News Archive
18/12/2022
Young Entrepreneurs Join Business Support Programme
IMPACT30 is led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and delivered by business skills training consultancy, Skillfluence. The fully funded business growth programme for people aged 35 and under who are in key decision-making roles in young ambitious entrepreneurs, offers bespoke support from industry specialists.
18/12/2022
The Scottish Budget Overstates Increases In Public-service Spending Next Year Compared To This - And Tough Choices Loom, Particularly For Scottish Councils
The late publication of the Scottish Budget documentation yesterday meant that we were unable to analyse the plans for different public service budgets. We look at this in this follow-up piece.
18/12/2022
Decision on accelerating onshore electricity transmission investment from Ofgem
The British Energy Security Strategy set out the Government's ambition to connect up to 50GW of offshore generation to the electricity network by 2030. Facilitating this ambition will require significant reinforcements to the onshore electricity transmission network and a change to the current regulatory framework in order to accelerate delivery of large projects.18/12/2022
Transport Secretary Extends Scheme Helping Ukrainian Evacuees Reach Safety In The UK
The onward travel scheme for Ukrainian refugees will be extended for 6 months. Ukrainian evacuees arriving in the UK continue to be offered one free journey to reach their final destination over 2,900 Ukrainian evacuees have benefitted from the scheme, so far this scheme makes the incredibly difficult journey for evacuees fleeing Ukraine, in some part, easier The Transport Secretary has today (18 December 2022) announced the extension of a travel scheme helping Ukrainian evacuees reach safety in the UK.
18/12/2022
Industry Experts Appointed To Accelerate Development Of Future Tech As Chancellor Sets Out Vision For 21st Century Silicon Valleys
Five leading industry experts have been appointed to help accelerate the development and deployment of emerging technologies in key UK growth sectors. Five leading industry experts appointed to accelerate development and deployment of emerging tech in the UK, as Chancellor sets out vision to create the Silicon Valleys of the 21st century.18/12/2022
Update On Alternative Penicillin Protocols For Pharmacists
Five new Serious Shortage Protocols have been issued for penicillin. Following the announcement on Thursday December 15 on Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs), five new SSPs have been issued.
17/12/2022
British Military To Receive 60 All-terrain Vehicles Under International Agreement
UK troops will receive 60 amphibious all-terrain armoured vehicles to support operations in the harshest environments, as part of a trilateral agreement. £140 million contract to bolster ability to operate in harsh environments.
17/12/2022
The Nitty Gritty - Scottish Budget 2023-24 Confirms Big Cuts To Many Public Services
In an initial response to the Scottish Government's budget for next year, David Phillips, an Associate Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies said: "The Scottish Government has further raised tax rates on high earners relative to the rest of the UK, continuing a trend of higher, more progressive taxes. The revenues raised - estimated at around £95 million, on top of the £8 million from following the UK government's decision to reduce the threshold at which people start paying the 45p additional rate of income tax - are not to be sniffed at but are small in the context of its budget and cost pressures.
17/12/2022
Death And Taxes And Pensions
The Institute for Fiscal Studies takes a look at pensions where the well off get a huge tax advantage. The tax system treats funds that remain in a pension at death extremely favourably.17/12/2022
£129 Million To Deliver Cutting-edge Mini Drones For UK Forces
More than 250 "portable" and "packable" mini drones will be delivered to the Armed Forces after the award of a contract worth £129 million to Lockheed Martin UK. Lockheed Martin UK awarded contract to deliver more than 250 mini drones.
17/12/2022
Small Changes Mean Energy Advice Campaign Adds Up To Big Savings
Government launches ‘It All Adds Up' campaign with simple actions to cut bills by bringing down the amount of energy needed to keep homes warm and stay safe. ‘It All Adds Up' energy saving campaign launched today by government with advice that could help UK households cut hundreds of pounds off their bills this winter.
17/12/2022
Record 91% Of College Leavers In Positive Destinations
Higher Education and Further Education Minister Jamie Hepburn has welcomed figures showing the proportion of college leavers going on to positive destinations is at a record high. Figures from the Scottish Funding Council show that 91% of those completing college courses and leaving the college sector in 2020-2021 were in positive destinations, including further study, training, or employment, within three to six months.
16/12/2022
Income Tax Policy Proposal: Scottish Budget 2023-24
Maintain the Starter and Basic Rate bands at the same level, in cash terms, as 2022-23. No changes to the Starter, Basic and Intermediate Rates.
16/12/2022
Property Agents Savilles Response to the Scottish Budget
The lowering of the threshold at which people start paying the top rate of income tax from its current level of £150,000 to £125,140 from April next year came as no surprise in today's Scotland budget. It was anticipated that The Scottish Government would most likely match the recently announced top tax rate threshold reduction across the rest of the UK.16/12/2022
November retail figures - Consumers still spending, for now
The Office for National Statistics has reported retail sales figures in Great Britain for November: Retail sales volumes are estimated to have fallen by 0.4% in November 2022 following a rise of 0.9% in October. Non-store retailing (predominantly online retailers) sales volumes fell by 2.8% in November 2022, continuing a downward trend seen since early 2021, as the wider economy reopened and people could return to shopping in store.16/12/2022
Scotland To Benefit From £1.5 Billion Barnet Consequentials From UK Government Allowing For Uplift In Scottish Health Services
The Scottish Government will receive £1.5 billion in "extra help" as a result of the autumn statement by Jeremy Hunt. This has allowed the Scottish Government to allocate one billion extra to health services in Scotland.16/12/2022
Tax Changes To Support Scotland's Vital Public Services
Revenue to deliver £1 billion uplift in NHS funding. Proposed changes to a number of devolved taxes will raise additional revenue to support Scotland's NHS and other public services, Deputy First Minster John Swinney has announced.16/12/2022
AMAZON WORKERS IN COVENTRY FIRST EVER IN UK TO STRIKE
Amazon workers in Coventry have made history, says GMB Union Amazon workers at a Coventry warehouse will become the first in the UK to take formal strike action. Hundreds of workers have voted to walk out in anger over the company's 50 pence per hour pay offer.16/12/2022
Retailers Brace For A Black Christmas As Even Black Friday Deals Fail To Win Back Shoppers
The home delivery expert ParcelHero says November's unexpected fall in retail sales could be a sign of a Black Christmas for retailers. Today's Office for National Statistics (ONS) retail sales results show an unexpected fall in the amount of goods sold in November - despite the allure of Black Friday deals.
15/12/2022
