Connect at West Edinburgh – Happy World Book Day – Edinburgh’s Top Dog Model competition – Fairtrade events – It’s Good 2 Give
A new initiative is being launched today to attract national and international businesses to West Edinburgh.
Connect at West Edinburgh, which comprises 10 business parks, was presented to a large number of property agents, investors, occupiers and the business community at an event today, hosted by Aegon in their building at 3 Lochside Avenue.
West Edinburgh currently has 450,000 sq ft of ready to move in, plug and play office space available. It is the fourth largest office location in Scotland with an estimated total stock of 5 million sq ft. The available office space could result in the creation of thousands of new jobs for the city and the region.
Graham Birse, Chair of the Edinburgh Business Forum, opened the event. Speakers included Sue Bruce, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, David Walker, Head of Property Services for Aegon, and Councillor Frank Ross, Convenor of the Council’s Economy Committee.
West Edinburgh hosts a number of national and international organisations including BT, JP Morgan, Tesco Bank, Agilent, Menzies, Diageo, HSBC and Heineken.
The area is connected in terms of infrastructure by road, rail and air at an intersection of arterial routes. Light rail services will operate in 2014 placing Edinburgh airport less than 10 minutes away by tram. Super fast fibre broadband is available to 80% of properties and due to reach over 90% by 2015.
Cllr Ross, Convenor of the City of Edinburgh Council Economy Committee, said: “Edinburgh is a very attractive location for inward locating businesses and West Edinburgh, which enjoys excellent connectivity as a result of its many transport links, offers the opportunity to capitalise on significantly reduced total occupation costs whilst benefiting from a highly skilled and diverse labour pool – along with the other benefits of Edinburgh’s high quality of life.”
“The purpose of today’s launch is to highlight these opportunities to the business community, potential occupiers and inward locators and to promote Edinburgh as an excellent place to do business.”
Hugh Rutherford, Chair of the Edinburgh Business Forum said: “The office accommodation in West Edinburgh offers value for money and a location which is highly connected locally, nationally and internationally.
“West Edinburgh can compete with anything of a similar nature within the UK, and when combined with Edinburgh’s growing and dynamic knowledge-based economy, provides a compelling solution for inward locating businesses.”
Launches of Connect at West Edinburgh will also take place in London and at MIPIM during 2013.
More information can be found at www.westedinburgh.com where a dedicated brochure can be downloaded.
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Happy World Book Day today… You can find out more here… And children can use a £1 book token to get a free book…Tell us which one you are going to get! Tales of One City the wonderful Edinburgh Libraries blog also have more information on World Book Day here. Seems they have been having a party all week!
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Have you got a cute dog? Then enter him or her for the Hair by JFK Edinburgh’s next top dog model competition. We have lots of lovely photos being added daily to our article. Have a look!
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Fair trade at CIPS AGM: Thursday 7 March (members and guests only)
Fairtrade wine tasting and a talk by Malcolm Brown from Scotmid for the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply East of Scotland Branch AGM, hosted by the University of Edinburgh, Procurement Office.
Edinburgh Fair Trade Family Fair & Bruncheon and Presentation of the Lord Provost’s Fair Trade Awards 2013 – Saturday 9 March, 10.30 am – 2.30 pm at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh. Come and enjoy a special free event for all ages to celebrate Edinburgh, our Fairtrade City!
As well as the presentation of the Lord Provost’s Fair Trade Awards 2013, there will be live music, Fairtrade stalls, free refreshments, and a range of activities. There will also be a talk by Tomy Mathew, Director of Elements India and Fair Trade Alliance Kerala, South India.
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This week we are supporting the Edinburgh charity It’s Good 2 Give by highlighting their upcoming events.
Pedal For Paul 2013
When? Sunday 8 September 2013, early start
Where? Glasgow to Edinburgh as part of the Pedal for Scotland event
Cost? £23 to register (£15 extra for transport to or from Glasgow) and then raise any amount of money for It’s Good 2 Give (no minimum sponsorship)A cycling challenge in memory of an amazing teenager, Paul Davies, as part of the 2013 Pedal for Scotland bike ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh. The 2012 Team Pedal for Paul had a wonderful 67 cyclists in it, for 2013 we want to get over 100 cyclists to sign up.
To attend any of our events or if you need any additional information, please contact Lynne McNicoll on 07901555352 or lynne@itsgood2give.co.uk
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
