News

Convicted fraudster Anna Delvey, whose $200,000 (c. £151,000) scam was dramatised by Netflix as Inventing Anna, is to be a celebrity contestant on a televised US dancing competition. Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, will wear an ankle monitor during her appearance on Dancing with the S

The Highland Council is gearing up to launch a consultation in the preparation of introducing a visitor levy in region. Following an extensive consultation in 2019 - in which 6,600 residents, businesses and visitors responded – the council agreed to the principle of implementing a visitor levy

Barratt Developments has reported a 75% drop in annual profits and a double-digit decline in home completions after a “challenging” year for the housebuilder. Total home completions of 14,004 for the year ended on 30 June 2024, including joint ventures, was 18.6% lower than the 17,206 co

Family-owned Scottish textiles company Johnstons of Elgin has announced plans to cut more than 60 jobs at its Moray mill. The 226-year-old company, known for its high-end textiles like tweed and cashmere, cited a "slowdown" in the luxury goods market and revised its sales projections for the co

Individuals interested in developing and applying their ideas on the use of technology to start or grow a business have been invited to an event in Stornoway next week on Thursday 12 September. The ‘Unplugged in Stornoway’ event is being organised by CodeBase, who run the Scottish Govern

After Finance Secretary Shona Robison's £500 million budget cut announcement, First Minister John Swinney has revealed his 2024-25 Programme for Government (PfG). The programme includes efforts to stimulate economic growth, with a focus on attracting investment in renewable energy and infrastr

An Aberdeen graphic designer who opened her own design studio in 2023 has enjoyed month-on-month business growth after she accessed specialist growth support from Business Gateway. Rachel Dixon set up Two Five Eight Creative Studio in May 2023 to create impactful advertising, bold brand identities a

Amidst £500 million in public spending cuts, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) has urged the Scottish Government to prioritise long-term financial planning, simplify the tax system, and standardise access to apprenticeships across the UK. ICAS also urged the government

The UK government has abandoned plans to introduce a 'British ISA', a new type of Individual Savings Account that would have exclusively channelled savers' money into UK-listed stocks. Concerns arose that this new product would further complicate the investment market for individuals.

Professional services network Forvis Mazars has appointed Craig Maxwell as its first dedicated office managing partner (OMP) in Glasgow. As OMP, Mr Maxwell will be responsible for developing the firm’s business strategy in Glasgow and oversee its local team of 96 professionals. This team advis

Two fezzes which are believed to have belonged to comedian Tommy Cooper are set to go up for auction.

The UK's Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is proposing to lower the maximum amount banks must refund victims of authorised push payment (APP) fraud from £415,000 to £85,000. The regulator is currently consulting on this change, having reviewed data on high-value APP scams, which

Scottish renewable energy projects with a joint capacity to generate almost 2GW of clean electricity have today won contracts in a vital UK auction.

Abrdn UK Smaller Companies Growth Trust plc has announced its annual results for the year ended 30 June 2024, showcasing a strong performance with a net asset value total return of 18.1%. This significantly outpaced the reference index's total return of 10.0%.

In a move set to benefit younger and less wealthy investors, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has reversed its position on fractional shares in Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs).