Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
AGCC chief Russell Borthwick backs Fresh Start campaign
AGCC chief Russell Borthwick has thrown his support behind the Press & Journal's Fresh Start campaign, saying the changes could help "bring vibrancy, footfall and energy back to high streets."
The campaign led by The P&J, The Courier and The Sunday Post is urging reform to business rates relief, to bring empty commercial properties back into use and support Scotland’s local economies.
Russell Borthwick said the current rules are holding back one of the most effective measures available to help bring empty shops and commercial premises back into use.
Relieved Harbourworks bosses get go-ahead for huge World Cup fan zone – days before kick-off
Harbourworks bosses say they have been given the green-light for their World Cup fan zone – after overcoming a red tape wrangle that threatened to scupper their plans.
Last month, co-directors Scott Forrest and Rory Masson faced the city’s licensing committee to fight for permission to stage the events at the converted York Street warehouse.
Now Harbourworks say they have been given their temporary public entertainment licence, enabling them to push on with the warehouse fan zone.
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Major supermarket launches fresh bid to open Stonehaven store
Tesco has made a return bid to open a supermarket in Stonehaven after Aldi and M&S deal.
If approved, a new store could open at the Mains of Ury site as early as 2027. Proposals have been lodged by Ashfield Land following extensive local consultation.
This comes after the bid was rejected in 2025, however a recent survey highlighted a “large demand” for the supermarket.
NHS calls in external inspectors to oversee delayed £438m Baird and Anchor projects in Aberdeen
Health bosses have drafted in external inspectors to “scrutinise” the work carried out on the Baird and Anchor project as the opening is being pushed back again.
The Baird Family Hospital and Anchor Cancer Centre were meant to open in 2020, but have been hit by multiple delays.
Scottish Government documents earlier this year said the health board was implementing “several changes to the new hospital, resulting from a design review”, which had affected the completion date and cost.
Driving test booking rules tightened after thousands of no shows
Learner drivers are now only able to swap their test to the three centres nearest to their original booking location in a bid to cut down waiting times.
It comes as official figures shared exclusively with the BBC suggest no-one turned up to take 64,500 practical driving tests last year.
The average wait for practical driving tests across Britain are longer than five months. The new rules will stop learners booking the soonest test available anywhere, then making a series of swaps to get a slot closer to home.