Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
YouGov backs down in row with Nigel Farage
YouGov has backed down in a row with Nigel Farage after the Reform leader accused the pollster of underplaying his party’s popularity.
The polling company has agreed to change the way it publishes its results after Mr Farage accused the firm of being “deceptive”. It consistently placed Reform around five percentage points lower than other surveys on Westminster voting intention.
He said the company was breaking transparency rules set out by the opinion polling watchdog and, after a lengthy public row, YouGov has backed down.
Mike’s Famous Fish and Chips Blackburn branch set for closure as owner cites business challenges
Mike’s Famous Fish and Chips shop in Blackburn is set for closure at the end of this month.
Owner Liam Brown opened the Blackburn store in 2022 but due to the challenges of operating both locations, he has made the difficult decision to close the shop.
In the statement, Liam revealed that due to the current government system on business rates and VAT, it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to hire new staff.
Legal blunder as lawyers miss appeal deadline on Aberdeenshire catering firm sale
A filing error has left US firm Aramark unable to challenge a decision that it must sell Aberdeenshire catering firm Entier.
Set up by Fraserburgh chef Peter Bruce in 2008, Westhill-firm Entier, which employs 700 people, supplies catering to companies working offshore. Food giant Aramark swooped to acquire a 90% shareholding in the business a year ago.
But in January this year, following an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority, Aramark was ordered to sell Entier, with the authority saying the deal harmed competition in the UK for offshore catering services.
Firms to be paid to hire unemployed young people
Companies are to be paid grants to hire more young people under new government proposals to tackle youth unemployment.
Ministers want to create 200,000 jobs and are pledging £1billion in funding for several initiatives.
Businesses will receive £3,000 for every person between the ages 18 and 24 that they employ who has been searching for a job for six months or more, while small and medium firms will be paid £2,000 for every new apprentice they take on.