http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/ en-gb Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:37:42 GMT http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/February-2012/Morrisons-supermarket-warehouse-jobs-in-Bridgwater.aspx http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/February-2012/Morrisons-supermarket-warehouse-jobs-in-Bridgwater.aspx Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:29:19 GMT Up to 100 new warehouse jobs are to be created in Bridgwater by the supermarket chain Morrisons. The site, alongside the company's existing distribution centre, will be used to pack fruit and vegetables ahead of distribution to stores. A spokeswoman said the move would allow the company to save two million road miles each year delivering to its shops in the South West and Wales. She said 300 more jobs could be added depending on Morrisons' growth. The existing Willow Green facility, close to the M5 in Somerset, looks after the transfer of all grocery, household, chilled foods and bread for the South West and south Wales Martyn Fletcher from Morrisons Group said: "Having our manufacturing site so close to our regional distribution centre for the area will reduce food miles and improve our strong environmental credentials. "We are delighted to be creating these jobs in Bridgwater and hope to be able to fill a large proportion of them with suitable local candidates." http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/February-2012/Lark-Energy-submits-35m-solar-farm-plan-for-Leicestershire.aspx http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/February-2012/Lark-Energy-submits-35m-solar-farm-plan-for-Leicestershire.aspx Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:04:44 GMT Plans for a £35m solar project on a 150-acre site near Loughborough in Leicestershire have been submitted to Charnwood Borough Council. Lark Energy wants to put the solar panels, which would produce enough power for 6,000 homes, on Wymeswold Airfield, near Loughborough. The panels will be placed between the runways on the former airfield. Lark managing director Jonathan Selwyn said construction would start later this year if the project was approved. Mr Selwyn said: "This will be 25 to 30 megawatts, so it will be quite big, but it will not be intrusive. "There will not be reflection because the panels are designed to absorb the light rather than reflect it." The panels can be removed to return the land to its current state when energy production ceases in 30 years, he said. Charnwood borough councillor Jenny Bokor said: "I think this is a really good idea. There are 1,500 homes in all the Wolds villages and this could more than meet their needs. "I am sure there will be some people who will object but I am in favour of making use of the land to create energy." Wymeswold Parish Council chairman Nick Shaw said: "It won't make any noise or create any pollution." http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/Filton-company-awarded-483m-missile-contract-by-MoD.aspx http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/Filton-company-awarded-483m-missile-contract-by-MoD.aspx Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:54:26 GMT A missile systems company based in Filton near Bristol has been awarded a £483m Ministry of Defence contract. MBDA UK will work on the new Sea Ceptor Royal Navy defence system which aims to intercept and destroy enemy missiles travelling at supersonic speeds. The contract will sustain about 500 jobs in MBDA's Filton facility and its production bases in Stevenage, Herts, and Lostock in Bolton. Work is expected to last for around five years. MBDA's UK managing director Steve Wadey said: "This contract ensures that with Sea Ceptor, the Royal Navy will have the best equipment to protect its ships and crews against the growing threat. "It is a powerful example of how industry and the MoD can deliver together an advanced capability that meets military needs in the most cost-effective manner. "It is also highly significant step in advancing and sustaining the UK's mastery of complex weapons technology." The Sea Ceptor has initially been designed for use on the Type 23 frigate ship and will replace the Sea Wolf air defence system which is to go out of service in 2016. Sea Wolf, which has been used by the Royal Navy since 1979, was originally built and designed by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) which later became MBDA. "Mach 3" The Sea Ceptor concept uses a missile capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 3. It will have the ability to deal with multiple targets simultaneously, protecting an area of around 500 square miles over land or sea. The Sea Ceptor will also be fitted on the new Type 26 global combat ships currently being developed. Its flexible design also means that it could be adapted for future use by the Army and RAF. Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff said: "The development of this missile system is a huge boost to the UK's world-leading missile industry and once again proves our commitment to providing battle winning technology to our armed forces. "The introduction of this cutting edge missile system will not only ensure that the Royal Navy will be able to continue protecting our interests wherever they may be, but is also highly significant in sustaining and developing the UK's skill in building complex weapons." http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/The-Green-Home-Company-to-create-100-jobs-in-Bridgend.aspx http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/The-Green-Home-Company-to-create-100-jobs-in-Bridgend.aspx Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:58:41 GMT A solar energy company says it is creating 100 jobs in Bridgend as part of a major expansion. The Green Home Company, which installs solar panels, is creating 50 posts now, with plans to double its workforce by the end of February. It follows news that the UK government has lost its legal appeal over attempts to block subsidies for the industry. The Green Home Company, which is based in Maidstone, Kent, will serve customers across Wales and south-west England. It starts work in south Wales with an initial team of 80, which is made up of 30 trainers and managers and 50 new jobs. Executive chairman Alan Proto said: "We are thrilled to have launched our new operations in Bridgend so that more people in the south-west region can benefit from our solar installations." However, workers at the AGI Shorewood factory on Ebbw Vale's Rassau industrial estate, Blaenau Gwent, have been told that the south Wales operation will be closed. Some workers might be offered the chance to move to one of the company's other factories in Swindon, Slough or Dublin. "Computer games" The company has not commented so far, but Unite union officials said a consultation period had started which would end on 21 February. The Ebbw Vale concern, which makes packaging for CDs, DVDs and computer games, was part of a merger last year. Only three weeks ago, the company said all Shorewood Packaging locations would fall under a new combined unit called AGI-Shorewood. AGI-Shorewood employs nearly 4,000 people worldwide and operates 24 manufacturing facilities in north America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. It also has five plastic injection moulding operations in the United States, UK, Germany and Poland. http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/Markham-Vale-car-parts-centre-creates-120-jobs.aspx http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/Markham-Vale-car-parts-centre-creates-120-jobs.aspx Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:04:00 GMT More than 120 jobs are being created at a new car parts distribution centre in Derbyshire. The Leeds-based Andrew Page firm is building the centre at the Markham Vale business park near Chesterfield. Construction work on the new facility is due to start in February and be completed by August. The £62m park was set up on the derelict Markham Colliery site in 2006 as part of a regeneration project led by Derbyshire County Council. Councillor Kevin Parkinson, the county council's cabinet member for regeneration, said: "This is fantastic news for our Markham Vale regeneration scheme. "A major company like Andrew Page coming to the site shows the investment we have made as the solid foundation for our long-term aim of creating 5,000 jobs." http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/Asda-to-create-5000-jobs-in-2012.aspx http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/Asda-to-create-5000-jobs-in-2012.aspx Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:23:15 GMT Supermarket chain Asda has announced plans to open 25 new stores and three depots, creating 5,000 jobs this year. There will be a new depot in Rochdale, an existing one in Falkirk will be replaced and one in South Elmsall in Yorkshire, which was bought from Netto, will be revamped. It also plans to extend and refurbish 43 of its existing stores. Asda, which is based in Leeds, currently employs 180,000 staff across 528 stores and depots in the UK. It is owned by the world's biggest retailer, Walmart. Asda says the jobs will be part of a £500m expansion drive. It follows a big year of expansion for Asda in 2011 as it converted the UK stores of the Danish discount retailer Netto, which it had bought for £778m. Asda is the UK's second biggest supermarket chain behind Tesco. http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/Chepstow-firm-Mabey-Bridges-45-wind-turbine-deal-jobs.aspx http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/Chepstow-firm-Mabey-Bridges-45-wind-turbine-deal-jobs.aspx Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:45:53 GMT A south Wales manufacturer has won a multi-million pound order to build 35 wind turbine towers for UK sites. Mabey Bridge has taken on 45 people and transferred 50 more to its factory in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, after the deal with German company Nordex. Fourteen towers will be sited at the Pant-y-Wal wind farm in Rhondda. The rest will go to Scotland. The firm described the deal as "a real boost" for its staff after a challenging year. Mabey Bridge created 240 jobs when it opened its £38m factory in Chepstow in May last year. The facility is capable of producing up to 300 towers a year. The company said production of the 120-tonne towers, which will stand between 213ft and 230ft (65m - 70m) high, will begin in mid-February with the factory working around the clock. Some 170 staff would be working on the project, the firm said. The company said the turbine towers, destined for west of Gilfach Goch in the Rhondda valleys in June, would be the first made by a Welsh company to be installed in Wales. The remaining 21 towers will stand at the Baillie wind farm near Thurso on the north coast of Scotland also in June. The two sets of turbines will have the capacity to power the equivalent of 60,000 homes, Mabey Bridge said. UK director Alex Smale told BBC Radio Wales: "To put this into perspective last year the UK wind market was less than 250 towers so this is a really significant order. 'Expertise and skills' "We are currently recruiting about 45 additional roes for the factory so absolutely more jobs in Wales. "All of these towers will be made in Wales. The towers you see around the country have historically been made in northern Europe - not even in the UK at all." Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan welcomed the announcement. "This is not only excellent news for the economy in Wales, but for the UK's renewables and manufacturing industries as a whole," she said. "The awarding of this contract is a clear demonstration of the confidence European countries continue to have in the talent, expertise and skills of our workers here in Wales." http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/Airbus-reports-record-orders-for-2011.aspx http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/Airbus-reports-record-orders-for-2011.aspx Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:33:33 GMT Plane maker Airbus has reported record orders for 2011 but has warned that demand for new planes will fall sharply this year. The company said it received 1,419 orders worth about $140bn (£91bn) last year, compared with 805 for its fierce US rival Boeing. Demand for the fuel-efficient A320NEO medium-haul jet was particularly strong, it said. However, sales chief John Leahy said Boeing would make up ground this year. It has launched its own fuel-efficient 737MAX, demand for which will be strong, he said. Based on the 2011 order figures, Airbus holds a 64% share of the orders placed with the world's two largest plane makers. "It isn't our goal to end up where Boeing was in 1995 with 81% of the market," said Mr Leahy. "Our goal remains to stay in a stable duopoly between 40% and 60% of the market." Airbus also said it had delivered 534 planes in 2011, compared with 477 by Boeing. http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/London-2012-security-exercise-starts-on-Thames.aspx http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/London-2012-security-exercise-starts-on-Thames.aspx Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:59:01 GMT The Metropolitan Police and Royal Marines are beginning security exercises on London's River Thames ahead of the Olympic Games in July. Up to 44 police officers, 94 military personnel, 15 boats and helicopters will take part in the training sessions on the river until Friday. Met Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison said the exercises were "not in response to any specific threat". The security effort for the 64-day Games has a budget of up to £600m. In a statement, Scotland Yard said the River Thames exercises were "designed to make sure that everyone has the same level of knowledge about how the river operates and how our tactics work together". Mr Allison said they were an example of the police using specialist military support to "mitigate against potential risks during the summer of 2012". "This will be a summer like no other in London. The Thames runs through the very heart of our capital and will be a popular place for people who want to be part of the Olympic spirit," he said. Minister for Crime and Security James Brokenshire said such exercises were "crucial in securing the Games". "We are leaving nothing to chance to ensure we deliver a safe and secure Games that London, the UK and the world can enjoy," he said. "Extra police" The security challenge around the Olympics will begin in earnest when the Olympic village opens on 13 July and will continue until the Paralympic village closes on 12 September. In total, 34 venues across Britain will be covered by the security operation. Eleven police forces and the military are involved in security. The government says safety and security funding for the Games has been protected, with the vast majority going to the police. As well as London 2012's £600m security budget, the Games has a £2bn contingency budget, part of which can be drawn on for security purposes. These figures do not include an undisclosed counter-terrorism budget. http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/New-McLaren-F1-offers-jobs-boost.aspx http://www.GeminiForces.co.uk/News/January-2012/New-McLaren-F1-offers-jobs-boost.aspx Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:05:02 GMT Formula 1 racing team McLaren says 900 jobs could be created when it builds a new technology centre in Surrey. Woking Borough Council has approved plans to build new offices, a wind tunnel and car parks on the site between Woking and Ottershaw. McLaren said the new centre would allow its Formula 1 and supercar operations to be on one site. Conservationists said building on the 23 hectares (58 acres) of greenbelt land would lead to a loss of wildlife. The land was last used as a tree nursery and will include a landscaped area with new lakes. 'Countryside lost' The motor firm said: "Up to 300 construction workers will be employed at the site at any one time over the phased development, and 400 direct jobs will be created and retained at the site. "An additional 200 jobs will be created indirectly through manufacturing, suppliers and clients, and increased retail spend in the area." The new centre will comprise of about 60,000 sq m (646,000 sq ft) of workshops, prototype manufacturing and testing space, research and development equipment and offices. McLaren said the new facilities would enable it to develop new and advanced engineering skills in partnerships with local schools and colleges. The McLaren Formula 1 team is based at the Woking headquarters and in November a new production centre for the company's high performance sports cars was officially opened. Amanda Masters from the Surrey Chambers of Commerce said: "We always support any plans which mean an increase in the numbers of jobs in the area." Environmentalists are worried about the effect the development will have on wildlife and natural habitats in the area. Paul Rimmer from the Horsell Common Preservation Society said: "We can't understand why yet another beautiful piece of Surrey countryside should be lost to development without the developer compensating for the loss of greenbelt." Geoff French, chairman of the Enterprise M3, a partnership between businesses, councils, education and voluntary organisations, said: "In our area we need to strike a balance between economic growth and the environment." A final decision on the planning application will be made by the Secretary of State.