Tag: Hub

Green light for Beaverhall BTR and creative workspace scheme

Developer HUB and Bridges Fund Management (“Bridges”), a specialist sustainable and impact investor, have received planning permission for a residential-led development on Beaverhall Road.

The scheme will provide 205 Build to Rent homes, including 52 affordable homes, as well as creative workspace and a new publicly accessible courtyard.

The proposal for Beaverhall Road will replace an existing warehouse with a contemporary scheme that maintains the site’s status as a focal point for the resident creative community, delivering 45% more creative workspace than provided by the current building, whilst also bringing new homes to the area. 

Designed by architects shedkm, the proposal has been developed in close collaboration with the local community and current businesses, with the ground floor creative workspace co-designed by the existing tenants, many of whom plan to move into the new development.

The focal point of the scheme will be a new public courtyard, Makers Yard, providing a space for relaxing and gathering for residents and commercial tenants, as well as neighbours. The new development will also feature a large mural by a local Edinburgh artist on one of the external walls.

In line with HUB and Bridges’ shared values, the scheme will prioritise both people and planet. The plans exceed current Scottish sustainability regulations and include a biodiverse green roof, as well as a communal air source heat pump to provide environmentally responsible heating for the entire building.

The designs maximise the potential of a brownfield city centre site and will deliver ‘tenure-blind’ homes, meaning all residents’ homes will be of the same high quality.

Situated in Canonmills, just north of Edinburgh’s New Town, the proposed development is within easy reach of the iconic city centre, while benefiting from a sense of community created by the area’s existing amenities.

Tom Valente, Development Manager at HUB, said: “We are hugely excited to be moving forward with one of our first developments in Edinburgh. It’s a fantastic city which has a long-established creative scene, and prides itself on its wealth of small, independent businesses.

“Our plans for Beaverhall will maintain the site’s status as a hive of creativity by placing studios and maker spaces at the heart of the development, alongside high quality, sustainable homes for local people.

“What we are doing here demonstrates the potential to create lively mixed-use communities on urban brownfield sites, and this is a model that we want to champion both in Edinburgh and elsewhere across the UK.”

Simon Ringer, Partner and Head of Property at Bridges, said: “For Bridges and HUB, people and planet are central to the design and planning of all our new developments.

“By building high-quality, sustainable lower-cost housing, coupled with enticing public spaces that reflect the needs of local people, we can create highly attractive developments that really deliver for the local community.

“Beaverhall will be a perfect example of this; and we’re particularly delighted that we’ve also been able to reflect the site’s heritage as a creative hub in the design. We can’t wait to see it come to life in the months ahead.”

James Spencer, Associate at shedkm, said: “We’re really excited to be working with HUB to preserve this creative heart in Edinburgh, while improving the built environment for the local community.

“We look forward to bringing our longstanding experience in regenerating areas across the UK, to create a modern, sustainable place that builds upon Edinburgh’s industrious heritage and remains a key piece of the city.”

HUB and Bridges submit plans for Beaverhall Build-To-Rent development

Developer HUB and Bridges Fund Management (“Bridges”), a specialist sustainable and impact investor, have submitted plans for a residential-led development on Beaverhall Road.

The scheme will provide 205 Build to Rent homes, including 52 affordable homes, as well as creative workspace co-designed with locals and a new publicly accessible courtyard.

The proposals for Beaverhall Road will replace an existing warehouse building, with a contemporary scheme that maintains the site’s status as a hub for the local creative community, while bringing new homes to the area.

New public realm, Makers Yard, will sit at the heart of the scheme, acting as a focal point for both residents and commercial tenants, as well as neighbours. The scheme will also feature a large mural, displayed on one of the external walls.

As with all HUB and Bridges projects, people and planet are at the heart of the scheme. The new development makes efficient use of a brownfield city centre site and will deliver ‘tenure-blind’ homes for all ages, meaning all residents’ homes will be of the same high quality.

The plans exceed current Scottish sustainability regulations and include a communal air source heat pump to provide environmentally responsible heating for the entire building and a biodiverse green roof.

Designed by architects shedkm, the scheme has been developed in close collaboration with the local community and current businesses, with the ground floor creative workspace co-designed by the existing tenants.

Situated in Canonmills, the proposed development is within easy reach of the city centre, while benefiting from a sense of community created by the area’s existing amenities.

Situated within walking distance from both Stockbridge, close to the Royal Botanic Gardens, and Leith, which Time Out recently named one of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods, the HUB and Bridges scheme will allow residents to explore the best that the city has to offer.

Tom Valente, Development Manager at HUB, said: “We are hugely excited to have submitted plans for one of our first schemes in Edinburgh.

“We were struck by the vibrancy of the creative community in the area and knew immediately that we wanted to maintain that by placing studios and maker spaces at the heart of the development.

“The mix of Build to Rent and creative workspace is one that we know works fantastically well in terms of fostering a sense of community and making places where people choose to live.”

New city centre hub for organisations leading Scotland’s recovery

The Melting Pot will double capacity to meet growing demands for coworking office space post-COVID

The Melting Pot, Scotland’s first coworking space, has found a new much bigger home where charities, social businesses, campaigners and freelancers will lead the recovery from the COVID crisis. Delivered in partnership with Foundation Scotland, The Melting Pot will reopen in May at 15 Calton Road, next to Waverley station. 

Following a fun and playful social media campaign The Melting Pot unveiled their new home at a live virtual event last night. The huge three-floored, 5,500 sq.ft space will host double their previous capacity in response to the increased demand for coworking spaces and hybrid working following the pandemic.  

The Melting Pot’s Founder and CEO Claire Carpenter said: “We’re thrilled that we are finally announcing our fantastic new location – the secret is out!  

“We have all worked so hard to make sure this larger space is safe and ready; we know how much it is needed. Our community have told us how constant working from home has had a detrimental impact on their health and well-being, as well as their work.   

“The COVID crisis has alienated us from the spaces we shared with our communities. This has been necessary to protect ourselves and each other.  But for us to recover as individuals, as communities and as a society we need to safely transition back to these shared spaces. 

“Our new hub will offer our growing community the chance to get back to a new normal.  Where we can safely enjoy personal interactions again, to remember the joys of working in-person with others, to get away from the same four walls of home and to give people structure to their working life.  

“We will provide a fit for purpose workspace for a world of work that has been permanently changed by the pandemic.

“Hybrid working allows people to mix it up; to enjoy the benefits of working from home some of the time and working from our dynamic hub on others.  It’s the best of both worlds. 

“The Melting Pot provides simple solutions like desks and printers as well as a genuine sense of community for all involved. We will help employers support their teams through more changes.  We will be offering affordable options that give members the opportunity to work from our space in a way which suits them best.  

“We’ve already had to set up a waiting list on our website to help cope with interest and so I’d strongly encourage those that are interested to get in touch with us soon.” 

The new space on Calton Road was previously home to ‘the Venue’ nightclub, then became the Ingleby Gallery and was most recently Foundation Scotland’s Edinburgh office.  

Foundation Scotland will become one of The Melting Pot’s first new members.  

Giles Ruck, Chief Executive of Foundation Scotland said: “Like most organisations during the pandemic, Foundation Scotland needed to adapt how we work and evaluate how to meet our future workplace needs.

“Since the first lockdown, we’ve become fully digital, with our staff working from home across Scotland. This virtual approach has worked well for us and we will build on this by adopting a new flexible approach, including a mix of home working and using a range of regional coworking hubs and meeting spaces, across Scotland.  

“We’ve known The Melting Pot for almost 15 years, awarding them their first grant from the Foundation back in 2006. Since then, they’ve played a significant role in harnessing social innovation in the city, and we’ve continued to support their vision and growth over the years. 

“Their search for a new home in Edinburgh was in parallel with Foundation Scotland’s decision to move away from having any fixed office premises. We are changing to a new blended approach of home-working, using coworking hubs and meeting spaces.

“Our large offices in central Edinburgh offered The Melting Pot the perfect location in the city for their growing enterprise. Their creative and effective use of the space in our Edinburgh premises will be sustainable, benefit many organisations and lead to even greater social impact. 

“This new shared space for the sector will benefit Foundation Scotland too. We’re joining their community and will use our former home as a coworking hub alongside other organisations by becoming a member of The Melting Pot.

“We are very much looking forward to being one of their first new members through the doors when they officially open in the spring.  Virtually or physically, we will achieve more social impact through working together.” 

In recognition of the growing demand to join, The Melting Pot have set up a waiting list for new members which is now open on their website.

They are looking for socially conscious businesses, charities and campaigners that need a workspace that supports their work and contribution to the recovery effort. 

Collaborate and create: Students unveil their vision for beauty spot visitor hub

Students from Edinburgh Napier and the City of Glasgow college have linked up to design a new visitor hub for Beecraigs Country Park in Linlithgow.

Two teams from the Scottish institutions were tasked with creating an ecologically sustainable, environmentally friendly, and inclusive focal point to the vibrant country park.

The aim was to layout a proposed building that could be constructed and deconstructed away from the intended site, known as offsite construction.

Team 2 won the first prize of £600 in the Offsite Ready challenge, when they designed a hub which would cater for cyclists, with open and accessible areas.

Team 1 delivered their presentation on a centre which would withstand the elements, including a mezzanine complemented by the carefully considered path of the sun. They received the runner up prize of £300.

From Edinburgh Napier, the winning team included digital designer Zarja Krevelj, production manager Emily Rankin, production manager Callum MacGillivray, and Agata Gaspari in charge of the summer pavilion.

The ‘Are you Offsite Ready? Online design challenge’ was sponsored by Finnish renewable materials manufacturers, Stora Enso, who donated £900 to reward students for their efforts.

Rory Doak, Business Development Manager at Stora Enso UK & Ireland said: “Stora Enso were thrilled to support a student-led design project, showcasing the abilities of students to adapt to new working conditions and produce manufacturable, sustainable and inclusive designs.

“I hope that we will see more competitions emerge, like this, that equip students with strong fundamental knowledge of BIM, inclusivity, and sustainable construction with timber. I am sure these principles will be key industry drivers in the future, and these students will continue to champion these design principles as they build their careers.”

The challenge was originally conceptualized by Edinburgh Napier lecturer Dr Mila Duncheva and research assistant for the Centre for Offsite Construction and Innovative Structures, Louise Rogers; with Catriona Jordan, from City of Glasgow College, as a way of giving students an opportunity to gain some industry experience out with the university curriculum and in lieu of the international internships usually available to students from Edinburgh Napier’s School of Engineering & the Built Environment.

Dr Mila Duncheva said: “This challenge was designed to develop students’ transferable skills including teamworking, problem solving, working to tight deadlines and collaborative digital workflows using Building Information Modelling (BIM).

“I was astounded by both teams’ intricate technical solutions and striking visual presentations and am delighted we provided a positive experience for them during the worst of the pandemic.”

The project spanned 12 weeks, starting in June. It presented challenges for the students as they learned to work together remotely, whilst figuring out how to get the best from their designs and cater for the park’s one million yearly visitors.

The Offsite Ready challenge teams collaborated with West Lothian Council to provide accurate geographical plans of the proposed sites. And engineering consultant firm SWECO who did an analysis of the project’s factors.

Students also attended a collection of lectures designed and delivered by their mentors, to help inform their designs.

With most of the mentors coming from Edinburgh Napier University, this included: Prof. Pat Langdon, Prof. Robert Hairstans and Dr Andrew Livingstone, working alongside industry leaders such as Matt Stevenson from SNRG

Eirwen Hopwood of West Lothian Council said she would like to see one of these designs become a reality at Beecraigs Country Park in the future.

This challenge was part of the wider Offsite Ready project funded by the Construction Industry Training Board and led by the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre in collaboration with Edinburgh Napier University, City of Glasgow College, Construction Wales Innovation Centre, Ministry of Building Innovation and Education and Class of Your Own.

New online support hub launched for people with post-COVID breathlessness

Asthma UK & British Lung Foundation have launched an online Post-COVID HUB and dedicated helpline to support people affected by breathing difficulties after COVID-19.

While evidence on the long-term health effects of COVID-19 is still emerging, a range of early studies have suggested that people hospitalised with severe symptoms from the virus are developing chronic respiratory symptoms.[1]

Post-Covid.org.uk, is a site for patients, healthcare professionals and researchers. It aims to bring experts together to lead ground-breaking research, to better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 on respiratory health and provide a central point for health information and advice for patients.

Joseph, Head of Asthma UK & British Lung Foundation Scotland, said: “As a respiratory charity, we support the thousands of people across Scotland who have breathing difficulties. We understand the toll it can have on people’s lives and the concern many have about the long-term effects COVID-19 will have on their lung health.

“At a time when the NHS is under immense pressure, we want to ensure anyone who’s respiratory health is affected post-COVID can get the help and support they need. That is why we are proud to be launching our Post-COVID HUB.

“The HUB is the first of its kind in the UK. It brings together patients, researchers, and healthcare professionals to provide the latest information on the impact of COVID-19.  We also want to ensure that research and clinical services develop so we can effectively treat any new chronic breathlessness emerging from this crisis.”

The hub is also supported by academics, professional bodies, and respiratory experts:

Professor Jon Bennett, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the British Thoracic Society, said: “We support the launch of the Post-COVID HUB, which will be critical in assessing what care people need post-COVID. Many people are suffering an acute severe lung injury with some ending up in intensive care, and we know that this can have an impact on people long term. 

“We urgently need post-COVID care research and guidelines, to ensure we know what the best treatments are ongoing, and that people can access appropriate support and maximise their recovery.”

Carol Stonham MBE, Chair of the Primary Care Respiratory Society & Senior NHS Nurse Practitioner (respiratory) said: “We welcome the introduction of the Post-COVID HUB. These are times of rapid change with many people recovering from sudden episodes of severe illness requiring critical care, then returning to community or primary care for ongoing management.

“Some will sustain ongoing lung damage, others psychological trauma. The sharing of resources allows clinicians to care for people safely and effectively wherever care needs to be delivered.”

North Edinburgh Arts to host employability event

North Edinburgh Arts Centre is to host a major Employability event later this month. Organised by Forth Neighbourhood Partnership, ‘Employability in Forth’ follows on from a successful event held at Edinburgh’s Telford College which looked at local employability issues and initiatives.
Employability in Forth
Tuesday 18 September  2012
10.30am – 12.30 followed by buffet  lunch
North Edinburgh Arts  Centre
15a Pennywell  Court
Following  the Employment Networking Event held  at Edinburgh’s Telford College earlier this year  we would like to invite you to a follow up session.
A final programme for  the date will be sent out soon but will include:
  • An update on progress on Edinburgh’s Employability Service from the Council’s Employability and Skills team.
  • A presentation from Stevenson College and Community Renewal on how the new Integrated Employment Service (Hub) will impact on Forth.
  • Reflection on the discussion at the networking event and further discussion on the best way of addressing employability issues in Forth.
    A summary of  the findings from the Telford College event:

    Summary of discussion at networking event

     Youth Employment 16-19 – How can we help improve the number of young people going into employment and other positive destinations? 

    City wide and National issues

    • Need to increase training capacity across the city
    • Need to look at incentives to take on a young person (converting benefits into wage subsidy?). SDS Employer Recruitment Incentive relevant here.
    • More Modern Apprenticeships.
    • Fund projects that get people directly into jobs.
    • 21st century homes programme should include employability initiatives and apprenticeships, build into the master planning process at an early stage

    Schools and youth agencies

    • Need more vocational courses built into schools and make them on par with academic routes.
    • Increase Careers advice in schools – time spent per pupil
    • Make sure school leavers are aware of choices.
    • Increase opportunities for part time work at schools.
    • Improve links between schools and outside agencies.
    • Need to engage with 12/13 year olds before they become disaffected.
    • Bring local people into schools, including slightly older young people in the job market to “tell it like it is”.
    • High drop out rate of young people from the educational system in the area – need a partnership approach to this
    • Stronger links with local youth agencies
    • Early intervention – teach employability skills in Youth Centres. 

    Mentoring/Attitudes/ Presentation Skills

    • Need to look at building the work ethic and correct attitude to work
    • There are jobs are available – young people need relevant skills and attitude.
    • Most vulnerable have challenges in interview presentation, personal confidence/appearance. Can we make preparing for a work interview a more viable option – Interviewing makeover programme designed and delivered by partners & College.
    • Recognise the value of activity that is not directly job related.
    • Confidence building is the key skill needed to address this issue – e.g. Duke of Edinburgh awards
    • Mentoring and 1 to 1 work makes the difference with young people likely to fail. Can we get higher profile on this? Is there a link with Forth Voluntary Sector forum that could be scaled up – possibly part of TOTAL PLACE project?

    Business Links

    • Involve small businesses.
    • Need strong and sustained links to the business community.
    • Opportunities for local jobs – where are the employers? They need to be part of any action plan, and contribute to better outcomes. Care Sector will have openings locally but perhaps more suited to 20+.
    • Refocus work of SBC – excellent example of recent school projects

    Training/Support

    • Consider putting in place here an innovative supported one stop, integrated accommodation/training /support model for young people Ref Aberdeen Foyer model.
    • Improve links with Telford College Construction faculty
    • More pre-vocational courses needed
    • Use innovative ways of engaging. Community Renewal use informal “ pizza night” approach to inform young people of opportunities

    Strategy/Processes

    • Need a clear strategy for what we want to achieve. Identify who are the key local partners who can actively contribute as part of solution, and stakeholders – these are both important but different things.
    • Need specific statson the scale of this problem in North Edinburgh? E.g. we know that Craigroyston has lowest qualifications, but are we clear which aspects/priority group we need to target – the farthest away from employment, or those who need better direction and are closest to it?
    • Review how we measure and monitor outcomes for longer term benefits
    • Simplify the process and make it clearer to understand for young people and their families

    Employment of those in 20 plus age group: What can we do to help this group into employment?

    City wide and National issues

    • Get more support from large public employers – Council/NHS.
    • Job Centre Plus should be integral member of this partnership – they have new programmes many of us were unaware of and we can join up on how we promote: e.g. work experience programme.
    • More potential for employers to pay a wage for work placements
    • Simplify the process of taking short term and part time work (benefit issues). Allow people to continue on benefits whilst they take part in work experience. If a full time student there are rents/ benefits issues

    Business Links

    • Can SMEs help?
    • How can employers tap into these young people who have successfully come through training and/or work experience

    Training/Support 

    • Improve training in IT Skills.
    • Need to increase the opportunities available – limited support for over 25s. Focussing on 16-19yr could be at expense of this group.
    • Use more Work based training – e.g. CLD Youth Work degree.
    • Provide funded access to learn driving as this opens up job opportunities and builds self-esteem , motivates (Birmingham project over 2 years provided mopeds+ driving test support, then passed mopeds on to next recruits) ; SQA have a qualification that provides evidence for theory test.
    • College is not for many of this group.
    • Difficult to get a second chance for training.
    • Most vulnerable of this age group need a programme similar to younger age group to move on from past errors. Many are parents so could be reached via the schools.

    Mentoring/Attitudes/ Presentation Skills

    • Need to look at role models for people (third generation unemployment, who do they look to?)
    • Home circumstances sometimes do not support a work ethic so how do we support them better
    • How do we apply the carrot and stick?
    • Ask people want they want or need.
    • Hopelessness is a key issue for this age group, but many have a family to support so can motivate, be a key driver, links to schools.
    • Get appropriate local people of this experience and age group to be part of the solution – get a voice.
    • Buddy programme for people from this age to mentor younger ones – need positive role models.
    • A key focus is how to help this age group keep jobs once they have them. 
    • Improve Money management skills – Financial literacy is now a huge issue for 3rd generation of unemployed in families
    • Literacy issues
    • Health issues – mental health issues still area of concern in area

    Other key focus areas – What other key issues could be addressed by partnership working?

    City wide and National issues

    • Different agencies having different geographies – eg Job Centres, Scottish Government.
    • Benefits Changes likely to be detrimental.
    • Community Jobs Scotland – can we do it here? Like S Lanarkshire Youth Jobs fund model, funding paid for local officer, working with a number of organisations to coordinate and direct.
    • Look at potential to include providing local employment opportunities as a part of planning process
    • Crime and anti social behaviour impacts on young people even when they are not directly involved – often as victims.

    Coordination

    • Is there duplication of services locally? So many organisations and short term initiatives makes it had to know what is going on. This gets in the way of joint working
    • Need to simplify structures, increase transparency, work more jointly on service (consortia) and think about longer term initiatives
    • Need to get better at sharing good practice and being open about ideas and services.
    • Strategic overview – planning what is needed in an area.
    • With so many services it is difficult to know who to refer to?
    • Encourage and reward Partnership working

    Funding

    • Danger that simplistic outcome-based funding can work against partnership approach
    • Promote /Develop a “common good fund” – based on £xx contribution from key partners to use for targeted interventions.
    • Important to note the impact of central cuts to funding of local employability projects
    • Short term funding leads to interruptions of planning process

    Information

    • Making sure that all partners have knowledge.
    • Need good labour market information – especially locally.
    • Join up guidance, information and advice locally – forum?
    • Use social media to engage with young people

    The way forward – What is the best way to address these issues locally?

    Structures/Processes 

    • A Forth Action Group supported but think membership should be reviewed- include service providers e.g. Chamber of Commerce, Community Renewal
    • A Forth Employment Action Group be useful but should focus on business and life skills
    • An Action Group could be useful for networking and co-ordination of services
    • Needs to have a clear purpose and have teeth and continuity and commitment.
    • Any Action Group needs a strong effective chair and secretarial support.
    • Meet say twice a year to review outcomes and progress, impact, gaps /next priorities, once groundwork established.
    • Involving local people in processes is important.
    • Short life working groups may be useful.
    • May be best to have a series of themed workshops/forums on issue we want to tackle – and also have 2/3 plenary meetings a year.
    • Cross agency meetings about particularly difficult young people/groups of young people – GIRFEC approach – could be useful.
    • Look at Gate 55 as an ideal model (?).

    Priorities/Issues

    • The initial focus could be on 16-19 year old group.
    • Need to look at how resources can be shared
    • Need to capture local knowledge and advocate for services needed by the community (evidenced approach)
    • Need to build relationships between organisations – joint training sessions around key issues.
    • Get Job Share involved in future activity. 
    • Get clients to come along and describe their experiences and identify flaws/opportunities.
    • Get Challenge Fund MCMC group involved in future activity.
    • Need a review of funding – a more strategic approach to make best use of funding
    • Look at an Action Plan

    Next Steps 

    • Hold a meeting to feedback on the issues raised at Networking event – to plan what action, who should be involved. Look to involve young people (Youth Forum/Parliament?) and employers.