THE painful separation from the European Union is hurting businesses across Scotland the UK and has dominated much of the business news.

Business Editor Ian McConnell highlighted another concerning impact effect of Brexit, revealing Ayrshire company Maxi Group says stockpiling in anticipation of leaving the EU pushed its haulage business between Great Britain and Ireland “completely out of balance” with “totally uneconomic” traffic flows

Read more: The construction and haulage group, unveiling record turnover and a jump in profits for the 12 months to last September, said the adverse effects of Brexit anticipation in late-2018 and early-2019, and steps to resolve the situation, would affect turnover and margin in the current financial year.

Royal Dutch Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden said the oil giant will invest billions in the UK North Sea in coming years in spite of the uncertainty around Brexit in an interview with Mark Williamson.

Read more: Mr van Beurden said the UK North Sea forms an important part of the conventional oil and gas portfolio which will remain a key driver of growth as Shell looks to play its part in the transition to a lower carbon energy system.

The Herald:

Picture story of the week: Two UK-based rail giants submitted a train proposal to HS2 that would be the most advanced, customer-oriented train ever to run in the UK.

Margaret Taylor told on Tuesday how turnover and profits at Perth civil engineering firm I&H Brown plummeted in the year to September 2018 as a combination of uncertainty in the onshore wind sector and a poor performance in its Warrington base took their toll on the business.

Read more: Having already seen revenues slide by 25 per cent in the previous reporting period, the family-run firm reported a further 28% reduction to £39.5 million while pre-tax profits fell by 88% to £277,000.

Deputy Business Editor Scott Wright reported the significant news from the insurance sector that Scots insurance industry veteran Tom Aldridge has heralded the arrival of his new venture with a deal to acquire the entire customer book of TL Dallas in Edinburgh.

Mr Aldridge, 39, has set up Glasgow-based Blackford Group with a remit to offer a fresh alternative to the commercial risk market in Scotland, while taking advantage of the fall-out from the wave of consolidation seen across the industry in recent years.