Business News Round Up (29/06/2020)
Energy company Vattenfall plans further major investment in South West Scotland
Following the recent announcement that Vattenfall has awarded a multi-million-pound contract for the construction of South Kyle Wind Farm, the company has unveiled proposals for further investment in South West Scotland.
Vattenfall has studied previously identified projects, and following careful consideration is exploring the potential for two new wind farms in the region along with a battery energy storage facility at each location.
Whiteneuk Wind Farm project is around 5km south of Moniaive and it will consist of up to 35 wind turbines. Quantans Hill Wind Farm project, which is around 2km to the north-east of Carsphairn village, will consist of up to 21 wind turbines. Each turbine could have a blade tip height of up to 250m.
Vattenfall has submitted a scoping report to the Scottish Government this month. The scoping report launches the early stages of the Environmental Impact Assessment process. The company is also keen to start researching and prioritising views from the local community to help shape their proposals.
Mortgage applications up 75% in a week as housing market reopens
Online mortgage application enquiries increased by 75% in the week leading up to today’s reopening of the housing market, according to the Bank of Scotland.
From today, estate agents can allow house hunters to view properties in person for the first time since 24 March, and surveyors can visit properties for valuations and assessments.
BoS said new lending appointments were also up 470% last week on the previous seven days and that majority of enquiries were from first-time buyers.
The lender’s mortgages director Graham Blair said: “With the housing market slowing in the last few months, it has left many people at a loose end, whether that involved delaying plans to buy, extending rental agreements, or having to move in with relatives or friends.
“As Scottish estate agents look to reopen their doors, we are seeing an increase in mortgage applications and new lending appointments as more people want to get moving. Our branch-based advisers are also there to help people take the next step, but there’s plenty that people can do to get the ball rolling in the meantime.”
https://www.insider.co.uk/news/mortgage-applications-up-75-week-22268164
Edinburgh entrepreneur’s software company Eggplant sold for $330 million
Edinburgh-based entrepreneur George Mackintosh’s software testing platform Eggplant has been acquired by California based Keysight Technologies for $330 million.
London-headquartered Eggplant had been majority owned by investment firm The Carlyle Group since 2016. Santa Rosa-based Keysight Technologies, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation of $18.25 billion, was formed as a spin-out from Hewlett Packard.
Eggplant’s Digital Automation Intelligence platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics to test any technology on any device, operating system or browser at any layer, from the user interface (UI) to application programming interfaces (APIs).
Demand for its services and products has grown during the Covid pandemic.
https://www.insider.co.uk/news/edinburgh-entrepreneurs-software-company-eggplant-22269110