The UK's booming AI infrastructure—especially hyperscale data centres will demand staggering amounts of electricity and water. Lots of new jobs but there is a cost.
Scotland is exceptionally well-positioned to support AI data centres—both in terms of renewable energy and water availability. Scotland’s Power Potential for AI Renewable Energy Surplus: In 2022, Scotland generated 113% of its electricity needs from renewables—mostly wind and hydro.
The British economy is on shaky ground. Productivity has flatlined, growth is stalling, and the government’s fiscal plans may be about to unravel.
Britain for sale. From sport to housing and water – it seems a large part of the UK is being sold off to the highest bidder.
Heather Cox Richardson writes daily letters on events and dig into some details. She exposes many of the problems in the Trump government.
The Bank of England Base Rate cut last month has resulted in a cascade of savings rate cuts, with little movement seen in mortgage rates, according to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk analysis. Mortgage market analysis A month on since the Bank of England Base Rate was cut to 4%, there have only been slight falls to average mortgage rates.
Thousands of people across the Highlands and Islands are working with community organisations, either as paid employees or volunteers, to help address inequalities and provide essential services for their local area. However, many groups are also facing serious challenges around capacity issues and financial sustainability.
The UK labour market continues to cool as the number of payrolled jobs falls and wage growth slows. But the rapid deterioration in the first half of the year, centred around the increase in National Insurance contributions, has calmed, the Resolution Foundation said on Tuesday in response to the latest ONS labour market statistics.
Career Development Institute Highlights Vital Role of the Human-Centred Approach for the New Academic Year As students across the UK settle into a new academic year, the Career Development Institute (CDI) is highlighting the vital role of a human-centred approach to career guidance. This approach, supported by digital tools, is designed to ensure that empathy and ethics remain at the forefront of the profession, helping young people and adults navigate the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies to make informed decisions about their futures.
Economists have argued for years that council tax in the UK was rushed in and badly thought out. After the poll tax fiasco of the early 1990s, a substitute was urgent.
The Scottish Government needs to set out how it will manage a funding gap created by its higher spending on devolved benefits. Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is the largest of the devolved benefits and the replacement for the UK’s Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
There have been recent reports of cold callers who say they are working on behalf of the local council and are talking to householders about having solar panels installed. They ask questions about the householders' income and about their neighbours.
In the face of increasing political donations, the integrity of the UK’s democratic system is at risk. Rose Whiffen’s blog article at London School of Economics highlights the growing concern over the outsized influence of wealthy donors on political campaigns, especially as the cost of elections rises to unprecedented levels.
Recent indicators suggest that growth of economic activity moderated in the first half of the year. Job gains have slowed, and the unemployment rate has edged up but remains low.
There have been reports of cold callers who offer a special deal on an insurance policy to cover all electrical products in your home. They ask you what products you have and how old they are, then offer to send a quote via email.
A new programme has launched to accelerate the journey from prototype to market for deep tech products - led by Scottish Enterprise in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and other national innovation leaders. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes officially launched the Deep Tech Supercluster Programme on 11 September at a showcase event held at the Bayes Centre, University of Edinburgh.
With tax reforms and spending cuts on the horizon in the budget on 26 November 2025 here are some suggestions on how individuals and households can prepare. Review Your Income Mix The freeze on income tax thresholds means more people will be dragged into higher tax bands as wages rise.
China’s tightening grip on rare earth elements and cellular IoT modules (CIMs) has triggered a wave of strategic recalibration across Western economies. As Beijing expands its control not only over domestic mineral production but also over imported materials refined within its borders, the implications stretch far beyond supply chains.
The government has announced the creation of an AI Growth Zone in the North East, set to generate more than 5,000 new jobs and attract up to £30 billion in private investment. North East set to become AI powerhouse as an AI Growth Zone – creating potential for more than 5,000 jobs and £30 billion in private investment.
The first ever UK-US tech agreement will bring new healthcare breakthroughs, clean homegrown energy, and more investment into local communities and businesses in Britain and the United States. Transatlantic pact to speed up world-leading AI research to help develop new drugs, faster life-saving treatments and improved cancer care.