|
 |
| Home | Products & Services | Shop | Subscriptions |
Chester-based Lendlock Group, a leading manufacturer in the plastic packaging market, is set to undergo a multimillion-pound expansion following the acquisition of Hull-based rival the Nekem Partnership. The move increases Lendlock's headcount to 250 at sites in Bootle, Chester, Burnley, Dorset and Hull and strengthens its position in the UK and Chinese packaging market. Funding for the deal was provided by Alliance & Leicester's Merseyside Business Centre. 
Business advisory Deloitte has warned the region's hoteliers to expect a further slowdown in the market as consumer spending continues to tighten. Regional UK results saw occupancy levels fall 1.4 per cent for the first six months of 2008, while the revenue per available room (revPAR) increased by only 3.5 per cent, more than 3 per cent lower than the figure achieved for the same period in 2007. There was good news for Liverpool hoteliers, however, as occupancy levels increased 6.8 per cent and RevPar grew by 10.9 per cent, the largest rise of any UK city.
Loads of dough for Warbies Bolton-based bakery Warburtons has defied what chairman Jonathan Warburton called "unprecedented volatility" in the market to report record profits. Despite a hike in raw material costs of 12.5 per cent, the family-owned group, now firmly established as the UK's leading bread brand, made pre-tax profits of £49m in the year to October 2007 as it increased sales by 11 per cent to £414m. Warburtons now has 13 bakeries across the UK.
Ascribe reports rude health Ascribe, the AIM-listed health software provider, has issued a trading update ahead of its results for the year to July, which it will publish in October. The Bolton business said that trading continued strongly in the second half of the year and will be in the range of market expectations. The group reported that its order book is more than twice as large as it was a year ago. Chief executive Stephen Critchlow said: "I am delighted with the group's progress in the second half of our financial year. We expect to deliver double-digit growth in turnover after a slow start."
Green accountants praised Accountancy firm Armstrong Watson has been presented with a bronze award for its Future Vision programme. The award is recognised by Cumbria Business Environment Network (CBEN). Future Vision was launched earlier this year to implement awareness and commitment towards environmental improvement throughout its 17 offices. The CBEN award recognised the sustainable practices the company has developed for its nine offices in Cumbria.
Recession looms say directors, but is the pessimism real? In a fresh sign that the UK is heading for a recession, business optimism is at the lowest level for more than a decade according to a survey released by the Institute of Directors (IoD). The latest quarterly Business Opinion Survey shows that the proportion of company directors more versus less optimistic about their company's prospects fell to -25 per cent in the latest survey, from -17 per cent previously. IoD chief economist Graeme Leach said, although current trading remained relatively healthy, directors were increasingly fearful about the future. "There are real difficulties in interpreting business confidence at present because there is a record gap between actual performance and future perceptions. How much of the pessimism is real and how much is imagined?" he said.
Bruntwood has followed up its letting of two floors at Manchester's Exchange with a 17,158 sq ft letting to building consultancy Faber Maunsell at the adjacent 1 New York Street. The Exchange's new tenants, Turning Point and the Design Planning Partnership, will move in imminently. Bruntwood's development director Peter Crowther said: "These deals mean we've now located 11 new customers to New York Street in the last year, a total of 76,700 sq ft. Even though 1 New York Street is still 15 months from completion, interest in the remaining 118,000 sq ft available at both buildings remains strong."
Bolt from the blue Plans to expand Preston's university quarter with a £7.6m student accommodation complex have been released by Ice Blue Developments. The planning application for Living City, a six-storey scheme that will comprise 169 student bedrooms on a former car wash site near to the University Central Lancashire campus, has now been lodged by Ice Blue and its architect, Kirkham-based Croft Goode.
BRC backs reform bid The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has welcomed support from Sir Philip Green and Carpetright chairman Lord Harris in its calls for the retail rents reform it hopes can reignite a flatlining market. The BRC has been campaigning for two years to get commercial landlords to accept rents monthly rather than quarterly in advance and has had some success, but believes the practice is costing retailers £145m a year. BRC director general Stephen Robertson said: "Today's tough trading conditions mean the impact of quarterly leases still out there is that much greater. Retailers are battling rising costs in order to keep shop prices and overall inflation down and requiring rents three months in advance is at odds with standard business practice."
|
Subscribe or Unsubscribe To subscribe or unsubscribe to the eBulletin, click here.
|
| © Copyright 2008 Newsco Insider Limited | Privacy Policy |
|
Newsco Insider Limited - Registered in England and Wales with Number 02709518. Registered Office: Boulton House, 17-21 Chorlton Street, Manchester. M1 3HY |