News

Edinburgh-based insurance giant Standard Life has been hit by controversy after it was accused of overstepping the line between advice and guidance in a letter to customers that suggested they switch to a higher-charging fund. According to reports, thousands of customers were contacted urging them t

Scotland’s biggest grant giving trust says that tough economic conditions are now forcing it to finance charities’ staff costs. The revelation comes as The Robertson Trust, which was founded in 1961 by Elspeth, Ethel and Agnes Robertson, awarded a record £18.2 million during the year 2014/15 to

Publicly funded economic development agency Scottish Enterprise is to impose severe wage cuts of about 10 per cent on thirty of its staff just weeks after the majority of workers, and highly paid directors scooped above-inflation pay rises. Several senior members of Scottish Enterprise’s leadershi

Latest figures from KPMG have revealed that the number of Scottish firms going bust has fallen to pre-recession levels. The global accounts said there was a 30 per cent year-on-year drop in the number of corporate insolvency appointments north of the border from July to September 2015.

Donald McRae Bank of Scotland chief economist Donald MacRae has announced his intention to retire in next month.

New figures have revealed that Scotland’s mid-sized businesses (firms with a revenue between £10 million to £300 million) have increased collective turnover by 63 per cent over the last five years from £32bn to £52bn. The performance compares to a UK figure which showed an increase of only 55

It is estimated that defunct law firm McClure Naismith could have owed creditors more than £5 million. The Glasgow-based firm went into administration in August but about 80 jobs were saved with partners and staff moving to rivals including Burness Paull, Maclay Murray & Spens,Harper Macleod an

Small and medium size businesses (SMEs) in the Glasgow and Clyde Valley area can find out for free how they might share in over a billion pounds worth of investment being delivered through the City Deal. The Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal is an agreement between the UK government, the Scottish G

The Glasgow Solicitors Property Centre (GSPC), the largest estate agency network in west central Scotland, has released its quarterly report for Q3 2015 with statistics showing that despite no substantial change in house values over the past year, selling times have fallen significantly. Accounting

Bank of Scotland has provided housing association Hanover Scotland with a £40 million funding facility in an innovative agreement which is the first of its kind in the social housing sector. The transaction, which combines a five-year, £20m revolving credit facility and private placement will be u

It has been reported that Aberdeen Asset Management, which has seen net outflows of almost £10bn to the end of June and a share price which has fallen 25 per cent over the past six months, has started to sound out potential buyers. According to The Financial Times, Aberdeen’s founder and chief ex

Wayne Baber Aberdeen-based independent financial advisers, Central Investment, has expanded its team of financial experts.

Sir Charlie Mayfield The chairman of the UK’s largest employee-owned company has praised Scotland’s commitment to the business model as new figures reveal the ‘sector’ is thriving.

Chartered accountant and business adviser Alexander Sloan, which specialises in the registered social landlord sector, has won a breakthrough tender bid in the North-East of Scotland. While the firm already acts for more than a quarter of the housing associations in Scotland, its contract with the L

The sale of million pound homes in Scotland has more than doubled from the 43 sold in the first half of last year to 111 in the first six months of 2015. According to the Bank of Scotland Million Pound Property Report, sales are up 158 per cent compared to the same period in 2014, which is in stark