Dunard Centre Planning Application Approved

The City Region Deal’s cultural flagship project to create Edinburgh’s first purpose-built concert hall in over 100 years, got the green light to proceed last month when Councillors voted to grant planning permission. With the project now on its way to becoming a reality, we were delighted to reveal the venue’s name – Dunard Centre supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, in recognition of the huge contribution to this project from Dunard Fund.

introducing secretary of state for scotland david mundell MP, and cllr cammy day, depute leader of the city of edinburgh council to the dunard centre model

I feel passionately that Dunard Centre directly addresses what is needed for the city to flourish in the performing arts, to look to the future, not trying to replicate what other cities already have, but what other cities will come to want. It will be transformational in terms of the productions that can be programmed and in the audiences it can attract and is designed to be a venue for audiences of all ages, all backgrounds and for all kinds of music and performance.

With the creation of a 1,000-seat hall; complemented by a 200-seat studio; a large foyer for all-day informal performance; café/bar and a range of rooms for education, community outreach and conference activities – we aim to create a lively, cultural hub where everyone feels welcome. This is a big challenge, but not impossible for a city as vibrant and forward-looking as Edinburgh. The benefits it will bring to the whole region cannot be overstated - different kinds of music, audiences, performers, education, rehearsal and recording, all under one roof with the very best acoustics and technology and in a location easily accessible by both local and national public transport - this is a one off.

Over the last 100 years, many new performing arts venues and concert halls have been built around the globe, harnessing advancements in technology and in the acoustic excellence they can achieve. We are incredibly lucky to have the Usher Hall, but we are selling ourselves short as a capital city, not to offer a complementary venue of half its size, providing a completely different experience for both audience and performer. Through generous philanthropy, City Region Deal funding and a city centre location thanks to Royal Bank of Scotland, this lack of provision for Edinburgh and the South East of Scotland is something we can now put right. This is an opportunity for everyone to get behind the creation of the very best, most ambitious cultural project seen in Edinburgh for over a 100 years – what our growing region needs in its vision for 2050 and beyond.

Sir Ewan Brown, Chairman IMPACT Scotland.

What's been happening with the City Region Deal since the official signing three months ago?

A massive amount of work went in to securing a City Region Deal for Edinburgh and South East of Scotland – and I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made since the Deal was formally signed in August.

Adam McVey, Leader of City of Edinburgh Council

In the three months since, we’ve seen the launch of the £661m data-driven innovation programme and the opening of the £45m Bayes Centre, one of five new facilities which will spearhead the region’s drive to become the data capital of Europe. We’ve also secured an outstanding selection of people from across the private and third sectors to sit on the Deal’s Regional Enterprise Council (REC).

Designed to advise the Deal’s decision-making body, the Joint Committee (JC), the REC has been designed to encompass the broad economic and social make-up of the South-East of Scotland. Its members will use their networks to engage with their sectors to provide a consensus on projects funded by the Deal. It is comprised of:

·         Leeann Dempster, REC Chair and Chief Executive of Hibernian FC

·         Claire Pattullo, Vice-Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network

·         Ewan Aitken, Cyrenians

·         Robert Carr, Anderson Strathern

·         Stephen Drost, CodeBase

·         Steve Dunlop, Scottish Enterprise

·         Gavin Hamilton, Taylor Wimpey

·         Stephen Ingledew, Fintech Scotland

·         Nile Istephan, Eildon Housing Association

·         Angela Leitch, East Lothian Council

·         Polly Purvis, Scotland IS

·         David Thomson, Food & Drink Federation Scotland

·         Damien Yeates, Skills Development Scotland

I’m sure you’ll agree that the calibre of individuals on the REC can only be beneficial for the Deal and the region.

Another milestone for the Deal was the first meeting of the JC on 2 November, during which I was appointed Convener and Cllr Willie Innes, Leader of East Lothian Council, as Vice-Convener. These roles will rotate annually, with representatives from East Lothian, Fife, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian to assume the roles in the years to come. We also agreed the forward work programme, meaning that the first five business cases should be considered at the next JC meeting on 17 December.

The Deal is designed to leave no person behind, and that’s why the REC includes members from some of Scotland’s leading third sector bodies, such as Cyrenians and Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network. We aim to deliver much-needed housing, from affordable to mid-market and more, and that’s why we’ll welcome the valuable insights of Eildon Housing Association and Taylor Wimpey. Some of the region’s fastest-growing sectors, such as fintech and data science, are going to pivotal to future skills and employment, so the input of CodeBase, Fintech Scotland, Scotland IS and will also be most welcome.

From building on our infrastructure to investing in skills and employability, each of the themes of the Deal is linked. Having leading representatives from each of these sectors on-hand to offer advice on a regular basis will be a real asset to everyone involved in securing a prosperous future for the city region, and I’m excited about what we can achieve together.

Here is a reminder of how the £1.3bn Deal will be spent:

Private and third sector leaders appointed to adVISE ON City Region Deal

The Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal has appointed a group of experts from the private and third sectors to its Regional Enterprise Council (REC).

The REC is comprised of a number of individuals from small, medium and large organisations across the region who will advise the Deal’s decision-making body, the Joint Committee, on the delivery of projects across the region and engage with their respective networks to provide a consensus from their respective fields of expertise on aspects of the Deal. The membership will also have a responsibility to develop closer working between the public, private and third sectors and to champion the Deal nationally and internationally to encourage investment opportunities.

Leeann Dempster, the Chief Executive of Hibernian Football Club who has advocated inclusion and growth initiatives in Edinburgh, has been named Chair of the Council. Claire Pattullo of Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network, who has extensive experience in delivering employability programmes and addressing barriers faced by disadvantaged groups, will serve as Vice Chair. The other members, who have been chosen to reflect the diverse economic make-up of the South-East of Scotland, are:

Leeann Dempster

·         Ewan Aitken, Cyrenians

·         Robert Carr, Anderson Strathern

·         Stephen Drost, CodeBase

·         Steve Dunlop, Scottish Enterprise

·         Gavin Hamilton, Taylor Wimpey

·         Stephen Ingledew, Fintech Scotland

·         Nile Istephan, Eildon Housing Association

·         Angela Leitch, East Lothian Council

·         Polly Purvis, Scotland IS

·         David Thomson, Food & Drink Federation Scotland

·         Damien Yeates, Skills Development Scotland

Speaking on behalf of the Deal partners, City of Edinburgh Council leader, Adam McVey, said: “The transformative City Region Deal will deliver real, tangible opportunities for residents across the region allowing us to build a vibrant economy for our people and businesses to thrive in.

“I welcome the appointment of this exceptional group of private and third sector leaders and believe Leeann Dempster will make an outstanding chair. Together they will bring a wealth of strengths, skills and experience to the Regional Enterprise Council.”

Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills Jamie Hepburn said:

“The Scottish Government’s commitment to City Region Deals is now over £1.1 billion, providing the platform for greater collaboration within and between our City Regions.

“Deal investment is only the beginning of the journey towards enabling inclusive economic growth that is truly transformational, and the Regional Economic Partnership approach being developed in Edinburgh and South-East Scotland provides an opportunity to build on this. I’m pleased to see that business and the third sector will have the opportunity to play their parts in achieving this shared ambition through the Regional Enterprise Council.”

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said:

"The UK Government is investing over £1 billion in UK City Deals in Scotland. They build on existing economic strengths and create new opportunities across all parts of Scotland.  It is crucial that each deal reflects the specific needs of each region, which is why I welcome the advice and influence of this new Regional Enterprise Council.

“With experience in everything from shipping to apprenticeship schemes, these advisors will bring a range of perspectives to the table. This will ensure that the Edinburgh City Deal plays a crucial role in shaping economic prosperity across Edinburgh and South East Scotland."

The City Region Deal is a £1.3bn investment over the next 15 years designed to accelerate economic, inclusive growth and create opportunities across the entire South-East of Scotland. The UK and Scottish Government’s have partnered with six local authorities (City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Fife, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian), Edinburgh’s universities and colleges and the private and third sector across the South-East of Scotland to deliver the deal. It was formally agreed on 7 August 2018.

Royal visit gives seal of approval to data science and AI centre

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has officially opened a world-leading centre of expertise in data science and artificial intelligence (AI).

The University of Edinburgh’s Bayes Centre aims to develop and apply data science and AI – drawing meaningful insights from vast amounts of information – for the benefit of society.

Some 600 experts from research and industry will seek to make use of large datasets and a high-speed analytics facility to improve people’s lives.

These might include identifying trends from healthcare data to improve disease management, analysing traffic data to improve transport, or enabling businesses to improve products or services.

The £45 million Bayes Centre building houses about 600 researchers, students, and entrepreneurs over five floors. Its architecture, featuring open spaces, a central atrium and open terraces, is intended to foster collaboration among occupants.

The Bayes Centre is the first of five data-driven innovation hubs being created as part of the recently-announced Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.

The new hubs will help business and public sector organisations improve products and services through collaboration with researchers and data analysts. They will embed their research and development teams in the University environment to facilitate collaboration. The initiative is supported by Scottish Enterprise, which has part-funded the Bayes Innovation Programme to help encourage this collaboration.

The City Region Deal’s Data-Driven Innovation initiative includes the University’s Easter Bush Campus, the Bayes Centre, Edinburgh Futures Institute, Usher Institute, and the National Robotarium – a partnership with Heriot-Watt University.

The Bayes Centre shares a courtyard and walkways with the University’s Informatics Forum – home to some 500 computer scientists – and the Dugald Stewart Building, which houses Edinburgh’s language sciences experts. It was designed by architects Bennetts Associates.

The building takes its name from the Reverend Thomas Bayes, who studied logic and theology at the University of Edinburgh from 1719 until 1722.

He is best known for devising Bayesian statistics, the mathematical foundation for reliable forecasting. It is widely used today, for example in the financial markets, the weather, or to filter email spam.

Dr Michael Rovatsos, Director of the Bayes Centre, said: “We look forward to bringing together experts from research and industry in this collaborative space, to apply data science and AI to some of society’s most interesting challenges and opportunities.”

David Mundell, Secretary of State for Scotland, said: “It’s great to see this exciting project – backed by £30 million of UK Government funding – officially opened. The Bayes Centre will support the development of world leading technology, attract further investment to the region and support high value jobs for the future.

“It is a superb example of why data-driven innovation is at the heart of the UK Industrial Strategy, and one of many exciting projects being delivered as part of the £1.3 billion City Region Deal.”

Michael Matheson, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, said: “I am delighted to see the Bayes Centre officially opened, the first project to do so from the £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal. The opportunities that this building will create for both the University and the wider city region are considerable and I appreciate the role that the University of Edinburgh is playing in ensuring that Scotland will continue to be seen across the world at the forefront of data science.”

Councillor Adam McVey, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, speaking on behalf of the Deal partners, said: “The Bayes Centre provided the perfect backdrop for the signing of the transformative £1.3 billion City Region Deal in August and it is fitting now that it should be first of the projects to be officially opened.

“The £45 million facility is the first of five data-driven innovation hubs included in the Deal, all of which will help the region to become the data capital of Europe – as well as delivering significant skills, employment and economic benefits to the region.

“The Universities’ world-leading data science capabilities are already helping to provide new and better services to people across the South East Scotland City Region and these fantastic new facilities will only enhance these further.”

Earlier in her visit to the University, the Chancellor, The Princess Royal also visited the newly refurbished Lister Learning and Teaching Centre, where she met staff and students.

Universities unveil City Region Deal plan to tackle digital skills gap

The University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University will work together to train 100,000 people in data skills and help 1,000 organisations through data.

The University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University have launched a major initiative that includes plans to improve digital skills across south east Scotland. The new venture is set to transform Edinburgh and its surrounding area into the data capital of Europe.

The £661m Data-Driven Innovation initiative is a key part of the recently-announced Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. It aims to train 100,000 people in data skills over the next decade, from computer science specialists to traditional jobs that will increasingly use data.

It is estimated that Scotland needs around 13,000 extra workers each year with data skills as the workplace is transformed. The Scottish Government’s Digital Strategy, published in 2017, included plans to tackle this digital skills gap while growing the Scottish economy.

Together, the two universities will increase the provision of data science teaching for their students, and support schools and colleges across the region to provide digital skills teaching and training. The region’s supercomputing capabilities will also be strengthened with investment in a data analysis facility, which will help 1,000 organisations use data to innovate within their sectors.

Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell, said:

 This exciting project – backed by £270m of UK Government investment – will ensure that the UK leads the world in technologies of the future and benefits from the economic growth opportunities this brings.

“By giving 100,000 people, and 1,000 companies, the skills and capability they need to drive innovation through big data and artificial intelligence, this partnership working will help maximise the potential of these sectors – a key goal of the UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy.”

The Scottish Government’s Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson said:

“The £300m Scottish Government investment in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal will help deliver inclusive economic growth across the region. The Data-Driven Innovation programme will be key to this, providing a significant step-change in our productivity.

“We are working to ensure Scotland is an internationally recognised vibrant, inclusive, open and outward-looking digital nation. I welcome the contribution that Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt Universities are making to ensure the new opportunities and benefits created by City Region Deal investment are spread across the region, providing individuals with the digital skills and aptitudes necessary to succeed while helping industry source the talent they need to grow and flourish.”

Professor Charlie Jeffery, Senior Vice Principal, University of Edinburgh, said:

“The University's strengths in data science have been driving innovation in the public and private sectors, for the past decade and more, through our research and the skills our graduates bring into the regional economy. The City Region Deal will now give us the capacity to do much more across a wider range of sectors, including healthcare, robotics and fintech. But perhaps the most important part of the Deal is our commitment to ensure people in the region can build the skills to flourish in the data-driven economy.

“So we are working not just in our universities, but also with schools, colleges and businesses so people have the opportunities to develop data skills across their life-course. This could include young people about to enter the workforce, women returning after career breaks, or people looking to reskill in mid-career. We know that data-driven innovation will bring economic growth - we want that growth to be inclusive and open to all.”

Professor Richard A Williams, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, said:

“By working in partnership we can ensure our city community can prosper and achieve its obvious potential as the leading international research hub for digital innovation. Our frontier research and educational skills in digital technology and its application in artificial intelligence and robotics are already shaping and driving the future and taking Scottish innovation to the world.”

Jarmo Eskelinen has been appointed to lead the Data-Driven Innovation initiative. He comes to Edinburgh from his previous role as Chief Innovation and Technology Officer of the London-based Future Cities Catapult initiative. Welcoming his new role, Jarmo Eskelinen said:

“Data is the new soil, and collaboration the seeds. The Data-Driven Innovation initiative is unique in its ambition and scale. It’s been designed to reach out to the whole City Region, so we can develop and test new services to meet the needs of our citizens. 

“I am extremely honoured to join the programme team and have the chance to collaborate with and learn from the world-leading experts of the two Universities. I look forward to helping a diverse range of organisations benefit from the fast-developing field of data-driven innovation.”

The £1.3bn Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal was announced by the Prime Minister and First Minister at the University of Edinburgh on 7 August. It aims to drive growth for everyone across the area and includes investment in transport, housing, culture and skills and employability.

Further Information

Data-Driven Innovation website

Data-Driven Innovation launch short video