Business trips and conferences keep Scottish hotels ahead of UK
Scotland’s hotels enjoyed higher revenues and occupancy rates than the rest of the UK during November, but those dependent on the leisure market were less successful than business venues. Average...
View ArticleHarris whisky firm secures £1.9m backing
The Scottish Government is providing £1.9 million in backing to support the launch of a whisky distillery on Harris.The Isle of Harris Distillery, which is to be built at Tarbert, is one of five...
View ArticleTycoon Jim McColl aims to expand after acquiring Parsons Peebles
HISTORIC engineering firm Parsons Peebles Generation will be restored to its former glory with investment of up to £50 million after being bought by Jim McColl.The Scottish tycoon’s Clyde Blowers...
View ArticleBusinesses reluctant to borrow as lending falls by £4 billion
BUSINESSES remain reluctant to borrow, despite fresh signs that the availability of credit is improving following the launch of the £80 billion Funding for Lending scheme.Figures yesterday showed that...
View ArticleBig energy firms a turn-off for consumers
SOME of the UK’s biggest energy companies have been rated the worst for customer satisfaction.The Which? poll, coming as a spate of energy price rises hit consumers, put smaller firms at the top of the...
View ArticleInsurers drive FTSE to four-year high
A BROKER upgrade helped insurance giant Admiral drive London’s top shares to new four-year highs yesterday.With Goldman Sachs hiking its target price from 1,160p to 1,500p and changing its...
View ArticleMEP says CAP reform ‘on the cards’ by June
AGREEMENT on the Common Agricultural Policy reform package could still be on the cards by the end of June this year according to a Scottish MEP.Speaking in advance of this week’s vote on the...
View ArticleScots universities support venture fund for spin-outs
THREE Scottish universities are investing £6 million in a new venture capital fund to back spin-outs in the life sciences sector. Rock Spring Ventures is understood to have raised £26m towards a £50m...
View ArticleFormer M&S boss Rose takes the helm at Ocado
Retail veteran Sir Stuart Rose is to become chairman of online grocer Ocado in his most high-profile appointment since stepping down from the helm of Marks & Spencer.The group said Rose will take...
View ArticleRevenues up 17% as SABMiller reports 2% rise in lager volumes
Brewing giant SABMiller, owner of the Grolsch and Miller Genuine Draft brands, today said overall revenues for the third quarter were 17 per cent higher than a year ago, with lager volumes up 2 per...
View ArticleCairn to spend up to $300m a year on exploration
Oil and gas firm Cairn Energy plans to spend an average of $250 million (£158m) to $300m a year on exploration and appraisal work over the next five years.The group also said today that it expects to...
View ArticleOptos eyes strong start to the year for scanner sales
Eye scanner firm Optos today said it had won 274 new customers during the first quarter of the year, although revenues dipped 4 per cent amid tough economic conditions across Europe.The...
View ArticleScottish Business Briefing - Tuesday 22 January, 2013
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. BANKINGNew bank to benefit from FSA’s U-turn...
View ArticleWood Group PSN boss aims to grab slice of the global shale gas market
THE new head of Wood Group’s largest division has unveiled his plans to push the Aberdeen-based energy services giant into the controversial shale gas, oil sands and coal seam gas markets.Robin Watson,...
View ArticleMarston’s sales snowed under
Pub operator Marston’s, which recently unveiled plans to move into Scotland, has blamed the recent spell of snowy weather for a slowdown in sales growth after enjoying encouraging trading over the...
View ArticleOne in three builders say workers face axe this year
ONE in three small to medium-sized builders may be forced to axe more staff this year, according to a study that predicts a “bleak” outlook for the industry.The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) said...
View ArticleTravelodge targets Stirling with its latest budget hotel
TRAVELODGE has sealed a deal to build a 60-room hotel in Stirling as part of a larger city centre development that will include restaurant, shops and student accommodation.The budget chain, which...
View ArticleBig surplus of malting barley brewing up for harvest time
ALTHOUGH there is not yet a pea of spring barley in the ground, two leading cereal experts predicted there would be a surplus of malting barley produced in Scotland this year. The only difference...
View ArticleBusiness briefs: MacSween | Santander | DC Thomson | Dignity
IOMART chief executive Angus MacSween has sold more than £286,000 worth of shares in the Glasgow-based IT company.The cloud computing specialist said MacSween exercised options over 127,388 shares at...
View ArticleSir Mervyn King marks successor Carney’s card on keeping inflation targets
OUTGOING Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King sent a warning shot across the bows of his successor last night with a robust case for keeping an inflation target as a bedrock of economic...
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