Latest news with #Fife-based
STV News
12 hours ago
- Health
- STV News
'Do not eat': Pesto product could cause serious food poisoning and be fatal
Scots are being urged not to eat a pesto product which could cause a 'serious form of food poisoning', and in some cases be fatal. Food Standards Scotland (FSS) warned consumers not to eat the 'Fresh Wild Garlic Pesto' from Fife-based Trotter's Independent Condiments. Health experts say there are concerns over the absence of procedures in place to control the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Satisfactory manufacturing controls that prevent the growth and toxin production by the bacteria could not be demonstrated. Trotter's Independent Condiments Trotter's Fresh Wild Garlic Pesto. Trotter's Independent Condiments FSS say this means that the product could cause a serious form of food poisoning called botulism, and can be fatal in some cases. The warning affects the Fresh Wild Garlic Pesto product with a pack size of 230g and all best before dates. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Number of Scottish SME home builders falls to lowest level in 20 years as Scotland remains in housing emergency
New report highlights red tape and rising costs as key issues 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... As Scotland remains in a state of housing emergency, a new report published today shows the number of small and medium size (SME) home builders has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years. Red tape and rising costs are highlighted as key issues, with nearly 9 in 10 survey respondents saying government policies are making it harder for them to build. These latest insights are provided by SME home builder members of sector body Homes for Scotland (HFS) who, combined, built more than 2,500 homes across all tenures in 2024, including 1,075 for social rent. This represents 12.6% of the 19,797 homes delivered in Scotland last year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Respondents claim that new regulations brought in since 2021 are responsible for in excess of £20,000 of additional costs on developing every new home, increasing affordability pressures even further. New report highlights red tape and rising costs as key issues Planning holdups are also continuing to be problematic - with 96% of SME home builders saying that slow planning decisions are blocking progress and stopping much-needed new homes from being delivered. Sector leaders are now demanding action if the Scottish Government is serious about combatting the housing emergency. Fionna Kell, HFS Director of Policy, said: 'Our small and medium home builders are facing a barrage of costs and delays that makeit increasingly harder for them to deliver the range of homes that Scotland needs and to grow their businesses sustainably. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Without a thriving SME home building sector, many sites in rural and town centre locations, or those on smaller or tricker pieces of brownfield land which require additional remediation, would just never be built. With national planning policy prioritising the development of brownfield sites in Scotland we need to see Government-backed funding solutions to increase the development of private and affordable homes by SMEs who face disproportionate infrastructure costs.' HFS is recommending an overhaul of government regulation to reduce cost and complexity to make it easier for smaller businesses to build. Specifically, it is asking that SMEs will not be subject to the Building Safety Levy, a new tax proposed by the Scottish Government on new homes. It also says that planning must be streamlined, reflecting the recent reforms proposed by the UK Government to boost housing delivery in England. Family-owned, Fife-based home builder Campion Homes says that it is vital that smaller builders get support. Joint Managing Director Susan Jackson said: 'Builders like us can deliver projects in our local communities providing training and jobs whilst also supporting and boosting the local economy. We also provide diversity in the market offering more house types, layouts and price points that are more responsive to customer needs.' A lack of construction skills is also causing a headache for home builders. 88% of SMEs are concerned about workforce capacity, putting even more pressure on the housing pipeline in coming years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Fionna added: 'Our members are committed to growing the sector and offering the wide array of socio-economic benefits SMEs bring to local communities. However, they require bold interventionist support, delivered at pace from both national and local government if we are to fully realise this potential. The report also highlights the important role that utility providers have to play in delivering new housing, particularly in relation to wastewater, sewage and water supply connections. HFS also says that SMEs struggle to access the finance and funding they need to deliver projects. They insist that government funding schemes, like the Housing Infrastructure Fund, must be adapted to make it easier for smaller home builders to access. According to the report, SME home builders were responsible for selling 1800 private homes in Scotland last year, despite a 6 per cent reduction in the number of SMEs on the previous year to just 125. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Susan added: 'There is a real opportunity for the new Cabinet Secretary for Housing to make a huge difference to the sector, especially those SME builders that deliver homes up and down Scotland. 'We are desperate to play our part in delivering the homes that Scotland needs. We just need the government to help us unleash this potential.' The report was developed in partnership with VELUX. The company's National Housing Development Manager Trevor Smith said:
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
80 jobs secured as Fife marine specialist lands record MoD contract
'This new contract will both safeguard existing jobs and create significant new opportunities throughout the UK' – Collieson Briggs 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... A Fife-based marine services provider has secured its largest-ever defence contract in a move that helps secure 80 jobs. Briggs Marine's bumper contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will see the firm supply and maintain heavy moorings and markers over the next eight years with a forecast revenue of £182 million. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bosses said the successful bid marked the largest defence contract to be awarded to the company to date and forms part of the MoD's 'next generation of marine services' programme. It will see Briggs deliver a scheduled maintenance requirement alongside an extensive replacement programme which will modernise and standardise the MoD's heavy moorings and aids to navigation over the term of the contract. This service is seen as vital to naval operations throughout the UK and overseas. Briggs Marine's MV Forth Constructor. The contract will give the company the ability to secure associated employment and further investment in its vessel fleet and industrial infrastructure over that eight-year period. Collieson Briggs, managing director at Briggs Marine, said: 'This new contract will both safeguard existing jobs and create significant new opportunities throughout the UK. We look forward to delivering outstanding results whilst continuing to invest in the company's growth and capability.' Iain Ross, director of port and marine services, added: 'Specialist marine services are an important enabler to the country's defence capabilities and Briggs Marine is proud to support that. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Our excellent track record in delivering services to the MoD's high standards sets us in good stead. We welcome this new opportunity, and we are confident that we will continue to deliver exceptional results.' The company's recently built MV Forth Constructor is one of the vessels planned to be utilised in the delivery of the contract. Briggs will update and modernise all aspects of the service delivery, to improve the quality of data that it is able to use collaboratively with the MoD. It aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of maintenance, reduce downtime and minimise hazard exposure. The Burntisland-based firm said it had significant experience in the area. It has previously undertaken similar works for almost two decades, providing the maintenance element of this task as prime subcontractors to Serco under two programmes. In this latest contract, Briggs will provide design and assurance services under 'equipment authority' status and provide all replacement material during the term. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As a key provider of mooring and 'aids to navigation' services, the Fife firm also provides demarcation and navigation buoys to a range of commercial clients including offshore wind developers to port authorities. The company is said to produce and maintain technologically advanced aids to navigation and moorings with 'very high degrees of assurance'.
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Finn Russell marks first year as Spiritfilled ambassador
Scotland rugby star Finn Russell marked his first year as brand ambassador for Fife-based whisky cask dealership firm Spiritfilled with a special Q&A session at the Caledonian Club in London. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox 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... More than 70 specially invited guests attended the exclusive function and listened to the 87-times capped internationalist reflect on his interest in whisky, his visit to Spiritfilled's Braeside Bond in Newburgh, and his glittering rugby career – he is about to set off on his third tour with the British and Irish Lions with Australia lying in wait Down Under. Discussing Spiritfilled, which is also an independent bottler under its Mythical Beasts label, Russell, who helped guide Bath to an historic Premeirship title on Saturday, said: 'Whisky is close to your heart when you're from Scotland. I have a few casks for myself and a couple for my daughters Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Cask investment is a much more modern method of investing, compared to stocks and shares or property. I have a few things going on but for me it's about diversifying my portfolio. The more avenues I can explore, the better idea I will get about what I want to do after rugby, although I'm not nearly at that stage yet! Chat: Finn Russell. 'The Spiritfilled relationship is going really well. It's an exciting time for the guys in terms of the bond, how popular it is becoming and how they store the casks. But it's not just that, they can host experiences there as well with fishing and shooting so it can be a very personal experience visiting your cask as you can get to touch, smell and taste your whisky along with everything else.' The evening saw guests enjoy a series of whisky tastings, while there was one lucky winner of a Finn Russell-signed Lions jersey.
Scotsman
09-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Sephra Popcorn 'scores' several goals at football stadium kiosks
Fife-based Sephra Popcorn is celebrating a very successful foray into some of the country's top football stadiums. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox 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... The brand, which is now the country's favourite tubbed popcorn, instantly recognisable through its distinctive Cinema style foil lined cardboard tub, is found in a growing network of consumer outlets, including theatres, independent cinemas, supermarkets, and convenience stores. It's now added several sports and football stadiums to the list. Its Sweet, and Sweet & Salty, flavour varieties can now be purchased as a snack option in kiosks at Manchester City FC, Dundee FC, Dundee United FC, and closer to home to its Kirkcaldy Head Office, Raith Rovers FC, as well as another Fife-based club, Dunfermline Athletic. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Wet popped in the traditional way, and sealed fresh, deliciously seasoned Sephra Popcorn is packed with flavour, offering a long shelf life. Its special kernels produce large, round puffs of popcorn that not only enhance the texture, but also maximises the surface area for seasoning. The result is a popcorn experience where every piece is packed with flavour, delivering a taste that truly stands out. Sweet & Salty is one of the signature flavours from Sephra Popcorn Scott Stewart, Business Development Executive, from Sephra, is delighted with how introducing the popcorn to football fans, north and south of the border, has gone. 'We have had brilliant feedback from all five football clubs that are currently stocking a mix of our popcorn, in the signature flavours of Sweet, and Sweet & Salty. We've given them our smaller 70g tub, which is more suited for a single person portion, whilst still giving the consumer a generous portion. The tubs we sell in supermarkets are 140g,' he said. 'Raith Rovers was the first football team to take our Sweet Variety popcorn for the beginning of the season 23/24. We reached out with the initial idea that our tubs would be a good kiosk offering, not really knowing how the thought would be received, and to our delight, they came back to us in agreement that the idea was indeed a good one, increasing fan choice from crisps, pies, and other snacks. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "They invited us over for a meeting where we discussed the brand and the popcorn in more detail, and they then went ahead with launching it that season, which was an excellent start.' Scott Stewart is pictured with the popcorn 'Dundee & Dundee United both started taking the popcorn at the start of their 24/25 seasons,' continued Scott. 'With Dunfermline Athletic, it was as a result of the Scotland Fan Zones they held at East End Park in June last year for the Euro 2024 games. It was announced that for the Fan Zones, they would be having multiple food vendors, alongside a 'tuck shop' for snacks, chocolate, and so on. We knew that our popcorn would be a great addition, especially for kids that would be attending.' 'Luckily, DAFC loved the idea, and took stock of a full pallet (576 tubs) across our three flavours (sweet, sweet & salty, luxury toffee), selling the majority of it through the four events they held that summer. On the back of that success, we approached them about listing it through their kiosks, and it's now become a very popular choice with fans.' Scott, and his team, are particularly pleased to have secured leading English Premiership Club, Manchester City. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We added Manchester City to our Football Club outlets at the end of February '25, with them taking the Sweet & Salty Variety. It started off in a few kiosks, particularly around the family sections. After the success of the product in those parts of the stadium, they opened it up to be available in every kiosk around the stadium. "They were particularly interested in our popcorn tubs as the eating experience is far superior than eating it from a bag. A contact at the Club said that he wanted the fans to feel like they are watching the greatest show on earth, and that the feeling you get from eating quality popcorn from an attractive foil lined tub certainly buys into that.' Commenting that he felt: 'this feeling can relate to any football club, the passion football fans have for their team even if they aren't performing well, doesn't fade,' Scott added that he: 'liked the idea that watching your team with our popcorn tub makes you feel like it's not just a football game, but in fact a piece of theatre, the greatest show on earth, even if it's a cold winters days, and your team is not winning!' Scott finished by saying that Sephra Popcorn's success in the football stadium market over the past two and a half years: 'has been significant, ensuring we will continue to target more clubs. It fits with our strategy to secure the brand across multiple different channels. Lovers of Sephra Popcorn are seeing it in more and more different places. We're delighted that many of these football clubs are looking to introduce point of sale material for us next season. This will ensure even greater visibility for our popcorn.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sephra Popcorn, instantly recognisable through its distinctive Cinema style foil lined cardboard tub, has been available since 2017 through major UK supermarkets, plus a number of UK wide convenience store chains. The brand, which offers a variety of different flavours, including the classic cinema Sweet, Salted, Sweet & Salty mix, Luxury Toffee, and a new reduced sugar range with up to 40% less sugar, can also be found across the leisure sector, with holiday parks, theatres, independent cinemas, theme parks, football clubs and many more all stocking its lines.
