Breakfast Briefing: Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker Aug 2025

Join us to discuss the latest insights from the Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker, our quarterly survey of over 2000 people in Scotland commissioned by the David Hume Institute in partnership with the Diffley Partnership.

The insights will be from new data collected in the first week of August 2025.

Scott Edgar, from the Diffley Partnership, will present the latest findings which track economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion.

Following Scott we will hear reflections on the new data from Lesley Ann Gray, Numerator's Strategic Insight Director for Scotland's Food and Drink Industry and David Eiser, Director of Analysis, Research and Investigations of Consumer Scotland before questions from the audience. The event is kindly hosted by The Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland (ICAS).

Registration, refreshments and networking from 8.15am. Presentation and discussion commences promptly at 8.45am. The event will finish at 9.45am.

For those of you unable to make it along in person, please tune in online - register to the receive the link direct to you inbox. Please note that the livestream will commence at 8.45am .

About the speakers:

Scott Edgar, Senior Research Manager, The Diffley Partnership

Scott joined the Diffley Partnership following previous roles in social research in the Electoral Commission and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Since joining the business he has managed a wide range of research projects including two of Diffley Partnership’s regular quarterly surveys in Understanding Scotland and Understanding Business

Scott has significant expertise in statistical data analysis, research design, management of research projects and communication and has worked on several high profile and high impact projects. He has a degree in Political Research from the University of Strathclyde.

Lesley Ann Gray, Strategic Insight Director for the Food and Drink Industry, Numerator

Lesley Ann is Strategic Insight Director for Scotland for Worldpanel by Numerator who provide brands and retailers with a unique, 360-degree understanding of consumer behaviour around the world. Lesley Ann works with companies of all sizes, including the public sector, retailers and academics. She uses changing consumer behaviours, the impact of macro factors and analysis of category dynamics to help companies grow and feeds directly into their commercial and marketing strategies.

David Eiser, Director of Analysis, Research and Investigations, Consumer Scotland

David is Director of Research, Analysis and Investigations at Consumer Scotland, the statutory and independent consumer advocacy organisation for Scotland. David oversees the organisation’s research into consumer attitudes, behaviours and harms, and its analysis of the impact on consumers of policy and technological change.

Previously David was a Deputy Director at the Fraser of Allander Institute. During this time he acted as adviser to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee, and was a Commissioner on the Scottish Government Poverty and Inequality Commission.