Scottish house prices up by 5.8% >>

In the latest four week period available the Scottish average house price has increased by 5.8% to £164,213 and the volume of sales in Scotland has increased by 12.2%. The map below lets you find out what’s happening to house prices in your area. You can get the 52 week version of this map at ros.gov.uk. You can also get more detailed statistical... Read more

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Video: Scottish Food Fortnight launches >>

It’s Scottish Food Fortnight, launched this morning in Dundee by Richard Lochhead, the Rural Affairs Secretary. But what’d the idea behind the event? Will it help the Scottish Government and the industry achieve their ambitious target of increasing the size of Scotland’s food exports from £10bn to £12.5 in about five years? Read More →

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Video: Making venison dear to our hearts >>

Scottish Food Fortnight will be officially launched today. But Scotland’s venison producers decided to launch their campaign to persuade us all to eat more of the produce yesterday at the Glengoyne Distillery north of Glasgow. Despite fears that there might be a shortage of deer in the stalking season, there seems to be enough venison coming from... Read more

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Video: The micro-future of renewables >>

Scotland has huge sources of renewable energy. But the massive schemes – whether wind, wave or water power -tend to attract opposition from people who don’t want the landscape despoiled. However, with the increasing efficiency of much smaller, micro-schemes, a solution may be at hand. In Glen Lyon in Perthshire, landowners first started... Read more

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Scottish house prices up by 5.9% >>

In the latest four week period available the Scottish average house price has increased by 5.9% to £161,980 and the volume of sales in Scotland has increased by 12.1%. The map below lets you find out what’s happening to house prices in your area. You can get the 52 week version of this map at ros.gov.uk. You can also get more detailed statistical... Read more

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BBC DG calls for broadcasters to work together – and takes swipe at Sky >>

Delivering the MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh Television Festival, the BBC’s director general, Mark Thompson, said that all the best speeches had anger, “rage if you can mange it” but more importantly a “proper black-hearted villain”. Most of the audience would have been forgiven for thinking the villain of Thompson’s speech would be... Read more

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£15,000 ‘Facebook bursary’ for innovative students >>

It’s not long before the start of the new academic year. A lot of new students – and probably their parents – will be wondering how to fund the next three or four years of relevant, mind-broadening study. Help for a select few may be at hand from HSBC. It’s launched a search on Facebook to find the UK’s most visionary students.... Read more

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Audio: ‘Every business is struggling and needs to learn’ >>

What does a successful entrepreneur do when she’s made her fortune? Some go on to become serial entrepreneurs but not all. Liz McAreavey moved from Wales to Scotland in her early 20s, settling in Edinburgh. In “le Bistro”, she built up one of Scotland’s most successful catering businesses, with an annual turnover of around £7m.... Read more

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Scottish house prices up by 5.5% >>

In the latest four week period available the Scottish average house price has increased by 5.5% to £160,751 and the volume of sales in Scotland has increased by 11.4%. The map below lets you find out what’s happening to house prices in your area. You can get the 52 week version of this map at ros.gov.uk. You can also get more detailed statistical... Read more

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Leading Scottish call centre company taken over by French firm >>

One of Scotland’s leading contact centre companies, beCogent, has been taken over by the French firm, Teleperformance, in a deal said to be worth around £35m. The deal makes the new group the second largest operator of outsourced contact centres in the UK. Until now, Teleperformance didn’t have any presence in Scotland so it will now be... Read more

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Barra among world’s scariest airports – report >>

What do Barra, Gibraltar and Guatemala City all have in common? A website called smartertravel.com has named them all in its top ten of the scariest airports in the world. Given the company it’s with, Barra’s beach landing strip seems mild by comparison. Judge for yourself from the selection. 1. Toncontin International Airport, Honduras... Read more

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Scottish house prices up by 4.6% >>

In the latest four week period available the Scottish average house price has increased by 4.6% to £157,435 and the volume of sales in Scotland has increased by 8.1% The map below lets you find out what’s happening to house prices in your area. You can get the 52 week version of this map at ros.gov.uk. You can also get more detailed statistical... Read more

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Should we wave goodbye to anonymity and privacy? >>

A man walks into a village shop. “Morning John,” says the shopkeeper. “You’re into old British motorbikes. I’ve just heard somebody in the next village is selling a 1957 BSA A10. It’s supposed to be in great nick as it’s been kept covered in a barn, It just needs a clean.” “Hmm,” says the man. “Any idea how much he wants for it?” “I... Read more

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Businesses optimistic despite clouds on horizon >>

There seems to be a sense of optimism in the air for the business community. The amount of activity in the Scottish economy seems to be growing. Exporters report their confidence “leapt” in July. It may a false dawn. After all, there is a Government spending review under way. But the latest surveys don’t reflect that. Take this week’s... Read more

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Cube that helps disabled children use music to learn >>

Music is an important part of a young person’s education. It does more for their development than just the pleasure of playing or performing. It helps with their social skills. It can encourage team work. It can even help develop logic and mathematical skills. That raises issues for severely disabled children who cannot use traditional instruments.... Read more

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Scottish house prices up by 2.9% >>

In the latest four week period available the Scottish average house price has increased by 2.9% to £155.261 and the volume of sales in Scotland has increased by 7.6%. The map below lets you find out what’s happening to house prices in your area. You can get the 52 week version of this map at ros.gov.uk. You can also get more detailed statistical... Read more

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Never forget >>

A famous New Yorker magazine cartoon from 1996 showed a pooch sitting in front of a computer with the caption: “In cyberspace, nobody knows you’re a dog.” The suggestion, of course, was that the anonymity of computer communication meant you could pretend to be whoever you wanted to be. Not any more. Far from being anonymous online it’s generally... Read more

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Edinburgh’s Tram Project, not all work has stopped >>

All the headlines about Edinburgh’s Tram Project have been on the problems in the centre of town. Certainly, the dispute over part of the contract with Billfinger Berger has still to be resolved. But that doesn’t mean to say that all work has stopped. It’s continued throughout on the section from Haymarket, out to the City Bypass and... Read more

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‘Large rise’ in company directors taking illegal loans >>

New figures suggest there’s been a massive growth in the number of directors taking illegal loans and dividends from their businesses. They come to light when the firm goes bust and insolvency practitioners are called in. But it has serious implications for creditors, especially the tax man. The problem’s been highlighted by accountancy... Read more

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FSB report calls for radical reform of parental leave >>

For the past 50 years or so, the question of maternity (and then paternity) leave has provoked often sharp debate. Politicians of the left have tended to promote the idea to encourage “family values”; those on the right have resisted, claiming it would harm business. The driver for actual reform however has often come from Europe. Earlier this... Read more

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