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HBJ ramps up presence in London
Birmingham-based law firm HBJ Gateley Wareing is expanding its London presence after a niche merger with maritime and commercial law firm Holmes Hardingham to create a substantial specialist shipping and multi-modal transport practice. The two firms will merge their shipping and transport teams in June 2008. The enlarged team will include 26 lawyers in London, Edinburgh and Dubai including six current Holmes Hardingham partners and five other fee-earners who will continue to operate under the name Holmes Hardingham as a division of HBJ Gateley Wareing.
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DTE Recovery rebrands as Leonard Curtis
Birmingham-based DTE Business Recovery Group has changed its name to Leonard Curtis. The change in trading style reflected a desire to operate one brand across the UK, said the company. Following the opening of a Birmingham office in 2003, the acquisition of London-based insolvency firm Leonard Curtis in 2005 and the growth of DTE Business Recovery in the North West, the business has become a top 10 national recovery practice. Paul Reeves, director at Leonard Curtis said: "We're now a large, national operation and wanted to bring our services together under one brand name. Each of our divisions will come under the Leonard Curtis umbrella to make working with us more transparent and straightforward." 
Birmingham hotels stutter
Birmingham's hotel industry witnessed a fall in revenue per available room (revPAR) during the first quarter of 2008, according to research from business advisory firm Deloitte. In the first three months of the year revPAR dropped 5.8 per cent to £50. The biggest fall was in Reading where revPAR fell 13.7 per cent to £46.
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The Works rescue secures 2,200 jobs
The Works, the discount books chain that crashed into administration in the New Year, has been saved following a £25m management buy-in. Administrators were appointed to The Works in January 2008 after a period of rapid expansion to more than 300 stores. A new management team, led by chief executive Anthony Skitt and chairman Alan Smith, has taken on the Birmingham-based business and developed a plan to returning the business to its core market of discount books.
Bronx Engineering sets out ambitions for growth
Bronx Engineering has agreed a new international trading finance facility with NatWest to support its growth plans. Bronx, based in Brierley Hill, is a market leader in the design and management of coil processing lines and equipment. The company is a subsidiary of Bronx Investment, which has operations in Australia, India and South Africa. It has been based in the West Midlands for more than 50 years. As its stock is sourced from the UK and overseas, NatWest has put in place a structured trade finance facility that provides Bronx with flexibility for the purchase and shipment of stock. This has been achieved through the combination of letters of credit provision, bonds and guarantees together with currency hedging protection that enhances the cash flow operations of the company.
Fund completes first-phase of nanoTherics investment
The Mercia Technology Seed Fund, a provider of venture capital to early-stage technology businesses in the West Midlands, has completed an initial investment in nanoTherics. This scientific medical devices company was founded following biomedical research conducted at Keele University and the University of Florida. It will use the funds to complete its product offering, which already benefits from early sales traction. As part of the investment package, Dr Linda Cammish has been appointed as advisor to the management team.
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Shirley an improvement
Barteak Developments has started on site with a programme to transform the existing 19,000 sq ft 1970s Avon House building on Stratford Road, Shirley, into high-quality grade A accommodation. The architect is the Birmingham office of international design practice Aedas, while the contemporary interior design has been created by consultancy Square Dot Interiors. When the construction programme, being carried out by Barteak, completes in September 2008, the four-storey building will have a total development value of £8m.
Ridge on the move
The Birmingham office of property and construction consultants, Ridge, has moved from its former premises in Moseley to a new building at 2 Cranbrook Way, Solihull Business Park. David Walker, partner, said: "We have ambitious plans for growth in the West Midlands and the continuous strong demand for our expertise means we are already exceeding them. We have selected the new office to provide our staff with a high-quality working environment, to be more easily accessible to our clients and to enable our growth."
Freehold sale at Rugby office development
Gladman Developments has disposed of 2,200 sq ft of new accommodation at Mitchell Court, its speculative office development in Rugby. GLP Holdings has acquired the freehold of unit six for an undisclosed price. Lambert Smith Hampton's Northampton office and Storers acted for Gladman Developments. GLP Holdings represented itself. The quoting price for the unit was £374,000.
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Gerald Eve names new leadership team
Gerald Eve has announced a new executive board to lead the company following its conversion to a limited liability partnership in October 2008. Management changes include the promotion of Hugh Bullock, head of planning, to senior partner. Simon Rees, head of the Cardiff office, will become managing partner and Simon Prichard, head of the office sector for London and the South East, becomes strategy partner.
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