Tim Mortimer elevated to CEO of TL DALLAS as Polly Staveley becomes executive chair Independent insurance broker, TL Dallas, which has seven offices across Scotland, has appointed Tim Mortimer as its new chief executive, as the fourth-generation family firm positions itself for the next phase of managed growth.

Independent insurance broker, TL Dallas, which has seven offices across Scotland, has appointed Tim Mortimer as its new chief executive, as the fourth-generation family firm positions itself for the next phase of managed growth.

UK inflation slows to 3% as raising hopes for March rate cut UK inflation has eased to 3% in January, reaching its lowest level since March 2025 and sparking renewed debate over the timing of a Bank of England interest rate cut.

UK inflation has eased to 3% in January, reaching its lowest level since March 2025 and sparking renewed debate over the timing of a Bank of England interest rate cut.

Glasgow at the heart of BAE Systems’ record order book BAE Systems has reported a robust financial and operational performance in its 2025 full-year results, underpinned by a record order backlog of £83.6 billion.

BAE Systems has reported a robust financial and operational performance in its 2025 full-year results, underpinned by a record order backlog of £83.6 billion.

AAB appoints new partner and head of audit in Glasgow AAB has appointed Lorraine Quinn as partner and head of audit for its Glasgow office.

AAB has appointed Lorraine Quinn as partner and head of audit for its Glasgow office.

UK banks convene to build alternative domestic payment system UK bank executives are set to convene this Thursday for their first meeting to establish a domestic alternative to Visa and Mastercard.

UK bank executives are set to convene this Thursday for their first meeting to establish a domestic alternative to Visa and Mastercard.

Head of Finance - New Gorbals Housing Association Find the latest vacancies in the Scottish finance industry on the Scottish Financial News website.

New Gorbals Housing Association is recruiting a Head of Finance

Johnston Carmichael appoints new tax director Johnston Carmichael has strengthened its tax advisory team with the appointment of a new private client tax director who specialises in complex tax planning for individuals, business owners, property owners, trusts and estates.

Johnston Carmichael has strengthened its tax advisory team with the appointment of a new private client tax director who specialises in complex tax planning for individuals, business owners, property owners, trusts and estates.

SWA: Industry urges ‘zero-tariff’ deal as global whisky exports dip The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has reported a challenging 2025 for Scotland’s whisky industry, with global exports dipping to £5.36 billion, a 0.6% decline in value and a 4.3% drop in volume.

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has reported a challenging 2025 for Scotland’s whisky industry, with global exports dipping to £5.36 billion, a 0.6% decline in value and a 4.3% drop in volume.

Savills acquires Rennie Property Consultants Savills has expanded its presence in the Highlands with the acquisition of Rennie Property Consultants, welcoming Sandy Rennie into its Inverness office.

Savills has expanded its presence in the Highlands with the acquisition of Rennie Property Consultants, welcoming Sandy Rennie into its Inverness office.

RBS-owner NatWest hits post-2008 high with £7.7bn profit as shareholders net 51% dividend hike NatWest Group has reported its strongest financial performance since the 2008 crash, with 2025 pre-tax profits surging to £7.7 billion.

NatWest Group has reported its strongest financial performance since the 2008 crash, with 2025 pre-tax profits surging to £7.7 billion.

SRC: January joy as retail sales bounce back Scottish retail started 2026 on a high note as total sales rose by 3.3% throughout January, a significant leap from the 1.5% growth recorded during the same period last year.

Scottish retail started 2026 on a high note as total sales rose by 3.3% throughout January, a significant leap from the 1.5% growth recorded during the same period last year.

Dundee cleaning products business targets global expansion with £1m Investment Fund for Scotland backing Dundee-based Ecoanolytes is expanding the global footprint of its innovative safer, eco-friendly cleaning and sanitising products through a targeted business growth campaign, after securing a £1 million loan from the Investment Fund for Scotland.

Dundee-based Ecoanolytes is expanding the global footprint of its innovative safer, eco-friendly cleaning and sanitising products through a targeted business growth campaign, after securing a £1 million loan from the Investment Fund for Scotland.

Gillespie Macandrew appoints Gavin Merchant CA as new CEO Gillespie Macandrew LLP has appointed Gavin Merchant as its new CEO, with effect from 1 March.

Gillespie Macandrew LLP has appointed Gavin Merchant as its new CEO, with effect from 1 March.

Lead Finance Business Partner - University of Edinburgh Find the latest vacancies in the Scottish finance industry on the Scottish Financial News website.

University of Edinburgh is searching for a Lead Finance Business Partner.

AI Senior Consultant – Tax Technology & Innovation - KPMG UK Find the latest vacancies in the Scottish finance industry on the Scottish Financial News website.

KPMG UK is recruiting an AI Senior Consultant (Tax Technology & Innovation) in Glasgow

KPMG: Scottish businesses enter 2026 with steady confidence and a strong focus on sustainability Nearly nine in 10 (87%) private business owners in Scotland are confident about growth in 2026, according to KPMG’s annual Private Enterprise Barometer, in line with the UK average.

Nearly nine in 10 (87%) private business owners in Scotland are confident about growth in 2026, according to KPMG’s annual Private Enterprise Barometer, in line with the UK average.

ICAS: Four in five accountants lack confidence in health of Scottish economy Nearly 80% of Chartered Accountants do not have confidence in the health of the Scottish economy and are calling for government action to make Scotland a more attractive place to do business, a new survey from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) has revealed.

Nearly 80% of Chartered Accountants do not have confidence in the health of the Scottish economy and are calling for government action to make Scotland a more attractive place to do business, a new survey from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) has revealed.

Ross Webb: Why Scotland’s insolvency picture is more resilient than it first appears Ross Webb looks at the rising trend of Scottish business failures, discussing the underlying factors that influence modern restructuring.

Ross Webb looks at the rising trend of Scottish business failures, discussing the underlying factors that influence modern restructuring.

Scottish Parliament passes Community Wealth Building Bill The Community Wealth Building Bill has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.

The Community Wealth Building Bill has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.

Century-old MMG Chartered Accountants joins TC Group TC Group, a UK-wide accountancy and advisory firm, has expanded its Scottish presence by merging with the long-established MMG Chartered Accountants.

TC Group, a UK-wide accountancy and advisory firm, has expanded its Scottish presence by merging with the long-established MMG Chartered Accountants.

Innis & Gunn founder urges government to stop treating national institution ‘like a cash machine’ Innis & Gunn founder and master brewer Dougal Sharp has called on the government to stop pushing the pub to the brink of extinction and take measures – including cuts to VAT, on-trade duty, and energy bills – to reverse the industry’s decline.

Innis & Gunn founder and master brewer Dougal Sharp has called on the government to stop pushing the pub to the brink of extinction and take measures – including cuts to VAT, on-trade duty, and energy bills – to reverse the industry’s decline.

Aberdein Considine appoints M&A expert Stewart Gordon to Edinburgh office Aberdein Considine LLP has moved to strengthen its corporate offering in the central belt with the key appointment of Stewart Gordon as partner in the firm’s Edinburgh office. 

Aberdein Considine LLP has moved to strengthen its corporate offering in the central belt with the key appointment of Stewart Gordon as partner in the firm’s Edinburgh office. 

Interpath secures sale of Trojan Energy’s business and assets via pre-pack sale to subsidiary of Connected Kerb Geoff Jacobs and Alistair McAlinden from Interpath were appointed joint administrators to Trojan Energy Limited on 9 February 2026 and immediately implemented a sale of the business and assets via a pre-pack process to Urban EV Infrastructure Limited, a subsidiary of Connected Kerb Limited.

Geoff Jacobs and Alistair McAlinden from Interpath were appointed joint administrators to Trojan Energy Limited on 9 February 2026 and immediately implemented a sale of the business and assets via a pre-pack process to Urban EV Infrastructure Limited, a subsidiary of Connected Kerb Limited.

Johnston Carmichael names Stewart Pennington head of Edinburgh office Johnston Carmichael has appointed Stewart Pennington as head of Edinburgh office, reinforcing the firm’s leadership in the capital.

Johnston Carmichael has appointed Stewart Pennington as head of Edinburgh office, reinforcing the firm’s leadership in the capital.

One in five Scottish distilleries under threat amid global export slump The Scottish distilling industry is facing a deepening crisis as new data from financial advisory and restructuring firm BTG has revealed that 19% of Scotland’s distilleries are now in financial distress.

The Scottish distilling industry is facing a deepening crisis as new data from financial advisory and restructuring firm BTG has revealed that 19% of Scotland’s distilleries are now in financial distress.

Inverclyde start-up brings innovative Care Cape to market An Inverclyde start-up supported by Business Gateway has successfully brought an innovative new product to market, designed to restore dignity and comfort during personal care.

An Inverclyde start-up supported by Business Gateway has successfully brought an innovative new product to market, designed to restore dignity and comfort during personal care.

ICAS and Heriot-Watt University launch global degree to accelerate accountancy careers The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) and Heriot-Watt University (HWU) have launched a master’s programme, offering a streamlined and globally accessible route to becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA).

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) and Heriot-Watt University (HWU) have launched a master’s programme, offering a streamlined and globally accessible route to becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA).

Maven strengthens Scottish team with two new portfolio directors Maven Capital Partners has strengthened its Scottish presence with the appointment of Nicola Holloway and Andrew Leslie as portfolio directors.

Maven Capital Partners has strengthened its Scottish presence with the appointment of Nicola Holloway and Andrew Leslie as portfolio directors.

AAB and Kreston Reeves tie-up to create £200m professional services powerhouse Scotland-founded AAB and Kreston Reeves have announced a deal that propels the combined business beyond the £200 million annual revenue threshold.

Scotland-founded AAB and Kreston Reeves have announced a deal that propels the combined business beyond the £200 million annual revenue threshold.

Fraser of Allander: Positive outlook for economic growth despite labour market warning signs The outlook for both the Scottish and UK economies has improved and looks to remain positive through 2027, according to the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde.

The outlook for both the Scottish and UK economies has improved and looks to remain positive through 2027, according to the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde.