Sustainability & Environment

Outlook for BP’s operations in Scotland unclear as new chief executive looks to boost returns generated by global energy giant

The roads around the Clackmannanshire village of Coalsnaughton meander past farms and woods, twisting and turning around sharp corners, all while overshadowed by the steep green slopes of the Ochil Hills.

With profits close to £2 billion in 2025, the motor insurance market enjoyed a year of over-performance – as cut-rate premiums were offset by a decline in major claims. The road ahead may be bumpier, though, with researchers expecting profits to fall to just over £1.

ESG reporting could “collapse over the next decade” unless regulators stop “penalising firms for making honest disclosures and rewarding those who don’t”, according to Scott Lane, a governance expert, and CEO of ESG assurance firm Speeki.

When swarmd.ai set out to build a new multi-agent orchestration platform, the software company engaged Hexploits to help engineer the platform while effectively managing the risks at play. “swarmd.ai represents what we believe the next decade of enterprise software looks like – autonomous agents doing real work, mediated by control planes that make them auditable, safe, and accountable,” notes a statement from Hexploits’ website.

HaysMac, an accountancy and advisory firm, has appointed Gary De Souza as a director. He joins the firm’s media, marketing and advertising sector team. In his new role, Gary De Souza will play a key role in expanding the practice, deepening client relationships, driving new business growth, and enhancing the firm’s offering to creative businesses.

Sustainability consultancy SLR Consulting has expanded its offering across the Midlands with the launch of a new archaeology hub. The move comes amid increasing demand for heritage services across the region.

Azets has appointed Nicola MacAulay as a private client tax partner. She will operate in a Kent-wide role as business demand continues to grow. As an international business advisory group, Azets has over 9,000 professionals in 190 locations across eight countries.

Following the sale the Bass Rock and Craigleith islands in the Firth of Forth to the RSPB,. its former landowner, Sir Hew Dalrymple said that one of the reasons he sold it was to protect it against the “multiple threats” faced by the birds.

This World Cup looks set to be one of the worst for the planet. But how bad? And can the Tartan Army app make it any better?

Cynozure, a data and AI consultancy from London, has strengthened its team with two senior appointments. Louise Wilson and Matthew Clarke are promoted as the firm looks to help clients scale data and AI projects.

Simply Sustainable, a London-based sustainability consultancy firm, has acquired Carbon Responsible. The provider of carbon management and accounting solutions from Shoreditch will boost Simply Sustainable’s technical expertise and ESG service lines.

Global consulting firm Capco has appointed Deep Patel as leader of its payments practice in the UK market. He brings more than two decades of experience in the consulting industry to the role. Based in London, Patel will lead the firm’s payments offerings to clients including banks, payment service providers, merchants, fintechs, and regulators.

As AI spending comes under scrutiny from investors, consultants are making the case that the fault may not be with the technology, but a poor understanding of how to measure impact on pilots. A new study from Valliance has shown that close to half of AI initiatives at large European businesses remain at the pilot stage – while those that scale often see limited returns on investment.

Signable has attracted an investment from BGF, as it looks to scale its offering. FRP Corporate Finance acted as lead advisor to the compliance-focused software business. Bristol-based Signable was founded by Culverhouse as an internal solution for his web design business.

Close to 200 workers have been made redundant after a key cargo airline at Bournemouth Airport entered administration. Professionals from Teneo are now exploring the company’s options. European Cargo formerly operated freighters from Bournemouth Airport since 2020, having emerged in April 2020 during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

RCK Partners has appointed Rufus Meakin as senior advisor. He joins the advisory council and board of the R&D tax incentives expert. Sophie Spells, group CEO at RCK Partners, commented, “We’re delighted to welcome Rufus to RCK.

Grieving residents have been angered by the state of parts of Paisley’s Hawkhead Cemetery as Renfrewshire Council insists it is “working hard” to cut overgrown areas.

Beekeepers urged to boost hive biosecurity and stop the spread of the blight

Released Scottish wildcats have given birth to wild kittens in the Cairngorms National Park for the third year in a row.

Council planning experts are sticking to their guns over a recommendation to raise no objection to a potential 12th renewable development surrounding two Caithness villages.

Growing a consultancy firm can mean many different things. To some, it means increasing the volume of clients. To others, it might be expanding into new sectors, locations or higher-value advisory work.

UK-based sustainability consultancy SLR has announced the acquisition of marine and natural capital consultancy Anchor Environmental Consultants. As well as expanding its capabilities in coastal development, biodiversity, and natural capital advisory services, the move also grows SLR’s presence across southern Africa.

While the traditional consulting sector is under pressure, a number of innovative start-ups are challenging that narrative. Seven Street is one such example – the London-based boutique has enjoyed strong growth in its first 18 months of business, even supporting a billion-pound transaction along the way.

More than 500 jobs have been secured, following a restructuring project at Leon Restaurants. The firm has secured a Company Voluntary Arrangement from creditors to keep it out of administration, with help from Quantuma consultants.

Audit, accountancy, tax and advisory firm Bishop Fleming has added three partners to its fast-growing Birmingham office. James Taylor in audit, Tim Thackaberry in valuations, and Mark Taylor as office lead all join the partnership.

Archaeologists have uncovered a “once in a lifetime” find thought to be around 2,000-years-old at a dig site near Stirling.

Chances are you haven’t noticed it yet: the first one has only just been installed in a shop in Glasgow. But keep your eyes peeled in the coming weeks and months because the machines will be appearing in other shops and supermarkets soon and the hope is they’re going to make our lives a little bit better. They are also, I’m afraid, a reminder of how bad our government is.

Hand-harvested botanicals that capture “the flavour of place in a way that feels authentic and meaningful”

Nicola Sturgeon ‘no interest in anything outside the Central Belt’ says Scottish outdoor expert Cameron McNeish

Two years after BrewDog’s troubled Lost Forest project sparked controversy, a major natural capital investor is trying to turn Kinrara into a restoration success story

Scotland’s seas and lochs are warming up – but only a little. Author Gilly McArthur gives her guide to swimming safely and with care.

With protesters campaigning against proposals for a massive AI data centre in the Lammermuir Hills, Rosemary Goring says the threat to Scotland’s wild places increases every week.

Calls are growing for a Scottish Clean Water Bill after concerns were raised about sewage pollution, water quality monitoring and the safety of popular swimming spots.

Campaigners have called the Natural Environment Act a ‘moment of hope’ – and want to see it implemented in full

Investment in hydrogen flags amid concerns about usefulness of fuel but champions hope carbon capture projects will boost market

The Lang Toun’s retail woes and its proposals for regeneration reflect nationwide fears for the future of High Streets . . . and a search for identity

The Open University’s (OU) Mock COP events are empowering Scotland’s rural young people to shape a fairer, greener future, says Leslie Mabon, OU Senior Lecturer in Environmental Systems

Scotland’s biggest offshore windfarm is on a site that a consultation submission said would classify as a specially protected area ‘in its own right’

An eye-watering £45 million has been spent trying to keep one of Scotland’s most notorious roads open after landslides — despite years of promises of a permanent solution.

Cognizant has been selected by Channel 4 to help modernise its advertising operations. The move comes as part of the broadcaster’s wider push to become a more agile, digital-first public service broadcaster.

MHA has promoted Jonathan Dowding to partner in its international tax team. According to Tax Partner Chris Danes, the promotion will support the “continued growth of our London office, as well as MHA as a whole, in the coming years.

In order to achieve Scotland’s Beach Awards, a range of criteria must be met, including beach safety, access and facilities, and cleanliness.

Oil and gas giant BP reportedly held advanced talks about selling its remaining North Sea assets

A bid for a controversial new Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centre in the Borders has passed initial planning scrutiny.

SEPA has been regulating bathing waters for thirty years. The agency’s chief operating officer outlines the changes over that time

Scotland’s bathing waters have long been monitored by SEPA. Are they getting better, or remaining stubbornly dirty?

Two Edinburgh-based firms have been selected for the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult’s Launch Academy 2026, supporting the development of new offshore wind.

Concerned anglers and environmental experts have hit out at Inverclyde Council after a body of water in Greenock reduced substantially in size, causing ‘significant damage’ to aquatic wildlife.

Visitor numbers to Stirling have soared by more than 10 per cent within a year, newly-released figures have confirmed.

Reports fuels debate about value of net zero economy in Scotland amid hefty job cuts by oil and gas firms

A pod of orca have been filmed hunting dolphins in the seas off the West Coast of Scotland in a “historic” moment.

New research from Heriot-Watt University has found that rising salt levels in breeding ponds are threatening Scotland’s last remaining population of natterjack toads, one of the UK’s rarest amphibians.

BORN and bred in Glasgow, Lime is a renewable energy company that is going places both figuratively and literally, as it takes its refreshingly different business model on a mission to reduce home energy bills beyond Hadrian’s Wall and throughout the…

However, a council report proposed the petition be rejected, citing high costs and a lack of discernible impact.

The orca were spotted by trained volunteers on the hunt for the majestic sea beasts

Encouraging results have been recorded for one of the UK’s most threatened bird species

Osprey chicks have hatched at a well-known Scottish nesting site for the first time since 2023 in what wildlife groups have called a “huge moment.”

Scottish energy giant hails strength of performance amid period of ‘macroeconomic uncertainty’

A global energy giant has opened a new Scottish base with a £3 million investment, creating 100 jobs.

Campaigners have criticised plans for a 600MW hyperscale data centre in Fife, warning of impacts on energy use, prices and the landscape.

Growth in clean energy job numbers generates benefits across Scotland amid concern about economic fallout from Iran war.

Rare water voles, which are “of national importance”, have been relocated from a site in Glasgow’s East End, ahead of drainage work by Scottish Water.

A new walking trail at Siccar Point has opened to celebrate Edinburgh-born geologist James Hutton and his revolutionary work.

Nature is being used to safeguard nature in some of Scotland’s most rugged spots

University of Edinburgh scientists say declining Arctic sea ice is causing irreversible changes to the ocean food chain and marine ecosystem.

Last year saw a huge backlash against the traditional hunt – but now the stage is set for it to happen again

The RSPB said there was still a long way to go on safeguarding these majestic birds

A community astronomy group has welcomed a move by Highland Council on a new ‘Dark Skies’ planning policy.

The research looked at 105 operational wind farms with published accounts, over five financial years from 2019-20 to 2023-24