In brief: Surface Transforms raises £350k & more

SURFACE Transforms, the innovator and manufacturer of carbon-ceramic brake discs for sports cars and aircraft, has raised £350,000 (£335,000 after expenses) in a shares placing.

The Ellesmere Port-based company, which is listed on AIM, has placed 2.7 million shares are 13p.

The fundraising fills the shortfall after the group raised £1.07m in November under the same terms when it had been looking for £1.4m to fund its research and development and recruit more staff.

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A LANCASHIRE bottling specialist is raising a glass to growth after receiving free support funded by a £5.6m skills programme.

Chorley-based H&A Prestige Bottling, which occupies a 130,000 sq ft facility at Ackhurst Business Park, has been able to invest in leadership taining for 12 of its staff after backing from Lancashire Skills Support for the Workforce.

The Level 2 Team Leader course requires learners to build a portfolio of evidence containing examples of their work and observations to confirm their competence and knowledge, along with assignments and course work. The training is being delivered by Runshaw Business Centre.
 
Managing director Bob Woolf said: “Career development is incredibly important to us in maintaining a happy, dynamic workforce. We promote a ‘family atmosphere’ amongst our staff, many of whom live locally and socialise together.  We look after them and ensure they enjoy coming to work and developing themselves professionally.
 
LSS will support 3,817 employees aged 19 and over who are working in small or medium sized businesses and have a workforce of up to 250 employees.