News

Sales rates for homes built by Barratt Developments have been maintained throughout a difficult economic period leading the housebuilder to project that its full year adjusted profit before tax will be in line with current market expectations. In a trading update for the period from 1 Janu

The Scottish economy has reported growth of 0.3% in the three months to February 2023, according to the latest PwC UK Economic Outlook — alongside the rest of the UK’s nations and regions. Whilst the rate of growth north of the border is greater than that of North East, South East,

Mortgage approvals in the UK increased significantly to 52,000 in March, up from 44,100 in February, as per the Bank of England's Money and Credit report.

Recent statistics have revealed that out of over 460 businesses across Scotland that hold, or are within the process of applying for a patent, only 70 have utilised the relief, according to business advisory firm Haines Watts. The firm has launched a new specialist arm of their tax incentives and re

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has launched a £2m Green Grants Fund to support tourism, creative, and food and drink processing businesses, as well as social enterprises, in reducing their environmental impact. Eligible small to medium enterprises (SMEs) can apply for grants between &p

Johnston Carmichael has expanded its leadership team with the addition of technology risk and assurance expert Stephen Harrison, as part of the firm's growth strategy. Mr Harrison, who brings over 22 years of experience, will work across the company's 14 UK offices. He will be a key member of the au

Bus firm McGill’s Group has appointed Alex Hornby as its new group managing director. Mr Hornby, 41, will join the Scottish firm at its Greenock headquarters following eight years leading North of England bus operator Transdev Blazefield. He will report to the McGill’s Group board i

Construction has begun at Sutherland Spaceport in Scotland, the UK mainland's first vertical launch spaceport. Located on the North coast of Scotland, the spaceport will be the 'home' spaceport of Forres-based rocket and launch services company, Orbex, which will use the site to launch up to 12 orbi

An art student recently found Maurizio Cattelan's iconic banana artwork, "Comedian", too tempting to resist, as he removed the fruit from the wall of the Leeum Museum of Art and devoured it.

Edinburgh-based Hilda Houseplants has announced it is set to open a permanent 'houseplant hospital' in Newhaven this summer, where people can go with their houseplants to re-pot them, seek friendly advice and learn how to help their houseplants thrive. Founders Rosanna and Tom Costello secured &poun

Edinburgh-based solicitors and estate agents Lindsays has reported that average house prices in the city have risen by over £60,000 since before the Covid-19 pandemic. The firm noted that prices across Edinburgh and throughout the Lothians show no signs of dropping — with values rem

Independent decorator's merchant Brewers has acquired Stirling-based The Paint Shed, which has 20 stores across Scotland, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition has provided growth capital investor BGF, which has backed The Paint Shed since 2020, with a successful exit.

Shell reported a record Q1 profit of $9.6 billion (£7.64bn), surpassing analysts' estimates of $8bn (£6.37bn), as higher trading earnings and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production compensated for lower oil and gas prices.

Virgin Money's pretax profit for the six months to 31 March 2023 dropped 25% to £236 million, exceeding analysts' estimates of £226m.

Despite a fall in construction activity at the start of 2023, surveyors in Scotland are predicting sector growth for the first time in almost a year while another survey has highlighted a rebound in repair, maintenance, and improvement (RMI) work for construction SMEs. A net balance of -6% of S