Ahead of the Scottish Budget in January 2026, ACCA, which has 11,000 members and students in Scotland employs over 600 at its global operations centre in Glasgow, has outlined its priorities and concerns.

Opportunities and training for young people was raised as a key concern by ACCA. As employers struggle to increase hiring, as evidenced in ACCA’s most recent global economic survey where the employment index fell to its lowest ever level, pressure on job opportunities is likely to be felt most by young people. Reduced graduate and entry level roles, combined with increased employment cost pressures on employers, are leaving young people stuck in limbo, making it more important to support employers to create job opportunities for young people.

Susan Love, Strategic Engagement Lead for Scotland, ACCA, said: “In Scotland, funding for apprenticeships remains less competitive than England. To encourage more people into skilled work long-term, the Scottish government must invest in apprenticeship funding. We need to focus on training and employment as a lifetime investment, one that has benefits for businesses and employees alike. 

“While we recognise ongoing reform to Scotland’s skills system, this process is slow. Increasing access to funding would boost the number of potential apprenticeship places, while encouraging employers to consider hiring apprentices, giving young people a much-needed foothold on the career ladder.”

A challenging economic environment of higher employment costs and limited growth has resulted in businesses reducing headcount, freezing growth plans, or otherwise taking a ‘wait and see’ approach.

ACCA Scotland members noted that an ‘unsettled’ and turbulent landscape has made planning ahead difficult for most and even impossible for some small businesses. This was underlined at a recent roundtable discussion, noting an overwhelming ‘negative sentiment’ about the economy.

Love added: “Feedback from our members could not be clearer about the impact of rising costs on business. The rise in Employers’ National Insurance Contributions has undoubtedly increased employment costs for many firms, compounded by rises in the National Living Wage. It is crucial to avoid further cost increases for Scottish firms and to consider where costs can be alleviated, for example by maintaining current rate reliefs for small businesses and considering where further support can be extended.” 

ACCA has also called for the Scottish Parliament to introduce a Finance Bill to address amendments to tax legislation. While ACCA welcomed the fact the Scottish Government has committed to no further increases in Income Tax and no new tax bands for the remainder of the Parliament, they also highlighted the complexity of the Scottish tax landscape and urged the Cabinet Secretary to avoid any further fiscal drag on income tax rates in Scotland.