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