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.
ACCA Scotland elects new president
ACCA 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
Newton’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'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
After 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
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
Strathclyde 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 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
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
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
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ICAS Bridge the GAAP – The Challenges of switching to International Financial Reporting Standards
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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. 
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. | Scottish Widows 2008 Pensions Index reveals fear is driving the nation to save
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Leading legal firm reports growth in insolvencies in the retail and hospitality sectors
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The 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). 
The 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. | Scottish Financial Services Sector Offers Voice of Caution for 2008
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Aquisitive Scott-Moncrieff announces further expansion and steady growth
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Scott-Moncrieff, quoted in the