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LIVERPOOL CITY REGION CHESHIRE MANCHESTER OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2015
FREE
Issue 47
Managing the mind Professor Steve Peters on appearing at Accelerate Willmott Dixon’s Mike Lane
Grace and Grandeur The history of the Port of Liverpool Building
Rules of Conversion What’s next for permitted development rights?
www.movecommercial.com
Accentuate’s Graeme Fraser-Bell
How jeremy corbyn’s labour will impact the region
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Issue forty seven Move Commercial
Welcome to Move Commercial
Contents News
Liverpool is renowned for its architecture. From the striking Georgian Quarter to the waterfront, grand, historic buildings are commonplace in the city. One of the most remarkable is the Port of Liverpool Building on Canada Boulevard. One of the world famous Three Graces, the former home of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board was this year put up for sale by owners Downing. In this issue we take a look at the fascinating history of this stunning structure. Meanwhile, with government legislation allowing commercial to residential conversion set to expire in May 2016, we find out how the office market in the North West has been impacted. And, as Labour welcomes a new leader – and a new dawn of politics – we ask our panel of experts how Jeremy Corbyn’s appointment will affect the North West business community.
06 Commercial schemes shortlisted for top property awards 07 Vortex House sold in biggest Merseyside sale of the year 08 Big name entrepreneurs heading for Accelerate 09 Federation House up for sale 10 Jaguar Land Rover factory ‘driving forward’ property market
Christine Toner, editor christine@movepublishing.co.uk
11 Design shortlist for Factory Manchester revealed 12 Oldham sports facility completed 13 ‘Major boost’ in property sector prompts law firm expansion
Features 16 Bitesize Thinking Food for thought 18 Appointments Who’s moving where
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21 My Month USP Creative’s Sara Johnson reflects on a busy month 24 Small business interview Accentuate creator Graeme Fraser-Bell 30 Rules of conversion The commercial to resi debate 34 Interview Mike Lane, North West operations director, Willmott Dixon
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38 Interview Professor Steve Peters, author of The Chimp Paradox 41 Key Event Move Commercial’s latest networking lunch
Advertising Director Fiona Barnet. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Advertising Manager Catherine McCarthy. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Editor Christine Toner. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Editorial Team Natasha Young, Hanna Fowler and Liam Deveney Tel: 0151 709 3871 post@movepublishing.co.uk Design Mark Iddon. Email: mark@movepublishing.co.uk
Published by Move Publishing Ltd Directors David O’Brien, Kim O’Brien, Fiona Barnet. Printed by Precision Colour Printers Ltd Distribution Liaison Manager Barbara Troughton. Tel: 0151 733 5492 Mobile: 077148 14662 Credits: Liam Deveney - Move Commercial event (Networking lunch & Knowsley Superport Forum)
Copyright Move Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced copied or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in any information storage or retrieval system without the publishers written permission. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published, Move Publishing can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by advertisers.
42 Founding Building The Port of Liverpool Building 44 Key Event Superport Forum in Knowsley 45 Event planner What’s on around the region 47 Ask the Panel How will Jeremy Corbyn’s appointment as Labour leader impact the region?
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News Latest
Commercial schemes shortlisted for top Merseyside property awards A host of prominent commercial property schemes are in the running for a prestigious award, as this year’s Your Move Property Awards shortlist has been announced. Downing’s Graeme House, Capital and Centric’s Bunker Building and Next Big Thing’s Jordan Street scheme in the Baltic Triangle are up for the Best Commercial Scheme accolade at the glittering Merseyside event. Meanwhile Promenade Estates’ mixed-use Marine Point scheme is up against residential finalists Old Widnes Town by Denovo Design, NGV by Countryside and Joseph William Mews by Riverside Home Ownership for the Regeneration Award. Taking place on 15 October at Lutyens Crypt in Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, the ceremony will celebrate a year of success across the Merseyside property market. Shortlists for further categories open to commercial contenders will be announced on the evening itself, including Best Commercial Agency and Best Commercial Office, Retail and Leisure Let. Dave O’Brien, director of Move Publishing, says: “This year’s shortlist highlights just how exciting the region’s property sector is. The standard and quality of the projects happening throughout the Liverpool City Region made shortlisting the categories a difficult process for our judging panel. Congratulations to all the shortlist so far and a huge thank you to everyone who entered.” This year, the main sponsors for the Your Move Property Awards are Redrow Lancashire and Countryside Properties, alongside associate sponsors Bruntwood, Kirwans, The Foundry Agency, Macbryde Homes, MSB Solicitors, Paul Crowley & Co, Promenade Estates and Riverside Home Ownership.
Last year’s Your Move Property Awards
Law firm announces sponsorship of city football team
Pic: Paul Bibby MSB and Dave Woods with MSB’s John McCreanney and MSB Woolton FC’s Jade McNicholas.
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Liverpool-based law firm MSB has become the official sponsor of Woolton Football Club, as part of an ongoing effort to support and promote the development of grassroots sporting talent in the city. The club, now known as MSB Woolton FC, is based at Camp Hill in Liverpool’s Woolton area and currently operates in excess of 70 teams of different age groups from under sevens through to under 21, as well as a veterans’ team, two men’s open age teams, a women’s open age team and five girls’ teams for under 10s to under 16s. On announcing the company’s support for the team, MSB’s managing partner, Paul Bibby says: “Sport and exercise has a demonstrable impact on the way we function cognitively and it is something we actively encourage at MSB. Many of the team here are involved in sport recreationally and we have plans to introduce weekly exercise sessions for staff at our city centre office. “And of course, we’re delighted that we can support Woolton FC. Chairman Dave Woods and the team have done a fantastic job in taking the club from what was quite literally a drop in session outside a youth centre, to a network of teams playing a high level. More than that though, I have been impressed by the way in which they have grown, taking care to introduce proper practise and instil an ethos by where everyone associated with the club are similarly committed to complying with codes of conduct.” Dave Woods from MSB Woolton FC adds: "With the support of an established firm like MSB, we're confident that we can go even further in realising some of the many ambitions we have for the club."
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Latest News
Education trust acquires Vortex House for new studio school A studio school is opening up in Liverpool’s Vortex House office building, after Northern Trust sold the site to Lydiate Learning Trust in the largest Merseyside sale this year. The developing North West network of schools and academies purchased the 22,900 sq ft Wavertree Technology Park site for an undisclosed sum to create a business school aimed at providing young people with a “better, more practical understanding of the world of work before they leave education”. Tom Parkinson, director of Northern Trust, says: “This was an exciting new use for the Wavertree Technology Park and Vortex House will be used as a studio school, funded by the state, and will offer business and technology courses to 14 to 19 year
Vortex House
olds, as well as classes in engineering, accountancy and textiles.” Andrew Byrne, senior surveyor at CBRE’s Liverpool office, adds; “We are delighted to act on behalf of Northern Trust Company Ltd in the sale of Vortex House which represents the largest sale within Merseyside this year. The property is situated in a prime position on Wavertree Technology Park, close to Liverpool city centre and with easy access to the M62 and as such will be an excellent base for the new studio school.”
Hundreds attend event showcasing regeneration opportunities Deputy Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Ann O’Byrne opened the event at the town hall
More than 150 businesses attended Liverpool Town Hall for a chance to play a part in the city’s major regeneration schemes. The Supply Chain Engagement Event, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, saw nine contractors involved in schemes such as new schools and hospitals inform local firms on the opportunities which will be available over the next 12 months. BAM, Galliford Try, ISG, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Morgan Sindall, Seddon, Wates and Willmott Dixon came together under one roof through the North West Construction Hub, NSC, City of Liverpool College and the city’s employment
arm Liverpool in Work to showcase their offerings. During the event, which was opened by Deputy Mayor Councillor Ann O’Byrne, the contractors who currently have in excess of £260 million of work for the next three years on their books were predominantly targeting SMEs and highlighting apprenticeship opportunities. Lynne Dabazzi, recruitment advisor for Liverpool in Work, helped organise the event which attracted more than 200 individual attendees and says the “positive feedback” from the event will now be analysed to organise a follow-up event, and further encourage contractors’ communication with the local supply chain to continue.
Procurement launch will let ‘the real work begin’ on HS2, says council leader The launch of the procurement process for the government’s High Speed Rail Two (HS2) link has been welcomed by Manchester City Council. Sir Richard Leese, GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) lead on HS2 and leader of the council, described Chancellor George Osborne’s announcement that bidding on more than £11.8 billion worth of contracts has begun as a “long awaited” moment. The Chancellor revealed the next step during his tour of China, where he is attempting to drum up investor support for the project, along with a range of other major UK infrastructure schemes. Commenting on the move, Leese says: "This is a moment that those of who have been campaigning for HS2 as a crucial ingredient for the economic future of Manchester and Greater Manchester have long awaited. “The case that HS2 is essential if we are to compete for jobs and investment in global markets, and to provide the extra capacity our rail network is crying out for, has been conclusively made. “Now we can begin to make those benefits tangible, whether it's creating construction jobs or using this major infrastructure boost as a catalyst to further investment to help rebalance the nation's economy. “The launch of the procurement process for phase one gives renewed certainty around the project and means that talking can stop and the real work begin." HS2 is part of the government’s strategy to create a ‘Northern Powerhouse,’ and will allow high-speed rail services from London to the Midlands, and the North. Critics of the scheme have argued the bidding process should not have been opened until after the HS2 Bill had finished passing through parliament.
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News Latest
Top entrepreneurs heading for third Accelerate event
Kathryn Parsons
Liverpool’s Accelerate conference will bring a host of big name entrepreneurs to the city as it returns for the third year running. Having boosted its profile as a flagship feature of 2014’s inaugural International Festival for Business (IFB) programme, the 9 October event is expected to attract 1,000 delegates when it takes place at ACC Liverpool. Wayne Hemingway, co-founder of HemingwayDesign, will host the day of guest speakers, networking opportunities and workshops which aims to help businesses reach the next level. Dr Steve Peters, the psychologist and author of ‘Mind Paradox’, will be joined on the line-up of speakers by philanthropist and author Katie Piper; MOBO Awards founder Kanya King; Dan Germain, brand guru for Innocent Drinks; Kathryn Parsons, cofounder of Decoded; and motivational speaker and ‘Taming Tigers’ author, Jim Lawless. Meanwhile a series of breakout sessions following the themes of ‘passion’, ‘performance’, ‘power’ and ‘accelerate’ will allow delegates to tailor their event to suit their business. Kate Auguste, Accelerate’s project manager, says: “The event will focus on establishing lasting connections and identifying clear, achievable actions that will grow businesses.” For more information visit www.Accelerate-Britain.co.uk.
Liverpool Waters welcomes Northern Powerhouse minister Northern Powerhouse minister, James Wharton at The Quay
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Peel recently welcomed the government’s Northern Powerhouse minister to the sites of its ambitious Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters schemes. James Wharton, MP for Stockton South, was given a full tour of both Merseyside sites with representatives of each project in attendance, as part of a fact finding visit to major development schemes across the North West. He was also shown around the firm’s flexible office space The Quay at Number 12. Princes Dock by Peel’s director of development, Lindsey Ashworth and development investment surveyor, Ian Pollitt. At The Quay’s marketing suite the minister was also shown the plans for the 60-hectare mixed-use Liverpool Waters scheme, which has an estimated value of £5bn. The regeneration project, spanning 2.3km of the city’s iconic waterfront, will breathe new life into historic docklands, with almost half of the area featuring within the city’s World Heritage Site.
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Sales & Lettings News
Investor demand expected for Curtins House
Federation House up for sale
Federation House
Liverpool’s Federation House has been brought to the market for offers in excess of £2.25m. Owner Downing has appointed agent Worthington Owen to sell the well-known Hope Street building; a fully-let freehold with 21,119 sq ft of space over six floors. With current tenants including Liverpool Media Academy on the upper floors of the property and Ego Restaurants Ltd and Moose Coffee Ltd in ground floor units, Downing’s head of property management, John Clegg, says: “Federation House is an iconic building in one of Liverpool’s most vibrant areas. We are happy to be passing it on to new owners, fully let and in great condition.” Located within Liverpool’s Knowledge/Cultural
Quarter which is home to three universities, the building’s exterior features faux-Aztec facing designed by William Mitchell, the man who also devised Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral’s chiseled bell-tower and ornate entrance doors. Andrew Owen, from Worthington Owen, adds: “Federation House is a rare example of high-quality bespoke office space in the heart of one of the Canning Street Conservation Area, one of Liverpool’s most vibrant and dynamic locations. “Historically acknowledged as the heart of the city’s educational and cultural activity, the area offers a diverse range of restaurants, bars and leading cultural institutions, including the Philharmonic Hall and Everyman Theatre.”
An office freehold investment opportunity on Liverpool’s waterfront is expected to attract a range of interest as it’s brought to the market by Hitchcock Wright & Partners. The commercial agent has been instructed to find a buyer for the Curtins House office building on Columbus Quay, which currently generates a rental income of £82,000 per annum. A tenant is in-situ for a term expiring in December 2017 at the fully self-contained, four-floor property, which features 7,147 sq ft of lettable space. Following the appointment to sell the building, which has an asking price of £900,000, Brian Ricketts of Hitchcock Wright & Partners says: “With Brunswick Merseyrail Station in close proximity, and established local businesses nearby including Telewest ADT and Carphone Warehouse, this fully refurbished office building is situated perfectly for potential investors. “Additionally, with a long term tenant already in-situ and the prospect of an 8.61% net initial yield, we expect interest from both private purchasers and multiple operators looking to add to their existing property portfolio.” Overlooking the River Mersey, the building’s features include a 44-space car park, suspended ceilings and 24-hour on-site security.
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News Sales & Lettings
Jaguar Land Rover factory is ‘driving forward’ property market, says agent Speke’s Boulevard Industry Park
Two large lettings at Speke’s Boulevard Industry Park have been hailed as a sign of the “positive effect” the site’s Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) factory is having on the local economy. Industrial property specialists B8RE recently completed deals with existing tenant International Automotive Components Group (IAC) to re-gear its lease on Unit 1a and take a new lease on Unit 3 - the former Johnson Controls building - at the site, on behalf of international investment management group Aberdeen Asset Management Plc. Following the lettings, the occupant will be utilising 150,000 sq ft on the estate to service its contracts with JLR. Jonathan Thorne, of B8RE, says: “This deal is further evidence of the positive effect that the growth of the JLR factory is having on the local economy both in terms of job creation and driving forward the property market. “Demand for industrial buildings in Merseyside is at record levels driven by JLR’s supplier contracts, the growth of the Port of Liverpool and improvements in connectivity/transport links for logistics in the area. “This increased demand coupled with limited supply of buildings is also leading to rental growth taking prime rents to over £5.25 per sq ft.” Darren Hill of CBRE acted for IAC Group and Phil Morley of DTZ acted for Johnson Controls on the disposal of their existing unit on the estate.
High interest in commercial lots at Liverpool auction Commercial lots are said to have attracted “strong levels of interest and investment” at the latest Sutton Kersh property auction, which attracted a record turnout. More than 200 potential property buyers attended the Liverpool sale, which also featured residential properties in its catalogue. Mixed-use properties in Liverpool’s Walton area proved to be star attractions at the September event, as a site on County Road featuring six one-bedroom flats and two-ground floor retail units was sold for £280,000, exceeding its guide price by £30,000. The property produces a return in excess of £40,000 per annum. Meanwhile a three-storey property in Bootle incorporating a ground floor retail unit and five one-bedroom flats sold for £85,000, and generates a yearly rental income of £18,780. With more than 70% of the lots on offer having sold so far, and enquiries continuing for remaining stock, Cathy Holt, head of auctions at Sutton Kersh, says: "We've seen consistent high attendance at property auctions this year and have now sold 347 properties to date in 2015, generating proceeds for our clients of over £21.5 million. The commercial sector has seen strong levels of interest and investment, with a number of the lots on offer during auction sold above the recommended guide price." The County Road lot Sutton Kersh is now inviting entries for its 29 October auction, which will take place at the Marriott Hotel in Liverpool city centre. The closing date for entries is 2 October.
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Final space remains at West Village following creative tenant surge
West Village’s final space features a treehouse
The top floor duplex is now the only remaining space in Manchester’s West Village after a surge of creative businesses have moved into the site. The 7,000 sq ft offering at Bruntwood’s 127 Portland site, within the city centre, is based alongside the firm’s Together co-working space which is 90% full, and influencer marketing agency Social Chain also moved into a 3,500 sq ft office. The duplex features a meeting space in a purpose-built treehouse spanning two floors, as well as an option to expand into another 2,000 sq ft of workspace. Tim Donoghue, property manager for West Village, says: “We wanted to
explore a creative solution to bring people together and encourage collaboration on the top floor, so we came up with the idea of the treehouse for a quirky meeting space. “West Village is a cluster of buildings, made up of 113 Portland Street, 117 Portland Street, 127 Portland Street and 61 Oxford Street and we’re working with all of our customers to ensure we’re providing the right spaces and facilities for likeminded, creatively-led businesses to thrive. “It’s all about supporting the community and bringing the right people together so that great things happen.”
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Development News
Design shortlist for Factory Manchester development revealed The shortlist of architects and other design services competing for the £110m Factory Manchester development has been announced. Over 86 organisations across a range of design areas expressed an interest in the project, according to Manchester City Council, with practices from across the UK and around the world submitting applications. Situated in the centre of the St. John’s district on the old Granada Studios site, the new development will form a creative village in the heart of the city. The firms shortlisted for the scheme’s architectural services include Rafael Viñoly Architects, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Bennetts Associates, Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) Stedebouw BV, Zaha Hadid Limited, Simpson Haugh and Partners LLP, Grimshaw Architects LLP, Mecanoo International b.v. and Haworth Tompkins Limited. Meanwhile further companies are in the running for tasks including theatre consultancy, structural and civil engineers, building services engineers, cost consultancy, acoustic engineers, and fire engineers. Appointments are set to be made in mid-November with a view to a planning application being submitted mid-2016. Construction is then planned to start early 2017 with a target opening date of summer 2019. Manchester City Council will directly procure the design teams and contractor, supported by development partner Allied London, which will deliver Factory Manchester and ensure it co-ordinates with the wider St John’s regeneration scheme.
Neil Waddington (Prospect GB), Will Sadler (Legat Owen), Kurt Hutcheon (Hutcheon Construction) and Chris Walker (Prospect GB)
Prospect GB unveils Chester Grade A refurbishment Developer Prospect GB has launched 11,500 sq ft of Grade A office space at Chester Business Park, having carried out a refurbishment at the site. The new-look two-storey Edward House building within Kingsfield Court, which incorporates improved energy efficiency and state-of-the-art mechanical and electrical fittings, was showcased to business and property professionals at a special event. As part of the upgrade, Prospect GB incorporated features including a large reception area, new LG7 lighting, air conditioning, raised flooring, roof storage and a passenger lift. The firm’s managing director, Neil Waddington, says: “Edward House is
Prospect GB’s second Grade A refurbishment at Chester Business Park in the past few years. It follows a very similar and highly successful project at neighbouring Montell House. We are expecting Edward House to attract similar levels of interest - Chester Business Park has become a magnet for global companies, particularly in the financial sector, and it’s a superb strategic location in close proximity to the M53 and M56 motorways.” Chris Walker, head of Prospect GB’s commercial division, adds: “Edward House provides flexible space – its layout can accommodate up to four tenants but the whole building could be an ideal headquarters for a single occupant.”
Construction begins on £1om Joy Global facility Paul Douglas (Russells Construction); Doug Kiser, Richard Hopper and Kim Owens (all Joy Global); and Andrew Russell (Russells Construction)
Work is underway to build a new £10m production and testing facility for mining solutions provider Joy Global. Russells Construction began the project at Logistics North, near Bolton, with a ground-breaking ceremony attended by representatives of the firm which will relocate to the facility from its existing site in Ince, Wigan. Joy Global will move to the 82,000 sq ft unit, comprising manufacturing space and office space, following its completion in summer 2016, and employee benefits manager Kim Owen says: “We’ve outgrown our current home as business has increased over recent years so it’ll be great to have everyone in the same office together.” Designed by APL Architects and engineers from Healy Consulting, the facility will be equipped for the testing of heavy equipment and machinery used for mining. It will also be the UK hub for the company’s JoySmart Solutions, an integrated package of services which support customers’ use and management of the machinery the business supplies. Joy Global engineering project manager, Richard Hopper, adds: “Having a purpose-built facility will allow our expert team to develop the products and services that we provide to clients and further improve our ability to help solve their toughest mining challenges.” It is the third unit to be built at the 550-acre Logistics North industrial park. MOVE COMMERCIAL 11
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News Development
Oldham sports facility completed ‘on time and on budget’
Anthony Dillon (Willmott Dixon) with Cllr Barbara Brownridge, Oldham Council Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and cooperatives; Stuart Lockwood, OCL chief executive; Oldham Council leader, Cllr Jim McMahon; and OCL chairman Nigel Harrison.
The development of a new £8m state-of-the-art Oldham leisure facility was hailed a success as development partners celebrated its completion “on time and on budget”. Representatives of Oldham Council, Oldham Community Leisure (OLC), Willmott Dixon and partners attended the new Royton Leisure Centre just days before its 28 September opening for an exclusive tour. Incorporating a six-lane, 25-metre Olympic legacy swimming pool with spectator seating and a separate learner pool, as well as an 80-station fitness gym and exercise/dance studios among its features, the centre was partly funded by a £134,000 Sport England grant to support the pool’s installation and ensure the legacy of London 2012 lives on. Anthony Dillon, Willmott Dixon’s northern managing director, was among those marking the completion of the project. He says: “I am delighted to see the opening of such a fantastic community facility which has been built with so much local labour. "Credit must go to the whole team at the council, supply chain, suppliers, consultants and our construction team for delivering this both on time and budget.” The site’s opening has now made way for the area’s old Royton Sports Centre to be demolished. Work will soon get underway to clear the site and create a new 60-space car park in its place, which is due for completion in March 2016.
Major schemes move forward for Falconer Chester Hall Architect Falconer Chester Hall has seen two of its significant Liverpool projects take major steps forward. The practice is behind the designs of both the city centre’s £40m mixed use Wolstenholme Square development and also two new Skelhorne Street buildings which will add to the proposed redevelopment around Liverpool’s Lime Street gateway; both of which were given the green light by Liverpool City Council’s planning committee. The Wolstenholme Square transformation by Elliot Group will see low-rise warehouse buildings replaced with new residential properties and commercial space, and also a new home for the city’s legendary Cream nightclub and a performance space to be managed by the team behind The Kazamier venue, which will close to make way for the scheme. Meanwhile the Skelhorne Street mixed-use plans, brought forward by Butler Company Ltd and NALM Ltd, will see the construction of two buildings incorporating student accommodation, ground floor retail space and a possible apart/hotel. Following the project’s approval success, Falconer Chester Hall’s managing director, Adam Hall, says: “This is an important location for the city situated alongside Lime Street station and we wanted to be respectful of the local context – both of the station itself and nearby buildings in terms of design and materials. “This is an important location for the city situated alongside Lime Street Station and we wanted to be respectful of the local context – both of the station itself and nearby buildings in terms of design and materials.” The progress of the major schemes coincides with Falconer Chester Hall’s growth elsewhere in the country, as a “rapid increase” in work delivered by the firm’s London base has prompted its relocation from Soho Square to a larger office in Holborn. 12 MOVE COMMERCIAL
The proposed new Wolstenholme Square
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Commercial News
‘Major boost’ in region’s property sector prompts law firm expansion DTM Legal has expanded its commercial property team, as growth and investment in the sector across the North West is said to have boosted the firm’s client base. Robert Harris, previously a partner at Weightmans LLP in Manchester, has been appointed as a consultant and Sally Pilott, who joins from DWF LLP in Manchester, is a new associate solicitor for the company. Both new recruits specialise in all aspects of commercial property. Anna Duffy, head of commercial property at DTM Legal which has clients across the region, says: “We have seen major growth in this area with a total of 66 new property clients in the first three quarters of 2015. This is no wonder given the investment pouring into the sector. Over £1.13bn of development is happening in Liverpool city centre alone, while Chester’s One City Plan continues to build momentum. “Next year will see more exciting projects unfold as Liverpool Waters and the Atlantic Gateway Project get underway and the city hosts the UK’s second International Festival for Business. “Considering the exciting times ahead for the North West property market, the need for a strong development division increased significantly.”
Manufacturing launch boosts Bootle Glass business by 25% Merseyside’s Bootle Glass has enjoyed a year of continued growth following its decision to manufacture its own commercial aluminium glass windows and doors. Having traded for more than 25 years, the company moved to new premises and set up its own manufacturing process 12 months ago. As a result, the firm is said to have seen a 25% increase in turnover and an expanding list of clients in the North West, with projects also reaching into Bangor, Buxton and Ludlow. Sharon Clarke, who co-owns the firm with husband Martin, says: “We were previously buying the aluminium windows and doors for commercial work in, and now we are manufacturing our own we are much more competitive and therefore winning more contracts. “The business has really taken off, we are replacing shop fronts for well-known brands as well as universities throughout the region.” With business booming and Bootle Glass’ portfolio expanding, the company is looking to continue its growth into the New Year across Merseyside, Derbyshire, Cheshire and North Wales.
Sally Pilott and Robert Harris
Marketing agency Fire Pineapple attracts new property client Liverpool-based digital marketing agency, Fire Pineapple has taken on a new client in the city’s property sector. The firm has been appointed to develop a new website for C&D Properties, which is based on Tithebarn Street in Liverpool’s commercial district and has been working with sales, lettings developments and property management since 1998. Addressing the client’s need to offer information in a “modern, streamlined design that meets the demands of a contemporary property audience without losing 'good old-fashioned client values',” Fire Pineapple’s managing director, Steve Ingley, is heading up the project. Set to launch the new site in October, he says: “The new site will include a unique design with easy navigation that is available on both desktop and mobile devices.” The website will aim to ensure visitors can search properties and share via emails and social media, whilst also enabling content to be up to date both day and night to enable property industry users to make informed decisions.
C&D Properties has an office on Liverpool’s Tithebarn Street
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We Build Brands A leading integrated communications agency delivering branding, design and public relations.
0151 709 1633 www.thefoundryagency.co.uk @Foundry _ Agency
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Bitesize thinking
John Carroll technical director, Zerum Ltd
In my crystal ball... I am currently masterplanning the building service systems for a major development on behalf of a well-known, blue chip company in the North West, trying to look into the future for some mixed-use commercial, retail, leisure and residential schemes. My dilemma is how to second guess what Building Regulations Approved Document Part L will look like, or how British Council for Offices (BCO), BREEAM or other such drivers may alter. The recent changes to the Building Regulations have placed more onerous challenges on designers in terms of energy reduction. This has a massive effect on selection criteria - can one simply assume that the same will apply in five years? Current schemes in construction are trading thermal insulation values for electrical heating together with small self-generation equipment to support the development. Will we have advanced in technical capabilities to address these matters? Or should my space and volume allowances rely purely on self-generation?
If only I’d known…
My favourite building with... Mark Bennett
Photo: Mark B. Schlemmer
I have presented more Building Information Modelling (BIM) PowerPoints at conferences, lectures, and to clients than I care to remember. If only I had known how my views would have changed over the past five years. While I still believe there is a place for all of the BIM process, my experience over time has shown me that ‘one size certainly does not fit all’ and I believe a more pragmatic approach is necessary. One may suggest a similar approach to such rationalisation as is provided, say, by the soft landings (advice on design team staying with a project upon completion) through the process of “Pitstopping” (soft landings reality check). In addition it also may be desirable to re-integrate the BIM process into the RIBA BIM Plan of Work (guide on what is required to complete a project), although, this time with a further reality check based on experience. Such experience over the years has lead me to believe that while we have gone through the heartache of uploading COBie (data sheets on the building) drops, several years later I have found that since handover some have not been opened, although this must be countered by the fact that several universities have used the COBie information to great effect.
director, MBED Architects
Jewish Museum, Berlin As I completed my architecture course Daniel Libeskind gave a lecture at the Liverpool School of Architecture. The Jewish Museum in Berlin was under construction and Daniel talked about his commitment and his approach to the project and what it meant to him. This was architecture on a deeply personal level, tackling serious subject matter. He was funny, as well as erudite and engaging. Above all he was human and I was inspired. Obsessed with both architecture and political history, and in Berlin, I was determined to visit the museum and see the completed design. I paid the entrance fee. A visceral exhibition, Libeskind deploys every architectural weapon to heighten every element. Cold lighting, harsh materials, a monochrome pallet, twisted perspectives, tunnels, tall top lit voids, dead end stairs and the constant sound of chains from feet on the Shalekhet installation by Menashe Kadishman. The only building to make me sit down and cry. True genius. 16 MOVE COMMERCIAL
“A visceral exhibition, Libeskind deploys every architectural weapon to heighten every element”
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Bitesize thinking
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Steve Ingley managing director, Fire Pineapple
Curriculum VITAE Main duties: Juggling sales, software development, team management, and cash flow…and all before midday. Education: I read Business Studies at The University of Liverpool back in 2004, which was when I fell in love with this incredible city. I’m passionate about continually developing my knowledge and experience, and this has led to me becoming a PRINCE2 Practitioner for Project Management, and an accredited software safety risk assessor. First job: Shelf-stacker and checkout-jockey at my local supermarket, spending more money on Red Bull than I earnt from most shifts. Shortest job: Building computers for a tech company. I’d been there three days when I found a very mouldy cup of tea tucked away on one of the shelves. The manager didn’t take kindly to me throwing its contents down the toilet, and after a blazing argument I walked out. I can only assume he was trying to grow some form of super-penicillin.
What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve received? Turn off anything that notifies you about trivial things (emails, social media etc.). There are far too many distractions in this connected world; reducing them to a minimum gives us a more competitive edge and improves the efficiency of our team. What piece of advice would you give to someone starting out in the industry? Never assume that you know best. There are always people who are more knowledgeable and experienced than you. Swallow your pride and learn from them. What’s the secret to your success? A commitment to customer service. We’ve never lost a client, and over 95% of our new work comes from referrals from existing clients. Tell us about Fire Pineapple’s plans for the rest of 2015: We’ve just launched our own eCommerce system designed specifically to meet the needs of UK and EU businesses. We’re focussing on promoting this, and we’re confident that this flagship product, part of our Multiverse Platform, will redefine and cement the relationships businesses have with their customers.
Tweet all about it
St John’s Allied London’s £1.5bn long-term vision to transform Manchester’s former Granada Studios is gathering momentum, after it joined with the city council to acquire the site. With a number of developments in the pipeline incorporating cultural space, workspace, public realm, mixed use and residential, the overall masterplan will create a new St John’s neighbourhood.
SEP
Allied London announces it will be joining forces with Manchester City Council to acquire the 13.5 acre Granada Studios site, as ITV Granada and ITV Studios prepares to relocate to Salford’s MediaCityUK at the end of the year.
APR
Allied London announces it will immediately turn the Granada headquarters extension building at the Old Granada Studios site into Hello House – a workspace targeted at PR, marketing and media companies – when it takes control of the site in June.
DEC
Chancellor George Osborne announces £78m of funding towards a new Manchester arts and cultural space, known as The Factory, as part of the Northern Powerhouse strategy. It will be at the heart of the St John’s masterplan.
JUN
Plans for a ‘vertical village’ on land (pictured) which was formerly part of the ITV estate, but is situated just outside of the area which will be known as St John’s, is revealed by Allied London. The residential scheme, previously discussed at MIPIM during preliminary idea stages, will be called Trinity Islands.
JUN
Applications to refurbish the historic Bonded Warehouse and transform the former Old Granada Studios headquarters building into ‘The Manchester Grande’ event hotel are submitted.
JUL
Manchester City Council launches the internationally significant £110m cultural development The Factory, which is expected to open in summer 2019.
AUG
Allied London submits applications for remaining phases of its St John’s masterplan, including the mixed-use St John’s Place; public realm and residential development The Riverside; apartments, retail and workspace offering The Villages; and Trinity Islands.
2013
2014
2014
2015
The 5 best commercial tweets
1 2 3 4 5
@ProLiverpool: “The airport is here to serve the Liverpool City Region & attract inward/outward investment” – Andrew Cornish @MrTimHeatley: A while ago I started thinking about our buildings, not as space for business to rent but as places for people to connect – it’s the future @KnightFrankMcr: Stockport Council has completed its purchase of Stockport County FC’s home stadium Edgeley Park #Property #Stockport @promanchester: When we look at investment we can see strong recovery in the UK
@UKTI: #NorthernPowerhouse generates £130 billion making it a major driver in UK’s #economy
2015
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Allied London is proposing to get construction underway on the St John’s scheme, subject to planning approval by Manchester City Council.
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Appointments
New arrivals boost Kinglsey legal team
Laura-Kate Davies & John Seaforth
Liverpool-based property, engineering and legal recruitment consultancy, Kingsley is continuing its expansion with two new appointments. John Seaforth, who has nine years of recruitment experience, and former lawyer Laura-Kate Davies have joined the firm’s legal recruitment team. Seaforth will focus on paralegal and legal IT recruitment in his new role, and Davies will be helping to recruit paralegals and solicitors. Following the arrival of the new additions Caroline Kingsley, director of Kingsley, says: "We are delighted to welcome John and Laura-Kate into Kingsley. Their experience and knowledge add to our already strong legal offering.”
Two additions to USP agency Liverpool-based creative agency, USP has strengthened its team with two new appointments. Paul Quinn Paul Quinn, who has experience of working with international brands including Manchester United, The Jockey Club and Manchester Airport Group, has joined the firm as an account director and will be focusing on Redrow as a lead client. Meanwhile Mark Edwards brings USP’s design department up to a 12-strong team as he takes on the role of senior designer. Edwards will be working alongside creative director Simon Broadbent in the position, and brings a portfolio including CNN, Electrolux and Diageo. Alex Rose, managing director of USP, says: “Paul and Mark bring new experience to bolster our already diverse skillset and we’re excited to have them join our team.”
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Graduate surveyor joins Worthington Owen Recently launched commercial property consultancy, Worthington Owen, has Sarah Syvret added a graduate surveyor to its team. Mark Worthington and Andrew Owen have welcomed new recruit Sarah Syvret as they continue to develop their Liverpool firm. Syvret, who has spent the last two years working for Peel Holdings on marketing, lettings and property management and was primarily based at its Princes Dock site within Liverpool Waters, says: “It is an exciting time for Liverpool with an improving occupier market and increasingly strong interest in the city from investors; I can’t wait to get more involved.” Owen adds: “We are delighted Sarah has chosen to join us and are sure she will add considerably to the team and the service we can offer our clients.”
Hynes to help progress Bruntwood and MSP sites Experienced property expert Nick Hynes has been appointed by Bruntwood and Manchester Science Nick Hynes Partnerships (MSP) as they continue to progress their Alderley Park and Booths Hall developments. Hynes has nearly 40 years’ experience in the industry, having built a £100m property portfolio, advised financial institutions and developed Birchwood Park in a joint venture with MEPC. He also advises Cheshire East Council on the regeneration of town centres, and joins Bruntwood following the completion of a consultancy role at Airport City. Chris Roberts, development director at Bruntwood and MSP, says: “Nick joins us at an exciting time for both projects as we develop the masterplan for the collaborative community on the 400-acre parkland site at Alderley Park and look to invest further in the commercial offer at Booths Park to complement the existing site.”
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My Month Sara Johnson, client strategy director, USP Creative It’s been a busy few weeks for agency USP Creative as the team tackled tight deadlines and key meetings with the added challenge of the holiday season. Client strategy director Sara Johnson tells Move Commercial about building brands, launching charitable foundations and supporting the creative community.
My goal at the start of the month was... My goal is always the same – to make a positive and tangible difference to USP and the clients that we work with. USP is a group of creative innovators specialising in people, places and spaces - we solve problems involving human engagement within the built environment using comms, marketing and design. This, by its nature, is a very social ambition, albeit with clear, commercial results. Another (trickier) goal was finding something to discuss in this column, as so much of our client work at USP is confidential and commercially sensitive!
My biggest achievement was...
My biggest challenge was...
This month we received board approval of our recommendations for the UK headquarters of an international bank. We were originally tasked with bringing the brand to life internally as part of an employee engagement programme. Our recommendations were to change the way staff interact, transforming the building into a physical manifestation of the brand promise. This is a large undertaking, and quite revolutionary for a global financial services organisation, so needless to say we are thrilled to be moving forward to execution.
As most agency people will verify, managing deadlines is always our biggest challenge, and holiday season only makes matters worse! This month we were approached by a global pharmaceutical company to help it solve some key performance issues. The answer was quite simple – it needs a big emotional vision to align all staff and inform key behaviours. The delivery of that solution though, and the embedding of those values, is a lengthy and intensive process.
Empty sites are being transformed into pop-up theatre spaces
The key meeting I had... Was our annual session with marketers from all regions of Redrow Homes. This was a great opportunity to take a step back from the day to day with our clients from across the regions, review actions, share learnings and consider how we can stay one step ahead.
THE NEWS STORY THAT CAUGHT MY EYE... Was a feature on Theatre Delicatessen, an organisation that collaborates with property developers and turns empty sites into pop-up theatre spaces. Founder Roland Smith argues the commercial case for this is that councils are obliged to give charities an 80% discount on business rates, which can be passed on to the developer. It’s an interesting point but I think he’s missing a bigger opportunity. Creative communities have always been the developer’s
friend, however unwittingly. (Consider the gentrification of London’s Shoreditch, Liverpool’s Ropewalks and Manchester’s Northern Quarter, all powered by creative spark.) Wherever culture thrives, gentrification follows. Ironically, whilst this is undoubtedly positive in the short to medium term, as areas become increasingly desirable, prices push out the very people who made them cool in the first place, and this must be managed carefully.
My plan for next month... We are working with an international law company on the launch of its new charitable foundation. Next month there will be a huge focus on finalising details and preparing for launch. Law companies are often associated with growth via mergers and acquisitions and a shared charitable initiative is a great tool for internal engagement, as well as a wonderful end in itself. This will proudly take its place in the line of favourite USP case studies. MOVE COMMERCIAL 21
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Amelia Heathman post@movepublishing.co.uk
New Business
Game changer
“ “
We don’t take any salary and we’re doing this as a family passion with a long term objective of building a profitable and sustainable business.
24 MOVE COMMERCIAL
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Dr. Graeme Fraser-Bell, founder, Accentuate New Business
Travelling the world and living in different countries led to a love of, and a knack for, different accents for Dr. Graeme Fraser-Bell, but it was a family dinner party game that became the inspiration for his latest venture. Entrepreneur Dr. Graeme Fraser-Bell had spent much of his previous career as a vice president of an industrial materials company, living abroad, experiencing different cultures and, naturally, being surrounded by different accents. It was through this experience that the premise for his new project Accentuate, the adult card game about mimicking accents and embarrassing your team mates, initially came about. “I was exposed to different languages, dialects and accents,” he explains. “I used to have fun with my American colleagues, mimicking their accents and them trying to take the mickey out of mine.” However, it was at a family dinner party in 2010 when Fraser-Bell and his sister, Fiona Fraser-Bell were trying to do different quotes and accents, that the real idea was born. “We were mucking around doing silly accents, and I said to Fiona ‘give us this quote in French’,” he says. “It wasn’t particularly good. Fiona’s French [accent] is her German, is her Indian, is her Italian, and it’s awful. So I just thought, there’s something in this.” Fraser-Bell went on to develop the first game and copyrighted it later that year. It was a basic model so he turned to Fiona, as well as his wife Daphne, to bring their experience into the game. Since then the card game has taken off, with John Lewis unable to keep up with demand for it last Christmas, and the duo securing investment from Peter Jones through BBC’s Dragons’ Den. “We spent a lot of time researching and then putting in the game plan so that it could be engaging and simple,” explains Fraser-Bell. “The idea was to keep it as simple as possible, within minutes of opening that box you should be able to play the game and have fun. “The family dynamic complements and supports the game. We don’t take any salary and we’re doing this as a family passion with a long term objective of building a profitable and sustainable business. We’ve never worked together before and I don’t think we’ve ever fully appreciated each other’s talents, particularly Fiona’s.” The plan for Accentuate was for the game to be sold online, through the brand’s own website and Amazon. But
when the product was launched last July, it didn’t turn out as expected, only selling seven games in the first month. “I’d been in start-ups before and you know the public don’t beat the pathway to your door. No matter how good the product is, you have to go out there and push it.” The big break for the game came when Fraser-Bell and his sister presented it to retail giant John Lewis in September. Despite being very late in the year for inclusion on the Christmas shelves, the purchasing team loved the game, stocking Accentuate in 10 of the chain’s stores. The stores couldn’t keep up with demand and now John Lewis stocks it across all 44 UK stores. “We went down to the head office in London, and when we walked in we found a good portion of the purchasing team actually playing the game and telling us how much fun they had,” he says. “So that was an epiphany moment. “John Lewis was just a huge enthusiastic, early adopter for us and it’s doing extremely well. Hopefully it’ll do six or seven times as much as it did last year.” Though Accentuate was doing relatively well on its own, the sibling partnership made the decision to step into the dragon’s lair by appearing on the popular entrepreneurial programme,
“
I was exposed to different languages, dialects and accents. I used to have fun with my colleagues.
“
BBC’s Dragons’ Den. Though appearing on the show initially is great for exposure for the game, it was the involvement of a dragon the duo were looking for, to really help propel the business. “We did need the finance because we’d invested in Accentuate quite heavily ourselves,” says Fraser-Bell. “I’d invested more than £200,000 in it and there comes a point where you can’t keep building up debt, you should really get some equity. “And the actual involvement of someone that could really open doors and has a huge network was a reason. Somebody like Peter Jones, with three million followers – what can he do for us? What experience and competence can he bring?” The process was nerve-wracking, with the game creators suffering a grilling from the dragons for nearly 90 minutes in the Den. Fraser-Bell also endured some personal attacks from Peter on his financial history. “If you have a weakness in the business or a weakness in yourself, you need to be completely open about it and diffuse it immediately,” he advises. But if you try to hide that or be defensive, it will immediately result in a downward spiral. “I just had to face up to it, particularly to the personal issues that Peter was attacking me on. If you say you’ve funded it yourself, and I’d done an MBO (management buyout) and made a bit of money, you have to be open on that.
They want to weed out the people that are only there for some prime time exposure and have no real intention to continue with any investment, and that certainly wasn’t us. For us, it was all about that long term involvement.” With investment secured from Peter Jones, the plan for Accentuate now is to make the game bigger and better, as well as expanding its reach internationally. Accentuate has just moved into the US market, and launched a new expansion pack of Film Quotes to go with the original games, while plans to release a German version are also in the pipeline. “The film one is perfect because if you think about Scarface, you know ‘Say hello to my little friend’, and you have to do it in a Brummie accent, it kind of loses it,” says Fraser-Bell. “But a song lyric or song quote expansion pack would be good, so we’re looking forward to bringing that out. “We’re starting the development of the German version now. Apparently, there are 15 very distinct accents and dialects in Germany. It’s the largest single market in Europe with 83m people, so it’s one of the most exciting markets for us after the States. “We’d like to do a French version, a Portuguese version and so on. But you’ve got to go after the juiciest segment of the market to begin with, and with Germany because it has very distinct regional accents and a large population, it makes sense to go there first. But everything else is open.” MOVE COMMERCIAL 25
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Hanna Fowler post@movepublishing.co.uk
In 2013, new rules were introduced by the government to relax the usual planning processes developers have to undertake when converting commercial properties into residential. While the residential housing market reaps the rewards of this change, many are critical that the controversial eased planning rules are creating a shortage of office space in some of the country’s core cities. Two years on, we take a look at the impact these new rules are having on commercial property across the region.
Rules of conversion The introduction of permitted development rights (PDR) was a bid by the government to meet the housing demand, stimulate the market towards residential development and encourage regeneration of empty commercial properties and bring them in to productive use. The rules now mean that certain building works and changes of use, such as a conversion to shops, restaurants and hotels can be carried out without prior planning permission. Instead, applicants are required only to make a ‘prior approval’ application. The rules also stipulate that office space can be changed to residential use (although this rule is due to expire in May 2016). The impact of the eased planning rules has allowed many developers to press forward with office to residential conversions. A recent study from the British Council for Offices (BCO) found that over 6 million sq ft of office space was converted into residential developments in 2014. “There is a clear argument that we are in danger of losing the core commercial building stock which is essential in maintaining a healthy growing office market and encouraging rental growth,” says Brian Ricketts, partner at Hitchcock Wright & Partners. Adam Hall, director at Falconer Chester Hall Architects has worked on many conversion projects, including No. 2 Moorfields, a 63,000 sq ft office building in Liverpool’s central business district which is set to be converted in to 136 studio apartments. “The office space that modern office users need is very flexible, raised floors, access to internet and good comfort cooling,” says Hall. “The type of spaces that 30 MOVE COMMERCIAL
are being converted, they aren’t those office spaces, so you’re not losing, you’re just recalibrating the market.” Those for PDR argue that once derelict, unused buildings are given a new lease of life. “It’s always sad when you see, particularly in the big cities such as Liverpool and Manchester, beautiful old buildings but because they were built so many years ago, they are not as attractive to high spec office users as they used to be,” adds Hall. One example of this is the Grade II-listed Royal Insurance Building, which was converted into the fourstar Aloft Liverpool hotel in 2014. Before which, the building sat derelict for 20 years and was placed on English Heritage’s Buildings at Risk register. While Ricketts acknowledges that in some instances, the type of stock being converted has been ‘obsolete buildings’ which are difficult to refurbish, he A studio apartment at No. 2 Moorfields
says others could have been saved as commercial spaces. “There have been a number of more modern buildings converted which have been lost and if we continue to haemorrhage buildings like this the future of office stock may be undermined,” he says. The private rented sector and the young professional market in particular have been the largest beneficiaries of these planning changes. The former HMRC office at Liverpool’s Queens Dock has undergone a £30m conversion into waterfront apartments. The Keel, developed by the Moorfields Group and Glenbrook Property, is made up of 240 units and includes a mixture of studio, one, two and threebedroom apartments. “The Keel is a prime example of how PDR works,” says Alan Bevan, managing director at City Residential. “As an office building it was not well located and an Modern living at The Keel
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Rules of conversion Focus
“
The office space that modern office users need is very flexible, raised floors, access to internet and good comfort cooling. The type of spaces that are being converted, they aren’t those office spaces, so you’re not losing, you’re just recalibrating the market
“
office refurbishment proposal was unfeasible in today’s market. Given its strong residential location on the waterfront the scheme always lent itself to a residential conversion.” However, the decision to exempt some areas from the office-to-residential ruling means conversions in some of England’s core cities have been held back. In total, 17 local authorities were granted exemption zones, including two areas in Manchester city centre. Liverpool City Council was among local authorities that applied for, but failed to gain exemption from the new measures. Bevan says while residential conversions in Manchester haven’t been significant due to the exemption zones, the impact on Liverpool has been greater. “Liverpool with its oversupply of older office stock was always likely to be one of the main beneficiaries of PDR, especially as the recovering residential market has made the feasibility of such schemes more sustainable,” he says. However, Manchester has seen some conversions come to fruition. Due for completion in 2016, the iconic Dock Office is the first conversion on Salford Quays. The 60,000 sq ft Grade II-listed office building, dating back to 1927, will house 67 luxury apartments, complete with a two-storey extension on the top of the roof. Ricketts cites the current condition of the office market as a key driving force for residential conversions. “Sadly the simple economics of cost and risk and return are coming heavily into play due to the ongoing
No. 2 Moorfields conversion; a 63,000 sq ft office building in Liverpool’s central business district which is set to become 136 studio apartments
fragility of the office market,” he says. “This stagnation is driving developers to seek alternative uses that give greater returns, and until we experience more rental growth and a regression in market incentives to tenants this will continue to prevail.” But while some are critical of the new measures, Bevan sees the relaxed planning as a key opportunity for England’s core cities, especially in Liverpool. “The city desperately needs to clear some older office stock to reduce the overhang and encourage developers to look at new Grade A office development as and when the market improves in this regard,” he adds. With May 2016 edging closer - the date in which all office to residential conversions under permitted development rights have to be completed to comply with planning rules – and with mounting pressure on the government to announce the future of PDR, those both for and against have strong views about its longevity. “We strongly believe an extension to the scheme is absolutely essential to the residential property market in the North West, especially those buildings that have no future as offices,” says Bevan. While the future of PDR is still currently unknown, many speculate that not only will it be extended, but that it will be made permanent. With the government’s focus on reaching 200,000 new homes by 2020 high on the agenda, it seems a balance needs to be found between ensuring housing stability in the residential market, with the future economic growth of the UK’s thriving business districts.
On the horizon... Martins Bank Water Street Plans to convert the historic city centre Grade II*-listed Martins Bank into a five-star hotel, the first in Liverpool, were approved last year and work is due to start later this year. The £40m hotel will include restaurants, bars and a spa. Basil House Manchester A planning application has been submitted to convert Basil House, a 21,700 sq ft former textile mill on Manchester’s Portland Street in to 37 apartments. Plans would see the Grade IIlisted building converted into 11 one-bedroom and 26 two-bedroom apartments, alongside a retail unit in the basement. Wellington Building The Strand The 58,000 sq ft office block overlooking Liverpool’s iconic Three Graces was sold prior to auction in 2014. The change of use from offices to provide 96 residential units has been permitted by prior approval. Named ‘7 The Strand’, the development will boast generous spaces with luxury fittings.
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Buying a property through a SIPP or SSAS to release capital John Morshead, Partner and head of the Commercial Property team at Lees Solicitors, explains how a SIPP (Self Invested Personal Pension) and SSAS (Small Self Administered Scheme) can release capital for your business: A SIPP or a SSAS can be an ideal way to release capital for a business. If, as trustees of the pension fund, you decide to buy a commercial property owned by the business, instead of holding cash in the fund, business owners can inject thousands of pounds of working capital into a business. Even if there is not enough in the pension fund to buy the entire property, the SIPP or SSAS is allowed to borrow (subject to limitations) to assist with the purchase.
Online. Offline. Anytime.
Other than a release of capital, there may be a number of other advantages in buying through a pension fund, including tax relief on contributions, ability to lease to a connected party (ie, you can grant a lease back to the business), rental income is paid to the pension fund thereby increasing the fund, and there can be Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax benefits. It is important to note that the purchase price and rental must be at market value and you do have to consider the future and most appropriate time for the property to be sold by the pension fund. If you need advice in relation to the purchase of a property through a pension scheme or any Commercial Property issue, call Lees Solicitors on 0800 387 927 or visit our website www.lees.co.uk to arrange a meeting at one of our local offices, where you can discuss your matter face-to-face with a member of our team.
Get the north-west’s latest business and property news wherever you are.
www.movecommercial.com @MoveCommercial
MOVE COMMERCIAL 33
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Natasha Young natasha@movepublishing.co.uk
Having recently completed the construction of its third Liverpool secondary school in three years, attracting industry recognition along the way, Willmott Dixon has certainly been making an impact on the city and its supply chain. Mike Lane, the firm’s operations director for the North West, speaks to Move Commercial about how the education projects have been strengthening the firm’s position in the Liverpool City Region.
Building partnerships As the new academic year got underway in September, Liverpool’s Archbishop Blanch School welcomed pupils into its brand new, relocated £16m building for the very first time. With outdoor sports facilities and a ‘drama box’ theatre space among the features set to enhance learning for students at the Wavertree site, the facility’s launch into operation signified the end of another successful Liverpool Schools Investment Programme scheme for Willmott Dixon. The full new-build school project was the third in three consecutive years that the construction firm has completed for Liverpool City Council, as part of the Mayor of Liverpool’s commitment to either refurbish or create brand new facilities for 17 schools across the city with government and council funding. Notre Dame Catholic College was the first full Willmott Dixon secondary school to be completed in 2013, and then the following year the firm finished the construction of the new Archbishop Beck Sports College. Meanwhile the £6m Milstead SEN school project and a £5m scheme to co-locate Redbridge High Community Special School at the city’s Bank View High Special School site were also carried out by the company. Formed as a solution to the loss of the scrapped Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative, the Liverpool Schools Investment Programme has brought a significant flow of schemes to Willmott 34 MOVE COMMERCIAL
Dixon as, according to the company’s North West operations director, Mike Lane, it required the city council to “be a bit more innovative in its approach”. Engaging with Willmott Dixon through Scape – a public sector-owned built environment specialist which aims to achieve efficient, value for money schemes and operates a framework with the construction company - Liverpool City Council first appointed the builder to the Notre Dame project with ideas in mind. “They had already got some concept of what they actually wanted but they had some challenges in terms of timescales and needed input to try and make it happen, and that’s where we became involved,” explains Lane. With flexibility on the agenda for the city council as it laid out its new-build plans, Notre Dame, Archbishop Beck and the brand new Archbishop Blanch each follow a “school inside a wide open box,” design and it’s a format which has not only ensured the buildings are sustainable for the city in the future with an ability to “react to the changes in education,” but it also allowed the project to keep within the time and cost constraints. “We did the first scheme, at Notre Dame, in 56 weeks; now traditionally for a high school of that size, maybe if in terms of the building form it was a bit more interesting or complex from an architect’s perspective, that might have taken over 70 weeks so
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We’ve produced something in terms of a design and a concept that people want to replicate.
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there was a significant saving there in time,” says Lane. “I think the success of the concept is that you get a lot more bang for your buck. There isn’t money wasted and, albeit it’s cheaper, it doesn’t feel cheap. You still get a good quality of space and they are very successful schemes.” Such success has been proven, not only in the way the buildings function for the schools that occupy them, but with industry recognition. Archbishop Beck, completed in summer 2014, was awarded the Project of the Year accolade at the North West Regional Construction Awards earlier this year and is subsequently in the running for a title at the forthcoming Constructing Excellence National Awards. Meanwhile, Willmott Dixon’s Notre Dame building is also seemingly setting examples for other school developments. “Notre Dame in particular has had a number of other local authorities round to have a look as they’re looking to repeat a similar model of building, just because it’s economical without losing an amount of quality and it gives you space which, aspirational sounds a bit twee but you’ve got to stand in it to feel it,” says Lane. “It’s uplifting, it’s a nice environment to work in.” Whilst all three buildings have been tailored to adhere to each school’s needs and have at times
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Mike Lane, North West operations director, Willmott Dixon Interview
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It’s a truly collaborative process with us, the city, the schools, the supply chain; everybody working together to do something quite special.
brought their own challenges – for instance Lane says the Archbishop Blanch development amounted to a “proper regeneration project” as it was constructed on more of a brownfield site formerly occupied by domestic properties - working on a similar flexible building format throughout the schemes has allowed Willmott Dixon to apply its experiences and tweak elements along the way. “On the first scheme we did quite a bit of testing to make sure people understood the way that the building was going to perform and that stood us in good stead for the other two schemes,” explains Lane. Multiple similar projects, all with Liverpool City Council as the client, have also enabled Willmott Dixon to further “cement its position in the city” according to Lane, as he suggests they have allowed the firm to strike up strong partnerships on a number of fronts. “It’s a truly collaborative process with us, the city, the schools, the supply chain; everybody working together to do something quite special,” says Mike, adding: “It’s the belief that somebody wants to do more work with you. That makes you more sustainable, that’s the real achievement. “We’ve had some challenging programmes, some difficult buildings and, if you like, have come out of the other end and somebody still wants to work with us. That’s a real positive that I’m taking away, and
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I think the success of the concept is that you get a lot more bang for your buck. There isn’t money wasted and, albeit it’s cheaper, it doesn’t feel cheap. You still get a good quality of space.
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also we’ve produced something in terms of a design and a concept that people want to replicate.” The firm has also made the most of the city council’s requirement that building contractors must tap into local resources for both employees and apprentices and also supplies. “What was really important to Liverpool City Council was that they wanted their money to be spent with local businesses and we’ve had quite a high proportion of the construction work done by businesses based in Liverpool,” says Lane. “These are firms like A&B Engineering from Old Swan, who maybe haven’t had opportunities to do that type of work in the past, and we’ve actually done a number of jobs with them on the back of those schemes. “An example is that A&B Engineering has gone on to work with us on a high school we’re doing in Rhyl and a leisure centre in Oldham.” Having carried out “a lot of due diligence” to ensure trust worthy partners in the Liverpool City Region, Willmott Dixon is now looking forward to working on more schemes in the area and enhancing those working relationships further. “We have got some significant, decent-sized construction projects in the pipeline for next year in Liverpool and we’ll take the supply chain with us from that,” says Lane, adding that the focus on the area’s own suppliers “has really had an effect on the city’s economy by keeping money within the city”. MOVE COMMERCIAL 35
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Christine Toner christine@movepublishing.co.uk
As he prepares for his appearance at the year’s Accelerate, Move Commercial caught up with Professor Steve Peters to find out what makes his ‘Chimp Paradox’ mind management plan a firm favourite with business leaders and sports stars alike.
The mind management master Pick up a copy of Professor Steve Peters’ book The Chimp Paradox and it’s hard not to be impressed by the endorsements adorning its cover. Liverpool Football Club legend Steven Gerrard, for example, is quoted as saying he’s played the most consistent form of his career since seeing the noted psychiatrist. Olympic Gold medallist Victoria Pendleton calls Peters “the most important person” in her career while celebrated Olympian Sir Chris Hoy says the author’s mind management programme is what helped him win his Olympic Golds. It makes for inspiring reading. However, such high praise is not restricted to the world of sport. Indeed, Peters has won critical acclaim from the business world too where his mind management plans are credited with helping people from every level of the corporate hierarchy to achieve their full potential. It’s not surprising therefore that Peters has been chosen to appear as one of the key speakers at this year’s Accelerate event. Peters’ famous Chimp Paradox theory, the basis of his best-selling 38 MOVE COMMERCIAL
book of the same name, is set to be a key feature in his speech. The theory goes that there are parts of our brain that are working independently from us and we cannot control these. However, by recognising and understanding how they work we can learn the skill of managing them to our advantage. Some of the brain is termed ‘the Chimp’ and it is this part that can either become our best friend or our worst enemy – this is ‘the Paradox’. It was developed by Peters in an attempt to explain how the mind works to his clients. “In helping people in my clinical work I frequently found that they benefitted from an understanding of their mind and the science behind it in order to manage their emotions, thinking and behaviours,” he explains. “However, because the science is so complex it needed to be accessible and I invented the Chimp model in order to access and work with the mind.” Learning to ‘work with the mind’, says Peters can equip any businessman or woman with the skills they need to manage effectively.
“There are many very practical situations where our minds can hijack us to the detriment of our professional working lives,” he says. “The most obvious example is when we allow our emotions to influence our thinking and in particular our judgement and communication. By recognising how, and also understanding why the mind is attempting to do this, we can gain insight into how to manage it to optimise our functioning and therefore result in a higher probability of success.” Through his work with business people Peters has come to notice some common mistakes and issues which, when not addressed, can cause problems. Stress, he says, is a particularly common issue. “I often see stress building or going unrecognised and this typically leads directly into emotional thinking with unhelpful consequences,” he explains. “A second example that is commonly encountered is when business people are trying to deal with what they might term a ‘difficult’ colleague and struggle to have a constructive working relationship with them.”
People can also develop bad habits or, as Peters prefers, unhelpful behaviours. He says, since everyone is different and will have different reasons for developing such habits, it’s important to work with the individual to get to the root of the problem. “Everyone is unique and although we can see familiar approaches to situations these approaches may have very different reasons or causes behind them,” he explains. “So a ‘bad habit’ really needs to be looked at for that individual.” After working with these clients and helping them to understand how to train their ‘inner chimp’ he has seen companies achieve great success, with teams working more effectively and more efficiently. But getting your chimp under control takes time and effort. “The most important factors are that they are committed to doing the work and that they recognise that it is a skill,” says Peters. “We can all improve but it does take effort. As it is a skill there will be variable levels but giving time to working on your mind will always result in improvements.”
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Prof Steve Peters, author, The Chimp Paradox Interview
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We can all improve but it does take effort. As it is a skill there will be variable levels but giving time to working on your mind will always result in improvements
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Our minds can hijack us to the detriment of our professional working lives. The most obvious example is when we allow our emotions to influence our thinking and in particular our judgement.
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Peters’ Accelerate speech will, he says, include some practical advice and worked examples on how to recognise the principles of how the mind works. Such advice is, understandably in high demand. So what would be his top piece of advice for business leaders struggling to achieve their full potential? “Spend time reflecting and solution finding rather than dwelling on problems,” he says. “If you can’t find a solution then work with a professional who you can trust to be non-judgemental and constructive in their approach towards you. Work with them, as a team of two, to move things forward. Remember you are unique and your situation is unique, so just be a little cautious about trying to emulate others.” Following Accelerate Peters has a packed schedule to see him through to the end of the year, something he says he relishes. “I am grateful that life is very busy and the work I do is very diverse,” he says. “Helping anyone is always a privilege so working across health, sport, business, education and with individuals keeps me fully occupied!” MOVE COMMERCIAL 39
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Register now … www.architex2015.com Free-to-attend, 2 day exhibition, 24 speaker conference programme and complimentary 2 hour champagne drinks reception & networking evening ƒArchitects, Specifiers, Building Designers, Surveyors & Engineers ƒCommercial, Industrial & Residential Property Developers ƒTown, City & County Councils, Local Planning Authorities, Town & City Planners ƒConstruction Companies, Builders & Contractors ƒProducts & Services Industry Suppliers
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Key event Move Commercial Networking Lunch New Chinatown to ‘connect’ thriving city areas
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The revival of Liverpool’s Chinatown will pave the way for new jobs and opportunities as well as investment, according to the city’s Deputy Mayor. Addressing professionals at the latest Move Commercial Networking Lunch, Councillor Ann O’Byrne discussed the need to transform Europe’s oldest Chinatown and ‘connect’ it with its thriving Ropewalks and Baltic Triangle surroundings. During the event at Liverpool’s NYL Restaurant & Bar, Cllr O’Byrne spoke of developer North Point Global’s “imaginative” vision and said: “China is really interested in what’s going on in Liverpool at the moment - we are seen as a beacon of investment in that area – and North Point was very clear it would be bringing people from China into Liverpool. It wasn’t just about bringing the investment, it was also about bringing new jobs, new opportunities into the city.” As well as highlighting the work/life opportunities which will be created under the scheme, and how the current community can work with ’New Chinatown’, Cllr O’Byrne added: “Chinatown in any city is always a key attraction and when you look at what’s happened with our Chinatown it takes five minutes to look at the beautiful arch, see a few restaurants and that’s it. This development sees Chinatown with a renaissance taking place in that area and that was critical to us, not just for that particular community but as the connection through to Ropewalks, through to the Baltic and for all those people who keep coming to our city. It was about turning what was an eyesore into one of the most visionary and imaginative places. “Because of what’s happening within Baltic and Ropewalks we’re retaining young, bright, imaginative people in our city who are trying to bolster our economy and also making it a destination place for us to live.”
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1. Andy Delaney (Colliers) and Jane Yeates (Next Big Thing) 2. Rita Welsby (JB Leitch) 3. Catherine McCarthy (Move Publishing) 4. Sam Rowlands and Elliot Lawless (both Elliot Group) 5. Dave Smith (John McCall Architects) 6. Deputy Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Ann O’Byrne was the guest speaker 7. Natasha Young (Move Commercial), Tim Heatley (Capital and Centric) and Catherine McCarthy (Move Commercial) 8. Dave O’Brien (Move Publishing) and Michael King (Invest Liverpool) 9. Fiona Barnet (The Foundry Agency) 10. Andy Delaney (Colliers)
MOVE COMMERCIAL 41
p33-48_Move Commercial 28/09/2015 17:58 Page 42
Liam Deveney post@movepublishing.co.uk
With the Port of Liverpool Building up for sale, Move Commercial looks at the history of the waterfront masterpiece, the role it plays in the city’s fortunes and what potential buyers will be getting for their money.
The proposed sale of the Port of Liverpool Building brings to the market a commercial property of historical significance and cultural importance; a building so iconic it acts as both a symbol of the past and a beacon for the future. The Port of Liverpool Building, along with the Liver Building and Cunard Building, make up the renowned Three Graces which line the Pier Head. Built to provide a permanent reminder of Liverpool’s role in the rise of the British Empire, it was designed by Sir Arnold Thornely and F B Hobbs in collaboration with Briggs and Wolstenholme. It was also to become the new home of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board (MDHB) which had previously been located at various sites around the city and wanted a central location from which to run its operations. 42 MOVE COMMERCIAL
It remained the home of the MDHB until 1994 when the company moved to its current headquarters in Seaforth Docks in order to be closer to what was now Liverpool’s docking system. Construction began on the Port of Liverpool Building in 1903 and was completed in 1907 at a total cost (including fixtures and fittings) of £350,000. The development was a personal triumph for William Gladstone, the Liverpool born MP who was Prime Minister on no fewer than four occasions and whose vision for his home city “extended beyond the narrow commercial interests of the ship owners and merchants”. “The Three Graces are symbols of the city’s commercial might, its restless mercantile innovations, its unceasing willingness to think big, to reinvent itself,” says Professor Andrew Popp of The University of
Liverpool and co-director of the Centre for Port and Maritime History. “Buildings like the Port of Liverpool Building remind me not only of the city’s merchant princes but also of the thousands of ordinary white-collar workers who daily filled these vast office spaces.” The Port of Liverpool Building was the first of the Three Graces to be built and is renowned for its ornate features and maritime references throughout the building. The central dome – the focal point of the building – was not part of the original design and was added by the architects to give the building a more imposing look. The structural form has been likened to Renaissance palaces and has been compared with other buildings throughout the world including the Capitol Building in
Washington, Belfast City Hall and St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Peter de Figueiredo, a former historic buildings inspector for English heritage, noted in a study published in 2003:“The interior is no less ostentatious. At the centre, below the dome, is an octagonal hall, 22 metres in diameter with open galleries looking into it at every level.” The carvings and decoration embrace a maritime theme and include statues by the Liverpool sculptor Charles Allen. Materials were used from as far away as Calcutta. The lift cages are encrusted in sea horses and anchors, and the windows of the central hall and corridors are filled with stained glass depicting the coats of arms of the colonies and dominions of the British Empire. In the central hall, one frieze is adorned with the words of psalm
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Port of Liverpool Building Founding Building
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The Three Graces are symbols of the city’s commercial might, it’s unceasing willingness to think big, to reinvent itself.
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107: “They that go down to the sea in ships that do business in great waters these see the works of the `Lord and his wonders in the deep. Anno Domini MCMVII.” Its existence was threatened during World War II when Germany’s Luftwaffe targeted the strategic port of Liverpool and a bomb exploded during the May Blitz of 1941, seriously damaging the eastern wing. Yet the reinforced concrete frame of the building – much stronger than the buildings of the past and more resistant to fire damage – stood firm and restoration took place in the postwar years although the repairs cost more than the original build cost. Much of the waterfront area was in decay following the economic downturn which ravaged the country in the late 1970s and 80s but a revival began in the mid-
1990s and has gathered pace considerably since The iconic waterfront incorporating the Three Graces was granted UNESCO World Heritage Status in 2004 during a period of sustained economic growth and investment in the region. In 2001, the building was purchased by Liverpool-based property group Downing which has undertaken an £8.5m refurbishment restoring the iconic property. The iconic dome was returned to its former glory, with its inner marble and glass cleaned and restored for the first time since the Blitz. The restoration project was fully completed in 2009 which included refurbishment of the office space that “compliments the architectural features and meets the needs of modern occupiers”. A Downing spokesperson says:
“The Port of Liverpool Building is one of the centrepieces of Liverpool’s UNESCO world heritage waterfront and we are proud custodians, investing heavily to restore the building to its original glory and to bring it up to Grade-A equivalent standard. “Our multi-million pound programme of works to refurbish and modernise the building is now complete and will help to ensure it retains its place in the city’s architectural legacy for many decades to come. “The building is now 92% let and with the current market upturn for prime property assets, we think the time is right to market this remarkable asset.” Today, the Grade II-listed building is home to a number of high profile businesses including DHL, Hapag Lloyd and Rathbone Brothers. Phil Saunders, a bookings manager for Hapag Lloyd, says working in the building is “a privilege I never take for granted and is a truly stunning place to be in daily”. Liverpool remains a city in transformation and is experiencing unprecedented growth. The Liverpool Waters project – a 30-year development by Peel Holdings described by Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson as “a scheme which is unprecedented in its ambition, scope and potential to regenerate a city,” - is well underway, and the Liverpool skyline will be subject to change yet again. But according to Professor Popp, the position of this magnificent building as both a working space and as an emblem of the region’s maritime past, remains unthreatened. “As the Liverpool waterfront is reinvented again, and the city’s economy reimagined once more, it is right that the Three Graces and, not least, The Port of Liverpool building, should remain at the very heart of both.” MOVE COMMERCIAL 43
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Key event Knowsley Superport Forum
Knowsley Superport Forum The Knowsley Ambassador Programme and Superport Forum held an event at Matalan’s new HQ and distribution centre on Knowsley Business Park to discuss the changing landscape of retail and distribution. Speakers included Martin Brickell, director at Total Logistics who took delegates through market intelligence to outline how the industry is developing, with a specific focus on e-commerce. Meanwhile Matalan’s marketing director Lee Pinnington gave guests an insight into the history of the business and how ecommerce is shaping its operations – including its decision to base its headquarters in Knowsley. 1
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1. Edward Perry (chair of the Private Sector Place Board and operations director at Knowsley Hall and Safari Park) 2. Tony Jones (managing director, Orbit Developments) and Dale Milburn (assistant executive director of economic development, Knowsley Council) 3. George Howarth MP 4. Bernard Molloy (chair of Superport Liverpool and global director of Unipart Industrial Logistics) made a short speech 5. Attendees took the opportunity to network before the speeches 6. George Howarth MP, Cllr Andy Moorhead (leader of Knowsley Council), Lord Derby and Richard Roberts (partner, BrabnersLLP) 7. Lee Pinnington (marketing and multi-channel director, Matalan) made an entertaining speech 8. Kim O’Brien (director, Move Publishing), Warren Marshall (group planning director, Peel Ports) and Fiona Barnet (director, The Foundry Agency) 9. Martin Brickell (director, Total Logistics) 10. Mike King (investment manager, Invest Liverpool) and Jonathan Thorne (partner, B8 Real Estate) 11. Peter Skelton (director, Skelton Property Consultancy) 12. Lord Derby in conversation
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Move Commercial Events Oct-Nov
EVENT PLANNER
Our pick of the best local events
1 OCT
1 OCT
15 OCT
10 NOV
Global Connections, Liverpool John Lennon Airport 12.30-6pm
Design Leadership Summit, Whitworth Gallery, Manchester 10am-5pm
An opportunity to network and meet experts and advisors who can help further your export success. There’ll also be information on how the International Festival for Business 2016’s Business Club can help businesses meet global networks.
Launched by RIBA, the summit will be a training day, discussion forum and networking opportunity for architects and firms looking to move forward and stay ahead of changing technology. It will follow the theme of ‘Disruptive Innovation’. www.architecture.com
North West Early Evening Supper, The Grill on the Alley, Manchester 5.30pm
The Future of the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ and Local Government Conference, University of Salford
13 OCT
14-15 OCT
Liverpool Business Expo, Crowne Plaza 10am-3pm
The Annual Hotel Conference, Hilton Deansgate Manchester
Hundreds of delegates from across the UK are expected to attend this free event, which will feature up to 100 exhibitors from across a range of sectors as well as speed networking opportunities and expert seminars.
More than 60 speakers are lined up for this UK hotel industry conference, which will also feature networking opportunities and updates on areas such as technology and social media. www.theahc.co.uk
PICK OF THE MONTH
23 OCT
RICS Annual Dinner 2015, Merseyside & Cheshire, The Titanic Hotel, Liverpool 7-11.30pm This well-established event returns for another year, offering the chance to reflect on the year’s achievements, make new contacts and network with the region’s industry professionals. www.rics.org
ArchitEx to showcase building design industry
Women in Property welcomes property and construction experts to catch up, meet new contacts and keep up to date with the region’s industry over a two-course meal at this informal event. www.womeninproperty.org.uk
Manchester City Council’s chief executive, Sir Howard Bernstein, will be among a host of speakers at the event, which will address aims and ambitions for local government as part of the Northern Powerhouse and what lies ahead for Manchester.
11-12 NOV
12 NOV
LiftEx 2015, Exhibition Centre Liverpool
Property and Construction Annual Dinner & Awards 2015, Hilton Deansgate Manchester 7pm
More than 1,500 industry professionals from markets including construction, utilities and manufacturing are expected to attend this two-day lifting industry conference. More than 100 companies will showcase their latest innovations, products and services during the event. www.liftex.org
This year’s Building of the Year Award and Apprentice of the Year Award, as judged by the Greater Manchester Chamber’s Property and Construction Committee, will be announced during this black tie event. www.gmchamber.co.uk
Line-up announced for hospitality expo Barcode Expo, a trade exhibition for the hospitality industry set to take place in Liverpool in October, has announced its speakers for the event.
St George’s Hall
A two-day exhibition is expected to bring 1,500 architecture and building design industry professionals together under one roof when it takes place at Liverpool’s St George’s Hall. ArchitEx 2015, a free-to-attend exhibition, conference and networking reception being held on 1-2 December, will aim to provide industry insiders with an opportunity to establish new business links, debate hot topics and hear from a packed line-up of 24 speakers. Move Commercial is the media partner for this year’s event, which will see key organisations and winners of the RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture address delegates throughout the event, as representatives of RIBA North West, Chartered Institute of Building, Liverpool’s prize-winning Everyman Theatre, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists are among those taking part. Meanwhile a two-hour Champagne drinks reception and networking evening will be open to industry colleagues at the venue between 5-7pm on 1 December. For more information about ArchitEx 2015 and to register attendance, visit www.architex2015.com
Kieran Garvey, partnerships manager for crowdfunding platform Crowdcube, Phil Neale, managing director of technology pioneers the Robot Pub Group and Dennis Collett, CEO and co-founder of Orderella will all be delivering talks on how hospitality businesses can meet the demands of the 21st century market. Edward Riding of Unami will be giving a talk on branding and marketing, while Sharmila Shalvi, director at iQi Charge, will be discussing the latest charging solutions that bars and restaurants can offer their customers. The expo will include a seminar programme, tasting theatre, networking events, sampling opportunities, demonstration area, spirit zone, and a cocktail flaring bar. Denise Harris, director of Barcode Expo, says: “These people really are at the cutting edge of the industry - pioneering the technology that’s likely to become a ‘must-have’ for hospitality businesses in the coming years. “Our programme is designed to help bars, cafes, hotels and restaurants harness new ways of working in order to both improve the way their businesses operates, and the bottom line. It’s not often you get speakers like this all in the same room and we really hope the line-up we’ve selected gives businesses plenty to think about.” The event takes place at Camp and Furnace, on Greenland Street on 13 October.
Tell Move Commercial about your commercial property and business events. Email post@movepublishing.co.uk MOVE COMMERCIAL 45
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p33-48_Move Commercial 28/09/2015 14:44 Page 47
Expert views Ask the panel He may have started out as a rank outsider but Jeremy Corbyn stormed to victory in the Labour leadership contest. His appointment as party leader led to the departure of a number of MPs with commentators predicting the MP for Islington North has triggered a transformation of British politics as we know it. In this issue we ask our panel of experts:
Q: How will Jeremy Corbyn’s election as Labour leader impact the North West business community? Despite his threats to renationalise the railways, crack down on excessive executive pay and raise some corporate taxes, the reaction from the North West business community to Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of Labour will be one of calm. Whatever happens in the long term his policy of renewed quantitative easing will be good for the region, because it will keep pressure on the government after its post-election tardiness to kickstart new transport links, power stations and housing. There is undoubtedly opportunity in his agenda around public spending to get Britain building again and North West business leaders will look forward to discussing this further. Firms will be encouraged by his statements favouring much-needed investment in the UK’s inadequate infrastructure and skills and will want him to pursue a pragmatic and practical approach to business. Andy Delaney, director of development consulting and agency at the North West offices of Colliers International
Corbyn is one of few political figures to actually address the North of England directly in the last 10 years and his document on the future of Northern England will be an open dialogue with business and industries in the North looking to create a future that will help all involved. The actual recognition of our area of England is refreshing and will hopefully increase investment and rebuilding in the region. The fact he also wants to give local authorities power to control their transport links will surely only benefit local residents with better and cheaper services which will increase the ability to visit cities and therefore bring more
Having won over hearts, Corbyn now has to win over minds, and he’ll need to act quickly to extend his appeal beyond his core support – the business community will not be as easy to win
Corbyn's Better Business plan promises to “level the playing field” between small and big business, which will be well received in the North West which remains a hot bed for SMEs. He needs to stick to his rhetoric of freezing rates for small business and clamping down on corporation tax avoidance to spotlight key issues affecting independent traders and entrepreneurs in our region. He has identified Britain’s lack of investment in infrastructure, as well as a chronic skills shortage starving economic growth. However, the impact he makes in the North West will initially be
people to businesses. All of this will put pressure on the current government to respond and hopefully bring the North West into their attention too." Stephen McKnight, area manager, Burning Night Group
over as disillusioned members of the Labour party. Providing clear economic policies is the first step, but uncertainty over Europe has not been a good start. If he’s able to use his authenticity to set the tone for the economic debate, he could continue to surprise, but if balancing the needs of the left wing and business community proves too tricky, his impact will likely be the same as many other opposition leaders – fairly minimal. Robin Ellis, managing director, Robin Ellis Property
judged on how pragmatic and practical his approach is to business, from his position in the opposition. Alan Robson, managing director, Innov8 Safety Solutions
With Manchester having led the way and the Liverpool City Region now in talks with the government, devolution and elected regional mayors are very much on the agenda for North West businesses. Jeremy Corbyn’s proposals to establish a National Investment Bank and National Education Service reflect his ambitions for an even greater sense of separation. Meanwhile, he also appears undecided about HS2, to put it kindly. Although neither he nor his party are currently in power, in a region where the political map is predominantly red, to what extent will local councils and other bodies adopt his ideology? Given the front-bench revolt following his election, questions remain over how far his views will filter towards the grass roots of the party. One thing is clear, business leaders will hope that the whole process isn't derailed at this early but critical stage by the imposition of a whole new philosophy. Alison Lobb, managing partner, Morecrofts
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