ICAEW Scotland has sent a list of recommendations to Scotland’s parliament in its Scottish Manifesto, outlining the major steps needed to improve conditions for businesses. Its suggestions have relevancy beyond the region.

The latest national Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) shows that business sentiment slipped deeper into negative territory amid uncertainty about the Budget and rising concern about both the tax burden and regulations. However, companies are optimistic that domestic sales and exports growth will improve over the next 12 months.

Mirroring the rest of the country, business confidence in Scotland has dropped to its lowest level since 2022, with ongoing uncertainty and low economic growth, a survey of business leaders has found.