News

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 new First Minister is pushing for closer links with the United States—just days after Donald Trump reimposed punishing tariffs that could hit the heart of Scotland’s export economy. In New York for Tartan Week, John Swinney struck a confident tone. But behind the tartan and handshakes, concern is mounting over the future of Scotch whisky sales in America—Scotland’s biggest overseas market. Tariffs Cast Shadow Over Tartan Week The US president’s decision to reintroduce tariffs on EU and UK goods—branding the move part of “liberation day” from what he claims are unfair foreign trade rules—has thrown a wrench into the…

A small Angus-based tech firm is making waves across the UK’s business scene after being shortlisted for not one, but two major awards in this year’s Scotland StartUp Awards. AgriAudit, a farm-focused audit management app founded just last year, is in the running for both Digital StartUp of the Year and Innovative StartUp of the Year—recognition that’s caught the eye of the industry and beyond. From Farm Fields to Finalist List The brain behind AgriAudit is Tom Porter, a local entrepreneur who launched the app in 2024. His idea? Streamline the painful, paper-heavy audit process that’s become a thorn in…

Union members across Scotland’s councils are preparing to walk out after rejecting a 3% pay offer, with ballots showing overwhelming support for strike action if no improved deal is put on the table. The stage is now set for a major standoff between local authority workers and employers as discontent brews over what unions describe as years of pay erosion and disregard for the public sector’s lowest-paid staff. More Than Just a Pay Dispute This isn’t just about percentages. It’s personal now. Local government workers say they’re fed up watching their pay fall further behind as costs rise and recognition…

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,…

Scotland’s Business Minister Richard Lochhead has launched a two-week visit to China and Japan aimed at strengthening economic, cultural and academic ties, as the country seeks to expand trade beyond Europe amid a volatile global market. Whisky, Seafood—and Gaming The trip underscores the rising importance of East Asia to Scotland’s economy. Whisky exports to Japan rose 7% last year, placing it among the top markets by value. Meanwhile, whisky and seafood exports to China have tripled since 2005, according to the Scottish Government. Mr Lochhead will use the visit to promote Scottish innovation in traditional and emerging sectors alike—from distilleries…

Scotland’s ferry procurement agency has confirmed that no social value scoring was included in the recent £160 million contract award for seven new CalMac ferries—despite mounting political pressure and questions over support for domestic shipbuilding. Ferguson Loses Out on Price—Not Performance The state-owned Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow lost the bid to Polish yard Remontowa, which undercut rivals with an offer of just over £21 million per vessel. BBC Scotland understands Ferguson performed well on technical criteria but fell short on cost, which accounted for 35% of the evaluation. The result dealt a blow to Ferguson’s hopes of securing…

All 54 turbines at the 450 MW Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm have now been installed, marking a major construction milestone for one of Scotland’s flagship renewable energy projects. Final Turbine Raised at Dawn The last Siemens Gamesa 8 MW turbine was installed in the early hours of April 7, completing the wind farm’s generating infrastructure. Located 15.5 kilometers off the coast of Fife in the North Sea, NnG now stands fully equipped and ready to transition into final commissioning. The installation was carried out by Fred. Olsen Windcarrier’s jack-up vessel Brave Tern, which has led the second…

You can count on the group chat for almost anything—except actual group travel plans. So I finally gave up, booked a trip to Scotland solo-ish, and let Contiki do the rest. The Group Chat Was Great—Until It Wasn't It started like all our best conversations do: someone tossing out a dreamy idea about a European getaway in the dead of winter. Hype built fast. We were all in, at least until reality hit. Half of us were pregnant, buried in work, or doing grown-up things like homeownership and PTO math. So, I had two choices. Wait around for the stars…

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…