In a report yesterday the Commons Business and Trade Committee says President Trump’s State Visit is the moment to maximise pressure on the United States to agree final terms of a full Economic Prosperity Deal that will end sectoral uncertainty, secure critical supply chains and drive investment into the UK. UK must leverage its partnership with the US to ensure Western technological supremacy over China Government must drive forward negotiations to de-risk the threat of future tariffs, match preferential EU terms, lock in agreed tariff reductions and expand co-operation.
President Trump’s second state visit to the UK (September 17–18) is being billed as an unprecedented moment of pomp and diplomacy, hosted by King Charles and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. But the timing couldn’t be more delicate.
The September 2025 edition of the Labour Market in the Regions of the UK report, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), offers a granular view of employment, unemployment, and economic inactivity across the UK’s constituent nations, English regions, and parliamentary constituencies. As the country continues to navigate post-pandemic recovery, inflationary pressures, and technological transformation, this report reveals both encouraging signs and persistent challenges in regional labour markets.
Early estimates for August 2025 indicate that the number of payrolled employees was 30.3 million, which is a fall of 0.4% from August 2024; this is equivalent to 127,000 fewer employees. The largest increase was in the health and social work sector, with a rise of 80,000 employees; the largest decrease was in the accommodation and food service activities sector, with a fall of 90,000 employees.
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which represents the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, has recently issued strong warnings about the continued rise in food and drink prices. According to the FDF, inflation within the industry is set to climb to around 5.7% by the end of 2025—higher than the earlier forecast of 4.8%.
New design makes the British Transport Police’s 61016 number clearer plus additional funding for CCTV at railway stations. ‘See it.
Google officially announced its £5 billion investment in the UK—including the opening of its new data center in Waltham Cross—on September 16, 2025. The announcement was made during a high-profile event attended by UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and it coincided with a state visit by U.S.
The £5 billion in annual welfare cuts—primarily targeting disability and incapacity benefits. They set to begin impacting claimants from November 2026, with full savings expected by 2029–30.
Those who still owe Covid scheme money to the public purse have been given a time-limited opportunity to pay it back before tougher sanctions apply. New voluntary repayment scheme gives individuals and businesses until December 2025 to return pandemic scheme money, no questions asked.
Leading lawyer, Catherine Howard, appointed to advise Chancellor on the next phase of planning and infrastructure reforms as she vows to ‘do what it takes to get Britain building’. Extra expertise at the Treasury to help government kickstart economic growth to deliver an economy that works for working people – and rewards working people.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has awarded a £3.458m contract to Morrison Construction to develop new small units at Golspie Business Park. HIE designed and built Golspie Business Park in the 1990s, creating nine development plots on site.
Organisations from all sectors of the supply chain are encouraged to attend, from catering, transport and logistics, cleaning services, to fire safety, security, and technical trades. Organisations across the Outer Hebrides are invited to attend a special drop-in event on Tuesday 1 October at the Caladh Hotel in Stornoway.
The Scottish Government currently opposes building new nuclear power stations in Scotland. Torness is the only operating nuclear plant in Scotland, and there are no new nuclear reactors planned north of the border under current Scottish Government policy.
New jobs and growth as companies in the UK and United States sign major new deals to turbocharge the build-out of new nuclear power stations. Major boost for clean, homegrown energy as UK and US companies agree landmark commitments to build new nuclear power plants, including potential for up to 2,500 jobs for Teesside.
The Defence Secretary today announces that the UK's largest drone production facility is to open next year, creating 1,000 highly skilled jobs in the UK. A major new drone production factory is set to open in Swindon, creating 1,000 high-skilled British jobs and boosting sovereign manufacturing as the Government delivers the Plan for Change.
A delegation from Scotland’s world-leading offshore wind sector led by Energy Secretary Gillian Martin, will visit Japan next week to strengthen trade and innovation ties and promote Scottish expertise on the global stage. The trade mission will showcase Scotland’s offshore wind potential at a series of events including Japan’s annual Wind Expo 2025 and then a programme at the UK Pavilion for the final Scotland day at Expo 2025 in Osaka.
This morning the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has published the first of three mini-manifestos ahead of next year's Scottish Parliamentary Election. This first paper, ‘Scotland's Future High Streets', focuses on the challenges facing towns and city centres across the country and the policy solutions the retail industry believes are necessary.
First Minister John Swinney says Scotland is positioned to become “a global hub for digital innovation” as a prestigious computer games conference being held in Scotland for the first time gets underway. The DICE Europe summit - supported by the Scottish Government - will see 150 global gaming industry leaders come to Edinburgh for key talks and to hear from Nintendo’s Managing Executive Officer Satoru Shibata, who was invited to speak by the First Minister.
A package has been announced to support the retention of manufacturing jobs at Alexander Dennis in Scotland. On a visit to the bus company’s site in Larbert, Falkirk, First Minister John Swinney confirmed approximately £4 million towards a furlough scheme until work can recommence.
CEO pay in the UK is spiralling out of control. The median FTSE 100 boss now takes home £4.5 million a year – while millions struggle to live on the minimum wage.