This month, we’ve seen political leaders hit the media circuit, setting out their plans and priorities for the year ahead. With the Scottish election in just over a year’s time, they are focused on gaining support – so now is the perfect time for business leaders to engage.

Although, at a time where business confidence is low, the conversations may not be universally positive. When we asked members how they felt in the week before the Scottish Budget was announced, 0% said they felt positive, while 81% were very or quite pessimistic. With the exception of a handful of commitments, the Budget did very little to assuage concerns.

The skills gap, technology, tax and sustainability have all been high on the agenda, and this looks set to continue into 2025. Looking at skills, our 2024 State of the Nation........

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