John Lawrie Metals Limited has posted the profit rise in accounts for the year ended December 31, 2025.

The company said it has had “a satisfactory trading year in light of market conditions”.

The firm’s operating profit was £1.4 million, set against a break-even year in 2024, and it said it “retains a healthy working capital" of £4.5m, set against £2.7m in the prior period. Turnover was also steady at £47m.

The firm handles around 200,000 tonnes of scrap metal annually, and has yards and metal recycling locations in Aberdeen, Shetland and Evanton, near Inverness.

The directors said: “The company's activities are affected by certain commodities prices, being steel and oil and gas.

“The movements in the price of these commodities have a direct and indirect effect on the price of materials that the company trades in. The company continually monitors these markets in order to manage any risk and take advantage of any opportunities that arise.”

Fisher & Donaldson opens first East Lothian site

Award-winning family bakery Fisher & Donaldson has opened its first location in East Lothian, writes Rose Moncur.

The fifth-generation Fife bakery has joined the newly refurbished food market at Archerfield Walled Garden in Dirleton, bringing its famous baked goods to a new customer base.

Founded in 1919, Fisher & Donaldson is known for its traditional recipes, including its fudge doughnuts, coffee towers, strawberry tarts and freshly baked bread.

The bakery joins a growing line-up of independent Scottish producers at the Archerfield food market.

Archerfield Walled Garden is home to a café, lifestyle store, garden shop, outdoor event space and an 18th-century walled garden.

The property hotspot where house prices are falling

A town in Fife has been revealed as a surprise property hotspot despite house prices falling, writes Jody Harrison.

Buyers are paying a premium to snap up homes in Dunfermline, with strong demand for houses at the more affordable end of the market.

The city's average property price dropped by 6.8% year on year, likely due to a large reduction in the sale of four-bedroom houses.

However, growth is being driven by a sharp rise in sales of smaller, cheaper two- and three-bedroom properties.

Dunfermline's demand remains especially strong, with buyers paying one of the highest premiums, at 103.5% of the Home Report value on average.