Insight

Gemma Diamond, audit director at Audit Scotland, discusses how data is often seen as a burden for public bodies, rather than the key to better policy decisions, and the action needed to build data as a national asset. Scotland is facing enormous challenges. Inequality is on the rise, an ageing popul

Douglas Chapman writes on the impact of late payments on small businesses in an already damaged economic landscape. Poor payment practices can have devastating consequences for small businesses.

This confident message from expert voice Stuart Johnston of DM Hall is welcome news for the commercial property market in Aberdeen. Few have ever filled their boots by trying to correctly call a turning point in markets, but a remarkable concatenation of circumstances in Aberdeen in recent months ha

Neil Norman writes on the importance of supporting scale-up businesses to generate wider economic growth, how the UK is failing in this, and what deeds to be done to improve the landscape. We know Scotland has an established, well-recognised and thriving start-up ecosystem. We also know that we have

The UK and US have agreed to enhance their cooperation in implementing financial sanctions, in a bid to maximise the impact of the measures imposed on Russia, as well as to ease the compliance burden for business, writes Stacy Keen. The US and UK treasuries already work together to develop common ap

Karen Thomson, payroll director at AAB, discusses how firms can help their employees and the wider business through the current cost of living crisis. With inflation at a 40-year high and the threat of more hikes in interest rates, employees are really feeling the pinch.

Restructuring and insolvency specialists Dunedin Advisory discusses the implication of Bounce Back loan on the UK economy. Covid bounce back loans were introduced by the Government in early 2020 in response to difficulties experienced by small businesses during the Covid 19 Pandemic and subsequent l

New research from EY Lane4 has shown that while 86% of employees say their organisation has a ‘purpose statement’, 42% are unaware of what that purpose statement includes. The findings are taken from a recent survey of more than 2,000 UK employees, including 500 at C-suite level, working

Alan Stewart, tax partner at Aberdeen-based Meston Reid & Co, gives insight on succession planning for farmers and their estates. One of the biggest concerns that any farmer could eventually face is when they decide to pass on their farm to the next generation.

Paul Williamson of Selling My Business, a Begbies Traynor affiliate company, runs through all that’s required when preparing a business sale in the run-up to retirement, appointing an advisor, valuing a business and timing the sale of the business. Business owners approaching retirement will n

The Court of Session has confirmed that courts will enforce any alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provisions which are written into contracts and will uphold the power and discretion of the decision makers in those processes, writes Steven Blane. Lord Lake’s opinion demonstrates that t

The recent economic turmoil amid the mini budget and resulting instability of the Pound Sterling led to the Bank of England stepping in to stabilise the gilt market to prevent a more serious financial crisis. Kevin Hollister, founder of pensions planning firm Guiide, discusses what is perhaps the mo

Stuart Dickson, senior investment director at Edinburgh-based Adam & Company Wealth Management, discusses the current financial market. Nostalgia for the 1980s seems to be everywhere at the moment.

Michael Reid, managing partner at Meston Reid & Co, highlights the need for well managed accounts. There has been a marked increase over the last few months in those seeking independent and experienced advice about the financial condition of their business because the overt signs are that the bu

Ian Marshall, business advisory services director & head of tech strategy at AAB, discusses the benefits of investing in the right type of financial guidance. The Tech sector in Scotland has received a great deal of media coverage in the last six months, albeit at a macro level.