Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
New report warns of risk to Scottish green energy investment and jobs
One of the main options being considered by the UK Government in a planned shake-up of electricity market arrangements threatens jobs, cheaper energy and new wind projects, a new report warns.
Calling for “evolution rather than revolution” of transmission pricing, the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) says any radical change to the current system risks delay to major new wind investment in Scotland.
Maintaining attractive market conditions is “key to delivering long-term lower prices for consumers, a just transition and green ambitions,” the infrastructure leadership group adds.
And it warns Scotland’s renewable electricity capacity needs to increase more than threefold to meet the UK’s 2035 net-zero target.
UK in line for £30bn of investment, says Rishi Sunak
Rishi Sunak will trumpet £29.5 billion of new investment commitments in Britain as global chief executives and investors gather today at a government investment summit at Hampton Court Palace.
The government said the announcements, spanning renewable energy, technology, life sciences and infrastructure, would help to create more than 12,000 jobs.
The prime minister and senior colleagues will host more than 200 business leaders at the Surrey summit, including Stephen Schwarzman, of Blackstone, Amanda Blanc, of Aviva, David Solomon, of Goldman Sachs, and Jamie Dimon, of JP Morgan. It will be followed by a reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by the King.
A full list of attendees has not been published, but figures from China and Abu Dhabi are understood to have been invited. Trade ministers want to engage more with China amid splits within the Tory party over relations with Beijing.
Supermarkets at risk of British beef and lamb shortages
Supermarkets are at risk of British beef and lamb shortages as hard-up farmers face a drop-off in subsidy payments.
A fall in subsidies post-Brexit combined with increasing cost pressures has led to some farmers reducing the numbers of cows and lambs they own, which they say could fuel a shortfall in high-quality homegrown meat.
New findings from the National Farmers Union (NFU) show that upland farm businesses will lose an average of 37pc of support payments as basic subsidies are phased out in favour of green schemes.
The UK has been rolling out its own green farming schemes to replace the European Union’s £2.4bn subsidy regime after Brexit, promising farmers would receive cash in return for actions that provide public benefit to the environment.
Aberdeen is home sweet home for fintech firm Zipzero
Financial technology (fintech) firm Zipzero has found its ideal home in Aberdeen after relocating from London, one of its co-founders has said.
Marcin Walaszczyk, who is both chief technology officer and chief operating officer at the firm, told The Press and Journal the Granite City and its technology ecosystem are “perfect”.
Zipzero has developed an app that allows users to earn money by sharing details of their shopping habits.
The company could easily have gone to Edinburgh or Glasgow, but the supportive environment for technology-focused businesses in Aberdeen made it a “no brainer to move here”, Mr Walaszczyk said.