News

The UK’s economy has unexpectedly shrank 0.2 per cent in the second quarter – its first contraction since the last quarter of 2012, when GDP fell by the same amount.

Professional services company Accenture has announced the appointment of Michelle Hawkins and Les Bayne as joint regional managing directors for Scotland. Bringing a diverse set of skills, the new joint leadership team will head up Accenture’s people and operations in Scotland, helping cl

Four in 10 Scottish homeowners could be £2,300-a-year better off by switching their mortgage, according to new research. With fixed rate mortgage offers remaining below 2 per cent, the number of Scots remortgaging to a better deal has reached a 10-year-high.However, a poll carried out on behal

Sixteen UK construction bodies have written to the British Government to share serious concerns regarding the implementation of reverse VAT charges which are due to take place on 1st October, and have called for a delay in implementing the new rules.

Alex Nicholson is VAT director for Armstrong Watson, accountants, business and financial advisers, warns Scottish construction firms to act now in preparation for the VAT domestic reverse charge From 1 October 2019, there will be a significant change to how suppliers in the construction industr

Danobe Securities Limited has acquired two prominent retail assets in Edinburgh, after securing a funding package from Royal Bank of Scotland. The business has expanded its strong portfolio of retail assets with the addition of Craigentinny Retail Park and established retail assets on George Street.

Equal pay claims have certain special features, and the case of Graysons Restaurants Ltd v Jones and others highlights what that means in an insolvency context. Equal pay claims are based on discrimination principles but are basically breach of contract claims. They also have a unique treatment unde

Proposals to hike meat taxes in Germany – adding around 30 cents to the price of bratwurst – have been met with outcry.

Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) has announced a strong set of financial results for the six months to 30 June 2019, with half year profits represented up 11 per cent, driven by growth in its corporate pension business and more money flowing into its asset management unit. LGIM said

Grant Thornton has launched a new AI-based tool to help Scottish businesses that engage with contractors to navigate the complex upcoming IR35 legislative changes. The firm, which has offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Edinburgh, believes the tool will be particularly be particularly well-received

Barclays is opening its second Eagle Lab in Scotland to support entrepreneurs in the North East of the country and drive innovation in the region. The space in Aberdeen will be based within the city’s new home of digital and entrepreneurship, the ONE Tech Hub, as part of the ONE

Scotland’s GDP growth is now estimated at 0.6 per cent during the first quarter of 2019, according to statistics announced this week by Scotland’s Chief Statistician. Growth in the latest quarter has been revised up from the first estimate of 0.5 per cent published on 19 June.

Private equity investment in the UK has fallen to its lowest level in more than five years, as heightened economic and geopolitical uncertainty continues to deter vendors from bringing assets to market, stymieing overall activity – according to new analysis from KPMG. The firm's study of UK tr

House prices across Scotland continue to grow with respondents to the monthly RICS Residential Market Survey expecting further price rises for the year ahead.

Forty and fifty somethings in Tayside considering their retirement options have been invited to attend a free information session aimed at providing useful tips for maximising a solid financial future. Led by Thorntons Investments, the sessions entitled ‘Are you on track for the retirement you