KPMG

Worrying data reveals state of Scotland’s retail sector ahead of golden quarter

Retail leaders make plea to Westminster and Holyrood after Scottish sales slide

Why Scotland’s recruitment market is defying the economic data Mark Lewis

Five Scottish Tech 50 companies breaking new ground

The hot items Scots are snapping up as retail sales hit three-year high

Scottish firms ‘resilient’ despite slide in business confidence - KPMG

Scottish high street enjoys strongest sales in three years amid World Cup fever

12 Scottish corporate finance experts give their views on quarter two

Edinburgh AI-focused start-up crowned ‘UK’s top tech innovator’

Edinburgh start-up in race to be crowned ‘UK’s most exciting tech business’

Scottish sales plunge in ‘stark reminder of enormous pressure on households’

Vishal Chopra, Office Senior Partner for Scotland at KPMG UK (Picture: Mike Wilkinson)

Agility will be the key to sustaining growth in 2026

Scotland’s retail bosses plead for ‘dose of realism’ as sales grind to halt

Four in five Scots accountants lack confidence in health of Scottish economy

Shoppers may have been out in force but the level of store takings was on the whole disappointing.

Business rates hangover as Scotland’s retailers have Christmas to forget

Sales were described as mediocre as nervousness about the economy and poor weather kept shoppers at home during November.

Why Scottish high street hopes are ‘hanging by a thread’ ahead of Xmas

Internationalising is not for the faint of heart, says Sophie Randles

How non-execs can help businesses go global

Shopper footfall may have been encouraging in Scotland's major cities but spending levels have been muted amid cost-of-living pressures.

Scotland’s high streets facing twin threats as clock ticks down to Christmas

KPMG and RSM reports shine spotlight on Scotland’s ‘resilient’ tech scale-ups

‘Ecosystem builders’ – organisations creating the conditions for startups to thrive – are on the rise in Scotland (Picture: stock.adobe.com)

Scotland’s tech ecosystem is growing up – and growing together

The September figures marked the third successive month of positive improving retail sales and the best monthly result since April.

Scots keep on spending ahead of critical ‘golden quarter’ for retailers

71 per cent of private businesses are exploring new markets (Picture: stock.adobe.com)

Businesses are bullish on growth – but how do they keep up momentum?

The outlook for many town centres and retailers heading into autumn is rather bleak.

The ‘harsh truth’ facing Scotland’s retailers as high street spending stalls

The volume of mid-market private equity investment in Scotland fell by 14% in the first half, according to the latest KPMG 'pulse' report.

Private equity pause: Scotland suffers slump in mid-market deals

The recent period of sustained sunshine has encouraged shoppers onto the high street.

Record retail sales as sizzling weather sees shoppers snap up garden furniture

The SRC said poor weather may have deterred shoppers from buying new spring and summer fashions.

Tax troubles round corner for Scottish high street as store takings wane

Last-minute Christmas shoppers might have been out in force but sales across the crucial golden trading quarter were flat.

December delivers for Scottish retailers as Black Friday and Xmas lift sales

Black Friday sales boosted retail revenue by more than 10% in Scotland, with footfall increasing by almost 5% compared to 2023, latest figures show.

Shopping patterns for Black Friday reveal why 2024 was boom year

Black Friday sales boosted retail revenue by more than 10% in Scotland, with footfall increasing by almost 5% compared to 2023, latest figures show.

Shopping patterns for Black Friday reveal why 2024 was boom year

Amy Burnett, KPMG private enterprise senior manager in Scotland.

Scottish firms ‘solving real world problems’ net £85 million of investment

Rowlands says there are now very few conversations at KPMG where AI doesn’t get a mention. Picture: contributed.

How Edinburgh's AI expertise is powering up KPMG staff

Amy Burnett, head of KPMG Private Enterprise Access: 'The judges had a tough time selecting a winner.'

Edinburgh-based start-up crowned Scotland’s ‘most exciting tech business’

The tech industry is growing at one and a half times the overall economy.

Scotland's tech sector: Industry leaders outline their hopes and challenges

April was not a vintage month for retailers, with poor weather and Easter timing distortions taking their toll on store takings.

Scottish sales slump but spring heralds ‘grounds for cautious optimism’ - SRC

A decline in North Sea oil activity is among the key challenges to the long-term growth outlook flagged in KPMG’s first ever Scottish Economic Outlook report.

Scotland set for economic recovery but several risks remain - KPMG study

Arleen Arnott of KPMG UK says: 'It is clear from this survey that AI is becoming a key part of the day-to-day running of financial services firms.' Picture: contributed.

Leaders at finance firms encouraged to embrace AI that could 'transform' sector

Total sales in Scotland were up 1.5 per cent year on year when adjusted for inflation, and buoyed by the early Easter (file image). Picture: Scott Louden.

Scottish retail sales 'sprightlier' in March, but outlook remains cautious

Graeme Williams, head of corporate finance M&A for Scotland, said it was always going to be tough to match the record breaking numbers of 2022.

Scottish private equity cools from record high but 2024 showing ‘green shoots’

The poor weather may also have been a reason for the disappointing December sales numbers.

Little festive cheer for Scots stores as sales slip for sixth month

The latest RBS Report on Jobs suggests that both permanent and temp vacancies declined markedly in December.

Scotland’s jobs market deteriorates as demand for staff weakens - RBS report

For many retailers, November proved to be something of a sales washout Picture: David Mirzoeff/PA Wire

Alarm bells not tills ringing as Scots retailers suffer blow ahead of Xmas

Graeme Williams, head of corporate finance M&A for Scotland at KPMG UK, says investors are adopting a more cautious approach.

Investor caution as venture capital funding takes a hit despite Q3 'outlier'
The amount of venture capital funding pumped into fledgling Scottish businesses leapt in an “outlier” third quarter thanks to a handful of high-value deals, but...

The SCR says trading is likely to remain very challenging in the coming months as households grapple with higher winter energy bills (file image). Picture: John Devlin.

Scots retail sales flatline ahead of potential 'battle' for key festive trade

Blair Nimmo, CEO of Interpath Advisory, and former UK head of restructuring and global head of insolvency at KPMG. Picture: contributed.

Dundee glazing and building contracting firm goes under with loss of 16 jobs

The limited glimpses of the sun during August was one of the factors behind the dreary sales figures.

Scottish retailers suffer second month of falling sales as spending squeezed

Julie Gray says working with Donald Fleming 'has been one of the highlights of my career' - while he says he look forward to supporting her 'and seeing the team go from strength to strength in the years to come'. Picture: John Devlin.

Interview: Donald Fleming on retiring from pension adviser Isio Scotland

Amy Burnett, head of KPMG private enterprise access at KPMG UK: 'Despite the slightly downbeat figures for Q2, we continue to see promising businesses in Scotland secure investment and attention both home and abroad.'

Venture capital activity plunges with 'noticeable sense of caution prevailing'

An early summer rebound in Scottish retail sales fizzled out in July as the weather took a turn for the worse.

Unseasonable weather heaps misery on retailers as Scottish sales tumble

The Scottish Retail Consortium said the April figures revealed a more pronounced polarisation of performance between food and non-food categories.

Cost of living: Easter sees 'slender but welcome' uplift in Scottish sales

Investor hesitancy has crept into the deals market with less cash being pumped in by venture capitalists.

Scottish scale-up investment slumps but outlook brighter - KPMG

The Scottish Retail Consortium said that once adjusted for inflation, total retail sales by value dipped 0.1 per cent in March.

Scottish retail sales flatline as cash-strapped shoppers focus on essentials

The centre, which opened in 2007, has an annual footfall of more than 3.5 million. Picture: contributed.

Owner of Cumbernauld’s Antonine Shopping Centre tumbles into administration

Now KPMG’s Edinburgh office senior partner, Ms Arnott says she hails from a 'very, very working class background' with money at home very tight. Picture: contributed.

Interview: KPMG exec Arleen Arnott on her vision of a more diverse talent pool

The Scottish Retail Consortium said total sales grew by 0.6 per cent in February, compared with the same month last year and once prices had been adjusted for inflation.

Scots retail sales rise for fourth month as grocery inflation hits 24-year high

James Kergon, Scotland senior partner at KPMG in the UK.

KPMG reveals double-digit growth and 'overnight' salary rises of up to £4,000

The business angel groups invested their money with co-investment coming from other private sector investors and public sector agencies. Picture: Jon Savage

Business angel investment tops record £50 million in 2022 - Linc Scotland

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