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Barnsley beaten on competitiveness
Barnsley has taken another beating in the UK Competitiveness Index carried out by the Centre for International Competitiveness. The index ranked Barnsley in the bottom 25 localities at 389 out of the 407 areas a drop of five places since 2006. The Work Foundation also ranked Barnsley last in its Ideopolis report, published in July 2008. Yorkshire as a whole was named fourth least competitive UK region only above the North East, Wales and Northern Ireland. However, report author Professor Robert Huggins slammed the recent Policy Exchange report that suggested attempts at regeneration in the north should be abandoned. Solutions such as promoting further migration from the north to the south are only likely to accentuate problems, he said. A far more realistic option is for government to ensure the public finance received by regions is based on the needs required to improve their future competitiveness rather than past spending patterns and population levels.
Director of Barnsley Development Agency, Carol Cooper-Smith, said the results of Barnsleys growth plans will be felt over the coming years.
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GT news in MBO
Newsagent and convenience store operator GT News, which also operates Spar-branded stores, has undergone a management buyout (MBO). The company, based at Barlborough Links business park between Sheffield and Chesterfield, was bought by its chief executive Robert Morgan, supported by managing director Mark Titterton and finance director David Clarke. Morgan said the management team sees attractive growth prospects and will continue to grow the company organically, adding regularly to its portfolio of outlets.
The deal was funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland. 
Coach companies combine
European coach holiday provider Leger Holidays has acquired rival operator Consort Travel for an undisclosed sum. The Consort Travel brand will be retained. Marketing director at Leger Holidays, Huw Williams, says the companies have many synergies, including being founded only a year apart and located three miles apart in Rotherham. Leger also acquired the short breaks and Disneyland Resort Paris business of Leisure Direction after it was put into administration.
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Equipment to boost Beatson Clark
Glass manufacturer Beatson Clark is investing £2m in machinery to increase its production capacity to an extra 75 million units of clear glass containers. The additional line will include an eight section, double gob IS machine, pulling 65 tonnes of glass from the furnace each day. A Zechetti palletiser will bulk pack the containers produced on the line. The investment will create 15 jobs to be filled with temporary employees.
Sheffield album supported by regeneration agency
Sheffields regeneration agency Creative Sheffield has signed a sponsorship deal with Autonomy Music Group, which is releasing Tony Christies new album Made in Sheffield. Only Sheffield-based companies have been used in making the album, which features songs written by Sheffield songwriters including Jarvis Cocker and Alex Turner. Brendan Moffett, director of strategic marketing, said the sponsorship deal will enable the city to leverage the album, tour and film with key target audiences and opinion formers.
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Moor Moor Moor
Two new occupiers have moved to Network Spaces West Moor Park Networkcentre, bringing occupancy to 67 per cent. Utilities company PH Jones has taken 2,309 sq ft to house its new northern depot while electrical systems supplier DCT Electrical is the other tenant at the park. West Moor Park Networkcentre is one of 22 developed by Network Space in former coalfield areas. In 2007 a third phase was announced, which will deliver a further 300,000 sq ft of offices, workspace and housing.
B&Q it
Retailer B&Q has exchanged contracts with Henry Boot Developments to take 51,000 sq ft at Northfields Retail & Business Park in Rotherham. Construction is expected to start this autumn with the store opening for trading in summer 2009. Northfields has outline consent for 100,000 sq ft of retail space next to the established Retail World centre.
Two sides of the Square complete
Phase two of Carillion Developments £80m Sheffield mixed-use scheme The Square has been completed.
The 42,000sq ft of grade A office accommodation follows phase one, which included South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executives new offices, a Travelodge and Q-Park. Three more office buildings are planned in the next phases.
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Paul takes over at A&L
Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank has appointed Paul Griffiths to the role of head of the banks South Yorkshire Business Centre in Sheffield. Griffiths was previously a senior relationship manager, having joined Alliance & Leicester in 2007 from HSBC.
New director to build telecoms company
Sheffield-based student telecommunications provider ask4 has appointed Matt Eley as operations director.
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