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.
INDUSTRY
Scots builders’ fury at ‘shocking’ delays for planning approval
STRUGGLING housebuilders have launched a stinging criticism of the Scottish Government after new figures revealed shocking delays to planning decisions. The latest performance statistics showed that decisions on major housing applications are taking an average of nearly 77 weeks – more than a year longer than the government’s own 16 week statutory timescale ({http://www.scotsman.com/business/management/scots-builders-fury-at-shocking-delays-for-planning-approval-1-2615495|Scotsman|Scotsman})
Weir shares overcome oil and gas worries to soar
ENGINEERING group Weir was the FTSE 100’s biggest gainer yesterday after reassuring the City on this year’s expected profits despite a weak third quarter in the oil and gas sector. In its interim management statement, the Glasgow-headquartered group said full-year pretax profit was forecast to be between £440 million and £450m, slightly ahead of the current market consensus ({http://www.scotsman.com/business/industry/weir-shares-overcome-oil-and-gas-worries-to-soar-1-2614617|Scotsman|Scotsman}).
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/industry|Read all today’s industry news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s industry news from scotsman.com}
ENERGY & UTILITIES
Bright future beckons for oil and gas
THE future looks bright for the oil and gas sector but skills shortages are continuing to push wages up, according to a major industry report. Companies questioned for the latest Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce survey, covering the period between May and October this year, showed an increased level of optimism about prospects in the sector ({http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/markets-economy/bright-future-beckons-for-oil-and-gas.19340049|Scotsman|Scotsman})
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/energy-and-utilities|Read all today’s energy and utilities news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s energy and utilities news from scotsman.com}
MANAGEMENT
Croma secures two more deals as it builds on growth after acquisitions
Croma, the Dumfries security firm founded by former soldiers from the Black Watch, yesterday unveiled two contracts after saying its full-year revenue grew by 17 per cent to £9.9 million. The firm won a £250,000 contract with UK Land to guard commercial premises in the north-east of the UK ({http://www.scotsman.com/business/management/croma-secures-two-more-deals-as-it-builds-on-growth-after-acquisitions-1-2615485|Scotsman|Scotsman})
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/management|Read all today’s management news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s management news from scotsman.com}
e-BUSINESS
Royal Mail sorts out new centres on online boom
ROYAL Mail has announced it will open eight parcel handling centres across the UK in the run-up to Christmas to deal with a boom in the number of shoppers buying presents online. Two of the depots will be based north of the Border, one in Bathgate, the other at Eurocentral in Lanarkshire, creating 500 temporary jobs ({http://www.scotsman.com/business/management/royal-mail-sorts-out-new-centres-on-online-boom-1-2615478|Scotsman|Scotsman}).
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/e-business|Read all today’s e-business news from scotsman.com| Read all today’s e-business news from scotsman.com}
RETAIL
Marks and Spencer reports 9.7% fall in profits
Marks and Spencer, the UK’s biggest clothing retailer, has posted pre-tax profits of £290m for the six months to the end of September, down 9.7% from the same period last year. Group sales were up 0.9% to £4.7bn, with much of the growth coming from the food side of the business ({http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20217053|BBC|BBC}).
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/retail| Read all today’s retail news from scotsman.com |Read all today’s retail news from scotsman.com}