Albany HR’s B Corp status; Stretchsense funding – Daily Business

Albany HR, the Edinburgh based human resources consultancy, has been accredited as a Certified B Corporation (B Corp), joining just over 100 companies in Scotland.

Director Kathleen McAdams, who set up Albany HR eight years ago, said: “Achieving B Corp status is the culmination of years of work and a clear signal of our purpose driven approach.

“This is the best and most meaningful early Christmas present for me and the entire team. It validates our founding principle, that organisations become great through their people. Now, it’s not just our mission, it’s our legally binding commitment.”

To secure the status, the firm provided evidence of impact across five key areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customers.

The accreditation process was a collaborative effort led by the firm’s two newest senior consultants, Monique Equi and Susan Friel.

Hand tech firm raises funds

Wearables technology firm StretchSense, which specialises in high-tech data capture gloves, has secured $2.3 million (£1.75m) in a round led by PXN Ventures and supported by Scottish Enterprise.

The Edinburgh-based company aims to drive the global expansion of its extended reality (XR) training glove that enables organisations to immerse staff in simulated environments. 

To date, StretchSense has raised almost $20 million through three external rounds. 

Warning from entertainment venues

Britain’s nightclubs, live music venues, and late-night entertainment spaces are warning that 2026 will bring unsustainable operating costs, with nearly half of venues expecting business rates to rise by 50% or more, according to a flash poll of 345 nightlife business operators.

“We’re not talking about growth, we’re talking about survival,” said one nightclub operator. “Staff livelihoods, community spaces, and nights out are all at stake if costs keep rising.”

Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), said: “The night-time economy is managing significant cost pressures.

“Transitional relief will help, but it is temporary. The recent revaluation has pushed many city nightclubs into higher multipliers, even as wage, national insurance, alcohol duty, and other tax costs have risen. Without targeted support, venues will face difficult decisions around staffing, pricing, and opening hours.”