Scottish Business Briefing - Tuesday 10 January, 2012
ENERGY & UTILITIES
£95m deal sees Scottish & Southern Energy green tech assets move to new fund
SCOTTISH & Southern Energy (SSE) yesterday struck a deal with Scottish Equity Partners (SEP) that will see a new £95 million fund acquire the utility’s stakes in nine green technology companies (Scotsman).
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700 staff at engineering firm face axe
FEARS are mounting for more than 700 jobs amid claims a major Scots engineering firm is poised to enter administration. Staff at WJ Harte, which carries out work for major housebuilders, have been told an administrator is to be appointed imminently, with the banks blamed for failing to extend its credit facility (Herald).
MEDIA & LEISURE
Stay at homes fuel Travelodge hotels’ £246m expansion
BUDGET hotel chain Travelodge is to open three new hotels in Scotland within the next year, as well as identifying a further 13 target sites (Scotsman).
Anytime wins race for Google gym deal
A Scottish fitness equipment supplier has won the contract to supply and fit out the gym at Google’s London headquarters. Anytime Leisure secured the six-figure deal after a competitive tender process and will begin the job this month (Herald).
RETAIL
Marks and Spencer Christmas sales boosted by food
Marks and Spencer has reported a modest rise in UK sales over the Christmas period, thanks in part to stronger demand for its food. Like-for-like sales for the final 13 weeks of 2011 were up 0.5% on a year earlier. Food sales were up 3% (BBC).
Morrisons’ festive sales disappoint as it is linked to Best Buy move
SUPERMARKET major Morrisons jolted the market by unveiling much slower Christmas sales than expected yesterday, as the group stonewalled speculation it will swoop for the “big box” stores being vacated by the Best Buy group (Scotsman).