I recently attended a business conference and heard a variety of business owners and leaders saying how challenging it is at the moment. What is interesting is it was not always about the economy or their sector being slow or there being no growth, but more about securing funding for the growth or getting enough of the right talent to make their plans happen.

On the Knoydart peninsula, one of the most isolated parts of Scotland, The Old Forge pub has recently reopened after refurbishment.The pub serves not just the small population that lives here, but visitors who make the seven mile crossing by boat from Mallaig or who walk for two days over hills and moorland to this remote and beautiful spot.

Family businesses inhabit every street of our towns and cities and are prevalent in rural communities, especially in the Highlands & Islands. Their contribution, financially, socially and spiritually, and the stability those businesses create cannot be underestimated. In today’s turbulent times, they are a hidden lever as a force for good in so many ways.

With the season of goodwill in full swing, it’s a poignant time to reflect on how important it is for businesses to embed social value at the heart of everything they do. This has certainly become a strong part of Cruden’s culture over our 80-year heritage as one of Scotland’s leading housebuilders and developers.

Earlier this month Scotland’s homebuilding industry gathered for the annual Homes for Scotland conference in Edinburgh, a city in the grips of a housing emergency.

The homebuilding industry makes a critical economic and social contribution through investment, employment, community financial support and, of course, the homes provided, both for private purchase and social housing…

Last week, Homes for Scotland held its annual conference in our great capital city, less than a fortnight after City of Edinburgh Council declared a housing emergency. Sadly, this reflects the unfortunate reality across the country. I believe that Scotland’s people deserve so much better and it’s time to stop going round in circles on what is the foundation of our society.

Housing, for most of us, is one of the very few constants in our lives. Our home plays host to some of the happiest moments in our lives, provides us with fundamental security and is the key to improving life opportunities. It is somewhere we should be able to feel safe, warm and part of a community.

Our oceans are the planet’s largest ecosystem, covering 70 percent of the earth’s surface and providing food, energy and water. However, our underwater worlds are under increasing pressure, with the UN calling an “ocean emergency” last year.

Glasgow has once again played host to a successful sporting event with a global audience. The inaugural UCI World Cycling Championships joins a long list of triumphs in recent years, with the Commonwealth Games, Euro 2020, and the European Indoor Athletics Championships all coming to our city.

Unfortunately along with thousands of people every year, I was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. My diagnosis was incurable stage 4 breast cancer. As I began the Everest-like challenge of navigating my own cancer journey, I quickly became overwhelmed not just by the diagnosis, but also in my search for information and support services.

According to the Construction Skills Network, the UK needs an additional 225,000 workers to meet construction demand by 2027. Finding enough people with the right skills has been plaguing businesses large and small and ultimately holding back the industry for years. But there remains immense untapped potential in women.

Proving your business is sustainable financially was historically always the key point when dealing with investors and trying to get your business off the ground. Of course, this still remains the most fundamental pillar of any investor's decision. But nowadays, many investors want to know that their money is going into a project that they can be proud of, and is supporting a well being economy that prioritises people and planet.

As managing director at a civil, structural and engineering consultancy, I often get asked whether a career in engineering is a good choice, and in particular for women.

As a new cohort of engineering graduates enter the workplace, I thought it would be interesting to conduct a short survey of my female colleagues to get their take on what it’s like to be in engineering.

At Will Rudd, women are excelling at all levels of the business…

Renewables by far dominate electricity generation in Scotland, with our output quadrupling since 2007, and renewables now representing 27,000 jobs. However, there is still work to be done, and the sector needs support to complete the transition in all areas, including renewable heat sources and transport.

Christoph Ackermann, Architect and Principal at BDP explains why our workplace environments must adapt quicker, following a shift in post-pandemic working patterns.

Being diagnosed with incurable cancer in 2017 was a devastating blow for me and my family. Back then, I did not even think I would still be alive in 2023, never mind being honoured with an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

As Chair of the Precision Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre I clearly have a vested interest, but precision medicine offers a unique opportunity to save lives, improve our economy and reduce our environmental impact. Precision medicine is the opposite of a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, instead tailoring healthcare to the individual. This powers better treatment and diagnosis, including earlier interventions, more effective medicine development and aims to prescribe the right drug, first time.

The rate at which we are switching from dependence on coal, gas and oil may not be fast enough to satisfy climate activists, but new analysis from the International Energy Agency (IEA), published last week shows that global investment in clean energy is now outstripping investment in fossil fuel production.

Everyone should have a place to call home and as I mark my first year as Chief Executive at Homes for Scotland, I have been pondering what ‘home’ means.

The reality is that we don’t have enough homes to meet the needs of those living and working in Scotland – threatening the life chances of our young people, impacting health and education outcomes, increasing social inequality and further degrading our social and economic wellbeing.

The UK has always had a fascination with homes, but in a post-Covid world, our connections with our homes have become even stronger. According to the Office for National Statistics, 40% of working adults are now working from home - over three times as many as pre-Covid. Homes are no longer just for living. As all encompassing hubs to live, work, play and entertain, architects have more focus than ever on designing homes to enhance lives and create places where families can grow.