Business

Business activity improved for the fourteenth consecutive month in April, according to the latest Royal Bank of Scotland PMI, as the seasonally adjusted headline Royal Bank of Scotland Business Activity Index rose to 58.9 in April, up from 58.4 in March and indicating a faster increase in private se

Edinburgh entrepreneur John Ross aims to encourage more people to set up their own businesses with the launch of Scotland’s first window cleaning franchise. As managing director of CleanTEC, he established the firm in 2009 and has overseen consistent growth for the past 12 years. During that t

Helena Murphy, a Glasgow-based entrepreneur who has helped more than 160 companies raise in excess of £50 million, says her home city should have a ten-year ambition to become the Silicon Valley of the UK. Ms Murphy, who founded Raising Partners in 2017, said Glasgow’s mix of talented en

Archangels, the Edinburgh-based business angel investment syndicate, has appointed Ian Macleod as the new chair of its board. The former investment analyst and fund manager takes over the helm from Eric Young, who has held the position since 2014. Eric will continue to sit on the Archangels board.

Perth-based insurance broker GS Group has acquired Dundee-based Strathtay Insurance Brokers for an undisclosed sum. The Dundee firm, which is based on Clepington Road, was founded in 1974 by Charles Robertson. As a result of the acquisition, his successors Nigel, James and Hannah Robertson will tran

The Alternative Board (TAB), an Aberdeen advisory firm that helps North-east businesses to grow has backed a charity initiative to support start-ups in Kenya. TAB has decided to back the Gathimba Edwards Foundation's (GEF) Two Feet Initiative which enables families to plan, start and run their own b

Corporate finance specialist Dow Schofield Watts has opened a new office in Edinburgh as part of its plans to build its presence in Scotland. The firm, which has an existing office in Aberdeen, is also expanding its services to include fundraising for private equity firms and infrastructure investme

Social enterprise Bute Kitchen has secured £20,000 COVID recovery support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for a project to strengthen skills among the island’s hospitality workforce, explore local markets for food produced on the island and promote the Bute ‘brand&rsquo

Builders’ merchant MKM has further expanded its branch network in Scotland with the purchase of Woodrow Timber & Supplies.

Glasgow-founded convenience store chain McColl's is on the brink of failure, as it company revealed it was "increasingly likely" it would fall into administration unless talks concerning a rescue deal proved successful.

BCI Industrial Services, the quality and inspection services specialist, has relocated to the Energy Development Centre (EDC) on Moorfield Group’s Aberdeen Energy Park in Bridge of Don, in line with the company’s ambitious growth plans. BCI has agreed a five-year lease for Unit 8 of the

Edinburgh-based hospitality tech disruptor ePOS Hybrid is aiming to raise £500,000 in its second seed funding round which will underpin its aggressive future expansion. The firm, which has offices in Edinburgh and London, has seen impressive demand from investors previously, achieving 145% ove

A footcare clinic, Passion for Feet, has successfully launched in Inverness after the business owner received specialist support, advice, and signposting to funding from Business Gateway. Launched in December last year, Passion for Feet cares for the feet of those living in the Scottish Highlands th

Edinburgh-based telecommunications service provider Commsworld has appointed highly-respected and experienced business leader Andy Leitch as its new chief financial officer. He joins the board from M247, where he was chief financial officer of the company, based in Manchester.

The life sciences sector became the most popular destination for equity investment into tech-focussed smaller businesses in Scotland, as the Covid-19 pandemic increased interest in healthcare technology, according to new analysis from the British Business Bank. Using Beauhurst data that tracks equit