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<title>The Hirer Jobs Top Stories</title>
<description><![CDATA[Employment news updated daily.]]></description>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.thehirerjobs.co.uk/index.php/]]></link>

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<title><![CDATA[Scotch distiller toasts record year]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Whisky distiller William Grant has reported a record year, with pre-tax profits surging more than a half on sales that were up by in excess of a fifth.

The firm, based at Dufftown on Speyside, said the best financial performance yet was driven by factors including a positive trading environment for its core brands and an improved mix for spirit sales. Accounts released by Companies House yesterday showed William Grant and Sons made pre-tax profits of £88.94million last year, against £86.16million in 2007.

Turnover during the latest period was £458.15million, compared with £392.89million previously.

A spokesman for the company, which is now led by former Bacardi marketing officer Stella David, who took over as chief executive from Roland van Bommel this summer, revealed corresponding figures for parent William Grant and Sons Holdings. Pre-tax profits at the holding company raced ahead 55% to £129.2million, with turnover climbing 21% to £598.3million.

The spokesman said 2009 had been a tougher year but Grant was confident of meeting its expectations for the 12 months.

Grants whiskies include Clan MacGregor, Glenfiddich, Grants and The Balvenie. Its other brands include Hendricks gin, Reyka vodka, Sailor Jerry spiced rum, liqueur Solerno and fruit-flavour Taboo mixers.

The family-owned firm, established in 1887, said in its annual accounts that it continued to develop its core brands during 2008.

Overall cased volumes increased, which was attributed to a strong performance by the Grants Family Reserve and Clan MacGregor whiskies as well as Hendricks, Sailor Jerry and Milagro tequila, in which the firm has a 51% stake.

Grant added: "Glenfiddich and The Balvenie Scotch whiskies remained level, with value being emphasised ahead of volume." The firm said its Glenfiddich, Balvemie and Kininvie distilleries at Dufftown, along with grain and malt whisky operations at Girvan, Ayrshire, "met all distilling targets efficiently."

Grant, which last year employed 704 people on average, expected competition to intensify during 2009 following a slowdown in industry exports in a deteriorating economic climate in 2008.

It added: "The company will need to strengthen its efforts to maintain a strong cash flow in order to widen the portfolio."]]></description>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.thehirerjobs.co.uk/News/2009_11/Scotch_distiller_toasts_record_year_783.php]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Record £330m contract secures North Sea jobs]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[BP’s deal with PSN safeguards 400 posts

Hundreds of North Sea jobs will be sustained as a result of energy service company PSN winning a record £330million long-term contract with BP.

It is the first of a number of large packages of work that BP expects to dole out over the next few weeks.

The total value of the contracts will be around £1billion and will underline the super-majors ongoing commitment to the North Sea.

In PSNs case, the five-year deal – plus options – for engineering and construction support services will safeguard about 400 jobs on and offshore.

It builds on an existing relationship between BP and PSN, which shared a previous contract with fellow Aberdeen company Wood Group.

Around 200 Wood Group workers will move across to PSN under the new deal.

The Press and Journal understands that PSN will not use the transfer as an opportunity to drive down wages.

Chris Taylor, PSNs UK human resources manager, said: "The company’s intention is to transfer all employees on their current arrangements." 

"Our goal will be to achieve a smooth, seamless transition that removes any of the uncertainties for Wood Group employees affected by this." 

PSN chief executive Bob Keiller said: "This contract award is a step change for PSN. It is the largest single contract we have ever been awarded."

"It is a great vote of confidence in the hard work and commitment of the PSN team that a relationship with BP dating back to the 1970s has been extended to 2014 and beyond."

Contracts still to be awarded by BP include: engineering and construction; platform drilling services; offshore and onshore maintenance; platform services; plus subsea construction, inspection, repair and maintenance.

It is understood that other North Sea operators have similar long-term contracts packages in preparation and that these too will be rolled out over the next few weeks and months.]]></description>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.thehirerjobs.co.uk/News/2009_11/Record_330m_contract_secures_North_Sea_jobs_784.php]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Barclays set to buy Standard Life Bank for at least £226m]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Barclays agreed yesterday to buy the banking business of Edinburgh-based insurer Standard Life for at least £226million.

The news follows speculation last month that a sale was on the way.

The banking giant has about 15million retail banking customers in the UK. 

It will take on a further 350,000 through the deal along with Standard Lifes £5.5billion savings book.

Frits Seegers, chief executive of Barclays retail and commercial-banking business, said: "This transaction brings to Barclays high-quality savings and mortgage books, and an attractive customer base."

Standard Life Bank, which was launched in 1998, has no branches and made an underlying pre-tax profits of £26million last year.

It has an affluent savings base of 287,000 accounts with an average deposit of more than £19,000.

The business also has an £8.8billion loan book and 78,000 mortgage accounts, although the bank has limited its lending activity during the current downturn.

The banking arm is no longer part of the insurers long-term plans for the business, but Standard Life and Barclays have also agreed to explore joint opportunities in UK retail savings and investments, beginning with the development of a simplified pension product.

Standard Life chief executive Sir Sandy Crombie said: "We no longer believe that increasing the lending activity of the bank is consistent with our long-term financial objectives."

"The transaction we have agreed with Barclays, along with the strategic agreement we have also announced today, supports our plan for growth as an asset-managing business."

About 270 staff will transfer to Barclays when the deal completes early next year.

Just last week, Standard Life concluded an "extensive" worldwide search for a new chief executive by naming its finance director as Sir Sandy’s successor.

David Nish will take on the top job from January 1. The group announced its search for a new CEO in March, a month after Sir Sandy turned 60 and following widespread speculation over his retirement plans.
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<link><![CDATA[http://www.thehirerjobs.co.uk/News/2009_10/Barclays_set_to_buy_Standard_Life_Bank_for_at_least_226m_773.php]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Help on way for struggling firms]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Business-recovery specialist launches new service

SCOTTISH business-recovery and turnaround specialist Invocas Financial said yesterday it had launched a new service to help struggling firms to get back on their feet. 

It will provide access to business advisers and, if necessary, help with funding through the likes of business angels and private investors.

Edinburgh-based Invocas said it had started the service in response to growing numbers of SMEs (smaller businesses) which found themselves unable to cope in the current economic climate.

Group development director John Hall said the new initiative offered an opportunity to firms in difficulty by offering a realistic alternative to administration or other insolvency proceedings.

He said: "Our hope is that our proposition will play a significant role in assisting parts of Scotlands SME community pick up momentum again so that they can help to drive the countrys economic recovery."

"Relatively few SME leaders will have experienced anything like the current climate, so if theyve run into difficulties we will be able to give them the skill sets they need to manage through the downturn. We have a lot of experience in the recovery and turnaround arena."

"Were now able to combine that with tailored advice directly relevant to the clients business, and access to funding where necessary, so were very confident well be able to help a lot of companies overcome their difficulties."

The company is looking to target SMEs with annual turnover of between £2million and £15million.

Mr Hall said: "A lack of liquidity is one of the major causes of financial problems among SMEs, and the traditional lender relationships with banks have changed because its much harder to recapitalise an ailing business."

Andy Willox, Scottish policy convener at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "There is no doubt that cash flow and liquidity remain the key issues facing many small businesses."

"What initiatives of this sort demonstrate, though, is that there is a real gap in the market for impartial, one-to-one business-support services."

"While this sort of government-backed support is available to a select few companies at the top end of the market, many of our members find it hard to access and we will continue to press the Scottish Government to ensure that small businesses get a fair deal and get the advice and help they need."
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<link><![CDATA[http://www.thehirerjobs.co.uk/News/2009_10/Help_on_way_for_struggling_firms_774.php]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Minimum wage dodgers should be named and shamed – MPs]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[All employers who break the national minimum wage law should be named and shamed, a committee of MPs said yesterday.

At the moment, the UK Government only names companies that "wilfully disregard" the legislation.

The call was made following an investigation by the Scottish affairs committee into the enforcement of the rules. 

Committee chairman Mohammad Sarwar said: "Customers must have complete confidence that the services they pay for are compliant with national minimum wage law."

"Equally, it is vital that employees understand their entitlement and are not exploited, either unintentionally due to confusion about the law or by bosses looking to make a quick buck. Naming employers who fail to comply is one crucial step in tackling this problem." 

"But this must be done alongside effective awareness campaigns which get the messages about rates and penalties across to all sectors."

The National Minimum Wage Act was introduced in 1998 and sets the bar at £5.80 an hour for workers aged 22 or over.

Employees aged 18-21 must be paid £4.83 and those under 18 must be paid the so-called "youth rate" of £3.57 an hour.

Since 2002, HM Revenue and Customs recorded 957 non-compliant employers with headquarters north of the border.

The majority of cases were in the hospitality sector and in hairdressing.

Last year, £711,667 of arrears were identified by Scottish teams investigating complaints.

The committee warned employers in its report, which was launched yesterday in Edinburgh, that enforcement campaigns were not working. It said: "The government must assess whether further targeted enforcement campaigns would be worthwhile and must work on this with representatives of the sectors with the highest levels on non-compliance."

"A system of naming and shaming employers who are found to be non compliant would be a further disincentive to break the law."

Perth and North Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart said: "The continued levels of non compliance are unacceptable and the UK Government must step up action, including the naming and shaming of rogue employers who refuse to pay staff properly for the work that they do."]]></description>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.thehirerjobs.co.uk/News/2009_10/Minimum_wage_dodgers_should_be_named_and_shamed_–_MPs_775.php]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Edinburgh strikes it lucky with five-star Missoni launch]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[EDINBURGHS location as the flagship site for the new Missoni Hotel brand was down more to opportunism than a specific plan to target the city, according to the owner, who has unveiled intentions to roll out the brand in a number of key cities.

At the official launch of the five-star hotel on the site of the former council offices on the Royal Mile, Kurt Ritter admitted that the choice of Edinburgh was due to a "bottom-up strategy" employed by Brussels-based hotel group Rezidor.

Rather than start in top-flight hotel cities such as Paris or Milan, the choice of Edinburgh reflected an "opportunistic strategy".

Ritter, the Belgian chief executive of Rezidor, said Edinburgh was a "good hotel city", but he mused on how he would phrase the choice of Edinburgh to launch the first in a series of designer-themed hotels.

"How should I say that? It is not a strategical location to launch a brand," he admitted.

"Not in a negative way, but in a reality way, what I have seen is the fashion brands have grown very slowly.

"They have one in Milan and Paris; we said lets do it the other way around. 

"Where there is an opportunity and a city that fits, we go."

Ritter, whose group launches 50 to 60 hotels a year worldwide, just wanted to get the ball rolling. Other hotel groups have done similar deals, such as Bulgari, which formed a joint venture with Marriot International in 2001. Missoni-brand hotels are also due to open in Kuwait, Cape Town, Oman and Ilha de Cajaíba, Brazil.

Rezidor agreed in 2005 to launch a fashion hotel with family-owned Italian fashion house Missoni. The group also owns Radisson SAS hotels – which includes the Radisson Royal Mile, a two-minute walk downhill from the Missoni Hotel. Ritter said the group had been in talks with the sites owner, Bank of Scotland, to take up the new hotel site, but the final decision to make it the first Missoni took "a few years".

Gordon McKinnon, now the executive vice-president and chief branding officer for Rezidors US partner company, Carlson Hotels Worldwide, was behind the launch of the Missoni brand.

He is not concerned about delays to the new flagship Bank of Scotland branch which is due to open on the ground floor of the hotel but was boarded up at the time the group was welcoming Edinburgh through its colourful doors for the first time.

"It will be interesting to see what brand they put on it," said McKinnon. "We are, above all else, realists, or you would never open any hotels.

"It is not a perfect business. You have to accept these compromises or you never open a hotel. If we had waited on the perfect opportunity we would have waited too long."

In the four years since the group decided to launch a new hotel brand, the economy has suffered a huge downturn.

Ritter, who said his 20 years at the head of Rezidor makes him longest serving hotel company chief executive in the world, said: "We are now active in 61 countries. You just have to appreciate it in some it goes very well, in some it goes bad, and then you have the in-betweens. Scotland is not the worst we have."

Despite booking a small loss and a downturn in revenues in the first six months of the year, Ritter is keen to pursue his expansion plans – although he admitted they have been tempered.

"That is what we do – our company is a growth story, and if you dont grow, standstill is going backwards," he said. "You cannot stand still. Of course you have to be careful. We are not as courageous as we were when the times were up."

Nor is he concerned that the hotel property – which Rezidor occupies on a long lease – is now up for sale by Bank of Scotlands parent, Lloyds Banking Group, for £37 million. That is just the hotel business.

"This is probably the best location you could get. We were not alone after this location, others were interested too. It took time but it came."]]></description>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.thehirerjobs.co.uk/News/2009_10/Edinburgh_strikes_it_lucky_with_five-star_Missoni_launch_776.php]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[GlycoMar reels in seafood testing firm for £260,000]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[OBAN-based marine biotechnology firm GlycoMar has bought seafood testing company Integrin Advanced Bioystems, it emerged last night.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but GlycoMar said the package included £260,000 from existing and new investors, including Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise.

Integrin was bought as a going concern and its nine staff will transfer to GlycoMars base at the European Centre for Marine Biotechnology in Oban.

GlycoMar said the services provided by Integrin – including those currently under contract to the Food Standards Agency – will now be provided under the trading name VeroMara.

Dr Charlie Bavington, managing director of GlycoMar, said: "We are delighted to have secured this deal. Revenue generation is vital for the well being of all biotechnology companies." ]]></description>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.thehirerjobs.co.uk/News/2009_10/GlycoMar_reels_in_seafood_testing_firm_for_260,000_777.php]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[ESF raises a dram after posting a record £16m turnover]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[IT MAY be one of Scotlands smaller farm co-operatives, but East of Scotland Farmers has proven it performs perfectly, posting both a record turnover and also an increase in profit.

In the year ending 31 May, the co-operative – which is based in Coupar Angus – pushed its turnover up to £15.58 million compared with £13.32m in the previous year. The profit in its 50th year in operation was also up 4 per cent, with a final plus figure of £392,360.

While the co-operative now deals with a wide range of inputs from fertiliser to footwear, the core business of the company remains the marketing of cereals, particularly malting barley. This past year, more than 60,000 tonnes of grain were marketed.

The co-operative works through a pool price system with growers committing their tonnage to the company and then leaving ESF to market it throughout the year. 

Looking at the 2009 harvest, Robin Barron, general manager, heaped praise on international drinks giant, Diageo for the fairness in which it adhered to the prices and specifications on the grain it had contracted to take. 

Barrons view is in stark contrast with other organisations and individuals who criticised the multinational for its trading methods.

But he said: "Diageo is the wrong target. We had contracts with them and another major buyer and they both paid out more than the going rate. Our marketing pool has already paid out more than the harvest spot price and there are two further payments to come." 

He added: "We are already talking to Diageo about the 2010 crop and while it is very early to be settling on prices for next years harvest, I have every confidence we will come to an agreement. The problem in the cereal sector is a straightforward one of supply and demand and the 2009 harvest produced too much spring barley."

He was far more hopeful that the open autumn we have just experienced will lead to an increased tonnage of winter wheat and this will take pressure off the malting barley market. 

The companys profitability last year also meant that it now has more than £2m in reserves. There are no definite plans for expansion, but Barron said some ideas were being discussed: "We have ambitions to expand."

After 32 years as director and ten as chairman of ESF, Bob Morris stood down at the annual meeting held last night, as did another long-term director, Gid Rutherford. George McLaren, of Bankhead of Kinloch, Meigle, stepped up to chairman. He was joined on the board by David Mitchell of Pairney, Auchterarder, a former NFUS vice-president and current chairman of Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society and Colin Dargie, of Ledyatt, Lundie, who is a full-time SAC consultant in Forfar and a partner in his familys farming business]]></description>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.thehirerjobs.co.uk/News/2009_10/ESF_raises_a_dram_after_posting_a_record_16m_turnover_778.php]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[£17.3m of creditors cash goes begging]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[THE amount of money left lying unclaimed by creditors of failed Scots businesses has risen nearly seven-fold in the past four years, figures have revealed.

The latest report from the Accountant in Bankruptcy (AIB), the Scottish Government agency that supervises sequestration, shows that £17.3 million of unclaimed creditors cash is held in fund – an increase of 63 per cent since December 2007 and up from £2.5m in 2005.

Matt Henderson, a business recovery and insolvency partner with accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael, said creditors should not give up on being paid by failed businesses. "Its incredible that in the current financial climate businesses are still prepared to let good money slip away," he said.

"When businesses go bust, some companies seem to give up being paid, when in fact there can often be money available.

"In a recession, businesses should be more cash-conscious but these results indicate nothing has changed and a rising level of apathy seems to exist."

The AIB is to invest in technology to help creditors register for payments. Henderson praised the move but said it was not clear if this would help uncover historical cash for creditors.

"Meanwhile, if you are a creditor, do not give up or turn a blind eye, as it could turn out to be an expensive mistake," he added]]></description>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.thehirerjobs.co.uk/News/2009_10/17.3m_of_creditors_cash_goes_begging_779.php]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[Dan Brown helps Amazon surge]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[DAN Brown\'s latest blockbuster book along with new shoe and handbag ranges helped the UK and international arm of online retailer Amazon to make bumper third quarter sales.

The 33 per cent rise in sales in the three months to September contrasts with figures from traditional high street retailers, many of which continue to struggle.

The addition of new ranges – such as Amazon UK\'s lighting store and shoe and handbag website javari.co.uk – contributed to the improved revenues performance of $2.6 billion (£1.6bn).

Brian McBride, managing director of Amazon Europe, said the recession appeared to be working in the retailer\'s favour as cash-wary shoppers trawl the internet for bargains.

McBride, who is also a non-executive director of Celtic Football Club, said: \"People are being careful with their money, so for example they are buying home gym equipment from us rather than joining a gym club. 

\"The economy is helping us at the moment.\"

The sales growth in the international division outstripped the performance of the wider Amazon business, which grew revenues by 28 per cent to $5.5bn in the quarter. 

Net profits were 62 per cent higher at $199 million, although no figure was given for the overseas arm. The Kindle electronic reader was the best selling item on Amazon.com by both unit sales and in dollar terms. Amazon – which has warehouses at Gourock, in Inverclyde, and Glenrothes, in Fife – recently made the eReader available to UK customers.

Amazon also revealed that it intends to release software next month that lets people buy electronic books and read them on a computer, regardless of whether they own a Kindle device. 

The service is similar to an application already offered to owners of Apple\'s iPhone and iPod Touch, and may provide Amazon with a way to expand its e-book revenue.

Dan Brown\'s latest book, The Lost Symbol, was the biggest selling item on Amazon.co.uk in the quarter, followed by new computer operating system Microsoft Windows 7, which sold more copies in the first eight hours than Windows Vista, its predecessor, did in its entire pre-order period.

McBride added that disruption by the Royal Mail strike had been limited by the firm\'s use of several other carriers. Additional staff have been recruited at distribution centres to speed up orders.

For the fourth quarter – which includes key Christmas sales – Amazon said it expects its revenue to be between $8.1bn and $9.1bn, compared with analysts\' expectations for $8.1bn. 

The company forecast operating profit of between $300m and $425m]]></description>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.thehirerjobs.co.uk/News/2009_10/Dan_Brown_helps_Amazon_surge_780.php]]></link>
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