Founder & Publisher
Sam Allcock
Digital media entrepreneur and founder of Edinburgh Business News
Verified contributor United Kingdom
Sam Allcock is a digital media and public relations entrepreneur and the founder and publisher of Edinburgh Business News. He has built and runs a portfolio of independent online news and media brands, and oversees the title’s coverage of the companies, deals, people and ideas shaping business in Edinburgh and across Scotland - from finance and commercial property to technology, startups, hospitality and people moves.
Analysis by Sam Allcock
- Tech
Edinburgh firm becomes UK distributor for Chinese humanoid robot maker X-HUMANOID
The Robot Group is inviting UK businesses and research organisations to explore humanoid robots made by China's X-HUMANOID, the company said.
- Tech
Edinburgh firm named UK distributor for Chinese humanoid robots
The Robot Group is now the authorised UK distributor for X-HUMANOID, inviting businesses to explore the TianGong and Tianyi robot ranges.
- Companies
Old Town BID project clears first hurdle as majority of businesses back plans
Plans for a Business Improvement District in Edinburgh's Old Town have secured enough business support to move to the next stage, the steering group has said.
- Finance
Scottish small business growth forecasts rise for first time in 2026
Novuna Business Finance says 25% of Scottish small firms expect growth in the final quarter of 2026, the first uptick this year, though confidence remains well below 2024 and early 2025 levels.
- Companies
activpayroll opens new office in Kochi, India
Global payroll and HR specialist activpayroll has opened a new office in Kochi, India, as part of its international expansion plans.
- Tech
Edinburgh students launch Scotland-wide university trading competition
A student team from Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh has brought together investment societies from seven Scottish universities for a year-long virtual trading competition starting this month.
- Tech
Estate agents accused of missing up to 94% of evening calls, new AI tool aims to plug the gap
Research highlighted by trade press shows UK property firms miss the vast majority of out-of-hours enquiries, prompting a London AI firm to launch a voice-agent system aimed at recovering lost business.
- Companies
Scotland ranks among top three UK regions for small business sustainability, Edinburgh firm shows how
New Novuna Business Finance research finds Scottish small businesses lead the way on sustainability, with Edinburgh events agency YourScene featured as an example of practical progress.
- People
Ossian Architects director gains RIAS conservation accreditation
Martin Flett, director of Edinburgh-based Ossian Architects, has been awarded RIAS Accreditation in Conservation Architecture, recognising his expertise in working with listed and traditional buildings.
- Companies
Air traffic control disruption at Scottish airports hits freight as well as passengers
Freight industry body BIFA warns that air traffic control problems affecting Scottish and northern English airports are disrupting the movement of urgent air cargo alongside passenger flights.
- Hospitality
Newhailes tops list of Scotland's best free days out, new research shows
A study of five-star reviews has named East Lothian's Newhailes estate as Scotland's highest-rated free attraction, as families across the UK look for low-cost ways to fill the autumn break.
- Tech
PR and marketing sees sharpest UK job losses as AI skills demand rises
A new workforce study from IT support firm Hamilton Group finds that PR, advertising and marketing has shed almost half its job vacancies since 2019 even as demand for AI skills in the sector grows.
- Tech
Edinburgh founder builds playable 3D city game using GPT-6 in 37 minutes
Simon Crack, founder of Edinburgh-based KlipZi, says a single AI prompt produced a browser-playable 3D game in well under an hour, highlighting how fast generative AI tools are moving for small businesses and solo creators.
- Companies
Tea drinkers stick to old habits despite provenance push, YouGov study finds
New YouGov research commissioned by tea brand Birchall shows most UK tea buyers stay loyal to familiar brands rather than seeking out quality or origin, prompting debate over whether tea could have its own 'coffee moment'.
- Companies
Rising Taxes and Inflation Squeeze Investment in UK Convenience Stores, Report Finds
The Association of Convenience Stores says higher business taxes and inflation are forcing local shop owners to cut staff hours, delay investment and in some cases sell up.
- Property
Westminster tops list of least affordable UK cities for homebuyers
A new report from Everest Mortgages shows residents in Westminster would need to more than triple their salary to afford an average home, as English cities dominate the UK's least affordable property markets.
- Tech
Study finds sales and people-facing roles most resistant to AI disruption
New research from digital business card and event-tech firm Wave Connect suggests jobs built on networking and referrals, such as sales management and event planning, remain the least vulnerable to automation.
- Companies
Highlands Named UK's Lightning Hotspot as Meteorage Publishes Summer 2026 Report
French lightning-tracking firm Meteorage says the Scottish Highlands recorded more cloud-to-ground lightning strikes than any other UK county over the meteorological summer, despite the country registering a relatively quiet season overall.
- Companies
Dog owners warned of noise fines as school routines change
A pet safety company is urging dog owners to prepare their pets for the September return to school routines, warning that separation-related barking could lead to council fines of up to £5,000.
- Hospitality
Bremen's autumn Freimarkt fair returns for 2026 with Ryanair link from Stansted
One of Germany's oldest fairs, the Bremen Freimarkt, runs from 16 October to 1 November 2026, offering UK travellers an easy city-break option via a direct Ryanair route from London Stansted.
- People
Career Expert Warns 'Responsible For' Is Weakening CVs
An employment expert says overuse of the phrase “responsible for” on CVs fails to show real achievements, urging jobseekers to focus on outcomes instead.