The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

Whitbread Plc. business expansion brings 12,000 new jobs  Whitbread Plc. have set out expansion plans for their Costa Coffee and Premier Inn chains, creating 12,000 jobs over the next 5 years. The company, headed by Chairman Antony Habgood, have seen revenues increase by 14.2% since 2012.

30 new jobs in Wigan at Arrow XL Arrow XL formerly Yodel XL has refurbished it Martland Park site in Wigan, the new facility will provide an additional 200,000sq ft. for its state of the art logistics and distribution centre.  They have taken on 30 additional staff with the possibility of more to follow.  Turnover £5.5m employing 500 staff.

Venture Capital: £4.5M Investment in ATG Media ATG Media, a London, UK-based operator of auction portals and live and timed online auctions, received a £4.5m investment from existing investor Mobeus Equity Partners. The investment aims to finance the acquisition of BidSpotter Inc., a US-based leader in industrial and commercial online auctions. The acquisition will broaden ATG Medias existing portfolio of auction platforms.

New jobs at Burslem based Autonet Insurance Burslem based Autonet Insurance is holding a recruitment open evening to fill the dozens of vacancies that they have in their call centre.  The company has just unveiled a £250,000 expansion plan to set up a training centre which will create a further 130 new jobs.  Turnover £25.3m employing 467 staff.

50 new jobs at Dummer based Southern Communications Dummer based Southern Communications is to create 50 new jobs thanks to securing a finance package from the Breakthrough programme provided by Santander Corporate & Commercial Banking.  The funding is to be used as a capital growth investment to accelerate the expansion of its sales force.  Revenue £18m employing 160 staff.

Eden Business Park expansion brings jobs Eden Business Park, owned by Eden Council in Penrith, has received enquiries from 5 firms regarding setting up operations at the business park.  There is a mixture of those companies wishing to set up new sites and extending existing operations.  It is hoped that this will create new jobs for the area.

Farr UK head office relocation to Sutton Coldfield brings potential new jobs Farr UK, which sells all-terrain vehicles, has relocated its head office from Exeter to a 7,782 sq. ft. unit at Minworth Business Park in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, to support future expansion. Since relocating, Farr has already secured a number of new dealers. The expansion could create employment opportunities.

Birmingham funding body creates new jobs  Finance Birmingham, the funding arm of Birmingham City Council, has recruited 5 new members of staff to cope with their workload. The organisation grew from a scheme suggested by 4 local enterprise partnerships. The Council is led by Sir Albert Bore.

22 new jobs at Glacier Energy Services Glasgow based oilfield specialist Glacier Energy Services has formally opened the North East base of its Wellclad business in Boldon creating up to 22 jobs in an investment worth more than 325,000.  The 15,000 sq. ft. site will now house office and workshop space for Wellclads engineering division.

20 new jobs in Vets4Pets new store Guernsey based Vets4Pets who was bought by shop chain Pets at Home earlier this month, will lose 35 jobs at its headquarters, but the company is planning to open a new store which will create 20 new jobs.

50 new jobs at Hampshire based IT firm, Switch Concepts Hampshire based IT firm, Switch Concepts is planning to double its workforce to cope with its exploding workload.  They are creating 50 new jobs in the coming year at their Salisbury Road base.  Switch has seen its profits rise by 600% in the past year.

Hotel expansion in Simonstone, Lancashire creates new jobs Lavender Hotels is adding another 21 beds to its Higher Trapp Hotel in Simonstone, Lancashire, in a £1.25m investment. The extension follows strong local demand for rooms at the hotel.  Three new posts will be created in order to maintain the new rooms.

240 new jobs at London Ambulance Service (LAS) London Ambulance Service (LAS) will receive an additional £7.1 million funding this year, which will be used to recruit 240 new staff. The funding should bring LAS closer to its goal of having a paramedic, who would work in conjunction with accident and emergency staff, on board every ambulance.

250 new jobs at new Severnside plant Maidenhead based Sita Uk is to build a new waste plant in Severnside, which is part of the £900m West London Waste Authority contract that Sita won. The site in Gloucestershire would create 200 construction jobs and 53 permanent engineering jobs to man the EfW plant.  The total capital investment in the facility is more than £240m.

Larger premises in the North East for Manchester based digital company Manchester based MymCart a digital company which specialises in mobile websites and transactional mobile apps is expanding its presence in the North East by moving its production centre into larger premises and recruiting up to four new staff.  The company is working with University of Teesside’s Graduates for Business initiative, aimed at helping graduates find employment with locally based businesses.

Morrells Woodfinishes opens new trade counter means potential new jobs for Preston Morrells Woodfinishes, which manufactures varnishes and coatings, has leased a 1,250 sq. ft. unit at Red Scar Business Park in Preston, Lancashire, to open a trade counter.  The expansion could create employment opportunities. It is Morrells fourth site in the North West including its head office in Stockport, Cheshire. Turnover £16.7m, 135 employees.

Northumberland-based AMS Asbestos Management Services secures local authority contract meaning potential new jobs Northumberland-based AMS Asbestos Management Services has secured a place on a Sunderland City Council framework. The company expects the contract to help it secure more local jobs and further establish its position as a leading asbestos management solutions providers in the north of England.

Management Moves: Business Development Manager appointed by Novus Property Solutions Property maintenance specialist Novus Property Solutions has appointed Stuart Ridsdale as business development manager, to help secure refurbishment and maintenance opportunities in the hotel and leisure sector.  Novus, previously called Seddon Property Services, has rebranded and is now able to offer a wider range of specialised services.  1,000 employees, £91m turnover.

New premises for RadshapeRC means potential new jobs RadshapeRC, which manufactures and sells radio controlled models, has leased a 7,747 sq. ft. unit at Minworth Trade Park, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, as part of its on-going business development and expansion strategy. The move could create employment opportunities.

Management Moves: Stadium Group Chief Executive joins Civil Service Stadium Group chief executive Stephen Phipson is to leave the electronics manufacturer to take up a senior role in the Civil Service.  He will be replaced by Charles Peppiatt who is currently group operations director.  Turnover £44.9m employing 881 staff.

Tekmar investment programme means 30 job gains for the North East Tekmar, the subsea technology company, has unveiled a £1m investment programme, which will more than treble the size of its North East facility and create in excess of 30 jobs.  This investment will help turn its current facility into a research and development centre while its existing operations will be expanded to meet the demands of the sector by operating out of the additional larger building.

Wrekin Products relocates to Lichfield premises bringing new jobs Wrekin Products has relocated from its base in Burton-on-Trent to larger commercial premises in Lichfield to help support its growth.  The business secured £680,000 from HSBC's Derbyshire and East Staffordshire commercial team to fund the move.  The move will allow them to consolidate its stock holding at one site, expand its product range and service new market sectors, as well as giving the company space to accommodate further growth.  All 35 employees have moved and three staff additional staff have been employed as a result of the expansion, with a further two to follow. Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk