Edinburgh firm unveils ‘green’ boilers scheme
A COMPANY offering energy- efficient boilers has offered its own alternative to the Green Deal – which is not yet available in Scotland.Firstcall of Edinburgh says it has more than 500 orders for its...
View ArticleFancy a good rant? Then log on
THE ongoing nightmare of the Edinburgh trams was one of the first topics to be discussed on a new website which invites the public to rant and rave about goods and services.Rant and Rave is an online...
View ArticleWhisky industry in plea to scrap excise duty escalator
Distillers say rising prices destroying a key industry, says Claire SmithMANUFACTURERS of Scotch whisky have called for levels of duty to be reconsidered in the forthcoming budget, saying the...
View ArticleClaire Smith: Bacon for 50p for well-fed MPs
WHERE in Central London can you buy scrambled eggs on toast for £1.10, a sausage sandwich for £1.50 and a rasher of bacon for just 50p?Why, nowhere – unless you happen to be a Member of Parliament.This...
View ArticleStudent’s website to find interns for small firms
SCOTLAND’S smaller engineering companies can start tapping into the expertise of hundreds of students seeking placements thanks to a website launched by a 22-year-old from Strathclyde University.Ross...
View ArticleInventor gives helping hand to babies
PREMATURE babies are to get a touch of help in their early development thanks to a device created by a Perthshire firm.The NeoTouch product, designed to help babies develop their grip and sense of...
View ArticleBill Jamieson: Instant fix no way to mend economy
OSBORNE, be radical! Our triple-A credit rating has been lost and a triple-dip recession still threatens. Deficit reduction targets have been missed. Debt continues to soar. And the economy is in dire...
View ArticleDirector Dealings: Volex chief shows faith in recovery
ELECTRICAL connector firm Volex recently said that although trading conditions were challenging, it was making good progress with a restructuring programme.The group’s sales and finance functions...
View ArticleTakeover talk puts Cairn in the spotlight
THE board of oil and gas explorer Cairn Energy will come under scrutiny by investors this week amid continued speculation that it is vulnerable to a bid from its former Indian subsidiary. The Indian...
View ArticleApex Hotels raises £28m from pension funds
APEX Hotels has raised £28 million from pensions funds to pay down its debt as it emerged that executive chairman Norman Springford plans to “step back” from the running of the family-owned business....
View ArticleTed Baker set for 17% hike in pre-tax profits
BRITISH fashion brand Ted Baker will reap the rewards of its recent expansion drive and growing online offering this week when it delivers a double-digit profit hike.The designer label, whose roots lie...
View ArticleOffices to be turned into flats under £50m scheme
PRIVATE equity firm Consensus Capital is launching a £50 million fund to convert offices into social housing.The Edinburgh-based investment firm, launched in 2010 by Mark Emlick, aims to work on 25...
View ArticleSainsbury’s rides out storm unscathed
SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury’s is expected to be riding high this week when its trading update confirms it as one of the few winners in the horse meat scandal.The group was the only one of the big four...
View ArticleBank of England may hint at further QE
MINUTES from the latest meeting of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee will shed light on its likely reaction to any change to its remit which the Chancellor may announce in this week’s...
View ArticleSBP Digital to make apps for NHS
A DIGITAL design agency based in Edinburgh has developed technology that could transform the way patients are treated by the NHS.SBP Digital is working with health boards across Scotland, which are...
View ArticleRobot falcons to rid Waverley of pigeon pests
THEY are as much a part of Edinburgh’s Waverley Station as the Victorian railings or the icy wind, but now a Scottish technology firm has been drafted in to tackle one of its perennial problems:...
View ArticleJeff Salway: Why bedroom tax is the last straw
CALL it what you like – “bedroom tax”, “under-occupancy charge”, “spare room subsidy cut” – but comparisons with the Poll Tax are not as outlandish as they seem.It won’t bring down the government and...
View ArticleJeff Salway: Lenders exploit payment system
THEY are fast becoming a key weapon in the payday lending armoury, making it easier for unscrupulous firms to exploit struggling borrowers.Continuous Payment Authorities (CPAs) are similar to direct...
View ArticleInvestors look to Barr for Britvic merger clues
AG BARR will come under the microscope this week as investors press the board over the status of its proposed tie-up with Britvic.Both companies have vowed to press on with the merger after the £1.4...
View ArticleChange Recruitment Group in talks to expand
CHANGE Recruitment Group is eyeing acquisition opportunities as it embarks on a new phase of growth.The head-hunting firm has held talks with three companies and is in discussions with a UK-oriented...
View Article