Business confidence in Scotland fell 15 points to 36% in December.
Firms’ optimism in their own trading prospects fell 24 points to 38%, while their optimism in the economy dipped seven points to 34%.
Overall UK business confidence rose five points in December to 47%
Business confidence in Scotland fell 15 points during December to 36%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Bank of Scotland.
Companies in Scotland reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down 24 points at 38%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, down seven points to 34%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 36% (vs. 51% in November).
Looking ahead to the next six months, Scottish businesses identified their top target areas for growth as investing in their team, for example through training (50%), introducing new technology, such as AI or automation (34), entering new markets (30%) and investing in sustainability (30%).
The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly and which has been running since 2002, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide.
National picture
Overall, UK business confidence rose five points in December to 47%.
While firms’ confidence in their own trading prospects dropped one point to 52%, their optimism in the wider economy strengthened 11 points to 42%.
London and the West Midlands were the joint-most confident parts of the UK in December (both 63%) followed by the East Midlands (56%).
Sector Insights
Construction saw the sharpest improvement, up 22 points to 61%, its highest level seen this year. Manufacturing also was up five points to 49%, while retail firms edged higher to 47%, likely reflecting seasonal demand. Services confidence fell one percentage point to 41%.
Martyn Kendrick, regional director for Scotland at Bank of Scotland said: “Scotland’s businesses continue to showcase real resilience, and are setting out plans for growth in the new year ahead.
“We’ll be right alongside them – up and down the country, so that they can make the most of new opportunities as they arise.”
Hann-Ju Ho, Senior Economist, Lloyds Commercial Banking, said: “It is great to see business confidence ending the year on a higher note, up ten points from the start of the year.
“The uplift in business confidence is driven by an 11 point increase in optimism in the wider economy, increasing to a four month high.
“Confidence changed most in the construction sector which saw a big boost in December, to the highest level this year.”
Paul Kempster, Managing Director for Commercial Banking Coverage, Lloyds Business & Commercial said:“To end the year stronger than where we started will be a boost for businesses as they gear up for the growth opportunities that they hope lie ahead in 2026.
“As we approach the peak sales period for retailers, it’s great to see their confidence rise as well as the considerable gains seen in construction.
“For all businesses regardless of sector, maximising cashflows, investment and a keen eye on margins will stand them in good stead as we head into 2026.”
First Minister John Swinney visited the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow yesterday to meet families who have benefitted from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s expanding Hospital at Home and virtual hospital services.
Mr Swinney was welcomed by NHSGGC Chair Dr Lesley Thomson KC and Chief Executive Professor Jann Gardner and spoke to staff leading new services designed to deliver hospital-level care for children in the comfort of their own homes.
He was also given a tour of key areas of the hospital including the Teddy Hospital and the Sensory Room, which support children and families during their visits to the RHC.
The First Minister had the opportunity to hear from parents whose children have received care through Hospital at Home, as well as those who have received intravenous antibiotic treatments on an outpatient basis.
NHSGGC recently launched two new services within its wider virtual hospital. Paediatric Hospital at Home offers care and monitoring for children with a wide range of conditions that do not require admission to a physical hospital, while Neonatal Hospital at Home enables babies with neonatal jaundice to receive treatment at home rather than remaining in hospital for several days.
These services, alongside the existing Paediatric Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) service for children with complex infections, significantly expand the opportunities for young patients to be safely treated at home rather than in hospital wards.
First Minister John Swinney said: “We are taking bold action to reduce pressure on our NHS, increase capacity and shift the balance of care into communities.
“Through our £220 million Operational Improvement Plan, we’re investing to reduce waiting times, improving hospital flow, and provide care for patients in the comfort and safety of their own homes.
“It’s clear to see the impact of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s new Paediatric and Neonatal services, helping children to stay at home while receiving hospital level care.
“Thanks to these innovative services, this festive season they can be treated in familiar surroundings rather than be separated from family, friends and pets and not have to travel to a hospital where it isn’t required.”
Paediatric Hospital at Home is tailored to each child and can include a combination of nurse home visits, wearable technology such as oxygen and heart‑rate monitors, virtual consultations, phone check‑ins, and early supported discharge.
This approach allows children to remain with their families in a familiar environment while still receiving high-quality clinical care, often reducing the length of time they spend in hospital.
The new Neonatal Hospital at Home service is already improving experiences for families.
Neonatal jaundice affects around six in ten newborns and typically requires several days of phototherapy treatment in hospital.
Through the new service, babies can now receive phototherapy at home, with neonatal nurses visiting daily to check bilirubin levels, assess progress, and determine whether treatment should continue – all while keeping families together.
These services form a key part of NHSGGC’s Transforming Together programme, which aims to provide more care closer to home and reduce unnecessary time spent in hospital.
The virtual hospital model brings advanced monitoring, treatment, and multidisciplinary support directly to families, helping ensure care is flexible, responsive, and centred around the needs of the patient.
One of the patients Mr Swinney met was 15-week-old Albie Thorburn, who was cared for through the Paediatric Hospital at Home service after having issues with feeding and weight gain.
Albie’s mum Kirsty, 32, explained that her son was initially admitted to the RHC for tests to rule out anything underlying.
She and husband Alan, 38, were then shown how to feed Albie using a nasal gastric tube which was inserted during his hospital stay, and they were able to take him home sooner.
Kirsty, from the east end of Glasgow, said the family had daily check-ins with Albie’s clinicians via phone, and two attendances in person for Albie to be weighed. These phone calls allowed his parents to ask for further advice, and they were given a dedicated out of hours number for any concerns.
She said: “It was great to be under the Hospital at Home as we were getting daily input from the clinicians without Albie having to be in a physical hospital.
“Albie wasn’t unwell, so there was no need for him to be kept in hospital other than having his condition monitored.
“Having him at home meant I was more relaxed and was able to feed him and produce milk better.
“It meant my partner could be there overnight too and assist with the night feeds.
“It just helped us be together at home with all of our comforts. He has been thriving since he got home.”
The First Minister also met three-week-old baby Krish Butti who had jaundice when he was born but was able to go home to have phototherapy treatment.
Krish’s mum, Bijini Balan, who is 35 and lives close to Glasgow city centre, said: “We were much more comfortable at home, and it meant we were more settled.
It was very beneficial not to have to spend days or weeks in hospital because he could have his treatment at home and the jaundice has completely disappeared now.”
Meanwhile, Mr Swinney had the opportunity to meet families of young patients who received intravenous antibiotic treatment on an outpatient basis, also known as OPAT, rather than having to stay overnight in hospital.
Caleb McLellan, 7, was treated using OPAT for a heart infection called endocarditis.
His mum, Joanne Campbell, from Stepps, said: “Having the OPAT treatment had a significant impact on Caleb and really helped him cope with the situation.
“He was able to go to school for a couple of hours in the afternoon each day which meant he was able to see his friends and regain a sense of normality instead of being isolated and confined to hospital.
“Being at home also allowed him to spend time with his little sister, which was hugely important for both of them.”
Dr Neil Patel, Clinical Innovation Director and Consultant Neonatologist at the Royal Hospital for Children, said: “Our Hospital at Home programme is giving babies and children the opportunity to receive the same high‑quality care they’d receive in hospital, but in the place that’s most natural and comfortable for them – their own home.
“We’re seeing the benefits every day, from reduced hospital stays to better experiences for families at what can be a very stressful time.
“These services are a core part of NHSGGC’s virtual hospital and our wider Transforming Together agenda.
“By using technology, specialist nursing support, and innovative care pathways, we are safely shifting more hospital‑level care to the home environment, improving outcomes while helping families stay together.”
Aldi Scotland’s much loved Supermarket Sweep challenge recently returned to Edinburgh with a festive twist, and one lucky local winner spread some Christmas cheer by raising £606.18 for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) while bagging the same amount in Aldi favourites for himself.
Aldi’s popular Supermarket Sweep, inspired by the legendary gameshow, arrived in Edinburgh on Sunday 14 December. Lucky shopper Tom Garrat, who was chosen as the winner of the competition, donned a Santa costume for his five-minute trolley dash for CHAS at the retailer’s Portobello store – where CHAS representatives got into the festive spirit dressed as elves.
As well as taking home a trolley full of goodies, Aldi Scotland matched the cash value of Tom’s haul, donating all proceeds to CHAS to help support over 500 babies, children and young people across Scotland with life-shortening conditions and their families. In 2025, every penny raised through the initiative has gone directly to CHAS, with £10,000 pledged in support.
Aldi Supermarket Sweep winner, Tom Garratt, said:“It was a pleasure to raise over £600 for CHAS with the help of Aldi.
“A special thanks to Sarah from CHAS for being my eyes and ears as I dashed through the aisles filling the trolleys!”
Sarah Dannfald, Senior Community Fundraiser, CHAS, said:“Turning up to Aldi’s Portobello store dressed as Santa and an Elf isn’t something you do every day, but the team there welcomed us like absolute stars.
“Tom’s fantastic effort in the Supermarket Sweep, along with the brilliant support from all the staff, brought so much festive fun and raised a wonderful amount for CHAS.
“Their generosity will help bring comfort, care and Christmas magic to the children and families we support all year round. We can’t thank them enough for getting behind us with such spirit and good humour!”
Sandy Mitchell, Regional Managing Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “Our first-ever festive edition of Supermarket Sweep has been such a good way to celebrate the season and spread some Christmas cheer, while also finishing a fantastic year of fundraising on a high. Congratulations to Tom, who raised an incredible £606.18 for CHAS while grabbing a bundle of Aldi favourites for himself.
“CHAS is an incredible organisation that does invaluable work for families across Scotland.
“We’re proud to support them and help raise as much as possible so they can continue to provide vital hospice care for children with life-shortening conditions, and unwavering support to families during the most difficult moments imaginable.”
Stores across the country have been overwhelmed by the generosity of customers who donated at the Tesco Winter Food Collection.
An incredible 1.48 million meals’ worth of long-life food items were donated to the collection between 24 November and 29 November across the retailer’s large and Express stores, including 41,804 in and around Edinburgh.
More than 2,000 volunteers helped store colleagues throughout the collection where every item donated provides much-needed support for food redistribution charities FareShare and Trussell in the run up to Christmas.
In addition, more than £300,000 was donated to both charities thanks to customers rounding up their bill at the till to the nearest pound and online donations throughout the collection period. When combined with Tesco’s financial support of the charities, it equates to more than £2m in funding in 2025.
Trussell research shows over 14 million people in the UK are now facing hunger, including 3.8 million children. They predict that their community of foodbanks will need to give out an emergency food parcel every ten seconds this winter to meet the need.
FareShare continues to see high levels of need and say that more than a third of its partners now primarily serve families with children, or services for children. Research carried out by the charity’s network partner, The Felix Project, recently found that almost a quarter of UK working parents have had to turn to a food support service in the last year.
Donations to Trussell help food banks to provide emergency food parcels to people who cannot afford the essentials, while donations to FareShare support thousands of frontline local charities in communities across the country.
This winter will see heightened levels of demand for both charities’ services with the Christmas holidays being a particularly difficult time for families due to the increased costs that occur at this time of year.
Tesco UK CEO Ashwin Prasad said: “As ever, we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of Tesco customers who have shown how much they value the hard work of our partners Trussell and FareShare in their local communities.
“I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated and made this such a special event in stores across the UK. Every single item donated really helps to make a huge impact in communities across the UK supported by Trussell and FareShare.”
FareShare Chief Executive, Kris Gibbon-Walsh, said: “Once again, the generosity of Tesco customers at the Winter Food Collection has been humbling. The long-life items collected will go to 8,000 charities across the UK, helping to support people during the winter months.
At a time when many people are forced to choose between keeping warm and eating, demand for these local charities’ services is higher than ever. The food that we can provide thanks to the Winter Food Collection makes a real difference, helping to bring people together, strengthen communities and support those in need.
“Thank you to every single person that donated an item of food, topped up their shopping bill or generously gave their time to volunteer in store. Your support will help provide a meal for someone facing hardship this winter, enable them to connect with other vital services, and make a positive difference. Thank you.”
Matthew van Duyvenbode, co-chief executive of Trussell, said: “We are so grateful to Tesco for supporting our community of food banks through the coldest season by organising the annual Winter Food Collection.
“Crucially, it’s thanks to you – Tesco customers – who donate food and money so generously. By doing this, you’re ensuring food banks can continue to help people in your local community who are facing hunger and hardship. Thank you for your kindness. When we all play our part, we can end hunger for good.”
With both charities requiring ongoing support, Tesco shoppers can continue to donate food at permanent collection points at every Tesco store in the UK or make a donation after their online shop until the end of February.
CHILD POVERTY ACTION GROUP’S ANNUAL COST of a CHILD REPORT
CPAG’s annual Cost of a Child report looks at how much it costs families to provide a minimum socially acceptable standard of living for their children.
It is calculated using the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) research, carried out by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
The cost of raising a child to age 18 is £250,000 for a couple and £290,000 for a lone parent.
An inadequate social security system means many families, including some working full time, do not have enough income to cover the cost of a minimum standard of living.
A lone parent with two children working full-time on the minimum wage can only cover 79 per cent of these costs, while a similar couple can only cover 90 per cent. The same families across the rest of the UK can cover 69 percent, and 82 percent, respectively.
An out-of-work lone parent with two children only has enough income to cover 55 per cent of costs (46 per cent for a couple). The same families across the rest of the UK can cover 44 percent, and 37 percent, respectively.
Scotland specific policies (most notably the Scottish child payment) help families but still many families are struggling to meet their minimum costs.
The Council, in partnership with the independent Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review (ESCLR) Implementation Group, has been awarded £239,746 to progress the ESCLR’s recommendations.
Published in 2022 and led by Sir Geoff Palmer, the ESCLR report examined how Edinburgh’s connections to slavery and colonialism are represented in its street names, monuments, and public spaces, and how this history continues to shape present-day inequalities.
The funding will accelerate progress on the outstanding recommendations, including public engagement, education, and the development of future approaches to heritage, interpretation, and commemoration.
Key planned activities include:
Recruiting a full-time Project Officer and forming an Advisory Group
Hosting a Decolonising Edinburgh Conference and an open symposium
Developing digital platforms to support engagement and transparency
Creating a small touring exhibition on diversity in Edinburgh’s cultural and heritage activity
Delivering a community research project and a series of consultation workshops on built heritage
Piloting learning resources for schools and anti-racist educators
Coordinating annual stakeholder meetings and a digital campaign around UNESCO’s Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
As part of its commitment, the Council has also provided £10,000 and significant in-kind support to help realise the project’s ambitions.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said:“Thanks to National Lottery players, this funding marks an important step forward for Edinburgh. If we are to be the inclusive and welcoming city our residents expect, we must continue to confront the uncomfortable parts of our past.
“Whilst we’ve issued a civic apology for Edinburgh’s historic role in sustaining slavery and colonialism, the project allows us to go further and become an example for how a city can face up to its slavery and colonial legacy.
“I’m pleased to see work moving ahead and look forward to the progress it will bring.”
Chair of the Implementation Group, Irene Mosota, said:“On behalf of the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review Implementation Group, I thank the National Lottery Heritage Fund for accepting our bid and ideas, and for this funding, and the City of Edinburgh Council for its continued support.
“Edinburgh is acknowledging the impact of its past and recognising that the legacy of slavery and colonialism continues to shape inequalities today and into the future.
“This funding will enable us to work with communities and institutions across the city in open and honest reflection and dialogue, not to reopen old wounds, but to help us understand our shared responsibility and how we move forward together with compassion, equality, and justice.
“We recognise the trust placed in us to carry forward the work begun by Sir Geoff Palmer, and we hope this work will offer a meaningful example of how cities across the UK can address historic legacies with care and integrity.”
Caroline Clark The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland said: “Thanks to National Lottery players our funding will support the City of Edinburgh Council in partnership with the independent Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review Implementation Group, to take a considered and collaborative approach to this important work.
“Edinburgh’s historic links to the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism are engrained in the city’s heritage.
“This project will develop ways for the city to engage thoughtfully with its past, contextualising and acknowledging these parts of the city’s story.”
As part of its Winter Appeal, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home is urging the public to help animals like Niall, a two-year-old Doberman cross, find a loving home this Christmas.
When Niall arrived at the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, he was skin and bones, covered in wounds and frightened of the world around him. Found as a stray, his future was uncertain, but with expert veterinary care, routine and patience, Niall has made a remarkable recovery. Once reserved and wary, he is now beginning to show his true personality and learning to trust again, a powerful example of what the right care and support can achieve.
Now settled into life at the Home, Niall’s confidence continues to grow. Once he has built a bond, he is incredibly affectionate and will happily curl up for a cuddle, despite his size. He is goofy, full of energy and loves racing around with his toys, enjoying every chance to play and interact with the people he knows and trusts.
This Christmas, Niall’s journey is at the heart of the charity’s ‘Nowhere Like Home’ Winter Appeal, a campaign inspired by the idea that every animal deserves a safe place to belong. The Home is highlighting the path stray and surrendered animals take as they journey towards a loving forever home. But for many animals that arrive at the Home, that journey can only continue with public support.
The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home currently receives around 40 calls every day from pet owners seeking help. Between January and October this year, the charity accepted 301 animals, with 141 of them arriving as strays, just like Niall. During the same period, the Home received 700 surrender requests, highlighting the growing pressures facing pet owners across East and Central Scotland.
With operational costs at an all-time high and more than 300 new arrivals already this year, the charity is aiming to raise £200,000 through its Winter Appeal to ensure animals like Niall continue to receive lifesaving care.
With no government funding, the Home relies entirely on the generosity of its supporters to keep its doors open and is deeply grateful to everyone who has supported its work over the past year
Niall is now looking for an experienced owner who has had large dogs before and can continue working on his confidence at a steady pace. He would thrive in an adult only home where he can be the only pet, with a private garden to call his own. As he can find being left alone difficult, Niall will need someone who can keep him company throughout the day while he learns that time alone is okay.
Amelia Morgan, CEO at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, said: “Every animal deserves to know the comfort and safety of a warm, loving home, especially at Christmas. Niall’s story shows what is possible when kindness and care come together, but there are so many more animals who still need our help.
“The need for our services continues to escalate, and it is only through the generosity of our supporters that we have been able to help both pet owners and their beloved animals. Demand is high, and we need to be able to do more.”
Donations to the Winter Appeal make an immediate and tangible difference. £20 can help give a dog or cat their chance to find a loving home, £50 can help pay for lifesaving medicine and expert veterinary care, and £100 can help provide warmth, shelter and ongoing care during the winter months.
For Niall, this Christmas is about healing, hope and the chance of a new beginning. For hundreds of other dogs and cats, the Winter Appeal can make that difference in them finally finding their forever home.
To support the Winter Appeal, visit edch.org.uk/winterappeal, call 0131 669 5331, or text COSY to 70058 to donate £10.
Unmissable sale means holidaymakers get £100 off per person on ALL holidaysbooked with the UK’s favourite tour operator, as well as a 20% saving on ALL Jet2.com flights
Low £25 per person booking depositlaunched for a limited time across Summer 26 holidays too!
Jet2 is making it even easier for holidaymakers to enjoy that “Nothing beats a just-booked holiday” feeling, by launching an unmissable sale that offers customers huge savings across all award-winning flights and holidays.
The UK’s largest tour operator is also helping customers lock in that much-deserved holiday, by announcing a super-low £25 per person deposit across Summer 26 holidays, which will run for a limited time between now and 23.59 on 12th January 2026.
Launched in perfect time for the peak holiday booking season, the award-winning tour operator and airline is helping spread the joy of having some sunshine booked in the diary, by announcing £100 off per person om ALL holidays booked with Jet2holidays, as well as 20% off ALL Jet2.com flights (including one-way flights).
The sale means that a family of four can enjoy a saving of £400 and a couple can save £200 when booking the best rooms in the best accommodation in the best destinations before they are gone.
It applies to ALL holidays across ALL seasons booked through Jet2holidays, Jet2CityBreaks, VIBE by Jet2holidays, Indulgent Escapes and Jet2Villas, meaning that whatever type of getaway a holidaymaker is looking for, fantastic savings are guaranteed when booking with the UK’s favourite tour operator.
The award-winning Jet2holidays experience includes VIP customer service from start to finish, 22kg baggage, 10kg hand luggage, under-seat bag, return transfers, ABTA and ATOL protection and flights with Jet2.com.
Customers can also take advantage of Pay Monthly plans and infants under two travelling for free, with millions of Free Child Place holidays also available.
The news comes as Jet2holidays celebrates being named a Which? Recommend Provider for another year across five holiday categories – Beach and Resort Holiday Providers, Family Holiday Providers, Tailor-Made Holiday Providers, Solo Holiday Providers and City Break Providers in recognition of providing customers with industry-leading customer service and products.
Jet2.com and Jet2Villas also hold Which? Recommended Provider status, meaning the Jet2 brands continue to receive this recognition across seven categories.
As well as enjoying savings on award-winning holidays and flights through this sale, customers can also choose from a huge programme with millions of seats and thousands of hotels available across more than 75 destinations across Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Canary Islands.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com andJet2holidays, said: “Nothing beats the joy of booking a holiday and we are spreading that joy far and wide through the launch of this fantastic sale, making it easier for customers to getaway for less.
“Launched in time for the busy holiday booking season, Jet2 is offering holidaymakers fantastic savings on their holidays and flights, and we know that this, alongside our industry-leading customer service, will be a huge hit.
“With so much value and choice available, we look forward to welcoming even more new and existing customers, whilst showcasing what makes us the UK’s favourite tour operator and airline.”
QMU welcomes audiences to new Stef Smith production at Traverse Theatre
Rising stars of stage and screen will dazzle audiences next February as they perform a new Stef Smith production at the Traverse Theatre, bringing Queen Margaret University’s 150-year story to life.
Drawing on QMU’s rich history, from its origins as a cookery school for women, through two world wars, student activism and a global pandemic, ‘Head. Heart. Hand.’ explores how generations of students responded to the challenges and changes of their times with resilience, passion and hope.
Created by award-winning playwright and QMU graduate, Stef Smith, the production will be performed by QMU final year Acting and Performance students at Scotland’s new writing theatre, the renowned Traverse Theatre, from 19–21 February 2026.
Stef Smith studied Drama and Theatre Arts at Queen Margaret University and won an Olivier Award for the show ‘RoadKill’ just a few years after graduating.
Her plays include ‘Nora: A Doll’s House’, ‘Swallow’ and ‘Enough’; and her recent screen credits include ‘Float’, the BBC Scotland drama, which shines a light on the lives of LGBTQ+ teens living in rural communities and for which she won a BAFTA for Best Writer.
Stef said: “Coming back to QMU feels a little surreal. I can hardly believe how much time has passed since I graduated, yet in many ways it feels like no time at all!
“Much of Scotland’s theatre scene is built on new writing, so it’s vital that students gain experience working directly with a living playwright.
“I hope this opportunity gives them a real sense of the professional world they’re about to enter – it has been brilliant to see the next generation of students bringing such energy and creativity to the project.”
The development of Head. Heart. Hand. forms part of the QMU150 programme of activities marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of the institution now known as Queen Margaret University.
As part of QMU’s commitment to accessibility, the university will be offering 150 £1 tickets to its students for the Thursday afternoon dress rehearsal. These can be booked directly through QMU and are not available via the Traverse box office.
At its core, Head. Heart. Hand. is a story of perseverance, action, and the enduring belief in education as an act of hope. It promises to be a moving celebration of QMU’s legacy – and the students who shaped it.
Purchase your ticket on the Traverse Theatre website –
