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Craig Herd, a product analyst at Sainsbury’s Bank based in Cumbernauld, has been named the UK Young Banker of the Year 2023. The prestigious award ceremony took place on 7 December 2023 at London's Mansion House. Initiated in 1987 by the Chartered Banker Institute, the awards honour individual

As the private sector in Scotland braces for a wave of wage and benefits discussions in early 2024, businesses are being cautioned about the risks of losing staff to insufficient pay increases. Jane Watson, head of prism HR, the human resources consultancy operated by Scottish legal firm Lindsays, i

Aberdeenshire-based Acumen Accountants has enhanced its market presence in Northeast Scotland through the acquisition of Graeme Munro & Company Ltd. The six-figure deal, which was prompted by founder Graeme Munro's retirement, was finalised on 24 October 2023. All four of the remaining staff hav

The Easdale Investment Group, under the ownership of brothers Sandy and James Easdale, has further expanded its property portfolio in Scotland with the acquisition of a new industrial unit in Renfrew. The site, located at Meadowside Street within the Neil Street Industrial Estate, was previously hel

Nearly half of firms in Scotland have either postponed or abandoned their investment plans in the last year, the latest Addleshaw Goddard Scottish Business Monitor (SBM) reveals. This trend accompanies a general downturn in business activities, as more companies report a decline rather than an incre

Chartered accountant Stuart Wallace is to be the next group chief executive of Forth Ports after Charles Hammond OBE announced he will step down from the role next summer. Over the next six months, Mr Hammond will work closely with Mr Wallace, currently the company's chief operating officer and a bo

A Caithness reindeer centre has opened its doors after its director accessed expert support and guidance from Business Gateway, Scotland’s national business advisory service.

A woman who admitted to assaulting a fast food worker has been sentenced to two months' work in a fast food restaurant. Rosemary Hayne, 39, threw a burrito bowl in the face of the manager of a Chipotle restaurant in Ohio in an assault which was captured on video and went viral on social media.

Tax experts have voiced concern following an HMRC announcement that its self-assessment helpline and dedicated agent line will focus on "priority queries" in the run-up to the filing deadline. Customers with "queries that can be quickly and easily resolved online" will be directed to use HMRC's onli

FinTech Scotland has launched a new Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL) in partnership with the University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow. The initiative aims to deliver a wide-ranging, ambitious research agenda, led by and actionable for the financial sector, to help advance un

A Scottish business owner who faced financial uncertainty after her bank exited the SME market has successfully refinanced £8 million of debt with The Cumberland Building Society. Chartered accountant Margaret Beattie runs a chain of serviced apartments known as The Spires, but when her connec

Building tender prices in Scotland rose by 1% in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared with the previous quarter and 5% year-on-year, the recently formed BCIS Scottish Tender Price Assessment Panel (STPAP) has found. The more remote areas of Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands, were highligh

Plans for new student homes on the site of Portcullis House at Charing Cross in Glasgow has been submitted to Glasgow City Council.

Barratt Developments Scotland has made a substantial contribution of £355.5m to the Scottish economy, an independent assessment has concluded. In the year ending 30 June 2023, Barratt Developments Scotland, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, also completed 1,951 new homes and

Plant hire company GAP Group Limited has succeeded in an appeal against HMRC relating to the rate of VAT charged on red diesel provided in plant equipment for hire.