News

A new report highlights the success of Scottish companies which attended the world expo in Japan, generating orders for sectors including offshore wind, gaming, health technology and consumer products. Business delegations to Scotland Day showcase events at Expo 2025 Osaka have reported £23 mi

Scottish business confidence saw a marginal increase in January, rising one point to 37% according to the latest Bank of Scotland Business Barometer. This growth was driven by a significant 15-point surge in firms' confidence regarding their own trading prospects, reaching 53%. When taken alongside

Scottish bid and tender expert Andrew Morrison has joined forces with Glasgow-based specialist Chris Denyer to launch a new company they plan to make the “Waitrose of bidding”. The new Edinburgh-headquartered venture, Aspire Bidding, comes just eight months after Mr Morrison sold Bu

Santander has announced it plans to close a further two of its branches in Scotland, as part of a total 44 closures across the UK in 2026 and into early 2027. The two Scottish locations include the Kirkintilloch branch in East Dunbartonshire, set to shut on 29 April, and the Stranraer site in Dumfri

The global economy is expected to grow at a reasonable but not particularly exciting pace again this year, supported by easier monetary policy, fiscal stimulus in key economies and the continued artificial intelligence (AI) boom, but important downside risks remain in a volatile and unpredictable gl

Cash ISAs experienced a record year in 2025 as savers funnelled £57 billion into these accounts, according to the latest Bank of England figures. This surge represents the highest annual inflow in a decade, vastly outstripping the activity seen since the allowance rose to £20,000 in 2017

The Scottish Chambers of Commerce has welcomed the news that China has reduced import duty on Scottish whisky, as part of a package of measures which removes barriers between the UK and the world’s largest market. Described by PM Sir Keir Starmer as “the jewel in Scotland’s crown",

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has issued an urgent plea to political candidates ahead of the May Holyrood election, warning that current tax laws are penalising the preservation of the nation’s historic architecture.

Financial services is undergoing one of the most significant periods of change in decades. Technology is advancing at pace, new regulations are emerging, and organisations of every size are wrestling with how to build the skills needed to keep up.  In response to this, the Financial Regulation

Pre-tax profits at Perthshire plant hire giant Morris Leslie Holdings more than doubled to £5.7 million for the year ending 30 April 2025, up from £2.6m the previous year, though directors cautioned that much of this increase was driven by property revaluations. The West Kinfauns-based g

Scottish Friendly has launched a new community hub on its website, bringing together the organisation’s work with partners who share its commitment to helping young people build confidence, develop key skills and access meaningful support. At the heart of the hub is Scottish Friendly’s b

Stuart Black, HIE chief executive, visited Tokyo, Seoul and Guangzhou last week to meet with key contacts and existing and potential investors. The trip was organised by Scottish Development International (SDI) teams based in the Asia Pacific region. It included meetings and factory tours with compa

Nearly 400 millionaires and billionaires from 24 countries have signed an open letter titled "Time to Win", urging world leaders to curb rampant inequality by taxing the super-rich. Signatories including actor Mark Ruffalo and Disney heirs Abby and Tim Disney argue that extreme wealth concentration

Scottish entrepreneur and investor Veenoo Sharma has unveiled The Power Diaspora Forum (TPDF), a new global platform designed to give women greater access to capital, influence and decision-making power, at the Houses of Parliament earlier this month. The unveiling took place as part of the UK Forum

Demand for commercial property in Scotland edged up in the last quarter of 2025 according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) commercial property monitor, and, despite clear challenges remaining, surveyors appear cautiously optimistic for both rents and capital values this