Opinion

Steph Innes considers the merits of Geographical Indication protection following a victory for Scotch whisky in South America. Last month, Scotch whisky became the first-ever foreign product to gain Geographical Indication (GI) status in Argentina. Products labelled as Scotch whisky in Argentina wil

Employers back ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting, but more preparation is needed ahead of the entry into force of mandatory reporting requirements, writes Susannah Donaldson. Pinsent Masons asked clients for their say on the introduction of reporting requirements to aid our response to the

Richard Pugh, an established investor in BGF’s Scotland team, argues that being selective about funding and investment could be key to building construction growth. The construction sector is finally feeling tailwinds after years of cost pressures, but sustained growth in Scotland can’t

Following a BBC Panorama investigation, Paul Hilton highlights the ethical advantages of working with solicitor estate agents in Scotland. A Panorama investigation south of the border revealed unscrupulous practices by some estate agents in England, raising serious concerns for home buyers and selle

Mark Bickford explores how social investment is transforming supported housing in Scotland, enabling charities to move from renting to owning properties, and providing far greater stability for vulnerable individuals. Scotland is witnessing a steady rise in the demand for supported housing. In 2023-

There has been a great deal of speculation about the Chancellor reforming ISA rules in her Mansion House Speech – although, late last week it emerged some of these may be put on hold. There are, nevertheless, good reasons to still look at the issue – not least to confront the UK’s

Employee ownership is surging in popularity across the UK, and particularly in Scotland. In this article, Douglas Roberts reflects on an increasingly sophisticated and diverse market. The Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) is a special type of discretionary trust established by the Finance Act 2014 for

It is an ideal moment to pause and reflect on what has been an intriguing and evolving year for the property market across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders, writes Paul Hilton. At the close of 2024, the market was buoyant. Activity levels were high, and we saw strong momentum carry into

Jacob Spencer discusses how payment orchestration benefits businesses and provides them with a centralised and flexible platform to manage the intricacies of payment acceptance. Payments acceptance is complex. Businesses need to provide a fast, secure online checkout, factor in fraud checks without

In recent years, we’ve seen a marked shift in how small and medium-sized enterprises in Scotland approach funding. While debt finance will always have its place, equity deals have become an increasingly attractive option for many business owners and leadership teams, writes Mark Davey. This sh

RSM UK’s regional managing partner for Scotland, Ross Stupart, examines the potential ramifications of the recent UK government Spending Review for Scottish businesses and the subsequent fiscal decisions the Scottish Government faces. With the UK suffering sluggish domestic growth, falling emp

Ahead of the Alternative Investment Market's (AIM) 30th anniversary, Adrian Murphy discusses its significant shortcomings as both an incubator for growth companies and as a rewarding investment vehicle, arguing its poor returns have largely negated its inheritance tax (IHT) advantages. It is difficu

Cyber attacks are a shock for any business, but they are no longer a complete surprise given their prevalence – and the devastating high profile impact in recent years. This week though, with attacks on beloved British brands, cyber security is more in the public consciousness than ever. Some

Off-market property investment specialist Duncan Ure says the exemption in Scotland’s Second Home Surcharge is attracting professional investors and building a healthier property portfolio market. The continual incremental increases in the Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) in Scotland,

Dr Brian Williamson, chief strategy officer at Kreoh, specialising in the application layer of AI, discusses the Research and Development (R&D) tax credit system.  Our role in society is to work with lawmakers, not against them. This principle is particularly relevant when it comes to the R