Scottish businesses are making upskilling their focus for 2026, according to new research from Bank of Scotland’s Business Barometer. In the year ahead, nearly half (46%) of Scottish businesses will be focussing on upskilling colleagues. Another 44% will be looking to enhance their use of tech
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Scottish manufacturers are preparing for a wave of M&A and fresh investment in supply chain resilience in 2026, according FRP Advisory. Of the Scottish manufacturing senior decision makers polled for FRP’s new report The Manufacturing Agenda, nearly a third said they expect their boards to
Archaeologists in Lower Saxony have confirmed the discovery of a significant Roman-era hoard near Borsum, comprising 450 silver coins, several silver bars, a single gold coin, and a gold ring. The recovery of the find, which dates to the early Roman Imperial period, was overseen by Sebastian Messal,
Diageo’s flagship hospitality skills programme, Learning for Life, has marked another strong year, supporting 838 new participants across the UK into rewarding careers in the hospitality industry.
Visa has confirmed it remains on schedule to deliver secure, personalised AI-enabled commerce to consumers by early 2026, signalling a major evolution in online retail. This aligns with a significant shift in consumer behaviour, as new research indicates that nearly half of US shoppers now utilise A
Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust (EWIT) has convened a shareholder meeting for 20 January to address a renewed challenge from New York hedge fund Saba Capital Management. The trust, managed by Baillie Gifford, is strongly urging investors to reject Saba's proposal to oust the current board and i
Edinburgh-based Sofant Technologies has secured £6.25 million in an equity funding round led by EMV Capital Partners, with additional participation from Scottish Enterprise. This significant financial injection marks a pivotal shift for the company as it transitions from an extended research a
Scottish Financial News has recorded a year of robust expansion, increasing its readership and expanding its social media presence. The publication recently surpassed the significant milestone of 10,000 followers on LinkedIn and is currently on track to reach 11,000 in the coming months. In a m
The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is implementing significant changes designed to provide businesses with increased clarity regarding card payment fees. These measures stem from a market review which concluded that Mastercard and Visa face insufficient competition, leading to rising fees and uncer
The UK government has announced a significant reversal on its inheritance tax policy for family farms, raising the tax-free threshold for agricultural and business property from £1 million to £2.5m. Experts at Johnston Carmichael have characterised the decision as an "early Christmas pre
Over the course of 2025, Scottish Financial News published more than 240 articles in our popular And finally section – sharing offbeat and weird financial and business news stories from around the world. But what were the most popular? Read on to find our most-read And finallys of 2025.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced she will deliver her Spring Statement on 3 March, providing an update on the UK’s economy and public finances. She has instructed the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to prepare an economic and fiscal forecast to accompany the statement on the same
Elizabeth Pirrie, the CEO of the business incubator AccelerateHER, has acquired full ownership of the company. Having served as chief executive since 2022, Ms Pirrie described the acquisition as "both a continuation and a new chapter". She has not disclosed specific details regarding the transaction
Denise Coates, the billionaire founder and chief executive of Bet365, secured a total remuneration package exceeding £260.8 million for the financial year ending in March. This figure represents a 65% year-on-year increase from £150m, comprised of a £104m base salary and a signific
Businesses and research organisations operating in the Highlands and Islands marine economy are being asked for ambitious project ideas to help secure £20 million for the region.

