Business news in brief 04/04/2012

Dundas & Wilson to shed 28 posts

Scottish law firm Dundas & Wilson has confirmed that 28 jobs will be lost following a review of the business. It is understood that the majority will be in Scotland.

The Scotsman revealed in February that about 30 posts were under threat and earlier this month that managing partner Donald Shaw would be stepping down.

Pending an election, his role will be shared by Caryn Penley and Allan Wernham.

Eason switches to Harper Macleod

HIGHLAND lawyer David Eason has joined the Inverness office of Glasgow-based Harper Macleod from Munro & Noble.

Tony Cameron, a banking law specialist, has been assumed as a partner, while seven of the firm’s solicitors have been promoted to associate status.

Earlier this year, Harper Macleod’s chairman, Lorne Crerar, was appointed as chairman of Highlands & Islands Enterprise.

Employers angered by staff twittering

An INCREASING number of employers are getting fed up by the amount of time their employees are spending on Twitter, according to a study.

The research, carried out by website DealJungle.com, found that some 47 per cent of business owners were “somewhat concerned” by the length of time staff spent reading their Twitter feed. A further 15 per cent identified themselves as “very concerned”.

Semco Maritime snaps up Capelrig

Aberdeen-based engineering company Capelrig has changed hands in a “multi-million pound” deal, it was announced yesterday.

Buyer Semco Maritime said the move strengthened its market position for rig projects in the North Sea. The group would be able to handle even larger projects in the UK, with “good opportunities for further growth” within the wind, oil and gas sectors, it added.

Wincanton takes a hit from retail woes

The squeeze on high street spending is set to inflict further pain on parts of haulage firm Wincanton in the coming year, it warned yesterday.

The group, which includes Sainsbury’s, Tesco and WH Smith among its customers, said conditions in the retail and consumer goods sectors would remain challenging. Analysts cut their forecasts for the year ahead after Wincanton warned some of its businesses would be hit.