Scottish businesses set sights on team training to drive growth in 2026

Scottish businesses set sights on team training to drive growth in 2026

Upskilling staff (46%) is Scottish businesses’ top focus area for 2026 Firms will also be focused on enhancing their use of technology (44%) and improving productivity (37%) Just over two in five (42%) say they’ll need extra support with upskilling to achieve their 2026 goals Scottish businesses are making upskilling their focus for 2026, according to new research from Bank of Scotland’s…

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’Tis the Season in Edinburgh – can local SMEs turn festive demand into lasting opportunity?

 Martyn Kendrick, Regional Director for Scotland at Bank of Scotland Edinburgh is stepping into the spotlight once again this winter. The city’s Christmas market has been named the 19th best in the world by an award-winning travel specialist, and it’s also featured in Which?’s list of the nine best Christmas…

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Scottish business confidence climbs, as more firms plan to hire

Business confidence in Scotland rose 15 points to 54% in October  Firms’ optimism in their own trading prospects rose 16 points to 61%, while optimism in the economy climbed 12 points to 46% A net balance of 63% of businesses in the country also expect to increase staff levels over…

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Scottish business confidence falls in September

Business confidence in Scotland fell 20 points to 39% in September Firms’ optimism in their own trading prospects fell 20 points to 45%, while optimism in the economy dipped 18 points to 34% Overall UK business confidence dipped 12 points in September to 42%. Business confidence in Scotland fell 20…

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Scottish business confidence climbs, as more firms plan to hire

Business confidence in Scotland rose three points during August to 59%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Bank of Scotland. Companies in Scotland reported slightly lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down five points at 65%. However, when taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up nine…

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Doc, I’m From The Future: Scotland’s Businesses Seek Skills Flux Capacitor

As ‘Back to the Future’ turns 40, new research reveals three in five Scottish business leaders (60%) would tell themselves to focus on skills if they could go back in time Looking ahead, skills are also a future focus – with the same proportion (60%) of Scottish firms making them…

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Scottish business confidence dips in June

Business confidence in Scotland fell five points to 47% in June While firms’ optimism in their own trading prospects fell 10 points to 47%, their optimism in the economy held steady at 48% However, a net balance of 55% of Scottish businesses expect to increase staff levels over the next…

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Scottish Businesses Say Greater Ai Adoption Will Drive Local Growth

52% of Scotland’s firms believe greater AI adoption will be a major driver of local economic growth 81% of businesses already using AI say they have seen it increase their profitability, while 79% say it has increased their productivity Looking ahead, 39% of Scottish firms plan to invest more in AI…

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Scottish business confidence rises in May

Business confidence in Scotland rose 12 points to 52% in May While firms’ optimism in their own trading prospects fell four points to 57%, their optimism in the economy climbed 29 points to 48% Overall UK business confidence rose 11 points in May to 50% – the highest level in…

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