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Ennstone chairman steps down
Derbyshire-based building materials and quarrying company Ennstone has appointed Graham Brown as interim executive chairman after Vaughan McLeod announced he plans to retire in 2009. McLeod will continue as chief executive officer, the company said. Brown, one of the independent non-executive directors, is a chartered accountant and was formerly group finance director of Wilson Bowden until the end of 2006. Ennstone says it is searching for a full-time independent non-executive chairman. The news comes just days after the company issued a profit warning after disappointing interim results, and has said it is looking to offload parts of the business. Brown said: Following the prolonged deterioration in the US market and sharp downturn in the company's core UK market, we acknowledge we need to restructure our balance sheet. As such, the board is pursuing its strategy of asset disposals alongside an equity fundraising to meet its financing requirements.
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A&L takeover gets green light
The proposed takeover of Alliance & Leicester by Spanish banking giant Banco Santander has been approved by its shareholders after an extraordinary general meeting (EGM). The European Commission also granted approval for the transaction under the EC Merger Regulations. Commenting on the results, Roy Brown, acting chairman of Alliance & Leicester, said: We welcome our shareholders approval of the offer from Santander, which was unanimously recommended by the board of Alliance & Leicester. The economic outlook and continuing uncertainty in financial markets have reinforced the board's view that this transaction is in the best interests of shareholders, customers and other stakeholders. Should all approvals go through on time, Alliance & Leicester will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Banco Santander from 10 October 2008. 
Orchard aims to blossom after buyout
A Derbyshire day nursery has been bought out by co-owner Dave Williams and his company, Willoe Holdings. Orchard Private Day Nursery on Derby Road, Chellaston, employs 70 full and part-time staff to look after 170 children throughout the day as well as more than 100 youngsters after school. The deal to buy the nursery involved finance from NatWest with legal support from East Midlands commercial law firm Geldards.
Leda Suspension is ready to roll into Draycott
Derbyshire composites manufacturer Epm: technology is set to share its Formula One know-how with one of the best-known suppliers to the amateur motor racing circuit after bringing the business out of administration and setting it up in a technical centre next door. Epm, which makes high-tech composite components for the professional motor racing industry, including six Formula One teams, acquired shock absorbers manufacturer Leda Suspension last year and has transferred its operations from Braintree, Essex, to its base in Draycott, near Derby. Epms managing director Graham Mulholland said Ledas move to Draycott brings to an end a 16-month hiatus during which it has undergone a thorough appraisal as a brand and a business. Just one original member of staff has been retained and its sales were allowed to decline while the appraisal was carried out.
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Rolls-Royce secures £139m order
Derby aero engine-maker and Marketing Derby bondholder Rolls-Royce has received a £139m order for a version of its Trent engine from Air CaraÏbes, a French carrier based in the West Indies. The Trent XWB (extra wide body) will power three twin-jet Airbus A350-1000 and is tailored specifically to the aircraft it powers. This is the first order from a France-based carrier and also the first time Air CaraÏbes, based at Pointe-Ã -Pitre, Guadeloupe, has ordered Rolls-Royce Trent engines.
Abacus to expand Shanghai operation
In an attempt to expand its growing presence in its Chinese markets, Nottinghamshire's Abacus Lighting has secured the right to purchase land use rights on 20,000 sq m of land at Fengpu Industrial Park in Shanghai. The original land and factory, located in Minhang District Shanghai, was part of the investment of Abacus' Chinese joint venture partner in 1995. In 2006 Abacus (Shanghai) Lighting purchased its partner's share in the company and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Abacus Holdings. The land purchase approvals are expected to take between three to five months and Abacus hopes to start building the premises by the end of 2008 with completion by mid to late 2009.
Trio join Pall-Ex network
Three new members have bolstered the Leicestershire-based UK network of Pall-Ex, the palletised freight distribution network. Peppers Warehousing, JDF Logistics and McGregor Logistics have joined the multi-awardwinning network and will service the Doncaster and Sheffield areas. Tony Mellor, commercial director at Pall-Ex, said: Because of the existing volumes of freight and the potential in those areas, we have recruited three members. They will all prove to be valuable members of the Pall-Ex network.
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Bowmer & Kirkland to build West Nottinghamshire College
Bowmer & Kirkland has been appointed to build the West Nottinghamshire College in Mansfield. Known as the Gateway to Mansfield, the £96m development will provide a new home for the college on 16 acres of land bordering the Mansfield and Ashfield Regeneration Route, which was opened in 2004. There will be three main buildings for the sports, construction, engineering and performance arts departments, with general teaching and administration. A 250-seat theatre and sports hall, which will be available to the public and a health spa open to the public and run by the colleges hair and beauty students, will also be part of the development.
Regeneration of coalfields to continue
Meden Valley Making Places (MVMP), the organisation driving the regeneration of
run-down and derelict housing in former mining communities across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, has announced £900,000 of further funding from English Partnerships to continue its work to at least 2011. Current funding ends in March 2009, with MVMP continuing to regenerate eight settlements in the region.
Baggaley completes £7m contract
Mansfield-based Baggaley Construct has completed work on a £7m project known as Titan House at Sherwood Business Park in Annesley, close to junction 27 of the M1. The contract, which was originally £4.7m for the shell works, was increased by another £2.3m to include the fit-out of the building. The scheme comprises three- storey, 40,000 sq ft office accommodation and a single-storey building providing 10,000 sq ft of workshop space.
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New head of corporate team for Nelsons in Leicester
Chris Rees of law firm Nelsons has been appointed as the head of the corporate team in Leicester. Rees is taking up the post after ten years at the firm, five of which as a partner in the corporate team in Nottingham. He specialises in acquisitions, mergers and disposals, management buyouts and buy-ins, company reorganisations, corporate banking and finance.
Walters homes in on Miller return
Paul Walters has rejoined housebuilder Miller Homes as senior sales manager for the East Midlands. Having started part-time for a national builder in 1989 while studying for a business and finance diploma, Walters worked his way up, becoming senior sales manager with Birch Homes in 1998. He remained at Birch throughout its takeover by Miller Homes in 2000 until 2004. Walters said: Im delighted to be given the opportunity to work alongside the team at Miller again.
Interfleet hires magnificent seven
Derby-headquarted rail consultancy Interfleet Technology has expanded its London office with seven dedicated professionals. The company has recruited consultants Chris Parker, Suzanne Page, Joanne Beesley, Alex Fry, Donald May, Mark Fox and Robert Neathey.
Trio join NMC
North Midland Construction (NMC) has bolstered its corporate team with three appointments. Colin Critchley has been appointed financial controller for the group. Chris Butler has taken up the role of quality, environment, health and safety manager, and Nicki Lee has joined NMC as group training manager.
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