The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

Six jobs created in Lincoln new tyre and exhaust facility A state-of-the-art tyre and exhaust facility is now open at the Pelham Centre, in Lincoln, creating six new jobs with a promise of more to come.

Expansion to create almost 200 jobs at Northumberland facility A global oil field service provider based in southeast Northumberland is expanding its premises and creating new jobs.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £1m funding for Abbeydale Foods growth plans Abbeydale Foods is planning further growth after raising more than £1m, part of which is being used to relocate its production base into larger premises. The group has raised a finance package from existing shareholders, which now includes Tata Steel subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise after its investment of £250,000.

New jobs created in Exeter consultancy Accountancy firm Ocean Consultancy near Exeter aims to create new jobs as part of expansion plans funded by a five-figure loan from Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking.

Management Moves: New head of e-commerce appointed by Arcadia Group Arcadia Group, the owner of high street fashion retailers Topshop and Dorothy Perkins, has appointed former American Express e-commerce chief Alex Tait as its group head of e-commerce.

Management Moves: Bluefin appoints Chairman Bluefin has appointed George Boden as non-executive chairman of the board. The move followed previous incumbent Ian Brimecome resigning.

10 jobs created in Brighouse metalworking firm Brighouse metalworking firm Arkoni is to create more jobs following a 30% rise in turnover to £4m in the last 12 months with a number of contract wins.  The firm already employs 40 staff.

Management Moves: Acting CEO appointed by Chesapeake Energy Corps Chesapeake Energy Corps board of directors named Steven C. Dixon acting CEO, while the company continues its CEO search.

Proposed £160m Edinburgh shopping brings 3,500 jobs   Construction and services group Interserve has formed a joint venture with landowner Tiger Developments to build a 160m shopping mall in Edinburgh that could create 3,500 jobs.

Equity firm buys 30% stake in Hyperion Insurance Group Equity firm General Atlantic has agreed to buy 30% of the shares in Hyperion Insurance Group, as the broking group prepares to float.

Halesowen-based Dot Net IT expects new jobs Halesowen-based Dot Net IT aims to double its turnover by the end of 2014 as it embarks on the next stage of its growth strategy. Dot Net also plans to take on more staff this year to train as developers and is in the process of re-launching its website to support the new growth target.

Venture Capital: Fishawack acquired by Growth Capital Partners Medical communications agency Fishawack has been acquired by Growth Capital Partners (GCP) in a £13m transaction.

New Inverness manufacturing base brings126 new jobs Medical products company Daktari Diagnostics is to locate its manufacturing base to Inverness, creating up to 126 posts.

17 new jobs in Gaia Technologies North Wales IT company Gaia Technologies has secured new contracts, increased turnover by £3m and created 17 new jobs over the past 12 months.  The expansion for Bangor-based IT business, Gaia Technologies comes after it was awarded £120,000 from the Welsh Governments Economic Growth

Management Moves: New Chief Executive for parcels firm Yodel Parcels giant Yodel, the UKs leading independent carrier in the home delivery market, has appointed Neil Lloyd chief executive.

Proposed quarry extension could mean new jobs Quarry operator Thompsons Of Prudhoe is planning to increase its activities in County Durham with an extension at Bishop Middleham Quarry, which will help secure 30 jobs and could potentially create new employment opportunities.

3 new jobs at Stone Technical Services Stone Technical Services is expanding its team after seeing increased demand for its lightning protection services, after work on structures including St Paul's Cathedral and Battersea power station.

New West Bromwich store needs 750 employees The multimillion-pound Tesco development in West Bromwich is expected to employ 750 people and open in June 2013.

Unify Business Solutions, creates five new jobs Unify Business Solutions, the Chesterfield-based voice and data communications specialist, has clinched a £600,000 contract to supply telecommunications services to global outsourcing company Serco.

Recruitment drive in wealth adviser firm Towry Wealth adviser firm Towry has reported a £1.6m increase in year-on-year profits for 2012 as it continues its recruitment drive. New equity raised to finance acquisitions in drive to double adviser numbers in next two years.

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