Opinion

Peter Alderdice, senior associate in Shepherd and Wedderburn’s banking and finance team and Daniel Boynton, a solicitor in the firm's pensions team, detail how ethical finance can kickstart the green recovery of Scotland's economy after COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has made one thing a

Roy Lauder, director at Kilmarnock-based business management consultancy firm Harrison James Partnership, discusses the steps business owners can take to manage the current COVID-19 recession. This is a time of great concern for business owners as governments react to the ever-changing situation wit

Alan Hamilton, corporate finance director at Johnston Carmichael, has called on businesses to review their funding requirements ahead of a “perfect storm” of liquidity challenges, as government support for businesses adversely impacted by COVID-19 starts to unwind. The government-ba

Duncan Milne warns employers over claims arising from the pandemic. An increase in whistleblowing claims over the coming months is inevitable. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the furlough fraud reports are now sitting at around 8,000. This fi

Andrew Hill discusses why offices are still going to be important to businesses and staff, despite the working from home (WFH) boom. We’re more than 20 weeks into lockdown and, if they haven’t already done so, many businesses are beginning to look at returning to their workplaces, a

Matt Henderson, restructuring partner at Johnston Carmichael, reflects on the speculation of imminent corporate failures in the UK stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.  There’s been a lot of concern expressed that an imminent rise in corporate failures is on the cards as soon as s

As the construction sector continues to adapt and ‘re-open’ from the lockdown measures imposed following the spread of COVID-19, property developers are beginning to navigate through the challenges that will be presented in the coming months. We are beginning to see signs of ea

Andrew Dines, director and chartered financial planner at AAB Wealth, outlines five key things to consider when thinking about whats next after redundancy. Being made redundant? Here are five key things to consider when thinking about what’s next

Debbie Mayor, director at accountants and business advisers Grant Thornton, reveals why businesses must adopt a similar approach to that taken by Holyrood policymakers in easing lockdown restrictions. Throughout the COVID-19 lockdown businesses of all sizes have demonstrated remarkable agility and r

Tom Nener, legal director at Pinsent Masons, highlights the importance of protecting your brand as criminals take advantage of the pandemic. The coronavirus crisis has provided a fertile platform for sophisticated counterfeiters, as highlighted in recent reports by cross-border law enforcement

Gordon MacLure, restructuring partner at Johnston Carmichael, details the steps businesses can take now to get some breathing space as the HMRC's preferential creditor status has now been restored. The HMRC’s secondary preferential creditor status was restored on 22 July 2020 when the Finance

Mark Bustard, CEO of The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC), details Scotland can grow a clean, sustainable economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.  The idea of a net-zero carbon emissions and zero waste economy isn’t as far- fetched as some may think. The k

This latest blog considers life from the perspective of SMEs and OMBs working to exit from lockdown. Much of the subject matter to date has focused on how to manage the massive uncertainties caused byCOVID-19. Hopefully, the duration and on-going impact of lockdown are beginning to clear as we move

In light of the difficult trading situation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Dundee-based restructuring and insolvency specialists Dunedin Advisory details how business debt arrangement schemes can help firms through these times. Dunedin Advisory has said it may be necessary for firms to consid

Helen Foord, founder of ELE Global, details the financial implications of running a virtual team. COVID-19 has brought the world to a halt, ensuring that without warning, all but the most essential businesses have had to shutter physical locations and close down offices. Complete re-evaluations into