THE
ACCOUNT
The latest in finance and business
The minds of men
In the November issue of CA, we will examine the subject of men’s mental health. Ahead of that, a recent survey carried out by InstantPrint revealed some eye-opening statistics about mental health and the workplace. These are some of the standout statistics:
42% of men aged 25–34 say they receive no mental health support at work
60% of men have hidden mental health struggles from their employer
68% fear being seen as weak if they speak up
When asked what changes would help most, the respondents recommended:
38% Regular awareness campaigns and workshops
34% Mental health training for managers
29% Clearer signposting to external resources
24% More confidential counselling options
21% Mental health days included in leave policies
The survey of 2,000 UK office workers found that male employees are significantly more likely to feel unsupported than female colleagues.
Despite a rise in public conversation around mental health, the study suggests that for many, workplace culture still hasn’t caught up.
“Many men in the workplace are silently struggling, not because support doesn’t exist, but because it’s hidden or framed in ways that don’t feel approachable,” says Vicki Russell, Head of Team Experience at InstantPrint. “It’s not enough to have an employee assistance programme buried on an intranet page, it needs to be visible, normalised and encouraged at every level.”
The minds of men
In the November issue of CA, we will examine the subject of men’s mental health. Ahead of that, a recent survey carried out by InstantPrint revealed some eye-opening statistics about mental health and the workplace. These are some of the standout statistics:
42% of men aged 25–34 say they receive no mental health support at work
60% of men have hidden mental health struggles from their employer
68% fear being seen as weak if they speak up
When asked what changes would help most, the respondents recommended:
38% Regular awareness campaigns and workshops
34% Mental health training for managers
29% Clearer signposting to external resources
24% More confidential counselling options
21% Mental health days included in leave policies
The survey of 2,000 UK office workers found that male employees are significantly more likely to feel unsupported than female colleagues.
Despite a rise in public conversation around mental health, the study suggests that for many, workplace culture still hasn’t caught up.
“Many men in the workplace are silently struggling, not because support doesn’t exist, but because it’s hidden or framed in ways that don’t feel approachable,” says Vicki Russell, Head of Team Experience at InstantPrint. “It’s not enough to have an employee assistance programme buried on an intranet page, it needs to be visible, normalised and encouraged at every level.”
On course
For hundreds of CAs, this weekend is all about one thing – the Ryder Cup. The biennial event takes place at a time when the UK’s golf industry is thriving.
According to data from Sporting Insights, which has been monitoring participation over the past 20 years, 2025 is set to be another bumper year for the sport. The company says both the Q2 and half-year figures show growth, with the number of rounds played up on last year by around a quarter.
The golf industry is especially important in Scotland. A report published last year by Sheffield Hallam University claimed that St Andrews is worth £317m to the Scottish economy. Factor in companies and individuals who are in some way connected to the sport’s supply chain across Scotland, and that figure rises to more than £1bn.
Many UK venues have reduced their green fees to attract new members. But the opposite is true for Scotland’s top golf clubs, which are a magnet for US tourists looking to play bucket-list courses such as St Andrews, Muirfield, Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and Dornoch.
A round of golf at these historic sites is often sold as part of a package. For those who want to simply turn up and play 18 holes, far and away the most expensive course is Trump Turnberry where the green fee is close to £1,000 in peak season. It’s not clear whether “peak season“ means the owner is present – or busy elsewhere.
On course
For hundreds of CAs, this weekend is all about one thing – the Ryder Cup. The biennial event takes place at a time when the UK’s golf industry is thriving.
According to data from Sporting Insights, which has been monitoring participation over the past 20 years, 2025 is set to be another bumper year for the sport. The company says both the Q2 and half-year figures show growth, with the number of rounds played up on last year by around a quarter.
The golf industry is especially important in Scotland. A report published last year by Sheffield Hallam University claimed that St Andrews is worth £317m to the Scottish economy. Factor in companies and individuals who are in some way connected to the sport’s supply chain across Scotland, and that figure rises to more than £1bn.
Many UK venues have reduced their green fees to attract new members. But the opposite is true for Scotland’s top golf clubs, which are a magnet for US tourists looking to play bucket-list courses such as St Andrews, Muirfield, Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and Dornoch.
A round of golf at these historic sites is often sold as part of a package. For those who want to simply turn up and play 18 holes, far and away the most expensive course is Trump Turnberry where the green fee is close to £1,000 in peak season. It’s not clear whether “peak season“ means the owner is present – or busy elsewhere.
CAs in the news
Andrew Lowden CA
Andrew Lowden, who featured in our last issue as the recently retired Chief Financial Officer at Robert Gordon’s College, has been appointed as a director for Cricket Scotland. At one time Lowden was a wicketkeeper and club president at Gordonians Cricket Club where his nickname was Lucky because, according to other club members, he was anything but.
Ian McDonald CA
Ian McDonald has been appointed as the new Chair of the Scottish Housing Board Association (SBHA), having been one of its board members since 2017. “I’m really excited to be stepping into the role of Chair at such a great time for SBHA,” he said. “Together, we’ll keep making sure people have safe, warm and affordable homes, while helping communities grow stronger and helping people to have better futures.”
People power
Despite the onslaught of headlines suggesting that AI is coming for our jobs, the biggest concern for senior finance leaders at SMEs right now is access to human talent.
Just under half (48%) of SME leaders say they are looking to upskill their current team. This compares with 29% who plan to expand their leadership team and 25% who want to recruit new staff.
The survey was carried out by Shawbrook Bank and was compiled from the views of 500 senior financial decision makers.
This strategic focus on developing internal talent reflects wider concerns about recruitment challenges, with 56% of SMEs saying they are concerned about the current access to talent in their industry, and 19% feeling very concerned.
On a more positive note, nearly three in ten (27%) of SMEs cite investing in their current team as a key driver of growth – highlighting the long-term value of nurturing existing talent.
People power
Despite the onslaught of headlines suggesting that AI is coming for our jobs, the biggest concern for senior finance leaders at SMEs right now is access to human talent.
Just under half (48%) of SME leaders say they are looking to upskill their current team. This compares with 29% who plan to expand their leadership team and 25% who want to recruit new staff.
The survey was carried out by Shawbrook Bank and was compiled from the views of 500 senior financial decision makers.
This strategic focus on developing internal talent reflects wider concerns about recruitment challenges, with 56% of SMEs saying they are concerned about the current access to talent in their industry, and 19% feeling very concerned.
On a more positive note, nearly three in ten (27%) of SMEs cite investing in their current team as a key driver of growth – highlighting the long-term value of nurturing existing talent.
Not what it memes
The words “Ibiza Final Boss” will – probably depending on your age – either mean nothing to you or be instantly recognisable as the nickname awarded to a British holidaymaker. Jack Kay became a ubiquitous figure across social media this summer when a clip showed him dancing in a club on the Balearic island, sporting a quite extraordinary hair and beard combo.
The term Final Boss comes from gaming – it’s the character you meet in the climactic level, the ultimate enemy you must take down to complete the game. In Kay’s case, he was defined as the ultimate British lad abroad.
What does any of this have to do with business? Because anyone enjoying a sudden rise to fame these days stands a decent chance of seeing a meme coin launched in their honour. Irrespective of who it is, the story is almost always the same.
The coin is launched in a wave of hype and social posts, investors plough in, the market cap soars to ridiculous levels, then those with inside knowledge, and/or the right tools, cash out, leaving everyone else with an investment of little or no worth.
This – popularly known as a “rug pull” – appears to be what happened with Ibiza Final Boss. Within an hour of reaching its peak, the coin’s value had crashed by an eye-popping 99.99%. At the time of writing, the bowl-cut coin had gone up by just 4.1% – which would appear to be an improvement until you realise that each coin is worth a mere 0.0014p.
Not only is social media helping to create “stars” such as Ibiza Final Boss, but those stars are in turn seeing their trending image exploited by con artists.
Meanwhile, over the summer, scams relating to Chinese meme stocks on Wall Street reportedly cost $3.7bn (£2.7bn), according to Kalkine Media. WhatsApp groups set up to look like the work of legitimate financial advisers encouraged subscribers to invest in seven Chinese businesses. In one case, a Chinese biotech stock briefly reached a valuation of $38bn even though the company hadn’t sold any products.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the companies whose stock was being traded. The victims of these cons, however, are often the most vulnerable, frequently first-time investors who see a chance to either get rich quick or get themselves out of debt (or both).
But there is very little coming out of Westminster to warn people of the perils in meme coins and stocks. And, of course, in the US many of the guardrails are being dismantled, while the President, via his own meme coin, is himself rumoured to be a major beneficiary of the mania.
The danger must be that by the time governments realise the stable doors need to be locked, every horse in the yard has bolted.
Ryan Herman
Not what it memes
The words “Ibiza Final Boss” will – probably depending on your age – either mean nothing to you or be instantly recognisable as the nickname awarded to a British holidaymaker. Jack Kay became a ubiquitous figure across social media this summer when a clip showed him dancing in a club on the Balearic island, sporting a quite extraordinary hair and beard combo.
The term Final Boss comes from gaming – it’s the character you meet in the climactic level, the ultimate enemy you must take down to complete the game. In Kay’s case, he was defined as the ultimate British lad abroad.
What does any of this have to do with business? Because anyone enjoying a sudden rise to fame these days stands a decent chance of seeing a meme coin launched in their honour. Irrespective of who it is, the story is almost always the same.
The coin is launched in a wave of hype and social posts, investors plough in, the market cap soars to ridiculous levels, then those with inside knowledge, and/or the right tools, cash out, leaving everyone else with an investment of little or no worth.
This – popularly known as a “rug pull” – appears to be what happened with Ibiza Final Boss. Within an hour of reaching its peak, the coin’s value had crashed by an eye-popping 99.99%. At the time of writing, the bowl-cut coin had gone up by just 4.1% – which would appear to be an improvement until you realise that each coin is worth a mere 0.0014p.
Not only is social media helping to create “stars” such as Ibiza Final Boss, but those stars are in turn seeing their trending image exploited by con artists.
Meanwhile, over the summer, scams relating to Chinese meme stocks on Wall Street reportedly cost $3.7bn (£2.7bn), according to Kalkine Media. WhatsApp groups set up to look like the work of legitimate financial advisers encouraged subscribers to invest in seven Chinese businesses. In one case, a Chinese biotech stock briefly reached a valuation of $38bn even though the company hadn’t sold any products.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the companies whose stock was being traded. The victims of these cons, however, are often the most vulnerable, frequently first-time investors who see a chance to either get rich quick or get themselves out of debt (or both).
But there is very little coming out of Westminster to warn people of the perils in meme coins and stocks. And, of course, in the US many of the guardrails are being dismantled, while the President, via his own meme coin, is himself rumoured to be a major beneficiary of the mania.
The danger must be that by the time governments realise the stable doors need to be locked, every horse in the yard has bolted.
Ryan Herman
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