Business News Round Up (08/11/2025)
Prime office rents in regional office markets rose at record pace in 2025
Prime rents in the 15 key regional office markets are on course to rise by an average of 8.2% in 2025, while growth across the ‘Big Six’ markets – Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester – is expected to be even stronger at 10.2%. The Regional Offices Report 2025, by commercial and residential real estate consultancy and agency Lambert Smith Hampton (LHS), says these growth rates are the highest ever recorded by the firm, and have taken headline rents in many city centres to levels that would have been almost unthinkable a few years ago. The strongest prime rental growth over the year to Q3 2025 was in Leeds, which recorded an exceptional 18% increase, while Birmingham will achieve annual growth of 20% in 2025, with its prime rent hitting £52 per sq ft during Q4.
Retailers add pressure on Robison for rate cut
Scottish retail leaders are adding pressure on Finance Secretary Shona Robison to match business rate cuts south of the border to avoid more closures. Fourteen retail leaders representing 295 stores in Scotland have signed a letter calling for a permanent business rate discount. It follows Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement that a 10% cut will be applied to the business rate paid by retailers in England from April. Signatories to the letter to Ms Robison include Debbie Harding of Dobbies Garden Centres, Michael Apter of Paper Tiger, Colin Temple of schuh and Stewart Robertson of Sterling Home. David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “This is an unequivocal message from a formidable cross section of Scottish headquartered retailers which calls on Ministers to at the very least match the business rate discount on offer to retailers in England from next Spring.”
Scottish EDGE 26 awards £1.5m to High Growth startups
Thirty-one of Scotland’s most promising startups and scaleups have been awarded a share of £1.5 million to help them develop their innovative business ideas following the 26th Scottish EDGE Awards. Among the headline winners were Aberdeen Uni biotech spinout Brigid Bio, which clinched the coveted £150,000 Future EDGE Award for its immunotherapies tackling drug‑resistant fungal infections, while FuelFit, a Glasgow meal‑prep delivering more than 3,500 macro‑balanced meals each week, secured the £100,000 Scale EDGE Award. Meanwhile, Scotland’s only independent cooperage, Lowland Cooperage, took the £100,000 Circular Economy Award for its role in advancing sustainability in the whisky industry, with Edinburgh’s Sablière, creator of a luxury 0.0% Champagne‑style drink, claiming the £100,000, Scottish Government-backed Pathways Award.
https://www.digit.fyi/scottish-edge-round-26
Ardgowan Distillery injects £9m into mature stocks to fuel Clydebuilt Expansion
Ardgowan Distillery Company has demonstrated a significant long-term commitment to its Clydebuilt brand, executing a £5 million investment in mature malt whisky stocks throughout 2025. The independent producer has further confirmed plans to invest an additional £4m in 2026. This acquisition strategy aims to support CEO Roland Grain’s objective to double turnover annually until 2030. Although the Inverclyde-based facility began distilling its own spirit in June, these acquired stocks are essential for maintaining a high-quality product pipeline while Ardgowan’s own liquid matures over the coming decade. Showcasing the immediate results of this stock management strategy, whisky maker Laura Davies has unveiled four new releases.