With the clocks going forward at the end of the month and spring most definitely on the horizon, take advantage of Edinburgh Leisure’s new Spring Pass to kickstart your fitness regime.

It has never been more important to look after your wellbeing so Edinburgh Leisure, a charity dedicated to creating opportunities for everyone to lead more active, healthy lives has launched a two-week pass for wherever you’re at this spring, so you can try before you buy.

A short-term alternative to a full-time membership, the two-week pass costs just £20 for 14 days. Available to buy online or in venue from 1^st – 31^st March, the Spring Pass includes unlimited access to all Edinburgh Leisure’s 17 state-of-the-art gyms, 12 swimming pools, the Turkish Baths at Portobello Swim Centre, all steam rooms and saunas, over 750+ fitness classes per week, and Europe’s largest climbing arena at Ratho, and represents excellent value for money.

The pass isn’t restricted to one pass per person either – if you wish to buy a second pass after your first pass expires, it’ll mean you’re doubly on the way to reaching those fitness goals.

And everyone who purchases a pass is automatically entered into a prize draw to win a year’s free membership with Edinburgh Leisure.

Edinburgh Leisure’s facilities are second to none and offer choice and great value, across various city locations. Their gyms feature some of the latest fitness equipment and you will be assured a warm welcome, with helpful staff ready to help you reach your fitness goals.

So, embrace the longer days and lighter evenings and gift yourself a wellness present.

For further information about Edinburgh Leisure venues and services and the Spring Pass, visit: https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/spring-pass

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Forecast has slightly upgraded growth expectations for 2024 and 2025, as the recession lasts just two quarters, but strong growth will remain elusive. 

   

UK Economic Outlook       

    

The UK economy is expected to grow every year until the end of 2026 but will continue to lack momentum. While 2023 ended with a technical recession confirmed for Q3 and Q4, growth for 2024 and 2025 has been revised upwards slightly to 0.5% and 0.7% respectively, with 2026 set to grow at 1.0%.  

 

But the overall growth profile remains low, with a weak rebound in consumer spending as the main driver for any increase in GDP, and interest rates reducing only slowly. 

    

While the CPI rate of inflation has eased faster than expected, core inflation remains higher. Nevertheless, the overall downward trend should continue with CPI at 2.3% in Q4 2024, 2.1% in Q4 2025 and 2.2% in 2026, but remaining slightly above the Bank of England’s 2% target.   

    

Slight upwards revision to GDP    

    

With growth in Q3 of 2023 being revised down into negative territory by the Office for National Statistics, and Q4 also showing a contraction, overall growth for that year now sits at 0.1%. 

 

Despite 2024 beginning at a lower level than previously expected, sufficient growth should occur in the year to recover to levels comparable to the last BCC forecast. Overall, the expectations for 2024 and 2025 are both up, by 0.1 percentage points, to 0.5% and 0.7%, respectively.  

 

But with global headwinds remaining, interest rates falling slowly and only gradual expansion in consumer spending, the BCC expects economic growth to remain subdued – finally hitting 1.0% in 2026.     

     

But the recovery remains fragile as consumer and business confidence are muted – although disposable incomes are now above pre-pandemic levels, households are still spending less than they did in 2019. 

 

Other dampening factors include historically higher interest rates weighing heavily on investment in house building and home improvements, and government expenditure declining for the next three years. 

     

Subdued global demand, further trade barriers with the EU, and conflicts in the Middle East and Europe mean trade is also likely to continue to suffer. Exports are set to fall in 2024 by 1.3% before rising by 1.1% and 1.7% in 2025 and 2026. Imports are expected to be more lacklustre as a relatively weak UK economy restricts growth. 

     

With inflation and interest rates both falling, the BCC still expects business investment to increase across the three years of the forecast, but the other factors mean the changes will be limited. There will be a rise of 1.0% in 2024, 0.8% in 2025 and 1.5% in 2026. 

     

Average earnings will continue to perform strongly    

     

Average earnings are expected to continue to grow more strongly than inflation across the forecast period, with annual growth of 3.0% to Q4 2024, followed by 4.0% to Q4 2025 and 4.5% at the end of 2026.   

     

With core inflation proving stubborn, wages continuing to rise, and geopolitical uncertainty persisting, the Bank of England interest rate is expected to fall only slowly. The BCC now forecasts a base rate of 4.5% at the end of Q4 2024, then 3.5% for Q4 2025, with no further change by Q4 2026.  .   

      

Unemployment rate expected to be slightly lower than previously expected 

     

The unemployment rate is expected to rise slightly to 4.2% in 2024 and then 4.4% in 2025, a slight downgrade from last quarter’s forecast. However, the labour market is set to remain tight as difficulty finding skilled staff and long-term sickness impact the available workforce. BCC research shows most firms seeking to recruit continue to report skills shortages.   

    

Commenting on the forecast, Vicky Pryce, Chair of the BCC Economic Advisory Council, said:    

    

“The BCC’s latest forecast shows the economy is still searching for the way out of its current malaise. While it’s welcome that GDP looks set to grow, the lack of momentum indicates some fragility. 

  

“Pro-growth measures from the Autumn Statement may take time to have an impact and business and consumer confidence are rebuilding from a low base. 

  

“With interest rates falling only slowly and minimum wages rising in April as pay, in general, outstrips inflation, businesses are unlikely to fully turn on the taps to fresh investment. 

 

“With a general election on the horizon, politicians will need to demonstrate to firms that they have a sustainable long term economic plan that plays to the UK’s strengths and gives companies confidence. 

 

“But unless the base interest rate starts to fall more sharply the economy is likely to remain close to stagnation.”    

    

David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:      

     

“With the current forecast expecting less than 1% growth over the next two years, it’s not obvious where large-scale economic growth in the UK will come from.  

 

“Our research is clear about the issues UK SMEs face – skills shortages, high inflation that eats at margins, high interest rates that make borrowing harder, and trade barriers with the European Union, which all hit investment.  

 

“Some sectors, such as retailers and hospitality, have been facing recession-like conditions since the onset of Covid lockdowns in 2020. 

 

“Boosting long-term investment through a clear plan for the UK economy is key. The upcoming Budget will need to focus on reform of business rates, a more effective planning system, improving access to skills, and reviewing the current £85k VAT registration threshold to ensure this is not a barrier to growth.” 

• Scotland’s business confidence was the strongest in the UK in January, rising to 56% in February – up 14 points on January’s levels
• Scottish companies reported stronger confidence in both their own business prospects (up 11 points to 68%) and the wider economy (up 19 points to 46%), month-on-month
• This contrasted with the wider UK trend, where overall confidence dipped two points month-on-month to 42%

Scottish businesses recorded the strongest business confidence of any UK nation or region in February, according to the latest Business Barometer from Bank of Scotland Commercial Banking.

Companies in Scotland reported stronger confidence in both their own business prospects (up 11 points to 68%) and the wider economy (up 19 points to 46%) month-on-month. Taken together, this gives a headline confidence reading of 56% (vs. 42% in January) – the highest level recorded in the UK in February.

Looking ahead to the next six months, Scottish businesses identified their top target areas for growth as evolving their offering, including new products or services (49%), investing in their team (32%), and introducing new technology (22%).

A net balance of 26% of businesses in the country expected to increase staff levels over the next year, down 16 points on last month.

The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.

National picture

Overall, UK business confidence dipped two points in February to 42%, driven by softening confidence from firms in both their own trading prospects (49% vs. 51% in January) and the wider economy (34% vs. 37% in January).

However, companies’ hiring intentions increased to the highest level since May 2022, with 36% of firms intending to increase staff levels over the next 12 months, up three points on the month before.

The North East followed Scotland as the UK’s second-most confident region or nation in February (54% vs. 62%), with the East Midlands closely behind (52% vs. 38%).

Sector insights

There was a mixed picture for sectors this month. Confidence fell in manufacturing (nine points to 40%) and construction (seven points to 38%) respectively, although results remain higher than the same time last year. In contrast, the dominant services sector was unchanged compared to January at 45%, exceeding all months of 2023 except for November. Retail confidence was broadly steady, dipping one point to 41%.

Martyn Kendrick, regional director for Scotland at Bank of Scotland Commercial Banking, said: “Such high levels of confidence in the face of what are still challenging economic conditions is a testament to the Scottish business community’s resilience and ambition.

“The focus on innovation, together with widespread investment in people, is particularly encouraging. This will not only help futureproof firms’ specific offerings, but also strengthen the skills base that is the bedrock to our economy – helping firms make the most of new opportunities and weather any future downturns in trading.

“We’ll continue to be by business’ side as they look to capitalise on this confidence over the months ahead.”

Paul Gordon, managing director for SME and Mid Corporates at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “For the second consecutive month we’ve seen businesses display a level of confidence that sets a positive outlook for the year ahead – the 42% reported this month aligns with the highest level we saw in 2023.

“It’s also very encouraging to see that businesses are keen to hire more staff – great news for the UK overall. With more businesses open to hiring, more people can get into work, providing a boost to the UK economy.

“This level of confidence is encouraging and suggests businesses are open to investing in their future, and we have a team of experts on hand to offer support and guidance so we can help them, and Britain, prosper.”

Hann-Ju Ho, Senior Economist, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “This month’s data still reflects a positive mood among businesses despite a marginal fall in overall confidence. Firms appear to be upbeat about their prospects and the economy, supporting their positive staffing expectations.

“Looking at the sectors, there is a mixed picture. There was a slight fall in confidence reported in the manufacturing and construction sectors, while retail and services stood their ground – remaining unchanged compared to January’s figures. But despite the manufacturing and construction fall, businesses are still showing high levels of confidence.

“The split across the regions also provides reason to view the dip in confidence at the broader UK level cautiously. Six regions have reported an increase in confidence while the other six have reported a decrease. So, scratching the surface, we see a story that continues to show a more positive outlook for the year ahead.”

Leading global professional services company, Turner & Townsend, announces a significant achievement with the delivery of 10,000 grants through its Education Fund in partnership with Action for Children. These grants play a crucial role in providing essential school uniform and equipment to children across the UK that need it most.

The organisation established the Education Fund when it launched its partnership with the UK leading children’s charity in 2015. Action for Children, through the Education Fund helps tackle the attainment gap and improve engagement in education in vulnerable children.

The grants from the Education Fund empower families by enabling them to purchase essential school items such as uniform, warm coats, shoes, PE equipment and stationery. Each grant has a value of £40, which will increase to £50 per child in April, further enhancing its impact.

There are currently 4.2 million children in the UK living in poverty. Families grapple with financial constraints, making it challenging to provide basic essentials for their children’s education. The lack of proper materials or a decent uniform can often hinder a child’s learning experience at school, sometimes making them feel excluded or different  from an early age. Over the past seven years, Turner & Townsend’s unwavering commitment has resulted in raising over £830,000 benefitting thousands of children and young people across the UK, ensuring they have the tools they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond.

A selection of grants in numbers of items include:

• School coats: 3,310
• School shoes: 5,052
• Uniform: 7,423
• School bags: 1,872
• PE kits: 2,862
• Stationary: 1,163
• Calculators: 499

 

Patricia Moore, UK Managing Director, commented: “We are delighted to have reached this milestone in our partnership with Action for Children. This significant achievement reaffirms our dedication to creating positive change and breaking down barriers for disadvantaged youth.

“We are now looking forward to continuing to grow our partnership with Action for Children, making a valued change in our local communities across the UK, achieving our aspiration to raise £1 million and to deliver 15,000 grants by 2027.”

Katherine Woods, Head of Corporate at Action for Children added: “We are thrilled to have hit this huge milestone with Turner & Townsend, helping thousands of vulnerable children to get the most out of their education. As the cost-of-living crisis continues, many families are finding it more and more difficult to keep up with the costs of school essentials for their growing children.

“Children shouldn’t have to feel like their school experience is different from their classmates. Every child deserves to go to school feeling confident and empowered to learn, wearing a clean uniform that fits them and with a school bag and stationery like their friends. With Turner & Townsend, we can continue to give even more children the chance to thrive and reach their full potential.”

To hear how these grants help change the lives of families across the UK watch Haleema’s story: Haleema’s Story (youtube.com)

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh’s flagship restaurant, Commons Club, is bringing the authentic tastes of Crete to its Chef’s Table this month as part of a series of experiential dining events that aim to takes guests on an international culinary journey.

Led by Commons Club Chef de Cuisine, Emma Hanley, the Chef’s Table experience allows guests to sample the very best food from around the globe through exclusive collaborations with world renowned chefs, curating bespoke menus that showcase a different theme each month.

For March, Commons Club restaurant has partnered with Head Chef of authentic Cretan restaurant, 1905, Thanos Christakis, to introduce an exclusive menu featuring traditional Greek delicacies and twists on local home-cooked dishes.

Based in Fitzrovia, London, 1905, named after the date of Crete’s historic revolution, was the first Cretan restaurant to open outside of Greece by founder Nikos Nyfoudis.

To launch the new menu, Thanos Christakis and Emma Hanley will give guests a front row seat to witness the collaboration of two culinary luminaries on 1^st March, as they create an intimate three-hour dining experience centred on a mouthwatering five course tasting menu.

The menu will be available to try at Commons Club throughout March, bringing the celebration of Greek gastronomy right to the heart of Edinburgh.

As part of the menu, guests can enjoy lamb rack “Antikristo”, a traditional Crete dish, directly translated as “across the fire,” which will be served with Spring greens, potato confit croquette and wild artichoke. Thanos will also be bringing a 1905 favourite to the menu with the delicious Rice pudding millefeuille: a handmade traditional “xerotigana” filo served with vanilla rice pudding and a saffron, orange mousse.

The Chef’s Table dishes will be expertly paired with Grecian drinks, in partnership with Axia – the first international Greek extra dry Mastiha Spirit based on ancient traditions – and Metaxa – “The original Greek spirit”. Chosen specifically to complement each of the Chef’s Table dishes, Commons Club’s Head Mixologist, Leon Back, has developed a drinks menu compromising of Axia and Ouzo Gimlet, Axia dirty martini, Metaxa Manhattan and finishing off with a neat serve of Private Reserve Metaxa Orama.

Emma Hanley, Chef de Cuisine at Commons Club, said: “We are bringing an unforgettable dining experience to the capital through our collaboration with 1905 Head Chef, Thanos Christakis. We are combining our distinct culinary backgrounds to showcase the best of both worlds – the rich flavours of Cretan cuisine fused with the finest, local Scottish ingredients.

“I am thrilled to be working alongside Chef Thanos to create an intimate evening of fine dining and I am excited for our guests to witness the magic that unfolds in our kitchen on the 1^st of March.”

Thanos Christakis, Head Chef at 1905, said: “My cooking style uses traditional methods that have been passed down for generations, paired with classic Cretan ingredients and a modern twist. I am excited to bring the authentic taste of Crete to Edinburgh.

“This partnership is an opportunity to showcase the flavours and techniques that define Cretan cuisine, while also incorporating the vibrant local ingredients of Scotland. Together we will transport guests on an immersive Cretan dining journey right here in Edinburgh”.

The ‘Chef’s Table Goes to Greece’ experience will begin on Friday 1^st March and run throughout the month from Thursday to Saturday weekly from 7pm, with prices starting from £75. The experience can be booked exclusively as a private event or for individual diners, where guests can expect an intimate three-hour sociable dining experience on a long-shared table.

Reservations can be made by visiting: Commons Bar & Restaurant – VH Edinburgh Reservations (sevenrooms.com).

The Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), opens entries today to its historic and prestigious Technical Innovations Awards sponsored by Hillhouse Quarry Group.

The longest standing RHASS competition encourages innovation in the design and manufacture of machines, equipment and appliances which advance agricultural practice and celebrates significant steps forward being made in all kinds of agri innovation – from apps that monitor herds and crop-monitoring drone software to the latest tractor technology and livestock equipment.

Winners of the awards are offered a platform at the 2024 Royal Highland Show in the Agri-Innovation Arena – a new area to the Show as of 2023.  The Arena acts as a platform for showcasing and demonstrating innovative machinery and technology that is shaping the future of agriculture and forms a busy business hub in the Show’s agri zone.

In 2023 Gold was awarded to two innovations, Murray Machinery for their Gravel Road Grader and Lely’s Discovery Collector for their app managed robot manure scraper.  Additionally 4 Silvers were awarded including carbon mapping technology TerraMap that helps growers obtain accurate carbon baseline measurements.

As RHASS celebrates its 240^th anniversary year, the charity reflects on innovations supported by the Society throughout its history.  This award is the oldest on record, the first iteration being from 1793 where Rev. Alexander Campbell was awarded a premium for the invention of a new plough. Since then, RHASS has continued to support innovations at the forefront of Scottish Agriculture.

Convener of Judges, Andrew Rennie said: “Innovation is a major focus for the Society and for the 2024 Royal Highland Show. 

We’re looking for innovative excellence and are particularly interested in investing in more sustainable and climate focused initiatives as well as data platforms and app-based technologies which increase productivity and sustainability. We welcome all applications across the sector and look forward to seeing entries from businesses who are leading the pack in innovative design and thinking.”

The judging format will be a hybrid of in-person demonstrations, user evaluation and electronic submissions. The entry deadline is Friday 29^th  March and entries can be made via the Royal Highland Show website: royalhighlandshow.org

Award sponsors Hillhouse Quarry Group added “We are delighted to be continuing support for the RHASS Technical Innovation Awards.   Sectoral innovation is key to efficiency, development and furtherment of the industry.   We look forward to seeing the diverse mix of inventions and innovations entered this year.”

Applications open on Monday 26 February at 10am – and can be made at https://www.royalhighlandshow.org/

Scotland’s agricultural charity, Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) announced a programme of family-friendly events throughout 2024 to celebrate its 240^th anniversary.

They range from a cuddly toy sheep scavenger hunt over the Easter holidays to a mass Munro challenge, Harvest Thanksgiving service to a yearlong audio and visual storytelling project.

The planned activities all aim to raise greater awareness around key times in the agricultural calendar, unheard stories from across the sector, and issues that face the rural community and will all generate funds for land initiatives preserving Scotland’s countryside.

The celebrations kick off over the Easter school holidays with a nationwide scavenger hunt Hide & Sheep (sponsored by Turcan Connell and media partner the Scotsman Group).  Thousands of cuddly toy sheep will be hidden across the 8 regions of Scotland, from Shetland and the Outer Hebrides to the lowlands of the Scottish Borders. Once found, the sheep can be kept by their new owners.  With each sheep found, there’s a chance for the discoverer to win a VIP trip with their family to the 2024 Royal Highland Show – but only 8 of the flock hold this special prize! A celebration of community and tradition, the campaign will also share information with the new sheep owners of the importance of the spring period in the agricultural calendar, sharing insights on lambing, crop sowing and more.

Throughout the year, RHASS will be bringing their rich history to life through 240 Years of Stories.  Partnering with Scene & Herd and their new series of podcasts, OnRecord and media partner the Scotsman Group collecting meaningful stories from Scotland’s rural community, and shared through multiple media platforms throughout the year.  RHASS aims to showcase their profound influence on countless lives and society in Scotland over the centuries, highlighting pivotal moments and acting as a form of remembrance, connection, and celebration for generations past, present, and future.

On September 21^st, RHASS’ Mighty Munro Muster will see teams across Scotland conquer all 282 Munros within a daring 12-hour window.  The mass participation fundraising event will involve over 600 participants working in unison to scale every Munro in the land in support of RHASS and Scotland’s rich rural heritage.  Applications open in April.

To mark another key milestone in the agricultural calendar, RHASS will hold a number of Harvest Thanksgiving Services across Scotland and will once again join the congregation of St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh to celebrate, while also marking their 900^th anniversary – these will offer a time to reflect on the year and years gone by and celebrate the successful harvest and hard work undertaken every year to deliver food to the nation from field to fork.

RHASS was formed in 1784 to promote the regeneration of rural Scotland, as well as the preservation of its poetry, language and music.  The charity has been instrumental in supporting the advancement of agriculture and technology and in those years, as early as 1800s RHASS campaigned to standardise weights and measures.  Around the same time the Society worked alongside famed Scottish Civil Engineer Thomas Telford in commissioning reports and surveys to support the creation of the Caledonian Canal between Inverness and Fort William.

Jim Warnock, RHASS Chairman said; “The 240^th Anniversary year is a huge milestone for RHASS – and we hope that these events will resonate with people across Scotland by learning something new about agriculture or the work of the Society itself.

This year of events celebrates the achievements made over 240 years of the Society and marks the beginning of the next 240. Furthering support and advancement of the rural agricultural sector in Scotland.”

Alan Laidlaw, RHASS Chief Executive added: “Our long history of championing Scottish agriculture will be on display this year as we take RHASS on the road.  Inspiring the next generation through events like Hide & Sheep, recording and collating our oral history through members of our community young and old in 240 Years of Stories or in conversations between colleagues and friends hiking up a Munro in September.

RHASS has always been rooted in community, and it is them that we commemorate in this anniversary year.”

The UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt today announced his Spring Budget 2024. In what may be his final intervention before a General Election, he announced a 2p cut to National Insurance rates, an extension to the freeze on alcohol duty, and reforms to pensions to encourage investment in UK businesses. The key announcements for Edinburgh businesses are summarised below.

The Office for Budget Responsibility forecast

• Inflation has now fallen to 4% and forecasts show that it will fall below the 2% target by the end of Quarter 2 of this year
• Debt as a proportion of GDP is expected to fall to 94% by 2028/29 and borrowing is expected to fall to 1.2% of GDP by 2028/29
• Growth of GDP is expected to reach 0.8% this year, 1.9% next year, 2.2% in 2026, then dropping to 1.8% in 2027 and 1.7% in 2028

Tax policies

• From the 6^th April there will be a 2p cut to the basic rate of employee and self-employed National Insurance
• A consultation will be launched later this year on fully abolishing Class 2 National Insurance.
• The VAT registration threshold will be increased from £85,000 to £90,000 from 1^st April
• The freeze on alcohol duty will be extended until February 2025
• Fuel duty will also remain frozen, with the 5p cut maintained for a further 12 months – this was something that the Scottish Chambers of Commerce called for ahead of the budget
• Various tax reliefs and credits will be given to the film and TV sector
• Permanent higher rates of tax reliefs will be set for theatres, orchestras, museums and galleries
• A new duty on vaping will be introduced from October 2026 and tobacco duty will also be increased from October 2026
• A one-off adjustment will be made to rates of Air Passenger Duty on non-economy passengers
• The Energy Profits Levy will be extended by an additional year to 2028-29
• The current tax regime for non-UK domiciled individuals will be abolished and replaced with a residence-based regime, where anyone who has been resident in the UK for more than 4 years will pay UK tax on their foreign income and gains. Transitional arrangements will be put in place for existing non-domiciled individuals
• Tax reliefs for green freeport sites are being extended until September 2034 in Scotland

Policies to increase growth and investment

• Building on the Edinburgh and Mansion House reforms to unlock pension capital, more powers will be given to the FCA and Pensions Regulator, a new UK ISA and British Savings Bonds will be launched, and the Government will bring forward requirements for Defined Contribution pension funds to publicly disclose the breakdown of their asset allocations, including UK equities
• The full expensing policy currently allows companies to deduct investment in IT equipment, plant or in full from taxable profits. The Government will now seek to extend full expensing to assets for leasing when fiscal conditions allow
• Up to a further £120 million will be provided for the Green Industries Growth Accelerator, to support the expansion of low carbon manufacturing supply chains across the UK
• A new £7.4 million upskilling fund pilot will be launched to help SMEs develop AI skills
• £45million has been promised to fund research on disease treatment.

The Scottish Government will receive around £295million through Barnett Consequentials from today’s budget.

Further comment and analysis will be shared in the coming days. As always, if you have any thoughts or feedback on today’s announcements, please get in touch with our policy team at policy@edinburghchamber.co.uk

RCI: Information required and creating an entry – Monday 04 March at 10am

This webinar outlines the information which is required for an entry in RCI and what you must do before creating an entry. Once the data is gathered, we cover the steps you must take in creating an account, creating an entry and post submission notifications. We will also show features such as ARN re-use and the copy function. This session will include a live demonstration of these activities in the service.

*Before attending this webinar, if you are not familiar with RCI we would recommend that you watch the ‘Beginners Guide to RCI’ video for an introduction to the Register.

Duration: 1 hour with question and answer session

Register for our RCI webinar

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Register of Deeds: new features and future development – Wednesday 27 March at 10am

Would you like to get your Minute Number as soon as your deed has been registered? Join us to discover new features coming to the Register of Deeds in the Books of Council & Session, and how you can take part in shaping its future development.

This webinar will cover:

• New features added to the RoD and benefits they will bring to customers
• Updated registration guidance and support resources available
• Have your say on the future development roadmap

Duration: 45 minutes with question and answer session

Register for our Register of Deeds webinar

* This webinar is not part of our CPD accredited series.

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ScotLIS: A beginner’s guide – Thursday 28 March at 10am

This webinar is a comprehensive introduction to the key features of the ScotLIS service, including how to get the most out of:

• Accessing the land register and sasine register
• Interactive map functionality with added data layers
• Downloading and emailing title information and improved search benefits

Duration: 1 hour with question and answer session

Register for our ScotLIS webinar

Lumo, the all-electric train operator, has announced its renewed partnership with Edinburgh Science Festival for this year’s theme: ‘Shaping the Future’.

Taking place over two weeks, from Saturday 30 March to Sunday 14 April 2024, thousands are expected to attend the series of interactive events, talks and workshops showcasing how science can create a more sustainable, accessible, and equal future.

This partnership with the UK’s largest science festival will see Lumo proudly sponsor one of six trails at the City Art Centre, focusing on Innovative Engineers. The trail will feature three distinct workshops – Little Sparks, Energy Makers, and Chain Reactor – tailored to inspire children to engage in problem-solving and explore technology and energy.

Lumo will also take on the role of Climate and Sustainability partner, sponsoring the festival’s year-long series ‘Climate Co-Labs’. This programme consists of round table meetings that bring together senior leaders across sectors to accelerate Scotland’s response to the climate emergency.

Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director of Lumo, said: “We’re proud of our reputation for innovation and sustainability as we strive to reduce emissions in the transport sector. It’s thanks to great engineers and scientists that we’re able to deliver our all-electric rail service and, in partnering with Edinburgh Science Festival, we hope to inspire the next generation of innovative engineers – and, of course, transport them into Edinburgh for the science festival in the most sustainable way possible!”

Hannah Schlesinger Brodie, Director of Development and Marketing at Edinburgh Science, said: “We’re thrilled to have Lumo support the Edinburgh Science Festival once again. The chemistry between Lumo and Edinburgh Science Festival is a perfect match and will help many people to experience the excitement of the festival in a sustainable way.”

This latest partnership by Lumo adds to the already strong local commitment made by the company. Lumo trains are maintained at Craigentinny on the outskirts of Edinburgh and offer a range of locally sourced products onboard including Edinburgh Gin and Walkers Shortbread as well as the iconic Irn Bru.

Lumo customers can travel comfortably between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh knowing they’ll save 96 per cent CO2 emissions compared to taking a domestic flight between the two cities. The average fare for a single journey from London to Edinburgh also proves a huge saving at just £46.70.

The Edinburgh Science Festival takes place over numerous venues and locations around Edinburgh, attracting thousands of visitors to the city. Thanks to Lumo’s fast services connecting Edinburgh with Newcastle and London, it’s the ideal choice for those planning a fun-packed trip to the Scottish capital.