The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

Manufacturing Technology Centre recruiting 10 apprentices in partnership with Warwickshire College The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry has entered into a new agreement with Warwickshire College as part of its growing apprentice-training programme. A further ten engineering apprentices will join the MTC in September as a result of the new agreement. Turnover £4.9m.

Management Moves: @UK, a cloud expands in Australia new executive appointment made and ecommerce contracts secured @UK, a cloud e-commerce marketplace, has signed contracts with an Australian government shared service organisation for electronic marketplace research and spend analysis. It has appointed Matthew Clyne to head its Australian operation, where it has secured opportunities worth 2.4m Australian dollars per annum.

Venture Capital: 244m funding agreed by Green Deal Finance A £244m funding package has been agreed between the Green Deal Finance Company (TGDFC) and its stakeholders. The money is to make low-cost finance available to companies delivering energy efficiency improvements for homeowners, landlords and tenants under the government-sponsored Green Deal scheme.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £400m sale of Noble Foods A large stake in Noble Foods, the Hertfordshire-based eggs supplier is to be sold for an expected £400m. Chairman Peter Kent and co-founder Michael Kent are to open talks with private equity bidders and overseas rivals about the sale, which is being led by investment bank Rothschild.  Turnover £594.6, 1,800 employees.

Management Moves:  New CEO joins Antenova Ltd CEO Greg McCray, who has helped grow Antenova Ltd into a global concern, has left the Cambridge UK wireless technology business as it executes a new strategy to target the burgeoning Machine2Machine.  Antenova will now be run by M.D Chris Flack, whilst Greg McCray has become CEO of ACAL Energy in Cheshire

Coventry-based engineering company Penso creating 100 new jobs Coventry-based engineering company Penso is to create 100 new skilled jobs over three years, increasing its workforce to 240.  The company is recruiting more staff to help service its growing client base.  It is expanding rapidly after securing funding through the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative

Darley Abbey Stables Sanctuary development plans mean potential new jobs Darley Abbey Stables Sanctuary plans to restore the historic Darley Abbey Stables and adjacent Bakehouse in Derby, to create eight individual workspaces. The largest unit, which will be transformed into a pilates and yoga studio, has already attracted interest from a potential occupier. The development could create jobs.

99p Stores opening new Nailsea store creating 30 jobs Discount retailer 99p Stores is opening a branch in Nailsea, Somerset, as part of its business expansion strategy.  Thirty new jobs will be created at the store, which opens in April 2013. Turnover £27m, 3,440 employees.

Northumberland-based manufacturer creating 11 apprenticeships Egger, a Northumberland-based manufacturer of based wood based panels, is investing in its future workforce by developing an apprentice facility and training 11 apprentices. The company, which employs 550 workers at its Hexham plant, will open the training facility in May 2013. £168m turnover.

Record sales by Ringtons Family owned tea business Ringtons based in Newcastle, has posted sales of 41m for the first time in the company’s 106-year history. They have also increased their workforce by 23.  They have also secured a number of prestigious new clients to the trade services division.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: New equity investment in Manchester-based online ticketing platform Fatsoma, the growing Manchester-based online ticketing platform, has secured new equity investment from The North West Fund and LateRooms founder Chris Allen to help accelerate its international expansion. Fatsoma is targeting revenues of £7.5m in 2013. 20 employees.

25 New Jobs in Hampshire travel firm Hampshire travel firm Lucketts Travel is to expand its workforce by creating 25 new jobs.  It comes after Lucketts Travel Group, which is based in Wallington, Fareham, won a number of contracts with National Express to operate a host of routes across the south.

New IKEA Sheffield store plans could bring 400 jobs IKEA intends to open a new store in Sheffield, which could create up to 400 jobs. The home furnishing company is in the process of preparing a planning application.

Giant MoD facility set to create 2,000 jobs to Bicester Industrial premises. Plans for a 125million defence gateway that could bring 2,000 new jobs to Bicester were given the go-ahead last Thursday.

Insurance firm Autonet opens training centre with 130 new jobs Insurance firm Autonet is investing £250,000 to establish a training centre at its former call centre HQ in Burslem, West Midlands, and to create 130 new jobs in 2013.  It has secured £50,000 of support for the plans from Stoke-on-Trent City Council. 650 employees, £25.4m turnover.

Management Moves: New Director for Calvert & Fletcher Leeds-based banking recruitment consultancy Calvert & Fletcher has relaunched as Campbell & Fletcher following the addition of new director Alison Campbell.  The company specialises in career development for bankers at all levels of management.

Merlin Entertainments expansion in Dorset creates 30 jobs Merlin Entertainments is creating 30 jobs at its Sea Life Centre in Weymouth, Dorset, to cover the busy summer period. Neil Polter is head of operations at the centre.  Merlin Entertainments (Sea Life) Ltd: turnover £18.5m, 250 employees.

New M.D in Micro Pr Micro P an IT Distributor has employed Paul Bryan as Managing Director, Paul was previously the Sales Director.  Micro P has recently passed the £1b turnover level and employs 527 staff.

90 new jobs in Nottingham Regeneration Ltd Nottingham Regeneration Ltd who have successfully managed the first phase of the Southglade Food Park are now working towards phase two which will create 90 new jobs.  The park provides a place for food and drink firms to start up and develop. Nottingham City Council secured £4.25m from the European Regional Development Fund and will also spend £1.67 million from its own funds.

Private Equity / Bank Funding for NRL Group Recruitment and technical services business NRL Group, which has an operation in Washington, has agreed a new £16m refinance deal with Barclays to support its acquisition plans.  The £90m turnover company is on target to achieve £100m in 2013.

12 new jobs in RRG Kia in Bury RRG Kia in Bury have applied to the council to extend their showroom by 80 sq. metres.  They are aiming to double in size by 2015 and will start selling Nissan cars.  Turnover £238.8m employing 602 staff.

Venture Capital: New investment in Software company Inquisitive Systems Software company Inquisitive Systems have received a total of £500,000 Archangel, TRI Cap, The Scottish Investment Bank and existing investors.  The investment is to accelerate the development of ZoneFox, a security system that provides alerts to breaches of companies’ security policy, launched in 2012.

Spark Response contract with BT brings 50 new jobs Spark Response, the contact centre division of Spark Ecommerce, will create about 50 jobs after securing a new contract with BT. Spark Response, along with sister company Spark Etail, recently announced the formation of overarching brand, Spark eCommerce Group.

Management Moves: 3 new executives and 1 promotion at Castleford Tigers Super League side Castleford Tigers have taken on 3 new executives and promoted Steve Gill to Chief Executive.  The other 3 new members have all come from Coca-Cola and are Mark Grattan as New Commercial Director, Richard Pell as Commercial Manager and Sally Jackson as Membership Management

200 new jobs in Leeds with Dart Group The Dart Group is to create nearly 200 new jobs in Yorkshire as they expand their airline and holiday business into new offices in Leeds.  The Dart Group is taking several floors at The Mint block in Holbeck for its fast-growing Jet2holidays business after running out of room at the group’s headquarters.

£20m retail development in Llanedeyrn means potential new jobs The Maelfa Regeneration Partnership, led by Bouygues Development, has been selected by Cardiff Council to redevelop Maelfa Shopping Centre in Llanedeyrn.  The partnership also includes Cardiff Community Housing Association, United Welsh Housing Association, Persimmon Homes, Leadbitter, and Austin Smith Lord. The £20m development could create employment opportunities.

Range Home and Leisure opening Aberdeen store with 150 new jobs The Range Home and Leisure is to open its first store in Scotland and create 150 jobs. The retailer plans to convert a former nightclub and bingo hall at Queens Link Leisure Park Aberdeen into a 60,000 sq. ft. DIY and furniture store.  2,500 employees.

Leeds store opened - new jobs - business expansion Tyne and Wear-headquartered retailer The Pen Shop has opened a store in the newly opened Trinity Leeds shopping centre, creating jobs.  The store, which is the 25th UK Pen Shop store, was opened as part of an on-going business expansion strategy. Turnover £8.5m, 135 employees.

Partnership with Footsure brings Leicester new jobs Universal Textiles, a Leicester online retailer specialising in clothing and home textiles, has made sales of £500K since teaming up with Gloucester safety shoe supplier Footsure and employed two new people.

Horizon Platforms brings new jobs to Warrington West Yorkshire firm Horizon Platforms is investing £1m and creating four jobs at its new depot in Warrington.  The company currently runs a fleet of 400 platforms and plans to add a further 150 new machines into its Warrington branch in a £1m investment.

Management Moves: New director at Interserve Wigan based construction company Interserve has promoted Phil Shaw to associate director at its 80-strong office in Beech Hill.  In the first 3 months of 2013 Mr Shaw has overseen starts on 50m of new work commissioned through Procure 21+ NHS framework.  Turnover as start of 2012 £733.7m and they employ 2693 http://www.theukknackgroup.co.uk/ Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk