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STV News
3 hours ago
- Business
- STV News
WhatsApp to be removed from Scottish Government devices
Mobile messaging apps, including WhatsApp, will be removed from Scottish Government devices as a new policy comes into effect on Friday. The new Holyrood policy states mobile messaging apps and non-corporate communication channels will not be permitted on government devices. The policy has been rolled out to all government employees, including contractors, senior civil servants, special advisers, and ministers. The announcement follows an externally-led review of the use of mobile messaging apps in December last year, which had been ordered by former first minister Humza Yousaf. The Scottish Government was previously criticised when it emerged ministers and top civil servants had deleted WhatsApp messages which had been requested by the UK-wide Covid-19 Inquiry. 'We are setting out a clear approach to ending government use of mobile messaging apps, and this will support wider work to deliver on our commitment to openness and transparency,' deputy first minister Kate Forbes said. 'The use of mobile messaging apps increased during the pandemic as staff worked remotely in unprecedented and difficult circumstances. Having reflected on our working practices, we are now implementing changes to the use of such apps.' Forbes previously stated: 'Government business should happen on Government systems which are secure, searchable and allow the appropriate sharing of information, in line with our statutory duties. 'I want to reassure the public that it is a priority of this government to maintain secure and searchable data, ensuring compliance with all records management rules. We will continue to act to ensure our data policies are robust, especially considering technological advances.' A small number of business areas will take part in a time-bound and limited transition period until the end of 2025. This includes areas responding to emergencies such as wildfires or for matters of safety and security. 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
STV News
6 hours ago
- Business
- STV News
Biffa £166m compensation claim over deposit return scheme 'good to go'
A lawyer acting for a company pursuing a £166m compensation claim against the Scottish Government has told a judge that his case is 'good to go' to court. Roddy Dunlop KC made the statement during a procedural hearing on Thursday in an action brought against Scottish ministers by Biffa Waste Services Ltd. The company has raised an action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh over a decision made by ministers to delay the introduction of the deposit return scheme. It alleges that Lorna Slater – the former minister for green skills, circular economy and biodiversity – gave negligent assurances to the firm in a letter about the initiative to ensure its participation. Biffa's lawyer Roddy Dunlop KC told judge Lord Clark last year that the correspondence made no reference to how Holyrood would need its Westminster counterpart to give the final go ahead to the scheme. The scheme was later scrapped after the Conservative government in London refused to give the go ahead for it be implemented. The firm believes the Scottish Government 'negligently misrepresented the assurance it gave' to Biffa. Biffa has instructed Mr Dunlop, the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, to act for it in the £166.2m compensation claim. Judge Lord Clark gave permission for the action to proceed following a two day hearing last year when the Scottish Government's lawyer Gerry Moynihan KC asked the court to dismiss the action. On Thursday, the case called again for a procedural hearing before judge Lord Sandison. Mr Dunlop said he and his legal team were making preparations for the case which is expected to be heard in the Court of Session over an eight day period in October 2025. Mr Dunlop added: 'The case is now simplified and good to go.' The deposit return scheme was a key policy of the former SNP-Green administration. Under the plans, a 20p deposit was be added to all single-use drinks containers made of PET plastic, metal or glass. Consumers could reclaim the deposit by returning the containers to retailers or to specially-designed reverse vending machines. It was due to be introduced in August 2023 but the launch date was pushed back, with then first minister Humza Yousaf citing concerns from businesses. The Conservative government at Westminster refused to grant the scheme the go-ahead unless it conformed to a UK-wide approach which excluded glass. In June 2023 Slater said she had no choice but to delay the scheme until at least October 2025, accusing the UK government of sabotage. She left government last year following the collapse of the Green-SNP power-sharing agreement. The company have decided to go to the Court of Session in Edinburgh because it believes the Holyrood government is responsible for it incurring a £166.2m loss. It wants compensation for the cash it invested in the collapsed deposit return scheme and the subsequent loss of profit. At the proceedings last year, Mr Moynihan said the Scottish Ministers acted lawfully and that the government did not act a duty of care to Biffa. He also said the letter sent by Ms Slater – which was dated May 17 2022 – did not amount to a 'negligent representation'. Speaking on the final day of a two day long hearing into whether the action should proceed, Mr Dunlop outlined the alleged actions of Ms Slater in dealing with his clients. Mr Dunlop said: 'Our position is that we did sign the contract in a situation of the assumption of responsibility. 'The minister was not required to give an assurance but she voluntarily did. 'She did so because she wanted Biffa on board. She must have known Biffa would act upon what she said. 'It is writing a letter that provides the assurances that not reflect the actuality of the situation. 'We know why she decided to write that letter. She wrote that letter as she needed the deposit return scheme to have a purpose. 'She needed a contractor like Biffa – who was swithering about whether to become involved – to become involved.' Mr Dunlop also claimed that Ms Slater's purpose in writing the letter to Biffa was to ensure the scheme's success. He added: 'The simple fact of the matter is that the Ministers were very keen to have Biffa on board. 'It was important for them politically and logistically to have a well resourced contractor like Biffa on board. 'Without that the deposit return scheme was dead in the water.' On Thursday, Lord Sandison fixed a date for another procedural hearing in the case – this will take place on September 2 2025. 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
The Herald Scotland
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Barrhead Travel story in Glasgow surely offers some lessons
And it was somewhat astonishing to hear the price of a week's holiday in Majorca in 1979 was £50. However, what really hit home as the story of the first 50 years was told was the astute and entrepreneurial decision-making of Barrhead Travel's founder, the late Bill Munro, at various key stages of the development of the business. These included, from Barrhead Travel's earliest days, opening when others were closed, something that was a driver of the establishment of the business in the first place, and Mr Munro's embracing of the internet when it brought major change to the sector. In many ways, it appears Mr Munro built the business by making the right decisions and doing relatively simple things very well indeed. That might sound straightforward enough. However, that is from the position of reflecting on the story of Barrhead Travel from where it is now, having observed the various key stages. What is clear is that Mr Munro had tremendous vision, assessing trends in the sector and reacting shrewdly and at times boldly. The wisdom of the decisions and strategy that paved the way for the creation of what is now a major UK-wide travel agent, from a single shop in Barrhead on the outskirts of Glasgow in 1975, might seem apparent enough with hindsight. However, Mr Munro did not have the benefit of hindsight as he navigated huge changes in the industry. He did just fine without it, achieving a degree of success that is remarkable. Other major events in Barrhead Travel's history - highlighted by president Jacqueline Dobson at last Thursday's dinner – include the responses of the business to the collapse of major package holiday and airline company Thomas Cook and to the coronavirus pandemic. Barrhead Travel has also undergone a change of ownership. It was sold to US-based Travel Leaders Group in 2018, and was by that time one of the UK's biggest travel agents. Barrhead Travel celebrated its 50th birthday at a dinner at Glasgow's Old Fruitmarket last week. (Image: Barrhead Travel) Travel Leaders Group is part of Internova Travel Group, which has its head office in New York. Mr Munro died aged 80 in October 2024. A Barrhead Travel spokesman said then: 'It's been almost 50 years since Bill Munro founded Barrhead Travel. His bold vision fundamentally changed the landscape for high street travel agents across the country. He made a tremendous contribution to the overall travel industry as well as becoming an influential figure within the Scottish business community.' This legacy was plain at Barrhead Travel's 50th birthday dinner, which was attended by the founder's daughter, Sharon Munro, who stepped down as president of the business at the end of 2018. Another legacy which was evident was a focus on people within Barrhead Travel, which employs more than 560 people. Read more While the many opportunities given to young people by the business over years and decades through its apprenticeship approach were highlighted, what was also to the fore was the long service of staff throughout the business, including across the executive team. Far too often in the business world these days, the importance of such experience is overlooked, to the ultimate cost of companies which take such a lamentable view. Ms Dobson highlighted the length of service of many of Barrhead Travel's employees. She said: 'I started my career as an apprentice, and many of my colleagues did too.' Jacqueline Dobson has been with Barrhead Travel for 25 years. (Image: Barrhead Travel) Ms Dobson highlighted the fact that she had been with the business for 25 years. And she emphasised she was 'certainly not alone' in having been with Barrhead Travel for that length of time or longer. The business characterises its own journey as follows: 'Since it was founded in 1975, Barrhead Travel has expanded from a traditional 'bucket and spade' travel agent to a multi-faceted travel group offering bespoke holidays and cruises to all corners of the globe.' And it highlights the fact that 'in addition to its retail network which spans over 90 locations across the UK, the group has a number of specialist divisions including touring and adventure, cruise and USA'. The business has indeed come a long way, and its current US-based owner has backed the continuing expansion of Barrhead Travel. What was notable, however, was Ms Dobson's emphasis last week on how the 'heart of the business' is the same as it was 50 years ago. She said: 'While so much has changed, the heart of the business remains the same. We're here to solve problems, support our people, and ultimately deliver unforgettable holidays. 'Our resilience over the decades has only strengthened our belief in what we do. It's our people, our customers, and our communities that have shaped this journey. Celebrating 50 years is not just about looking back, it's about looking forward with confidence, staying true to our roots while continuing to evolve.' Ms Dobson declared that, as Barrhead Travel looks ahead, 'there are no signs of slowing down, with plans for continued investment and expansion on the high street as well as launching new technology'. She highlighted the fact that 'the business has had a record-breaking year, with January 2025 being the most successful month in its 50-year history'. And Ms Dobson emphasised: 'It believes its founding principles, customer service, innovation, and community are as relevant today as they were in 1975.' It is good to see the founding principles of Mr Munro 50 years ago continue to deliver growth and success for what is such a well-known Scottish business. There seemed to be a genuine warmth in the room last week from the various travel industry partners with which Barrhead Travel works. And Ms Dobson's emphasis of the degree to which the business values its people also came across passionately, in stark contrast to the kind of buzzword bingo you hear on this front from some corporates. Many might have doubted when the internet began to revolutionise travel that businesses like Barrhead Travel would continue to thrive but, while many but certainly not all of its competitors have found the journey more difficult and at times impossible, the operation founded by Mr Munro back in 1975 has gone from strength to strength. Hopefully, Barrhead Travel will continue to prosper and prove resilient through the ups and downs of future decades, and it will have the continued backing of its owner to build on the success achieved over the last 50 years.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Major Scots retail park with Aldi, B&M & Home Bargains hits market for £18M
FOR SALE Major Scots retail park with Aldi, B&M & Home Bargains hits market for £18M Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A POPULAR Scots retail park has gone on the market with a price tag of a cool £18million Portlethen Retail Park, just south of Aberdeen, boasts high street staples such as Home Bargains, Aldi, Matalan and B&M. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The park was once the site of a former Homebase store, which closed in 2018 The 107,072 sq ft space brings in a total annual rental income of £1.35m per year. The park is being sold by agents Sheridan Keane who say the sale reflects an 'attractive' yield of 7%. The retail park comprises four single-storey units with metal-clad exteriors, glazed shopfronts which look onto the car park and service access to the rear. The site also hosts 530 car parking spaces and is neighbours with an adjacent Asda store and McDonalds drive thru restaurant, which helps to attract customers. The park was once the site of a former Homebase store, which closed in 2018, as part of a UK-wide restructuring when the home improvement firm was sold to Hilco for £1. The building was then split into two new units and let to Aldi and Home Bargains. Bargain supermarket Aldi opened in October 2021, which was attended by Olympic rower Karen Bennett, part of Team GB. The new store created 35 jobs in the area and has emerged as one of the park's strongest performers, with £17.9m turnover in the year to December 2023. B&M, which has extended to add a garden centre, reported a £4.4m in turnover last year, while Home Bargains reported £4.2m, as reported by the Press and Journal. Matalan generated £1.1m in the year to February 2024 and has sublet 10,000 sq ft to Argos until 2029. Why are so many shops going bust? Portlethen Retail Park serves a catchment population of around 500,000 and is strategically positioned on one of the north-east's main arterial roads. It is being marketed for sale for £18,150,000. Agents say the site offers a secure income profile with 'undoubted covenants' and a tenant mix aligned with current consumer demand for value-led retail. Shoppers in the area spend around £19m a year on non-food items, providing strong demand for retailers. For shoppers, the sale won't mean any changes. All four main stores – Aldi, Home Bargains, B&M and Matalan – are staying put, and the retail park will continue to operate as normal under new ownership.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
This woman has spent 30 years building up Scottish garden
Growing in this environment is not easy, but it helps that Helen is the owner of Tinnisburn Plants, the RHS gold-medal winning nursery that lies adjacent to the garden. Helen has been growing here for 30 years and in that time she has developed a deep knowledge of plants that will thrive in exposed conditions, where low temperatures and high winds are just some of the challenges. Amongst her specialities are meconopsis and scilla, of which she holds National Collections, but these are only two of the very wide range of plants that she has persuaded to grow at Tinnisburn and over the years she has developed many different habitats, from rockeries to wildflower meadows, where visitors can see for themselves how the plants that favour particularly conditions will perform in a garden setting. Read more A bog garden that remains moist all year round is filled with lush species and waterside dwellers that love to have their roots in damp soil while the herbaceous borders, where flowers appear in successive waves, are a riot of bright summer colours. There is woodland where ephemerals carpet the ground in spring, and all kinds of hardy shrubs, while fruit trees, their crops now beginning to swell, grow in the orchard that Helen herself planted. The season at Tinnisburn starts with snowdrops, many of them rare varieties that are sought-after by collectors, and these are followed by hellebores and daffodils before flowering shrubs and early perennials pick up the show and keep it going throughout the advancing seasons, with many still putting on a vivid display well into autumn. Meconopsis 'Susan's Reward' (Image: Discover Gardens) Plants here have to be tough, but that doesn't mean that they aren't beautiful and as chair of the Meconopsis Group, which studies Himalayan poppies, Helen has become the custodian of important plant trials which assess the performance of different varieties of these much-loved plants. The trials can last for years and during that time experts will consider the growth habit and reliability of the plants, assessing them for their suitability in gardens. Many of the poppies grown here were recently on display at the Chelsea Flower Show and Helen also sells them in her nursery, handing out advice on cultivation to everyone who buys them, or packing them up carefully and sending them off UK-wide, with the other plants in the nursery, through her online ordering service. Tinnisburn is a place of inspiration for anyone who gardens in exposed or cold conditions and it continues to grow and evolve as Helen devotes more of her time to its cultivation. Details: Tinnisburn Garden and Nursery is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Tickets: £5/ under 16s free There is a small cafe on-site for visitors. Tel: 07544 373815 helen@ In association with Discover Scottish Gardens
