National Express sets up £0.5m bursary scheme in response to summer riots

BIRMINGHAM-based transport group National Express has launched a £0.5m foundation to provide bursaries to help local students attend further and higher education.

National Express, which began the scheme as a response to last summer’s riots, will provide the funding over the next five years.

The National Express Foundation will award £10,000 per annum to several local colleges and universities to enable them to provide students in challenging personal or financial situations with a bursary towards funding their living costs.

The foundation will also provide up to £30,000 a year of funding to local community groups working with young people.

Shadow Minister for Higher Education, Shabana Mahmood MP, who has joined the foundation’s Board of Trustees, said: “I am pleased to be joining the Board of Trustees for the National Express Foundation, particularly because the focus of the Foundation’s work is on helping students, young people and community groups who are in need of support.  This sort of support is much needed in Birmingham and I look forward to celebrating the many successes that lie ahead.”

Anthony Vigor, Director of Policy and External Affairs for National Express, added: “As Birmingham’s largest private employer we take our local responsibilities seriously. That’s why we are delighted to launch this foundation and provide support to local students and community groups. I encourage as many local colleges, universities and community groups as possible to apply.”

Assa Abloy continues Chinese expansion with new acquisiton

SECURITY products group Assa Abloy, whose UK base is in Willenhall, has continued its global expansion with a further acquisition in China.

The firm has acquired Shandong Guoqiang Hardware, which supplies a full range of window hardware predominantly for the Chinese market. The company is said to have a good market presence in China through an extensive network of sales offices.

Johan Molin, Assa’s President and CEO, said: “I am very pleased to welcome Guoqiang into the Assa Abloy Group. Guoqiang is an important step in our expansion into new growth segments in China and other emerging markets.”

Jonas Persson, Executive Vice President of Assa Abloy and head of its Asia Pacific Division, said the acquisition complemented the group’s existing door opening operations in China, and provided access to China’s window hardware market.

Guoqiang was established in 1998 and has more than 2 000 employees. The head office and main factory is located in Leling, Shandong province.

The deal is Assa’s second acquisition in China in less than a month. It has also acquired Shantou Longhu Sanhe Metal Holdings Co. Ltd, a leading fire-rated and security door manufacturer, situated in the Guangdong province in southern China.

Demand remains strong for industrial equipment supplier Northbridge

NORTHBRIDGE, the industrial services and rental company, has said demand for its manufactured units remained strong in the first five months of the year.

The Stoke-on-Trent company, which hires and sells specialist industrial equipment to a non-cyclical customer base, said 61% of its annual sales target had already been secured.

The company sells to a global customer base has offices in the UK plus the United States, Dubai, Belgium, Germany, France, Australia, Singapore, India, Brazil, Korea and Azerbaijan.

Peter Harris, Northbridge chairman, told the firm’s AGM: “The rental market for testing and commissioning equipment in Europe and some other markets continues to be challenging, but recent rental contract wins in Australia for oil tools will produce good revenue into the second half.

“In addition our new transformer rental and loadcell businesses are performing well and, being more seasonal, will also make a stronger contribution as the year progresses. Although there is still uncertainty for the world economic outlook, we remain on course to meet market expectations for 2012.”

The firm’s client base includes utility companies, the oil and gas sector, shipping, construction and the public sector. The product range includes loadbanks, transformers, generators, compressors and oil tools.