News

Edinburgh-based asset manager abrdn has reported a challenging first half of 2023, witnessing a withdrawal of £4.4 billion by clients, a significant 16% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. This reflects the heightened inflation and interest rate concerns which have shake

Claiming tax relief for research and development has become harder as businesses claiming tax relief for research and development (R&D) will face stricter scrutiny, following the introduction of new rules this week. This follows concerns from the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about fraud and err

Scots ramped up their investment contributions in the three months to June despite opening fewer ISA policies, according to new data from financial mutual Scottish Friendly. The value of new stocks and shares ISA savings jumped 16% in Q2 compared with the previous quarter, despite a 16% drop in the

Phoenix Group, long-term savings and retirement company, has announced its latest initiative, the Women’s Innovation Forum. The forum aims to address the significant gender pensions gap, which sees women saving 34% less for retirement by their 40s and 51% less by their 50s. This disparity is a

Scotland stands out with 37% of its local areas tagged as High Investment Areas, suggesting strong future growth in business investments, according to a new quarterly economic study from KPMG UK and the University of Nottingham. This figure exceeds the UK average, where only 22% of areas receiv

Litter-picking volunteers unexpectedly discovered a package containing a kilogram of cocaine worth up to £100,000 while cleaning a Cornwall beach. The wrapped package was found by volunteer beach cleaners taking part in an event organised by the 2 Minute Foundation last weekend.

Development lender Atelier has appointed Bruce Robertson to spearhead the further expansion of its lending to property developers in Scotland. Edinburgh-based Bruce is an experienced relationship director in the Scottish property market and his career also includes 30 years of progressively senior r

Travel and tourism has driven demand for Scottish heritage products such as shortbread, as sales of Walker's Shortbread in airports and train stations have risen by 150% in the past year. The family-owned company, based in the Scottish Highlands with 125 years of history, has witnessed an increased

Collected property taxes in Scotland have risen almost 50% in the past two years, according to recent analysis. Property firm DJ Alexander Ltd reports that revenues from the Scottish Government’s Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) in June 2023 stood at £61.7 million from 8,780 pro

The Kingdom Group has appointed Leigh Grubb as its new executive director of finance. An experienced chartered accountant, Mr Grubb joins Kingdom from Caledonia Housing Association where he served as director of finance and governance, and has been a member of Caledonia’s executive management

Balfour and Manson has appointed a new associate and solicitor to its property team. Kirstyn Logan has joined the team, from Drummond Miller, as an associate. She is an experienced property law professional who has also worked for McEwan Fraser, Gilson Gray and Clancy Hendrie Legal – and is we

Audit fees for major UK companies have seen a significant uptick over the past year, as the demand for enhanced audit quality has grown following various industry scandals. Data from Thomson Reuters highlighted that the top 500 UK companies, including prominent names such as Tesco, Barclays, and Uni

In celebration of its 175th anniversary, the Scottish Building Society, in collaboration with Foundation Scotland, has launched the Scottish Building Society Foundation, a dedicated funding incentive for Scottish charities and community groups. With an inaugural fund of £175,000, the foundatio

Edinburgh-based life science firm Cytomos has successfully raised £4 million in a recent investment round for the development and market-testing of its Cytomos Dielectric Spectroscopy (CDS) technology. Archangels led this funding initiative with participation from notable investors such as Old

Edinburgh-based private bank Hampden & Co has reported a marked uptick in growth during the first half of 2023, with a 74% year-on-year surge in total income, raking in £15.5 million, and a pre-tax profit of £5m in the same period. This positive momentum is highlighted