Van hire and sales group Northgate has increased its workforce by a quarter after a re-structuring programme and 1 £2.5m investment in a new site in the West Midlands. Marketing manager is Jonathan Pearce

Lancashire-based Karl Vella has secured a £15m contract with a leading insurance company which will safeguard existing jobs and create 10 new posts for skilled workers such as panel beaters and mechanics. The contract will bring in an extra 300 orders a month for the autobody repair firm. David Vella is group operations director.

Northgate Vehicle Hire is recruiting 15 sales staff as part of a strategy to increase business in growth areas, such as the utilities and telecoms sectors, to offsets a fall in demand from the building trade. A multi-million pounds investment programme is continuing to support future expansion. 2011 turnover £307m, 1,947 employees.

JCT600 has invested £500,000 in its Peugeot and SEAT dealership in Menston, West Yorkshire. The outside space has doubled in size, enable it to showcase a greater number of used cars. The company moved to the site in 2009. JCT600 has appointed Ian McFadzen as sales manager and Simon Hackney as service manager. Simon Thompson is general manager of JCT600 Menston.