TMCnet News
The back page [Bristol Evening Post (England)](Bristol Evening Post (England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Places ? Bristol Airport could be about to change hands. A number of outlets including Reuters and City AM have reported an investment firm owned by Australian bank Macquarie Group is looking to sell its 50 per cent stake. It bought the airport back in 2001 for Pounds 198 million from the city council and First Group. The other major shareholder in the airport is the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, which has a 49 per cent stake. The other one per cent is owned by Sydney Airport. Passenger numbers have been rising, with the airport reporting record figures in June. ? Business centre provider Regus is looking for more sites around the area and has hired property consultancy Alder King to find them. The firm has 300 sites across the UK and wants more, specifically 10-15,000 sq ft sites in traditional in and out of town business locations such as transport hubs, universities and shopping centres. Simon Price, head of agency at Alder King, said: "Regus has identified untapped demand for flexible workplaces in a number of towns across the region and excessive demand in centres where it already has representation such as Bristol." People? Construction industry recruitment agency Sphere Solutions has appointed Helen Rosborough, above, as business improvement manager. A civil engineer by qualification and early career, Helen joins Cribbs Causewaybased Sphere from global recruitment company CDI AndersElite. Director James Hughes said: "We are hugely excited to have attracted such a leading professional from the global recruitment industry as Helen. Her high level expertise in fast-growth development of regional recruitment business makes Helen a superb fit for our major growth ambitions." ? Clevedon Telecoms firm Pure Comms has appointed Rob MacDonald, below, as a data specialist. The 40-year-old's appointment follows a strong start to 2014 with each month exceeding the performance of the previous one. Managing director Rob Vivian said: "It's no secret we have big ambitions as a company and Rob will be key to us as we continue to expand." The firm's customers include Bristol Airport and Castlemeadbased Opus Recruitment. Othe? Barristers' set No5 Chambers, in Queen Square, has been crowned The Lawyer Chambers of the Year. Practice director Tony McDaid said he was "very proud and excited". He said: "I believe that being awarded this accolade is recognition of No5's business model, founded upon attracting stellar barristers and rising stars and supporting their success with outstanding practice management and business development." The citation said: "Progressive and forward thinking, No5 takes the top award for having the confidence and courage to take the lead in a difficult market." ? The online portal for alternative business lenders, which started thanks to the idea of a local business, is expanding. Forty Community Development Finance Institutions responsible for funding over 10,000 small businesses rejected for bank finance last year, have joined with alternativebusinessfunding.co.uk. The site was an initiative led by Ham Green-based Clifton Asset Management, which specialises in pension-led funding for businesses. The site's goal is to support SMEs requiring non-bank finance solutions. Ben Hughes, chief executive of Community Development Finance Association, said: "Linking up with other leading funders makes it easy for small business owners to navigate the options and find what's right for them." ? Finally Bristol business leaders visited Millennium Square wearing just their jammies in a bid to raise awareness of youth homelessness. Huw Brown, director at KPMG, was joined by Ernst and Young's executive secretary Pip Eyles, tax adviser Martin Strong, and tax team assistant Jackie Sheehan who all took part in Action for Children's pyjamming challenge, which asks people to pose in their pyjamas and share photos online. The campaign coincides with Byte Night South West, a fundraising event that calls on members of the business and technology communities to sleep rough to raise vital funds for the charity's youth homelessness services. Huw, who is Byte Night South West co-chair, said: "Posing in my pyjamas in Millennium Square was silly challenge, a bit of an embarrassment, and all round good fun - but it had a serious purpose." Byte Night is on Friday, October 3. (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |