The 2024 UEFA European Championships was a tournament for the history books – and not just because Spain became the first team to win it four times.

STV Player today announces that Euro 2024 was the streamer’s most-viewed sporting event of all time, in terms of hours watched. Football fans streamed a staggering 2,263,000 hours of the tournament from its launch on 14 June through to Sunday night’s gripping final – up on the 2,166,000 hours that were watched during the 2022 World Cup.

The Euros match with the most live streams was the semi-final clash between England and the Netherlands, which generated 618,000 streams on 10 July. For comparison, the most-streamed game of Euro 2020 (the England v Denmark semi-final) received 494,000 streams.

On STV’s broadcast channel, the most-watched match of the tournament was the Scotland v Germany opener on 14 June, which had an average audience of 1.21 million viewers and delivered the highest-ever opening game audience across a Euro competition on any channel. The match peaked at 1.38 million in the 45^th minute when Scotland’s Ryan Porteous was handed a red card for a foul on German midfielder, İlkay Gündoğan.

The second and third most-watched games on STV were the England v Netherlands semi-final (1.16m) and England’s last 16 match against Slovakia (857k).

Most-watched matches on STV (channel)

• 14 June: Scotland v Germany – 1.21 million
• 10 July: England v Netherlands – 1.16 million
• 30 June: England v Slovakia – 857,000

Most-streamed matches on STV Player

• 10 July: England v Netherlands – 618,000
• 30 June: England v Slovakia – 531,000
• 14 June: Scotland v Germany – 524,000

Richard Williams, Manging Director of Digital at STV, said: “Fans have increasingly chosen to stream major tournaments on STV Player in recent years and it’s testament to changing viewer habits and our ever-improving digital experience that Euro 2024 has become our most-watched sporting event of all time.

“These record-breaking figures show that Scotland loves getting together for an international football tournament – despite the Tartan Army’s disappointingly short trip to Germany. Whether they watched on the channel or Player, we’re delighted that so many Scots chose to spend this historic tournament with STV.”

Make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and their families by sponsoring Turnberry’s upcoming charity events in support of Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Whiteley’s Retreat, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. By sponsoring, your company will receive valuable exposure alongside a variety of additional benefits.

• Ladies Lunch: Friday 23rd August, 2024
• St. Andrew’s Ceilidh: Friday 29th November, 2024

Please see our charity brochure for more information, turnberry.info/sponsorships

Turnberry Charity Raffles

Turnberry welcomes your generous contributions to their charity raffles with all proceeds going directly to the charities. 

To make a contribution please contact, tby.executiveoffice@trumpturnberry.com

• Businesses report recruitment was more difficult in Q2, with more firms facing problems hiring staff
• 74% of firms that attempted to recruit over the past three months faced challenges hiring
• Construction and engineering firms are the most likely to be facing recruitment problems (82%)
• 59% of companies attempted to recruit in Q2
The latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook (QRO), a survey of more than 4,700 UK firms of all sectors and sizes, by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Insights Unit, reveals hiring problems have increased across all sectors.

The second quarter results for 2024 show that 59% of respondents said they had attempted to recruit in the last three months, slightly down from 62% in Q1. 80% of hospitality businesses attempted to recruit, whereas the figure for the retail sector was just 44%.

Of the firms who tried to hire in Q2, 74% reported recruitment difficulties, compared with 66% in the first three months of the year.

Construction and engineering firms are bearing the brunt of staffing issues, with 82% reporting recruitment problems in Q2, up from 69% in Q1. 79% of firms in the transport and logistics sector said they had faced difficulties (up from 69% in Q1). Meanwhile, in production and manufacturing, 77% of businesses trying to recruit faced problems, up from 70% in the previous quarter.

Almost three quarters of firms (71%) in the hospitality sector said they had faced recruitment problems in Q2 (Q1 64%), while 70% of retailers faced difficulties, up from 61% in Q1.

Although most businesses are still struggling to increase investment in workplace training, Q2 did see a slight increase. 28% of firms reported an increase in staff training investment, up from 26% in Q1, with 11% reporting a drop. 61% reported no change in their investment plans for training over the past three months.

Labour costs continue to be the main external pressure on businesses in Q2, with 67% of firms saying they could be forced to put up prices as a result. Concerns around labour costs are highest in hospitality (77%), followed by construction and engineering (76%), and production and manufacturing (72%).

Responding to the findings, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said:

“It’s alarming that recruitment difficulties have increased in recent months across all sectors. The very sharp rise in the construction industry is particularly worrying.

“People shortages and labour costs are ramping up pressure on firms and holding back growth. We need to prioritise help for people to get back into the labour market and remove the barriers to business investment in training.

“Better planning for skills is crucial. The new government must work at pace to outline a long-term national skills strategy, working closely with the devolved administrations. Building on the Local Skills Improvement Plans will help develop strong partnerships between employers, training providers and others to ensure people get the skills and support they need.”

Edinburgh College recently began an exciting partnership with Sunyani Technical University in Ghana as a part of the British Council’s Going Global Programme.

Through this new partnership, Head of School Carole Paterson and Team Leader Iris Aitchison, travelled to Ghana to carry out an initial scoping exercise, during which they met with the university’s staff and students as well as employers.

The focus of this partnership is centred around capacity building for entrepreneurialism at an institutional level, giving staff and students the tools, skills and confidence to pursue start-up and self-employment opportunities that are globally impactful and relevant to the development of their communities. The collaboration aims to enhance the capabilities of staff at the university to design and deliver entrepreneurial-focused learning over the course of a year through innovative online programmes designed by Edinburgh College lecturers.

This aligns to the aims of Going Global which are about working together internationally to ensure that higher education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) meets the needs of our societies, economies and students. This programme demonstrates the impact Edinburgh College has internationally and highlights the College’s continued commitment towards transformational change.

Iris Aitchison, Commercial Contracts Team Leader, said: “We could not have wished for better interactions or opportunities to explore. There is a genuine desire on their part to work with us on this project, and of course, there is on our side too. The key outcome of this visit is that we have formed strong relationships with our Ghanaian counterparts, which we would have been unable to do from a distance.”

Juanita Ahia Quarcoo, CBT Coordinator for Sunyani Technical University (STU) said: “I must say the team at STU were also very delighted for the visit. The interactions with staff, students and employer partners gave us a lot of insights that could guide our further engagements. There’s a lot of excitement about the programme on the side of STU and we look forward to our visit to consolidate these shared experiences.”

Scotland’s first two PR agencies to certify as B-Corps are coming together, after Muckle Media acquired 100% of Spey’s shares, making it a fully owned subsidiary.

The deal, which grows the collective team at the two agencies to over 35 people, is a further step in Muckle Media’s ambitious growth plans, following the successful acquisition and integration of food, drink and hospitality communications brand, Taste Communications, in 2022, and award-winning PR agency Platform PR in 2015.

At the recent PRCA DARE Scotland Awards, Muckle Media was named best large agency and Spey was named best medium agency, so it is fitting that the two brands are coming together. Spey was set up in Speyside to deliver PR balancing profit with purpose, contributing in particular to the local community by creating jobs where there were not before. In March, Spey launched the first ever tracking tool to measure the climate impact of PR activity.

Muckle and Spey will both continue to operate separately, with client teams across consumer, corporate, spirits, hospitality and tourism continuing to serve existing clients and win new business.

Jennifer Robertson, owner and founding partner of Spey, said: “After almost a decade growing Spey, I think it is a good time for a new chapter in my career and life. It has been a privilege to build the agency working with the very best colleagues and to serve clients from every corner of the globe, with whom I have had the honour of a lifetime to work with.

“I have been thinking for some time about what I want to do with the next stage of my career, while juggling the joy and challenges of being a mother to young children and continuing to contribute to the organisations and industries that I am passionate about.

“In Nathalie, who hails from the Highlands and whose company is also a member of the B-Corp community, there is clear shared values and purpose, running a successful agency with a presence across rural and urban Scotland.

“I leave the company in great health with a highly talented team across our offices in Speyside and Edinburgh, working with the finest group of clients. I wish Nathalie and the now much bigger team the very best in this next exciting step of their journey.”

Nathalie Agnew, managing director and founder of Muckle Media, said: “Jennifer has done a fantastic job at growing a values-led, strategic communications agency, very closely aligned to the values at Muckle Media. From Muckle Media’s first office in the Highlands of Scotland, to our now Edinburgh based HQ, we have been on similar journeys, and both focused on delivering the best strategic and creative work for brands that we love, with consideration for more than just shareholder profit.

 

“I’m excited to continue to build upon Spey’s success, working closely with the skilled team to deliver long term results that deliver business impact. We look forward to investing further in the team and brand and building upon successes to date.”

Spey doubled its client base in 2023, with new clients including the world’s most awarded single malt, Glenfiddich; Scotland’s number one food brand, Graham’s Family Dairy; engineering company Briggs of Burton; the UK’s oldest wine and spirits merchant, Berry Bros and Rudd Spirits; and Europe’s longest established solar company, AES Solar.

Robertson will exit the business following a brief handover. Muckle Media was advised by Mark Probert at Cactus and Hybrid Legal and Spey Media was advised by AAB and Ennova Law.

Edinburgh’s globally renowned festivals are getting into the groove for another spectacular year, with the launch of the 2024 Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.

Rear Admiral Neil Rankin CB CBE, Chairman of The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust (the Trust), has announced the appointment of their new Chief Executive: Franck Bruyère, 45. Mr Bruyère will replace Mr Bob Downie when he retires later this year after 26 years at the helm of the award-winning maritime attraction Britannia and its sister-ship, the luxury floating hotel Fingal.

Mr Bruyère is currently the Trust’s Director of Hospitality and brings over 25 years’ global hospitality management experience to his new role. His passion for hospitality and a ‘people first’ approach has taken him around the world, working for some of the most iconic and renowned hotels, including Renaissance Worthington, USA; InterContinental Paris Le Grand; Fairmont Monte Carlo; Fairmont St Andrews; and The Caledonian Edinburgh.

More recently, before joining the Trust, Mr Bruyère also played a key role in the pre-opening and opening team of St James Quarter, Edinburgh’s retail and lifestyle destination, where he was Director of Operations and Sustainability Strategy.

Commenting on Mr Bruyère’s appointment, Chairman of The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, Rear Admiral Neil Rankin CB CBE, said:

“After a rigorous and thorough search, the Board of Trustees are confident that in Franck Bruyère we have found a very worthy successor to Bob Downie, who has been at the heart of Britannia’s outstanding success as a leading visitor attraction over many years. Franck Bruyère comes with a wealth of experience in the hotel, hospitality and visitor attraction industry and we look forward to the business continuing to move forward under his direction.”

Mr Bruyère said:

“It’s a huge privilege and an honour to be given the opportunity to lead the outstanding award-winning teams on both Britannia and our sister-ship, the luxury floating hotel Fingal, and to follow in the footsteps of Bob Downie who has done so much to improve the quality of customer experiences in Scotland.”

Mr Bruyère added:

“The ongoing regeneration of the Port of Leith with the recently opened tram link to Edinburgh city centre offers a fantastic opportunity for the area to make an even greater contribution to the UK’s second most visited city.”

Mr Bruyère is originally from France; he has been living in Scotland with his wife and two young sons for over a decade. He enjoys cooking, making a positive impact in the Edinburgh community, and travelling.

At the heart of the Trust’s success is an absolute commitment to the quality of the visitor experience.
Supported by outstanding staff, the Trust is committed to providing the highest standards of customer experience to every visitor. Developments have included the audio guide being available in British Sign Language, American Sign Language, Braille script and over 30 languages, making it one of the most translated tours in the world.
This commitment to excellence has led Britannia to the tremendous achievement of being voted Tripadvisor’s No.1 UK Attraction twice, plus winning the title of Best UK Attraction, as voted for by readers of Which Magazine, two years in a row.

Re-launched in 2019, Fingal was developed and is managed by the award-winning team at The Royal Yacht Britannia. Fingal was recently crowned ‘AA Hotel of the Year Scotland 2023-24’ by the internationally recognised Automobile Association (AA). The AA inspectors singled out Fingal for the top accolade and praised the exceptional quality of the ship’s stylish interior design, meticulous attention to detail, unique maritime heritage, outstanding customer service and fine dining experience.

Earlier this year, Fingal also sailed to the top of the world’s best hotels list in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2024. The ship was singled out by reviewers on the world’s largest travel guidance platform as one of the highest rated hotels on the planet and ‘Best of the Best’ in the UK.  The five-star ‘boatique’ hotel was named among best Small and Boutique Hotels in the world by Tripadvisor reviewers, taking first and second place in the UK and Europe lists, respectively.

Fingal is located opposite the new Port of Leith tram stop, which offers a direct and quick transport link between Leith and Edinburgh city centre.

For more information on The Royal Yacht Britannia, visit www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk and follow on social media, including Facebook www.facebook.com/TheRoyalYachtBRITANNIA and Instagram www.instagram.com/RoyalYachtBritannia

For more information on Fingal, visit www.fingal.co.uk and follow on social media, including Facebook www.facebook.com/fingaledinburgh and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fingaledinburgh

A collection of eight luxury apartments has been released by the award-winning Scottish housebuilder, Cruden Homes, at the highly sought-after West Craigs Green development in the heart of West Edinburgh.

This exclusive collection offers a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments, all with stunning views of the nearby Lennie Park and Turnhouse golf course. The two-bedroom units feature private balconies, providing an ideal spot to enjoy the breathtaking sunset views.

With prices starting from £220,000, each apartment boasts an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area, designed with both comfort and style in mind. High-quality fixtures and fittings are included as standard. This release marks the second phase of apartments within the development, following the successful launch of the first phase in early April 2024, which saw strong levels of demand.

In addition to the new apartments, the West Craigs development includes a range of three-bedroom terraced and semi-detached houses, and four-bedroom townhouses, each with private gardens.

The West Craigs area is undergoing significant transformation, evolving into a vibrant and friendly neighbourhood with abundant green spaces, including the newly established Lennie and Meadowfield Parks. Future plans include a new primary school and nursery, café, and health centre within walking distance.

Conveniently situated between Barnton and South Gyle, West Craigs Green is just five miles from Edinburgh city centre. It benefits from excellent transport links, including cycle routes, bus, rail, and tram stops in close proximity. The Gyle Shopping Centre is easily accessible on foot or by car, offering a range of amenities such as high street shops, a supermarket, and eateries.

Hazel Davies, Sales and Marketing Director at Cruden Homes, said: “West Craigs Green is a vibrant, community-focused development, and is perfectly located for those who wish to live in more scenic surroundings with all the benefits of staying close to the city centre.

“Many of these spacious apartments have balconies providing scenic views of Lennie Park and Turnhouse golf course. We had a great response to the first phase of apartments and it highlights the strong demand for quality housing in this area. This new release of apartments further enhances this wonderful development, making it an excellent choice for first-time buyers, young professionals, and those looking to downsize.”

A number of incentives are available for home buyers looking to move into West Craigs Green, including part exchange and assisted move packages, along with Land and Buildings Transaction Tax support, furniture packages and flooring.

Prices for the latest release of apartments range from £220,000, with first completions expected in November 2024. To view or find out more about reserving a property at Cruden Homes’ latest West Craigs Green development, visit www.westcraigsgreen.co.uk or call 0131 600 0095.

The sales and marketing suite, along with the show home, are open Thursday to Monday, 10:30 am – 5:30 pm.