Here are the stories making the business headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
Aberdeen-based EV charging firm Trojan Energy unveils £2 million growth boost
Trojan Energy, of Aberdeen, has launched a £2 million growth project with support from public sector funding.
The electric vehicle charging technology firm aims to scale up development, research and new products, while also growing its workforce.
Trojan, which currently employs 63 full timers, said it expects to take on 10 more people as a result of the project.
Its growth plan is part-funded by an award of nearly £500,000 from the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund.
Households must pay at least £246m to cover Bulb bailout, MPs warn
Households will be on the hook for at least £246m to pay for the bailout of failed energy supplier Bulb, MPs have warned.
The Public Accounts Committee said that even if Octopus Energy – which bought Bulb out of administration last year – repays the £2.8bn government loan it received for the deal, consumers will have to settle the remaining balance of the £3bn bailout.
This would probably be done through a levy on gas and electric bills at a time when customers are already grappling with high inflation.
In a report published on Wednesday, MPs criticised Ofgem for its regulation of the energy market in 2021 – when spiralling energy prices pushed 29 suppliers, including Bulb, out of business.
Graphic cigarette packet-style warnings could help people reduce meat consumption, study finds
Graphic warnings - similar to the ones used on cigarette packets - could help to reduce our consumption of meat, according to a new study.
Researchers from Durham University found placing images and written warnings about the impact of meat farming on global warming discouraged people from choosing meat options.
They tested a variety of warnings, including ones about climate change, health risks and even future pandemics, on people eating hot canteen-style meals.
When accompanied by a picture, the warnings reduced meat meal selections by between 7% and 10%, according to the results of the study.
A fifth of Britons start planning for Christmas in November, John Lewis says
The 12 days of Christmas have stretched to more like 45, according to research into the nation’s changing festive habits that also suggests outdoor lights are becoming the norm while – for a third of homes – one tree is no longer enough.
Unlike the Christmas carol, which describes 12 days of festivities, a fifth of people – mostly women – begin planning for the holiday in November, according to the John Lewis festive traditions tracker report, which is based on analysis of its sales as well as YouGov polling.
Kathleen Mitchell, its commercial director, said the longer timeframe was explained by customers getting excited for Christmas but also planning ahead to spread the cost.
“While we see a spike in searches for Christmas trees immediately after the summer holidays, people begin shopping in earnest on 10 November – a 45-day run-up to the big event,” she said.