In the past few years, a quiet revolution has been unfolding in the UK's food and hospitality world one driven not by changing fashion or marketing campaigns, but by medicine. Popular weight‑reducing injections, originally developed for diabetes management, have become mainstream tools for weight loss.
If Britain is serious about growth, it must stop exhausting the very businesses it relies on to deliver it. That is the blunt message running through the Business and Trade Committee's Small Business Strategy report.
For UK and Scottish businesses, April 2026 marks a turning point. It is the month when a raft of tax and regulatory changes come into effect — changes that will affect cash flow, compliance, and long-term planning.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of the UK economy. Representing 99.8 % of all UK businesses, they drive local employment, creativity and economic resilience.
The Community Wealth Building Bill has been passed by the Scottish Parliament. It will support investment in communities with councils, health boards and other public bodies focusing on the generation, circulation and retention of wealth in local and regional economies.
A new draft Highland Council Participation and Engagement Strategy is being issued for comment and input to ensure the strategy reflects the needs of as many people as possible across Highland. The Strategy sets out how we will engage with and listen to communities in order to inform how we operate as well as how we will improve our involvement and relationships with communities to deliver greater community involvement in service design, planning and delivery.
IFS analysis shows the Scottish Budget relies on ambitious efficiency savings to shift health spending and reshape capital investment. The Scottish Budget and Spending Review set out plans for big shifts in two key areas of public spending: health and social care, and capital investment.
Banking is never just about balance sheets but is about the homes we live in, the offices we work from, and the projects that shape our communities. When property values falter, the cracks appear first in the banks most exposed to real estate lending.
When NHS Highland first unveiled its plans for new community hubs in Caithness, the mood was hopeful. Wick and Thurso were promised modern, integrated facilities "care villages" that would bring health and social services together under one roof.
The Inverness Castle Experience was officially opened today (Monday 9 February) by Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister of Scotland, and Kirsty McNeill, UK Government Minister for Scotland, marking completion of a landmark City Region Deal project. The £47 million investment has transformed Inverness Castle into a world class visitor attraction for the Highlands, which will strengthen the regional economy, support jobs, and generate an estimated £13.9 million in net annual expenditure.
Across much of the developed world, long-term singlehood is no longer an exception or a transitional phase. It is becoming a default outcome.
The Resolution Foundation has published a book - Unsung Britain - A portrait of the country's poorer half. The book has 209 pages and a link to download it is at the bottom of this page.
Record solar, onshore wind, and tidal projects - building on last month's offshore wind success - deliver Britain's biggest-ever clean energy auction. Record solar, onshore wind, and tidal projects - building on last month's offshore wind success - deliver Britain's biggest-ever clean energy auction.
The outlook for both Scottish and UK economies has improved and looks to remain positive through 2027, according to the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde. In the latest quarterly Economic Commentary, the Institute has forecasted that the Scottish economy will end 2025 with 1.3% growth and will continue to grow by 1.1% across 2026.
Low-income families in Britain have endured two decades of unusually weak income growth. Incomes for the poorer half of non-pensioner households - a group we refer to as ‘Unsung Britain' - have risen by an average of just 0.5 per cent a year since the mid-2000s, far below pre-financial crisis norms, despite rising employment among these families and a huge reduction in low pay.
Moneyfacts UK Mortgage Trends Treasury Report data reveals a rise in choice for borrowers with small deposits. This, coupled with stress test relaxation, sets the stage for a fruitful year ahead for aspiring first-time buyers.
The UK Space Agency is launching Skills for Space, a new internship programme offering 50 paid placements across the UK space sector to give young people hands-on experience and industry exposure. The new programme is a UK-wide initiative designed to give students their launchpad into the space sector through structured internships with the space industry.
Community groups, cultural organisations and education initiatives are amongst the Scottish organisations who will be able to bid for support from a fund aimed at engaging people in tackling the climate emergency. The £275,000 Climate Engagement Fund will support activities such as climate festivals, skills development and training, art exhibitions and showcasing clean technologies - all focused on increasing people's understanding of the current and future impacts of climate change and encouraging climate action.
Views are being sought on proposed changes to the Code of Practice for how Scotland's police officers use stop and search powers. The Code covers the conduct, recording and oversight of stop and search activity.
Let's work together to create opportunities that make a real difference for our young people. The Highland Council is delighted to announce that we will be hosting Paid Summer Placements again in 2026, as part of our commitment to supporting young people in gaining valuable work experience.