frontcover

2009 Edition out soon!
The new 2009 edition of the SFS Yearbook is imminent. The virtual edition will be operational on publication.

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As 2008 slides into the past many of us will not be unhappy to see the back of it. Certainly it has been a tough year by any standards. The global financial market has seen turbulent times, but will come through it. Powerful forces have taken steps to ensure that it does.

Scotland has seen its Edinburgh banking foundations rocked like never before. However, as one of the world’s leading financial centres our reputation, honesty and sound professional business sense will prevail. The financial sector is no different to anywhere else. Our bankers now know the reality of “the only thing that stays the same is that everything changes”. CHANGES indeed. We cannot stand still. Many amongst us have been through this before and come out the other side stronger. The Scottish businessman is resilient. Adversity is not an unfamiliar enemy of his. He knows that new doors will be opening in 2009. New opportunities will surface and those who are ready will profit.

Good staff, business relationships and excellent customer service skills will be key in 2009. These are inherent to the Scottish business community. We are renowned for them throughout the world. A leading Scottish business figure last week reminded me of Oscar Wilde’s words “we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars”. Perhaps a tad over-dramatic for the Insider’s likeing, but I see the relevance. Reach up Scotland!

Best Wishes

The Insider

 

 

Welcome to the SCOTTISH FINANCIAL SERVICES YEARBOOK website.
The current edition of this independent publication was published in December 2007 and is widely recognised as THE most comprehensive reference source available on the companies and the people who operate in Scotland’s financial services sector. The circulation is spread throughout the financial and business communities in Scotland and the UK with additional copies also sent to major financial districts throughout the world. The current edition includes special articles on banking, insurance, fund management and professional services by renowned Scottish business writers Kenny Kemp and Ian Fraser.

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ACCA Scotland elects new president

Peter FeeACCA Scotland elected Peter Fee as its President at its Annual General Meeting in May. ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants has over 7,000 members and students in Scotland).

Fee is the Finance Director of a specialist outsourcing credit control / debt recovery group. Having commenced his career in banking, he qualified as a member of ACCA in 1996 and was awarded fellowship in 2001.   [more...]

Newton scoops two awards: in growth and in charities

Margaret DyerNewton’s Private Investment Management division won two major awards for Best Growth Wealth Manager and Best Wealth Manager for Charities at the Financial Times and Investors Chronicle Wealth Management Awards held in London.

Newton was recognised for its strong position in the Wealth Management and Charities sectors, having been short listed for five awards: Best Balanced Wealth Manager; Best Growth Wealth Manager; Best Income Wealth Manager; Best Wealth Manager for Charities and Wealth Manager of the Year.   [more...]


Aviva Andrew Moss

AVIVA's strong and consistent performance


Earlier this month Aviva issued details of their long term savings – new business figures to the London Stock exchange. There were very encouraging and positive signs in a number of areas.   [more...]

New survey reveals employment outlook
for Financial Services sector

Margaret DyerAfter a turbulent year, 22% of financial services firms in Scotland say they still intend to increase headcount in 2009 by up to 10%.

85 respondents in Scotland's financial services sector contributed to research during November & December 2008, designed to gauge perceptions amongst some of the most influential employers in the sector. Whilst the majority of firms (48%) described their company’s level of business confidence for 2009 as 'optimistic' or 'very optimistic', 19% expressed a pessimistic outlook. There's also been a spike in the number of firms expressing neutral feelings for business prospects in 2009 - from 21% in 2008 to 33% this year. Fund management respondents were most likely to feel optimistic for the year ahead, with life and pensions organisation most pessimistic.   [more...]

Semple Fraser promotes specialists


Semple Fraser specialists

Leading commercial law firm, Semple Fraser, recently promoted two Solicitors – Fiona Carlin and Mark Sabey – to Associate status, in recognition of their outstanding business acumen and technical and professional knowledge.

Fiona joined Semple Fraser earlier this year from DLA Piper, along with Gordon Hollerin, to develop further the firm's specialist offering in Corporate Recovery & Insolvency. She is 4 years qualified and very experienced in the field of insolvency. Fiona acts for a diverse range of clients nationwide including banks, leading insolvency practitioners and businesses of all sizes as well as individual clients.   [more...]

Strathclyde Business School
top the class in latest research ratings

Susan HartStrathclyde Business School has been rated top in Scotland - by a long way - and rated in the top 10 UK-wide in the latest comprehensive rating of research. The Research Assessment Exercise 2008 results confirm the School as a leader for "world leading and internationally excellent" research.  [more...]

Bank of Scotland announces
small business support package

Bank of Scotland, in December 2008 announced that it is finalising negotiations with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to secure £250m in funding to support its SME customers during difficult trading conditions. This EIB funding package will be made available to new and existing customers with less than 250 employees.  [more...]

MacRoberts strengthen in key commercial areas


MacRoberts new partners

MacRoberts LLP appointed three new partners, Julie Hamilton, Neil Kennedy and Graham Mitchellin November. Julie Hamilton, who is a qualified solicitor advocate, specialises in commercial dispute resolution including payment disputes, professional negligence matters, corporate disputes and property litigation. Neil Kennedy is a corporate lawyer who advises on all aspects of corporate law including mergers/acquisitions, reconstructions, disposals and investments. Graham Mitchell is an employment lawyer who advises and represents private and public sector clients on all aspects of employment law.

MacRoberts’ Managing Partner, Michael Murphy, commented: “These three new appointments reinforce our strength in key commercial disciplines of commercial dispute resolution, corporate and employment law and will significantly enhance our offering to clients”.  [more...]

Rensburg Sheppards announces
creditable results in challenging times

Steve Elliot Scotland based investment led wealth management group Rensburg Sheppards plc have today (19 November 2008) announced an increase in half yearly pre tax profits of 9.3% to £16.4 million (£15.0 million 2007) for the six months ended 30 September 2008.  [more...]

Win for Biggart Baillie at Property Executive Awards


Biggart Bailie winning team

Leading Scottish Law Firm, Biggart Baillie LLP snapped up the 'Legal Practice Award For Excellence' at the Property Executive Awards 2008. The ceremony was held at The Corn Exchange in Edinburgh on 25 September 2008. The award is in recognition of the firm's commitment to delivering a volume of high value, creatively executed deals over the past 12 months whilst achieving continued growth and delivering client satisfaction.  [more...]


Morton Fraser Announces New Partner in Family Law Team

Fiona Sasan Morton Fraser’s fast growing presence in Glasgow has been further strengthened by the appointment of Fiona Sasan as a Partner in the Family Law team. The appointment — to the largest family law team in Scotland — means that the firm’s top rated and award winning family law division now has a partner and a team of four based fully in Glasgow for the first time, and boosts its offering to clients across the country.  [more...]

ICAS Bridge the GAAP – The Challenges of switching to International Financial Reporting Standards

David Wood As the US embarks on its ‘roadmap’ to adopting International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), a major research report published today by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland suggests that the transition to IFRS has had a significant impact on the profits and net equity of companies.  [more...]


Scottish Widows 2008 Pensions Index reveals fear is driving the nation to save

Ian NaismithThe Scottish Widows Pensions Report, now in its fourth year has revealed that almost half the nation (49%) is still not saving adequately, and while figures are slightly up on previous years. The fear factor is definitely starting to kick in with 37% of people worried about having nothing in retirement (up from 34% in 2007).  [more...]

Leading legal firm reports growth in insolvencies in the retail and hospitality sectors

Ian CuthbertsonThe UK corporate recovery team at law firm, Dundas & Wilson, is finding itself increasingly busy with insolvencies across sectors particularly vulnerable to current pressures on consumer spending and lack of available credit.  [more...]


Scottish Financial Services Sector Offers Voice of Caution for 2008

Margaret Dyer Business growth and recruitment expected, but concerns linger.
Despite over half Scotland's financial services employers signaling their intention to recruit in 2008, confidence in the year ahead has actually dipped to levels not seen since the end of 2002.  [more...]

Aquisitive Scott-Moncrieff announces further expansion and steady growth

Nick BennetScott-Moncrieff, quoted in the Scottish Financial Services Yearbook as one of Scotland’s leading independent accountancy and professional services firms, has announced the acquisition of William Lawler & Son Ltd on the 16th June 2008. The firm is now being integrated to the company as Scott Moncrieff Mortgages [more...]