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Business confidence in Scotland has experienced a slight decline quarter-on-quarter, according to the latest ICAEW Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) for Q4 2024. Despite this dip, confidence remains significantly higher than the UK average, standing at 13.1 compared to 0.2 nationally.

Economic and business conditions and expectations were weak at the end of 2024, leading to challenges to finding the pathway to growth in 2025, according to the Fraser of Allander Institute. Despite this, the institute's latest quarterly economic assessment reveals current expectations are that grow

Frasers Group is continuing its transformation of Overgate Shopping Centre in Dundee at pace as the firm announced the opening of its new 100,000 sq. ft FRASERS concept store is scheduled for May 2025.

Scotland's private sector ends the year with a renewed decrease in output, according to the Royal Bank of Scotland Scotland Growth Tracker. The seasonally adjusted index measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors.

The UK’s small and medium-sized businesses are bracing for cost increases this year, according to new research from SME lender iwoca. iwoca’s annual SME Outlook, based on a survey of SME owners, shows that mounting business running costs tops the list of pressure points going into 2025,

Chief financial officers (CFOs) are prioritising cost reduction in the face of falling business optimism, which has reached a two-year low in Q4, according to Deloitte. The Big Four firm's latest survey of UK CFOs has shows that a net 26% of CFOs are feeling more pessimistic about their business pro

Thorntons has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of two new partners, one an internal promotion and the other a lateral hire. Rachel Anderson, based in St Andrews, is promoted to private client partner and Jennifer Gallagher joins the firm’s Dundee team as a family law partn

The shortest-serving Prime Minister in UK history, Liz Truss, has taken legal action against Sir Keir Starmer over his claims that she "crashed the economy". According to The Telegraph, a cease and desist letter sent to the sitting prime minister by lawyers acting for Ms Truss claims his statements

William Rankine discusses the impacts of recent events on the leisure sector, and analyses trends and opportunities within specific sub-sectors. The leisure sector has been through huge amounts of change since the turn of the decade. It was not so long ago that hotels, leisure parks and resorts, and

RSM UK has appointed Lisa Macpherson-Fletcher as tax partner in the private client advisory team. Based in the firm's Edinburgh office, Ms Macpherson-Fletcher is a Chartered Tax Adviser with over 20 years’ experience advising clients from a range of industries and sectors in succession and est

Investment volumes in Scotland’s commercial property market bounced back last year, up 30% on the previous 12 months, as interest rates began to fall and a decisive election result boosted the UK’s status as a safe haven, according to analysis from Knight Frank. 

Glasgow-based Barrhead Travel has enjoyed record-breaking sales for the second year running, with 2024 trading up 13% on its previous best year in 2023. The travel agency group, which will celebrate its 50th year in business during 2025, reports consistent monthly sales exceeding those of the previo

Scottish design agency Fifth House has expanded its operations into the Middle East following a financial boost from Midlothian Council Local Business Support funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Fifth House has officially opened for business in Dub

As macro events have continued to dominate in 2024, Paul Diggle, chief economist at abrdn, outlines the five key themes investors should watch in the coming year. We expect the Federal Reserve (Fed) to cut to a higher terminal rate and now see the rate cutting cycle stalling at a fed funds rate of 3

The Scottish Government has announced a package of measures to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, to will be delivered next year with funding in the draft Scottish Budget 2025/26. As part of £15 million investment, at least £4m will be invested to expand the number of wo