Capital News

£1 billion boost for the city

£1 billion boost for the city

Edinburgh and the city's surrounding areas are set to receive a £1 billion cash injection to improve infrastructure. Council leaders in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders are collaborating to win a ‘city deal' from the Scottish and UK Governments. The funding could potentially transform developments in and around the city whilst creating tens of thousands of jobs across the region.

New road and rail links to Edinburgh Airport and an extended Borders Railway are among the major projects that could be given the green light if Government ministers approve the funding. Other priority areas for investment in Edinburgh include housing, economic regeneration, energy and digital connectivity.

Record-breaking ticket sales

Antigone
Antigone © Jan Versweyveld

The 2015 Edinburgh International Festival is breaking records before it has even started. The opening day of the box office for this year's programme saw record ticket sales of £370,000.

Running from 7–31 August, this year's Festival will feature more than 2,300 participants from 39 countries. Among the most hotly anticipated events are Ivo van Hove's production of Sophocles' Antigone, starring French actress Juliette Binoche; the Citizens Theatre's production of Alasdair Gray's seminal novel Lanark; and Scots band Franz Ferdinand's gig with US synth legends Sparks.

Read more about the Edinburgh International Festival shows at the EICC.

New innovation incubator

New innovation incubator

Market Gravity, an innovation and design consultancy with offices in Edinburgh, London and New York, is opening a new innovation centre and collaborative workspace called Launchpad in central Edinburgh early next year. The opening will coincide with Scotland's Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design. Whilst many incubators focus on start-ups, Launchpad aims to unlock innovation within established companies, universities and public sector organisations and help them to expand their markets. Hundreds of jobs are expected to be created as a result of successful enterprises coming out of Launchpad over the next two years.

With more patents per head than any other western European Country, Scotland was the ideal location for Market Gravity to open their first innovation incubator. Peter Sayburn, Global CEO of Market Gravity, commented: “We know that Scottish companies are packed with great ideas and talent that could be changing the world. We think these ideas should be set free. We want this to be the catalyst for the business enlightenment period where Scotland can lead the world, once again.”