The 16,000-strong Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland will launch a UK-wide students' society in November to be known as ‘Capella’.

The decision was taken to reflect the fact that most of those training for the CA qualification are now based south of the border.

‘We have run a student society but this was very much focused on Scotland where, until recently, the bulk of CA trainees were working,’ said Anne Farquharson, ICAS's marketing director.

She said the UK-wide society had come about as a result of the change in student demographics and because the institute felt it had the numbers and the facilities to support such a body.

Capella will organise both professional and social activities and be the mouthpiece for student issues and will be primarily run by students.