Dains Scotland

04/09/2026

A warm welcome to our 2026 Dains Scotland early careers intake 👋

This week, our newest colleagues from across Scotland came together, with people beginning their careers at Dains through a range of different routes.

It was a chance to meet colleagues from across our Scottish offices, build connections and get a feel for life at Dains , with networking bingo, lunch at Amarone and a highly competitive paper plane challenge all on the agenda. ✈️

Congratulations to "Air Dains" on taking the win!

The group also heard from Brian Thomson Audit Partner, who shared an introduction to Audit and some advice from his own career, with Graeme Bryson Regional Managing Partner and Hollie Terris helping welcome our newest colleagues to the firm.

And this is just the start. Next week, our Scottish intake will join graduates, school leavers and early careers colleagues from across the UK for the Group residential.

A great day together and we’re looking forward to seeing what comes next for them. 👏

01/09/2026

There’s a reason our VAT & Customs webinars are proving popular. More than 100 people joined our last session, and this one is shaping up to be another busy one.

Selling goods directly to consumers through Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Shopify or other e-commerce platforms can open up new opportunities, but it can also bring VAT, customs and compliance obligations that aren’t always obvious.

On 22 September, Dains VAT specialists Terri Bruce and Arti Sonpal will cover the key considerations for businesses selling online in the UK and overseas, including VAT registration, customs agents, EU VAT schemes for online sales, and importing goods for onward sale.

👉 Learn more about what we’ll cover and register here: https://loom.ly/4ZYPAWU

20/08/2026

For manufacturers, audit can offer much more than compliance.💡

Explore how audit can help businesses respond to supply chain pressures, ESG requirements and technology investment, while strengthening resilience and supporting future growth.

Read more: https://loom.ly/jqKIu4Q

hashtag hashtag hashtag

Explore how manufacturers can use audit insight to manage risk, strengthen controls and identify opportunities for future growth.

14/08/2026

🎓 Congratulations, Lewis!

Lewis has graduated from Robert Gordon University, becoming the first apprentice to graduate through our partnership with RGU.

It's a brilliant milestone for Lewis after combining his university studies with his apprenticeship and work with the team here at Dains Scotland.

Congratulations, Lewis, we're looking forward to seeing you continue to develop your career with us. 👏

13/08/2026

🎉 Professional qualification success

We've had some fantastic professional qualification results across our Dunfermline team over the past few weeks.

Congratulations to:

👏 Marni, who has passed her first ICAS exam.

👏 Lewis and Euan, who have both passed their latest ICAS exams, continuing their progress towards qualification.

👏 Jack, who has passed his penultimate ACCA exam, leaving just one final exam to go.

We're always impressed by how our colleagues balance their studies with supporting clients and working alongside their teams. Every qualification represents months of commitment and a genuine investment in developing the expertise that helps our clients succeed.

Congratulations to you all on a fantastic achievement. 👏

12/08/2026

Supporting ambitious businesses in Ayrshire is an important part of our commitment to the communities in which we operate.

As an active member of the Ayrshire business community, we’re proud to sponsor the Growth Business of the Year Award at this year’s Ayrshire Business Awards ,recognising smaller businesses demonstrating ambition, commercial growth and real momentum.

Congratulations to this year’s finalists: Cortex Physiotherapy, Kilmarnock Hearing Centre, LM Motor Company and Seamill Electrics.

We’re looking forward to celebrating with the finalists and the wider Ayrshire business community in October.

06/08/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Lucy and Jamie!

We're delighted to celebrate two fantastic milestones in the ACCA journeys of our Dunfermline team.

👏 Lucy and Jamie are both now fully ACCA qualified.

Becoming a Chartered Certified Accountant represents years of study, practical experience and professional development. It's a significant career milestone and a fantastic achievement for both of them.

Every professional qualification is built on dedication, perseverance and a commitment to continually developing your expertise. We're always impressed by how our colleagues balance their studies with supporting clients and working alongside their teams.

Congratulations to you both on a fantastic achievement. 👏

31/07/2026

Today we say thank you to Stephen Bargh as he retires after an incredible 43-year career.

Stephen joined William Duncan + Co as a trainee in 1983 and has been part of the business ever since, playing an important role in its evolution into today's Dains Scotland.

Over more than four decades, Stephen has made an important contribution to the growth and success of William Duncan + Co, supporting generations of clients, mentoring colleagues and building lasting relationships across Ayrshire and beyond.

When William Duncan + Co became part of Dains in 2022, Stephen continued that journey as part of the wider business, helping to carry forward the trusted relationships, values and commitment to clients that have defined his career.

Stephen leaves behind a business that has grown and evolved considerably since he first joined. His contribution has helped create strong foundations for its future as part of Dains Scotland and the wider Dains Group, while the relationships he has built with clients and colleagues will continue long after his retirement.

Stephen, thank you for everything you have given to the business and everyone fortunate enough to have worked alongside you over the last 43 years.

We wish you a long, happy and very well-deserved retirement. 💚

28/07/2026

Do you work with businesses trading across Europe?

Cross-border trade can create unexpected VAT obligations, from place of supply rules and stock movements to overseas VAT registrations.

Join our practical webinar to explore common European trade scenarios and how businesses can manage their VAT obligations effectively.

📅 Tuesday 4 August 2026
🕣 8.30am–9.30am
📍 Online via Zoom

Register here:https://loom.ly/T6AiUbY

22/07/2026

Two days to go until our next MTD and Xero webinar.

We’ve already had a strong response from clients preparing for their first quarterly submission, but there is still time to join us.

In this practical 30-minute session, Claire Lawrence from Dains and Ben Lockwood from Xero will explain what needs to be ready, how the submission process works and what to expect next.

As Xero National Partner of the Year, we are pleased to bring clients direct access to practical insight from both Dains and Xero.

📅 Friday 24 July
🕤 9.30am–10.00am
💻 Online via Zoom

Secure your place: https://loom.ly/iqFEj8I
Can’t join us for the live session? Register and we’ll send you a copy of the recording afterwards.

This webinar is for Dains clients.

Not a Dains client? Follow us for practical business updates, expert insights and details of future webinars and events.