Tag: business

City of Superheroes: Capital businesses join forces for Avengers opening weekend

To celebrate Edinburgh’s role in the most hotly anticipated film of the year, Avengers: Infinity War, businesses around the city are flexing their superpowers to get people assembling in the capital for the film opening.

This weekend, Scotland’s capital sees over forty businesses join forces to celebrate the movie release and transform Edinburgh into the City of Superheroes.  Marvel fans can revel in a programme of events, discounts and special offers that will see your superhero squad enjoy everything from exclusive walking tours of the filming locations and special themed menus to spotting caped crusaders at every corner and even free travel for little superheroes in costume on Lothian Buses.

The super celebration is being led by Film Edinburgh, the organisation that facilitates film productions in the city, which sits within Marketing Edinburgh.

Rosie Ellison, Head of Film Edinburgh, said: “It’s been a year since Edinburgh’s streets were buzzing with A-list stars and Hollywood crew for the biggest production in the city to date, and we’re so excited for the film to finally hit the big screen.

“In celebration of the capital’s heroic role in the film, we’re transforming Edinburgh into the City of Superheroes this weekend. Across the city, businesses will be putting their own twist on the superhero franchise with everything from themed cocktails to caped mannequins and Marvel-ous lunch offers.

“Given that Edinburgh was the only location used during filming, we’re encouraging fans to come to the City of Superheroes to get the ultimate superhero experience. The weekend will be a great way to keep the excitement of the movie alive, even after you step out of the cinema screen.”

John Donnelly, Head of Marketing Edinburgh, said: “The City of Superheroes weekend is our way of celebrating Edinburgh’s role in the film and is another example of local businesses joining forces to create marvelling experiences for residents and visitors.

“The blockbuster third instalment of the Avengers franchise was filmed in Edinburgh for seven weeks in the Spring of 2017, and we’re honoured to be the only location outside of the Hollywood studio. The production saw the city’s historic Old Town transform with shop fronts altered and set props, including bus shelters and street lights, take position. We had over 400 crew members working on the shoot through the night with local businesses, residents and the council working collaboratively to make it happen.”

Joe Russo, Director of Avengers: Infinity War commented on his experience filming in Edinburgh during a special screening he held for local fans in Edinburgh earlier this month. He said: “I love this city, I’ve spent a lot of time here, it’s beautiful.

“I’m surprised it hasn’t been on film more, shocked frankly, because it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world and at night it can take on a gothic feel. And we had a sequence we wanted with heightened tension and it was a perfect place to shoot that scene.”

Full details of what you can get up to during the City of Superheroes weekend can be found online at www.edinburgh.org/cityofsuperheroes. A location map that will help fans navigate their way around the city can be downloaded for free on the website.

City-of-Superheroes-Map-8-Final   

Keep up-to-date with the City of Superheroes on social with the hashtag #CityofSuperheroes.

Participating members:

 

  1. AGA Edinburgh, 8-9 Drumsheugh Place, EH3 7PT
  2. Bar Salsa, 3 Cowgatehead, EH 1 1JY
  3. Barney’s Beer, 1 Summerhall Place, EH9 1 PL
  4. British Heart Foundation Stockbridge, 28-29 Raeburn Place, EH4 1HX
  5. British Heart Foundation West End, 85 Shandwick Place, EH2 4SD
  6. Cranachan & Crowdie, 263 Canongate EH8 8BQ
  7. Edinburgh Dental Studio, 6 Randholph Place, EH3 7TE
  8. Edinburgh Zoo, 134 Corstorphine Road, EH12 6TS
  9. Epicurean & Radisson Collection Royal Mile, 1 George IV Bridge EH1 1LL
  10. Forbidden Planet, 40-41 South Bridge, EH1 1AD
  11. Galaxy South Bridge, 47-49 South Bridge EH1 1AD
  12. Get Guided, Royal Mile, Edinburgh
  13. Gladstone’s Land, 477b Lawnmarket, EH1 2NT
  14. Haggis Adventures, 60 High Street, EH1 1TB
  15. Hilton Edinburgh Carlton, 19 North Bridge, EH1 1SD
  16. Hotel Du Vin, 11 Bistro Place, EH1 1EZ
  17. The Real Mary King’s Close – The Green Lantern Way, 2 Warriston’s Close, EH1 1TG
  18. Museum of Childhood, 42 High Street, EH1 1TG
  19. Principle Charlotte Square, Charlotte Square
  20. Printing Press Bar & Kitchen, 21-23 George Street, EH2 2PB
  21. Radisson Blu Royal Mile & Itchycoo Bar, 80 High Street, Royal Mile, EH1 1TH
  22. One Square, 1 Festival Square, EH3 9SR
  23. Strigicake, 1 East Preston Street, EH8 9QQ
  24. Subway Cowgate, 69 Cowgate, EH1 1JW
  25. The Assemble! Rooms, 54 George Street, EH2 2LR
  26. The Knight’s Vault, 102 West Bow, EH1 2HH
  27. The Whiski Rooms, 4-7 North Bank Street, EH1 2LP
  28. Waverley Mall, 3 Waverley Bridge, EH1 1BQ
  29. Lothian Busses Travel Shops a. 31 Waverley Bridge, EH1 1BQ, b. 11 Clifton Terrace, EH12 5DR, c. 27 Hanover Street, EH2 2DL
  30. Edinburgh Bus Tours, 31 Waverley Bridge, EH1 1BQ
  31. Odeon Wester Hailes, 120 Wester Hailes Rd, EH14 3HR
  32. Odeon Lothian Road, 118 Lothian Road, EH3 8BQ
  33. Cineworld, Fountain Park, EH11 1AF
  34. Camera Obscura & World of Illusion, 549 Castlehill, EH11 1AF
  35. City Cabs, see Edinburgh.org/cityofsuperheroes
  36. Mercat Tours, The Mercat Cross, High Street, EH1 1RF
  37. Hard Rock Cafe, 20 George Street, EH2 2PF
  38. Vue Edinburgh Ocean Terminal, Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, Ocean Drive, EH6 6JJ
  39. The Place, 34-38 York Place, EH1 3HU
  40. The Edinburgh Press Club, 20-30 Cockburn Street, EH1 1NY
  41. Alex App, see Edinburgh.org/cityofsuperheroes
  42. Fountain Court, 121 Grove Street, EH3 8AA
  43. Cuckoo’s Bakery, 150 Dundas Street, Edinburgh, EH3 5DQ and 116 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, EH10 4ES

Salaries on the rise?

UK Advertised Salaries Grow In Every UK Region

  • UK average advertised salaries up– currently sitting at £33,646; up 3.5% year-on-year
  • Every region in the UK showed year-on-year salary growth
  • Total advertised vacancies at 1,104,236 – down 8.3% over six months
  • Graduate salaries stutter– advertised salaries declined 12.1% over 12 months to £21,400
  • Energy salaries light up – typical sector pay up 10.8% annually to £40,640.

Average UK advertised salaries have increased in the last 12 months, up 3.5% to £33,646, according to Adzuna.co.uk. Growth in advertised wages is in evidence in every on of the 12 UK regions. Continue reading Salaries on the rise?

Just one month left to apply to new entrepreneurial support scheme

As the close date nears for applications for a new entrepreneurial support scheme, Edinburgh MSP Gordon Macdonald is pushing the call to all ambitious talented entrepreneurs looking to start up a business in Scotland to apply to the new programme. Continue reading Just one month left to apply to new entrepreneurial support scheme

Uncertainty weighs on Scottish business confidence, according to regional Business Barometer report

The Bank of Scotland’s Business Barometer for March 2018 shows:

  • Overall confidence for firms in Scotland fell 23 points last month to 12 per cent
  • Firms’ confidence in their own business prospects was 18 per cent
  • Economic optimism remains positive but now stands at just five per cent
  • A net balance of 10 per cent of Scottish firms now expect to hire more staff this year

Business confidence in Scotland fell 23 points to 12 per cent in March, according to the latest Business Barometer from the Bank of Scotland. Continue reading Uncertainty weighs on Scottish business confidence, according to regional Business Barometer report

Good VIBES for Edinburgh businesses

Businesses in Edinburgh are being urged to act now to embrace the economic opportunity of sustainability by the VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards.The leading environmental awards underlined the need for urgent action to address the environmental challenges currently faced as well as highlighting the potential business benefits which this can deliver. Continue reading Good VIBES for Edinburgh businesses

Nearly half of Scottish firms are struggling to hire skilled staff

  • Two in five local employers are struggling to recruit skilled staff and 41% have seen increased staff turnover since the EU Referendum
  • Businesses report this is impacting their growth and expansion efforts
  • To solve the crisis more than half are planning on recruiting more apprentices and many are engaging with education providers

More than a two fifths (44%) of Scottish firms are reporting difficulty recruiting skilled staff, and 41% have seen increased staff turnover since June 2016, according to a new employment and skills study from Lloyds Banking Group and London business membership organisation, London First. The study sought to analyse the impact of Brexit on business recruitment and access to skills across the UK. Continue reading Nearly half of Scottish firms are struggling to hire skilled staff

Full speed ahead for Martina’s low-carbon dream!

Edinburgh Napier graduate on fast track to success after funding boost

An Edinburgh Napier graduate is paving the way for low-carbon innovation after being accepted into a prestigious Europe-wide programme. Martina Zupan, who studied product design at the University before setting up her own business aimed at reducing plastic pollution, was delighted to discover her start-up made it on to the Climate-KIC Accelerator scheme. Continue reading Full speed ahead for Martina’s low-carbon dream!

Scottish businesses plan jobs boost as confidence rises, says Business Barometer report

Bank of Scotland’s Business Barometer for February 2018 shows:

  • Overall confidence for firms in Scotland rose 17 points during February to 35 per cent
  • Economic optimism in the region stood at 33 per cent, 20 points above last month
  • Job creation increased by 23 points to 27 per cent compared to January

Continue reading Scottish businesses plan jobs boost as confidence rises, says Business Barometer report

Small businesses to capitalise on energy efficiency with launch of ‘cashback’ scheme

Small businesses in Scotland could save up to £8,000 on average each year simply by making energy efficiency improvements – and cut their annual energy consumption by a quarter. That’s the message from Zero Waste Scotland and the Scottish Government, who have announced a new ‘cashback’ scheme to help businesses in Scotland tackle rising energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint.

For a limited time only, eligible small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) applying for an interest-free, unsecured Scottish Government loan can receive 30% cashback on the value. That’s up to £10,000 in cashback on completion of their energy efficiency improvements.

Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse, announced the cashback incentive today during a visit to Goldenacre Mini Market in Edinburgh. The convenience store is among more than 300 businesses in Scotland to have benefitted from an SME Loan in the past five years.

The SME Loan scheme has seen nearly £10million invested in the Scottish small business community since 2013.

Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, said: “Improving energy efficiency is one of the smartest ways that businesses in Scotland can hold onto their hard-earned profits and make a real difference to the bottom line.

“In addition to benefits for individual businesses, reducing the environmental impact of Scotland’s energy needs will bring us closer to the low carbon energy future set out in Scotland’s Energy Strategy – generating benefits for Scotland’s economy as well as the environment.

“This fund is part of Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP), which will support buildings across Scotland – both domestic and non-domestic – to improve their energy efficiency rating over a 15-20 year period.

“We will be publishing a SEEP Routemap, later in 2018, to set out our long-term ambition for the Programme and make our commitment to this agenda clear, given the more than £500 million we have which earmarked to the programme over this term of Parliament.”

The SME Loan 30% Cashback incentive is open to applications from SMEs with energy efficiency projects that demonstrate cost and carbon savings. These include, but are not limited to:

·         investing in LED lighting,

·         installing more efficient heating systems,

·         improving the insulation of a building or investing in more energy efficient equipment, such as a state of the art oven or a more efficient refrigeration unit.

Eligible applicants will receive a dedicated expert advisor from Zero Waste Scotland’s Resource Efficient Scotland service, which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), to guide them through the process at no cost, helping them identify efficiency improvements with the greatest benefit to the bottom line.

Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Our work with small businesses in Scotland tells us that companies want to do their bit for the environment – indeed, our advisors have already supported organisations in Scotland to identify over £42million worth of savings.

“We understand that with small businesses, the need to see fast return on investment and the time needed to complete lengthy application processes can preclude positive action. That’s why the SME Loan and associated support is designed with busy Scottish SMEs in mind – and with up to £10,000 cashback now available there’s even more reason to act and secure a more sustainable, cost-effective future for your business.”

Small business owner Aleem Farooqi runs the Goldenacre Mini Market on Edinburgh’s Inverleith Row. His successful application for the SME Loan in 2016, to upgrade the store’s lighting and refrigeration, has generated annual electricity savings worth almost £1,800.

Mr Farooqi said: “As a small business, keeping my energy bills to a minimum while also ensuring an excellent customer experience is paramount. Having operated Goldenacre Mini Market in Edinburgh for 15 years, I was delighted to have the chance to upgrade some of my older lighting and refrigeration equipment to more energy efficient models that are now saving me about 30% on my electricity bills. That’s money that I can put back into my business and continue to serve the community.

“I would recommend the SME Loan to any small business owner – and with an additional cashback element now available it’s a great opportunity for retailers to invest in the future of their business.”

To find out more about the SME Loan 30% Cashback incentive, and to apply, call Zero Waste Scotland’s Resource Efficient Scotland service on 0808 808 2268, or visit www.resourceefficientscotland.com/SMEloan 

Zero Waste Scotland leads on delivery of the £73million Resource Efficient Circular Economy Accelerator Programme, which aims to improve the economic performance of SMEs while at the same time reducing the impact of economic activity on the natural environment, supporting Scottish Government and EU policies.