Business News Round Up (20/12/19)
Scottish business optimism is rising ahead of rest of UK, finds survey
Scottish business confidence has overtaken the UK average after recovering in the last two weeks, according to the latest Bank of Scotland Business Barometer for December. The index recorded a 17 point rise in overall confidence to 11% in December, ending a five month downward trend. Confidence across the UK as a whole rose one point to 10%. A total of 1,200 business were surveyed across the UK, including 95 in Scotland, between November 28 and December 12 for the latest report.
https://www.insider.co.uk/news/scottish-business-optimism-rising-ahead-21131900
North West firms to create new jobs in 2020 as business confidence holds steady
Businesses in the North West are planning to create more jobs in 2020 as confidence in the region held steady, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Confidence in the region held steady at 6%, with companies reporting higher confidence in their prospects at 19% – a nine point increase on November. A net balance of 14% of businesses in the region expect to hire more staff during the next year, up six points on last month.
Beeks poised for growth after securing million dollar deal
Glasgow based cloud computing firm Beeks Financial Cloud has secured two significant contracts, allowing the company to break into the fast-growing Open Banking sector. The first contract is a $1 million annualised contract which will see Beeks design and supply a private network and fully managed infrastructure environment. The second contract was a £1.1 million contract over three years with a payments solutions provider.
Call for ambitious Greater Manchester creative businesses to join new Creative Scale-Up programme
Creative industry businesses in Greater Manchester who are looking to grow and attract investment are being given the opportunity to join an innovative new programme that is set to further boost one of the region’s fastest growing sectors. The Creative Scale Up programme, launched by GC Business Growth Hub, part of The Growth Company and fully funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), is designed to support Greater Manchester’s creative industry businesses to successfully scale up.