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.
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.
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".
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Scout missions can prove new concepts using small satellites, which can then be scaled up in larger missions. The Scout missions are an element of ESA's Earth Observation programme that demonstrate innovative science concepts using agile small satellites, enabling fast deployment and validation of new technologies.
There have been more reports from across Scotland of scam phone calls impersonating GP practices. The caller or automated message asks you to press a button to update your details, threatening that if you fail to do this you will be removed from the GP's practice list.
Loan sharks may threaten and intimidate people they've lent money to and make their life extremely difficult. If you've worried about a friend/family member who has borrowed money from a loan shark and is struggling to pay it back, you can reach out for help confidentially on their behalf.
If you or someone you know has borrowed money from a loan shark, the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit is here to help you. We're a non-judgemental organisation dedicated to providing you with the support you need.
New changes will enable bus, coach and lorry drivers with diabetes to use Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems. From 7 November 2025, bus, coach and lorry drivers with diabetes will be able to monitor their glucose (sugar) levels using modern technology, such as Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems (CGMS), which use sensors to track glucose levels in real time.
