The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

Manchester office development brings potential new jobs Property business Mosley Street Ventures is planning to build a 162,000 sq. ft. office block on St Peters Square in Manchester. The block, part of a wider redevelopment of the square, should be completed by early 2016. The development could create employment opportunities.

Tomato business growth brings 80 Cheshire jobs APS Salads, one of the UK's biggest suppliers of tomatoes, are doubling their existing capacity as part of a 3.67m expansion project, creating 80 new jobs and 57,000 sq. ft. of space. The Cheshire-based company, headed by group managing director Mark Pearson, has a turnover of £38m.

Hartlepool firm expands creating 40 new jobs Brickwork Services Limited, based in Hartlepool, are expanding their business, creating 40 new jobs and investing more than £100k. The company, founder Steve Willis, currently employs 170 people and is recruiting to cope with contracts worth millions.

Management Moves: Chief Financial Officer appointed at Cluff Natural Resources Cluff Natural Resources, which focuses on investing in global oil and gas and mining assets, has appointed Graham Swindells as its Chief Financial Officer.

Management Moves: First Capital Connect (FCC), appoints new Managing Director First Capital Connect (FCC), a subsidiary of FirstGroup, has appointed David Statham as its new managing director. Mr Statham will take over from Neal Lawson on 24 May 2013. FirstGroup is one of the shortlisted bidders for the Thameslink franchise, with the process now moving to the next stage. FCC turnover £547.7m, 2,335 employees.

5 new jobs at Bath-based event management company Five Hats International, a Bath-based event management company, are relocating to new offices in the city centre and expanding their team as they forecast growth of up to 25% in 2013. 5 new team members will join the 15 currently employed by the company.

Management Moves: NewVoiceMedia appoints new Partner Manager Hampshire-based NewVoiceMedia, a leading provider of cloud contact centre solutions, has appointed Sara Smith as Partner Manager, strengthening support for its sales force contact centre technology.  Turnover £3.7m.

Management Moves: Hampshire-based Virgin Media appoints new CEO Hampshire-based Virgin Media has appointed Tom Mockridge, the former chief executive officer at News International, as its new chief executive. Mr Mockridge will take up the role when international cable company Liberty Global completes its takeover of Virgin Media later in 2013.  He will replace Neil Berkett who is to retire.

Management Moves: Stockley co-founder leaves Independent engineering practice Stockley may be rebranded following the departure of co-founder Martin Stockley.  The 16-strong company, based in Manchester and London, will be led by founding directors Julian Broster and Stephen O'Malley.

Admiral creating 240 new jobs in Wales Insurance business Admiral is to create 236 new jobs across its offices in South Wales.  New posts will be created in Swansea, Cardiff and Newport as business continues to expansion. Turnover declined in the first quarter of 2013 because of a fall in car insurance market premiums in the UK. 20111 turnover £640.8m, 4,250 employees.

IT Hotdesk expanding to meet demand IT Hotdesk, based in Aberdeen, have taken on 3 new employees to deal with demand. The company, headed by director Gordon Christie, are joined by Richard Murray, support engineer, as well as business development associate Fiona McIver, followed by a junior support engineer in June.

Newcastle Gin House brings 40 new jobs  Ladhar Developments are redeveloping the historic Old Turks Hotel in Newcastle into a modern gin and draft house, creating 40 jobs. The company, with director Barray Ladhar, will complete the work by the end of May 2013. Turnover £1.5m.

180 new jobs at Linden Foods in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland Linden Foods is creating 179 production and managerial jobs at its food plant in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The expansion is being supported by Invest NI with funding of £520,000.  It will help the company to meet demand for its products among export customers. Turnover £150.8m, 620 employees.

Management Moves: Lubbock Fine appoints senior tax partner London-based chartered accountant Lubbock Fine has appointed Clare Munro as senior tax partner.  The expanding firm has recently promoted three more partners.  It is developing a number of overseas opportunities and has offices in the Cayman Islands and Dubai.

Management Moves: London-based Schroders appoint new CFO London-based Schroders, the international asset management and private banking group, has appointed Richard Keers as a director and chief financial officer.  Mr Keers replaces Kevin Parry. Turnover £1.5bn, 2,850 employees.

Venture Capital: Brandspace assets acquired Media investment vehicle Miroma Ventures has bought assets of Brandspace, the experiential space and brand engagement business, out of administration.  Miromas diversified media business currently turns over 150m pa and includes Outdoor Plus, which provides digital screens in some of the UKs largest malls.

Newcastle-based Mincoffs Solicitors recruits Head of Commercial Property in on-going recruitment campaign Newcastle-based Mincoffs Solicitors has recruited Ryan Bannon as a partner to head up its commercial property department.  The appointment is part of a major recruitment campaign by Mincoffs and follows the addition Stewart Irvine as head of contentious services in February 2013. Turnover £2.3m.

Northumbrian Fine Foods co-packing deal brings 20 new jobs  Northumbrian Fine Foods, the Gateshead-based biscuit makers have secured a co-packing partnership with a leading UK brand, and will recruit 20 new members of staff as a result. The company also has a new MD, Mel Bugler (formerly of Fox's Biscuits) and employ 200 people in total. Turnover £16.9m.

Mitie wins £3m security contract and apprenticeship scheme launched Outsourcing firm Mitie has secured a £3m contract to provide security services to Essar Oil, for the Stanlow refinery in Cheshire.  Mitie has launched an apprenticeship scheme in the security sector, run by its security management business alongside training provider Skills for Security. Group turnover £2bn, 62,900 employees.

North-East distribution centre brings 40 new jobs  Panther Limited, the Northampton-based courier and warehousing company, has opened a new Northeast distribution centre in Peterlee, County Durham, creating about 40 new jobs and 15,000 sq. ft. of space. The new centre has allowed the company, MD Colin McCarthy, to take on £20m in new contracts. 240 employees.

Management Moves: Holder Mathias Co-founder to retire Peter Mathias is to retire in June 2013 from architecture practice Holder Mathias, which he co-founded.  The seven remaining partners will continue and Peter Gamble will stay as senior partner. Holder Mathias has in Cardiff, London and Munich.  It has 70 members of staff and a turnover of £5.3m.

Prestige Nursing creating 100 jobs in expansion in West Yorkshire Prestige Nursing is creating 100 jobs to meet rising demand for its services in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.  The company is recruiting care staff to look after elderly and disabled people and is also nurses to work in hospitals, respite centres, learning disability units and community projects. 92 employees, £21m turnover.

New jobs at Sage as CEO departs Sage, the financial software company, are recruiting following the successful launch of their Sage One software, where they have seen a four-fold increase in take-up since 2012. The company, based in Newcastle, will also need a new CEO as Paul Harrison is leaving in August 2013.

40 jobs created at Skandia Skandia, the investment platform provider, has recruited 40 new staff to speed up its re-registration processes.  It has also simplified application forms and launched a new online re-registration application system £37.3m.

Staples Inc. tripling e-commerce team with VP Global e-commerce appointed Staples Inc., the US-based office supplies chain, plans to triple the size of its e-commerce and information technology team by 2014 as part of a strategy to focus more on the web. The company has recruited Faisal Masud as its vice president of global e-commerce, a new position.

150 potential new jobs in Sainsbury Godalming store expansion plans Supermarket retailer J Sainsbury is planning to expand its store in Godalming, Surrey, by 5,000sq-ft, creating 150 jobs. Many of the jobs would be based in an online goods delivery facility. Turnover £22.3bn.

Management Moves: Business Growth Fund strengthens Midlands investment team The Business Growth Fund, which provides investments for fast-growing SMEs, has appointed a new regional director to its Midlands team. Mike Sibson, previously a director in the organisations Aberdeen office, will lead investment in the region.  He will be based in Birmingham.

Management Moves: Chairman retires at William Sinclair The chairman of Lincoln-based horticulture supplier William Sinclair is to retire from the company in September 2013.  Non-executive director Hugh Etheridge is to become non-executive chairman from 1 October 2013.

Armagh Prison Development brings 320 jobs The Trevor Osborne Property Group has had plans approved for the £23m redevelopment of the Armagh gaol. The project will see the listed building become a hotel, shops and apartments, creating 320 jobs.

New London Council contract –means 40 jobs for Waltham Forest residents Urbaser Limited, a Gloucs-based street-cleaning contractor, has secured a new contract with London's Waltham Forest Council, meaning 40 new positions have become available. The council has worked with the company to ensure that Waltham Forest residents have the best chance of employment. Turnover £5m.

Management Moves: New CFO appointed at WANdisco WANdisco, the Sheffield-based software developer, has recruited Paul Harrison to take over from Nick Parker as chief financial officer.  Mr Harrison, who joins the company from Sage, will take up the role in September 2013.  He will be based in California as a significant amount of sales are generated in the US.

Webhelp TSC call centre expansion means 400 new Scottish jobs Webhelp TSC, a telecommunications company based in France, are creating 400 new jobs across central Scotland, as well as a training academy. The company, CEO David Turner, already employs 3000 in Scotland and have already taken on 50 new employees aged 18-24 in the region. Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk