Dynamic Earth and Skyscanner Remove Barriers to Career Pathways

Annual Career Showcase returns with funded school transport, making event fully free for the first time ever

Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh’s Science Centre and Planetarium, is set to once again welcome budding scientists to its annual careers showcase.

Taking place on 18 and 19 January, the event (one of the largest of its kind in Scotland) will continue to engage young learners, spark curiosity, and inspire the next generation of innovators and leaders. 

In partnership with Skyscanner, the two-day programme will, for the first time, be paired with fully funded bus and coach transport for schools attending the showcase.

Dynamic Earth’s STEM Careers Showcase gives learners the opportunity to connect with real people working across STEM and explore where careers in marine science, engineering      and conservation could take them.

Through hands-on interactive activities, experiences and talks, attendees will discover pathways into different professions and how studying STEM throughout school and beyond opens up a whole world of opportunity.

Conor Ellis, Science Learning and Engagement Director at Dynamic Earth, said: “Dynamic Earth has been overwhelmed by the positive feedback following previous year’s Careers Showcases.

“We have, however, been acutely aware of how the cost of travelling to Edinburgh is an exclusionary factor for many schools who would otherwise wish to attend. 

“Dynamic Earth’s partnership with Skyscanner, and the creation of The Career Showcase Transport Fund, furthers our shared commitment to breaking down barriers that prevent students from accessing vital learning opportunities.” 

In previous years the programme, ‘Your Planet, Your Future’, has welcomed up to 1,200 learners across the free two-day event.

Along with bringing together over 20 partner organisations and 60 STEM professionals, the showcase provides invaluable insight for young people regarding careers within scientific disciplines that both fuel their passion and contribute positive outcomes for people close to home and further afield. 

By covering transport fees, Skyscanner’s Careers Showcase Transport Fund allows Dynamic Earth to share inspiring STEM careers and potential futures with all learners at no cost. 

Myra Fulton, VP of Engineering at Skyscanner, said: “We’re proud to continue our partnership with Dynamic Earth, helping young people across Scotland discover where their curiosity and talents could take them.

“By funding school coach transport to the Careers Showcase, we’re helping more pupils explore STEM careers they might never have considered, without travel costs standing in their way.”

As well as facilitating free transportation to the Careers Showcase, Dynamic Earth is also ensuring that accessible afternoon sessions are available for children with additional support needs, further expanding the charity’s commitment to inclusion. This addition forms part of Dynamic Earth’s wider accessibility programme, which includes BSL Planetarium shows, relaxed open days, and sensory resources for visitors.

Places are limited. Schools are encouraged to register early to make the most of the support available.

For more information about the event, and to find out how to register, schools are encouraged to head to:

[https://dynamicearth.org.uk/learning/schools/school-careers-day/]

New Popeyes opens this week

The opening date for a third Popeyes in Edinburgh has been announced.

The American chicken chain will open its doors on North Bridge at 12pm on Wednesday – 11 November.

On launch day, the first three customers through the door will win free chicken sandwiches for an entire year – with the first customers treated to exclusive Popeyes merch.

The first 100 customers will walk away with a free chicken sandwich!

https://ebx.sh/USuXhS

ELEVATE: Girlguiding Leadership programme

YOUTH WORK CHANGES LIVES

Over the weekend members aged 14-17 have been taking part in Elevate, a residential exploring leadership through our CashBack project.

Girls learnt all about what leadership means, including the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts leadership mindsets, they wrote letters to their future selves and got outdoors for some tomahawk throwing and a campfire 🏕️

We know #YouthWorkChangesLives and when talking about the residential, our youth leadership development officer said: “The girls really enjoyed the weekend, one even said they didn’t want to go home they were having so much fun.

“The impact of Elevate was growth in leadership, and for the girls to leave interested in taking on different opportunities in the future.”

#YouthWorkWeek

#YWW26

YouthLink Scotland

New Storytelling & Whisky Experience shines a light on the accused women in Scotland’s Witch Trials

The Lost Close is inviting guests to step beneath Edinburgh’s  streets and explore the true history of the Scottish Witch Trials through the launch of  From the Ashes: The Untold Stories of Scotland’s Condemned Women.  

Set within the atmospheric underground surroundings of The Lost Close, the 90-minute  experience moves beyond the myths often associated with witchcraft to reveal the  stories of four real women whose lives were shaped by fear, suspicion and persecution.  Through powerful storytelling rooted in historical fact, guests are invited to discover the  human cost behind one of Scotland’s darkest periods. 

As each story unfolds, guests will enjoy four carefully selected drams of Scotch whisky,  each chosen to reflect the spirit, vitality and legacy of the woman being remembered.  Paired with key moments from her story, the whiskies become part of the storytelling  itself, with their flavours and aromas offering a new perspective on her life and  achievements.

The result is an evocative sensory journey where whisky and storytelling  come together to create a deeper, more meaningful connection to Scotland’s history. 

“From the Ashes is about giving voice to women whose stories have too often been lost  to time,” says Andrew Gardiner, Assistant Manager at The Lost Close.

“The experience has  been researched and written by some of the incredible women on our team who have a  true passion for bringing hidden histories and forgotten lives back into the light.

“We  wanted to create something that goes beyond the myths of the witch trials and centres the real people affected by them, inviting guests to discover a deeper, more human side  of Scotland’s past.” 

Through history, whisky and storytelling, From the Ashes honours the resilience, courage  and humanity of these women while encouraging visitors to reflect on a chapter of  Scottish history that still resonates today. 

With limited availability and small group sizes, advance booking is essential. 

Tickets: Available via The Lost Close website: https://thelostclose.com/

Dates: 20th, 21st, 27th & 28th November  

Time: 7:30pm to 9pm 

Location: The Lost Close, 1 Barrie’s Close, Edinburgh, EH1 1RF 

Duration: 90 minutes

Renting in Edinburgh? What your yearly gas safety check should cover

If you rent your home and it has a gas boiler, fire or cooker, your landlord must have it checked for safety every year.

That applies whether you rent privately, from a housing association or from the council. With the heating now on most days, it is a good time to make sure yours is up to date.

What the law says

Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, landlords must have every gas appliance and flue they provide checked at least once every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Your landlord must give you a copy of the record within 28 days of the check, and new tenants should get one before they move in. You can ask for a paper copy if you would rather not have it by email.

What the engineer checks

The engineer looks at each gas appliance your landlord provides, along with its flue and ventilation. They check that it is burning properly, that fumes are clearing safely and that there are no leaks.

The pipework is not strictly part of the yearly check, but the Health and Safety
Executive recommends that landlords ask the engineer to test the whole gas system for leaks at the same visit.

What the record should show

The record, often called a CP12 or gas safety certificate, should list each appliance checked and where it is, the date of the check, the property address and your landlord’s (or letting agent’s) name and address.

It should also give the engineer’s name, Gas Safe registration number and signature, plus any safety faults found and what was done about them.

Three quick checks for tenants

Ask to see the engineer’s Gas Safe ID card. The back shows which types of gas work they are qualified to do, and you can also look them up on the Gas Safe Register website.

Look at the date on your last record. If it is more than 12 months old, ask your landlord or letting agent when the next check is booked.

Test your carbon monoxide alarm. Since February 2022, every home in Scotland with a gas boiler, gas fire or other fixed appliance that burns fuel for heat must have one. Press the test button to make sure it works.

Gas appliances you own yourself, such as a cooker you bought, are your own responsibility, so it is worth having those checked too.

If you ever smell gas

Open doors and windows, turn the gas off at the meter if you can, do not use electrical switches or naked flames, and call the National Gas Emergency Service free on 0800 111 999, day or night.

This advice comes from Cullen Plumbing & Heating, a family-run gas, heating and plumbing firm based in Corstorphine and trading for 15 years.

The firm carries out landlord gas safety checks across Edinburgh and West Lothian and is Gas Safe registered, number 523861.

For more information, visit: https://www.cullen-plumbing.co.uk/

Committee questions timescales for reducing teachers’ class contact time

The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic should provide more information on whether plans to reduce teachers’ class contact time are deliverable within the planned timescales, according to a Holyrood Committee.

In March 2026, the Scottish Government, local government and teaching unions agreed that teachers’ time with pupils would be reduced by 90 minutes a week.

The tripartite agreement said this policy would be in place from August 2027 in primary and special schools, and August 2029 in secondary schools.

However, evidence presented to the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Gaelic Committee indicated that it is unclear whether the policy can be implemented in time.

The Committee’s report points to “considerable challenges related to workforce planning in implementing the reduction in class contact time within the planned timescales”, due to geographical and subject specific teacher shortages.

The report also calls for greater clarity about the objectives of the policy. The Committee is unclear how the policy can both reduce teacher workload and give teachers time for additional preparation and learning. In addition, the Committee would like to understand what assessment has been made of how the policy benefits children and young people.

Additionally, there are questions about how the costs associated with reducing class contact time will be funded. Evidence shared with the Committee outlined that spending for the Education and Skills portfolio is not forecast to meaningfully increase, implying that the cost of this policy will need to be met by existing budgets.

Karen Adam MSP, Convener of the Education and Gaelic Committee, said: “We have questions about the proposals to reduce teachers’ class contact time within the timescales agreed by the Scottish Government, teaching unions and local government.

“The evidence we heard highlighted the significant unresolved challenges that rural and remote communities face with recruiting teachers, alongside challenges related to recruiting teachers in several secondary specialisms.

“At the current time, it is difficult to understand how these can be resolved in time for the policy to be delivered effectively and on schedule. We would like to hear the Cabinet Secretary’s views on how achievable the policy is within the planned timescales.”

The Committee also scrutinised the Scottish Government’s progress towards delivering the reforms to the children’s care system known as The Promise.

In its report it explains that the lack of clarity around the implementation, delivery and accountability of the reforms makes it difficult to measure progress and asked the Scottish Government to respond to the evidence that said that there is a need for sustained investment to deliver on the aims of the policy.

Karen Adam MSP, Convener of the Education and Gaelic Committee, said: “During our inquiry, we encountered a lack of clarity around the implementation, delivery and accountability on the Promise which makes it difficult to measure progress with any certainty.

“We would like to hear the Scottish Government’s response to calls for sustained investment, including progress in relation to social work recruitment and retention and availability of care accommodation, to make the progress that is needed to ensure The Promise fulfils its commitment to care-experienced children, young people, and adults.”

Read the Committee’s report

Light Night with LNER welcomes Girls Aloud superstar Nadine Coyle to Edinburgh’s Christmas

Edinburgh’s Christmas with Halo organisers Unique Assembly have announced a very special guest star for LNER’s free ‘Light Night Concert’, with ‘Girls Aloud’ superstar Nadine Coyle set to perform at the Ross Bandstand with a show packed full of chart-topping pop and festive sparkle.

Headlining Light Night with LNER, Girls Aloud’s Nadine Coyle will perform some of the iconic girl band’s biggest hits at the Ross Bandstand including ‘Love Machine’, ‘Sound of the Underground’ and ‘The Promise’.

The free event alsoincludes a festive sing-a-long of Christmas classics with the spectacular Pheonix Choir and Voice of the Town, a beautiful Lantern Procession, and if everyone sings loud enough, a visit from Santa himself, all beneath the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. The ‘Light Night with LNER’ will kick-off at 3pm, Sunday 22 November and the event is free for all to attend.

 In 2002, Nadine Coyle was selected as a member of Girls Aloud, with whom she has been successful in achieving a string of 20 consecutive UK top ten singles (including four number ones), two UK number one albums, five consecutive platinum selling studio albums and received nominations for five BRIT Awards.

Now she joins LNER and Edinburgh’s Christmas for this free event.  She may have thought of herself as a city girl, she may have thought of herself as a beach girl, but this year, she’s an Edinburgh’s Christmas girl! 

As sponsor of the iconic LNER Big Wheel in East Princes Street Gardens, LNER are no stranger to Edinburgh’s Christmas, having brought festive cheer to millions of visitors in recent years. This year, their new partnership of ‘Light Night with LNER’, helps spread festive cheer, bringing free community events to the capital, and supporting charity fundraising across the seven-weeks of Edinburgh Winter Festivals.

This year, a fundraising target of £75,000 will support the incredible work of official local charities One City Trust, When you Wish Upon A Star, My Name’5 Doddie, CALM and Street Assist Edinburgh.

Stuart Thomas, Communications Director at LNER, said: “Every year, LNER connects millions of people from across the UK with all that Edinburgh has to offer, including its spectacular Christmas and Hogmanay events.

“That’s why we’re thrilled to be expanding our partnership with Edinburgh’s Christmas and cannot wait to bring festive cheer to the thousands of people joining us onboard the LNER Big Wheel or at Light Night with LNER.

“That’s why we’re thrilled to be expanding our partnership with Edinburgh’s Christmas and cannot wait to bring festive cheer to the thousands of people joining us onboard the LNER Big Wheel or at Light Night with LNER.

“At LNER, we’re passionate about supporting the communities that we serve. This year, we’re delighted that we are helping to deliver free community events, such as Light Night with LNER, kickstarting the city’s celebrations. We’ll also be helping raise vital money for good causes in and around the area, including our charity partner CALM – all with a little LNER sparkle.”

On continuing the partnership with LNER, Unique Assembly said; “We’re thrilled to expand our strong partnership with LNER this year, raising valuable funds for CALM and welcoming Nadine Coyle to the Ross Bandstand Programme.

“The LNER Big Wheel is a favoured mainstay of the Edinburgh’s Christmas programme, and an iconic addition to the stunning festive landscape in Edinburgh, it’s fantastic that LNER can join us for more events. “

Light Night with LNER will also feature performances from the cast of Back to the Future at the Edinburgh Playhouse, La Clique Noël, Phoenix Choir, Insane Magic and more.

LNER and Nadine Coyle join the already announced programme of free, community-focussed events at the Ross Bandstand, includingEdinburgh’s Christmas with Halo ‘Kick-Off Concert’ with Red Hot Chilli Pipers on Sat 14 Nov, Edinburgh Diwali celebrations on Sun 15 Nov, a Taste of Scotland weekend to celebrate St Andrew’s Day on Sat 28 & Sun 29 Nov complete with free outdoor ceilidh, and the Santa Fun Run and Santa Paws in aid of charity partner When You Wish Upon a Star on Sun 6 Dec. 

The full Ross Bandstand programme can be found on edwinterfest.com 

Dijkstra-Downie reveals crew shortages at Edinburgh fire stations left engines out of action

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh Northern Sanne Dijkstra-Downie has today revealed the extent to which fire stations in Edinburgh have been unable to operate their second engines because of a lack of crew to man them.

Larger fire stations should have at least two fire engines ready to respond to an emergency call at all times.

Staffing shortages, however, can mean that fire stations are unable to dispatch a crew or a vehicle to an emergency call.

Scottish Liberal Democrat freedom of information requests to Scottish Fire and Rescue have revealed that a second fire engine was unable to operate from Mcdonald Road Fire Station for 22.9% of the previous financial year due to insufficient crew numbers.

It also revealed that in the same period, a second engine was similarly unable to operate from the Sighthill station 20.9% and Crewe Toll 18% of the time.

Picture – Chris Watt Photography

Sanne Dijkstra-Downie MSP said: “In recent years, we have seen how the fires along Princes Street and attacks on Bonfire Night are putting additional strain on the capital’s firefighters.

“That has only been made worse by crew shortages leaving some of Edinburgh’s fire stations unable to operate their second engines on too many occasions.

“This could inevitably lead to dangerous situations where there are multiple fires happening nearby, but only one truck available.

“The efforts and service of our city’s firefighters need to be matched by leadership from their bosses and the ministers who sit behind them.”

Scottish Careers Week

Shape the future! Scottish Careers Week 9 – 13 November

It’s Scottish Careers Week, bringing educators, employers, career practitioners, partners and communities together.

We are looking forward to attending the Opportunities for All event in Leith on Wednesday, 11 Nov. The event is open to all people and ages.

Visit our stall to learn more about the support we can provide!

#scotcareersweek26

Council’s Housing service grows apprentice scheme to record numbers

The City of Edinburgh Council’s Housing service is investing in its repairs service for tenants while giving young people the opportunity to kickstart their careers.

The latest intake of nine new trainees through the Modern Apprenticeship programme brings the number of apprentices in the service to 25 – a record high – across trades including painting and decorating, joinery and plumbing.

By developing its in-house team, the Council aims to grow its skilled workforce to support the investment needed to improve the quality of its homes across the city.

Joinery apprentice Harry said: “I’ve mostly been doing repairs and I’ve been enjoying it, all the tenants are really nice.

“I like being able to visualise things, like building kitchens – having a view on what it could look like and then doing it and seeing the result at the end of it. It’s quite a good process, it’s satisfying.

Painting and decorating apprentice Sarah added: “My experience with the Council jobs are great – they all have been so different, so I get a chance to experience different techniques and ways to fix the problems.

Councillor Tim Pogson, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “In Edinburgh we continue to face a Housing Emergency, with demand for homes high and thousands of people living in temporary accommodation.

“Having said that, we’re making good progress with actions to address these pressures, and thanks to this I’m pleased that the number of people living in unsuitable accommodation continues to drop.

“Trainees brought in through the Modern Apprenticeship programme play a key role in bringing more homes into use and improving the comfort and quality of our tenants’ homes. I’m delighted to see a whole new intake of apprentices developing their skills across our estate, who will eventually have the opportunity of a permanent role at the Council when they complete their training.”

The Council declared a housing emergency in November 2023 in response to rising homelessness, affordability pressures and significant demand for homes in the Capital.

In February, as part of the Housing and Homelessness Budget Investment Strategy, a record £1.6bn was committed to increasing affordable housing and reducing the use of temporary accommodation across the city. Bringing void Council houses back into use through repairs and improvements – and growing the in-house workforce – is central to this.

Apprenticeships at the Council offer paid work while gaining experience and recognised qualifications. Apprenticeships across the Council include social care, childcare, horticulture and business management.