News Archive

22/5/2025

Major inward investment secured - Hydrogen Centre of Excellence will bring hundreds of jobs

Green aircraft engine developer ZeroAvia is to establish a major manufacturing base in Scotland, creating around 350 jobs.   The US company's Hydrogen Centre of Excellence will be sited in the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) in Renfrewshire and produce advanced fuel cell systems for its hydrogen-electric aero engines.  

22/5/2025

Inflation jumps to 3.5 per cent as higher household bills continue to squeeze lower-income households

CPI inflation increased sharply in April - rising to 3.5 per cent up from 2.6 per cent in March – mostly driven by rises in energy and water bills and exceeding expectations of markets and the Bank of England.  While painful, this higher level of inflation does not represent a return to peak cost of living pressures, according to the Resolution Foundation on Wednesday.  

22/5/2025

17% drop off in international students a threat to university sustainability

The UK university sector is facing significant financial pressure, with new data revealing a 17% drop in international students.   New figures from the Office for National Statistics show net migration fell by 50% to 431,000 in the year to December 2024, with the decline driven in part by tighter visa rule.  

22/5/2025

 
What's happening with UK passports in Europe?

"British holidaymakers will be able to use more e-gates in Europe, ending the dreaded queues at border control" - so says the government after the "post-Brexit reset deal" was agreed between the UK government and the European Union..  

22/5/2025

Hi-tech housing solutions help ease pressures on health and social care

The budget for a programme that uses technology in housing to help older people remain independent for longer will more than double this year from £8.2 million to £20.9 million.  This means more housing association tenants will benefit from the Registered Social Landlord Adaptations Programme, a preventative model that also reduces hospital admissions and long-term care costs.  

21/5/2025

 
Private rent and house prices, UK: May 2025 - Both Up

Average UK monthly private rents increased by 7.4%, to £1,335, in the 12 months to April 2025 (provisional estimate); this annual growth rate is down from 7.7% in the 12 months to March 2025.   Average rents increased to £1,390 (7.5%) in England, £795 (8.7%) in Wales, and £999 (5.1%) in Scotland, in the 12 months to April 2025.  

21/5/2025

 
Consumer price inflation UK - April 2025 - All Indicators Up

The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 4.1% in the 12 months to April 2025, up from 3.4% in the 12 months to March.   On a monthly basis, CPIH rose by 1.2% in April 2025, compared with a rise of 0.5% in April 2024.  

21/5/2025

 
Housing prices in Highland

How average house prices and rents are changing in Highland.   The average house price in Highland was £212,000 in March 2025 (provisional), up 4.5% from March 2024.  

21/5/2025

More Bounce Back Loan Fraudsters In Court

As of January 2025, there have been over 120,000 fraudulent Bounce Back Loan applications identified.  Investigations into these cases have led to 831 director disqualifications, 93 bankruptcy restrictions, and 22 criminal prosecutions.  

21/5/2025

UK film and TV boom hides a crisis that threatens the whole industry - new report

Judging by the recent success of UK productions like Adolescence and Baby Reindeer, you might assume that the UK film and television industry is flourishing.  And indeed, spending on production has risen dramatically in the last year, a boom which is expected to continue through to 2026.  

21/5/2025 : Local Authority

Impressive new waste and recycling figures for Highland

The Highland Council is pleased to announce new waste and recycling figures for the region, following the introduction of the new waste and recycling services over the last year.   The roll out of the new waste and recycling services to householders and businesses began in April 2024 and has been funded by the Scottish Government's Recycling Improvement Fund.  

21/5/2025

Social work bursary increase - Supporting postgraduate students with living costs and course fees

Bursaries available to support postgraduate social work students in the 2025-26 academic year will increase by almost 50% on average.   From 1 June students commencing courses in the academic year beginning August 2025 will be able to apply for £11,000 to support them through each year of their studies - split between £6,000 towards living costs and £5,000 for course fees.  

21/5/2025

UK and EU sign new trade, fishing and defence deal - what do economists think?

The UK and EU have announced a range of historic and wide-ranging new agreements touching on trade, defence and borders.   Since the 2016 Brexit vote, COVID and conflict have changed the global economic landscape dramatically - with consumers feeling the effects every day.  

21/5/2025 : Local Authority

Highland Council to Promote Regional Investment Opportunities at UKREiiF 2025

The Highland Council is pleased to announce its participation in the UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), taking place this week in Leeds.  The event is recognised as the UK's leading platform for fostering partnerships and securing investment in regeneration, infrastructure, and economic development.  

21/5/2025

 
Why Trump's plans for tariffs on foreign films probably won't have a happy ending

With its tariffs policies, the administration of US president Donald Trump aims to correct the country's persistent goods trade deficit.  The president has argued that the US has been "looted, pillaged, raped and plundered" by other countries.  

21/5/2025

 
£1 billion BioNTech investment sets way for jobs, growth, breakthroughs

Covid-19 vaccine pioneers BioNTech commit to up to £1 billion, 10-year investment in the UK.   Covid-19 vaccine pioneers BioNTech commit to up to £1 billion, 10-year investment in the UK.  

21/5/2025

Modernising legal services

New laws to modernise and improve the way legal services are regulated in Scotland has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.   The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill will improve how legal services are regulated and introduce a more flexible and consumer-focused system that provides clearer and swifter redress for complaints through greater transparency and accountability.  

21/5/2025

UK exports to the US shot up just before ‘Liberation Day', says Parcelhero

The Government may just have forged a new deal with the EU but the US is also proving a surprisingly resilient market.  The UK's exports to the USA rose by £100m in March, just before President Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs were revealed.  

21/5/2025

UK announces major sanctions in support of Ukraine

As President Putin ruthlessly intensifies his strikes against innocent Ukrainians, the UK is ramping up pressure with raft of 100 new sanctions.   UK announces wide-ranging sanctions on Russia as Putin launches his biggest ever drone attack against Ukraine.  

21/5/2025

 
Starmer's no big deal

Starmer wants us to think he's doing big foreign policy deals.   He isn't.