Virgin says passengers will be the winners as it grabs Scottish routes
SIR Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic airline will go head-to-head with British Airways next year when it begins flying passengers between two Scottish cities and London Heathrow. Virgin today said it...
View ArticleState-backed bank idea for RBS branches
The UK government is eyeing possible plans to turn 316 branches owned by Royal Bank of Scotland into a state-backed business lender.The move is seen as an option if no buyer can be found for the...
View ArticleFewer shops lying empty in Scotland, but squeeze on consumers continues
The proportion of shops lying empty across Scotland has fallen over the past three months, but the continued squeeze on household incomes has also seen a drop in the number of shoppers venturing onto...
View ArticleMajestic shrugs off damp summer as profits rise 3.9%
Majestic Wine today reported a 3.9 per cent increase in first-half profits, despite sales taking a hit from unseasonable weather during the summer.The group, which operates from 189 stores, posted a...
View ArticleArran Brewery gets a taste for an ancient Scots drink
AN ANCIENT Scottish drink called blaand, made from a by-product of the cheese-making process, is set for a new lease of life after Arran Brewery bought the rights to the Fallachan brand.Fallachan –...
View ArticleMitie remains positive as profits fall 12.9%
Outsourcing firm Mitie today said it remained positive about its prospects as it unveiled a decline in first-half profits.The group, which employs some 8,000 full- and part-time staff in Scotland out...
View ArticleScottish Business Briefing - Monday, November 19
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. BANKINGState-backed bank idea for RBS...
View ArticleAggreko secures $75m Ivory Coast contract
Temporary power specialist Aggreko has won a $75 million (£47.2m) contract to double its capacity in the west African country of Ivory Coast.The Glasgow-based firm said the two-year deal, from the...
View ArticleBetter Capital eyes restructuring at ATH Resources
Troubled coal miner ATH Resources today said that a fund controlled by turnaround specialist Better Capital had acquired some of its banking facilities. The Doncaster-based firm employs more than 300...
View ArticleEasyJet divi taking off after business flying surge
BUDGET airline EasyJet plans to double its dividend after its profits received a boost from an increase in demand from cost-conscious business travellers.The news was welcomed by founder Sir Stelios...
View ArticleBullish markets continue on the up
The London market shrugged off Moody’s downgrade of French sovereign debt yesterday to consolidate Monday’s gains.The FTSE 100 Index closed 10.4 points higher at 5,748.1 as traders exercised caution...
View ArticleHovis owner to cut 900 jobs
THE owner of Hovis yesterday unveiled plans to close two bakeries and cut 900 jobs to compensate for the loss of a £75 million-a-year contract.Premier Foods, which also makes Mr Kipling cakes and Bisto...
View ArticleInflation ‘will stay above 2% target for two years’
inflation will remain above the Bank of England’s target rate for much of the next two years as squeezed workers start to demand wage rises, a monetary policy committee (MPC) member predicts.Martin...
View ArticleWilson has a confidence rebuilding job to do
THE appointment of Mark Wilson as chief executive of Aviva plugs an embarrassing gap for Britain’s biggest insurer which has been searching for the right candidate since parting company with Andrew...
View ArticleHewlett-Packard accuses Autonomy of lying over £7.1 billion sale
Computer giant Hewlett-Packard has accused a British software company it bought for £7.1 billion last year of lying about the state of its finances, resulting in a massive write-down in the value of...
View ArticleXstrata merger approved – but pay plan rejected
A MEGA-merger to create a new trading and mining powerhouse was approved by Xstrata shareholders yesterday, but with a controversial “golden handcuffs” executive pay plan thrown out.A total of 79 per...
View ArticlePotato market in ‘turmoil’ claim angry growers
After one of the most difficult growing and harvesting years in recent history, the potato market in the UK is in turmoil and yesterday, East Lothian grower Allan Stevenson – who chairs the Potato...
View ArticleAviva looks to former AIA boss Wilson to get it back on track
AVIVA, the insurer struck by a shareholder rebellion last spring, has named Mark Wilson, former head of Asian rival AIA Group, as its new chief executive on a potential pay package of up to £5.4...
View ArticleScottish Business Briefing - Wednesday 21 November
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. INSURANCEAviva looks to former AIA boss...
View ArticleStandard Life to cut 139 jobs as it prepares for industry shake-up
Life and pensions giant Standard Life today said it was cutting 139 jobs as part of a restructuring at its UK business to prepare it for forthcoming regulatory changes.The group said the bulk of the...
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