As we settle into 2025, the team at Orbit are looking ahead at the key trends and activities that will shape our year. We’ve shared our highlights below to help businesses navigate the first six months.
2025 is a year of change, with a lot of opportunity for growth across various sectors such as health, housing and renewable energy.
1. Scottish Budget
MSPs will have their first say on the Scottish Budget 2025 – 2026, with a final vote provisionally scheduled for Tuesday 25 February. At the moment it looks likely that it will pass, with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar stating that his party will abstain from the vote, giving the SNP the votes it needs.
Many sectors have given cautious support to the budget announcement so far, whose overall ambition is to eradicate child poverty. The increase in funding for culture and measures being put in place to support small businesses have, for example, been broadly welcomed.
While the budget promises to deliver for Scotland, for example through increasing investment in the NHS and education, as well as affordable housing, it is against a background of intense pressure on public services.
Investment to allow the mitigation of the two-child cap from 2026, and funding for universal winter heating payments for older people, has also served to embarrass the Labour UK Government, and points towards the next Scottish Parliamentary election in 2026.
We continue to monitor the progress, providing our clients with guidance and counsel to navigate these policy developments.
2. Renewable energy
The renewable energy sector in the UK and Scotland is poised to continue its significant growth in 2025, especially in wind power, which generated more electricity than ever in 2024 (nearly 83 terawatt-hours (TWh), a rise from 79TWh in 2023).
The UK Government considers clean electricity to include renewables, such as wind, solar, hydropower and bioenergy, as well as nuclear power. Together, these sources generated around 56 per cent of Great Britain's electricity in 2024 - a new high.
Back in 2014, wind and solar accounted for around 10 per cent of Great Britain's electricity. That has now risen to about a third. Over the same period, fossil fuel generation has fallen by more than half.
As the UK and Scotland continue to focus efforts on renewable energy generation in delivering clean power, we continue to support current and prospective clients in delivering wind, solar and battery storage.
3. Health
The NHS continues to face pressures going into 2025, with waiting lists at an all-time high and services in need of essential support.
The Scottish Budget promises a total investment of £21 billion to reduce NHS waiting lists. However, the First Minister is already being scrutinised as the need for support across the board for NHS services is critical.
The Scottish Government is continuing to explore options outwith additional funding, following decisions being made in Westminster for example to turn to private hospitals for support.
What’s most important from our perspective is that lived experience is at the centre of the decisions being made. We work with charities across the country to engage with politicians and ensure that subject-matter experts can present important case studies and data to influence these vital decisions.
We work with clients to deliver their key messages across a variety of sectors, helping them to shape important changes in Scotland and the UK. If you are looking for support with public affairs, PR, design or digital services, please don’t hesitate to say hello@orbit.scot.