News

Scotland’s onshore GDP grew by 0.3% in September 2024, according to statistics announced by the Chief Statistician. This follows contraction of 0.6% in August 2024. In Q3 2024, GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.3% compared to the previous three month period. This follows growth of 0.4%

Scottish debt recovery firm BPO Collections has been provided a £3.3 million loan from OakNorth to acquire CCS Collect. Ayrshire-headquartered BPO Collections, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian-based Everyday People Financial Corp, was founded by Graham Rankin in 2006. The fi

The British Business Bank has launched the Community ENABLE Funding (CEF) programme, which is designed to increase the availability of funding to social impact sector lenders, and the smaller businesses they serve in local communities across the UK. The initiative is aimed primarily at community dev

Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, Scotland's oldest registered trading company, is set to undergo a significant transformation with a multi-million-pound investment in its flagship property – Crieff Hydro. The project will create a new day-to-night bar, refurbished dining areas, and a speakeasy b

Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison has been urged to deliver "better news" for businesses under pressure after the UK government's £25 billion national insurance tax raid. Ahead of the Scottish Government Budget next week, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) has set out a

The Scottish Government has unveiled a series of measures aimed at attracting capital investment to support the country's transition to a green economy. Addressing the Investment Association Conference in Edinburgh, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes announced she will take on a cross-government lead

A planning application for the refurbishment of the Calton Square office building, currently home to Baillie Gifford until 31 December 2025, has been granted subject to conditions by the City of Edinburgh Council.

Forth Ports Limited has appointed Stuart MacGregor as chief financial officer and as a member of the group’s main board. He brings a wealth of expertise to the role, with a career spanning over 30 years in the international drinks and UK house building sectors, in financial leadership, strateg

Scottish businesses are faced with a significant increase in employment costs, with estimates suggesting an additional £3 billion burden, due to the UK government's rise in employer national insurance contributions (NIC) to 15%. Across the UK, business leaders have forecast that businesses are

New research from the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) in Scotland has revealed that 70% of all councils believe they will be unable to pass a balanced budget within the next five years without immediate changes.

Henderson Loggie has expanded its corporate finance team with the appointments of David Cayzer, who becomes corporate finance director, and Conor Adamson and Gregor Miller, who both join as corporate finance managers. Mr Cayzer joins from UK challenger bank Shawbrook where he headed up the corporate

Pop singer Katy Perry has won a 15-year-long trade mark dispute with a fashion designer called Katie Perry. The American pop star – whose real name is Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson – launched the legal action in 2009 after Australian woman Katie Jane Taylor, née Perry, registered "Kat

Nine business groups representing the retail industry have jointly written to the Scottish Government’s Finance Secretary, Shona Robison MSP, asking her to ensure retailers in Scotland are awarded rates relief for 2025-26. It follows the decision unveiled in the UK Budget to award the retail,

BDO has exceeded £1 billion in revenue for the first time in its century-long history. The firm attributes its 8.6% revenue rise to £1.02bn to its "continued programme of investment" and its focus on serving mid-sized businesses.

Edinburgh has replaced Brighton as the highest-ranking UK city outside of London for foreign direct investment (FDI) attractiveness, according to law firms Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie (WJM) and Irwin Mitchell. A quarterly report by the law firms, which incorporates the latest analysis by the Ce