The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is launching a project to gather practical insights into corporate culture and the role of boards and is asking for stakeholder feedback in a bid to identify and promote best practice across UK listed companies, following changes to the Corporate Governance Code

Accounting firm Wilkins Kennedy’s Winchester office is to merge with local firm FBR Accounting in a bid to grow its presence in the Solent region

East Midlands accounting firm Duncan & Toplis is to expand its Loughborough operation following a merger with local practice Marsh & Moss

Next week will see a call for a debate in the European parliament to tighten up legislation on equal pay provisions after assessments have shown that EU legislation in this area is still not being implemented effectively across the 28 member states

Restructuring and insolvency specialist Begbies Traynor Group has agreed to acquire a 140-year old insolvency practice, The P&A Partnership Ltd, which has gone into administration

The European Commission has published aCapital Markets Union (CMU) action plan which is intended to boost business funding and cut red tape by building a single market for capital across the 28 EU member states

In an acquisitive market, Cooper Parry Wealth signs joint venture with Creaseys, Deloitte ranked in top ten of best firms to obtain work experience, and FCA consults on required skillset for audit committees

French Duncan, the Scottish-based mid-tier accountancy firm, has rebranded its wealth management arm from French Duncan Financial Services Ltd to French Duncan Wealth Management to better reflect its style of practice and changes in the way that financial services are delivered