News

A new industrially focused UK support services fund with £92 million of equity capital for investment in small and mid-sized businesses across the UK has launched in Glasgow.

Lord Smith of Kelvin Shareholders in Dundee-based Alliance Trust have overwhelmingly voted to back the investor’s board and its plan to switch from a single manager and a socially responsible investment focus to a multi-manager approach.

Ben Bestgen Ben Bestgen, a Scots lawyer who relocated to the sunnier climes of Jersey where he now works for Appleby, gives SFN readers the low-down on offshore finance and corporate substance in this year’s Annual Review.

Ian Williams Scots accountancy firm Campbell Dallas will next week open a new, larger office in Perth, with the expansion representing an investment of over £1 million in the city.

Jackie Waring Companies from the Highlands, Moray, Glasgow, Dundee and Midlothian have been shortlisted as Growth category finalists for this year’s AccelerateHER Awards.

From left, Thomas Lillie, Gillian Crotty, Rob Aberdein and Matt Wightman, Scottish law firm Aberdein Considine has agreed a deal which will allow it to offer services across the entire United Kingdom for the first time.

Miles Celic A new report has underlined the important role UK-based financial and related professional services play in underpinning prosperity in Britain’s nations and regions and the danger to it posed by uncertainty.

Jonathan Blair Bond Dickinson is expanding its presence in Scotland with the opening of a new office in Edinburgh. The firm, which already has an office in Aberdeen, will open an office with around two or three partners and up to 20 staff.

Angela Mitchell Global accountancy firm Deloitte has waded into the debate raging over local government reform by slamming Holyrood proposals to redraw the councils map as too simplistic and symptomatic of a risk averse culture.

Kerry MacBeth

A Glasgow accountant has been struck-off for breaking money-laundering rules during the multi-million-pound takeover of city bakery business Mortons Rolls.

Michael Watson Michael Watson, head of finance and projects group at Pinsent Masons, discusses an innovative approach by Aberdeen City Council to raising cash.

Rain Newton-Smith Demand in the services sector – which include accountancy, legal and marketing firms – picked up a little in the three months to February, according to the CBI’s latest quarterly Service Sector Survey.

Richard Britten The deadline is fast approaching for employers to get ready for HMRC’s Payrolling Benefits in Kind (PBiK) scheme, a senior employment expert at accountants Johnston Carmichael has warned.

Iain McGhee By Iain McGhee, valuation and rating partner at Knight Frank LLP