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Spending reductions and benefit cuts imposed by the UK government could make Scotland’s poorest families more than £800 a year worse, a think-tank has warned. IPPR Scotland said £500 million would be cut from those on benefits by 2020 as a result of decisions made by Chancellor George Osborne â€

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is calling for contributions on how regulation is working in relation to the social investment market. Social investment is a term used to describe investments where the aim is to provide a wider social benefit, rather than the primary driver being a purely fina

Edinburgh-based Standard Life Investments has reached the maximum equity target it set for its second European Real Estate Club. The global asset manager, which is one of the largest real estate investors in Europe, has completed its final close on the fund, raising over €391 million of equity fro

For the second time in three months, business activity in Scotland’s private sector contracted during November as a result of a downturn in the oil and gas industry. According to the latest Bank of Scotland purchasing managers index (PMI), a fall was also indicated in incoming new orders, with pan

Rural land and property experts have issued a warning about a hidden potential time bomb for Scotland in George Osborne’s latest budget. Perthshire-based rural land and property agent Bell Ingram say the Chancellor’s tax hike for second home owners in England is likely to have repercussions in S

Results of a survey of Scottish firms carried out by accountancy body ICAEW and Grant Thornton has revealed a fall in confidence among businesses north of the border that is likely to hit investment. Respondents said they have cut their forecasts for expenditure on areas such as research and develop

The number of Scots working past retirement is on the rise with over 9,000 men and women aged between 65-74 clocking up over 49 hours per week, according to a new report. Many of the aging workers are also often carrying out long hours and commuting lengthy distances, a census analysis carried out b

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today hit Barclays Bank with a record fine of more than £72 million for failing to minimise the risk that it may be used to facilitate financial crime. The failings relate to a £1.88 billion pound transaction that Barclays arranged and executed in 2011 and

John Swinney The Scottish Government will see a real terms reduction of almost 6 per cent in the funding for day-to -day public services over the next four years, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney has said.

Ross Gardner with David Rennie at Stronachs’ Aberdeen HQ Stronachs LLP has strengthened its corporate team with the appointment of Ross Gardner as partner.

The DVLA have clamped or towed almost 100,000 cars in the past year because motorist have not paid their road tax through the new ‘no-disc’ system. The increased marked a 58 per cent rise on the previous year.

Royal Bank of Scotland has said it is scrapping sales bonuses for staff working at the 73 per cent taxpayer-owned lender’s retail banks. To compensate, the roughly 20,000 staff selling products such mortgages, credit cards and loans to individuals and businesses will get an average 5 per cent pay

Hometrack’s UK Cities House Price Index has recorded annual house price growth of 9.4 per cent per annum, and looks set to reach 10 per cent by the year end. Glasgow (up 8.3 per cent), Manchester (up 7 per cent) and Liverpool (up 5.1 per cent) are registering the highest rates of annual house pric

Food bank use in Scotland has increased to record levels, with more than 60,000 referrals over a six-month period, according to the Trussell Trust which said on average people needed 1.7 referrals, suggesting 35,000 individuals received help. From April to September its food banks gave out 60,458 th

Scotland’s high street stores have reported a disappointing October, according to figures from the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC). While total sales across the UK were up by 0.9 per cent on the previous year, figures for Scotland showed a drop of 2.4 per cent.