Jim Rowan, the Glasgow-born tech executive and former CEO of several multinational companies, has thrown his support behind the creation of a Scottish sovereign wealth fund to develop the next generation of business leaders and companies with global potential. Speaking on wealth management firm Murp
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The proportion of Scottish small businesses depending on finance to fuel their growth has climbed to an eight-year high, according to new research from Novuna Business Finance. A YouGov poll, which surveyed 1,242 small business owners nationwide, found that 51% of Scottish enterprises would be force
Unity Trust Bank, which supports organisations that create positive social impact across the UK, has published its annual results for 2024, reflecting its strong commitment to housing and healthcare in Scotland. Unity’s overall lending remained at over £1 billion with 50.5% (2023: 45.3%)
Staff costs in Scotland’s hotel sector jumped in January, hitting profits even before April’s rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions (NICs) and National Minimum Wage (NMW), meaning pressures are only set to intensify, according to the RSM Hotels Tracker. The data, whic
Scotland's economy outperformed the UK in 2024, however, a sharp slowdown in consumer-facing sectors during the fourth quarter signals growing household caution amidst economic uncertainty, according to EY. The latest EY ITEM Club Scotland forecast projects a GVA growth of 0.9%. While GDP data
Scottish business confidence has experienced a significant uplift, rising 11 points to 53% in February, according to the Bank of Scotland's latest Business Barometer. While companies in Scotland reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down three points at 50%, their
Scotland's high-end property market has demonstrated resilience in 2024, with sales of homes exceeding £1 million increasing despite political and tax hurdles, according to Savills. The market recorded a total of 466 residential transactions, up from 454 in 2023. This growth is driven by stron
The National Audit Office (NAO) has warned that the UK's increasingly complex tax system is adding hundreds of millions of pounds to administration costs for both the government and businesses.
Scotland’s economy recorded strong growth in the first half of 2024 broadly keeping pace with the UK, but there are signs that growth is slowing in the second half of the year, according to the latest EY ITEM Club Scottish Forecast. GVA should expand by 0.7% over the course of 2024, slightly b
Scott McFarlane looks at the challenges businesses face in complying with National Minimum Wage and new tipping regulations during the Christmas season. As the festive season approaches, hospitality and retail businesses are gearing up for a surge in activity. Christmas marks a significant spike in
Burges Salmon partner Magnus Miller considers the differences between pensions law in Scotland and in England. With the enactment of the Trust and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024 earlier this year, it is a good time to remind ourselves of the differences between Scots law and English law as they appl
My only regret about joining the Royal Scots Club is not doing so sooner.
Artificial intelligence developers have made a breakthrough which could save taxpayers and industry billions of pounds through more efficient removal of oil and gas infrastructure.
A tax advisory company has lost a claim raised against a fruit and vegetable wholesaler that engaged its services after a sheriff ruled that a purported £9,600 “cancellation fee” said to be part of the company’s standard terms had not been incorporated into the contract betwe
Two major Scottish cities have improved their performance in PwC's Good Growth for Cities Index.
