Business

A Scottish dog chaperone business has seen wedding bookings double that of the previous year.

Scottish businesses are raising prices and hiring fewer staff in response to growing financial pressures as a result of the increase in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs), according to the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde. The latest edition of its quarterl

The percentage of Scottish small businesses predicting growth has fallen to a four-year low (29%), according to new figures from Novuna Business Finance.  The current position stands in stark contrast to last summer, which saw a period of stability in Scottish growth outlook.

A £1.7 million project to help businesses grow in Shetland secured up to £486,956 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Whiteness-based building firm, G A Leask Builders has purchased a large warehouse in Lerwick. A project to convert the premises into four units is und

The number of growing UK sectors held steady in March, according to the latest Bank of Scotland UK Sector Tracker. Compiled using exclusive PMI survey data from around 1,300 private sector companies (between 12-27 March), the report shows that four sectors saw output growth, the same number as in Fe

A branding designer and former DJ-turned-beekeeper is creating a buzz with the launch of a small-batch honey business in the northeast Highlands. Dan Price is set to unveil Fableman’s Highland Honey this spring, with the first batch expected to be ready by the end of summer. Based on a three-a

March’s Royal Bank of Scotland UK Regional Growth Tracker showed improved business growth in more regions of the UK at the end of Q1 – but the majority are still being affected by wider economic uncertainty. The Tracker – which surveyed businesses operating in the manufacturing and

Scottish Business Minister Richard Lochhead has embarked on a visit to China and Japan to strengthen economic, social, and cultural links, reinforcing that Scotland is open for business. During the trip, he will engage with government officials, potential investors, and key companies. The Minis

Initial consultation on a new Economic Development Strategy for East Dunbartonshire has been extended. Early engagement is taking place to help guide a plan to support jobs, productivity, investment, access to goods and services, and community wealth.

Aberdeen City Council has allocated over £1 million in grants to bolster local businesses and organisations, aiming to stimulate community development The council’s Finance and Resources Committee yesterday (Wednesday 26 March) agreed the money for the projects which include Tall Ships e

More than half of the £300 million pledged at the start of the Tay Cities Region Deal (TCRD) has been successfully distributed to projects across the region. As the deal marks its half-way milestone, the figures are revealed in the 2023/2024 Annual Report published today.

Firms occupying larger premises in Scotland are set to pay £54.7 million more than their equivalent-sized counterparts down south in the coming year, from 1 April. The figures have prompted the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) to reiterate its call for rates parity with England and for the int

Business founders, investors and advisers from across Scotland gathered together at the latest No Diversity, No Deal event last night to demystify the scale-up process for female entrepreneurs.

Industry research has revealed that UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are repaying debt at a rate 20 times higher than pre-pandemic levels, prompting a government review. Despite increased financial providers since 2008, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is concerned about

Loose Ends, a Lerwick-based knitting, yarn, and haberdashery shop, has more than doubled its turnover after receiving support from Business Gateway. The Commercial Street retailer, a vital resource for Shetland's textile makers and crafters, offers a wide range of products, including fabrics, knitti