3+ hour, 40+ min ago (653+ words) Isolation in rural communities could worsen unless Scotland "closes the gap" on its mobile and broadband connectivity blackspots. Telecommunication experts have delivered fresh warnings to the UK Government as a probe into the roll out of 4G is launched in Westminster. The Scottish Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into broadband and mobile connectivity gaps in rural and island communities amid fears Scotland continues to "lag behind" England and Wales. Just 42% of Scotland"s rural residential properties have access to full-fibre broadband, compared to the UK average of 52%. There are similar challenges with mobile connectivity, with 11% of the country experiencing total 4G "not spots" " areas where there is no 4G signal. That is more than double the UK average of 5%. Thomas Evans, executive vice president of APWireless, a telecoms investment firm, warned UK Government policies were to blame. He warned failing to conduct a…...

5+ hour, 5+ min ago (414+ words) A Scottish accountancy firm has been acquired by an English sector stablemate. The managing partner of the Scottish firm hailed "an exciting new chapter" as the deal was announced yesterday. Haines Watts Scotland has been acquired by S&W, a firm which describes itself as building on the "heritage" of Smith & Williamson, which was founded in 1881. S&W was launched as a new business on March 31, following the sale of Evelyn Partners" professional services business to Apax Funds. Graeme Miller, managing partner at Haines Watts Scotland, said: "Partnering with S&W marks an exciting new chapter for our team and our clients." Haines Watts Scotland across Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, and Stirling. London-based S&W described its expansion into Scotland as a "strategic move". The firm added that the deal builds on its "recent northern growth", following the acquisition of the businesses…...

22+ hour, 24+ min ago (330+ words) It is a ritual that marks an ending, but more importantly, a beginning. For the City of Glasgow College Class of 2025, this year's ceremony comes at a time when the world of work is reshaping itself at extraordinary speed. Automation, digitalisation, the race to net zero, and the changing expectations of employers have altered not only the skills that young people need, but the confidence and adaptability required to navigate an uncertain future. Increasingly, what matters is not just what someone knows, but how they think, how they collaborate, and how ready they are to step into the unknown. That wider sense of preparedness is something the college has been embedding in its teaching for several years. Known internally as the City Attributes, the initiative emerged from a long look at what employers were telling educators: that technical competence alone…...

22+ hour, 9+ min ago (401+ words) A new "200 million hospitality and community venue is being proposed in Edinburgh as The Social Hub'announces plans to expand its growing footprint with a second UK hotel. The group, founded by Edinburgh-born Charlie MacGregor, is in advanced negotiations for a plot of land at the former Fountain Brewery site in Fountainbridge " which has been vacant for around 20 years " as part of the landmark redevelopment masterplan for the area led by Buccleuch Property and Cruden Homes. The wider proposals for Fountainbridge include hundreds of new homes, office and retail space, and delivery of high-quality public spaces.' Plans submitted by Montagu Evans and Hawkins Brown propose an investment of around "200 million and the creation of up to 100 jobs through the development of a new 560-bed facility. Hotel deals in Scotland dominated by one city Hotel plan for 'special place in history' of…...

23+ hour, 51+ min ago (380+ words) A public consultation on relocating a primary school in a Highland village to a new site is to begin soon. Members of The Highland Council's Education Committee agreed to begin a statutory consultation under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 on a proposal to relocate Beauly Primary School to a new site west of Cnoc na R'th, Beauly. Education Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: "This is a positive step forward for the young learners of Beauly. Today's decision moves us a step closer to delivering a modern school that meets the needs of pupils and the wider community. Relocating to a new site will allow construction to take place without disrupting learning at the current school. "We expect the consultation process to conclude with a recommendation to the Education Committee around April 2026, although this may change to ensure all views…...

9+ min ago (76+ words) A police investigation is underway after a man was seriously assaulted outside Glasgow Cathedral. Around 7.15pm on Monday, Police Scotland received a report of a 49-year-old man having been seriously assaulted on Cathedral Square, Glasgow. Emergency services attended and he was taken to hospital for treatment. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances, police said. Anyone with any information or concerns is asked to call 101 quoting reference 2788 of 24 November, 2025....

22+ hour, 9+ min ago (504+ words) A Scottish-based housebuilder is set to accelerate its development programme following a "15 million investment injection. The financing deal has been announced in conjunction with a shift among top management at the 82-year-old firm, which has delivered more than 135,000 homes throughout its history. The company says it is now "primed for expansion" with a pipeline of 4,500 homes across central Scotland. "For more than eight decades, Cruden has shaped communities across Scotland," Mr Reid said. "This investment gives us the firepower to deliver the next generation of neighbourhoods " sustainable, energy-efficient homes that will make a real difference to people and places. "It also marks an important moment in our leadership evolution, enabling Fraser and Euan to drive the business forward to the next exciting chapter." Cruden is currently preparing to deliver 847 net-zero-ready homes at Granton Waterfront as part of one of Scotland's…...

10+ hour, 31+ min ago (574+ words) Nigel Farage has said he never engaged in racist behaviour "with intent" while he attended a top private school. The Reform UK leader directly responded to a newspaper report about his behaviour while at Dulwich College, south London, as a teenager. The Guardian's report was based on allegations from more than a dozen school contemporaries of Mr Farage, 61, who recount alleged incidents of deeply offensive behaviour throughout his teenage years. A spokesman for the Reform leader previously denied the claims on his behalf. In an interview with broadcasters on Monday, Mr Farage however appeared to not be so forthright. Asked to categorically rule out that he had engaged in racial abuse, Mr Farage said: "I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way." As he continued to face questions about the allegations, he replied: "I had just…...

17+ hour, 55+ min ago (282+ words) A long-established Glasgow pizza shop appears to have closed after 36 years, with online listings suggesting the Southside business has quietly ceased trading. Armando's Pizza first opened its doors in 1989, and while no formal announcement has been issued by its owners, Google has now updated the venue's profile to display a prominent "Permanently Closed" notice. Yell has made a similar change, with the takeaway also marked as closed on the directory's business listing. The premises, located at Merryvale Place in Giffnock, have been shut for several weeks, including across weekends - traditionally the shop's busiest and most visible trading periods. While technically located within the East Renfrewshire council area, the business often refers to itself as operating in Glasgow's Southside/Greater Glasgow. Further evidence of a suggested closure emerged when the property was recently advertised on commercial letting sites as a hot-food…...

8+ hour, 46+ min ago (371+ words) A Glasgow city centre hotel has been sold in a multi-million-pound deal. The sale has been completed by Glasgow-based private equity house Maven Capital Partners, which did not disclose the identity of the buyer but described the purchaser as an "international hotel group" with "deep sector expertise". The 101-bedroom ibis Styles Glasgow Centre George Square, on Miller Street, was developed by Maven clients in 2014. It opened in September 2015. It has been sold for a total consideration of around "7.5 million, and the hotel will continue to operate under the ibis Styles brand, part of Accor. Maven said: "The purchaser is a well-established international hotel owner with a portfolio of branded properties across Europe and North America, including assets in Paris, London, Amsterdam, Montreal and Edinburgh. "Since launch, the hotel has traded strongly under the ibis Styles brand, part of the Accor…...