New home for Ardbeg whisky in Islay hotel: 5 need-to-know business stories

Hello and welcome to our daily digest of business, financial and economic news from around Scotland.

1. New images of the transformation of an Islay hotel into a brand home for Ardbeg whisky have been released.

Bookings for Ardbeg House are open as it plans to welcome guests in the autumn of this year.

The plans to overhaul the hotel were announced by the brand’s owner, the Glenmorangie Company, in March last year and the revamp is being led by Russell Sage Studio.

Ellie Goss, the director of external affairs and hospitality at the Glenmorangie Company, said the site will “honour the very best of Islay”.

2. A non-executive director on the board of Celtic Football Club has added another role to her portfolio.

Sharon Brown is to become a non-executive director at Personal Assets Trust after its annual meeting in July.

Brown, an accountant, formerly held senior positions in the likes of Dobbies Garden Centres, McColl’s Retail Group and CT UK Capital and Investment Trust.

She is the chairwoman of the audit committee at the Baillie Gifford Japan Trust and a non-executive at European Opportunities Trust and Celtic.

3. Robertson Construction Group and Balfour Beatty have been picked to deliver five new schools costing £333 million.

Hub North Scotland announced the companies as the lead contractors for the programme which will provide facilities for close to 4,000 pupils.

Robertson is to work on the new Hazelhead Campus and the refurbished and extended St Peter’s Roman Catholic School for Aberdeen City Council.

It will also create replacement buildings at Brae Campus for Shetland Islands Council and the Mull 2-18 Campus for Argyll and Bute Council.

Balfour Beatty will oversee the new Forres Academy for Moray Council.

Richard Park, the chief executive of hub North Scotland, said: “This collaboration has allowed our partners to share best practice, knowledge and resources to achieve their aims.”

4. Construction services firm Morris & Spottiswood is moving its Glasgow office.

More than 140 staff will go from the existing Govan site to a new base at the EastWorks development in the Dalmarnock area of the city.

Eastworks is a former Victorian gas purifier shed built in 1843 and which was repurposed by the Clyde Gateway property agency.

Gordon Clyne, the managing director of Morris & Spottiswood, said: “EastWorks will provide an attractive and well connected workspace for our teams to collaborate.”

5. Rosemount Taverns has sold a central Dundee pub for an undisclosed sum.

The Airlie Arms was popular with football fans as it lies close to both the Tannadice and Dens Park stadiums in the city.

Christie & Co, which handled the sale, said the new owner was a local businessman who has plans to develop the site.

It has been suggested the venue could have the potential to be turned into a convenience store.

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