Business News Round Up (20/03/2026)
78% of UK businesses now using AI – less than a third see financial benefits
Some 78% of UK businesses claim to be using AI in some capacity. This rises to 85% for mid-sized organisations (100-249 employees), the highest of any group. A further 14% are exploring their options or plan to implement AI in 2026, with 8% not using AI and having no plans to, according to research from Studio Graphene. However, the research revealed that less than a third (31%) of the businesses using AI have seen a positive ROI from their investment in the technology. Almost a fifth (18%) said their AI projects have not delivered the benefits they expected, while 16% said it was too early to tell. Strikingly, less than half (41%) of AI users have a clear idea of what ‘success’ looks like when implementing AI solutions. Among mid-size businesses, the leading AI adopters, there remains a minority (46%) that say they can define success.
https://www.retailbankerinternational.com/news/less-than-one-third-uk-business-sees-ai-benefits
RSM: Scotland’s hotel performance holds up, but uncertainty ahead amid geopolitical tensions
Gross operating profits, occupancy and room rates of Scottish hotels rose in January, but there’s uncertainty ahead for the industry amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, according to RSM UK. The data showed that while gross operating profits in Scotland had increased year on year, they remained low overall, rising from 3.4% to 5.4%. This compared to a higher but static UK-wide figure of 18.8%. Occupancy of Scottish hotels rose from 58.4% to 62% in January year-on-year. This was lower than the UK figures, which rose slightly from 62.8% to 63.5%. Average daily rates (ADR) of occupied rooms in Scotland were also up from £92.30 to £95.89 in January year-on-year, compared to a UK-wide average of £124.48, up from £122.24. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) was also up in Scotland from £53.89 to £59.44, compared to a UK increase from £76.72 to £79.03.
£1.7bn Northern Growth push backs Manchester tech, Liverpool quantum and Yorkshire defence sectors
A £1.7bn investment package targeting the North’s tech and industrial strengths has been unveiled as part of the government’s wider £2.3bn plan for major city regions. The funding, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves following her Mais lecture earlier this week, will support digital, advanced technology and defence sectors across key northern hubs including Manchester, Liverpool and South Yorkshire. Manchester is set to receive hundreds of millions of pounds to develop a new digital campus, expected to house almost 9,000 jobs. The Manchester Digital Campus will bring together around 8,800 civil servants and ministers, acting as a centre for government operations in the North West while “solidifying Manchester’s status as a digital hub”.
UK Government commits £3m to Scotland-France ferry route – “major vote of confidence” in country’s economic future
A direct ferry route from Scotland to Dunkirk has moved forward thanks to a £3m commitment from the UK Government. Funded through the UK Government’s Growth Mission Fund, the investment will support the upgrade of Border Force and Customs infrastructure at the Rosyth port. The route, operating with both freight and passengers, would link Rosyth with Dunkirk’s state-of-the-art rail terminal, which connects the port to major centres across the European Union, opening up significant new opportunities for Scottish exporters. The funding is subject to a commercial agreement between Forth Ports and a ferry operator. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “My plan to build a stronger and more secure economy is the right one – cutting the cost of living, cutting the national debt and creating the conditions for growth. Backing Rosyth with this £3m investment would be a major boost to Scotland’s infrastructure and tourism.”