Richard Baker for Glenrothes and Mid Fife

31/08/2026

It's been great to connect with fantastic local organisations such as Kingdom Community Bank before heading back to Westminster.

The group now boasts over 6,000 members, explained Chief Executive Sofia Dogan at the Glenrothes branch in the Kingdom Shopping Centre.

That's testament to the personalised, ethical service the bank offers, promoting saving, budgeting and good financial management.

Affordable loans are available at interest rates much lower than payday lenders and, in a bid to empower young people to recognise exploitation (such as loan sharks) and choose safer alternatives, the bank produced the youth-led film 'Tapped' in conjunction with Fife pupils.

More than this, the bank partners with Fife College and Fife Council in providing payroll savings for employees - and keeps on growing. As well as Glenrothes, Kingdom Community Bank has branches in Methilhill and Dunfermline - and they are about to open a new branch in Cupar. All the very best for the future!

For more information visit https://kingdomcb.org.uk/index.asp

31/08/2026

Dust down those old running shoes - Joe Wickes is heading to the Meedies this Saturday!

Joe Wicks joins parkrun and Brooks Running UK tour at Lochore Meadows on September 5, inspiring all ages to get active. Free, inclusive 5K…

29/08/2026

What a brilliant day at the Kelty Coal Race. Weather held for all the runners and we spectators lapped up all the action! The Scottish Coal Carrying Championship is a unique sporting event and Kelty folk are proud hosts. If you've never been, you're missing out! 🏆

It was also great to have the chance to catch up with Andys Man Club at the event. Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, there are now hundreds of Andys support clubs established across the UK - visit https://andysmanclub.co.uk/groups/ for more info.

Excellent day out - my congratulations to all the organisers 👏

27/08/2026

Guess where I was today? 😉🍟

27/08/2026

Great to catch up with Liz Easton, chair of Pride in Place Buckhaven, Methil & Methilhill, during a visit to Buckhaven Braes - an area which many residents say needs urgent improvement.

What would you like to see there?

26/08/2026

Great opportunity for young people in Levenmouth seeking a new adventure Methil Sea & Royal Marine Cadets - TS Ajax 👍🚣

26/08/2026

The Blitz: A peoples story

Jade Anderson is returning once again to Methil Heritage Centre. You may know her from her previous talks with us which included; the Suffragettes, the real people behind the Peaky Blinders and the Mitford Sisters.

🗓 Saturday 29th August
⏰1pm - 2pm
FREE

This time she is here to share the peoples perspective during the Blitz in London. Using quotes from journals at the time to build the picture of what it was like to be living during this time. One heartbreaking quote from a female journalist living in London (05/09/1940): "How lovely, the day when we don't need to do this", captures the overall sentiment of feelings that were experienced.

Come along and have a listen! More information can be found under 'What's On' 👇
https://www.onfife.com/visit-explore/museums-galleries/methil-heritage-centre/

26/08/2026

I love dogs and would dearly like one to call my own, but that day hasn't arrived ... yet.

But it just so happens my staff do, in fact two of their pups (one in London, one in Glenrothes) are both called Baxter. What were the chances of that?

So to celebrate International Dog Day here are our team mascots: Baxter, Baxter 2.0, and beagles Ludo and Bella (who are always up to mischief, as any beagle owner knows😆)

25/08/2026

Great pic of Navantia UK’s new intake of apprentices at Methil Yard. Since taking over in December 2024, the new owners have invested approx £28m on the site - ensuring Methil can compete for domestic and international contracts and providing fantastic opportunities for young people eager to kickstart their careers in industry.

There are now 75 apprentices at Methil - a reality made possible by the UK Government stepping in to strike a deal with Navantia when Harland and Wolff was in difficulty. I’m proud to have played my part in that rescue deal and will never tire of advocating for the yard’s future.

NEW APPRENTICES WELCOMED AT METHIL YARD

Navantia UK has welcomed 21 new apprentices at its Methil facility.

They start at the yard as part of a major ramp-up in the site’s capability, backed by investment in infrastructure and people.

They join the yard’s existing cohort of 54 apprentices from previous years, taking the total number of apprentices at Methil to 75.

The hires form part of a company-wide intake of 121 apprentices this year, joining the 222 apprentices Navantia UK already employs across its four UK sites of Appledore, Arnish, Belfast and Methil.

The company has set an ambition to hire 500 apprentices by 2030 to support the business’s expansion.

With both Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeships on offer, apprentices can specialise in electrical engineering, fabrication and welding, with Methil also offering apprenticeships in technical computer aided design.

Earlier this year Methil completed the Navantia UK Seahorse ahead of schedule, an £8 million strategic investment now playing a critical role in the construction of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships by transporting ship blocks between Navantia UK’s Appledore and Belfast facilities.

The investment in capability is already paying dividends. Methil has been awarded a competitive international vessel build export contract, for which it is recruiting an additional 120 people and the workforce has already grown from 180 to 260.

Navantia UK recently announced a further £12 million investment in Methil to support improved training facilities, modern machinery, infrastructure improvements and new technology, taking total investment in the yard to £26.7 million since the company acquired the site in January 2025.

Mitchell Barrowman, Apprentice Supervisor at Navantia UK’s Methil yard, said, “Investment in our people and equipment is creating opportunities for young people in Fife, who will play a vital role in the future of UK sovereign shipbuilding and naval construction.

"As Methil continues to expand, we are delivering best-in-class training to our apprentices to prepare the yard for a growing portfolio of work.”

24/08/2026

The best of luck to thousands of students starting or returning to Fife College for the new academic year.

I had the pleasure of meeting Principal Jim Metcalfe last week to talk about his exciting new plans for the Glenrothes Campus, and learn more about the wealth of educational opportunities the college offers, spanning 400 courses from TV and film to engineering and construction.

Fife College makes a huge difference across our Kingdom, not only in providing vital life chances to young people, but through forging partnerships with a whole host of organisations, including local businesses and the third sector.

Under Jim Metcalf’s brilliant leadership, the college’s future is in safe hands.