News

A new report from the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has set out the key elements required by audit firms to ensure they are delivering high quality audit. The FRC’s report, What Makes a Good Audit?, highlights the six key attributes that contribute to the running of high-quality audit prac

The return of Halloween has failed to lift retail figures, as total sales in Scotland increased by just 2.0% compared with October 2020, according to the latest Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) and KPMG Scottish Retail Sales Monitor.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has proposed banning debt packager firms from being paid to refer customers on to other firms. Debt packagers are regulated providers of debt advice, who refer customers on to other providers of debt solutions. They rely on income from referral fees paid by thes

A £25 million Scottish Government fund to improve ventilation in business premises and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission will open for applications next week. Small and medium-sized businesses such as restaurants, bars and gyms will be able to claim back costs of up to £2,500 to u

A rare Frida Kahlo painting has been sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York for $35 million, setting a record price for a work by the artist. The work sold was the self-portrait of Kahlo entitled "Diego y yo" ("Diego and me," 1949), where the face of the painter's husband Diego Rivera appears on he

Nearly half (44%) of middle market business leaders say the UK government isn’t doing enough to support companies in meeting net-zero targets by 2050, according to a survey by audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK. This view from ‘The Real Economy’ survey of 400 business leaders si

A £13 million investment from the Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB), awarded to the Iona wind partnership, will accelerate the delivery of the Iona onshore wind pipeline in Scotland. The Iona wind partnership, managed by Asper Investment Management, is focused on building 800MW of onsho

Anthony Zdanowicz, an associate at DM Hall in Ayr, considers the commercial property market in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Dumfries and Galloway. In the historic Scottish fiefdoms of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway in which I operate, the commercial property environment is rich and di

Moffat-based Selcoth Farm has commenced the second phase of its native woodland project that will see 180,000 trees planted by the end of 2021, with six-figure funding support from Bank of Scotland.

Almost a quarter of Scottish businesses are facing immediate financial peril should the Scottish Government extend covid-19 restrictions today, according to the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC). A snap poll of nearly 700 companies has revealed that many firms are struggling with existing measures

Glasgow-based built environment climate tech firm, Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) has experienced considerable growth over the past 12 months as it sees its technology implemented in over a million buildings. IES specialises in decarbonising the built environment using performance-based di

Aberdeen-based activpayroll, the global payroll and employee mobility specialist, has been recognised as ‘Global Mobility Provider of the Year’ at the 2021 Global Payroll Awards. The dedicated in-house mobility team has been honoured for delivering a seamless and flexible suite of core c

Thai Express Kitchen, a brand recognised around the world for its fast and fresh take on traditional Thai cuisine, is opening its first Scottish restaurant - in the heart of the capital. Thai Express Kitchen will launch within St James Quarter this month, a milestone moment for the Canadian brand &n

As HMRC prepares to issue emails and SMS to self assessment customers, the department is reminding them to be on their guard after nearly 800,000 tax-related scams were reported in the last year. Fraudsters use self assessment to try and steal money or personal information from unsuspecting individu

Three tonnes of oysters worth around €20,000 have been stolen from a French oyster farm amid rising prices for the molluscs. The theft from the Huîtres de Trousse Chemise farm is the second major oyster theft on the Ile de Ré in the past two weeks, The Times reports.