Business briefs: APR unfazed by Aggreko’s South America move | Gael

APR Energy, the temporary power supplier set up by financier Hugh Osmond to rival Glasgow-based Aggreko, has brushed off its larger rival’s expansion in the South American market.

Last month, Aggreko unveiled a £160 million deal to buy South American peer Poit Energia as the FTSE 100 firm continues to push into emerging markets.

But APR chief executive John Campion yesterday told The Scotsman that the takeover wouldn’t put the firms in direct competition, because APR focuses on temporary power stations in South America, while Poit rents out generators.

Campion said APR would be focusing its expansion on markets including Indonesia and Malaysia in the year ahead.

Jobs boost as Gael wins big contract

THE software firm chaired by former enterprise minister Jim Mather yesterday won a six-figure contract from a North Sea helicopter operator, which industry sources identified as Bristow.

East Kilbride-based Gael, which already employs more than 100 staff, expects to hire a further 15 workers as a result of the deal to supply risk management systems. Gael was launched in 1992 and now turns over £8 million a year.