Here are the top business stories making the headlines in the morning newspapers.
£140million package for North Star
Offshore support vessel operator North Star has today announced a £140million finance package to support a "next wave" expansion of its renewables fleet.
The Press and Journal says the cash includes £50million from the Scottish National Investment Bank - a development investment bank established and funded by the Scottish Government.
Also backing the business are IFM Investors, Edmond de Rothschild's Bridge platform and RBC Capital Markets.
Boss rings off at Vodafone
Vodafone is under pressure from a billionaire French shareholder to accelerate cost-cutting and asset sales after the ousting of its chief executive.
The FTSE 100 telecoms giant announced Nick Read's exit following a near- 50% slump in its share price since he took charge four years ago.
But Xavier Niel, founder of French operator Iliad and owner of 2.5% of Vodafone, said that change at the top would not be enough to deliver a turnaround.
The Telegraph says Mr Read, who has spent two decades at Vodafone, will stand down at the end of the year.
Finance chief Margherita Della Valle will be step up to become interim group chief executive while a permanent successor is found.
Expansion by B&Q
B&Q is expanding its presence on the high street with new B&Q local convenience stores, while rising costs force many other retailers to close shops.
The DIY and home improvement retail giant has been trialling smaller high street stores since 2020, but now plans to launch two stores in London's Palmers Green and Camden districts in the first quarter of 2023.
The Telegraph says they will be the first to bear the B&Q Local brand, which B&Q recently applied to register as a trademark.
Graham Bell, chief executive of B&Q, said: "Depending on the test and trial we could probably see quite a few - there are 50-odd catchments where we're not represented. But it's finding the physical location and getting planning permission."
B&Q's plans to open new shops come as soaring inflation and energy prices are forcing many big retailers to reduce costs by closing shops.
Flexible-working change
Employees will be given the right to ask for flexible working from their first day at a new job, the UK Government has proposed.
New legislation will mean that workers will not have to wait for 26 weeks to seek flexible arrangements, as set out under the current law.
The BBC says the government also wants to introduce laws that make it easier for people on low incomes to get a second job.
However, the Trades Union Congress said the government must go "much further".
Cutting energy costs at PwC
One of the UK's largest accountancy firms will close most of its offices over Christmas and New Year for the first time to save on energy bills.
PwC, which employs about 24,000 people, will shut its main London office from December 23 to January 3, as well as some smaller sites.
Its chairman Kevin Ellis said having all offices open over the festive period "doesn't make sense at a time of energy scarcity".
The BBC says PwC has 19 offices across the UK.
Most staff will be taking annual leave over Christmas, but the Covid pandemic has meant that working remotely from home is now common practice.
Mr Ellis said that staff wanted the company to "do our bit to reduce energy consumption".
Better news on mortgage rates
New average two and five-year fixed-rate mortgages both now have an interest rate of less than 6% for the first time for two months, data shows.
Financial information service Moneyfacts said the typical two-year deal on the market now had a rate of 5.99%, and was likely to fall further.
The BBC says mortgage costs had surged after the mini-Budget, peaking at 6.65%.
The average five-year fixed-rate deal dropped below 6% nearly two weeks ago, and is now at 5.78%.
'Sleepwalking' into food-supply crisis
The UK is "sleepwalking" into a food supply crisis and the government must step in to help farmers, the National Farmers Union (NFU) has warned.
Yields of tomatoes and other crops will likely slump to record lows this year, it said, with potential supply problems ahead as already seen with eggs.
Soaring fuel, fertiliser and feed costs were putting farmers under severe pressure, it added.
But the BBC reports that the government said that the UK has a "highly-resilient food supply chain".
Some supermarkets are rationing egg sales after farmers cut back or halted production because of rising costs - a situation made worse by the Avian flu outbreak.
However, the NFU warned that food producers in other areas were now facing difficulties.
It said yields of energy-intensive crops like tomatoes, cucumbers and pears were likely to hit their lowest level this year since records began in 1985.
It also said milk prices were likely to fall below the cost of production, while beef farmers were considering reducing the number of cows they breed.
Yet more rail strikes
Extra rail strikes have been scheduled over the Christmas period, the RMT union says.
Staff at Network Rail - about half the workers involved in a pay dispute - are expected to walk out from 6pm on Christmas Eve until December 27.
The BBC says a new offer was made by the company on Sunday but the union is urging members to reject it.
Network Rail accused the RMT of using passengers and workers as "pawns in a fight with the government".
Changing high streets
Scotland's high streets now have more fast-food outlets and beauty services but fewer clothes shops, research shows.
New analysis by the BBC reveals big changes to the retail and hospitality sectors across the country since lockdown.
Scotland-wide, there are now 8% fewer clothes shops but 12% more fast-food outlets since 2020.
And, in the city centre of Glasgow, there are now more beauty service providers than pubs.
The BBC data team looked at every town and city across the UK to see how they had changed since March, 2020.
What emerged in Scotland was a picture of high streets transforming fast - squeezed by the Covid lockdown and the rise in demand for internet shopping and eating out.