North West logistics and transport giant Stobart Group said today it expects to meet full-year expectations despite “reasonably static revenues” in its road transport and warehousing division. Port operations have remained steady, with profit before tax ahead of this time last year, while its rail division has performed well, boosted by the growth of its temperature-controlled rail service from the UK to Valencia. The company also confirmed it has received planning approval for its proposed runway extension at Southend Airport and a Section 14 notice has been served. It hopes to complete the extension in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Wigan-based Shearings Group, the hotels and holidays operator, has awarded its £4m media planning and buying account to Mediaedge:cia (MEC) in Manchester. The agency secured the account after a four-way pitch. The brief includes Shearings hotels and holidays and covers all offline media and online display. It excludes recruitment media, online search and affiliates. Marc Sangster, marketing director of Shearings Group, said: “MEC has a key role to play as part of our transformation into a leading leisure hotels and holidays group.”

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