Business News Round Up (24/03/2020)

Nicola Sturgeon tells ‘non-essential’ retailers to shut up shop

New measures to fight coronavirus will see the closure of shops selling ‘non-essential’ goods to help slow the spread of the virus. The measures, which are in place for at least three weeks, will also see the closure of libraries, playgrounds, outdoor gyms and places of worship.

https://www.insider.co.uk/news/nicola-sturgeon-tells-non-essential-21740101

FTSE 100 rises after PM announces coronavirus shutdown

The UK’s blue-chip stock index has risen after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a lockdown in the UK to try to halt the spread of the coronavirus. The FTSE 100 was 3.7% higher in early morning trading at 5,178 points. UK investors reacted favourably to the decisive action, despite its likely effect on the economy. The FTSE 250, which includes the 250 companies below the FTSE 100, rose 3.1%.

https://www.cityam.com/ftse-100-rises-after-pm-announces-coronavirus-shutdown/

£35m expansion of Manchester’s HealthTech campus greenlit

A £35 million expansion of Manchester’s leading health innovation campus has been given the green light by planners. The new development will see the Citylabs campus extended by 125,000 square feet and aims to reinforce the campus’ presence as an international hub for genomics, digital health and precision medicine. Citylabs is a collaboration between Manchester Science Partnerships (MSP) and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) on behalf of Bruntwood SciTech and marks the next phase of the scheme.

https://www.businesscloud.co.uk/news/35m-expansion-of-manchesters-healthtech-campus-greenlit

SBRC to host webinar series to unite Scottish businesses against Covid-19

The Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) is launching a series of free webinars to help Scottish companies navigate the Covid-19 outbreak. The organisation will also provide an overview of the new financial support measures and how business should approach seeking these funds. Speakers providing free practical advice in the inaugural webinar include Paul Atkinson, partner at Par Equity, and Lyn Calder, partner and head of Central Belt deals at Anderson Anderson & Brown.

https://digit.fyi/sbrc-to-host-webinar-series-to-unite-scottish-businesses-against-covid-19/