Local company achieves Investors in People Platinum accreditation

Warmworks Scotland, managing agent of the Scottish Government’s  national fuel poverty scheme, Warmer Homes Scotland, has achieved the prestigious Investors in People Platinum accreditation.

To have received the highest level accreditation means that Warmworks has become only the second organisation in Scotland to achieve a Platinum award in its first assessment against the standard.

For nearly 30 years, Investors in People has been recognised internationally as a leading people accreditation and Warmworks’ achievement reflects the commitments that the company makes to its employees – leading and inspiring people to achieve great things on a daily basis.

Commenting on the accreditation, Ross Armstrong, Managing Director of Warmworks said: “I am absolutely delighted that Warmworks has been awarded the Investors in People accreditation, Platinum standard. This was our first assessment against the standard and to receive the highest level accreditation is a testament to how we do business.

“I am extremely proud and privileged to be a part of this amazing organisation, one that has already achieved so much in the four years since it was formed. The next step for us is to use our unique, values-driven culture as our starting point for our future growth and development, ensuring that we maximise this platform to build an equally exciting and inspiring future.”

 Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith said:  “Warmworks do vital work in my constituency, delivering the Scottish Government’s nationwide energy efficiency scheme and helping to lift many of my constituents out of fuel poverty.

“That’s why I was so delighted when Warmworks received the Investors in People Platinum accreditation. This demonstrates not only their commitment to their employees but also their determination to lead by example as an employer of choice.”

Warmworks, based in Leith, was founded in 2015 and employs around 70 field and office-based employees. It also manages a supply chain of 300+, which cover the length and breadth of Scotland.

Local volunteer receives award at Scottish Parliament

North Edinburgh local, Colin Brown, was presented with an award at the Scottish Parliament, in recognition of his volunteer charity work with Children 1st’s Parentline.

The People’s Postcode Lottery ‘Spirit of Parentline’ Awards celebrated the qualities in volunteers that allow Parentline to lend a helping hand to children and families across Scotland – by phone, email and webchat. Continue reading Local volunteer receives award at Scottish Parliament

Veteran Edinburgh firefighter’s ‘ultimate accolade’ as vehicle named in his honour

An Edinburgh-based Watch Commander – who is one the UK’s longest serving members of the fire and rescue service – is to have a fire appliance named in his honour. Continue reading Veteran Edinburgh firefighter’s ‘ultimate accolade’ as vehicle named in his honour

Success for Edinburgh College at CDN College Awards

Two awards for Edinburgh College at CDN Awards 2019

Edinburgh College scooped two honours at the sectors major awards ceremony last night – celebrating the talent of both its students and staff.

Dean Clark, a 32-year-old HND Retail Management student (above), was named Student of the Year at the College Development Network (CDN) College Awards for the positive impact he had on others while establishing the College’s first ever student-led shop, Bizarre Bazaar.

Dean, who is from Wester Hailes, project-managed a team of his fellow retail students as well as working alongside students and staff from the College’s Built Environment and Creative Industries faculties to create the new shop in a bid to gain first-hand experience of setting up and running a new small business.

In addition, Dean recruited volunteers from a programme aimed at supporting people seeking employment, a programme Dean previously went through himself. References have since been provided for the volunteers to help them in looking for future work.

The College’s second prize of the night was awarded to the Marketing team. The collected the Marketing and Communications category for their ‘Your Future Starts Now’ exam results campaign.

The team developed an integrated campaign aimed at increasing applications, application conversion and to improve customer service following Exam Results Day. The team’s activity led to a 258% increase in applications compared to the same three-day period the previous year.

In addition, recent BMus graduate Jack McKenzie was commended in the Student of the Year category after he saved the College’s orchestra from disbanding and led it to play shows across Scotland. The team behind the creation of Engineering’s HNC Mechanical Engineering (Enhance Distance Learning) was also commended in the Digital Learning category.

Student of the Year Dean Clark said: “I’m thrilled to have won this award. When we set out to create Bizarre-Bazaar, we really just wanted to get some real-life experience of retail, however, it grew to be an amazing project which brought different areas of the College together.

“To receive this recognition for this is brilliant and makes me feel very proud.”

Principal Audrey Cumberford said: “What a great achievement for the staff and students at Edinburgh College.

“Congratulations to Dean, our retail superstar who achieved so much during his time with at the College. His legacy is more than the retail space he worked hard to create, but also the impact he had on classmates and lecturers. Well done, Dean.

“Our Marketing team are also thoroughly deserving of their award. The team worked tirelessly on a terrific campaign to ensure school leavers and others receiving exam results could make the best possible decisions to help them pursue their chosen careers.

“Well done also to Jack McKenzie and our Engineering curriculum team who received commendations on the night.

“Everyone at Edinburgh College is very proud of you all, congratulations.”

Let’s hear it for our hard-working councillors!

Home advantage for four city councillors!

LGiU (Local Government Information Unit) Scotland and sponsora CCLA have unveiled the shortlist for the 2019 Councillor Awards.

For the second year running, the Councillor Awards have been showcasing the best of local government. The Councillor Awards are the only national awards ceremony to celebrate the achievements of individual councillors across Scotland.  Continue reading Let’s hear it for our hard-working councillors!

Success for BBC Scotland at Scottish Baftas

BBC Scotland, the BBC’s new digital channel for Scotland, which launched in February this year, celebrated a clean sweep at the Bafta Scotland awards ceremony in Glasgow on Sunday night, picking up a bumper crop of gongs across multiple categories.
The evening saw the channel triumph in every category it was nominated in, alongside an evening of BBC success which included the creative team behind Still Game receiving an Outstanding Contribution To Television award (winners detailed below).

Continue reading Success for BBC Scotland at Scottish Baftas

Parliament celebrates Edinburgh students awarded top marks in Modern Studies

On Saturday the Parliament hosted the Modern Studies Association Annual Conference 2019, hosted by The Deputy Presiding Officer, Christine Grahame MSP.

Part of the day included presenting an SQA Advance Higher Award and SQA Higher Awards  for the most outstanding students in the country. Continue reading Parliament celebrates Edinburgh students awarded top marks in Modern Studies