News

The banking and finance sector has lent over £5.5 billion to SMEs through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) so far, according to the latest data from UK Finance.

Legislation to establish a new consumer organisation has been unanimously passed by the Scottish Parliament. Consumer Scotland – a new body dedicated to protecting the interests of consumers – is expected to be operational next year.

The Bank of England has warned that the coronavirus pandemic will force the UK economy towards its deepest recession on record. The bank has revealed that the economy was on course to shrink 14% this year, based on the lockdown being relaxed in June.

The Financial Services Regulatory Initiatives Forum has today launched a new initiative to help financial firms prepare for upcoming regulatory work – the Regulatory Initiatives Grid. The introduction of the Grid, announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak in March’s Budget, ha

Police in Louisiana have urged local residents to remain vigilant in the search for ‘an aggressive chicken’ which has been terrorising bank customers in the city of Walker.

New analysis by The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) shows that 750,000 people in Scotland could be enrolled onto the Jobs Retention Scheme (furloughed) this quarter, and a further 150,000 jobs could be lost as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

Business angel syndicates in Scotland participated in deals which invested over £100 million in young entrepreneurial companies in the financial year to end March 2020.

Housing and care provider Bield has appointed Paula Rice as its new director of finance and resources. Ms Rice brings more than 25 years of experience working across a variety of sectors, her role will see her lead the finance, HR and IT teams across Bield and she has already outlined her

The second phase of coronavirus support for small Scottish businesses, which extends grant support to all subsequent eligible properties, is now open for applications. The next stage of the Small Business Grant scheme ensures that - in addition to existing grants of £10,000 or £25,000 fo

Neil Mitchinson, managing director at Edinburgh Asset Finance is the next participant in our Just a Minute feature. Name: 

Chartered accountants Wylie & Bisset is adapting to the ‘new normality’ of coronavirus-enforced changes to working life by introducing a series of changes to its business practices to enable it to work smarter for its clients. Donald McKinnon, managing partner at Wylie & Bis

The Supreme Court has overturned the UK Government’s ban on allowing the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) to invest money in areas that go against UK foreign or defence policy.

Results from the latest British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker have revealed that the vast majority of firms surveyed say they will require three weeks or less to prepare to restart operations alongside any loosening of the UK lockdown.

Scotmid Co-op has posted strong full-year results with trading profits reaching £5.6 million compared to £5.3m last year. The announcement arrives amid the economic uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic and in Scotmid’s 160th anniversary year.

A £5 million fund will offer interest-free loans to landlords whose tenants are having difficulty paying rent during the coronavirus crisis.