Scottish Business Briefing - Wednesday 27 July, 2011

ECONOMY

Shrinking growth prompts call for government rethink

SLOWER economic growth and shrinking industrial output in the second quarter of the year yesterday prompted calls from business leaders for the government to do more to boost recovery (Scotsman).

Women feel glass ceiling is still present in workplace

WOMEN still expect to be bumping against the corporate glass ceiling at the end of the decade, according to research published by insurer Friends Life today (Herald).

Read all today's economics news from scotsman.com

ENERGY & UTILITIES

Miner ATH confirms it is in talks on possible bid

ATH Resources, one of Scotland's biggest coal mine operators, yesterday said it was in discussions over a possible offer for the company (Scotsman).

British Gas fined 2.5m for complaint handling

British Gas has been fined 2.5m by the regulator Ofgem for the way in which it deals with customer complaints (BBC).

Read all today's energy and utilities news from scotsman.com

MEDIA & LEISURE

Waugh joins King's board to launch new city pubs group

Scottish pubs and hotels tycoon Kenny Waugh is joining the board of Stefan King's G1 group after selling four of his Edinburgh outlets to the Glasgow nightclubs owner in a deal worth an estimated 30 million (Scotsman).

Read all today's media and leisure news from scotsman.com

TRANSPORT

High-speed rail link 'will get economy back on right track'

CHANCELLOR George Osborne should spend billions of pounds on grand plans such as a direct high-speed rail line between Scotland and London to kick-start Britain out of a "lost decade" of low growth, one of the country's leading economists has said (Scotsman)

Read all today's transport news from scotsman.com