Ishan Crawford

Vodafone has struck a multi-year deal with SP Energy Networks (SPEN), the energy infrastructure arm of ScottishPower, to overhaul and future-proof telecom systems that underpin Scotland’s electricity distribution and transmission grid. The four-year partnership will see Vodafone modernize SPEN’s operational telecom network — a vast digital nervous system that spans tens of thousands of substations, overhead lines, and underground cables serving around two million homes and businesses across central and southern Scotland. The agreement is part of SPEN’s broader £10.6 billion investment plan to revamp its electricity infrastructure, aligning it with the UK’s accelerating transition to renewable energy. Digitizing the…

Scotland’s planning system is under pressure — but the solution might not be in more reform. It could be in recruitment. With the housing crisis worsening and developers warning of costly delays in planning approvals, the Scottish Government is making a generational bet: that the planning system can be rejuvenated by attracting young people and mid-career changers into the profession. Speaking during a visit to the £29 million Water Row development in Govan, Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee unveiled the National Planning Skills Commitment Plan — a new framework aimed at strengthening the pipeline of planning professionals and speeding up…

Scotland has just wrapped up its quietest avalanche season in nearly four decades — and it’s not because more climbers stayed home. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) reported just 42 avalanches this winter, a dramatic drop from the 172 recorded last season. It marks the lowest tally since records began nearly 40 years ago, reflecting what forecasters are calling one of the leanest snow seasons in living memory. A Vanishing Winter For those who live and breathe winter in the Highlands — climbers, hillwalkers, skiers, avalanche forecasters — this season felt like something was missing. Snow. Across the six…

EDINBURGH – Scotland's ageing population is set to place “significant and growing pressure” on public finances over the next five decades, with health and social care forecast to consume more than half of the devolved Scottish budget by the 2070s, according to a stark report from the Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC). The independent economic forecaster projected a persistent £1 billion annual gap between funding and spending, driven largely by an accelerating demand for healthcare and stagnant trends in public health. Unless healthy life expectancy improves markedly, the SFC warned that the combination of a rising median age, declining population health,…

A butterfly basking in Bo’ness. Sea and sky dancing at Elie beach. From still corners to sweeping coasts, The Scotsman’s Readers Gallery delivers quiet, stirring moments of Scotland through the lenses of its people. There’s something strangely comforting about seeing familiar places through someone else’s eyes. It’s not just about the view—it’s about the feeling behind it. And this month, that feeling runs deep. A Glimpse of Spring from the Back Garden Sometimes, the best photos come when you’re not even trying. That’s exactly what happened in Bo’ness, where Jim Dewar captured the first peacock butterfly of the year fluttering…

Scotland’s electricity infrastructure is set for a major upgrade, with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) announcing a £450 million investment into the north of the country’s grid over the next five years—one of the largest distribution-level upgrades in recent history. 300 Jobs, Resilience, and Clean Energy The ambitious programme will cover Dundee, Aberdeen, the Highlands, and Scotland’s islands, and is expected to create at least 300 skilled jobs, while strengthening the backbone of the electricity network ahead of rising demand from heat pumps, EVs, and rooftop solar. The upgrade will replace ageing wooden poles and overhead lines, modernise substations,…

GLASGOW — As global cities and regions courted investors at MIPIM 2025 in Cannes, the world’s largest property event, Scotland remained notably absent—a decision now under scrutiny by industry leaders, investors, and development experts. In response, MLA architecture and design, in partnership with Saffery, is convening a high-profile panel on Wednesday evening titled “Bringing the Scottish Property Sector to a Global Audience of Investors.” The event, held at The Social Club in Glasgow, aims to explore how Scotland can reclaim its position on the global investment map. A Costly No-Show? While regional authorities from Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds showcased major…

BGF’s latest move in Scotland sends a clear signal: it’s doubling down on growth, people, and long-term relationships—bringing seasoned dealmaker Rory McPherson on board at a time when investor confidence feels like a delicate balancing act. With six new deals and three exits already under the belt this year, BGF’s Scotland team is moving fast. McPherson’s arrival just put a bit more fuel in the tank. A Familiar Street, A New Chapter For Rory McPherson, the move isn’t just a new job—it’s a homecoming of sorts. “Feels like I’ve come full circle,” he said, smiling. And he meant it. The…

Luis García Montero, the director of Spain’s Instituto Cervantes, has officially opened the 70th Annual Conference of the Association of Hispanists of Great Britain and Ireland in Edinburgh, calling for a reinvigoration of humanist values in an age increasingly dominated by decontextualized science and fragmented identities. His keynote address, titled “Humanism, Science with Roots”, marked the start of the two-day in-person event hosted by the University of Edinburgh, with a third, fully virtual session to follow later in the week. The gathering, one of the most prestigious academic forums for Hispanic studies in the Anglophone world, has drawn scholars from…

Pupils at Robert Burns Academy in Cumnock got a different kind of lesson this week — one that could save their lives. In a hands-on event hosted at Barony Campus, Police Scotland teamed up with a local haulage firm to show S1 pupils the real-world dangers on Scotland’s roads. Organised by campus police officer PC Aitken, the April 4th road safety session was more than just a slideshow. It tackled a growing concern: young people being seriously hurt in traffic collisions — especially involving large vehicles like buses and HGVs. Why this wasn't just another school day This wasn’t your…