News

John Swinney is facing a 'demanding test' at the Scottish Budget on December 3 on whether the Scottish Government's five-year ambitions can be met within a resource budget forecast to fall 1.2% in real terms in 2027-28, a figure that could change after the UK Budget, the Fraser of Allander Institute

Liontrust has agreed to acquire the fund management and model portfolio services (MPS) business of Hawksmoor Investment Management for up to £10m in cash. The deal comprises an initial cash payment of £6m on completion, plus two contingent cash payments of up to £2m each, payable 1

@sipp, the independent, off-platform SIPP and SSAS provider has appointed Helen Carr as business development manager. She will join from Nucleus Group subsidiary Talbot & Muir, bringing more than two decades of specialist SIPP and SSAS experience, as the firm expands across the UK. She will supp

Nucleus Financial Platforms has announced the appointment of Quilter's Dave Reynolds as chief technology officer.  

A legal expert has warned the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) plans to update rules to stop companies using loopholes in regulation to take over investment trusts will fail to stop shareholders repeatedly requisitioning meetings. The warning comes as Baillie Gifford US Growth Trust prepares to f

NatWest Group has announced Roisin Donnelly will succeed Lena Wilson as chair of the group performance and remuneration committee from October 1, 2026. Wilson is a senior independent director at the bank. Previously she was the former chief executive at Scottish Enterprise and is the current chair o

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been blasted over his “fantasy” claim that scrapping the state pension triple lock will bankroll his government’s plans for social care. Mr Burnham confirmed that from April 2030 the triple lock will no longer exist and that he will “adjust&rdq

Freeths has reported an 8.2% rise in profits and a rise in turnover of more than 12% to £187.6m for the year ending March 31, 2026. The law firm said the results mark the firm's "fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth, with turnover increasing by 83% over the past five years", despite

The UK association for restructuring, turnaround and insolvency professionals has welcomed the Insolvency Service's new five-year strategy promising to crack down on abusive business practices and resolve insolvencies faster. Chief executive of R3, Caroline Summers, said the group welcomed the focus

Lending to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) has almost halved as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) since 2011, new research from Allica Bank has revealed. The challenger fintech revealed that the UK's 592,500 established SMEs employ around 10.7m people and generate 37% of private

Lloyds Banking Group has poached Coutts Veteran Franklin Asante to strengthen its private banking team. Mr Asante joins Lloyds as head of entrepreneurs at its Mayfair office following more than 18 years at private bank Coutts.

AJ Bell Investcentre has launched a new offshore bond in partnership with Standard Life to broaden its suite of tax planning solutions for clients and advisers. Advisers can now offer clients the new Standard Life International Bond through AJ Bell's platform, giving clients a flexible investment st

Chancellor John Healey has promised to restore hope to the UK through "fiscal discipline," supporting "good work" and "strong industries," in a major speech ahead of the Budget. Mr Healey used his speech at the Labour Party Conference to focus on fiscal policy, stating that it was "not progressive"

Columbia Threadneedle Investments has appointed Gianluca Di Mascio as portfolio manager and Karan Bhanot as associate portfolio manager. The duo will work within the firms research enhanced strategies team, based in London reporting to Christopher Lo, who is based in Boston, the firm's head of resea

Commercial finance broker Bryant & Bell has appointed former Lloyds Banking Group director, George Grierson to its team, as it marks £10m milestone in its first year. The Edinburgh headquartered firm was launched by Cameron Bryant and Jack Bell last year following more than a decade o