Camtronics Vale Limited have completed a management buy-out with the support of a £400,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales. 

Led by Managing Director Paul Macleur, the senior management team have acquired the £2million turnover contract electronics manufacturing business from the parent company PhotonStar LED Plc. Based on Tredegar Business Park, Camtronics offers a full range of electronics manufacturing services and employs 31.

The Q2 2018 SME Growth Tracker, published today, reports that amongst small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the Confidence Index score for their business has deteriorated from -6 earlier this year to -8. Confidence in business conditions has remained negative for all SMEs since the UK general election in 2017, when it was at its lowest point (-11), and has not been positive since March 2017.

Rcapital has backed Scottish shopfitter Havelock, based in Kirkcaldy, Fife.  The deal secures over 300 jobs and the firm’s manufacturing sites, providing financial stability for the business.

A Derbyshire industrial lubricants specialist has secured a £250,000 loan to support its growth from NPIF-Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia Fund Managers and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

Aztec Oils will use the money to fund the first stage of its three-year £1.2m expansion project which will increase storage capacity and turnaround times at its flagship Bolsover site. The company, which manufactures and distributes high-performance lubricants to a wide range of industrial sectors, is targeting 20% growth in the current financial year, having increased turnover by 18% last year.

A North Wales company that is developing a world-first technology to recycle MDF waste has received new funding of £165,000 from a group of business angels. MDF Recovery has secured the additional investment from a group of angels who have previously backed the business.

A Doncaster engineering firm which made the steel walkways for the sports complex in the 2012 Olympics has secured a £150,000 loan from NPIF - Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia Fund Managers and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

Universal Coatings will use the money to fulfil new contract wins and expects to create an additional seven jobs as a result. The company provides coatings for everything from swimming pools to steel structures and also offers a complete fabrication service. In addition to supplying fixtures for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and other events, it has built many canal bridges and specialises in conservation work such as the restoration of statues and structures at heritage sites.

Transcend Packaging has been selected to produce eco-friendly paper straws for McDonald’s UK and Ireland.

The Greater Manchester Loan Fund, managed by Maven Capital Partners, has completed a £750,000 investment in Manchester-based Shield Safety Group, one of the UK’s leading providers of Food Safety, Fire Safety and Health & Safety software and services. The investment will allow Shield Safety to strengthen its current offering to existing clients, target new customers by broadening its market reach and create over 70 jobs in the Greater Manchester area.

A unique roofing tile system using recycled Welsh slate is set to revolutionise the global construction market. 

BGF has announced the exit of its minority investment in Brownhills Glass, one of the UK’s leading independent glass merchants and processors.

NorthEdge Capital has invested in leading stairlift designer and manufacturer Platinum Stairlifts, backing the existing management team led by Founder, Tim Frear. 

The Finance Durham fund has completed a £650,000 investment in Consett-based biomass energy plant, SDS Inc Limited.