News

Chancellor John Healey has claimed growth is at the "heart of fiscal challenges" facing the UK, as he refused to rule out tax rises ahead of his maiden Budget next month. The Chancellor ignored questions about whether households and businesses were set to face another set of tax rises in October, fo

Vicki MacLeod has joined Hampden Bank as an advisor to the board. With a wealth of experience in the insurance and fintech sectors, MacLeod will support the private bank as it builds on its "strong foundations" following its annual reports, where profits jumped 91% in the first half of 2026.

Quilter WealthSelect Managed Portfolio Service (MPS) has reduced its passive US exposure in favour of small and mid cap stocks and value, warning of risks from high tech valuations and AI concentration. The £30bn MPS added to the Quilter Investors Europe (ex UK) Equity Income Fund and increase

The UK Government is on course to raid a record £14.3bn in inheritance tax from UK families by 2029/30, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility. The nil-rate band has been frozen at £325,000 since 2009 and will stay frozen until 2030, while property, pensions and savings have c

Toscafund Asset Management-led consortium to acquire Spire Health for 250p in cash per Spire share, valuing the hospital operator at £1.03billion, with an implied enterprise value of £2.3bn The offer represents a 66.2% premium to Spire’s undisturbed share price of 150.4p on 13 May

Standard Life expects £800 million in ‘net synergies’ from its £2 billion acquisition of Aegon UK which will be complete by the end of the year. This is likely to be achieved by savings and adding value and noted it was poised for a “step-change” in strengthening

Swedish private equity firm EQT is to acquire a majority stake in McGill and Partners for $2bn from Warburg Pincus. Founder and chief executive Steve McGill will continue to lead the firm, while chairman John Lloyd will remain actively involved. Both will remain as significant shareholders alongside

Phil Anderson Financial Services has expanded its team and opened a new office in Aberdeen. The independent financial advice firm opened its new Aberdeen office at 52 Carden Place at the beginning of July. It also appointed Farai Magodo as a financial planner and Cyprus Adams as a trainee financial

Andrew Bailey has warned that populist political movements pose a "serious challenge" to the Bank of England's independence, cautioning that institutions seen to stand in the way of popular will risk being branded an "unrepresentative elite." The Governor of the Bank of England was speaking at the L

Nucleus Financial has recorded a profit of £61.5m for the 2025 financial year following its acquisition drive. Its adjusted profit rose 3% from £102m to £105.2m. Profit before tax was up 22% to £61.5m from £50.3m in 2024. The Edinburgh based company's total assets under

The chief executive of Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) has announced that he has stepped down after five years in the role. Hans Georgeson took up the top job in 2021 following 10 years as the chief executive of Architas Asset Management, overseeing its growth from a start-up UK business to a 3

Interest rates will need to rise quickly to head off the threat of inflation, according to the Bank of England’s chief economist. Huw Pill told an audience in Edinburgh that there were “dangers” in waiting for firmer evidence of the impact of conflict in the Middle East, reports ou

Standard Life has appointed Emma Furlonger as managing director of its workplace and retail intermediary businesses. She led the businesses on an interim basis since April 2026, after Gail Izat was made chief operating officer for its pensions and savings business. Ms Furlonger has around 30 years&r

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has sounded the alarm over a handful of asset managers dominating the ballooning private credit market. Following a review of the latest UK Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) data between 2021 and 2025, it found that the top five asset managers hold 28% of the ma

Pepper Money has appointed Michael Walsh as regional development manager (RDM) for Scotland to lead its broker engagement ahead of the launch of its First Charge mortgage proposition in the region this September. Mr Walsh will work closely with intermediaries across the country, helping them access