Opinion

Murdoch MacLennan, banking partner with accountancy firm Azets, is calling for an urgent extension of the repayment term for all existing and any new Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme Loans (CBIL) and Bounce Back Loans (BBL) to be extended to the government’s proposed new ten-year maxim

Graeme Finnie, managing partner at French Duncan, discusses the potential outcomes of the US Presidential election, and its impact on Scotland’s economy and business community. How the 2020 US election outcome affects Scotland’s economy and SME community could be largely dependent on the

Alan McIntosh, a money advisor, discusses the impacts of COVID-19 on the personal finances of Scots. 

Simon Poole, co-founder of the North Berwick-based employee-owned business Jerba Campervans, discusses why the employee ownership model should be considered as a viable option in a post-COVID world. In times of true crisis, we see widely accepted norms crumble.

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

Nicola Ross, partner in Morton Fraser's litigation and dispute resolution team, discusses the changes in insolvency regulation in relation to pre-pack deals in administrations. Insolvency legislation has been coming thick and fast in recent months, and this time it's pre pack sales to conn

UK businesses suffering from the effects of COVID-19 could be stifled further when HMRC becomes a major creditor when firms go bust, according to Simon Rothenberg, a manager at tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg. In a move that they hope will generate £185 million, HMRC will

Chad Griffin, restructuring specialist at FRP Advisory, discusses how the current downturn in the North Sea is likely to see a far deeper level of oil and gas restructurings and a higher level of insolvencies than in 2015, the last comparable period when there was a much stronger base position than

Brian Williamson, chairman of Glasgow-headquartered 4icg Group, whose subsidiaries include Fierce Digital, Pursuit Marketing and Software Advisory Service, details how to kickstart the economy after COVID-19. I have been impressed, not only with  the economic levers Rishi Sunak, has used to sti

Liz Mallon looks at the important role first time buyers need to play in the changing new homes property market. Recent research carried out by Savills shows that the Scottish new homes market has seen a steady recovery since the market re-opened in the summer, and properties in Glasgow and Edinburg

In the UK around 95% of Britain’s 4.9 million private businesses employ less than 10 people. While 75% are sole proprietors, another 20%  have up to only nine employees. This means that many of these businesses are not in a position to implement a Group Life Protection scheme, or Death in

Andrew Morrison, director of MCC Accountants, discusses how regional corporation tax cuts could shift the UK's London-centric economy. There hasn’t been much to celebrate for society or the economy as Scotland and the UK has struggled through months of lockdown restrictions.

Dr Sheila O’Neill, a GP and clinical director of Glasgow Medical Rooms, discusses how employers can help address mental health issues in the workplace. On Saturday we marked World Mental Health Day, an annual event designated by the World Health Organisation. At a time when social distanc

Eric Curran, managing partner at DM Hall chartered surveyors, discusses the state of residential property market in Scotland. There is, I am sure, a more measured and professional way of saying this, and in more normal times I would instinctively reach for it, but the stark fact of the matter is tha

Glasgow has raced out of the starting blocks in its bid to double the size of its city centre population over the next 15 years to 40,000. Civic leaders were last week handed a very welcome boost to their ambitions to deliver their City Centre Living Strategy (CCLS) when LGIM Real Assets (Legal &