Edinburgh Style’s back at St James Quarter

Because you kow Style when you see it 

Edinburgh’s most stylish event is back as St James Quarter announces season two of its highly sought after ‘Edinburgh Style’ event, in partnership with Grazia magazine, that is set to inspire people across the city.  

From Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th November, Edinburgh’s fashionistas and beauty buffs can expect an explosion of unmissable events, insightful masterclasses and in-store offers and experiences.  

Across the long weekend, guests can attend style sessions and workshops with the Grazia team and brands including John Lewis, Kiehl’s, Neom, designers Ro & Zo and Dyson, and immerse themselves in H beauty’s exclusive Carnival – the ultimate beauty party of masterclasses, influencer meet and greets and live performers. 

And it doesn’t stop there, St James Quarter will host a series of dramatic fashion shows live from the level 5 rooftop on Saturday 5th November showcasing seasonal trends styled by Grazia and featuring some of the most exciting and stylish brands in The Quarter.

Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis and can be purchased online here. 

To celebrate the upcoming event, St James Quarter is placing four giant mirrored frames at some of Edinburgh’s most Instagrammable locations for you to show us your STYLE to be in with a chance of winning £250 to spend at Edinburgh Style.  

The giant mirrored frames will be located at St Andrews Square, Portobello Promenade and Potterrow Plaza from Monday 24th to Sunday 30th October, while the final one will be at Calton Hill from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th October.  

Style icons are encouraged to share a selfie on Instagram or Facebook and tag and follow @StJamesQuarter to be in with a chance of winning the prize. The competition will run from Monday 24th to Sunday 30th October with the winner being announced on Monday 31st October. 

Susan Hewlett, Brand and Marketing Director at St James Quarter, said: “Edinburgh Style will bring an amazing line-up of fashion talks, in-store experiences and of course a spectacular fashion first catwalk show on Level 5 of St James Quarter.   The event further cements the Quarter’s reputation for creating unexpected, exciting and vibrant events and experiences.   

“Edinburgh is a city filled with style and we want everyone to show us their fashion creds and have some fun with our giant mirrored frames and flaunt their own individual looks ahead of the event.   

“We are also thrilled to be collaborating with Grazia, inviting their team to Edinburgh and the Quarter to experience the amazing fashion and style on offer in the city. If you’re in Edinburgh from the 3rd – 6th November, make sure to come down and check out everything we have going on – it’s not to be missed!”  

For more information on the events taking place from Thursday 3rd November to Sunday 6th November and to buy tickets, visit St James Quarter’s event page at: https://stjamesquarter.com/event/Edinburgh-style 

T&Cs for the competition can be found on the St James Quarter social channels.  

St James Quarter Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/stjamesquarter/ 

St James Quarter Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/StJamesQuarter/  

Edinburgh Tool Library offers a ladder of opportunity

CELEBRATION EVENT AT PORTOBELLO WORKSHOP TOMORROW EVENING

The Edinburgh Tool Library is exactly what it sounds like: a library, but for tools. Instead of books, members can borrow a huge range of hand and power tools – from circular saws to sewing machines – all free of charge. 

Inspiration for Edinburgh’s Tool Library came after Chris Hellawell, Founder and Director of Edinburgh Tool Library, visited the Toronto Tool Library during a family holiday. Chris not only saw the need for freely available tools in his own community, Leith, he had the vision of the wider environmental, financial and social value a tool library could bring. 

Unlike his Canadian counterparts, Chris did not have a stock of tools, or premises to store and loan tools from, but his drive to help others inspired his next move:

“Giving people access to equipment means handing them the potential  to better their living environment and potentially their lives” says Chris. “That could be as simple as putting up a shelf or  hanging some pictures, or as life-changing as giving someone the tools and the chance of holding down a job. I just knew  that’s what I wanted to do.” 

Chris used his resourcefulness to collect donated tools and stored them in his living room. And instead of renting  premises he created an online tool inventory and hired a police box on Leith Walk once a week from where tools could  be collected! 

Since then, Chris hasn’t looked back and has built Edinburgh Tool Library from the ground up into the thriving charity it  is today. With a loan depot in Meadowbank, and workshops in Portobello and Leith, the library has grown to include more than 2,000 tools which are borrowed regularly by 1,400 members from all walks of life, saving members a  collective £1.5m compared to the cost of buying those tools!

An overall reduction of around 180T CO2, the equivalent of  driving a car around the world 180 times. And with the cost-of-living crisis becoming an escalating challenge, Edinburgh  Tool Library is fast becoming a lifeline for many. 

Not only has Chris’s environmental and economic vision become a reality, its social impact is undeniable.

Much like a  book library, Edinburgh Tool Library is a hub around which the community gathers. The year-round community and outreach programme offers workshops designed to reduce social isolation, improve wellbeing, champion diversity and  most importantly provide opportunities for communities to come together to learn new life and employability skills.

Projects such as “Nailing It!” work with women’s support groups around the city teaching DIY skills, building confidence and encouraging women to participate in woodwork, often for the first time. Or ‘Tools for Life’ – a programme matching a young unemployed person with barriers to work, with an older, retired person, who has skills to pass on to the  trainee, helping them to build confidence and learn new skills. 

Run in large by its 50+ volunteers, the love and commitment of these volunteers was never more evident than during  the pandemic. The Edinburgh Tool Library put it’s resources towards hot meal, and art pack delivery, as well as  providing logistical support to the Edinburgh Mask Makers volunteer group, helping over 17,000 masks reach key  workers across the central belt. 

This kindness is also evident in the membership framework. The charity charges members £30 per year to borrow tools  and to gain free access to their workshop programme, along with invites to community social events.

Members can also buy a ‘£40 pay it forward’ membership which includes a reduced £10 membership fee for those facing financial  hardship. All membership income is ploughed back into supporting the charity’s environmental and social objectives. 

For those interested in becoming a member or supporting their charitable work through their fun ‘Adopt a Tool’ scheme, visit edinburghtoollibrary.org.uk or email them on hello@edinburghtoollibrary.org.uk.

Or pop along to their celebration event at their Portobello Workshop (19 Windsor Place, EH15 2AJ) tomorrow – Thursday 27th October (5 – 8pm) – where  they will welcome you in, show you their fantastic workshop facilities and introduce you to their friendly team!

Deirdre Brock: ‘Royal Mail need to get back to the negotiating table’

SNP MP Deidre Brock has called on the Royal Mail to stop the threats of job cuts to postal workers and engage meaningfully with the Communications Worker Union to find an acceptable solution to prevent further postal strikes. 

In a joint letter from SNP MPs to the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Mail, the Royal Mail Chief was told that it is “unacceptable to see the language employed by Royal Mail in threatening its workforce with job losses because they dare to ask for a fair work package.”

Postal workers across the UK are on strike again today, with several more strike days planned for early next month, from the 2nd of November to the 4th of November.

Last week, the Royal Mail’s announced its intention to slash 10,000 jobs, citing the strike action and low parcel delivery sales as the reason. Deidre Brock MP has described this move as a “tactic” and has accused Royal Mail of “acting in bad faith”.

Ms Brock added: “Postal workers across Edinburgh North and Leith are struggling to make ends meet in the face of soaring energy and food costs while Royal Mail shareholders benefit from bumper profits in the millions.

“Royal Mail staff and their families need financial security. The decision to strike will not have been easy for any of them, but this is about more than pay; it is also about protecting the postal service we all rely on and value.

“Rather than making threats to workers, Royal Mail need to get back to the negotiating table – in a meaningful way – and put our communities at the heart of discussions.”

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Local government pay dispute is over

Following a meeting of Council Leaders yesterday, Councillor Katie Hagmann, COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson, said: “I am pleased to get this year’s pay deal for the Local Government Workforce concluded and over the line.  This now enables us to get money into the pockets of the workforce as quickly as we possibly can.

“This is a deal that clearly shows Scotland’s Council Leaders have listened to the very real concerns of our workforce and have responded positively.

“Council Leaders have said consistently throughout these negotiations that we value the work of our Local Government Workforce and are grateful for the difference they make within communities across Scotland.

“We also believe that it is a good deal which is about more than just pay. It is a package that includes an extra day’s holiday for SJC [Scottish Joint Council] staff on a recurring basis and payment of SSSC [Scottish Social Services Council] fees from this year onwards.”

New appointments at Castle Community Bank

Castle Community Bank (Castle) the credit union based in Leith, Edinburgh, has boosted its growth plans and financial inclusion ambitions by making key appointments to its Board and Executive team.  

Experienced non-executive director Stephen Pearson has been appointed as Chair of the Board. Following a career in law and financial services, Stephen has also recently been appointed Chair of the newly formed Financial Inclusion For Scotland.

As Chair of Castle, Stephen will be responsible for leadership of the board, ensuring that it effectively oversees Castle as it continues to grow and support its members through the cost-of-living crisis.

Last year Castle appointed a new chief executive, Adrian Sargent, who, alongside the previous chair, Ian Irvin, has overseen a period of substantial growth to ensure its sustainability in a difficult financial climate.

In addition, on 1 October 2022 Suzanne Gush was appointed as Chief Financial Officer. Suzanne has significant financial services experience and will support the board and management team in this next phase of Castle’s growth.

Stephen Pearson said: “The current cost-of-living-crisis and challenging UK financial climate, illustrate how important it is that all communities have access to fair savings and loan products as well as financial education.

“I’m looking forward to helping Castle and its partners make a positive difference in north Edinburgh and beyond, at such a key time for the organisation.”

Adrian Sargent said: “Stephen will be a great asset for Castle as we continue growing. Being fintech enabled, Castle is now well placed to help its members from a position of increasing strength. With Stephen’s fresh perspective and ethical fintech-savvy, Castle can find new ways of supporting our members.

“At Castle we are about sustainability for both the organisation and the community, and we are passionate about working hard for our communities. I’m excited about the next chapter for Castle, working with Stephen, Suzanne and the rest of the team.”

Castle offers savings and loans like any high street bank, but instead of making a profit for shareholders, Castle can invest surplus revenue into projects supporting its community.

As a credit union, Castle is regulated by both the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) who are part of the Bank of England. 

The Castle team sees the community bank as a force for good for its members who can access fair products that would otherwise be unavailable to them from mainstream banks. Castle also seeks to encourage thrift and financial well-being – essential tools for surviving the cost-of-living crisis.

Consumers ‘at risk’ if Digital Markets Unit not given teeth, say MPs

A new report by Westminster’s influential Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee has urged the Government to publish a draft Digital Markets Bill that would help deter predatory practices by big tech firms ‘without delay’.

Proposals for a Digital Markets Competition and Consumer Bill were trailed by the Government in the Queen’s Speech. It announced measures that would empower the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) Digital Markets Unit (DMU) to rein in abusive tech giants by dropping the turnover threshold for immunity from financial penalties from £50 million to £20 million, and hiking potential maximum fines to 10% of global annual income.

The Committee concluded that fines have been viewed as ‘a small business cost’ by large companies, adding that there is ‘strong evidence of abuses of market dominance’ within digital markets. It warned that ‘consumers and others are at risk’ until a Bill is published and passed.

BEIS Committee Chair Darren Jones said: “The Competition, Consumer and Digital Markets Bill has wide support and should be prioritised, especially given the difficulty the Government currently has at passing other laws which are more controversial.

“There are many areas in the economy where stronger competition is required in the interests of consumers, small business and economic growth and this bill is an essential stepping stone to driving this issue forward.”

The report also called on the Government to ‘end [the] uncertainty’ caused by its failure to publish final guidance on the post-Brexit subsidy control regime, which the Committee found had left subsidy awarding bodies ‘in limbo’. The guidance needs to be published as soon as possible, MPs said.

Passed in April, and due to come into full force in early January, the Subsidy Control Act omits key details of the regime for public authorities to follow when awarding money. These gaps are due to be filled in by final guidance, which authorities will need if they are to have confidence when preparing bids for funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund. The Fund is a replacement for money formerly awarded through EU structural funding.

Mr Jones added: “The Government promised to replace previous EU funding into projects across the country as part of its Brexit and levelling up offers to the public. This has not yet been delivered and without full guidance and proper financing of the new subsidy schemes, funds that help deliver projects will be further delayed. 

“The public will no doubt be disappointed to have not yet seen the so called ‘Brexit opportunities’ that were promised to level up their local community.”

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Tomorrow: Meet and Eat at Fresh Start

Fresh Start’s Meet & Eat sessions have been so successful that we are now adding an additional session on Wednesday evenings, starting tomorrow, Wednesday 26th October!

The Wednesday Meet & Eat will be a dinner time meal, between 5-6.30pm and will ensure local people and families have a hot meal in a cosy, friendly setting.

Remember, Meet & Eat is a FREE service and open to all.

Please share around your networks and tell your friends!

Movement for Good award for Edinburgh Remakery

The Edinburgh Remakery has been granted £10,000 as part of the Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards. 

The latest phase of the Movement for Good Awards will see more than £500,000 in funding be awarded to 31 charities working across the climate change and environment, education and skills, heritage and arts and rural and community sectors.

The Scottish based charity is an award-winning environmental social enterprise committed to creating a culture of sustainable, waste-free living and protecting the planet for future generations.

The £10,000 funding will go towards the charity’s Tech Exchange for Community Hubs project, which will gift up to 200 refurbished electronic devices to 10 Community Hubs, giving their beneficiaries essential access to digital support and services and replacing old devices with newer, higher quality, refurbished ones.

The awards are designed to help charities make a real difference in their communities and beyond. More than 500 charities applied for the funding with the winning projects being selected against four criteria: impact and effectiveness, sustainability, innovation, and care and compassion.

Mark Hews, Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group, said: “At Benefact Group we believe business should be a force for good. More than ever, charitable causes need sustained support and a sense of financial stability.

“Through our Movement for Good larger-grant awards, we are championing a more imaginative way of supporting charities so that they can have some certainty in these challenging times. We know our funding can be a lifeline to those who are struggling with cost-of-living increases and a grant of this scale can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do.  

“Benefact Group is the fourth largest corporate donor in the UK and has an ambition to be the biggest. Owned by a charity, all our available profits go to good causes, and the more the Group grows, 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.”

Elaine Brown, CEO of The Edinburgh Remakery Ltd, said: “The Edinburgh Remakery social enterprise is committed to supporting people in our communities whilst creating positive change for our planet.

“We reduce waste by taking in old electronics to be refurbished and reused, we reduce carbon emissions by providing affordable and eco-friendly alternatives to buying new, and we support our communities by providing people in need with gifted tech devices and valuable life skills to improve employability, confidence and wellbeing.

“Thanks to the Movement for Good funding, we are able to further our mission and help even more people whilst reducing waste and helping our planet at the same time.”

Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.

Join us on Saturday 29th October at the Edinburgh Remakery where a collection of 10 designers share their antidote to fast fashion with one collective vision in an exciting live fashion show.

We’ll also be raising money for the Edinburgh Remakery to reintroduce their free drop-in Sewing Repair Sessions – open for anyone to join who wants help to mend, alter or reimagine their clothing or textile items.

We want to make repair skills and services accessible to everyone in Edinburgh, which is why we want to keep these sessions free; to help people learn new valuable skills, gain confidence, and meet other like-minded individuals in our community. 

Find out how you can help and support our free sewing sessions here.

Motorpoint marks the opening of its Portobello store with a ribbon cutting and family day

  • UK’s largest independent retailer of nearly new cars and vans formally opens its new Edinburgh store on Baileyfield Road in Portobello.   
  • Motorpoint Edinburgh is the automotive retailer’s second outlet in Scotland and 18th in the UK. There is a store in Glasgow and a preparation centre in Motherwell.   
  • Opening ceremony ribbon cutting performed by talented five-year-old Scottish Highland dancer, Rosie, from the Dunedin Dance Academy.
  • Event kicked off store’s year-long commitment to fundraise for St Columba’s Hospice.
  • Attractions included the ‘live’ creation of a unique Edinburgh landscape on the side of a dirty van by renowned grime artist Ruddy Muddy.

A talented five-year-old dancer performed a ceremonial ribbon-cutting this week as Motorpoint – the UK’s largest independent retailer of nearly new cars and vans –strengthened its growing nationwide network with the official opening of its new store in Edinburgh.

Young Highland dancer Rosie did the honours after performing with fellow dancers from the Dunedin Dance Academy at an event celebrating the opening of the brand’s second retail outlet in Scotland and its 18th in the UK.

As well as dance performances, Motorpoint Edinburgh, which is located on Baileyfield Road in Portobello, also hosted a ‘live’ art installation with acclaimed grime artist Ruddy Muddy.  Throughout the day, he created a stunning image of the world-famous Edinburgh Castle and Greyfriars Bobby in the mud on the side of a Mercedes Benz Vito van.

Visitors to the store were also treated to a stirring musical treat with a performance of piping from the Pipers of Edinburgh, while the store also announced that St Columba’s Hospice Care in Edinburgh is their nominated charity partner for the year.

Richard Start, Regional Retail Director at Motorpoint Edinburgh said: “We were delighted to be able to mark the opening of our latest store in such an inspirational and cultural way and having Rosie perform the ribbon-cutting made it extra special.

“The whole official opening event had a fabulous family feel and it was a joy to have the dancers from the Dunedin Dance Academy, grime van artist Ruddy Muddy, the Pipers of Edinburgh and Paw Patrol with us to provide some great entertainment for our customers.” 

Richard added: “Despite a nationwide shortage of new and nearly new vehicles we have been able to ensure that Motorpoint Edinburgh has the widest possible range of the makes and models that local motorists want the most and all are available to drive away the same day.

“Motorpoint Edinburgh is also proud to bring the brand’s ‘never beaten on price’ promise to the city, helping to deliver market-leading value for car buyers at a time when every penny counts.”

Find out more about Motorpoint Edinburgh here