News

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has launched an expansion of its innovation programme, inviting audit firms and listed companies to work directly with the regulator on adopting new technology, simplifying corporate reporting and cutting unnecessary burdens. Three initiatives, developed through

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has urged HMRC to make fuller use of digital technology to ease the tax filing burden on companies, lending its support to plans to modernise and standardise company tax returns.

Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust, now under effective control of a New York hedge fund, is considering a tender offer for its shareholders to cash in on the forthcoming IPO of Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The board said it remains committed to providing shareholders with a “liquidity opportun

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and STAC have expanded their partnership that will bring deep tech expertise to entrepreneurs in Edinburgh. Under the arrangement, STAC personnel will be based directly within the bank's new Edinburgh Accelerator Hub on Princes Street. STAC entrepreneurs will gain fu

Pallas Capital has completed an expedited £8.4 million bridge against a Grade A commercial office and integrated car park in Aberdeen, securing completion within a one-month window. The 60,000 sq ft office, a modern refurbishment of an historic granite warehouse, was refinanced via a 12-month

Edinburgh-based AI fintech Aveni has secured £12 million in new funding to expand its assurance platform for AI agents in financial services. The round was led by PXN Ventures with continued support from existing investors Puma Growth Partners, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide and Scottish Ent

Scottish Enterprise is funding further development of technology aimed at tackling issues such as financial crime and the adoption of artificial intelligence. It is injecting £3.18 million into the Financial Regulation Innovation Lab (FRIL) to deepen collaboration among academia, industry and

Actress Rosamund Pike interrupted the curtain call of her West End play Inter Alia to criticise an audience member she said had been texting during one of the production’s most emotional scenes. The actress, who starred in the 2014 hit film Gone Girl, returned to the stage alone after Sat

A new industry-led company backed by the UK's largest banks and a string of fintech firms has launched a payments scheme intended to provide a credible alternative to card networks and direct debit. UK Payments Initiative Ltd (UKPI) went live at the Money2020 conference, with founding shareholders i

Aberdeen Investments has appointed Shelley Morrison as head of private credit and fund finance. She succeeds Marianne Zangerl, who has been promoted to lead Multi Asset and Alternative Investment Solutions (MAAIS) within Aberdeen.

Shona Campbell, business recovery partner and chair at Henderson Loggie, has been honoured with a Special Recognition Award at the Inspiring Volunteer Awards in Edinburgh. She received the award from the Rt Hon Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge, during a rece

Balmoral Group, the Aberdeen-based investment firm, has announced plans to restructure into a family office model and relocate to new headquarters, formalising a long-standing approach centred on family-led, long-term investment. The transition to a family office, which provides a formal structure t

Sumer Group has appointed Ellie Dignam as national head of accountancy and business advisory services (ABAS). Ms Dignam joins from BHP, part of Sumer Group, where she is partner and head of digital finance. Since joining BHP in 2012, she has helped build a modern accountancy and advisory service for

Half of UK adults say risk warnings on financial promotions put them off investing, according to new research from Scottish Friendly, whose chief executive Stephen McGee has backed calls for a more balanced approach to communicating investment risk and long-term opportunity. As part of its latest Fa

The Royal Bank of Scotland has become the first bank in Scotland to allow companies to borrow up to £10 million against the value of their Intellectual Property (IP).