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The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has criticised Grant Thornton after its Audit Quality Inspection revealed five out of six of the firm's local audits fell below the expected standard. Grant Thornton was singled out by the accountancy regulator after it investigated 15 major audits of health aut

Natwest Markets Group has posted a profit of £355 million for the third quarter of this year, beating analysts expectations of a £75m loss. In the second quarter of this year, Natwest posted a loss of £137m and in Q3 last year, it reported a loss of £20m.

Big Four accountancy firm PWC has committed to retaining all of its office space, despite the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the UK.  The firm, which is one of the UK's largest employers with 22,000 members of staff, has made the move as the ongoing pandemic ensures staff will be working fr

Asia Dragon Trust plc, a trust managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) has seen its net asset value (NAV) rise by 4.7% in sterling terms this year. The trusts' annual results have posted positive absolute returns despite the challenging economic environment caused by COVID-19.

Business confidence in Scotland fell seven points during October to -28%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Bank of Scotland Commercial Banking. Companies in Scotland reported marginally higher confidence in their own business prospects with a month-on-month increase of one percentage

Employee-owned North-Berwick-based firm Jerba Campervans has been awarded the Good Business Charter (GBC) confirming its place as one of the UK’s most ethically-minded businesses. To be awarded the accreditation, Jerba had to demonstrate how its ethos applied throughout its business, from livi

Nine businesses from the Highlands and Islands joined the latest edition of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise's (HIE) Pathfinder Accelerator programme yesterday, which aims to put them on the fast track to success. The support programme nurtures growth in life science and technology and help

UK house prices rose 0.8% month-on-month in October, according to the latest Nationwide house price report.

Economy secretary Fiona Hyslop has called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to ensure the lowest paid furloughed workers are properly supported through its new Job Support Scheme (JSS). The JSS will replace the existing Job Retention Scheme from Sunday. Ms Hyslop has warned that the change will cut the inco

A David Hockney painting valued at £27 million has gone on show in London before it is due to go on auction in New York in December.

Blair Nimmo and Geoff Jacobs of KPMG were yesterday appointed as joint liquidators of The St Andrew Street Hotel Company Limited. Incorporated in 2008, the company operated the Hilton Garden Inn – Aberdeen City Centre, a 100-bed hotel subject to a ground lease, at St Andrew Street, Aberde

Lloyds Banking Group has beaten forecasts as it posted pre-tax profits of £1 billion, compared with a £676 million loss in the three months to June. The bank, which is the UK's largest mortgage lender said mortgage lending rose by £3.5bn in the third quarter of this year, as it pro

Royal Bank of Scotland, part of NatWest Group, has announced the launch of its first ever ‘Green Mortgage’ for customers. The new product will offer a preferential interest rate to new or existing customers who are purchasing an energy-efficient property.

The number of Scottish businesses in financial distress has soared by 80%, according to the latest data from Begbies Traynor.

Andrew J.P Wilson, dispute resolution partner at Wright Johnston & Mackenzie, discusses the recent changes to the coronavirus job support scheme. On 22 October 2020, The government published a Policy Paper which provides additional details in relation to the Job Support Scheme, which is due to o