Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the wider UK this morning.
Sparrows lands £50m North Sea crane contract
Engineering and maintenance group Sparrows has secured a £50 million contract with a “major UKCS operator” to provide crane management services across its operated assets in the North Sea.
The five-year agreement will see the group deliver crane operations and maintenance services across 10 of the operator’s assets in the region, and includes two, two-year extension options, according to Energy Voice.
All onshore support will be carried out from Sparrows’ Aberdeen headquarters, including technical and safety audits, and any repair and refurbishment work required.
Even Prince Charles can’t get restaurant staff
At the peak of the summer season on Royal Deeside the handsome Rothesay Rooms restaurant in Ballater should be bustling with life.
The restaurant takes its name from the Duke of Rothesay, Prince Charles’s title in Scotland, but these days even the loftiest of employers — in this case the prince himself — struggle to find staff. The award-winning business remains closed because it has proved impossible to recruit qualified chefs and waiters.
The Times reports today that no date has been set for the resumption of service with the restaurant, run by the Prince’s Foundation, apparently unable to fill vacancies for a supervisor, waiters, cleaner, assistant manager, chef de partie and pastry chef.
Nuart Aberdeen murals named among world's best
Two stunning Nuart Aberdeen murals made “the best of June” guide to street art around the world.
The Press & Journal reports that Slim Safont’s mural on Union Plaza took the number one slot, while Nuno Viegas’ artwork on Gerrard Street was ranked the 10th best.
The guide was put together by Tim Marschang, the co-founder of Street Art Cities – one of the biggest street art communities in the world. Tim is responsible for managing the Street Art Cities community which is currently active in 600 cities in 80 countries.
Royal Mail workers to go on strike over pay
More than 115,000 Royal Mail workers have voted to go on strike in a dispute over pay.
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) backed the action on Tuesday after ballot papers were sent out three weeks ago.
Any strike dates are yet to be decided but the CWU said if a walk out goes ahead, it could amount to the biggest ever action taken by its members.
Royal Mail told the BBC it was "disappointed" by the vote.
Partners at elite City law firm take home record £2m
Clifford Chance has become the first elite Magic Circle law firm to break the £2million pay barrier for its partners after awarding them an inflation-busting 10% rise.
The Telegraph says the firm’s equity partners will take home a record average of almost £2.1million each after revenues jumped by 8% to nearly £2billion on the back of a surge in dealmaking post-pandemic.
The move means Clifford Chance has become the highest paying firm out of London’s five “magic circle” groups, overtaking Allen & Overy which last week boosted average partner pay to £1.9million.
Inverurie Costa drive-thru plans formed
Costa wants to build a new drive-thru venue next to the Aldi on Harlaw Road in Inverurie, having bought the land from the supermarket.
The coffee giant will share 18 parking spaces with Aldi under the plans top open the first dedicated Costa in the town.
However, the Press & Journal reports that there are already 20 objections to the plans, mainly over traffic fears.