Scotland's hotel sector is experiencing a surge in investment, with Q3 2024 figures having reached £110 million, a 150% increase on the five-year quarterly average of £44m, according to Colliers. This brings the year-to-date total to £200 million, an 18% rise compared to 2023. Coll
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Barclays has been fined £40 million by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for failing to disclose payments made to Qatari investors during the 2008 financial crisis. The bank was due to challenge the FCA's decision in court but dropped the appeal at the last minute.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Scotland has set out the key priorities for small businesses from the Scottish Budget in order to protect jobs. FSB Scotland policy chair, Andrew McRae, said the Budget on 4 December will be critical for the future of many of the country’s 330,000 sm
Scottish distiller Eden Mill has sold out its Pedro Ximénez single cask release in just 24 hours.
Family-run ice cream producer Mackie's of Scotland has achieved double digit market share growth over the past year, defying tough market conditions. Increased distribution in major retailers like Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Co-op, coupled with targeted marketing, has led to a 22% rise in mark
The UK's CPI inflation rose to 2.3% in October, exceeding economists' predictions of 2.2% and putting pressure on the Bank of England to postpone further interest rate cuts. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) attributed the increase primarily to higher energy bills, offsetting lower oil prices
Overdue invoices have surged by 42.8% in October 2024, compared to the same period last year, equating to 600,588 unpaid invoices, according to R3. The insolvency and restructuring trade body's analysis of data provided by Creditsafe shows that this is the highest monthly total of 2024 so far, and a
The UK economy barely grew in the third quarter of 2024, registering a meagre 0.1% increase, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This marks a significant slowdown from the 0.5% growth seen in the previous quarter and places the UK sixth in the G7 growth league.
Wbg has warned that budget changes are setting the stage for a harsh blow to employers, with implications that could shake the foundations of many industries. With the current Employer National Insurance Contributions (NIC) rate of 13.8% set to rise to 15% in April 2025, Craig Allison, associate dir
Zappaty, a secure file sharing and collaboration platform for SMEs, has appointed Stuart Montgomerie as chief strategy officer and advisor. Mr Montgomerie, who has a background in investment banking, brings extensive experience in strategic growth and business transformation from his executive roles
The average selling price of property in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders has grown to £288,071 during August-October 2024 – a 5.3% year-on-year increase – according to ESPC. The Borders saw its average rise 9.5% to £229,480, while Edinburgh’s average jumpe
Euan Fernie takes a look at the implications Chancellor Rachel Reeves' first Autumn Budget has for personal finance. It may in part have been a consequence of some heavy trailing, but there were no major surprises in the Chancellor’s first Budget and its measures – as they related to per
Commenting on what was perhaps the most highly anticipated Autumn Budget announcement in recent history, ICAS (the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland) has said that the budget picks the pockets of UK businesses. Bruce Cartwright CA, ICAS CEO, said: "The government’s mani
Roger Green discusses the announcement of a National Living Wage (NLW) increase to £12.21 per hour, exploring its potential impact on businesses and employees, and the importance of fair and sustainable wage growth. Yesterday, the UK government confirmed the National Living Wage (NLW) will ris
Dear Editor, I hope this finds you well. On the eve of the budget and with accountancy and legal professionals alike worrying and speculating on its contents, I shared the below poem on my LinkedIn to add a little levity to the discussion:
