No, it doesn't need ericaceous particularly, it'll be fine in a good multi purpose. The variety of Skimmia which does better in ericaceous or slightly more acidic conditions is S. 'reevesiana', but the others are fine in ordinary soil, so long as it's not shallow chalk. The only thing I would say is, if you're having cold overnight temperatures, keep it somewhere as sheltered as possible, like up against the house wall or any warmer, sheltered spot - they can succumb to cold temperatures, unfortunately.

I've got a Magic Marlot in a pot with ordinary multi purpose compost, and it has been there for many years. It's full of buds again this year :)
Like Scotscran sais, keep it sheltered. Mine is by the front door.

I have Skimmia in chalky soil and apart from leaf mould it is happy enough. Skimmia is in the family Rutacea and is not a heather which are the Ericacea.
so multi purpose compost will be fine as Bamboo already said.

Thank you all, will plant it up tmorrow but have not decided whether I will put in a pot or in a border? I went to the 'Dingle' plant nursery near Welshpool with a gradening friend. For me it's like being a kid in a sweet shop!! I had decided I needed some plants with 'winter interest. When we moved to our current house the garden was overgrown with lots of shrubs, some straggely, out of shape, prickely so I started to take them out, one by one. What I now realise is that I have replaced them with perennials which offer no 'winter interest'. So now I am gradually adding winter interest shrubs. Also bought two cornus and a skimmia japonica variegated.

I'm sorry to Bamboo. I named Scotsgran by mistake in my comment - don't know why ... it must be a consequence of getting older lol

Ah, I was wondering, Hywel... maybe there's summat about my avatar that's confusing...

It's probably my eyesight Bamboo :D

Well, I wouldn't worry about it Hywel - you realised what you'd done before I noticed anyway;-))