Student accommodation developer Unite Group says that like-for-like rental growth is 9.7% for the 2009-10 academic year. Reservations of 96.5% have been achieved even though 2,800 beds were added for the latest academic year. Unite is negotiating to acquire sites in London that will provide up to 600 new bed spaces. The £82m raised in the October open offer will help finance this. Shop fitter Styles & Wood is trading in line with expectations and expects its 2009 profit to be in line with analysts expectations of £300,000. However, customers remain cautious. The cost base has been reduced. Net cash was £6.3m at the end of October 2009. Renewable Energy Generation says that its UK wind business generated a post tax profit of £500,000 in the year to June 2009. Continuing revenues improved from £3.5m to £5.6m. The group loss increased from £886,000 to £2.35m. That excludes a £7.05m loss on discontinued Canadian activities. This sale helped to pay off the company's debt. REG intends to change its domicile to Jersey. Consulting engineer Waterman says that trading is in line with expectations but property markets remain depressed. The UK public sector and the energy sector are both providing opportunities for contracts. Construction professionals recruiter Prime People reported a slump in revenues from £12.1m to £7.07m in the six months to September 2009. Admin expenses have been cut sharply but last time's profit of £994,000 became a £162,000 loss. There was a small cash inflow during the period and net cash was £1.81m at the end of September 2009. Fulcrum Pharma says that it has received a preliminary approach from a potential bidder. Property investor Stewart & Wight returned to profit in the six months to September 2009. S&W reported a profit of £387,000 compared with a loss of £1.65m - due to an investment property write-down. The company's net asset value is £12.4m. Urban regeneration specialist M J Gleeson is finally starting to see light at the end of the tunnel after two tough years, with visitor numbers and reservations starting to pick up.House sales by Gleeson Regeneration & Homes in the second half of the year are ahead of levels seen in the second half of 2008, while reservations are ahead of expectations.Net cash was £19.7m at 18 November 2009, an increase of £8.8m on the £10.9m at 30 June 2009.Electrical engineering and contracting group T. Clarke has traded broadly in line with management expectations in the second half of the year, with the board taking comfort from the rise in tendering activity.The order book currently stands at £140m and the company's cash position 'remains robust'.
