As the UK finally begins to emerge from the pandemic’s profound disruption to normal life, new patterns in consumer behaviour are taking shape.
Increases in consumer spending at the start of this year, coupled with the acceleration of GDP throughout 2021 to levels not seen since the second World War, suggests that Brits are set to re-live aspects of the post-war Roaring Twenties, characterised by a surging economy and mass consumerism.*
New data from Quotezone.co.uk highlights that business is booming in line with consumer spending as demand for commercial property insurance increased by 45% in the last six months of 2021. And just as the 1920s welcomed a new era of entrepreneurship and creativity, this boom has been largely led by smaller high street shops, businesses, salons, and pubs.
As highlighted by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), consumer demand in January has been concentrated on the high street as the public flock back to homeware shops, restaurants, and clothing stores.
Quotezone.co.uk’s data supports this, showing that the driving force is demand for retail outlets rather than office space, with demand for offices falling even lower over the last six months compared to 2020, falling by 83%.
Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, a leading financial comparison platform, comments: “As retail sales surge and the UK’s GDP finally gets back on track, we’re beginning to see positive trends emerge for post-pandemic Britain.
“It’s encouraging to see such strong retail sales even in light of rising living costs. The spike in consumer demand is hopefully a sign that we’re entering our century’s very own Roaring Twenties.
“It’s interesting that demand for office space has continued to drop dramatically, even though restrictions have been easing for several months, reflecting the continued popularity of working from home – showing that, like the 1920s, a major change in lifestyle is here to stay with a focus on the work-life balance.
“However, as the majority of covid restrictions are now lifted, we may start to see demand for office space increase for the first time in two years – with many firms keen to explore the hybrid work model.
“We champion increased consumer confidence and economic recovery, but consumers must remain vigilant. Many will face challenges in the coming months, particularly with rising energy and transport prices, so it is important to get value for money and find savings where possible.
“A good place to start is checking how competitive suppliers are by not auto-renewing, reviewing direct debits, ordering in bulk and looking to sell or repurpose existing household items that are no longer needed. Shopping around is key, comparison websites can help you compare policy details and prices all in one place so it’s easier to see what’s a fair price.”
A MAJOR conference and events business is reporting that 2022 is projected to exceed pre-pandemic levels – and looks to expand its headcount by 70%.
In a positive sign for Edinburgh’s crucial hospitality and business tourism sectors, Surgeons Quarter – the commercial arm of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) – has experienced demand for in-person meetings and events well ahead of pre-pandemic levels.
The Living Wage-accredited organisation which manages a vast mix of historic and purpose-built RCSEd venues, as well as Ten Hill Place Hotel, Café 1505 and Surgeons Quarter Travel – has seen events and conferences that postponed due to the pandemic rebook their events for 2022 as well as a high level of new enquiries.
This trend which has included new bookings for major conferences such as the Functional Regulatory Genomic Disease Meeting, a conference which will bring together international leaders in the study of genetics of disease in April 2022, has led to Surgeons Quarter returning to operate at close to maximum levels.
As a result, Surgeons Quarter is set to recruit for 60-70 positions during April, May and June.
Scott Mitchell, Managing Director of Surgeons Quarter, said: “It’s a pleasure to be in a position to expand our hospitality teams again and add vital jobs to help us service the increasing levels of business we’re bringing in.
“It’s important that we get the recovery right – hospitality and the business tourism economy are integral to the city’s overall prosperity. We can see first-hand the direct effect it has on employment.
“In addition to our busy events calendar, Ten Hill Place Hotel is seeing encouraging occupancy levels predicted to exceed the pre pandemic levels.
“To further boost our activities in 2022, we are actively planning for the full return of the Festival Fringe for which we are one of the largest operators – and at the end of the year, we are looking forward to a busy festive period of celebration, which we have all missed in the past 18 months”.
The organisation also launched its first TV advertising campaign on 25th February with the theme highlighting guests will be ‘In Good Hands’ as a reference to its surgical connections and charitable aims which should help further raise its profile.
During the first lockdown Ten Hill Place provided free rooms and meals to key workers tackling the pandemic. Over 2,100 rooms were supplied free of charge at a cost to the company of over £100,000.
Surgeons Quarter promotes, sells and manages all commercial activities held within the RCSEd campus. All profits support the charitable aims of the College which are education, assessment and advancement in surgical standards worldwide.
For anyone interested in joining the dynamic and award-winning Surgeons Quarter team, please email recruiment@surgeonsquarter.com
Supporting local businesses continues to be a focus as a new Retail: Recover & Grow programme is launched to support the Capital’s retail community as challenges continue to arise from the pandemic.
Looking to help local, independent retail business owners or directors survive and thrive following the pandemic, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Business Gateway Edinburgh has developed a new pilot programme designed to assist skills development, knowledge, and foster confidence for businesses to recover and grow their operations.
Part funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), this three-day programme takes place over three months and will initially help six participants. Starting at the end of January and taking place virtually, the programme is free and will cover a variety of topics including sales, marketing, customer journey, customer service and PR resulting in a personalised retail strategy action plan.
Councillor Kate Campbell, Fair Work Convener, said: “The last 21 months have been extremely difficult for retail businesses who have had to adapt rapidly to changing circumstances with absolutely no certainty about what the coming months, and often weeks, will look like.
“We’ve seen some amazing innovation with retailers quickly developing their digital presence and innovating in order to survive. But as the last few weeks have proven, there are many more challenges ahead. With this new pilot programme from Business Gateway Edinburgh we hope to help support businesses by equipping people with up-to-date knowledge, expertise and advice.
“Ultimately we want to see businesses thriving again. Through the Council’s wider services we have facilitated grant funding, provided rent assistance and extended outdoor seating arrangements.
“Our Forever Edinburgh campaign has also recently launched its Resident Rewards scheme which we hope will encourage people to shop locally, and support our small businesses.”
Councillor Mandy Watt, Fair Work Vice Convener, said: “This new programme adds another opportunity for small business leaders, this time in the retail sector, to come together and get up-to-date guidance and skills training to help them succeed in what are very difficult times.
“This adds to Business Gateway Edinburgh’s wider offering, including Women in Business and Gateway to Investment, and the ongoing one-to-one and on-call support offered by the team.
“We also hope that through this programme, as we’ve experienced with others, the business owners involved will build their own networks, benefit from each others experiences, and continue a new peer-to-peer support after the course is finished.”
To apply please speak to your Business Gateway Adviser for an application form or email: bglothian@bgateway.com
A new fund has been established to help tackle the impact of social isolation, loneliness and the mental health inequalities made worse by the pandemic. The £15 million Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund aims to support adult community-based initiatives across Scotland.
Grass roots community groups and organisations will be able to benefit from the funds to deliver activities and programmes to people to re-connect and revitalise communities building on examples of good practice which have emerged throughout the pandemic.
Mental Wellbeing Minister Kevin Stewart launched the fund at Saheliya in Edinburgh, a specialist mental health and well-being support organisation for black and minority ethnic women and girls.
Mr Stewart said: “This funding reflects the importance we place on promoting good mental health and early intervention for those in distress and will help develop a culture of mental wellbeing and prevention within local communities.
“It is vital now, more than ever as we start to re-open society that we support the mental health and wellbeing of individuals. I am very keen that this benefits communities across all of Scotland.
“I was pleased to be able to visit Saheliya this morning and meet some of the people involved with running and the project, and some of the people they help.”
A range of charity-support bodies and social enterprises, known as third sector interfaces, will manage the fund in partnership with local integrated health authorities and other partners including Community Planning Partnerships and local authority mental health leads.
The Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund is part of the wider £120 million Recovery and Renewal Fund announced in February 2021 to ensure delivery of the commitments set out in the Mental Health Transition and Recovery Plan in response to the mental health need arising from the pandemic.
– Covid-19 booster vaccinations get underway today
– Lothian launches drop-in clinics for 12 to 15-year-olds
Residents in care homes for older people are the first to be offered coronavirus (COVID-19) booster vaccinations from today (Monday).
This group will be offered both flu and COVID-19 booster vaccines after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advised that they could be given alongside one another.
From tomorrow (Tuesday 21 September) frontline health and social care workers are able to book an appointment for a booster jab online at NHS Inform. The portal can be used by all health and social care workers to book a flu vaccine.
Adults aged 70 years and over and those 16 years and over who are on the highest risk list (previously known as the shielding list) will begin to be contacted by letter or by their GP from the end of September.
People on the highest risk list who were severely immunosuppressed at the time of their last COVID-19 vaccination will be offered a third primary dose instead.
Other eligible groups – including all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions, adult carers, unpaid and young carers, adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals and all adults over 50 – will be able to book an appointment online from October.
Meanwhile, also from today (Monday) children and young people aged 12 -15 years old can go to drop-in clinics for a vaccination if they wish to get their jab before they receive their letter inviting them for a scheduled appointment. Everyone in this age group will be invited for vaccination at a community based clinic or a school delivery session from 27 September.
Heath Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “I am pleased to see the booster programme getting underway for residents in care homes for older people, offering longer lasting protection against severe COVID-19 illness.
“The booster programme will run alongside our biggest ever flu vaccine programme as both of these programmes are important for individual and for public health and wherever possible, those eligible will be offered COVID-19 booster and flu vaccines together.
“We are also starting vaccination of 12-15 year olds after Scottish Ministers accepted advice from the four UK Chief Medical Officers. This group can now head to drop-in clinics for their jabs or wait for a letter offering them a scheduled appointment.”
NHS Lothian launches drop-in clinics for 12 to 15-year-olds
Young people aged 12 to 15 will be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine at drop-in clinics across Lothian from today (September 20).
Mass clinics in West Lothian, Edinburgh and Midlothian will open their doors to young people as part of the latest phase of the national vaccination programme.
Pyramids, Gorebridge and Lowland Hall vaccination clinics will be the first in Lothian to administer the lifesaving vaccine, before more clinics are added to the list over coming days.
Pat Wynne, Director of Nursing for Primary and Community Care, NHS Lothian said: “We are delighted to offer drop-in clinics for young people aged 12-15.
“These clinics will enable young people to attend, without a prior appointment to receive their vaccination.
“We recognise that young people, as well as their parents and guardians may have questions regarding the COVID vaccination and we encourage them to visit the pages on NHS Inform where there is a range of information available.
“Alongside this, our teams at Pyramids, Gorebridge and Lowland Hall are one hand to answer any questions people may have.
“Vaccination remains critically important in the continued fight against COVID-19 and we welcome the further expansion of the vaccination programme across Lothian.”
The clinics are opening their doors following the publication and government acceptance of the advice of the four Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) to offer a single dose of the COVID vaccine to all healthy 12-15-year-olds.
Young people do not need to be registered with a GP to attend, however it is requested that they are accompanied by their parent or guardian.
As well as the drop-in clinics for 12-15’s, NHS Lothian continues to operate a range of COVID vaccination clinics in locations across Lothian.
Mr Wynne added: “We continue to offer vaccination clinics across Lothian for anyone who requires a first dose of the vaccine, or who is now due their second dose. I would urge anyone who has still to be vaccinated to pop along.”
new clearer travel system: red list and rest of world
simpler, cheaper rules for fully vaccinated travellers coming from non-red list countries – fully vaccinated passengers will be able to replace day 2 PCR tests with cheaper lateral flow tests – from the end of October – and no longer need to take pre-departure tests (PDTs)
8 destinations removed from red list including Turkey and Pakistan
government recognises full vaccinations from a further 17 countries and territories including Japan and Singapore
The Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, has announced a simplified system for international travel in light of the success of the UK’s domestic vaccine rollout, providing greater stability for industry and passengers.
The current traffic light system will be replaced by a single red list of countries and territories which will continue to be crucial in order to protect public health, and simplified travel measures for arrivals from the rest of the world from Monday 4 October at 4am.
Testing requirements will also be reduced for eligible fully vaccinated travellers, who will no longer need to take a PDT when travelling to England from Monday 4 October 4am.
From the end of October, eligible fully vaccinated passengers and those with an approved vaccine from a select group of non-red countries will be able to replace their day 2 test with a cheaper lateral flow test, reducing the cost of tests on arrival into England. The government wants to introduce this by the end of October, aiming to have it in place for when people return from half-term breaks.
Anyone testing positive will need to isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test, at no additional cost to the traveller, which would be genomically sequenced to help identify new variants.
Testing for unvaccinated passengers from non-red countries will include pre-departure tests, day 2 and day 8 PCR tests. Test to release remains an option to reduce self-isolation period.
From 4 October, England will welcome fully vaccinated travellers from a host of new countries – who will be treated like returning fully vaccinated UK travellers – including 17 countries and territories such as Japan and Singapore, following the success of an existing pilot with the US and Europe.
Grant Shapps Transport Secretary said: “Today’s changes mean a simpler, more straightforward system. One with less testing and lower costs, allowing more people to travel, see loved ones or conduct business around the world while providing a boost for the travel industry.
“Public health has always been at the heart of our international travel policy and with more than 8 in 10 adults vaccinated in the UK, we are now able to introduce a proportionate updated structure that reflects the new landscape.”
Part of the third Global Travel Taskforce checkpoint review, today’s update reiterates the government’s focus on protecting its borders from the most dangerous variants and ensures continuity for industry and passengers the remainder of the year. We will look to set out a further review for the UK’s international travel policy early in the new year to provide further certainty for the spring and summer 2022 seasons.
Conducting the final regular traffic light review before the switch to the new two-tiered system, several additional countries and territories will move off the red list – Turkey, Pakistan, the Maldives, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Oman, Bangladesh and Kenya. Changes will come into effect at 4am Wednesday 22 September.
Passengers who aren’t recognised as being fully vaccinated with authorised vaccines and certificates under England’s international travel rules, will still have to take a pre-departure test, a day 2 and day 8 PCR test and self-isolate for 10 days upon their return from a non-red list country under the new two-tiered travel programme.
Test to Release will remain an option for unvaccinated passengers who wish to shorten their isolation period.
Sajid Javid, Health and Social Care Secretary, said: Today we have simplified the travel rules to make them easier to understand and follow, opening up tourism and reducing the costs to go abroad.
“As global vaccination efforts continue to accelerate and more people gain protection from this dreadful disease, it is right that our rules and regulations keep pace.”
From late October, we will also be making changes to allow passengers who change flights or international trains during their journey to follow the measures associated to their country of departure, rather than any countries they have transited through as part of their journey.
Passengers should continue to check GOV.UK travel guidance including FCDO travel advice before, during and after travel to keep up to date in entry requirements and ensure compliance with the latest COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 regulations for the country being visited.
These new arrangements apply to England only. The UK Government decision to implement proposals to remove the requirement for a pre-departure test in England and to use lateral flow tests on day two have not been adopted at this stage in Scotland due to significant concerns at the impact on public health.
The testing of international travellers, both before and after travel, is an important part of Scotland’s border health surveillance to minimise the risk of importing variants of concern.
The Scottish Government aims to maintain a four nations approach to international travel restrictions, but will need to carefully consider the risks associated with aligning with the UK Government.
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport Michael Matheson said the simplification of the system recognises the success of global vaccination programmes.
He said: “This is a major step but one with sensible safeguards built in recognising the success of the Scottish Government’s vaccination programme.
“The expansion of the eligible vaccinated traveller policy combined with the changes to the traffic light system will provide a welcome boost to Scotland’s tourism industry.
“However, we have concerns that the UK Government’s proposals to remove the requirement for a pre-departure test for some travellers will weaken our ability to protect the public health of Scotland’s communities. While we want to maintain a four nations approach to these matters, we need to consider urgently their implications.”
People are now able to use private sector tests where they are now required when returning to Scotland. The step allows people to choose from a list of approved providers which can be found on the gov.uk website.
Countries removed from the red list from 4 am on 22 September are:
Bangladesh
Egypt
Kenya
Maldives
Oman
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Turkey
Countries added to the eligible vaccinated traveller policy from 4 October are:
Canada
Australia
Israel
New Zealand
Singapore
Antigua & Barbuda
Barbados
Brunei
Taiwan
Dominica
Japan
South Korea
Qatar
Kuwait
Malaysia
Saudi Arabia
Bahrain
Following a review, the existing travel regulations have been consolidated, with minor amendments, into a single instrument. The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel and Operator Liability) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 come into force on Monday 20 September, replacing the existing regulations. Policy and requirements on travellers remain the same through this change.
On Saturday 25 September, Scottish charity People Know How and Polwarth Parish Church will be officially launching their new canal boat, All Aboard.
After People Know How and Polwarth Parish Church announced their partnership in 2019, they ran a pilot project including consultations, events and activities on a chartered canal boat, including projects and events for young people and the community.
The pilot demonstrated the importance of their aims to provide a space for wellbeing and community cohesion and the response they received from participants was overwhelmingly positive.
In February of this year, the two partners finalised the purchase of their own custom-built canal boat, and in June that boat was craned into the Union Canal. Since then, they have been getting it ready for its official launch.
Anna Philbrick, All Aboard Coordinator, said: “It’s been an exciting process preparing our new boat to officially launch on the canal – from installing the bright yellow canopy and lift, to training up our team of volunteers, to ensuring our boat is safe and accessible for all.
“The launch comes at a pivotal time in the canal community’s recovery from the pandemic, and we’re really looking forward to start hosting sessions and projects as well as new volunteers interested in this unique opportunity. We can’t wait to welcome everyone on board!”
The launch event invites you on board the new boat and offers many opportunities to get involved with All Aboard. The project is currently looking for crew and helmsman volunteers to support the running of the boat, taking young people, families and adults on trips on the canal.
There are also opportunities to provide support on the boat through art, music, meditation or any other ideas you might have!
Come down to the All Aboard canal boat at 36-38 Polwarth Terrace between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday 25 September and join us for the launch of All Aboard!
Projects aiming to help transform towns and neighbourhoods could apply to a new £10 million multi-year fund.
The Scotland Loves Local Fund aims to encourage people to think local first, and support businesses and enterprises in their community. The fund will provide match funding of between £5,000 and £25,000 for projects run by groups like town centre partnerships, chambers of commerce or community and charity trusts.
Administered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership it aims to bring new, suitable, creative projects and activity to towns and neighbourhoods – helping build local wealth and increase footfall and activity, while supporting local enterprise partnerships. Eligible projects could include things like community shops, marketing and digital schemes, or enabling larger construction projects delivery.
Community Wealth Minister (Eh? – Ed.) Tom Arthur said: “To support Scotland’s towns and neighbourhoods recover from the pandemic we are launching a new £10 million Scotland Loves Local Fund.
“This will provide 50% match funding for local projects between £5,000 and £25,000. Whether it be funding for small-scale improvements or adaptations, climate or active travel programmes, home delivery digital schemes, pop up shops and markets, or the direct funding or expansion of Scotland Loves Local loyalty card schemes – communities will be able to decide how best to improve their local area.
“This 100 day Scottish Government commitment reinforces our determination to support all our communities as they recover from the pandemic and will help strengthen the vital support being provided through the Scotland Loves Local marketing campaign and loyalty card scheme.”
Scotland’s Towns Partnership Chief Officer Phil Prentice said: “Over the coming years, this significant commitment from the Scottish Government will make a real difference – empowering communities to take action that will make their areas fairer, greener and more successful. We are delighted to be working with ministers to deliver this.
“This funding will unlock the great potential of our towns and neighbourhoods, allowing them not just to recover from the impact of Covid-19, but to create a stronger, more sustainable future which has localism at its heart. I would encourage interested organisations across Scotland to get their applications in.”
Director of Milngavie Business Improvement District and Business owner Wendy Ross said: “The Scotland Loves Local campaign was a massive help to Milngavie, especially at the peak of the pandemic when non-essential retail businesses were forced to close.
“Using the digital experience of our business improvement district place manager and his network of collaborators, the Loves Local funding was invested to build many e-commerce websites very quickly so we could continue to trade online, with click and collect and deliveries.
“This was a critical help for local businesses and really opened our eyes to aspects of the digital world that we knew little about. Using the Loves Local messaging and excellent #ThinkLocalFirst campaign, we used social media and milngavie.co.uk to reach local people. That really struck home and continues to do so.”
The competition is now live and applications are encouraged from towns and cities across the UK
Winner will have baton passed to them from Coventry – UK City of Culture 2021
UK Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has today launched the competition to find the UK’s next City of Culture.
The competition, delivered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in collaboration with the devolved administrations, will use culture as a catalyst for levelling up areas outside London and put culture at the heart of their plans to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
The new winner will take on the baton from Coventry and be at the centre of the UK’s cultural spotlight for a year.
For the first time, groups of towns will now be able to join together and apply for the title to be awarded to their local area – widening the scope of which areas of the country could benefit.
Towns and cities will need to articulate a strong and unique vision for their future growth, celebrating local heritage and using culture to bring communities together, build a sense of place and inspire local pride.
Bidders will also be asked to demonstrate how investment in culture and creativity will drive growth, how they will open up access to culture and to develop partnerships and celebrate links with places across the UK.
UK Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “UK City of Culture is a fantastic showcase of the huge impact culture has in towns and cities across the country. From Derry-Londonderry, to Hull and Coventry, previous winners have shown how the competition can deliver greater cultural participation, drive economic regeneration and boost local pride.
“I encourage towns and cities across the UK to put forward bids for 2025 and champion their local arts and culture scene. I’m also delighted to confirm the competition will run in future years, as a sign of our commitment to levelling up culture across the whole of the UK.
Scottish Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “I encourage Scottish towns and cities to take this opportunity to celebrate their local culture and consider bidding to be UK City of Culture in 2025.
“The competition can have a transformational impact on host communities and has the potential to bring a major boost to Scotland as we look ahead to the recovery and renewal of the culture sector.
UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said: “The UK City of Culture competition offers a wonderful opportunity for the winning city to make its mark on the UK’s cultural landscape.
“Through raising a city’s creative and cultural profile and drawing in visitors, winning this prestigious title can also provide a real social and economic boost.
“It would be brilliant to bring the prize to Scotland for the first time and I’d strongly urge Scottish towns and cities to get involved.”
The future for the competition has also been confirmed, with Oliver Dowden announcing today that UK City of Culture will become a regular event in the country’s cultural calendar – running in 2029 and beyond.
The first city to take up the mantle was Derry-Londonderry in 2013, followed by Hull in 2017. The City of Culture title attracted millions of visitors and drew in significant investments for both cities. The cultural programmes have had a lasting positive impact on local people, with surveys showing that communities felt prouder and more positive about the place they live after their City of Culture year.
Bidding for the title in its own right can have a hugely positive impact on a place – helping to bring partners together and develop strategic cultural leadership. To encourage as many places as possible across the UK to bid and to benefit from the UK City of Culture process, DCMS will offer funding of up to £40,000 to up to six longlisted places to help develop their applications.
Coventry City of Culture 2021 is already providing a blueprint for how culture can be at the heart of social and economic recovery.
It is expected that Coventry’s status as UK City of Culture will see a significant boost in visitor numbers and economic investment with over £110 million in additional investment secured over the 2018-22 period. The programme aims to attract around 5,000 volunteers and create more than 900 jobs.
The bids for the 2025 title will be assessed by an independent panel chaired by Sir Phil Redmond. He is joined this year by Claire McColgan, Director of Culture Liverpool, as Deputy Chair.
The panel of 11 members will include representatives for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. It will visit each of the shortlisted cities, to be announced later this year, before each city or town makes a final pitch to become the next UK City of Culture.
The formal application process for the 2025 competition is now open. The winning city or town will be announced in Spring 2022. Prospective bidders will be invited to join a two day workshop in Coventry which will provide further detailed information and advice on the bidding process.
Sir Phil Redmond, UK City of Culture Chair, said: “I am delighted with the announcement of the competition for 2025, with its expected continuance as a regular feature in our cultural calendar.
“The UK City of Culture years provide the UK with an opportunity to project its creativity to the world while providing cities the opportunity to revaluate their place in the UK, to come together, forge stronger partnerships and reset both internal and external perceptions as Derry-Londonderry 2013, Hull 2017 and currently Coventry 2021 are experiencing.
“It is the excuse for people to talk to each other, rather than at each other.
Martin Sutherland, Chief Executive of Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “The impact that winning the UK City of Culture title has on a city is huge.
“Over the last four years in Coventry, we have seen significant investment come into the city as a direct result of being UK City of Culture 2021, leading to an ambitious reimagining of the city’s public realm and cultural infrastructure as well as supporting the extraordinary artists, freelancers, cultural organisations and charities that make this youthful and diverse city so exciting.
“Our year as UK City of Culture has just begun, but we can already sense the long-lasting impact on the city, its business and its communities. We wish the best of luck to those cities, towns and regions who are competing for the 2025 title.”
A new £15 million fund has been announced to support affordable lending services.
The fund will support Credit Unions and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) which offer financial help to those who have poor credit and are often turned away from high street banks.
Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “We know the pandemic has had a financial impact on many people in Scotland and we want to strengthen services that support people with managing their money.
“Credit unions and CDFIs provide ways of saving, lending, and accessing affordable credit.
“They can be a financial lifeline for people who can’t always access what they need from high street banks, helping them to avoid riskier ways of dealing with debt, like going to pay day loan companies.”
The funding will support work which:
promotes the availability of affordable credit
strengthens the balance sheet of affordable credit providers
Organisations are being invited to submit applications by 3 March 2021, and they will be informed of funding decisions during the week commencing 8 March.
Successful applicants will receive funding by 31 March.
