Seasonal Stocktake: Blair Nimmo, head of restructuring for KPMG in Scotland

1. How confident are you about the year ahead?

It is difficult to be especially confident about the year ahead with a shaky economy and impending tax increases and spending cuts. There is uncertainty throughout the global economy which is obviously not an ideal climate for businesses to operate in.

2. Do you think the economy is out of the woods?

Out of the woods? I don't think that anyone believes the economy is out of the woods and I would tend to agree with most commentators who anticipate a slow and bumpy recovery over the next two to five years.

3. What challenges will 2011 hold for your business?

As business advisers, the huge amount of change that has taken place in the economic, business and political environment in which we and our clients operate, creates great opportunity for us to help our clients successfully navigate through the changing environment.

4. What would help you overcome those challenges?

We have many very bright, resilient and imaginative people within our organisation whose job it is to understand the complex business environment in which we operate and to use this knowledge to benefit our clients hopefully by finding simple solutions to complex problems. From a political perspective, the sooner we have clarity over economic policy including specifics on all spending cuts, the sooner we and our clients will be able to plan with some degree of certainty.

5. Was 2010 better or worse than you expected?

This year was undoubtedly better than we had expected both for KPMG and our clients. Insolvency levels are relatively low compared to that anticipated and the vast majority of our clients have performed pretty well. Most have and continue to focus on the fundamentals of greater cost efficiency, managing cash flow and supply chains and embedding risk into strategic planning.

6. If you could introduce or change one government policy to help your business, what would it be?

Government policy - stop tinkering with insolvency legislation as a pretence for promoting entrepreneurial behaviour - what we need is good business "education" not "legislation".

7. Where would you like your business to be by the end of 2011?

Any kind of top and bottom line growth would be good for 2011.

8. What's the one item or gadget you're going to buy in 2011?

A mountain bike in preparation for a 400km cycle across Scotland in May - it's only for experienced cyclists and I don't even have a bike at present!

9. What's your new year's resolution?

Get fit and eat healthier - probably no different from the past ten years!

10. Will Andy Murray win Wimbledon?

No he will win the US Open.