Business Briefs - July 16

Scotland’s Year of Homecoming in 2014 attracted 326,000 visitors and generated £136m for the economy, according to research.

The study commissioned by VisitScotland said there were 4.6m attendances at more than 1,000 Homecoming events through the year.

Events included Bannockburn Live, the John Muir Festival, the Forth Bridges Festival and Highland Homecoming.

Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing said the events had a “substantial impact”.

The study was carried out by the Moffat centre for travel and tourism business development at Glasgow Caledonian University.

It found that 326,000 international visitors cited Homecoming as their primary reason for travelling to Scotland in 2014, in a year when the country also hosted the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup golf tournament.

It also claimed 1,336 full time jobs had been generated by these visits.

Scott Logic lands RBS digital deal

Edinburgh-based software consultant Scott Logic is to overhaul the Royal Bank of Scotland’s websites.

Staff from the firm’s Edinburgh and Bristol offices will work with the state-backed bank as its “digital transformation partner”.

Sales director David Tuck said its experience in software applications for the financial services sector “made Scott Logic a clear choice in helping drive the digital evolution at RBS”.

Game on as $275m pours into FanDuel

Fanduel, the Edinburgh-based fantasy sports provider founded by husband and wife team Nigel and Lesley Eccles, has underlined ambitious plans to expand in its core US market after securing $ 275 million ( £ 176 . 5 m ) of investment.

Private equity giant KKR led the over-subscribed investment round in the fast-rising technology firm, with Google Capital and Time Warner Investments, alongside Turner Sports, taking part.

FanDuel, which provides fantasy leagues for American sports, will use the funding to boost player numbers in the US and Canada, accelerate product development and bolster its management team.

It will also work on initiatives to create the “ultimate fan experience”.

The company has now raised a total of $363m (£233m) in Series E financing, which has also seen it attract investment from various NFL and NBA teams.

Previous investors such as Shamrock Capital, NBC Sports Ventures, Comcast Ventures, Bullpen Capital, Pentech Ventures and Piton Capital have taken part in the latest round.

Corinthian Club to open new Glasgow casino

The Corinthian Club is to open a boutique casino and cocktail lounge next month aimed at revitalising a Glasgow institution on Ingram Street.

Located in the former Mass and Press cellar bar, The Cotton Club will provide “vintage-style gaming, drinking and dining in a two-tier, subterranean, speakeasy setting”.

The 1920s “jazz-era Harlem” design is by Jim Hamilton, whose previous projects include Blythswood Square in Glasgow, Tigerlily in Edinburgh and Forgan’s in St Andrews.

Linda Darby, the general manager of the new venue, said that it would be “something entirely different to the city’s current casino offering”.

Council backing for £500m Rosyth waterfront regeneration plans

Fife Council has signalled its support for a £500 million plan to regenerate Rosyth’s waterfront.

First unveiled in November last year by site owners the Scarborough Muir Group (SMG), the development would cover 120 acres and include five zones in the shadow of the Forth bridges.

These would incorporate: a business and employment park; the Rosyth Gateway commercial zone, including a supermarket, leisure centre, restaurants and large stores; shops, cafes, bars, galleries, housing and waterfront gardens.

Consent for £100m Glasgow office development

Glasgow City Council has granted planning permission to BAM Properties and Taylor Clark Properties to develop a £100m office and residential project at Atlantic Square, Glasgow.

BAM said the development in Glasgow’s Broomielaw will help address concerns that the City may be losing its competitive edge due to a lack of Grade-A office buildings.

The new JV development will sit in the heart of the International Financial Services District (IFSD) and comprise three separate buildings including the retained façade of an A-listed warehouse building. Building 1 will span ten storeys and provide 180,000 sq ft (27,872 sq m) of office accommodation; Building 2 will comprise 95,000 sq ft (8,825 sq m) across six floors and Building 3 will have 15,000 sq ft (1,394 sq m) of retail and residential accommodation.

The development is expected to have an end value of more than £100 million and support up to 2,750 jobs. Designed by architects, Cooper Cromar and BAM Design, the building will link Argyle Street to the IFSD for the first time.

Crowne Plaza Hotel to open at Aberdeen airport

A Crowne Plaza Hotel will open at Aberdeen International Airport on September 1.

Owner Dominvs Hospitality has announced that the hotel, based 100 yards from the passenger terminal, will have165 luxury bedrooms, a grill restaurant with a menu based on fresh seasonal local produce, and two bars.

Its business facilities include a conference centre with its own entrance and 10 meeting rooms, in addition to a gym, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, USB charging points in bedrooms, a Starbucks cafe and 24-hour room service.

There will also be more than 250 car parking spaces.

The four-star hotel, which will employ 70 staff, is located close to four major business parks - ABZ, D2, Aberdeen Gateway and Prime Four.

Its opening follows the launch by Dominvs Hospitality of a Holiday Inn Express in Aberdeen in May, which it said would complement the new airport hotel.