Business News Round Up (09/01/2026)
Investors optimistic for the Scottish commercial property investment market in 2026
Lismore’s quarterly investor research and in-depth expert interviews indicate that 2026 is expected to present meaningful opportunities for the Scottish commercial property investment market. 86% of investors expressing a positive outlook, only slightly below last year’s 88%. Optimism is strongest among property companies (89%) and investment managers (91%), while funds (71%) and private equity investors (50%) remain more cautious. Market sentiment in 2025 was dampened by weak economic growth and uncertainty ahead of the November Budget, which temporarily slowed activity. With greater policy clarity now emerging and interest rates expected to ease, confidence is building that market momentum will improve heading into 2026. The research showed that investor sentiment on sector performance for 2026 highlights a continued preference for defensive income and structurally supported growth. Retail warehousing (27%) and living (25%) are viewed as the top-performing sectors, broadly in line with last year’s rankings.
Half of UK business owners more willing to take risks as confidence grows
Nearly half of UK business owners and CEOs say they are more willing to take risk than a year ago, signalling a growing sense of optimism about future growth, according to new research released by private equity firm ECI Partners. The survey shows 47% of respondents now have a higher appetite for risk, compared with just 26% who say their appetite has fallen. Confidence appeared to increase with company size, with 57% of businesses with over 500 employees saying they are more open to risk than last year. Risk appetite varied sharply by sector too. Technology businesses are the most confident, with 58% reporting a higher appetite for risk, followed by HR companies at 57%. Only 31% of retail sector companies said they have a higher appetite for risk. Despite improving sentiment, rising costs are the single biggest concern for UK businesses, cited by one third of respondents.
Scottish retail sees +4.1% month on month festive boost despite challenging year on year backdrop
December delivered a complex but ultimately resilient picture for Scottish retail. While the wider UK celebrated a return to annual growth, Scotland faced a more challenging December compared to 2024, with footfall down -3.7% across all Scottish retail destinations. However, this headline figure belies a spirited festive recovery, as footfall surged +4.1% month on month, proving that despite headwinds, the appetite for physical retail remained vital during the final month of the Golden Quarter. Unlike the UK average, where high streets led the charge, Scotland’s month on month recovery was driven by a diverse mix of activity. Shopping centres emerged as the standout performer of the month, recording a robust +7.1% uplift from November. This suggests that as temperatures dropped and possibly hampered travel networks, Scottish shoppers prioritised covered, convenient destinations where they could combine essential purchasing with leisure and dining activities.
UK to exclude financial services from push for closer EU alignment
Sir Keir Starmer will exclude the City of London from his push for “closer alignment” with the EU, following lobbying by financial services firms against any return to Brussels rules. British government officials told the FT that while ministers wanted “closer co-operation” with the EU on financial services, the prime minister had no intention of trying to reintegrate the sector with the Brussels rule book. Starmer’s comment this week that “if it’s in our national interest to have even closer alignment with the single market, then we should consider that” raised concerns in the Square Mile. Some ministers including David Lammy, deputy prime minister, have talked up the benefits of a new customs union with the EU.
https://www.ft.com/content/8d9aca04-5675-4d38-bf22-1fcb2f1a862b