In Scotland, business rates (officially called non-domestic rates) are a property tax that most non-residential properties must pay. The system works like this: An independent Assessor assigns each non-domestic property a rateable value (RV) — an estimate of what it could rent for on the open market.
As the festive season approaches, a new trend of ‘savvy gifting' is empowering millions of Brits to start the New Year on a stronger financial footing, according to new research from HSBC UK. The study of 2,000 UK adults found that while a third (33%) will exchange gifts ahead of Christmas day, a significant number are embracing less traditional gifting methods.
Many businesses in the UK saw the 2025 budget as a tightening of the screw in a period of already difficult conditions. While the government insists it is not raising taxes on companies overall, disquiet among businesses could have an impact on jobs, wages and the wider economy.
The issue of rising rents and housing affordability has long been a critical concern in the UK, especially for low-income households. Housing benefits, in the form of Housing Benefit and the housing costs element of Universal Credit, are central to the government's response to housing needs.
Scotland has taken a major step in strengthening its international space industry links with the signing of a new agreement with the United Arab Emirates. The Letter of Intent between industry group Space Scotland and the UAE's Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) includes a commitment to deepen co-operation across important areas including satellite manufacturing, launch services and research.
In recent years, Scotland, England, and the broader UK have set ambitious targets to tackle climate change, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with national and international commitments. These goals are backed by laws and statutory carbon budgets, designed to steadily reduce emissions over time and keep the country on track for net-zero emissions by 2050 (and 2045 for Scotland).
What the Debate Really Means for Pensioners. In recent months, there has been growing public concern about whether the UK government is considering means-testing the State Pension and replacing the long-standing triple lock system.
The scale and type of spending the government is committing to especially new factories, long-term contracts, and "always-on" production — is much more job-intensive than past defence spending. That makes job growth very likely.
Over the past year, a noticeable shift has taken place in the language used by British politicians and defence officials. Statements about "war‑fighting readiness", warnings that threats may be "closer to home", and announcements of large, specific increases in military spending.
This video may be worth watching for any business. Jingle all the way..
In recent years, economists and commentators have used the phrase "doom loop" to describe a cycle in public finances where slow economic growth leads to higher taxes, which in turn dampens growth further, forcing the government to borrow more or cut spending, and the cycle repeats. In the UK, this term has been applied to debates around the autumn 2025 Budget, rising taxes, and ongoing government borrowing.
Since the end of the Second World War in 1945, the United Kingdom has been involved in a remarkable number of military operations across the globe, ranging from full-scale wars to peacekeeping missions and counter-terrorism interventions. These engagements have shaped not only British foreign policy but also the nation's economic priorities and the lives of countless service personnel.
Chief executives in the UK and the US are now paid hundreds of times more than the people who actually create value in their companies. This is not innovation or entrepreneurship - it is extraction.
Funding ensures young people from all backgrounds can learn about the varied, highly skilled jobs and future opportunities in aviation across the UK. £750,000 awarded to projects encouraging young people into careers in the aviation sector Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund goes to projects across the UK aiming to showcase career paths, boost skills and futureproof the aviation sector projects focus on getting young people from diverse backgrounds into aviation, creating access to opportunity in high-skilled jobs Projects to inspire the next generation of aviators across the UK are set to get a boost as the government today (12 December 2025) announces a £750,000 boost to projects inspiring young people to explore careers in aviation.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance has chaired a resilience meeting this afternoon to discuss the rising number of flu cases and the subsequent pressure on health services. She was joined by the Health Secretary, the Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Gregor Smith and Public Health Scotland Head of Health Protection (infection Services) Jim McMenamin.
New qualifications in MedTech to tackle 145,000 skills shortage and ease NHS pressures. new Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) in MedTech will help fill critical skills gaps, with estimated 145,000 jobs needed by 2035 across the sector.
The 14 Scottish most in need communities each to benefit from up to £20 million UK Government Pride in Place Programme funding. Local communities are at the heart of Scottish life - and the UK Government is today announcing the 14 neighbourhoods each receiving up to £20 million to restore pride in their area and open doors to new opportunities.
Weekly UKHSA report for the 2025/26 season, monitoring respiratory viruses as people are encouraged to take simple steps to protect themselves. This weekly bulletin brings together the latest surveillance data, along with the latest public health advice for flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other viruses.
Up to 460 new jobs are expected to be created at the Grangemouth industrial cluster and surrounding area, thanks to £8.5 million new Scottish Government funding. Following the allocation of £1.5 million of Scottish Government's Grangemouth Just Transition Funding to Scottish biotech company MiAlgae, up to 310 jobs are expected to be created over the next five years.
A new report exploring views on how Scotland's medical workforce might need to evolve over the next 15 to 20 years has been published today. The Future Medical Workforce report follows six months of extensive engagement with the profession, and we have listened to over 2,000 doctors through a national survey and 40 focus groups.
