Children’s Hospices Across Scotland – better known as CHAS – has launched its spring campaign urging Scots to help dying children and their families make precious memories together.
The national children’s hospice charity, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, cares for Scotland’s most vulnerable children, making sure that the limited time they have left together with their families is filled with as much happiness and joy as possible.
There are over 16,700 babies and children with life-shortening conditions in Scotland but currently CHAS is not able to reach everyone that needs its help. The charity is committed to continue its work to reach everyone who needs its help.
One family who know how invaluable CHAS’s services are is the Meldrums from Edinburgh, who lost daughter Hannah in 2019, aged just one day old.
Hannah was born on 24 April 2019 and passed away the following day, surrounded by her loving family. After she was born she had to be put on life support and the doctors and nurses in charge of her care did everything they could but sadly the complication was to be fatal.
It was the heart-wrenching news that no parent should ever have to receive. Hannah had experienced a placental abruption, a complication that starves a baby of oxygen and nutrients in the womb.
As soon as mum Katrina came out of recovery, she and her partner Ben were introduced to Evelyn, Emma, and Michelle, from CHAS. All three colleagues specialise in births like Hannah’s, and immediately sprang into action to help the family in any way they could. Their caring and friendly presence enveloped the family with warmth at such a difficult time.
Sibling support for Hannah’s sisters, Ailie and Hollie, was also available right from the start with care from CHAS tailored exactly to help the girls process what was happening.
Following Hannah’s death, Katrina and Ben were blessed to welcome another baby, a son they called Max and CHAS has continued to offer support to the whole family.
Katrina said: “Honestly, I can’t praise the CHAS team enough for how they’ve helped us. Michelle still pops by for a visit every so often or when I need and I also find that incredibly helpful when I’m having sad days or when I just want to talk to someone who was there with me through the pain.”
Director of Fundraising and Communications at CHAS, Iain McAndrew said: “Knowing your child may die before you do is the unthinkable reality that thousands of families across Scotland have to cope with every day. We are privileged to have helped Hannah’s family but we know we can’t reach everyone who needs us without the kindness and generosity of our supporters.
“Like many others, CHAS families are feeling the impact of the increase in cost of living which is an added pressure when they are already at breaking point.
“The bottom line is that too many families are facing the heartbreak of losing a child without the support that CHAS can give. We need to increase our income to reach every family in Scotland that needs us and so we’re asking the Scottish public for their help.”
Please donate to Children’s Hospices Across Scotland today by visiting: https://www.chas.org.uk/donate
Anderson Anderson & Brown (AAB), the tech enabled business critical services group, has announced the appointment of Doug Michael as Partner and United States (US) Tax Practice Lead, based in the business’ London office.
Doug joins AAB to launch a brand-new US tax service as part of the Payroll & Employment Taxes team, providing individual and employment tax advisory and compliance support to clients with a US footprint.
Having spent his career in professional services, Doug brings a wealth of experience and subject knowledge to AAB. He joins AAB from PwC UK, where he led the US expat tax business, supporting international clients with their globally mobile employees across a variety of industry sectors.
This new service offering sees AAB further enhance its global capabilities, while augmenting the already thriving London business.
David Purse, Partner and Head of Global Mobility at AAB said: “Doug is an excellent addition to our senior leadership team at AAB. Having worked alongside Doug as both a colleague and strategic partner for over 15 years, I am pleased that he has chosen AAB as the destination for the next step in his career. He joins the business at an incredibly exciting time of growth and development, and our London business is no exception. We have experienced an increase in demand for payroll and employment tax services in this location, and Doug’s experience adds a valuable new dimension to our service offering.
“Enhancing our ability to service our clients’ changing needs is a key part of our overall growth strategy at AAB. As such, we are very happy to have Doug join us and lead our new US tax service. He truly brings a personable, ‘best in class’ approach to US compliance and advisory services. I have no doubt that he will take what is already a high performing global team and propel it to another level.”
On his appointment, Doug commented: “I am delighted to be joining AAB at this exciting time in their growth journey. The group’s focus on helping its people and clients achieve their strategic goals, coupled with ambitious plans for the future were a huge attraction for me. I am massively looking forward to working with my new colleagues, building on their successes to date and helping drive this growth.”
On the launch of the new US Tax Practice, Doug added: “The United States is home to one of the most complex tax systems in the world. For international businesses, or for employers with expansion plans, the strategic decision-making process can be overwhelming. Our aim is to support clients with their people related tax considerations, and ensure compliance with the challenging and ever-changing US tax laws.”
The firm has been nominated for three awards in recognition of its latest private wealth achievements
Burges Salmon’s Private Wealth Team has been shortlisted in three categories at the Chambers High Net Worth Awards 2022, including for ‘Private Client Team of the Year’, ‘Residential Property Team of the Year’, and ‘Foreign Jurisdiction Expert’ with reference to partner Catherine de Maid.
The awards recognise achievements over the past 12 months, including complex and high value work, excellence in client service, and impressive strategic growth. These awards honour the work of law firms across the world, based on the feedback given to the researchers for the latest edition of Chambers High Net Worth.
Catherine de Maid, who was promoted to partner in May 2020, is widely acknowledged for her standout practice in the International Private Client team. Catherine leads the firm’s Philanthropy team and specialises in international tax, trusts and estate planning advice for a wide range of clients, from high net worth individuals to trust companies and other institutions. Catherine is also highly regarded for herknowledge of the cross-border issues arising between the UK and clients with interests in Africa.
Burges Salmon’s Residential Property team is widely recognised for their excellent expertise in advising UK and international individuals, family offices and trust companies on high-value property transactions, with Zoë Longman, director in the team, highly regarded by our clients.
The Private Client team is recognised for its expertise and clients focus, and the news is a positive addition to its recent accomplishments which include winning “Private Client Legal Team of the Year” at the STEP Private Client Awards 2021/22, the fourth occasion since 2015/16.
Beatrice Puoti, Head of Private Wealth at Burges Salmon, says: “I am delighted with these three accoladesfor our teams in Private Wealth, and for Catherine individually. As a team, and as individuals, we are constantly striving to provide the best service for our clients and we are pleased to have that commitment acknowledged, especially when the shortlisting is the result of feedback from industry. We look forward to building on the strength and breadth of the team moving forward.”
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony held on Thursday 21 July in London.
Rising living costs, including the recent hike in fuel prices, make running a single property the smart option for couples but what’s the best thing to do if you have a second property between you? Edinburgh Lettings Agency Clan Gordon has seen a growing number of couples enquiring about renting out properties in the last six months in a bid to capitalise on generating an income from their second property as they move in together.
SELL OR RENT?
For some, selling is the preference to plough equity into a single residence and further reduce outgoings. But it’s possible to generate a significant second income by renting out a property, especially in Edinburgh where rents are at an all-time high. Record numbers of investors are buying in Edinburgh right now, so if you find yourself with a property you already own that is currently unused, you could be sitting on a significant opportunity.
HIGH DEMAND
As the capital’s leading letting agent, Clan Gordon has seen a huge rise in demand for all types of property from city centre flats to family homes with outside space and additional room for a home office.
Many properties get snapped up before being marketed by prospective tenants who have already undergone checks and have a deposit ready and waiting. And high-quality homes with luxury kitchens and bathrooms are commanding the highest prices on record.
DESIRABLE LOCATION
Edinburgh is one of the UK’s most desirable locations, with prices and demand reflecting the city’s recent status as the third most desirable place in the UK to live.
A poll by residential rental company UNCLE quizzed more than 2000 UK residents and saw Edinburgh named behind London and York with 14% of the overall vote. 69% of Edinburgh residents who took part in the survey voted for their own home city, a solid recommendation indeed!
The city’s amenities and availability of a wealth of activities were named as the main reasons for its popularity.
TAKING THE PLUNGE
So, if you decide to let, what’s the best way to ensure being a landlord doesn’t become a big headache? If you’re new to property letting, it’s best to get expert advice to make sure you get everything right from the start.
As a landlord you are legally obliged to:
• Register with the local authority
• Make sure your property meets the Scottish government’s Repairing Standard
• Issue a tenancy agreement in line with the Scottish government’s model agreement
• Provide tenants with an Energy Performance Certificate
• Carry out a legionella risk assessment
• Undertake required safety checks for gas electricity
• Fit heat, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
• Take out appropriate landlord buildings insurance
• Register the deposit with an approved scheme
Sound complicated? It doesn’t have to…
Clan Gordon provides a complete property management service that walks you through the entire process and takes care of everything from safety checks to emergency calls so you can sit back and relax and watch the pennies roll in!
If you’re thinking of letting a second property but don’t know where to start, schedule a call with one of the Clan Gordon advisors and get the ball rolling. www.clangordon.co.uk
About Clan Gordon
Edinburgh letting agency Clan Gordon understands that letting or renting a property can quickly turn into a major hassle if anything goes wrong. Their team of professional property managers will take care of everything for you, whether you’re a landlord or a tenant, so you always have complete peace of mind everything is taken care of for you.
Clan Gordon founders Andrew and Jonathan Gordon had suffered their own fair share of poor service and wanted to do things differently – to treat tenants and landlords with respect and deliver the quality service everyone deserves. That’s why the brothers set up the business in 2007.
Clan Gordon has a fully qualified and experienced team of property management professionals and in-house chartered surveyors.
The business is focused solely on lettings and property investment and Clan Gordon is regulated by ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) Propertymark and RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).
www.clangordon.co.uk
Fast growing fintech start-up ePOS Hybrid passes goal in minutes!
A hospitality tech firm has smashed its latest pre-series A funding round after hitting a £500,000 goal within 15 minutes of going publicly live.
Delighted bosses at ePOS Hybrid are now extending the crowdfunding opportunity, upping the target to a maximum of £2m and giving members of the public a chance to get involved.
The technology start-up, which launched in Edinburgh and also has an office in London, has grown rapidly in the past two years, with its successes catching the eye of investors.
Bhas Kalangi, the computer scientist and serial entrepreneur who founded the company, said “This has blown away our expectations and is a real tribute to everything the team has achieved in the past two years.
“Despite the pandemic having considerable impact on the hospitality sector, our technology has scaled impressively in the past 24 months with a 400% increase in our client base and 2000% increase in the volume of transactions being processed by our platform.
“We knew the crowdfunding round had huge potential, because of the interest and conversations we’ve been having with investors over the past six months. It is reassuring to see that interest has turned into financial backing.
“We could simply close the funding round now, but we know there are still many individual and smaller scale investors who would love to be involved, particularly as the next stage of our growth will be to scale internationally.
“Therefore, we are going to extend the crowdfunding process to mid-June. It may be ambitious to set the new target at £2m but it feels like the right time to set the bar high.”
The latest investment opportunity is being offered through the respected Crowdcube platform – where ePOS Hybrid has enjoyed previous success. The firm’s initial seed funding round took place on Crowdcube in early 2020, when it achieved 145% overfunding, smashing the original £250,000 target.
ePOS Hybrid offers a suite of fully-connected point-of-sale, fintech and digital ordering solutions for hospitality businesses. The firm’s technology can automate a bar, restaurant or takeaway’s operations and streamline everything from customer ordering to stock control and kitchen management.
Its various plug and play elements, including point of sale (POS), operations management and digital ordering solutions, all work together seamlessly on a single platform.
By empowering customers to create new sales channels, increase efficiency and reduce third party commission costs, the firm has helped hospitality businesses save £1.6 million on third party commissions alone, like food delivery services, in the past two years.
During the past two years, ePOS Hybrid’s technology has processed more than £97 million of transactions for UK businesses, has expanded their user base to over 900 UK locations and more than 7.5 million consumers have used its products to order a meal or buy a round of drinks.
The firm has a number of exciting new products in development which are scheduled to launch in the months ahead. The secured investment will enable ePOS Hybrid to roll out its tech to more businesses in the UK, support international expansion into new territories, such as India, and enable further innovation.
To find out more about ePOS Hybrid and its range of hardware, software and payment technologies, visit the ePOS Hybrid website.
Heriot-Watt University has today announced the appointment of Scott Bradley as Head of Business Development and Innovation Partnerships, a new strategic role which will further drive business engagement and industry partnerships of large-scale research and development projects.
Having previously worked as Head of Oil and Gas, Energy Transition and Industrial Decarbonisation Policy at Scottish Government, Scott brings a wealth of experience in delivering successful collaborations, projects, policies and funding from roles in government, oil and gas, and academia.
In his new role, he will be responsible for establishing and coordinating sustainable partnerships with industry that enhance the development of large-scale R&D projects spanning topics such as: energy transition and decarbonisation, robotics and automation, earth and marine sciences, health technologies and infrastructure.
Dr Gillian Murray, Deputy Principal Enterprise and Business, comments on the appointment:
“Sustainability and economic development are at the foundation of global recovery and future prosperity. Together with governments, public and private organisations, we are focusing our research strengths across knowledge-driven economic sectors.
“This role is key to identifying new research projects that will open up new horizons and opportunities that explore solutions to complex problems and contribute towards sustainable economic growth.
“Scott brings a high level of expertise with more than 20 years of strategic leadership and management experience. He is well known for delivering collaborative partnerships that enhances services, improves outcomes and grows revenues. His experience will complement and strengthen our aspirations to expand our R&D capabilities across our Global Research Institutes.”
Commenting on his appointment, Scott Bradley, Head of Business Development and Partnerships, said:
“Heriot-Watt has an established history of advancing R&D in emerging areas of technology, building global collaborative partnerships, commercialising technology, and developing new trade and investment opportunities – that’s why I’m excited to be part of the team and build upon this successful track record.
“From experience in previous roles, I know that working in isolation isn’t an option for solving some of the world’s most challenging and complex problems. Instead, the power of collaboration between government, industry and academia accelerates growth, attracts investment and acts as a catalyst for entrepreneurship, creating the products and solutions of the future.”
Equate Scotland, the national experts in Scotland for gender equality in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and the Built Environment (STEM) are offering, for free, a new workshop around ‘Building Culture Change in Your Organisation’.
Addressed to employers in Scotland, this workshop will help organisations and their employees to reflect on the culture within their organisation, explore the different components of culture change, and provide practical steps forward to be an actor of change and enhance inclusive conversations and behaviours.
This workshop will include:
• Understanding what culture change means
• Understanding policies and their cultural implementation
• Exploring what happens when we don’t think below the surface with ED&I
• Action planning steps for organisations
This workshop is open to people of all genders and designed to cater to a wide range of professionals. Strategists, directors, HR professionals, recruitment consultants, equality, diversity and inclusion officers, line managers and board members may find the event particularly relevant.
Details:
• When? May 26 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
• Where? Online, via Zoom
To register, please click here.
To learn more please contact us at info@equatescotland.org.uk
Hibernian FC is delighted to welcome Lee Johnson as the Club’s new Manager.
The 40-year-old has signed a four-year deal at Easter Road and will be joined by his own coaching staff who will be announced in due course. David Gray will also continue as First Team Coach.
After making 450 appearances in England and Scotland as a player, Johnson made an early step into management being appointed by Oldham Athletic in League One at the age of just 31, which made him the youngest manager in the EFL (English Football League).
He guided the Latics to safety and led them to their best league finish in five-years – alongside introducing a high-quality style of football.
Johnson worked his way up the EFL and after a spell at Barnsley, he was appointed by his former club and English Championship side Bristol City.
Again, he steered the Robins away from the relegation zone in successive seasons whilst implementing a fresh approach and ethos around the Club.
The Robins continued to progress under his management as he turned them into Play-Off challengers and took them on a memorable EFL Cup journey. His Bristol City side saw off a number of Premier League outfits, including Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, before narrowly losing in the semi-final to Manchester City, which led to Pep Guardiola hailing Johnson’s style of play.
In his last managerial position, Johnson helped Sunderland lift their first piece of silverware in 14 years winning the EFL Trophy at Wembley Stadium and reaching the Play-Offs. He departed the Black Cats in January 2022 sat in 3rd place in League One.
Hibernian FC’s Executive Chairman, Ronald J Gordon, commented: “We know that this appointment is vital for the Football Club, so we really took our time to make sure we got the right person as our new Manager.
“Throughout this process we have been very clear on the type of profile, the style of football, and the experience we want our new Manager to have, and that aligned approach enabled us to be incredibly thorough and vigorous during our search.
“There were a number of high-quality managers interested in the role, and we analysed them all thoroughly. The candidates were interviewed in depth by a panel of Directors before we unanimously came to the decision that Lee was the outstanding candidate and the perfect fit for us.
“Not only does Lee have great experience in management, but he also has knowledge of the Scottish and English game, will bring a definitive style of positive play to Hibs and has a proven record of success.
“We wanted a manager that would lead on recruitment and have a strong pool of knowledge in that area. He shares similar levels of ambitions for the Football Club and will instil a winning culture at Hibernian FC.
“We will support him in the transfer window, so he can put his own stamp on the squad as we look forward to, what will hopefully be a really successful 2022/23 campaign.
“We are all looking forward to working with him, and his staff, to bring sustained success to our fantastic football club.”
Working with Skills Development Scotland, Keep Scotland Beautiful has developed an exciting programme of accredited Climate Emergency Training to help upskill Scotland’s workforce with the knowledge required to move towards a net zero society.
The online Climate Emergency Training takes place in May and June 2022. And it provides opportunities for anyone living in Scotland over the age of 25 to understand the climate emergency and respond to the risks, opportunities and responsibilities ahead on their way to becoming certified as Carbon Literate.
For individuals and organisations in the early stages of considering climate change impacts and planning for net zero, this training provides a fantastic opportunity to get started.
Sector-specific training for the Transport, Energy and Construction sectors is also available.
Find out more and book at https://www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/about-the-climate-emergency-training-a-summary-from-keep-scotland-beautiful/
Tom Stocker, Partner and compliance risk management specialist at Pinsent Masons
Despite successive rounds of UK, EU and US sanctions ratcheting up the pressure on Putin’s government and a further round of sanctions being imminent, we are a long way from a global embargo on Russia.
The UN has not imposed any sanctions – it can’t because Russia is a permanent member of Security Council – and so the vast majority of countries in the world continue to trade with Russia.
Sanctions which have been imposed on wealthy or politically connected Russian individuals have been plentiful, but a significant number of UK, EU and US sanctions are effectively prohibitions on British and Western businesses from supplying goods and services to Russian businesses.
Businesses from other countries that don’t have sanctions in place are stepping into the breach and seizing the opportunity to continue to facilitate the goods and services which Western companies are stepping away from.
A huge number of goods caught by UK sanctions are described as “energy related goods”, “critical industry related goods” and “luxury goods”. But this includes items (which are valued over a certain threshold) such as beer and spirits, golf balls, soups and broths, perfumes and deodorants, bowties, and even wigs, false eyebrows and eyelashes.
Ideally, before sanctions are imposed, there should be a period to forewarn businesses of what is proposed. This will allow businesses time to work out if the sanctions apply to their activities and to prepare for the sanctions coming into force.
The reality is that complex sanctions are being imposed in a piecemeal manner and often very quickly – causing major compliance concern and risk for UK and western businesses. Breaching sanctions is a criminal offence and is the only area of criminal law where lawful activity can become unlawful overnight without any consultation.
Businesses wish to comply with sanctions and many are voluntarily disengaging from perfectly lawful Russian related business Some companies have decided to withdraw from dealings with persons connected with Russia, including dealings outside of Russia, for example on projects in Africa where there is a Russian entity involved.
This approach can have adverse consequences. If a business withdraws from a project or withholds goods and services which are not actually subject to sanctions, it may find itself in breach of contract and subject to a potential claim for damages. Russia may take countermeasures against any of the business’ personnel based in Russia and contractual due payments may be withheld.
Companies should risk assess the possibility of sanctions impacting on their business. Conducting due diligence will ensure that any counterparty is not sanctioned and is not owned or controlled by a sanctioned person. Establishing that the trade (goods or services) in question is not prohibited is a priority, and businesses will need to assess the risk of that business becoming prohibited in the future.
Businesses which continue with lawful Russian business should seek advance payment for goods or at least payment on delivery, and thought should be given to the transaction currency. British companies would be advised to transact in pounds sterling as dealing in euros or US dollars risks exposure to other country’s sanctions regimes.
