We are currently looking to appoint up to 4 new Directors to the Into Work board. The posts are voluntary.
Into Work is an Edinburgh based supported employment agency, delivering a range of services to disabled jobseekers across the Lothians. Into Work is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.
It is not necessary to have previous experience as a Director. However we are looking for people who are willing to develop an understanding of voluntary sector governance in order to contribute to the work of the charity.
We are particularly keen to appoint people with finance skills or experience of policy work.
Further information about Into Work is available at www.intowork.org.uk
You may download an application pack from our website: www.intowork.org.uk/vacancies
or by writing to:
Into Work, Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh EH7 5QY.
Completed applications should reach us by 4.30pm on Monday, 6th October.
Chamber members have a unique opportunity to get some Christmas shopping done right now – and help one of Edinburgh’s worthiest social enterprises, dedicated to providing great activities in the great outdoors. MY Adventure, a new Chamber member, is asking for your support to help renovate the Towford Outdoor Centre, its new multi-purpose centre near Jedburgh, based in 17 acres of land. MY Adventure’s vision is to make this 19th-century former schoolhouse the ideal centre for some of its most popular activities, from archery and water sports to tandem cycle rides.
By the 20th of October MY Adventure needs to raise £6000 for essential repairs to the building, including weather-proofing upgrades to protect against the oncoming Scottish winter. The funds will also help provide fully disabled accessible washroom facilities, to prepare the facility for as wide a range of guests as possible.
Already the MY Adventure crowdfunding campaign has reached almost half of its total. Could you help this vibrant social enterprise hit its target? Excitingly, for every pledge, MY Adventure offers more than just a warm feeling of satisfaction. For example in exchange for a pledge of £50, MY Adventure is offering a cycle tandem hire for one day for two people: a superb Christmas or birthday gift! Plus, with your pledge you have the opportunity to hire the facility for future group activities.
Ultimately, MY Adventure will host thousands of individuals at the Jedburgh centre, including some of Edinburgh’s brightest and most talented young people. Children, families and young people who do not get access to outdoor spaces will use the centre for affordable breaks, respite holidays and positive outdoor experiences.
MY Adventure is the social enterprise subsidiary of the Muirhouse Youth Development Group (MYDG), a registered Scottish youth work charity. Why not help MY Adventure realise its ambitions for the Towford Outdoor Centre with a donation? To make your contribution today, please visit the Towford Outdoor Centre Crowdfunder page at http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/towford/
Combined heat and power (CHP) technology is a recognised tool for energy efficiency across a multiplicity of commercial and industrial end-users: by integrating & combining the production of usable heat & electricity, reductions in carbon emissions of up to 30% can be achieved compared to the separate means of conventional generation & potential cost savings of 15%-40% over electricity sourced from the grid & heat generated by on-site boilers.
It is a sector with support – through the EU Cogeneration Directive which seeks to promote the use of high efficiency CHP where there is an economically justifiable demand for heat – and one which is seeing growth. The number of CHP schemes in Scotland rose from 87 in 2010 to 118 in 2012.
But barriers to take up exist: CHP plants are capital intensive; savings are only achieved when the plant is operational so there must be a high & constant demand for heat; the site, infrastructure & source of supply need to be suitable & grid connection remains an issue.
Debating the Issues will be our Expert Panel including:
Kate Turner, Legal Director, Pinsent Masons LLP
Gregor Paterson-Jones, Managing Director – Energy Efficiency, Green Investment Bank
Jonathan Graham, Policy Manager, Combined Heat and Power Association (CHPA)
Dr David Kane, Systems Development Manager, IE-CHP
Moderated by: Dave Pearson, Director, Star Renewable Energy
Topics to be Discussed Include:
• Which areas of CHP (eg. micro, industrial, linked to District Heating) are showing the greatest success & why?
• Given the different levels of penetration for CHP in Scottish industries (eg. 11.1% of capacity is in paper/printing but only 2.8% is in food/drink), where are the sectors for growth?
• How big a game-changer is electricity storage and which technologies are the focus area for CHP?
• Where is the long-term funding come from? Are the financial incentives currently in place enough? Are investors interested &, if not, why?
• What is the role of innovation (eg. Biomass Indirect Air Turbines, Organic Rankine Cycles in increasing the proportion of plants powered by renewables?
• Who/what will drive the industry – utilities, SMEs, community initiatives, District Heating? And are there forward obstacles to engagement?
Followed by a drinks and networking reception hosted by Pinsent Masons LLP
WHEN
Thursday, October 23, 2014
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
WHERE
Pinsent Masons LLP
Princes Exchange, 1 Earl Grey Street, Edinburgh EH3 9AQ
FORUM FEE
£30 + VAT for non-members
ecoConnect Members attend at a 50%-100% discount
Five students from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, are amongst the first in the world to receive financial support linked to the 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland.
The group of students, who study on the BA (Hons) International Hospitality and Tourism and the BA (Hons) Events Management, each received a one-off payment of £1,000. Ryder Cup Europe has made a commitment to QMU to fund five tourism, hospitality and event student bursaries per year for a total of four years. The bursary scheme means that a total of twenty QMU students will benefit by receiving £1000 each .
The bursaries will help the students pay for their travel and accommodation costs and ensure they can access courses relevant to The 2014 Ryder Cup.
Richard Hills, European Ryder Cup Director, said: “The 2014 Ryder Cup will bring major benefits to the local and Scottish economy and we want to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. The bursary schemes will help support QMU students with their living expenses. We hope that these students will go on to contribute to the Scottish tourism and hospitality industries for years to come.”
Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, said: “The Ryder Cup is more than just golf, and good hospitality and management can help make the event truly great. This investment places young people at the heart of our legacy commitment and will give young people new skills in their chosen career path and the best training to go on to work, whether it is in the hospitality and event management industry, or as the next generation of industry leaders.”
International Hospitality and Tourism student, Calum McEachern (pictured above), from QMU, was delighted to receive a Ryder Cup bursary. He said: “I take on quite a lot of paid employment to support my studies. However, the bursary will relieve some of the financial pressure associated with being a student and I can hopefully spend a bit more time focusing on my studies. I am extremely grateful for the support and freedom which this investment brings. I’m excited about the Ryder Cup coming to Scotland and will be trying to get involved in some way.”
The Ryder Cup Bursary Scheme is running at QMU as well as Perth College UHI and the University of Stirling. The Scheme completes a range of educational commitments made by Ryder Cup Europe, covering primary through to further education initiatives.
This week has been filled with activity on both sides of the Atlantic. In the United States the September Federal Reserve meeting and a new set of employment statistics clarified little and seemed to set fixed income investors’ teeth on edge. Activity in Europe was more intense, with the French Government scraping through a parliamentary confidence vote and a somewhat subdued launch of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) much heralded targeted liquidity scheme (TLTRO).
The French government and economy is likely to remain under siege for a while, as early indicators suggest no meaningful pickup in economic activity in the third quarter. Elsewhere, the German economy appears to be bouncing back from its softer second quarter and, despite the weaker than expected take up of the ECB’s first tranche of TLTRO, credit markets in the eurozone continue to thaw. An improving credit market should aid the uneven recovery in much of peripheral Europe.
As a result, we see European equities, with their geographically diverse revenue footprint, as attractive amidst a brightening global economic backdrop, led by the US.
Turning to the US, the latest statement from the Federal Reserve confirmed that its asset purchase programme will finally conclude in October, bringing quantitative easing to an end. It did not, however, clarify when it intends to raise interest rates, suggesting that they may remain on hold ‘for a considerable time’. While the equity market rallied on the news, bonds sold off. This is likely due to the fact that the general direction of future interest rates is higher.
While Chair Yellen highlighted continued slack in the labour markets as a reason to keep interest rates low, the economy did not oblige her argument, as initial jobless claims fell by 36,000 to 280,000 for the week ending September 13th. Furthermore, those collecting unemployment benefits fell to a seven-year low. Economic growth in the US continues apace and will be reflected in rising earnings estimates for both large and small companies alike.
Passengers will soon be able to stock up on the essentials before and after their journey with a brand new M&S Simply Food opening at Edinburgh Airport on 01 October.
The store is the first to open in the airport’s new terminal extension and is part of a completely new shopping experience at Scotland’s busiest airport.
A direct result of passenger feedback, the new store is conveniently located in the domestic arrivals hall and will be one of the first things passengers see as they arrive. Whether they’re about to fly off on a long-haul journey or returning from a business trip, passengers will find everything they need
Continuing the airport’s commitment to offering passengers an amazing experience and choice, the new 1,766 ft2 store will stock an exceptional range of quality and innovative products and is an ideal addition to the airport’s growing retail portfolio. Over 20 new jobs will also be created.
This M&S Simply Food is the third travel location store in Edinburgh after the successful introduction of stores at Waverley and Haymarket railway stations and is part of an agreement between Marks & Spencer and SSP UK.
Richard Townsend, Head of Retail and Property at Edinburgh Airport, said: “We’re constantly speaking to our passengers and we listen to what they want. A premium convenience store where you can pick up everyday essentials before and after your journey is something we’ve been planning to give our customers for a long time.
“It’s great to officially announce that M&S Simply Food will open at Edinburgh Airport from the beginning of October. Our new terminal extension is almost finished and we’re looking forward to offering our passengers an amazing airport experience.”
Bob Johnson of SSP UK said: “We’re continuously looking to increase the choices available to air travellers and workers at the airport, and the M&S Simply Food concept has already become a hit in other airports across the UK.
“We’re all so busy that people are increasingly looking for good food which they can pick up on the move. I’m sure the arrival of the new M&S Simply Food store at Edinburgh Airport will be a welcome addition for both travellers and airport workers.”
With a great selection of flowers, wines, beers, spirits and chocolate also available, the new store will be an ideal place to collect a couple of treats on the way home. The store will operate from 5.00am to 11.00pm daily.
About Edinburgh Airport:
- Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s busiest airport. More than 40 airlines serve 100-plus destinations and 9.78 million passengers passed through the airport in 2013 – the busiest year ever for a Scottish airport.
- July 2014 was the airport’s busiest month ever with over 1.1 million passengers travelling through its terminal.
- It is the 5th largest in the UK, in terms of passenger numbers, and employs over 5000 people, contributing hundreds of millions of pounds to Scotland’s economy.
- Edinburgh Airport was named best in Britain, and top three in Europe, for passenger satisfaction, at the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards for 2012 and ‘Best European Airport (5-10m passengers)’ at
- the ACI EUROPE Best Airport Awards for 2012. It has also won Scottish Airport of the Year at the Scottish Transport Awards in 2013 and 2014.
edinburghairport.com
About SSP:
- SSP is a leading operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations, operating restaurants, bars, cafés, food courts, lounges and convenience stores in airports, train stations, motorway service stations and other leisure locations. With a heritage stretching back over 60 years, today SSP has nearly 30,000 employees, serving approximately a million customers every day. It has business at circa 130 airports and circa 270 rail stations, and operates approximately 2,000 units in 29 countries around the world.
- SSP operates an extensive portfolio of approximately 300 international, national, local and speciality brands. These include Upper Crust, Starbucks, Caffè Ritazza, Burger King, M&S Simply Food, Millie’s Cookies, O’Learys, Caviar House & Prunier, and leading Asian brands Ajisen Ramen and Saboten, as well as stunning bespoke concepts such as the Montreux Jazz Café in Geneva and the award winning Center Bar at Zurich.
- Its brand portfolio is tailored for each specific location, depending on variables such as passenger profile, consumer need states, location type, size and design.
A flagship event for the Scottish public sector will see Capital Document Solutions offer expert advice on a wide range of office equipment and print solutions.
Procurex Scotland Live 2014 is a major, annual exhibition for buyers and suppliers in the public sector. The established event will be held at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) in Glasgow on Tuesday, October 21.
Capital, which has operations across the length and breadth of Scotland, is exhibiting at stand G49. In 2013, Capital was re-appointed as a successful supplier on the Scottish Government’s National Framework Agreement for Office Equipment for the second successive term.
The company will offer visitors expert advice on the latest office technology as well as guidance on how organisations can make substantial cost savings, improve document processes, increase security and minimise their impact on the environment.
Procurex is expected to attract more than a thousand key decision-makers from across the private and public sectors. For more information visit www.procurexlive.co.uk/scotland
The event will also host the Scottish Government’s National Public Procurement Conference before culminating in the prestigious Government Opportunities (GO) Awards Scotland, which recognises the best suppliers in the public sector.
In October 2012, Capital Document Solutions won the Best Service honour at the GO Awards Scotland for the high level and quality of its services to end users in the Scottish public sector.
Tom Flockhart, founder and managing director at Capital, said: “We’re delighted to be returning to Procurex as it brings together many of the leading public sector bodies in Scotland. As an exhibitor, it represents a great opportunity to demonstrate our wide range of capabilities to a mixture of existing and potential partners in the public sector.
“I’m very much looking forward to the opportunity to share our expert knowledge with existing and potential clients on how their businesses and organisations can enhance cost control, efficiency and security as well as reduce their environmental impact.”
Established in 1979, Capital is Scotland’s largest independent supplier of office equipment and document solutions. It provides copiers, printers, scanners and software with comprehensive national maintenance and training support to businesses and organisations in the private and public sectors.
The company employs 200 people at operations in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness and Shetland.
For further information visit www.capital-solutions.co.uk
Escrivo announced today that due to continued expansion, the company are moving office, with effect from Monday 6th October 2014.
Delighted to be remaining in Edinburgh, Escrivo are moving from the heart of the new town to the historic area of the Royal Mile. Their new address will be:
42 St. Mary’s Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1SX
T: 0131 225 8199
A great location, Escrivo will remain central for their Edinburgh clients and will be just a few minutes’ walk from Waverley Rail station for those from further afield who wish to visit. Cameron Leask, MD, says “Escrivo are always looking for ways to improve our offering to clients, and this new space will allow us to expand our own innovation and technology strategies.
This move couldn’t come at a more fitting time as Escrivo turns 12 on the 1st October. Founded by Cameron Leask in 2002, Escrivo have always been clear in their thinking – a solid digital strategy is the cornerstone of success for your business. Their partnerships and cross sector experience ensure that they deliver intelligent and robust solutions, allowing clients to focus on the ‘why’ of their business. Escrivo’s roots are firmly in commerce so they bring practical advice & thinking to any project.
If you’d like a chat about how Escrivo might help you consolidate & develop your existing online systems, rethink your web presence, or simply explore the possibilities, please telephone 0131 225 8199 or email enquiries@escrivo.com.
Escrivo look forward to welcoming you in their new home!”
The Co-operative Food is staging a networking event in Edinburgh on Thursday 9 October, to target new stores across Scotland as part of its ongoing acquisitions programme.
Property agents, developers and landlords are invited to meet The Co-operative Food’s property team at the event, which is being held at The Living Room on George Street at 11.30.
The Co-operative Food has plans to acquire 100 new stores during 2014, underlining its position as the leading convenience retailer in the UK. The programme will see the business, which already operates 2,800 outlets, open stores in both high street and local community locations. Recent store openings in Scotland include Greenock and Peterhead.
The Group’s strategy is to identify appropriate properties between 2,000sq ft and 4,000sq ft net sales area, particularly in high street and local community locations.
Acquisitions Manager Ian Mason said: “With ambitious plans for 2014, The Co-operative Food is forging ahead with its acquisitions programme to expand its estate, and we are specifically looking for new locations throughout Scotland.
“We are actively searching for new opportunities to grow the business and this is a great chance to meet and work with agents, landlords and developers to identify the right properties in the right locations and in the heart of local communities.”
The networking event will be held at:
- The Living Room, 113 – 115 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4JN, from 11.30 to 14.00, and will include a buffet lunch
For further information, or to book a place, contact Natalie Swift at Natalie.swift@co-operative.coop
Dunedin Canmore were delighted to sponsor Edinburgh’s first Social Enterprise Festival ‘Social in the Square’ at St Andrew’s Square last weekend.
Chief Executive, Ewan Fraser, Dunedin Canmore said “We signed up to supporting Social in the Square from the start and really see the social benefit of local business in local communities and with profits returning back into communities. As a Social Enterprise ourselves, it is encouraging to see the rich variety of businesses represented at this event.”
Keeping in tune with the ethos of the festival – the security, marketing materials, recycling and water for the volunteers was all being provided by social enterprises.
Guests to the festival took part in a variety of activities including massages at the Health and Wellbeing tent, arts and crafts, musical performances, chef demonstrations and the chance to buy local produce from a wide range of Social Enterprise businesses.
The event was a real success attracting families and member of the public passing through St Andrew’s Square.
