Iomart launches email innovation

In collaboration with US multinational, Sendmail, Iomart is attempting to develop what it sees as the yet unexploited market for secure outsourced email.

Targeting SMEs as well as the legal, accountancy, utility, government and public sectors, Iomart’s email platform, ThinkMail is designed for use by companies whose email traffic contains sensitive or confidential information.

Iomart’s director of ASP Services, Daniel Smith says: "Managing email is a speciality in itself, there are very few businesses around that have the personnel and hardware to dedicate to optimising their email system’s effectiveness.

"For the vast majority of businesses, the email experience can be characterised as a costly and time-consuming headache everyone could well do without. A much simpler and cheaper option is to outsource email."

Highlands and Islands Business Group

A GROUP of Highland businesses, representing 1,500 jobs in the Lochaber area, have called for action to reverse a five year downward trend in tourists to the region.

Yesterday, the Highlands and Islands Business Group criticised Wendy Alexander, minister for enterprise and lifelong learning, for her lack of response to the group’s first request for action.

The group is now calling on the Scottish executive immediately to inject substantial sums of money into the Scottish Tourist Board for the marketing of the Highlands and Islands for the 2001 season.

Group spokesman Alan Kirk says only by reinstating the 2.2 million of marketing funding removed from the Highlands in 1996 can a start be made to reversing the trend. The group claims that was when the downturn in tourists started.

Tourism in the Highlands and Islands employs 20,000 people and represents 15 per cent of total employment.

IndigoVision

INDIGOVISION returns 882% for Aberdeen Development

The successful listing last year of IndigoVision gave a big boost to the performance of Aberdeen Development Capital in the six month period ending 30 November.

For an initial investment of 500,000 made in IndigoVision in November 1999, ADC received 3.7 million from the sale of shares, and still holds 349,787 shares worth 1.81 million. This has produced an internal rate of return over one year of 882 per cent and contributed some 12p to the growth in net asset value per share. ADC’s report shows that it has recently taken a stake in Edinburgh internet firm Lastorders.com. Profits also came from selling shares in Macrae Holdings, the Peterhead seafoods processing business. ADC says the big disappointment was the appointment of receivers to Dundee textile finishers Halley Stevensons.

Famous Grouse

THE Famous Grouse scotch whisky once again asserted its authority over the year-end festive selling season. The brand remained Scotland’s favourite blended whisky and further stretched its lead over all other premium blended whiskies.

During the crucial November-December selling period, The Famous Grouse recorded its highest ever share of consumer purchases of bottles in the key major multiple grocery sector of Scotland’s blended whisky market. More than twice as many Scottish consumers drink The Famous grouse than any other blended whisky. But it’s not just in Scotland that the Grouse is spreading its wings.

Ian Greig, global controller for The Famous Grouse said:

"We've just had a US TV crew here interviewing us about the fact The Famous Grouse is former President Bush’s favourite whisky."

Christian Salvesen

LEADING logistics operator Christian Salvesen has launched an internet service aimed at Scottish firms with freight to move. The service, moveyourpallet.com, is the first time a major supply chain company has offered non- account holders an online booking, payment and tracking service for the next-day palletised industrial freight.

Edward Roderick, chief executive said: "By logging on , they can access our unique track-and-trace system, SHARPnet. Thanks to our advanced computer network and the addition later this year of satellite positioning technology, this will enable them to monitor the progress of consignments at any point during the collection and delivery process."