News Archive

11/9/2026

Growing Scotland's life sciences sector

Life sciences firms will gain direct access to investors, healthcare networks and commercial partners in the United States through a new Scotland-Massachusetts partnership.   The ‘Scotland-Massachusetts Bio-Bridge’ will bring business leaders from Massachusetts to Scotland to explore investment and collaboration opportunities.  

11/9/2026

Sterling Holds Its Ground as the Dollar Gains: What Are Currency Markets Telling Us?

There is a curious development taking place in the currency markets as oil prices surge and fears of higher inflation spread around the world.  The US dollar is gaining ground, but sterling is holding remarkably steady.  

11/9/2026

 
UK Economy Keeps Growing, But Where Is the Growth Coming From?

Britain's economy continued to grow in July, but the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest that the recovery remains rather uneven.   Gross domestic product increased by 0.4% in July, following growth of 0.3% in June and no growth in May.  

11/9/2026

Reforms to welfare system set to save £1.9 billion by the end of 2030/31

The backlog of people waiting to have their work capability assessed is to be significantly reduced through a package of measures that will reduce UK welfare spending by £1.9 billion by the end of 2030/31.   Backlog of people waiting to have Work Capability Assessment to be tackled as part of a package of measures to deliver £1.9 billion of savings in the UK by the end of 2030/31.  

10/9/2026 : Educational Institutions

 
Scotland’s Colleges Face a Financial Crunch as Student Numbers Fall and Reform Stalls

Scotland’s college sector is facing a financial problem that cannot be solved simply by asking colleges to cut their cloth a little tighter.   That is the uncomfortable message from a new Audit Scotland report which shows colleges cutting staff, reducing courses and relying increasingly on short-term financial support while the number of students being taught continues to fall.  

10/9/2026

Trump’s $5,000 Election Dividend: Is America Buying Votes With Money It Doesn't Have?

Donald Trump has come up with an extraordinary election promise.   If Republicans retain control of Congress in November, he says every American adult will receive a $5,000 “Trump dividend”.  

10/9/2026

Update - Oil Hits $102 and Now Caithness Drivers Are Feeling the Pain at the Pumps

With fast moving oil prices we have updated from $100 to $102 at 10.00am today.   The price of oil breaking through $102 a barrel is no longer just a story for financial markets.  

10/9/2026

$100 Oil Is Here. Is $105 Next And What Happens to Britain If It Is?

For the past week or so, $100 a barrel has been the number everyone in the oil market has been watching.   Now it has happened.  

10/9/2026

Hundreds of jobs to be created by new energy projects

More than 500 jobs will be created and supported by 22 new projects funded through the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund.   The First Minister officially opened the 2026 funding round, worth £17.5 million, during a visit to Hydrasun, a North East manufacturing firm receiving £1.9 million in support.  

10/9/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council welcomes funding boost to support households struggling with fuel costs

The Highland Council has welcomed an increase of £750,000 of funding from the SSE Renewables Highland Sustainable Development Fund to support private householders experiencing extreme fuel poverty in Highland.   The two-year grant will support the delivery of the Council’s Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Scheme (EES:ABS), funded by The Scottish Government, which funds energy efficiency home improvements that can help lower fuel costs and improve living conditions for Highland residents.  

10/9/2026

£5.7 million innovation funding to boost public service challenges

Businesses and entrepreneurs are being invited to develop technology solutions to some of the country's most pressing public service challenges.   Scotland's world-leading public sector innovation programme, CivTech, launches its 12th round today with six new challenges, supported by £5.7 million investment.  

10/9/2026

Equal Value, Different Pay and What the Next Ruling Means for Workers

Can two people be doing jobs of equal value but quite legitimately be paid different amounts? That is the awkward question sitting behind the latest ruling in the long-running equal pay battle involving retailer Next.   The Employment Appeal Tribunal has overturned a key part of a 2024 decision which had found that Next could not justify paying its predominantly male warehouse workers a higher basic rate than its predominantly female shop workers.  

10/9/2026

The $105 Oil Warning - Three Ways the Middle East Crisis Could Change Britain's Future

The $100 oil barrier has been broken.  Now the market is looking towards $105.  

10/9/2026

 
UK Housing Market: Is the Worst Over or Is Another Slowdown Coming?

Britain's housing market may finally be showing signs of finding its feet, but the latest survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors suggests that anyone expecting a rapid recovery should probably wait a little longer.   The August RICS Residential Market Survey paints a mixed picture.  

9/9/2026 : Local Authority

From Abeyance to 18 Candidates: What Has Happened to Latheron, Lybster & Clyth Community Council?” 18 Candidates For 6 Seats

Following the close of nominations on Monday 7 September noon, the statements of persons nominated for each community council have been published on the council’s website.  Now able to confirm that out of 20 Community Councils seeking membership, 15 have formed, 4 have not formed and 1 may require an election as they exceed the number of available vacancies.  

9/9/2026 : Local Authority

 
Why Are Scottish Pupils Falling Behind England? The PISA Results Demand a Rethink

There are few subjects more important to parents than the education their children receive.  It determines not only what they know when they leave school, but increasingly their opportunities throughout adult life.  

9/9/2026

New Immigration Rules: What Do They Mean for Employers?

The Government is changing the rules for migrant workers who are victims of exploitation, while also opening new opportunities through Erasmus+.   Changes to the UK's immigration rules announced by the Government on 3 September could have consequences for employers who rely on overseas workers, although the changes are more targeted than some headlines might suggest.  

9/9/2026

Houthi Attacks On Saudi Energy Infrastrucure Raises Fears Of Even Higher Oil Prices

There has been a significant escalation in attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, but there is an important distinction.  The latest attacks on Saudi oil facilities have been carried out by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen, rather than by Iran's regular armed forces directly.  

9/9/2026

The Yen Is Rising. Why Should Britain Care?

A change in Japanese interest rates could have consequences for Britain's borrowing costs, mortgages and public finances At first sight, the Japanese yen seems to have very little to do with the cost of borrowing money in Britain.   The yen is Japan's currency, the Bank of Japan sets Japanese interest rates and the Bank of England sets British interest rates.  

9/9/2026

Red Alert for the NHS? A Government Review Raises Questions for England and Scotland

There is a revealing document sitting quietly in the public domain which raises much bigger questions about the future of the NHS than its relatively technical title might suggest.   A Government Gateway Review of NHS England's Frontline Productivity programme has given the programme a Red Delivery Confidence Assessment.