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.
MEDIA & LEISURE
Goals to focus on tackling debt pile as it puts expansion plans on hold
Five-a-side football pitch operator Goals Soccer Centres has shelved plans to expand its estate this year as it concentrates on reducing its debt pile. The East Kilbride-based firm, which last year saw a £73.1 million takeover bid from Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan collapse despite the backing of management, currently runs 43 centres in the UK and one in Los Angeles.
({http://www.scotsman.com/business/media-and-leisure/goals-to-focus-on-tackling-debt-pile-as-it-puts-expansion-plans-on-hold-1-2728677|Scotsman|Scotsman})
STV awarded Glasgow and Edinburgh local TV licences
New local TV licences have been awarded to provide evening broadcasting for Edinburgh and Glasgow. Both of them are going to STV, which already runs the main Channel 3 service for most of Scotland. The new Freeview channels are to be known as ETV in Edinburgh and GTV in Glasgow.
({http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-20982811|BBC|BBC})
{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}
BANKING
Saracen aims for growth after strong performance
THE managers of Saracen Growth Fund (SGF) are aiming to increase its size significantly by bringing in more money from private client wealth managers after beating their benchmark index by a big margin last year. ({http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/company-news/saracen-aims-for-growth-after-strong-performance.19876415|Herald|Herald})
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/banking|Read all today’s banking news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s banking news from scotsman.com}
ECONOMICS
Profits collapse at Scotland’s 500 top firms
THE combined profits of Scotland’s 500 largest companies dropped dramatically last year as they felt the chill wind of recession, research published yesterday has shown. Total pre-tax profits tumbled by 16.9 per cent to £10 billion.
({http://www.scotsman.com/business/economics/profits-collapse-at-scotland-s-500-top-firms-1-2730905|Scotsman|Scotsman})
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/economics|Read all today’s economics news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s economics news from scotsman.com}
FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE
Premier Foods to close Glasgow flour mill
ALL 15 jobs at a Premier Foods flour mill are under threat after the group announced plans to close the site. The mill, in Dunaskin Street, Glasgow, mainly supplies flour to the Hovis bakery on Duke Street in the city. However, Premier Foods said it had too much capacity in its milling operations to justify keeping the west end site open.
({http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/company-news/premier-foods-to-close-glasgow-flour-mill.19879091|Herald|Herald})
{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}
TECHNOLOGY
Improved range helps bionics firm touch £10m in 2012 sales
THE launch of high tech artificial limbs helped Touch Bionics grow revenues by 17 per cent last year, passing the £10 million sales mark for the first time. The Livingston-based company, which was spun out of NHS Scotland in 2003, said its growth was driven by the an expansion of its product lines.
({http://www.scotsman.com/business/industry/improved-range-helps-bionics-firm-touch-10m-in-2012-sales-1-2730843|Scotsman|Scotsman})
{http://www.scotsman.com/business/technology|Read all today’s technology news from scotsman.com|Read all today’s technology news from scotsman.com}