Independent accountancy firm Thomson Cooper has marked a significant milestone in its growth journey with the opening of a third office in Largo House, Dunfermline. The investment forms part of the firm’s wider business development strategy. Thomson Cooper delivers accounting, audit, tax, outsourced finance, wealth management and debt solution services to clients from offices in Fife and Edinburgh.
Alan Mitchell, Managing Partner said “Due to rising demand across our key service areas, our Carnegie Campus Office in Dunfermline is currently at capacity. The unit at Largo House provides the ideal solution in terms of flexibility and location. The modern, spacious facility provides an excellent working environment, while remaining just a short distance from our head office.”
Two of the firm’s established teams are relocating to Largo House, creating additional capacity at Carnegie Campus for the latest intake of trainees. This year the firm has welcomed six talented individuals who are joining from high school and university. The new recruits will be working across the firm’s accounting, audit and outsourcing
2026 Trainees – Top left to right – Georgia Leadbetter, Matt Russell, Holly Russell. Bottom left to right – Matthew Ford, Matthew Twaddle, Struan Wilson.
The graduate apprentice recruits are enrolled in the MAcc Accounting Graduate Apprenticeship course at Edinburgh Napier University. This fully integrated programme allows students to study for a Masters degree, gain Chartered Certified Accountant status through the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), and build up to five years of work experience, meaning they earn as they learn. The graduate trainees will also be working and training while studying with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) to gain their professional qualification as a Chartered Accountant.
Alan added “As we enter an exciting new phase of our development, opening a second location in Dunfermline underlines our long-term commitment to the local community and economy. The additional space provides us with the capacity to grow and evolve our operations, supporting both our expanding workforce and the increasing demand for our services.”
“As trusted advisers to a growing portfolio of SMEs, not-for-profits and private individuals, it is important that we continue to invest in the resources required to deliver the highest standards of service. We understand first-hand the opportunities and challenges involved in building and sustaining a successful business, which is why we remain committed to investing in talented people, innovative technology and the development of our specialist expertise.”
“This expansion not only creates opportunities for future growth within the firm but also reinforces our ability to support clients at every stage of their journey. As the business continues to develop, we are proud to remain one of Scotland’s leading independent practices, delivering the trusted, personal and forward-thinking advice that our clients have come to expect from Thomson Cooper.”
Technical director receives compensation following two-year international legal battle
Full-service law firm Gilson Gray has successfully concluded a landmark two-year international football employment dispute on behalf of former Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club technical director, Rene Hiddink.
Led by David Winnie, partner and head of sport at the firm, the case is believed to be the first successful claim by a technical director for termination without just cause before FIFA’s Football Tribunal, marking a significant development in FIFA’s employment dispute framework.
Hiddink’s three-year contract with the Ghanaian club was terminated without lawful justification in June 2024. Gilson Gray subsequently brought proceedings before FIFA, which confirmed its jurisdiction and, in June 2025, upheld Hiddink’s claim, ordering the club to pay USD $146,400 in compensation plus five per cent interest.
When the club failed to comply, Gilson Gray pursued enforcement through FIFA’s regulatory framework, resulting in sporting sanctions including restrictions on player registrations. Enforcement proceedings were also brought before the High Court in Accra under the New York Convention and Ghana’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Act 2010.
Despite the court dismissing the enforcement application, the FIFA award remained final and binding and the sporting sanctions continued. Following sustained enforcement efforts, Accra Hearts of Oak ultimately paid the compensation and accrued interest on 6 August 2026, bringing the two-year dispute to a successful conclusion.
The case highlights the expanding application of FIFA’s dispute resolution framework to senior football personnel, as well as the challenges of enforcing international sporting awards across jurisdictions.
David Winnie said: “This was a complex and hard-fought dispute that raised important jurisdictional and enforcement issues within international football. The case establishes an important precedent for technical directors and other senior football professionals seeking to rely on FIFA’s dispute resolution framework. While the challenges encountered during enforcement were considerable, the ultimate outcome demonstrates that persistence, coupled with FIFA’s regulatory powers, can secure compliance even where a club is initially unwilling to honour a binding award.”
A 3-year-old rum, crafted on the uninhabited island of Lamb Holm, has been launched by Rosslyn Chapel, in celebration of its historic links with Orkney. Rosabelle, a pure single Scottish rum matured in ex-bourbon and virgin oak casks, is the latest product to mark the connection between the Chapel and Orkney, which stretches back nearly 600 years.
Sir William St Clair, founder of the Chapel, was the third and last St Clair Prince of Orkney. The title came to the family through the marriage of his great-grandfather, William St Clair to Isabella, daughter of, and heir to, Malise V of Strathearn, who was also Earl of Orkney and Caithness. After William’s death, his son Henry was recognised as 42nd Earl of Orkney in 1369 and ten years later as the first St Clair Prince of Orkney. The title transferred to his son, also Henry, and then to William, who was installed at a ceremony on 9th August 1434. He kept the title until February 1472, when Orkney was annexed to the Scottish Crown permanently by King James III.
Ian Gardner, Director of Rosslyn Chapel Trust, said: ‘We are delighted to be celebrating these historic links and, at the same time, supporting businesses in Orkney. Our shop now stocks gin from Orkney Distilling, which is distilled in Kirkwall, as well as savoury biscuits from Argo’s Bakery and beautiful jewellery by Sheila Fleet, which was inspired by the Chapel. Our new rum, produced by J Gow Rum, is already proving popular and, as Rosslyn Chapel Trust is a charity, every purchase in our shop or through our website supports our conservation work.’
The new rum, Rosabelle, is named after the ill-fated heroine of Sir Walter Scott’s The Lay of the Last Minstrel, which tells the tragic story of a young noblewoman from the St Clair family. Ignoring warnings of an approaching storm, she sets sail across the Firth of
Forth to attend a ball at Rosslyn Castle. When Rosabelle is lost at sea, legend tells of a mysterious crimson glow appearing over Rosslyn Chapel and Castle – a feature reflected in the bottle’s label.
Rosslyn Chapel, in Midlothian, is open to visitors throughout the year. Founded by Sir William St Clair in 1446, it is renowned for its unique medieval stone carvings and found worldwide fame when it featured in Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code and the subsequent film.
Photo: Sarah Petrie, of Rosslyn Chapel Trust, takes on the role of Rosabelle, to launch the new rum.
Picture by Rob McDougall
Greaves West & Ayre (GWA), one of the region’s leading accountancy firms, is pleased to announce that Sarah Strathdee has been appointed Associate with effect from 1 July 2026.
Sarah joined the firm directly from school in 2010 as a Trainee Accountant and has built an impressive career over the past 16 years. She qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2019 and has developed extensive expertise across accounts preparation, tax compliance, tax planning and advisory services.
Throughout her time with the firm, Sarah has demonstrated a strong commitment to delivering excellent client service and providing practical, tailored advice to businesses and individuals across the region. Her promotion reflects both her professional achievements and her contribution to the continued success of the firm.
Commenting on her appointment Sarah said, “Being promoted to Associate is both a proud milestone and a meaningful moment in my career. I am delighted to have been appointed to this role and look forward to continuing to contribute to the success of our clients and the firm.”
Colin Frame, Partner at Greaves West & Ayre, added:
“Sarah’s appointment as Associate is thoroughly deserved. Since joining the firm as a school leaver, she has consistently demonstrated dedication, professionalism and a genuine commitment to supporting our clients. Her efforts are all the more remarkable as she has balanced the demands of having a young family alongside her career. She is a great ambassador for the firm, and it is a pleasure to recognise her contribution. All of the partner group look forward to seeing her continue to develop in this important leadership role.”
David Alexander, head of debt recovery at full-service law firm Gilson Gray, said: “The latest figures present a mixed picture. On the one hand, corporate insolvencies have fallen significantly compared with the same period last year, down by almost 28% which will be welcome news for many businesses. However, insolvency levels remain above those seen before the pandemic, and it would be premature to view this as a sign that trading conditions have fundamentally improved.
“While the reduction in creditors’ voluntary and compulsory liquidations suggests fewer businesses are reaching the point of formal insolvency, many companies continue to operate under considerable financial pressure. Higher borrowing costs over recent years, ongoing debt repayments, and persistent cost pressures continue to weigh on cash flow. In some cases, businesses may simply be delaying difficult decisions while hoping market conditions improve.
“On the personal side, the continued rise in bankruptcies and protected trust deeds, alongside a further increase in moratorium applications, demonstrates that many households are still struggling with the cost of living and existing debt commitments. Although the revised bankruptcy fee structure has made formal insolvency more accessible for those with limited means, the underlying trend reflects continued financial strain rather than an improvement in financial resilience.
“Taken together, these figures show that while corporate insolvencies have eased in the short term, financial pressures have by no means disappeared. For both individuals and businesses, seeking professional advice at the earliest opportunity remains the best way to address debt issues before they escalate into more serious financial difficulties.”
IOM Consulting Limited, the Edinburgh-based occupational hygiene, laboratory and professional services consultancy, today announced that it has been acquired by Rcapital. The transaction secures the independent future of the business, its laboratories and around 90 staff will transfer to IOM Consulting Limited with offices across Edinburgh, Stafford and Chesterfield.
IOM Consulting Limited was set up in 1990 as the commercial subsidiary of the Institute of Occupational Medicine, the research charity founded in Edinburgh in 1969. Over more than three decades, IOM Consulting Limited has built a reputation for independent measurement, testing, occupational hygiene consulting and expert opinion, working for law firms, NHS trusts, rail infrastructure operators and industrial clients across the UK.
The Institute of Occupational Medicine had faced a sustained fall in research and grant funding and the disruption of relocating its laboratories. Following a strategic review, its Trustees concluded that the Institute of Occupational Medicine was no longer sustainable and securing an independent future for IOM Consulting Limited was in the best interests of the Institute of Occupational Medicine’s creditors.
The Institute of Occupational Medicine has now entered Administration and Richard Bathgate and Graeme
Bain of Johnston Carmichael LLP have been appointed as its Joint Administrators.
Martin Dorchester will step away from his role as CEO of the combined group and Michelle Reid will take up the role of Managing Director of IOM Consulting Limited.
Michelle Reid, Managing Director, IOM Consulting Limited, said “Like many organisations across the UK, the Institute of Occupational Medicine had faced a challenging business environment in recent years. Throughout that time, its Board has carefully considered a range of strategic options to secure the long-term future of its business, expertise and people.
The Institute of Occupational Medicine has been part of Scottish science since 1969 and the acquisition of IOM Consulting Limited by Rcapital means that the valuable research, IOM brand, capabilities and knowledge available within the workforce is maintained.
This investment from Rcapital provides a strong platform for the next evolution of IOM Consulting Limited. It will enable us to build on more than three decades of independent expertise, expand the support we provide to our clients and continue delivering practical solutions that improve health, protect people and strengthen organisational performance.
As governments and employers place greater emphasis on keeping people healthy and in work, IOM Consulting Limited’s independent expertise has never been more relevant or more important.”
Sam Duberley, Investment Director of Rcapital, said: “IOM Consulting is a great business that has been starved of capital by circumstances outside its control. It has a strong reputation for its core testing, inspection and certification services, with an unparalleled history of market leading research. Michelle and her colleagues have done a great job of managing IOM Consulting through a demanding period and we are delighted to be backing them. There’s an exciting future ahead.”
Richard Bathgate, Joint Administrator of the Institute of Occupational Medicine and a Restructuring Partner at Johnston Carmichael LLP, added: “I am pleased to confirm the successful sale of the business and assets of the Institute of Occupational Medicine, including its subsidiary, IOM Consulting Limited, to Rcapital. This transaction preserves specialist jobs, provides continuity of service for clients and delivers a significantly better outcome for creditors than other alternatives.”
Edinburgh-based Illuminate IT has become the first Managed Service Provider (MSP) in Scotland to achieve the Assurix Trustmark, a new independent accreditation designed to help organisations identify IT providers that can demonstrate the highest standards of cyber security, operational maturity and service excellence.
The milestone positions Illuminate IT among the first organisations in the UK to achieve the Trustmark and reinforces the company’s reputation as one of Scotland’s leading managed IT providers.
As businesses become increasingly dependent on technology, the choice of IT partner has never been more important. Yet many organisations still find it difficult to distinguish between providers, with most relying on websites, testimonials and sales claims rather than independent evidence.
The Assurix Trustmark has been developed to change that.
“I spent 20 years running an MSP. I know the difference between doing the work and being able to prove you’ve done it, every day, to a standard someone outside your business can verify. Illuminate IT has closed that gap for their clients. Their clients no longer have to take Illuminate’s word for it.”
Mit Patel, Founder and CEO, Assurix
Unlike traditional certifications that are assessed at a single point in time, Assurix continuously verifies an MSP’s performance using live operational evidence. The platform assesses 64 separate controls covering cyber security, governance, operational resilience and service delivery, providing ongoing assurance that high standards are being maintained.
For business owners, the message is simple.
Choosing an Assurix Trustmarked provider means choosing an IT partner that has independently demonstrated it has the people, processes and security controls in place to protect your business and is committed to maintaining those standards every day.
Amanda Stewart, Founder and CTO of Illuminate IT, said:
“For too long, businesses have had to choose an IT provider based on websites, recommendations and promises. The reality is that every MSP says they’re secure and every MSP says they provide great service.
Assurix changes that. It gives organisations independent evidence that their IT partner is operating to consistently high standards. That’s why becoming Scotland’s first Assurix Trustmarked MSP is such an important milestone, not just for Illuminate, but for businesses across Scotland looking for an IT partner they can genuinely trust.”
Illuminate IT has spent almost two decades helping Scottish SMEs, charities and growing organisations use technology to improve productivity, strengthen cyber resilience and support business growth.
The company is recognised for its proactive approach to IT support, strategic technology advice and commitment to raising standards across the industry. It is also a certified B Corp, an award-winning managed service provider and an active contributor to Scotland’s technology community.
The Assurix Trustmark provides further independent validation of Illuminate’s commitment to continuous improvement and transparency.
Amanda Stewart added:
“Technology underpins almost every organisation today, so trust has become one of the most valuable things an IT provider can offer. Achieving the Assurix
Trustmark demonstrates that we’re not simply saying we’re delivering best practice
– we can independently prove it. We’re incredibly proud to be the first MSP in Scotland to achieve this recognition and hope it encourages more businesses to look beyond marketing claims and ask for evidence when choosing an IT partner.”
As cyber threats continue to evolve and organisations face increasing scrutiny from customers, insurers and regulators, independently verified standards are expected to play an increasingly important role in helping businesses make informed decisions when selecting technology partners.
For Illuminate IT, becoming Scotland’s first Assurix Trustmarked MSP represents another significant milestone in its mission to provide trusted, secure and forwardthinking IT services to organisations across Scotland.
About Illuminate IT
Illuminate IT is an award-winning Managed Service Provider based in Edinburgh, supporting small and medium-sized businesses, charities and organisations across Scotland. The company provides proactive IT support, cyber security, Microsoft 365, cloud services and strategic technology consultancy, helping clients become more productive, resilient and secure.
For more information visit www.illuminate-it.co.uk