Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
‘High-end champagne boutique’ to revive former Hydro shop on Union Street
The former Scottish Hydro store on Aberdeen’s Union Street will be brought back to life as a “high-end, exclusive champagne shop”.
Work took place on the 156 Union Street premises earlier this year as the owner sought to undo “detrimental” changes that “obliterated” the frontage 40-odd years ago.
After being spruced up with a traditional look, a new taker has emerged with a vision to bring it back to life.
Aberdeen cafe and bistro Moossh in battle with west end neighbours over late opening and live music plans
Owners of Moossh are being allowed to stay open later at the weekend, despite west end neighbours claiming it would turn the cafe bistro into a “late-night venue”.
Sisters Lucy Slattery and Claire Tester transformed the former TSB bank on Great Western Road into the trendy spot in 2023, alongside their father George Tester.
Moossh currently operates from 10am until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, but the owners wanted to extend opening hours by one hour. However, neighbours hit out at the plans, saying the noise this would bring to the quiet residential area would be unacceptable.
UK unemployment rate rises slightly to 5.1%
The UK unemployment rate in the three months to October has increased to 5.1%, according to official figures.
That marked a rise from 5% for the three months to September.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the data reflected a "subdued labour market".
Ford takes $20bn hit as it reverses out of electric vehicles
Ford is to pull back from electric cars in a retrenchment that will deliver a blow of almost $20billion to the American manufacturer amid hostility to green vehicles from President Trump.
The Michigan-based company said on Monday it would embark on a wide-ranging overhaul of its electric vehicle (EV) business that will include scrapping some models.
Its retreat will result in charges totalling $19.5billion, most of which the manufacturer will book in the fourth quarter.
BT and Three investigated over mobile blackouts that took out 999 calls
BT and Three are to be investigated over mobile network outages that left customers unable to make 999 calls.
Regulator Ofcom has launched a review into the disruption that affected both companies’ networks over the summer, resulting in thousands of customers being cut off.
The investigation was announced after BT informed Ofcom that its EE network was interrupted by a software issue on July 24 and 25.