conor Ellis
Joint Bronze – Ciaran Baggot & Thomas Knowles
Joinery
Gold – Harry Scolding
Silver – Jack Corner
Bronze – Dion Evans
Painting and Decorating
Gold – Jade Oakes
Silver – Hattie Parnham
Bronze – Jacqui Hawthorne
Highly Commended – Joshua Thompson
Highly Commended – Paul Mason
Plastering
Gold – Jordan McQuillan
Silver – Thomas Devine
Bronze – Joshua Woosnam
Highly Commended – Kieran Rowarth
Plastering and Drywall Systems
Gold – Zara Dupont
Silver – Hugh Treanor
Bronze – Prince Senyah
Highly Commended – Ben Henry
Highly Commended – Ashley Carragher
Roof Slating and Tiling
Gold – Jordan Maley
Silver – Jacob Blight
Bronze – Kyron Sharlotte
Highly Commended – Aeron Murray
Stonemasonry
Gold – Luke Maher
Silver – Douglas Stevens
Bronze – Marlene Lagnado
Highly Commended – James Lewis
Wall and Floor Tiling
Gold – Conor Nugent
Silver – Morgan Nutt
Bronze – Aaron Brady
CITB would like to thank all the fantastic sponsors of this year’s SkillBuild, which include Alford Awards, Albion Stone, BAL, British Gypsum, Institute of Carpenters, Crown Paints, Dickies, Nicholls & Clarke, NFRC, Schluter, SPAX, Stone Federation, TARMAC, The Tile Association, The Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers and Weber.
If you or someone you know is interested in taking part in next year’s competition, visit Go Construct for more information.
Pictures: Pete Devlin
