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Scottish Business Briefing - Thursday 17 January, 2013
Blockbuster has become the latest company to enter administration
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.
BANKING
Clydesdale tight-lipped on talk of parent NAB spinning off UK arm
National Australia Bank (NAB) could boost its market value by up to A$4.5 billion (£3bn) by spinning off its loss-making Clydesdale division as a separately-listed entity, analysts have claimed (Scotsman).
Read all today’s banking news from scotsman.com
ECONOMICS
Council could create own bank to aid jobs
HIGHLAND Council could consider setting up a bank to help struggling, recession-hit businesses. The idea emerged as the local authority revealed a five-year blueprint for economic recovery that includes creating 5,000 jobs and 1,250 new businesses (P&J).
Read all today’s economics news from scotsman.com
SCOTSMAN CONFERENCE
Reducing Energy Demand Towards 2020
The Scottish Government is committed to building a renewable energy industry that will meet challenging 2020 carbon emission targets. This Scotsman Conference, in association with Energy Action Scotland, will look at ways that householders, businesses and the public sector can reduce the amount of energy they use, saving money and to helping tackle climate change. It will consider the UK government’s Green Deal and will ask whether energy reduction is the key to tackling fuel poverty. (The Scotsman Conferences)
FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE
Tennent’s puts in ‘solid’ showing as higher prices offset sales drop
Higher pricing boosted revenues at Tennent’s during the nine months to the end of November, even though the amount of lager sold by Scotland’s best-selling brand continued to decline. Tennent’s, which is made at the company’s Wellpark Brewery in Glasgow, put in a “solid” performance – despite what continues to be a tough UK market, Irish owner C&C said yesterday (Scotsman).
Read all today’s food, drink and agriculture news from scotsman.com
RETAIL
300 jobs at risk in Scotland as Blockbuster enters administration
THOUSANDS of jobs are at risk after DVD rental firm Block-buster UK yesterday became the latest high street chain to go into administration. The company, which employs 4,190 staff, including more than 300 in Scotland, follows music retailer HMV, which called in administrators earlier this week (Scotsman\Scotsman).
Currys-owner Dixons reports strong Christmas sales
Dixons Retail, owner of Currys and PC World, has reported robust sales growth over the Christmas period. Ignoring the effect of store openings and closures, sales in the 12 weeks to 5 January were up 7% from last year (BBC).
Read all today’s retail news from scotsman.com
TECHNOLOGY
SEP powers up Smart Grid Solutions with £3m funds
Investment firm Scottish Equity Partners has led a £3 million funding round in Smarter Grid Solutions (SGS) to help the Glasgow-based company take its electricity network technology to Europe and North America. SGS has offices in Scotland and London and now plans to open a site in Scotsman)
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Weather for Edinburgh
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North east
