BPE takes majority stake in Allied after £75m buyout

The northern office of Barclays Private Equity (BPE) has backed a £75m management buyout of Allied Glass, the Yorkshire-based glass container manufacturer, from CBPE Capital. The deal, which follows BPE’s exit from Zenith Vehicle Contracts last week, adds to the private equity firm’s manufacturing portfolio, which includes aerosol manufacturer Aerocan and metallic gates and rolling shutters manufacturer La Toulousaine.

Tritech on track following AECOM deal

AECOM, the US technical and management support services group, has bought Wigan-headquartered civil engineering and design consultancy Tritech Rail as part of a plan to expand in the sector. Tritech was founded in 1999 and employs more than 100 people from its Lancashire base.

Envestors sold for £2.45m

Corporate finance advisory business Envestors, which matches high-growth companies with private investors, has been sold to investment manager Braveheart in a deal worth £2.45m. The North West branch of the investment club was launched in January this year led by entrepreneurs Imran Hakim, Scott Fletcher and Mike Perls.

Endless completes Amdega investment

The Manchester office of private equity firm Endless has provided a capital injection to Amdega, the designer and manufacturer of conservatories. The investment is the tenth deal from Endless’ Fund II and will be used to provide working capital for Amdega and to develop the business.

AMEC wins £60m Cheshire contract

Engineering and project management company AMEC has been awarded a contract worth more than £60m by EDF Energy to extend a gas storage facility in Cheshire. The work at the Hill Top Farm facility in Warmingham will enable EDF Energy to significantly increase its gas reserves.

BPP looks to retain northern talent

Private university BPP plans to offer its full degree programme from its centre in Manchester after being granted degree awarding powers. And with the business braced for record applications for its courses after today’s A-level results, chief executive Carl Lygo told Insider he also hoped to set up a business-focused degree programme in the North West to stop talent leaving the region.

Public sector job losses creating a ‘two-speed labour market’

The number of available jobs in the North West’s public sector fell by 11 per cent in the second quarter of 2010, contributing to a 38 per cent year-on-year decline. According to figures from online job site Totaljobs, health and education were the worst hit sectors, down 20 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.

Coppock set for JJB departure

Wigan sportswear retailer JJB Sports has announced its finance director Lawrence Coppock is to step down from his position within the next 12 months. The 250-store business, which teetered on the brink of insolvency last year, said Coppock felt the role he was recruited to perform was “substantially complete”.

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HBJ Gateley Wareing signs for Ship Canal House

HBJ Gateley Wareing, the Midlands-headquartered law firm that has taken over most of the Halliwells operations in Manchester, has completed the deal to move to Ship Canal House on King Street. The firm, advised by King Sturge, has taken just over 31,000 sq ft, making it the dominant occupier at the 70,000 sq ft building.

Oldham science centre for Kings Point

The £10m Regional Science Centre Oldham is now close to becoming a reality. GVA Grimley, acting on behalf of the Greater Manchester Property Venture Fund (GMPVF), has completed the sale of Kings Point to Oldham Council in partnership with Oldham Sixth Form College. Insider understands the building was sold for about £6m.

Balfours and Enterprise sign up at Lingley Mere

Industrial powerhouses Balfour Beatty and Enterprise have signed up for office space totaling 20,000 sq ft at Lingley Mere, the Warrington business park developed in joint venture between United Utilities and Muse Developments. The companies are helping to deliver a £3bn United Utilities capital programme across the region over the next five years, which will involve bringing 270 jobs to the area.

Tague on Tour: Let’s put our heads together

Insider property writer Neil Tague has kept a close eye on the Manchester office agents this week, and is impressed by the spirit of cooperation emerging. Find out why common sense could be critical to the local property community.

In Focus: The club that Jack built

On the 10th anniversary of the death of Lancashire steel magnate Jack Walker, Michael Taylor weighs up the deal to purchase the great man's prized asset - Blackburn Rovers Football Club.

Selling to private equity providers

Selling your business to private equity brings its own challenges and opportunities. Clive Austin, head of the North of England at NVM Private Equity Limited, is on hand to answer your questions on the subject.

Forthcoming Experts

Reinvesting the proceeds of the sale

Even after you've sold your business, your immediate decisions will have a major impact upon whether it was the right decision. Paul Higson, certified financial planner at Centric Wealth Management Limited, is here to advise you what to do with the proceeds.

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