What does the future hold for Aberdeen’s energy sector? Riaz Karim, ICAEW Scotland Network Board Member, reflects on the discussion at ICAEW Scotland’s roundtable with senior industry leaders.

The latest national Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) shows that business sentiment deteriorated further into negative territory in Q3 2025. This increased pessimism is underpinned by elevated concern over the tax burden, as well as above-average inflation and weak domestic and exports sales growth eroding businesses’ profit margins.

On 10 September 2025, members of the Scottish Parliament joined stakeholders to reflect on ten years of tax devolution and to consider the current and future development of tax policy in Scotland at the Scottish Tax Conference.