Press Release

The Claverley Group can confirm it has taken a majority shareholding in Kennedy Enterprises Ltd, publisher of children’s magazines.

Kennedy publishes a portfolio of 25 different magazines, with annual copy sales close to 4million.

The investment will see Kennedy Publishing, the company under which Kennedy Enterprise Ltd trades, continue to operate from its current base in Wick, near Bristol.

The agreement with Claverley has been made with a view to support the further growth of the business.

Dean Barber, circulation director of the Claverley-owned Midland News Association, has been appointed as managing director of Kennedy Publishing.

Dean will work alongside the current shareholders of the business, Joanne and Paul Kennedy.

The Claverley Group comprises of MNA, publisher of the Express & Star and Shropshire Star; the Guiton Group, which owns Jersey Evening Post and Guernsey Press; commercial print company Precision Colour Printing; and publishing software company Press Computer Systems.

Claverley Group CEO Phil Inman said: “We are delighted to confirm our investment in a growing business and look forward to working with the current shareholders to support the development of the portfolio of titles over the coming years.

“The deal shows Claverley’s commitment to print and will further grow our portfolio of businesses.”

Paul Kennedy said: “Claverley is well known to us through our longstanding relationship with Precision Colour Printing. We welcome the opportunity to draw upon its strengths while continuing to increase our range of quality magazines.”

For further information contact:

Chris Leggett, MNA director of marketing and communications: 01902 319455
Email: chris.leggett@expressandstar.co.uk

Press Release

Star Employment Services is leading the way for local recruitment agencies by achieving a prestigious industry standard. Staff at the West Midlands based agency have attained their gold audited status with the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC).

Situated in the Express & Star offices in Wolverhampton, Star Employment Services was assessed against the requirements of data protection, training and induction and complaints procedure.
Also considered were the agency’s standing for customer service, diversity, work seeker checks and advertising.

Currently, there are more than 25,000 agencies in the UK and Star Employment are one of only 51 agencies to have the gold audit status.

The audit provides confirmation that the agency is conducting its business ethically, in accordance with the legal requirements and with the REC code.

Star Employment Services operations manager Kylee Russon said: “We are extremely proud to have attained our gold status as it gives us integrity in the work place. It shows us as a flagship agency and we have worked very hard to achieve it.

“We have relaunched our website and this was a move that reflects how we meet certain standards. The site is informative, modern and easy to use. The assessors were also able to see that everything within our agency is legitimate and transparent.

“This is reassuring for clients and demonstrates our work is legal and thorough.”

Star Employment Services specialises in temporary staffing, permanent introductions and contract placements. The team offers a bespoke, timesaving and cost-efficient recruitment process.

The agency is part of the MNA Recruitment offer, under director Lee Smith. Lee said: “We are very proud to have achieved our gold status. This shows that the team at Star Employment has gone the extra mile in levels of demonstrating compliance.

“There are a host of additional checks that have been undertaken in order to achieve the REC Audited mark of distinction, therefore meaning you can be confident you are using an accredited supplier that is accountable to a professional body.”

REC chief executive Kevin Green added: “Congratulations to Star Employment Services for achieving REC Audited status. In doing so they join an elite group of recruitment agencies across the UK that have achieved this high standard.

“This accreditation recognises that we have rigorously audited Star Employment Services and found that it is performing to the highest professional standards and represents best practice in our sector.”

Star Employment Services, which was launched in January 2013, is owned by the Midland News Association, publisher of the Express & Star and Shropshire Star. To find out more information, go to: www.staremploymentservices.co.uk