From old rivals to bosom buddies?

There are calls for Edinburgh and Glasgow to work more harmoniously in bringing financial services jobs to the country.

Research by the Edinburgh office of global real estate firm Cusham & Wakefield suggests the country's two leading cities have very different strengths. While Glasgow is seen as the city of choice for financial services companies looking to set up call centres and back office operations, Edinburgh is seen as offering a higher quality of life - and is consequently all the rage for higher-end fund management jobs.

Davidson says the two cities should bury the hatchet: "With competition for investment so fierce from other cities across the UK, maybe it is time that Glasgow and Edinburgh put aside old rivalries and work together to market the cities jointly."

Recruiters, however, say that there is already a large degree of co-operation between the two - and more generally throughout Scotland's financial services sector.

Richard Fletcher, a director at Fletcher Jones, told us: "All the HR directors have forums to discuss staffing and pay and they will identify if they are having difficulties in a particular area."

Fletcher says the shortcomings in cooperation are in terms of infrastructure. The proposed high speed rail link between Glasgow and Edinburgh would benefit financial services groups in both cities, for example.

"There are only a limited number of people who are re-locatable because of their families, that is why a fast train is so important."

And if the fast train ever leaves the platform? Then each city could find its labour market cross-pollinated with the others - and that in itself could pave the way to more co-operation.