News

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

During May-July 2023, the average selling price of property across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders held steady in comparison to the same time last year. A marginal increase of 0.4% took the average to £287,820, showing that the property market overall has retained composure durin

Shepherd and Wedderburn has reported a 3% growth in its net profits, reaching £27.1 million. In the year to 30 April 2023, the firm also witnessed 7% turnover growth to £66.7m, marking Shepherd and Wedderburn's sixth year of consecutive growth.

Elvis Presley's coat has been sold for £128,000 at an auction in Wiltshire. The coat was custom made with leather and mink and worn by the singer during the last year of his life.

Scottish businessman Mohammed Ameen Mirza could face jail time after admitting tax evasion. The fifty-eight year old filed fraudlent declarations for his store in Glasgow’s Gorbals and another in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, in April 2014.