Co-op Fortnight is an annual celebration of the cooperative movement, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of cooperatives, their impact on local communities, and their potential for fostering economic and social development.
It is the perfect time to celebrate the connection and shared values between two co-operatives that both proudly hail from Edinburgh, Scotmid and Capital Credit Union. Scotmid, an independent cooperative serving Scottish communities for over 160 years, focuses on sustainable practices and local sourcing.
Capital Credit Union, established in 1989, prioritises fair and affordable financial services, empowering individuals and communities in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
For over 20 years, Scotmid has been a proud member of Capital Credit Union. This longstanding partnership highlights the deep-rooted connection between these two Scottish organisations and the shared values that have fostered their successful cooperation.
Trudi Fisher is Scotmid’s Community Team Administrator – making a connection between the two organisations Trudi epitomises the positive outcomes resulting from their collaboration.
Trudi is a member of Capital Credit Union and uses their payroll saving scheme to build her own savings. She joined Capital Credit Union earlier this year to set aside funds for special occasions like Christmas and in case of emergency car repairs.
By saving directly from her salary, Trudi feels she is effortlessly contributing to her savings goals. She also appreciates that her savings are supporting another member organisation, reinforcing the cooperative values of mutual support and solidarity.
Trudi shares her experience: “I use the monthly payroll savings scheme from Capital Credit Union. It was really easy to set up. I downloaded their app, went through the instructions, and they did all the rest.
“Their Customer Service is great, and they get back to you straight away if you have any queries.”
Through this partnership, Scotmid colleagues gain access to a wide range of financial products and financial education resources. It strengthens their financial well-being, enables them to achieve personal financial goals, and builds a more secure future.
Abigail Ramage, Business Development Executive at Capital Credit Union, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership: “The collaboration between Scotmid and Capital Credit Union is a testament to the power of cooperative values and shared goals.
“We are proud to have Scotmid as a longstanding member of our credit union, and, together, we have been able to make a significant impact in empowering individuals and building strong, resilient communities.”
VisitScotland reveals Year of Stories 2022 highlights for Edinburgh and the Lothians
A new report has highlighted how Edinburgh and the Lothians helped contribute to the success of Year of Stories 2022.
Collated by VisitScotland, the evaluation report which features independent research and partner feedback, shows the Themed Year delivered significant benefits to Scotland and its communities.*
Highlights included:
A total of 354 funded and partner events across all 32 local authority areas including 47 funded and 31 partner events in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Greater collaboration across the tourism, events and related sectors was evidenced with hundreds of industry partners participating and a wide range of innovative partnership projects and campaigns inspired by the year.
Scots and Gaelic showcased by 42% of funded events.
Vast promotional reach was achieved including 4 million views of the Year of Stories promotional videos, 2,760 pieces of media coverage and marketing campaigns reaching people 148m times.
A central strand of activity was the creation of a diverse events programme. The funded events programmes, with support from Museums Galleries Scotland and National Lottery Heritage Fund, invested a total of £1.33 million in the sector, shining a spotlight on well-loved and brand new stories alike. The widest range of organisations from national companies to community groups participated.
Funded events included Edinburgh International Book Festival which this year ran a special Year of Stories programming strand called Scotland’s Stories Now.
Similarly, Figures of Speech a partnership between Scottish Storytelling Centre (SSC) and Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust, created six events across two seasons bringing writers and artists together to explore Scottish literature through cross-arts presentations and new commissions.
In addition, a brand new event in 2022 was Of Scotland’s Soils and Soul developed by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Held across four Botanic Garden sites including Edinburgh, the event offered visitors four bespoke trails showcasing stories of and about Scotland that related to the land, plants and nature.
Local communities took to the spotlight with the support of the innovative Community Stories Programme, a partnership between VisitScotland and Museums Galleries Scotland with support from National Lottery Heritage Fund and Scottish Government.
This programme provided opportunities for communities to come together, tell the stories that matter to them and develop skills, opportunities and partnerships.
Events in Edinburgh and the Lothians included: A happy Nameste (greetings to you) (Dance Ihayami); A Poetry Feast of Mythical Beasts (Push the Boat Out Ltd); BE United Presents (BE United); Family Encounters – New Stories Strand (Imaginate); John Muir’s Stories of Survival (East Lothian Council); Listening to Linlithgow – The People’s Stories (Linlithgow Heritage Trust); Object of my desire (West Lothian Council); OMOS Workshops and Storytelling Cabaret (Icky Arts CIC (Pollyanna)); Oor Toon (Penicuik Community Arts Association); Pavementology – the story of Street Events at the Fringe (Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society); Preserving and Celebrating Edinburgh’s Deaf Heritage (Deaf Action); Stories of the Bathgate Hills: A Celebrations of the Voices of People and Place (Bathgate Hills Venture SCIO); The Calder Witch Hunt (West Lothian Council); The Phone Box – East Linton voices shared down the line (Catherine Wheels Theatre Company); and Voices from a New Town (Craigsfarm Community Development Project Ltd).
As well as an extensive events programme, the Year of Stories 2022 offered opportunities for the wider tourism industry and related sectors to share their own stories, with multiple examples of businesses and organisations collaborating to create new content, campaigns and activities for communities and visitors.
Locally, Edinburgh-based Mercat Tours used the Themed Years to launch a social impact project to support vulnerable people in Edinburgh through storytelling. The Our Stories, Your City project raised funds to allow members of the Grassmarket Community Project the chance to experience a tour and attraction visit free of charge.
Meanwhile The Real Mary King’s Close partnered with Edinburgh Gin to create ‘Stories & Wonders’ gin tasting tours offering visitors the chance to sample four unique gins with historical links to the city..
As part of the Year of Stories, the Scotch Whisky Experience highlighted a different story each week about one of the bottles in their whisky collection. Year of Stories was also a good match for their Tasting Tales events, which include stories about Scotch, the distilleries and the Scottish food to which they match the whiskies.
Finally, in November 2022, Rosslyn Chapel launched an initiative which asked visitors from around the world to share a story about the attraction. The chapel, which was founded in 1446, has featured in a number of stories, most notably Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, but it has attracted visitors for generations, many of whom have recorded their stories in travel journals.
Neil Christison, VisitScotland Regional Director said: “Themed Years provide an opportunity for collaboration and partnership across tourism, events and wider sectors, using Scotland’s strengths to attract domestic and international visitors and grow the visitor economy.
“The findings of this evaluation show that the Year of Stories really engaged communities right across the Capital, Mid, East and West Lothian. While the year may have ended, the story is far from over. Our hope is that businesses and events continue sharing their stories and visitors continue to be inspired by the places, people and cultures associated with them.”
Culture Minister Christina McKelvie said: “I am delighted that Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 has had such a positive and lasting impact in so many communities across Scotland.
“As a result of partnership working, the fantastic range of events on offer inspired people to create and share their own incredible stories, traditions and journeys.
“The high level of engagement with this themed year will leave a lasting legacy as we continue to tell each other stories about who we are and where we live.”
Lucy Casot, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland said: “The Year of Stories Community Stories Fund created a powerful opportunity to support a wide range of people to take part in the themed year and we are proud to have delivered this in partnership with VisitScotland, with support from National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Scottish Government.
“The fund supported creativity with new and old stories brought to life allowing locals and visitors to experience a wide diversity of voices.
“The evaluation clearly demonstrates the positive impact participation had on the groups who held events and the communities across the country who came together to enjoy them. To know that this year’s programme increased awareness of and appreciation for Scotland’s stories and has inspired future visits is a remarkable achievement by all those involved.”
Caroline Clark, The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland, said: “The impact of Year of Stories was writ large across Scotland last year. People throughout the country really got behind it, a fact confirmed by this report.
“The diversity of stories and how they were shared was a particular feature of the Year of Stories due to the Community Stories Programme, which was supported through funding from National Lottery players. It really engaged with the imagination of individuals, communities and groups, allowing them to share their stories, their way – stories of Scotland’s people, places and cultures.”
The Themed Years model provides a shared platform for many organisations to come together and multiply their impact by working together, inspired by the same theme and utilising common branding and tools. Scoping for options and approaches for a possible 2025 Themed Year is now underway with more details to be released towards the end of 2023.
The Year of Stories Evaluation Report can be viewed here
New partnership launched with Alpha Art in Edinburgh
EDINBURGH’s award-winning five-star Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel has welcomed the new season through an new exhibition, ‘Gilded Attestation’, presented in partnership with local gallery Alpha Art.
With many looking out for the first signs of spring, including the arrival of the spectacular cherry blossom trees in the meadows, the hotel has collaborated with artists that beautifully encapsulate nature coming to life after a cold winter.
The new exhibition showcase works by Jack Frame, who is particularly renowned for his oil painted cherry blossom trees suspended in the centre of the canvas, isolated from all other natural elements on gold and silver leaf backgrounds.
Due to his growing popularity, he is on track to become one of the UK’s most collectable artists.
The display also features works by artist Russell Hatton, who uses gold leaf and deep colours to create reflective polished surfaces onto aluminium.
His technique of using high-tech industrial paints allows him to create striking pieces that test the boundaries of art by using non-traditional materials. Russell’s finish creates a space illusion which reflects the wonders of the universe.
Established in 2006, Alpha Art is an independent contemporary gallery located in Stockbridge. The gallery represents a wide variety of emerging and established international artists. The gallery presents a selection of events throughout the year, taking part in several festivals and contemporary art fairs. The ‘Gilded Attestation’ exhibition showcasing at the hotel is a first for the gallery.
Guests and members of the public are invited to see Jack and Russell’s work on display at Kimpton Charlotte Square from Monday 27 March and will continue until mid-May.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival today announces a new partnership with Waterstones, the UK’s leading book retailer.
With 29 bookshops in Scotland and a total of over 300 shops across the UK, Ireland, Brussels and Amsterdam, the bookseller could not be better placed to help support the Book Festival as it manages the transition to a new site at the Edinburgh Futures Institute in 2024. The agreement is for 2023 with a view to a longer partnership.
Nick Barley, Director at Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “We are excited to be partnering with such a well-established organisation as Waterstones, and we’ve been hugely impressed with the local knowledge of the Scotland-based team -especially now that the much-loved Blackwells shops have been integrated into the Waterstones family.
“This knowledge is matched by the passion and professionalism of the head office team and I have no doubt this will be a fruitful partnership that’s good for readers, writers and publishers who love the Book Festival.
“As we enjoy one more year at the Art College before moving to our new home next year, it is reassuring to know that book signings and book sales will be in the hands of such skilled partners.
“Waterstones have a passion for books and bookselling – and I’m especially pleased that key members of the Scottish team will be on hand to help us create a shop that’s suited to Edinburgh’s unique literary heritage.”
In 2023 and while at its interim home of the Edinburgh College of Art, the Book Festival book sales and book signing set up will remain as it was previously, with signings in the Signing Tent after events and an onsite bookshop housed in the stunning fire station building at the entrance to the Festival Village.
Highly trained members of Waterstones staff from across Scotland will be given the opportunity to work in the Book Festival shops this August.
Angie Crawford, Scottish buyer for Waterstones, will play a key role in the partnership and will draw on a network of knowledge that has led to her being one of the most respected buyers in the country.
Meanwhile the Waterstone’s national event team, which has experience of delivering book sales for a number of other UK literary festivals, will oversee operations.
James Daunt, Managing Director at Waterstones, said: “We are thrilled to be able to support the Book Festival. It is the highlight of the bookselling calendar in Scotland and our Scottish booksellers could not be more delighted with this partnership.”
In 2023 the Edinburgh International Book Festival runs from the 12 – 28 August at the Book Festival Village at the Edinburgh College of Art.
LifeCare Edinburgh and Hibernian Community Foundation announce partnership benefitting local older people
Hibernian Community Foundation have announced an exciting new partnership with local older people’s charity LifeCare.
The renowned charity provides positive care for hundreds of older people every day but is struggling to cope with unprecedented demand for its services. LifeCare launched an emergency appeal late last year to help reach more older people across the city and the Hibernian Community Foundation have added their support.
James Wells, Chief Executive of LifeCare said “We are extremely worried about those in our community. Local older people are still coming to terms with the aftermath of the covid restrictions; abilities and mobility deteriorated rapidly and now with the new cost of living crisis, enquiries for our help are rising – up 250% for some services.
We are very grateful to receive new support from Hibernian Community Foundation. Thanks to their generosity, we have already been able to increase our care for those that need us most.
Together we delivered hot festive meals to clients who were alone at Christmas. Our clients enjoyed seeing a friendly face and having a chat with the delivery team. We are in the process of planning other positive initiatives which will allow us to reach more local older people with positive and caring support and activities.
We look forward to continuing our work together to help ensure that no older person is left alone or isolated.”
Lewis Melee, Head of Community at Hibernian Community Foundation, recently visited one of the charity’s registered daycentres on Cheyne Street to meet some of LifeCare’s clients and join in with the day’s activities.
He said “Supporting the members of the local community is so important to the foundation and club. It was lovely meeting LifeCare’s clients and hearing how they used to visit the stadium in years past.
This winter we’re organising two lunch clubs every week, and a memories and reminiscence group at the home of Hibernian FC, Easter Road Stadium. These services are open to everyone and with this partnership we hope to extend our offering – you don’t have to be a Hibee to come along!”
Isuzu UK announced as the Official Commercial Vehicle Partner for Scottish Cup
The eagerly anticipated Fourth Round takes place between January 21-23
Agreement further demonstrates Isuzu UK’s support and commitment to football in the UK
Isuzu UK has announced a new multi-year partnership with the Scottish FA as the Official Commercial Vehicle Partner for the Men’s Scottish Cup.
With this new partnership, Isuzu UK is further expanding its role as the driving force behind domestic football with a partnership already in place in England, with the Isuzu FA Vase and Isuzu FA Trophy and with the Irish Football Association.
The Scottish Cup first began in the 1873-74 season and is the second oldest competition in association football. The first final was held on March 21, 1874, at the original Hampden Park with Queen’s Park emerging victorious against Clydesdale.
Celtic have won the trophy more times than any other club with 40 titles to their name, the most recent coming in 2020. Their Glasgow rivals Rangers are not far behind with 34 Scottish Cup triumphs.
The next round of this season’s competition is being held on the weekend of 21 January, with the Semi-Finals set for Saturday, 29April and Sunday, 30April 2023. The final will be held on Saturday 3 June 2023 at the National Stadium, Hampden Park.
The Pick-up Professionals at Isuzu dealerships across Scotland will be getting actively involved with their local clubs, with some having already started making preparations for local sponsorship deals and promotional matchday activations.
William Brown, Managing Director, Isuzu UK said “We are extremely proud to announce our new partnership with the Scottish FA and the Scottish Cup.
“This agreement further demonstrates our commitment to domestic football and is also the last piece of the puzzle which now provides us with sports sponsorship across the whole of the UK.”
Michael Paterson, Head of Marketing and Partnerships, Scottish FA commented “We are delighted to welcome Isuzu UK as the Official Commercial Vehicle Partner for the Men’s Scottish Cup.
“Our flagship tournament boasts an illustrious history and, with a bumper Fourth Round weekend to look forward to in January, it is a hugely exciting time to welcome on board such an iconic and established international brand.
“This prestigious competition has given us so many unforgettable moments over the years and we look forward to sharing some more alongside the team at Isuzu UK.”
– St Andrew’s Day celebrated with launch of partnership between iconic Scottish brands Johnnie Walker Princes Street x Harris Tweed Hebrides
– First whisky finished in special casks in one of the world’s smallest warehouse in city centre cellar goes on exclusive sale at Johnnie Walker Princes Street
Johnnie Walker Princes Street is celebrating St Andrew’s Day with the launch of a highly desirable new whisky, complete with luxury packaging created in collaboration with legendary Scottish textile house,Harris Tweed Hebrides.
Marking the first ‘Johnnie Walker Princes Street Collective’ – a series that brings together the world’s leading Scotch whisky with Scotland’s best creative forces to create unique and collectable whiskies – the Johnnie Walker x Harris Tweed collaboration features a beautifully designed bottle of the Johnnie Walker Limited Edition Princes Street Blend, accompanied by a bespoke Harris Tweed carry bag.
The whisky represents a world first, having been matured over the past year in hand-selected American oak casks in the Whisky Makers Cellar at Johnnie Walker Princes Street. The cellar, holding just 26casks, is unique amongst bonded warehouse in Scotland, tucked beneath one of Edinburgh’s most famous streets.
30th November 2022, Edinburgh – Johnnie Walker Princes Street is celebrating St Andrew’s Day with the launch of a highly desirable new whisky, complete with luxury packaging created in collaboration with legendary Scottish textile house, Harris Tweed Hebrides.
Photograph: Mike Wilkinson…30/112022
Issued on behalf of Diageo.
Copyright: Mike Wilkinson.
Credit: Mike Wilkinson.
07768 393673
mike@mike-wilkinson.com
www.mike-wilkinson.com
Launching the new whisky, Barbara Smith, Managing Director of Scotland Brand Homes at Diageosaid: “Our collaboration with Harris Tweed has been an exciting way to celebrate the first experimental bottling finished here in our cellar at Johnnie Walker Princes Street.
“The partnership brings together two iconic Scottish brands, and the resulting collection embodies our shared heritage and passion for blending – whether that’s liquid, or thread. We’re sure it’ll provide festive gift inspiration for whisky and style lovers alike.”
George Harper, Johnnie Walker Whisky Specialist who created the Johnnie Walker Princes Street Collective bottling, added: “This particular blend was experimental in many ways, and it was exciting to use a completely different type of ‘warehouse’ for the final year of maturation.
“The unique finishing process has further enhanced the flavours of the liquid and we are really pleased with the end result, and I am sure consumers will love it too.”
Mark Hogarth, Creative Director, Harris Tweed Hebrides: “We have been hugely excited about this project with Johnnie Walker and feel a lot of synergy between our two brands.
“While Johnnie Walker carefully blends liquids to create flavour, so do we at Harris Tweed, expertly weaving different shades of wool to produce colour and pattern.
“This particular plaid brings Edinburgh and Harris together, all wrapped up in luxury, craftsmanship and time; elements that are also reflected in the exquisite liquid that George and his team have created.”
The unusual maturation conditions of the cellar, which is warmer than traditional warehouses, enhanced the impact of the wood, pulling in all the oaky flavours, leading to a rich and creamy oak nose, a palate of honeysuckle and red berry flavours and a long and fruity finish with warming wood smoke.
30th November 2022, Edinburgh – Johnnie Walker Princes Street is celebrating St Andrew’s Day with the launch of a highly desirable new whisky, complete with luxury packaging created in collaboration with legendary Scottish textile house, Harris Tweed Hebrides.
Photo shows George Harper, Johnnie Walker Whisky Specialist who created the Johnnie Walker Princes Street Collective bottling (L),
Mark Hogarth, Creative Director, Harris Tweed Hebrides (R) and Emma Walker, Johnnie Walker Master Blender (centre).
Photograph: Mike Wilkinson…30/112022
Issued on behalf of Diageo.
Copyright: Mike Wilkinson.
Credit: Mike Wilkinson.
07768 393673
mike@mike-wilkinson.com
www.mike-wilkinson.com
In designing the bespoke plaid for the collaboration, the Harris Tweed Hebrides team drew inspiration from their home in the Outer Hebrides, and the home of Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh to create a vibrant blend of the two Scottish locations.
The bag has been created in partnership with BeYonder, a charity specialising in ethical manufacturing. As part of the project, BeYonder engaged textile students from Glasgow City College to help manufacture the bags.
Those who’d like a chance to try the whisky before they buy should book themselves on Johnnie Walker Princes Street’s Whisky Makers Cellar experience or 1820 bar for a chance to enjoy it in a highball, cocktail, or dram.
The Johnnie Walker x Harris Tweed Hebrides collection will be available to purchase from 1st December exclusively at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, Edinburgh.
Johnnie Walker Limited Edition Princes Street Blend + Harris Tweed carry bag (£169)
The project, which began in 2018, has led to the development of a 16-week neonatal training programme, which aims to empower and upskill nurses at a hospital in Hanoi.
This teaching provides staff with crucial in-depth knowledge about theory and evidence-based practice, enhancing their confidence and improving their communication and leadership.
Maggie Reid, Business Development and Relationship Manager at Edinburgh Napier University, who supported the coordination of the knowledge exchange activities, said: “Since launching the partnership and education programme, we have witnessed a reduction in infection rates, an improvement in infection control practices, and most importantly, a 42.2% reduction in infant mortality at the VNC hospital and it continues to reduce as we teach.
“To date, over 70 nurses have taken part in the programme, and are finding their voice and have become excellent advocates for the babies in their care. They say this course has given them not only knowledge and deeper understanding, but also the confidence to speak up in the best interest of the babies and their families.
“In a very short time, these nurses have flourished through education and are making a real difference and have ensured there are systematic changes in clinical practice to the benefit of the baby and mother. These shared efforts for positive change have also received recognition from the Ministry of Health in Vietnam.
“This collaboration and the projects that stem from it, really highlight the power of partnerships and the importance of the role of the knowledge exchange professional in allowing this partnership to realise its objectives. The positive societal impact of knowledge exchange cannot be underplayed.”
The PraxisAuril KE Awards celebrate the people who initiate and deliver impact from research through a diverse range activities.
Edinburgh Napier has been shortlisted in the Place-based Knowledge Exchange Initiative of the Year category, an award that recognises the success of a place-based KE initiative which demonstrates the value it can have locally. This award also highlights and acknowledges the importance of the KE teams that support the academics and industry partners to realise these projects.
Linda Wallace, Head of Knowledge Exchange at Edinburgh Napier University said: “This knowledge exchange partnership has been a real success story for Edinburgh Napier and has demonstrated the wide reach and positive impact our knowledge exchange activities and partnerships can have on a global scale.
“This project supports Edinburgh Napier’s mission to advance knowledge and deliver impact that influences professional practice and policy and drives key societal change. We are delighted that since this KE partnership was initially established, we have secured further KE projects, with a further three neonatal courses in the pipeline and two more within midwifery.
“The success of this knowledge exchange model has allowed other academics and leadership teams at Edinburgh Napier to see the impact and benefits knowledge exchange projects can make to the individual, the school and the institution, as well as those within their community and further afield. We are delighted this project is receiving national recognition by being shortlisted for a PraxisAuril KE Award.”
The KE Awards are supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and work with Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT), the TenU, the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) and SETsquared to increase support and publicity for the important and impactful achievements of the KE profession.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony that will celebrate and showcase the KE sector in Manchester on 29 November 2022.
InnoScot Health and Heriot-Watt University are set to further solidify their partnership with representatives from both organisations set to perform a joint presentation explaining the classification of medical devices and related regulations to a range of businesses.
The two organisations recently signed a five-year agreement which will see Heriot-Watt University’s Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC) collaborate with InnoScot Health to help bring new ideas and innovations from healthcare professionals to life.
In a further step in the organisation’s relationship, InnoScot Health’s Head of Regulatory Affairs Elaine Gemmell and Prof. Marc Desmulliez, Manager of the MDMC will help to lead a free online event entitled ‘‘What is a medical device?’ which is taking place on Thursday 22 September at 10am.
The combined technical seminar will feature Elaine, Marc, and also Ms Melissa Siah, Director of Syntacog.
Together, the trio will be presenting on:
The legal definition of a medical device
The classification of a medical device and its impact on the regulations that need to be satisfied by this device
Case studies of devices which lie at the boundaries between classes of devices
The presentation of a software that automatically provides information on the classification of a medical device and lists the regulation documents to be filled in. A live demonstration of the software will also be provided
Elaine said: “We expect this combined technical seminar to be of interest to manufacturers with little prior knowledge and experience of medical devices, as well as established businesses seeking more information on the automation of classification of medical devices.
“Joining the event will allow you to better understand the definition of a medical device, its classification, and the resulting medical device regulations for which the device needs to comply to.
“Before the pandemic, there was already movement towards increased governance around medical device innovation. Now, however, far-reaching new regulations are having a significant impact on everyone involved with medical devices – from their manufacture to their use.
“A strong understanding of regulatory compliance must therefore be intertwined with the development process early on when attempting to harness the true potential of new innovations.
Elaine joined InnoScot Health, formally Scottish Health Innovations, in 2002 and helped establish the organisation. With more than twenty years’ experience in medical device development, she is a certified ISO 13485 /ISO 9001 Lead Auditor and has experience of regulatory approval and CE, UKCA marking for medical devices.
Joining SHIL spinout company, Clear Surgical, as a Director, Head of Regulatory Compliance and laterally Chief Operating Officer, she has helped to establish the company with ISO 13485 accreditation and launch two innovative devices onto the market.
Prof. Marc Desmulliez has been involved in medical devices manufacturing for over 15 years. From his previous research interests in Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS), and in collaboration with his former PhD student, Dr. Suzanne Costello, he developed some in situ sensors to look at the gas and moisture ingress in encapsulated packages.
The work culminated in a monograph (“Hermeticity Testing of MEMS and Microelectronic Packages, Artech House Pub.). His current research interests include microwave sensing and nature inspired engineering.
Melissa Siah co-founded Syntacog, a regulatory startup in mid-2020. The company subsequently won the regulatory challenge in the 2021 Singapore Airlines AppChallenge and more than £500k in Innovate UK grant funding to develop its regulatory compliance technology.
Melissa’s passion for making regulations easier to understand comes from a decade in regulatory law and policy with the Australian government, and seven years leading the development of legal tech and AI products in the UK and Australia.
The webinar will be hosted on Zoom, with a link provided to attendees following registration here.
Johnnie Walker Princes Street and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society have announced an exciting new partnership that will see Edinburgh’s most exciting whisky experience support the festival as an Official Partner Destination.
Since launching in September 2021, Johnnie Walker Princes Street has quickly become a must-visit destination for both locals and visitors. With iconic views of Edinburgh Castle and the cityscape, guests visiting the attraction are guaranteed a five-star experience.
Boasting personalised immersive tours, two stunning rooftop bars, a dedicated events space and spectacular retail store packed with exclusive items, Johnnie Walker Princes Street offers festival goers eight floors of whisky adventures in Edinburgh’s West End.
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the partnership brings together the world’s premier arts festival with the world’s best-selling Scotch whisky.
As Edinburgh plays host to artists and audiences from around the world this summer, Johnnie Walker Princes Street will welcome them for an experience that will invigorate their senses in August, and beyond.
As part of the partnership, Johnnie Walker Princes Street will feature across the Fringe venues map – a core navigation tool to ensure audiences enjoy their visit to Edinburgh and are able to easily find the wealth of Fringe venues across the city.
You can find this navigation tool in the back of the programme or collect a handy pocket version from the Fringe Shop during the Fringe.
In line with the net zero targets recently set out in the Fringe Society’s future development goals, Johnnie Walker Princes Street are also supporting the delivery of the Fringe’s e-ticketing journey, a significant digital development for 2022.
Barbara Smith, Managing Director of Johnnie Walker Princes Street said: “The Johnnie Walker Princes Street team is delighted to be coming on board as Official Sponsorship Partner of The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in its momentous 75thyear.
“2022 is a big year for us too, as we’ll enjoy our first full summer in Edinburgh. Our location in the heart of the West End is perfect for festival goers and what’s more they’ll get the perfect view of the city in full swing from our rooftop bar.”
Shona McCarthy, CEO at The Edinburgh Fringe Society said: “We’re delighted to expand our previous partnership with Johnnie Walker into an exciting new one with Johnnie Walker Princes Street.
“We’ve watched the development of the attraction over the last few years, and it’s a fantastic addition to Edinburgh’s visitor offer. Through the support of this partnership, we have been able to make improvements to our ticketing experience this August, and also bring back the popular Fringe venues map.
“We look forward to working with Barbara and the team at Johnnie Walker Princes Street during the busy weeks ahead, and into 2023 and beyond.”
