Business in brief: Marks Sattin | BioQuarter | Boots | Telford College

THE tough economic environment has proved lucrative for accountants specialising in insolvency and restructuring, with 75 per cent enjoying a rise in pay last year.

Accountancy recruitment firm Marks Sattin said annual salaries for accountants with insolvency experience are rising by as much as 17.5 per cent.

Bonuses in the sector have reached an average of 15 per cent, pushing the average insolvency and restructuring salary to more than £63,100.

New partnership for city’s BioQuarter

Edinburgh BioQuarter has negotiated a partnership between University of Edinburgh academics and a Belgian biotech company focused on developing innovative medicines.

The partnership with Galapagos will initially run for two years, with plans to develop a longer-term collaboration.

Equity firm looks over Everything

The owner of Boots and Pets at Home is in early-stage talks over a possible £8 billion takeover of Orange and T-Mobile group Everything Everywhere.

Private equity house KKR is said to be holding detailed discussions with Everything’s parent companies in the hope of winning approval for its debt-backed bid.

Everything said: “We have a clearly articulated, five-year plan for growth under the ownership of our shareholders France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom, and we are delivering on that plan.

“We would not comment on any possible future shareholder structure of our business.”

College aiming to help ‘micro firms’

Telford College in Edinburgh is launching a “micro business centre” to help get small companies up and running.

The facility, due to open by the end of this month, will provide office space and equipment for firms with fewer than ten staff. Advisers from Business Gateway will also be on hand to offer extra support.