A BUSINESS case is being put together for a major revamp of the Hillend ski centre.
Midlothian Council has revealed proposals to turn the facility into a year-round leisure development.
The project could include a zip wire, new reception building, shops, glamping, freestyle jumping and foodcourts.
If given the go-ahead, Destination Hillend could also generate income that would be ploughed back into council services, it said.
The council is holding a public show of its plans.
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Derek Milligan, culture convener, said "not only would the investment pay for itself , but it could generate additional income that would be invested back into council services such as education, health and social care".
"The project could also create 50 full time jobs.
"We think enhancing the current facilities with the highest zipwire in the UK, the longest Alpine coaster and the indoor climbing and soft play will attract families from all over the country and beyond."
Midlothian Snowsports Centre is hosting a drop-in session between 2pm and 7.30pm on January 28.
The consultation is part of a pre-application notice, further details of which can be found on the Midlothian Council website’s planning portal.
Educational publisher Pearson is on track to meet annual profit guidance as it continues to make progress with a turnaround and efforts to slash its debt pile.
The FTSE 100-listed expects 2018 adjusted operating profit to come in between £540 million and £545m.
Total underlying revenue dipped one per cent year-on-year due to declines in the firm's US business, particularly in higher education courseware.
Pearson added that pressures in the US higher education business will continue in 2019, leading to flat revenue or a fall of up to 5%.
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But the company's cost-efficiency programme is "ahead of plan", Pearson added, with around £130m of cost savings delivered in 2018.
By the end of 2019, Pearson expects to reach annualised cost savings of £330m.
Shares were down over 5% in morning trade at 925.4p.
Chief executive John Fallon said: "There is much still to do, but we are increasingly confident in Pearson's potential to grow and prosper."
For the next financial year, Pearson is pencilling in adjusted operating profit of between £590 million and £640 million.
The group, which has been selling assets such as the Financial Times and The Economist, has been moving towards a focus on the education sector.
Mr Fallon's programme also includes efforts to slash Pearson's debt.
Net debt more than halved in 2018 to around £200m, down from £432m the previous year.
Lloyds Banking Group has announced plans to lend £18 billion to British businesses this year as part of the banking giant's transformation strategy.
The bank said the funds will be used to support entrepreneurs looking to start new companies, micro-businesses seeking to grow and small firms that are planning to trade internationally for the first time.
The funds will also be used to help mid-sized businesses and large, multinational corporations grow further.
The move is part of the lender's three-year strategy, with the group having already pledged to grow its lending to start-ups, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized firms by £6 billion by 2020.
The bank said that since the start of 2011, it has increased net lending to SMEs by 34%.
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