West Midlands Companies News

[NewTroll]

The Severn Trent HQ in Coventry is now open... I don't know if their other sites have closed, but staff were working from offices elsewhere in the city centre.

[Biosonic]

Good news for Warks:

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmin...5233-27449543/

£250m MIRA expansion to create up to 2,000 jobs
Oct 12 2010

Up to 2,000 new jobs are to be created in Warwickshire thanks to an ambitious £250 million automotive sector project.

The Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA) is planning a massive expansion at its testing and design facility on the A5 near Nuneaton and the county border with Leicestershire.

The multi-million pound investment will create a new technology park, including building modern, environmentally-sustainable office space and state-of-the-art workshops, as well as a dedicated business campus.

Bosses at MIRA hope the project will attract high-quality companies to the area over the next ten years and generate jobs requiring a variety of skill levels.

The plan’s focus is the development of a new engineering centre and an improved technology park, within MIRA’s existing 750-acre site.

Experts believe the £250 million investment would enable the business to build on its reputation for engineering excellence and lay the foundations for growth over the next 30 years.

Commercial director of MIRA Technology Park Terry Spall said: “Whilst our work is at the cutting edge of what is possible using technology, we have many buildings, including our main office block, that date back to the 1950s and despite improvements over the years they are environmentally inefficient and far from ideal.

“We have achieved 30 per cent growth over the past year, recruited 70 new staff and our current technology park - which is home to 32 world-class companies - has reached capacity.

“We are now in danger of missing business opportunities as a result, which places a serious constraint on our ability to grow further.”

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westm...ire-depot.html

Ocado set to create 2,000 jobs at north Warwickshire depot
12th October 2010
By Duncan Tift - Deputy Editor, West Midlands

Unit on Birch Coppice Business Park
ONLINE grocery group Ocado has exchanged contracts on a 35.2 acre site at a business park in north Warwickshire where it intends to build a 350,000sq ft distribution centre creating thousands of jobs.

Birch Coppice Business Park, Dordon, will be the newly-listed company’s second so-called Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) - doubling the potential capacity of the business.

At peak capacity, the CFC is expected to generate in excess of 2,000 jobs in the region, and will enable Ocado both to expand its geographic coverage and increase order capacity in its current coverage area, where it is experiencing strong customer growth.

Preparatory works will begin immediately and the CFC is expected to be able to commence operations at the end of 2012. It will have a capacity of approximately 120,000 orders per week at initiation of operations, increasing to approximately 180,000 orders per week. The expected total capital cost of the CFC is approximately £210m. This will be financed through a combination of current reserves and existing banking facilities.

The cost to acquire the site on a 999 year lease is £17.74m payable in cash. In addition Ocado will make a contribution of up to £3.54m towards the provision of utilities to the site. Outline planning consent has already been granted for the site. The agreement with IM Properties (Dordon) Ltd is conditional on the grant of reserved matters planning consent and completion of certain preparatory ground and utilities works.

The longstop date in the contract for the satisfaction of all conditions is July 1, 2011. The 999 year lease will be granted once conditions have been satisfied. Following this Ocado will commence construction of the CFC.

Tim Steiner, chief executive officer of Ocado, said:"We are delighted to have secured an outstanding site for our second CFC.

“Ocado is growing rapidly across the country and this location ensures we will have capacity to provide more customers with the leading online grocery offering. Upon completion, the new CFC will create over 2,000 jobs in the region. The Ocado team is looking forward to being a part of the local Dordon and Tamworth communities and becoming a major employer in the region."

For latest Ocado share price click here

[giocoliere]

not sure best place to put this:

Tory conference brought £18.4m into Birmingham, claims Marketing Birmingham
Oct 15 2010
by Graeme Brown, Birmingham Post

The Conservative Party’s autumn conference brought £18.4 million of additional spending into Birmingham’s economy, according to new research.

The city benefited from the conference, the party’s first since taking power, as delegates converged in and around the ICC Birmingham on October 3 to 6.

The city also welcomed more than 2,000 of the world’s media, who helped generate global coverage with media value of £28,881,000, according to Marketing Birmingham.

The return is nearly 75 per cent more than was achieved the last time the Conservatives held a party conference in Birmingham in 2008.

Leader of Birmingham City Council councillor Mike Whitby said: “As today’s figures show, the Conservative Party Conference provided a huge economic benefit to the city and to our local businesses.

"I am particularly impressed by the amount of positive media coverage, national and international, Birmingham received, enabling us to showcase what Birmingham has to offer not only as a conference venue but as a destination city.

“Combined with the opportunity it presented to outline Birmingham’s case to the top tiers of the government, Birmingham has successfully putting itself at the heart of the news and policy agenda.”

Ian Taylor, commercial director of Marketing Birmingham, added: “Birmingham has built huge momentum as a host for major high profile events and this is evidenced by the Conservative Party Conference, the first time the city has hosted a major autumn conference for the party in power.

“The fact that this is their first conference since being in government no doubt boosted the delegate numbers and media profile considerably – but the city simply stepped up to the plate, worked together in partnership, and delivered the conference without a hitch.

"This has truly cemented our position as the conference city of Europe.”

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmin...5233-27473845/

[sefton66]

could we have the thread name changed to "West Midland Company & Economy News" please??

[NeilM]

Originally Posted by sefton66

could we have the thread name changed to "West Midland Company & Economy News" please??

I suggested this a few weeks ago, but nowts been done yet, Woody has probably been off galavanting again.

[NeilM]

Not a big thing, but interesting non the less:

German solar energy firm opens Birmingham operation

Nov 25 2010 by Anna Blackaby


A German renewables firm is hoping to create 60 jobs by 2012 after it chose Birmingham to expand its solar energy business into the UK.

Despite not being famed for its sunny skies, Juwi has chosen the city to host its UK subsidiary as it seeks to build solar power projects with a capacity of more than 60 megawatts in the next two years.

The new UK firm, Juwi Renewable Energies, is planning to work with land owners, farmers, communities and owners of large roof-tops to help them set up solar power plants, predominantly in the south of the country.

Daniel Parsons, Juwi Solar business development manager, said: “We see it as our target for the UK to provide renewable energy solutions which are not reliant on large-scale offshore and massive power plants, but in the regional and local space so that land owners and local communities can get a different income stream and also reduce their CO2 footprint.”

The firm decided to make the move into the UK market thanks to new legislation which rewards people for creating their own green electricity.

Known as feed-in tariffs (FITs), the incentive was introduced earlier this year and was modelled on a similar scheme in Germany which kickstarted wide-spread adoption of photovoltaics (PV) among households, farms and businesses.

Mr Parsons said: “The UK has a great potential for solar which is facilitated through the FIT, which came out in April. That turned the UK into an attractive solar market.

“The UK has natural potential similar to Germany and also an incentive system which provides the opportunity for businesses and the country to achieve its renewable energy targets.”

He said it was possible to replicate the success of the German experience with solar power in the UK.

“The ambitious renewable energy targets have to be achieved somehow and we believe it has to be something different to just CO2 capture and offshore wind parks.”

The firm settled on Birmingham for a number of reasons, Mr Parsons said, after considering other cities in the UK.

“It was important to be in the middle of the country, have very good road access and also, as we are a German company, to have good international airport links to Germany,” he said. “Additionally Birmingham is a great city with good support for business.”

The firm said it expected strong growth in the field over the next two years, and if conditions remain positive, it expects to create around 60 jobs in the fields of project development, site acquisition, and engineering as well as sales and marketing and other office functions.

Although Juwi’s focus is mainly on the south of the UK, the firm is not ruling out working on projects to the north of the city.

Mr Parsons said: “We settled on Birmingham because it’s possible to achieve a good business case north of Birmingham. We’re not talking about Aberdeen, but definitely a bit further north of Birmingham.


Read More http://www.birminghampost.net/birmin...#ixzz16ORkSRxu

[sefton66]

4 December 2010 Last updated at 14:37 Share this pageFacebookTwitter ShareEmail Print Kraft to switch Cadbury jobs to Zurich
The restructuring will have no significant impact on UK staffing levels, Kraft says Continue reading the main story
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Cadbury's new owner Kraft Foods has confirmed plans to move part of the business to Switzerland in a move which could cut its UK tax bill.

By switching a few key roles to Zurich, the US food giant is expected to pay less corporation tax, depriving the exchequer of millions of pounds.

Kraft said most UK-based jobs would remain as it integrated the Birmingham chocolate firm into its European model.

The takeover earlier this year was one of the most controversial of a UK firm.

It raised issues about foreign ownership of UK assets and the job security of British workers.

'Priority brands'

UK corporation tax is levied at 28%, while rates at Kraft's European headquarters in Zurich begin at 15%.

Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
This involves the transfer of certain roles to Switzerland, though the majority of UK-based roles will remain in the UK”
End Quote
Kraft spokesman
But foreign holding companies using Zurich as a base can be exempt from tax on non-Swiss earnings and firms can also apply for "mixed company tax privilege" to agree lower rates.

A Kraft spokesman said: "Since 2006 we have been implementing our European model involving a (holding) company based in Zurich together with local companies in country markets.

"The reorganisation has given us greater focus on our priority brands and has helped us grow faster. We are integrating Cadbury into this model.

"This involves the transfer of certain roles to Switzerland, though the majority of UK-based roles will remain in the UK."

Kraft it expected to finalise the changes next year.

Cadbury was founded by Quakers almost 200 years ago with a renowned care for its workers.

Jennie Formby from the union Unite said legislation should be changed to prevent Kraft from making such a move.

She said the Cadbury "workforce is hurt by the massive cuts in public spending currently being inflicted on them by the coalition government. The last thing they need at the moment is for Kraft to add to the misery by depriving the exchequer of yet more millions".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11919248


The amount of companies that have jobs abroad to avoid a tax bill yet still operating in the UK is getting rediculous, The government seriously needs to re consider its position on corporation tax, either you cut it and have a slice of what you want at the moment keeping and even making jobs or nothing and lose jobs meaning even less tax

[sefton66]

Dunlop to supply the tyres for a new fleet of jets in Spain: http://www.birminghampost.net/birmin...5233-27908892/

and MG will be producing 2 new cars at Longbridge:
http://www.expressandstar.com/lifest...at-longbridge/

[sefton66]

Could we possibly rename this thread "West Midlands Buisness and Economy News" please?

Europa to open new Birmingham DCSimon Jack
Wednesday 19 January 2011 14:03
Europa Worldwide Logistics is to open a new 155,000 sq ft distribution centre near Birmingham to cope with expansion of the business.

The company has signed a 15-year lease with distribution developer ProLogis for the building, which will open in July at ProLogis Park Midpoint, north east of Birmingham and close to the M6, M6 Toll and M42 - the site is within five miles of 11 motorway junctions.

Andy Kennedy, Europe Worldwide's managing director, says that the facility will replace the company's 50,000 sq ft warehouse in the area that had become too small.

"We have seen very strong growth in that region for our European and logistics services but it will be a full terminal also handling our sea freight and air freight," he comments.

Kennedy says that the company, which experienced a 20% uplift in business during 2010 across its business, started looking for a new facility in the area three years ago and has worked closely on the specification of the building.

"Because it is bespoke, this will be capable of serving all our divisions," he says.

The new facility will offer storage for 15,000 pallets. It will be carbon neutral in construction and its energy use will be 25% lower than current building regulations.

http://www.roadtransport.com/Article...mingham-DC.htm

[sefton66]

Japanese auto supply firm aiming to create 80 jobs in Birmingham

Jan 21 2011
0ShareAdd a commentRecommend A Japanese-owned automotive supply firm is investing more than £3 million to open a new facility in Birmingham with plans to create up to 80 skilled jobs.

Unipres (UK), a specialist manufacturer of metal stampings and sub-assemblies for the automotive industry, is opening the new site at Tyseley Park.

The Sunderland-based firm, a subsidiary of the Japan-based Unipres Corporation, has chosen the site at Tyseley Park where it will make components for UK vehicle production.

Unipres finance director Graham Baines said there were several factors behind the choice of Tyseley Park.

“Opening a manufacturing facility in south Birmingham represents a major investment into the area by Unipres,” he said. “We chose Tyseley Park because of its location, the availability of skilled local labour and the quality of accommodation on offer.”

He said the launch of a Birmingham plant was part of the firm’s strategy to service new contracts from motor manufacturers around the country.

“We have our main plant in the North-east where we mainly service contracts with Nissan in Sunderland,” he said.

“But as part of our strategy we are looking to diversify our customer base and we have already got some business with Honda in Swindon.

“Also, we are looking to expand and we are always looking to take our business out to other customers in other parts of the country. The plant in Birmingham is really to try and consolidate that and expand our capability to serve those customers.”

Mr Baines said the region’s history in car-making was also part of the attraction to the city.

“The area is obviously renowned for its automotive heritage and we believe it’s a good central base to exploit the opportunities with automotive customers around and about. The presence of a skilled workforce was another prime motivation for us.”

The move comes as the automotive sector is experiencing a rebound across the board with West Midlands firm Jaguar Land Rover proving no exception, staging a remarkable turnaround from its loss-making performance two years ago.

Mr Baines said Unipres’s investment plans were in response to a more positive market.

“We are seeing signs of the market beginning to pick up,” he said.

“It’s quite variable from manufacturer to manufacturer but overall we are seeing growth, which has given us confidence to make this investment.”

Wouter Schuitemaker, investment director for Business Birmingham, the city’s inward investment programme, said the move was important news for the region.

“Birmingham and the wider West Midlands’ automotive heritage, critical mass of car manufacturers as well as their significant supply chains present strong opportunities for companies like Unipres, which are able to access a specialist workforce and locate themselves near to a number of plants,” he said.

“Over the medium to long term, the localisation of these supply chains is an important priority for us as we look to attract jobs and investment as well as provide continued support for our local automotive industry.”

“Automotive and transport technologies is a priority sector for our inward investment drive.”

Read More http://www.birminghampost.net/birmin...#ixzz1Bh8md8iN

[Biosonic]

Looks like Deutsche Bank are on a temporary move until BT leave Brindleyplace...

Deutsche Bank is in advanced negotiations with Deloitte, the administrators of Targetfollow’s subsidiaries, to take around 35,000 sq ft at Baskerville House in Birmingham.


The 195,000 sq ft building is held in the special purpose vehicle Targetfollow (Birmingham).

Deutsche Bank is negotiating a lease until February 2014, when its lease expires on 68,000 sq ft at BA Pension Fund’s 1 Brinleyplace. The bank is then expected to consolidate into one property.

Five Brindleyplace is seen as a prospective long-term option. Landlords Hines and Moorfield are expected to refurbish the 133,000 sq ft building when BT’s lease expires in June 2012.



Read more: http://www.propertyweek.com/news/deu...#ixzz1CbfTJzcM
propertyweek.com
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

[markmcd1976]

That's a big presence in Brum for Deutsche Bank, be good to attract a couple more international companies like this.

[sefton66]

More news on the Europa Logistics move

Europa Worldwide Logistics expands into new distribution and warehousing centre
31 January 2011

Europa Worldwide Logistics, one of the largest privately owned distribution and logistics companies in the UK, is expanding its business operations by moving its Birmingham operations to a new purpose designed distribution and warehousing centre at ProLogis Park, Midpoint, Birmingham in August 2011. This new Europa Centre, will better serve existing and new customers.

At 155,000 sq.ft., the Centre will be five times larger than the existing operation and will allow growth objectives to be achieved for our West Midlands operations. The expansion will, over time, generate over 70 new jobs for the local economy.

The location is within a few minutes of the M6, M6 Toll and M42 and as such is the best connected park in the West Midlands, which is critical in achieving optimal transit times. In addition, our Centre at Prologis Park will be specifically adapted to our business needs and will be a state-of-the-art distribution and warehouse facility.

click here to go to the subject compay's website


This is the second successful cooperation between ProLogis and Europa following a previous deal at Grange Park, Northampton, five years ago.

The new unit is designed to achieve an EPC 'A' and BREEAM 'Excellent' rating and will be carbon neutral in construction, reinforcing Europa's environmental approach when considering new developments.

Grenville Turner, Managing Director - Europe, said: "In our business, location is key. We looked at a number of options and Midpoint has the best location and will allow us to achieve our expansion ambitions and demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the service we provide to meet the needs of our customers now and in the future. Being able to design a facility specifically adapted to our business needs is a huge advantage and will enable us to achieve our strategic objectives."

Europa Worldwide Logistics is one of the largest privately owned Transport and Logistics companies in the United Kingdom, delivering cost-effective freight solutions since 1966.

With a strong presence in 100 countries across six continents, Europa provides a gateway to the rest of the world. Employing 430 people in the UK and operating over 475 scheduled departures per week to Europe by road, Europa delivers over 500,000 consignments a year across 30 European and Scandinavian countries.

Europa's services are structured over seven operating divisions - European Express, UK Distribution, International Airfreight, International Seafreight, Project Forwarding, Showfreight Exhibition Services and 3PL Warehousing and Logistics - and are supported by a powerful network of global partners working to ensure our customers goods arrive on time.

Many businesses require added value services and we are able to offer them a complete logistics solution, covering all their requirements, within our operating divisions.

Europa's sole purpose is to ensure we always deliver our promises to customers regardless of distance or urgency.

For further information please contact:
Andy Kennedy - Managing Director - International
M: 07710 588871
T: 01784 264000
E: akennedy@europa-worldwide.com

http://www.mhwmagazine.co.uk/LatestN...ntre-8372.html

[Soul_13]

F...k that's massive...

Major bank fund 'to come to Yorkshire'
1st February 2011
By Marc Reeves - Editor, West Midlands
THE £1.5bn equity fund being planned by the major UK banks is considering creating its headquarters in the West Midlands with a regional operation in Yorkshire, TheBusinessDesk.com has learned.

The Business Growth Fund is due to be officially launched in April after the major banks - including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, RBS, Santander, and Standard Chartered - started the process of creating a vehicle to demonstrate support for UK businesses following the credit crunch.

The fund is expected to target high-growth companies through support of between £2m and £10m in return for equity.

The British Bankers' Association is managing the project and is currently in talks with the Financial Services Authority over regulatory issues.

Key City figures have been tipped for the top jobs, with Sir Nigel Rudd linked to the chairmanship and former LDC boss Michael Joseph lined up for the chief executive’s role.

Last week, it was reported that the fund was likely to be headquartered outside the capital, and a recruitment process is underway to build teams of private equity professionals in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham.

TheBusinessDesk.com has learned that Birmingham is in a leading position to be selected as the location for the fund’s headquarters and main operating centre, with negotiations between city representatives and the fund are at an advanced stage.

A source close to the negotiations said: “They’re looking for a rollout of the fund in the spring, and there are talks underway to show Birmingham is the right location for their base.”

A spokesman for the British Bankers' Association said: "We are certainly considering Birmingham, as we want the Business Growth Fund to be based out of the City of London, close to the businesses that actually need the fund. Even if the decision ultimately is for the HQ to be somewhere else, the fund is very likely to have offices in the region."
The fund has been likened to 3i, which was formed by the government and the major banks in 1945 as the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation, before being renamed Investors in Industry in 1983.

Its brief was to provide corporate finance to small and medium sized companies. It was floated in 1994 and is now a global private equity company that now manages funds for external investors.

So where do you think this will go??
Arena Central anyone?

[hammerb24]

Originally Posted by Soul_13

F...k that's massive...



So where do you think this will go??
Arena Central anyone?

Depends how quick they want to locate, shame there's no ideas on staffing levels etc as this would give us a hint or 2 around suitable locations. If it's designed to be in place by Spring then only 11 BP, 45 Church St or Colmore Plaza spring to mind that have significant space available.

[Erebus555]

Colmore Plaza is probably best suited for the needs in the short term. In the long term... who knows!

[Biosonic]

Originally Posted by sefton66

Could we possibly rename this thread "West Midlands Buisness and Economy News" please?

I second this - Woody?

[NeilM]

I have posted something similar a couple of times on here, I think it would be better if it is spelt "West Midlands Business and Economy News" though , although woody hasn't got his fingers on it yet

[Brummyboy92]

In the long term possibly natwest tower replacment

[markmcd1976]

What would be the requirement of the Business Growth Fund offices in Brum. Couple of hundred staff?