Leicester Mercury Redesign Project | Page 9

29 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 LEICESTER MERCURY Like us on Facebook BUSINESS leicestermercury.co.uk MAKING VROOM Ian Minards, left, product development director at Aston Martin and George Gillespie, chief executive of Mira DAILY BUSINESS Facebook.com/leicestermercury PRINT ONLINE MOBILE New routes for budget airline A DISCOUNT airline has announced more flights for several routes at East Midlands airport ahead of this summer. Ryanair has added additional flights from the East Midlands to Alicante, Berlin, Faro, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Malaga, Palma and Tenerife. It also announced another route to Malta from East Midlands Airport, following the firm’s decision to launch the first route in August last year. Kenny Jacobs, chief marketing officer for Ryanair, said: “There is a good demand for flying to Malta from the UK, there always has been. “It works well as a route from several places around the UK. It’s about having a good commercial arrangement at both airports. With East Midlands and Malta there is a good demand on all sides, it makes it easier to get more bums on seats with every flight that you fly.” About 500 people are employed by the airline and it operates nine aircraft for its 35 routes from East Midlands Airport. Encore in buy out Firms set to follow Aston Martin’s lead ❚❙ Engineering companies in move to hi-tech park BY IAN GRIFFIN Business Editor ❝ George Gillespie, Mira chief executive Lockheed Martin. The 216-acre (87.5 hectares) site, off the A5/Watling Street, is aimed at motor manufacturers, components suppliers and vehicle testing specialists. Mr Gillespie said: “We are very pleased to welcome Aston Martin, one of the iconic Great British brands. This will help with the marketing of the park. It’s a brand that’s recognised around the world.” Since 2010, Mira Technology Park has created or safeguarded a total of 338 hi-tech jobs as a result of the development, in addi- A SPORTSWEAR manufacturer has launched four new brands. BeSpoke Teamwear, of Leicester, supplies clubs, teams and organisations across the globe with playing kit. The new brands include BST, which caters for indoor sports including inclusive/disability sports, weightlifting, handball and dodgeball. Business Trade: 0116 2224465 Make a Garment Labels Blank Labels Barcode & Address Labels Thermal Ribbons Same Day Service available For all your label requirements at a competitive price... CALL: 0116 273 3378 Unit 5 & 6 57a Gwendolen Road, Leicester LE5 5FL email: [email protected] www.saxbypress.co.uk Find us on: Speedy Sale leicestermercury.co.uk 08444 060 281 LDM-E01-S2 LM03 vehicle manufacturers and their tier one suppliers.” Aston Martin, the iconic British marque which is secret agent James Bond’s car of choice, has moved a key part of its prototype and vehicle development business to a 15,800 sq ft building at the park. The move has created 30 jobs at the site, which have relocated from Aston Martin’s headquarters at Gaydon. It joins other companies who have already located to Mira Technology Park, including engineering giants Bosch, and tion it is has also generated over 100 construction jobs. In 2011, the park was awarded enterprise zone status by the Government, giving firms who locate there a business rate discount worth up to £275,000 over a five-year period. Mira aims to create 2,000 jobs by 2020. Ian Minards, product development director at Warwickshirebased Aston Martin, said: “The cutting-edge facilities at Mira, together with its reputation for quality and excellent security, makes it an ideal place for us to carry out some of our prototype development work.” Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said: “Mira really is blazing a trail when it comes to enterprise zones and to have a Great British icon like Aston Martin locate there is another resounding success.” Sports brands launched 29 THREE major engineering firms are set to move into a hi-tech business park in the next few months. It comes after luxury car maker Aston Martin this week announced it had set up a research and development centre at Mira Technology Park, in Higham-onthe-Hill, near Hinckley. The boss of Mira (the Motor Industry Research Association) said that it was talking to 10 major compnaies who were considering setting up operations at the site. George Gillespie, Mira chief executive, said: “I would anticipate making at least three more announcements in the first half of 2015. “We continue to be focused on the automotive and defence industry sectors, primarily with We continue to be focused on the automotive and defence industry sectors, primarily with vehicle manufacturers and their tier one suppliers. RECRUITMENT firm Encore Personnel has bought a rival business out of liquidation. The group, in Millstone Lane, Leicester, has acquired Response Recruitment Solutions, of Spalding, Lincolnshire. Encore, which specialises in providing manual workers, now employs 140 people across nine branches across the UK. Response had employed two people before its collapse. Managing director Greg Latham said: “Combining Response’s position in the East of England with our innovative staffing solutions will provide clients with enhanced efficiencies in productivity and labour management.”