Reacting to the Chancellor’s Budget, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said:

“Following the Autumn Statement this Budget was always set to deliver less for business although changes to National Insurance will provide some momentum.

“However, beyond this there were no major announcements to help shift the dial on conditions for business.

“The clock is now ticking to the General Election – and this Budget could be the last fiscal event before voters go to the polls.

“Business confidence is improving but the coming months will remain challenging for many companies. It is vital that the economy remains front and centre of the campaign to come.”

On jobs, Shevaun said:

“The prospect of an additional 200,000 entering into the workforce, due to cuts in National Insurance would make a significant dent in the job vacancies holding back our economy. It will also provide a welcome boost to economic growth.

“Combined with the increased child benefit threshold, this should help business find the staff they so desperately need.”

On the VAT threshold change, she added:

“Increasing the VAT threshold to £90,000 from April will help SMEs in our Chamber network to grow and invest but a more fundamental review is required. We will continue to engage with Government to push for this.”

Responding to news of new funding to train planners, Shevaun, said:

“We are pleased the Chancellor has joined forces with the BCC and our founding partner Aviva, by committing £3m of matched funding to our business-led programme to unlock the planning system. This is a clear signal from Government about working in partnership with business to solve problems. We now have a real opportunity to make the system quicker and more efficient for everyone. It is all about investing in talent and building communities.”

On the new Growth Guarantee Scheme she said:

“It’s also good news that the Chancellor has listened to our calls for the Recovery Loan Scheme to be extended. Under its new name, the Growth Guarantee Scheme will continue to be a financial lifeline for thousands of businesses to get back on track after recent economic shocks and plan for future growth.”

On tax free shopping she added:

“There will be huge disappointment that a new internationally competitive tax-free shopping scheme was not mentioned by the Chancellor. We will review the OBR’s evidence and continue to make the case for this.”

The deal will enable large-scale loans by UniCredit Bank Serbia to support solar and wind projects

 The firm’s Banking and Finance team has advised GGF (an impact fund advised by Finance in Motion, a world-leading impact asset manager with specialist experience in generating positive change in emerging markets around the world) on its recent financing to UniCredit Bank Serbia.

Burges Salmon has advised the Green for Growth Fund on a €50 million financing for UniCredit Bank Serbia. The facility is to be used to enable UniCredit Bank Serbia to make large-scale loans to renewable energy projects in Serbia, particularly focusing on solar and wind projects. The financing aligns with the Serbian government’s renewable energy strategy, as outlined under the National Energy and Climate Plan, and demonstrates GGF’s continued support for initiatives aimed at improving energy efficiency and renewable energy in southeast Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Burges Salmon team was led by Rachael Ruane and Luke Addison, supported by Thomas Papke.

Rachael comments: “We are delighted to have worked with the Green for Growth Fund on this latest financing which we hope will catalyse investment in renewables in Serbia, a country which has been historically dependent on coal.”

Finance in Motion is an impact asset manager, overseeing impact funds which invest public and private capital in emerging markets in order to combat climate change, conserve biodiversity, advance renewable energy, foster entrepreneurship and expand financial inclusion. Burges Salmon has supported Finance in Motion on more than 10 transactions in the last 8 months, advising on a series of social impact and sustainability focused facilities to financial institutions in Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bosnia, Kenya and Tanzania (among others). These transactions include loans intended to finance female-led businesses, renewable energy projects, and agricultural development in southeast Europe and Africa. The Burges Salmon teams advising on these instructions have included Rachael Ruane, Richard Leeming, Luke Addison, Thomas Papke and Amelia Turner.

As a fundamental, the UK Equality Act (2010) provides an imperative for organisations to protect employees from discrimination.

However, the substantive evidence is clear that diversified and more inclusive organisations are more productive, including creative, efficient, effective and/or profitable.

To assist you, we are excited to launch a new series of inclusion and wellbeing courses to help you with the following questions:

1. How can I recruit and retain a more diversified workforce?
2. How can I promote employee awareness of the equality necessity?
3. How can I reduce bias in the organisation for more effective inclusive working?
4. How can I promote more competent cross culture working with clients?
5. How can I enable my staff to reduce stress and promote better mental wellbeing?

If you would like a free inclusion audit of your organisation and to discuss the best options for workforce development, please email:  enquiries@wellbeinginsight.org.uk or call 0131 564 1646

Duck & Waffle Edinburgh returns with its annual Waffle Week, taking place from Monday, 25th March until Friday, 29th March. Kicking off on International Waffle Day, the week-long waffle tribute will showcase a variety of new and signature dishes curated by Corporate Chef Maxwell Terheggen and Duck & Waffle Edinburgh’s Executive Chef Lucia Gregusova.

 

Guests will be treated to an array of delicious homemade waffles topped with culinary creativity. This year’s lineup features the savoury Mascarpone & Wild Garlic Pesto Waffle with balsamic vinegar, roasted grapes, and a dusting of dukkah, the Chicken & Waffle (a playful twist on the American classic) made with crunchy fried chicken and served on a cornbread waffle complete with pickles, coriander, and Frank’s RedHot sauce butter. On the sweeter side, the cloud-like homemade Tiramisu Waffle and the rich Knickerbocker Glory await, boasting layers of millionaire’s shortbread, velvety vanilla ice cream, fluffy whipped cream, decadent dark chocolate, and delicious buttermilk waffle squares, sure to satisfy every craving.

“As the home of the waffle, Waffle Week is one of our most cherished brand celebrations. It offers endless possibilities for creativity and indulgence and inspires us to push the boundaries of flavour and imagination,” says Corporate Chef Maxwell Terheggen. “The process of curating the Waffle Week menu involves a collaborative culinary team effort.  We look forward to showcasing this year’s innovative menu creations and invite our guests to join us in savouring the unique flavours and experiences that only Duck & Waffle can deliver.

 

DUCK & WAFFLE EDINBURGH

WAFFLE WEEK MENU

 

MASCARPONE & WILD GARLIC PESTO (v) 15

balsamic, roasted grapes, dukkah, buttermilk waffle

 

CHICKEN & WAFFLE 26

fried chicken, pickles, coriander, cornbread waffle,

Frank’s RedHot sauce butter

 

KNICKERBOCKER GLORY (v) 10

millionaire’s shortbread, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream,

dark chocolate, buttermilk waffle squares

 

TIRAMISU (v) 14

coffee, mascarpone, Bowmore single malt whisky,

cocoa powder, buttermilk waffle

 

Waffle Week at Duck & Waffle Edinburgh will take place from Monday, 25th March, to Friday, 29th March 2024. For more details and to book visit: https://duckandwaffle.com/edinburgh/whats-on/waffle-week/

 

Reservations: https://duckandwaffle.com/edinburgh/reservations/. The restaurant accepts bookings up to two months in advance.

First Ministers, MSPs, pollsters and pundits will be marking the 25^th anniversary of Scottish devolution by taking part in a unique podcast later this month.

Jack McConnell, Henry McLeish, Alex Salmond, journalists Brian Taylor and Bernard Ponsonby are just some of the names joining the Holyrood Sources podcast – hosted by Geoff Aberdein, managing partner of chamber member True North, Calum Macdonald and Andy Maciver – which will be recorded in front of a live audience in Edinburgh on 21 March.

Audience members will have the chance to ask questions and share your own thoughts on devolution throughout the evening.  As part of the night, we’ll reveal the results of exclusive polling assessing how people across Scotland view devolution, 25 years since the establishment of The Scottish Parliament.

To buy tickets, go to holyroodsources.com/live.

Group discount available if purchasing 10 or more tickets. Email calum@shortbreadmedia.com for more information.

About the Holyrood Sources podcast:

The Holyrood Sources podcast has become the leading space for conversation about politics and policy in Scotland. Hosted by Calum Macdonald (journalist and broadcaster), Geoff Aberdein (former Chief of Staff to First Minister Alex Salmond) and Andy Maciver (former Director of Communications for the Scottish Conservatives), Holyrood Sources takes you inside Scottish politics. We hear from politicians, journalists, advisers and others to shape the conversation in the interests of the people of Scotland.

DWF, the global provider of integrated legal and business services, has announced 14 promotions across its Glasgow and Edinburgh offices.

This includes promotion to partner for construction litigator Katherine Doran and insurance lawyer Lindsay Ogunyemi.

Five colleagues were also promoted to the position of director; real estate lawyers Emma Frizzle, Louise Harkness and David McNeish and insurance lawyers Debbie Connor and Justine Reilly. Meanwhile, commercial lawyer Orla Kerr and commercial litigator Nichola McAtier were promoted to senior associate and Lucy Carmichael and Fergus Douglas were promoted to lead paralegal in insurance.

Executive partner for DWF in Scotland, Caroline Colliston, was promoted to a more senior level in the partnership this year, as was commercial litigator Ricky Cannon and insurance lawyer Jill Sinclair.

Commenting on the recent promotions, Caroline Colliston said: “I’m thrilled to extend my congratulations to those who have earned well-deserved promotions at DWF in Scotland and to see so many senior promotions this year. It is a testament to the talent and professionalism within our team. I look forward to witnessing their continued success as they assume their new roles.”

The full list of promotions are:

Caroline Colliston, Executive Partner in Scotland

Ricky Cannon, Partner

Jill Sinclair, Partner

Katherine Doran, Partner

Lindsay Ogunyemi, Partner

Emma Frizzle, Director

Louise Harkness, Director

David McNeish, Director

Debbie Connor, Director

Justine Reilly, Director

Orla Kerr, Senior Associate

Nichola McAtier, Senior Associate

Lucy Carmichael, Lead Paralegal

Fergus Douglas, Lead Paralegal

Full-service legal firm Gilson Gray has further strengthened its position in Edinburgh with the acquisition of MHD Law.

The deal represents the group’s second takeover deal of 2024. MHD has a 100-year history and, over that time, has established a strong local reputation for delivering legal services across property, estate agency and conveyancing; private client services; and family law, including associated court work. A team of 17, including Kieran Fitzpatrick, Chris Benson and Raymond Fairgrieve, will now join Gilson Gray’s Edinburgh office.

The deal will see MHD’s clients gain access to the full spectrum of legal, property and financial services offered by Gilson Gray across the UK, including corporate and family business support, litigation, debt recovery, lettings, as well as the expertise provided by its financial services arm, Gilson Gray Financial Management.

Last month, the firm boosted its footprint in Dundee and Angus with the takeover of Bowmans Solicitors and added a further 11 staff to its team in the Tayside area. With offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, East Lothian, Aberdeen, Lincoln, and Forfar, Gilson Gray is one of the fastest-growing law firms in the UK.

Glen Gilson, Chair and Managing Partner of Gilson Gray, said: “MHD is a firm of rich tradition and a long-established feature of the Scottish legal market. We are honoured to welcome the MHD team and their loyal client base to Gilson Gray. The takeover is aligned to our ambitions for growth during 2024, as we look to consolidate and capitalise upon the multi-regional expansion of recent years.”

Kieran Fitzpatrick, Partner at MHD, added: “Joining forces with Gilson Gray marks the start of an exciting new chapter for MHD and our clients. For them, the only thing that will change is the ability to access new legal services under the same roof. The working practices, culture and attitude of the staff and leadership at Gilson Gray are well aligned with the business we have built at MHD and we see it as a perfect opportunity. The firm has achieved significant growth but still retains the welcoming, personal, client-first values.”

STV Group plc (“STV” or the “Company”) today announces that Simon Pitts has informed the Board of his decision to step down from his role as Chief Executive Officer over the next twelve months to take up a new appointment beginning in Q1 2025.

Until his departure Simon will remain focused on the delivery of the Company’s strategy and targets and on ensuring the effective transition of his responsibilities.

The Board has commenced a process to appoint a successor and a further update will be issued in due course.

This announcement is made pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.11.

Paul Reynolds, Chairman, said:

“Simon has been an outstanding leader of STV over the past six years.  As the architect of our diversification strategy, he has successfully led the transformation of STV from a linear broadcaster into a resilient content creation and digital streaming business with an exciting future.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Simon for his significant achievements to date and his ongoing commitment to implement the next phase of our growth strategy until he steps down over the next twelve months.”

Simon Pitts said:

“It has been a huge privilege to lead STV. Since 2018 we have become the most-watched peaktime TV channel in Scotland and retained that position for 5 years in a row, transformed STV Player into a high- growth streaming service, and created one of the UK’s leading TV production groups, and we have today set out further ambitious growth plans for the future.

With STV’s latest diversification targets fully achieved, now is the right time to plan a smooth and orderly succession. Our leadership team is very strong, our strategy is clear and it’s delivering. Our STV colleagues are doing a fantastic job producing world class programmes, news and digital & commercial products every day of the year, staying ahead of the competition and creating strong foundations for the future.

I’d like to express my sincere thanks to Paul, former chair Margaret Ford and the rest of the Board, as well as all my STV colleagues for their unstinting support, drive and creativity over 6 extremely enjoyable years.”