Search: financial focus

Scottish consumers are set to channel some more spending into this festive season, according to PwC’s Festive Predictions. The increase in intended spending north of the border closely aligns with PwC’s findings across the UK, which suggests spending on gifts and celebrations will reach

Diageo, the owner of Guinness, has restricted the amount of the stout pubs can order in the lead up to Christmas due to "exceptional demand". Despite operating at maximum production capacity, the brewer has implemented order limits in the UK to manage supply.

Digital bank for entrepreneurs OakNorth has provided £11 million in funding to Longacre Group, a long-term investment company, to acquire a majority stake in Veracity, a global provider of network connectivity products and surveillance systems. Founded in 2005 in Prestwick, Veracity has a glob

A package of new measures to support small businesses and deliver growth has been set out by the UK government. The package, announced in the run up to Small Business Saturday this weekend includes targeted action to unleash the potential of disabled and female entrepreneurs, and a crackdown on late

Despite increases in funding for Scotland from the UK government’s October Budget, Scottish Government Finance Minister Shona Robison has little room for manoeuvre when she presents her Budget for 2025-26 next week. This is the headline message of the Scotland's Budget Report 2024, published t

Azets Aberdeen has advised business owners and farmers on how to navigate "unfair" inheritance tax (IHT) changes announced in the Autumn Budget. From April 2026, proposed restrictions to both Business Property Relief (BPR) and Agricultural Property Relief (APR) will come into effect, while from 2027

Beth Rehman CA has been appointed managing director of the Perle Hotels group, making her the second female MD of a hotel group in Scotland, in the company’s 10th anniversary year. Ms Rehman, who has been brand director at Perle Hotels since 2014, made the announcement at a reception on Skye,

As Scotland anticipates the Budget announcement and a new government tax strategy on 4 December, Ross Stupart outlines what could help businesses to thrive north of the border. The Scottish Budget represents an opportunity to give Scotland’s businesses greater transparency on the government&rs

New research from the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) in Scotland has revealed that 70% of all councils believe they will be unable to pass a balanced budget within the next five years without immediate changes.

Edinburgh has replaced Brighton as the highest-ranking UK city outside of London for foreign direct investment (FDI) attractiveness, according to law firms Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie (WJM) and Irwin Mitchell. A quarterly report by the law firms, which incorporates the latest analysis by the Ce

The co-author of Labour’s ‘partnership plan’ for business has said that the UK government “needs to move faster” to communicate its investment plan. Iain Anderson FRSA, co-founder and executive chairman of H/Advisors Cicero, told the ICAS CA Summit 24 that businesses we

Twelve innovative young companies have successfully completed Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc’s (MSIP) latest accelerator programme, committed to amplifying sustainable innovation and decarbonisation solutions. Part funded by Scottish Enterprise and delivered by Skillfluence, the MSIP Accele

New research has revealed that 44% of people with at least one child under six years old have increased their saving in the past two years. However, according to Scottish Friendly, the number reduces as the age of the child increases.

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.

Michelle Elliot and Callum Carmichael of FRP Advisory have secured a buyer for an at-risk spirits label manufacturer, saving 16 jobs. Ms Elliot and Mr Carmichael were appointed as joint administrators of Renfrew-based Spirit Label Solutions Limited on 8 November 2024.