The production company Betty TV is searching for properties to feature. Previous participants have benefited not only form the business advice from business guru Ruth Watson and selected experts featured, but also from the high profile gained through appearing on the series.

The series follows several diverse country houses over a six month period. Each will be putting into practice advice they will receive from renowned business players, most significantly Ruth Watson who has herself successfully stewarded a number of historic houses.

Their intention is to make a beautiful film about these stunning properties, as well as an enlightening and interesting programme about rural diversification and business.

Joanna Goddard from Estate Life added “Our clients who have previously been involved have found this experience rewarding, informative and inspiring. It can be a lonely job rescuing a country house and shared experiences are invaluable. We are happy to discuss any aspects of this project in confidence with interested parties before submitting their details to the production company.”

 
A full, statutory consultation on the draft Strategy will follow later this year. Further details on the Land Use Strategy are available at www.scotland.gov.uk/landusestrategy, where you can also post comments.
 
In the meantime, workshops are taking place across Scotland.  Senior officials from the Scottish Government or Scottish Ministers will attend each event, and explain the work underway on the Strategy.  The discussions will focus on the key issues to be addressed in the Land Use Strategy, offering the opportunity to bring different perspectives to the debate.  Key points from the proceedings will be recorded and summary notes posted on the website; this material will be used to develop the draft Strategy.
Unless noted otherwise, each event opens 6:30pm for 7pm start, ending 9pm.
 
Monday 15 March – Gatehouse of Fleet – Murray Arms Hotel
Wednesday 17 March – Edinburgh – Scottish Government, Victoria Quay – opens 9am for 9:30am start, ending 2pm
Thursday 18 March – Hawick – Town Hall
Monday 22 March – Inverness – Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
Tuesday 23 March – Aberdeen – Pittodrie Stadium
Wednesday 24 March – Oban – Caledonian Hotel – opens 1:30pm for 2pm start, ending 4pm
Thursday 25 March – Perth – Dewars Centre
Monday 29 March – Stornoway – Caberfeidh Hotel
Tuesday 30 March – Kirkwall – Town Hall
Wednesday 31 March – Lerwick – Shetland Museum
  
Please note that the Edinburgh event will have a longer running time, providing an opportunity for those who wish to take part in a more extended discussion.
 
If you wish to register, please reply to Allan Fraser at allan.fraser@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or on 0131 244 7726, noting your chosen event.  

Please note that space may be limited, places at workshops cannot be guaranteed unless you have registered.  

 
The events are free, with teas and coffees provided.  Further event details will be provided upon registration.
 
Contact

Douglas McLaren
Land Use Strategy Branch | Rural Directorate | The Scottish Government
tel: 0131 244 7670 | email: douglas.mclaren@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

mail: 1A North, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ

More about Saatchi’s Best of Britain:

The BBC and Charles Saatchi will attempt to discover the next Damien Hirst or Tracey Emin in a televised talent search. The BBC2 series, Saatchi’s Best of British, is inviting aspiring artists to apply. Six finalists will be selected to attend an intensive art school, where they will be tutored by top contemporary artists. Perhaps in anticipation of public hostility that has often surrounded the world of modern art, the show’s executive producer, Peter Dale, has defended the channel’s decision to promote the art form. He said: “The programme offers a fascinating insight into the minds that create the work.”
Press Association

Any establishment that does not have a personal licence holder nominated as a designated premises manager (DPM) and ntoed on their premises licence - all by 31 August - will not be able to serve alcohol after that date. Establishments will not be able to sell alcohol after 31 August, 2009 unless:

• The premises licence or certified copy is on the premises
• The summary of the premises licence is on prominent display on the premises
• The premises licence has the name of the Designated Premises Manager (DPM) on it.
• To be DPM, that person must have:
• • passed the relevant 2005 Act training
  • had the training certificate granted
  • applied to the licensing board where they reside for a personal licence.  Only after the personal licence has been received from the board can the person apply to be designated a DPM
• In addition, if the DPM is not on the premises licence by 1 December 2009, the licence is revoked. There is no appeal mechanism. If revoked, it is likely to take 4/6 months to apply for a new premises licence (which will be costly) and the application will be subject to an overprovision assessemnt; any person anywhere can object to the application.

Some boards have already indicated that unless they receive personal licence applications before the end of June, they will be unlikely to be able to process the applications in time. In that event, the premises will not be able to serve alcohol after 31 August.

Square Up Media is a London-based publishing and events company catering for the needs of high net worth individuals in various City professions. Our magazines  Square Mile, Hedge and The Bench Mark  all represent an ideal mixture of work and play, with editorial tailored specifcially to their unique readerships. With years of experience producing luxury publications for a niche audience, Square Up Media offers direct and exclusive access to the City of London.

Underlining the success of this brand new series the production company Betty TV has already enlisted the support of Estate Life to find submissions for filming series two.

The series will follow several diverse country houses over a six month period. Each will be putting into practice advice they will receive from a renowned business person, who has themselves successfully stewarded a number of historic houses.

Their intention is to make a beautiful film about these stunning properties, as well as an enlightening and interesting programme about rural diversification and business.

If you have a country house and are considering embarking upon a new diversification, preservation or development project get in touch detailing your location and description of your plans along with some photos.

Joanna Goddard from Estate Life added our clients involved in series one have found this experience rewarding informative and inspiring. It can be a lonely job rescuing a country house and shared experiences are invaluable. We are happy to discuss any aspects of this project in confidence with interested parties before submitting their details to the production company.

This exciting new series follows the fortunes of stately British homes as owners seek to diversify and raise the revenue they need to survive the 21st century.

Renowned businesswoman and trouble shooter, Ruth Watson (The Hotel Inspector Channel 5) enlists the help of Estate Life to explore the prospect of exclusive hire for Scottish Borders based Chesters Country House rescue will be screened later this year.

Joanna Goddard, Director of Estate Life reported “Chesters is a new hidden gem, yet to ‘go live’ in the market place. Many of our clients who are considering a similar move into corporate hire but are not yet ready for launch will watch with anticipation to see the feedback from the first trial at Chesters.”

Harburn House, West Lothian, Scotland provided the spectacular backdrop for a perfect summer ball of opulence and elegance when they played host to The Enchanted Garden Ball in aid of the MS Society Scotland.

Bestselling author and patron of the charity, J K Rowling hosted the evening’s festivities.

A beautiful Georgian mansion, Harburn House, looked resplendent in the evening light and guests were treated to an array of colour from the extensive and well tended grounds and the rhododendron bushes surrounding the front lawn as they sipped champagne and enjoyed delicious canapes.

Guests were treated to a sumptuous banquet prepared by Scottish caterers, Wilde Thyme; live jazz from Scottish musicians Graeme Stephen and Martin Kershaw and an opportunity to find one of three Hamilton & Inches diamonds, worth £1,250, hidden amongst 250 chocolate boxes. The evening culminated in a spectacular fire dance finale by dance company, Diverse Moves.

The auction alone which was conducted by Sotheby’s auctioneer, Lord Harry Dalmeny, raised a fantastic £126,000.

Auction prizes featured several money-can’t-buy exclusive items including a week’s holiday to Sir Richard Branson’s private Necker Island, a personal styling and shopping trip with Gok Wan, VIP tickets to the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, a photo shoot with world renowned JP Masclet, 2 Medals to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and the opportunity to become immortalised as a witch or wizard in a portrait hung in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Sarah Winnington- Ingram, Marketing and Events Manager for Harburn House said: “Harburn was delighted to host The Enchanted Garden Ball for the MS Society Scotland. It was a truly magical evening and the estate provided the perfect backdrop for the summertime theme. It’s wonderful also to know that so much money was raised for the MS Society Scotland  it was a very special evening. “