Business

Business confidence in Scotland has dropped to its lowest level since 2022, amid ongoing uncertainty and waning economic growth, according to ICAEW. Sentiment tracked by ICAEW’s Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) for Q4 2025 found that confidence in the country had decreased for the sixth conse

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has commenced a four-day engagement in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), leading a delegation of businesses across clean energy, agri-tech, food and drink, and technology. Marking the return of 'Scotland Week UAE', taking place from 27 to 29 January 2026, the mission

The Scottish Chambers of Commerce has warned that sharp business rate increases due to take effect this April will push otherwise viable businesses of all sizes, in every part of Scotland, “to the brink". Businesses across every sector and region are facing rate bills several times higher than

A home-based food business in Perthshire is carving out a name in the local takeaway sector after receiving support from Business Gateway.

A new soft play featuring a three-storey climbing frame will open its doors in Bathgate next month thanks £80,000 funding package from HSBC UK.

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

Business confidence in Scotland fell 15 points during December to 36%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Bank of Scotland. Companies in Scotland reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down 24 points at 38%. When taken alongside their optimism in the e

Hollywood Burgers & Shakes, a popular Edinburgh-based diner chain, has launched its first West Lothian branch as part of a strategic expansion. Situated on Mid Street in Bathgate, this new venture marks the company’s third Scottish outlet and has generated half-a-dozen jobs for the local a

A Scottish training and development business has secured two contracts with Specsavers and the NHS after its founder accessed support from Business Gateway.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called for urgent action to shelter small businesses from the threat of huge rises in their non-domestic rates. Businesses across Scotland are discovering how much they may have to pay in business rates from 1 April next year following a review of the rat

A Dumfries and Galloway photographer has expanded her business after receiving support from Business Gateway. Ellen Boyd launched her solo photography business, Ellen Boyd Photography, in June 2024. She began by specialising in family, newborn and maternity shoots and in 2025 she expanded to include

Barrington Exchange, a global foreign exchange management and financial services firm headquartered in Glasgow, has expanded its portfolio to tackle cashflow management. Recognising that long payment cycles, often ranging from 30 to 90 days, were hampering growth in sectors such as manufacturing, wh

A family-run farm based tourist destination in Castle Douglas has launched a new gelato venture, using milk from its own herd of pedigree Holstein cows to create fresh gelato, after securing support from Business Gateway. Ernespie Farm Centre, led by the McMiken family, has been a working farm for g

John Mackirdy Limited (JML) has commenced the development of a new £830,000 logistics warehouse on the Isle of Bute, a project designed to strengthen the island's supply chain and secure local employment. The initiative is backed by a £207,500 grant from Highlands and Islands Enterprise

An Aberdeenshire whisky specialist is marking its 10-year anniversary with a major expansion, thanks to support from Business Gateway. The popular Inverurie Whisky Shop and Foghouse Bar have come together under one roof in the heart of Inverurie, following the Whisky Shop’s move on 29 November