In Brief: Brewin Dolphin; Crown Paints; Formula Fitness; JPG

INVESTMENT managers Brewin Dolphin are celebrating after its managed fund service picked up an industry award.

The Citywire Best Cautious Portfolio award was presented by Lord Prescott to Guy Foster, head of portfolio strategy at Brewin Dolphin at the annual awards ceremony in London.

Mr Foster said: “During the past 12 months, while outperformance has been driven by asset allocation and fund selection, the story has been more about caution, particularly in fixed income and emerging markets. A broad diversity of bond holdings in funds with strong managers has proved key, again with consideration given to the overall portfolio’s position on the curve.”

Michael Craven, head of Brewin Dolphin in Leeds, added: “MFS flows have grown very strongly over the last year and we look forward to striving for many more years of strong growth and adding value for advisors and their clients.”

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CROWN Paints has acquired three decorator centres in Yorkshire from Melton-based Needlers.

Darwen-based Crown, now part of the Danish Hempel Group, said the deal will give it more than 130 centres and expand its presence in Yorkshire

Needlers has sold the sites to focus on its main business of supplying cleaning products to the food manufacturing industry.

The centres are in Scarborough, Bridlington and Driffield. All staff will join Crown as part of the acquisition.

Crown was advised on the deal by a team from Napthens in Preston led by head of Corporate, Keith Melling, employment partner Oliver McCann and commercial property solicitor Marc Appleton.

Mr Melling of Napthens said: “This was a strategic acquisition for Crown Paints and helps to cement its footprint in the Yorkshire region. We are delighted that Crown engaged us on the project as this demonstrates how we can help both large and small businesses in Lancashire to achieve their objectives.”

Needlers was advised by Andrew Jackson solicitors of Hull.

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FORMULA Fitness has completed its refurbishment with funding from Barclays.

Business entrepreneur Ady Howell rented the premises for the new health club in Knottingley earlier this year at Units 2-3, Great North Road. He has now installed state-of-the-art gym equipment together with physiotherapy, nail bar, hair salon, tanning units, supplement store and eating area.

He said: “I’ve been looking for a new challenge for some time now and was delighted when this building came available and Barclays was able to provide part funding for the gym equipment. The ladies fitness studio has proved extremely popular and incorporating the beauty element into the whole health club experience has been very successful and is a natural extension of looking and feeling good about yourself.”

The business employs four locally in Knottingley and the business said the facilities will continue to evolve as the business expands.

Christine Hardman, business banking manager at Barclays, said: “It’s been very rewarding working with Ady seeing him progress his new business and developing his strategy. Formula Fitness is a great example of a well-run business thriving and growing despite the current economic challenges.”

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YORKSHIRE based civil and structural engineering consultancy JPG has been appointed to advise on multi-million pound redevelopment plans for the iconic former Terry’s chocolate factory site in York. 
 
The appointment follows recent announcements to progress development after property firms Henry Boot Developments and David Wilson Homes signed a joint deal to buy the 27-acre site on Bishopthorpe Road. The partnership plans to build 270 new homes alongside new offices, hotels and shops and recently secured planning consents to allow a start on site. 
 
JPG has been recruited as a key partner for the construction processes and has been instrumental in the assembly of the tender team.  It will oversee key feasibility assessments and deliver structural reports to support necessary demolition and listed building retention/restoration requirements. 
 
Chris Harding, director at JPG said: “We are delighted to be retained as a key advisor for such a prestigious development. Of course with its famous heritage and valued aspects the site is not without its challenges…….the retention of the existing listed clock tower and other factory buildings are essential but they have suffered some corrosion and deterioration over the years.  Due to its location and plans to open new access routes the site also requires major traffic analysis and flood risk assessments…..all areas that we can cover with considerable expertise.”