WELCOME to scotsman.com’s Scottish Business Briefing. Every morning we bring you a comprehensive round-up of all news affecting business in Scotland today.
TRANSPORT
Global pioneers join race to win £100,000 Green Transport Prize
A £100,000 prize for pioneering transport ideas launched in Scotland just a few weeks ago has already attracted global interest. Among the early entries for the Green Transport Prize, a collaboration between Edinburgh College, St Andrews University and Edinburgh Napier University, is a project based in Auckland, New Zealand ({http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/global-pioneers-join-race-to-win-100-000-green-transport-prize-1-2614189|Scotsman|Scotsman})
Ryanair profits jump on traffic and fare rises
Low-frills airline Ryanair has reported a rise in profits thanks to an increase in both passenger numbers and fares. Net profit for the six months to the end of September was 596m euros ($765m; £477m), up 10% on the 544m euros the company made a year earlier ({http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20202579|BBC|BBC}).
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/transport|Read all today’s transport news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s transport news from scotsman.com}
BANKING
Scots economy ‘faces impact’ of Clydesdale move
CLYDESDALE Bank’s withdrawal from commercial property lending will have a significant impact on the Scottish economy, a new action group has claimed. The bank last month offloaded £5.6 billion of loans to parent National Australia Bank (NAB) and businesses in Scotland are already being told that as soon as their loans mature, they will not be renewed ({http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/company-news/scots-economy-faces-impact-of-clydesdale-move.19318907|Scotsman|Scotsman}).
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/banking|Read all today’s banking news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s banking news from scotsman.com}
FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE
Bankier ‘sets rent record’ with new shop on Piccadilly
CELTIC chairman Ian Bankier has reportedly agreed to open a shop opposite the Ritz hotel on London’s glamorous Piccadilly, setting a new rent record for the street. Bnkier, who is executive chairman and part owner of parent company Glenkeir Whiskies, already has 20 stores spread through out the UK, from Inverness down to Brighton ({http://www.scotsman.com/business/management/ian-bankier-sets-rent-record-with-new-shop-on-piccadilly-1-2614151|Scotsman|Scotsman}).
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/food-drink-and-agriculture|Read all today’s food, drink and agriculture news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s food, drink and agriculture news from scotsman.com}
MEDIA & LEISURE
North Sea boom helps Aberdeen to weather storm in hotels sector
THE boom in North Sea activity has helped Aberdeen’s hotel sector outperform other cities that have been more exposed to the tough economic conditions facing much of the UK. PwC found Aberdeen’s hotels enjoyed strong annual increases on revenue per available room and occupancy rates in the year to August, when the market in Glasgow and Edinburgh were mixed ({http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/markets-economy/north-sea-boom-helps-aberdeen-to-weather-storm-in-hotels-sector.19333401|Herald|Herald}).
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/media-and-leisure|Read all today’s media and leisure news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s media and leisure news from scotsman.com}
RETAIL
Comet investors ‘will get £60m’ despite collapse
THE backers of Comet could emerge from the electrical retailer’s collapse with up to £60 million, while 6,600 staff jobs remain at risk, it has been claimed. Idustry sources say OpCapita, the investor turnaround group that bought the distressed Comet for just £2 in February, is said to be in line to get the bulk of any proceeds raised through the company’s liquidation following its plunge into administration on Friday ({http://www.scotsman.com/business/comet-investors-will-get-60m-despite-collapse-1-2614150|Scotsman|Scotsman}).
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/retail|Read all today’s retail news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s retail news from scotsman.com}