In Brief: Wren; Sterne Properties; Finch; Humber UTC
YORKSHIRE kitchen and bedroom giant Wren has rebranded as Wren Living, following a major expansion of its product portfolio and a new partnership with celebrity interior designer Linda Barker.
“The rebrand is a natural step for us as we expand our offer into new areas such as free standing home furniture,” said Wren Living managing director, Armando Sanchez.
Wren recently announced the acquisition of the 180 acre former Kimberly-Clark manufacturing plant in Barton-upon-Humber, which is now being converted into ‘The Nest’ – a new head office.
Wren Living currently employs 1,200 people across the UK, 650 of which are in the Humber region.
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DEVELOPER Sterne Properties is set to open independent cinema chain Curzon Cinemas in Ripon.
The cinema, which is currently undergoing a £2m refurbishment project, hosts two cinema screens, a restaurant, a bar and a private VIP area.The building is also home to nine flats, which have been created above the building. The 12,000 sq ft development will create half a dozen new jobs.
Leeds-based law firm, Blacks Solicitors has advised property investors, Sterne Properties on the leasing deal with Curzon Cinemas.
Nick Dyson, partner in leisure and licensing at Blacks Solicitors, said: “We’ve really enjoyed working with Sterne Properties on such an exciting and challenging project. The building is the perfect setting for this type of investment and we look forward to seeing the completed article.”
Simon Sterne, director at Sterne Properties, added: “Nick and the team at Blacks have dealt with the complex contract negotiations very professionally and we look forward to welcoming the Curzon Cinemas chain to Ripon.”
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SHEFFIELD’S burgeoning international trade links are on the rise, according to a city branch of insurance brokers.
Finch opened its latest base at Sheffield Business Centre in May and has gone on to land a number of new and prestigious clients, something the team attributes to a spike in interest in overseas business from city organisations.
Head of office, Chris Finch, said: “These new business wins demonstrate the appetite there is in the city for growth overseas and our skills are the perfect fit for this market.”
Recent contract wins for the city office include a high-end technology company with complex overseas requirements and an innovative waste recycling company with plans to open sites in five overseas locations.
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HUMBER businesses are being urged to throw their support behind the region’s first University Technical College – the Humber UTC.
A Humber-wide partnership lodged a bid last year with the Government to create the new centre for engineering and renewables training excellence, which is earmarked for a site near Church Square, east Scunthorpe.
Mark O’Reilly, director at Team Humber Marine Alliance (THMA), one of the advisory board members, is now asking businesses, on the north and south banks of the Humber, to back the proposed UTC.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for all companies, from the smallest to the largest to support the Humber UTC, which will bring a genuinely vocational, skills-based and academic training facility focused on engineering and the renewables sector,” he said.
“We are asking THMA’s own membership of more than 170 companies to support the Humber UTC and would like as many local businesses as possible to support the plans.
“A strong partnership of employers, education and public agencies is driving the bid to develop the Humber UTC. All partners have dedicated significant resources and time towards its development and are committed to providing the resource needed for the UTC to be a success.”
Other Humber UTC advisory board members include Able UK, Centrica, Clugston, Total, Tata Steel and the University of Hull.
