The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

200 new jobs in Stratford-upon-Avon as Sitel UK expands contact centres Sitel UK is set to create 200 jobs with the expansion of two of its contact centres, including in Stratford-upon-Avon, following a number of new contract wins.  Sitel UK, part of the global Sitel Group, employ 2,100 staff in its nationwide network of contact centres.

Drax power contract secured in £70m ports investment with 200 jobs expected Associated British Ports (ABP) has signed a 15-year contract to handle biomass shipments for Drax Power. ABP will invest 70m in the ports of Immingham and Grimsby, with 30m divided between the ports of Hull and Goole. The investment will create 100 construction jobs and an additional 100 jobs when operational.

New Liverpool dementia care facility creates new jobs Beechside Residential Care Home in Liverpool has increased capacity from 28 to 36 residents and built a specialist dementia day care facility with £145,000 of support from Merseyside Special Investment Fund. Brightholme Care Services, which owns the facility, employs 32 staff, with 6 more jobs expected.  Turnover expected reach £900,000 within two years.

Management Moves: Equity chief joins Latham in London Clifford Chance lose another member of staff, private equity chief David Walker has joined Latham in London, this is the second staff member to leave Clifford Chance for Lathams in the past 4 years.  Another private equity chief has not yet been appointed. CC turnover 86m employing staff of 363.

Warwickshire factory expansion plans mean potential new jobs Following a year of exceptional business growth, West Midlands-based Lunn Engineering has invested £250,000 on new machinery with funding from Yorkshire Bank. Plans are underway to extend its Warwickshire factory due to growing demand for its services from major organisations. The expansion could create jobs.

20 new jobs at York-based provider of management software Legend Club Management Systems, a York-based provider of management software, is creating 15 to 20 jobs in 2013, after increasing turnover by 31% in 2012 and headcount by 25% to 60. It plans to create a range of opportunities from entry level IT jobs to senior engineering jobs.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £4.6m Funding Secured for new Plymouth boatyard Luxury boat producer Princess Yachts has secured £4.6m of government funding for a new boatyard in Plymouth.  The money from the Regional Growth Fund would secure 400 jobs.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £40m banking facility secured by NCC Group NCC Group, the Manchester-based IT security software company, has agreed a new £40m banking facility with Royal Bank of Scotland. The funding will allow NCC to continue to develop through its business acquisition strategy. Turnover £87.7m, 600 employees.

Manchester Victoria station restoration brings potential new jobs Network Rail is investing £44m to restore Victoria Station in Manchester.  The investment will future-proof the station, ahead of the electrification of the line to Liverpool.  The development has the potential to create employment and business opportunities. The works are expected to be completed by the end of 2014. Turnover £6bn, 35,200 employees.

Security apprenticeship partnership for Mitie Outsourcing firm Mitie has launched the security sector's first full-time apprenticeship scheme.  The scheme is run by Mitie's security management business alongside training provider Skills for Security. It aims to provide a mix of study and practical training, giving young people the opportunity to learn alongside experienced operators.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: New factory for Plymouth-based Plessey Semiconductors Plymouth-based Plessey Semiconductors is to build a new factory with £3.1m from the Regional Growth Fund, safeguarding 199 jobs

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Conygar Investment Company refinances portfolio Property investment and development company Conygar Investment Company, which has projects across Wales, has completed on a new three-year £11m loan with The Royal Ban of Scotland.  The facility replaces its previous £11m loan with Capita, which was secured on the portfolio and repaid in January 2013.

Venture Capital: New funding via Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme Reading based life science MabLyte and the Isle of Wight based Watertronix have become the first two beneficiaries of early-stage Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) finance from Mercia Fund Management.  Both companies have received £150,000 each.

Management Moves: New chief executive needed by Severn Trent Severn Trent chief executive Tony Wray is set to retire from the utilities giant next year.  They have begun the search for his replacement in 2014 to carry company from strength to strength.  Turnover £1.4b employing 5162 staff.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: New jobs in Somerset accountancy firm Somerset accountancy, The Local Accountant firm has created four new jobs after securing a loan from Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking for a new site in Weston-Super-Mare.  The firm plans to double its current turnover of about £200,000 over the next three years with the move.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £5m loan secured by Somerset-based luxury leather firm Pittards Somerset-based luxury leather firm Pittards has secured a £5m loan from Lloyds Bank to help it accelerate its growth strategy, with a particular focus on exports, which account for 90% of the business. £37m turnover, 1,200 employees.

The Itsu restaurant and retail chain creates 350 new jobs The Itsu restaurant and retail chain is creating 350 jobs after securing a 14m funding package from HSBC. The company, which operates 38 London shops and has two flagship restaurants, is seeking opportunities for expansion. Turnover £37.2m, 570 employees.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Refinancing of Bicester Village secured Value Retail, a developer and operator of outlet shopping villages, has secured a £320m loan to refinance Bicester Village in Oxfordshire.  The company intends to use the proceeds to repay existing facilities.  Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk