Scottish Business Briefing - Thursday 29 March, 2012
ECONOMICS
Scottish Enterprise launches ‘ambitious plan’ to drive growth
SCOTTISH Enterprise chief executive Lena Wilson was today expected to unveil “the most ambitious business plan we have put forward” as she announces a programme to increase the number of growth firms SE supports by a fifth over the next three years (Scotsman).
Investing in R&D ‘vital for growth’
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Hide AdFerdinand von Prondzynski, the head of Robert Gordon University, has urged the Scottish Government to invest more in research and development (R&D). He was speaking after it was revealed R&D investment in Scotland had fallen across business, higher education and government (P&J).
Business remains cautious despite rising optimism
SCOTTISH business are among the most confident in the UK, with 64 per cent planning to create jobs over the next 12 months, a survey by Barclays has suggested (Scotsman).
ENERGY & UTILITIES
Bulgarian success helps drive Melrose Resources into the black
OIL and gas explorer Melrose Resources swung into profit last year, thanks to strong production from its Bulgarian wells
(Scotsman).
Falling coal prices dent ATH Resources
SHARES in coal miner ATH Resources plunged 25 per cent in early trading after the firm – which has all four of its sites in Scotland – warned falling coal prices, rising diesel costs and the milder winter mean its full-year financial performance will miss City expectations (Scotsman)
RETAIL
Clinton Cards says outlook worse than expected
Clinton Cards has warned that the outlook for its full-year results is worse than it had previously expected (BBC).