Scottish Business Briefing – Monday 8 July, 2013
ECONOMICS
Scots economy gets boost with private sector rise
Scotland’s economic recovery appears to be gaining traction thanks to a record rise in new work for private sector businesses. Hundreds of jobs are being created as business activity increases at its fastest pace in more than six years, according to a key report published today. However, economists have warned that export trade remains weak, while the troubles afflicting Scotland’s construction industry are laid bare in a separate survey released today (Scotsman).
Spend public money with small local firms, Scots councils urged
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Hide AdThe Scottish Government has been called on to set out plans to improve public sector spending by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Scotland. The move comes as a the FSB publish a report that reveals Scottish councils, on average, spend less of their budget with local firms than the UK. In Scotland the average figure is 27% compared with the UK-wide average of 31%, according to the study (Scotsman).
INDUSTRY
Profits tumble 38.3% at Caledonian Bottling
DIRECTORS of Ayrshire’s Caledonian Bottling, owned by the makers of Merry-down Cider, have claimed a “satisfactory” year after paying £2 million to its parent company despite a 38.3% fall in pre-tax profit to £1.2m for last year. The business, which employs 49 people at its site in Cumnock, saw turnover fall to £12.7 million for the year to December 29, 2012, from £16.3m the year before (Herald).
Clark wins work worth £6.5m plus
CLARK Contracts, the Paisley-based construction, refurbishment and maintenance firm, has secured a package of contracts worth more than £6.5 million. It will be paid £1.45m to refurbish an office at Strathclyde Passenger Transport’s Broomloan depot in Govan, Glasgow. Another deal is a £1m refurbishment and relocation contract from IBM (Herald).
SCOTSMAN CONFERENCE
The Future of the UK Aerospace Industry – 5 September 2013, Prestwick
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The UK Government signed up to a £2 billion partnership to keep the UK aerospace industry at the forefront of world aerospace manufacturing. Join us and hear the government explain its strategy to secure large numbers of high value jobs. Book your place today.
RETAIL
No teething problems for baby bib firm
Two enterprising mothers from Edinburgh have smashed sales targets for their innovative baby bib after securing deals with high street chains including department store John Lewis. Amy Livingstone, a business development manager at Hotel du Vin, and Scottish Enterprise tourism innovation manager Julie Wilson came up with the idea for the bib, with a built-in teether, while they were both on maternity leave (Scotsman).
Asda staff bag net £61m windfall
More than 19,000 Asda staff will share a cash windfall of £61.7 million today as a three-year Walmart share scheme matures. The record haul will mean the initiative run by the supermarket group’s American parent has delivered more than £650m for UK staff since it was launched in 1982. The scheme lets colleagues set aside £50 to £250 of their salary each month for a three-year period. (Scotsman)