Two Midlothian based entrepreneurs have successfully launched a new clothing brand following support from Business Gateway.
Launched in April 2020, MC Apparel is a fashion clothing brand created by Midlothian locals Michael Surgeon and Liam Chisholm. The team identified the opportunity and were motivated to launch their second business after their first paused trading due to COVID-19.
Working closely with Business Gateway, MC Apparel received a variety of start-up support services including support to create a business plan, marketing and networking opportunities, as well as accessing online resources such as webinars and advertising tutorials.
This guidance from Business Gateway ensured the team were able to adapt their business model to meet the challenges posed by the pandemic and increase margins by shifting from early drop-shipping to stock holding, this enabled MC Apparel to improve quality control and reduce delivery timescales for customers.
Michael Surgeon, Founder of MC Apparel, said: “We gained a wide range of support from Business Gateway and this meant the process of launching our new business went smoothly.
“The team at Business Gateway Midlothian have been very supportive during this period and the online workshops we attended were invaluable, helping us to develop a digital marketing strategy that allowed us to reach our target audiences even with the challenges of lockdown.
“I would recommend anyone who is starting out in business to get in touch with Business Gateway. They are always there when you need them and if they don’t have the answer, they can signpost you to the right person or resource.”
When COVID-19 restrictions ease, the team at MC Apparel are looking forward to organising photoshoots to showcase the clothing range and have plans to collaborate with local fashion brands to give away 20 t-shirts to support a local charity.
Annie Watt, Business Gateway Lead Officer, said: “It’s impressive to see how Michael and Liam have adapted to lockdown, identifying an opportunity to launch a new business and taking it forward.
“They have been incredibly proactive, accessing a range of Business Gateway resources, attending workshops and arranging one-to-one sessions via Zoom to receive guidance and support on development plans.
“Recent research by Business Gateway revealed that despite the challenges, COVID-19 has not hampered peoples’ appetite to start a business, and Michael and Liam’s experience is a testament to this.
“While it is a difficult trading environment, I would encourage anyone with an idea for a new business to get in touch and see how our resources, advice and support can help get it off the ground.”
To celebrate Financial Planning Week 2020 (5-11 October 2020) and World Financial Planning Day (7 October 2020), wealth manager Charles Stanley is offering free one-hour consultations with a financial planner.
Advisers in the Edinburgh office will be on hand to help people understand how they can achieve financial wellbeing and identify what steps they need to take to help reach their future goals.
With the market and future so uncertain due to the Covid pandemic, many people are looking at their financial situation as their circumstances are changing, but planning finances can appear daunting and getting it wrong could be very costly.
Anyone with questions around areas such as retirement, savings and investments or estate planning and inheritance, might benefit from getting an outside expert view.
Sam Cowan, Financial Planner at Charles Stanley says: “Many people think that only very wealthy people need advice, but nothing could be further from the truth. Anyone planning for life milestones such as buying a home, planning for retirement or saving for their children’s university education can benefit.
“There have been a number of tax and pension changes over the last year which can be complex which means people often miss out on available options and getting advice can really pay off and make a difference to your financial future.”
To book a video or telephone appointment for a free one-hour, introductory meeting call 0203 553 7384, email or fill in the form through our website. Appointments are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis.
Top 10 reasons to see a financial planner:
Retirement: Avoid common retirement planning traps and get help in making crucial decisions such as whether it’s better to buy an annuity and how to get the best deal or if it’s better to draw money from your pension without buying an annuity to secure your future income. Some people may be considering, or forced to consider, early retirement and need help in putting their affairs in place.
Pension planning: many people are notputting enough aside to ensure the retirement they ideally want, while others want help in transferring their pensions from one scheme to another and consolidating them.
3. Inheritance: whether you have inherited a sum of money and want to make the most of it, or if you want to plan ahead for passing on your estate to make sure your loved ones get as much of your hard-earned money as possible, it is worth getting advice. The sooner you start planning, the more options you have to minimise the amount of inheritance tax that might be due, such as looking at trusts or lifetime gifts and annual exemptions. Similarly, if the main or sole earner in your household has passed away you may need help in sorting out your financial affairs.
4. Children’s savings: saving little and often from an early age can build into a substantial nest egg by the time your children leave school. Explore the most tax-efficient options of saving, from JISA’s to pensions, and whether cash or stocks and shares solutions are the most appropriate for your needs.
5. Preparing for life milestones: whether you are looking at buying your first home, changing career, starting a family, paying for your child’s education or planning for retirement, it’s important to make sure you are financially prepared. Take time to set goals and think about what your priorities are to put the best savings scheme in place for your life ambitions.
6. Succession planning: having a succession plan in place is crucial to safeguard a continued smooth running of your business or estate. Transferring a business to a new owner can have significant tax implications, so it’s important to understand how the funds from the sale of your company may tie into your own personal wealth objectives.
7. Tax-efficiency: tax rules are complex and there are a number of tax allowances and exemptions to be aware of, to ensure you are not paying more tax than you should be. From Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Inheritance Tax (IHT) to Charitable Giving and tax-efficient saving, there many ways to make sure you are taking advantage of all the legitimate tax breaks you are entitled to.
8. Long-term care planning: with the onus increasingly on the individual to meet some or all of the expense of long-term care should it be needed, there are a number of options to consider, from covering the costs from savings and investments or taking a Deferred Payment Agreement (DPA) with the local authority to equity release or taking out an immediate care annuity. By planning early, you can ensure you are prepared.
9. Divorce: going through a divorce is a stressful transition and a financial planner can be invaluable when it comes to cataloguing assets and advising on potential distribution, as well as other important factors, to ensure you are in the best possible financial position going forward.
10. Lifestyle protection: make sure your family is protected and reduce the burden of life-changing events by arranging flexible protection policies to provide peace of mind such as life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection.
How to choose a financial planner
Get a recommendation: speak to family and friends and see if they can recommend anyone.
Check qualifications and expertise
Get references: speak to existing clients and check if they advise any clients in a similar situation to you.
How do they charge? Make sure you get a breakdown of their charges and that you fully understand what you are getting for your money.
The psychology of money: can the financial planner work out a financial life plan for you and create a vision for the future with a related financial plan?
Meet them: make sure you feel they understand you and what you are trying to achieve. Establishing a relationship with a financial planner you can trust is critical to achieving your goals. Make the most of free consultations.
Do the understanding test: make sure they explain everything clearly and don’t use jargon. If you can explain their advice to a family friend, and if they understand it and can sense check it for you, then that’s a good way of checking that advice is sound.
What do you really, really want? be clear about the advice you are looking for and what you hope to gain from the meeting and make sure they can offer it and are focused.
Check they are regulated: they should be authorised by the FCA so check they are on its Register.
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) has released a Covid-19 poster resource pack for Men’s Sheds in Scotland.
The Association is still advising Men’s Sheds to remain closed in Phase 3 however, a recent SMSA poll – on the reopening of Sheds in Scotland – identified that 15% of the Sheds that responded are already open within the Scottish Government’s Guidelines for Phase 3.
The resource pack – currently containing 25 individual posters – will allow Sheds that are open to print off and prominently display the posters that they require for their Shed premises but also help those Sheds considering opening in the future to prepare in advance.
The SMSA is in ongoing discussions with the Scottish Government regarding the closure of Sheds and the health and safety of Shedders during the pandemic.
SMSA is currently working on the guidance (including risk assessments) for Sheds which will be issued at the appropriate time in line with Scottish Government guidance.
More people will be able to benefit from free debt advice following investment from the Scottish Government. More than £2.4 million will be distributed among a number of advice organisations to expand their services and invest in more effective methods to help individuals with problem debt.
The investment will assist projects offering face to face advice using video calls and projects aimed at moving debt solution processes online. This investment will also help the debt advice sector to manage the expected increase in demand as a result of the economic impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).
AdviceUK will be one of the new recipients of funding and has 70 Scottish-based partners who will now be able to extend their services.
Minister for Communities Aileen Campbell said: “I am pleased that this funding will enable more people to access free debt advice, especially as we expect to see increased demand on these services due to the long term effects of COVID-19.
“Our Debt Advice Routemap sets out our vision for a user-friendly and collaborative free debt advice system in Scotland. Through this additional investment we aim to distribute funds across Scotland, focusing on those hardest to reach, including those who maybe have never sought advice before.
“Debt advice services are looking at innovative new approaches, using technology and new ways of working. I would encourage anyone who finds themselves struggling with problem debt to seek help at the earliest opportunity.”
AdviceUK Executive Director Chilli Reid said: “AdviceUK warmly welcomes this funding from the Scottish Government, which will make a huge difference to people struggling with money worries.
“Our members serve communities across Scotland, and this investment will support them in their vital work tackling child poverty, supporting households on low incomes, and helping those most exposed to the impacts of COVID-19.”
The funding is part of the Financial Services Levy for debt advice which has been increased by the UK Government in response to the expected growth in demand for free debt advice due to the long-term effects of COVID-19.
The funding was devolved to the Scottish Government in 2019 and the Debt Advice Routemap was launched to help improve access to services across Scotland.
Established in 1979, Advice UK is the largest network of independent advice providers in the UK.
Granton Information Centre has continued to provide an advice service throughout the coronavirus lockdown, supporting people with debt, housing and employment issues.
If you need help to deal with mounting debts, or are unclear about which benefits you may be entitled to, call Granton Information Centre on 0131 551 2459 or 0131 552 0458 or you can email info@gic.org.uk
SafeDeposits Scotland is working with landlords who provide student accommodation to help overcome challenges brought on by Covid-19, as the number of overseas students returning to the UK drops.
During lockdown, the not-for-profit organisation reached out to landlords and tenants to provide advice and information around changes to the sector due to the pandemic. It works closely with all landlords including those that have been impacted by the decrease in students enrolling this academic year.
The Glasgow-based tenancy deposit scheme holds deposits on behalf of landlords and agents in line with government regulations designed to ensure responsible leasing.
As the sector continues to work towards pre-Covid-19 levels of activity, SafeDeposits Scotland is urging landlords to focus on providing the best renting experience for current tenants, while considering options to diversify their future tenant base.
Mike Smith, operations manager at SafeDeposits Scotland, said: “UK universities expect to see a £2.6 billion shortfall in the next academic year due to the pandemic, with 20% of domestic students not returning to university, and 75% of overseas students not enrolling this September.
“Pre-lockdown, demand for student accommodation in Scotland was notably high. Boasting some of the UK’s top universities, it’s no surprise areas including Aberdeen, Dundee, St Andrews, Glasgow and Edinburgh experienced an influx of students each year looking for housing.
But despite the drop in numbers of students expected to enrol this year, it’s evident there’s faith in the resilience of the sector, with a number of high-profile developments announced in the past month alone.
“Two recent Edinburgh examples of long-term growth within the sector include the new 120-bed purpose built student accommodation complex set to be built at Haymarket, while Unite Student has confirmed plans for a £24 million build of student flats at Meadowbank.”
To understand the concerns of landlords in the private rented sector during these unprecedented times more clearly, SafeDeposits Scotland carried out research to find out how they have coped during lockdown and how they feel about leasing property in the new academic year.
Mike explained: “We’re confident demand for student housing will return, whether it is in the private rented sector or for purpose-built accommodation. However, until we have a clearer picture of what future academic enrolment figures are like, landlords could consider alternative ways to lease properties.
A good example is renting to young professionals that are looking to move away from home for the first time. The demands of these tenants are similar to students in the private rented sector, and it can be a way of keeping properties occupied until we know more about the future of higher education.
“We recently carried out research with our landlords that are renting to students. This revealed that almost half (43%) secured new tenancies during lockdown while almost three quarters (73%) of this group expressed concerns around what this academic year will look like for them.
“To alleviate concerns, we’ve been working closely with landlords to ensure the tenants they do have in place now have the best experience. To support, we’ve moved our face-to-face workshops online to offer free advice and information. Our Charitable Trust has also recently announced its funding towards research being carried out by the University of Stirling. This research is exploring the benefits of allowing tenants more flexibility to make a house a home.
“We believe having happy tenants leads to longer tenancies, creating more vibrant communities where people want to live. This boosts local economies and helps increase demand for rental property in that area.
“The property sector has been resilient during past economic challenges, but the full impact of the pandemic is yet to be seen. We know the government is working hard to support international students hoping to return to Scotland to continue their higher education studies. This will have a hugely positive impact for our landlords who rely on overseas students to rent their properties, and hopefully we will see the results of this work.
“In the short term, we urge landlords to implement safety guidance from the Scottish Government and manage risk wherever possible, while tenants adhere to the measures put in place.”
“Plan your walk, walk your plan” is the message Sergeant Peter Lorain-Smith of Police Scotland’s Mountain Rescue Team wants to get out at this time.
Peter said: “If you are thinking of heading to our beautiful hills and mountains, it is important to be prepared by planning the route you are going to walk and having suitable equipment and clothing, as the weather up in the hills can change quickly.
“Unfortunately we have come across examples recently of walkers not being prepared for the walks that they are undertaking, including people being on the hills without maps, torches or basic survival gear, or the skills and knowledge to use them. The message remains simple – come to the hills and enjoy them, but be prepared for all eventualities and don’t go beyond your ability.
“We do not want to put anyone off enjoying the great outdoor activities we have here in Scotland but we would ask that people plan their routes, take sensible precautions and consider whether it is safe to climb a particular route. The environment of the Scottish mountains is by its very nature an unpredictable one and it is important that people take as many precautions and plan ahead as much as possible if they are going to go climbing.
“If you do find yourself in need of assistance in the mountains because of being lost or injured then please remember to phone 999 and ask for Police then Mountain Rescue, you will be helped, but because of the COVID-19 restrictions and volume of calls, it may take longer than normal for us to get to you.
“It is also very important to have respect for the Outdoor Access Code, particularly as it relates to where and when not to park, on what can often be narrow and somewhat crowded roads at this time of year. Emergency vehicles can require access to almost anywhere and a badly parked vehicle could hinder emergency access. Use designated parking areas where possible.
Granton Information Centre are delighted to announce that we are resuming our benefits/money/debt advice outreach service at Muirhouse Medical Group from the beginning of September.
The appointments are with our advisor Kay on Wednesday afternoons and can be made by contacting the surgery directly on 0131 202 4444.
Please be aware these appointments are for those people who are registered with Muirhouse Medical Group only.
For many people their right to live in their own home goes along with a responsibility to make all relevant payments to a landlord (by way of rent) or a lender (in respect of mortgage repayments).
What may seem like a (possibly just about) manageable amount to pay in good times can quickly become unmanageable and frightening when rapid, unplanned changes lead to reduced income. Although these are challenging circumstances, help is available from different services covering issues likely to relevant, including:
Issues affecting both tenants and mortgage holders:
reviewing the household budget to establish how income is spent and how it could or should be spent;
looking at the whole picture and how to prioritise debts and spending;
getting a benefit check to make all relevant benefits are in payment at the right amount and identifying those for new claims;
developing a manageable budget including (re)payment plan;
assisting/guiding in communication and negotiation with lenders and creditors;
making claims on any relevant insurance policies;
assisting with the urgent emergency as it occurs;
looking at housing options and interaction with benefits;
identifying special legislative provision arising from Covid-19 which enhances individual protection such as extension of time periods for giving of notice to tenants and moratium.
Tenants in Scotland
gaining advice and support through repossession and eviction processes;
helping to understand letters, contracts and other documents;
awareness of relevant legislation including temporary changes that extend most periods of notice to be given to the tenant during the Covid 19 emergency;
assessment of reasons for a fair end of tenancy;
representation in Housing Tribunal or Sheriffs Court.
Mortgage payers in Scotland
requesting a mortgage payment holiday (usually a voluntary arrangement of up to 3 months with those mortgage arrears accrued during the holiday repaid at a later date) and checking if any impact on credit history;
accessing Support for Mortgage Interest (a loan to help pay mortgage interest if you have been claiming income related jobseekers,income based employment and support allowance or income support for at least 39 weeks or universal credit after 9 payments. Also accessible for those on pension credit from first day of claim.
considering a formal debt management approach (specialist service) or revision to existing agreements where these exist;
seek money and/or financial advice – especially urgent if repossession process threatened/started.
If you are struggling to deal with issues like these, seek help straight away.
Granton Information Centre offers free, professional, independent advice. To find out about how Granton Information Centre can help you, telephone 0131 551 2459, 0131 552 0458 or email info@gic.org.uk
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is updating its advice to business owners and dutyholders as Scotland moves into phase three of its exit from Lockdown.
As Scotland sees an increase in ‘staycation’ holidays throughout the summer months, SFRS is urging holiday letting businesses and duty holders to ensure that premises being used as rental accommodation meet the appropriate level of fire safety provisions.
Scotland’s national fire service is urging business owners and duty holders to consider the following steps:
Carry out a fire risk assessment for your premises or a review of your existing fire safety risk assessment as soon as possible to determine if any further actions are required
Ensure that you have provided the required level of automatic fire detection to safeguard sleeping occupants
Ensure you have provided the required level of firefighting equipment
Ensure that occupants know what to do in the event of an emergency
Check that all means of escape routes are adequately protected to allow a safe evacuation
Alasdair Perry, SFRS Deputy Assistant Chief Officer for Prevention and Protection, said: “We appreciate that businesses and dutyholders who run holiday rentals will be excited to re-open and welcome people back to their facilities in the coming weeks and months.
“As demand for accommodation will undoubtedly increase, we are acutely aware that this could place pressure on business owners – however safety from fire must remain high on their priorities.
“We are therefore asking anyone who rents out a property as a holiday let to ensure that a thorough fire safety assessment has been carried out to determine if any action is required, before welcoming any guests to your facility.
“It is also important that those visiting are kept safe and aware of what fire safety measures are in place, and they know what to do should a fire occur during their stay.
“It goes without saying that these recent months have been trying times for Scotland as a whole, but we cannot become complacent and must continue to work together to drive down the risk of fire across the country.”
Recently, SFRS has also highlighted safety and awareness guidance to ensure that social distancing and protection measures within businesses do not impact on overall fire safety; and warned against the risk posed by excess stock and packaging.
As more and more retail outlets, public areas and workplaces continue to re-open, businesses and duty-holders are advised to ensure stock rooms and fire exits do not become blocked by surplus materials to allow for safe and easy passage in the event of an emergency or fire drill.
Premises owners and operators are also asked to look at the possibility of increasing waste collections to avoid overspill, and to ensure goods are stored safely and appropriately.
DACO Perry added: “We’ve already seen some businesses and buildings reopen, but we understand for many this will be the first time they will have opened their doors for quite some time.
“We appreciate that many workplaces will have taken robust measures to protect staff and members of the public through means such as the installation of plastic screening.
“However, we would also ask that businesses consider what impact any changes or installations could have on fire detection or fire safety measures.
“For example, it is possible that screening installation, along with any increased loading or materials in the premises, may obstruct automatic fire detection apparatus such as smoke alarms.
“We would also remind people to manage their premises for excess stock and waste and to consider if this would increase the risk of a fire, or hamper fire safety measures and escape plans.
“We would also remind both staff and members of the public that one-way systems in place, installed to manage social distancing, need not be followed in the event of any emergency. If fire occurs, occupants of buildings should continue to leave by the nearest exit or emergency route as quickly as possible.”
