Wave energy company celebrates milestone

Leith firm Pelamis is celebrating a significant milestone as the ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) owned Pelamis P2 wave energy converter has this week completed its first year of a robust testing programme at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.

The combined P2 test programme has now accumulated 7500 grid connected operating hours, and exported 160MWh of electricity to the national grid. The company says these are encouraging figures for this stage of the testing programme, and expects that generated powers will continue to rise as the programme develops.

Following its first installation in May 2012 alongside the E.ON owned Pelamis P2 machine at the Billia Croo test site, the machine has been undergoing a progressive work-up testing programme, being exposed to increasingly large wave conditions for longer deployment periods. An accelerated form of the work-up programme was made possible thanks to the wealth of learning accumulated since the beginning of the E.ON Pelamis P2 demonstration programme in October 2010, and the resulting confidence of both the customer and Pelamis operation teams in this testing approach.

As a result of this accelerated testing strategy, the SPR owned Pelamis P2 wave energy converter was able to generate twice the amount of electricity in half the elapsed calendar time, during its initial test parameters of small to medium seas. In deployments since then, the SPR Pelamis machine has experienced larger seas with significant wave heights of up to 5mHs, including individual waves of over 9m. Electricity generation has increased as anticipated in these larger, more energetic seas.

The proven average output capability of the device, over the annual spectrum of wave conditions at the EMEC site, is now close to 100kW. Demonstrations of further improvements are anticipated through control optimisation which could double that number as targeted for the next stage of the project.

The video shows the E.ON owned Pelamis machine in action.

Turkish Airlines launch new schedule from Edinburgh

Turkish Airlines celebrated the launch of its new schedule from Edinburgh Airport today. It is increasing its current programme from five to seven weekly flights to Istanbul and beyond to the 224 global destinations in the airline’s ever-growing network.

Turkish Airlines’ General Manager for Edinburgh, Mr Serhat Sari and Mr Gordon Dewar, CEO of Edinburgh Airport, hosted a reception for guests as passengers prepared to board their flight to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines’ special celebratory aircraft.

This development means that the number of flights a week to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines has almost doubled since starting operations from Edinburgh in July 2012. This is due to the high demand from Scotland to Istanbul as well as the two hundred plus global destinations available from Turkish Airlines Istanbul hub, throughout Europe, the Far East, the Middle East and Africa.

Turkish Airlines’ General Manager for Edinburgh, Mr Serhat Sari said: “Turkish Airlines is Europe’s fastest growing airline and we are delighted to be expanding our service from Edinburgh Airport. Scotland is an important destination and by operating seven flights a week business and tourism will both benefit from this service.”

Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, Gordon Dewar, said; “We are delighted that Turkish Airlines is now operating daily flights to Istanbul from Edinburgh. For this announcement to be made within a year of the Airline’s inaugural flight in July is a rare and unprecedented event and an amazing achievement for Edinburgh. This decision is testament to the hard work of our staff and partners over the last 12 months.

“With numerous connections to other long-haul destinations becoming available as a result of this decision, we are looking forward to a bright future and cementing Edinburgh as the place where Scotland meets the world”.

Turkish Airlines’ Edinburgh to Istanbul service, which provides convenient connections to Asia, Africa and the Middle East, now offer free baggage allowance of 40kgs to passengers travelling in economy class from Edinburgh to the following destinations: China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong), India (Delhi, Mumbai), Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi), Thailand (Bangkok), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City), Nigeria (Lagos), Ghana (Accra), Kenya (Nairobi, Mombasa).

Based on 2011 and 2012 results, Turkish Airlines has been chosen as the winner of “Best Airline Europe”, “Best Premium Economy Seats” for its Comfort Class seats and “Best Airline Southern Europe”. In addition to the service from Edinburgh, in the UK Turkish Airlines operates 31 flights per week from London Heathrow with double daily flights from Gatwick. Manchester has 10 flights per week, Birmingham has daily flights.

For more information about Turkish Airlines and to book flights, please visit http://www.turkishairlines.com

Submitted by Turkish Airlines

Print can help your business shine!

Andrew Dinnes of leading Edinburgh print company, Murrayfield Projects Ltd, who operate Minuteman Press at Broomhouse Road, explains why top quality print can help businesses stand out from the crowd.

There have never been more ways to communicate with your customers than there are today.

Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin are just some of the more recent examples – and they can be extremely effective. However, the traditional methods still have their place and continue to stand the test of time.

Quite simply: many customers still want to see a printed brochure or leaflet about your business.

And the quality of the printed material you provide can influence any decisions they take. So, it is worthwhile to ensure it is well designed and printed to the highest standards. This helps you stand out from the competition, too.

The same goes for stationery. Professionally designed and printed business cards and letterheads present your company as one to be remembered – for all the right reasons.

Branded promotional products also provide a valuable opportunity for reminding your customers about your business. Pens, mouse mats, USBs, notepads and umbrellas are just a few to consider, that can reinforce brand awareness and won’t break the budget.

If it is time for you to review how you promote your business, why not seek specialist advice? It could make all the difference.

For a free print consultation and quote, contact Andrew on 0131 444 0800. Murrayfield Projects ltd (Minuteman Press) are based at Unit 6, New Lairdship Yards, Broomhouse Road and www.murrayfieldprojects.com

The woman who is bringing McEnroe to Edinburgh

John McEnroe is coming to Edinburgh this summer, and yes, he will be playing tennis. This will be the first time in almost a quarter of a century that the former Wimbledon star has played in the Capital, and he was the first of several former champions to confirm his appearance at the Brodies Champions of Tennis at Raeburn Place betwen 20-23 June 2013.

So who is behind it all? The Tournament Director is Viki Mendelssohn, who established Big Blue PR in 1999. She is the person responsible for making it all happen in the first place, and for everything that goes on over the weekend. The Edinburgh Reporter went to meet Viki at Raeburn Place where all the tennis action takes place this summer.

More information about how to get tickets for Brodies Champions of Tennis here on the website.

Edinburgh West MP seeks meeting with RBS over job losses

Comments from both the MP and MSP for Edinburgh West today.

Mark Lazarowicz MP reacted strongly to the news today that the largely Government-owned RBS is to cut 1,400 jobs from its retail arm with the bulk of the redundancies at the head office at Gogarburn

Mark said:-“This is a body blow to staff at RBS at what is a difficult time for anyone looking for work. I have been in touch with union officials in support of the staff and I will be seeking a meeting with senior management to discuss the redundancies. At the meeting I will be asking for a clear indication of future employment plans for the bank’s Edinburgh operations and assurances that these job losses are not part of a policy of outsourcing.

“The Chairman and Chief Executive of RBS claimed recently that the financial restructuring of the bank was largely over and that the Government could start preparing to return RBS to the private sector. That should not be at the expense of hard working employees, many of whose colleagues have already paid the price of the failure of management at the bank in the years prior to the financial crisis through losing their jobs.”

Commenting on the announcements surrounding the RBS job cuts, Colin Keir, MSP for Edinburgh Western, said:-“This is devastating news and I understand that the bank have spoken to the Scottish Government who are acting as quickly is as possible to ensure that appropriate support can be brought in to minimise the impact and soften the blow for the people concerned.

“The staff facing this terrible news are not the ones who caused the crisis at RBS but members of staff with mortgages and everyday budgets and expenses – and many of them are my constituents.    I met RBS this afternoon and have discussed how they will support staff through this difficult time.

“Whilst this news is deeply disappointing the long term investment being announced for Gogarburn, highlights the strength of business locating in Scotland, and I hope this will increase long term security for RBS employees.   My thoughts are with the people who are experiencing losses today.”

 

Signs point the way for a new Leith Walk

Today we unveil the new street signs for Leith Walk being proposed by the Leith Business Association, the principal advocacy group for all Leith businesses.

The LBA wanted to take a proactive step towards improving what has been described as the third most important street in Edinburgh, and this new sign is the result. The proposed new signage has been created by the newly formed body, Marketing Leith.

The council has already committed to spending substantial sums of money to reinstate and improve the street, and is now seeking additional funding from Sustrans for plans to enhance Leith Walk even further. A recent consultation on plans for the street resulted in many ideas and design concepts being put forward by groups such as Greener Leith and the LBA.

The sign sets new standards, not only for design, but also for its use of the latest in LED lighting. All of the proposed signs will be permanently lit around the edges by the latest technology.

The association hope that the new signs reflect the positive approach of the branding of Leith as a destination in its own right within Edinburgh. Keith Hales, Vice Chair of the LBA said:-”We want to show that things can be done, and done quickly too. We are being proactive in producing these signs which will go a long way towards rebranding the street. The use of the World Heritage phrase is particularly important and has the full backing of Edinburgh World Heritage.”

The sample sign will be on display at Leith Walk Barbers, 280 Leith Walk. These signs along with others curently in the pipeline are components of the design proposals submitted earlier this year to The City of Edinburgh as part of their ‘Consultation’ on the future designs for the ‘Walk’.

Transport Convenor Councillor Lesley Hinds said:-” I congratulate Marketing Leith on the production of the attractive and distinctive signs for Leith.”

You can follow Leith Business Association on Twitter.

Scotch Whisky Experience celebrates 25 years – with a dram!

Letting agents Accommodate offer some tips to landlords

Philip Cannon, operations director at Accommodate Edinburgh in Bruntsfield provides some expert tips for landlords

 

More and more people are choosing to let out their properties these days – many for the first time.

 

Some landlords choose to manage the process themselves, but others prefer to appoint a reputable lettings agency, to save time and to benefit from expert guidance and experience. This can range from simply finding a tenant and organising the contract, through to ongoing management of the property.

 

But how do you find the right lettings agency? Word of mouth can provide the most reliable recommendations, so ask around. Also, most agents will do free valuations, and when they visit, ask them to provide clear and upfront information about costs. They also need to be stringent about obtaining satisfactory tenant references, preferably doing so themselves, rather than out-sourcing the task.

 

Find out how flexible the agents will be and how quickly they can deal with any problems arising. An agency which offers a good, personal service will make themselves available round-the-clock, including at weekends. Identify how often they will carry out inspections of the property: you will need to know that the property is being kept in good repair.

 

As a final word of advice, bear in mind that prospective tenants decide very quickly whether they want to rent a property or not. So, when you put it on the market, make sure it is presented well and looks as welcoming as possible.

 

Further information about Accommodate Edinburgh is at www.accommodate-edinburgh.com

World Forum on Natural Capital 2013 in Edinburgh

The very first World Forum on Natural Capital is being organised by Scottish Wildlife Trust and it will take place at the EICC in Edinburgh in November 2013. This event will debate the topic of natural capital accounting and then turn it into action. A big ask? It certainly is. But it is an event designed to build upon the discussions and interest from many sectors at the United Nations Earth Summit held in Rio in 2012.

Against this backdrop of increasing international interest in how we value the economic benefits we derive from our natural environment, business leaders, policy makers and sustainability leaders from around the world will gather in Scotland’s capital.

Since the Rio summit in June 2012, there has been a groundswell of private sector interest in the concept of natural capital accounting. As the first major global conference devoted to turning the emerging debate into action, the World Forum on Natural Capital aims to widen understanding of the implications for businesses and the risks of ignoring ‘invisible’ assets.

This video might explain the idea to you as it attempts to answer the question: What is Nature Worth?

• Natural capital is the value of nature to people, society, businesses and the economy. It is the stocks of physical and biological resources and the capacity of ecosystems to provide a flow of services that contribute to human wellbeing and sustainable development.

• A report published on 15 April 2013 by the TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) for Business Coalition, “Natural Capital at Risk: The Top 100 Externalities of Business”, estimates that the world’s primary production (agriculture, forestry, fisheries, mining, oil and gas exploration, utilities) and primary processing (cement, steel, pulp and paper, petrochemicals) sectors have externality costs totalling US $7.3 trillion, which equates to 13% of global economic output in 2009. The value of the Top 100 externalities is estimated at US$4.7 trillion or 65% of the total primary sector impacts identified.

• The Future We Want, the outcome document from Rio+20 (the United Nations Earth Summit in June 2012), made many references to the importance of the private sector. These included the following: “268. We recognize that a dynamic, inclusive, well-functioning, socially and environmentally responsible private sector is a valuable instrument that can offer a crucial contribution to economic growth and reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development…”

Delegates from throughout the world are expected to attend the event, which is supported by major business and environmental organisations including the United Nations Environment Programme; World Business Council for Sustainable Development; International Union for Conservation of Nature; TEEB  for Business Coalition; and The Wildlife Trusts.

The World Forum on Natural Capital will take place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on 21-22 November 2013. Booking details here. 

The confirmed list of speakers includes the outgoing CEO of power giant SSE, Ian Marchant, along with Dieter Helm who is Chair of DEFRA Natural Capital Committee.

Tony Juniper, an independent sustainability and environment adviser, is also a confirmed speaker at the conference. Juniper gave a TED talk at TEDxExeter which you can watch her to get some idea of what he will be talking about in November.

and many other eminent speakers. All details are here on the Natural Capital Forum website.

Edinburgh hosts gathering of international lawyers

Lawyers from 26 countries are to meet in Edinburgh today when they will be addressed by Kenny MacAskill MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice. The occasion is a meeting of law firms that are members of Lexwork, the international network of independent law firms. The conference is being hosted by Lexwork’s Scottish member firm, Gillespie Macandrew.

Derek McCulloch of Gillespie Macandrew, who will chair the conference, said:-“This is an excellent opportunity for these international commercial lawyers to learn about how the interrelationship might change between Scotland and the rest of the world should the 2014 referendum result in Scotland becoming independent. I am regularly asked by our overseas business contacts ‘What would it mean for business if Scotland becomes independent?’, so to have as senior a figure as the Cabinet Secretary for Justice address our group will be an enlightening occasion for all.”

Representatives from 22 European nations, plus others from the USA, Canada, India and Hong Kong will be in Edinburgh for three days, during which time they will discuss a number of issues impacting on law firms operating in the international arena.

Derek McCulloch added:-“Beyond the session addressed by Kenny MacAskill, our discussions will focus on cross-border work issues on Energy, Employment Law and Legal Services to Business. A significant advantage that Gillespie Macandrew derives from being part of the Lexwork network is that it allows us immediate access to people we know in the key jurisdictions important to Scotland’s trade with the rest of the world.”

Lexwork comprises a total of 41 member firms worldwide, representing over 2,500 lawyers in 36 countries and 111 cities.

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