Business

A survey of SMEs across Scotland has found business owners to be in confident mood despite rising costs and funding challenges. The SME survey by Elevator also reveals that Scotland’s SMEs are adopting AI, hiring, and hungry for more support. 

A Glasgow-headquartered family entertainment group has secured a significant funding package from Bank of Scotland to support the next stage of its expansion, including the opening of its second site in England and upgrades to its Scottish venues.

After years of inertia, Scotland is now the only part of Great Britain where non-lawyers cannot own or invest in law firms – a situation that a growing coalition of legal professionals is aiming to change. The ABS Scotland Group, officially launched today with 18 members, is spearheading effor

Retailers are warning of the risks and consequences for Scotland’s high streets from inaction on business rates as other parts of the UK press ahead with permanent rates reductions for shops from April. Both the UK and Welsh governments have recognised retailers pay a disproportionate amount i

Scottish business Phlo, the digital healthtech provider headquartered in Glasgow, employing over 120 people across the UK, has been awarded the HealthTechX Growth Award 2025. The online pharmacy has been recognised for its seamless, patient-focused approach to healthcare and exceptional growth, inno

A renewable energy start-up is preparing to capture opportunities in the fast-growing green hydrogen sector – projected to be worth $230 billion (c. £175bn) globally by 2032 – after receiving support from Business Gateway and through the East Renfrewshire Accelerator (ERA) Programm

An independent report, Scaling Scotland: Building the Engine for the Next 50 Years of Prosperity, by former Skyscanner C-suite executive Shane Corstorphine and a high-level panel of business leaders has addressed what is increasingly recognised as a significant challenge for Scotland’s busines

After nearly three decades in the world of corporate finance, banker Mark Hull has made a radical career change, trading his desk for the outdoors to launch the new Greensleeves Lawn Care franchise in South Glasgow. Originally from Belfast, Mr Hull initially trained as a chartered accountant and wen

A growing number of employers across the capital are committing to paying the real Living Wage, which now sits at £13.45. New numbers released to mark Living Wage Week have revealed that there are now 790 accredited employers, collectively employing over 221,000 workers across Edinburgh.

St Andrews Executive Travel – the only coach operator based in the home of golf – is accelerating growth following significant investment from Bank of Scotland.

A Scottish start-up that began around a kitchen table in Moray is now building a national wellbeing movement, thanks to Business Gateway support and a business model that is turning creativity into community care. When designer, Stuart Cox, and mental health professional, Jean Pryde, launched Brilli

Founded by a powered wheelchair user, Glasgow-based Freedom One Life is targeting new customers in the USA following a funding boost to support the overseas expansion of its manufacturing. The business was born as a result of Alex Papanikolaou’s own experiences of using a powerchair, after bei

Hamilton-based business consultancy Inspirent has announced a strategic partnership with Glasgow IT provider Aspen Solutions to deliver expert IT support for companies. The link up with the Glasgow firm comes as part of Inspirent’s expansion into the private sector with a recently-launched sui

A young entrepreneur from Coatbridge and his dad have attracted 3,000 customers in their first two months of trading after they opened a new mobile food business in September. The pair accessed expert start-up advice and support from Business Gateway to help get their business off the ground. Specks

Scotland experienced the fastest quarter-on-quarter increase in the number of businesses in distress across the UK in Q3 2025, according to the latest Red Flag Alert from Begbies Traynor. In Scotland, levels of advanced or "critical" distress in the latest quarter were particularly stark, rocketing