News

Archangels, the Edinburgh-based business angel investment group, led investments totalling a record £23.7 million in promising Scottish tech and life sciences companies during 2021. In a packed year of corporate activity for Archangels, the 11 investments, totalling £23.7m (2020: £

Small businesses in Scotland ramped up their spending on innovation during the first year of the pandemic, according to new figures published by Glasgow-based MCC Accountants. Firms of less than 250 employees invested £143 million in research in development in 2020. That’s a 23%rise from

As the new year gets underway, Johnston Carmichael’s experts look ahead with some optimism, despite the challenges, predicting continued opportunities as the firm adopts a low carbon economy, and increased adoption of technology creates efficiencies. 2021 was another challenging year for Scott

Jason Morris has been appointed regional leader for PwC in Scotland, replacing Claire Reid, who is leaving the role to become UK head of forensics. Mr Morris is a transaction services partner, based in Edinburgh, where he leads the 80-strong Deals practice.

Aberdeen-based restructuring and insolvency expert Richard Bathgate has been appointed as the chair of insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 in Scotland. Mr Bathgate, who is Restructuring Partner at Johnston Carmichael, Scotland’s largest independent firm of accountants and business advis

EQ Accountants has appointed Greg Stapley as its new senior audit manager in its Glenrothes office. Greg Stapley joined EQ on Monday 3 January, having previously worked at AAB in Edinburgh as an audit senior manager. Originally from Kent where he qualified with ICAEW in 2004, he is now based in Dunf

House prices across Scotland rose by 8.8% on average throughout 2021, more than the UK average of 6.2%, according to the latest figures released by Bank of Scotland. The average Scottish home now costs £207,778, an increase of £16,761 on 2020’s figure of £191,017.

RSM UK in Scotland has advised on over 30 deals this year, with a combined value of over £400 million. This equates to a 75% uplift in value when compared to last year and an increase of 228% when compared with pre-pandemic levels.

In a bid to boost buying power and help UK homeowners into their ‘forever homes’ sooner, Habito, the digital mortgage broker, lender and home buying service, has announced enhanced lending criteria of its fixed-for-life Habito One mortgage.

Kevin Ellis, the UK chair and senior partner at Big Four firm PwC UK, has said that criticism of the accountancy sector from MPs and regulators is hindering the sector's ability to recruit new staff. In an interview with the Financial Times in late December, Mr Ellis highlighted that retaining quali

Brown Shipley, a Quintet Private Bank, has appointed Kenny Cummings as a financial planner, based in Edinburgh, bolstering its wealth planning team in Scotland. Mr Cummings will report to Matt Hoyne, head of the Edinburgh office and work with Rebecca Williams, head of wealth planning in the UK.

High street banks in the UK have started to track customers' 'walking style' in an effort to counter fraud.

Supply chain disruption, inflation and interest rate rises are the key concerns in 2022 for the fund managers which select stocks for Dundee-based Alliance Trust’s global equity portfolio. The measure of any portfolio’s strength, however, is in how it is set up to deal with these challen

Scotgold Resources, the gold exploration and production company focused on Scotland has announced that its Coconish mine could operate for a further 18 years. In the company's final results issued this week, CEO Phil Day said that the previous mine life expectancy was 8.5 years, however, he revealed

The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has called for further aid for the retail industry as it published a written response to the Scottish Government’s Budget held earlier this month.