News

A new partnership of 20 of the UK's largest pension providers and insurers, named the ‘Sterling 20’, has been launched, marked by a fresh £3 billion wave of investment commitments for the UK economy. The investor-led group was established at the UK government’s first-ever Reg

Warship builder Babcock International has recruited 300 welders from the Philippines to fill major skills gaps at its Rosyth shipyard in Fife, a move that has reignited debate over Scotland’s industrial training and energy policies.

Lloyds Banking Group has reported a sharp fall in third-quarter profits after setting aside a substantial provision to cover potential costs from a probe into motor finance commissions. Pre-tax profit for the third quarter fell by 36% to £1.17 billion, though this surpassed analyst expectation

Aberdeen-based Activpayroll Ltd posted pre-tax profits of £5.76 million, up from £3.3m the previous year. Its group results for the year ended 31 March 2025 recorded turnover of £57.4m, an increase from £52.2m in the previous year.

BDO has told its member firms to refuse outside equity investments, pushing back against a wave of interest from buyout giants in the accountancy sector. The world’s fifth-largest accountancy network announced the move as part of a “strategic reset” intended to “ensure a stro

New official statistics published by Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) for the second quarter of 2025 show a decrease in both corporate and personal insolvencies in Scotland. However, restructuring and insolvency body R3 has warned that the headline figures mask rising financial distress for businesses

The average price of a property in Scotland reached £194,000 in August 2025, marking an annual increase of 4.0%, according to the latest UK House Price Index (HPI) figures published today.

A metal detectorist has unearthed what is potentially the largest hoard of Roman coins ever discovered in Wales. David Moss, from Cheshire, found up to 15,000 coins contained within two clay pots at a "virtually untouched" location in north Wales this August. The 36-year-old, who has been detecting

Aberdeen Group PLC has announced that its assets under management and administration (AUMA) rose by 6% in the year to date, reaching £542.4 billion in the third quarter of 2025. This growth was primarily driven by positive market movements and the strong performance of its interactive investor

Scottish business leaders have warned that access to investment capital is drying up, according to MFMac’s biannual survey of Scottish business leaders. The study found that almost half (48%) rate the availability of investment capital in Scotland as scarce or very scarce. Just eight per cent

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is preparing a tax crackdown on professional partnerships, targeting accountants, lawyers, and other professionals using limited liability partnerships (LLPs) as part of her plan to ensure those with the “broadest shoulders” contribute more. The proposal involves

A new report from the Scottish Land Commission shows how lessons from around the world could help Scotland modernise the way it values land and property, strengthening the foundation for fairer taxation to support sustainable public finances, and action on climate change. The research, carried out b

The UK's inflation rate remained unchanged at 3.8% in September, holding at the same level for the third consecutive month, according to official figures. The data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) defied economists' forecasts, which had predicted the rate would climb to 4%.

A hoard of 321 "mint condition" silver coins, uncovered during excavations for the Sizewell C power plant, has been donated to Suffolk County Council's Archaeological Service for safekeeping.

The UK government has confirmed it will proceed with a major reform of the UK's anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) regime. Supervisory functions currently handled by 22 professional organisations, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), wil