Rising business rates are adding to cost pressures which mean a third of Scottish small firms expect to shrink or close in the next year. We are asking all our political parties to commit to continuing the "lifeline" Small Business Bonus Scheme and review eligibility thresholds.

🏦 From your bank’s customer service levels, to receiving a payment, overdrafts, and loans - we want to hear your views in our latest survey to help shape the future of banking for small businesses. Find out more, and how respondents have the chance to win £200 👇 🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/time-s...

There's a lot coming down the road at business owners at the end of next month - what to expect and what can be done about it, in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social heraldscotland.com/politics/hol...

🗞️📣 Read all about it! All the most important small business news of the week in the latest edition of the Weekly Brief 👇 🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/cost-p...

Good news for small businesses! The Scottish Parliament has passed the Community Wealth Building Bill with important FSB amendments. That means councils, health boards and other public organisations will have to set targets for increasing spending with small and local businesses.

Wow. Where did January go? A very busy start to the year at FSB Scotland. Lots of networking and lots of advocating for business rates relief for small businesses. Watch out for our Scottish Parliament elections manifesto soon. #backingsmallbusiness

A shocking - if too common - story. Time to treat small business owners more like consumers - not like multinationals running a steel mill. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... @fsbscotland.bsky.social

Small business owners in Scotland — a quick but important reminder 👇 If you’re concerned about your business rates revaluation, you have until 20 February to raise this with your local Assessor and provide evidence. Check out our updated business rates guide here. www.fsb.org.uk/membership/a...

'Its future can’t lie in turning the clock back to the 1950s, or indeed the nineteenth century.' @colinborland.bsky.social writes in @heraldscotland.bsky.social on the future of Scotland's high streets and the need for fresh thinking. www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2579...

An interesting read in The Daily Business about the challenges facing our high streets. It features our Scotland Director @colinborland.bsky.social's evidence to the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee. dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2026/01/tax-...

Our Scotland Director @colinborland.bsky.social told @kieranandrews.bsky.social at Representing Border why the Scottish Budget did not go far enough to support the 350,000-plus small businesses which drive our national economy.

If the Finance Secretary were to be visited by the ghost of Christmas yet to come, which vision of the high street would they show her? A desolate desert, or a thriving town? Depends on her rates budget calls. Me, in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2570...

As we brace ourselves for Wednesday's Budget, why Rachel Reeves should take inspiration from Clarke (Steve, not Ken): www.heraldscotland.com/politics/hol... @heraldscotland.bsky.social @fsbscotland.bsky.social

Textbook Sunday afternoon - and still got the Saudi GP to look forward to at 6…

Scotland's self-employed contribute £15bn a year to the economy - it's time they were shown some proper respect. Me in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social ... www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2502...

It’s been a while, so here’s a nice new half hour of new(ish) tunes to perk up your back-to-work-tomorrow Sunday night… youtu.be/PgSfIkiA_J4?...

Part 2 - finishing up with, in his words, some “utter bangers”… www.mixcloud.com/DJ_Chunky/dj...

A quick half hour from the lad to kick off your Saturday night… www.mixcloud.com/DJ_Chunky/dj...

Anyone know what to do when your iPhone music app decides to randomly swap round all your album art? (Although it is quite entertainingly surreal - especially if you have all sorts of tunes in your library…)

Me on my twin specialist subjects of Brazilian butt lifts and flying dental hygienists (and regulating non-surgical procedures) in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social - www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2495...

Lovely view of the Clyde tonight, as I wandered up to chat to the new(ish) Reporting Scotland at 7 about the prospect of US trade tariffs and why they make no sense for Scotland…. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Exclusive @heraldscotland.bsky.social : Warning over 'prohibitive' cost of Scottish rail travel and service provision www.heraldscotland.com/news/2488236...

💷 Only 5 days left until the deadline to file a self-assessment tax return and pay any tax due for the 2023-24 tax year on 31 January. ⚠️ Make sure you pay on time, as missing the deadline will result in penalties. Find out more, and how to pay, from HMRC 👇 🔗 www.gov.uk/self-assessm...

The drive is on to focus the big economic debate on the real needs of real Scottish businesses, right now. Me in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social - www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2488...

Aberdeen away, ole ole 🎶

GET IN THERE!!! What a win on the road for the Paisley Saints!

It’s Burns Night and I’m doing my annual “let’s see what miniatures I’ve picked up at things over the last year” sweep of the kitchen cupboards… (That said, I’m at the age where I need to admit to myself that, just like a poem, I’ll never know if a dram is any good or not.)

Premiering now over on YouTube… DJ Race - 19 Jan '25 - 50 min mix. 2024 melodic and progressive house. youtu.be/zMKSV6w81YE

Nice walk along the river to go and talk to Scotland Tonight about business confidence and how governments can boost growth. Tune in after News at 10 on STV…

Quite the playlist juxtaposition… Handbrake mood change

A festive three points! 🎄 Safe journey home, Saints!

Live now: www.youtube.com/live/j6yfCmV...

Or “There’s a lot of Edinbuggeringabout” as Robbie Coltrane famously said that new year

HOLY CRAP, MANCHESTER CITY 🤯 All Empires Must Fall. Manchester City let a 3-0 lead slip against Feyenoord, conceding 3 times in last 15 minutes, and are now winless in 6 games.

Christmas has come too early again this year? I won't hear a word of it! Me in today's heraldscotland.bsky.social on the importance of the Golden Quarter and why all eyes are on next week's Scottish Government Budget: www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/2474...

YEEESSSS!!!! The points are staying in Paisley!!!!

Got up at daft o’clock this morning to watch qualifying for the #F1 #LasVegasGP with no 1 son. Not a flake of snow to be seen. Went back to bed for an hour once it was done, then the boy shouts, “Dad! Look out the window!” #stormbert

My 10-year-old totally schooling me on maths - pointing out that the -8 hour time difference doesn’t mean we’re watching this weekend’s F1 at night, as I thought, but at red-eye in the morning…