Ishan Crawford

Fife, Scotland — Muir Homes, a longstanding Fife-based housebuilder, has been awarded the prestigious Gold Award for Customer Satisfaction by independent research firm In-house Research, following glowing feedback from its 2024 homebuyers. A 100% Satisfaction Milestone The accolade marks a significant achievement, as Muir Homes attained a perfect 100% score in the "Recommend a Friend" category—a powerful endorsement of the company’s dedication to quality and personal service. The award is based solely on verified feedback from customers who completed their home purchases in 2024, ensuring the recognition is rooted in authentic buyer experiences. The award highlights Muir Homes’ commitment to…

Scotland’s tourism industry could be set for an unexpected summer windfall as international travellers rethink plans to visit the United States following Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, according to VisitScotland. Vicki Miller, the agency’s chief executive, said recent data signals a downturn in US-bound travel from multiple countries — including Canada, Germany, and France — as political uncertainty and policy volatility dampen its appeal. That, she argues, presents a timely opportunity for Scotland to position itself as an alternative long-haul destination for cautious yet experience-hungry tourists. Shifting Travel Sentiment Spurs Scottish Optimism “There’s no doubt that we’re seeing a…

The head of Scotland’s second-largest teaching union has publicly declared that the education system in Scotland is "broken," citing a combination of overwhelming bureaucracy, a rising number of children with additional support needs (ASN), and an unsustainable workload for teachers. Stuart Hunter, president of the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association (SSTA), told the BBC that the system had "passed the tipping point" and is heading toward a crisis. ASN Crisis and Teacher Workload Strain Hunter highlighted the explosion of children requiring additional support, such as those with conditions like ADHD and dyslexia, as one of the main contributors to the strain…

The Ardersier Energy Transition Facility on the Moray Firth is undergoing a major transformation as DEME’s powerful cutter suction dredger (CSD) d’Artagnan spearheads critical dredging operations to expand the harbor and access channel. The works—led by Belgian marine contractor DEME—are designed to deepen and widen the port, making it capable of accommodating large vessels that will transport offshore wind components. The port is positioning itself as a strategic hub in the European clean energy supply chain, directly supporting Scotland’s fast-expanding offshore wind sector. “This project will enable Ardersier to serve as a critical staging post for offshore renewables,” DEME said…

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of one of the earliest human populations to inhabit Scotland, offering new insights into how ancient nomadic hunter-gatherers ventured far beyond their known territories into the northernmost reaches of the British Isles. Led by Professor Karen Hardy from the University of Glasgow, a multidisciplinary team of scientists and archaeologists has made the remarkable discovery on the Isle of Skye. The findings include stone tools dating back to around 11,500 to 11,000 years ago, at the tail end of the Late Upper Palaeolithic period, shortly after the end of the Younger Dryas — a period marked by…

AECOM has snapped up Glasgow-based Allen Gordon LLP in a strategic move aimed at tightening its grip on the booming water and energy infrastructure markets across Scotland and the wider UK. The deal gives AECOM access to Allen Gordon’s vast client portfolio and local know-how, boosting its reach just as billions in green investment are expected to pour into the region. A Timely Deal as Investment Floodgates Open There’s a quiet arms race unfolding in the UK’s infrastructure space — and water is right at the centre of it. AECOM’s purchase of Allen Gordon couldn’t have come at a more…

A 166-million-year-old fossil unearthed on the Isle of Skye has become the most complete dinosaur skeleton ever found in Scotland, offering a rare window into a mysterious period of evolutionary history. The partial remains belong to a small-bodied herbivorous dinosaur, likely an early member of the Ornithopoda clade — a group that would later include larger plant-eaters like Iguanodon and Hypsilophodon. This discovery, made by a team led by National Museums Scotland, sheds light on a globally scarce fossil record from the Middle Jurassic, a time pivotal to dinosaur diversification. A Long-Forgotten Find, Finally Examined Although the specimen was first…

The UK Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of sex has sparked controversy in Scotland. With new guidance issued on the use of single-sex spaces, the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has voiced concerns, calling the advice “hugely problematic.” The Supreme Court Ruling and Its Implications The UK Supreme Court recently ruled that sex is defined strictly by biological characteristics, a decision that has far-reaching consequences. Following this ruling, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) released interim advice on how to apply this judgment, particularly in the context of single-sex spaces. According to the EHRC’s guidance, trans women (biological…

Football, known as soccer in the United States, is the world's most popular sport, with millions of fans across the globe. For generations, England has proudly carried the title of the birthplace of modern football. But new archaeological discoveries in southern Scotland suggest that the origins of the "beautiful game" may be far older—and distinctly Scottish—than previously believed. A Historic Claim: Football Was Born in Scotland Historian and sports archaeologist Ged O'Brien has uncovered evidence that challenges the long-held belief that England is the birthplace of modern football. According to O'Brien, a football pitch discovered in Kirkcudbrightshire county, Scotland, dates…

Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Prince and Princess of Wales, are marking a special milestone in their relationship—14 years of marriage. To celebrate, the royal couple is reportedly heading to Scotland, where they first crossed paths as college students, for a romantic getaway in the picturesque town of Tobermory. A Meaningful Getaway to Tobermory April 29 marks the couple’s 14th wedding anniversary, and what better place to commemorate the occasion than in the charming coastal town where their love story began? Tobermory, located on the Isle of Mull, has a special place in the couple’s hearts. It's the spot…