Scottish Business Briefing - Monday 1 April, 2013 - Business - Scotsman.com WELCOME to scotsman.com's Scottish Business Briefing. Every morning we bring you a comprehensive round-up of all news affecting business in Scotland today. More jobs to go as RBS plans drastic cuts to investment banking division TAXPAYER-BACKED Royal Bank of Scotland is reportedly poised to slash hundreds more jobs to further shrink its investment banking division under plans to boost its balance sheet. RBS is also looking to offload around £60 billion of assets from the markets division after the Bank of England last week said UK banks were collectively facing a £25bn capital shortfall (Scotsman). Financier optimistic on better lending climate BANKS are now providing more funding to businesses in Scotland, according to the head of a Glasgow-based commercial lender who last year declared they were turning down plenty of "attractive propositions." Giving his view of the mainstream bank lending climate, WM Mann Group chairman Bruce Mann said: "I think it is becoming easier for good applicants, which is positive." Herald As part of sweeping changes, the Financial Services Authority is abolished to be superseded by three new bodies - the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA); the Financial Policy Committee (FPC); and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (Scotsman) Read all today's banking news from scotsman.com Empty property levy sparks anger from CBI A BUSINESS lobby group has criticised the introduction of £18 million of annual levies on empty properties that come into force today. David Lonsdale, assistant director of CBI Scotland, labelled the Scottish Government's reduction in rates relief a "tax on distress" and "bewildering and disappointing." He said the charges were "wholly at odds" with government promises to "promote private sector investment" (Scotsman) Read all today's economics news from scotsman.com Enerco set for £3million new office complex Enerco Group is investing £3million in an office complex in the west end of Aberdeen as part of plans to expand the three-year-old business. The new property is at 18 Carden Place and was previously owned by partners in legal firm Esslemont Cameron Gauld, which merged last July with Ledingham Chalmers (P&J). Read all today's energy and utilities news from scotsman.com The Future of the Media in Scotland - 9 April, Edinburgh Join delegates from across the marketing, communication and advertising industry at this unmissable event. Top speakers will debate the Leveson fall out and tackle the big issues facing Scotland's media in the 21st Century. Book your place today (Scotsman Conferences)! Read all today's media and leisure news from scotsman.com Scotland urged to join "smart city" revolution Scotland has been urged to embrace the "smart city" revolution which, it is claimed, is using environmental and digital innovation to power economic growth in cities around the globe. In a presentation in Edinburgh, consultants and engineers Arup warned that cities "which choose to stand still run the risk of losing competitiveness and the ability to lead" (Herald). Read all today's technology news from scotsman.com