Daily Business

2 days ago | dailybusinessgroup.co.uk | Terry Murden

Laser tech Skylark Lasers has appointed experienced photonics and instrumentation specialist Christopher Madin as chief executive. Mr Madin was previously managing director at Qioptiq Photonics and CEO of KLASTECH GmbH. He has extensive experience in building global sales channels, managing new product development and driving high growth photonics environments particularly across semiconductor inspection and life science instrumentation sectors.

2 days ago | dailybusinessgroup.co.uk | Terry Murden

Two-thirds of local businesses are against Stirling’s plan to introduce a Visitor Levy, according to the results of a city council consultation.   Stirling Council is due to debate proposals on Thursday (26 June) which would see overnight visitors to the city pay a 5% surcharge on their accommodation bill.  The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called on the local authority to pause its plans amid concerns they may damage the area’s vital visitor economy.

3 days ago | dailybusinessgroup.co.uk | Terry Murden

Kenny Blair, managing director of hospitality operator, Buzzworks Holdings, has bought out his co-founders and siblings, Colin and Alison. They remain as advisers to the company which is one of Scotland’s fastest growing independent restaurant and bar operators, managing 22 venues. Founded in 2001, it operates as Scotts, House, Lido, Vic’s & The Vine, The Duke, The Bridge Inn, The Fox, Herringbone and Thirty Knots.

3 days ago | dailybusinessgroup.co.uk | Terry Murden

SNIB investment Data solutions and property technology firm, Utopi, has secured a further £5 million from the Scottish National Investment Bank. The investment is supporting the Glasgow-based company to secure and resource several long-term income contracts. Utopi’s technology collects data from multi-tenant buildings, tracking and measuring six different performance indicators: temperature, humidity, air quality, light, noise, and motion.

3 days ago | dailybusinessgroup.co.uk | Terry Murden

Orders boost Babcock International has hailed a “new era” for defence as it upgraded its medium-term guidance, increased its dividend and launched its first buyback programme. Underlying profit for the year to the end of March jumped 53% to £362.9 million against £237.8m in the previous 12 months on an 11% growth in revenue to £4.8 billion, with particularly strong growth in Nuclear and Marine.