News

One in three (31%) mid-market businesses believe the increased tax burden is a top threat to future growth, according to a survey ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. The findings from business advisory group Grant Thornton show that the increased tax burden is considered as big a threa

Dr Stuart Black has been unveiled as the next chief executive of development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Taking up the post in January 2022, Dr Black has led the economic and community development agency’s Moray team since February 2020. Earlier this year, he took on ad

Law firm Aberdein Considine has made a number of senior appointments to its lender services practice group (LSPG) including the hire of a banking and compliance specialist. George McNaughton has joined the firm as the head of compliance for the firm's LSPG following a 30 year career in banking and f

Scottish retail sales should "regather some momentum" over the next few months, particularly in clothing as the winter weather sets in, Barclays has said. The latest retail sales data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows a slight fall in retail sales across the UK last month.

The Highland Council demonstrated sound financial management during a challenging financial year, an external audit by Grant Thornton has concluded. Auditors found that the council had improved financial performance, significantly improving the reserve position, and had made good progress on recomme

Scotland’s international exports increased by 3.4% in 2019, according to new figures. Exports to the rest of the UK also increased, by 5%, according to Export Statistics Scotland 2019, which provides estimates of the cash value of Scotland’s exports of goods and services (excluding oil a

Financial results for Scottish law firm Gillespie Macandrew confirm the business delivered another strong year overall despite the disruption caused by the pandemic. Revenue for the year ending 28 February 2021 was £13.5m (2020 - £14.4m), having been adversely affected in the initial few

Bellway has said it is "enjoying a particularly strong performance" in Scotland after the housebuilder reported a massive increase in profits and home completions.

A planning application for a new £33.8 million leisure-led development at West Kinfauns has been submitted to Perth and Kinross Council.

A conservation charity has launched an £8 million public appeal to buy an estate which could become a red squirrel “superhighway”. Woodland Trust Scotland hopes to raise the funds to purchase the 4500-acre Couldoran Estate in Wester Ross, which neighbours its existing site at Ben S

The directors of Forthplus Pensions Limited have appointed Andrew Poxon, Alex Cadwallader and Barry Stewart of Leonard Curtis Business Solutions Group as joint administrators. Forthplus are a pension provider and administrator, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It provided a S

The Scottish Investment Trust has agreed a deal with JP Morgan which will end the firm's long history as an independent, self-managed fund. The board of the £671 million trust has agreed heads of terms have been agreed with Jp Morgan Global Growth & Income (JGGI) and  Jp Morgan Asset

Shona Campbell at Henderson Loggie has been appointed provisional liquidator to Balnacraig School, one of Scotland’s oldest charities which last month announced it would stop providing care for young people from December 2021. Balnacraig has cared for around 2000 children since the charity was

The latest provisional statistics from Registers of Scotland (ROS) show that the average price of a property in Scotland in August 2021 was £180,832, an increase of 16.9% on August 2020.

Barclays has posted its third-quarter results for the year, revealing profits before tax of £6.9 million, compared to £2.4m in the third quarter of 2020. The bank's net interest income dropped by 7% throughout the quarter to £5.8m, while its total income dropped slightly from &poun