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GM BUSINESS connect
December/January 2016
news
Altrincham businesses vote yes to BID
Members of the BID steering group pictured with Chair Martin Duff and Councillor Sean Antsee, Leader of Trafford Council
On 9 November, following a fourweek postal ballot, businesses in Altrincham have voted yes to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) in the town centre. This will create a fund of over £1.4 million over the next 5 years raised by the 540 businesses situated within the BID zone. This will be invested on a range of exciting projects designed to improve the town centre, increase footfall and enhance business performance over that period. Businesses voted with a 68% majority and 74% by rateable value. The turnout of 44% was above the national average for a BID ballot. Councillor Sean Anstee, Chair of Altrincham Forward and Leader of Trafford Council said: “This is a brilliant result that will help to continue the momentum in Altrincham town centre, building on the work and investment that has gone into the town over the past few years.” Martin Duff, Chair of the BID
Steering Group and Owner of Randalls Jewellers said: “Altrincham is on the way up. Visitor numbers are increasing and businesses are coming back and filling empty units and offices. “The next step is to keep this momentum going without destroying the spark. I believe the BID will take us even further towards a brighter, more inclusive, thriving Town. “The BID will be run by a not for profit company, with board members from all the business sectors in the town. Although many of the businesses voted yes, I feel its my job as chair of the steering group to make sure that those businesses that voted against the BID, but will still have to pay into the fund, are visited to see how the BID can work for them. “We have seen the start of companies and community groups working together, with the Healthy High Street programme, and Business in the Community. All these forums have started to bring a pride back to Altrincham, and by all the businesses working together over the next five years we can
once again make Altrincham the place to work, shop and live.” Global IT consultancy Informed Solutions, which is headquartered in the iconic Grade II listed Old Bank Building within the BID zone, saw the success of the BID as being in everyone’s interests. Global CEO Elizabeth Vega commented; “I feel quite passionately that all businesses, regardless of whether they are retail, leisure or B2B, will benefit from the BID. It is very much in everyone’s interests that Altrincham gets the recognition that it deserves as an exciting, vibrant, modern market town.” The new BID company will be formally launched on 1 April 2016 at which point activities will commence. Projects include marketing campaigns, safety and security initiatives, events and negotiating joint procurement deals designed to save businesses money. For more information and to view the 5-year BID business plan visit www.altrinchambid.co.uk or call the BID Team on 0161 912 1599.
Dr Now opens new development and technology department in Manchester Liverpool-born telehealth company Now Healthcare Group will be relocating its Development & Technology division for mobile app ‘Dr Now’ to new office space at MediaCityUK’s Digital World Centre. As part of the company’s continued expansion, the team will be occupying prime office space in The Digital World Centre at the heart of MediaCityUK, making the move from Liverpool’s Albert Dock. The business has enjoyed phenomenal success since the launch of its innovative mobile app in June earlier this year. Founder of Now Healthcare Group and Dr Now, Lee Dentith, made the following statement: “We’re delighted to be in a position to expand the business at Dr Now and we’re thrilled to announce a new office for our development and tech teams in one of the most vibrant, progressive and exciting areas of the North West. “Although we’re extremely proud of our Liverpool roots, we feel that this move will allow us to make the most of the growing digital opportunities in Manchester.”
Record tram numbers getting on board 31 million for the first time, following on from the opening of the 15 stop Manchester Airport line on 3 November 2014.
More people than ever are getting on board with Metrolink. October saw record passenger numbers use Greater Manchester’s iconic tram network, with 3.1 million passenger journeys made across the 31 days. The previous record was 2.9 million passenger journeys made in November 2014. October saw a number of major sporting spectacles come to the region, and as with all other major events held throughout the year, Metrolink was on hand to help people get around. On 10 October 2015, the Rugby World Cup came to the Etihad Stadium while Old Trafford played host to Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford and helped move more than 20,000 people to and from both venues alone.
More than 33 million passenger journeys are expected to be made in 2015. Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) Metrolink Director, Peter Cushing, said: “I am delighted that record numbers are continuing to get on board with Metrolink. “October was quite unusual in that we saw capacity crowds attend both Old Trafford and the Etihad simultaneously on two occasions for some major sporting spectacles. “Our record passenger journeys will, in part, have been influenced by this, but more importantly it demonstrated how Metrolink is set up to support Manchester as a city capable of hosting major international events.
And on 28 October 2015, both Manchester City and United clubs played home matches simultaneously for the first time since 2009 with similar numbers once again using the tram network to get around.
“With the Christmas Markets – a major visitor attraction for the city – now open, the opening of the new Exchange Square stop just around the corner and the Second City Crossing on the horizon, I look forward to welcoming even more people to our growing network and beating this record sooner rather than later.”
Metrolink continues to go from strength to strength: earlier this year it was announced that the number of annual passenger journeys exceeded
Metrolink now runs to 92 stops across Greater Manchester, with more than 3,000 free parking spaces for customers.
