The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events …… 9th June 2013

People and Roles

150 New Roles - Omagh Enterprise Company

Omagh Enterprise Company is to invest £2.3m in a new Innovation Growth Centre creating 150 new roles. 35 new businesses are expected to enter the 14,000 sq ft facility, which is already facilitated by broadband speeds unrivalled anywhere in the world.

10 New Roles to be created - Eco Sustainable Solutions

Eco Sustainable Solutions is to build a £7m biogas plant at its site in Parley, Dorset. Completion is expected in 2015. The plant forms part of a £36m renewable energy park covering 25 acres which will also include a £14m biomass generating station and solar energy farm. 10 new jobs expected. Turnover £8.2m | 44 Employees | 2 Locations

30 New Roles - Capita

Capita is taking over 500m of planning, trading standards and environmental health services for Barnet Council, as part of the One Barnet outsourcing project. Capita and the council will form a new shared organisation. Capita will create 30 roles for the first year to improve IT infrastructure and will invest 8m to improve services. Turnover £2,930m | 40,367 Employees | 9 Locations | 16 Subsidiaries

10 New Roles - Greiner Packaging

Austrian-owned Greiner Packaging is creating 10 new roles following a £2.2m investment in new equipment at its Northern Ireland plant. As a result, it expects to expand market share further in the coming years after recording growth of 17% last year. Turnover £26m | 220 Employees | 1 Location

Potential New Roles - Harrogate Borough Council

Harrogate Borough Council is opening a new centre in Ripon to accommodate its customer services team and a Tourist Information Centre. Further service centres and customer access points will open as part of a strategy to make it easier for customers to access local authority services. Roles could be created at the new facilities.

Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group

The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events …… 8th June 2013

People and Roles

15 New Staff / 2 Apprentices Sought - Auto Styling

West Midlands-based Auto Styling, a major supplier of 4x4 accessories, has doubled its e-commerce sales. The company is expanding and opening a new warehouse. It is looking to recruit 15 new staff plus and 2 or more apprentices.

Potential New Roles - Costain

Costain has been appointed to the Transport for London framework for Early Contractor Involvement and Construction, expected to be worth 200m. Costain will begin work immediately on the 60m Hammersmith Flyover strengthening project. Roles could be created as a result of the contract. Turnover £869m | 3,000 Employees | 1 Location | 2 Subsidiaries.

10 New Roles to be created - Hicks Logistics

South Wales haulage company Hicks Logistics has expanded its operations after securing a finance package from HSBC worth more than £550,000. The business has now forecast a turnover of £10m and plans to take on 10 new employees to increase staff numbers to 80. Turnover £6.6m | 1 Location

Creating 150 New Roles - Webhelp TSC

Customer experience specialist Webhelp TSC has secured a significant contract with online digital photo service PhotoBox, creating 110 jobs at its Glasgow contact centre. The contract is a key part of Webhelps strategy for growth, which includes a focus on its multi-channel capability. Webhelp has 16,500 employees and revenues of 350m euros.

50 New Roles - Selco

Birmingham based national building supplies and tool hire merchant Selco opened its 18th Builders Warehouse in the London area on June 3 2013. The Wimbledon site will create 50 new roles and follows the opening of the Old Kent Road branch in April 2013. Turnover £207m | 1,432 Employees | 5 Locations

12 New Roles / Business Expansion - Solomon Commercials

Rossendale based Solomon Commercials, who specialise in making refrigerated vehicles for the food industry, is looking to build a 960 sq metre unit, which will create 12 new roles. Turnover £37m | 231 Employees | 1 Location.

Potential Employment Opportunities - Community Windpower

Cheshire-based Community Windpower has submitted a scoping application for a 30-turbine wind farm at Cockburnspath, Scotland. The council is expected to reach a decision on the plans by July 2013. If approved, the development could create employment opportunities.

Apprentice Required / Business Expansion - Urban Village

Nottingham based Property Company, Urban Village has moved into new offices in Basford following a very successful year. The new headquarters will house 3 arms of the business, AndyChurchill.co.uk, Urban Village Property Investments and BuyMyHouseQuick.com. The company is also looking to take on an apprentice

New Roles / Company Growth - Witley Jones Furniture

STOURPORT business Witley Jones Furniture has created new roles and expanded into additional premises thanks to a European-funded scheme. The company needed to increase its manufacturing capacity to grow its share of the existing national school and office furniture market.

Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group

The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events …… 7th June 2013

Management Moves

Finance Director and Chairman Appointed – Co-operative Group

The Co-operative Group has appointed Richard Pennycook as group finance director and Richard Pym as chairman. Turnover £6,366m | 85,000 Employees | 4,300 Locations | 11 Subsidiaries

Marketing Director Appointed - Asda

Asda has appointed Chris McDonough as marketing director as part of a restructure of its marketing team. Along with the restructure CMO Steve Smith has also introduced a new planning and strategy function to improve the marketing division’s front-end processes. Turnover £21,848m | 175,000 Employees | 383 Locations | 7 Subsidiaries

Technical Specialist Appointed – Matrix Capital Limited

Matrix Capital Limited, the charted financial planners based in Shropshire, has appointed Matthew Smith as their new technical support specialist, as they add to their growing team. The company will also expand their services thanks to Mr Smith’s pension experience

Fund Manager Appointed - Enterprise Ventures

Enterprise Ventures has appointed Stewart McCombe as manager for the new £15m North West Fund for Mezzanine. The sub-fund provides investment of £750,000 to £2m for fast-growing businesses. It was created in early 2013 as part of the overall £155m North West Fund. Turnover £4.8m | 37 Employees | 1 Location | 1 Subsidiary

Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group
www.theukknackgroup.co.uk

The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events …… 6th June 2013

People and Roles

2500 New Role – Oakland International

Redditch based cold storage firm Oakland International has big plans to create 2,500 jobs and massively simplify food supply chains with a unique new industry hub. The company are planning to build a 100 acre food park on land it owns next to its factory in Redditch. The park would be home to food manufacturers in purpose built, specifically designed food premises. Turnover £10m | 163 Employees | 1 Location

200 New Roles - Rosti Mckechnie

York based Rosti Mckechnie has a 4 year expansion plan at its Pickering site which could see 200 new jobs being created. Turnover £71m | 402 Employees | 2 Locations

50 New Roles - Guardfreight International

Guardfreight International, based in Birmingham, has entered into an agreement with the Midlands Assembly Network to bring its E-Containerlock product to market. Guardfreight expects turnover to increase to 16m by 2018 as a result of the new product. It expects to create 50 jobs directly and in the supply chain.

New Roles - Minelco

FLIXBOROUGH-based minerals firm Minelco is looking to create new roles after acquiring a controlling interest in refractory recycling company Richmond Refractories. Minelco has taken a 75 per cent controlling interest which will lead to an increase in products processed. Turnover £78m | 212 Employees | 2 Locations | 2 Subsidiaries

10 New Roles - Greiner Packaging

County Tyrone based Greiner Packaging who operate a packaging factory in Dungannon is to invest £2.2m in state of the art labelling equipment, this will create 10 new roles. Turnover £26m | 220 Employees | 1 Location

£50m College development – Creating new Roles

Miller Construction is to start work on the £50m Inverness College development in June 2013. The development is expected to create a substantial number of jobs and Millar Construction plans to recruit locally. Funding and legal agreements are in place for the new building, which will provide facilities for 8,500 students. Turnover £240m | 377 Employees | 2 Locations | 1 Subsidiary

Potential New Roles – Business Growth Strategy

Howco Group, the global oil and gas industry distributor, has invested 3m in equipment and machinery at three UK plants, including a 1.6m investment in its plant in Sheffield, Yorkshire, in order to increase overall capacity and secure future growth. The investment could create new jobs. Turnover £167m | 362 Employees | 6 Locations | 2 Subsidiaries

10 New Roles - Survivex

Survivex, the Aberdeen-based survival training specialist, is creating 10 jobs and expanding overseas after securing a £3.25m loan from Bank of Scotland. It plans to open bases in Dubai and Singapore and has invested £1.5m in a new fire-training rig. Five of the new employees have already been recruited.

Employment Opportunities / Business Growth - Source Energy Ltd

Cornwall-based Source Energy Ltd was named Installer of the Year 2013 at the National Heat Pump Awards. Source Energy was also finalists in three categories. The company is keen to consider new talent to support the growth of its business.

Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group
www.theukknackgroup.co.uk

The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events …… 5th June 2013

Mergers, Acquisitions & Flotation’s / Management Moves / People and Roles

Management Moves

Senior Retail and Online Appointments – O2

O2 is investing 19m to align online and store experiences for customers. It has appointed Bridget Lea as head of stores, and Esther Soto as head of online. A new store format and sales strategy is being trialled in Leeds and, if successful, will be introduced across its retail estate of 250 stores. Turnover £5,968m | 10,532 Employees | 450 Locations | 3 Subsidiaries

New Chairman - Irresistible Materials

Irresistible Materials, the technology company founded by the University of Birmingham, has secured 290k funding from investing shareholders, as well as gaining a new chairman, Stuart McIntosh. The company will use the funding to further develop their photo-resist micro-chip technology.

Sales and Customer Service Appointment - Domino UK

Domino UK, the Cambridge-based printing company, has promoted Mike Hurst to the role of UK Sales Director and appointed Ian Cockett to the position of UK Service Manager. The company is experiencing strong demand for its i-Tech products and is focused on improving its service offering. Turnover £169m | 672 Employees | 3 Locations | 1 Subsidiary.

New Non-Executive Director - Milestone Group

Milestone Group, the London-based digital media company, has raised 50k through an issue of equity, issuing 6.6 million shares at 1p each, in order to settle 16k of loans. The company has also taken on Kevin Everett as non-executive director.

People and Roles

1600 New and Existing Staff - Amazon

Slough based internet retailer, Amazon is to open a central London office in 2013 that will house 1600 new and existing employees. The first phase of the development is due for completion in September 2013 and hundreds of existing staff will move in. When complete the offices will hold 1600 staff. Turnover £208m | 1,872 Employees | 2 Locations

66 New Roles / Business Expansion - Aldermore

Aldermore, a new British Bank, has built a balance sheet of 500m within its asset finance section, bringing their total balance sheet to 2.9bn. The company, chief executive Philip Monks, has also taken on 41 new staff in 2013, and will take on 25 more. Turnover £7.7m | 24 Employees | 2 Locations | 1 Subsidiary

100 New Roles - NXP Semiconductors UK

NXP Semiconductors UK, an electrical components manufacturer based in Stockport, has secured £9.5m in funding from the Regional Growth Fund to support the development of breakthrough material Gallium Nitride. The move will safeguard 400 jobs and create 100 more. Turnover £61m | 498 Employees | 3 Locations

Recruiting Planners / 295 New Roles – Indigo Planning

Indigo Planning which specialises in securing planning consents for UK development projects, has secured approval for Audley Avenue Business Parks to build a 54,724 sq ft supermarket in Newport, Shropshire. The plans will create 295 jobs. Indigo Planning is recruiting planners to join its London office. Turnover £6.4m | 74 Employees | 2 Locations

New role creation including Apprenticeships - JC&C

Northumberland-based JC&C expects turnover to reach 7.5m for the year to July 2013, from 2.9m in 2012. The company has achieved record growth after diversifying into ground works and civils and gaining 3m of new contracts. Employee numbers have risen from 30 to 80 and further recruitment is planned, including apprenticeship.

10 New Roles / Business Expansion - S. C. Motor Factors

S. C. Motor Factors, based in Kent, has created 10 new jobs after opening a new branch in the county, thanks to funding from Lloyds TSB. The company, managing director Jeremy Stopher, will also open another branch in 2014. Turnover £18m | 196 Employees | 1 Location

36 New Roles / Business Expansion - West Bromwich Building Society plans

West Bromwich Building Society plans to take on an extra 36 staff for the first time since it faced near collapse at the height of the financial crisis. The building society are retreating from the commercial property market and concentrating on residential mortgage lending.

800 New Roles / 177 Constructions - Cromarty Firth Port Authority

Cromarty Firth Port Authority has gone out to tender for the civil, marine and infrastructure works at Invergordon Service Base, with costs of around 18 to 20m. The development at an Easter Ross port will create almost 800 new full-time jobs ' with a further 177 jobs during the construction phase.

10 New Roles - Rixonway Kitchens

Dewsbury based Rixonway Kitchens has won new supply contracts worth in excess of 7m in London and the South East. They will make and supply 125,000 kitchen units for social housing organisations over the next 3 years. As a result Rixonway are adding 10 new employees to its kitchen design and survey team and investing £350,000 in a third automated production line.

Potential New Roles - Pure Gym

Budget gym operator Pure Gym is planning to invest £50m in new sites, almost doubling its portfolio, following its acquisition by buyout firm CCMP Capital Advisors in May 2013. The expansion could create employment and business opportunities. Turnover £17m | 1 Location |

Mergers, Acquisitions & Flotation’s

Dominion Technology Gases acquired by Praxair

Praxair Offshore Services Limited has acquired Scotland-based Dominion Technology Gases Investment Limited. The addition of Dominion significantly expands Praxairs oil and gas related capabilities to key global customers in the offshore energy segment. Dominion is a distributor of Praxair gases. Turnover £26m | 76 Employees | 1 Location

UK company Expansion / acquisition plans - Getronics

Getronics, the global ICT services group, has outlined a strategy for UK growth, 12 months after its acquisition by Aurelius Group. Turnover £101m | 1,069 Employees | 5 Locations

Browns Consulting merged with Six Forward

Browns Consulting, the property tax firm based in Bristol has merged with Welsh company Six Forward. The combined company will now strengthen its presence along the M4 and M5 corridors. Company founders Ian and Steve Brown will now join as Six Forward directors.

Merger with Ecommerce Company

Hull-based marketing and design agency Strawberry has merged with ecommerce specialist BSC. The BSC team of Simon Crosby and Matt Weldon have moved to Strawberry's head office to work alongside the agency's existing design and development team. Their move brings the total number of staff in Strawberry's web team to 18. Digital director James Greenwood. Simon Crosby new head of development

Minelco acquired 75% stake in Richmond Refractories

Minelco, the global minerals company with a base in Lincs, has acquired a 75% stake in Sheffield-based brickmaker Richmond Refractories. The company hope to capitalise on demand for recycled bricks. Stan Franey, business area manager for refractory and foundry products, Turnover £78m | 212 Employees | 2 Locations | 2 Subsidiaries

Ocean Media purchased The Wedding Shows UK

The Wedding Shows UK, one of Europe's largest companies in the sector, has been purchased by London-based Ocean Media. The company, director Linda Williams, has venues across the UK and reaches 70,000 brides a year. Ocean will invest heavily in the firm, improving the look of events.

Management Buyout – Node4

Node 4, an I.T business based in Derby, has been purchased by its own management team, in a deal backed by private equity firm LDC. The company, managing director Andrew Gilbert, will now expand by making acquisitions and opening new data centres. Turnover £11m | 45 Employees | 1 Location

Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group
www.theukknackgroup.co.uk

The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events …… 4th June 2013

Management Moves

13 New Executive, Business Growth - Redmayne Bentley

Redmayne Bentley, the Leeds based stock broking company, has purchased the assets of collapsed Birmingham firm Fyshe Horton Finney for 465k. The assets are worth around 300m. 13 executives have started in the company. Turnover £14m | 177 Employees | 2 Locations

New Chief Executive – The Co-operative Group

The Co-operative Group has appointed a new chief executive to its banking division and deputy CEO of the wider group. Niall Booker takes over from interim banking chief executive Rod Bulmer at the Manchester company. Turnover £6,366m | 85,000 Employees | 4,300 Locations | 11 Subsidiaries

New Chief Executive – The William F1 Team

The Williams F1 Team has contracted Mercedes-Benz to provide new engines in a long term partnership. The company has also appointed Mike O'Driscoll as group chief executive, replacing Alex Burns and bringing together the F1 and Engineering divisions. Turnover £105m | 515 Employees | 1 Location | 1 Subsidiary

New Land Manager - Lovell

Housing developer and contractor Lovell has appointed a land manager for its new-build and mixed tenure residential business in London. Anthony Broome joins the company. Turnover £458m | 2,436 Employees | 13 Locations | 2 Subsidiaries

New Associate Director, Business Growth – Clive Owen Corporate Finance

Clive Owen Corporate Finance, part of accountancy firm Clive Owen & Co, has appointed a new associate director, Ben Williamson.

New Public Sector Chief – Lambert Smith Hampton

Commercial property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton has appointed a new head of its public sector team for the north of England. Richard Platt will work with the wider LSH public sector team in delivering national contracts.

New Senior Appointment – Miller Insurance and Reinsurance Broker

Specialist insurance and reinsurance broker Miller has appointed Nick Fearon in a senior production and broking role. Turnover £102m | 515 Employees | 1 Location | 2 Subsidiaries

People and Roles

4 Companies taking on new staff – Business Expansion

Oil & gas solutions provider 3sun, telecoms giant BT and two London-based law companies have announced intentions to recruit. Blavo & Co Solicitors are to create 135 jobs in both North and South Wales

100 New Roles – New Distribution Hub, Bolton

Supermarket chain Aldi will create at least 100 new roles when it relocates regional distribution hub to Bolton. The new 441,320 sq ft centre set on 35 acres is expected to be completed in early 2016. Turnover £2,763m | 7,411 Employees | 377 Locations | 3 Subsidiaries

100 New Roles - Romax Technology

Nottingham based Romax Technology, the gearbox, bearing and driveline engineering company, has signed an agreement to move its headquarters to a larger site. The £5.6m 33,400 sq ft premises at University of Nottingham Innovation Park (UNIP) will the business to expand creating 100 roles over the next 3 to 5 years. Turnover £12m | 190 Employees | 1 Location

150 New Roles – BS Attwall

Leicester based knitwear manufacturer, BS Attwall is relocating to a 130,000 sq ft site, which will also include office space. The expansion will allow them to increase their workforce by 150 new staff.

500 New Roles - Ikea

Ikea is on the search for new stores and could create up to 1,000 jobs over the next few years. The company currently has 18 stores across the UK and have had planning permission to build a store in Reading and have also applied for permission in Sheffield. Turnover £1,264m | 6,956 Employees | 19 Locations | 3 Subsidiaries

15 New Roles, Business Expansion – Citadel Security Products

Dryad handrails, the Sheffield-based manufacturer, have been purchased by Midlands-based Citadel Security Products, adding glass and architectural handrails to the services they offer. Citadel has also been invested 300k in staff and technology, creating 15 jobs.

220 New Roles – Law firm acts on Stephenson Quarter Project

Lawyers, Bond Dickinson has advised Newcastle City Council on a flagship 200m city centre development which will create 2,200 jobs in the city. Work on the regeneration of the Stephenson Quarter has already begun including a Crowne Plaza 251 bed, 4 star hotel, residential apartments, commercial offices, public and cultural spaces and restaurant facilities.

New Apprentices, Business Expansion - Komatsu UK

County Durham based manufacturing company Komatsu UK has recruited eight new engineering apprentices to work at its manufacturing site in Birtley. The company currently has 22 in training and has trained 178 apprentices. Turnover £176m | 395 Employees | 3 Locations | 1 Subsidiary

50 New Roles, Business Expansion – Pets Choice

Blackburn-based food manufacturer Pets Choice has undergone expansion using 2.2m in funding, to purchase a new site, in a move which it said would create 50 new jobs. The expansion is expected to increase turnover by 50% over the next 3 years and the company is planning to invest £5m in machinery over the next 5 years. Turnover £24m | 142 Employees | 6 Locations

120 New Roles – Marks & Spencer

Marks & Spencer is opening its new full-line store at Arnison Retail Park, Durham creating 120 jobs. The new store will feature fashion, beauty, homeware, food hall and a 92 seat cafe. Turnover £9,934m | 54,054 Employees | 711 Locations | 30 Subsidiaries

Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group
www.theukknackgroup.co.uk

The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events …… 3rd June 2013

The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

 

Management Moves

New Managing Director - Technicak

James Cropper, the paper manufacturer based in the Lake District, has appointed Martin Thompson as managing director of its Technicak Fibre Products division. Turnover £78m | 527 Employees | 1 Location | 4 Subsidiaries

New Sales Director – Tech Data Mobile

Tech Data Mobile, the Basingstoke-based mobile phone distributor, has appointed Dylan Price as Sales Director UK and Ireland. UK Turnover £351m | 146 Employees | 1 Location

People and Roles

400 New Roles – Sheffield University Contract

Balfour Beatty, have been named as the preferred bidder to construct the University of Sheffield's new 49m engineering building. The project will create about 400 jobs, as well as providing facilities for an additional 1600 students. Turnover £2,999m | 15,774 Employees | 3 Locations | 48 Subsidiaries

450 New Roles – Food Store in West Yorkshire

GMI Developments, the Leeds-based property developers, will build an 80,000 sq ft food retail store in Shipley, W.Yorks, creating 350 jobs as well as a further 100 during construction.

20 New Roles, further expansion planned – Pasty Presto.

Pasty Presto, the Bath-headquartered retailer, has received 450k in funding from Clydesdale Bank to open 2 new stores in Cornwall and the Lake District, creating 20 new jobs. The company has plans for expansion and employs 300.

Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group
www.theukknackgroup.co.uk