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The number of company insolvencies in Scotland saw a slight decrease in July 2025, with 116 firms failing compared to the same month in the previous year. The total was comprised of 68 creditors’ voluntary liquidations (CVLs), 43 compulsory liquidations, four administrations, and one company v

Astronaut Tim Peake believes a growth mindset is key to success in any industry and warns the UK will fall behind if it fails to champion innovation. Speaking ahead of his keynote at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) Annual Conference in London on 5 November, which is open to

A long-serving partner at Johnston Carmichael has marked his retirement by embarking on a remarkable journey to deliver humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Roddy Anderson, 64, who retired in May from his role as business advisory partner in the firm’s Forfar office, spent over three decades advising

Nicky Lloyd discusses the challenges and opportunities for landlords in Scotland's private rented sector in light of the new Housing Bill, considering whether letting property remains a worthwhile investment in a more regulated environment. With the Scottish Government’s Housing Bill moving th

The longstanding Scottish obsession with property as a means of building wealth is outdated as today’s house buyers will not match the gains of past generations, according to wealth manager Rathbones. Researchers and economists at Rathbones analysed the relative performance of equity investmen

A man who defrauded businesses out of hundreds of thousands of pounds has been sentenced to five years in prison following a prosecution by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). Barry Mackland was found guilty by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh of defrauding three agricultura

UK GDP grew faster than expected in the second quarter, expanding by 0.3%, but a slowdown from the start of the year has highlighted challenges facing the Chancellor ahead of the autumn budget. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed that growth had cooled from a strong 0.7%

Administrators overseeing the sale of the historic 24-room Scottish boutique hotel have sold the hotel business, its contents and a residential dwelling to a duo of experienced hotel operators, Charlie Maclachlan and Sam Wignell of Fyne Hospitality, for £3.05 million in a deal that will save u

AAB has been recognised for its expertise and client service, securing finalist positions in four national accounting awards. The first of these awards comes from leading online accounting software provider, Xero. AAB has been shortlisted for ‘National Partner of the Year’ in the 2025 Xe

Edinburgh-based mobile app security specialist, Approov Limited, has secured a £1.2 million investment from the Investment Fund for Scotland, which is managed by Maven Capital Partners. The funding is part of a wider £5m round with participation from Souter Investments, and existing inve

With no IFRS Accounting Standard dedicated to accounting for carbon-related instruments, a new global study by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and the Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow has revealed the growing complexity and diversity in how companies

Orkney-based insurance broking firm Nord Dallas is celebrating a successful first anniversary as part of the independent, family-owned TL Dallas Group. Over the past 12 months, Nord Dallas, based in Kirkwall, has achieved a number of significant milestones – marking a new chapter in its long-s

The UK government has announced its most significant legislative reforms in 25 years to support small businesses, aiming to tackle the crippling issue of late payments and unlock access to finance. The new measures, part of a "Plan for Change", are designed to give the UK the toughest late payment l

Business confidence in Scotland rose by nine points during July to 56%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Bank of Scotland. While Scottish firms’ optimism in the economy fell five points to 43%, their confidence in their own business prospects rose 23 points month-on-month to 70%

Wbg has appointed former Tesco Bank chief Benny Higgins as its new chairman to spearhead an ambitious national growth strategy. Currently chairman of Glasgow-based investment firm N4 Partners, whose seven-figure investment last year made it the majority shareholder of Wbg, Mr Higgins succeeds Lorna