Projects aimed at supporting Scotland's marine economy will benefit from £16 million of investment through the Marine Fund Scotland. Now open for applications, the funding will invest in the marine environment and vital sectors such as fishing and processing, protecting and supporting long-term sustainability and jobs in coastal and island communities.
The MV Glen Sannox, intended to be a flagship vessel for the Arran route, has instead become a symbol of Scotland's ferry‑building troubles. Just days after returning from a three‑month overhaul meant to address vibration issues, the ship was withdrawn again due to a warning‑light fault on its port main engine.
Early estimates for February 2026 indicate that the number of payrolled employees was 30.3 million, a fall of 0.2% from February 2025; this is equivalent to 49,000 fewer employees. The largest increase was in the health and social work sector, with a rise of 42,000 employees; the largest decrease was in the wholesale and retail sector, with a fall of 49,000 employees.
The UK has stepped up its support for Gulf partners, convening a meeting of defence industry leaders to reinforce countries in the region under attack from Iran. UK industry explores potential new support for regional allies under indiscriminate attack from Iran.
A new voluntary social care bargaining body will help improve pay and conditions for more than 110,000 workers. It will provide a forum for trade unions and care providers to negotiate better wages and wider terms and conditions for workers delivering adult social care services commissioned by local government.
The owners of Benromach Distillery in Forres are installing a heat recovery system to recycle waste heat. A Moray distillery is embarking on a project that will cut carbon and costs at a time where increasing energy costs are extremely pertinent.
The Scottish Government will fund 350 workers at ExxonMobil's Mossmorran ethylene plant to receive training and employment support at Fife College before the first workers are made redundant, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has announced. Fife College will use the investment of up to £1.3 million to offer ExxonMobil employees and contractors courses in areas such as engineering, project management and health and safety.
The Scottish Government has announced a package of three-year funding totalling £6.3 million to continue development of the Genesis Scottish Open. The financial support covers the DP World Tour's event up to 2028.
In recent weeks, global oil and gas markets have experienced significant volatility, driven largely by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. These developments have caused a sharp rise in energy prices, with oil reaching levels of over $110 per barrel and, at times, approaching $113 per barrel.
Employment in the public sector was estimated at 6.19 million in December 2025, an increase of 6,000 (0.1%) compared with September 2025, and an increase of 43,000 (0.7%) compared with December 2024. Employment in central government was a record high at an estimated 4.06 million in December 2025, an increase of 13,000 (0.3%) compared with September 2025 and an increase of 61,000 (1.5%) compared with December 2024; the main contributors to the increase since the previous year were some local authority schools becoming academies, the NHS, and the Civil Service.
The way we watch TV, listen to music, order groceries and take photos has changed in the past decade or so. For many of us, all of these activities involve a monthly payment.
Iran targeted energy facilities across the Middle East on March 18, including the world's largest liquefied natural gas hub in Qatar, in retaliation for Israeli strikes on an Iranian gas field hours earlier. Iran has gone on to attack other energy facilities across the Gulf.
Planning guidance to assist applicants, decision-makers and other participants to effectively plan for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) projects has been published. The guidance sets out how the planning process can ensure development is properly sited, well designed and responsive to its context.
The Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Impact Women programme offers free support to help female-led businesses in Scotland grow. This is a 16-week programme that includes both in-person and online sessions.
Like private businesses the public sector face the significant price increases from Microsoft. A Highland Council spokesman said: "Highland Council, along with other public sector organisations, benefits from reduced pricing for Microsoft products through a government agreement.
The Scottish Government will make available an additional £5.4 million to support lower income households dependent on oil to heat their home from next month, Energy Secretary Gillian Martin has said. The Scottish Emergency Oil Heating Scheme will launch on April 1 - with full details of eligibility criteria and routes to apply to be made public in the coming days.
Across Europe, a quiet but significant shift is taking place in the way governments think about their digital infrastructure. For decades, Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office have been the default tools of public administration, embedded deeply into everything from local council desktops to national health systems.
Why does 10% of UK GDP not actually exist? In this video, I explain the scandal of imputed rent — £275 billion of fictional economic output included in GDP every year. That's £1 in every £10 of what the government calls the UK economy.
The $150+ oil prices you're hearing about are real but they are not coming from the usual global benchmarks like Brent or WTI. They're coming from regional physical markets and Middle Eastern benchmarks, which are behaving very differently right now.
What Scottish Students Need to Know Before Choosing University, Apprenticeships, or Their Future Career. A few things to think about as the AI revolution has just begun.