Invest in Gloucestershire News

Celebrity Chef to Invest in Gloucester Quays

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:22:00 GMT

CELEBRITY chef Gino D'Acampo is to open a restaurant in Gloucester after falling in love with the city.

The TV personality and I'm a Celebrity... Get me Out of Here winner loved Gloucester Quays so much when he came to the food festival that he immediately started talks with the Gloucester Quays management.

And his restaurant would not be the only new arrival.

Other names set to be joining Gino are pan-asian noodle restaurant Wagamama, French-bistro chain Cafe Rouge and American diner TGI Friday.

It is understood he would open the establishment in the new multi-million quays development, which is scheduled to open in the autumn or winter of 2013.

A source close to the complex said: "Gino has been looking for months, if not years, for a suitable place to open his first restaurant.

"When he came to Gloucester he was overwhelmed with the city and had a meeting straight away to discuss the possibility of opening a restaurant. He loves the people and the area."

Crowds of people queued for hours during the July food festival to watch Gino's cooking demonstration.

Speaking to The Citizen at the time he said: "I think the people of Gloucester are really rock and roll.

"They were really up for it during my demonstration. They queued for ages to get their books signed and I absolutely loved it.

"They were very lively, and I like that, because a cookery demonstration is a time when I am closer to my fans."

Gino has been focussing his efforts of TV appearances and his food company Bonta Italia, but has been looking for somewhere to branch out into the restaurant market.

The news comes as the Quays announced plans to build a £60-million leisure development to include 11 restaurants and a 10-screen cinema.

Gino's spokesperson Jeremy Hicks said: "He had a good time at the food festival and it is an idea that he came up when he was down there.

"Who knows what may happen."

Leader of Gloucester City Council Paul James welcomed the news.

"I think it is very exciting and if it did come to fruition I think it would be a huge boost for the Gloucester Quays and the city to have such a big name come here," he said.

"It is something that would really help lift the city's evening economy and give us a real destination restaurant of our own."

£3m Recycling Centre boosts Forest Jobs

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:13:00 GMT

BASF Metals Recycling Ltd has unveiled a £3 million manufacturing site which will give the Forest of Dean a jobs boost.

The state of the art facility at Cinderford houses a recycling operation for recovering precious metals from industrial scrap, primarily old catalytic converters from cars and electronic scrap.

Some 75 people attended the opening ceremony on Friday. The 56,000 sq ft facility will provide a secondary source for vital resources such as platinum, palladium and rhodium.

In addition, the site will house an analytical services laboratory to ensure accurate measurement of precious metals content for customers. The new facility is next to BASF's existing metals recycling plant in Cinderford, which had previously operated under the Engelhard name, employing 70 people. The number of employees is expected to grow by ten per cent.

The new operating site more than doubles BASF's local manufacturing footprint and production capacity.

"Through this investment, we are making a strong commitment to the Cinderford region, which will now serve as the hub of our European metals recycling operations," said Deon Carter, Senior Vice President, Precious Metals Services, which is part of BASF's global Catalysts division.

"The precious metals recovered here will allow us to support BASF and other customers who are seeking a highly sustainable source of quality metals to support their production needs."

Car catalytic converters are one of the largest users of platinum group metals (PGMs), accounting for more than half of the world's annual PGM mining output.

"Our new operation in Cinderford significantly expands our commitment to the environmentally responsible re-use of the world's limited precious metals," said Dr. Henrik Junicke, BASF's Vice President of Global Refining, Salts and Solutions. "While there is significant variation in metal content sourced from different scrap feeds, our expert staff and advanced sampling and analysis techniques allow us to provide highly accurate results for platinum, palladium and rhodium content."

Dr John Setchfield, site manager at BASF Metals Recycling said: "I am exceptionally proud of the way our employees pulled together to launch this new facility and bring our expanded production capacity on line in a very safe and professional manner.

"We have made great strides in Cinderford in recent years, and we look forward to celebrating our 50th anniversary in the region in 2012."

Launch of World-Class R&D Centre in Gloucestershire

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:53:00 GMT

THE unveiling of a £9 million research and development centre has given a huge vote of confidence in a county engineering firm and helped secure future jobs.

More than 140 business leaders attended the launch of the state- of-the-art facility at aerospace company GE Aviation in Bishop's Cleeve last Wednesday.

The 30,000 square feet Electrical Power Integration Centre (EPIC) will enable GE to develop cutting-edge power and avionic technology for military and civilian aircraft.

The president and chief executive officer of American-owned GE Aviation, Lorraine Bolsinger praised the skills of the 1,700 strong workforce on the site. It is recruiting more than 100 extra people.

She said: "GE is focused on innovation, from jet engines, power generation and financial services to water processing and medical imaging.

"Thomas Edison our founder said: 'I figure out what the world needs and then I proceed to invent it'.

"That means jobs, giving back to communities and standing tall in an industry that needs to be innovative and technology driven."

She praised the adaptation of a 1940s building that is now bristling with energy-producing solar panels and many other innovative features.

"Electrical power engineers and technicians at the centre will develop some of the latest end to end power generation, distribution, load and avionic control technologies," she said.

"GE employees worldwide are dedicated to turning innovative ideas into leading products and services that solve some of the world's toughest problems."

The new centre means GE can create an aircraft's entire electrical system in the laboratory.

Simon Linacre, European power business executive for GE Aviation said: "By expanding our electrical power modelling and simulation capability, we are better able to serve our customers.

"This enables us to correct problems before hardware is even built."

GE Aviation's products are installed on the world's leading aircraft including the Apache attack helicopter and Boeing 777 airliner.

The soon to disappear South West Regional Development Agency provided a £3 million grant towards the centre.

The agency's Director of International Business, Graham Harrison, said: "At a time when the Government is seeking to re-balance the UK economy in favour of those companies designing and manufacturing things, this is exactly the type of project they have in mind.

"Knowledge based, research intensive, complex and providing the means to develop better products more quickly.

"With much talk of stagnation in the western economies it is wonderful to see world-class facilities opening which will have a positive impact on GE's customers, shareholders and staff as they begin to grow again.

"The staff that will use of this facility will be amongst the most skilled in the UK and working on projects of enormous significance to its future prosperity."

Amazon buys Gloucester bookseller

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:02:00 GMT

Internet heavyweight Amazon has snapped up The Book Depository, a Gloucester-based online book retailer, for an undisclosed sum.

The Book Depository, which describes itself as "the UK's largest dedicated online bookseller", claims to ship more than six million titles to 100 countries from its Gloucester warehouse.

The company also owns publisher Dodo Press, which has re-published over 15,000 hard-to-find titles for widespread distribution.

Andrew Crawford, founder of The Book Depository, said: "With the support of Amazon, we look forward to continuing our growth and providing an ever-improving service for readers globally."

Greg Greeley, vice president of European retails at Amazon, added: "Customers in more than 100 countries enjoy The Book Depository’s vast selection, convenient delivery and free shipping. The Book Depository is very focused on serving its customers around the world, and we look forward to welcoming them to the Amazon family."

The deal still needs to be approved by the Office of Fair Trading.

Deals show demand for Gloucester's Bristol Road area

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:03:00 GMT

Alder King Property Consultants has let four industrial units along Pearce Way in Gloucester.

Alder King acted on behalf of AXA Sun Life Plc to let three properties on the Tuffley Industrial Estate. Unit 7 was let to Walls Truck Services Ltd, Unit 10 was let to BMI Hose Gloucester and Unit 11 to IntoCleaning Ltd. All units were let on new five year leases and off a quoting rent of £5 per sq ft.

Simon Payne from IntoCleaning explained: “We are enjoying our new location in the heart of Gloucester; due to our massive growth this year we quickly outgrew our former premises. We have recently launched our Enviroclean service that uses only environmental cleaning chemicals and we now have space for this new range of chemicals. It has been a pleasure to work with Rob Holley from Alder King: he has made the process very easy. We are now open to the trade for the supply of chemical and janitorial items.”

Nearby on Capitol Park on Pearce Way, Alder King acted for a private landlord to let Unit 1 to Chris Mullins Tyres on a new ten lease. The unit is a 2,298 sq ft end of terrace industrial unit and is needed in order to cope with the rapid growth in business that Chris Mullins Tyres are currently experiencing.

Rob Holley, surveyor at Alder King commented: “Pearce Way has an excellent position just off the A430 Bristol Road and is an established industrial area, with a mixture of trade counter and warehouse units present. The estate has proved a popular location with local traders and with only a couple of units still available, we believe the popularity will continue.”

For details of available units in Gloucestershire, call Rob Holley at Alder King on 01452 623290 or visit www.alderking.com.

£55m new King's Quarter investment plans for Gloucester

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:03:00 GMT

THE multi-million pound redevelopment of Gloucester's King's Square is being welcomed in the city as Gloucester City Council is on the brink of signing a deal with Stanhope Plc to rejuvenate the run-down area.

The £55million investment will bring new shops and restaurants to the area along with two open public areas, a new car park and bus station.

High street doom and gloom triggered after the tally of retail failures this week does not reflect the picture in Gloucester, according to a man who has invested millions in the city.

John Wood, of London-based ORG, was at the centre of the deal which saw his business team up with Rockspring Property Investment Managers to invest £136.9m buying Gloucester's Eastgate Shopping Centre.

Mr Wood repeated his confidence in the future of the high street after national stories suggested it was subject to a meltdown as businesses like chocolate maker Thorntons followed others by signalling plans to shut stores and sell through other outlets.

Although the crisis is in part driven by consumer spending power Mr Wood said retail was an ever-evolving picture, not a story of decline. "I am always positive. The thing with the likes of Thorntons is it is a manufacturing business foremost, which also runs shops.

"They took the decision that there are better people to sell their product while it does what it does best," said Mr Wood. "From our point of view, as landlords, we have to go with that sort of opportunity and find suitable premises for retailers, not just go for the big names, we need to compliment them with the retailers who have more of a local offering as well," he added. With a new Marks and Spencer store planned for Eastgate Shopping Centre and other positive news of new business in the pipeline he remains sure that in Gloucester, at least, retail will be resurgent.

To view the Stanhope proposal in full visit http://www.gloucester.gov.uk/LGNL/Environmentandplanning/Regeneration/Regeneration.aspx

Launch day for Gloucestershire L.E.P.

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:04:00 GMT

A new organisation to promote the county’s economy was officially launched today (Tuesday), along with the promise of £500,000 to boost the county’s economy.

The GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) will replace the soon to vanish regional development agency and was unveiled in front of 160 business people at GE Aviation in Bishop’s Cleeve.

At the launch event, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, leader of the county council, confirmed the half a million pounds the council will receive from the New Homes Bonus scheme will be injected into five new projects.

“I am delighted to announce that this one off £500,000 funding will be used to boost business and build on the excellent work we already have going on in the county,” said Mr Hawthorne.

“We are ahead of the game in many areas, but in this financial climate we need to focus our resources where they can make the most difference. These five projects will do just that.”

The cash will be spread among schemes including the development and delivery of a skills programme bringing education closer to employment, further investment in the roll-out of superfast broadband, a new business ambassadors scheme, local regeneration projects (including £100,000 investments in Cinderford and Gloucester) and further development of the Strategic Infrastructure Delivery Plan – which outline what infrastructure the county will need with new developments.

Speaking at the launch event GE Aviation site leader Mike Grunza said it was time that the county’s economic voice was heard in the corridors of power in London.

“We have got to make a louder noise,” he said. “I hope this kicks off a great partnership and to say that this area of the country is important.”

Business leaders heard that the new LEP would tackle key economic areas: economic growth, infrastructure and regeneration and education and skills.

The LEP’s new chairperson, Diane Savory, former chief operating officer at Cheltenham based fashion chain SuperGroup, stressed that it would only succeed with the support of local businesses-the “heartbeat” of the economy.

“We need you the business community to help us,” she said. “SuperGroup has proved that great businesses can grow here, be nurtured and flourish.”

GFirst, the economic partnership has had its funding from the county council halved to £700,000 because of public spending cuts and the LEP will have to find ways of generating income..

But council leader Coun Mark Hawthorne said the authority fully backed the LEP. “It is going to play a key and integral part in taking the county forward.”

Gloucestershire Media’s MD Sarah Irvine asked how the LEP would communicate its message. GFirst’s chief executive David Owen said a new scheme, glambassadors UK would be launched with business people volunteering to promote the county at home and abroad.

A new initiative is being launched to link up businesses with schools to help improve the “employability” of young people. And David Owen said a major aim was ensure that superfast broadband reached all the county’s homes and businesses by 2016-slow broadband speeds are a major headache for many areas at present.

Another LEP board member Michael Tripp, chief executive of Gloucester based Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “Gloucestershire has so much potential, it has a fantastic future.”

It was announced that Edward Gillespie, managing director of Cheltenham race course, is the latest business person to join the LEP board and will be working with BBC’s Countryfile presenter Adam Henson to promote the county’s tourism industry.

For more information about the gl-ambassadors program please visit www.gl-am.com or contact Chris Dee on 01452 328302.

Bond Aviation wins £50m contract

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:05:00 GMT

Bond Offshore Helicopters, part of the Gloucestershire-based Bond Aviation Group, has won a £50m contract to supply oil and gas company Perenco with two new Agusta Westland AW139 aircrafts.

Bond has been awarded a four-year contract to expand the services it provides to Perenco in the Southern North Sea.

The first of the new aircraft has already been delivered to Bond's operating base in Norwich and has undergone modifications to prepare it for offshore operations. And the second AW139 was delivered at the end of May and is currently awaiting modification.

Bill Munro, managing director of Bond Offshore Helicopters, said: "This new contract is an important step forward, signalling a good performance so far this year. The introduction of AW139s is the next phase in our fleet development and a springboard for the wider use of AW139s in the UK and internationally. This supports further expansion of our offshore services, fleet size and job creation."

The introduction of the AW139s brings the Bond Aviation fleet to a total of 42 helicopters and the total number of Bond Aviation Group staff increase to 477.

Better broadband for rural Gloucestershire a big step closer

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:10:00 GMT

The search is on to find the most effective and sustainable way to bring faster broadband to rural Gloucestershire.

An area including large parts of the Forest of Dean and south Herefordshire is one of just four pilot areas in the UK to receive Government funding to bring enhanced broadband access in rural areas that would otherwise not be considered by the private sector for investment.

A complex and demanding multi-million pound contract has been put out to tender by the project partners in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire to find the most viable technological solutions to the area’s broadband needs.

The procurement process will engage eligible companies in a ‘competitive dialogue’ process over several months to seek the best delivery, in the shortest timescale and for the best value.

The companies will be required to deliver 100 per cent broadband coverage initially in the pilot area within two years of the contract being awarded, rolling out to further Gloucestershire rural areas already identified as most in need. At the same time, they will be making significant in-roads to achieving superfast broadband exceeding national and EU ambitions.

David Owen, Chief Executive of the project’s managing partner Gfirst, said: “Superfast broadband that exceeds national average speed will bring immeasurable benefits to businesses in the Forest of Dean, encouraging business expansion and fostering inward investment. It will also connect isolated communities and enable local people to access a whole range of public services online.

“The contract notice is a big step towards meeting the pressing need to get 100% access to broadband in the Forest of Dean, while putting in place the infrastructure to bring superfast to the county.”

Chas Fellows, Cabinet Member for Economy & Environment at Gloucestershire County Council, said “Gloucestershire aims to offer rural broadband among the fastest in the UK, creating a competitive advantage for business, communities and individuals, with households being able to access a range of online services at their convenience."

The high-speed broadband pilot is being managed by a partnership of Gfirst, Gloucestershire County Council, Herefordshire Council and BDUK.

The Forest of Dean/Herefordshire border area is one of four areas to receive funding from Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) to pilot the next generation of high-speed broadband in rural areas. Other pilot areas are Cumbria, North Yorkshire, and the Highlands and Islands in Scotland.

Currently the ‘universal service commitment’ of broadband at speeds of 2 Megabits per second is not available to around 42% of the pilot area’s premises.

BDUK was set up by the Government to implement its policy of increasing access to broadband for households, business and communities in poorly served areas across the UK. http://discuss.bis.gov.uk/bduk/

Gfirst, the place promotion agency for Gloucestershire, is a Local Enterprise Partnership working for business, investors, tourism and skills. www.glosfirst.co.uk

For further information contact project lead Angela Presdee, Gfirst, 01452 328309, e-mail Angela.Presdee@glosfirst.co.uk

Ecclesiastical HQ confirmed for Gloucester Docks

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:07:00 GMT

IT'S official – Ecclesiastical is moving to Gloucester Docks.

The big insurance firm, the largest private sector employer in Gloucester city centre, has signed a landmark deal to relocate by the end of 2015.

The company employs more than 600 staff at its Brunswick Road headquarters, and all will move into a purpose-built HQ by the water.

The signing of a deal with landowners the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), which is being wound up, is a major boost for the city centre.

Councillor Paul James, leader of the city council, said: "It's very good news for Gloucester, this is the simple most important site left at the Docks."

There were fears the firm could decide to move away from Gloucester but the company is now expected to build the new HQ on Southgate Moorings, which is currently being used as temporary car park off of Southgate Street.

The next step in the move will be drawing up building and design costs for the site, and submitting a planning application to the council.

Graham Johnson, transformation director at Ecclesiastical, said: "We're pleased we've reached the next milestone of this project.

"Obviously signing the agreement is only the beginning for some of the next crucial steps in the process, but it is an important one both for us, SWRDA and Gloucester City Council."

The signed deal commits the firm to sticking to a timetable for completion by 2015 and Ecclesiastical has now appointed Gleeds, a well-known consultancy firm, to manage the move.

Terry Langdon, regional director for Gleeds, said: "We have gained a great deal of experience working on similar high profile office projects in the area and look forward to bringing together a team of experienced local professionals to work with Ecclesiastical."

Cheltenham offers new HQ opportunity

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:07:00 GMT

St Georges House, an office building based in Cheltenham, is being marketed for the first time in 36 years.

The Grade II-listed office building, which is opposite Cheltenham's Ladies College, has almost 60,000 sq ft of space and is available in suites from 10,000 sq ft.

The development also has 57 car park spaces, a canteen on the third floor and shower and locker facilities on the lower ground floor.

St Georges House is being marketed by Colliers International and Bruton Knowles. According to Colliers it is one of the largest office buildings currently available in the centre of Cheltenham.

Stephen Lipfriend, Colliers director, said: "St Georges House offers one of the largest buildings currently available in Cheltenham and whilst it has an imposing colonnaded entrance the office space is right up to modern standards with up to 13,000 sq ft on each floor."

The building is located less than two minutes walk from Promenade and Regent Arcade and is five minute drive from Cheltenham Spa station.

Gloucestershire given permission to set up new LEP

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:08:00 GMT

Gloucestershire has been given permission to set up its own Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The LEP will provide a platform for the county to bid for government cash to boost local business and encouraging inward investment.

It will be led by GFirst (formerly Gloucestershire First), the county council’s economic arm, and will build on the existing good work going on in the county. Examples of projects the LEP will focus include things like the Kemble to Swindon rail track redoubling and the investment into rural broadband.

Work has already started on creating a future vision for the LEP with key projects and issues being identified by business leaders, GFirst and the county council. The bid, submitted last month, had the support of local businesses and groups, local councils and county MPs and this boosted our chance of success.

Today the government department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) has confirmed the green light for Gloucestershire’s bid.

David Owen, Chief Executive of GFirst, said: “At a time when the economy is top priority for the Government, this LEP status announcement is important news and recognition of Gloucestershire as an economic entity.

“We have never accepted that city and rural economies run separately – the Gloucestershire economy is a unique and varied one that draws on both of these aspects.” The successful bid provides a direct link between national government and local business.

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: “LEP status is vital for Gloucestershire because activity under this England-wide programme is directed at business growth, turnover and jobs – precisely our objectives for the Gloucestershire economy.”

The LEP programme will open up opportunities to pitch for financial and infrastructure support.

Initially the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a £1.4bn fund operating across England from 2011 to 2014 and the Gloucestershire LEP can bid for a share.

New Chair of GFirst, Diane Savory, plans to encourage more involvement in the LEP by local businesses.

She said: “My own experience at Supergroup PLC demonstrated to me that Gloucestershire can foster fast business growth.

“Now, I want the LEP to be the organisation that produces a completely fresh and positive ‘can-do’ commercial environment in the county.”

WKD firm buys Bottlegreen Drinks Co for £25m

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:07:00 GMT

Bottlegreen, the Gloucestershire-based soft drinks business, has been sold to the makers of WKD, Merrydown cider and Schloer for a pricetag believed to be £25m.

The Northern Irish-based food group SHS has bought private equity firm Piper’s majority shareholding in the business. According to Bottlegreen’s managing director, Simon Speers, the factory in South Woodchester and its staff are “safe”.

Mr Speers, who will remain as MD and retains shares in the company, said it was all good news for Gloucestershire.

“They (SHS) are committed to leave us as a stand alone company – they also have a huge office in Gloucester Business Park – where they do the SHS sales and marketing brokerage from – so really another local firm in many ways,” said Mr Speers.

Piper has achieved a five-fold increase on its four year investment of £5m. Some members of the management team will retain shareholdings in the group. During those five years Bottlegreen has become an iconic brand stocked by all the major UK multiples with a fast-growing international presence. Over the period of the investment, consumer awareness of the brand in the UK jumped from 5% in 2007 to 15% in 2010.

During its involvement with Bottlegreen, Piper said it had worked closely with management to help develop the business, which had involved a major re-branding of the products, the creation of a direct communication strategy with consumers and a focus on driving significant sales increases and an 11% improvement in margin.

Simon Speers, who led the original MBO backed by Piper, stated: “As a management team we are extremely proud of the work we have done to grow Bottlegreen into such a successful business and a brand our customers love. “The partnership we have had with Piper has been excellent and throughout its investment the team has been incredibly supportive, providing expertise and resources when required to help us be our best.”

George Adams, of Piper, said: “When we invested in Bottlegreen we understood that we had an opportunity to work with an excellent management team to refresh the brand, broaden its distribution and extend the product range to take advantage of changing consumer tastes for more natural, healthy adult soft drinks.

“In doing so we have helped create an iconic brand that customers really value and achieved a stunning return for our investors, which is exactly what Piper exists to do.”

Andrew Hodgson, from KPMG Corporate Finance, said: “Bottlegreen is the leading premium adult soft drink brand in the UK and its management has grown the business to a point where there is real traction with not only the major supermarkets but also the on-trade. This business has huge on-trade and export potential and SHS is the ideal partner to support Bottlegreen with its continued growth.”

Piper was advised by KPMG (Corporate Finance) and Bond Pearce (Legals). SHS was advised by Grant Thornton (FDD) and McGrigors (LDD).

Former Supergroup head to lead Gloucestershire's economic partnership

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:09:00 GMT

Diane Savory, who has just stepped down as chief operating officer of fashion clothing chain SuperGroup, is to lead the new organisation that will drive and expand Gloucestershire's economy.

Diane is to chair the revamped GFirst (whose legal entity is Gloucestershire Development Company) which will run the county's proposed new Local Enterprise Partnership or LEP.

It is hoped the Government will approve the Gloucestershire LEP proposals later this week.
The other new GFirst board members from the private sector are well known names in the county's business world-Roman Cooper, chief executive officer of Allcoopers Ltd, Adam Starkey, CEO of Green Gourmet Ltd and Michael Tripp, group CEO of Ecclesiastical Insurance.

The appointments, which are all unpaid, will ensure that any future county LEP will be driven by the private sector-a key part of the Government's economic policy.
There will three more board members from the private sector whose identity is expected to be announced this week and two members from the public sector, Chas Fellows and Steve Jordan, the Cheltenham Borough Council leader.

Diane Savory, who saw through Supergroup PLC's development from market trader to darling of the London Stock Market, said yesterday: "GFirst is the County economy's engine room and I look forward to directing its energy with a fresh team of board members who share my passion for Gloucestershire."

Formerly Gloucestershire First, the organisation has been rebranded as GFirst and moved to a new headquarters at Gloucester Docks from it previous base at Shurdington.
David Owen, chief executive of GFirst, said: "With the addition of Diane Savory, Roman Cooper, Adam Starkey and Michael Tripp as board members, we are building a challenging, results-orientated board, the hallmark of any successful enterprise."

Both David and Diane joined in paying tribute to GFirst's outgoing chairman John Hazelwood, who has seen the organisation through the recent recession.

GFirst says it has co-ordinated a response to redundancies by placing hundreds of people into new jobs, combined rural and urban economic planning, led on tourism destination marketing worldwide and has also added, to date, £14.5m value to the County's economy through its rural development programme.

But the new board's first task will be to lead the new LEP which, if the bid is successful, will place Gloucestershire alongside Cumbria, West of England and Liverpool as Government-endorsed 'players' in the devolution of economic development activity.
LEPs will be able to cut through red tape in encouraging business and are a replacement

Stonehouse firm creates 130 new jobs

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 12:08:00 GMT

A county company which was badly hit by the recession is looking forward to a brighter future as it launches a recruitment drive to fill more than 130 new posts.

Unite Modular Solutions (UMS) of Stroudwater Business Park, Stonehouse was forced to cut jobs and restructure to survive the economic downturn and virtual meltdown in the construction sector.

MS makes modular units which are fitted out and furnished to be combined on site to create complete buildings without the need for any additional support structures. Traditionally, the company's target market has been student accommodation but now it has secured contracts in other areas including the booming budget hotel market.

Last year Unite Modular Solutions was forced to put its 120-strong workforce on six weeks paid leave with the hours "banked" by the firm and then drawn down as needed. The company's managing director Will Garrard said the firm was now half way through buildings its first hotel for TravelLodge in London, a YMCA and student accommodation in the capital. "We have recently secured contracts for work which will see our factory and entire business back up to a more normal level of demand," said Mr Garrard.

"As a result we are beginning a recruitment drive for roles across our business, in all around 130 roles will be created."

These include 30 permanent shop floor posts, five support staff and 100 temporary shop floor posts.

And the company is going back to two shifts a day to meet the demand of the new orders.
Unite Modular Solutions' operations manager Andy Holder said as part of the company's restructuring, staff were actively involved in an engagement programme to help make the firm more successful. Managers were coming through from the shop floor.
"It is about career development, there are no barriers," he said.

Will Garrard said: "The team here is highly engaged. Staff turnover is less than two per cent.
"We have seen a significant improvement in the market. Conditions are still tough. But the recession has taught us alot and we have survived. "Globally we are competitive. We love it here, we have great communications and a great workforce."

The jobs at Unite Modular Solutions are multi-skilled with an emphasis on quality at every stage. Since 2002 the company has delivered 18,000 modules creating more than 60 buildings.
The total UK construction market is worth £99 billion and a fragile recovery is not expected until the second half of 2012 with 4.8 per cent growth predicted for 2014.

The hotel market is being boosted by the 2012 Olympics "effect". Modular construction systems can take half the time needed for conventional building, making them very attractive to clients, especially in the student and hotel sectors.