Insight

Michael Jamieson discusses the financial challenges that recent changes to the UK's inheritance tax rules present to family-run businesses in Scotland and outlines various strategies to help mitigate their impact. In last year’s Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced a number of significant c

Local businessman, Malcolm Morrison, discusses the economic potential of the Highlands, outlining the challenges and opportunities faced by businesses in the region and calling for greater support to foster growth. My heart and passion lie in the Highlands. I live and work here, and I want nothing m

Ben Zielinski and Sophie McNally say the UK government's proposed overhaul of payment practices could rebalance the landscape in favour of small businesses. Late payments have long undermined small businesses. According to the government, they cost the UK economy an estimated £11 billion annua

Amanda Collinson discusses the necessity for Scotland’s food and drink sector to strategically pivot its export focus from the established, yet now tariff-laden, US market to the burgeoning and high-potential market of India. Scotland’s food and drink sector is rightly proud of its globa

Andrew Foyle analyses the ramifications of a Supreme Court judgment on motor finance commissions, exploring the subsequent uncertainty for lenders and consumers, and the anticipated regulatory response from the Financial Conduct Authority. On 1 August 2025, the Supreme Court issued its judgment in t

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has announced an expansion of a corporate self-reporting and civil settlement programme to cover a range of offences under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and other failure to prevent offences concerning bribery and facili

Calum Allmond discusses the clarity and concision of the new map-based registration system may bring benefits to home and land owners, especially considering recent changes to the associated fees for Plans Reports. Since passage of the Land Registration (Scotland) Act in 1979 the Land Register of Sc

Sally Clark discusses how the reformed corporate liability rule within the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 now makes businesses of all sizes strictly liable for a wide range of economic crimes committed by their senior managers. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 20

AI has become a topic that some people in business simply do not want to talk about, do not want to read about, and don’t really want to understand until it all feels like it has “settled down” a bit. For that reason, the ongoing legal action from Disney and Universal against AI pl

With the Scottish government’s Housing Bill moving through Holyrood, one question keeps coming up in conversations with landlords: is it still worth it? Nicky Lloyd, head of lettings at ESPC, considers the bill. The private rented sector in Scotland has always played a vital role in providing

As the Tall Ships flotilla disappears over the horizon, Felicity Forbes-Davidson says the Aberdeen property market is hoping for a fair wind.  When the Tall Ships sailed from Aberdeen in a flurry of white canvas last month there was a positive atmosphere around the city which was refreshing and

Scottish Financial News speaks to Karen Scholes, the new president of ICAS, about bringing her experience from a family firm in Orkney to the role and her ambitions to modernise the accountancy profession for a new generation. It would be easy for many not involved directly with ICAS (the Institute

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

Millions of people involved in running UK businesses will be required to verify their identity with Companies House from the middle of November, writes Gary Gray. The identity verification requirements form part of a suite of strengthened corporate governance and transparency measures being implemen

Steph Innes considers the merits of Geographical Indication protection following a victory for Scotch whisky in South America. Last month, Scotch whisky became the first-ever foreign product to gain Geographical Indication (GI) status in Argentina. Products labelled as Scotch whisky in Argentina wil