Tag: applications invited

HIT Scotland invites Scottish hospitality talent to unlock potential through scholarships programme

Leading industry charity, Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scotland is encouraging applications from Scottish hospitality workers and students for its 2024 scholarship programme.  

2024 will see the charity celebrate its 30th anniversary and award its 7000th scholarship – it awards over 200 scholarships annually. A HIT Scotland scholarship is a learning experience designed to provide new skills and knowledge, stimulate best practice and fresh ways of thinking. Scholarships vary year to year depending on what the industry is looking for – this year, it will offer a mix of scholarships across three categories: business, operational and inspirational. 

To celebrate the 30th anniversary milestone, the charity is presenting three new bespoke inspirational scholarships – these will expand on their usual inspirational scholarships, offering a bigger and more prestigious experience for the recipients. 

This year also sees HIT Scotland honouring the memory of great service to the industry with the new Lisa Wishart scholarship. Presented to someone in the licensed trade, this development opportunity has been kindly funded by donations from the recent Scottish Bar & Pub Awards, and will be awarded to someone who shows the same passion for the industry as Lisa did. 

HIT Scotland is also spearheading the inaugural Müller Milk & Ingredients scholarships, which are recognising the huge talent within the Scottish council catering services. 

Applications close midnight on Sunday 19th November 2023, with applicants invited to choose one scholarship that will help aid their personal development within their hospitality role. Anyone working in or studying towards a career in Scottish hospitality can apply. 

David Cochrane, HIT Scotland Chief Executive, commented: “We want applicants to really show us their passion for our industry and demonstrate how the experience will help them. For many years now, our scholarships have been empowering inspirational development in Scottish hospitality, helping both individuals and the sector at large grow.  

“I’d like to thank our sponsors for their continued support of the fundraising events that allow us to keep providing these development opportunities for the industry. Thanks also go to The Savoy Educational Trust, The Crerar Trust, The MacRobert Trust, Diageo Learning for Life, and Hickory for their generous support of our scholarship programme.” 

Angela Vickers, chair of HIT Scotland and CEO of Apex Hotels, added: “It is exciting to be offering three inspirational scholarships to celebrate HIT Scotland’s 30th year – these will offer a one-of-a-kind learning opportunity for the recipients. 

“We cannot wait to hear from the ambitious, passionate individuals working and learning in Scottish hospitality and help them achieve their goals.” 

To find out more about the scholarships HIT Scotland offer and apply, visit the website: hitscotland.co.uk/scholarships-hit 

Call for Chair of Edinburgh International Film Festival

Returning Edinburgh to a ‘must attend’ in the film festival calendar

Screen Scotland is facilitating the appointment of a Chair to lead the formation and operation of the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) from 2024 and a return of Edinburgh to a ‘must attend’ in the film festival calendar.   

As the EIFF’s primary public funder, Screen Scotland has been working with industry to develop an initial vision for the re-imagined Festival, and this will inform the selection of the Chair.    

The ambition at the heart of this vision includes: 

  • The establishment of an Edinburgh International Film Festival from 2024 that embraces its origins as a festival of discovery and its location in Edinburgh in August with a focus on creative origination and a participatory, experiential approach.   
  • A compact, compelling programme of new fiction features, documentaries and shorts augmented by gala and retrospective titles, as well as live events, providing an interplay between the world’s most exciting new voices and revered, established talent.  This dynamic will play out against the backdrop of the world’s largest cultural event – Edinburgh’s August festivals – in any number of imaginative ways to be developed by the Film Festival’s creative team.     
  • Filmmakers in selection will be given a unique platform as part of a select programme.  They will be invited to play and create with other makers and storytellers from across the Edinburgh festival landscape.  The EIFF will aim to offer a high-profile prize in each competition section.  
  • EIFF will aim to attract diverse and younger audiences due to its energy, programming and proximity to the Festival Fringe.  
  • For those attending the festival from industry, the EIFF’s official programme will also provide an experiential programme of events and unique talent mixers to encourage creative executives, talent agents, producers and acquisitions execs to engage with talent from across the storytelling and visual art landscape.   

Isabel Davis, Screen Scotland’s Executive Director said: “This is a golden opportunity for EIFF to seize the unique spirit of festival, creation and discovery that August in Edinburgh represents.    

“It will take an exceptional individual to breathe new life into the rekindled Festival – one who can identify and encourage a team to be ambitious, playful, creative and entrepreneurial, who understands the financial challenges and commercial opportunities ahead, and bring strong governance skills into the setup process.  

Davis added that: “EIFF in August is a counterpoint to the nationally significant and highly respected Glasgow Film Festival in March, with both festivals providing exposure for Scottish talent across the year and offering a diverse, high-quality range of films to audiences across Scotland.

“We’re especially thankful to 2023 EIFF programming director Kate Taylor, who will be announcing her selection in the weeks to come and who is already embracing the spirit of 2024 and beyond.  And enormous gratitude to the Edinburgh International Festival who have thrown a sisterly arm around EIFF for 2023 and are generously hosting it in this exceptional year.” 

Culture Minister Christina McKelvie said: “Following the 2023 edition of the film festival taking place under the umbrella of the Edinburgh International Festival, I am delighted that Screen Scotland are taking these steps to secure the future of the EIFF for 2024 and beyond.  

“Given this key moment in the film festival’s prestigious 76-year history, I am sure there will be a lot of interest in this exciting and important role. It is an opportunity to take forward the vital work of the film festival and the strategic part it plays not only in the overall line-up of our international summer festivals in Edinburgh, but in shaping the future of Scotland’s burgeoning screen sector.” 

The recruitment pack provides full details and how to apply.  Deadline for applications is 12 noon, Monday 12 June, 2023. 

Charities invited to apply to become Scotmid’s annual Charity Partner

Applications close on 14th April 2023

Leading community retailer, Scotmid, is inviting charities across Edinburgh to become its charity partner of the year for 2023-24, working together on a programme of fundraising and support.

The convenience retailer is looking for an organisation that shares its values and passion for supporting local communities. Together, both will build a creative and fun partnership to encourage participation and fundraising from colleagues, members and customers alike.

Current charity partner, Guide Dogs, will use the donations from Scotmid to support guide dogs in training as well as recruiting and training Habilitation Specialists and Guide Dog Mobility Specialists.

These Specialists play a crucial role with hundreds of children and young people (0-25 years) who have a visual impairment to help them develop a broad range of skills and live a more independent life.

Kyla McVicar, Business Development Manager at Guide Dogs, said: “We’d encourage charities to apply for this exciting opportunity to be Scotmid’s next charity partner.

“You’ll be joining forces with an incredible organisation who really care about making a massive difference in local communities.”

Shirley MacGillivray, Head of Membership & Community at Scotmid, said: “The charity of the year partnership provides both a fantastic platform for us to support worthwhile causes and for our charity partner to have the extended support of our colleagues, members and customers.

“We are seeking an ambitious charity that will make the most of this incredible opportunity and can’t wait to begin working with the cause.”

Scotmid has raised over one million pounds during its last three partnerships with CHAS, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and Scottish SPCA.

Scotmid’s Charities Team will host a live Q&A at 11am on Wednesday 29th March. Joining information available from membership@scotmid.co.uk.

Charities can find more information on how to apply here.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday, 14th April 2023.

Duncan Place Community & Enterprise Hub launches £300 Community Event Fund

Duncan Place Community & Enterprise Hub is ready and waiting to welcome you inside.

With restrictions easing we can once again come together to learn, share, and enjoy making, watching and taking part in community activities.

If you would like to hold a community event, workshop, class, performance or similar, then apply to be in with a chance of winning £300 (plus room hire) to help make it happen!

We have 6 pots of £300 to hold events in the coming months.

Pots of £300 will be awarded as follows:

  • for an event for those aged 12yrs and under.
  • for an event for those aged 13-18yrs.
  • for an event for senior members of our community.
  • for a multi-generational event.
  • others.

Criteria:

  1. Your community event must take place in Duncan Place and be open to the Leith community.
  2. If your event will cost more than £300 you must be able to evidence that the remaining budget is in place.
  3. All health and safety and covid guidance in place at the time of the event must be followed.
  4. Any required insurance must be in place by the time of the event.
  5. Any re-usable equipment purchased for the events will remain the property of Duncan Place for use at future community events.

How it will work

Complete the application form and return it by Mon 1st November 2021.

The trustees will consider all applications, choose the winners and their decision will be final and suitable dates will be agreed upon.

We will accept applications from individuals or from groups/ organisations.

Duncan Place trustees are open to considering all types of community events but are particularly keen to support those that could be repeated to help reduce social isolation in Leith.

Forms can be returned by email to: info@duncanplace.org or by post to Nicola Lamberton, Duncan Place Community & Enterprise Hub, 4 Duncan Place, Leith, EH6 7NT

The successful applicant will be announced on or before Mon 20th December 2021.

Event planning and delivery can then take place in the months that follow.

If you are unsuccessful in being awarded one of the £300 pots but have another way of funding your class, workshop, performance etc, please remember that we offer affordable room hire. Please enquire via info@duncanplace.org

There is no minimum or maximum number of words. Please just let the boxes expand as needed.

This is the first time the Duncan place trustees have opened this fund.

We aim for it to be as simple and inclusive as possible.

We are open to considering all sorts of ideas so please just give it a try – you never know where it might lead!

It can be a one-off, or a small series of events over a few days/ weeks – just go with your ideal & we’ll consider it.

Application Form