The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

Team Tours Direct secures Middle East contract with new jobs created Team Tours Direct, a Swansea-based event management business, has secured a £661,000 contract with Adcore Holding JLT, which will see it operate in 15 Middle East countries. Team Tours Direct has secured several significant contracts in 2012 and 2013 and has recruited additional staff in Wales as a result.

Aberdeen oil services firm wins £10m worth of new contracts creating 10 new jobs Aberdeen oil services firm Operational Excellence is to add 10 new jobs as a result of new contracts worth a total of £10 million secured in the past three months. The new jobs will take the company's employee total to 30.

Bus refurbishment contract for Shropshire-based Rowan-Telmac brings potential new jobs Shropshire-based Rowan-Telmac has secured a £5m contract to supply new seats for 600 London double-decker buses, with support from Yorkshire Bank to purchase new equipment.  The company has been subcontracted to carry out the internal fitting work from Northern Ireland-based Wrightbus. The contract could create employment opportunities.

Whessoe acquired by Samsung C&T creating new jobs Whessoe, the Darlington-based liquid natural gas specialist, has been acquired by global engineering and construction company Samsung C&T.  The acquisition allows Whessoe to accelerate its growth plans, with its workforce expected to triple in less than five years. Turnover £46.7m, 140 employees.

New London office for BCL Legal brings new jobs Manchester headquartered BCL Legal has expanded with launch of a London office. James Batt, managing director, will head up the London office and will be joined by two employees

New Saltash office for Windcrop creates 30 proposed jobs Windcrop, installer of small-scale wind turbines has opened an office in Saltash creating up to 30 jobs.  The company already has 500 turbines throughout the UK and has now extended its reach to the South West.

Swagelok Teesside relocation signals on-going business expansion Swagelok Teesside, which provides fluid system products and services, has moved to a newly refurbished sales and service centre in Stockton-On-Tees.  The 5,885 sq. ft. unit at Preston Farm Industrial Estate provides an expanded assembly facility and training centre. It will allow Swagelok to continue the expansion of its services.

BT Sports Television Service creates 400 short time jobs and safeguards 200 more BT is to create 400 jobs across the UK, including at two of its Scottish call centres, with the launch of its sports television service.  The service will safeguard almost 200 jobs with people being retrained to work on customer support.  The initial launch will also create 400 short-term sales jobs for six months.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £9.5m finance secured by Pall-Ex Group for European expansion Logistics and delivery network Pall-Ex Group has secured a £9.5m finance deal from Santander Corporate & Commercial, which will enable the company to accelerate its expansion plans into the rest of Europe.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Grant secured for on-going vaccine development in Birmingham Staffordshire biotechnology company Prokarium and the University of Birmingham Institute of Microbiology and Infection, have been awarded a 0.4m grant from the Technology Strategy Board and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.  The grant will help to fund the development of Prokariums Vaxonella oral vaccine delivery platform as well as two specific vaccine candidates.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: £5.3m fund supports synthetic biology projects The Technology Strategy Board and Research Councils are supporting 15 UK projects through a 5.3m fund. The grants have been awarded through a competition for business-led, collaborative projects aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of using synthetic biology to create novel or improved products or processes.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: LDC acquires Findel division LDC, the private equity division of Lloyds Banking Group, has supported the management buyout of Leicestershire-based NRS Healthcare, from its parent company Findel Plc.  Home Shopping group Findel sold the division for £24m.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Wymondham Abbey awarded Heritage Lottery grant Wymondham Abbey in Norfolk has secured a £1.5m Heritage Lottery grant to create a learning centre, visitor centre, new choir vestry, study space and medieval herb garden.  The Abbey has also secured £500,000 from the Wymondham Preservation Trust, and financial support from South Norfolk District Council and other organisations.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Bank Funding for Cornish fruit and vegetable wholesaler Potfresh Cornish fruit and vegetable wholesaler Potfresh has expanded its business after receiving a bank loan.  The company has purchased its existing 53,000 sq. ft. unit and acquired the unit next door to increase its facilities.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Bank funding secured for Shrewsbury housing scheme A residential property developer Primesave properties has begun the final stages of work on a new housing scheme in Shrewsbury, supported by a £360,000 loan from Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking.  Primesave will also begin work on a one-unit development in Frankwell in Shrewsbury in six weeks time, which is being supported with a further £100,000 loan from Lloyds TSB.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: LDC exits MB Aerospace Investment LDC, the private equity division of Lloyds Banking Group, has exited its investment in Lancashire engineering group MB Aerospace. US-based private equity group Arlington Capital Partners has taken a majority stake in MB Aerospace.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Funding secured for Synthace innovative technology development London-based Synthace, a synthetic biology company, has secured funding from the Technology Strategy Board award, to support the development of its technology. Synthace use micro-organisms to convert small molecules into different, more useful products.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Management Buyout of Leicestershire-based Nottingham Rehab Leicestershire-based Nottingham Rehab has been acquired from parent company Findel Plc in a £24m management buyout. The management team was backed by LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group. The company plans to expand its range of products and increase its acquisition strategy to achieve organic growth. Turnover £76.8m.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Partnership with Friends of Elvaston Castle secures funding Social Enterprise East Midlands and Friends of Elvaston Castle are planning to establish an organisation to run Elvaston Castle, which is being sold by Derbyshire County Council because of high maintenance costs.  The partnership has won funding from the Social Investment Business, which will be used for research and legal advice to help support its bid.

Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group

www.theukknackgroup.co.uk

The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

Ryanair purchasing 175 Boeing aircraft creating 3,000 jobs Ireland-based airline Ryanair is planning to buy 175 passenger planes from US aircraft manufacturer Boeing for £10bn. The expansion would create 3,000 jobs across Europe and allow Ryanair to grow its service by 5% per annum.  75 of the new aircraft would replace the existing Ryanair fleet of 737 aircraft.

Opening of West Midlands gym creates 15 jobs Pure Gym is opening new premises in Brierley Hill, West Midlands.  The 25,402 sq. ft., 24-hour gym will employ 12 to 15 staff. It is part of an on-going £37m plan to expand to 150 clubs by 2015.  Pure Gym currently operates 43 gyms across the UK.  Turnover £16.8m.

17 new jobs in Xaar at Huntingdon Xaar recorded sales up 26% to £86.m in 2012, with profit up 74% to £18.4m, helped by development of its P3 inkjet technology to enable digitisation of industrial printing.  Xaar is increasing its 583-strong workforce to 600, with recruitment in Cambridge and Huntingdon. Capacity at Huntingdon will increase by a third in a £10m investment.

75 new jobs in new Keswick factory and offices Food company Classic Desserts is investing £2m to build a factory and offices at its base near Keswick, Cumbria. The firm will relocate from Blencathra Business Centre to the purpose-built facility, where 75 new jobs are expected over five years.

Software firm opens West Midlands office creating jobs Software firm Perspective is targeting growth and is planning to create new jobs after opening an office in Solihull, West Midlands. The company recently launched a partnership to sub-contract work in India.  7 employees, £650,000 turnover.

Norton Motorcycles acquires Donington Hall creating 150 jobs Norton Motorcycles has acquired Donington Hall, Derby, for a seven-figure sum, where it will open the British Motorcycle Manufacturing Academy. It is relocating assembly operation from Donington Park race circuit to a building close to the hall, where it will quadruple production to 40 bikes a week and increase its workforce from 50 to up to 200.

Major construction contract in Beverley, Yorkshire means 1,000 new jobs Wykeland Group and Quintain Estates and Development are to commence work on a retail and entertainment complex in Beverley, Yorkshire. Tenders have been invited for the construction contract for the commercial development at the £120m regeneration site, which will include shops, restaurants, bars, a cinema, a hotel, offices and a college campus. 1,000 jobs are expected.

Leeds hotel development creates 400 jobs Wakefield-based GB Group Holdings has signed an agreement with Hilton Worldwide to develop a 206-bedroom, 14-storey hotel in Leeds.  The £32m hotel is expected to open in summer 2015. 300 temporary jobs will be created during construction with a further 100 full-time staff employed at the hotel when it opens.

Wolverhampton based Chartered Accountancy firm expands Tildesley & Tonks, a Wolverhampton based Chartered Accountant, has appointed a new audit and account senior, a payroll manager and an associate.  The firm is undergoing a complete rebrand and is relaunching its website.

Opening of new Cheltenham Home Bargains store creates 40 jobs T J Morris is continuing the expansion of its Home Bargains chain with the opening of a new store in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, in March 2013. The company has invested £500,000 in the new 10,000 sq. ft. store, which will provide 40 jobs.  There are 300 Home Bargain stores across the UK.

Congleton, Cheshire, shopping centre development brings potential new jobs Scarborough Development Group expects to commence a £14m town centre development in Congleton, Cheshire, in July 2013. Plans include a new shopping centre with a supermarket, restaurant, cafe, and market. The development is expected to create employment opportunities.

40 new jobs in law consultancy Peninsula Business Services Law consultancy Peninsula Business Services is planning to recruit 40 new staff and expand in Australia and Ireland.  Group revenues rose from £83.2m in 2011 to £84.3m in 2012, while pre-tax profits grew from £13m to £14.7m. A strong performance from its core Peninsula and Taxwise businesses and its Health Assured arm contributed to the figures.

£1m finance deal for Premier Vehicle Rental Commercial hire business Premier Vehicle Rental is planning to expand its fleet by more than 50 units after securing a £1m asset finance deal with Santander.  It currently has 450 vehicles in its fleet

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

www.theukknackgroup.co.uk

The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

Recruitment drive in Liverpool-based marketing agency Liverpool-based marketing agency Ph Creative has embarked on a recruitment drive and is aiming to double revenues to more than £3m over the next year.   A recent £500,000 venture capital investment has allowed the company to move forward with its expansion plans

West Yorkshire-based Engineering firm creates 18 new jobs West Yorkshire-based Multi-Tech Engineering is relocating to 34,500 sq. ft. workshop and offices in Ferrybridge, in a £3m investment backed by Yorkshire Bank.  It is recruiting trainee engineers, increasing headcount from 22 to 40 and expects turnover to double to 5m. The investment will allow it to handle bigger components, service larger contracts and expand into new markets.

Coventry commercial and residential development brings180 new jobs Trebor Developments is to build a commercial and residential development on the 40-acre former Acetate Products site in Coventry.  The development, which could create 180 jobs, will provide distribution and storage buildings, car de-fleet processing centre, general industry and motor vehicle sales.  Work will start in summer 2013 for occupation in spring 2014.

MBO at Nottingham-based Monarch Education Furniture means 20 new jobs expected Nottingham-based Monarch Education Furniture has undergone a management buy-out supported with funding from HSBC. Monarch recently won four major contracts with local education authorities and is planning to increase export sales. Turnover is expected increase from £8.2m in 2012 to £9.5m in 2013 and 20 jobs will be created, taking its workforce to 100.

10 new jobs at Beverley-based marine services provider Dalby Offshore Beverley-based marine services provider Dalby Offshore is creating 10 new jobs after securing a £1.36 million asset finance facility to buy a new workboat.

250 Jobs Planned at Webanywhere by 2016 Keighley-based internet firm Webanywhere has taken on 32 extra employees since announcing its expansion plans in August 2012 and plans to create 250 more jobs by 2016.

200 jobs created in Morrison new supermarket in Elland, West Yorkshire WM Morrison has opened a new supermarket in Elland, West Yorkshire, creating 200 jobs. Mark Corps is general manager of the new store, which is part of the on-going expansion of the retailer.  Turnover £17.6bn, 131,200 employees.

Grant secured for Hull renewable energy plant means 60 New Jobs Energy Works, Spencer Group's renewable energy power plant to be built in Hull, has secured £19.9m of European funding. The grant is the largest for an energy generation scheme in England.  The complete Energy Works development will produce enough electricity to power 25,000 houses and create 60 jobs once operational.

10 new jobs Prestige Holidays Prestige Holidays is recruiting ten new members of staff following an increase in business since the turn of the year.  Their European Destinations programme is up 14% year on year, Canada up 30%, Croatia up 18% and UK up 12%.

Plans for Norfolk supermarket means 100 potential new jobs Norwood Homes is planning to build a new 10,000sq ft. supermarket on the site of Thaxters DIY timber yard in Holt, Norfolk.  The supermarket would be expected to create 100 jobs.

Opening of Walkers Creative office in Reading brings potential new jobs Walkers Creative, a Swansea-based design studio has opened an office in the grounds of Reading University, Berkshire.  The company has expanded after gaining an increasing number of customers along the M4 corridor.  Its expansion could create employment opportunities.

Proposed New Care Home in Stowmarket brings 90 new jobs Care home specialist Castleoak proposal to build a new care home in Stowmarket which will be run by Care UK and create up to 90 new jobs.  The project is estimated to cost around £4.5 million.

Refurbished hotel in Tankerton, Kent to reopen creating new jobs Shepherd Neame is nearing completion of the £1.6m refurbishment of the Marine Hotel in Tankerton, Kent. Most of the staff that were laid off during the refurbishment will be re-employed and extra jobs created.  A new manager has been appointed.

Expansion of leisure facilities at Patrington Haven means potential new jobs Patrington Haven Leisure Park in Holderness, East Yorkshire, is to be expanded following a further £5m investment by its owners.  New leisure and recreation facilities at the park will be created as part of a phased development.  The expansion could create employment opportunities.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Stake in MB Aerospace acquired by Arlington Capital Partners  US private equity firm Arlington Capital Partners, from Lloyds TSB Development Capital, has acquired a majority stake in MB Aerospace. The funding will be used for acquisitions in the US as part of an on-going expansion strategy.  The firm has operations in Motherwell, Burnley, Derby and the US. 360 employees, 81m dollars turnover.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Funding for ChupaMobile ChupaMobile, a London-based start-up that operates a community marketplace for mobile app components has raised £255k in funding.

Private Equity / Bank Funding: Equilibrium Wealth Management expects to exceed asset targets and new office opened Cheshire-based Equilibrium Wealth Management expects to exceed its annual asset target of £40m after securing £32.5m of new assets under management in the six months to March 2013.  In February 2013 Equilibrium opened its third office in Chester and six members of the team have achieved chartered financial planner status.

Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group

www.theukknackgroup.co.uk