The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

Rolls-Royce contract brings 15 new jobs to Leicester Sigma, the Leicestershire-based aerospace components manufacturer, has won a £100m contract with Rolls-Royce. The company has also secured 1.5m in funding from the CleanSky programme and will invest 250k at its Hinckley site, as well as opening a new 25,000 sq. ft. facility creating 15 jobs in the town.

300 new jobs at Siemens in South Tyneside A consortium led by Siemens has been confirmed as the winner of the £1.6bn contract to make Thameslink train carriages. At the time of winning preferred bidder status, Siemens said up to 300 jobs would be created at its Hebburn factory in South Tyneside.

Business manager appointed by Autoglass Autoglass has added to its commercial sales team with the appointment of Andrew Scott as business manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

New jobs in Barratt Homes North East business expansion Barratt Homes North East has added to its sales team with two appointments. Tracy Iles as senior sales manager and Gillian Bell as sales manager. The increase in sales has partly been attributed to the build-up in use of the government's new Help to Buy shared equity loan scheme since it was launched in April.

Opening of Newham betting shop brings potential new jobs Bookmaker Paddy Power can go ahead with plans to open a betting shop in Newham, east London.  A decision by Newham Council to turn down its application to open the betting shop has been overturned following a hearing at Thames Magistrates Court. Jobs could be created at the new branch.

Opening of Boots Dunfermline store brings potential new jobs Boots is opening a 15,000 sq. ft. store in the Kingsgate Shopping Centre, Dunfermline in July 2013, with new jobs expected.  It will be the largest new store opening in Scotland in 2013 so far, for the retailer. Turnover £6.35bm, 11,360 employees.

New Marston’s bottling plant creates 15 jobs in Burton-on-Trent Brewing company Marston’s is investing £7.4m in a new bottling plant at its Burton-on-Trent brewery, following substantial growth in bottled beer volumes.  The investment will create 15 new jobs. Marston’s expects its packaged business to continue to grow by 10% year on year through its own brands and in contract bottling. Turnover £719.7m, 12,290 employees.

Chief Executive appointed by The Original Factory Shop Budget retailer The Original Factory Shop has appointed former Asda executive Tony Page as its chief executive. He replaces Angela Spindler who has left the Burnley group to head Manchester-based N Brown.

Opening of 4 children’s’ homes in Scotland creates 35 jobs CareTech is opening a further four children’s homes in Scotland, working on contracts from Scottish local authorities, creating 30 to 35 jobs, plus social worker roles to start a foster care support operation. Underlying pre-tax profit increased to 7.6m for the six months to March 2013, up from £7.4m a year earlier. Revenues increased 1% to £56.6m.

Redevelopment of former Television Studios brings 95 new jobs Carlisle based U-Student has invested £20m to redevelop the site of the former Tyne Tees Television studios with major ground works to level the site. Contractor Northern Developments is developing the site to provide student accommodation incorporating 386 bedrooms.  Due for release for students in autumn 2014 the project will provide employment of 80 during the construction period and 15 through U-Student.

78 new jobs at County Durham based aircraft parts manufacturer CAV Aerospace CAV Aerospace, the aircraft parts manufacturer based in County Durham, has been awarded 1.4m from the Regional Growth Fund, safeguarding 105 jobs and allowing it to create a further 78. The funding will be used as part of the firm’s own £8.3m investment strategy. Turnover £47.7m.

Plymouth business park launched with potential new jobs Commercial property developer London & Devonshire Trust has launched a 22-acre business park near Plymouth. Plymouth Enterprise Park has 225,000 sq. ft. of industrial and business space.  Fulcrum Power is also proposing to build a generation facility at the site, which is expected to provide new jobs and attract investment to the city. Turnover £10.8m, 150 employees.

Deputy Chief Executive appointed at CPP Group Credit card insurer CPP Group has appointed Brent Escott as new interim deputy chief executive, reporting to current chief executive Paul Stobart.  The appointment has been made to assist the repositioning of the company.

East Midlands Airport car parking improvements bring new jobs East Midlands Airport will be investing over £3 million in its on-site car parking operation creating 16 new jobs.  The investment will see the airport increase the capacity of its car parks by 1,400 spaces and introduce new car parking services.  Preparation works began earlier this year, with completion planned for July 2013

New Wrexham recruitment firm opens Enterprising Employment, a new recruitment firm based in Wrexham, has rehired all the local staff at the former Remploy factory in the town. The factory will re-open in June 2013.

Deputy Group Chief Executive appointed by Ecclesiastical Insurance Office Gloucester-based Ecclesiastical Insurance Office has appointed Jacinta Whyte as deputy group chief executive and executive director.  Ms Whyte will assume responsibility for general insurance operations and has overall strategic leadership accountabilities.  Steve Wood is resigning from his role as executive director. Turnover £396.7m, 1,150 employees.

72 new jobs at Greencroft bottling, based in Durham Greencroft bottling, based in Durham, has secured £750k from the Regional Growth Fund, allowing it to create 72 jobs. They will also invest£ 3.2m on operations, including a new bottling line and I.T systems. The company has a turnover of £15.05m.

15 new jobs at Aberdeen car dealership John Clark Motor Group, the car dealership based in Aberdeen, is investing 1m upgrading its facilities for the launch of the BMWi range of electric cars. 15 jobs will be created and the firm’s Mini dealership will also be moved to dedicated premises. The company employs 780, has a turnover of £355m.

New jobs at Johnstone Insurance Brokers Johnstone Insurance Brokers is set for growth and has created new jobs after receiving a £500,000 funding deal from Santander Corporate & Commercial, backed by the Government's Enterprise Finance Guarantee.  The company has 10 employees

Luton-based Monarch Airlines’ board restructured Luton-based Monarch Airlines is restructuring its board. It has appointed Tim Williamson to the new role of customer and marketing director, Adrian Tighe to oversee commercial partnerships and business development and Marisa Blasco to lead revenue management and network development. Half-year revenues increased 10% to £206.4m.

Medicash appoints Business Development Manager for South East Medicash, the Liverpool-based healthcare cash plan provider, has appointed Karl Simons as business development manager to target new business in the South East of England. Mr Simons joins from Simplyhealth, the cash plan and private medical insurance provider.

400 new jobs at Norbrook Laboratories in Newry in NI Norbrook Laboratories, the veterinary pharmaceutical products manufacturer, based at Newry in NI, will recruit 400 additional staff before 2016. The company, which currently employs around 1700, is expanding due to global demand. Profits for 2012 were £16m.

Care home opened creating 100 jobs in North East Paramount Care has opened a multimillion-pound care home in Gateshead and may open two more in the North East.  The home, built by Brims Construction, caters for adults with a variety of complex needs. It will employ 100 staff and the first 16 have been recruited.

RSM Tenon strengthens London restructuring team RSM Tenon has recruited 3 senior team members into its transactions and restructuring team, based in London, increasing partners on the team to 9.  Andrew Hosking will work as a partner in the transactions and restructuring team, and will be joined by Simon Bonney and Sarah Batchelor.

Six-figure growth grant brings jobs to North East Teesdale company Limeco Limited hopes to create jobs and target international markets after receiving a six-figure sum to grow.  The company has received the undisclosed figure from NEL Fund Managers Finance for Business North-East Growth Fund to expand into overseas markets.

£26m Manchester hotel development means potential new jobs The Co-operative Group and hotel operator Sanguine Hospitality hope to add a further nine rooms to a planned 178-bed hotel at the NOMA development in Manchester.  The £26m 14-storey hotel development will include a restaurant and retail space.  The development could create a significant number of jobs.

12 new stores for The Original Factory Shop The Original Factory Shop, the discount retailer based in Burnley, is reporting a pre-tax profit increase of 34% to £9m up to April 2013. The growth came thanks to the opening of 11 stores, with a further 12 planned before 2014.

New Swansea Bay hydro-electric generating system creating local jobs Tidal Lagoon (Swansea Bay) expects to recruit local staff during the construction of its planned new hydro-electric generating system in Swansea Bay, and turbines and associated equipment will be made in Rugby by GE Limited, a subsidiary of Alstom. Tidal Lagoon employs 32 staff, with more jobs expected when the project starts.

New North-East jobs at Washington Service Centre VPS, the vacant property specialists based in Bradford, is to create more jobs in the North-East after opening a centre in Washington. The company employs 1500 workers nationwide.

Expansion in Wales and SW - senior appointments - 3 offices opened Wilson Field, a business insolvency company, is opening its first office in Swansea.  It has appointed Jon Law as head of Wales and South West England, and has also opened offices in Cardiff and Bristol.  Hywel Casling has been appointed to manage the Cardiff site. 80 employees.

100 new jobs in Hedon, East Yorkshire, care home development Yorkare Homes is developing a £4.15m care home in Hedon, East Yorkshire, with financial support from Yorkshire Bank.  The new home will provide nursing and dementia care for 54 residents and is expected to open in August 2014, creating 100 jobs.

New Sales Manager at Zolv, the Leeds-based travel technology specialist Zolv, the Leeds-based travel technology specialist, has appointed a dedicated sales manager, Jardine Collier, for its SalesAssist software, due to be launched in September 2013. The software enables call-centre workers to share documents and web-links. Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk