News Archive

16/12/2025

New crypto rules to unlock growth and protect customers  - Is It Good Or Bad

First lets look at the government announcement then look deeper a the pros and cons.   Cryptoassets firms will be backed to innovate and grow under plans to make the UK a global destination for digital assets and attract more investment.  

16/12/2025

How much energy is crypto and blockchain now consuming

The energy consumption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks has been a topic of growing concern due to the environmental impact associated with the energy-intensive processes required to maintain these systems.   In particular, the proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism, used by major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, has been widely criticized for its high energy usage.  

16/12/2025

UK lands trade deal with South Korea to boost jobs and exports

UK lands momentous trade deal with South Korea to boost jobs and exports.   UK services firms eye £400 million boost thanks to deal that also locks in tariff-free access across 98% of tariff lines.  

16/12/2025

Labour market overview UK - December 2025

Estimates for payrolled employees in the UK fell by 149,000 (0.5%) between October 2024 and October 2025 and decreased by 22,000 (0.1%) between September 2025 and October 2025.   When looking at August to October 2025, the period comparable with our Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates, the number of payrolled employees fell by 113,000 (0.4%) over the year, and by 24,000 (0.1%) over the quarter.  

16/12/2025

Tariffs Dent Value But Not Demand For Scottish Whisky

The Scottish whisky industry has faced a period of reduced sales in recent years, much of it linked to tariffs and wider global economic pressures.   The key question is whether the sector can recover from these setbacks, and what the most recent figures suggest about its current health.  

16/12/2025

Scottish Govenment Abandon Proposals To Reduce Speed Limits

The Scottish Government has abandoned its proposals to reduce driving speed limits (specifically cutting the national speed limit on single-carriageway roads from 60 mph to 50 mph).   Public Consultation Feedback Was Overwhelmingly Opposed.  

16/12/2025

Why Scottish NHS not involved in the current doctors dispute in England

The Scottish NHS is not involved in the current doctors' dispute in England because the NHS is devolved, and pay, contracts and workforce negotiations are handled separately in Scotland and England.   Since devolution, health policy is the responsibility of the Scottish Government, not the UK Government.  

16/12/2025

Nissan launches £450m next-generation LEAF in major vote of confidence in UK's Industrial Strategy

Nissan have launched their next-generation LEAF in Sunderland, marking a major boost for the UK's automotive industry.   UK's largest car plant transformed with launch of new generation EV, supporting 6,000 jobs and boosting economic growth.  

16/12/2025

Set Backs For the US/UK Trade Deal

The trade dealt has not fully collapsed, but parts of it are facing serious setbacks and a key technology component has been paused.   The "Tech Prosperity Deal" a major technology-focused agreement signed during President Trump's state visit in September has now been suspended/put on ice by the United States amid disagreements over broader trade issues and regulatory barriers.  

16/12/2025

Policy makers need to focus on forgotten driver of Britain's jobs downturn - rising unemployment

The fall in employment over both the past 12 months and the past five years is entirely accounted for by higher unemployment, not rising economic inactivity as many people assume, and young people are bearing the brunt of Britain's jobs downturn, according to the Resolution Foundation's latest Labour Market Outlook published on Monday.   Ahead of crucial, though flawed, new ONS labour market statistics tomorrow, the Foundation’s analysis - including its own labour market estimates derived from more reliable HMRC and ONS data than the Labour Force Survey - examines what’s really happening to jobs and people’s ability to find work.  

16/12/2025

Is it easier to recruit Nurses in Scotland due to slightly higher pay than in England

The short answer is yes, pay differentials have made recruitment easier for Scotland than for England in some respects but they have not solved recruitment problems overall.  Pay helps, but it is only one of several factors influencing where nurses choose to work.  

16/12/2025

 
Launch of Women in Tech taskforce

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall launches the Women in Tech taskforce to help more women enter, stay and lead in the UK's tech sector.   Launch of Women in Tech Taskforce to champion diversity in the UK tech sector - boosting economic growth.  

15/12/2025

A Perfect Storm for Small Businesses - Scotland's Rates Revaluation Under Scrutiny

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.  

15/12/2025

The Impact of Housing Benefits on the Private Rental Market and the Need for Reform - Less Babies

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.  

15/12/2025

Savvy Gifting This Christmas To Kickstart Brits' 2026 Ffinancial Goals

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.  

15/12/2025

The quiet rise in the tax burden for UK businesses will hit workers and consumers too

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.  

15/12/2025

Strengthening Scotland's International space presence

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.  

14/12/2025

Is the UK Government Planning to Means-Test the State Pension?

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.  

14/12/2025

The Cost of Conflict - A Comprehensive Look at UK Military Engagements Since World War II

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.  

14/12/2025

Scotland, England, and the UK's Climate Journey: Progress, Challenges, and the Hidden Carbon Footprint

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).