Royal Bank of Scotland joined forces with Social Bite to host a Christmas dinner for people who’ve experienced homelessness. The dinner took place in the bank’s boardroom at St Andrew’s Square in Edinburgh.
Royal Bank is a long-term supporter of the work Social Bite is doing to end homelessness. Since 2016 Royal Bank has supported Social Bite through donations, gifts-in-kind, and strategic help totalling over £1million. Royal Bank employees have raised more than £100,000 through sponsored sleepouts, abseils and Christmas appeals.
Taking place on 19 December 2023, those attending included residents and staff from Social Bite’s Village in Edinburgh, run in partnership with Cyrenians to provide a supported community which helps people affected by homelessness to lead an independent life.
Social Bite plans to open two new Villages in South Lanarkshire and Dundee over the next two years.
Judith Cruickshank, Chair of the Royal Bank of Scotland Board commented on the collaboration, stating: “Building on our long-term support for Social Bite we are helping to make Christmas a little more enjoyable for some of the most vulnerable.”
Sara Rees, Director at Social Bite, said: “We are so grateful for Royal Bank of Scotland’s support. They have played a key part in a number of transformational projects helping people break the cycle of homelessness, and it is really special that they have created this Christmas experience for the residents of the Village.”
Royal Bank of Scotland is joining forces with Social Bite to host a Christmas dinner for people who’ve experienced homelessness. The bank will be opening the boardroom at St Andrew’s Square in Edinburgh and welcoming those Social Bite and the bank have supported this year.
It is part of the bank’s long-term support for the work Social Bite is doing to end homelessness. Since 2016, Royal Bank has supported Social Bite through donations, gifts-in-kind, and strategic help totalling over £1million.
Royal Bank employees have raised more than £100,000 through sponsored sleepouts, abseils and Christmas appeals.
Taking place on 19 December 2023, those attending include residents and staff from Social Bite’s Village in Edinburgh, run in partnership with Cyrenians to provide a supported community which helps people affected by homelessness to lead an independent life. Social Bite plans to open two new Villages in South Lanarkshire and Dundee over the next two years.
This Christmas, the bank is also supporting Social Bite’s Festival of Kindness which will provide meals, gifts and essentials for people who are homeless at Christmas and throughout the winter, alongside homes and jobs.
Josh Littlejohn MBE, Co-Founder of Social Bite, said: “We are so grateful for Royal Bank’s support.
“They have played a key part in a number of transformational projects helping people break the cycle of homelessness, and it is really special that they have created this Christmas experience for the residents of the Village.”
Judith Cruickshank, Chair of the Royal Bank of Scotland Board, said: “Building on our long-term support for Social Bite we are helping to make Christmas a little more enjoyable for some of the most vulnerable.”
Seven was Edinburgh’s lucky number today as a massive 7,000 Kiltwalkers took to the streets of the capital to fundraise for 710 different Scottish charities. September 17th goes into the history books as the city’s biggest ever Kiltwalk.
The Hunter Foundation underwrites Kiltwalk, and Sir Tom Hunter was at the start line and on the route to praise the walkers: “The good people of Edinburgh and the East love Kiltwalk. We had 1,700 Kiltwalkers in our first Edinburgh Kiltwalk seven years ago, today we have over 7,000 heroes walking for 710 charities.
“It’s incredible and every penny raised here at the Edinburgh Kiltwalk will make such a difference to charities who really, really need a hand up, not a handout in these tough times.
“I’m proud of every single person who took part and crossed the finish line at Murrayfield, be they a Mighty Strider, a Big Stroller, or a Wee Wanderer. I am so grateful for their generosity.
“I’d like to say to each one of them, thank you for your Kiltwalk Kindness.”
Among the famous faces taking part in Scotland’s favourite mass participation event were David Marshall, Hibs and Scotland goalkeeper who stepped out on behalf of the Hibernian Community Foundation, which was also the biggest fundraising team at today’s Kiltwalk. New manager Nick Montgomery was also there as a late addition to the 330-strong squad.
An impressive 3,000 Kiltwalk heroes undertook the Mighty Stride from Bingham Medway taking the 21-mile route through Portobello Promenade, Leith Shore and Gypsy Brae before triumphantly crossing the finish line at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium.
The Big Stroll saw 2,000 Kiltwalkers walk 15 miles from Musselburgh to the home of rugby, while 2,000 Wee Wanderers walked five miles from Gypsy Brae to meet their fellow Kiltwalkers and receive their medal at the finish line.
Kiltwalk slashed the entry fee from £32 to £20 this year to make it even easier for people to help the charity they care about. This is made possible by the generosity of The Hunter Foundation underwriting Kiltwalk.
Walkers donned their tartan and laced their boots in support of a remarkable variety of charities, both large and small.
Mass Participation Events Manager for CHAS, Fiona Leslie, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been part of Edinburgh Kiltwalk and would like to say a massive thank you to every walker who took on the challenge for CHAS.
“We are blown away by the 208 people who signed up to walk for CHAS and all the funds raised will make a huge difference to the children with life shortening conditions and their families that we support across Scotland.”
Community and Events Fundraising Manager at SAMH, Chloe Watson, said: “We had over 100 SAMH supporters taking part today, and it was so touching to engage with them at our pit stop and hear their stories of why they chose to raise much needed funds for Scotland’s mental health.
“A huge thank you to our supporters – the need for our life-changing services continues to grow and your support is helping us transform lives.”
Kiltwalk’s headline sponsors are Royal Bank of Scotland and Arnold Clark.
Support from Royal Bank of Scotland has facilitated additional sustainability measures, funding fully compostable food cartons at Pit Stops to ensure zero waste goes to landfill.
Judith Cruickshank, Chair, Royal Bank of Scotland’s One Bank Scotland Board, said: “The Edinburgh Kiltwalk is the flagship end to the Kiltwalk series of 2023, as a bank with its historic home here in Scotland’s Capital, Royal Bank of Scotland was once again delighted to partner this fantastic event.
“This year is the most successful Edinburgh Kiltwalk in history and it has been fantastic to see such a turnout throughout the weekend, with many of our colleagues joining the thousands of walkers and volunteers who have helped make it a success.
“The Kiltwalk makes such a positive difference to communities across our country, helping organisations and charities thrive.
“Everyone who has got involved this year should be proud of the difference their efforts will make.”
Arnold Clark offered walkers the opportunity to win £30,000 credit towards their choice of car, with each Kiltwalker automatically entered into the prize draw.
Nicole Watson, Edinburgh Airport rental assistant manager, said: “Here, at Arnold Clark, we care about our local communities, so we’re delighted to continue to support the Kiltwalk.
“We’re extremely proud of everyone taking part, including our branch team, and can’t wait to cheer everyone on! We’re also very excited to find out which lucky individual will win our amazing prize of £30,000 towards their dream car.”
Dates and locations for Kiltwalk 2024 will be announced soon on the Kiltwalk social channels and website www.thekiltwalk.co.uk.
Nicola Lamb 19 leads fundraising initiative to raise money for children’s cancer charity, ‘It’s good 2 give’
Nicola 19 leads the Edinburgh walk in memory of her older sister Joanna who sadly passed away in 2019 due to bone cancer
Nicola is at the forefront of the movement alongside her mother. Angela Lamb who works at Royal Bank of Scotland. Walkers include Royal Bank volunteers
As Headline sponsor, Royal Bank of Scotland has a longstanding partnership with Kiltwalk dating back to 2016
TODAY, Nicola Lamb (19), will lead out an inspirational team of volunteers at Edinburgh Kiltwalk, as part of “Nic’s Nifty Fifty”.
Nic’s Nifty Fifty raises funds for children’s cancer charity “It’s good 2 give”, where Nicola works as a fundraising and volunteer recruitment adviser, providing fresh thinking and innovative ideas for the charity.
New for this year, Nicola set up Nic’s Nifty Fifty to walk in memory of her older sister, Joanna Lamb who sadly passed away as a result of bone cancer in 2019 aged 18. Nicola will be joined on the walk by her mother Angela Lamb who works for Headline sponsor, Royal Bank of Scotland. Together they hope to bring together more than 50 volunteers to walk for the charity.
It’s good 2 give supports the physical and mental well-being of young cancer patients and their families in Scotland. The charity delivers vital work in communities across Edinburgh and Glasgow, having recently raised more than £1m to provide specialist psychologists, available through NHS services, to help cancer patients and their families navigate the mental-health challenges presented by a diagnosis.
The charity provides practical assistance through parent and patient packs containing essential supplies for hospital stays such as clothing and personal hygiene products. Recently, the charity introduced a provision of dolls featuring no head hair so that children undergoing cancer treatment can play with a toy that they feel represented by.
The charity also operates the ‘Ripple Retreat’ which offers young cancer patients and their families a chance to unwind during the most challenging of times, in soothing natural surroundings on the shores of Loch Venachar in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Stays at the Ripple Retreat are entirely free, backed by fundraising efforts from volunteers such as Nicola.
Following Joanna’s legacy, parents Angela and Alan Lamb, along with sister Nicola, maintain a very close relationship with the charity, volunteering all year round. Edinburgh’s Kiltwalk provides a fantastic platform to raise awareness and vital funding.
The Joanna Lamb Award for Outstanding Volunteering was created in 2019 to recognise It’s good 2 give volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution. The award was named after Joanna who became the youngest trustee of the charity through her work.
Royal Bank is a longstanding partner of Kiltwalk, Scotland’s largest mass participation walking event. The partnership has seen the bank help the public, colleagues and customers raise funding for charitable causes across Scotland since 2016.
Since its inception, The Kiltwalk, together with Sir Tom Hunter and The Hunter Foundation, has raised a collective £37m, paid-out to 3,000 Scottish Charities to support vital causes and create a legacy for communities throughout Scotland and beyond.
Registration for Edinburgh Kiltwalk 2023 is open and is set to finish at the iconic Murrayfield Stadium.
Find more information and sign up here. To register for Nic’s Nifty Fifty, simply add “Nic’s Nifty Fifty” as your team name at sign up. To give directly to ‘It’s good 2 give’, visit the JustGiving page here.
Nicola Lamb, Intern, It’s good 2 give said: “The Kiltwalk events are such a brilliant opportunity each year for us to raise money at It’s good 2 give.
“Every good idea needs a name, so I started Nic’s Nifty Fifty to try and get 50 volunteers together to represent the charity at this year’s Kiltwalk. I’m delighted to say we are making great progress and we’re well on track to hit more than double the target! I’d like to welcome anybody who would like to join the team to sign-up. It’s really easy and you just need to put ‘Nic’s Nifty Fifty’ as your organisation at sign-up.
“All of our walks are of course dedicated in memory of my sister Joanna. The Kiltwalk provides a wonderful opportunity to get active, spend time with friends and family and raise money for some brilliant causes.
“I can’t think of a more fitting way to honour my sister’s legacy.”
Chair of the Scotland Board at Royal Bank of Scotland, Judith Cruickshank said: “Every year the enthusiasm for Kiltwalk is made so clear by our staff and colleagues across the country who join thousands of others in remarkable fundraising efforts.
“Royal Bank of Scotland has a long and valued relationship with Kiltwalk, and we are proud to be in partnership with a charity that delivers such vital work in communities throughout Scotland.
“There are so many extraordinary individuals and organisations that come together through these iconic events. The Lamb family provide inspiration for us all and we will continue to support all their charitable efforts together in partnership with Kiltwalk.
“By walking, volunteering and spectating, we hope that everyone this year supports this fantastic event and helps celebrate the impact it makes for those who need it most.”
Environmentally conscious SMEs are being offered the chance to reduce their carbon footprint and lower energy bills thanks to a new partnership between Royal Bank of Scotland, the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) and the University of Edinburgh.
The free course allows businesses to identify the simple, cost-effective steps they can take to reduce emissions and save on outgoings while also helping the planet at the same time.
Successful applicants will take part in three 2-hour workshops that begin by helping SMEs to understand their own energy and carbon usage data and how they can build their own tailored ‘Carbon Reduction Plan’.
The free workshops also explain how taking positive environmental action can result in lower energy usage and therefore lower bills. Organisations can become more cost efficient by making positive changes such as changing boiler settings, installing smart lighting systems, swapping to sustainable suppliers and upgrading insulation.
The scheme is currently accepting applications from all sectors, having already supported over 60 participants from industries such as manufacturing, charity and education.
Applications for the next cohort close on 3rd October, with a later session set to launch at the start of November also welcoming candidates.
Code Hostels completed the course earlier this year and has used the learnings from the programme to make sustainable improvements across the business, including buying more produce from local suppliers and switching to eco-friendly cleaning products.
Talking of his experience, Jamie Greig, Operations and Design Consultant at Code Hostels, said:“The programme was a game changer for us. As a business, when you start looking at reducing emissions it can seem like an incredibly daunting process, and net zero targets can seem a long way off.
“We found it really valuable to chat to the other groups on the cohort, and we quickly realised we weren’t alone in the challenges we were facing.
“Sustainability in the hospitality industry is a personal passion of mine and we know that many other SMEs across the hospitality sector are experiencing the same challenges as we had at Code. I now run my own separate business, Our Property Bear, using energy monitors to help hotels and hostels monitor and reduce their energy consumption.”
Judith Cruickshank, Chair, One Bank Scotland said:“Royal Bank of Scotland is delighted to work with the University of Edinburgh’s Edinburgh Climate Change Institute to deliver a programme which can make a real difference to SMEs across all sectors.
“It offers the insight, learnings and access to experts to help businesses see the opportunities it can offer them – and see the potential tackling climate change could make.”
Prof Dave Raey, Executive Director of ECCI, University of Edinburgh said:“The Climate Springboard programme is inspiring. The great engagement and responses from participating businesses is a testament to the fantastic work of the team here at Edinburgh Climate Change Institute and our partners at the Royal Bank of Scotland.
“In simultaneously helping to cut energy costs and carbon emissions for such a wide array of businesses, they are delivering exactly the kinds of cost-effective climate action so desperately needed in every sector.”
The scheme is currently accepting applications from all sectors, having already supported over 60 participants from industries such as manufacturing, charity and education.
Applications for the next cohort close on 3rd October, with a later session set to launch at the start of November also welcoming candidates.
SMEs looking to learn more about their emissions and how they can start reducing them are invited to register their interest here. More information about the programme is available here.
Royal Bank of Scotland is inviting ambitious entrepreneurs and business owners to apply for a place on its Entrepreneur Accelerator Hub.
The bank is currently accepting applications to its fully funded support programme for Scottish businesses looking to scale and succeed.
Successful applicants will benefit from full use of the Hub’s modern coworking spaces in the city centres of Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as access to a calendar of networking events and one-to-one coaching.
Since its launch, the programme has empowered over 1,000 businesses in Scotland and also includes a Digital Accelerator which offers a virtual programme of support to entrepreneurs based across the country.
Karen Robinson, founder of oat milk brand, Three Robins, has been a member of the Accelerator Hub since 2021. The busy mum of three started the business after noticing a gap in the market for a high-quality, healthy alternative to traditional dairy products when her son developed a lactose intolerance.
The product range was officially launched to the market in May 2022 and has proven an immediate hit with children and adults alike, particularly appealing to families looking for a milk-alternative that doesn’t compromise on nutritional value.
Talking of her experience on the Hub, Karen said: “Prior to starting Three Robins, my background was in international development, and I spent over 20 years working in women’s rights. This involved a lot of travelling to war impacted areas and after a while, it just wasn’t working with family life.
“The idea for Three Robins came about when my son, Christopher, developed a lactose intolerance. We’d be buying several different milk products to suit everyone’s needs and tastes and I remember thinking, it shouldn’t be this complicated to find a product that suits everyone – so I decided to make one.
“Since launching the business, we’ve grown from strength to strength and the support we’ve received from the Edinburgh Accelerator Hub has been invaluable. Having access to a group of like-minded business owners gives you a sounding board to bounce ideas off, and the one-to-one mentoring has given me insight I wouldn’t have otherwise had having not come from a business background.
“We were recently awarded funding from Scottish Edge to fuel our next chapter of the business and were also able to exhibit our products alongside the Bank at this year’s Royal Highland Show. This allowed us to introduce our range to an entirely new audience and I’m excited to keep working alongside Royal Bank of Scotland as we continue to grow.”
Mandy Bailey, Regional Eco-System Manager at Royal Bank of Scotland added: “We are champions of Scotland’s entrepreneurial talent and want to give all business owners the tools they need to scale and succeed.
“Entrepreneur Accelerator is currently accepting applications for its next cohort, and we’re excited to welcome the best and brightest businesses into our Edinburgh and Glasgow Hubs as well as our virtual community.”
The Royal Bank Accelerator programme supports and empowers entrepreneurs across Scotland to scale their businesses to the next level, offering one-to-one coaching, a calendar of thought leadership and events, access to a network of like-minded peers, and full-time use of a modern coworking space.
Based out of the bank’s state-of-the-art city centre offices in Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square and Glasgow’s Queen Street, the programme is currently accepting applicants for its next intake.
Ambitious business owners are invited to apply here before applications close on 18th August.
A limited number of early bird discounted tickets to the 2024 Royal Highland Show were released at 6pm last night as the gates closed on this year’s event – which welcomed the world’s best sheep shearers amongst the 217,000 people who flocked to the show over the four days.
The eyes of the world were on Ingliston this year with over 140,000 views across 113 countries on the Show’s streaming platform, RHS TV, to watch show jumping, traditional skill displays, livestock judging and of course the excitement around the Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing & Woolhandling Championships.
And for those who are already planning a return to the Show next year, a limited number of Super Early Bird tickets for the 2024 Royal Highland Show (20th – 23rd June) will be released today via the Show’s website (royalhighlandshow.org), priced at just £30 with children 15 and under free to attend.
Celebrating the best of Scotland’s food, farming and rural life, high-profile figures attending included: HRH Anne, the Princess Royal; First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf; Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affair, Mark Spencer; Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack; and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon.
26,500 children attended for free in line with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) charitable remit – this includes school visits organised by the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and kids aged 15 and under free entry tickets.
Ian Georgeson Photography
Highlights for this year’s show included over 280 trophies, awarded to the over 5,000 cattle, sheep, horses, and goats competing. Including the Queen’s Cup that went to the Hanna family from Northern Ireland, a back-to-back winner for the first time.
The Flock to the Show campaign also concluded at the Show – after travelling the length and breadth of Scotland, the 38 decorated sculptures came together to form a trail around the Showground. The Flock will be auctioned off on 7th September, with all proceeds going towards the RHASS Bicentenary Fund, which supports projects in the rural sector dedicated to mental health, sustainability, succession, and women in agriculture.
Furthermore, respected industry accolades were awarded to agri-tech pioneers in the RHASS Technical Innovation Awards, sponsored by Hillhouse Group. Murray Machinery and Lely UK won Gold awards this year.
The Scottish Championships saw food and drink producers and craftspeople recognised for outstanding produce across competitions in Dairy, Honey, and Handcrafts categories – with St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Co and Graham’s the Family Dairy amongst the winners.
The Royal Highland Hoolie was a new addition to the evening entertainment schedule on the Friday and Saturday nights. Presented in partnership with Farmers Bash, the Hoolie saw country music legends like Skipinnish, Skerryvore and Derek Ryan perform to the 4500 strong crowds.
The Royal Highland Show is the flagship fundraising event for organisers the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS).
RHASS Head of Show, David Tennant, commented: “As we wrap up another phenomenal Royal Highland Show, we are delighted to have welcomed a record-breaking number of visitors pass through the gates.
“The strong demand is testament to the fact that the Show has major appeal way beyond the loyal farming community – anyone and everyone can find something to enjoy, no matter your interest.
“Our thanks go out to the hundreds of staff who make this possible, and the RHASS Directors who give up their time year-round to make this incredible event possible. And, if you had a great day out this year, the good news is you can grab a bargain with the Super Early Bird tickets for 2024, on sale now.”
Sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, next year’s Royal Highland Show will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, 20-23 June 2024.
Families enjoyed complimentary ice cream, face painting and origami rooster folding lessons at the Royal Highland Show this weekend at Royal Bank of Scotland’s Ingliston branch.
Royal Bank of Scotland, which sponsors the Royal Highland Show, was on hand to bring the fun and advise families of the support offered by Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest Rooster Money – an innovative pocket money app that allows parents to manage their children’s allowance via their phones while instilling positive money management habits.
NatWest Rooster Money’s recent Pocket Money Index – a study of over 125,000 children – reveals that kids’ average earnings have increased by 11% since 2022, outpacing inflation for the same period.
However, instead of sticking to regular recurring payments, parents are now more often offering one-off payments and using special occasions and good behaviour as opportunities for handing out extra pocket money.
A Scottish personal trainer who created her own online fitness community during lockdown is preparing to take her business to the next level with the official launch of a new app.
27-year-old Robyn Drummond, who started the business ‘accidentally’ after pivoting her in-person sessions to an online alternative at the start of the pandemic, has built up a loyal following thanks to her unique approach to fitness and exercise.
The award-winning entrepreneur launched Robyn Drummond Fitness after growing frustrated with existing approaches to personal training, focussing instead on encouraging her customers to ditch fad diets in favour of healthy eating habits and empowering people of all shapes and sizes to give exercise a go.
Fife-based Robyn worked as a personal trainer for over five years prior to lockdown and decided to offer on demand, virtual workouts when local gyms had to shut their doors. Within eight months, her online community had grown to over 1,000 members – leading her to take the plunge and quit her administrative job to pursue the business fulltime.
Her gamble quickly paid off, with Robyn being crowned Young Businesswoman of the Year by the Women’s Business Club, along with taking home the title of Newcomer of the Year at the Scottish Health and Fitness Awards.
Robyn has been a member of Royal Bank’s Accelerator Hub for the past year, working fulltime from its Edinburgh co-working space, allowing her to avoid the additional cost of renting office space while benefiting from the one-to-one mentoring on offer.
The new app launched earlier this month and will enable Robyn’s close-knit virtual community to access a range of bespoke healthy meal plans, tailored fitness programmes and a means of connecting with likeminded users.
Commenting on the milestone, Robyn said: “When I look back at what I’ve achieved in the past three years, I honestly need to pinch myself. I started Robyn Drummond Fitness at just 24 so to now be at the stage where I’m launching my own app and have users from all around the world is unbelievable.
“I always say to people that I just sort of fell into being an entrepreneur. It all happened so quickly, and I didn’t have a business background or people in my family that I could go to for advice on things like accounting or securing funding.
“The support I’ve received as part of the Accelerator has really been invaluable. From mentoring, to sharing connections and facilitating introductions with the right people, being a part of the Hub has helped me grow and develop as an entrepreneur as my business continues to expand.
“Before I joined, I was considering renting an office space so having full access to the coworking space in the Edinburgh hub has been a game changer and means I can avoid another costly outgoing as I look to take Robyn Drummond Fitness to the next level.”
Tara Cusack, Local Enterprise Manager at Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “This app launch marks a huge milestone in Robyn Drummond Fitness and we’re all excited to be a part of this new chapter.
“Robyn’s balanced approach to fitness brings something new to the space, and her constantly growing user community is testament to the dedication and expertise she brings to every area of her business.
“Royal Bank of Scotland is committed to helping scaling entrepreneurs to thrive and take their business to the next level. Members of our Edinburgh Accelerator Hub have access to one-to-one coaching with experienced Acceleration Managers as well as full use of our co-working spaces and the chance to book onto our programme of events throughout the year.”
Hiring activity across Scotland falls again in March
Permanent placements fall for second month running
Further marked drop in supply of permanent labour
Pay pressures moderate but remain strong overall
The latest data from the Royal Bank of Scotland Report on Jobs survey signalled a fall in permanent staff placements across Scotland for the second consecutive month in March.
The reduction was fuelled by ongoing economic uncertainty, which resulted in increased hesitancy among companies to commit to new hires. Additionally, temp billings fell for the sixth month running.
In terms of labour supply, there was a further sharp fall in the number of candidates for permanent vacancies, while temp staff availability fell at the weakest pace in the current 25-month period of contraction. At the same time, growth of demand for permanent staff moderated in March, with vacancies rising at the slowest pace in just over two years.
Furthermore, demand for temp workers contracted for the third consecutive month. In terms of pay, pressures on starting salaries and wages remained marked, partly due to the cost-of-living crisis, but also competition for workers amid ongoing labour shortages.
Downturn in permanent staff hires softens from February
Permanent placements across Scotland fell for the fifth time in the past six months in March. According to recruiters, the latest downturn was largely driven by economic uncertainty and hesitancy to commit to new hires.
While the rate of contraction across Scotland moderated notably from February, it was stronger than that recorded for the UK as a whole.
A sixth straight monthly decline in temp billings was reported across Scotland in March. That said, the respective seasonally adjusted index picked up from February’s 32-month low, indicating the softest decrease in billings since December last year.
However, at the UK level, temp billings continued to increase and at the quickest pace since September 2022.
Marked contraction in permanent staff supply
A further drop in permanent labour supply was recorded across Scotland in March, thereby stretching the current run of contraction to 26 months. The pace of decrease was broadly similar to that seen in February and stronger than the series average. According to anecdotal evidence, fewer permanent candidates were available partly due to economic uncertainty and the subsequent reduction in active job seekers.
In contrast, the UK as a whole recorded the first rise in permanent labour availability in over two years, albeit one that was mild overall.
March data revealed a fractional drop in temp staff availability across Scotland. Notably, the pace of contraction moderated further from December last year and was the weakest seen in the current 25-month sequence of reduction. A preference for permanent positions and hesitancy to switch roles reportedly weighed on availability. However, fewer work opportunities and the completion of projects helped to improve short-term labour supply in some areas.
Meanwhile, the availability of candidates for temporary vacancies at the UK level increased for the first time in 25 months.
Growth in starting salaries moderates, but remains rapid
Salaries for new permanent hires rose rapidly across Scotland in March. Competition for skilled staff, the cost-of-living crisis and labour shortages were said to have driven up salaries. While the rate of inflation was stronger than the historical and UK-wide averages, the pace of growth was the softest seen in 23 months.
March data pointed to a sharp rise in hourly wages for temporary workers across Scotland, thereby extending the current run of growth to 28 months. While the pace of temp wage inflation intensified from February, the upturn was among the weakest in the aforementioned sequence, and broadly in line with the historical average.
The pace of wage growth across the UK as a whole was quicker than that seen for Scotland.
Softer upturn in demand for permanent staff
Permanent job openings grew solidly across Scotland in March. However, the latest upturn was the softest seen for just over two years and weaker than that at the UK-wide level.
Of the eight monitored sectors, Nursing/Medical/Care saw the strongest upturn in permanent staff demand, with IT & Computing ranking second.
Demand for temporary workers across Scotland fell for the third month running in March. The rate of contraction was marked overall, and contrasted with a modest increase in temp vacancies across the UK as a whole.
The steepest drop in temp staff demand was seen for Blue Collar roles, followed by Executive & Professional.
Sebastian Burnside, Chief Economist at Royal Bank of Scotland, commented: “March data revealed a further decline in hiring activity across Scotland, as ongoing economic uncertainty weighed on firms’ appetite for new staff.
“Moreover, with growth in permanent vacancies weakening further, and temp vacancies falling for the third month running, it appears unlikely that recruitment trends will improve much in the coming months. Nevertheless, despite the slowdown in hiring, pay pressures remained acute.
“This was in part fuelled by the cost-of-living crisis, but also increased competition for scarce candidates.”
Royal Bank of Scotland has partnered with Code First Girls, the largest provider of free coding courses and linked employment opportunities for women in the UK, to launch a bespoke recruitment drive for displaced female Ukrainians.
The programme is a first-of-its-kind in Scotland and will provide valuable career opportunities for displaced women in coding and software engineering.
Opportunities for up to 60 women will be available from Wednesday, 22nd March with recruitment centres taking place at the Ukrainian Community Centre, Royal Terrace Edinburgh as well as the Leith Ukrainian refugee accommodation aboard the MS Victoria cruise liner.
The programme will provide training and skills development over an initial 8 week period, with the opportunity for trainees to study for a full Code First Girls degree and secure permanent roles with Royal Bank of Scotland.
The partnership with Code First Girls is an extension of Royal Bank’s commitment to helping displaced Ukrainians. The war in Ukraine has created an urgent need to support thousands of displaced families and individuals.
Throughout the past year, the bank has partnered with Edinburgh City Council and the Scottish Government to open a Welcome Centre within their headquarters. To date, the site has distributed over 10,000 welcome packs and will typically see up to 2000 children’s toothbrushes, 4,000 books and 2,000 sanitary packs handed out in one month alone.
Code First Girls is dedicated to reducing the gender diversity gap in tech globally by giving more women the opportunity to learn new skills and pursue great careers in tech. To date, they have delivered £75 million worth of free technology education in the UK and have provided free education and employment opportunities for more than 110,000 women.
Wincie Wong, Head of Workforce Technical Capability, Digital X at Royal Bank of Scotlandsaid: “As a bank we recognise that we have a unique opportunity to utilise our resources and influence real change to improve lives in Scotland.
“Our latest partnership with Code First Girls allows us to continue our commitment to helping displaced Ukrainians and empowering women in their careers. Through the programme, we will provide bespoke coding and software engineering as well as opportunities to gain work experience and be supported into employment.
“We’re a relationship bank in a digital world and we recognise the need to continually attract and retain a talented and diverse technology workforce. Building Scotland’s coding and software engineering sector will be vital to reach our full potential as a nation and we can’t wait to see what our inaugural group will achieve”.
Anna Brailsford, CEO of Code First Girls, said:“We are thrilled to partner with Royal Bank to offer this new opportunity for displaced Ukrainian women to learn new skills and embark on a career path in coding and software engineering.
“We believe that by empowering women in technology, we can help to build a more diverse and inclusive industry that is better equipped to meet the demands of today and innovate for the future.”
