Welcome to all the students starting University and College soon. Please register with a GP before you’re too busy studying!
Head to https://nhsinform.scot put your new postcode into the services directory to find your nearest GP.
As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, many university students will be looking for ways to cut back.
A recent study by the National Union of Students (NUS) found that a third of students are living on less than £50 a month after paying rent and bills. With the cost of living soaring, 96 per cent of students are cutting back on spending as a result.
Which? has nine tips for students wanting to save money while they study:
1. Choose the best student bank account
Choosing the best student bank account should be a priority. When looking for an account to suit your needs, Which? recommends finding one with a generous 0% overdraft that lasts for the length of your course.
Student bank account providers offer different perks and offers – so it’s worth making sure you get the deal best suited to you. For example, Santander offers a free four-year railcard which is worth around £90 but it doesn’t offer the largest interest-free overdraft and you’ll need to pay in £500 per term.
While NatWest offers one of the largest overdrafts for first-year students, the freebies, such as its one-year Tastecard membership, aren’t as valuable. Other accounts offer cash incentives of up to £100.
2. Consider what kind of laptop or computer you need
Most students find a laptop, rather than a desktop computer, better for university as they’re easy to carry around and don’t take up too much space. Don’t overspend on a laptop that’s too powerful for your needs. Between £250 and £400 should be enough if you’re only going to be researching and creating Word documents.
It’s worth searching for student discounts and deals on laptops. For instance, Lenovo offers up to 30 per cent off for students, but you might need to show a valid student ID. You can often find the best deals direct from manufacturers’ websites. For example, HP offers £150 cashback if you trade in an old laptop for a new one. Buying second hand or refurbished laptops is another way to save.
If you plan to work from home most of the time and you’re on a tight budget, a desktop computer might be a cost-effective option, especially if you already have a computer monitor, keyboard and mouse. Desktops typically have a faster processor, more ports and more RAM and storage, compared to the same-priced laptop.
Most universities have computers around campus for students to use, and some have laptops that can be used in their libraries.
3. Find out what additional support is available
Most universities offer additional financial support, particularly – although not exclusively – to students from lower-income families. The most common examples are bursaries and scholarships to help with some or all of a student’s tuition fees or living costs. Companies, charities and special-interest groups are all common sources of funding, too. Bursaries and scholarships may be awarded based on academic merit (i.e. achieving high grades at A-level), a talent or skill, and extracurricular achievements.
If you have a disability or dependants who rely on you for care or financial support (for example children, or parents you care for), you might be eligible for grants or allowances to help you. Students will be asked about this when applying for student finance, but it’s worth researching what your university, charities and other groups offer, too.
4. Share subscriptions with your flatmates
Lots of student accommodation doesn’t come with a television or TV licence, and many students rely on streaming services as a result. You can cut this cost by sharing streaming subscriptions within a household. Most services have plans that could help users save money, without losing their personalised features. For example, Spotify offers a Premium Duo plan for £13.99 a month for two people in the same household, saving £71.88 a year compared to the price of two individual subscriptions.
For larger households, the Spotify Premium Family plan for £16.99 a month allows up to six users to get premium benefits, saving a whopping £515.40 a year over six individual subscriptions. Amazon Prime also allows users to share benefits with another person in their household, halving the cost of having two separate accounts.
5. Buy books second hand
Students will no doubt be presented with a long list of books that they’ll need to buy as part of their course. Tutors often insist you buy them all, but it might be worth checking how many are mandatory and how many are ‘nice-to-haves’. Find out if any necessary books are available in your library to borrow, or if the relevant bits are available online to download for free. Some departments have their own second-hand book schemes, and many university bookshops sell second-hand copies as well. It could also be worth searching for cheaper second-hand copies on online marketplaces.
6. Find student discount codes
It’s always worth checking if you can pay less with a student discount, whether you’re going out for a pizza with friends or treating yourself to a new pair of jeans. Discounts can range from around 5 per cent to 40 per cent, so there are often big savings to be made. While students can typically use their physical student card in shops and restaurants, there are also online cards and schemes you can sign up for such as Totum, Tastecard, Unidays, Student Beans and International Student Card. Each service offers its own exclusive online discounts, so you’ll get different deals with each.
7. Look for freebies
Several companies offer freebies for students, so it’s worth searching for the best ones. For example, Amazon Prime offers six months free when you sign up to an Amazon Prime Student Trial. Students can also sign up for Microsoft’s Office 365 Education for free with their university email address. McDonald’s also offers a free cheeseburger, mayo chicken, or McFlurry Original when you buy any extra value or wrap meal and show a valid student or Student Beans ID.
8. Save money on bills
While those living in student accommodation will likely have their utilities included, students living off campus usually need to pay for this themselves. Think about ways you could reduce energy use for cheaper bills, such as cooking with housemates, charging your laptop on campus and not leaving gadgets on standby. Students are also exempt from paying council tax.
9. Save on transport
There are several ways to save on transport as a student. For example, the 16-25 railcard gives a third off rail journeys for just £30 per year, or £20 a year if you purchase via the Trainline before 31 August 2022.
You can also buy a railcard with £10 of Tesco Clubcard vouchers. National Express offers a Young Persons Coachcard for £15 that grants a third off journeys as well. It’s worth checking if you can get local travel cards or bus passes – different cities around the UK will have different options.
It might also be cost-effective to take a bike with you to save on transport costs. Some universities have their own bike loan schemes, so it’s worth checking when you arrive.
Reena Sewraz, Which? Senior Shopping and Money Editor, said: “University is already expensive and the rising cost of rent, food, energy and train fares, as well as books and other student essentials, means that many will be feeling the squeeze and looking for ways to cut back.
“There are ways to stay on top of things. Try sticking to a budget to keep track of your spending. Find a student bank account that offers a decent 0 per cent overdraft and perks that meet your needs. You can also save in a wide range of shops and restaurants with student discounts and offers – so it’s always worth keeping an eye out for deals.”
A sister’s quick thinking saved the life of a student who had fallen ill with meningitis, when she took her straight to A&E on their way home from university.
Ashleigh Denton was 18 and in her first year at the University of the West of England in Bristol when she became ill with a headache and flu-like symptoms on a night out. The following day her sister Sophie drove from Oxfordshire to collect her but, halfway home, went straight to Swindon A&E as Ashleigh’s condition suddenly worsened.
Doctors say her fast response that day saved Ashleigh’s life.
“If my sister had tried to take me to Oxford rather than Swindon – less than an hour down the road – doctors said I would have died,” Ashleigh said. “It would have been too late.”
Now Ashleigh, 29, is telling her story to raise awareness of meningitis and the importance of looking out for your friends and taking quick action if the disease is suspected, as she spearheads charity Meningitis Now’s ‘Look out for your mates’ student campaign, which launches today.
The campaign is timed to coincide with the announcement of A-level results as thousands of young people contemplate their future. Meningitis Now is concerned that the combination of new-found social freedoms, the desire of young people to mix in large groups and a move to campus-based accommodation for students, will present the ideal opportunity for infectious diseases to spread, putting young people at a higher risk of meningitis.
“If you’re at university and you or one of your friends is unwell or acting out of character and you’re not sure if it’s something small or serious, get things checked out,” Ashleigh added. “Don’t be afraid to go to hospital – meningitis can develop so quickly, from just having a headache to being at death’s door.”
“It is so important to have your symptoms checked as soon as possible if you are concerned.”
Ashleigh, from Bicester in Oxfordshire, initially thought she was getting a cold. “I started to get a headache, but I wasn’t worried, so I went out with my friends as planned.
“Within a couple of hours my behaviour had changed – I was agitated and emotional – and this is one of the biggest things I tell people. It’s not the physical symptoms that I remember the most, but my behaviour.”
Ashleigh left the club and two girls who were going to the same place as her shared a taxi home. “They noticed I was unwell and even offered for me to stay at theirs, but I declined as I just wanted my bed,” she said.
“The next day I woke up, still with a headache, and assumed I was just hungover. As the day went on I really didn’t feel right. I phoned my mum to tell her and that I was going to sleep for a bit, but I was crying and she knew something wasn’t right.
“She spoke to my sister, who phoned me and asked if I wanted her to pick me up and take me home. I initially said ‘no’ but eventually agreed and she came from Oxford to Bristol to get me.
“In the car home my symptoms got worse very quickly. My head was so sore, I couldn’t open my eyes, my neck stiffened, I was retching, and I just knew something was seriously wrong.
“Just at the right time my sister saw a sign for the hospital in Swindon and took me straight there.
“In A&E I remember struggling to breathe, so I just stopped as it felt like the easier option. My sister shook me and I came to and started breathing again, but it wasn’t long before I stopped. My sister pressed the panic button and within seconds a team rushed in and carried me to resus.
“I am told I became aggressive, so I was sedated and admitted to ITU.
“During this time I was given a CT scan and a lumbar puncture, which confirmed I had Group B meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia.
“I had developed a rash but not until I got to hospital. What most people don’t realise is that the rash is not an early symptom and if you have one, you are in the advanced stages of meningitis.”
Ashleigh’s family was told there was a one in three chance that she would wake up blind, deaf or brain damaged.
“But fortunately I woke up two days after arriving at hospital and the first thing I said was ‘I want my breakfast’. Somehow, before I was even told, I knew I had meningitis.
“I was in hospital for a week and unable to walk or get out of bed by myself for the first few days. What I didn’t realise at the time was that my brain was muddled as a result of the infection and would be for a few months. I just had no awareness of this until a family member asked my mum if I was making any sense a few weeks after I’d got home.”
Fortunately, despite not being her usual self for three months and struggling with fatigue, Ashleigh went on to make a good recovery, even returning to university for her exams in August, five months after she first became ill.
“I am forever thankful for my family, and the doctors and nurses at Great Western Hospital in Swindon, for saving my life.”
Ryan Bresnahan wasn’t so lucky, His mum, Michelle, who set up the Bristol-based charity, a Life for a Cure, following Ryan’s death from meningitis in 2010, has been campaigning tirelessly to raise awareness of the symptoms of the disease and funds for research.
Ryan was a fit and healthy 16-year-old when he was tragically struck down by Meningitis B within an hour of first feeling ill.
Michelle said: “I know only too well how devastating this disease can be and have seen the worst it can do, destroying young lives and tearing apart those who remain.
“No-one should be left counting the cost of making the wrong assumption – meningitis can affect anyone at any time but we need to highlight that teenagers and young people are the second most at risk group of contracting the disease, after babies and toddlers.”
Meningitis Now chief executive, Dr Tom Nutt, said: “Research has shown that up to a quarter of 15 to 24-year-olds carry the bacteria that cause meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia in the back of their throats compared to one in 10 of the general population.
“Whilst many young people will have been vaccinated against MenACWY, which protects against four strains of meningococcal meningitis, at school, we estimate that up to half a million under-25s may have missed this important vaccination. If that’s you – contact your GP and see if you can get up to date with your vaccinations.
“And very few young people will have been vaccinated against MenB, which is the strain Ashleigh and Ryan had and that causes the most cases of bacterial meningitis in the UK.
“Common complaints such as a hangover and Freshers’ Flu are often given as reasons for a person not feeling too well – but we are asking young people not to simply assume this is the case. A headache and fever are also common signs of meningitis, which is why it is so important that young people should learn the signs and symptoms of the disease, look out for themselves and their mates and seek medical help straight away if they feel unwell.”
The early signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia can be similar to ‘flu, tummy bug or a hangover and include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain, stomach cramps and fever with cold hands and feet.
More specific signs and symptoms include fever with cold hands and feet, drowsiness, confusion, pale blotchy skin, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights and a rash which doesn’t fade under pressure.
Meningitis Now has free information for parents and students, including leaflets, signs and symptoms cards and fridge magnets – all of which contain lifesaving information.
Find out more at www.MeningitisNow.org
Edinburgh is now the most expensive place in the UK for students to live as revealed in the Royal Bank of Scotland Student Living Index. The index takes account of student spending and income to calculate a score for university towns and cities across the UK.
This year has shown that household bills have more than doubled for students with an average cost of £56.45 per month, with supermarket spending accounting for the single biggest monthly outlay at £76.29 each month.
Edinburgh has the highest cost of student living. Students in the Scottish capital have a monthly term-time income of £934, the lowest of all the cities ranked, whilst their total monthly spending is at £949. Edinburgh students are the least likely to combine studying and working during the academic term.
In contrast, Cardiff tops the list of UK cities for the best value for money. Below average rent prices combined with higher-than-average term-time incomes contributed to Cardiff being named the most affordable student city.
Term time income for Cardiff students averages at £2241.65 and is the fifth highest of all the cities surveyed. They spend an average of £1,041 in total – the fourth lowest of all the cities in the Student Living Index.
The Royal Bank Student Living Index surveyed 2,964 students across the UK to determine the most affordable place to study. The survey accounts for factors such as how much students spend on going out to income through part-time work.
Oxford is now the most expensive place for a pint, with students expecting to pay £5.50 per drink, closely followed by London with an expected cost of £4.90. In comparison to Durham where students can expect to pay just £3.20 and Coventry at £3.40.
Students studying in London and Manchester were the most likely to rely on parents or family for income. London students received £295.10 more from this source than the UK average of £334.40 and those in Manchester £193.10. Compared to 2021, Oxbridge students are relying less on parents and family to pay rent and more so on bursaries and scholarships in 2022.
When it came to budgeting, over a third (35%) of students have found themselves running out of money by the end of term – 8% higher than in 2021. Just under one in five students said that they find managing their money stressful, and this the most pronounced in Coventry. Students in Cambridge are the most likely to put away month each month, 82% higher than the UK average.
Perhaps in response to Covid-19 restrictions ending, compared to 2021 students are spending an average of 63% more on going out than the previous year.
A quarter of students felt that their universities do nothing to help with the ongoing cost of living crisis. Durham had the highest number of students who felt they had no support from their university at 56%.
Addressing the cost of living challenges, almost nine in ten (88%) students have made lifestyle changes to live within their budgets, with reducing the number of items bought online the most widely adopted change.
Changes to how students shop in the supermarket have also been a factor, with 46% saying they’ve swapped to own-brands. Meanwhile, 43% said they were buying fewer takeaways.
Laura Behan, Head of Royal Bank Student Accounts said: “Despite the cost of living increasing dramatically, we’ve not seen that hit students quite as hard as may have been expected this year. Rents were set well in advance of the academic year and inflation increased much later into the academic year.
“However, with the cost of living increasing, especially as we look towards the start of the new university year in September, it is vital that students properly manage their finances. We offer a range of tools to help, including spend categorisation in our mobile app so students can see exactly where their money is going every month and a Round Ups tool to help develop a strong savings habit.”
The Royal Bank of Scotland student account offers a £80 cash incentive within the first 30 days of opening the account, a four-year tastecard membership and a £2000 interest free overdraft.
Royal Bank also offers free Financial Health checks to help students to organise their finances.
Find out more at www.rbs.co.uk/students
The number of 18-year-olds from the most deprived areas being offered a place at university is at a record high – up 32% since 2019, the last year there were exams.
The latest UCAS data also shows 29,630 Scottish domiciled students have been offered a place at a Scottish university on SQA results day – up 6% compared to 2019 and the second highest on record.
The number of students accepting places to study nursing at Scottish providers also increased, up 17% to 2,940 compared to 2019.
Separate statistics published yesterday by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) show that in the first quarter of 2022-2023, the number of Modern Apprenticeship starts is up 16% to 3,946 compared to last year.
Minister for Higher Education, Further Education, Youth Employment and Training Jamie Hepburn said: “Congratulations to everyone receiving results today after what has been another extremely challenging year. Whether you are now heading to university, college or taking part in a Modern Apprenticeship, I wish you the very best for the future.
“These statistics are encouraging, particularly the fact we have a record number of 18-year-olds – the closest measure to school leavers – from the most deprived areas being offered a place at university. We want every young person in Scotland to have an equal chance of success, no matter their background or circumstances.
“The number of students accepting places to study nursing has also increased compared to 2019, demonstrating that Scotland continues to be a popular location to undertake medical education and training.
“EU students enrich our campuses, and make a vital contribution to our economy and society. It is bitterly disappointing to see another sharp drop in the number of EU students coming to study in Scotland – a direct result of Brexit.
“The SQA’s appeals process is now open for anyone who needs it. The clearing process is also now live and places are still available for those who want to study in Scotland.”
Meningitis can be very serious if not treated quickly. Vaccines offer the best protection.
If you’re under 25 years of age and have not yet had the MenACWY vaccine, find out how you can get it at http://nhsinform.scot/vaccinesforstudents…
INSPIRING BARBERS can become fully qualified in just 15 weeks as a booming barbering business announces a new training academy in the capital.
Sovereign Grooming will launch the academy in July within its New Waverley salon in Edinburgh’s city centre and is looking to train up 52 students per year across its two academies.
After investing £500,000 last year to launch its first barbering school and salon in Glasgow, Sovereign Grooming is set to expand the successful programme in Edinburgh in a continuing bid to address the significant skills gap in the male grooming industry.
The centrally located 1,200 sq. ft. space sits across two floors and will be transformed to feature both the original salon and the new academy, allowing budding barbers the chance to get first-hand salon experience.
Kyle Ross, who founded Sovereign Grooming, has a decade of experience under his belt as one of Scotland’s top barbers and will be training students one-to-one alongside elite barbers Liam Allen and Nathan Robb – who have both been shortlisted for Barber of the Year at the upcoming Scottish Hair and Beauty Awards.
Kyle said: “We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our Edinburgh academy which will complement our Glasgow branch in helping to close the skills gap we are seeing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Our Glasgow academy aims to qualify 36 students each year and the new Edinburgh facility will add an abundance of exciting graduates to the industry’s talent pool, with the ambition of training 600 barbers over the next decade.”
Sovereign Grooming’s students benefit from hands-on training throughout the programme and work towards achieving an SVQ Level 2 Barbering qualification which is recognised worldwide. The academy teaches the day-to-day workings of a leading men’s grooming brand while providing students with extra skills in photo shoots, session styling, stage presenting and fashion styling.
The Edinburgh academy will also offer advancement courses to established hairdressers and barbers, carrying out bespoke and tailored sessions to suit student needs.
Kyle said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer this in Edinburgh for people considering a career in the male grooming sector. We want the Edinburgh academy to train the next generation of expert barbers right here in the centre of Scotland’s capital and it’s great to be able to provide that service over a 15-week period.
“It’s been rewarding to train up Glasgow students and we’re thoroughly enjoying setting people off on their barbering career path. The time is right for expanding this in Edinburgh to help barbers kickstart that journey.”
Kyle Ross opened Sovereign Grooming in his hometown of Aberdeen in 2016 which has since expanded to Edinburgh and Glasgow establishing itself with its luxury male grooming services. 2022 saw the brand’s expansion into barbering training, with the launch of its three-story salon in Glasgow’s city centre.
Kyle was named Scottish Men’s Stylist of the Year in 2017, a year which also saw him win Best Barber UK at the International Barber Awards. He won Best Barber UK at the International Barber Awards in Germany and was subsequently named Best Barber at the Scottish Hair & Beauty Awards 2018.
Going from strength to strength, Kyle was shortlisted for GQ Magazine’s Barber of the Year title in 2019, one of only a handful of stylists outside London to have been shortlisted.
Radio ENRG is delighted to present the return of its annual 24-hour Charity Broadcast Extravaganza, with funds raised going to support those affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Student journalists at Edinburgh Napier University will be on air from 12pm on Wednesday 4th May right through until noon on Thursday.
A range of dynamic and exciting shows will keep listeners entertained right through the night, with dedicated slots for musical lovers, indie fans and dance ravers.
There will also be special quizzes, live phone-ins and fierce debate, all produced by current journalism students.
Radio ENRG’s sister websites will also contribute to the broadcast, with political discussion from ENRG Debrief and all sporting needs catered for by the team at the award-winning ENRG Sport.
This will be the first time since 2019 that Radio ENRG has been able to hold its annual charity broadcast, due to the pandemic.
Students raised £625 for Endo Warriors West, a charity supporting women with endometriosis, in the most recent edition of the 24-hour charity broadcast.
This year’s event has been organised by ENRG Editor Seán McGill and Radio ENRG Station Managers Jessica Matthewson and Arran Proctor.
All four year groups will be represented on the event, with some fourth year students using it as a way to bow out of their radio shows ahead of their graduation.
Editor of ENRG, Seán McGill, said: “The decision to send this year’s money to Ukraine was an easy one. By the time the 24-hour broadcast is live, we’ll have passed 70 days since Russia’s invasion began, and more and more people are suffering every day because of it.
“Being on the radio is great fun, but if we, as a group of students, can also do some good while being on air, we see that as a real privilege.”
Co-Station Manager, Jessica Matthewson, said: “Due to the pandemic, we have been unable to conduct our annual charity broadcast for the last two years.
“We’re all so excited to be back in the studio this year, especially due to the fact that we are raising money for such a worthy cause.”
Co-Station Manager, Arran Proctor, said: “Radio ENRG is an amazing source of gaining skills in broadcast journalism. Doing this charity broadcast means that student journalists are advancing their talents for good!”
A social media team will be working hard throughout the night, taking song requests and posting updates at @RadioENRG.
Radio ENRG’s Charity Broadcast Extravaganza will be live from 12pm-12pm tomorrow (Wednesday 4th May into Thursday 5th May) on the Radio ENRG website radioenrg.net.
JustGiving link:
Students from Edinburgh College Midlothian Campus have marked the completion of their ground-breaking homelessness awareness project this month.
The students took part in Leonard Cheshire’s ‘Can Do’ programme, during which they decided to embark on a ‘building communities’ project to raise funds for, and awareness of, the needs of people in the community who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Delivered by the pan-disability charity Leonard Cheshire, Can Do is a skills development and community involvement programme designed for 16-35 year olds with additional support needs.
With both in-person and virtual formats, the participants took part in sessions on fundraising, mental health and wellbeing, designing posters and much more. The project gave the students an opportunity to make a positive difference in the community, improving their confidence and motivation, while also providing a learning opportunity. Participants gained an SVQ Building Communities award through completion of their project.
In one session, the students learned about homelessness and discussed some essential items you might need for winter as a homeless person.
Following this, they were tasked with some online shopping to create ‘care and share’ bags to donate. Each participant was given tasks, such as budgeting, comparing prices and spotting deals, before ordering and receiving the items, and packing the bags.
These bags, as well as all proceeds from the campaign, were donated to Bethany Christian Trust, a charitable organisation in Scotland whose mission is to relieve suffering and meet the long-term needs of homeless and vulnerable people in Scotland.
On receiving the items, Kevin, a staff member from Bethany Christian Trust, said: “I am grateful for the bags of love and kindness that have been donated by the students from Edinburgh College Midlothian campus.
“Bethany Christian Trust is full of gratitude for the commitment shown by the students in putting the bags together and the residents are absolutely going to love the items”.
The students also had an opportunity to learn first-hand about mental health and wellbeing. A local man who has lived experience of being homeless explained how he struggled with his mental health and discussed with the participants the support he received to recover from the challenges he faced. The students later sent wonderful messages of encouragement to him for his strength and ability to stay positive.
James, One of the Can Do participants, said: “What I liked most about the project was getting an opportunity to help and make someone smile”.
Jasmine Lapointe, Lecturer at Edinburgh College, applauded the students for choosing such a significant project which made a positive and tangible difference in people’s lives, and said they should all be proud for taking part.
Obert Dhundu, Leonard Cheshire’s Can Do Coordinator for Edinburgh, said “The students expressed a keen interest in embarking on a project that will be impactful not only for themselves but for vulnerable people in the community, and this led them to choose a project centred on homelessness.
“They showed great commitment in learning about homelessness, as well as the related topics we covered. It was a real privilege to have facilitated this project for them.”
This essay, written by Ellen Keefe, was the overall winner in the Fraser of Allander 2021/22 Economic Futures Essay Competition.
Students were invited to write an essay on an Economics topic related to the climate crisis and climate change policy in Scotland.
Each of the four winning essays were featured as a perspective in the March 2022 edition of the Fraser of Allander Economic Commentary.
In the wake of COP26, targets to slow climate change have been set across the world. As the host of the climate conference, Scotland has set the ambitious target of reaching net zero emissions by 2045 (Sturgeon, 2021).
Scotland aims to reduce emissions in areas such as transport and housing with numerous initiatives set for the coming years. However, are these targets inclusive for everyone in Scotland? How financial inequality excludes lower income households from reducing their emissions and accessing government support to do so will be explored.
The transport sector creates significant carbon emissions causing climate change (Apostolicas, 2019). This has driven the innovation of electric vehicles. In order to reach net zero, the target for Scotland (and the rest of Britain) is to stop the sale of new petrol/diesel cars after 2035 (Burch, Gilchrist, 2018).
A higher uptake of electric cars within society will be beneficial for reaching climate change targets, however, considering all members of society, this is not realistic. Electric cars have a significantly higher upfront costs and therefore an individual could buy a larger petrol/diesel car for the price of a smaller electric vehicle (Mehta, 2021).
Due to these drawbacks, financial incentives are needed to convince a lot of the public to opt for an electric car (Rotaris, Giansoldati, Scorrano, 2021).
In Scotland there is financial support to aid individuals buying an electric car. Interest free loans up to £28,000 paid back in up to 6 years for new electric cars and up to £20,000 paid back in up to 5 years for used electric cars are available (Net Zero Nation, 2021).
The cheapest used electric car that can currently be purchased costs from £9,675 however, numerous used petrol/diesel cars can be purchased for below £5000 (Buyacar, 2021). Therefore, interest-free loans are not enough to make electric cars accessible/desirable to low-income households.
Grants could be provided to low-income households to facilitate the purchase of an electric car and even the playing field of choice between electric and petrol/diesel vehicles.
Alternatively, government intervention into reducing the costs of electric cars would make them more accessible. The Scottish government should look to partner with electric car manufacturers such as Nissan to fund innovation and reduce tax on production of electric vehicles. With a significant reduction in the price of electric cars to match the price of petrol/diesel cars the financial barrier of purchasing would be removed and uptake across Scotland would increase, hence reducing transport emissions.
One of the benefits of owning an electric vehicle is their low running cost.
Charging points have been installed across Scotland which initiatives to increase accessibility set. However, electric cars are mainly charged by a charging point which is installed at the owner’s home.
The installation of a home charging point costs around £800 (DriveElectric, 2020). Grants of up to 75% of the cost of installing home charge points are available (Gov, 2021).
As of April 2022, this will only be available to homeowners living in flats and people in rented accommodation. This change demonstrates governments aim to aid lower income households more in purchasing an electric vehicle.
Nevertheless, even with a grant of the maximum, 75% of an £800 would still leave a £200 installation cost, which is significant in particular to individuals in rented accommodation. Can people be expected to invest this much into installing a charge point into a home that is not theirs?
In 2018 there were 2.48 million households in Scotland, 14% were in the private rented sector, 22 – 25% in the social rented sector and 61-62% in the owner-occupied sector (Gov, 2019). A large proportion of people in Scotland do not live in a property they own.
Arguably, households in rented accommodation are excluded from accessing means to reduce emissions. In particular low-income households.
Some individuals in Scotland have enough disposable income to invest in an electric vehicle and charging point with/without government loans and grants dependent on their eligibility.
However, for those without sufficient disposable income available, loans and grants are not enough, excluding a large portion of society from reducing their emissions. But transport is not the only area where financial inequality is prevalent and hinders Scotland’s climate change aims.
The Scottish government has been working to “promote home upgrades” to meet the net zero target (Sturgeon, 2021). Across the UK people’s homes contribute 22% of emissions (Sustainable Energy Association, 2019). However, as seen in the transport sector, sufficient support is not provided to lower income households.
As mentioned, over a 3rd of households in Scotland in 2018 were private or social rented (Gov, 2019).
The Future Homes Standard will be introduced in 2025 which will increase efficiency requirements of new homes being built (Gov, 2025). People who buy, rent or build their own new home are rarely low income.
Targets for existing property have also been set to increase efficiency and reduce emissions. T
he Scottish governments Housing to 2040 plan sets out objectives for increasing home efficiency. It states “To lead by example, we will aim for all new homes delivered by Registered Social Landlords and local authorities to be zero emissions homes by 2026” (Gov, 2021).
The objective is there but the execution is not.
In 2018 it was found that 1 in 3 homes in Scotland did not meet the living home standard (Shelter Scotland, 2018).
The government is failing to improve energy efficiency in social houses. In Scotland, 38,046 social housing properties failed to meet minimum standards and 25,564 were exempt from meeting the standard (Campbell, 2021).
This is detrimental to the reduction of emissions within the housing sector but also highlights the issue of fuel poverty within Scotland. Moodie argues “the hardest to fix homes are being left until last” and as lots of social housing is old and inefficient, this is widening the gap between those in energy efficient housing and those in fuel poverty (from Campbell, 2021).
Moodie further argues, support that is available to homeowners and private tenants is not available to those in social housing (from Campbell, 2021). Therefore, financial inequality is evident in the housing sector in hindering the provision of energy efficient housing.
As with purchasing an electric car, government financial support is available to make homes more energy efficient. Interest free loans are available to cover costs of installing various renewables systems (Gov, 2021).
Furthermore, households can receive a maximum of 40% cashback (with a maximum of £6000) for certain energy efficient improvements (Gov, 2021). This is an incentive for homeowners with sufficient disposable income to invest in making their home more efficient, especially due to increasing energy prices which are predicted to soar for years to come, yet a large proportion of society cannot afford to make these changes despite loans available (Jack, 2022).
The possibility of receiving cashback for efficiency improvements is not a sure enough return for many individuals who cannot afford to invest in upgrading their home.
For those living in private rented accommodation, this issue is amplified as individuals will not invest thousands of their own income in improving the efficiency of a home that is not theirs.
If they have to move, they have lost this investment therefore government support available is not appealing enough. Hence, those who cannot afford to improve their homes energy efficiency will suffer more as costs rise as well as their emissions remaining high.
To tackle issues of incentivising home energy efficiency and installation of charge points in rental property, landlords must be encouraged as oppose to tenants. A reduction of tax on landlord’s rental income for properties based on energy efficiency level and presence of an electric vehicle charge point would encourage improvements. Furthermore, moving into a rental property with a charge point makes purchasing an electric vehicle more accessible.
To conclude, the negative impact of financial inequality on Scotland’s aim to reach net zero by 2045 is evident in the transport and housing sector.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon states “that focus on justice and fairness will be central to Scotland’s whole approach to COP26” (Sturgeon, 2021). However, is there justice and fairness in the support available for the Scottish public to reduce their emissions?
With only zero interest loans available to aid the purchase electric vehicles, high upfront costs still prevent lower income households from accessing them.
Similarly, with interest free loans and cashback available to increase home energy efficiency, households with enough disposable income have incentive to upgrade homes however, support is not sufficient in aiding those with lower incomes.
The large proportion of the public who rent property are not incentivised to make improvements and as energy prices soar, the issue of fuel poverty increases with the government’s claims to upgrade the energy efficiency of social housing failing.
Scotland’s target of reaching net zero emissions is not attainable by 2045 with current inequality. It is clear that the if changes are not made, financial inequality within Scotland will prevent Scotland from meeting its net zero goal and tackling the climate crisis.
Ellen Keefe
