Worth the risk

FLAPJACKS and the chance to win a quad bike. Insurance firm Jelf is pulling out the stops to encourage people to visit its stand at the forthcoming Royal Highland Show.

The firm, which provides horsebox and farm vehicle cover, has promised everyone who swings by its stand on June 20 to 23 a goody bag and the opportunity to take home a new Honda TRX420FM2 quad bike, said to be worth £8,000. Its appearance at the show comes as the firm continues to expand north of the Border a year after it acquired Clark Thomson in Scotland.

Beating heart

TOURISM is booming in many parts of Scotland. But some regions could do with a lift.

A new touring route, covering 200 miles around Perth, Stirling, The Trossachs and Highland Perthshire, has been designed to attract more tourists to an area which has seen a 17 per cent drop in visitor numbers since 2017, according to VisitScotland.

Heart 200 is supported by tourism leaders such as Stephen Leckie, chief executive of Crieff Hydro. He said: “An initiative which encourages more visitors to Perthshire, Stirlingshire, The Trossachs and Highland Perthshire can only be a good thing, particularly at the start of the busiest season of the year for tourism.

“We’re delighted that Heart 200 passes through Crieff.”

New masters

DUNDEE’S Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education is to offer three masters degree programmes in Islamic finance, starting in September.

Students will have the opportunity to gain MScs in Islamic finance, Islamic banking and finance, and Islamic banking, finance and international business, in collaboration with the University of Dundee.

Islamic Finance differs from conventional finance in that it is based on Islamic law – Shariah – that prohibits charging or receiving interest.

Dr Salah Alhammadi, assistant professor in Islamic economics and finance at the college, said: “The financial outcome of the two systems is the same, but the process is different.”