Scottish Business Briefing - Tuesday 26 February, 2013
MEDIA & LEISURE
Dundee Waterfront set for wave of hotel investment
DUNDEE is to get its first five-star hotel as part of a wave of hospitality development that will create more than 200 jobs in the city. The former Customs House and Harbour Chambers will be transformed into a world-class hotel with 38 bedrooms under the plans, which form part of the £1 billion Dundee Waterfront masterplan (Scotsman).
Goals Soccer Centres scores 3% rise in profits
East Kilbride Goals Soccer Centres has reported a 3% rise in annual profits in a “challenging economic climate”.The company made pre-tax profits of £9.5m and sales were up 7% to £32.5m Goals, which runs 43 centres in the UK and one in Los Angeles, said events such as the London Olympics and the Jubilee had disrupted business (BBC).
INDUSTRY
Builders gain from efforts to boost available loans
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Hide AdTWO of the UK’s largest housebuilders have reported strong growth in full-year profits as the industry benefits from government schemes to help people get on the housing ladder. Persimmon, said underlying pre-tax profits in the year to December jumped 52 per cent to £225.1 million, on revenues 12 per cent higher at £1.7 billion. Rival Bovis Homes posted a pre-tax profit of £54.1m for 2012 (Scotsman).
North American investors drive ‘big box’ demand
DEMAND for “big box” warehouses across Scotland is predicted to grow strongly this year as North American investors broaden their horizons, according to property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). The firm said demand for grade-A industrial property during the second half of 2012 was twice as high as the first six months of the year, and firms from Canada and the US were poised to buy up more units on this side of the Atlantic (Scotsman).
TECHNOLOGY
Edinburgh Instruments in £1.9m sale
EDINBURGH Instruments (EI), the first spin-out company from Heriot-Watt University, is being sold to Hong Kong-listed Techcomp in a £1.9 million deal. Techcomp has already bought a 66 per cent stake in the company from founder Professor Des Smith, Japan-based Hammatsu Photonics and Scottish Enterprise (Scotsman).
TRANSPORT
£10m boost for airport ahead of 2014 Games
GLASGOW Airport is bringing forward £10 million of investment which will see its international arrivals hall revamped ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The expansion and improvement of the international hall forms part of a general terminal overhaul to ensure the site is ready to deal with the athletes and spectators expected for the sporting event (Herald).