Scottish Business Briefing - Monday 25 March, 2013

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

Lloyds to reveal £1m payments for over 20 staff

LLOYDS Banking Group is expected to reveal this week that more than 20 of its staff were paid £1 million or more last year. The figure, to be disclosed in the lender’s annual report, is likely to reignite the controversy over bankers’ pay and comes just weeks after rival Royal Bank of Scotland revealed that it paid more than £1m to 95 employees.

ECONOMICS

Small businesses lobby to lift Nest restrictions

Small businesses will struggle to enrol employees into a pension scheme unless restrictions on the Government’s default National Employment Savings Trust (Nest) pension scheme are lifted, the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland has said. (Herald)

INDUSTRY

Late payments put Scots building businesses at risk

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HUNDREDS of Scottish construction firms are being put at risk by the “epidemic” of late invoice payments, a report published today suggests. In the last year, four out of five businesses have had problems with late payments. The average amount a company is owed is £90,000, according to the Scottish Building Federation (SBF). (Scotsman)

TRANSPORT

Stagecoach sees organic growth as route ahead

TRANSPORT group Stagecoach is likely to favour organic growth over major acquisitions for the foreseeable future, its chief executive-designate has revealed. Martin Griffiths, who moves up from the finance director role at the Perth-based firm on 1 May, told The Scotsman that existing strong trading by the group and a lack of obvious sizeable acquisition targets meant the group was right to plough its organic furrow. (Scotsman)

MEDIA & LEISURE

SCOTSMAN CONFERENCE

The Future of the Media in Scotland – 9 April, Edinburgh

Join delegates from across the marketing, communication and advertising industry at this unmissable event. Top speakers will debate the Leveson fall out and tackle the big issues facing Scotland’s media in the 21st Century. Book your place today! (The Scotsman Conferences)

RETAIL

‘Time to revitalise our high streets’

A GLASGOW-based chartered surveyor has called for action to breathe life into Scottish high streets left trailing in the wake of high-profile retail developments. Alan Gordon, a partner at DM Hall, was speaking ahead of last week’s launch of 185-221 Buchanan Street, Glasgow’s latest shopping destination. (Herald)

TECHNOLOGY

Holoxica targets £1m funding for hologram venture

HOLOXICA, a spin-out company from Edinburgh University that is due to feature on tonight’s episode of The Gadget Show on Channel 5, has unveiled plans to raise £1 million to bring its next generation of holograms to ­market. (Scotsman)