Tag: productivity

Scottish businesses set sights on team training to drive growth in 2026

  • Upskilling staff (46%) is Scottish businesses’ top focus area for 2026  
  • Firms will also be focused on enhancing their use of technology (44%) and improving productivity (37%) 
  • Just over two in five (42%) say they’ll need extra support with upskilling to achieve their 2026 goals  

Scottish businesses are making upskilling their focus for 2026, according to research from Bank of Scotland’s Business Barometer.   

In the year ahead, nearly half (46%) of Scottish businesses will be focussing on upskilling colleagues. Another 44% will be looking to enhance their use of technology, while more than a third (37%) will be looking to improve their productivity.  

Reflecting their priority areas, upskilling staff (42%) is the area where Scottish businesses say they’d most value extra support to achieve their 2026 goals, along with technology enhancements (30%). Just over a quarter (27%) would also value help improving their environmental sustainability.  

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.  

Martyn Kendrick, Scotland Director at Bank of Scotland Commercial Banking, said: “Scottish businesses are putting people at the centre of their investment plans – something that will benefit the national economy, as well as their own growth aspirations.   

“Whatever businesses’ ambitions for 2026, we’ll be ready to provide our support to help them achieve their goals.”   

Ian Murray underlines Westminster government mission for growth

The latest Scottish GDP stats were published yesterday here for the month of June and here for Q2 of 2024.

Responding to the latest figures, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “Scotland is critical in the UK Government’s mission for economic growth, as the Chancellor underlines today in Glasgow where she’ll meet with key members of the business community to turbocharge Scotland’s regeneration.

“Rebuilding is at the root of everything we do but the £22billion black hole in spending left by the previous government – the worst economic inheritance of any incoming government since the Second World War – means that tough decisions are ahead to achieve stability.

“We are making work pay, ensuring the national minimum wage is a true living wage. And with the end of exploitative zero-hours contracts, workers will have increased job security.

“Backed by £8.3bn of UK Government investment, Scottish-based GB Energy will bring jobs and opportunity for all parts of the UK and trade talks have resumed globally to forge stronger links with our international business partners.”

  • Scotland’s onshore GDP is estimated to have fallen by 0.3% in June. This follows growth of 0.2% in May.
  • In the three months to June (Quarter 2), GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.6% compared to the previous three month period (Quarter 1). This is a slight increase on the Quarter 1 growth rate of 0.5%.