Search: financial focus

Investors in new stocks & shares ISAs ramped up their contributions in the third quarter of 2025, according to data from Scottish Friendly. The data shows that contributions to new ISAs increased by 13% quarter-on-quarter in Q3, despite the ongoing squeeze on household finances.

KPMG is reducing the pay ranges for new and promoted staff in its UK offices near London, aligning salaries in commuter belt towns such as Reading and Watford with regional centres like Birmingham and Manchester. The shake-up means individuals joining or achieving promotion in these locations may be

The UK government is facing a fresh internal row after Chancellor Rachel Reeves reportedly informed the fiscal watchdog of plans to raise income tax, breaking a key 2024 manifesto pledge.

Johnston Carmichael has appointed Glen Small as head of construction and property, strengthening its commitment to supporting one of the UK’s most vital and dynamic sectors. Glen Small joined the independent accountancy and business advisory firm in April 2022, bringing extensive experience fr

Scottish SMEs have been warned they could be missing out on up to £10,500 relief on their National Insurance (NI) contributions by failing to claim their full Employment Allowance following a recent change in the rules. Nicola Campbell, head of accountancy and business advisory services with A

The head of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has praised the work of a Scottish charity in helping to demystify the tax system, during a visit to its headquarters. JP Marks, the first permanent secretary and chief executive of HMRC, called in at Advice Direct Scotland’s offices in Glasgow.

Scotland experienced the fastest quarter-on-quarter increase in the number of businesses in distress across the UK in Q3 2025, according to the latest Red Flag Alert from Begbies Traynor. In Scotland, levels of advanced or "critical" distress in the latest quarter were particularly stark, rocketing

Drinks producer C&C Group plc, owner of Tennent's Lager, has reported a solid first-half performance with increased profits and margins despite a drop in revenue and a challenging market.

Two-thirds of organisations (66%) surveyed believe climate technology is or will become essential, according to ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). Already, 21% are investing within existing budgets, with another 21% planning to do so in the next two to three years, but there

Scottish finance expert and business mentor Craig Alexander Rattray is calling for stronger government support for SMEs locked in legal disputes with much larger companies. His call comes after a trademark dispute with billion-dollar accounting software firm Xero, which he says is using a name very

Venture capital (VC) investment into Scotland’s start-up and scale-up businesses soared by more than 200% in the third quarter of 2025, according to the latest KPMG Private Enterprise Venture Pulse report. Scottish businesses raised £116.1 million in the third quarter of 2025.

Aberdeen Group PLC has announced that its assets under management and administration (AUMA) rose by 6% in the year to date, reaching £542.4 billion in the third quarter of 2025. This growth was primarily driven by positive market movements and the strong performance of its interactive investor

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is preparing a tax crackdown on professional partnerships, targeting accountants, lawyers, and other professionals using limited liability partnerships (LLPs) as part of her plan to ensure those with the “broadest shoulders” contribute more. The proposal involves

Scotland’s private sector presented a mixed economic picture in September, with a surprising surge in hiring set against a backdrop of falling business activity and declining new orders. Businesses took on additional staff for the first time in four months and expectations for the coming year

The Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, has warned that Brexit will have a negative impact on the UK economy for the "foreseeable future". Speaking in Washington DC, Mr Bailey stated that while he took no political position on the UK's departure from the EU, the resulting trade restricti