That’s the spirit

THE Christmas spirit has been in evidence in Edinburgh, we hear.

Staff from the soon to open Hampton by Hilton at Edinburgh Airport have been giving locals a taste of the hospitality they can expect at the hotel by hitting the streets to ease the strain on commuters and shoppers. Bags of shopping have been carried and comfy cushions installed in city trams.

General manager Craig Webster said: “We wanted to give Edinburgh a taste of what makes Hampton by Hilton special, so we brought our Heart of House team to the streets to do just that. The hotel will serve the growing business and leisure mid-market traveller in the city. We have a wonderful team who really bring the ‘Hamptonality’ personality to life and can’t wait to welcome our first guests.”

Giving season

THE festive message has been resonating strongly throughout the offices of French Duncan, too. Thanks to an array of fund-raising activities, the accountancy firm has been able to donate more than £11,000 to Strathcarron Hospice in Denny, Stirlingshire.

Managing partner Graeme Finnie said: “We were delighted to make a donation of £11,023 to Strathcarron Hospice.

“We choose a charity to support each year and the service which Strathcarron Hospice offer in helping 1,400 people a year with palliative care and end of life treatments is essential.

“The £11,023 was raised by our fantastic 180 staff across all five offices with bake sales, raffles, dress down days, and a Christmas jumper day and it is a tribute to their dedication and hard work that this money was raised.”

Goodwill to all

ON the topic of goodwill, leading industrialist Jim McColl had positive words to say about the development of the Scottish National Investment Bank.

Mr McColl is currently locked in a long-running dispute with CMAL (Caledonian Maritime Assets) over the price of two ferries the government-owned organisation has ordered from Clyde Blowers Capital’s Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow. But it did not stop him praising the concept of the national investment bank, which is being spearheaded by Scottish banking heavyweight Benny Higgins.

Mr McColl, who sits on the Scottish Government’s council of economic advisers, noted: “It is absolutely the right thing, and the UK should be doing it as well. I take my hat off to the First Minister pushing this forward, because every other European country has a national investment bank.”

That certainly makes for one less awkward conversation next time the council gets together.

Warm hearts

FINALLY, hats off to the kind-hearted folks at the Kingdom Housing Association. Staff have donated toys and gifts to the Christmas appeal of the Cottage Family Centre, which supports vulnerable children and families in Kirkcaldy and the surrounding areas. The centre has had more than 1,000 referrals from families in need of support this year.