A fund to help businesses, charities and other organisations adopt fair work practices has opened for applications.
Grants are available to implement changes such as the delivery of workplace training and processes that support flexible working and help to create and sustain a more diverse workforce.
The Fairer Workplaces Fund adds to Scottish Government measures supporting fair work, including making payment of the real Living Wage and providing an effective voice for workers a condition of grant awards.
Employment Minister Tom Arthur visited McAllister Litho Glasgow, a commercial print company, to learn about the benefits of fair work from staff.
The printworks offers its employees the option of working compressed work hours, swapping shifts and making minor adjustments to their hours. During the cost of living crisis, the business also paid its staff an extra £500 a month for six months to help with rising prices.
Employment Minister @ThomasCArthur launched the Fairer Workplaces Fund on a visit to McAllister Litho Glasgow printworks.
Businesses, charities and other organisations can apply to grants of up to £50,000 to support fair work practices.
Mr Arthur said:“Offering flexible shift patterns, remote working and making workplaces more accessible are among the relatively simple steps that can help more people into work and ensure they are able to stay there.
“They are also good for business. Experience shows that adopting fair work practices can help recruitment and improve staff retention. This new fund and the dissemination of the learning from it will help more companies – and Scotland’s wider economy – reap those benefits.
“The company I’m visiting today demonstrate how supporting your workforce goes hand-in-hand with running a successful company.”
Managing Director and Owner of McAllister Litho Janette McAllister said:“The implementation of flexible working at McAllister Litho Glasgow has resulted in a happier and more satisfied workforce. Employee happiness translates into ongoing loyalty and hard work, ultimately benefiting the business.
“We are a team and we need to work together. If someone needs a bit of flexibility and we can provide that, we will because we know we’ll benefit from that person’s loyalty and hard work in return.
“Recognising the pivotal role of a dedicated team, I acknowledge that fostering flexibility not only makes good business sense but also aligns with our commitment to doing what is right.”
The Fund which totals £350,000 is open for applications until Sunday, 1 September 2024.
Glasgow joins Dundee and Aberdeen in £1 million pilot scheme
A licence application has been submitted to the UK Government Home Office for a drug-checking pilot to be established in Glasgow.
The Glasgow health and social care partnership service would be based at a hub on the same site as the UK’s first Safer Drug Consumption Facility which is scheduled to open later this year.
The Glasgow drug-checking service would allow dependent drug users to submit a drug sample which will then be tested to identify the substance. HSCP staff at the site will then be able to provide specific health and harm-reduction information directly to people who have come in.
It follows applications from organisations in Aberdeen and Dundee for similar facilities earlier this year. Scottish Government funding of £1 million has been committed to establish the three sites.
Speaking during a visit to the site of the Glasgow hub, Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Christina McKelvie said: “Glasgow’s licence application is a welcome milestone.
“Drug-checking facilities would enable us to respond faster to emerging drug trends – which is particularly important given the presence of highly dangerous, super-strong synthetic opioids like nitazenes in an increasingly toxic and unpredictable drug supply. These increase the risk of overdose, hospitalisation and death, and are being found in a range of substances.
“We’re taking a wide range of measures to reduce harm and save lives – including the opening of a Safe Drug Consumption Facility pilot in Glasgow, supported by £2.3 million in ringfenced funding.
“I was pleased to see the progress that has been made and I’m grateful to everyone involved for their hard work. This facility is not a silver bullet. But we know from evidence from more than 100 facilities worldwide that they work.”
City Convener for Workforce, Homelessness and Addiction Services Councillor Allan Casey said: “Glasgow’s plans to open Scotland’s first safer drug consumption facility are progressing well and the submission of a Home Office licence application to operate a drug-checking service is another step towards providing comprehensive harm-reduction measures at our Hunter Street site.
“Being able to test drug samples on site will give staff the opportunity to engage with service users about what they’re using and provide harm-reduction advice and support.
“Engagement with local businesses, residents and community groups regarding the opening of our safer drug consumption facility is still ongoing. We recently completed a successful recruitment campaign, supported by volunteers with lived experience, and staff will be coming into post in the coming weeks, where they will undertake induction and training plans.”
Plans to reveal which new hospitals, surgeries and treatment centres will be built in Scotland have been delayed.
In a letter to Holyrood’s finance committee, Cabinet secretary for Finance and Local Government Shona Robison explained: ‘To provide as much certainty as possible to parliament and wider stakeholders of our capital investment plans, I must wait until I have confirmed capital allocations from the new UK government”.
That confirmation is not expected until late Autumn – and, given the new Labour government’s warnings about a £20 bn. ‘black hole in the UK’s finances, it’s not expected to be good news.
Lothian Conservative MSP, Miles Briggssaid: “This further delay to finding out if SNP Ministers will reinstate the funding for a new Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion is extremely disappointing.
“We urgently need a new eye hospital to improve the delivery of ophthalmology across the South East of Scotland.
“The decision by SNP Ministers not to reverse funding for a new hospital has been a disastrous decision and will ultimately lead to additional costs for the delivery of a new hospital.
“I will continue to lead calls for the funding for a new eye hospital. What we desperately need is to see some leadership from SNP Ministers.”
XL Bully dog owners have until 31 July to apply for an exemption certificate so they can continue to keep and legally own their dogs. Otherwise, you’ll be committing a criminal offence.
Special Invitation for NEA Ordinary and Youth Members!
We’re excited to invite local families to a special preview performance of The Show for Young Men!
Date: Wednesday 31 July, 11am
Location: PASS Theatre @ Edinburgh College (Granton Campus)
350 West Granton Road Edinburgh EH5 1QE
This captivating production by GuestHouse Projects, presented in association with Imaginate UK, is directed by Eoin McKenzie in collaboration with award-winning dancer Robbie Synge and young performer Alfie from Forthview Primary School.
Designed for young audiences aged 8+, The Show For Young Men considers familiar and unexpected ideas about men and friendship, forging a space where a more compassionate and caring mode of masculinity can exist.
New partnership for pioneering kidney health research
Clinical trials to accelerate research into treating chronic kidney disease will be strengthened as a result of a new partnership between the Scottish Government, academia and industry.
NHS Scotland, AstraZeneca and the Universities of Dundee and Glasgow will work together on new medicines to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease, reducing the risk that patients might need dialysis or kidney transplantation.
The partnership will allow for development of new treatments to treat chronic kidney disease, build infrastructure and enhance expertise in renal clinical trial delivery in Scotland with the key aim of improving patient outcomes.
Preventing progression of the disease allows people to live longer, better lives, free from other consequences of the condition such as heart failure, cardiovascular disease and stroke. This allows people to work, contribute to their communities and economy, while reducing pressure on the NHS.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, said: “This project’s ‘triple helix’ approach is a shining example of how collaboration between the NHS, Scottish Government, academia and industry can accelerate health studies. As we navigate the complex issue of chronic kidney disease, our commitment to patient-centred research remains unwavering.
“Together we can advance targeted studies into medicines that slow progression of the disease and reduce the need for dialysis or transplantation, strengthen our workforce through dedicated research fellows and specialised training, provide greater opportunities for patients, and enable Scotland to attract and deliver more innovative trials.”
Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, Chief Scientist (Health) at Scottish Government said: “I welcome this partnership with AstraZeneca which builds upon the excellent research infrastructure and expertise we have in Scotland, to drive the development of new treatments for chronic kidney disease.
“We must all work together to improve the outcomes and life circumstances for people living with kidney disease; and this partnership enables the fusion of medical expertise, knowledge, and insight from across NHS, academia, and industry.”
Tom Keith-Roach, AstraZeneca UK President, said: “Scotland is setting a bold ambition to change the trajectory of chronic kidney disease. We are thrilled to invest in a partnership with the University of Glasgow, the University of Dundee, and the Scottish Government to speed up the study of three potential new combination medicines to treat this disease.
“The triple helix of industry, academia and NHS Scotland is a powerful force with the potential to transform care and outcomes for people.
“Furthermore, we believe Scotland is well placed to collaborate with AstraZeneca to shape our research on the world stage across a number of disease areas and attract investment to the country’s thriving Life Science sector.”
The Flow Country has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List
Site to become world’s first peatland bog to gain world heritage status
Becomes Scotland’s first natural world heritage site, joining the likes of the Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef
The Flow Country has become the UK’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site, having been granted the accolade today, at the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee.
The landscape, which is widely considered to be the largest area of blanket bog in the world covering around 1,500 square miles in Caithness and Sutherland, has become the UK’s 35th UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the world’s first ever peatland site to gain world heritage status.
The site will also become Scotland’s first natural world heritage site and joins a very exclusive list of natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including The Grand Canyon and The Great Barrier Reef.
It will be the seventh Scottish site, joining St Kilda and the Forth Bridge, which attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to Scotland.
Due to the nature of the site, this listing is also expected to bring new opportunities for local people through the creation of green jobs in landscape restoration and conservation.
The Flow Country is home to a wide range of wetland and moorland species, including many birds, such as the red-throated diver, golden eagle and short-eared owl and has been considered to be of outstanding universal value due to its remarkable diversity, the home that it provides for these species and the role it plays in storing approximately 400 million tonnes of carbon in the north of Scotland.
UK Government Culture Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “It is fantastic to see the UK adding two new sites to the World Heritage List in the space of a day – of historical and natural significance respectively.
“The Flow Country is one of our most precious resources, as a vital habitat for many species and a key site for carbon capture that continues to inform our understanding of how blanket bog can be used to help mitigate climate change.
“It is right to recognise this truly inspiring landscape and I look forward to working closely with counterparts in Scotland to showcase this important addition to our UK World Heritage Sites.”
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “Scotland has a rich history of UNESCO World Heritage sites with six spread across our country from Heart of Neolithic Orkney to New Lanark, the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh to St Kilda and I am delighted the Flow Country has become Scotland’s seventh.
“Thanks to a strong endorsement from the UK Government the Flow Country, which has international importance as a habitat and for the diverse range of rare and unusual breeding birds it supports, is now the first peatland site on the World Heritage list.”
Acting Scottish Government Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin said: “This is a truly momentous day for Caithness and Sutherland, and indeed Scotland as a whole.
“The Flow Country is an area of truly outstanding natural beauty and its diverse ecosystems and peatlands are a vital part of our efforts to combat climate change and nature loss. This new global prominence will help preserve the area for many generations to come.
“I want to congratulate the Flow Country Partnership and everyone who has worked so hard towards this tremendous achievement. Their passion and determination has not only elevated the Flow Country to UNESCO World Heritage Status, but has ensured its protection far into the future.”
Bid lead for the Flow Country World Heritage Site project and NatureScot Head of Operations for the North of Scotland, Graham Neville, said: “World Heritage status for the Flow Country is a momentous moment for Scotland’s people and their beloved landscape.
“This successful bid is testament to the hard work and determination of the Flow Country World Heritage project team as well as community members, scientific experts, businesses, landowners and public bodies from across the Flow Country who have been so generous with their time, knowledge and expertise to shape the bid for the benefit of the whole area.
“World Heritage Site status will lead to greater understanding of the Flow Country and raise the profile of Scotland’s peatlands globally for their value as biodiverse habitats and important carbon sinks. It is a wonderful recognition of the expert stewardship of farmers and crofters in maintaining this incredible ecosystem as a natural legacy for future generations.”
Professor Mike Robinson, Non-Executive Director, Culture at the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO says: “We are delighted that the Flow Country has been inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of its Outstanding Universal Value.
“World Heritage status recognises the global importance of the Flow Country and its peat bogs, not only as an important ecosystem for wildlife but also, through their carbon storage, as a critical defence against the impact of climate change. In this sense, World Heritage and the protection afforded to it will contribute directly to sustainable development.
Significant activity is underway to clear the longest NHS waits following the allocation of £30 million of targeted funding.
The funding has been allocated to specialty areas where it can have the greatest impact against the longest waits – this includes cancer, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, dermatology and diagnostics.
It is estimated the £30 million, initially announced in April, will help boards across the country deliver around; 12,000 additional procedures, 40,000 extra diagnostic procedures and 12,000 new outpatient appointments.
Activity levels will increase over the coming weeks and the Scottish Government will work closely with Boards to support delivery.
Speaking on a visit to Ninewells Hospital’s ophthalmology ward in Dundee, Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “This initial investment of £30 million will target reductions to national backlogs that built up through the pandemic. This is all part of our programme to tackle waiting times, including waiting lists for orthopaedic treatment and diagnostics for cancer.
“Together, our actions will help Scotland’s NHS maximise capacity, build greater resilience and deliver year-on-year reductions in the number of patients who have waited too long for treatment. The number people waiting over two years for a new outpatient appointment is down by more than half in the last two years, and we want to build on that progress.
“As part of the £30 million, we have invested close to £2 million in ophthalmology helping to increase activity in the short term as we aim to deliver one cataract procedure every 30 minutes on standard lists. This will allow a more resilient and sustainable service for the future.”
Council leaders reconvened from recess yesterday (24th July) for a special meeting to discuss the ongoing pay negotiations with Scottish Joint Council (SJC) Unions.
COSLA Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann, commented following the meeting: “We are disappointed that the Scottish Joint Council (SJC) Trade Unions have chosen to reject the revised pay offer made on 18th July.
“We have been consistently clear that this offer of 3.2% over 12 months is at the absolute limit of affordability for councils, given the extremely challenging financial situation Local Government is facing. We believe this offer, which is above inflation, is fair, strong and credible. There is no more money available within existing council budgets to fund an increased offer without unacceptable and damaging cuts to jobs and services.
“COSLA remains committed to continuing our negotiations towards finding a solution as quickly as possible, seeking to do all we can to avoid industrial action and its damaging impact on our communities.
“In response to calls from Trade Unions, COSLA Leaders agreed today (24th July) to raise the matter of local government finance and local government pay with the Scottish Government. As no decisions can be taken until these discussions have taken place, we request that the trade unions pause their industrial action.
“COSLA are in the process of contacting the Trade Unions and Scottish Government on this. Council Leaders value the Local Government workforce and their essential work across our communities and remain committed to reaching an agreeable solution as quickly as possible.”
Date: Wednesday 31 July, 11am
Location: PASS Theatre @ Edinburgh College (Granton Campus)
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