As the latest addition to The University of Edinburgh’s Hospitality Collection, Bonnar’s takes its name from Thomas Bonnar, a distinguished Scottish interior designer and architect whose legacy is beautifully preserved in the restaurant’s opulent rococo room, complete with original ceiling fresco. This historic setting invites diners to step back in time while enjoying the stunning views through floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook The Scott’s tranquil gardens.
Inspired by the very best of Scottish produce with both an à la carte and 5-course tasting menu, dishes include: Venison Tartare with Smoked Egg Yolk and Salami Spice, Barley Risotto with Peas and Douglas Fir, and Chocolate, Blackberry Sorbet and Buckwheat.
The team behind Bonnar’s champions sustainability, crafting delicious dishes that highlight the freshest seasonal ingredients sourced from local suppliers, ensuring every plate tells a story. As well as sourcing produce locally, Bonnar’s also incorporates foraged ingredients from The Scott’s very own estate, including estate-produced honey, herbs and flowers.
Gavin MacLennan, Group General Manager at The University of Edinburgh Hospitality Collection said: “We are thrilled to unveil Bonnar’s, our exciting new restaurant at The Scott Hotel. This addition elevates the guest experience by offering Scottish flavours with an elegant twist. With a passion for fresh, local ingredients within a spectacular setting, Bonnar’s will not only be open for our guests, but will also be a vibrant addition to Edinburgh’s Southside dining scene and local community.”
Tables at Bonnar’s, which has 28 covers, are available to book here for Tuesday to Saturday each week.
Cruden Homes, one of Scotland’s largest independent house builders, has appointed Gregor Adam as its new Construction Director. Gregor joins the senior management team in a strategic move that cements the company’s commitment to driving quality new homes and elevating the home-buying experience.
Gregor has extensive experience in the house building industry. Prior to this role, Gregor spent eight years at Robertson Group as a Construction Manager and began his career with Cala as a Graduate Construction Manager. His appointment is set to propel Cruden Homes towards its goal of achieving the highest standards of build quality and customer satisfaction, enhancing its already strong reputation as a long established and multi-award-winning homebuilder.
Fraser Lynes, Managing Director of Cruden Homes, commented:
“Gregor brings a wealth of experience and diverse skills from the housebuilding sector to this role. His appointment is pivotal as we continue to deliver many much- needed, high quality new homes for sale. In the short time that Gregor has been with Cruden, he has already made a significant impact in driving excellence in delivery, process and customer experience across our diverse range of housing; from landmark mixed-tenure developments, to modern city centre living and family homes throughout Scotland. We are thrilled to welcome Gregor to our senior management team.”
Gregor’s role will be key as Cruden unifies its efforts between sales, construction, and development teams to achieve ambitious growth and customer satisfaction goals. It follows Cruden Homes’ recent announcement of four new sales advisers appointed to strengthen its in-house sales team across all regions.
Gregor Adam, Construction Director for Cruden Homes, added:
“It is exciting to be part of the team as we are poised for a new era of growth and innovation in the Scottish housing market. A major part of my role is to strengthen and enhance our construction department to drive the highest possible standards and to deliver excellence in our end product. This is the most fulfilling role I have taken on in years, and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to Cruden Homes’ already enviable reputation as a major player in the Scottish housebuilding sector.”
AAB, a leading professional services firm across the UK and Ireland, has today announced the promotion of five team members into key leadership roles. This move not only underscores AAB’s dedication to fostering talent and commitment to excellence but also signals a continued trajectory of growth with 150 team members promoted across the 12 AAB office locations.
The newly appointed individuals bring a wide range of experience and the new roles will be critical as the company expands its team across the UK and Ireland.
Assuming the role of Business Advisory Director based in the AAB Glasgow office, Gillian Rushton joined AAB in March 2016. Gillian provides business advisory tax services to a range of clients across all industries, as well as a being a member of both the AAB technology sector team and the tax investigations team.
Lynn Gracie has accepted the position of Private Client Partner based in the AAB Aberdeen office. Leading the Private Client International Tax team, Lynn provides specialist tax advice connected to internationally mobile individuals, including Non-Residents and Non-UK Domiciles, providing holistic tax solutions across global jurisdictions.
Gregor Angus, who joined AAB in March 2023 has been promoted to the role of Business Development Partner, North of Scotland. This appointment marks a commitment from AAB to drive further growth in the North of Scotland region across all service lines.
Based in the AAB Aberdeen office, Andrea Begg has been promoted to Business Advisory Director. In her new role, Andrea will continue to deliver the highest standard of service and advice to owner managed and family businesses over a number of sectors. Andrea is also in the AAB tax investigations team
Helen Daniels assumes the role of Audit Partner in the AAB Leeds office. Helen has been a key member of the Audit team specialising in owner managed businesses and the financial services sector.
Emma Lancaster, Chief Executive Officer of AAB commented on the promotions: “Helen, Lynn, Gregor, Andrea and Gillian are dedicated team members at AAB and it is a great pleasure to recognise each of these individuals with their promotion to our leadership team. We are committed to promoting from within, ensuring that every team member has the opportunity to progress their career. As we continue to grow, their contributions will be pivotal in driving our vision forward and maintaining the high standards our clients know we can deliver to support their own business and individual growth.”
Since securing investment from August Equity in 2021, AAB has trebled in size and now employs c1,000 people across 12 office locations in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the
United States, with strategic plans in place to continue to scale the business rapidly, supported by the promotions announced today.
Leading Scottish law firm Blackadders LLP has been shortlisted as a finalist in three categories in the Scottish Legal Awards 2024.
Blackadders LLP has been announced as a finalist for Firm of the Year in the national awards that take place on 19th September in Glasgow.
Nikki Scott, Paralegal Manager in Private Client, has been recognised as a finalist in the Paralegal of the Year category and Robyn Lee, Director in Private Client, has been shortlisted for Rising Star of the Year.
Blackadders LLP introduced an ambitious transformation and growth plan in 2023 with the aim of making them a top five Scottish law firm within five years. The strides taken by the Firm show the determination to be the best place for lawyers to work in Scotland and the destination of choice for clients.
Joint Managing Partner Emma Gray said, “We’re absolutely delighted to have three nominations in this year’s Scottish Legal Awards shortlist. Huge congratulations to Robyn and Nikki for being recognised amongst the very best in the Scottish legal sector.
“This year has been a very important year for the firm with significant business wins and an increase in both turnover and profit. We’ve invested in talented people, focused on our commitment to consistently excellent service and rolled out our bold new brand alongside innovative sponsorship deals.
“We’re proud to be recognised in the Firm of the Year category and to have the opportunity to celebrate the successes we’ve marked this year.”
The full shortlist for the Scottish Legal Awards 2024 is available online at https://www.thelegalawards.com/sla/finalists
As Edinburgh gears up for its famous festivals, festival goers and workers can stay energized and enjoy the healthiest summer yet with Edinburgh Leisure’s new ‘Summer Pass’.
Available from Monday, 1 July 2024, the ‘Summer Pass’ provides unlimited access to 17 state-of-the-art gyms, 12 swimming pools (including five historic Victorian pools), over 750 fitness classes per week, and a world-class climbing centre. The pass also includes access to saunas, steam rooms, and Turkish Baths—all for just £69. The pass is valid for six weeks from the date of purchase, with the last available purchase date being August 31, 2024.
Young adults aged 18-24 can enjoy a reduced-price pass for £49, making it an affordable option for students returning home or young festival workers staying in the city. Additionally, a School Fitness Pass is available for six weeks at Queensferry, Wester Hailes, Balerno, and Trinity venues, costing £49 for adults and £29 for those under 25. These venues are also included in the general Summer Pass, offering an alternative option for customers.
Everyone who purchases a Summer Pass will automatically be entered into a free prize draw to win a one-year free Full Fitness membership.
Matthew Smith, Sales Manager at Edinburgh Leisure, said: “Edinburgh in summer is always buzzing with energy, thanks to the various festivals. We invite festival goers, workers, and visitors to keep their energy levels high by staying fit and active. Our range of classes and facilities ensures there’s something for everyone, from fun Zumba sessions to high-intensity X-press gym classes. And if you need to relax, our pools and Turkish Baths are perfect for unwinding.”
The pass is available to buy online on in venue. https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/join
Mother Technologies, a Scottish MSP providing IT support, telecoms, connectivity, and cybersecurity services to businesses across Scotland, is proud to introduce its new engineers. With an office in Edinburgh, Mother Technologies recognises the importance of expanding its workforce to maintain its commitment to delivering exceptional service to clients.
Firstly, Mother is excited to introduce our new Systems Engineer, Rian Wilson. With over 4 years of experience in the IT industry, Rian provides IT support to Mother’s customers remotely via the helpdesk and on-site at customers premises. He has a professional attitude towards his work, willing in all his undertakings and gaining healthy respect from clients following his engagement. When asked why he joined the Mother team, Rian said, “I chose Mother because it’s a well-established MSP with a lot of experience within the team. I’m confident with what I can bring to the table, but the team at Mother can clearly expand my knowledge and support the personal goals and achievements I hope to gain.”
Additionally, Mother welcomes a new Network Engineer, Alan Zaczek, whose appointment expands their resource capability in networking and comms. Alan’s recent roles have provided him with extensive knowledge of network infrastructure. At Mother, he delves deeper into networking and is now heavily involved with everything telecom. When asked why he chose to join Mother, Alan said, “Working at Vodafone gave me more insight into networking, but I wanted to pursue more in-depth knowledge that was not possible in my role there. I heard that at Mother Technologies, you are exposed to so much that you can’t ever stop learning. That’s for me. I love Networking and want to progress.”
Last but not least, Mother welcomes Scott Grant, whose appointment is that of Graduate Network Engineer. Scott recently graduated from Abertay University with a degree in Ethical Hacking. During his four years at university, he gained experience in various aspects of computing, including networking, programming, IoT, and ethical hacking, which taught him the importance of cybersecurity. Scott joined Mother earlier this year to start his career in networking and telecoms. When asked why he joined Mother, Scott replied, “I chose Mother Technologies because it’s been established for more than 20 years and has a very experienced team. I’d be learning wherever I went but with what you’re exposed to at Mother, I think the curve will be an accelerated one here.”
Mother Technologies is always delighted to welcome new talent to the team. We wish them well and look forward to their increasing contribution being recognised and rewarded by team and clients alike.
For information on Mother’s services head to: https://www.mothertech.co.uk/it-support-edinburgh/
On Tuesday (2 July), Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh’s much-loved science centre and planetarium celebrates its 25th anniversary. To mark the occasion, visitors on the day to Scotland’s largest interactive science visitor centre will receive a 25% discount on their admission ticket.
Opened by the late HM Queen Elizabeth in 1999, the £34m attraction with its striking white, ‘stratosphere’ tented roof, was the first Millennium project in the UK to open.
Today, Dynamic Earth welcomes over 300,000 visitors through its doors to experience the state-of-the-art planetarium and the immersive earth science galleries. Many also come to Dynamic Earth to participate in the nationwide school science programme or to attend one of the 400+ annual conferences and events staged within the impressive 6300m2 space.
Over the past 25 year, many famous faces have visited the science attraction, including astronaut Tim Peake, acclaimed Scottish actor Ewan McGregor and the comedian and astronomer Dara O’ Briain.
Designed by architect Sir Michael Hopkins and constructed on the site of the former Scottish and Newcastle Brewery who gifted the land, the Millennium Commission was a key founding funder (£15m) of Dynamic Earth. City of Edinburgh Council, local enterprise agencies and generous donors also contributed significant finance.
Appropriately, Dynamic Earth sits in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags, where the rock formations informed much of the early research of James Hutton (1726-1797). A significant figure of the Enlightenment period, the discoveries of the Edinburgh-born ‘father of modern geology’ and, more widely, the contribution of Scottish science to the world, are celebrated within the attraction.
Dynamic Earth is a science centre like no other. Designed to engage and excite visitors of all ages, its interactive displays, exhibits and planetarium films take visitors on a journey through the Universe and tell the story of planet Earth from the ‘big bang’ to the present day. The time machine is a family favourite, there’s a shaking floor to simulate an earthquake, while an eruption of molten lava captures the power of a volcano. Another themed experience, Edinburgh’s only iceberg, is also a firm favourite in the summer!
Recently relaunched, the very popular planetarium boasts one of the highest resolution, 360-degree screens in Europe. Introduced by Dynamic Earth’s expert astronomers, the spectacular short films take the audience to the outer reaches of space, take a deep dive to the bottom of the ocean and even give the audience a thrilling moon landing.
Mark Bishop, CEO of Dynamic Earth, commented: “Dynamic Earth exists to bring the fascination and delight of science into people’s eyes. I fondly remember first visiting the centre with my young family way back in 2004. The plasticine model my daughter created after being inspired by her visit sits proudly on my desk.
“In addition to showcasing the wonders of the world, we are also highlighting the perils human activity is placing on our fragile planet. We are increasingly seeing visitors take away from their Dynamic Earth experience a powerful wish to play their part to protect Earth. We are here to promote understanding and empathy that leads to action. Every visitor is a potential problem-solver of the future for the greatest issue of the age, climate change”.
“Our 25th anniversary gives us a chance to celebrate what has been achieved through the collective effort of our staff and many supporters. It’s also an opportunity to look to the future. We are keen to become a key visitor hub for Holyrood Park, to further increase our Scotland-wide educational outreach activity and to become a key Edinburgh Festival venue.
“However, our response to the climate emergency is going to be the defining theme of what we do. We will always bring alive the fun of earth science and increasingly we want to encourage every visitor to play their part in protecting the tiny, pale blue dot that is our only home, planet Earth.”
Dame Prue Leith CBE, TV personality, writer, restaurateur and cookery expert, is to step down from her position as Chancellor of Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (QMU).
Prue, who has been the University’s Chancellor since her installation in July 2017, will preside over her last graduation ceremonies, in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, on 1st and 2nd of July, before officially concluding her term as Chancellor of QMU at the end of this calendar year.
Best known for her appearances as a judge in the hit Channel 4 TV series, ‘The Great British Bake-off’ and BBC 2 culinary show ‘Great British Menu’, Prue Leith has become a household name in recent years, with numerous appearances on foodie programmes and other TV shows. Her most recent TV success, ‘Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen’ on ITV, has seen her open the doors of her own kitchen where she, and husband John Playfair, celebrate food, friendship and fun with easy-to-cook recipes for every occasion.
Aside from her wealth of experience as a TV presenter and contributor, it was Prue’s impressive track record as an entrepreneur, restauranteur, cook and writer, which made her an excellent fit for Queen Margaret University. In her position as Chancellor, she has not only taken part in graduation ceremonies and many other events, she has been a passionate supporter of QMU students. She has always taken time to meet and talk to students, often providing them with a great insight into her career successes and challenges, and encouraging and advising them on their own career paths. She has been particularly active in supporting the University’s entrepreneurial opportunities for students. More widely, she always takes a keen interest in QMU’s work in cultivating entrepreneurialism on campus, and in its ambitions to support businesses and economic development through the creation of the Edinburgh Innovation Hub, which is currently being constructed on land around the campus.
With a proud history in food and nutrition dating back to 1875, Queen Margaret University continues to have a strong focus on food education and commercialisation. Prue’s wealth of experience as a food entrepreneur ensured her knowledge and experience was of great benefit to students and the University. Having successfully built a business from scratch in the 1960s which grew to become Leith’s Good Food, the party and event caterer, Prue opened Leith’s, her famous Michelin starred restaurant, in 1969. In 1975, she founded Leith’s School of Food and Wine, which trains professional chefs and amateur cooks. The group, employing 500 people, reached a turnover of £15m in 1993. She went on to sell her empire in the mid 1990’s.
She has also held numerous public appointments, and was appointed an OBE in 1989, CBE in 2010, and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2021 for her services to food, broadcasting and charity.
Prue has always spoken up for the issues that she believes in, and she doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. She is a campaigner for assisted dying, having witnessed her brother’s unnecessary suffering in hospital at the end of his life. She believes that more work needs to be done to improve end of life care and to provide choice for those who are dying. She shone a light on this sensitive topic in 2023 when she and her son, Conservative MP Danny Kruger, explored the issue in a Channel 4 TV programme ‘Prue and Danny’s Death Road Trip’. The investigation and conversation involved a trip across Canada, where assisted dying is legal. Both Danny, who has opposing views to his mother and is against assisted dying, and Prue spoke to doctors and others affected by the service. Once the one-hour special was aired, Prue was praised for her sensitive handling of this important and often divisive subject.
Sir Paul Grice, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen Margaret University, said: “It has been a great privilege to have Dame Prue Leith as our Chancellor. She had a hard act to follow, taking over the role from our Founding Chancellor, Sir Tom Farmer in 2017, and she has been a true asset to the University. She has shown incredible dedication to our students, always making herself available to meet and discuss developments with staff and students, and supporting University events.
“Prue’s career and background resonates deeply with the values and ethos of Queen Margaret University, as well as with our specialist areas in health and rehabilitation; the creative and cultural industries; education; and sustainable business. She has been particularly supportive of our recent and significant developments in teacher education – always keen to learn about our work in developing the next generation of teachers in home economics, primary education, religious studies and business. And her insights and experience into business development have been invaluable, and have helped support our culture of entrepreneurship.”
Sir Paul concluded: “However, it is Prue’s high energy, positive attitude and zest for life which have really inspired our students and staff. She sets a great example to the QMU community – bringing positivity to everything she does, making the most of every opportunity, speaking out to make a difference to people’s lives, and always developing and learning in order to be the best version of herself. Her boundless energy is infectious, and she has a star quality and magic about her which makes people believe that anything is possible. What more could you ask of a university chancellor?”
Dame Prue Leith will continue her role as Chancellor of the University until December 2024.
Following the woes of The Body Shop and Ted Baker chains, leisure wear specialist Superdry is now set to proceed with a restructuring plan that will significantly reduce its presence on the High Street.
The retailer, which is best known for its hoodies and has been trading for more than 20 years, recently announced its creditors have accepted its proposals amid declining sales and deepening losses.
In a statement, Superdry said: “The company is pleased to announce that there was a high level of turnout at the plan meetings and 99% by value of the plan creditors which attended the plan meetings (in person or by proxy) voted in favour of the measures proposed in the restructuring plan.”
The restructuring plan, a three-year formal procedure under the Companies Act for companies in financial difficulties, is expected to result in widespread store closures and rent reductions on 39 UK sites. Superdry currently has 216 company-owned shops as well as franchised stores.
Boss and co-founder Julian Dunkerton also hopes to delist the business from the London Stock Exchange and will lead a fundraising which is expected to raise up to £10m
While larger portfolio landlords are accustomed to high profile tenants chopping and changing their terms, smaller, independent operators are likely to view Superdry’s progress with dismay.
The model being pursued by Superdry is a relatively new insolvency process, introduced during the pandemic. It was successfully used for the first time by the Virgin Active Group, with the English High Court approving its proposals in May 2021.
The plan is similar to a CVA (company voluntary arrangement) in that it allows directors to remain in control and businesses to continue trading while negotiating with creditors. Among the retailers that have pursued CVAs are Carpetright, Mothercare, Homebase and Wilko. The Body Shop is also reportedly considering a CVA for its remaining stores.
However, unlike a CVA, where all creditors must agree to the process, the legal route being pursued by Superdry can effectively force creditors who oppose their proposals to accept them, as long as they benefit the whole.
These insolvency terms are known in the legal profession as a cross-class cram down – meaning the courts can approve the restructuring of a company’s debts despite opposition from a class of creditors.
Furthermore, Superdry’s restructuring plan is a very technical process which requires significant consultation with accountants and lawyers.
Even if a landlord was minded to oppose such proposals, the costs involved in pursuing litigation through the courts would most likely be a deterrent.
With the alternative to a restructuring plan being insolvency, the hope will be that the business is saved. But at a time when the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit retail sales, landlords will fear that others could follow in Superdry’s footsteps. Time will tell how the retailer’s choice affects the already troubled sector.
Director General of the BCC, Shevaun Haviland, has urged the next Government to stop treading on eggshells around trade with the EU if it wants to grow the UK economy.
She will make the plea at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Global Annual Conference 2024 on Thursday June 27. In her keynote address, she will also urge the next Government to use the BCC’s Election Manifesto as its ‘day one’ playbook for action.
ON IMPROVING EU RELATIONS
Emphasising the importance of improving EU trade in growing the UK economy, Shevaun will say:
“I’m not here to look backwards, I’m here to help build a better future for our business leaders and entrepreneurs. We must stop walking on eggshells and start saying it how it is.
“The current plan isn’t working for our members. But better trade terms are possible if the UK government and the EU reach agreement in areas of mutual benefit for business on both sides. A better deal is best for everyone.”
ON A PARTNERSHIP APPROACH
On the need for the next Government to use the election as a reset moment, Shevaun is expected to say:
“The only factor that matters, is what the Government will do on day one – after six weeks of electioneering, businesses will be looking at the next government and who will be true to their word
“Business wants a long-term sustainable economic growth plan, some call it an industrial strategy, call it what you like, but what we need is a plan for the next 10, 15, 20 years and beyond.
“Firms don’t want handouts they want government to create the right environment so they can thrive. Whoever wins next week, we are ready to lean in and help our new government power the economy.
“Our plan is to build an economy that has the green transition at its core, with a workforce fit for the future, living in thriving local places and powered by businesses that are globally facing and digitally enabled.
“None of this is going to be easy, none of us can do it on our own, and it’s going to take time. That means we need a real partnership, one that is for that long-term.”
ON SKILLS
Addressing the need to finally close the UK’s worrying skills gap, she is expected to say: “Skills are a top concern for our members. It’s time for action to boost investment in skills. It’s not about cutting up existing plans, it’s about making sure the right initiatives are given time to work.
“The labour market is heading in the right direction, as we see the number of vacancies fall, but businesses are still telling us the skills they need aren’t there. We need to ‘Plan Better for Skills’ aligning our ambition and investment to prepare young people and job seekers for great jobs.”
