Insight

Shirley McIntosh, RSM's head of tax in Scotland, discusses whether Scotland can afford the financials of independence. The Scottish people have elected their new Parliament and pro-independence parties have increased their majority. The independence debate often runs on emotion, but cool heads will

Jim Burberry, RSM's head of VAT and indirect tax in Scotland, discusses the impact of the devolution of VAT in Scotland. The SNP’s election manifesto makes a commitment to ‘Strengthening of Scotland’s tax powers with the devolution of VAT’ (page 47).

Campbell Ure, a facilitator with The Alternative Board (TAB), offers his take on what constitutes first-class business coaching and mentoring. Through my work with TAB, a peer-to-peer support and networking organisation for business leaders, I’ve witnessed first-hand how companies have wrestle

William Anderson, audit, accounts and charity partner, Meston Reid & Co, highlights the need for responsible governance, transparency, accountability and a professional approach when it comes to charity finances. Few charities will emerge from the pandemic unscathed. Like all organisations, they

Fiona McKerrell, partner in Shepherd and Wedderburn’s restructuring and business advisory team and a mental health first aider, discusses the importance of mental health. As we enter Mental Health Awareness Week, Shepherd and Wedderburn is launching a collaboration with leading wellbeing servi

John Bett, partner and head of dispute resolution and litigation at Lindsays, details why ignoring furlough mistakes could be costly for businesses. Mistakes happen in life and business. The important thing is that we act upon them - and try to make the error good - as soon as we realise.

Graham Cunning, head of corporate finance with Azets in Scotland, discusses the marked increase in the popularity of Employee Ownership Trusts (EoTs).  A growing number of business owners have expressed concerns about trade sales, in particular the lack of privacy, the time required f

Shirley McIntosh, RSM’s head of tax in Scotland, details the importance of tax during an election campaign. Five years ago tax was a hot topic in the Scottish Parliamentary election. How the newly devolved tax powers would be used to deliver policy was part of every party’s manifesto. Bu

Gillian MacLellan, an employment law specialist and partner at CMS, discusses how companies can report their ethnicity pay gap. Unlike gender pay gap reporting, it is not currently mandatory for any business or organisation to report on ethnic-based disparities in pay levels. Despite a government co

Lyn Calder, managing partner, Edinburgh and head of family business at Anderson Anderson & Brown (AAB), discusses the importance of succession planning for family businesses.  Family businesses come in all sorts of guises, with varying internal challenges and external market forces.

Iain Penman, senior associate at Brodies LLP, discusses fiduciary duties and why they may still apply after a director resigns. Did you know that a director's fiduciary duties can still apply, even after they have resigned? This was the situation in the recent case BVI case of Byres v Chen ) where a

Tim Cooper, chair of insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 in Scotland, has said that the low levels of corporate and personal insolvencies in Scotland over the last year cannot last forever.  The number of corporate insolvencies (liquidations and receiverships) in Scotland fell by 31

Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, highlights the need for a plan of action for Scotland's airports in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. It is common ground amongst the various political parties that the next Scottish Parliament must tackle recovery from the pandemic

Stuart Gillies, an associate with law firm Dentons, highlights how the declining use of cash as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in an increase in confidence in financial technology. It’s been over a year now since we first locked down, when shaking hands and meeting a colleag

Craig Alexander Rattray, a Glasgow-based growth strategist and founder of CR Corporate Solutions, reveals why the Scottish consumer is unlikely to splash their cash when the retail sector reopens its doors today. Too much uncertainty still exists over the effects of coronavirus to prompt any sp