More than 300 people will gather this weekend (Friday 22 June) for a spectacular occasion which is the culmination of another year of success, growth and transformation at DM Hall, one of Scotland’s leading firms of Chartered Surveyors.

Partners and staff of the Scotland-wide firm will join solicitors, agents, bankers and communications specialists for the black tie DM Hall Summer Ball at the most glamorous hotel in Edinburgh, Prestonfield House.

The night of opulence and grandeur will also have a strong charitable purpose. It is expected to raise thousands of pounds for DM Hall’s chosen beneficiaries, Alzheimer’s Scotland and Macmillan Cancer Support.

And there will be ferocious competition for the gloriously indulgent auction prizes – a £4500 diamond, a week on a 7000-acre shooting estate which sleeps 16 and a Country House weekend for 12 in Boat of Garten.

However, John Albiston, Senior Partner at DM Hall, will be bidding for one particular prize. He said: “The one I really want to win is the dinner for two people with Ian Rankin, who is my favourite author.

“The internationally famous Rebus author has very generously agreed to take the two prize winners to the Ox for a pint before dinner.”

The Summer Ball is the highlight of DM Hall’s corporate social responsibility calendar, which also sees charitable initiatives throughout the year as well as comedy nights in Scotland’s cities which not only attract established stars such as Fred MacAulay but also support aspiring young artists.

It also marks a remarkable year of investment in the firm’s people, new partnerships, and significant office moves, including the flagship Glasgow North Office from Newton Place to prestige offices at 220 St Vincent Street in the heart of the business district.

Office moves have also taken place at Falkirk, Galashiels and Stirling. Cumbernauld is about to relocate and the firm’s Aberdeen office is now going to move to newly refurbished premises in the city centre.

The firm has created six new partners: Graham Forbes in Inverness, Donald Yellowley at Bridge of Allan, Ross Wilson at the Commercial Agency in Edinburgh, Richard Clowes in Galashiels and Michael MacDonald in Elgin.

Stuart Johnston has also returned to the firm in Aberdeen and a number of Associates and Directors have also been appointed.

John Albiston said: “The new appointments are part of our policy of keeping the stream of new talent coming through the firm. The partnerships and Associate appointments also create space for ambitious graduates to join the firm.

“We hope to train and keep our new talent as they bring fresh energy and enthusiasm to the profession as a whole. They are very much the future of our discipline.

“The firm is also expanding its talent pool by looking at mature graduates who may have related degrees and who can, with the proper guidance, become RICS associates within two years.”

DM Hall, which was established in 1897, has 26 offices throughout Scotland and more than 230 members of staff.

John Albiston is Senior Partner of DM Hall Chartered Surveyors and Partner in the firm’s Inverness office.