cbi members: News in brief
Versarien
Capita Managed IT Solutions
the advanced engineering materials
has announced that it is investing nearly £30m over three years to create 400
group, has acquired 85 per cent of
jobs. It will nearly double the company’s employees in Northern Ireland to 945
graphene start-up 2-DTech from
as it aims to grow its customer base, expand its service range and significantly
The University of Manchester for
increase its service delivery capabilities. Invest Northern Ireland has offered
£440,000. Versarien will also set up
£4m of support for the new jobs, while the Department for Employment and
an intellectual property and research
Learning (DEL) in Northern Ireland has offered £1.2m of training support under
collaboration with the university,
its Assured Skills programme. Enterprise, Trade and Investment minister
initially investing some £300,000 in
Arlene Foster said: “Capita’s investment here will undoubtedly strengthen
two projects. Versarien’s CEO Neill
our ability to attract further inward investment in the IT and business services
Ricketts said: “Versarien is already
sector, which are recognised as key markets in promoting economic growth.”
manufacturing over 37 tonnes per year of complex powder at its Total Carbide plant and combining this know-how with 2-DTech’s expertise,
FMG
research facilities, and rights to
has recruited fleet industry expert Andrew Cope as executive chairman to help
intellectual property makes the early
drive its growth. Cope joins the Huddersfield-based firm, which specialises in
commercialisation of graphene
incident prevention and fleet management services, from Zenith, where he
related products far more likely in
was chairman and managing director and grew the business over 25 years.
the near term on an industrial scale.”
He has also acquired a significant stake in FMG. Cope said: “I have been
The university, where 150 academic
brought into the business to help with the future growth, which will potentially
scientists and engineers are working
include acquisitions and/or further MBO activity.” FMG holds major contracts
on graphene, remains a shareholder
with the Highways Agency, Asda, and a number of police forces as well as
and will benefit from royalty sales.
major insurers.
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Busines s voice | june/july 2014
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