Business Desk North West Headlines

Pre-pack saves jobs at Oldham conservatory firm

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:03:08 +0000

THE sale of Oldham-based conservatory company NTC via a pre-packaged administration to new company Jessica Trading has saved 25 jobs.NTC was set up in 2007 and had reached turnover of £3m by the end ...

St Modwen makes progress

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:10:53 +0000

PROPERTY giant St Modwen managed to grow the value of its net assets by 9% in 2011, while pre-tax profits climbed by 34% to £50.4m.The company said that it increased the amount of profit it brought in...

Plans submitted for £100m Chester Student Village

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:09:46 +0000

AEW Architects has submitted a planning application for a £100m Student Village to Cheshire West and Chester Council. The application is for 2,500 student beds, a student hub building (for social, di...

HIMOR buys Clarence House

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:07:25 +0000

HIMOR Group has bought the 18,000 sq ft Clarence House office building in Manchester city centre for £2.8m.The five-storey building, which also has 12 basement car parking spaces, was bought from a p...

Land Rover and Bentley sales surge

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:08:23 +0000

JAGUAR Land Rover has made a strong start to 2012 with new sales of both marques showing an increase on this time last year.Land Rover had enjoyed a renaissance during the final quarter of last year, ...

Region has most empty shops

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:06:17 +0000

THE North West had the highest shop vacancy rates of any English region, according to a new end of year report by the Local Data Company.The national rate for shop vacancies has stabilised at around ...

Yorkshire Bank owner launches UK strategic review

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:04:05 +0000

YORKSHIRE Bank is set to make some "tough decisions" about its future as its owner today announced the launch of a strategic review into its UK operations.National Australia Bank, owner of the Clydesd...

Etihad chief hails Manchester partnership

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:59:30 +0000

MIDDLE East airline Etihad took the wraps off its latest investment in the North West last night with a pledge on jobs.James Hogan, chief executive of the ambitious airline said he expects the airline...

Victrex ahead despite market uncertainty

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:30:12 +0000

HIGH performance polymers manufacturer Victrex says demand is being maintained despite uncertainty continuing to overshadow its major markets.In a trading update from October 1 ahead of its annual mee...

T Jolly's unhappy ending leaves £7m of debts

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:26:05 +0000

PRESTON-based mechanical & electrical engineer The Jolly Group collapsed owing almost £7m to creditors, including £2.7m to its private equity backer NBGI.Newly-filed reports into the collapse of The...

Appointments: CTI Digital, Clough & Willis; and more

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:03:57 +0000

CTI Digital has appointed Steve Wrigley as its new managing director.The Manchester-based digital marketing agency said the newly-created role follows a restructure which sees founder Nick Rhind move ...

Ad agency joins global indies' network

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:19:09 +0000

MANCHESTER ad agency BJL has become part of a new international network of creative agencies known as Tribe Global.BJL is one of 13 founder members of the network, which has been set up to share talen...

HGV recruiter in the fast lane

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:06:10 +0000

SPECIALIST recruitment company Transline Resource Group is reporting a 23% surge in annual sales after opening new offices and launching a new division.The firm, which recruits HGV drivers and other i...

WH Ireland sets £10m target on EIS fund

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:23:45 +0000

WH Ireland has launched a new fund aimed at investing in small-cap companies through the Enterprise Investment Scheme. The Manchester-based stockbroking and wealth management firm said that it hopes t...

Region's office centres face diverging prospects

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:17:46 +0000

THE North West\'s two main office markets of Manchester and Liverpool face differing prospects, despite both achieving a healthy rise in take-up during the second half of 2011. CBRE\'s new Office Mo...

UBM sells Farmers' Guardian

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:00:56 +0000

LONDON-based media group UBM has sold its Preston-based Farmers\' Guardian stable of agricultural newspapers alongside medical trade title Pulse to London-based Briefing Media Group for £10m. The bu...

Ryanair adds Budapest service

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:45:33 +0000

BUDGET airline Ryanair is to begin a Manchester - Budapest service later this month.The new route, where it will rival Jet2.com, follows the Irish airline\'s planned expansion into Hungary hot on the ...

Chamber annual dinner to welcome Lord Green

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:22:26 +0000

BANKER turned international trade supremo Lord Green is returning to the region to deliver the keynote speech at Greater Manchester Chamber\'s annual dinner next month.Lord Green, who before his peera...

Downtown survey shows strong support for Liverpool mayor

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:31:05 +0000

SUPPORT for an elected mayor in Liverpool is strong, according to a survey by lobbying group Downtown in Business. The organisation held an online poll last week, and 70% of the 500 respondents backe...

Breaking News: Pinsent Masons and McGrigors confirm merger

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:24:24 +0000

PARTNERS at national law firms Pinsent Masons and McGrigors have voted in favour of merging.Continuing to trade as Pinsent Masons the enlarged entity will employ more than 2,500 people and have a stro...

Axon turnover up by a third

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:03:32 +0000

AXON Resourcing has announced a 33% increase in turnover for 2011 to £4.2m after achieving a strong performance in the final quarter of the year.The company, which is based at Stockton Heath, near War...

Angels shore up venture market

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:02:22 +0000

FEWER firms seeking venture capital in the North were successful in raising capital than in the south of England, and those that were received smaller amounts, according to a survey.UK Funders found t...

Mining specialists prospect for new work

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:01:15 +0000

A TEAM from Cobbetts which has specialised in helping overseas mining firms raise cash from investors by listing their shares on the London Stock Exchange is to join Canadian firm Gowlings.Andrew Wrig...

Property round-up: UKFast buys at Cobra Court; and more

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:46:37 +0000

WEB housing company UKFast has bought three office buildings totaling 14,180 sq ft on the Cobra Court scheme at Trafford Park.Cobra Court is home to over 22 occupiers including DHL, Wimpy, M247, Aust...

EDM and BDP triumph in NW China export awards

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:38:15 +0000

SOARING international sales has earned Manchester flight simulation manufacturer EDM a prestigious award.The Newton Heath-based company won the UK Trade and Investment China Business Award for the Nor...

Sales and profits up at Bollin Group

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:06:29 +0000

BOLLIN Group, the Cheshire-based manufacturer and wholesaler of premium branded consumer products and outdoor clothing, grew sales and profits last year despite the challenging trading environment.New...

Brabners Chaffe Street reports 'steady' results

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:39:23 +0000

REGIONAL law firm Brabners Chaffe Steet has described its financial results for 2011 as "solid" amid a weak commercial market.The firm, which has offices in Liverpool, Manchester and Preston, reported...

Character Group wins Bin Weevils license

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:41:54 +0000

TOY developer Character Group has won a license with the company behind the latest children\'s craze, Bin Weevils.The AIM company, which has its distribution centre in Oldham, will develop and market ...

boohoo's owners happy with their lot

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:30:37 +0000

THE company behind online ladieswear brand boohoo.com saw its turnover increase by 85% to £24.5m in 2011, according to newly-filed accounts.The Manchester-based business\'s parent company also increas...

Debt collector reaps rewards

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:16:09 +0000

DEBT collection company Moorcroft Group paid out £6m in dividends to its owners in 2011 - an increase of £700,000 on the £5.3m they earned in 2010.The Stockport-based company, which is owned by chair...

Smaller manufacturers' confidence slips

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:49:37 +0000

SENTIMENT among the UK’s small and medium-sized manufacturers fell for the third quarter running in the three months to January, the CBI said today.The organisation said the situation was the re...

Appointments: Houghton promoted at Palatine & more

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:40:35 +0000

INVESTMENT firm Palatine Private Equity has promoted Beth Houghton to investment director.A former management consultant who has been with Palatine (formerly Zeus Private Equity) since June 2007, rece...

From Russia with love for Cobbetts

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:06:40 +0000

LAW firm Cobbetts has reported 20% growth in international income, and is advising on an increasing number of major litigation cases in Russia. Fee income from overseas work grew 20% in 2011 to £3m, i...

£30m fund for green energy ideas

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:35:28 +0000

INNOVATIVE companies with plans to change the way energy is used are being urged to apply for a share of a £30m fund.The Cheshire-based Energy Innovation Centre is working with five of the country\'s ...

Bolton’s £30m health & leisure centre opens

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:24:47 +0000

THE £30.6m Bolton One health & Leisure centre on Moor Lane, has opened to the public.The complex, which also includes a research centre, is a partnership between Bolton Council, NHS Bolton and the Uni...

Motel One plans stay in Manchester

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:45:26 +0000

HODDER + Partners has won an architectural competition to develop a 330-bed hotel on a site opposite Manchester\'s Piccadilly station.The site on London Road sits between Carlyle Group\'s Piccadilly ...

Wells Fargo seals Burdale deal

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:22 +0000

US financial giant Wells Fargo has completed its purchase of asset-based lender Burdale Financial from Bank of Ireland.The business, which in the North West is led by Judith McMath, is now [art of the...

Firms secure cash for growth

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:57:57 +0000

TWO North West businesses have secured funds to help fund their expansion.eoSemi, a Congleton-based technology company, has secured a £1.5m tranche of funding from a group of existing investors, inclu...

Investor Outlook 2012: Gold to continue to shine

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:54:48 +0000

GOLD, which has seen a dramatic rise of some 15% year-on-year for the last decade, will remain a strong investment prospect while governments continue to inject new money into economies to stimulate g...

Manchester travel firm sold

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:53:49 +0000

A COMPANY specialising in arranging travel for academics and not-for-profit firms has been sold to Key Travel for an undisclosed sum. A & V Kanaris (Travel), which trades as Delta Travel has been in...

Huge Lancs employment site on market

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:56:56 +0000

ONE of the largest employment development sites in Lancashire has been placed on the market. The 90-acre Whitebirk Sixty Five site, which has 66 acres of developable land, has been put up for sale, w...

Theo Paphitis dismisses Portas' retail credentials

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:49:33 +0000

RETAIL entrepreneur and TV Dragons\' Den star Theo Paphitis has questioned the credentials of Mary Portas, the so called \'Queen of Shops\' to save the high street.Speaking in Manchester last night Mr...

Bruntwood weathers the storm

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:49:10 +0000

BRUNTWOOD chief executive Chris Oglesby believes his firm will emerge "stronger from the sustained period of economic turbulence" in the property market after generating flat sales and profits during ...

Business Masters awards will celebrate manufacturing success

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:36:06 +0000

THE search is on for the region\'s top manufacturing company, which will be crowned at TheBusinessDesk.com\'s North West Business Masters Awards. The award - a new category for the 2012 awards - refl...

Appointments: Key hires at SAS Daniels; Weightmans and Napthens; Hilton GM moves on

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:21:23 +0000

CHESHIRE law firm SAS Daniels has boosted litigation department with the appointment of new partner and team head Chris MacCafferty. Mr McCafferty, who joins from Ralli Solicitors in Manchester, will...

Cheshire IFA makes second swoop

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:00:04 +0000

A CHESHIRE IFA has snapped up a regional rival - its second acquisition in the last four months.Crewe-based Jones Sheridan has added 400 clients to its books after buying Warrington financial advisory...

Chamber boss seeks Northern Hub backing

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:11:18 +0000

THE President of Greater Manchester\'s Chamber of Commerce, Martin Douglas, has written to the Chancellor to stress the importance of the Northern Hub project to the business community.Northern Hub is...

Full time called on programmes printer

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:32:26 +0000

ADMINISTRATORS have been appointed to family-owned printing firm Nayler Group, which printed programmes for several local football clubs.The Accrington-based business had been in business since 1928 ...

Manchester to house new graphene hub

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:34:04 +0000

MANCHESTER is to become the base for the new Government-funded \'hub\' set up to fund the commercial exploitation of graphene.The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has confirm...

Media Mix: Brother; Red Meat; and more

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:51:26 +0000

THE Manchester-based marketing team at Brother International Europe has won an award for Best Marketing Initiative at the European Office Awards in Frankfurt.The award was for its 141% campaign, promo...