A poem written by a class of primary school pupils in Edinburgh has been unveiled at Edinburgh Park, a new zero carbon urban quarter being developed by Parabola.
As part of an initiative between Parabola and Push The Boat Out (PTBO), Edinburgh’s International Poetry Festival, a class of pupils from Murrayburn Primary School attended writing workshops led by renowned poet Colin McGuire and created a poem for display on marketing hoardings at Edinburgh Park. Entitled ‘Here’, all of the pupils in the class contributed to the poem which explored their sense of their home area.
The pupils recently visited Edinburgh Park to see their work on display on the hoardings, which are located outside newly completed office building, 1 New Park Square. They were also able to see the Park’s trail of world-class sculpture and a tapestry created by Dovecot Studios.
Commenting, PTBO’s Engagement Manager, Dr. Esa Aldegheri, said: “At PTBO our job is to explore fresh and inventive ways to bring poetry and audiences together by challenging perceptions of what poetry is and how it can be enjoyed. This initiative with Parabola has certainly done that and more.
“It has been a fantastic project to be involved in and for the pupils to see their work, and their names, on a huge display was very exciting and gave them a real sense of pride.”
Parabola’s Managing Director Tony Hordon added: “Parabola already has a strong commitment to engagement with Edinburgh’s artists and cultural institutions, and we wanted to take that a step further by linking with local schools and building lasting partnerships with the community.
“This has been an extremely rewarding project and we have loved working with Murrayburn Primary School and Push The Boat Out. We were thrilled to welcome the children to the Park; it was heart-warming to see them witness their work displayed alongside the outstanding sculpture we have.”
The digital health platform has received a $1 million investment led by Sabanci Ventures
Burges Salmon has advised digital health platform Albert Health on a $1 million seed investment, led by Sabanci Ventures, with participation from Teknoloji Yatirim A.S., AK Portföy and EGİAD Melekleri.
Albert Health is a voice-based, AI-driven, digital health platform that enables patients to manage their chronic conditions. As of today, the company continues to take bold steps with the vision of being a global digital therapeutics company and developing disease management and telehealth programs with multinational pharmaceutical companies, enabling Albert Health to support more than 100,000 patients.
The Burges Salmon team advising on the deal was led by partner Danny Lee and supported by associate Niall Mackle, both from the firm’s Edinburgh-based Corporate team.
Recai Serdar Gemici, co-founder and CEO of Albert Health, comments: “We are extremely pleased to have secured this seed investment, enabling Albert Health to continue its growth at an exciting time for the company. Working with Burges Salmon and Danny and Niall in particular meant that we have received expert support to work through a mission-critical funding round and the inevitable commercial challenges that come with scaling a business.”
Niall Mackle adds: “We are delighted to have supported Albert Health on this exciting step on its journey – congratulations to Serdar, Serhat and the wider Albert Health team. Our work on this transaction is an example of our BScale platform. BScale provides companies like Albert Health – start-ups, scale-ups, founders as well as investors – with legal services to support fast-growth companies in the technology sector throughout their life-cycle.”
Burges Salmon’s BScale platform supports high-growth businesses through the sharing of knowledge, provides free of charge legal documentation through the BScale Document Generator, provides high-quality legal advice at a price point that is realistic for early stage businesses, and enables Burges Salmon to build lasting and strategic relationships with the most exciting and innovative technology companies and their investors.
At the Fintech Awards 2022, the firm has been named as Best HNWI UK Law Firm
Burges Salmon has been named as Best HNWI UK Law Firm 2022 at this year’s Fintech Awards, hosted by Wealth & Finance International.
The award symbolises the hard work and dedication that the firm has displayed within the wider Fintech sector. At the nexus of financial, wealth management, banking, insurance, pension and e-commerce services and enabled by advances in data use, technology innovation and digital delivery, the sector is truly transformative.
The way in which businesses – large and small, old and new – solve problems and build financial products for customers are changing. Also changing are the ways in which customers engage with and use financial products and services. Alongside this, the evolution of financial regulatory systems and data compliance standards globally continues apace.
In this context it is no surprise that the sector continues to expand, including in terms of customer adoption in the ‘flight to digital’ and by investment into the sector. This trend is also being observed in the more historically traditional categories of private wealth and private banking.
This award recognises the role of Burges Salmon’s Fintech team in innovating in the market and supporting clients, particularly ‘High Net Worth Individuals’, entrepreneurs and Wealthtech businesses to achieve their objectives.
Now in its sixth year, Wealth & Finance International’s Fintech Awards were launched to recognise the firms that are redefining finance and banking for the modern age, and for the ever-changing modern consumer.
Burges Salmon Partner and Head of Fintech, Martin Cook, says: “This significant recognition is testament to the hard work of our Fintech team who provide our high net worth clients and the Wealthtech sector with exceptional service day-in-day-out on the full range of support and advice that they require.”
Wealth & Finance International is a quarterly publication dedicated to delivering high quality informative and up-to-the-minute global business content. It is published by AI Global Media Ltd.
• Percentage of UK businesses reporting increased export sales remains flat for the 5th quarter in a row at 29%
• A quarter (25%) of exporters saw decreased sales, while 46% report no change
• Concerns over manufacturing recovery as exporters report unprecedented cost pressures and inflation worries
A survey of over 2,600 UK exporters has revealed that overseas sales growth has been effectively stagnant for more than a year since the economy fully reopened after lockdown.
The BCC’s quarterly Trade Confidence Outlook for Q2 2022 showed the proportion of exporters reporting increased overseas sales to be unchanged from Q1 at 29%, while those reporting a decrease remained at 25%.
This compares to around 40% of businesses consistently reporting increased domestic sales across the same time period in the BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES).
Manufacturers trading overseas are under particular pressure, with only 39% expecting their profitability to increase in the next twelve months, compared to 48% of service sector exporters. This compares to 43% of all businesses surveyed in the QES.
Manufacturing exporters are also the most likely (78%) to expect to raise prices in the next year, a record high.
Almost nine out of 10 (89%) firms in this sector cite ‘raw materials’ as their biggest cost pressure, with 74% citing ‘utilities’ and 70% citing labour costs.
Responding to the findings, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, William Bain said:
“The combination of supply chain disruption, soaring prices, and the impact of Brexit red tape and compliance costs has had a chilling effect on exports, especially for smaller firms already scarred by the pandemic.
“Recent ONS figures have shown in increase in exports to the EU, driven in part by shortages caused by the war in Ukraine. But our data shows there are serious underlying issues – which are hitting smaller manufacturing exporters the hardest.
“Any new Prime Minister must acknowledge the huge challenges being faced by our exporters – often the most dynamic, innovative and forward-thinking businesses in the UK economy.
“Then Government must help businesses to harness the opportunities provided by existing free trade agreements, and those coming on stream. Far too many firms are either unaware of the possibilities or are uncertain how to take advantage.
“Chambers of Commerce have the expertise and business network to help Government shift the dial. By working together, we can build an end-to-end support service for our exporters which could truly make a difference.”
Glenmorangie Highland single malt whisky today reveals bold new packaging, designed to convey the deliciousness of its single malt. Glenmorangie already brings to life its whisky’s wonders in many ways: from a colourful brand campaign shot by renowned photographer Miles Aldridge, to its boutique hotel Glenmorangie House – a sensory playground for guests. Now, inspired by its whisky’s award-winning flavours, the brand has reimagined its packaging with an elegant new bottle, vivid colours and playful details.
Glenmorangie’s whisky creators are endlessly imaginative on their mission to dream up delicious whiskies. They craft their more delicate, fruity spirit in stills as tall as a giraffe to allow more space for taste and aroma. Then they age it in the world’s finest casks, all to bring joy to drinkers worldwide. By transforming the packaging of its core single malts, The Original, The Lasanta and The Quinta Ruban, Glenmorangie celebrates their creativity and the wondrous tastes they bring forth.
The new look transforms all parts of Glenmorangie’s packaging, combining elegance, luxurious materials and a sense of fun. The packaging will be rolled out worldwide from August 2022 and in the UK from mid-August onwards*.
Changes include:
– Bottle: With an even more elegant shape, the new bottle features wider shoulders, a tapered neck and stopper and a swirled detail inspired by Glenmorangie’s Signet icon on the base.
– Carton and labels: Designed to stand out boldly on shelves, carton and labels are vividly coloured to reflect the flavours of each whisky. Luxurious curving linework runs through the packaging, reflecting the fluidity of the liquid, the wood in which Glenmorangie is aged and the Distillery’s undulating Highland surroundings. Glenmorangie’s Signet icon has been given more prominence and simplified to draw consumers’ attention and the wordmark split across four lines in a playful design, which will increase visual impact in stores. A new tone of voice brings the whiskies’ flavours to the fore, the brand’s symbol, the giraffe, is showcased on the back of the carton.
Louise Dennett, Glenmorangie Global Head of Brand, said: “Our whisky is truly delicious and our reimagined packaging brings its flavours to the fore. We see this as an opportunity to welcome new drinkers with a playful elegance which reflects our creativity in whisky making; and to ensure our single malt stands out by using bold colours and enhanced branding.”
Thomas Moradpour, President and CEO of The Glenmorangie Company, said: “We believe our whisky is for everyone. And we’re on a mission to share its wondrous tastes and aromas in every way we can. From this vibrant new packaging to our colourful brand campaign, we are inviting more people to discover the joy of Glenmorangie, whether or not they’ve tried single malt before.”
At LNER we are working hard to recover from the pandemic and transform our services for the long-term, attracting customers back, supporting our communities and continuing to be a great place to work.
After the disruption caused by the RMT strike last month, it is disappointing that the union has again chosen to strike across the country on Wednesday 27 July. We are also disappointed that ASLEF has declared a strike at LNER and several other operators on Saturday 30 July, which will cause significant disruption across the East Coast Main Line and beyond.
Wednesday 27 July
The RMT union has asked its members to strike on Wednesday 27 July. This means that there will be a reduced LNER timetable in operation, with some disruption the evening before 27 July and the day after.
You may have also seen that we are currently experiencing disruption between London King’s Cross and Peterborough due to damage to the overhead electric wires, and are currently asking customers not to travel between King’s Cross and Peterborough – and to check this page on our website for live updates.
With regards to this week’s industrial action, if a customer wishes to travel on a different day, their original ticket will also be valid for travel on Tuesday 26 July or up to Tuesday 2 August.
Ticket acceptance is in place for services that have been cancelled or changed on Wednesday 27 July with Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, East Midlands Trains, Northern, ScotRail and TransPennine Express to allow customers to complete their journey.
Customers are advised to check before they travel on 26, 27 and 28 July. We would also recommend all customers reserve a seat. Reservations can be made here.
Saturday 30 July
On Saturday 30 July, the ASLEF union plans to strike. As a result, we will be running an extremely limited service, and are advising customers to avoid travel unless it is absolutely necessary.
If able to, customers should travel on Friday 29 July or up to Tuesday 2 August instead, as close to their original times as possible.
Further information
For further information, including on how customers can apply for a refund if they no longer wish to travel, we are asking customers to check our dedicated webpage.
For customers who have made Passenger Assist bookings, LNER will be in touch directly in touch to help with any changes or queries.
It would be greatly appreciated if you could share this communication with your respective networks.
Please also check Twitter page @LNER for the latest updates.
The Edinburgh based Letting Agency Clan Gordon is delighted to have been awarded gold in the Best Estate Agent Guide 2023
The prestigious gold rating has been awarded to Edinburgh Lettings Agency Clan Gordon for a second time by EA Masters recognising them as one of the top agencies in the country.
With 20% of the agencies not even achieving the basic performance standards, the highest rated gold award places Clan Gordon in the top 5% of agencies across the country and secures for them a place as one of the finalists in the Best Letting Agent in the UK category, at the EA Masters awards ceremony on 21 September.
Susie McOwan, On The Market, the principal partner of the Best Estate Agent Guide 2023, said “A gold award in the Best Estate Agency Guide, is the equivalent of an Oscar, a Michelin star, or an Olympic medal. Twenty per cent of agencies do not achieve the performance standards necessary but Clan Gordon has proved their mettle and are one of the very best agents in the country.”
Jonathan Gordon, Managing Director, Clan Gordon, said, “Everyone at Clan Gordon is delighted and proud to have been recognised once again with a gold award from EA masters. The team work very hard to offer our customers the best service and this confirmation that we consistently deliver the highest levels of service in the lettings trade to the landlords and tenants we represent is most welcome. We are looking forward to attending the awards ceremony on 21 September when we will meet the best the industry has to offer and if we can secure a win, the team will be over the moon.”
Clan Gordon will receive their gold award at the EA awards ceremony on 21 September 2022 at Evolution in London where the winners of the top awards will be announced.
To find out more about the complete letting service that Clan Gordon offers visit www.clangordon.co.uk
Global professional services business, Turner & Townsend, has been selected to support GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) with their Capital Portfolio Management in Montrose, Scotland.
As part of Turner & Townsend’s growing capability across their Real Estate team in Scotland, the appointment includes complete portfolio management of GSK’s key manufacturing facilities in Montrose. The global property consultancy will provide concept/feasibility project management, as well as project controls (cost and planning) for the portfolio.
As a global supplier to GSK, Turner & Townsend is already providing a full range of services including project and programme management, cost management and projects controls services both globally and UK-wide.
Adding to this existing partnership, Turner & Townsend will be increasing their coverage even further to support GSK’s ongoing Capital investment into the Montrose site, to secure longevity of the site and support continuous improvement of their production line and office facilities.
Daniel Boreham, Director of Life Sciences, Turner & Townsend, said:
“This appointment strengthens our long-standing relationship with GSK, whilst providing opportunity to venture into a new region and bring some of our global initiatives such as the benchmarking club which brings GSK together with other major pharmaceutical companies to share data and best practice from across the industry to improve project delivery.
“This commission with GSK, combined with our existing wealth of expertise in the life sciences sector both globally and across the UK, puts us in good stead to taking this next step into the Scottish regions, where we have great ambitions for the industry.”
East Lothian based serial entrepreneur Sheila Hogan, founder and CEO of death tech company, Biscuit Tin, has been recognised as one of the best in the business after being named as a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
Biscuit Tin is the UK’s first digital legacy ‘vault’, securely holding valuable information such as account details, important documents, post-life wishes and memories all in one place. These are then released to nominated family members in the event of death. Biscuit Tin aims to help people prepare for their deaths, with the aim of leaving family members left behind with peace of mind and minimal stress, following their bereavement.
Sheila Hogan, founder & CEO of Biscuit Tin is one of the shortlisted business leaders from across the UK to have been selected out of over 5,300 entrants – the most the awards has ever had.
The Great British Entrepreneur Awards, in partnership with Starling Bank, acknowledges and champions the hard work and uplifting stories of business owners across the UK, with an emphasis on their journey and resilience over financial achievements.
Twelve awards will be given out per region for categories including Disruptor of the Year, Entrepreneur for Good Award, and the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year. Notable winners from previous years include Social Chain founder Steven Bartlett, who went on to become the youngest ever investor on BBC’s Dragon’s Den.
Sheila Hogan said: “I’m absolutely delighted to shortlisted for this prestigious award, and to be recognised on a UK-wide level is just fantastic. This has given the team and I a real boost and we are very much looking forward to the finals in November.”
This year’s awards will also feature a brand-new award highlighting the organisations investing in the training and development of young people. The John Caudwell Blaze Your Own Trail Award looks to recognise outstanding examples of businesses offering apprenticeships, vocational training, and diversity and inclusion initiatives, all in the name of improving young people’s access to work.
The winners will be announced at a Grand Final, held at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on 21st November.
This year is the 10th anniversary of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. The alumni has collectively generated over £30 billion in revenue and employed more than 450,000 people.
To mark the milestone year for the programme, entrants will have the chance to win over £30,000 worth of marketing support and a tree will be planted for every application submitted with the support of Ecologi.
Founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Francesca James, said the quality of this year’s entrants exemplified the strength of entrepreneurship across the UK: “The quality of applications is consistently excellent year on year, but we have been especially blown away by the innovation, drive and determination demonstrated this year. Shortlisting from so many inspiring contenders has been more challenging than ever, with many deserving cases put forward and an ever-growing business community thriving across the country.
“From the pandemic to the ongoing cost of living crisis, business owners haven’t had it easy over the past few years, but it’s a testament to the tenacity and perseverance of these entrepreneurs that they have continued on their path and refused to give in.
“This year’s finalists should be so proud of what they’ve already achieved both in business and in being shortlisted for an award – we’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the Finals and unveiling the winners!”
Anne Boden MBE, Founder of Starling Bank, headline partner of the Awards, said: “Congratulations to all those businesses who have made the shortlist. It’s great to see the passion, resilience and amazing ingenuity from entrepreneurs across so many categories.”
To book your place at the Grand Final in London on 21st November, you can go to greatbritishentrepreneurawards.com
For the full list of finalists, visit greatbritishentrepreneurawards.com
Shepherd and Wedderburn’s private wealth and tax team has been named Out-of-London Practice of the Year at the prestigious Chambers High Net Worth Awards 2022.
Judges described Shepherd and Wedderburn as ‘one of the best Scottish independents’, and noted that the firm’s private wealth and tax team in the Central Belt rose to the top tier of the Chambers and Partners High Net Worth rankings this year.
Shepherd and Wedderburn was the only Scottish firm nominated in any category.
Keith McLaren, Emma Read, Chris McGill, Laura Rennie and Alison Richmond (pictured below, left to right), attended the awards ceremony at the London Science Museum on Thursday 21 July to collect the accolade on behalf of the team.
Chris McGill, Partner in the private wealth and tax team, said: “We are thrilled to receive the Out-of-London Practice of the Year Award. Ours is one of the largest private wealth and tax practices in Scotland, and this award is testament to the strength and depth of expertise across the team. We are delighted that our high quality of service and unwavering commitment to clients has been recognised in this way.”
In the latest edition of the Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide, clients hailed the firm’s private wealth and tax team as “exceptional in their support” and described our lawyers as “excellent communicators, simplifying the legal jargon to ensure you fully understand the matter in hand without underestimating the gravity of the situation”.
