The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

CML Microcircuits (UK) expands in Sheffield and establishes design engineering team Semiconductor manufacturer CML Microcircuits (UK) has established a design engineering team in Sheffield as part of its on-going expansion.  The team will develop services for wireless applications and will operate as an extension of its existing Essex-based engineering department.

Management Moves: Audi appoints Marketing Head Audi UK, a trading division of Volkswagen Group, has appointed Nick Ratcliffe as head of marketing. Mr Ratcliffe replaces Dominic Chambers who left the automatic brand in December 2012.  Mr Ratcliffe plans to change the marketing focus in order to make more of the brands potential for engagement.

Management Moves: Albemarle and Bond seeking new Chief Executive Berkshire-based pawnbroker Albemarle and Bond is seeking a new chief executive after incumbent Barry Stevenson brought forward his retirement.  Former chief executive Greville Nicholls becomes interim executive chairman until a new chief executive is selected. The company has warned that profits for the year to June 2013 are expected to be materially below current market expectations.

Management Moves: Business Development Executive appointed by Bluefin Insurance Bluefin Insurance has appointed Stephen King as Business Development Executive in its Bristol office.  Bluefin is expanding its business in the South West Region.

Management Moves: Birmingham team expanded by BNP Paribas Real Estate BNP Paribas Real Estate has continued its expansion with two appointments in its Birmingham office. Chris White has been appointed as the head of development consulting while Patrick Pryce has joined as the national head of debt advisory. Turnover £58.8m, 610 employees.

Management Moves: New chairman appointed by Bristol-based recruitment firm Granger Reis Bristol-based recruitment firm Granger Reis has appointed Michael Davies, former chief executive of Mace, as its new chairman.  Mr Davies is to assist specifically with international expansion plans.

Business expansion and 1500 new jobs in new parks in UK & Ireland at Center Parcs Center Parcs are continuing to expand with a new park in Bedfordshire nearing completion and plans to build a new park in Ireland. The 250m Bedfordshire park will employ 1,500 people when open. The company, headed by Martin Dalby, have a turnover of £291m and employ 5234 people.

Management Moves: EEF, the manufacturers organisation, makes executive appointment EEF, the manufacturers organisation, has appointed specialist consultant Linda Harrison as head of its new Manufacturing Growth unit in the North West.  The unit aims to help manufacturing companies grow by improving their efficiency and effectiveness. Turnover £34.9m, 390 employees.

Internaionale opening Hull store with potential new jobs Fashion retailer Internaionale has agreed a ten-year lease for 6,338 sq. ft. at the St Stephens Shopping Centre in Hull. The store is expected to open in spring 2013, with new jobs expected. Turnover £33.7m, 920 employees.

West Edinburgh business park development means potential new jobs J Smart & Co (Contractors) Plc. is planning a 1.69-hectare business development on the former Pentad site in West Edinburgh.  Phases one and two of the West Edinburgh Business Park will provide 52,452 sq. ft. of modern industrial units, with phase one scheduled for completion in spring 2014.  The development could create employment opportunities.

Edinburgh law firm Aberdein Considine creates 15 new jobs Law firm Aberdein Considine is opening two offices in Edinburgh creating 15 jobs and increasing its office network in Scotland to 17. The company employs more than 270 staff.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Corby investment programme at luxury boat builder Fairline Luxury boat builder Fairline invested in its manufacturing facilities in Corby and returned to profit after making losses since 2009. The manufacturing scale-up caps a successful turnaround investment programme over the last 18 months.  The firm, which employs 700 people, made a profit of £3.7 million turned round from a £6.7m loss the previous year.

Malvern Hills science park expansion means 150 new jobs expected Malvern Hills Science Park is creating a further 25,000 sq. ft. of office space and potentially 150 jobs.  The park already accommodates 23 businesses employing 300 staff. Phase four, which is expected to generate an extra £1.3m to £2m annually for the local economy, is expected to start in late 2013.

Management Moves: Midven appoints investment manager Midven, the Birmingham-headquartered venture capital specialist, has strengthened its investment management team with the appointment of Tim Grasby as an investment manager. Turnover £1.7m, 17 employees.

Motor dealership Halliwell Jones funds expansion with new jobs in Chester Motor dealership Halliwell Jones has opened a £5.5m service centre in Chester after securing a £7.6m loan from the Co-operative Bank.  The Chester upgrade increases capacity by over 250%. The company is creating new jobs and expected turnover to exceed 240m in 2013. 350 staff. Glyn Howes is finance director.

Management Moves: New chief executive appointed by Northern Ireland housing association Helm Housing Northern Ireland housing association Helm Housing has appointed Michael McDonnell, a former director of security firm G4S, as its new chief executive. His appointment follows the appointment of a new board in August 2012, after the association experienced financial difficulties.

New jobs in Scunthorpe in new Perfect Home retail premises Perfect Home, a national household goods retailer, has opened a new store in Scunthorpe creating 6 new permanent, full-time jobs. Turnover £57.3m, employees 431.

Management Moves: Senior management changes at recruitment firm Stark Brooks Recruitment firm Stark Brooks has appointed Gron Ffoulkes-Davies as its permanent chief executive. Ms Ffoulkes-Davies joined the firm as interim chief executive in May 2012. Former managing director Sally Toumi become executive chairman.  The firm has offices in Manchester and Leeds.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £1m investment secured by technology company RepKnight Technology company RepKnight, based in Drumbo, is to invest almost £1m as its targets new export markets.  The business has secured £338,500 from Invest NI, which includes part funding from the European Regional Development Fund, to spend on research and development. It has also received £88,700 to assist with overseas marketing activities.

New jobs in Teeside engineering company, Dormor Machine and Engineering Teeside engineering company, Dormor Machine and Engineering has doubled its workshop size and is planning to take on 5 more workers thanks to an uptake in orders.  The workshop will now cover 1200 sq. metres and will also provide the space to house a planned investment in new machinery.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £250m motorway service area purchase by the Extra MSA Group, The Extra MSA Group, which is backed by equity investor M3 Capital Partners, has completed a £250 million purchase of nine motorway service areas from Serena Properties Limited.  The investment increases ownership to 18 key locations and further acquisitions are under consideration.

Management Moves: CEO and COO appointed by Oxford Industries US-based Oxford Industries has appointed Mark Maidment as Chief Executive officer of its Ben Sherman men’s fashion brand.   Mr Maidment has been Creative Director at Ben Sherman since 2005.  Finance Director Lindsay Dunsmuir has been named as Chief Operating Officer of the Ben Sherman Group. Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk