The partnership will result in greater depth of products and services as well as increased resilience for end-users.

Both firms have national reach and clients across the length and breadth of the country. Their initial focus will be on developing mutually beneficial business relationships through promotion of one another’s services.

The two companies will also share intelligence on a variety of industries including oil and gas, renewables, food and drink, and construction, among others – which will allow each partner to diversify further into these specific sectors.

With offices in Aberdeen and Glasgow, ZLX is led by an experienced management team, including experts in legal, accountancy and technical disciplines, who identify projects eligible for tax relief and navigate clients through the claims process.

Stephen McCallion, founder and CEO of ZLX Business Solutions, commented: “We are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement with Ascot Lloyd and welcome the opportunity to collaborate, develop new ways of working and offer a greater choice of options to clients of both companies.

“This is an exciting time for all the team at ZLX as we continue to bring our specialist experience to bear across a wide range of legal, financial and technical disciplines. This new partnership will provide opportunities to forge links into new industry sectors and regions, whilst further enhancing our growing reputation.”

Ascot Lloyd is one of the largest independently owned IFA firms in the UK, with £10 billion funds under management and 20 offices. Its Aberdeen team is based at 33 Albyn Place following the acquisition of Central Investment Services in 2021. The business provides financial planning, wealth management and corporate benefit solutions through over 130 IFAs serving more than 22,000 core clients.

Stuart MacGregor, who leads the Ascot Lloyd advisory business in Scotland, said: “We look forward to working together with ZLX Business Solutions and strengthening this relationship over the months ahead to the benefit of our respective clients, staff and suppliers.

“Both companies share a common ethos, drive for continuous improvement and aim to deliver high standards in everything we do on behalf of our clients. Ascot Lloyd is committed to becoming a leading IFA in Scotland and particularly in Aberdeen where we are looking to expand our reach.”

The two businesses have demonstrated their commitment to collaboration by agreeing to co-sponsor the highly anticipated Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) event featuring Dragon’s Den star Steven Bartlett, host of the influential business podcast, ‘The diary of a CEO’, to be held at the Music Hall, Aberdeen on October 24th.

ZLX provides trusted counsel to company founders and directors around tax compliance, land remediation tax relief, raising finance, restructuring, and market repositioning.

It recently opened an Aberdeen office – located at neospace on the city’s Riverside Drive – against a backdrop of rising demand for its services in the north-east of Scotland, particularly from firms in the energy, manufacturing, and food & drink sectors, among others.