Who would invest in and launch a new company in the current climate of political uncertainty and rocketing business rates?
Well plenty of people as it happens – the north and north-east seem to be awash with new entrepreneurs prepared to take the plunge, judging by recent stories in the Press and Journal.
And today’s new Bank of Scotland (BoS) purchasing managers index survey figures for the private sector across Scotland suggest most established firms are just getting on with it, growing their output and creating more jobs.
So why does the very same survey show business confidence north of the border at its lowest ebb in six months?
According to BoS, political and economic uncertainty is holding firms back from doing more.
In the north-east, many business owners will be starting this week wondering if the Aberdeen city and shire councils have sorted out their computer software after it emerged recently their IT was not up to the job of handling a new cap on business rate increases.
And with the council elections out of the way, the next looming political uncertainty – the general election – is thundering down the tracks.
Firms large and small want it to produce a climate conducive to growth as they await the potentially bigger tsunami of Brexit.
Glasgow-based CYBG – or the Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks in old money – posts first half results this week, while another major Scottish financial institution, Standard Life, is sure to face questions from shareholders attending its annual general meeting about its proposed £3.8billion takeover of Aberdeen Asset Management.
