News

Interest rates will be held at 4% following a narrow decision by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee as the Budget approaches. The nine-member committee was split 5-4 in this morning's vote, with four members supporting a reduction to 3.75%.

Shares in Wood Group have resumed trading on the London Stock Exchange, surging as much as 38% after a suspension lasting more than five months.

HomeTrust Care Limited, which operates three care homes across Cumbria, has been successfully transferred into an employee ownership trust (EOT), handing control of the business to the very people who have built its reputation for exceptional care through a trust. Graham Cunning and George Roberts,

People should brace themselves for a “nasty set of tax rises” in Rachel Reeves’ forthcoming Autumn Budget, according to leading economist and public policy expert Professor Paul Johnson CBE. Speaking at the ICAS Annual Conference 2025 in London on 5 November, Prof Johnson – P

Between August and October 2025, average residential property selling prices across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife, and the Borders have risen by 3.7% year-on-year, reaching £298,181, according to the latest House Price Report from ESPC. This growth was particularly strong in East Lothian, wher

HSBC UK has introduced a new maximum mortgage loan-to-income (LTI) ratio of 6.5 times annual income for its Premier customers.

BDO UK and its Irish sister firm are in the final stages of merger discussions, part of a strategic push for regional consolidation by the world's fifth-largest accounting network. The deal, which is awaiting a partner vote and regulatory approval, would create an enlarged firm with annual revenues

Founded by a powered wheelchair user, Glasgow-based Freedom One Life is targeting new customers in the USA following a funding boost to support the overseas expansion of its manufacturing. The business was born as a result of Alex Papanikolaou’s own experiences of using a powerchair, after bei

Edinburgh-based Smart Data Foundry (SDF) has released new data showing that people living in the North East of England have the lowest financial resilience in the UK, while those in the Highlands and Islands have the highest. Figures from SDF’s Economic Wellbeing Explorer, a new, map-based res

Ana Stewart, Scotland’s Chief Entrepreneur, has today announced her three priorities to deliver for Scotland’s most ambitious companies. Calling for a sharper focus on rapidly scaling firms, Ms Stewart will prioritise:

CMS will stage events across their Scottish offices throughout November designed to support in-house legal teams enhance their role as strategic business partners.  The ‘Legal as a Business Partner’ seminars, being held in Glasgow (12 Nov), Aberdeen (18 Nov) and Edinburgh (27 Nov),

Property factors across Scotland are facing mounting accusations of overcharging, mismanagement and opacity, which suggests the possibility of systemic abuse of homeowners’ trust and money. Advice Direct Scotland said it has seen a steady rise in complaints, describing the trend as “a gr

Harper Macleod has grown its banking and finance team and appointed a new partner. New partner Liana Di Ciacca joins with more than 15 years’ experience on a wide range of complex and high-value debt finance transactions. She advises both funders and borrowers on high profile Scots law matters

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) is urging charities to prepare now for significant changes to their financial reporting obligations under the Charities SORP 2026, published last week. The revised SORP, effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2026, in

Chartered Financial Planner Jack Swan has joined the rockwealth Aberdeen team. Mr Swan moves to the firm’s Neo House office after seven years at AAB Wealth, becoming the fourth member of the local team.