Scottish Business Briefing - Thursday 16 August, 2012

Published on 16/08/2012 09:15

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.

ECONOMICS

Workers forced to go part-time at a new high

RECORD numbers of workers are being forced to accept part-time jobs because they cannot find full-time ones, figures published yesterday show. The figures revealed a 7,000 rise in the number of Scots who are being forced to take jobs where they work fewer hours.

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ENERGY & UTILITIES

Foreign focus on North Sea ‘good for UK firms’

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said yesterday that foreign investment in the North Sea would help UK oil and gas service firms to export their expertise. He said north-east energy service companies had to increasingly market their skills overseas to extend the life of the industry in the region.

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INDUSTRY

200 jobs at risk as Dawson International goes into administration

Troubled cashmere maker Dawson International has gone into administration, putting the jobs of its 200 staff in doubt. The Hawick-based firm had been struggling under its pensions burden and its shares were suspended last week after it warned it could go bust if it didn’t find a way to handle its liabilities.

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RMJM chairman Sir Fraser Morrison takes on firm’s £20m debt

RMJM Group chairman Sir Fraser Morrison has stepped in to take the architectural practice’s debt of more than £20 million off its bank’s hands. The disclosure was made in annual accounts newly filed at Companies House, but which cover the year to 30 April 2011.

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TECHNOLOGY

Thales Optronics sees profits jump to £24m

THALES Optronics Limited, which employs hundreds of people at its Glasgow head- quarters and supplies the defence sector, enjoyed a hike in pre-tax profits to £24.4 million last year from £14m in 2010 as revenues increased.

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TRANSPORT

FirstGroup shares hit the buffers with City lukewarm over bid victory

SHARES in FirstGroup headed into reverse yesterday, with analysts split over the benefits of it snatching the West Coast mainline route from a joint venture involving listed rival Stagecoach.

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Read all today’s transport news from scotsman.com