Accountancy

Shehzad Ashaq has questioned the logic of changes to R&D tax credits that favour large companies over SMEs. From 1 April 2023, SMEs have seen R&D tax credits relief on qualifying costs reduce from an enhancement of 130% to 86% and, for loss-making companies, repayable credit reduce from 14.5

Engineering business Martin Precision Ltd has transferred to employee ownership thanks to advice and support from Glasgow-based Consilium Chartered Accountants. A majority shareholding in the third-generation family business - a global player in the manufacture and supply of precision components for

Accountancy and business advisory firm Azets has raised £12,258.50 for The Archie Foundation following a range of fundraising efforts. Azets staff arranged a corporate golf day, a quiz night and a bake sale to support the organisation - which is the firm's chosen charity of the year.

The Government's proposed Solvency II reforms have the potential to unlock investment by the insurance industry into the UK economy according to new analysis by PwC UK. The refresh of the Solvency II rules will make certain assets more attractive to insurers. This includes infrastructure assets in t

The number of companies filing for administration in Scotland has jumped significantly year-on-year, as cost inflation, rising interest rates and sluggish growth continue to bite Scottish businesses. Analysis of notices in The Gazette by Interpath Advisory has revealed that a total of 23 companies b

The EY ITEM Club has more than halved its forecast for UK economic growth in 2024 – from the 1.9% growth expected in April to 0.8% now – in its new Summer Forecast, reflecting higher-for-longer interest rates and stickier inflation. Positively, the economy’s resilience so far this

Confidence among the finance leaders of the UK’s largest firms has dipped in the second quarter, partially unwinding the sharp rise in sentiment seen in Q1 2023, according to Deloitte’s UK CFO Survey Q2 2023. A net -10% of CFOs are more optimistic about their firm’s financial prosp

Chris Tate, a restructuring and recovery expert at Azets, has said that new financial pressures are continuing to drive business failures across the UK, with the hospitality sector most vulnerable to stubbornly high inflation – causing a "perfect storm to brew". The warning comes as new monthl

Carlisle-based accountants, business and financial advisers firm Armstrong Watson, with offices in Dumfries and Glasgow, has been recognised amongst the UK’s most outstanding apprenticeship employers for the second year in a row. The Department for Education ranks the firm 46th this year, impr

SBP Accountants & Business Advisers (SBP), a North-east accountancy firm with offices in Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Banff, has announced the promotion of Sophie Hannah to the position of director. Ms Hannah, 26, joined SBP in 2013 as an accounts assistant following work experience duri

North East accountants and business advisors M Squared Accountants has reached the finals of the UK's prestigious Accounting Excellence Awards. The Fraserburgh firm has been shortlisted for the finals in the Small Firm of the Year category of the awards which will be take place later this year at a

EY has recently promoted 267 senior staff members to partner status, marking a 10% increase in its partnership cohort, which now numbers 1,683 in the UK. This move underlines EY's ambitions to prioritise growth and respond to escalating client demand. However, less than half (42%) of the newly promo

Wylie & Bisset has unveiled an array of promotions across various sectors of its organisation including audit, business advisory services, insolvency, payroll, and tax departments.  Sandy Hogg and Rory McCall have received promotions to associate director within the external audit team, ack

VAT expert Iain Masterton has warned that escalating costs driven by inflation could jeopardise the survival of smaller businesses by pushing them over the current VAT threshold. As the head of VAT at accountancy and advisory firm CT, Mr Masterton raises concern over the additional VAT bur

Evelyn Partners, the wealth management and professional services group, has revealed the continued expansion of its presence in Scotland with the completion of a deal that will see the team from PPM Wealth join its Glasgow office. PPM Wealth is a client focused Glasgow-based boutique wealth manager