Spotlight on Leith 6th Edition - October/November 2010

SP

TLIGHT

ON LEITH

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2010 GET LEITH ONLINE FOR CHRISTMAS!

FREE ADVISORY SERVICE LAUNCHES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AT LEITH BUSINESS HUB With more customers than ever buying or researching their purchases online, there has never been a better time for businesses to create a company website.

A new pilot project for the Leith area Get Leith Online will be set up to support and advise businesses looking to start up a website and highlight how crucial it can be to promoting a business today.

From sole traders, to independent stores, restaurants or services, the scheme will offer something for everyone interested in heightening their online presence.

Get Leith Online is being pioneered as a partnership between the Leith Development Group and locally based web company, Pixel Web Studio.

It begins with a free workshop on Wednesday 17 November 2010 at McDonald Road Library, which will see owner Karolina Awizen - who has benefited from Business Gateway courses at McDonald Road Library - share her expertise on getting started from the ground up. She will also highlight free ways to publicise your businesses on the internet using channels including facebook, twitter and LinkedIn. Pixel Web Studio, who provide individual packages including web design, internet marketing, graphic design and printing, have already helped several other Leith based businesses – two of which will be on hand at the workshop to share their experiences.

Graham Russell, from the ‘I Love Leith’ Campaign commented: “It’s great that a local company is willing to help other businesses. Getting on-line is important to businesses as so many people use the internet to shop - and it will help your company stand out from the rest.

In addition getting your own website is not as expensive as you may think, especially if you consider the financial and promotional benefits.”

For more on Pixel Web Studio please visit www.pixelwebstudio.co.uk

To find out more and book a place at the event please call: Dany Brewer on 0131 220 0003 or email dany@burtgreener.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT ON…NEIGHBOURHOOD FOODS

SIGN OF THE TIMES…NEW WELCOME TO LEITH SIGN UNVEILED

There’s something that’s still heartwarming about knowing that a local business uses local produce and suppliers to offer tasty treats. Leith is full of companies who do just that, from recreating the era of the greengrocer to running friendly neighborhood delis, we spotlight two businesses in the area you should know about…

With a rich history dating back centuries, Leith has an impressive array of achievements under its belt. For starters, the first known golf course was on Leith Links. Also Mary Queen of Scots once ruled the nation from a palace on Quality Lane plus the area had a free hospital service from 1777, with beds sponsored by local shops. More recently artist Edward Paolozzi and author Irvine Welsh have raised the area’s profile, with international visitors, as well as Leither’s born and bred, drawn to the historic port.

TATTIE SHAWS Famous greengrocer Tattie Shaws has been a landmark on Leith Walk since it opened its doors fifteen years ago.

Stacked to the rafters with fresh fruit and vegetables, the establishment is a one-stop shop for produce and culinary ingredients. Proprietor James Welby attributes the shop’s success to the commitment of his loyal customer base, commenting: “Our customers are fantastic. We have people of all ages and nationalities buy from us and they are always impressed by the range and quality of stock we have. We also urge them to ‘Help Tattie Shaws save the World’ by recycling their carrier bags. We sold over a thousand branded totes which you can still see on the streets and many customers now come in to leave their excess bags for others to use.”

Tattie Shaws also plays an active role in the local community, undertaking a recent project with deli Embo which was an eye opener for pupils at Leith Walk primary. Students were invited to the shop to discover their ingredients, before going into the kitchen at Embo to witness them being used in mouthwatering dishes.

ROCKSALT & RELISH Callum Morrison owns Rocksalt on Constitution Street and Relish Deli, round the corner on Commercial Street. Rocksalt’s ornate Georgian façade masks a cosy, low key atmosphere, perfect for a New York style brunch or comforting soups and stews at lunchtime.

Callum is committed to using fresh ingredients which retain the character of the area – meat will come from the butchers over the road and the dishes are all homemade where possible. He comments: “I saw a real gap in the market when we opened Relish - there were lots of high quality restaurants in the area, but we wanted to do something more community. I used to live in Brooklyn, New York, which accessible to everyone. We feel is full of a huge range of different, creative people. In it’s been welcomed by the local many ways I think Leith today embodies this spirit.”

Now visitors to Leith Walk may notice something different, in the form of a new Welcome to Leith sign. Installed through the I Love Leith partnership, which is run by the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh Trams and Business Gateway, the nautically themed sign is positioned at the historic boundary between Edinburgh and Leith – at the top of Pilrig Street.

Local business Sign Directory were commissioned to undertake the eye-catching design, which will tempt people to discover the eclectic shops, restaurants and bars Leith has on offer today.

Unveiled by the Lord Provost Cllr George Grubb in September, the event was well attended by locals, media and pupils from Leith Academy - who even sang a rendition of Sunshine on Leith - which marked the occasion in style.

STOP PRESS! - ARTWORK IN THE CITY TO TRANSFORM EMPTY SHOP FRONTS They’ve done it in London, Paris and New York – now empty Leith shopfronts are due to be transformed with vivid artwork from Scottish artists. Several locations in the Leith area have been identified as suitable to be turned into mini galleries over the winter period, so, as they say – “watch this space!”

‘£EITH DECIDES’

A NEW WAY OF DECIDING HOW PUBLIC MONEY IS SPENT - 27TH NOVEMBER ‘£eith Decides’ is an exciting new way of allocating public funds letting people in the community, make decisions on where much needed grants are allocated. Groups that benefit from funding could be parent and toddler groups, social clubs, dance or music groups, garden clubs, etc. A Steering Group, with strong community representation, is driving the project forward.

On Saturday, 27 November 2010, an event will be held at Leith Academy School at 1.00 pm, inviting everyone who lives or works in Leith to come along and make the decision on allocating £16,600 of Community Grants to Community Groups wishing to carry out projects in Leith. Applicants will give short presentations and attendees will then score each project. Those with the highest scores will be made an award. It’s a great chance to have a say and make a difference in the community.

LEITH ACADEMY FLY THE FLAG ON THEIR 450TH ANNIVERSARY

Leith Academy can now fly its flag again thanks to the generosity of the Leith Business Association which has gifted the Academy with its own flag. Leith Academy’s emblem is nearly identical to the original Port of Leith flag which used to fly over the port and even predates the Saltire.

Local businessman Gordon Burgess presented the school with a replica 5ft x 4ft hand embroidered Leith Academy flag at their 450th anniversary celebrations this October.

Leith lost its right to fly the Port of Leith flag when it merged with Edinburgh back in 1920 and whilst studying the history of the area in their Modern Studies classes, students from Leith Academy were inspired to start a petition to campaign for the Port of Leith flag to be flown again, for the benefit of the local community.

In June of this year the students - along with Headteacher Jack Simpson, Modern Studies Department Head Nadia Steele and local writer Alex Wilson - attended a ceremony at the Edinburgh City Chambers, handing over hundreds of signatures in the support of restoring the historic flag to Leith.

Nadia Steele, Modern Studies Department Head at Leith Academy said: “It’s fantastic that the pupils have driven such a powerful campaign to reclaim their heritage. They have become enthralled in the history of their area and it’s great to see it come for them today.

Our Headteacher Mr Simpson and the Deputy Lord Provost have been extremely supportive of the campaign - and with Leith Academy turning 450 years old this year it’s poignant that we can mark our celebratory year with us having our own flag again. We are hoping that Lord Lyon King of Arms will grant permission in the near future for the Port of Leith flag to be flown across Leith.”