Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
Further rent controls ‘will push prices in Scotland even higher’
Property rental prices will soar and fewer homes will be available if further rent control policies are introduced, Scottish ministers have been warned.
The Scottish Government has already introduced a form of rent control, which it said was required to help protect tenants during the cost of living crisis. Humza Yousaf confirmed that his government would commit to long-term measures in this week’s programme for government.
The initial controls imposed a rent freeze for existing tenancies. These were later amended to limit price increases on existing leases to a maximum of 3 per cent unless landlords could prove that their costs had risen substantially.
DJ Alexander, the estate and letting agent, has estimated that rental prices in Scotland rose by 5.7% year-on-year when analysing data for July. It said that was the largest increase in more than a decade of collecting data.
“In July alone we received nearly 40,000 enquiries for viewings for our rental properties, with nearly 30,000 of these in Edinburgh alone,” the firm said.
“This is a clear indication that supply is not remotely approaching demand, which results in these rent increases."
Fyvie-born tycoon revealed as new owner of Abergeldie Estate
The new owner of Abergeldie Estate is revealed as Fyvie-born tycoon Alastair Storey.
Mr Storey made his fortune as the chairman of Westbury Street Holdings, a contract catering company he founded in 2000.
In 2012, he acquired another feather in his cap when he unseated Jamie Oliver as the “most influential person in the British hospitality industry”.
And he’s already making waves, with a series of plans for the huge Deeside expanse next door to the royals. You can read more in today's P&J.
Infection expert calls for return of free Covid tests
An infection expert has called for lateral flow tests to become free again as a new Covid variant spreads.
Unofficially called "Pirola", the new BA.2.86 variant is a mutated version of Omicron, which triggered a surge in cases in late 2021 and early 2022.
Prof Rowland Kao from the University of Edinburgh told the BBC it was important to track the spread and some people might not be able to afford the tests.
Iconic Bon Accord soft drinks on sale at Aberdeen supermarkets
Nostalgic North-east shoppers have more options to get their fix of iconic Bon Accord soft drinks, thanks to a new supply deal with Sainbury’s.
The 120-year-old brand has been relaunched and refreshed by Karen Knowles, the great-great granddaughter of its Robb family founders, and business partner Nathan Burrough.
Their 100% naturally sweetened range is now available, in 750ml bottles, at major Sainbury’s stores across Scotland, reports the P&J.
Shoppers in Aberdeen can get their Bon Accord fix at the grocery giant’s supermarkets on Berryden Road and Garthdee. The “sharing” range includes rhubarb soda, cloudy lemonade, and ginger beer varieties.
Qatar plots £4bn spree on UK’s green tech
The oil-rich state of Qatar is weeks away from announcing a £4 billion investment to set up a university-style facility in the UK specialising in green energy research and development.
Its not-for-profit Qatar Foundation is funding the plan, which will include a partnership with Rolls-Royce for technical expertise. Of the £4 billion total, £1.5 billion will go into a fund to seed the development of new UK green energy ideas, with the hope of starting “unicorn” companies worth $1 billion.
The new research base is described by organisers as a “MIT for UK energy transition” — referring to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US.
The launch comes as Britain struggles to fund and grow start-up ideas and has seen a string of technology companies move to the US for financial backing.
“The purpose is to scale up these projects to the level where they can be floated here in the UK, rather than losing our best ideas overseas at their early stage,” one project leader told the Times.
Podcast royalty Rory Stewart considers standing as MSP
A former Conservative minister has said he has "often" considered standing for election to the Scottish Parliament, branding the idea "very attractive".
Speaking ahead of the publication of his new memoir, Politics On The Edge, Rory Stewart also said he “despised” the “creeping” MP he became before leaving the House of Commons in 2019.
Stewart told the Scotland on Sunday that he cared deeply about Scotland, adding: “Scottish Conservatism has more in common with the way that I view the world”.
Mr Stewart currently hosts the hugely popular 'The Rest is Politics' podcast.
‘Demonising’ plans to restrict football supporters’ buses shelved
A shake-up of how football supporters’ buses operate in Scotland has been shelved after widespread criticism that it was “demonising fans”.
Under the new guidelines proposed by the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain, fans travelling on supporter buses would only be allowed to stop at bars that served a “substantial meal”, and barred from drinking alcohol within ten miles of the stadium.
Supporters’ buses would also face far greater police scrutiny by having to inform a “dedicated football officer” 48 hours before the match of the number expected to travel, the number of vehicles booked and the name and contact number for the person who made the booking.
Richard Turfitt, the senior traffic commissioner for Great Britain, which regulates bus travel, told the media he had “listened to the strength of feeling expressed”.
He said: “It is clear to me that there is further work required to understand the full impact of the introduction of any proposed guidance in Scotland.”