Tag: business

UK government moves to steady markets

‘ … we can turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we can make this work.’ – Business Secretary Sajid Javid

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The Westminster government is hoping speeches by Business Secretary Sajid Javid and Chancellor George Osborne will calm the international money markets as they open this morning. The pound has plunged since UK voted to leave the European Union, wiping £ trillions off the value of stocks and shares. Continue reading UK government moves to steady markets

Get super connected: still time to take up broadband offer

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Small to medium sized businesses in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders are being reminded that there is still time to apply for vouchers, which could connect them to superfast broadband.

The scheme has helped 442 businesses in Edinburgh with superfast connections so far. To date there has been a lot of interest in the scheme and businesses are encouraged to apply before funds run out.

Funding for the project is part of the UK Government’s £150 million super connected cities programme being delivered locally by City of Edinburgh Council.

Vouchers are awarded to businesses to help cover the installation costs of connecting to superfast broadband services up to the value of £3,000. Businesses pay the VAT costs and the ongoing subscription.

To qualify for a voucher, organisations should be small to medium sized located in the City of Edinburgh Council area, have fewer than 250 employees and a turnover of less than £40m. Further information and an application form can be found here.

Cllr Frank Ross, Convener of the Economy Committee, said: “The vouchers will provide much needed financial assistance to small to medium sized businesses in the city who don’t already have a fast connection. We have worked hard to secure this opportunity for local businesses and I would strongly recommend those without a fast connection apply for a voucher as high grade broadband is more reliable, faster and it will make your business more efficient and competitive.”

Further information

  • The voucher scheme is part of the City of Edinburgh Council’s Connected Capital Programme, which aims to improve Edinburgh’s broadband connectivity. Follow on Twitter @connectedinburg.
  • Businesses in Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders areas can access the vouchers through the Edinburgh scheme
  • In the vast majority of cases the voucher should cover the total installation cost but where it doesn’t, businesses will have to cover the difference themselves.
  • Edinburgh’s Connected Capital Programme is part of the£150m Super Connected Cities Programme which is being delivered through Broadband Delivery UK, which is part of the UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Other projects forming part ofthe Connected Capital Programme are an outdoor wireless network delivered though a service concession contract, wireless hotspots in a number of public buildings. Wi-fi on the trams and buses is already in place

Superfast broadband is defined as speed of at least 30 Megabytes per Second (Mbps) and ultrafast is defined 80 to 100+ Mbps. 

Kerr welcomes New York direct flights

‘ a real diamond route’ – Colin Keir MSP

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Colin Keir MSP for Edinburgh Western has welcomed the announcement by Delta Airlines/Virgin that their joint venture will launch a new Edinburgh to New York service from May 2016.

Mr Keir said: “All new routes from Edinburgh are welcome as they boost employment and tourism opportunities, something that is vital to the Edinburgh and wider Scottish economy.

“With direct flights to New York, Edinburgh will link with the most influential global financial centre. Add to this the tourism potential and it makes this a real diamond route.

“Well done to Edinburgh Airport CEO Gordon Dewar and his team for securing this route and to Delta and Virgin for identifying Edinburgh as a positive destination.”

Having a Heart: firms sign up to Scottish Business Pledge

‘we want to build a partnership for productivity with businesses, the third sector, the wider public sector and trade unions’ – First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Sxottish Business Pledge

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish Government will promote the interests of business at every opportunity as she launched the Scottish Business Pledge – Scotland’s new social and economic partnership for growth – at Tynecastle yesterday.

The First Minister highlighted Scotland’s distinctive approach to taking on the productivity challenge and, speaking ahead of today’s Queen’s Speech at Westminster, added that the Scottish Government would challenge the UK Government to deliver more for Scottish business through increased public investment, protecting Scotland’s membership of the EU and transferring to Scotland additional powers that can help to boost economic growth.

The First Minister was giving a keynote address to business delegates at Tynecastle Stadium, where Heart of Midlothian Football Club became the first business to sign up to the new Scottish Business Pledge. Other early signatories to the pledge include GSK, Virgin Money, Agenor, Hymans Robertson, Strata Cleaning and LogicNow.

Ms Sturgeon highlighted the pledge as part of Scotland’s distinctive efforts to take on the challenges of a modern economy, boost economic productivity and tackle inequality.

The First Minister said: “Last year, Scotland recorded its strongest economic growth since 2007. Employment growth has been strong and we’ve recently seen really encouraging figures for female and youth employment – although there is absolutely no room for complacency.

“However, notwithstanding progress made, we still face significant challenges, such as the need to improve productivity, increase exports, diversify our business base and tackle deep-seated inequalities.

“Our economic strategy sets out a vision of an economy based on innovation rather than insecurity; high skills, not low wages; and enhanced productivity instead of reduced job security. We want to climb the global competitiveness rankings on quality, rather than racing to the bottom on costs.

“Increased productivity makes our economy even more competitive, which in turn brings benefits to individuals and communities across the whole of the country.

“However it requires concerted action across all areas of our economy – and indeed across society – to achieve this. That’s why we want to build a partnership for productivity with businesses, the third sector, the wider public sector and trade unions.

“The Fair Work Convention, the Living Wage Accreditation Scheme, and the Scottish Business Pledge are essential features of what is becoming a distinctive Scottish approach to growth.

“That’s why today’s launch is so significant. I am pleased to see a number of significant Scottish businesses amongst the early sign ups to the Business Pledge and I hope many more companies will sign up in the month and years to come.”

For more information about the Scottish Business Pledge, go to

https://scottishbusinesspledge.scot

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On the Queen’s Speech, the First Minister set out the Scottish Government’s business priorities: 

“We will continue to oppose spending reductions of the scale and speed that the UK government has suggested. These would slow economic recovery and make deficit reduction more difficult – something shown by the impact of the cuts imposed after 2010. If the UK Government sticks to its current proposals, we will argue for ways in which the impact on Scotland can be lessened.

“On the issue of an in-out referendum on membership of the EU, we will work to protect Scotland’s interests. We will propose a “double-lock”, meaning that exit is only possible if all four nations of the UK agree to it – something which would prevent Scotland from being forced out of the EU against our will.

“And we will seek greater powers for Scotland. We want to ensure that the recommendations of the Smith Commission are met in full. We are also seeking additional responsibilities – beyond the ones which the Smith Commission identified. In particular, greater power over business taxes, employment and trade union law, the minimum wage and welfare would enable us to create jobs, grow the economy, and lift people out of poverty.

“These are not powers for their own sake – they are powers to enable us to work more effectively in partnership with business to boost growth, to increase investment, to support employment and to deliver better jobs.”

Keir: control of APD ‘a gamechanger’ for Scotland

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Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir has welcomed comments by a senior airlines executive that Air Passenger Duty (APD) is having an adverse effect on trade.

Following comments by David Thomas, a regional director of American Airlines, that Air Passenger Duty is ‘stifling demand’ on flights between Scotland and the United States, Colin Keir, Edinburgh Airport’s MSP, said: “Mr Thomas’s comments are most welcome and further validate our position that the Scottish Government must have control over Air Passenger Duty.

“As Edinburgh Airport’s recent report showed, reducing APD in Scotland by 50% will initially support 800 new jobs and create millions for the economy, is most welcome and must be taken seriously by the UK Government.

“The tourism tax, that is particularly damaging to Scottish airports, should be cut at once. Devolution of APD would be a game changer for Scottish airports.

“The Scottish Government has committed to cutting Air Passenger Duty once it is devolved and that responsibility cannot come soon enough for passengers and Scotland’s airports. Only a strong team of SNP MPs elected on May 7 will ensure Scotland gains the powers it has been promised – including APD – to create jobs and build a more prosperous and fairer country.”