Latest from Edinburgh Reporter
Edinburgh Reporter
6 hours ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Government pledges millions on sporting events and local sport
More than £900 million will be spent on major sporting events and grassroots sport in the UK which the UK Government says is part of its Plan for Change. Around half will be spent on the events and the rest on upgrading sports facilities which promote health and wellbeing. Work has already begun with government funding for new pitches, changing rooms, floodlights, solar panels and goalposts at clubs across the UK. The government hopes the strategic investment in sport will help economic growth by creating jobs and driving regional prosperity. This announcement is additional to the £100 million committed in March for local facilities and is also additional to the £8.6 million which the Culture Secretary pledged during her visit to Bonnyrigg Rose Community Football Club in March. Some of the newly announced funding is expected to be spent in Edinburgh where the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Grand Départs 2027 will start off. Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, said: 'Sport tells our national story in a way few other things can – uniting communities, inspiring millions, and showcasing our nation on the global stage. 'This major backing for world-class events will drive economic growth across the country, delivering on our Plan for Change. Coupled with strong investment into grassroots sport, we're creating a complete pathway to allow the next generation of sporting heroes to train and take part in sport in communities across the UK. ' This investment is central to the Government's commitment to delivering major sporting events with pride and impact and stands alongside ongoing work with partners in the sport sector and across the UK. The pipeline of major events already secured includes this Summer's Women's Rugby World Cup in England, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026, the ICC T20 Cricket women's and men's World Cups (in 2026 and 2030 respectively), the Invictus Games 2027 in Birmingham, and many other elite continental and world championships. Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray, said:'This £900 million investment in sport represents a game-changing commitment to Scotland and the whole of the UK. From the spectacular sight of the Tour de France starting at Edinburgh Castle in 2027, to the roar of the crowds at Hampden Park during Euro 2028, we will continue Scotland's proud tradition of staging iconic sporting events. 'But this isn't just about elite sport and iconic moments. The £400 million for grassroots facilities means communities across Scotland will benefit from better pitches and sporting facilities, helping more people to get active, improve their wellbeing, and potentially discover the sporting talent of tomorrow. 'This investment delivers on our Plan for Change by breaking down barriers to opportunity, bringing communities together, and showcasing Scotland on the world stage. From local parks to global arenas, we're ensuring sport can thrive at every level.' The Official Announcement of the 2027 Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Grand Departs' was made in March at Edinburgh Castle (L to R) Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport,Lisa Nandy, Mark Cavendish, Christian Prudhomme and HRH Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh Picture by Allan McKenzie/ – Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
11 hours ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
The Digital Nomad's Survival Guide: Working Remotely Across Canada's Time Zones Without Connectivity Headaches
Working remotely while exploring Canada's breathtaking landscapes sounds like a dream—until you're stuck in a Banff coffee shop with no signal during a crucial client call, or facing a $400 roaming bill after just one week in Toronto. As more professionals embrace location independence, Canada has emerged as a top destination for digital nomads seeking the perfect blend of modern infrastructure, natural beauty, and welcoming culture. Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash The Reality of Remote Work Across Canada's Vast Landscape Canada's sheer size creates a unique set of challenges that digital nomads rarely encounter elsewhere. Spanning nearly 10 million square kilometers, Canada is the world's second-largest country, with connectivity infrastructure that varies dramatically between urban centers and vast wilderness areas where many nomads dream of setting up their temporary offices. Understanding Canada's Six Time Zones and Their Impact on Digital Work Managing client relationships and team collaboration becomes exponentially more complex when you're literally chasing the sun across Canada's six time zones. Common Connectivity Challenges Nomads Face in Canadian Cities vs. Rural Areas Urban Canada boasts world-class digital infrastructure that rivals any major global city. Toronto's Financial District, Vancouver's tech corridor, and Montreal's startup scene offer blazing-fast internet, abundant coworking spaces, and reliable backup options. However, step outside these metropolitan bubbles, and the connectivity landscape changes dramatically. Rural connectivity in Canada follows the 80/20 rule—80% of the landmass has spotty or nonexistent cellular coverage, while 80% of the population lives in well-connected urban areas. This creates a false sense of security for nomads who test their esim canada setup in downtown Toronto only to discover dead zones throughout the Maritimes or northern Ontario. Scenario: The Cross-Country Road Trip Worker Using a flexible europe esim approach adapted for North American travel, Jennifer maintained consistent connectivity across 95% of her journey. The multi-carrier approach provided coverage in remote areas where single-carrier solutions failed, while automatic carrier switching eliminated manual network management. ROI Analysis: When Premium Connectivity Pays for Itself Professional nomads generating significant income from location-independent work typically find premium connectivity solutions pay for themselves within days. The productivity gains from reliable service, combined with reduced stress and improved client relationships, justify higher monthly costs. Calculate ROI based on hourly earning potential rather than total monthly expenses. A consultant billing $100/hour needs less than two hours of additional productivity monthly to justify a $200 connectivity upgrade. For most professional nomads, reliable connectivity generates positive ROI within the first week of service. Border Crossing Considerations: Maintaining Work Flow During Travel Days Border crossings between Canada and the US can trigger service disruptions and unexpected charges even with travel-optimized connectivity solutions. Understand roaming behavior and potential service interruptions before crossing, particularly for time-sensitive work commitments. Some esim for uk travel solutions and similar services may require specific border crossing protocols or manual carrier selection to avoid automatic roaming charges. Research service-specific requirements and configure devices appropriately before reaching border areas. Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
11 hours ago
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Last chance appeal over dream house cancelled at 11th hour
A last chance appeal by a woman to turn a former bank into a dream home has been cancelled at the 11th hour over an administrative error. Pat Sharp has been fighting to have the former hall, in North Berwick, turned into a retirement home for her and her husband Nigel for eight years after buying it for more than double the asking price. However East Lothian Council's planners have repeatedly rejected applications for the change of use insisting the building has to remain a commercial building in the seaside town centre. Last week Mrs Sharp spoke out publicly for the first time about her fight and heartbreak that her husband, who has Parkinson's Disease, is no longer able to move in. And she said she had no idea what would happen if her latest attempt get permission to convert the building into a house failed at the Local Review Body meeting, scheduled to take place this morning. She said: 'If this fails I don't know what we will do. I spend £100 a month maintaining the gardens of the property and we have invested a lot to maintain and bring the hall itself into a maintained state but I can't go on with it forever.' Mrs Sharp and her husband bought the former bank hall seven years ago for £555,555 with the hope of retiring to the town. The couple had precious memories of time with their granddaughters at the seaside resort after losing their daughter Cheryl to cancer when the girls were very young. Former managing director Nigel, 78, was diagnosed with Parkinson's following his retirement and the hope had been that the house would give him the chance to live in an adapted home in the place they loved. Sadly Nigel is now in full time care and will never be able to live in the house, if it is every approved. Pat said: 'Nigel has been robbed of the chance to spend his final years in what we wanted to be our dream home, looking out over the North Berwick coast and remembering all our wonderful times here. it is devastating.' The Local Review Body was due to meeting this morning to hear the appeal against the latest decision by planners to refuse permission for the change of use of the hall. However late yesterday the council confirmed the meeting had been delayed and would now be held once elected members return from their summer holidays. A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: 'One of the interested parties was accidentally omitted from our notification process so was not informed of the appeal in time for it to be heard at the Local Review Body meeting on Thursday 19 June. It will be heard at the next available meeting in August. The applicant's agent, interested parties and consultees have all been contacted.' By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Hibees Pride to represent the Club at Pride Edinburgh 2025
The Hibernian supporters' group Hibees Pride will represent the Club at Pride Edinburgh 2025. Hibees Pride formed in 2022 and have remained an integral part in keeping Easter Road a safe and inclusive place for all supporters. The supporter-led group have twice been represented at the Proud Scotland Awards, which honour those who champion diversity and inclusion in the nation within the LGBTQI+ community. In 2023, Hibees Pride were nominated in the Charity/Group Initiative category, before being shortlisted in the Sports and Recreation Award in 2024. Since their formation, the inclusive group have consistently challenged various issues on homophobia in football and have engaged in discussions on national TV and radio, always representing the values of Hibernian FC and promoting an inclusivity for all in the sport. The group have continually worked closely with the Club across many issues and topics, while also taking part in key activations – such as season ticket campaigns and kit launches. Pride Edinburgh is Scotland's longest running celebration of diversity, and has continued to grow at a great rate as it celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The event, which is Scotland's national LGBT festival, features a march and a community-focused festival that allows organisations, activists and individuals to represent their culture and themselves. Hibees Pride representative, and Hibernian FC Supporters' Panel member, Julie Cuthbertson commented: 'Our group has continued to progress since its inception in 2022 and the upcoming Pride Edinburgh march is another opportunity for Hibees Pride to let the wider LGBTQIA+ community know that our group, with the support of the club, is committed to making football a positive experience for all. 'While Pride is always a celebration of the rich diversity in our community, its history is also deeply rooted in taking a stand against the discrimination, abuse and violence that we continue to experience. 'This year feels more important than any other year in recent times, as some of the rights that our community have fought so hard to achieve are being wound back, here in Scotland and further afield.' The march will take place on Saturday 21 June. More information on the event, and how you can join Hibees Pride for the march, is available across Hibees Pride's social media channels. Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
11 hours ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
East Lothian egg company fight to become self sufficient
A free range egg company's bid to reduce carbon emissions has been challenged by planners after they applied to install a 67 metre high wind turbine on their farm. East Lothian Eggs Limited wants to install the turbine to allow it to produce enough green energy on the site to heat its sheds and operate its business at Howden Farm, near Gifford, in the county. A report by planning officers said the total height of the turbine was 20 metres higher than their limit for the area and the Ministry of Defence had said it would need infra red lights on its highest points, if approved as it is in a low flying zone for military manoeuvres. Officers recommended the turbine be refused saying it was too hight and would have too much of an impact on surrounding countryside, however the application has been called in by Scottish Greens councillor Shona McIntosh, and will go before a planning committee next week for a decision. Councillor McIntosh called in the application for elected members to consider the objections further and allow input from the council's own climate change officer. A report to go to the committee says Councillor McIntosh 'said: 'It may also be useful to get input from the Climate Change Officer regarding this case, as if climate mitigation is being weighed against landscape effects, then a response from the officer with expertise in climate mitigation would help the committee have a rounded view of the issues before making a determination.' In their design statement for the turbine, representatives from the egg company said the move would help it towards zero emissions and support the business' 'green credentials'. The report said: 'Maintaining the hen sheds at the required temperatures for egg production requires a significant amount of energy for heating. The Planning Statement states that this is a contributing factor to the climate crises. 'Currently Howden Farm uses ground source heat pumps, an existing wind turbine and solar panels for electricity generation, however, the applicants do still rely on grid energy which is noted to be burdensome to the existing agriculture business. 'The applicant's agent states that increasing the renewable energy generation at Howden Farm will be a significant benefit to the business, environment and community. 'The proposed turbine would allow this local rural business to secure green, low carbon and zero emission technology, positively contributing to ELC's declared climate emergency and associated climate change targets. 'Whilst playing a part in increasing the business' green credentials.' The application received one letter of support from someone who said they backed farmers who are trying to reduce their carbon footprint, and two objections from people who were concerned about its impact on the surrounding Lammermuirs and horses and foals living on the surrounding land. The application will go before the planning committee on Tuesday, June 25. By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
