Ferguson is listed as an active director for three other businesses registered with Companies House: Ginger and Moss, set up as a lifestyle brand to sell tea, jewellery and housewares, a “motion picture production activities” business called Coat, and Librasol, classified under “artistic creation” on the official register for private companies.

Lecturers at two Scottish universities have voted in favour of industrial action in disputes over possible compulsory redundancies, a union has announced.

In separate ballots members of the University and College Union (UCU) at both Heriot-Watt University and the University of Aberdeen backed strike action, as well as action short of a strike.

The latter can include working to contract, not covering for absent colleagues, or not undertaking voluntary activities.

The dispute at Aberdeen centres on planned budget cuts and a refusal by management to rule out compulsory redundancies – despite the fact, the union said, 40 staff have already left under voluntary severance or retirement.

Meanwhile the row at Heriot-Watt follows a proposed “right-sizing exercise” which the union said could see at least 41 jobs lost at the university’s Scottish campuses, and a further 10 in Malaysia.

Kate Sang, Heriot-Watt UCU president, said: “Today’s vote shows the strength of feeling against these cuts and the jobs that senior managers want to lose.

“Sadly, the university has refused to commit to preserving the valuable research time of staff.

“Cuts to research provision will harm not only the university’s reputation, but the development of cutting-edge knowledge to address society’s big challenges.

“The use of compulsory redundancies is unacceptable, and while members will now decide what action they want to take, senior managers should be under no illusion that the use of compulsory redundancies is something we will be strongly opposing.

The threat of industrial action at Aberdeen comes less than two years after the last dispute in spring 2024, when strikes were pulled “at the last minute” after university management backed down on planned compulsory redundancies.

Dan Cutts, Aberdeen UCU branch co-chairman, said: “Once again members of the union at Aberdeen have shown that they’re willing to stand up to job cuts and will take action to stop people being forced out.

“This clear vote shows the strength of feeling among staff and that we see management’s plans for what they are; a threat to the student experience, to the workforce and to the breadth of research carried out at the university.

“There’s still time for our new principal to show that he wants to work with staff and the unions, and rule out the use of compulsory redundancies to resolve this dispute. The union is ready to negotiate, but we need management to engage and work with UCU to save jobs.”

Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, urged the principals at both universities to engage in talks with the union, and to rule out compulsory redundancies.

“Members at Heriot-Watt have shown their willingness to take action and defend jobs,” she said.

“To avoid this dispute escalating and the possibility of strikes at this busy time of year the principal needs to listen to them, sit down to talks and rule out the use of compulsory redundancies.”

She also said it was “unbelievable” that management at Aberdeen was again “trying to force staff from their jobs”.

“To be back in this position just two years after they were last forced to back down shows that they haven’t learnt the lesson,” she said.

“The new principal, Professor Edwards, should sit down with the unions and rule out the use of compulsory redundancies before it’s too late and this dispute escalates further.”

At Aberdeen, 83% of UCU members backed strike action on a turnout of 60%, with 90% also saying they would take part in action short of a strike.

Meanwhile at Heriot-Watt 74% of members backed strike action on a turnout of 70%, with 87% also saying they would participate in action short of a strike.

Union members at both universities are now set to decide on their next steps.

A University of Aberdeen spokesperson said: “The continued challenges and financial pressures testing the UK higher education sector mean change is necessary.

“Our Adapting for Continued Success transformation programme will help tackle our deficit and also deliver a more resilient, relevant and sustainable university.

“We understand concerns raised but the prospect of industrial action is disappointing, particularly when our students would be those most affected.”

Heriot-Watt University has been approached for comment.

India’s merchandise exports grew marginally in January to $36.56 billion, up 0.61%. On the other hand, imports rose sharply by 19.2% to $71.24 billion, compared to $59.77 billion in the same period last year. As a result, the country’s trade deficit widened to $34.68 billion in January.Exports continued to remain on an upward trajectory in both goods and services segments. According to Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, the total exports of goods and services are expected to cross $860 billion during the current financial year.For the April to January period, exports increased by 2.22% to $366.63 billion.

Trump tariffs hit India’s exports to US

India’s exports to the US also fell by 21.77% to $6.6 billion in January, largely due to the 50% tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration.The US imposed a broad 50% tariff on Indian goods entering its market from August 27. The two countries have since concluded an interim trade arrangement under which the US removed 25% penal tariffs on Indian products from February 7, while reciprocal tariffs are set to be reduced to 18% from 25%. India’s exports are now competitively placed among regional peers.Exports had also contracted in September, October and December last year, although shipments had seen a growth of 22.61% in November. Imports from the United States, meanwhile, increased by 23.71% to $4.5 billion in January, the data showed.During the April to January period of the current financial year, India’s exports to the US rose by 5.85% to $72.46 billion, while imports grew by 13.87% to $43.92 billion.Exports to China surged by 55.65% to $1.63 billion during January, while imports from China rose 16.67% to $12.23 billion. For the April-January period of the fiscal year, exports to China increased by 38.37% to $15.88 billion, whereas imports expanded by 13.82% to $108.18 billion.India’s exports to countries including the UAE, Netherlands, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Hong Kong, Spain, Belgium, Malaysia and Vietnam recorded positive growth during the month under review. In contrast, shipments to the UK, Bangladesh, Singapore, Australia, France and Brazil declined.On the import side, inflows fell from countries such as Russia, Iraq, Korea, Germany, Thailand and Australia, while imports increased from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan and Indonesia. India primarily imports gold from Switzerland, and purchases from the country jumped sharply by 836.85% in January to $3.95 billion.

India’s Diversifying Exports Basket

According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), the latest trade figures for January 2026 reflect the significant impact of US tariffs on India’s export performance, while also indicating early signs of diversification into other markets.“Shipments to the United States followed a clear three-phase pattern between April 2025 and January 2026. After a brief uptick in May, exports fell steadily from $8.3 billion in June to $5.5 billion in September as tariff pressures intensified. A short-lived recovery followed, with exports rising to $6.3 billion in October and $7.0 billion in November, but the rebound faded when hopes of a quick trade deal did not materialise. Exports slipped again to $6.9 billion in December and $6.6 billion in January. With Washington expected to cut reciprocal tariffs on most Indian goods from 50% to 18% this week, we anticipate a swift recovery in shipments,” said GTRI in a note.The broader data suggest that the slowdown is largely concentrated in shipments to the US rather than reflecting a global decline. “Exports to the rest of the world remained resilient, edging up from $29.9 billion to $30.0 billion (+0.3%). The figures suggest that tariff barriers in the US market have driven India’s recent export slowdown, even as exporters begin cautiously expanding beyond their largest single market,” GTRI added.