The Bottom Line

So says recruitment firm Robert Half, whose survey into workplace happiness found that 70 per cent of employees in the north of England regions are generally happy at their work. This compares with workers north of the Border, where a mere 56 per cent signalled their broad contentment at work.

However, a higher percentage of Scots – 63 per cent – said they believed they have a good work-life balance.

We can’t have it all.

Talking wind

THE future shape of the renewables sector in Scotland will be focus at two conferences in June.

Scottish Renewables, trade body for the renewables sector, will host its Onshore Wind Conference & Exhibition at Glasgow Caledonian University on June 20. It will see industry leaders, government representatives and other stakeholders look at the challenges involved in making Scotland home to the UK’s first commercial wind farm industry without subsidy.

The next day Scottish Renewables will return to the venue to host its Storage and Systems Conference, which will take an in-depth look at how the energy system is changing, focusing on how innovations such as smart meters and energy storage will affect the way consumers receive and use power.

Bears in business

THE Bottom Line does like to have a bit of fun with namesakes. That’s why we chortled this week when we came across a couple of names which are more commonly associated with Rangers Football Club than the world of business, at least in this part of the world.

Step forward David King, chief financial officer of Johnston Press (not the chairman of Rangers), and Joe Garner, chief executive of Nationwide (and not the rumbustious centre forward currently plying his trade at Ibrox, above).

We keep an eye on these things so you don’t have to.

Painful reading

THE woes of Marks & Spencer appeared to worsen yesterday, as the high street bellwether reported a major plunge in profits.

Analyst John Ibbotson of Retail Vision was among the least impressed with the retailer’s performance, stating: “M&S remains a dysfunctional dichotomy – premium food with dowdy clothing.” Ouch.

Tomorrow’s world

THE future of office life has been brought to the fore with a competition launched by the British Council of Offices. BCO NextGen Scotland, the organisation’s committee for young professions, has launched a contest to find the next generation of industry leaders, which will double as a showcase for sharing innovative ideas and thinking.

Hazel Pearson, chair of BCO NextGen Scotland, said themes ranging from “instantaneous technology and communications” to health and well-being have become key elements of office life.

“For the first time in our history we now have four different generations in the workplace, so the competition is a great opportunity for younger members to really push boundaries and share ideas as we face the challenges in our future.”