Business News Round Up (25/06/2026)
Insolvency levels stabilise as firms hope for World Cup bounce – R3
A fall in corporate insolvencies has provided some “welcome respite” for businesses last month, with the prospect of a World Cup bounce to come, according to the North West chair of R3, the restructuring, turnaround and insolvency association. New statistics published by the government’s Insolvency Service show that corporate insolvencies in England and Wales decreased by 10% in May to 1,868 compared to the April’s figures. May’s figure was also 16% down on the same month in 2025. At the same time, a review of the last ten years of Insolvency Service data, shows the scale and persistency of business insolvencies in the region. In 2025, the North West had the second highest rate of business insolvency in England and Wales, with 136 insolvencies per 10,000 businesses and 2,830 businesses becoming insolvent. This was behind only the North East which recorded a rate of 143.
Chambers chief warns against ‘ruinous’ new taxes
Andy Burnham, who is expected to become the next Prime Minister, will be told that further taxes would be “a road to ruin” and the quickest way to destroy fragile confidence. Shevaun Haviland, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, will use her address to its annual conference to criticise policy choices over the past decade for making “doing business even tougher”. The conference will also be addressed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, her shadow Sir Mel Stride, and Andy Haldane, the BCC president, who is tipped for an advisory role with Mr Burnham. Ms Haviland will say: “Despite all our strengths, we are failing to fulfil our potential. Businesses can feel it and voters can feel it too. A cost of doing business crisis is now suppressing the very growth we want to see. Over the last decade policy choices have made the reality of doing business even tougher.”
Report: Scottish business stay confident despite global uncertainty
Scottish businesses are showing resilience in response to global uncertainty, with 84% saying they are confident in their ability to withstand economic shocks, according to new findings from the Bank of Scotland Business Barometer. Three fifths (60%) of Scottish businesses say they have been impacted by recent global uncertainty, with 65% citing rising costs and 33% citing supply chain disruption as the main consequences. Despite this, over half (51%) of firms said they still expect to grow this year. The Business Barometer survey is made up of 1,200 UK firms from across all regions and sectors. The latest research reveals that Scottish businesses are adapting, with 62% of firms actively adjusting their strategy in response to global uncertainty. Among those taking action, 49% have increased their inventory levels, 47% have introduced cost-saving measures and 36% have locked in commodity, raw material or input prices.
https://www.digit.fyi/scottish-business-resilience
£1.7m boost for offshore wind skills to support Scotland’s renewable workforce
Almost £1.7 million in funding has been awarded to three projects aimed at strengthening Scotland’s offshore wind sector through targeted skills development and training. The investment will support the creation of a regional skills hub in the Highlands and Islands, the expansion of engineering construction programmes, and the delivery of specialised training courses at North East Scotland College. The funding is also expected to leverage a similar level of private sector investment, further amplifying its impact. The projects form part of wider efforts to ensure Scotland’s workforce is equipped to meet growing demand within the renewable energy sector, helping more people access high-quality jobs while supporting economic growth. Energy Minister Stephen Gethins announced the funding ahead of a visit to the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, where he met participants in the Scottish–Irish Offshore Wind Internship Pilot alongside representatives from the Government of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.