The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

50 new jobs at Moneypenny Moneypenny, the Wrexham-based phone-answering firm, has seen rapid growth since 2012, creating 50 new jobs to handle 30,000 calls a day. The company now employs over 300.

Carlisle bar to close for £500,000 facelift An Australian themed bar in Carlisle is to undergo a 500,000 refurbishment ' and create new jobs.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £4.6m investment in new technology at Burtons Biscuit maker Burtons is investing an extra £4.6m at its site in Llantarnam, south Wales, bringing investment at the site to £7m since 2012. The factory, which employs 800 people, is to pilot new control room baking systems. The company is investing £13.5m throughout 2013 at its Welsh site, and factories in Edinburgh, Lancashire and Merseyside.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £3.1m from Regional Growth Fund for Bladon Jets Bladon Jets, the Coventry-based micro gas turbine innovator, has been awarded 3.1m by the Regional Growth Fund. The money will be used for research and development and enabling company growth.

50 new Dublin jobs at Citrix Citrix, the cloud-computing business based in Buckinghamshire, is to create 50 new sales, technical support and I.T operations roles at its site in Dublin to deal with increased demand. The company has a turnover of £49.9m.

New apprenticeship posts at Derby based Sanctuary Group Derby based Sanctuary Group are investing £11m in part of a building project which will see 86 extra care apartments for over 55s and 12 apartments for people with learning difficulties. A 500 strong workforce has begun work on a £60m partnership with contractor Seddon is to build more than 700 new homes in the Midlands. 6 new apprenticeships posts will be created and training will be provided at the Sanctuary site.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £4.1m Eritrea Training Contract for Eduteq Eduteq, the Leicestershire-based engineering training company, has secured a £4.1m contract with the government of Eritrea to supply vocational training and equipment to local people. 2 similar contracts have been signed in Ghana. The contract is supported by a £2.4m finance package with HSBC.

Management Moves: Office merges at Envestors Envestors, the private investor network, has merged its North West and Yorkshire offices.  The company announced in April 2013 that it was taking over operations for the Yorkshire Association of Business Angels, believe the move to one central location and the expansion of its services will enable it to match an extended geographical network of private investor members to growth companies across the country

Acquisition of Evergreen Doors means 20 new jobs at Distinction Doors External door specialist Distinction Doors has announced an increased turnover of 29m and has created 20 new jobs following the acquisition of rival Evergreen Doors.

Bank funding secured by Autoparts and Diagnostics with potential new jobs Following several years of growth, car spares firm Autoparts and Diagnostics has opened new headquarters and warehouse in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, and a new branch in Yate, with support from NatWest. The company has worked to align itself with a European buying group to gain access to major manufacturer brands. Its on-going expansion could create new jobs.

Management Moves: New NED at Fourteen IP Fourteen IP, a Manchester-based provider of hotel communication services, has received £500k from the North West Fund for Venture Capital. The investment also includes the appointment of David Ashmore as non-executive director. Turnover £1.6m.

Management Moves: international head appointed by Iceland Frozen foods retailer Iceland is to expand its online service, following successful trials of the service in selected stores.  Iceland has appointed a senior executive as part of a strategy to increase exports and further develop the brand internationally. It also plans to open 40 UK stores in 2014, creating employment opportunities. £2.6bn sales.

Greene King opening new Hungry Horse pub in Longbridge with 40 new jobs Greene King, the pub retailer and brewer, is opening a 6,000 sq. ft. Hungry Horse branded pub in Longbridge, West Midlands, in summer 2013, creating 40 jobs.  Turnover £1.14bn, 22,080 employees.

20 new Dublin jobs at Groupon Groupon, the London-based online couponing firm, is to create 20 new I.T jobs in Dublin.

Online global director appointed at Hunter Boot Hunter Boot, the Edinburgh-based footwear, has appointed Dan Lumb as online global director.  Mr Lumb will be working under the recently appointed chief executive James Seuss. The company is planning to diversify into new categories, including outerwear, and is developing a retail presence. The expansion could create employment opportunities. Turnover £77.9m, 70 employees.

300 new jobs as International law firm Ashurst opens Glasgow Office International law firm Ashurst is to create up to 300 jobs by opening an office in Glasgow after being given a £2.4 million regional selective assistance grant to move to the city.  The practice will initially recruit 30 legal analysts law graduates who will carry out tasks normally undertaken in London by trainees, junior lawyers and paralegals and will add a further 120 support staff by the end of the year, covering areas such as finance and IT.  Consultations are under way with 350 support staff based in London, with some roles expected to transfer to Glasgow.

Management Moves: Country heads of M&A appointed - EMEA role based in London JP Morgan has appointed Severin Brizay as head of Mergers & Acquisitions for diversified industrials in Europe, Middle East and Africa.  He has moved from Paris to London to take up his new role.  Xavier Bindel is to run the M&A business in France, succeeding Mr Brizay. Turnover £1.4bn, 770 employees.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Equity investment secured by Liquid Bronze Liquid Bronze, the Manchester-based domiciliary care software developer, has secured an undisclosed equity investment, which will enable it to develop the new SaaS management suite.

Management Moves: Further management change at Meggitt as CFO appointed Meggitt, the Dorset-based defence technology company, has appointed Doug Webb as Chief Financial Officer with immediate effect. Mr Webb replaces Stephen Young, who was appointed Chief Executive on 1 May 2013 following the retirement of Terry Twigger from the role.  Turnover £1.45bn, 9,360 employees.

New Cheese Plant and New Jobs at Carmarthen New jobs could be on their way to Carmarthen with a family business hoping to build a new cheese plant on the outskirts of the town. Carmarthenshire Cheese will relocate from its manufacturing plant at the Food Centre Wales, if plans for the new facility at Nantyci are approved.

Leeds Trolleybus Network brings 4000 new jobs NGT Metro, operators of the new eco-friendly trolleybus transport system in Leeds, has published revised plans for its £250m network after public consultation. The project will create around 4,000 jobs and boost the local economy by £176m a year.

£5.5m funding from Government for Peel Land & Property means potential new jobs Peel Land & Property has secured Government funding of 5.5m for its Wirral Waters Enterprise Zone project in Liverpool.  The funding will be used to help prepare the land for buildings and roads leading up to them. Peel is working with Wirral Council on the development, which is expected to attract new investment and jobs.

Retail and leisure development opening means 1,000 jobs expected St Modwens Longbridge town centre development will launch in summer 2013.  The retail and leisure development is part of the £1bn transformation of the former MG Rover site.  It will include 24 shops and restaurants and two new office buildings, and is expected to create 1,000 jobs.

Management Moves: Executive appointments at Hugo Technology West Midlands-based Hugo Technology, which repairs, maintains and services medical equipment, has appointed Steve Bertuzzi and Bill Passmore as executive directors as it commences a five-year strategic growth plan. The new directors will take responsibility for marketing, business strategy and sales growth, and help develop international partnerships with original equipment manufacturers. 50 employees. Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk