The government's Pride in Place Programme will see up to £5 billion given to nearly 250 areas across the UK. Each area will receive up to £20 million of funding and support over the next 10 years to make long-term improvements that residents want.
it's wise to increase savings now to prepare for higher energy costs through 2026 especially for households and small businesses. While the UK government is offering targeted support, it won't cover everyone, and bills are expected to remain above pre-crisis levels.
Landmark legislation has been approved to help create new small landholdings to increase farming opportunities and bring agricultural tenancy law into the 21st century. The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, passed by Parliament, grants greater protections for tenant farmers and small landholders and safeguarding fair compensation should they be removed from their holding.
The primary "hidden fiscal drag" for taxpayers in Scotland (as with the rest of the UK) is the freezing of various tax allowances and thresholds during a period of inflation and wage growth. As wages increase, more of a person's income becomes taxable or is pushed into higher tax brackets, a process often referred to as a "stealth tax".
Tomato Energy supplies around 15,000 domestic customers, and 8,000 non-domestic customers. Under the Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR) safety net, customers' energy supply will continue and funds that domestic customers have paid into their accounts, including existing credit balances, will be protected.
Seven smart moves taxpayers and business owners can make before Rachel Reeves delivers her second Budget. With tax rises and relief cuts possible in Rachel Reeves' November Budget, here’s what UK taxpayers can do now to stay ahead.
The primary "hidden fiscal drag" taxpayers should be aware of is fiscal drag (or "bracket creep"), which occurs when inflation and wage growth push people into higher tax brackets or reduce the real value of tax allowances and thresholds that are not increased in line with prices. This effectively increases the tax burden without the government explicitly raising tax rates.
A new survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) shows UK employers are planning average pay rises of around 3% in the year ahead roughly in line with recent years. At the same time, a significant minority of firms anticipate workforce reductions thanks to automation and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption.
John Sturrock KC, who conducted the enquiry into NHS Highland bullying has written today (10 November 2025) in The Scotsman about the costs of enquiries and the need to find another way to deal with them. The bill for public inquiries is now running at more than £230 million.
In the UK, 100% first-year relief on qualifying investment allows businesses to deduct the full cost of eligible assets from their profits before tax in the year of purchase, accelerating tax relief and reducing their corporation tax liability. This is available through two main mechanisms: Full Expensing (for companies) and the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) (for all businesses).
As the COP30 UN Climate Summit gets underway in Brazil, First Minister John Swinney called for swift and decisive action to tackle the devastating impacts of climate change. The Scottish Government will be represented at the Summit by Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin.
On Wednesday 26 November, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver her second Budget, and it could prove to be the defining economic event of her tenure so far. Arriving unusually late in the calendar year, this fiscal statement comes at a time when the UK's economic outlook is clouded by sluggish growth, sticky inflation, and debt servicing costs at multi-decade highs.
In 2025, the weekly shop has become a source of anxiety for millions of UK households. From fresh produce to pantry staples, food prices have surged at a pace not seen in decades, outstripping general inflation and reshaping how people eat, budget, and live.
After years of economic turbulence, UK families are finally beginning to see glimmers of hope. While challenges remain—from rising debt to housing pressures there are signs that the economy is stabilizing and that households may soon find some relief.
If coffee growers can't make a sustainable living, the future for drinkers will likely mean higher prices, lower quality, and reduced availability especially for premium beans like Arabica. The global coffee industry is facing a mounting crisis, and its effects are beginning to show in your morning cup.
New investment will enable hundreds of affordable homes to be provided in the first phase of Scotland's largest brownfield regeneration project. Funding of up to £42 million from the Scottish Government will support the construction of the country's biggest low carbon housing development on former industrial land at Granton in Edinburgh.
Government grant to ensure tributes to fallen servicemen and women are preserved across the UK. National Heritage Memorial Fund to support communities in repairing and conserving local war memorials.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (November 4th) sold 309 adult head of breeding cattle. Cow with calf at foot (22) sold to £4,700 gross for an Aberdeen Angus cross cow with an Aberdeen Angus cross calf from 4 Monks Walk, Fearn.
The project, led by the Stornoway Port Authority, will involve upgrading the full length of the 3.3km Arnish Moor Road. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has approved a £3.4m contribution to a £7.2m public funding package for a major project to transform road access to strategic industrial and port sites on the Isle of Lewis.
In 2025, both the United States and the United Kingdom are witnessing a wave of restaurant and fast-food chain closures. While the industry isn't collapsing, it's clearly reshaping itself trimming under-performing stores, consolidating older formats, and reacting to new economic and consumer realities.