Recent Press Releases

MACO to support city's hospice

Thursday, 29 April 2010 14:13

STAFF at Martin Aitken & Co have selected the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice as their designated charity for the next twenty-four months.

The firm asked staff to nominate a charity and a majority opted to support the Hospice from May 1.

The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, located beside the River Clyde, provides specialist palliative care for people with life-limiting illnesses, usually cancer, and support for their families and carers. It brings comfort and peace of mind to those for whom cure is no longer possible and also offers practical and emotional support to families and carers.
MACo Partner Elaine Dyer said: "We are delighted to support the Hospice. Our staff have supported Yorkhill Hospital over the last two years and have raised in excess of £10,000, so I am confident we can raise a similar sum for the Hospice which does such important work.
"Our first fundraising effort involves taking part in the charity's first-ever Midnight Walk on Saturday 15 May. This is a 5k or 10k walk along the Clydeside, crossing six of Glasgow's bridges and passing the Hospice on the way.
"We plan to open our offices in Seaward Street on the evening of May 15 so the entire MACo team can meet and set off together for the start point at the SECC, returning to the office at the end of the event for some refreshments.
"It promises to be a thoroughly rewarding and fun night which will enable the Hospice to help terminally-ill patients face their own personal challenges and make the most of the time they have remaining."
And now that the decision has been taken to support the charity, Martin Aitken Chairman Jim McInroy revealed for the first time the connection between the two organisations.

"Many of our current staff probably don't know that Martin Aitken was instrumental in the whole setting up of the Hospice in the early 1980s. My partner, then Hugh Cosgrove, helped our then largest client McGavigan Group's Chairman Mr McGavigan to get the whole Hospice going.

"We were the accountants and Hugh was the treasurer for many years. He left MACO in 1993 so the relationship is strong and enduring.

"I'm delighted that we will support the Hospice; I didn't say anything during the selection process in order not to sway any decision."

The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice

Monday, 19 April 2010 12:31

Martin Aitken & Co are pleased to advise that we have selected The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice as our new charity from 1 May 2010.

The Hospice is located not far from our office at Carlton Place and provides fully integrated specialist care to terminally ill patients and support for their families.

The Hospice was formed in the early 1980's and was the brainchild of 5 individuals - 3 medics, a minister and an accountant. The accountant was Mr Hugh Cosgrove, a Partner in Martin Aitken & Co.

Given this relationship, we are delighted to work with The Hospice once again.

As part of their fundraising, the charity has organised a midnight walk on Sat 15 May. This is a 5k or 10k walk along the Clydeside crossing 6 of Glasgow's bridges and passing the Hospice on the way.

The Partners of Martin Aitken & Co are hoping that as many staff, clients and contacts as possible will enter this event and raise money for the charity via sponsorship.
Registration for the event costs £20 and requires to be done on an individual basis. The Registration fee includes a t-shirt and medal.

The easiest way to register for this event is online at www.ppwh.org.uk/midnightwalk
Please let us know if we can expect to see you, on what promises to be a thoroughly rewarding and fun challenge!

The Scottish Family Business Association

Tuesday, 23 March 2010 09:14

The Scottish Family Business Association is delighted to bring you a day of expert advice and guidance designed to help business families
implement best practice in their companies as well as assist those who advise them, to understand this unique model and provide the right support.
If you are a family business looking to increase your competitive edge in a difficult marketplace or a professional advisor who can see the huge opportunity honing your skills to assist any of Scotland’s 60,000 family businesses can bring, this event is for you.

It will cover a wide range of topics including:

Succession planning
Elegant exits
Recruiting non-family executives
Why governance matters
Inheritance and the family business
Sibling rivalry

We at Martin Aitken & Co are pleased to announce that this will be held at our office on Seaward Street, Glasgow. Please click here to see the flyer and for more info.

Yorkhill Fundraising Update

Monday, 01 March 2010 15:06

Martin Aitken & Co are delighted to report that we have surpassed our fundraising target of £10,000 for Yorkhill Childrens Foundation. This has been accomplished over the past two years by the generosity of our staff and clients. Our fundraising events included

auctioning off services such as grass-cutting and window cleaning
quiz nights
bake sales
monthly dress-down days
christmas & easter hampers
raffles

We would like to extend a huge thanks to all clients and staff who have participated and helped us achieve our goal.

Our money will be donated to the Yorkhill hospital outpatients department.

MARTIN AITKEN’S SENIOR PARTNER TO RETIRE

Wednesday, 06 January 2010 15:04

Martin Aitken & Co announces today (22 December) that Senior Partner Graham Tough is retiring at the end of the month.
From January 1, Adrienne Airlie becomes Senior Partner while maintaining her role as Staff Partner.
Partner Ewen Dyer will be in charge of the financial management and day-to-day operations of the practice.
Tough (53) joined the firm as a Partner in 1994 when he also introduced Insolvency work and he became Senior Partner in 2007.
He is also the Managing Director of Tough Debt Solutions Ltd. (TDS), an associated business which specialises in personal insolvency and corporate recovery.
The firm has decided that it will not continue with an Insolvency Department within the practice from December 31, so Tough will continue this in TDS, with Insolvency staff moving over from MACO.
Mr Tough said: “I have had a huge amount of fun and satisfaction participating in the substantial growth of Martin Aitken since 1994 and the firm is well placed in the Scottish market to continue its success.
“Having left behind Accountancy and Business Services to focus fully on Insolvency in 2002, this persuaded me that it was time to pass on the reins to a Partner more involved with the clients in the core area of the business. Adrienne and her team have the required skills to ensure the further development of MACo as a prominent player in future and I am certain that the clients will benefit from this change.”
Adrienne Airlie said: “Graham’s contribution to Martin Aitken & Co has been immense and he will be a hard act to follow. We all wish him well in his new independent venture.”
Mrs Airlie, who joined the firm in 1994, currently heads up the firm’s Financial Services department as well as handling a wide range of general practice Audit and Accounts clients. She specialises in business advice, tax and business development and growth strategies particularly aimed at family businesses. She also Heads up the Charities Team within Martin Aitken & Co and is a Council member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.