Works have commenced on the University of Edinburgh’s Queen’s Medical Research Institute (QMRI) which will see the creation of new research spaces to address major disease challenges. Robertson Construction Central East is delivering the alteration and refurbishment works. Located next to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France, the five-storey research institute is undergoing refurbishments to its ground, first and second floors in order to create new upgraded research spaces to meet home office licence requirements and to accommodate relocating research groups. The QMRI is made up of three strategic research centres: Cardiovascular Science, Inflammation Research and Reproductive Health, each addressing major disease challenges. The recently commenced works comprise a state-of-the-art electrophysiology research support space, relocation of the existing mass spectrometry facility and improvements to the laboratories. QMRI will also benefit from finishes to the interior alongside building services involving lift, mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations. Additionally, specialist installations of medical gases will take place to serve the newly refurbished research facility when works are complete in winter 2024. Works are being carried out in a live environment with the building’s café, laboratories, teaching spaces and offices still in use. David Cairns, managing director, Robertson Construction Central East, said: “The Queen’s Medical Research Institute refurbishment project holds immense significance not only for the university but also for the advancement of medical research and healthcare on a global scale. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that this bespoke facility meets the highest standards, providing researchers with the cutting-edge spaces they need to make ground-breaking discoveries." "We are excited to continue our strong relationship with the university as we undertake our 14th project for them. Having previously delivered the remodelling of the QMRI’s ‘clinical imaging facilities’, we understand how important these new facilities are for current and future users. By repurposing existing buildings, the university is demonstrating its commitment to sustainability." Professor Stuart Forbes, Dean of Research at the University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, said: “Over the past few years, QMRI has established itself as a world-class clinical research facility, developing solutions to major disease challenges. These refurbishments will bring great benefits to the work our researchers carry out and ensure that the University of Edinburgh remains a leading innovator in healthcare.” The QMRI project was procured through the CCS Construction Works and Associated Services (CWAS) Framework and Robertson Construction Central East was appointed following a two-stage process.

Airedale General Hospital in West Yorkshire is undergoing phased maintenance and refurbishment works to improve patient services and assure a safe environment for both patients and staff. The works, which are being carried out in a live hospital environment, commenced in January and are being delivered by Robertson Construction Yorkshire and East Midlands (YEM) for Airedale NHS Foundation Trust. Works comprise of car park improvements; refurbishments to wards and clinic areas; and structural reinforcement. The structural works will see the strengthening and maintenance of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) panels. A total of 22 wards are to be either refurbished or maintained, with Robertson having nearly completed work on three wards which have been fully refurbished, whilst crucial services have been temporarily relocated within the hospital to mitigate disturbance. Airedale has been added to the New Hospital Programme – the government’s commitment to building 40 new hospitals by 2030. Cheshire’s Leighton Hospital, which is currently having its structural works and refurbishment delivered by Robertson Construction North West, is also included in the New Hospital Programme. Jonathan Sizer, managing director, Robertson Construction YEM, said: “As the chosen delivery partner for these important works, we have liaised closely with the Trust to deliver the works in phases to minimise disruption and put patient safety at the forefront." “Robertson Construction has worked in partnership with the NHS for almost 50 years, so understands the need to continually improve the patient and staff experience with better quality environments. The works that we are undertaking will provide a safer environment and supports Airedale Hospital in providing its essential services to the local community." “As part of our commitment to the communities where we work, we have also supported the surrounding community through the employment of local people on site, procuring our supply chain locally where possible, and providing 140 weeks’ worth of apprenticeships.” Richard Burgin, RAAC Estates project manager at AGH Solutions, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust’s estates and facilities subsidiary, said: “The programme of work being carried out at Airedale is very complex, with multiple areas of the hospital undergoing structural support work simultaneously." “We have welcomed the clear and pragmatic approach Robertson bring to this work, helping us to minimise disruption to crucial patient services.” Airedale NHS Foundation Trust is awarding project phases to Robertson Construction YEM through its Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).

A Glasgow charity whose pioneering project to rehome displaced people has been running for over 20 years is being given £10,000 by one of the city’s leading employers. Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust is giving the donation to Positive Action in Housing, who have given shelter to thousands of people through their Room for Refugees Hosting Network since its launch in 2002. Now in its second year, AVCT is the charitable arm of the family-owned Allied Vehicles in Possilpark, a European leader in the manufacture of adaptive vehicles for wheelchair users and drivers. The company employs around 600 people, mostly at Possilpark in the north of Glasgow, where it has been based for 30 years. A staff committee meets monthly to decide on donations along with Allied owner Gerry Faccenna. PAIH expanded their network last year to include people fleeing the war in Ukraine. They now have more than 2,000 people on their books, have 500 families in households in Scotland and England, and are looking for sponsors for others. However, the initiative costs around £60,000 a year, and AVCT’s donation will help sustain it and make a difference to many more homeless and destitute families and individuals. Describing the gift as “fantastic”, Robina Qureshi, the charity’s CEO, said: “What it means is that more people can be hosted safely and in a mutually rewarding way so that we can do the hosting assessments and the meetings … But also, we need more hosts as well, from anywhere in Scotland, for people who are from an asylum-seeking background or who are from Ukraine. “There’s immense amount of overcrowding going on and people are being put into hotels in really bad conditions, like basements with no windows. It’s not a five-star hotel, it really isn’t." “The people that get the money for it get five-star money, which is the Mears Group. This will really support us, but we’re really desperately seeking more hosts to come forward, to give us a bigger pool of people to work with from anywhere in Scotland.” David Facenna, Allied Corporate Culture Director, said the AVCT committee had no hesitation in voting to give PAIH half of their monthly budget: “We recently doubled the amount we give to charity to £240,000 a year and, despite the huge demand we all felt it was the right decision to give them this money." “I have seen PAIH’s work first hand and they do a brilliant job under very trying circumstances for such a broad range of people and we’ll be looking at how we can support them in the future as well.” PAIH senior fundraising officer, Áine Beattie, added: “Because of your humbling and generous support, we will be able to build on and increase the capacity of the life-changing support the Room for Refugees Hosting Network provides." “These donations will enable us to continue our multi-faceted approach towards hosting, helping our clients regularise their legal status in a sheltered environment … and make a lasting impact on the lives of many more vulnerable people seeking support.”

Each year, the team at Family Business United undertake a Road Trip in Scotland to highlight the significant contribution made by family firms to the national economy. Spending a week on the road visiting family businesses and seeing first hand what they do and where they do it really does help to focus on the significant contribution of these businesses. The 2023 #ScottishFamilyBizRoadTrip is taking place from October 2-6 and will see the official Road Trip car take in family firms from Glasgow to Edinburgh, Falkirk to Troon and Stirling to Duns. Little’s Chauffeur Drive, a family owned business based in Glasgow is providing the vehicle that will be used for the duration of the Scottish Family Business Road Trip which will see the chauffeur driven car support a week long tour of family businesses across Scotland. From their headquarters in Scotland, Little’s provide a comprehensive chauffeur drive service on a global scale. For over 50 years, their clients have trusted them to deliver award-winning business services and leisure tours with efficiency, professionalism and discretion. “We are delighted to partner with Family Business United,” said Heather Matthews, Managing Director of Little’s Chauffeur Drive. “We were involved with this event a couple of years ago and it was a fantastic celebration of the family business community in Scotland, something that resonates closely with us as a family business ourselves. We are delighted to be providing the car to enable Paul and the team at Family Business United visit as many family firms as possible during this week long tour that will take in family firms in and around Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and the Borders." As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United adds: "The Scottish Family Business Road Trip is one of the events in the annual family business calendar that is a real privilege to organise." "It really does shine the light on family firms across many sectors, sizes and generations and we we get to go behind the scenes of family firms, conduct interviews with family business owners in their own place of work and each year their pride, passion and entrepreneurial spirit comes to the fore." Events like this are important as they help to dispel some of the myths around the family business sector and reinforce the positive contribution of family firms in terms of employment, income generated and wealth created, not forgetting the immense input family firms make to the areas and communities in which they operate too. Did you know: The oldest family business in Scotland dates back to 1715 – John White & Son Ltd who have been making weighing machines from their home in Auchtermuchty for over 300 years There are 280,000 family firms in Scotland Family firms in Scotland represent 83% of all private businesses in Scotland Family firms in Scotland employ 870,00 people which represents 6.3% of all family business employment across the UK The top 100 family firms in Scotland contribute £20 billion in terms of turnover annually and employ over 112,000 people You can keep up to date with all the latest news and visits from the trip by following the hashtag, #ScottishFamilyBizRoadTrip . As Paul adds, "There is something truly special about family businesses, many having the family name above the door, an undeniable essence for doing business the right way, looking after their staff and they care." "They care about their people, their businesses and the communities in which they operate and it is a real pleasure to meet them where the magic happens." As well as Little’s the Scottish Family Business Road Trip is supported by sponsors Brooks Macdonald, AAB, Turcan Connell and Western Pension Solutions. "We are delighted to be working with such a great group of sponsors. They understand the very essence of the family business sector, what makes the sector different and work with family business clients all over Scotland too." "It is great to be working with partners that get it, get what we do, and are helping us to continue to demonstrate the significant contribution that family firms make to the economy each and every day," concludes Paul.

Willmott Dixon has completed the structural phase of a new £12m facility for Army musicians at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) being delivered under the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme. A topping out ceremony took place to mark completion, with military officials and project partners from the Army delivery team and Defence Infrastructure Organisation joining Willmott Dixon to celebrate the project’s progress. The purpose-built facility has been designed to house and support the talented musicians who serve in British Army Band Sandhurst, offering a modern and acoustically optimised environment for rehearsals, performances and musical collaboration. It can accommodate all 54 members of British Army Band Sandhurst, which performs at passing out parades and Sovereign’s parades, as well as supporting military sporting events and dinner nights with smaller ensembles. The new and refurbished buildings feature an instrument store, music library, offices, rehearsal rooms, storage, changing and toilet facilities, and a crew room. The facility also has sustainable features, with two of the blocks being installed with solar panels and heat source pumps. Major General Richard Clements CBE, Director of Army Basing and Infrastructure said: “I am delighted to see the excellent progress on these modern, bespoke facilities for British Army Band Sandhurst and I congratulate the project team on reaching this significant construction milestone. We trust this building will become a flagship facility to inspire future generations of Army musicians, who play such an important role in enhancing the reputation of UK Defence both at home and on the global stage.” The project is being delivered under the DEO Army Programme, which is investing £3.35bn over 10 years across 35 projects. The programme aims to improve the lived experience for soldiers by delivering an effective and sustainable Army Regular estate. Hazel Ide, Senior Programme Manager for the Defence Estate Optimisation Programme said: “This project has brought old and new together brilliantly and is going to be a fabulous facility which reflects the history of this site alongside a state of the art new and very modern facility. The teams, DIO, Army, the site personnel, Willmott Dixon, HLM and Pick Everard have worked together to resolve issues, understand risks, and come up with innovative solutions to some challenging problems to keep the project on track. Only by working together could we have delivered this project the way we have.” Adam Worrall, Director at Willmott Dixon said: “I am delighted to be part of such a unique project that will serve as a sanctuary for musical talent within the Army. It will provide a new and modernised building that is high-quality and fit for purpose. I am looking forward to seeing its further progression over the coming months.”

Croxsons, the leading glass packaging firm, has recently collaborated with new Scottish spirits brand, Union XV, to unveil a striking bottle design that embodies the global spirit of unity. Set to launch during the 2023 Rugby World Cup this September, Union XV Gin features a blend of 15 botanicals sourced from popular rugby-loving nations around the world. From the English Rose and Irish Shamrock to the Manuka Honey of New Zealand and Wattle Seed of Australia, Union XV invites consumers to “taste the world in union”. Union XV selected Croxsons for this project, inspired by both companies’ shared values. The partnership was cemented by Croxsons’ extensive range of designs, of which the chosen bottle, Ceremony Basse, was particularly alluring. The bottle, which is topped off with a black woodtop stopper, is characterised by its broad shoulders and elegant decanter styling – a reflection of the strength and quality of Union XV gin. The aim of Union XV is to bring a fresh perspective to the ever-growing gin market. With numerous gins adopting niche flavours and origins, Union XV set out to craft a global gin – a brand rooted in the ethos of the “spirit of togetherness”. It is a gin curated for the unions and reunions to come, a nod to the invaluable connections humans forge, a sentiment that has been reinforced since the pandemic. John MacSporran, founding director at Union XV, said: “Croxsons has been an instrumental partner in this journey. Their trusted reputation preceded them, and throughout the project, they have been invaluable. Union XV was born from a passion for gin and the sport of rugby. It seeks to encapsulate the spirit of togetherness found in both, making it a perfect drink for sharing during life’s special gatherings.” Tim Croxson, CEO of Croxsons, added: “The final product is a testament to our collaborative spirit in this project. The bottle impeccably communicates the strength and quality of the gin, and we eagerly anticipate future collaborations with Union XV Gin as they pioneer in the market.”

Bridge of Weir, supplier of the world’s lowest carbon leather for the automotive sector, is proud to announce that it has been honoured with the Sustainable Interior award at the 2023 Marie Claire UK Sustainability Awards in the Motor category. Marie Claire UK's third annual Sustainability Awards celebrate brands, organisations and products dedicated to implementing positive change and shaping a more sustainable future. In a world grappling with climate challenges, the awards identify trailblazing companies that are driving significant progress in sustainability and inspiring others to follow suit. The event highlighted transportation as a significant contributor to carbon emissions, posing a substantial climate challenge. Marie Claire UK commended Bridge of Weir Leather with the Sustainable Interior award for being a leader in sustainability, inspiring others through its dedication and innovation to circular and ethical leather production. Andrea Thompson, Sustainability Awards judge and Marie Claire UK’s Editor in Chief, praised Bridge of Weir Leather, stated: "[Bridge of Weir] is leading the way in sustainable interiors for motors." James Muirhead, Sales Director for Automotive, said: “Being awarded with this high recognition reinforces Bridge of Weir's unwavering commitment to sustainability and exceptional industry practices to reduce the automotive industry's environmental impact. We have dedicated ourselves to producing the lowest carbon leather through world-leading initiatives and technologies that not only reduce our impact but also help carmakers reduce their carbon impact without offsetting. Importantly, we want our practices to serve as a blueprint for industry and inspire others to make change.” Bridge of Weir was praised for its life cycle analysis (LCA) result of 8kg CO2 e/m2 on average leather product and for being the only automotive leather manufacturer to publish an independent LCA. The company's commitment to transparency, ethical standards, and gender equality practices was also commended at the awards ceremony. Bridge of Weir Leather ensures that its leather production starts with responsible sourcing, with 100% traceability and zero risk of deforestation in the raw hide supply chain. The company's leather is the ultimate upcycled material, created through a 'circular' low-impact manufacturing process. Bridge of Weir utilises raw hides from the local beef and dairy industries, with over 98% sourced within the UK and Ireland. This upcycling approach prevents these hides from ending up in landfills, where they would emit hundreds of tonnes of harmful methane emissions each year. Since 2003, Scottish Leather Group, of which Bridge of Weir is a part, has reduced the average carbon intensity per hide by an impressive 90%. The group achieves this through the use of 100% renewable electricity and the conversion of process waste into energy. A new £14 million Super Tannery has also just been opened to further accelerate its sustainability leadership by investing in advanced tanning equipment that reduces energy and water use by 82% and 42% respectively

Willmott Dixon’s role supporting Leicestershire County Council’s roll-out of a new generation of ‘net-zero carbon in operation’ schools continues after the council’s Development Control and Regulatory Board* approved plans for a second primary school, this time in Market Harborough. Willmott Dixon will now start constructing the £9.3m school, which is set to provide 210 places for children living in the new 924 home Airfield Farm development at the northern edge of Market Harborough. It follows the company’s completion in August of the 210-place net-zero school in operation Hollycroft Primary School on the outskirts of Hinckley, which opened to pupils this autumn. Procured via Procurement Hub, the Airfield Farm Primary School will include teaching spaces for pupils with special educational needs, a multi-use play area, nature areas and parking and drop-off spaces. Bat and bird boxes will be installed to encourage wildlife. Technology such as air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels to provide power, as well as careful consideration of building materials, will help the school be net-zero carbon when operational. The school is being built using section 106 funding from developers William Davis and Taylor Wimpey and money from the Government’s Basic Need Funding for schools. Councillor Deborah Taylor, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for children and families, said: “This school will be a welcome addition to this new community, providing much-needed school places and a lovely setting for learning. We are committed to addressing climate change and it’s schemes like these that will support Leicestershire becoming a net-zero county by 2045. We look forward to seeing this new school taking shape.” The school has been built in such a way that it could be extended to take up to 420 pupils in the future if needed. An academy trust to run it is due to be announced this autumn and a phased opening is planned from 2024 starting with reception children, with the school reaching capacity by 2030. Louise Dodds, client relationship manager, Procurement Hub: “It’s great that we have been able to assist in the delivery of a second net-zero school for Leicestershire County Council this year through the Major Projects Framework alongside partner Willmott Dixon. We look forward to continuing to assist Leicestershire County Council’s roll-out of the new generation ‘net-zero’ schools.” *The detailed planning application for the school was agreed by the county council’s Development Control and Regulatory Board at its meeting on Tuesday, August 22. Outline permission had been granted by Harborough District Council in 2018.

Funding shortfall puts innovation plans in jeopardy according to latest global research. Key Findings: • 33% of businesses have insufficient financial resources to innovate • 41% of businesses identify high up-front costs as a barrier to sustainable innovation • 47% of businesses associate sustainable innovation with maximising efficiency The fifth annual International Innovation Barometer is published today revealing that a declining global economy has stalled innovation potential. The report by innovation consultancy, Ayming , reveals that the global boom in innovation – reflected in the 38% of firms that now rank it a top priority for the business – is under threat from a lack of adequate financial resources, cited by a third of respondents. Governments around the world are putting innovation at the heart of policy agendas and anchoring their plans for prosperity to ambitions of becoming an ‘innovation-led economy’. But for innovation to become an integral part of the mechanism of any economy, funding must be accessible, and the report shows that current funding streams are not currently providing businesses with the necessary means to innovate. Inflation has driven up costs and critically damaged fragile profit margins, forcing businesses to seek funding from outside sources. The number of businesses using equity and debt funding nearly doubled from 23% in 2022 to 41% in 2023, making it the most popular source of funding this year, while the proportion of those self-funding innovation dropped by a fifth. However, rising interest rates have made debt funding a much harder route to take for start-ups and smaller businesses, resulting in a parallel rise in the number of businesses using crowdfunding tactics, which respectively rose from 7% to 26%. Njy Rios, Director of R&D Incentives at Ayming UK comments, “The bottom line is that the current economic climate has created a tension between business’ short and long-term plans that is having a negative impact on innovation output. Policymakers must find a way to align the two or risk jeopardising future innovation.” The Barometer also examines the widening intersection between innovation, technology and sustainability. The data reveals that despite ideological support, financial barriers are again impeding essential progress with 41% of businesses citing the high upfront cost and investment required as the obstacle preventing them from undertaking sustainable innovation. The US government’s Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law in August 2022 with the intention of making sustainability a priority for US businesses, but just 22% currently see it as such and it’s too soon to tell if the EU’s Green Deal Industrial Plan, presented in February 2023, will be effective in scaling up the continent’s manufacturing capacity. The report’s findings reveal that businesses are acutely aware of the economic opportunities offered up by the net-zero transition with an emphatic 78% allocating up to 20% of their annual budget to sustainability initiatives. But a set of short-term economic priorities are undermining these intentions and slowing businesses down. Rios continues, “While governments pay lip service to the need for green tech to save the world, the would-be drivers of this sustainable innovation require urgent access to funding. So as the world continues to advance towards climate crisis, governments need to address the funding gap with far greater resolve if policy is to be translated into practice. Until businesses are deriving economic value from prioritising sustainability, short-term economic pressures will always be a roadblock.” In June 2023, Ayming surveyed 853 R&D and innovation directors, Chief Financial Officers and Chief Executive Officers. Respondents were sourced from the following 17 countries: Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, United Kingdom, United States.  Respondents were split evenly between seven sectors: automotive, construction, finance, manufacturing, finance, pharma and technology, and reflect an equal representation of large and small businesses.

On July 20, 2023 The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act was granted Royal Assent. As a consequence, The Act introduces some changes to the current regime for making a flexible working request, which will come into force on a day to be appointed, most likely in 2024. As Liz Stevens, a Professional Support Lawyer at our partners Birketts explains the main changes. The Act provides for the following changes. Employees will be able to make two flexible working requests (rather than just one as at present) in any 12-month period. Only one request can be in progress at any time. Employers will be required to ‘consult’ with employees before rejecting any request, although the Act does not include any details of what this consultation process should involve. Employees will no longer be required, as at present, to identify the effects of the proposed change and suggest how the employer might deal with them. Employers will be required to respond to a request within two months rather than three months as currently applies, subject to an agreed extension. You can read the article in full with other insights and considerations on the Birketts website here

The UK economy may be at a tipping point as interest rates remain unchanged, but job seeker confidence remains high in an unusual scenario that will only put greater pressure on the country’s employers. That’s according to specialist recruitment firm, Robert Half. Following reports that the Bank of England (BoE) will pause on its interest rate rise for the first time since November 2021 and the decline in inflation, the firm has warned that job seeker confidence continues to grow as the UK workforce increasingly recognises its worth amid skills shortages. In Robert Half’s latest Jobs Confidence Index (JCI) – an economic confidence tracker produced in partnership with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) – the specialist recruiter found that pay sureness in the workforce increased 70.1 points, returning to positive territory for the first time since Q2 2022. The overall confidence reading also increased to 47.2 - the highest recorded level since Q1 last year. As Matt Weston, Senior Managing Director UK & Ireland, at Robert Half, explained, this is an unusual situation that may help employers who are willing to go the extra mile for the right talent to attract them: “We’re facing a highly unusual economic climate and the BoE seems to be well aware of that in view of the cliff-hanger decision to halt interest rate rises for the time being. And despite the labour market showing marginal signs of loosening, there is still enough scope of concern with wage growth surpassing inflation." "Recent economic data published last week revealed the UK unemployment rate rose, the number of people in work decreased and vacancies fell below one million for the first time in two years - a clear loosening of the historically tight labour market. Nonetheless our Jobs Confidence Index is being driven by positive candidate sentiment and wage inflation. The consequence of this is job seeker confidence is perhaps the most pressing issue if you are trying to hold onto your valued employees." “We’ve seen over the course of the last year or so an unusual behaviour in the workforce. Traditionally reports of recession and significant changes in inflation or interest rates are pre-empted by job losses and uncertainty from the workforce. This hasn’t happened, largely due to the significant lack of skills that the country is facing. With job seeker confidence and pay sureness increasing in the workforce, businesses have two challenges to manage - flight risk of existing employees who know their worth seeing how wages are rising, as well as attracting the talent they critically need at a cost that is in line with current budgets.” “As we warned back in June, there simply is not enough talent in the UK to satisfy the demand in the UK labour market. One thing I can predict, though, is the trend of decreasing vacancies will lead to more candidates per vacancy, which will inevitably give hiring managers more choice for a while.”

Our annual celebratory family business dinner is back and will be taking place in Central London on September 19. A drinks and networking reception will be followed by dinner during which there will be a number of short speeches and presentations. In particular, we will be announcing the winners and presenting them with awards for Next Generation and Lifetime Achievement, fitting accolades to be shared on a day that sets out to celebrate the contribution of family firms across the UK today. Join us in London for an evening of family business celebration as we come together to conclude National Family Business Day 2024. Check out some of the images in our gallery from the 2023 dinner: