Tom Ham runs an advice business, Calton Wealth Management, in Edinburgh, and is by his own admission “a comprehensive school boy from a mining village in England”.
He says that he does not feel this has hurt the growth of his business, particularly as he is married into a family of established Scottish people, but says his time in the territorial army, and the regimental tie this provides has helped him.
Reid adds that: “People in Edinburgh do like to deal with other people in Edinburgh, and I suppose that feeds into the way that Edinburgh is a village.”
Polson attended a fee-paying school in England and, consequently, says: “I don’t feel part of that Edinburgh establishment, but I do think it exists, albeit it's probably weaker or less insular than may have been the case in the past.”
Ham adds that the affluent nature of Edinburgh as a place has helped his business to grow, and says that many clients not based in the city “like the idea of having an adviser in Edinburgh. Edinburgh people have a reputation for prudence, and that appeals to people.”
Mark Murray is managing partner at Artemis, a fund management business that was founded in Edinburgh in 1997, and retains an office there and in the west end of London.
He says the financial services sector in Edinburgh is “undoubtedly” smaller than was the case in the past, but that one of the things that has contributed to its growth over the years has been what he views as the enhanced quality of life in Edinburgh relative to other financial centres.
Stuart Johnson is a chartered financial planner at McHardy Wealth, a firm with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and, where he is based, in the Scottish borders.
He says: “The old school tie element is still present in Edinburgh and Glasgow, but less so in Aberdeen and other parts of the country.”
Edinburgh may have a smaller financial services sector than before, but it seems to remain a financial services centre where a rich heritage, global impact and village feel combine.
David Thorpe is senior investment editor at FT Adviser
