THE PULSE
Stay informed with the latest insights on internationalisation, commercialisation, and business scaling. Our updates bring you expert knowledge on reputation management, technology trends, and data-driven growth — all designed to help small and growing businesses expand with confidence.
Discover practical strategies, real-world success stories, and actionable tips to build stronger brands, reach new markets, and accelerate growth. Stay ahead of the curve and turn insights into impact.
Luxury’s New Fault Line: Not Demand, But Legitimacy
Luxury is not in a demand crisis but a legitimacy one. This article explores how trust, proof and operating models
Internationalisation is one of the most overused and misunderstood terms in UK business support. Too often, internationalisation is treated as:
NorthStar Consulting UK Named Most Innovative Internationalisation & Growth Consultancy
NorthStar Consulting UK has officially been named the Most Innovative Internationalisation & Growth Consultancy 2025 at the prestigious SME News
The 2025 Luxury Reset: What It Means for Scottish and UK Goldsmiths Going International
2025 luxury market reports show rising discount-led purchases, while fine and bespoke jewellery continues to outperform other luxury goods categories.
The Financial Realities of Running a UK Business in 2026
With our usual focus on Scotland As the UK approaches 2026, SMEs and microbusinesses face an economic and operational environment
Focus on Scotland: How well did we do in 2025?
As we all rush to plan Christmas parties, invitations to Christmas drinks and Christmas presents, our Analysts have reviewed the
The 3 Operational Steps to Innovation That Delivers Defensible Profit
Why Your Innovation Strategy is Failing (and How to Fix It) If you are an SME leader, you already know
Beyond Hogmanay: How Scottish Hospitality Can Turn Winter into a Strength
The hospitality sector globally is facing a perfect storm of cost pressures and consumer caution. However, the upcoming winter period,
Britain keeps inventing the future, then watching it scale somewhere else. Read how founders can break that pattern, win customers
What is an Ad Inventory? A Guide For SMEs
Ad inventory for SMEs: a complete and easy guide to use content for your marketing campaigns. Understand the metrics and
Logistics Mayhem and F&B: How to Prepare for 2026
UK food and drink SMEs face ongoing supply chain delays, rising logistics costs, and tariff uncertainty in 2025. Learn how
Green Credentials: Building an Eco-Smart Business
SMEs can turn sustainability into strategy by starting small, measuring impact, and reinvesting gains to drive growth and resilience.
Expanding Your SME’s Reach in Asia (Q4 2025 Update)
The Asian market remains an important player for UK SMEs. Read what has changed with tariffs and volatility and discover
Remote-First Teams: A Strategy for SME Growth
Remote-first work is transforming SMEs, unlocking global talent, lowering costs, and turning flexibility into a powerful growth strategy.
The Power of Computational Intelligence: Transforming Technology
Imagine a world where every decision is illuminated by advanced analytics; a future where data-driven insights guide us toward a
Looking Ahead to 2026: New and International Markets for SMEs
The four key steps for sustainable growth in 2026: understand your market, build your digital strategy, establish your network and
Brand Differentiation: A Key Driver for Growth
Brand differentiation drives 57% of future growth by setting trends and commanding premium pricing. U.K. retailers must embrace bold differentiation
Focus on Scotland: Why Scottish Cheese Economy Must Look East
Focus on Scotland: Scotland is not only whisky. We Analyse the world of Scottish Cheese and the Internationalisation Potential.
How to Identify Opportunities for Innovation in 2026
Innovation remains key for SMEs in 2026—but it’s not what you think. Practical tips inside.
Shifting Trade Winds: The New Global Trade Order
Global trade is being reconfigured. For SMEs, agility, proximity and collaboration now matter more than scale and reach.
Focus on Scotland: Who Really Benefits from a Tourist Tax?
Scotland weighs tourist levies: fair funding for roads and heritage, or extra burden on families, microbusinesses, and rural communities?
Shifting Trade Winds: Global Ripple Effects and Implications for UK and EU SMEs
Global trade imbalances are reshaping opportunities and risks for UK SMEs. This article explores how shifting surpluses, deficits and policy
Funding Opportunities for Small Businesses – September 2025
Discover SME funding opportunities this September, plus news on NorthStar’s festival sponsorship and Scottish Enterprise Awards nomination.
Shifting Trade Winds: What Next for SMEs?
Global trade faces turbulence, but it is not vanishing, it is transforming. SMEs that diversify markets, localise supply chains, and
Focus on Scotland: Whisky and Heritage drive the economy
NorthStar Consulting’s UK Food & Beverage division supports Scotland’s whisky industry and heritage tourism with strategic know-how, helping SMEs and
How Small Businesses Can Achieve Global Success: Balancing Market Fit and Culture Fit
Expanding your small business internationally is exciting—but tricky. Success comes from balancing market fit and culture fit. Learn how to
From August 29, 2025, the US ends the de minimis exemption, meaning parcels under $800 are now subject to tariffs.
Hospitality and Scotland in 2025: Challenges & Opportunities
Scottish hospitality businesses are under pressure in 2025, with rising costs, labour shortages, and seasonal dips testing resilience. From hotels
July in Review: Focus on Commercialisation
A July 2025 recap: What agile SMEs across Europe and Asia are getting right about commercialisation and the cultural blind
Programmatic Advertising Updates: What’s new
Discover how AI, rising ad costs, and new privacy laws are reshaping marketing in 2025–2026. Get the full report free
Scaling SMEs: Your Ultimate Autumn 2025 Guide
Discover the key tax, regulatory, and international updates UK SMEs must know for Q3–Q4 2025. From NIC rises to EU
How SMEs can Price Like a Premium Brand: Key Opportunities
Learn how consumer-facing SMEs can build a premium brand without alienating customers. Go beyond price with smart design, story, and