Scottish Business Briefing – Tuesday 25 June, 2013
ECONOMICS
Business calls for greater clarity on UK split
THE majority of Scottish businesses do not know enough about the prospect of independence to take a view on the subject, according to a comprehensive study of firms ahead of next year’s referendum. The poll of more than 800 companies across the country by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce found that, in six out of ten cases, business representatives did not know enough details of the consequences of a Yes vote to decide whether or not they were in favour of the nation becoming independent (Scotsman.
‘Cyber crime costs Scots businesses £160 a second’
CYBER crime costs Scottish businesses £5 billion per year –almost £160 every second – an economic security organisation has warned. The increasing use of unsecured wifi networks, online banking and cloud computing is leaving companies open to attack from cyber criminals, according to the head of the Scottish Business Resilience Centre (Scotsman).
ENERGY & UTILITIES
Opito plans major shake-up of energy-industry training
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Hide AdTraining body Opito said yesterday the North Sea oil and gas industry was facing the biggest shake-up of skills provision in its history. The organisation said it was to invest £1.2million a year in creating the UK’s first industry-wide offshore skills strategy and, as a first step, will carry out a far-reaching survey to find out exactly what the industry needs in terms of training (P&J).
FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE
Spring sales slump set to cost Devro £3m
Sausage skin maker Devro said that two months of poor sales combined with rising raw material costs will slice about £3 million from its profits in the current half. The Moodiesburn-based group had already warned investors that it faced a bad patch this spring, but it expects to turn around its fortunes in the second half when its factory expansion in the Czech Republic comes online (Scotsman).
INDUSTRY
Highland firm to build eco homes in flat-pack venture
A HIGHLAND building firm will import pre-fabricated eco-homes to Scotland from Germany after signing a deal with a manufacturer. Aviemore-based Allan Munro Construction (AMC) has struck a partnership with Rheinau-based flat-pack house maker WeberHaus to bring super-insulated family homes to the north of Scotland (Scotsman).
SCOTSMAN CONFERENCE
The Future of the UK Aerospace Industry – 5 September 2013, Prestwick
20% Early bird discount until 12 July
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.
TRANSPORT
Bus sale approval boosts FirstGroup
THE balance sheet of under-pressure transport company FirstGroup has been given a much-needed boost with the news that the sale of the bulk of its London bus business has received regulatory approval. The Aberdeen-based company announced in April it had agreed to sell eight London bus depots and their associated bus routes for £80 million (Herald).