The Old Edinburgh Club has launched its newly redesigned website at www.oldedinburghclub.org.uk. With a fresh and friendly look, the site aims to make exploring Edinburgh’s rich history more accessible and engaging.
Publicity lead, Jo Chapman, said, “Our revamped site features a modern design that makes it easier to delve into our historical resources and find out about the Club’s activities.
“Improving our online presence will help us reach new audiences and support us in promoting the study and enjoyment of Edinburgh’s history. We want it to appeal whether you’re a seasoned historian or a curious newcomer.”
Site visitors can explore historical narratives, discover hidden gems, and gain insights from the Club’s authoritative journal, the Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, and find further sources using the comprehensive Bibliography of Edinburgh History which now lists nearly 3,000 published items.
Jo Chapman added, “There is a calendar of Club lectures, visits and guided walks, and we have thought-provoking book reviews and short articles which complement what goes into the Book of the Club.
“We are pleased to promote the latest news of our collaboration with the City Libraries in cataloguing their little-known manuscript collection and of the exciting projects we are supporting through Jean Guild Grants. We also want to do more to publicise developments in the world of Edinburgh history, building on our existing use of social media.”
New pictures give a first look at the world’s first inland surfing resort in Edinburgh. Lost Shore Surf Resort will be Scotland’s newest premier tourism and leisure destination.
Complete with luxury lodges, premium accommodation pods, restaurants, spa and shopping, it is set within a 60 acre country park and will open in September 2024.
Images released to the public for the very first time, show the stunning accommodation pods that will be available for people wanting to enjoy the surfing at a wave pool three times the size of Wembley football pitch.
With a beachfront stretching for 250 metres, the surfing lagoon is going to be the biggest across all of Europe, but it is also going to be one of the most advanced on the planet. The cutting edge wave technology, developed by Wavegarden, is capable of producing up to 1000 customisable waves per hour, from 52 software driven modules.
Surfers will be able to enjoy wave rides of up to 22 seconds, and with more than 20 different varieties of waves, there are opportunities for all abilities.
Beginners will be able to benefit from expert tuition from surfing instructors and wetsuits and surfboard hire will be included in the cost.
As well as using surfboards from leading brands, the state of the art wetsuits will ensure that surfers will stay warm regardless of the weather, with heated indoor changing rooms to use before and after.
Bosses have also revealed that vouchers are now on sale to celebrate the first look for the public, and the launch of the new website.
These limited numbers of vouchers for surfing and accommodation are at huge discounts. Overnight pod stay vouchers can be purchased from as little as £100 for two people.
For expert tuition or a session in the surf lagoon, multiple session vouchers are on sale from £100 meaning each hour-long session can be as little as £25 including surfboard and wetsuit hire. This is considerably cheaper than other inland surfing locations anywhere in the world.
Tourism leaders and surfing stars have hailed the milestone as a huge moment for Scottish tourism and surfing in the UK.
Marc Crothall MBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, said: “This spectacular resort is going to be a real game changer for Scottish tourism. Not only will this attract people from all over the UK, but from right across the world.
“To have an asset like this just 10 minutes from Edinburgh Airport and on the doorstep of an already world famous tourism destination is fantastic. These new pictures show what an incredible place this will be. I cannot wait to see it open in September.”
Scottish big wave professional surfing star and Red Bull athlete, Ben Larg, added: “As a pro surfer this is incredible. Lost Shore is going to push up the level of Scottish surfing, bring so many more people to the sport, and, who knows, maybe get some Scots in the Team GB squad for the Olympics.
“It can be really difficult to access surfing in Scotland sometimes, but this is going to deliver reliable waves all the time. If I had access to this sort of facility when I was young, I would be such a better surfer now. That’s why Lost Shore will be so good for the next generation.”
Andy Hadden, founder of Lost Shore Surf Resort, said: “It is so incredibly exciting for us to share these new images. Bringing the world’s first inland surfing resort to Scotland is such a huge addition to the world class tourism that we already have.
“To celebrate our new website, we are offering amazing value on our vouchers, allowing you to be one of the first to enjoy the resort at a fantastic discount. Get together with friends or start planning that family holiday, buying your experiences now at the best price they will ever be.”
Lost Shore is less than half an hour by car to Edinburgh city centre and only 45 minutes from Glasgow. The new website with full information and voucher details can be found at: https://www.lostshore.com/
Residents and visitors invited to come back for more as new Forever Edinburgh marketing campaigns go live
Visitors invited to ‘Experience the Beauty’ of Scotland’s capital with stunning new visitor campaign taking viewers behind famous scenes and showing the city in a new light.
Newly launched city destination website promotes local businesses, features ‘UK first’ ChatGPT chat box and new interactive city, neighbourhood and regional maps to make it easier for visitors to explore.
Series of unique rewards secured to expand Forever Edinburgh’s successful resident rewards programme, meaning more year-round reduced resident rates and ‘money can’t buy’ experiences – for locals only.
Following the busiest summer festival season in Scotland’s Capital since Covid hit, Forever Edinburgh has unveiled a new inbound visitor campaign and brand-new city marketing website, enhanced by a programme of unmissable resident rewards.
The campaigns are aimed at generating increased spend and support for Edinburgh’s tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses while spreading tourism throughout the year.
Created in 2022 thanks to funding from the City of Edinburgh Council and Visit Scotland, Forever Edinburgh is the city’s official destination guide. The expanded ‘Resident Rewards Edinburgh’ programme and ‘Experience the Beauty’ visitor campaign are both funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Soar through Edinburgh with breath-taking digital campaign
The city’s official destination promotion service has unveiled a brand new UK inbound leisure visitor digital campaign: Experience the Beauty.
Designed to raise awareness of Edinburgh’s unrivalled experiences and encourage new and repeat visitors to visit in all seasons, the campaign features colourful flashes of iconic sights and attractions mixed with intimate snippets of Edinburgh’s less explored nooks and crannies.
Explore Edinburgh before entering the city with interactive new website
Forever Edinburgh – The Official Guide to Edinburgh has launched a brand new website to provide a more powerful tool for raising awareness of the city’s year-round, city-wide visitor offering to residents and prospective visitors.
The new site is the first destination website in the UK to launch a Chat GPT powered chatbot while an interactive map will help users navigate their way between the city centre, local neighbourhoods and the wider region.
Local tourism businesses and organisations can also now create and maintain their own free web listing to help inspire bookings.
Similarly, businesses can record whether they are Green Scotland accredited, helping to position Edinburgh as a responsible destination that can be enjoyed by everyone and supporting Edinburgh becoming a net zero city. Businesses can also highlight their services for visitors with additional accessibility requirements.
Snap up new Resident Rewards
Only available to local residents, the Capital’s trailblazing ‘Resident Reward Edinburgh’ programme is now expanding with four new rewards categories for residents. These include special resident rates by signed-up partners, exclusive resident previews for some of the city’s newest openings, annual validity on tickets to grow loyalty with the annual pass, and half price and free days.
First launched in January 2022 offering one high-value monthly reward from one new business each month, this is a growing programme with new rewards categories joining the programme on a rolling basis.
This success is expected to continue as Forever Edinburgh announces new monthly star rewards with Lind & Lime Gin this September and The Cauldron in October, plus discounted resident rates for a range of attractions including Mercat Tours, PURE Spa and Edinburgh Bus Tours.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “In line with Edinburgh’s 2030 Tourism Strategy we are working towards a more sustainable, fairer visitor economy. These campaigns redefine Edinburgh as a destination for a whole range of incredible experiences for everybody, in every season of the year.
“The new website celebrates the green credentials many of our businesses boast as well as our beautiful green spaces. It highlights accessible, low-carbon travel options to make it easy for people to get around. As well as our iconic city centre sights, Forever Edinburgh is celebrating Edinburgh’s fantastic neighbourhoods and offers a number of special rewards only residents can gain access to.
“Whether you live locally or visit from halfway across the world, there is so much more to Edinburgh than many of us find time to discover. It’s great to see these campaigns shine a light on some of those experiences.”
VisitScotland Regional Director Neil Christison said:“Digital channels play a significant role in marketing Scotland to both domestic and international markets, helping consumers research and book their trips.
“It is fantastic to see the launch of the new Forever Edinburgh website and marketing activity that will showcase the variety of what is on offer in the city and surrounding area, all year round.
“In addition, the resident reward scheme is a great example of tourism as a force for good, benefiting communities in and around the city and helping to drive forward the aims of Edinburgh’s 2030 tourism strategy.”
Claire Riddoch, Marketing Manager for Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, said: “Taking part in the Residents Reward was a great success for Camera Obscura & World of Illusions.
“We are always looking at ways we can work with our local partners and audiences to give back something in return for their loyal support, especially after the last few hard years of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We were delighted to welcome just under 700 local children free during March 2023, which contributed to a 56% overall rise in children visiting compared to March 2022 and 33% of our total visitors were from Edinburgh and Lothians, up 16% on 2022.”
Iain McNeill, Managing Director for Whereverly Limited, the local company commissioned to design the new website, said: “We are delighted to have worked with Edinburgh Council to design and develop the new Forever Edinburgh website.
“A website which captures the character and diversity of Edinburgh and the imaginations of those looking to visit.”
Resident Rewards
A full list of rewards is available to view at the Forever Edinburgh website:
Poppyscotland has launched new learning resources for pupils of all ages, encouraging them to reflect on the history of the poppy and role of remembrance.
Pupils at Stromness Primary School on Orkney launched the new learning programme onboard Bud, Poppyscotland’s mobile museum on Monday (SEPT 26th), as it clocked up an important milestone having now visited all 32 local authority areas in its first two years on the road.
The 18-tonne truck, which transforms into an interactive learning space, has been traveling the length and breadth of the country since 2019, visiting schools and communities. Having had an enforced lockdown layover for over a year, Bud is now busier than ever with its calendar full well into 2023.
Bud is just one part of an ever-growing Learning programme run by Poppyscotland, which also includes physical resources that are sent to every school in Scotland each year, an annual competition and a newly-launched website containing around 100 different lesson plans, videos and other resources for teachers and youth leaders to access.
All resources have been developed in conjunction with Education Scotland and the Royal British Legion Scotland, and link to Curriculum for Excellence.
Gordon Michie, Poppyscotland’s Head of Fundraising and Learning, said: “We’re very excited to launch our 2022 educational resources and our new learning website. It is significant to do so on Orkney as it marks the final part of Scotland to be visited by Bud since it launched in 2019.
“Together, these offer schools and youth groups a wealth of innovative and engaging resources, looking at topics from First World War poetry to the Kindertransport and more recent conflicts. They stimulate discussion and learning around our recent history and help young people explore the relevance of remembrance in modern-day Scotland.
“We’re also delighted to invite entries for this year’s Learning Competition, asking children to share their own personal responses by imagining the “the day war started”. This is particularly timely given the current conflict in Ukraine, and the plight of child refugees around the world.”
From early 2023, Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh will once again welcome visitors following a three-year refurbishment programme. There, they will have the opportunity to meet the team of disabled veterans who make three million poppies and 20,000 wreaths each year for the Scottish Poppy Appeal, as well as learn about the remarkable history of the poppy.
Mr Michie continued: “The reopening of the Poppy Factory will be the culmination of three years’ hard work.
“The vastly enhanced visitor experience will offer a fascinating insight to the rich heritage of this remarkable little flower, as well as the chance to meet our team and see how the poppies are made.”
Helga Moss, a teacher from Stromness Primary School, said: “The visit from Bud was absolutely fantastic and there was something for children of all ages.
“The pupils were really engaged, and especially enjoyed the hands-on activities such as making their own poppies.”
All resources on Poppyscotland’s Learning website are free for teachers, youth leaders, parents and carers to download.
Schools can also book a visit from Bud and follow its journey around the country.
Live Music Now Scotland (LMNS) puts musicians centre stage with launch of new website
Heralding a return to live music and in person performance post pandemic the website features a roster of musicians available to book, alongside public performance listings
Live Music Now Scotland (LMNS) is putting musicians centre stage with a brand new website aimed at bringing live music back to venues across Scotland as we come out of lockdown.
Key to the redesign is a new and improved roster of the many and varied musicians that LMNS represents. Whether you’re looking for a jubilant jazz quintet, or a scintillating string ensemble, this comprehensive catalogue of artists includes the very best musical talent the country has to offer, and it is the only place to start your search.
Live Music Now Scotland is committed to giving access to music for all, including older people and vulnerable audiences, as well as children with additional support needs.
The musicians now listed on the LMNS website are specially trained and experienced in playing for these audiences and the LMNS team can support in planning such events, including in settings such as care homes and special schools.
The new website will also feature a performance page listing live and online events, including live public performances, that are beginning to take place across the country as things start to open up. Updated as and when new events are booked you can check upcoming performances and events here.
Instrumental in turning the ambition for the new LMNS website into a digital reality were the Scottish Tech Army and Mull based creative studio think.in.form. Set up in early 2020 to help bring creative, digital solutions to businesses and individuals across Scotland in the wake of the pandemic, the Scottish Tech Army supported LMNS in putting a website brief and tender together, which is when creative studio and consultancy think.in.form came on board.
Carol Main MBE, Director at Live Music Now Scotland, said:“We are delighted to be in a position to share our new website with everyone from audiences through to musicians, and we hope it enables everyone to get back to enjoying live music again, as soon as possible.
“We wanted our website to facilitate this return to live performance and music, which is why we have included have both an updated roster of the musicians we work with and a programme of upcoming performances.
“Whether you are looking to host a summer garden party for friends and family, or an event for care home residents in their own home, we encourage you to check it out and get in touch.”
Capital’s employability commitment hits 10 year milestone
Edinburgh’s youth employability commitment, the Edinburgh Guarantee, marks a decade while expanding its support to help people of all ages and backgrounds:
Celebrating its 10th year, the Edinburgh Guarantee, originally the Capital’s youth employability commitment, is expanding to help people of all ages access fair work, training and employment opportunities with a new look website launched today by the City of Edinburgh Council.
Recognising the impact the pandemic has had on businesses and training providers, and the ripple effect this has on people’s prospects, there will also be a particular focus on those facing additional barriers to employment with the overall aim to give equal access to job and education opportunities.
The website will be a one stop shop to connect and sign up employers across the city, while offering people a quick and easy access point to job boards, information on training opportunities and additional support routes available.
Through the Edinburgh Guarantee team and network of employability partners, employers are incentivised to get involved by getting access to additional recruitment support, information on possible funding available and ongoing assistance for their business and new hires where required. All of this makes it easy and rewarding for employers to pledge their support.
Councillor Kate Campbell, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “The Edinburgh Guarantee is rooted in the principal that everyone should have the opportunity to work, and access to training and skills development, and that everyone who is able to can be part of our city’s recovery. And that by working together, we can create those opportunities and a better future for everyone.
“Now in its 10th year, the Edinburgh Guarantee has been a great success helping so many young people move into fair work or gain the education and training that they deserve. We’re now widening this commitment to include people of all ages and backgrounds which clearly shows our intention to make sure no one is left behind as a result of this pandemic.
“It’s been great to hear how so many organisations across all sizes and sectors are able to play their part. Longstanding lead employers such as Standard Life Aberdeen, NHS Lothian and the City of Edinburgh Council, have paved the way for us to get to where we are today.
“And it is exciting to see that network grow to welcome new and smaller organisations and businesses like Basketball Scotland, JAD Joinery and The Wee Book Company – a small business that recently added to its workforce with a new recruit, made possible through Edinburgh’s Employer Recruitment Incentive, which is a funding package for private SMEs and third sector organisations to help fill vacancies and create new and additional jobs.
Councillor Mandy Watt, Vice Convener, said: “On this 10 year anniversary of the Edinburgh Guarantee I’d like to thank those employers that have been with us since the start and led the way for other businesses and organisations by demonstrating the benefits of getting involved over the last decade.
“We’ve recognised that the end of the furlough scheme will have serious implications and most likely further increase the levels of unemployment across Scotland, so we’re working hard to support and incentivise employers to play a part in the city’s recovery – such as helping smaller supporters access funding to help them to get involved.
“Over the past year we’ve spoken to business owners and employers from across all sectors, gaining valuable insight into the key implications of the pandemic on their industry. This has given us an overview of those who are currently able to offer opportunities as well as those who we may be able to support as we begin to move into the recovery period.”
Gavin Keddie, Publishing Assistant at The Wee Book Company was recruited thanks to the Edinburgh’s Employer Recruitment Incentive
The Wee Book Company, a new publishing business in the city, became aware of Edinburgh’s Employer Recruitment Incentives and as part of the Edinburgh Guarantee offer, employers who recruit someone with barriers to employment can secure up to £6,000 to help with the costs.
With the funding available to them they have been able to create a Publishing Assistant post for Gavin Keddie which he started in March 2021.
Andrew McAllister, Head of Sales at The Wee Book Company, said: “As a small business, the Edinburgh Guarantee has literally made the difference in us being able to give Gavin an opportunity, who has been a revelation. In a matter of only a few weeks he has been really helpful to the development of our publishing business.
“Gavin has come in and we have been really impressed with his commitment, effort and excellent knowledge of modern technology. As a result of being made aware of Gavin’s Aspergers condition, we were able to recognise that he had great talent, but during the interview was a little shy and reserved and was definitely very modest about his previous achievements including the fact that he has been successfully published and written at least five books to date.”
Young business people are discussing together a new startup project. A glowing light bulb as a new idea.
Established in 2011 to address the needs of school leavers who were unable to move into a positive destination following the last economic downturn, the Edinburgh Guarantee has since worked with over 550 employers to get over 3,500 young people into apprenticeships or training opportunities.
Many partners have come together to support this initiative’s continued success including colleges, voluntary sector organisations and national programmes, while also making it easy and rewarding for private sector businesses and organisations to play their part in helping people across the city.
