The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

www.theukknackgroup.co.uk

Leicestershire-based CMS Cepcor opens £3m technical centre creating 10 jobs Leicestershire-based CMS Cepcor, which makes parts used in mining, has opened a £3m, 30,000 sq. ft. technical centre to help fulfil strong overseas demand, creating 10 jobs. The centre will increase capacity and facilitate product development. The firm, which has 66 staff, is taking on apprentices from Stephenson College. Turnover of £24m is expected in 2013.

Centrick Property opening second Birmingham office with potential new jobs Centrick Property, a lettings, estate agency and property management company, is to open its second office in Birmingham. The agency will invest £70,000 in fitting out the 1,100 sq. ft. premises, which are expected to open on 1 May 2013, potentially creating new jobs. 50 employees.

Venture Capital: £1.5m funding secured by Manchester manufacturer Greater Manchester manufacturer MHA Lighting is hoping to double turnover by the end of 2013 after securing £1.5m in new capital from the North West Fund and Harwell Capital.  The company recorded turnover of £1.5m in 2012 and is on target to reach £3m by the end of this year.

Iliad secures major Warrington contract with 5,000 potential new jobs Iliad has been selected by Warrington Borough Council as joint venture partner for a £190m development in Warrington.  The 10-year project will connect the bus interchange with the Warrington Wolves Halliwell Jones Stadium and provide educational, business and leisure facilities and residential property. 1,000 construction jobs and 4,000 permanent jobs are expected.

£4.6m finance package secured by Specialist Heat Exchangers Lincolnshire-based Specialist Heat Exchangers has secured a £4.6m finance package to support its expansion into the US, Middle East, South America and China.  The funding from HSBC's Leicestershire Commercial team will also enable the company to develop new products, widening the markets it can serve.  The company employs 120 staff ad will be adding a further seven as a result of its planned growth.

National Express secures £80m contracts with potential for new jobs National Express has secured two contracts worth £80m over seven-years, which could create US and UK jobs. It has signed an agreement to run a coach service between London Luton Airport and London Victoria Coach Station from 1 May 2013. It is also to provide operations and maintenance for Solano County Transit in Vallejo, California.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Newcastle University secures £7m government funding for Centre for Subsea and Offshore Engineering Newcastle University has been handed £7m of government funding to establish the Neptune Centre for subsea and offshore engineering. The move is part of an oil and gas strategy designed to secure billions of pounds of future investment.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Griffin Freight Services secures finance package for new vehicles and 15 new jobs Nottinghamshire transport and haulage company Griffin Freight Services, is preparing for further growth after investing £500K in new vehicles and creating 15 jobs with support from Yorkshire Bank.

Nagra Media UK creates 25 new jobs in Cwmbran Office premises. Bank funding. Nagra Media UK is to expand its operations in Cwmbran and create 25 skilled jobs.  The expansion is supported with business finance from the Welsh Government.

20 New Jobs in online fashion retailer ASOS Online fashion retailer ASOS is to create 20 jobs in Birmingham to assist its global growth plans.  The company is recruiting 20 senior positions to focus on creating new company websites.  The number of roles in Birmingham could rise to about 50 over the next 12 months.

£20m factory development in Wednesbury, West Midlands with potential new jobs Opus Land and property investor St Francis Group, are undertaking a £20m factory development in Wednesbury, West Midlands, which could create jobs. A £4m project to clear the site has begun and should be completed by the end of 2013. The firms will then look for firms to move onto the site.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Seneca investment in T&E Display Seneca has made its first investment in the Midlands in Birmingham-based T&E Display Group.  The investment supports the management's development of the business, which is also set to benefit from operational and market synergies in other Seneca portfolio investments Seneca in the sector.  Seneca invest in businesses across most sectors with turnover of between £5m and £100m.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £250K investment means new jobs in SocialRel8 Software company SocialRel8, that helps call centres to provide better customer service by improving the way staff handle inquiries, has secured £250,000 of investment.  £100,000 from the Finance for Business North East Proof of Concept Fund with a further £150,000 coming from a number of angel investors.  This new funding will create jobs and help to develop complementary products.

Grimsby wind farm brings 50 new jobs THE contract to construct the £3-million E.on operations and maintenance base on Grimsby's North Quay has been awarded to ISG Plc, an international services company that delivers fit out and build.  The contract will lead to 50 permanent jobs in the town.

Venture Capital: £14m funding expected for Electronic Patient Record System   The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust expects to receive nearly £14m in government funding for taking CSC's Lorenzo electronic patient record system.  An interim deal between the Department of Health and CSC gives the first ten trusts who commit to taking the system before April a signing-on bonus of 1m, as well as up to 4m in implementation expenses.  The trust will receive centrally provided funding of nearly 5m in deployment charges and 4.7m in service charges for the full EPR over five years.

£70m Outsourcing Partnership: £600K Contract Win - Job Gains UNIFY has won a contract to supply telecommunications to international service company Serco as part of its £170m outsourcing partnership with Aegon UK.  The contract is valued at £600K and is to be delivered over a five-year period resulting in the creation of 5 permanent IT roles.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: First investment made by Warwickshire-based Mercia Fund Management Warwickshire-based Mercia Fund Management has made its first investments from its latest fund to Warwick Audio Technologies and Keele-based NanoTherics.  Mercia Growth Fund 1 was launched in 2012 and reached about 2m in size. The second growth fund is expected to close by June 2013.

Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk