Tag: expert advice

Applications open for EBS Incubator

Edinburgh Business School helping support entrepreneurs

  • Applications are now being accepted for the Edinburgh Business School Incubator
  • The scheme is designed to provide early stage entrepreneurs with office facilities and expert advice to advance their ideas
  • Deadline for applicants is Monday 13 June 2022

It has helped entrepreneurs take the next step in their careers and now the Edinburgh Business School (EBS) Incubator at Heriot-Watt University is back for another year!

Applications are being accepted from early-stage entrepreneurs looking to access facilities and a suite of expert support and advice to advance their ideas.

The EBS Incubator, provides specialist, one-to-one mentorship, free desk space as well as dedicated training and workshops to encourage, support and develop entrepreneurship.  

And against a backdrop of rising inflation, applicants will be pleased to learn that there are no costs involved. Their only financial obligation is to fund their own Public Liability insurance.  

A space in the Incubator is for one year although there may be an option to extend.

Anyone can apply, providing they are not a full-time undergraduate or taught postgraduate.

Professor Laura Galloway is leading the Business Incubator at EBS. She says there has never been a more important time to encourage growth in the sector. “The cost of living crisis and rising inflation has created a perfect storm among small and medium sized enterprises,” she said.

“To access the support needed to help drive forward these ventures, which are vitally important to the UK economy, means there has never been a more important time for dedicated schemes, such as our EBS Incubator, to be made available.”

Since its launch in 2018, the EBS Incubator has assisted more than 50 companies and played a pivotal role in helping participants access grants and other finance and refine their offerings.

Professor Galloway, adds: “The Incubator’s aim is to create a diverse community of new-start firms and provide them with support that would help them take their business ideas and ambitions to the next stage.

“That’s why today I am calling on all fledgling entrepreneurs who would benefit from the dedicated, tailored support, to get in touch.”

Among the current Incubees include the digital communications platform, Tecive, whose Director, Mael Abgrall, spoke of the benefits of the scheme, saying: “The incubator helped us reach the next stage for our start-up, greatly improved our focus and helped us take the steps to grow our business.

“Additionally this was a great opportunity to meet, work and get feedback from like-minded people.”

For further details or to apply visit the Edinburgh Business School website.

The deadline for applications is noon on Monday 13 June 2022. 

Applications will be considered by a committee who will decide which businesses are shortlisted to give a five-minute pitch explaining their business and how the incubator will benefit them.

National Energy Savings Week: Finance expert on reducing fuel usage and saving money

Personal Finance Expert at CashLady.com, Paul Wilson, shares his top tips on how Brits can reduce their fuel usage and save money this Energy Savings Week: 

It looks like energy prices are likely to rise higher than ever before in 2022. Making sure you’re getting the best deal has never been more important, and taking steps to cut back your fuel usage should be on everyone’s agenda.

Even small changes can help put some money back in your pocket and big tasks, like moving to a new tariff, are worth looking into. This Energy Savings Week, why not try some of these nine ways to reduce your fuel usage and help keep your finances on track. 

1.          Draught excluders

Make sure your doors aren’t letting out valuable heat and letting in the cold. You can buy permanent solutions that attach to the bottom of your door, or decorative excluders that are a quick and easy option. Draught excluders are an inexpensive and effective way to quickly tackle any lost heat from your home.

2.            Seal your windows

In the same vein as draught excluders, making sure your windows are sealed against the cold is a quick win. Older houses especially can have less efficient windows. Window sealing strips can be bought from most DIY stores and are available in various styles to also complement home decor. Additionally, if you have curtains, use them! Lined curtains will keep your room warm in winter and cooler in summer, meaning less need to rely on your heating or cooling systems.

3.            LED Bulbs

The initial outlay may be a little steeper when it comes to LED bulbs. However, they use 75% less energy than their incandescent counterparts, so it’s a switch worth making. They also last longer and so you won’t need to buy them as often which results in long-term savings and less waste. 

4.            Plan and prepare 

Simply being mindful of how and when you use energy can lead to some simple savings. Many of us have our heating on a timer; regularly reassess if the times you use the heating still make sense. Perhaps you still have the same settings you had over the Christmas break, but now you’re home less during the day. There may also be evenings when you’re out and don’t need the heating at all. Turn it off before you leave so you aren’t wasting unnecessary energy.

5.            Be mindful

Just as you can plan and prepare when to have your heating on, you can also consider where in the house you actually need the heating. If the spare room is used for the rare times you have guests, then you can turn that radiator off and shut the door. Radiator valves are also there to be used. Smaller box rooms may be fine with a lower setting. Not everyone you live with will like the same level of heat; children’s rooms may need a lower temperature if they tend to get hot in the night. Think carefully about how you are using your heating, not just when you use it.

6.            Other appliances

There are a whole host of things we use daily in our homes that burn fuel. Make sure lights are switched off when rooms are not in use, put post-it notes on the switches as a reminder if needs be. Try not to use the dryer as this is a huge energy burner, instead put clothes on radiators that are being used anyway. Washing your laundry in large loads rather than little and often is another way to be more efficient. Consider batch cooking some of your weekly meals and freezing them. That way, you’re having to cook less which means using the oven less. 

7.            Credit where it’s due

Find out from your energy company if you’re in credit. If you have regular meter readings and pay by direct debit, you may have been paying too much. This can result in you being in credit. You can choose to carry this credit over, which may reduce your monthly bills, or you can ask for a refund. Energy companies have to issue a refund if you are in credit and you could save this towards future bills or just put it aside for a rainy day. 

8.            Your tariff

Traditionally, moving onto a company’s default tariff has been the most expensive option. As soon as your fixed tariff is coming to an end, you should speak to your energy company about a new deal. However, with energy prices now so high, the capped default price may actually be cheaper than the fixed option. Do your homework and find out if you may now be better off staying with the default tariff until prices (hopefully) decrease, or if your specific usage means you would be better off with a new fixed deal.

9.            Change providers 

As with moving to a different tariff, switching providers is now not as cut and dried as it used to be. As many as 20 energy firms have gone bust recently, so you need to make sure you choose a provider that is stable. Use price comparison sites to see if moving companies could be a good thing, but be sure to do your sums first and don’t assume it will lead to savings. You should also only switch at the end of your contract as, quite often, firms charge an exit fee if you still have several months left on your deal. 

Paul Wilson is a Consumer Finance Expert at Financial Conduct Authority authorised and regulated credit broker Cash Lady.

The Big Dog Walk goes to Glasgow!

Event designed in a Covid safe environment

Touchpoint Live Media, the organisers of the hugely popular DogFest events, are delighted to announce that their Big Dog Walk Series is coming to Chatelherault Country Park,  Glasgow on October 10th, our first in Scotland.

The Big Dog Walk is a unique opportunity for dog owners and their families to walk together in the stunning Chatelherault Country Park. Dogs and their owners can choose from either a 2k, 5k or 10k route and walk times have been staggered this year for the comfort and safety of all taking part. 

Brand new this year, there will be a Puppy’s First Socialisation Walk, this will be a 2k walk for those with little legs and is a fabulous opportunity to introduce your new addition to other dogs and socialise them in a safe organised way.

If your dog is not one for crowds you can join our ‘Beat the Rush’ walk for dogs who love their walkies, but may be a but more anxious s and prefer having their own space. You and your dog will be left to explore the walk at your own pace on our first walk of the day.

Our walks aim to bring together dog lovers and dogs to encourage socialisation and exercise. The walk will be the best walk ever for dogs as you join hundreds of  other pups and their owners on a beautiful route with photo points and pit stops on the route for you and your dog to stop and have a drink and a snack at.

Back at the Event Village there will be plenty to do and see including  shopping, expert advice, the fun dog show, and plenty of festival food and drink. 

We are delighted this year to have the Dogs Trust on board as our Official Charity Partner who will be bringing along their Temptation Alley to challenge your dog. Participants can also raise more money for any charity of their choice upon signing up.

Prices are £10.50 per adult and children 5-16 years are free of charge. For more information and to book tickets, visit The Big Dog Walk.

Nicole Cooper, Managing Director of Touchpoint Live Media, says: “The Big Dog Walk is a wonderful opportunity for all dog lovers to get out and walk with the four-legged member of the family.

“We are so thrilled to be hosting walks again this year at these six beautiful locations, and very excited to be bringing these events to Scotland for the first time. These walks are a brilliant way to all get together in the great outdoors with all the family, and we cannot wait to welcome everyone.”