LONDON, June 28 (Reuters) – G4S is in line to win
more British police work this year after an alliance between
Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire forces
commissioned a report into which services they could outsource
to the world’s biggest security firm.

All three police authorities this week backed a move to join
an outsourcing framework agreement established by G4S and
Lincolnshire police authority last year as they look to tackle
government budget cuts and find total savings of 73 million
pounds ($113 million) by 2015/16.

LONDON (Reuters) – British engineering and design group WS Atkins (ATKW.L: Quote, Profile, Research) wants to expand in Southeast Asia to target a growing number of architecture, urban planning and rail projects in the region, its Europe and Asia Pacific chief executive told Reuters.

Atkins is aiming to reduce its exposure in Britain over the next three years to about a quarter of group sales, from nearly a half, in favour of high-growth overseas markets.

LONDON (Reuters) – Industrial equipment hire firm Ashtead (AHT.L: Quote, Profile, Research) more than quadrupled its annual profit and upgraded expectations for this year as slow construction markets push a growing number of cash-strapped customers to rent rather than buy equipment.

The British firm, which makes over 80 percent of revenue from its U.S. business Sunbelt, on Thursday posted a pretax profit of 130.6 million pounds for the year to April 30, ahead of an analyst consensus of 122 million, according to Reuters data, and the 31 million it made last year.

LONDON (Reuters) – Mo Farah’s decision to forgo home comforts transformed him from European to world champion and the popular Briton is banking on the gruelling training regime that got him there to propel him to the ultimate glory of Olympic gold.

The 29-year-old heads to next month’s London Games from his American base in Portland, Oregon as favourite for the 10,000 metres title and a leading contender for the 5,000 if he decides to run in both events.

LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) – Mo Farah’s decision to forgo
home comforts transformed him from European to world champion
and the popular Briton is banking on the gruelling training
regime that got him there to propel him to the ultimate glory of
Olympic gold.

The 29-year-old heads to next month’s London Games from his
American base in Portland, Oregon as favourite for the 10,000
metres title and a leading contender for the 5,000 if he decides
to run in both events.

LONDON, June 14 (Reuters) – Design and engineering firm WS
Atkins said it planned to broaden its financing over
the next year to help it expand in fast-growing energy and
commercial aerospace sectors after soft UK and U.S. markets led
to a small fall in profit last year.

Atkins, which wants to reduce its exposure in Britain over
the next three years to about a quarter of group sales from
around 45 percent now in favour of high-growth overseas markets,
said it was also interested in making acquisitions in the
defence and security sectors.

LONDON (Reuters) – High growth markets in Asia and Latin America will help recruitment firm Michael Page International (MPI.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) ride out increasingly tough conditions in Europe and meet full-year expectations, its Chief Executive told Reuters on Tuesday.

The British firm, which places people in accounting, financial and legal jobs, said trading in Europe had worsened as companies spooked by economic fears in Greece, Italy and Spain held off on hiring, while banking markets continued to choke.

LONDON (Reuters) – More British local authorities are likely to outsource work as government austerity forces them to cut costs, infrastructure and maintenance firm May Gurney (MAYG.L: Quote, Profile, Research) said, creating opportunities for the private sector.

May Gurney, which helps maintain Britain’s roads, rail and utilities services, said a need for local authorities to address funding gaps but protect frontline services would create work in areas like highways, transport and environmental services.

LONDON, June 12 (Reuters) – More British local authorities
are likely to outsource work as government austerity forces them
to cut costs, infrastructure and maintenance firm May Gurney
said, creating opportunities for the private sector.

May Gurney, which helps maintain Britain’s roads, rail and
utilities services, said a need for local authorities to address
funding gaps but protect frontline services would create work in
areas like highways, transport and environmental services.

LONDON, May 29 (Reuters) – A strong demand for new money
helped profits bounce back at De La Rue, the banknote
printing firm said on Tuesday, but it declined to comment on
whether presses are ready to roll out the drachma yet should
Greece leave the euro zone.

Reporting results for the year to March 31, the British
firm, which prints over 150 national currencies as well as
passports such as the UK’s, said underlying pretax profits rose
73 percent to 57.7 million pounds ($91 million), slightly ahead
of the consensus market forecast compiled by the company of 55.7
million pounds.