Edinburgh will host the first ever Global Ethical Finance Forum, staged by Dubai-based Middle East Global Advisors, in early September, to explore the global convergence of standards in the ethical sector.

The Ethical Finance Round Table resumes its meetings in the capital today with 35 bodies represented including Church of Scotland, Heriot Watt University, Scottish Government, ScotWest Credit Union, Social Investment Scotland, Standard Life Investments, The Charity Bank, and IFA Ethical Futures. It will discuss "the group's approach to building a trusted mainstream bank, as well as the prospects for developing a "kite-mark" for ethical financial products".