Articles

Grangemouth closure is serious threat to Scotland’s energy security

Yesterday energy firm PetroIneos announced the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery and a transition to operations as an imports centre within the next 18 months. Grangemouth is Scotland’s only oil refinery, producing over 70% of all of Scotland’s petrol and diesel. The closure is a worrying development, leaving Scotland without a centre to refine its own oil and making us more vulnerable to dependency on foreign imports for fuel.

HS2 collapse means Scotland is paying the price for another Westminster bourach

Business for Scotland predicted that HS2 would never be built. The fact the axe has finally fallen on most of the line comes as no surprise. The rag-bag of transport upgrades which PM Rishi Sunak announced in his Conservative Party Conference speech in its place are unconvincing and include little for Scotland. The main one – upgrading the A75 – was already announced by PM Boris Johnson.

Why is Westminster giving fossil fuels firms a cut-price deal for Scotland’s oil?

Much of the response to the decision to give the green light to Rosebank oil field has focused on the climate change issues. Less has been said about the fact that the news will mean Equinor pays billions LESS in windfall tax.

'Brexit 2.0' gives renewed urgency to the Scottish independence movement

Many people across Scotland including businesses and experts have not got their heads around “Brexit 2.0”: the new thicket of regulations that will be painful barriers to trade in goods and services with the EU. It is terrible news for the Scottish economy – but the fact that it is looming will boost the strength of feeling in the Scottish independence movement.

Business for Scotland reacts to Humza Yousaf’s first Programme for Government

Today, Humza Yousaf lays out his first Programme for Government since taking over as leader of the SNP and First Minister. Yousaf, who ran for leadership on a platform of continuity and synergy with the previous administration, has stated that he hopes to reset his government’s relationship with the business community. Business for Scotland has defined the Scottish Government relationship with business after years of strained and lackluster engagement as desperately in need of a complete root and branch overhaul.

How will changes to tax duties affect Scotland's whisky industry?

Whisky and drinks production in general is a vital industry for the Scottish economy. Distilling provides thousands of jobs and contributes millions to Scotland, and the wider UK’s, exports. Recently, Rishi Sunak has announced that the UK is changing how it classifies duty payments on alcoholic beverages, which will have a significant impact on the whisky industry, with businesses arguing that the effects could be ‘catastrophic’. In this article, we will review how whisky and other distilling industries contribute to the Scottish economy and the full scale of the impact of these changes to businesses in Scotland.

20 minute neighbourhoods - a guide to local living

In April this year, the Scottish Government published a consultation paper titled ‘Local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods’. The paper lays out the Scottish Government’s plans to introduce ‘20 minute neighbourhoods’ in an effort to increase access to services, reduce carbon emissions, rejuvenate local economies and improve physical and mental wellbeing.

To achieve a wellbeing economy, practice wellbeing philosophy

Dr Robbie Mochrie is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at Heriot-Watt University and a frequent contributor to the National on the Scottish economy.

The UK Gov is holding Scotland back in the race for hydrogen power

Scotland has ambitions to play a lead role in the green hydrogen economy. But the UK Government’s lack of a coherent strategy is holding it back and it is now falling behind the EU and the USA. Here we take a look at some key issues.