The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

Pub estate expansion means potential new jobs Brewery and pub operator JW Lees plans to buy 50 more pubs over five years, potentially creating employment opportunities.  It has launched a new beer, Manchester Pale Ale (MPA), as part of a strategy to appeal to younger drinkers.  The beer will be distributed nationally.

Asda e-commerce developments bring potential new jobs Asda is launching a grocery delivery service as part of a £700m UK expansion strategy, which will increase its focus on convenience stores and digital. It is launching a click-and-collect service across UK stores, with collection points at Asda petrol stations.  The expansion could create jobs.  17,500 UK employees.  £22.8bn sales.

Funding secured by Lincolnshire-based fishing bait manufacturer, bringing potential new jobs Chapel Bait, a Lincolnshire-based fishing bait manufacturer, has opened a 7,500 sq. ft. production facility, and launched a new website and product range after securing funding from Positive Cashflow Finance. It is investing in marketing to raise its profile and hopes to increase sales by 400%.  The expansion could create jobs. £250,000 turnover.

Management Moves: Congleton firm acquisition secured with former owners retained Facilita Software Development, based in Cheshire, has been purchased by London software tester TestPlant. Two of the former owners will take on senior roles with TestPlant.

Management Moves: Partners increased to 90 at law firm Browne Jacobson Law firm Browne Jacobson has increased partners at the firm to 90 as it builds on its strong platform for growth.  Derek Bambury becomes senior partner, replacing William Colacicci at the end of his term, who will continue as partner.  Two lawyers have also been promoted to the partnership, Nottingham-based Adrian Shardlow and London-based Ros Foster.

RWC Partners creating global equity unit with senior executive appointed London-based investment management firm RWC Partners has appointed global equities specialist Louise Keeling in order to develop a global equity unit. Ms Keeling joins RWC from Marathon Asset Management.  Further expansion of the new team will follow. Turnover £26.4m, 60 employees.

Venture Capital: £4m funding secured by Magmatic with proposed new jobs Magmatic, the firm behind the Trunki, has won £3.92m funding from the Business Growth Fund and is now planning the next ambitious phase of its development.  The investment will fund the development of new products, increase international sales and support the development of the Trunki brand with a marketing campaign. The company has 30 staff in Bristol, with a further 44 employed at the factory in Plymouth. The plan is to increase the workforce by 25 per cent over the next 12 months.

Turnover growth at Multrees Investor Services with 40 jobs created Multrees Investor Services, a Scottish company that provides complex support services for investment management firms has achieved sales of £5.5m and created 40 jobs in its first two full years in business.

17 new jobs at Northampton based Horiba UK Ltd Northampton based Horiba UK Ltd have created 17 new jobs as part of plans to build the business.  The firm, which provides analytical and control equipment, has tripled the sales of its Northampton operation in the last 3 years and is looking to grow further.  The company currently employ 170.

Online travel search company momondo recruits first CMO Online travel search company momondo has recruited Tore Pein Jensen as its first Chief Marketing Officer to support its expansion plans and increase its ability to compete with rivals such as Skyscanner. Turnover £35.7m, 110 employees.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Mouthguard development project funding secured Piranha Guard, a Lancashire-based manufacturer of sports mouthguards, has signed an agreement to supply boxer Amir Khan with its products. The boxer has agreed to wear the mouthguard following a series of tests with Manchester Metropolitan University. The project, including website development, was supported with funding from the Manufacturing Advisory Service.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £225m private equity fund for Help-Link Private equity firm NorthEdge Capital has invested in Help-Link, the Leeds-based boiler and central heating installation specialist. The investment is the third NorthEdge has made from its maiden £225m fund.  It follows investments into engineering firm FPE Global in February 2013 and IT solutions provider Jigsaw24, also in April 2013.

Bridgewater Canal, Salford marina and leisure development brings 85 new jobs Property development group Peel and house builder Taylor Wimpey are planning to build a 130-berth marina, 600 dwellings, retail and recreation facilities and a cafe, near the Bridgewater Canal in Salford. The development is part of Salford Councils Bridgewater Canal Masterplan, which could create 85 jobs.

Management Moves: Retailer Argos creates Head of Brand role Retailer Argos has appointed Nokia global brand director Joanne Savage to the new role of Head of Brand, to strengthen own-brand ranges and appeal to a broader customer range. Under a five-year transformation strategy Argos is modernising its business and increasing its digital focus. £3.9bn sales, 29,130 employees.

Plast-Tec Plastering Systems obtains funding for expansion with jobs created Sheffield construction business Plast-Tec Plastering Systems has doubled turnover to 1.7m in two years, secured new contracts and increased headcount from five to 70. An overdraft and a 100,000 factoring facility from Lloyds TSB allowed the firm to borrow against invoices, helping it to manage cashflow and fund new projects.

Venture Capital: Wholesaler Clearco Specialists acquired by Sutton Venture Group Staffordshire-based Sutton Venture Group has acquired St Helens-based Clearco Specialists, which supplies branded clearance products to high street retailers, from investment vehicle Tian Ma Global Investments. In one year Clearco achieved £1m sales and gained 100 retail clients. Sutton Venture Group will take it to its next stage of growth.

New £400k premises for Walsall electricals supplier with workforce set to double Sunny Electrical Supplies, a Walsall based electrical wholesaler, are set to demolish their existing premises and build a new, three-storey base, tripling their storage and doubling their display area. The company, which currently employs 6 people, hope to increase employees to 13 over 3 years. Turnover £1.4m.

Management Moves: CA Technologies focusing on SaaS with new US Chief Executive appointed US-based CA Technologies is transforming into a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider following the appointment of new CEO Michael Gregoire.  All customers will be offered a free professional services audit to help them upgrade to the latest releases and make the transition as smooth as possible.

Management Moves: President of e-commerce resigns at US-based Ralph Lauren Corp US-based Ralph Lauren Corp. has appointed Robert Gagnon as senior vice president of e-commerce following the resignation of president of e-commerce Sarah Gallagher. e-commerce sales grew 30% in fiscal 2012 to 479.9m dollars. Since mid-2012 the retailer has expanded its e-commerce site in France and launched sites in Japan and Canada.

10 new jobs at Wickham based TJ Transport Wickham based TJ Transport, a waste specialist, has created 10 new jobs.  The company have also invested 750,000 in 8 new vehicles.  The news comes after the firm were awarded a major aggregates contract.  Turnover £14m employing 110 staff.

Management Moves: Widnes Viking’s Chairman steps down Widnes Vikings, the Cheshire-based rugby league club is seeking new directors to bring in new skills and investment. Owner Steve O’Connor is stepping down as chairman but will remain as main board director. The club has gained a portfolio of commercial partners and will continue to be run by chief executive James Rule.

500 new jobs at Woking based CapGemini Woking based Capgemini will create 500 new jobs in Inverness over the next 3 years.  They have secured funding of £4.25m from Scottish Development International and a training grant of £1m form Highlands and Islands Enterprise.  Turnover £1.6b employing 7,900 staff Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk