John Cumming, senior client manager, looks at the top stories for the week ahead.
We’re entering an interesting week for both politics and business in Scotland, with key figures – including Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey – gathering in Edinburgh this morning for the Global Investment Summit, and the SNP’s annual conference kicking off on Saturday.
The UK Conservative Party is also holding its conference this week, amid ongoing uncertainty around Kemi Badenoch’s future as party leader.
In brief - Scotland's economy and business
Ahead of the Global Investment Summit taking place in Edinburgh today, Terry Murden of Daily Business argues that growth in Scotland is being hindered by a lack of locally based corporate leaders and company headquarters. Murden says the gradual loss of these key individuals and institutions has drained Scotland of influential executives who shape policy, mentor businesses, and invest locally, and that, despite strengths in energy, renewables, and finance, Scotland remains dependent on outside investors and external decision-making power.
In The Scotsman this morning, Scott Reid is reporting that Mapify, an Edinburgh-based technology venture, is the only Scottish start-up to secure backing from a new £1.7 million investment pool. The firm produces a “visual, AI-driven productivity tool” which it says can prevent up to 50% of downtime events, can accelerate decision-making tenfold, and increase profitability by up to 20%. It is one of 14 companies to benefit from investment from Antler, which has also backed fast-growing European company, Lovable.
Scottish Land & Estates has shared its full response to the passage of the Housing (Scotland) Bill in Holyrood. The membership body has welcomed key measures in the legislation, including exemptions from rent control measures for build-to-rent and mid-market rent homes, but warned that the Bill still leaves too much uncertainty for tenant farmers, landlords of off-grid properties and rural housing providers. According to a piece published in The Scottish Farmer yesterday, SLE members currently provide around 13,000 affordable homes for rent across rural Scotland, playing a key role in the provision of rural housing stock.
OpinioNation - columns of interest
Gail Macgregor, chair of Business Gateway, has used a piece in The Scotsman this morning to highlight how a dose of courage is vital to kick start every great business. She sets out the work Business Gateway is undertaking to help turn entrepreneurial ideas into reality,with nearly 7,000 people using it to launch their ventures last year. Macgregor stresses that Scotland’s economic future depends not only on big corporations but on diverse local founders driving innovation, creativity, and growth – and the support network to help them succeed.
Writing in the FT, Martin Sandbu argues that Europe’s competitiveness problem stems from a deep cultural aversion to risk, which limits innovation compared to the US and China. While America thrives on billionaire-driven venture capital and China on state-backed risk-taking, Europe’s cautious financial culture, fragmented markets, and conservative wealth management stifle bold investment. Sandbu adds that despite strong savings and start-up activity, too little capital flows into high-risk, high-reward ventures and he calls for policies to transform Europe’s savings into equity style investments, to foster innovation, scale successful companies, and close the gap to more risk embracing economies.
In a piece for The Herald, Elle Duffy reflects on the emotional and practical challenges of preparing to give birth while living on the remote Isle of Rum. As her due date nears, she and her partner face the bittersweet task of leaving their island home, pets, and routines to relocate temporarily to Inverness for the birth. Duffy shares her concerns about the unreliability of the ferry service, which is somewhat more of a worry for her than giving birth itself.
The week ahead - fill your diary with key events
Note: House of Commons in recess until 13 October
Monday
- Scotland’s Global Investment Summit to open in Edinburgh with speakers including the Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and deputy first minister Kate Forbes
- Conservatives: shadow chancellor Mel Stride addresses his party’s conference
- Trade: WTO General Council meeting in Geneva
Tuesday
- Israel: two years since the October 7 attacks
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Holyrood:
- MSPs debate the Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill at stage three
- Jamie Greene to lead a debate on the ‘Postcode Lottery of Early Learning and Childcare Provision’
- Conservatives: shadow home secretary Chris Philp delivers his conference speech
- PM: Keir Starmer to visit India
Wednesday
- Conservatives: Kemi Badenoch delivers her leader’s address at the party conference in Manchester
- Labour: deputy leader ballot opens following the resignation of Angela Rayner
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Holyrood:
- Portfolio questions: constitution, external affairs and culture, as well as justice and home affairs
- Scottish Conservative debates on social justice and the economy
- Edward Mountain to lead a debate on bowel cancer screening
Thursday
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Holyrood:
- FMQs
- MSPs to debate the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill at stage one
- Clare Adamson to lead a debate on Breast Cancer Now Awareness Day 2025 and Wear It Pink
- Ministerial statement on youth mental health support
- MSPs to vote on a legislative consent motion for the UK Planning and Infrastructure Bill
- Economy: Financial Conduct Authority holds its annual public meeting in London
- Your party hosts ‘Rally for Real Change’ in Liverpool, with co-founders Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana attending
Friday
- Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize announced
- Wales: delegates gather in Swansea for Plaid Cymru’s annual conference
- Defence: 281 parliamentarians from 32 Nato member states gather in Slovenia for the Nato Parliamentary Assembly Annual Session
Saturday
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First day of the SNP’s conference in Aberdeen, running until Monday
- STUC general secretary Roz Foyer to address the conference at 1215
- Delegates to debate policy related to the just transition and housebuilding
- Northern Ireland: Ulster Unionist Party annual conference opens
- US: former president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary
Sunday
- SNP conference: deputy leader Keith Brown to deliver his address
- Trains: Greater Anglia train services nationalised