The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

Management Move: Executive to retire at law firm Irwin Mitchell A key executive at law firm Irwin Mitchell is to retire in April 2013. Joe Simpson is leaving to pursue new opportunities. The firm has grown rapidly in the three decades that Mr Simpson has been a partner. Turnover £187m, 60 employees.

35 new jobs at Aberdeen based Harkand Aberdeen based Harkand a sub sea service company will expand their offshore workforce with positions for up to 30 ROV technicians, of which 15 will be based in Aberdeen. They have invested 19m to increase their fleet to 29 vehicles as the market for inspection, repair and maintenance in the oil and gas industry grows.

Active Win Media secures backing from Betfred Active Win Media, a new Manchester-based marketing services agency, aims to expand to 50 staff within 10 months after gaining business support from gambling firm Betfred.  Active Win will provide marketing services to the Betfred.com online and mobile businesses, while Betfred will provide support such as funding, mentoring, office space, IT and HR.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £21.9m wind farm opens near Rotherham, South Yorkshire Banks Renewables has switched on its £21.9m wind farm near Rotherham, South Yorkshire.  The six turbines will generate enough power for 12,000 homes. A 500,000 fund has been set up to deliver environmental projects for the community. The project will run for 25 years.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Funding secured by Bradford-based Auker Rhodes Accounting Bradford-based Auker Rhodes Accounting has revealed growth plans to expand accounting and associated services, including corporate recovery and insolvency after securing new funding from Barclays.

Private Equity / Bank Funding:  Cheshire DBG (UK), acquired by partnership Cheshire DBG (UK), which provides services to the medical industry, has been sold by its private equity backer.  Global asset manager Carlyle Group has teamed up with London private equity house Palamon Capital Partners to acquire Winsford-based DBG (UK) from Synova Capital.  The company has a turnover of £7m and employs 80 staff.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Partial management buyout of Chesterfield-based CPL Industries Chesterfield-based CPL Industries, a smokeless fuel products manufacturer, has undergone a partial management buyout, part-funded by Lloyds Bank. Private equity shareholder Vision Capital has taken a majority stake with the senior management team holding the remaining shares. Sales have increased 45% to £140m in six years and further growth is expected.  500 employees.

Digital media company Perform expands Digital media company Perform has moved to new city offices after more than doubling in size in a year. Perform, which has 900 staff in 23 offices across the world as far as Japan and New Zealand.  They have now taken 3,800 sq. ft. office; they took on 25 staff in 2012 and are hoping to increase to 60 by the end of summer 2013. Turnover £103m employing 509 staff.

New jobs at Doncaster based Keepmoat Doncaster based Keepmoat creates new jobs on refurbishment schemes. They are working on the £36m Government Decent Homes programme in London, which will take about 3 years to finish.  Turnover £676m employing 2673 staff

New wind farm planned for Basingstoke, Hampshire. EDF Energy Renewables, a renewable energy supplier, is planning to develop a 14-turbine wind farm near Basingstoke, Hampshire. The proposed wind farm would be able to produce 28MW of low carbon energy - enough to supply the annual domestic electricity requirements of 13,000 homes. The development could create jobs.

2500 new jobs at Scottish Power Energy firm Scottish Power is looking at employing 2500 staff in the future depending on the successful regulatory settlement with watchdog Ofgem.  The majority of the jobs will be created in Scotland, with some in Merseyside and Wales.  Turnover £6.9m.

Creating 40 jobs at Greene King Plc with opening of Somerset pub Greene King Plc is opening a new Hungry Horse pub in Weston, Somerset, as part of its on-going expansion.  40 jobs will be created at the new premises, which will focus on attracting families and will offer good value food and drink. Turnover £1.1bn, 22,000 employees.

Halifax-based James Heal creating jobs Halifax-based James Heal, a manufacturer of textile testing laboratory instruments, recorded pre-tax profits of 705,000 for the year to October 2012, up from 617,000 in 2011. Turnover increased to £9.79m from £9.25m. The company has experienced three year of strong growth.  It is planning further investment in production and communications facilities and is creating manufacturing jobs

New Chairman for Easyjet John Barton, the chairman of Enderby fashion retailer Next, is to become the next chairman of low-cost airline Easyjet. He is a non-executive director and takes over from Sir Mike Rake; he starts his position 1st May 2013.  Turnover £3.8b and employ 8206 staff.

Contract with Supergroup brings 200 new jobs to Burton-on-Trent  Leeds-based retail logistics specialist Clipper has secured a major distribution contract with listed fashion retailer SuperGroup.  Clipper will service the long-term contract from a new 500,000 sq. ft. facility in Burton-on-Trent.  About 200 jobs will be created by the new facility.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: HQ extension for Middlesbrough-based Woodtech Joinery Middlesbrough-based Woodtech Joinery has acquired new premises, which will extend the company's head office site with funding from Barclays. Woodtech employs 20 staff with a £4m turnover and expects the new premises will further increase its customer base and turnover.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Neil Hudgell Solicitors secures bank funding for expansion Neil Hudgell Solicitors, a specialist personal injury law firm, has secured an acquisition finance package with HSBC to help accelerate its expansion programme. The firm, which has offices in Hull, Leeds and Solihull, has made 14 acquisitions in two years.

North-east sheet metal work company expansion means jobs Northeast sheet metal work company Washington Metal Works has expanded after moving into new premises.  The firm, which currently employs about 150 people, says it could create new jobs in the move to the new building, which was supported by Colliers International and should be fully operational in the summer

15 new jobs in Eagles Meadow Centre, Wrexham Real China have opened a new restaurant in Eagles Meadow Centre, Wrexham, this will create a minimum of 15 jobs.  The company have spent 500,000 mainly on decor and equipment.  This is first of their restaurants to be opened in North Wales.

Management Move: Investors takeover at Hornbuckle Mitchell Richard Wohanka is one of two new investors to have bought a 60.3 per cent controlling stake in Leicester-headquartered financial adviser Hornbuckle Mitchell. Following the deal, he has become non-executive chairman, while fellow investor Phil Smith has been appointed chief executive. David White, the firm's current managing director, will continue as a board member and senior executive, with his focus moving to client relationships and technical development.  The management team will be completed by the appointment of Tim O'Connor as managing director of proposition and distribution, and the firm is looking to hire a managing director of operations and processes

Management Move: SRL Technical Services appoints new Managing Director Suffolk-based acoustic consultancy SRL Technical Services has appointed existing director Jack Dalziel as its new managing director. Former Managing Director, Malcolm Every, will take up a role as non-executive director.  Under the leadership of Mr Every, SRL has developed into the largest independent acoustic consultancy in the country.

280 new jobs for Aberystwyth Tesco and Marks & Spencer are planning to open stores in Aberystwyth creating 300 jobs.  The Tesco store will be 37,000 sq. ft. and employ 200 staff; Marks and Spencer store will be 36,000 sq. ft. and employ 80 staff. Tesco turnover 64.5b and employing 406,000 staff. Marks and Spencer turnover £9.9b employing 81,200 staff.

Golfing complex means potential new jobs for Swadlincote, Derbyshire Tetron Point is making progress on a multi-million-pound golfing complex in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, which could create new jobs. The course, being built on 160-acre site owned by UK Coal, will include a hotel, clubhouse, administration building and golf academy.

The AA to open apprentice academy creating 1,000 new jobs The AA is planning to launch an apprentice academy, offering training for jobs across all departments, from recovery patrols to call centres. It plans to recruit between 650 and 1,000 new staff in the year to April 2014. Turnover £506.7m, 7,380 employees.

Proposed £84m South Lanarkshire wildlife attraction means 250 construction Jobs Wildside World Ltd, who own Yorkshire Wildlife Park, are preparing a proposal to South Lanarkshire Council for an £84m wildlife visitor’s centre.  250 jobs would be created on the construction side of it alone, with the company willing to work with Roots to Work South to increase local employment.  In addition to the visitor centre, there would be six restaurants and bars, a gift shop, car park and a hotel www.theukknackgroup.co.uk Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk