THE DAILY BRIEFING
■ BEEFING UP Gourmet Burger Kitchen is to double in size and create more than 2,500 jobs as part of expansion plans under its South African owner.
The burger chain was snapped up by Wimpy owner Famous Brands last month for £120m and boss Alasdair Murdoch has got the green light to open up to 15 restaurants a year.
The move would see GBK, which employs 2,000, take on more staff and double its store tally to 150.
■ STEEL JOBS Steel firm Liberty House has launched a metal recycling business under its plans for the future of production in the UK.
The firm said it would set up a processing centre in Newport, South Wales, where it already operates a one million-tonne-a-year hot strip mill.
Recycling centres are also expected to be set up in other areas, including Scotland, the North East, South East and Midlands.
■ BEER TARIFFS The British Beer & Pub Association said ministers should make it a priority to ensure there are no tariffs or additional paperwork for beer exports after Brexit.
The trade group also stressed the importance of maintaining the rights of existing overseas workers in the industry and ensuring there is a system to attract skilled staff.
■ WAGES UP Managers in accountancy and finance firms will receive pay rises of up to 5.8pc next year amid problems in recruiting suitably qualified staff, a report predicts.
The rise will take salaries for financial planning and analysis managers to between £64,000 and £82,000, said recruitment firm Robert Half.
Starting salaries for accountants and finance staff are predicted to rise by an average of 2.9pc. ■ BUMPER YEAR The Rigby Group which owns Exeter and Coventry airport posted a 23.5pc increase in profit following a bumper year.
The firm, owned by tycoon Sir Peter Rigby and his family, said earnings rose to £22.3m from £18.1m for the year to March 31 on sales of £1.7bn.
The business has a number of divisions which charter aircraft and own and manage airports and hotels.
■ GIN INTEREST A pack of private equity firms is circling a British craft gin distillery in the hope of cashing in on a surge in the drink’s popularity.
Northamptonshire-based Warner Edwards has been courted by several funds as turnover at the company rockets. The business, founded in 2012, is on course to see revenues more than treble from £828,946 last year to £2.5m in 2016.
■ BREXIT JOBS Accountancy giant KPMG has promoted 40 partners and 108 directors as it gears up for Brexit. The promotions are aimed at helping clients plan for the future and seek out opportunities.