In the five years since 2019, the period in which Britain formally left the EU, UK exports have tilted from goods towards services about three times faster than before. Worryingly, this reflects weakness in goods – with the UK experiencing the largest fall in goods exports in the G7 – rather than strength in services.
A major part of the argument being made by the industry, many workers in Aberdeen, and opposition politicians is that we should allow more exploration and use the oil rather than importing it. However, it is not the whole story.
Amazon Prime Day 2026 is taking place from 23–26 June, making it a four-day event rather than the traditional two-day sale. Amazon moved it forward from its usual July slot this year.
The biggest Rachel Reeves–era ISA rule changes coming into force (mainly from April 2027) are as follows. A 22% tax on interest earned on cash held inside Stocks & Shares ISAs.
The UK commercial property market is bracing for what could become one of the largest real‑estate takeovers in British history. Prologis, the world’s biggest industrial and logistics property company — and a US giant — is reportedly weighing a bid for British Land, the UK’s largest listed property company and the former Slough Estates.
Despite the large cuts under President Trump, the United States is no longer the world's biggest aid donor by volume. According to the latest OECD figures for 2025.
Even with the new Rachel Reeves ISA changes, ISAs remain one of the most powerful, flexible, and tax‑efficient ways for UK savers and investors to grow wealth, especially compared with holding money in normal bank accounts or taxable investment accounts. Why people without an ISA should still seriously consider opening one — and why the changes don’t remove their core advantages.
People who have stopped receiving benefits but still refuse to repay money owed to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could be banned from driving under sweeping new powers that come into force today. Fraudsters and debtors who refuse to pay face tough new consequences including direct deductions from bank accounts, as new laws come into force.
£6m Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund opens for applications. New funded training opportunities have been made available to help oil and gas workers across Scotland retrain for roles in other industries.
Brake Brothers — one of the UK’s largest food‑service wholesalers is facing major industrial unrest in Scotland, with staff threatening strike action over pay, conditions, and treatment at work. The dispute has the potential to disrupt food supplies to schools, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, and care homes across the country.
Up to 2,000 households could be supported to make their step on to the property ladder in the first 100 days of this Government through the First Homes Fund. The first phase of the shared-equity scheme, which offers first-time buyers a £10,000 contribution towards a deposit, is now open.
1. The “Value for Money” (VFM) rules begin rolling out.
The UK’s care‑home sector is undergoing a transformation that many families, residents, and even investors haven’t fully noticed yet. Behind the scenes, American real‑estate giants are rapidly buying up the buildings that house Britain’s elderly population — and the biggest example is the £5.2 billion takeover of Barchester’s property portfolio by US‑based Welltower.
Around 25% of UK companies are foreign‑owned, but the figure rises dramatically in key sectors such as energy, manufacturing, finance, food distribution, care homes, and commercial property. In some industries — including energy and senior‑care real estate — foreign companies now control the majority of major assets.
Statistics have been published today on Education Outcomes for Looked After Children. The publication provides data from the 2024-25 school year on school attendance, exclusions, achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels, school leavers' stages and attainment, and school leavers' post-school destinations.
The latest reconviction statistics for the 2022-2023 cohort have been published today by Scotland’s Chief Statistician. There was a small reduction in the proportion of people reconvicted within 12 months compared with the 2021-2022 cohort.
Review of non-domestic rates revaluation announced. Vape shops are set to lose discounts from their bills as part of a commitment to reform the non-domestic rates system.
cotland’s Chief Statistician today released Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2025-26. Between 2024-25 and 2025-26: Crimes recorded by the police in Scotland increased by 5%, from 299,111 to 315,357.
High street businesses are set to benefit from action to level the playing field as the government sets out tax and customs reforms. High street businesses backed with tax changes that will level the playing field.
There is growing evidence that the market is already pricing in the prospect of more Iranian oil returning to world markets. That is one of the main reasons oil prices have fallen sharply over the past week.