The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

Kidderminster Subway shop re-opens creating 10 jobs A Subway sandwich shop is reopening in Kidderminster, West Midlands, in March 2013, creating 10 new jobs. The store closed due to difficult trading conditions.  It has been taken over by James Fleck, under a franchise arrangement.

Management Moves: Chief executive appointed by Openfield Group Agricultural company Openfield Group has appointed James Dallas as its new chief executive.  Operating profit has fallen at the business despite a 23 per cent increase in its turnover to £774m.

Retail development plans at Southgate Retail Park, Derby bring 300 potential new jobs Birmingham-based Real Estate Investments is planning to build a 45,000 sq ft food store at Southgate Retail Park, Derby. An existing Lidl supermarket, Dreams store and a gym would be demolished to make way for the new store. A net gain of 300 jobs would be made if the development goes ahead.

Management Moves: MD Appointed by Bolton baker Warburtons Bolton baker Warburtons has appointed Neil Campbell as managing director.  He replaces Robert Higginson who left the role in Summer 2012.  The company has a turnover of £495.5m and employs 4660 staff.

Management Moves: Cartwright King Solicitors appoint MD Cartwright King Solicitors has restructured its management team and appointed Rupert Hawke as managing director. Mr Hawke was previously finance director. The firm, which has opened five offices since it opening in Nottingham in 2000, is planning further expansion. Turnover has tripled in seven years to several million. 115 staff members and 23 directors.

Centre Plus creating 150 jobs on opening of Hull family play centre Centre Plus is opening a multi-million pound family entertainment centre in east Hull in 2013, creating 150 jobs. The site will provide a KidzPlus day nursery, Kaffe Bar, soft play zone, Active Plus gym and performing arts academy. A marketing suite has opened to promote the centre.

Major leisure development in Walsall brings 200 new jobs Cordwell Property Group is leading the development of the Littleton Centre in Walsall, West Midlands, which is expected to create 200 jobs.  The leisure development will include a cinema complex operated by Vue Entertainment, cafes and restaurants. Cordwell is appointing local contractors and tradesmen to the project.

Derbyshire-based Hygienex secures European funding bringing new jobs Derbyshire-based Hygienex has secured £10,000 from the European Regional Development Fund to support the development of its Restroom Manager product, which manages water flush cycles, into a small unit for general release. The investment has led to two new sales jobs, with a further new jobs expected.

40 new jobs in engineering company Amec in the North East Engineering company Amec is recruiting 40 skilled staff as part of a strategy to make its North-East offices a centre for global engineering operations.

100 new jobs in Exquisite Hotel Solutions Exquisite Hotel Solutions, which UK or worldwide business travel solutions for chief executives, directors and management, was created by husband and wife team Craig and Becky Richardson.  The company plan to set up a sales team of 10 and a reservations and customer service team which could lead to up to 100 jobs.

Henderson Stone expanding investment advice team Glasgow-based financial company Henderson Stone is expanding its investment advice team. In response to regulatory changes, the firm has become a restricted multi-tied adviser on a range of products in savings and investments, the protection market, and pensions and trusts. It has become a founder shareholder of Caerus Capital Group.

£30m retail park expansion brings 430 new jobs to Merthyr Tydfil Hammerson is to extend Cyfarthfa Retail Park in Merthyr Tydfil in a £30m investment that will create 230 jobs on the park and 200 jobs during the construction phase. A 50,000 sq ft Marks & Spencer store and five further stores will be built.  The existing B&Q store will be relocated.

New Rochdale premises brings 50 jobs in Hanson Springs Industrial spring manufacturer Hanson Springs has received £5m funding from Yorkshire Bank and an additional £500,000 credit line, allowing it to purchase a 90,000 sq ft facility in Rochdale and new equipment. 50 jobs will be created over three years, with turnover expected to increase from £23m to £30m.

New appointment - Law firm Browne Jacobson expands commercial property team Law firm Browne Jacobson has expanded its commercial property team with the appointment of retail property consultant Richard Miller in its Nottingham office. The team has generated significant growth despite challenging conditions in the commercial property market. Turnover £41.3m, 460 employees.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Supplier of promotional merchandise acquires new Cleckheaton premises LSi, the West Yorkshire-based supplier of promotional merchandise, has acquired new premises with funding from Barclays, following three years of business growth. LSi has purchased premises in Cleckheaton which are four times the size of its previous office and will accommodate expansion plans. 26 employees, £3m turnover.

Rainton Bridge-based IT specialist’s US launch brings new jobs Rainton Bridge-based IT specialist 4th aspect is creating new jobs as it gears up for a U.S. launch.  The firm has just completed the first stage of a £300,000-plus investment from Rivers Capital Partners and Tweed Renaissance Investors Capital

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £6m funding package for new Harrogate Head Office for Larson Group Recruitment company Larson Group has agreed a £6m banking deal to support its growth plans which include a new 5,000 sq ft head office in the centre of Harrogate.  The company has an annual turnover of £33.5m

New science and technology hub means 2,000 potential new jobs in Newcastle Sir Robert McAlpine has secured the contract to construct the first building at Science Central in Newcastle, a planned science and technology hub combining commercial, residential, retail and leisure space. The development, a partnership between Newcastle City Council and Newcastle University, has secured £30m of funding.  It could create 2,000 jobs.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £1m investment in Eggleston Steel Steel processor Eggleston Steel provides products for companies in the engineering, fabrication and construction sectors. It invested £1m in a steel profiling machine and associated equipment, plus new premises to house it.  Since its installation, the turnover for the division has increased by 36 per cent from £1.2m to £1.5m, contributing to total revenue of more than £7m.

Sunderland call centre expands creating 350 new jobs Sunderland-based 2Touch has increased staffing levels from 900 to 1,250 in the six months to March 2013, after gaining several contact centre contracts.  2Touch has also invested in staff training and development and technology, allowing it to deliver complex, multi-channel contact centre and e-commerce fulfilment solutions to clients.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Tamworth-headquartered ThinCats expands into Yorkshire Tamworth-headquartered ThinCats, the online marketplace for secured business loans, is to enter Yorkshire with help from sponsor Sterling Capital Reserve, a specialist commercial finance brokerage.

Cambridge Consultants creating 50 skilled jobs on expansion in Asia Technology innovator Cambridge Consultants is creating 50 new jobs in 2013, in the UK and US, with roles available in business development, project management, software and mechanical engineering, computer science, mathematics and physics. The company, which has grown year-on-year for a decade, is opening an office in Singapore. 380 employees, £36.7m turnover.

Home Bargains’ expansion in Northern Ireland creates new jobs TJ Morris is opening a £500,000 Home Bargains store in Cookstown, Northern Ireland, creating 40 jobs. The 18,000 sq ft discount store will be the eighth to open in the province, joining 300 others across the UK. TJ Morris plans to open 50 more stores in Northern Ireland in the 12 months to March 2014.

Walker AEC, acquires QA Precision Engineering with potential for new jobs Walker AEC, which manufactures aerospace assemblies and components, has acquired fellow Dorset company QA Precision Engineering. QA will continue to trade as a stand a loan company and will be expanded, creating new jobs.  QA supplies components to the defence, nuclear, petro-chemical, aerospace, marine and commercial sectors.

Newcastle gym opens with 40 jobs created Xercise4less has opened a new gym in Newcastle, creating 40 jobs. Opportunities are available for operation managers, membership consultants, personal trainers, instructors and housekeepers. Leeds-based Xercise4less operates eight more budget gyms in the north of England and plans to expand to the Midlands.

Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk

The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

Standard Life Wealth opens Bristol office with potential new jobs Investment and fund management business Standard Life Wealth has launched a new office in Bristol. It is the fourth office for the business, which already has premises in London, Edinburgh and Birmingham. The expansion could create employment opportunities. Turnover £8.2m

Stanbridge Associates open new Lincoln office with potential new jobs Accountancy firm Stanbridge Associates is relocating to new offices in Lincoln in April 2013 as a result of continued expansion. The move could lead to the creation of more jobs at the firm, which has 25 employees.

Atmosphere Cooling expands manufacturing space with move to Kettering bringing new job Atmosphere Cooling, which specialise in refrigeration equipment and air conditioning units, has moved from Market Harborough, Leicestershire, to larger premises in Kettering, Northamptonshire, doubling its manufacturing capacity. The expanding business gained several new clients in 2012 and plans to increase staff headcount in 2013.

Footsure partnership with Universal Textiles creates jobs Footsure, the safety footwear business, is to take on more staff in Gloucester after partnering with Leicester company Universal Textiles to expand into foreign markets. Footsure has appointed a distributor in France.  Footsure has eight employees and is part of wholesaler Gardiner Bros.

JCB global expansion strategy means potential new jobs JCB, which manufactures earth-moving equipment, is investing £8 at its plants in Wrexham and Staffordshire, in preparation for future growth in global markets. It has commissioned a £2m axle-manufacturing unit for its Wrexham plant and is investing £4m in machine tools at its Rocester headquarters. The expansion could create jobs. Turnover £2.7bn, 8,360 employees.

Creation of Chester business district means 3,500 jobs expected Muse Developments is to start work on a £100m project to create a new business district in Chester city centre in early 2014, providing 70,000 sq. ft. of office space.  The Central Business Quarter project is part of the wider, 15-year One City Plan regeneration, which is expected to create 3,500 jobs.

Bristol office and retail development brings potential new jobs Salmon Harvester Properties is to start work shortly on the £35m development of a 100,000 sq. ft. office, retail and restaurant development in Bristol. Ground works have already been completed on the Two Glass Wharf development, which could create employment opportunities. Completion is scheduled for October 2014.

Swansea University campus development means 4,000 new jobs expected St Modwen is to develop a £450m science and innovation campus for Swansea University, including student apartments, academic and retail space. As the freeholder of the site, St Modwen has sold the income from the student accommodation to the M&G Secured Property Income Fund for £32m. 4,000 direct jobs will be created during construction.

Viropharma expands Maidenhead office creating new jobs US-headquartered biotech company Viropharma has expanded its UK base in Maidenhead, Berkshire, potentially creating new jobs. Viropharma has increased its office space at Chatsworth House, Broadway, to more than 10,000 sq. ft. Turnover £5.4m, 30 employees.

WRS relocates to new premises in Stoke-on-Trent creating 50 jobs WRS, which specialises in contract packaging and rework for retailers, has relocated from Cheshire to the 430,000 sq. ft. Campbell Centre in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, creating 50 jobs. The new premises will meet future expansion plans.

Management Moves: The Institute of Welsh Affairs appoints new director The Institute of Welsh Affairs, an independent think tank, dedicated to promoting the economic, social, environmental and cultural well being of Wales, has named Lee Waters as director.  Mr Waters takes over from John Osmond.  Mr Waters is director of green transport organisation Sustrans Cymru.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Contract secured by Mitie for Energy Innovation Centre Project Outsourcing business Mitie has been awarded a contract to develop an energy innovation centre in Cambridge after the project secured 18m of funding from the UK Green Investment Bank.  The business is to develop the energy centre for Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and then operate it for a 25-year term.  The UK Green Investment Bank will provide 18m of funding for the project, which is its first investment in the NHS.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Stockton-based HCS Drain Services makes £800K equipment Investment Stockton-based HCS Drain Services, a division of civil engineering company the Owen Pugh Group, has invested £800K in specialist CCTV equipment to survey drains and sewers, after securing a raft of new business.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Green Investment Bank releases capital back to original developers The Green Investment Bank set up by the government to back energy projects, has taken a 24.95 per cent stake in Rhyl Flats Wind Farm from companies owned by RWE AG for £57.5m.  Greencoat UK Wind has also taken 24.95 per cent from RWE.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Warrington-based postal operator Secured Mail funds investment in machinery and jobs Warrington-based postal operator Secured Mail has secured another round of funding from its private equity backer Next Wave Partners.  The funding will support the expansion of its home shopping packet service, including investment into machinery and new jobs at its sorting office.  Turnover in 2013 is expected to grow to £80m, up from £48m two years ago.

Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk www.theukknackgroup.co.uk

The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

1,200 new jobs as BT Sport launched BT Group is recruiting 800 new employees for the launch of its Sport TV channel in summer 2013. Jobs will be created at call centres in Accrington, Canterbury, Doncaster, Truro, Warrington, Newcastle, Glasgow and Dundee.  400 temporary jobs will also be created. The BT Sport channels will be based in Stratford, London.

Recruitment at Bluewater Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent recorded a 6.7% rise in sales across its retailers in February 2012. Strong demand for menswear contributed to growth. Retailers at the centre are recruiting to fill a variety of roles at all levels.

Castle View Day Nursery refurbished creating 13 new jobs Castle View Day Nursery has opened in Leicestershire in premises purchased and refurbished with funding from Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking. The nursery currently provides care for 12 children but has space for 45.  It plans to increase its team from two employees to 15 as the number of children increases.

£35m investment in County Durham shopping centre expansion brings 500 new jobs County Durham shopping centre Dalton Park is to be expanded in a £35m investment, which will create 500 jobs. The development will include a food store, cinema, restaurants, petrol station, hotel and pub. Work will begin on site within a year and take 12 months to complete.

West Glamorgan-based food supplement manufacturer targets European sales Cultech, a West Glamorgan-based food supplement manufacturer, has secured a £3m export invoice finance facility with HSBC, to help expand its international sales to 50% of turnover, from its current level of 40%. Following several years of business growth Cultech plans to increase sales in Europe.  £17m turnover, 170 employees.

£25m bank funding secured by Discount retailer for international expansion Discount retailer B&M Bargains has secured a £25m revolving credit facility with Barclays Bank.  The retailer has sales of over 1bn from 320 stores and is expected to launch an international expansion strategy. In December 2012 US private equity firm Clayton Dubilier and Rice acquired a significant stake in the company.

Investment pledge for Malmaison after acquisition by US VC Hotel operator Malmaison has pledged to invest up to £10 million in its properties, after an American venture capital firm acquired it for an estimated £180m.  KSL Capital Partners, based in Colorado, will invest in the 27-strong Malmaison and Hotel du Vin chains and will continue its brand development plans including an extensive renovation programme and expansion within the UK, European and international markets.

Upgrading of Birmingham office space means potential new jobs in global insurance broker Marsh, the global insurance broker and risk management company, has signed a ten-year lease for 11,500 sq. ft. of space at Birmingham office development Colmore Plaza. It will relocate from Tricorn House in Birmingham.  Marsh has 26,000 employees operating in 100 countries.  The move could create employment opportunities.

£258m European loan secured for on-going R&D projects by Netherlands-based EADS Netherlands-based EADS, the owner of Airbus, is to receive a £257.7m loan from the European Investment Bank to support its innovation and R&D programmes. The funding will help EADS develop projects aimed at reducing the impact of aviation on the environment.  EADS UK has a turnover of £28.7m and 170 employees.

50 Apprenticeships created by London Apprenticeship Company The London Apprenticeship Company is launching a new project to create 50 Apprenticeships in 5 weeks.  The East End Apprenticeship Project aims to create these apprenticeships by engaging with employers in and around the City and East End of London and facilitating the recruitment of local talented young people into jobs. The project is jointly run by Hackney Council, Hackney Community Centre, the London Apprenticeship Company and the National Apprenticeship service.

Kent wind farm opens creating 100 jobs The London Array has started generating power, becoming the largest working offshore wind farm in the world. The project has created 100 jobs and more than £14m investment in the east Kent economy. It will generate power to fuel 500,000 homes.  The array is a joint venture between DONG, E.ON and Masdar.

Expansion in London Boroughs with 145 hotels planned and 80 jobs expected in Merton Travelodge is to open four new hotels in the London Borough of Merton, as part of a wider plan to open 145 hotels across London Boroughs.  The Merton hotels would create 80 jobs and bring £8m to the borough. Travelodge is seeking development sites in Mitcham, Morden, Wimbledon town centre and Wimbledon Village.

Tyne & Wear based Vertu Motors secures bank funding for expansion Tyne & Wear based Vertu Motors has secured a refinance package with Barclays to help fund further acquisitions, following the takeover of several dealers in recent months. Its objective is to develop a scaled business in the automotive retail sector. 2013 turnover is expected to exceed £1.2bn.  3,300 employees.

Funding secured by Newport Unlimited Urban regeneration business Newport Unlimited has secured additional funding of £606,000.  The sum is set to unlock capital funding of up to £3.5m and help Newport Unlimited and Newport Council develop a new approach to economic development and regeneration.

WRP strategic investment in partnership with SFX Entertainment Inc. WPP has announced strategic investment in digital media company that specialises in electronic dance music events, SFX Entertainment Inc.  The deal is part of the communications services groups strategy of developing digital media beyond traditional advertising.

Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk

www.theukknackgroup.co.uk