CONFIDENCE among businesses in Scotland is at its highest level in more than a year, a financial report suggests.

Firms reported greater levels of belief in their own prospects and a smaller proportion of companies expect to make staff redundant in the next year compared to the previous month, the Bank of Scotland’s Business Barometer for April indicates.

The survey questions 1200 businesses across the UK every month to gauge economic and trading prospects. It found that overall UK business confidence is at 29% – the highest reading since September 2018.

The upturn comes as hospitality and retail begin to re-open after a long lockdown.