In this issue:
What's new?
MyOptions is moving to HR Online
In case you missed the news, MyOptions is moving to HR Online in January, after the holidays. This is to make it easier to access all your HR information in one handy place.
We’ve held a number of training sessions but don’t worry if you have missed these, there are a couple before Christmas, and we are planning more in the New Year. We’ll share more details after the holidays. In the meantime, you can come along to our final sessions of the year. Details of how to join the meetings are included in the mandatory training email you received earlier this month.
Employees Training Session > Monday 22nd December 2025 – 11:00-12:00.
Managers Training Session > Tuesday 23rd December 2025 – 10:00 to 11:15.
For more information please contact HRdevelopmentenquiries@argyll-bute.gov.uk.
Coming up
Coming soon – a new online HR helpdesk
To make it easier for you to access the HR help you need, a new online HR helpdesk is launching in February 2026. This replaces multiple email addresses with a single form that routes your enquiry to the right team.
During February, current HR and OD email addresses will be phased out. You’ll still be able to call HR contacts as this will remain unchanged. We’ll share more details early next year.
Thanks for your support as we continue to improve how we work together.
The HR and OD Digital Project Team
Congratulations
Our Catering Teams have achieved the Soil Association’s Food for Life Bronze Award for the 12th time.
This fantastic achievement demonstrates their commitment to providing healthy, sustainable, and locally sourced meals for children across Argyll and Bute. It reflects the hard work and dedication of the teams.
Congratulations to our amazing Registrars, who have been shortlisted as finalists for the 10th Annual Confetti Wedding Awards! The awards ceremony takes place in January 2026 – good luck team!
Earlier this year the Council won the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award, the highest honour for employers who demonstrate exceptional support for the Armed Forces Community.
Last month, Councillors William Sinclair and Jan Brown along with Jane Fowler, Head of Customer Support Services received the award at an event in Perth.
Here in the council, we advocate for the Armed Forces Covenant, a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families are treated fairly.
We also have our own employee-led community group for colleagues who have served as a regular or reservist. If you would like to join, complete the Veterans’ Community Pilot sign-up form.
Well done to Alan Stephen, IT engineer, for winning Pippa’s Christmas eCard competition with his fantastic wintery photo of Kilmory.
Happy Christmas
Sprout-standing effort
If you’re starting to think about what to have for your Christmas dinner, spare a thought for our hard-working Catering Teams. This year, they have served 8,000 school Christmas lunches and probably can’t face looking at any more sprouts!
In case you’re wondering what 8,000 lunches look like, here’s the rundown:
- 360kg of Brussel sprouts
- 983kg of turkey
- 17,600 pigs in blankets
- 9,440 stuffing balls
- 3,432 chocolate coated Christmas trees
Well done to all the teams for a fantastic job well done.
A flying visit from Santa
Our staff at Oban Airport got into the Christmas spirit when Santa made a surprise landing!
He took a break from his busy schedule to meet some very lucky children (and a few grown-ups too!)
The reindeer were resting up for the big night, so Santa arrived in style—by plane! What an unforgettable day filled with smiles, excitement, and festive cheer. Well done to Oban Winter Festival, Connel Flying Club, and everyone at the airport who made it happen.
Keep the cheer near
If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift, help support your local businesses.
Across Argyll and Bute, you’ll find everything you need to make Christmas special from handcrafted gifts to delicious treats. Skip the crowds this year and give your local businesses a boost.
Recycling over the festive period
Did you know, 125,000 tonnes of packaging is generated over Christmas, including advent calendar trays, sweetie wrappers, and large gift boxes?
Recycling might not be your main thought over the festive season, but it’s a good time to think about it and use it as way of having a clear out. We’ll probably be overwhelmed with things to recycle over the Christmas period, whether it’s packaging, old items replaced with new ones, or just gifts that we don’t really need. Zero Waste Scotland has great ideas for enjoying a sustainable Christmas, from gifts, to freezing leftovers safely, and general recycling.
You can also find more information on how to recycle where you live.
Don’t forget, your bin collection dates might change over Christmas and New Year, so head over to the Council website to check. You’ll also be able to download your 2026 bin calendar.
Meet your colleagues
An engineer’s life for me
Every day and every project is different if you are one of the Council’s civil engineers.
The variety of work provides a great opportunity for graduates who can benefit from on-the-job training offered by the Council, leading to further Institution of Civil Engineering recognised qualifications. John McGeeney joined the Council as a graduate in 2015 and is now a Senior Chartered Engineer.
John explains: “Part of the ICE training scheme requires your to do a variety of activities; design, inspection and construction. In some jobs, you do the same thing every day. Here, every project is different and real life is very different from theory. We provide solutions for Argyll and Bute’s 900 bridges, retaining walls, three reservoirs, coastal and flood defences, against damage resulting from aging structures (some are over 250 years old) and the effects of climate change.
“We can be out on boats inspecting piers and harbours for small repairs or overseeing project work tens of millions of pounds, like the work at Iona breakwater. Everyone gets to participate in projects.
“After a major storm, where everything happens at once and there’s lots of damage, we have to try and visit as many sites as possible to see where is safe. It’s important to try and keep as much of the network running while doing work. Sometimes there is no other diversion, so you can’t just close a road – you have to find another solution to keep access for communities.
“Each of our 900 bridges need a general inspection every two years and a principal one every six years. For some bridges, we have to hire in an underbridge vehicle with a folding platform that allows you to get underneath to test the masonry, concrete or steel to see if there are any defects.
“We also have to do confined space inspections, for checking out culverts under roads, which involves special training with gas monitors and rescue apparatus. In case the worst should happen, we’re equipped to rescue our colleagues.
Occasionally we have the opportunity to visit local schools to promote civil engineering and also encourage job prospects within the Council, which brings its own challenges, but is always rewarding.
“My favourite job to date has been working on Kilbridemore Bridge. It was a weight restricted masonry arch bridge that was replaced with an unrestricted structure that still has the old bridge encapsulated within it. I project managed the whole process; from design and construction to working with the community and landowners. We completed a good value solution, on budget. If you’re a consultant, it’s just another job. When you live and work here, you have the satisfaction of seeing people benefit from what you do.”
Out and about
Recently, Andy Summers, Head of Road and Infrastructure Services, has been taking time to get to know Argyll and Bute, having this year been appointed to his new role with us. Essential to getting to know the nuts and bolts of the area has been spending time with and learning from the people who deliver services within the Road and Infrastructure team.
Andy said “I’ve enjoyed visiting Iona, Islay, and Jura for the first time to experience the particular challenges that we have in building and maintaining facilities and infrastructure there. And a favourite was visiting Lismore, Luing, Seil and Easdale to get an update on our council operated ferries. It reminded me what a beautiful but incredibly vulnerable part of the world that we work in. I’ve also been reminded of the commitment and hard work of our teams on the front line and have really appreciated the welcome that they’ve given me at our depot meetings.
These visits have been invaluable in shaping my priorities and helping me appreciate the dedication and expertise within the service, and I’m looking forward to using the feedback I’ve received to good use in the future.”
From Rothesay to the Spanish City
With works progressing to restore Rothesay Pavilion and a proposed opening in 2027, a visit to the Spanish City, a similar venue in Whitely Bay proved invaluable for those involved with the project.
Robertson Construction Group, our lead contractors on the Pavilion restoration are also responsible for the Spanish City, an iconic venue in the North East of England. Built in 1910, the building fell into disrepair and remained closed for almost 20 years before North Tyneside Council embarked on an ambitious restoration project which formed the centrepiece of wider regeneration in Whitely Bay.
The trip was a great opportunity to view a similar, local authority owned heritage venue and discuss some of the challenges and opportunities associated with running it.
The Spanish City project has provided a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Whitley Bay and demonstrates how investment in local built heritage can play a vital role in supporting community wellbeing whilst unlocking new economic opportunities. Visit spanishcity.co.uk for further information.
The visit was also an opportunity for the Council to discuss a number of other priority areas for investment including new schools, tourism opportunities in Argyll and Bute, social housing, economic development and regeneration opportunities.
The visit was attended by Kirsty Flannagan, Douglas Hendry, Ross McLaughlin, David Logan and Jonathan Welch from the Council with Julie Tait and David McNee from the Rothesay Pavilion Charity.
Connect for Success
What are you planning to do that’s new in 2026?
As we look ahead to 2026 it’s the time to ask – what’s new for you next year? Perhaps you will hone a new skill, develop a project or introduce a fresh idea that will transform the way you work, one that you know will make a difference to you or the people around you.
Connect for Success is all about developing and recognising new ways of working across services, supporting changes that help us do our jobs. Together, we’re building a council that’s future fit, one that thrives on collaboration, learning, using the right technology in the right way and change.
Over the past year we’ve been sharing inspiring stories about colleagues in various roles who have embraced new ideas and projects, take a look Connect for Success in action.
If you or your team are planning a new way of working for next year, get in touch so we can share your successes across the council. Your work could spark the next big idea for someone else!
Training opportunities and useful resources
Cut the grind and save time with Copilot Chat
Are you looking for ways to save time on tasks that take up your time? Did you know we all have access to Copilot Chat, an AI-powered assistant? This handy tool works with Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams and helps streamline tasks and free up time for you.
How can Copilot help me?
- Create reports, emails and presentations in minutes
- Turn long documents or meeting notes into clear, concise summaries
- Analyse spreadsheets and generate insights without complex formulas
Just now we can access a limited version of Copilot Chat via the main Microsoft 365 homepage. Give this a go and see what it can do for you.
The ICT team is currently exploring if a fully licensed version would benefit the way we work and have launched a pilot with a group of colleagues to test these benefits.
Remember that you still need to exercise caution and common sense.
Keep safe online
When using any AI software, it’s important not to include any council information that is confidential, personal, or financial. This is essential to protect data belonging to the council and our customers.
To help you, we have an AI Policy. This ensures that your AI usage is ethical and complies with relevant laws, regulations, and council policies.
There’s no denying Copilot can save you time but it’s not always accurate and there can be a shift in tone and language that doesn’t read right. An element of common sense is still required so always double check the results before sharing.
You can find more guidance on MyCouncilWorks and on the main M365 guidance pages.
Newsflashes from December
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to Cascade this year. We hope you have a lovely Christmas.
The Comms Team