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.
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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.
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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.
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£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.
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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.
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£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.
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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.
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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.
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£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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Penny Winter
– The UK Knack Group
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