The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

New jobs planned at North Yorkshire manufacturer North Yorkshire manufacturer Ellis is redeveloping and expanding its headquarters with a £450,000 investment to enable it to employ more staff. The work, which is due for completion in September, will extend the company's office space by 70 per cent.

Billericay Brewing Company opening microbrewery and store with potential new jobs Billericay Brewing Company is to open a brewery and beer shop in Billericay, Essex, potentially creating new jobs. The company produced its first beer, called Mayflower Gold, in November 2012. It hopes to have six beers ready for sale when the shop opens.

Birmingham Airport doubling passenger capacity creating 20,000 new jobs Birmingham Airport is planning to double its capacity to 27 million passengers and create 20,000 jobs by 2021 through only minor changes. Proposals submitted to the Airports Commission include a new marketing campaign, changing the tax regime at airports with spare capacity and introducing a congestion charge at those that are over capacity.

New Finance Division at Brampton Recruitment Brampton Recruitment, based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, has set up a specialist Finance and Accountancy division. The company, MD Claire Leigh, is expanding due to demand and recently employed new recruitment consultant Jo Glover.

Management Moves: International Executive appointed at blur Group Business services group blur Group has made two senior appointments to strengthen its international sales teams.  Dan Murphy has been made Head of sales for the US and Sat Ramewal is Head of Sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa.  Both report to blurs Global Head of Sales, Gerry Cross

Consensus Capital Property division expands into England with potential Consensus Capital Property, a private equity-backed investment firm, is planning to convert vacant property in England into 1,500 social housing units following the introduction of new planning rules, potentially creating jobs.   Parent company Consensus Capital recently launched a £50m fund to change office blocks into social housing in Perth and Edinburgh.

Darlington-based cleaning company expansion brings 80 new jobs Darlington-based cleaning company MJF Cleaning is set for expansion after securing a number of new contracts. Demand for its range of commercial cleaning services has grown faster than expected and it now plans to create about 80 new positions in the coming year.  In addition, MJF's headquarters are undergoing a refurbishment and plans are in place to open a new office.

New food processing factory in Peeblesshire, Scotland creates 30 jobs Glenrath Farms is planning to build an egg pasteurising plant at its site in Peeblesshire, Scotland.  Thirty jobs would be created at the new plant, including roles for plant operators, maintenance staff, hygienists, admin workers, cleaners and drivers. The processing facility will add value to the product range. Turnover £50.5m, 220 employees.

Company restructure as new jobs created at Hampshire-based Formaplex Hampshire-based Formaplex has restructured its composites division as a result of an increase in aerospace and defence contracts. The move includes a new R&D facility and two additional staff.

200 new jobs in John Lewis High Wycombe store refurbishment John Lewis is spending £16m to refurbish its High Wycombe store.  The refurbishment will see 35,000 sq. ft. of back office space released to increase the stores selling area by one third.  The new improvements to the store will also create 200 new jobs.  The refurbishments will be complete by October 2013.  Turnover £7.7b employing 78700 staff.

Management Moves: New co-heads of global M&A appointed at J P Morgan J P Morgan has named Hernan Cristerna and Chris Ventresca as the new co-heads of global mergers and acquisitions.  The company has an annual turnover of £1.4bn and employs 800 Staff.

Lygo International creating 50 jobs in Darlington, Co Durham Lygo International, gaming accessories firm, is creating 50 jobs following a £10m takeover by US audio company Turtle Beach Europe. Lygo International will move into a 120,000 sq. ft. office Darlington, Co Durham, following the takeover and become the European distribution division for Turtle Beach.

New Birmingham office for AA Projects creates jobs Management and property consultancy AA Projects has taken 2,725 sq. ft. of space at Birmingham Business Park following business growth in the Midlands.  The move will allow the company to further strengthen its team and client base in the region.  Turnover £5.96m, 65 employees.

Barker & Stonehouse expands in southern England creating 28 jobs Middlesbrough-based furniture retailer Barker & Stonehouse is expanding into southern England with the opening of a £1m store in Battersea, London. 28 jobs will be created at the 25,000 sq. ft. showroom.  Barker & Stonehouse is the UKs largest family-owned furniture retailer. Turnover £39.6m, 250 employees.

Management Moves: Associate Director returns to Stark Brooks Mike Smith has returned to Recruitment business Stark Brooks as associate director at its Yorkshire office just months after he left to join a rival.  He will spearhead the agency's expansion strategy for the Yorkshire Region.

Hotel Chocolat opens Glasgow store with potential new jobs Premium chocolatier Hotel Chocolat is opening its first Glasgow store at St. Enoch Centre in summer 2013. Jobs could be created at 835 sq. ft. St. Enoch store, which will offer a range of luxury chocolates and gifts. Hotel Chocolat operates 72 branches worldwide. Turnover £24.2m, 140 employees.

Airport Retail Group plans further stores openings with potential new jobs Scandinavian retailer Airport Retail Group (ARG) recorded a 67% increase in sales at its pilot UK Airport Fashion store.  The store has completed a successful first year at Newcastle International Airport. ARG is planning to open further Airport Fashion outlets in the UK, potentially creating new jobs.

New Perfect Home store in Burton-on-Trent brings potential new jobs Temple Retail has taken a lease on a retail unit at Burton Place Shopping Centre in Burton-on-Trent.  Trading as Perfect Home, the household goods retailer agreed a ten-year lease on the unit totalling 5,261 sq. ft. The expansion could create employment opportunities. Turnover £57.3m, 430 employees.

New store near Chester brings 30 new jobs at The Co-operative Group The Co-operative Group is to build a new convenience store in Tattenhall, near Chester, creating 30 jobs. The eco-friendly building will be on the Bolesworth Estate and will also provide parking for residents.

23 new jobs at West Yorkshire based Czajka Community Care Services West Yorkshire based Czajka Community Care Services has created 23 new jobs in Kirklees after expanding its operations into the area and opening an office in Huddersfield.  The company has won a contract with Kirklees Council to provide a range of home support services across the Colne Valley.  The new roles take the workforce to more than 550 employees. Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk

The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

30 new jobs at new Lake District distillery A new £2.5 whiskey distillery is opening in the Lake District creating 30 new jobs.  The 15000 sq. ft. building is set on 8 acres of land near Cockermouth, and is the first distillery in the area for more than a century.  The business is called The Lakes Distillery Company Ltd and is expected to start brewing in December 2013.

New jobs at Aberdeenshire drilling tool, engineering and manufacturing company Aberdeenshire drilling tool, engineering and manufacturing company, Paradigm Drilling Services, reported a rise in turnover from £1.9 million in 2011 to almost £4 million in 2012. The company is now investing a further £1 million of capital into additional manufacturing capacity and rental assets.  The company also plans to recruit 10 new members of staff by the end of 2013.

Atos opens centre in Moray with 200 new jobs possible Atos has opened a development and innovation centre in Moray, where the IT services giant may create 200 jobs.

1000 new jobs as work starts on £90m York Vangarde Development Caddick Construction is now able to start on the £90m Vangarde Development after a delay due to ecological reasons, the Great Crested Newts needed to be re-homed, and an unseasonably cold Easter.  The project which will see John Lewis opening in York as well as a new 6000 seater Community Stadium which will be home to York City FC and York City Knights, is set to boost the city’s economy by £12m.

New office and potential new jobs as Connex Education moves to Edgbaston Connex Education, the education sector recruitment firm, is relocating its Birmingham team to 2,600 sq. ft. offices in Edgbaston.  Jobs could be created at the new premises, which will accommodate the continued growth of the company.

20 new jobs at Fife-based Skene Group Fife-based Skene Group, which supplies the construction sector, is recruiting 20 new staff after securing construction and civil engineering contracts worth £8m, in Glenrothes, Perth, Kinross and Dundee. The contracts will also create jobs at local sub-contractors.  Turnover £19.6m, 130 employees.

Erdington regeneration scheme means 250 new jobs expected Investor and asset manager NewRiver Retail is to redevelop Central Square Shopping Centre and Erdington town centre, in partnership with Birmingham City Council.  The 45,000 sq. ft. shopping centre regeneration includes a food store and the creation of four additional independent retail units. 250 new jobs are expected. Turnover £4m.

New Markham Vale manufacturing facility brings 50 new jobs Ready Egg Products, based in Northern Ireland, are locating their new manufacturing facility at Markham Vale near Chesterfield. The move will create 50 jobs and 34,700 sq. ft. of space.

800 new jobs as Capita invests in Ireland Services provider Capita plan to grow their business in Ireland by doubling the number of people it employs there over the next three years, increasing their headcount in the country from 800 to 1,600.

500 new jobs as YESSS opens 50 new stores Your Electrical Supplies, Services and Solutions, aka YESSS, is due to report sales of £80m in its first year and create an additional 500 jobs, thanks to support from a 12m invoice finance facility from Lloyds TSB. The company will also open 50 new stores before 2014. Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk

The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

Station Couriers relocates to larger premises in Newtown, Powys. With potential new jobs Station Couriers has relocated to a larger unit at Mochdre Industrial Estate in Newtown, Powys.  The courier company has taken a 37,500 sq. ft. unit at the estate. The expansion could create employment opportunities.

Joint venture with Sirosa develops Oxford Street, London shopping complex with potential new jobs A joint venture comprising Arcadia Group and Sirosa is to redevelop the 300,000 sq. ft. Plaza Shopping Centre and offices on Oxford Street, London, including a 73,500 sq. ft. retail store and enlarged offices for Arcadia. The development could create employment opportunities. Turnover £139m, 2,430 employees.

AB Dynamics AIM floatation brings Wiltshire potential new jobs AB Dynamics, a Wiltshire vehicle products designer and manufacturer, is to float on the Alternative Investment Market.  It plans to raise £2.5m, giving it a market capitalisation of £14m.  The company is building new office and factory space following strong business growth.  The expansion could create jobs. Turnover £8.9m.

Courier company APC expansion in may bring new jobs Courier company APC has purchased two 6,400 sq. ft. units on Blackpool Business Park Lancashire to facilitate on-going expansion plans.  The units were owned by ROK Developments, which became insolvent in 2010.  They were sold by Robert Pinkus & Co on behalf of liquidator PwC. APCs expansion could create employment opportunities.

New Debenhams’s Lichfield store creates new jobs Debenhams has opened a new 43,000 sq. ft. store in Lichfield's Three Spires Shopping Centre, creating new jobs for the area and retail space over three floors. The company has a UK turnover of £1.87bn.

Insurer Hiscox expanding into York creating 300 jobs Insurer Hiscox has taken 10,000 sq. ft. at Mallard House in York.  It plans to establish a new centre in the city and create 300 jobs as part of its growth strategy and has taken a short-term lease at Mallard House to accommodate 100 staff while it seeks a long-term base.

New John Lewis store in Oxford brings 500 new jobs John Lewis, the national retailer, is to open a new store in Oxford's Westgate Centre, creating 500 jobs and totalling 10,000 sq. ft. of retail space. The company, MD Andy Street, has a turnover of £7.75bn and employs over 78,000 people.

Reading redevelopment starts – may bring jobs Muse Developments has awarded Galliford Try the second phase of the Chatham Place regeneration scheme in Reading.  The scheme is worth £24m and will deliver two apartment blocks containing 184 homes with ground floor retail space. The development could create employment opportunities.

300 new jobs for Altrincham The Cartwright Group, an Altrincham-based coach manufacturer, has secured 1.9m in investment from the Regional Growth Fund, and will re-invest £2.9m creating 300 jobs, 30 of which will be apprenticeships. The company has a turnover of £79.1m Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk

The UK Knack Group Reviews Today’s Events ……

Kate Cairns Associates relocation to Dursley means potential jobs Kate Cairns Associates, the training consultancy company, have relocated to new offices at the St Mowden development in Dursley, Gloucs, totalling 506 ft. of space. The move comes as the company looks to expand their team.

New TK Maxx store opens in South Reading with 40 new jobs A new TK Maxx store is to open in South Reading, creating 40 new jobs.  The company has an annual turnover of £1.4bn and employs 14,240 staff.

Development of Bournemouth Winter Gardens brings potential new jobs APB Park is planning to redevelop Bournemouth Winter Gardens into a mixed-use development including 86,000 sq. ft. of cinema and leisure space; an 86,000 sq. ft. hotel; 64,000 sq. ft. of commercial space; and 125,000 sq. ft. of residential space. The development could create employment and business opportunities.

New Caerphilly Bargain Booze store creates 20 new jobs Bargain Booze, the Cheshire based alcohol retailer, along with sandwich retailers Subway, have opened new stores in Caerphilly’s Castle View Retail Park, creating 20 jobs. Mark Woods is franchisee for both stores, Bargain Booze has a turnover of £395m

Four new Bmi Regional routes from Birmingham creates jobs Bmi Regional is to launch four new routes from Birmingham Airport, to Gothenburg, Toulouse, Lyon and Billund.  Bmi Regional became independent from BMI in June 2012 and employs 400 staff throughout the UK. The expansion is expected to create new jobs and will provide links to currently un-served European markets from the Midlands.

3 new investors in Cloudant finance business expansion Cloudant, a database provider with offices in Bristol, has raised £7.9m in private funding from three new investors. Devonshire Investors, Rackspace Hosting and Toba Capital have all invested in the company in order to fund their global expansion.

Management Changes: Real estate team expanded at commercial law firm Watson Burton Commercial law firm Watson Burton has expanded its real estate team with the appointment of partner David Pridmore.  He will be primarily based in the firms Leeds office.  Turnover £12.1m, 120 employees.

Management Changes: Executive appointment at construction company J Murphy & Sons Construction company J Murphy & Sons, based in London, has appointed former Skanska director Colin Courtney as strategy and business development director.  Mr Courtney will support the implementation of the company’s strategic business development strategy. Turnover £485.3m, 2,980 employees.

Esh Group expansion in Yorkshire creates 100 jobs Construction firm Esh Group expects to create 100 jobs in Yorkshire, doubling staff numbers in the region.  It had an income of £22m in Yorkshire in 2012 and expects this increase to £40m in 2013, having already won £32m of contracts. The group has a turnover of £150m and employs 1,000 people.

New B&M store in Stoke means 35 jobs created Discount retailer B&M is to open a new store in Stoke and create 35 jobs.  The company has an annual turnover of £712.6m and employs 8865 staff.

Envirofusion creating jobs in Derby Envirofusion has developed innovative waste-to-energy technology, which operates at 1,700 degrees Celsius, at its new factory in Derby, with multi-million-pound backing from private investors. Delivery of the first systems is scheduled for summer 2013. The 7-strong company, which is recruiting dozens of engineers, draughtsmen, fitters and fabricators, expects to become a £100m business.

85 new call centre jobs at Hastings Direct, Bexhill-on-Sea Hastings Direct, the insurer, is to create 85 new jobs at its Bexhill-on-Sea HQ. The company have already created 200 jobs in Bexhill since 2012, making it the town's largest employer. The company has growth plans and will serve 3m customers by 2020.

Management Changes: Law firm DWF expands real estate team with 4 partners appointed Law firm DWF has strengthened its real estate team in North East England with the appointment of four new partners and eight lawyers from Eversheds.  The appointments add to DWFs expertise in the retail, energy, utility and transport sectors. Two appointments have also been made to the affordable housing team.

Rochester Riverside Redevelopment creates 3,000 jobs Medway Councils redevelopment of Rochester Riverside has received 4.4m in funding from the South-East Local Enterprise Partnership. The project will create around 3000 jobs as well as offices, shops, leisure facilities and up to 2000 homes.

Management Changes: Operations Manager appointed by Milton Keynes-based Airmax Milton Keynes-based Airmax, which supplies vehicle electronics such as telematics, has strengthened its customer service operation with the appointment of Glyn Meek as operations manager. Airmax is experiencing on-going growth in its SME fleet business.

Peninsula Business Services recruiting 30 new staff Peninsula Business Services, a Manchester-based employment law adviser, is to hire 30 staff to advise businesses on employment tribunal reforms being introduced by the government in 2013.  The £84m turnover company already employs 900 people.

Bank funding secured by Energen Biogas for anaerobic plant expansion with potential new jobs Renewables specialist Energen Biogas has secured a £7.25m loan and asset finance package with Barclays to fund the expansion of its Cumbernauld, Scotland-based anaerobic digestion business. The expansion of the plant, a joint venture with Shanks Group, could create employment opportunities.

Rail depot go-ahead means 7000 jobs as HS2 plans change Roxhill Developments Limited, Rugby-based developers of the rail freight interchange depot next to East Midlands Airport, have seen the government change plans to their HS2 railway project so that the depot can be built, creating 7000 jobs. The HS2 tunnel will now go under the airport and depot.

New CSL store in Solihull brings 60 new jobs Sofa retailer CSL is opening a store in Solihull, creating more than 60 jobs in the area.  The opening of the 22,000 sq. ft. store is part of a 1m investment in the West Midlands, which also includes a distribution centre.  Annual Revenues of £110m.

40 new jobs at Suffolk-based AKD Engineering Suffolk-based AKD Engineering has secured a £5m contract to help refurbish Bacton gas terminal for energy company Shell.  The contract will create 40 new jobs at AKD, which plans to expand its headquarters to meet increased demand for its services. Revenues are expected to increase from £12m to £16m in 2013.  140 employees.

Management Changes: 2 new associates at Turner Parkinson Turner Parkinson, the Manchester-based law firm, has made a number of promotions. Emma Yates and Helen O'Neill have both become associates in the intellectual property and commercial property departments respectively.

Flaxby hotel and leisure development means 300 potential new jobs York-based Skelwith Leisure is to start work on the £100m Flaxby Country Resort near York, in May 2013.  The hotel and leisure development will feature a spa and gym, restaurants and bars and boutiques, totalling 240,000 sq. ft. When opened, 300 people will be employed at the resort.

50 new jobs at Yorkshire-based firm Hica at Home Yorkshire-based firm Hica at Home is expanding its domiciliary care coverage in West Yorkshire creating more than 50 new jobs. Nationally the company employs 1,500 people who deliver 15,000 hours of care every week. Penny Winter – The UK Knack Group www.theukknackgroup.co.uk