News

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has committed £1 billion of capital to support the development of thousands of new purpose-built private rental schemes across the UK. The still 73 per cent state-owned lender said that the funding, to take place over the next 12-18 months, is a sign of its recognition

Scottish workers are now being paid more on average than their colleagues in the rest of the UK, according to a new study. London-based think tank the Resolution Foundation has found that in 2014, for the first time, median Scottish pay rose above that in England, and by last year, there was a small

ESPC, the east central Scotland estate agency, has released its annual review of 2015, and a forecast for 2016. Looking back on the property market over the last year, 2015 proved to be more buoyant than previous years since the 2008 crash, despite experiencing uncertainties due to the effects of th

Edinburgh accountants Chiene + Tait have teamed up with Investing Women and Napier University’s Bright Red Triangle team to deliver the AccelerateHER programme – a pitching competition. The new competition invites female-led companies to pitch for £5,000 cash and other business support (includi

Glasgow-based Clydesdale Bank has today revealed the price range of its upcoming IPO to be 175-235p per share. The lender, currently owned by National Australia Bank (NAB), announced plans for a demerger and initial public offering last month.

The Court of Session has found in favour of Clydesdale Bank in a case over mis-sold SME loans, despite the bank admitting that the fixed-rate tailored business loan (TBL) in question was not suitable for the customer. Former Clydesdale business customer John Glare went to the Court of Session in 201

Curtis Banks Group, which employs 45 people in Dundee, has bought rival self-invested personal pension (SIPP) provider Suffolk Life Group for £45m from owner Legal & General. Curtis Banks said the acquisition will be funded by an underwritten placing of 8,437,500 new ordinary shares of 0.5p eac

Growth in business volumes picked up more strongly than expected in the three months to December 2015 and profitability continued to improve at a healthy pace, according to the latest CBI/PWC Financial Services Survey. The survey of 100 financial services firms reported that the overall level of bus

Phil Annand As a new year begins The Pensions Regulator (TPR) is preparing to process its largest volume of companies in the next stage of auto-enrolment.

Ross Martin A new report has called for the first Chief Digital Officer for Scotland to be appointed with responsibility to offer "high-profile, expert leadership" and "challenge across the Scottish Government and the public and private sectors on how digital transformation can meet Scotland’s key

Scottish small business confidence has fallen to its lowest level since the start of 2013, the latest quarterly report from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has revealed. The study, conducted in the final three months of 2015, shows a widening gap between Scottish business growth expectation

The two founders of Edinburgh-based drug discovery company Iomet have netted up to £125 million following this week’s $400 million sale of the business to MSD Research Laboratories. Dr Tom Brown, 48, an Oxford University scientist, and Peter Trill, 41, a former investment manager, own about 46 pe

Edinburgh Business School has launched a strategic education partnership with BDO India, following the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Mumbai. The partnership bring together the India arm of the world’s fifth largest tax, accounting and advisory network, with a presenc

Andy Ritchie Scotland’s farmers are dealing with an unprecedented range of business, legislative and financial problems that are putting many under unsustainable cash flow pressure, according to specialists at Scottish accountants Campbell Dallas.

Ken McCracken KPMG has expanded its family business practice in Scotland with the appointment of Ken McCracken to develop and lead the firm’s consulting offering to the sector.