HELLO and welcome to the AM Business Briefing, as the first weekend of enforcement of Scotland's vaccine passport scheme was dubbed an "unmitigated disaster" by a hospitality sector body.
The Scottish Hospitality Group said some venues saw a drop in footfall of up to 40%.
It is calling on the Scottish Government to scrap the scheme, which has been legally enforceable since October 18.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "Covid-19 certification is a proportionate way of encouraging people to get vaccinated, and also of helping large events and night-time hospitality to keep operating during what will potentially be a very difficult winter.
"This means many businesses will not have to close and can continue to trade whilst making necessary adjustments to ensure their premises are as safe as possible for staff and customers.
"Officials continue to engage regularly with the sector to discuss implementation of the scheme."
In the City, HSBC has said it expects to benefit from central bank interest rates rising earlier than expected as it announced a third-quarter boost to its profit.
In the three months to the end of September, revenue hit $5.4 billion (£3.9 billion), up by 76% from the same period a year earlier.
Elsewhere, prices at the petrol pumps reached an all-time high on Sunday, while diesel is still a little short of its previous record, new data shows.
The average UK price of petrol hit 142.94p a litre on Sunday, beating the former record, set in April 2012, by 0.46p. Meanwhile, diesel prices reached 146.5p a litre on Sunday, short of its all-time high of 147.93p.
Also today, an island whisky maker unveils its net zero distillery, there is a warning as growth in green jobs risks being ‘undermined’, and Guy Stenhouse's column in Business Voices tackles the issue of privatising the NHS.
Whisky maker unveils net zero distillery centre
Bunnahabhain has said it is on track to have a net zero emission distillation process.
The Islay distillery said it follows the installation of a biomass energy centre, powered entirely by forest biomass sourced only 15 miles away and spent malt, known as draff which is a by-product of distillation.
Julian Patton, international supply chain director at Distell International, owner of Bunnahabhain Distillery, said: “This is an exciting new chapter for Bunnahabhain distillery and whisky production on Islay.
"The Scotch Whisky Association has set a net zero target of 2040 and a lot of work is under way by our team in pursuit of achieving this goal long before this.”
The combination of wood chippings from low value timber felled on Islay and spent malt helps to nurture the island’s forests and promote sustainability and biodiversity as existing conifer forests are replanted with mixed hardwood and softwood.
Some peat bog that is currently planted will also be restored. Ash from the nutrient rich biomass fuel will then be used as natural fertiliser for the replanted forest, creating a circular model for sustainability, the company said.
The £6.5m project has been funded by AMP Clean Energy who will own, manage and operate the biomass system. It is currently being constructed by AMP Clean Energy’s appointed contractor and project developer, Dallol Energy Limited, and will be operational by spring 2022.
The facility will save approximately 3,500 tonnes of carbon per year, a CO2 saving equivalent to the emissions of 1,800 diesel cars, which is more than the total number of vehicles based on Islay.
Richard Burrell, chief executive of AMP Clean Energy, said: “Through our fund, develop, own and operate model, we are delighted to be supporting Distell Group to help meet its carbon reduction targets.
"The biomass energy centre being developed at Bunnahabhain is a landmark low carbon project which sets the bar for how manufacturers can reduce their Scope One Carbon emissions, which will be key to achieving et zero.”
Warning as growth in green jobs risks being ‘undermined’
Ambitious promises of a “green jobs bonanza” are at risk of falling flat amid inconsistent Government policy and a gap in necessary skills, MPs have warned.
Guy Stenhouse: The dangers of free healthcare will have to be tackled
In economic terms, it is dangerous to make something free for which there is unlimited demand, limited supply and a real cost.
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