BT – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

BT reveals more than 160 kiosks up for grabs in Scotland as red phone box approaches 100th birthday

Ahead of the iconic red phone box turning 100 years of age, BT has revealed that more than 160 of its kiosks are currently up for grabs across Scotland.

Architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott designed the first incarnation of the famous red phone box for a competition in 1924.

In recent years, however, with 98% of the adult population now using a mobile phone, and significant improvements to mobile coverage, there has been a huge decline in the usage of payphones across the UK.

There are now around 2,200 remaining working payphones across Scotland, around 470 of which are in traditional red kiosks.

Across the UK, around 20,000 working payphones remain in operation. The number of phone boxes across the UK peaked in the 1990s at around 100,000.

BT is now urging communities across Scotland to continue to take advantage of its kiosk adoption scheme to help transform its underused red phone boxes into other purposes.

Since BT introduced its Adopt a Kiosk programme in 2008, around 550 phone boxes have been taken on by communities across Scotland for just £1 each.

Across the UK, more than 7,200 have been adopted so far. The kiosks can be adopted by registered charities, community councils and local authorities.

Redundant phone boxes have been adopted and turned into a range of facilities over the years, from defibrillator units and libraries, to mini art galleries and local museums.

BT is continuing to review its remaining estate of payphones, removing those that are no longer being used, in line with rules set out by Ofcom. Ofcom revised its guidance last year on payphone removals, reflecting improvements made in mobile coverage and the number of calls made from individual payphones each year.

Michael Smy, Head of Street at BT, said: “With the vast majority of people now using mobile phones, and significant improvements to mobile coverage across the UK, we’ve continued to see a big drop in the number of calls made from payphones.

“That’s why we’re continuing to review our payphones estate, making sure we’re prioritising the removal of those not being used, in line with Ofcom’s latest guidance.

“With the iconic red kiosk about to turn 100, it’s a great opportunity to remind communities that would still like to retain their local kiosk to take it on for just £1 through our Adopt a Kiosk scheme. We’ve already seen some great kiosk conversions across the UK that have become valuable community assets.”

The 201 Telephone Box Gallery near St Andrews (top)

Fife-based artist Lada Wilson came across a redundant red phone box in the village of Strathkinness near St Andrews and hatched a plan to turn it into a mini art gallery.

With the support of the local Strathkinness Community Trust, the phone box was taken on by the community for £1 through the Adopt a Kiosk scheme and turned into the 201 Telephone Box Gallery.

Since opening in 2018, there have been more than 25 exhibitions in the mini art space which showcases community-based, contemporary art by local, national and international artists.

Lada Wilson, artist-curator and founder of the 201 Telephone Box Gallery, said: “It’s been great to take this historic and underused, iconic red kiosk and turn it into a community asset.

“The gallery turned five years old earlier this year and as an artist-curator, I’m really proud of the role it’s played in bringing contemporary art to the village.”

Lada said that the aim of the project was about giving back to the community. She says that the 201 Gallery has helped inspire other kiosk galleries across the UK.

Lada added: “I’ve been really pleased with the level of support it gets and I’ve had people coming to me from across the country asking how I did it.

“Thanks to BT’s Adopt a Kiosk scheme, we were able to make it happen in the first place, so I’d encourage any other communities interested in doing something similar with the redundant phone boxes in their areas to go for it.”

Red kiosks currently available to adopt in Scottish council areas:

Scottish Borders	32
Highland	31
City of Edinburgh	24
Argyll and Bute	17
Shetland	11
Fife	7
Angus	6
Aberdeenshire	5
Orkney	4
Clackmannanshire	4
Na h-Eileanan an Iar	3
Perth and Kinross	3
South Lanarkshire	3
Dundee City	2
Moray	2
East Dunbartonshire	2
Glasgow City	1
North Lanarkshire	1
Midlothian	1
Stirling	1
East Ayrshire	1
South Ayrshire	1

BT secures contract worth up to £350 million to enhance and futureproof Scotland’s public sector connectivity

BT has secured a multi-million pound contract worth up to £350 million over the next six years to become the sole provider to deliver public sector connectivity across Scotland.

The Scottish Wide Area Network (SWAN) contract, which has been awarded by NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) on behalf of the Scottish Government, will accelerate the digital transformation of Scotland’s public sector including to some of the most rural areas across the country.

The contract will allow for better communication, data sharing and collaboration across more than 6,000 sites, including 94 public sector organisations. Schools, hospitals, GP surgeries, pharmacies, every NHS Board and local government offices will benefit from significantly faster and improved fibre broadband and mobile connections and resilience.

BT’s investment in future-proofing its infrastructure will accelerate fibre and mobile connectivity to some of the most remote parts of Scotland, helping to deliver on the digital ambitions of the Scottish Government.

As well as bridging the gap between urban and rural areas, benefits for the public are likely to include time saving with patients, for example, being able to be seen remotely by clinicians rather than having to travel long distances across islands.

With 22 NHS Scotland boards, 278 general and community hospitals and more than 900 GP practices set to be connected to the network, BT’s investment in SWAN will support essential public health services, reducing costs and increasing the efficiency of connected organisations.

Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Michael Matheson said: “This major investment from the Scottish Government, and our public sector partners, will make sure that staff across our public services have access to rapid and reliable connections with a greater capacity and bandwidth.

“The SWAN programme will drive benefits for communities across Scotland, making sure that no one is left behind and can access the benefits of technology.”

BT Group employs around 7,000 colleagues in Scotland who live and work in nearly every community in the country. Relying on the use of public services themselves ensures these colleagues are committed to making these services the best that they can be for their own communities.

Alan Lees, Director for Business, BT in Scotland, said: “BT is committed to playing its part in helping to shape and to deliver transformational public sector services for people across Scotland now and into the future.

“BT is proud to become the sole provider of next generation connectivity services to the Scottish public sector via the SWAN Framework. We strongly believe in the difference that highly resilient and secure connectivity can make to the delivery of public services in Scotland and with our expertise and investment we can accelerate the digital transformation of services to the public.

“This contract will see us deliver a cost effective and innovative communications framework, which will benefit public sector employees, citizens and services in ways that we have not seen before.

“We have access to the largest next generation networks. Our mobile network EE was the first to launch 5G in Scotland and EE now has by far the highest levels of 4G coverage across Scotland’s landmass at 75%, which is 8% higher than our nearest competitor.

“We’re able to help the public sector to do things that they never imagined possible before, supporting our shared ambition of ‘Connecting Scotland for Good.’”

Mary Morgan, Chief Executive of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), said: “This is a significant milestone for NSS, and for the many partner organisations across the public sector who depend upon SWAN, including NHS Scotland.

“Swift and secure connectivity is at the heart of modern future-facing public services. Robust digital infrastructure is key to successful innovation and service improvements that will benefit citizens, families and communities.

“We are pleased to have secured this long-term partnership with BT in Scotland. NSS will continue to manage the SWAN Network effectively on behalf of its members so that together we can deliver for all citizens and stakeholders.”

BT Group adds £1.5 billion to Scottish economy

· BT Group’s activities provided estimated boost of £1.5bn to the Scottish economy last year and supported nearly 15,000 jobs across Scotland

· Estimates include the knock-on impact of the spend of employees and payment to suppliers in local economies in all parts of the country

· The company spent £190m with suppliers based in Scotland last year

The activities of BT Group added £1.5 billion to the wider economy of Scotland last year and supported nearly 15,000 jobs, according to a new report published today.

The report from consultancy firm Hatch looked at the spend of employees and suppliers of BT Group – which includes EE, BT, Plusnet and Openreach – and the estimated knock-on impact that has on economies across the country.

The report found that BT Group, the UK’s largest telecommunications company which employs more than 7,500 people in Scotland, made a direct contribution to the Scottish economy estimated at £1billion in the last financial year (2021/22).

Through the company’s employees and its supply chain, and their subsequent spending, Hatch estimates the resulting boost to the Scottish economy came to a total of £1.5 billion.

The company’s spending with suppliers based in Scotland came to a total of £190 million. According to the study, BT Group’s combined activities supported a knock-on total of 14,900 jobs across Scotland.

The report highlights BT Group’s presence across Scotland and its current major investment in the rollout of full-fibre broadband and 5G across the country. It also profiles the range of activities by BT Group colleagues across the UK, from the volunteers helping care home residents avoid isolation and loneliness, to the teams protecting customers and the country from cyber threats.

BT Group is also transforming its offices and contact centres across the UK and has already announced plans to open a brand new contact centre on Dundee’s waterfront which will become home to around 1,000 colleagues and is currently carrying out a multi-million pound refurbishment of its Glasgow office which will also house approximately 1,000 colleagues.

It is part of the company’s Better Workplace Programme, one of the largest workplace improvement schemes of its type ever undertaken in the UK. The five-year programme will see the company shift from having around 300 locations in the UK to around 30, with a focus on creating new, modern workspaces.

Philip Jansen, Chief Executive of BT Group, said: “BT Group plays a vital role at the heart of the Scottish economy. We’re one of only a handful of companies that serves customers in every corner of the country.

“We’ve continued our major investment in building next generation full fibre and mobile connectivity rapidly across the UK. We’ve already reached 9.6 million premises with full fibre, and our 5G mobile network now reaches 60% of the UK population. The benefits to families and businesses are huge: new jobs, economic growth and innovation, across every nation and region.

“We’re also transforming BT Group so that we’re fit to power the Scottish economy of the future. Our new state-of-the-art offices, spread across the UK, are a central part of that, bringing colleagues together in brilliant spaces that will enable collaboration and help us to better serve our customers.”

The Group, via its digital network business Openreach, is already delivering ultrafast full-fibre broadband across Scotland while its mobile business EE is a leader on mobile coverage.

EE’s 5G network is across many cities, towns and now expanding to rural communities, while 4G mobile coverage is at 75% of Scotland’s landmass.

The Group has recently announced contract wins with major Scottish companies such as Scottish Power, supporting their global growth, and it provides innovative, secure connectivity solutions over broadband and mobile to the public sector across the country.

SEPA’s flood messaging system to include multiple hazard warnings

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is set to upgrade its Floodline messaging system and incorporate other hazard notifications for communities and businesses across Scotland.

Since 2011, the Flood Warning Dissemination system has issued regional flood alerts and local flood warnings to at risk areas 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone can sign up to receive advance notice of flooding via an automated text or phone call for the area where they live, work or travel.

Work is now beginning to transform the system and improve the customer experience by using advanced digital technology.

The new Future Flood and Incident Messaging Service (FFIMS) will involve an initial phase of developments over the next year, including dynamic and location-based alerts. This means notifications will be more targeted to users within a set radius of areas at risk of flooding.

Other digital communication options will be included such as mobile alerts and email to make accessing local and live flooding information easier than ever before.

A second development phase will see localised three-day flood forecasts developed in addition to the national Scottish Flood Forecast, which is planned to go live in the next couple of months.

Digital developments which are resilient will be at the heart of FFIMS and will integrate with social media, Google and other web notification systems. SEPA will also explore the integration of multiple hazards within the new system.

These include a water scarcity alerting service highlighting where droughts are possible. This gives businesses time to plan ahead for water extraction, protecting both them and the environment.

BT, supported by HTK, has been awarded the contract to provide the new service for the next 12 years, delivering the digital innovations required. The contract is also the first where suppliers are required to deliver ambitious targets in line with SEPA’s Regenerative Goal.

Within this decade, SEPA aims to reduce all of its emissions and impacts to zero or net zero, while at the same time taking actions that repair the environment.

Pascal Lardet, Flood Unit Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said: “SEPA has a pivotal role to play in helping communities avoid flood risk where they can, adapt where they cannot and act when warned of flooding.

“Developing a messaging system, which is both resilient and innovative, is key to ensuring residents and businesses have the information relevant to them when it matters most.

“The science on climate change is clear that extreme weather events are likely to increase in the future. Flooding is just one example that poses a real threat to people and property. The impacts can be devastating and that’s why it’s more important than ever to have a system like this in place.”

Senga Thomson, BT’s public sector lead for Scotland, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with SEPA on this project to modernise this important service. As climate change continues to affect our homes and businesses, it’s vital that people can access real-time, accurate information on the risk of flooding in their area.

“BT already plays a unique role in keeping vital services connected, whatever the weather, including handling all 999 calls and supporting the emergency services in Scotland. We’re pleased we can extend our role to help transform the Floodline service to make it fit for the future.”

Marlon Bowser, co-founder and CEO of HTK commented; “I am delighted that our Horizon platform has been chosen to underpin this significant evolution of the Floodline service through enhanced digital and mobile communications, automation of incident messaging, and the increased personalisation of content.

“It is a genuine privilege to work with BT and SEPA on such an essential and worthwhile initiative.”

Foysol Choudhury MSP gets up to speed with broadband

Holyrood drop-in session highlights the national digital network’s plans for Scotland’s ultrafast future and commitment to apprenticeship programme

Lothian MSP Foysol Choudhury met engineers and apprentices from Openreach to discuss the roll out of full fibre broadband and the economic benefits fast, reliable connectivity is bringing to Scotland’s economy during a drop-in session at the Scottish Parliament.

The Lothian MSP was updated on work being done to upgrade the country’s broadband network – including across the Lothians, where 190,000 properties now have access to the new, ultrafast technology. He also met apprentices Hayley Goldthorpe and Jack Cotton to hear first-hand about their experiences.

Openreach recently announced it will create and fill around 500 more Scottish jobs during 2022 – including around 390 apprenticeships – as it continues to invest billions of pounds into its UK broadband network, people and training.

Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “Reliable connectivity is a hugely important feature of life in modern Scotland and a necessity for people living and working across Lothian. Openreach engineers and apprentices are working tirelessly to roll out full fibre broadband to more local homes and businesses each week.

“The event in parliament was a great opportunity to quiz management about the priorities ahead and the challenges in more complex areas of build – and discuss how policy changes could help. It was great to learn more about opportunities that can be unlocked, especially for remote and rural communities, by ultra-reliable full fibre broadband.”

According to thinkbroadband, the UK’s largest independent broadband news and information site, nearly 95 per cent of Scots can currently access superfast broadband at 30Mbps+.

At the beginning of the year Openreach announced that more than half a million Scottish homes and businesses can connect to its new gigabit-capable, full fibre network.

Around 40 locations across Lothian – from Edinburgh to Gullane, Loanhead and Dechmont – are included in its plans to reach 25m premises with the technology by the end of 2026.

The drop-in session was hosted by Fraser Rowberry, Openreach’s Chief Engineer for Scotland, who thanked Emma Harper MSP for sponsoring the event.

Fraser Rowberry said: “We know that reliable, ultrafast internet connections can have a transformative effect on businesses, online learning and people’s daily lives. That’s why we at Openreach are committed to rolling them out to homes and business premises across Scotland.

“Research from Cebr last year evidenced the hugely positive economic impact universal connections could have in Scotland. A comprehensive full fibre network could enable 76,000 people to re-enter the workforce and contribute billions of pounds to the Scottish economy.

“We were delighted to be able to take that positive story to MSPs and set out our vision and plans for bringing ultrafast broadband to more of Scotland.”

BT partners with local authorities in Edinburgh to boost mobile coverage

500 small cells will be deployed in towns and cities across the UK to enhance EE 4G coverage

BT is partnering with local authorities in UK towns and cities, including Edinburgh, to boost mobile coverage by mounting small cell antennas on street furniture such as lampposts and CCTV columns.

The technology and telecoms firm is also using its own assets, including phone boxes and its Street Hub 2.0 digital units, so its mobile arm EE can house hundreds of small cells to boost capacity in high demand areas.

Small cells are mobile radio cells that help to provide better coverage for customers at street level, where it’s often impractical to install larger mobile masts or where an offloading capability is required.

The programme will allow EE customers to experience uninterrupted data speeds of up to 300Mbps in the two Scottish cities along with others such as Glasgow, Leeds, Greater Manchester, London, Birmingham and Nottingham.

The infrastructure will be delivered over the next 18 months and can also support 5G network coverage in the future. In addition to enabling small cell deployment by EE, BT is also working with other UK mobile network operators to deploy small cells around the UK to help extend and densify their high-speed mobile network coverage.

Brian More O’Ferrall, Director, Mobile Operators in BT’s Enterprise business, said: “Around 200 of the small cells are already live and are helping to boost 4G coverage for EE customers in towns and cities across the UK.

“We have worked closely with our local authority partners to utilise their street furniture, as well as our own assets, to improve connectivity in these areas.

“Ensuring good digital infrastructure is a priority for many councils, especially with the rise in mobile device ownership and growth in demand for data and connectivity, and they have seen the benefits that such partnerships can provide.

“Not only does it mean that average download speeds can often double in some areas, but it’s also more efficient and means there is a reduced need for new cell masts in the localities.

“We’re pleased to be working with EE and other mobile network operators to deliver this coverage boost.”

EE was the first UK network to combine unlicensed and licensed spectrum in a single 4G small cell. Using Licensed-assisted access (LAA) allows network operators to exploit the additional capacity of 5GHz spectrum for a downlink to the mobile phone. Not only does this provide additional capacity but also improves the quality of service of key mobile functions, such as video streaming.

The small cells will be deployed across the UK including the following areas:

Birmingham
Croydon
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Leeds
Greater London (including numerous London boroughs)
Greater Manchester
Newcastle
Nottingham
Leicester
Cardiff

Depute Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council and Smart Cities Lead, Cammy Day, said: “This is an innovative use of space – using the Council’s existing CCTV cameras to accelerate the roll out of high-density mobile coverage and close the digital divide in some of our most disadvantaged communities.

“We are already investing in our CCTV to keep Edinburgh safe and make our systems modern and sustainable. And we know that there are lower levels of fixed or high-speed internet in parts of the city where we have CCTV coverage. That’s why we’re driving forward this initiative with BT, which will encourage providers to invest in improving mobile coverage, capacity and speeds in key parts of the city.

“It makes perfect sense to make the most out of the sites we already have and avoid any unnecessary extra street clutter, and it is innovation like this which is making sure Edinburgh has the very best mobile infrastructure in place and developing our position as one of the world’s leading smart cities!”

BT is using its new Street Hub 2.0 units to site small cells and further boost connectivity, which comes after a recent survey by the company found that two thirds of small firms agree that mobile connectivity could be improved in their area.

The new units have already been rolled out in Glasgow, Nottingham and London. Subject to local planning processes, BT is aiming to roll out around 300 Street Hub 2.0 units across the UK this year, working closely with local councils and communities.

Yesterday’s announcement also comes after the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport recently launched its new Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator (DCIA) scheme to enable telecoms firms to get easier access to public buildings and street lights, bus shelters and traffic lights to mount small cell equipment for 4G and 5G networks.

Through the pilots managed by DCIA, BT will be working closely with DCMS and local authority partners to further accelerate small cell deployment across the UK.

National Mentoring Day: UK SMES to get 1-2-1 mentoring from Liz Earle MBE and Levi Roots

Small businesses can win a mentoring session with the Dragons Den star and Wellbeing Entrepreneur

Caribbean cuisine entrepreneur Levi Roots and beauty and wellness megabrand founder Liz Earle are leading a new campaign to encourage UK small businesses to unlock the benefits of digital skills training to help drive their post-pandemic growth and prosperity.

The ‘Get mentored, Get growing’ campaign highlights a partnership between BT and Google, that offers free one-to-one mentoring sessions for UK small businesses and charities covering a range of topics including digital marketing, e-commerce and business strategy.

This comes as BT research* shows almost half of all UK small firms (49 per cent) said they worried their business wouldn’t survive without external support. Meanwhile, 64 per cent said they’d be more likely to adopt new technologies if the IT and telecoms industry provided training.

As an extension of their mentoring programme, BT and Google are offering small businesses the opportunity to win a one-to-one mentoring session with Levi and Liz, where they can learn from their experiences of building and scaling a brand as well as adapting to a digital-first world.

To enter small businesses must enter at Sign Up: 1-to-1 Mentoring with BT and Google and the must meet the following criteria:

18 and over
UK based small business, we can ask for proof of a registered UK business address if required.
Small business with under 50 employees
They must be available on 15th November, Tuesday 16th at 10:00AM, Thursday 18th at 10:00AM, 19th November (11:00AM onwards)
They must want to be mentored on one or more the following topics:
- Building your brand
- Building an online community
- Time management
- Team collaboration

All entrants are subject to the terms and conditions.**

Ronan Harris, Google’s UK MD, said: ”We’re proud to partner with BT and the participating business leaders on this inspirational program.

“Equipping small businesses with the digital tools needed to grow and succeed, is not only integral to future proofing the UK business landscape but it’s the next step in the UK’s journey to economic recovery. We’re committed to making sure shared knowledge and digital skills are as accessible as possible and make a lasting impact for the entrepreneurs of the future.”

Chris Sims, BT’s MD for its SoHo (Single/Small Office, Home Office) unit, said: “Our partnership with Google comes from a shared vision and commitment to help small businesses harness digital as a driver of growth and prosperity.

“Through our free mentoring programme and digital skills training, we’re aiming to equip small firms with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a digital world. BT initiatives, including one-to-one mentorships, have already boosted the digital literacy of almost 300,000 small business employees to date and our partnership with Google is helping us significantly extend our reach and impact within the small business community.”

Following his success on BBC’s Dragons Den, Levi Roots is proof-positive of the power of business mentoring, which helped transform his kitchen table start-up into a £45M business.

Similarly, Liz Earle is one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs. From a career starting as a health and beauty writer, she co-founded her eponymous beauty brand with her best friend, which was sold for a multi-million sum before returning to the wellness category with her own website, magazine, podcast series and YouTube channel and earning an MBE for services to the beauty industry.

Both Levi and Liz are passionate about supporting the entrepreneur community.

Commenting on his involvement in the BT and Google campaign, Levi Roots said; “Running your own business can sometimes be overwhelming and lonely, so I know from my own Dragons Den experience how game-changing it was, both professionally and personally, to work with someone who could understand and appreciate my challenges and ambitions, and give me personalised, meaningful and actionable advice, as well as practical tools and training to help me build and grow my business.

“I’m really delighted to get the chance to pay it forward and share my journey and insights with today’s small business community and help them unlock the power of digital to accelerate their growth.”

Liz Earle added; “When my beauty brand was launched more than twenty years ago, our mail order business was based around paper forms and payments by cheque. Today everything moves at a completely different pace.

“You have to act like a publisher on your social media channels and be super responsive to customers who want a real-time answer, not a letter in the post! With my later publishing brand, we had to learn a mass of digital skills super-fast and I encourage small businesses to grab all the available resources and training they can to help successfully navigate their way in the online world.”

Both BT and Google are jointly committed to helping small businesses across the UK get better positioned for growth by addressing the digital skills shortage.

Since the launch of BT Skills for Tomorrow in 2019, BT has delivered free digital skills training to almost 300,000 UK small business owners and their employees, supported by webinars from Google Digital Garage, putting Google on course to achieve its target of enabling one million small British businesses remain open by helping them be found online.

On top of this, Google has exceeded its target of helping train 100,000 UK SMBs. In total, over 700,000 business owners have been trained through the Google Digital Garage programme.

Small business case study comments:

Khamisi McKenzie, who co-founded South London soul food business Drums & Flats with his best friend Daniel Opoku-Baah, is one of the thousands of small business founders and employees who’ve already benefited from BT and Google’s digital skills support and training scheme.

Commenting on the experience, he said; “Lockdown forced us to take a step back and re-evaluate our business and we recognised that while our energy and effort went into perfecting our recipes and brand identity, we needed to get seen by more people.

“Thanks to the digital marketing mentoring sessions, we improved how we show up on Google and boosted our efforts in social media. We’ve definitely seen an increase in followers and better engagement rates, and it’s helped build our profile which resulted in us taking over the menu at The Smugglers Tavern in Central London.”

Laurelle Darroux, founder of Sleepgoddess, a one-stop shop for vegan, ethical British-made beauty sleep products, launched her business in the middle of the pandemic in 2020 and BT and Google’s digital skills training was a key enabler in getting up and running and rapidly expanding her customer base.

“Feeling lost and dejected when I was made redundant, I was inspired by my own struggles with sleep to start a business that would help people wake up feeling their best. While finding suppliers to create the prototypes for my satin pillowcases and beauty products, I started an Instagram page and built an email marketing list even before I officially launched!

“I watched on-demand digital skills webinars from Google and BT after I had put my children to bed and had one-to-one mentoring sessions to look at ways to optimise my website and social media, as well as build a digital marketing strategy.

“Since then, business has exploded, with customers as far away as New Zealand, and a really loyal and supportive following on social media. I love the relationships and connections I have with the community I’ve built!”

BT reveals almost a third of Scots still don’t know how to recycle unwanted electronics

Four out of ten Scots (40%) have cupboards, drawers or bags full of electrical waste
Nearly a third (30%) admit they don’t know how to recycle e-waste
Research comes as BT recycled nearly a million pieces of equipment, saving 11,430 tonnes of carbon dioxide, as calculated by the Carbon Trust

New research from BT has revealed that almost a third of Scots don’t know how to recycle electrical waste with 40% saying that they have cupboards, drawers or bags full of unwanted electrical equipment.

The news comes as BT reveals it has recycled nearly a million pieces of BT equipment since the start of 2020, preventing nearly 170 tonnes of electrical waste from going to landfill, equivalent to the weight of 13 double-decker buses¹.

The research found that nearly three quarters of Scots (74%) including 76% of Glaswegians and 71% of people living in Edinburgh admit to having thrown electronics into black bin liners committing the goods to landfill rather than taking them to be recycled.

The most common item Glaswegians don’t know how to recycle is games consoles (30%) with those living in Edinburgh agreeing with the majority of Scots saying that it is cables (29%). Hairdryers (27%) and remote controllers (27%) also top the list.

Interestingly, over half of Scots (52%) have engaged in ‘wishful recycling,’ throwing unwanted electronics into the recycling bin in the hope that they will somehow reach a recycling centre.

Jane Wood, BT Group Scotland Director, said: “We made some changes in 2019 that make it compulsory to return broadband routers to us after use, which has really boosted our recycling efforts.

“Thanks to these changes and the commitment of our customers, we’ve prevented the release of 11,430 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of 6,000 flights from London to Tokyo¹.”

Andie Stevens, Associate Director at Carbon Trust Advisory, said, “BT makes it easy for customers to return unwanted and unneeded equipment, preventing tonnes of electrical waste and plastic from going to landfill.

“The recycling and refurbishment programme is a great initiative, demonstrating the commitment to circularity and achieving long-term sustainability goals by reducing the carbon intensity of products.”

BT estimates hundreds of thousands of electronic equipment in customers’ homes could be refurbished and recycled.

It’s easy for customers to return their equipment to BT – more information is here.

The top 10 old electrical items Scots store unused at home:

· 46.6% Cables

· 39.2% Hair dryers

· 37.7% Remote controls

· 35.4% Wired headphones

· 33.2% Printers

· 31.1% Games consoles – PS/Xbox/Wii

· 32.7% Broadband hub

· 26.6% TV Set-top boxes

· 24.3% Smart speakers – Alexa’s/Google Homes/Bluetooth

· 17.2% Wi-Fi extenders

For general information on how to recycle electrical items; contact your local authority or for details of local Household Waste Recycling Centres where small electrical items can be recycled visit:

http://www.recycleforscotland.com

Scots turned off by partners who leave the lights on

Nation becomes more environmentally conscious

Adults in Scotland that live with their partner pinpoint leaving lights on as the thing that shocked them most when they moved in together
The survey was commissioned by BT as part of their commitment to combatting climate change and showing how tech can help the nation live more sustainably
Switching to an electric vehicle, recycling more and switching to a renewable energy provider among the top ‘climate resolutions’ Scots would make to fight climate change
BT’s Smarter Living Challenge recently uncovered the powerful impact UK households can have on their carbon emissions by using technology to support simple sustainable lifestyle changes

Leaving the lights on, switching the heating on unnecessarily and putting recycling in with general waste topped a list of things that shocked Scots about their partner when they moved in together, research has revealed.

The survey, commissioned by BT, showed that these more environmentally friendly concerns trumped the more traditional gripes, such as snoring, not tidying up after themselves and chewing loudly.

The findings suggest a trend of couples becoming more environmentally conscious: a third of those questioned in Scotland believe they and their partner are doing more to live a greener life at home when compared to twelve months ago, prior to the Coronavirus pandemic, while almost a half of Scots (46%) encourage each other to be more sustainable.

Living a greener life has also brought almost a quarter (22%) of couples closer together. However, it is not always smooth sailing: More than half (55%) of those questioned in Scotland admitted that they have had a disagreement with their other half about the environment.

While couples appear to be becoming more aware of environmental issues at home, the majority still think there is room for improvement, as just 41% believe they and/or their partner are sufficiently eco-conscious.

When asked which ‘climate change resolution’ they would make to live a greener life, recycling as much as possible emerged as the top choice (14%). Switching to an electric vehicle (13%) and only using the heating while necessary (12%) completed the top three, closely followed by switching to a renewable energy provider (11%).

As part of efforts to combat climate change, BT is helping to equip the nation with the digital skills needed to be more sustainable at home. The company aims to provide households with the knowledge and motivation needed to make small but sustainable lifestyle changes and is highlighting the important role technology has in making the household shift to sustainable living easier.

Just under a half of Scots questioned (43%) already have a smart technology appliance in their home, with nearly two thirds (63%) believing that advances in smart tech are helping their household to be more environmentally friendly.

Among the most popular appliances were a smart meter (56%), smart lighting (27%) and smart thermostats (37%).

Among those that don’t use smart tech, cost (37%), the belief that it can’t make a substantial difference (20%) and a perceived lack of understanding on how it works (20%) were among the top barriers to installing it at home.

BT recently announced the results of its Smarter Living Challenge, a partnership with environmental charity, Hubbub which highlighted the powerful impact UK households can have on their carbon emissions by using technology to support simple sustainable lifestyle changes.

The project found that when seven small, but sustainable actions were combined with technology, an average household could save £938 on their bills and up to 1.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e) per year if adopted on a sustained basis.

Switching to smart LED lighting, for example, could save 65kg of CO₂ emissions per household, while changing to a renewable energy tariff can save the average household around £270 on bills.

Andy Wales, Chief Digital Impact & Sustainability Officer at BT, said: “In the run up to the COP26 climate talks later this year, we want to show people up and down the country that it’s not just politicians and corporations who can make a difference in the fight against climate change, everyone has a part to play.

“At BT, we connect for good. Our technology, networks and products will underpin many of the solutions needed to become a net zero carbon economy and will act as a catalyst for a smarter, greener future. That’s why we would encourage all of our customers, colleagues and communities to make their own ‘climate resolutions’ because we know when small sustainable steps are supported by technology, they can make a huge impact.”

BT has led on climate action for three decades and has pledged to become a net zero carbon emissions business by 2045.

In 2020, BT completed the switch to 100% renewable electricity worldwide, which means citizens who buy mobile or broadband from EE, BT or Plusnet are now supplied by networks that are powered by 100% clean power.

To find out more about BT’s Smarter Living Challenge and the changes you can make to help fight climate change visit: https://www.hubbub.org.uk/bt-smarter-living-challenge

To find out more about what BT is doing to help fight climate change, visit:

https://www.bt.com/about/digital-impact-and-sustainability

BT extend to a decade of support to Scottish rugby

Scottish Rugby Principal Partner BT has agreed to extend its support for the sport in Scotland in an updated deal which will see it reach ten years with the national governing body.

BT will retain the naming rights to Scotland’s largest stadium, BT Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

The new three-year arrangement will see BT also secure the front of shirt sponsor placement for the Scotland 7s team for the upcoming 2021/22 season.

BT will also see its logo remain on the Scotland national team jersey albeit in a different position on the nape of the neck, which will first be seen on a newly designed jersey for the 2021/22 season, which will be unveiled this summer.

The new deal also sees BT reconnect with the Scotland Women team and this renewed focus on female rugby sees the Principal Partner’s logo feature in a new back of shirt position on the 2021/22 season jersey.

BT first signed with Scottish Rugby in October 2014 in a transformational deal for the sport.

Since 2014, BT’s investment has helped redefine the rugby landscape in Scotland through investment in the Scottish Rugby Academy, which it helped to launch and previously sponsored, BT league and cup competitions, as well as supporting the Club Sustainability Fund to provide investment in capital projects at grassroot clubs.

BT continued to provide an incredible level of support to Scottish Rugby during the last 12 months of the Covid-19 pandemic, which demonstrated the strength of the partnership and its commitment to rugby in Scotland.

The Scotland national team have also benefitted from a series of technical innovations powered by BT including the use of Artificial Intelligence to support non-contact training and immersive technology to bring fans closer to the team.

Its technical hardware has also been used by the team’s performance analysts and helped the players and coaches stay connected with family and friends during the lockdown period.

With over 7,000 people working across the country BT is present in every community in Scotland in much the same way as rugby is represented at grassroots level.

Alan Lees, Scotland director, BT’s Enterprise business, said: “We’re honoured and excited to be able to extend our role as one of Scottish Rugby’s Principal Partners, taking our relationship to ten years, until 2024.

Since our partnership started, my colleagues and I have been proudly standing alongside Scottish Rugby and we’ve seen the game in Scotland change, with amazing results. From the national teams to grassroots rugby, rugby in Scotland has transformed into something the nation can be proud of.

“As lead partners also of Scottish Football, we recognise the role inclusive sport has in empowering young people, helping them to reach their potential.

“Throughout the past year our fibre broadband and 4G & 5G mobile networks have underpinned our lives in unprecedented ways, enabling us to work from home, home school and stay connected with loved ones.

“While it’s been a difficult time for many sectors and sports, including rugby, we hope this renewed partnership will ensure that Scottish Rugby, and the communities they’re based in, can emerge from the crisis stronger than before.”

Scottish Rugby Chief Executive, Mark Dodson said: “It says everything about the quality and strength of our partnership with BT that we can conclude a further extension which will see us achieve 10 years of working together to support rugby in Scotland.

“I would like to thank Alan Lees and his BT colleagues for their continued support, especially over the past 12 months, which have been difficult for every business in the country.

“Back in 2014 BT helped Scottish Rugby to launch what is now a well-established Academy programme which has already generated players who have represented their country and many more who are supporting our professional teams.

“It is positive news for everyone involved in rugby in Scotland that BT will continue to work with us through this exciting extension.”

Scottish Rugby’s Chief Operating Officer, Dominic McKay said: “I am really proud that we can continue to work with BT as one of Scottish Rugby’s Principal Partners.

“Every business in the country has been challenged by the recent pandemic and so to be able to maintain and extend our relationship with such a significant blue-chip company in BT shows the quality of their people and organisation.

“I am really pleased we have been able to bring new elements into a long-term partnership and help BT reach communities, through rugby, across Scotland.”

Scottish Rugby signs Peter Vardy Group as new Principal Partner & Scotland shirt sponsor

Scottish Rugby has secured the Peter Vardy Group as a Principal Partner and new front of shirt sponsor for the Scotland national team in a four-year deal commencing in the summer of 2021.

The new partnership begins this summer when the 2021/22 season team kit, designed by Macron, is launched which will be the first to feature Peter Vardy Group’s name and logo.

Peter Vardy Group will also be the back of shirt sponsor for Scotland 7s from the 2021/22 season and the broad ranging deal also encompasses becoming the Edinburgh Rugby car partner, with branding also included on the capital pro-team kit.

The Peter Vardy Group is a Scottish family run automotive business, consisting of a motor retailer with 15 dealerships representing marques such as Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover, BMW, MINI, Vauxhall, its own brand used car supermarkets, CARZ, and a classic car dealership, Peter Vardy Heritage.

CarMoney is the Group’s online finance broker and another Group business, SilverBullet, is a software provider to the UK automotive industry.

In another significant move which underlines its ambitious growth plans, the Peter Vardy Group has also, this week, launched its new car leasing business, Peter Vardy Leasing.

The Peter Vardy Group’s purpose is “We Sell to Give”, with 10% of the Group’s annual profits going directly to the Peter Vardy Foundation which support children and young people across the UK and worldwide.

The company has previously been Scottish Rugby’s car partner between 2014-2017, and now moves to become one of Scottish Rugby’s Principal Partners.

Peter Vardy Group Chief Executive, Peter Vardy said: “As a Scottish family business we are very proud to be the Principal Partner of Scottish Rugby.

“We have long been keen supporters of Scottish Rugby, both commercially and as fans and I believe we share similar values. We have built our business on passion, ambition, courage, and we see that lived out by these fantastic athletes every time they pull on the blue jersey. We are incredibly proud that our brand will be recognised with our national rugby team.

“Commercially, of course, it is a fantastic opportunity to promote our brands across the UK and globally; over eight million people watched the recent Scotland versus England game – that level of exposure is massive for us.

“Coming off the back of some exceptional performances from Scotland in the Guinness Six Nations, we are really excited about what the future holds for Scottish Rugby and now as Principal Partner we look forward to working together.”

Scottish Rugby’s Chief Executive Mark Dodson said: “We are delighted to welcome a respected and widely known Scottish business in Peter Vardy into the top level of our sponsor family.

“They have been great partners with us in the recent past and it is a testament to their vision and connection to rugby that they will now be seen on a global basis on the front of Scotland’s national team jersey.

“I’d like to thank Peter and his team for their support to Scottish Rugby so far and look forward to working with them in the coming years as we bring this new partnership to life.”

Scottish Rugby’s Chief Operating Officer, Dominic McKay said: “The whole of sport has been impacted by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, so it is especially pleasing to move into the new season with a new Principal Partner in Peter Vardy.

“As a dynamic family business Peter Vardy has shown a fantastic commitment to our sport at a challenging economic time and having a Scottish company connected so closely to our national team makes this new partnership even more special.

“We hope this prominent sponsorship will deepen its connection with customers in Scotland and take the company’s profile to a wider international audience in the years to come.”