The UK economy grew by 0.4% in July, faster than analysts’ expectations, and offering some relief to battered markets. Some economists had predicted no growth and the latest figure builds on growth of 0.3% in June and zero growth in May.
Appointments
See all articlesAmy Burnett has been appointed regional coverage director for Scotland and Northern Ireland at HSBC Innovation Banking. The bank is a specialised global banking division designed to support start-ups, scale-ups, growth companies, and venture capital investors. In her new role, she will be responsibl
Dains Accountants has appointed David MacCallum as an audit partner and responsible individual to help its clients across Scotland. Mr MacCallum joined Dains from Azets, where he was audit director and responsible individual, bringing experience working with owner-managed and private equity-backed b
John Glover
Aviva has appointed Amanda Thomson as branch manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland. She will be responsible for overseeing trading across the entire Northern Ireland and Scotland region, leading a team of more than 50 underwriters based at Aviva's offices in Glasgow and Belfast.
John Glover
Accountancy firm Azets has appointed Michael Norrie as an associate director in corporate tax, in response to continued growth for tax advice from businesses and private clients across the North East. The firm confirmed it is planning to recruit further tax specialists over the coming year, revealin
John Glover
Business consulting and investment firm The Exiteers has acquired a minority stake in Breadalbane Finance. The Scottish commercial brokerage firm has appointed former Scotland Sevens rugby international player James Johnstone as its managing director to lead its next phase of growth.
John Glover
M&G Investments has promoted Jen Braswell to global head of impact. Braswell joins from Swedish private equity EQT, where she worked as managing director of global equity for more than three years before leaving in 2025. Since January 2026, she worked as a senior impact advisor to responsAbility
John Glover
Accountancy
See all articlesDains Accountants has appointed David MacCallum as an audit partner and responsible individual to help its clients across Scotland. Mr MacCallum joined Dains from Azets, where he was audit director and responsible individual, bringing experience working with owner-managed and private equity-backed b
Accountancy firm Azets has appointed Michael Norrie as an associate director in corporate tax, in response to continued growth for tax advice from businesses and private clients across the North East. The firm confirmed it is planning to recruit further tax specialists over the coming year, revealin
John Glover
AAB has launched a new governance, risk and compliance practice with the appointment of governance specialist Jason Davies as partner. The new practice has been established in response to increasing governance, regulatory and compliance demands facing businesses following recent reforms increasing e
John Glover
SBP Accountants & Business Advisers (SBP) is expanding its presence across the North East after acquiring Inverurie firm BW Accounting. The move will see SBP add about 300 businesses and individuals to its client base. It now operates across five locations in the region.
John Glover
Chancellor John Healey is facing "sleepless nights" over a growing "inflation monster" due to surging oil prices, rising interest rate expectations and spikes in government gilt yields threatening markets on both sides of the Atlantic ahead of his inaugural Budget. High borrowing costs are expected
John Glover


