Tattoo chief headed for top Homecoming role

THE man who led efforts to secure the new £16 million arena at Edinburgh Castle esplanade has been put in charge of Scotland’s second “Homecoming” celebrations.

Tom Chambers has been hired by Scottish Government agency EventScotland to head up the team responsible for the £5.5 million initiative.

To be jointly organised with VisitScotland, which will lead marketing efforts, the year-long drive will coincide with the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn in 2014.

Mr Chambers spent several years at the Tattoo, which raised money from the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Edinburgh City Council for the new spectator stands and corporate hospitality boxes.

Mr Chambers said: “As with Homecoming 2009, collaborative working will be the key to success in 2014, building on existing Homecoming partnerships and those established during the next few years.”

It emerged yesterday that £3m of the overall £5.5m budget was being ringfenced to support Scotland’s events industry.

The pot will be part of an extra £10m in VisitScotland’s budget for 2014-15.