The UK Government has announced a 20% cut in business rates for many hospitality businesses in England, offering welcome relief to pubs, restaurants, cafés, hotels and live music venues that have struggled with rising costs in recent years. For thousands of businesses south of the Border, it could mean lower bills and a little more breathing space.
Views are being sought on plans to reform the legal aid system, improving the service for the people who use it and the professionals who deliver it. The Legal Aid Reform consultation sets out wide-ranging proposals to modernise the system, paving the way for a new Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill.
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games provides a huge opportunity to showcase the best of Scotland on the world stage, First Minister John Swinney has said. The First Minister welcomed heads of visiting delegations from the 73 Commonwealth nations at an event at Team Scotland House, Glasgow, ahead of the Games beginning in the city today (Thursday 23 July 2026).
The latest insolvency figures suggest that fewer businesses are going bust than many feared. At first glance, that sounds like good news.
There have been recent reports of scam phone calls impersonating banks, where the caller tries to convince customers to move money to a 'safe account'. They usually say there has been suspicious activity on your account, or that your account has been compromised.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax customers have 2 weeks to submit their first quarterly update. Sole traders and landlords earning more than £50,000 from their self-employment and property must send their first Making Tax Digital for Income Tax quarterly update by 7 August 2026.
The new Prime Minister has made tackling the cost of living and reducing the burden on businesses one of his priorities. That is easier said than done.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham will pledge to deliver growth in every postcode across the UK as he visits Scotland during his first week in office. Prime Minister vows to bring back hope ahead of first meeting with First Ministers of Scotland and Wales.
The construction industry is often described as the "engine room" of the economy. When builders are busy, it usually means confidence is rising, people are buying homes, businesses are investing and public projects are moving ahead.
For years we have heard politicians, economists and journalists talk about "stealth taxes." The phrase usually describes measures that increase the amount we pay without raising the headline rates of Income Tax or VAT. The idea is simple.
The war in Ukraine has become the first major conflict where drones have moved from being a supporting weapon to one of the central tools of warfare. A new agreement between USA and Ukraine has been signed creating the first formal framework for exporting Ukrainian combat drones to the U.S.
After months of uncertainty in global energy markets, oil prices are once again moving towards a level that will worry households, businesses and governments. A return to $100 a barrel oil may sound like a distant concern, but for many people in rural areas the impact can arrive quickly through higher petrol, diesel and heating oil prices.
The Edinburgh Festival and Fringe are about to begin, and the question many businesses — and residents — are asking is simple: will the economic boom continue even though accommodation prices have become eye‑watering? The short answer is yes. The longer answer is yes, but with consequences.
When a government announces a cut to energy bills, the immediate reaction is usually positive. Lower bills are welcome.
While I am conducting my own personal home experiment in cutting my energy use at home no amount of switching almost everything off can solve the energy crisis. Not using any of my oil heating cuts the bill to zero but means wearing extra clothes and only occasional quick blasts from a fan heater in one room at a time can reduce the electric bill but living in much less comfort.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, most people in Caithness were watching events unfold as a terrible human tragedy happening thousands of miles away. Few could have predicted how quickly the consequences would reach everyday life in northern Scotland.
Why the business impact doesn’t stop at August — and how it spreads far beyond the capital Edinburgh is not just a festival city — it is a festival powerhouse, running almost continuously from spring to winter. Beyond the world‑famous August festivals, the city hosts major events in books, film, food, science, storytelling, jazz, art, and culture.
Profits soaring, debts exploding, supply tightening — and millions cutting back on basic heat and hot water. The UK is heading into one of the most punishing 12‑month periods for household energy costs in modern history.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games are about to begin in Scotland, and the question many businesses are asking is simple: will this actually deliver an economic boost, or is it just political hype?. The 2026 Commonwealth Games are taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, running from July 23 to August 2, 2026.
Scotland has become one of Europe's leading areas for wind energy, with turbines now a familiar part of the landscape from the Borders to the Highlands and Islands. But the next stage of the wind revolution may not simply be about building more wind farms.