Opinion

Ross Stupart, tax partner at RSM UK, discusses the potential impacts of the Scottish Framework. The Scottish Government wants to create a sustainable fiscal environment in Scotland that embodies fairness and equality. The recent Scottish Framework for Tax sets out a plan to achieve this; but is it p

Stuart Clark, managing director at Glasgow-based Russell & Russell Business Advisers, discusses the importance of getting companies fit and healthy in the new year. It is that time of year again. As regularly as the sun comes up in the sky every morning, the urge to get into shape seizes huge sw

Donald Yellowley, partner in DM Hall’s country department based in the Bridge of Allan, Stirling, highlights the possible rewards for farmers looking to sell land. While demand for all manner of land in Scotland has rarely been more urgent, the farm sales market remains stubbornly quiet, and s

Iain Drummond, a partner at Shepherd and Wedderburn, considers a recent case that provides lessons for the construction sector concerning the enforcement of adjudicators’ decisions by companies in liquidation. The recent case of John Doyle Construction (JDC) v Erith Contractors Limited provide

Kevin Hollister, founder of pension calculator site Guiide, discusses pension freedoms and how they can work better for the everyday person. Pension freedoms have been around for more than five years. So far, the pension industry has been slow to respond to people’s needs in retirement

Susan Love, strategic engagement lead at ACCA Scotland, writes on the need to support SMEs ahead of this week's Scottish budget announcement. Scotland’s small businesses and those that will consider Scotland as their destination need the right support to navigate the challenges and opportuniti

Andrew Fraser, head of research, financials and fixed income at abrdn, discusses how banks could direct their lending to reverse climate change. “They talk, but they don’t do,” this is how the Queen expressed her frustration with world leaders on the eve of COP26. The same accusati

Neil Bradbrook, managing director of Ahead Business Consulting, details why businesses need to start planning now to reduce their carbon footprint. As the dust settles on COP26, which rather predictably failed to fulfil hopes and promises, the obvious question is: what next?

Donald Boyd, head of growth at accountancy firm Azets, is urging businesses to embrace and implement Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies or risk losing their sources of funding. Climate change and ESG is already starting to have a significant impact on funding decisions and director

Helen Mill, Aberdeen-based business coach & facilitator at The Alternative Board (TAB), offers advice to all businesses on how to tackle the challenges ahead. Firstly, congratulations – you’ve made it through the pandemic lockdowns. Maybe you’ve pivoted your business and advanc

Ian McMonagle, a chartered tax adviser who sits on the Scottish Committee of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, and taxation director at Russell & Russell, business advisers, warns of the tax implications of using a garden shed as a home office. Amongst millions of people throughout the UK, WF

Anthony Zdanowicz, an associate at DM Hall in Ayr, considers the commercial property market in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Dumfries and Galloway. In the historic Scottish fiefdoms of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway in which I operate, the commercial property environment is rich and di

Derek Gemmell, partner and head of innovations tax at Anderson Anderson & Brown (AAB), discusses the complications arising from R&D tax relief. Following recent consultation on changes to categories of Research and Development (R&D) expenditure that will align the availability of R&D

David Thomson, chief investment officer at VWM Wealth, details the fundamentals of ESG investing. With COP26 in full swing, the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) theme sweeping the investment community could not be more topical.

When I first took on a mortgage, the rate of interest was 6% pa. Many will remember mortgage rates as high as 18% pa in the early 1980s. To an entire generation of homeowners however such rates are unheard of and have never been within their contemplation. Many will have taken out mortgages in the c