Business News Round Up (21/04/2026)
UK overhauls regional growth strategy to close economic gap
Faced with significant disparities in economic performance between its different regions, the UK is set to launch a series of Local Growth Plans (LGPs) aimed at closing these gaps. These roadmaps will use what are called Place-Based Business Cases (PBBCs) as a compass to find the way towards growth opportunities, according to a report from consultancy BearingPoint. Starting in 2026, these plans will provide a way for local and national leaders to work together on investments that create long-term growth. Regional leaders, as part of what are called Mayoral Strategic Authorities, will lead this work, using a method called Place-Based Business Cases to decide which projects should receive funding. This new approach brings together different areas like housing, transport, health, and education instead of looking at them as separate issues. By linking these sectors, officials hope to create a more powerful impact on local communities.
https://www.consultancy.uk/news/43790/uk-overhauls-regional-growth-strategy-to-close-economic-gap
Scottish tech upbeat despite tough conditions, finds ScotlandIS
Scotland’s technology sector is entering 2026 with a cautiously positive outlook, as companies balance steady growth opportunities with economic and regulatory pressures, according to new research from ScotlandIS. The tech body’s Scottish Technology Industry Survey 2026 shows that the majority (71%) of Scottish tech businesses are optimistic about their outlook this year, a slight dip from previous years – 73% in 2025 and 80% in 2024 – with an increasingly challenging operating landscape resulting in a more cautious outlook after years of strong confidence. However, despite a softening in headline optimism, the broader results point to solid underlying pipelines and improved financial stability. More than half (58%) of Scottish tech firms reported rising sales last year, while 84% expect to see sales growth in 2026.
https://www.digit.fyi/scotlandis-2026
OEUK says UK must act now to secure £50bn North Sea investment
Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) responds to recent comments by the Chancellor on North Sea oil and gas production. The UK’s leading offshore energy trade body says the Chancellor’s latest comments on prioritising oil and gas production from the North Sea reflect an increasingly pragmatic and realistic national conversation about the UK’s real-world energy needs. But more clarity on the regulatory landscape for the sector would need to be accompanied by a fiscal environment that encourages investment. 75% of the nation’s energy comes from oil and gas and the government says it is needed for decades to come. The focus has now moved to where it will come from: The UK can make the most of its own resources or choose to ramp up imports, which do not support jobs, economic value and communities, are more carbon intensive and are less secure.
More than half of Scottish SMEs ‘vulnerable’ to cyber-attack
One-in-eight small businesses in Scotland have experienced a cyber-attack and more than half fear they would be vulnerable to a critical data breach in the future, according to a new study. A survey of 500 businesses found that, while many SMEs have implemented basic cyber security measures, critical gaps remain in training, incident response planning, and strategic preparedness that could prove catastrophic in the event of a serious breach. Of those who responded, most said they lacked the resilience to withstand a prolonged operational shutdown, fewer than one-in-ten provide regular cyber security awareness training for staff, and less than a third have invested more in cyber security in the past two years. The findings follow a sustained period of heightened cyber security risk for businesses, with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reporting record levels of ransomware attacks, business email compromise fraud, and supply chain vulnerabilities in recent years.