News Archive

24/9/2025

Support to help businesses harness artificial intelligence

A new programme helping Scottish companies seize the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) has been launched.   The National AI Adoption programme will offer small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) a range of support – including tailored mentoring services to grants – to introduce or expand the use of AI in order to develop new products and services, grow market share and attract new investment.  

24/9/2025

 
New £10 million fund to support UK businesses to deliver next generation of semiconductors

Tech Minister announces £10 million fund to boost UK semiconductor innovation from lab to market Investment supports British companies developing computer chip technologies central to our national security and powering everyday products like phones and cars.   Funding helps UK’s strongest companies to compete in a global market worth hundreds of billions, supporting growth through the government’s Plan for Change.  

24/9/2025

 
£220 million boost for the Help to Save club

Help to Save savers receive millions in bonus payments.   575,200 people on a low income have opened a Help to Save Account.  

24/9/2025

H1B visas may be a disaster for USA in terms of hiring tech workers medical and care staff from abroad

While the visa charge of £100,000 is not automatically a “disaster,” but recent policy changes (especially the big fee hike and new restrictions) make serious harm much more likely to tech hiring, and to healthcare/care staffing unless policymakers carve out exemptions or other fixes.   What H-1B normally does (benefits).  

24/9/2025

Record fraud crackdown saves half a billion for public services

Government stops over £480 million ending up in the pockets of fraudsters over twelve months since April 2024 - more money than ever before.   Government stops over £480 million ending up in the pockets of fraudsters over twelve months since April 2024 - more money than ever before.  

24/9/2025

Putting your CV together? Complete honesty might not be the best policy

Writing a CV requires important decisions.  What should you include, what should you leave out – and how honest should you be?.  

24/9/2025

Lower Energy Standing Charges Say Ofgem But May Not Lower Bills

Britain's energy regulator Ofgem will require all major suppliers to offer lower standing charge tariffs by the end of January 2026.   Ofgem announced the change on Wednesday 24 September 2025 but added that the move was unlikely to reduce overall bills.  

23/9/2025

Estate Agency Numbers Increasing

In 2024, there were about 25,155 estate agency businesses registered in the UK, a 24% increase versus 2017.   From 2018 (20,720 agencies) to 2023, the number grew by 20%.  

23/9/2025

 
2p switch from National Insurance to Income Tax could raise £6 billion while protecting workers’ pay packets

The Chancellor should protect workers’ pay packets and level the playing field on how different forms of income are taxed.   This would include a 2p cut in employee National Insurance (NI) offset by a 2p rise in Income Tax (IT) – in order to raise £6 billion in a Budget that will require significant tax increases, according to major new Resolution Foundation research published today (Tuesday 23 September 2025).  

23/9/2025

New Revolut HQ caps £110 billion week of investment in UK financial services sector

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will declare the UK ‘open for business’, following a £110 billion investment surge from major financial services firms in the past week alone.   £3 billion investment from Revolut will create 1,000 new high-skilled jobs in the UK, including a new global headquarters in London.  

23/9/2025

Civil Service staff networks to only meet outside working hours and have all events signed off by senior managers

New rules have been issued to all Civil Service staff networks to ensure their activities remain within the Civil Service Code.   New rules issued to all Civil Service staff networks to ensure they remain impartial and represent the Civil Service.  

23/9/2025

 
The finance curse - how the City is destroying Britain - Richard Murphy

The UK suffers from a finance curse.  Far from being our economic jewel, the City of London has drained trillions from the economy.  

23/9/2025

 
Fort William parking discount agreed during the Lochaber Royal National Mòd

Highland Council is pleased to announce that discounted parking will be in place in Fort William throughout the duration of the Royal National Mòd, which is being held in Lochaber from 10-18 October.   The Royal National Mòd is the country’s biggest annual celebration of Gaelic language, music and culture, with thousands of people expected to visit Lochaber to take part and enjoy various competitions, concerts and fringe events.  

23/9/2025

 
How The City of London Broke Britain

What if the UK’s most successful industry was also its biggest curse?.   The City made billions of Pounds, but did it also make the country weaker?.  

23/9/2025

Record number of major infrastructure projects green-lit

Largest number of major infrastructure projects green-lit by the current government in the first year of a Parliament.   Largest number of major infrastructure projects green-lit in the first year of a Parliament in push to ‘build, baby, build’.  

23/9/2025

 
De-Dollarization Accelerates - China Ditches $25 BILLION a Month in MASSIVE Sell-Off

Here are some updates + examples of currencies that are rising (or have recently strengthened) versus the US dollar, and the reasons behind why.   Dollar Weakness: The Context.  

23/9/2025

 
The Smartest DIRECTOR SALARY Strategies Have Changed

Are you running the most tax-optimal director salary?.   Because HMRC has quietly made some of the old salary strategies obsolete.  

23/9/2025

Border Force outsmarts criminal gangs to seize one tonne of cocaine

Border Force has seized £72 million worth of cocaine following a tense operation that risked a huge compensation bill had their search proved unsuccessful.   Criminal gangs had hidden more than one tonne of deadly drugs from South America inside two industrial generators valued at £720,000.  

23/9/2025

 
Decrease in alcohol-specific deaths - Maybe Time To Go Sober October

Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd has underlined her unwavering commitment to continue reducing alcohol harms, as new figures show the number of alcohol-specific deaths at a five-year low.   According to statistics released by National Records of Scotland (NRS), the number of alcohol-specific deaths fell by 7% to 1,185 in 2024.  

23/9/2025

Embracing the economic potential of AI

A new programme helping Scottish companies seize the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) has been launched.   Supported by nearly £1 million of Scottish Government funding, it will offer small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) a range of support – including tailored consultancy services and grants – to introduce or expand the use of AI in order to develop new products and services, grow market share and attract new investment.