Archives by Tag 'building businesses'
Homebuilder Bovis predicts increased profits
The Homebuilder Bovis is predicting an increase in profits for 2012.UK housebuilder Bovis says it expects a significant increase in profit for 2011, following strong earnings growth. The Kent based group expects to record profits of about £31 million for last year, up 68% on 2010. The firm also expects to report an 8% increase [...]
Next sales grow as online business outperforms
Next has reported that its autumn and pre-Christmas sales grew after buoyant online business trading.Total sales at the clothes retailer between 1 August and 24 December rose 3.1% compared with a year earlier, ignoring the effect of rising VAT. However it’s Next Directory sales grew by 16.9%. But its High Street business, which sees some [...]
Apps downloads hit record high at the end of December
For the first time more than a billion apps have been downloaded in a single week according to new research.Analytics firm Flurry said 1.2 billion apps were downloaded in the last week of December. Activity was buoyed by the facts that many users received new devices for Christmas and firms offered discounted apps over the [...]
Luxury carmaker Bentley sees sales rise 37% in 2011
Luxury carmaker Bentley has reported a 37% rise in sales in 2011, claiming global demand has returned to pre-recession levels.The Crewe-based firm sold 7,003 cars, whose prices start at £133,000, in the year to December 31. The US continues to be Bentley’s number one market with 2,021 cars sold in 2011, an increase of 32%. [...]
Gin is the new tonic for business growth
A new generation of boutique gin distilleries – some in residential homes – is driving a British gin revival. London is in the midst of a craft distilling revival. New microdistilleries can be found in residential houses – such as Sacred Spirits, based in London’s sedate Highgate. And they’re tucked away in terraces – such [...]
Bombardier wins £188 million Southern trains contract
Derby trainmaker Bombardier has won a £188 million contract to build 130 carriages for rail company Southern.The Department for Transport had been criticised for choosing German rival Siemens over Bombardier as preferred bidder for the £1.4 billion Thameslink rail contract. It is hoped the new contract will help secure the Canadian owned company’s future in [...]
Big Society projects get £3.1 million boost
Four Big Society projects are to get £3.1 milion in funding from dormant bank accounts, the government has announced.The cash will be used to help the long term unemployed set up business, vulnerable youngsters find jobs, a community energy project and fund the first social business stock exchange. In total, about £400 million in unused [...]
Car parts firm Cobra UK to create 49 jobs
A new £12 million order to supply General Motors (GM) with parts will see the UK company double its workforce.Welshpool-based Cobra UK has won a contract to provide load space covers for the Vauxhall Astra, which is made at a plant in Cheshire. The expansion will create 49 jobs, taking the workforce to nearly 100. [...]
UK trade deficit narrows as exports hit a record growth
The UK’s trade deficit narrowed sharply in October, as the value of exports hit a record high new official figures have shown.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the deficit in goods fell to £7.6 billion, down from £10.2 billion September. Exports of goods rose to a record £26.5 billion, while imports fell from September’s [...]
Bellway housebuilder stays upbeat about prospects
Shares in the housebuilder Bellway rose almost 4% after the company gave an upbeat assessment of its prospects despite the troubled economic times.The FTSE 250 firm said in a trading update that its order book grew to £458 million in November, up from £440 million last year, with reservations up 14%. The average selling price [...]