Latest news with #StewartAttwood
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Housebuilding giant purchases 91 acres of land for new homes
Miller Homes said it has secured the purchase of land totalling 91 acres across the east of Scotland, to bring 676 'much-needed' new homes to popular towns and communities. The homebuilder which, for over 90 years has helped build and shape communities across the UK, will now begin work on new developments at East Calder Oaks, East Calder, West Craigs Mews, Edinburgh, Miller Homes at Shawfair, Midlothian, and Avonside Wisp, Whitecross. The developments follow the successful launch of Dalhousie Gate in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian last year, which marked the first in the series of strategic land acquisitions. The four new developments will feature homes in a range of styles and sizes, meeting the needs of people moving to already vibrant communities or local people who are looking to either up or downsize. The East Calder Oaks development will feature 67 four and five-bedroom detached properties, and 23 affordable homes. West Craigs Mews will comprise 92 homes, including two and three-bedroom terraced, three and four-bedroom townhouses, and four and five-bedroom detached homes, as well as 49 affordable homes. Miller Homes at Shawfair will feature 176 two and three-bedroom terraced, semi-detached and detached properties and four and five-bedroom detached homes, plus 44 affordable options. Avonside Wisp in Whitecross, Falkirk will comprise 169 three, four and five-bedrooms styles, and 56 affordable homes. The sites are near Edinburgh. (Image: Stewart Attwood) The award-winning homebuilder, which was founded and is headquartered in Edinburgh, will deliver energy efficient homes while working considerately with the natural environment and local communities. The four new developments are expected to support approximately 2,349 jobs, according to the Home Builders Federation*, demonstrating the wider economic benefits of Miller Homes' investment in the east of Scotland. READ MORE: Longstanding Scottish housebuilder purchases major English player Each of the developments will feature homes from Miller Homes' latest portfolio, all of which are built in compliance with modern building regulations. Gary Heaney, regional operations director at Miller Homes, said: 'The acquisition of these four sites marks a significant step in our long-term commitment to creating sustainable, thriving communities across the East of Scotland. By investing in areas where people genuinely want to live, we're striving to shape integrated neighbourhoods that our buyers will be proud to call home for generations to come. 'With continued strong demand for high-quality new homes in and around Edinburgh, we're looking forward to playing a part in the next chapter of these already thriving local communities.' The first homes at Miller Homes at Shawfair will be ready by October 2025, followed by East Calder Oaks and West Craigs Mews in February 2026 and Avonside Wisp in March 2026. Airline adds more flights between Edinburgh and Orlando Passengers looking to go on the holiday of a lifetime will now have more options as more flights are added between Edinburgh and Orlando for 2026. Virgin Atlantic will extend is current summer seasonal route next year by adding an additional twelve rotations – the equivalent of almost 5,000 seats. It means next summer the service will operate from April to the end of October, with up to three flights per week, marking further growth for Virgin Atlantic at Edinburgh Airport, its home in Scotland. Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport said: 'We know Orlando is a bit of a bucket-list destination, so this is fantastic news for families in Scotland who have long wanted to experience everything Florida has to offer. AROUND THE GREENS ⛳ The 'wealth' of Scottish links courses overlooked by golfers This article appears as part of Kristy Dorsey's Around the Greens series Owned and operated out of Dunfermline, Scotland Golf Tours was established in 1997 by managing director Ronnie Pook. Its team of eight plan and execute trips for approximately 100 groups annually which vary in size from couples and groups of friends and family up to large associations of 32 people or more.
Edinburgh Reporter
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
ECA Graduate Show 2025 opens on Friday
Edinburgh College of Art will be transformed on Friday into the city's biggest gallery space celebrating the work of more than 550 graduating students. The ECA Graduate Show 2025 offers students the opportunity to display their work to the public, often exploring a range of thought-provoking ideas and cutting-edge techniques. This will be an inspiring and varied showcase with a range of disciplines on show.. The work includes painting and drawing, sculpture and installation, architectural planning and modelling, animation and digital visualisation, musical composition and performance, film, photography, textiles, jewellery and interior design. A screening of Animation and Film & TV students' work and a gig from graduates in Music will feature throughout the run of the Show, which will run from Friday 30 May until Friday 6 June. Kristen Bodensiek – Sculpture PHOTO © Stewart Attwood Photography 2025. Professor Juan Cruz, Principal of Edinburgh College of Art, said: 'Our Graduate Show celebrates the incredible creative talent and ingenuity of our graduating students. Visitors can expect to encounter work that is not only visually striking but also intellectually stimulating and innovative. We have a strong history of helping to shape some of the most notable creative talents in the UK and internationally, and this year is no exception.' Fine Art – artist Libby Entwistle has created An Aftermath, A Crime Scene – featuring a fire-breathing dragon sculpture in a multi-part installation that reinterprets the legend of Saint Margaret, a piece that interrogates ideas of 'monstrosity' and the tension between victimhood and agency. Graphic Design – Katie Marsden has used LEGO to create a tool to help people with Down's Syndrome navigate consent. Working with academics who improve sex education for people with learning difficulties, the colourful bricks are used to encourage positive, independent decision-making. Fine Art – Elena Gadd explores the concept of using masks within ceremony, in this instance a funeral, an occasion where mourner's characteristics or emotions might need concealment. Her large sculptural heads can be 'worn' by visitors, who will also experience a specially created soundscape within them. Sculpture – student Kristel Bodensiek was inspired by the effects that rain and waterfalls have on the human psyche and used glass and steel to create a calming curtain using 300 pieces of glass tied together by hand with steel rings. Painting – traditional tattoos and 19th century photography provide some of the inspiration for student Amy Mclean's final showcase. Five delicate oil paintings with subtle brushstrokes reflect on shrinking attention spans and how we construct meaning in a world of constant visual input. Sculpture – student Maria McStay has created large, spindly, other-worldly ceramics, inspired by artist Louise Bourgeois' spiders and the coastal landscapes she grew up in. Intermedia – the lesser-seen, unclean side of life is exposed in student Marni Saunders' uncanny wall-mounted work, featuring dirty dishes in basins and washing machine drums overflowing with sheets. Jewellery and Silversmithing – Rosina Percorelli has created sculptural pieces inspired by brutalist buildings and decaying pylons. Architecture – MA student Ellie Wilkes' design focuses on data centres, reimagining the thermal and mechanical systems used in response to rapidly growing AI technologies. Music – student Laura Hamilton's work was also inspired by AI, exploring the ethical implications of its use in music therapy. Inspired by leading Edinburgh academic Professor Shannon Vallor, Laura wants to ensure technology enhances, rather than compromises, the human-centred therapy. The ECA Graduate Show 2025 will be open Friday 30 May – Friday 6 June, 10.00am – 5.00pm, with late opening until 8.00pm on Thursday 5 June. It is open to all and free to attend. Booking via Eventbrite is encouraged, though not essential: ECA Graduate Show 2025 Tickets. Kristen Bodensiek – Sculpture PHOTO © Stewart Attwood Photography 2025. Elena Gadd – Fine Art MA (Hons) PHOTO © Stewart Attwood Photography 2025. Katie Marsden – Graphic Design BA (Hons) PHOTO © Stewart Attwood Photography 2025. Libby Entwistle PHOTO © Stewart Attwood Photography 2025. Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Top Scottish conference venue sees 79,000 visitors give £78 million boost to economy
'Our focus has always been to position the EICC as one of the world's leading and most sustainable conference centres' – Marshall Dallas, departing CEO Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... One of Scotland's largest conference venues has reported record annual revenues after hosting more than 79,000 delegates. Releasing its latest results, the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) posted revenues of £16 million for the year to December 31, 2024, up from £12.8m the year before. It generated a profit of £2.1m last year, while recording an 'economic impact' of £78m, compared with £58m in 2023. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The economic impact figure relates to the direct benefit of conferences and events taking place at the EICC to Edinburgh and the surrounding region and now totals some £930m since the venue opened its doors 30 years ago. EICC chief executive Marshall Dallas is stepping down after a decade at the helm. Picture by Stewart Attwood Photography Last year, major events held at the EICC on the capital's Morrison Street included the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association Investment Conference, the International Electrotechnical General Meeting, and the 36th International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) Conference. In excess of 79,000 delegates attended events during the 12 months, up by around 4 per cent on the previous year. In total, 164 events were staged at the venue during 2024, down slightly year on year, with delegate days up at around 180,000 against approximately 146,000 in 2023. Lezley Marion Cameron, EICC board chair said: 'The conference and events industry, and the overall business events sector, continues to be a highly competitive market in which the EICC is competing against cities around the UK and across the world. 'The EICC board is therefore delighted to report another year of increased revenue and economic impact for Edinburgh, led by our chief executive Marshall Dallas, our EICC team and our partners. Initiatives by our EICC sales team have also contributed hugely to this success.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Stepping down after a decade at the helm, Dallas said: 'Our focus has always been to position the EICC as one of the world's leading and most sustainable conference centres, with a mission to inspire ideas that change the world. 'While the number of events we held last year was moderately down, delegate days were up due to multi-day conferences, with increased attendance at those events, and we see that as the key metric.' He added: 'UK and international association conference business continues to be core, while we have also continued to diversify the range of events held at the venue. Scotland's leading conference venue also has a strong pipeline of events lined up this year and next.' As the venue looks to mark its 30th anniversary, Cameron said: 'Marshall leaves the EICC following one of the most successful years in our history - a year in which the EICC has also faced serious, significant challenges - testimony to the determination, resilience and resolve of Marshall and the EICC team. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Scotsman
17-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
How we're putting AI power into hands of postgrads
AI is unlocking new possibilities that will transform healthcare Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It was good to see international press coverage last month for a CodeBase-run deep tech initiative aimed at bridging the innovation gap between university postgraduates and NHS Scotland. AI Discovery, delivered by CodeBase via its Techscaler programme in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, and NHS Scotland, will help postgrads harness the latest AI technologies and build AI-enabled startups that can address some of the greatest challenges faced by the NHS. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As Yaheya Shafti, a University of Glasgow research assistant working on radar and machine learning for healthcare applications, puts it: 'AI is unlocking new possibilities that will transform healthcare. In my work, I see researchers developing a wide range of AI-driven innovations, each with unique potential to improve healthcare delivery.' Postgrads from Scottish universities are one route to AI startup success (Picture: Stewart Attwood) In my own spheres, I've seen firsthand the growing success of AI-enabled startups like Infix Support, led by consultant anaesthetist Dr Matthew Freer, who also happens to be one of my younger brothers, as the company rolls out its operating theatre efficiency software across Scotland's NHS Health Boards. The equation starts to get even more interesting for startups like Infix when they begin to gain international traction, and Infix has some exciting news along these lines in the pipeline. As David Lowe, Director of Clinical Innovation at the University of Glasgow and Clinical Lead Health CSO at the Scottish Government, framed things when commenting on the recent NHS Scotland AI initiative: 'We believe that by empowering innovative minds with the tools, resources, and support they need, we can accelerate the development of transformative technologies that will address some of the most pressing challenges facing the NHS and global healthcare systems today.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Of course, in addition to healthcare, AI is empowering every other sector of business and the economy. While no one could doubt Scotland's impressive credentials in AI research and academia, we are never going to be a superpower in artificial intelligence. However, there's no reason we can't be part of the global conversation. VC-backed startups can help Scotland to AI success, says Nick Freer (Picture: Stewart Attwood) One pathway to AI success for Scotland is via VC-backed startups that can scale, providing future economy jobs and economic value for the nation. As sagely pointed out by Wordsmith AI CEO and founder Ross McNairn in this column a few weeks' back, there are certain pieces that need to be put in place to position Scotland to reach its potential, not least around the people talent required to fuel an AI economy here. 'AI is a talent game', wrote McNairn, 'and its most critical asset is its people. The best AI engineers, researchers and entrepreneurs are highly mobile, well paid, and in global demand. Countries that understand this are creating the most favourable conditions to attract talent.' Lawyer turned coder and tech founder, Ross McNairn is a voice that should be listened to in this area, having previously helped to scale three tech unicorns - TravelPerk, letgo and Skyscanner. And backed by Silicon Valley venture capital firm Index Ventures, Wordsmith's AI platform for in-house lawyers is set to make a big impact in the world of corporate law.
Glasgow Times
08-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow voice needed for Lidl's new self-checkouts
As part of a £3 million investment to roll out self-checkouts across all Scottish stores by November 2025, the retailer is inviting locals to audition to become the voice of Lidl's tills in Scotland. A recent YouGov survey found that 79% of Glaswegians prefer having the choice between staffed and self-checkouts, and Lidl is listening. The grocer is committed to offering both options, ensuring convenience without compromise. READ MORE: Early morning power cut leaves Southside homes in the dark (Image: Katielee Arrowsmith) To find the perfect voice, Lidl has launched a dedicated WhatsApp "audition line." Budding voiceover stars can text 'audition' to 07418 397936 to kick off a fun and simple recording process. The search doesn't stop online. Lidl's mobile audition booth will roll into the Anniesland store on Sunday, May 18, and Monday, May 19, inviting shoppers to grab the mic, channel their inner announcer, and "give it laldy" with familiar bagging area phrases. The winner will become the official voice of Lidl's Scottish self-checkouts—and walk away with £500 in Lidl vouchers. READ MORE: Viral donner joint opens second Glasgow spot in the Southside (Image: Stewart Attwood) Marco Ivone, Regional Director for Scotland at Lidl GB, added: 'Our search for the voice of Lidl's self-checkouts in Scotland is a fun way to celebrate the roll out. "As the Regional Director for Scotland, I am proud that a member of our Lidl community in Scotland will become the voice of our check-outs and add a Scottish charm to our customers' daily shops.' The winning voice will be selected by a panel of Lidl judges, with the new self-checkout audio rolling out in stores later this year.
