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LIVERPOOL CITY REGION CHESHIRE MANCHESTER
MAY - JUNE 2017
FREE
MOVE COMMERCIAL The north-west’s guide to property and business
Issue 56
Green cities Can the region keep in touch with nature amid development?
50 years of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Architects give their view on the unique landmark
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The right space for your business Small suites available in North Liverpool at Burlington House and St Hugh’s House from 200 sq ft. If you’re a small business starting up or an established one in need of new work space you’ll find a range of inspirational office spaces at Burlington House in Crosby and St Hugh’s House in Bootle. With all-inclusive pricing, making the transition into a new office is now even easier.
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FANTASTIC FLEXI-OFFICES AT No.1 OLD HALL STREET Inclusive deals for one person upwards Free meeting rooms High speed connections Secure, designated parking
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Issue fifty six Move Commercial
Welcome to Move Commercial
Contents News
As large scale developments and regeneration schemes continue to transform the North West, is enough being done to keep our cities in touch with nature and retain green space? In this issue we bring together a varied panel of industry experts to debate the importance of green infrastructure, how viable it is to incorporate it into developments, the benefits it can bring and the risks of it being overlooked. Plus our Business Lifestyle section is packed with tips on how your business can enhance its green credentials inside the office, whether you’re a small or a large firm; and we catch up with Dong Energy’s
06 Call for Metro Mayors to engage with property sector
head of operations, Lee Rollason to find out about the firm’s growing presence and impact on clean energy in the region. And as Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral celebrates 50 years since its opening, we take a look at how the prominent landmark and place of worship came to be. Move Commercial digs deep into the building’s history, which goes back much further than five decades, and gets an expert view on the unique structure from some of the city’s leading architects.
07 Pre-planning application due in for Prescot Shopping Centre 08 Downing progresses with old and new Liverpool tenants 09 Liverpool law firm completes city centre relocation 10 Liverpool Science Park unveils new collaborative workspace 11 Bootle Strand deal ‘something to build on’ for town’s regeneration
Natasha Young, editor natasha@movepublishing.co.uk
12 Ethical eatery heading for Manchester Science Park site
Features
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / User: Dllu / CC-BY-SA-4.0
14 Bitesize Thinking Food for thought 16 Appointments The region’s latest movers 19 My Month Kirwans’ Lisa Evans on a busy end to the first quarter of 2017 20 Interview Dong Energy’s head of operations, Lee Rollason, on the firm’s growing presence in the region
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22 Key Event Move Commercial hosts a charity clothes drive
Photo: Flickr / Tim Dutton
24 A Cathedral in Our Time A three-page special to mark Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral’s 50th anniversary 28 Region of Discovery The North West’s key breakthroughs and inventions
24 Advertising Director Fiona Barnet. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Advertising Manager Catherine McCarthy. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Editor Natasha Young. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Editorial Team Lawrence Saunders, Mark Langshaw, Matthew Smith, Christine Toner, Liam Deveney Tel: 0151 709 3871 post@movepublishing.co.uk Design Mark Iddon.
32 Credits Cover image: iStock/konglinguan. Liam Deveney – Clothing drive event / Professional Liverpool Annual Quiz Night / Cannes Do / Dong Energy interview. Terry McNamara – Green infrastructure debate. 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
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.
32 Creative Spaces How can office space design truly enhance workforces’ productivity? 35 Key Event Firms gather to compete in the Professional Liverpool Annual Quiz Night 36 Debate: Green Sky Thinking Expert panellists gather to discuss the importance of green infrastructure in our cities 41 Key Event Liverpool’s Cannes Do returns, celebrating the ‘Best of British’ 44 Business Lifestyle Tips to boost your business’ green credentials 47 Ask the Panel Will digital or physical infrastructure improvements have the biggest impact in the North West? MOVE COMMERCIAL
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News Latest
Occupier buys St Helens industrial park for £4.58m A St Helens industrial park has been sold to one of its tenants, reflecting a “strong ‘owner occupier’ market” in the North West. Abbotsfield Park Industrial Estate was purchased by Cheshire Mouldings for £4.58 million, after the firm had initially taken 63,000 sq ft of space last year. The joinery company bought the site from Property Alliance Group (PAG), and it comprises 80,000 sq ft of warehousing as well as an 11,000 sq ft vetinary surgery. Other tenants include furniture business EFG and modular building manufacturer Springfield. Frank Taylor, head of industrial at PAG, says: “We acquired this site around 12 years ago following a sale and leaseback deal and broke the unit up into four fully refurbished units. Cheshire Mouldings took 63,000 sq ft in 2016 and
The ground floor will consist of non-residential areas
successfully triggered their option to purchase the estate. “The price achieved reflects a strong ‘owner occupier’ market which is currently very competitive as there is a lack of supply of quality buildings. “Cheshire Mouldings’ purchase provides them with a part income producing asset as well as space for strategic expansion. “Alliance is continuing to grow its industrial portfolio and is actively seeking further units.” Jon Thorne, director at B8 Real Estate, which advised PAG on the deal, adds: “This deal demonstrates the resurgence in occupier demand for freehold units in the North West industrial market. Companies are continuing to expand as the economy improves and the lack of good quality buildings like this available in the market is helping the growth in capital values.”
£40m mixed-use scheme for Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter Plans for a new £40 million mixed-use development in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter have been unveiled. The Rise will be built 400 metres from the site of the Royal Liverpool Hospital and will include co-working space alongside student accommodation and private apartments. Primesite Developments has purchased the previously derelict site on Low Hill and is now clearing it to make way for the U-shaped building, which is due for completion in August 2018. Planning permission is in place for the Brock Carmichaeldesigned scheme, which its developer says will improve the choice of housing available to young people and “key workers” in the Knowledge Quarter. Bobbie Johnson, director at Primesite, says: “As a local business, this opportunity to have a positive impact on the regeneration of the area is very important to us. “The Rise is designed to fit in with its unusual mixture of surroundings - a main junction, housing, an industrial estate, and gardens - to become a landmark that is part of the fabric of Liverpool.”
Abbotsfield Park Industrial Estate was sold by Property Alliance Group
Metro Mayors urged to engage with property industry The North West’s first Metro Mayors must engage with the commercial property industry to further the region’s economic growth, according to an agent in the region. John Keyes, international partner and head of Cushman & Wakefield’s Manchester office, says the new leaders have a “critical role” to play in championing the sector with the government. He says: “We welcome the progress of devolution in the North West and the election of Metro Mayors for our major 6
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conurbations. Our city regions need a strategic approach and greater autonomy from Whitehall. National policies and funding formulas rarely serve the best interests of our towns and cities. “The Metro Mayors will have a critical role to play in championing their city regions with government. “We hope the new mayors will find ways to engage with the property industry and listen to our views. The industry has been at the heart of the region’s success over the last 20 years
John Keyes is and we want to work with the Metro calling on the Mayors to continue the success story.” Metro Mayors Andy Burnham was elected as leader to champion of the Greater Manchester Combined the property sector Authority with 63% of the vote and has named Sir Richard Leese and Baroness Beverley Hughes as his deputies. His fellow Labour candidate, Steve Rotheram scored a landslide victory in the Liverpool City Region election with more than half of the vote, before later announcing that he will stand down as MP for Walton.
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Latest News
Pre-planning application due in for Prescot Shopping Centre transformation A pre-planning application for the £10 million transformation of Prescot Shopping Centre is expected to be submitted by the end of May. Proposals for a six-screen cinema, a “cluster of restaurants”, a multi-storey car park and the refurbishment of the mall, along with upgrades to tenant units, will be put forward to Knowsley Council, according to site owner Geraud Markets UK. The firm’s managing director, Philip Lamb tells Move Commercial the multi-storey car park will double the shopping centre’s car parking spaces to a total in the region of 470, as around 230 will be created. Parking will also be free to shoppers. Final stage discussions are said to be underway with potential new tenants for the retail and leisure development. Subject to planning permission, Geraud is looking to commence construction works “this side of Christmas” – a move which Lamb suggests would also coincide with wider Prescot plans to get work underway on the Shakespeare North Playhouse in January 2018. Lamb adds: “I’m very pleased to be bringing the project to realisation after detailed discussions with Knowsley Council. It’ll be further investment to the town circa £10m.”
Deadline looms for property experts to enter 2017’s NWPAs The awards’ 13 categories are free to enter
The region’s property experts have less than two months to join the running for this year’s prestigious NWPAs. The deadline is looming for 2017’s free to enter awards categories, which will celebrate a year of success across the North West’s commercial and residential property sectors. Firms have until Friday 30 June to put their successful teams and projects forward for 13 accolades, ranging from ‘Commercial Property Agent of the Year’ to ‘Property Apprentice’ and the ‘Regeneration Award’. The winners will be unveiled during a lavish ceremony on 19 October in Lutyens Crypt at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, which is this year celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Kim O’Brien, director of Move Publishing which is behind the event, says: “With under two months to go until entries close, we would urge all North West businesses to get their entries in. “The awards evening is always a fantastic celebration of talent and a great opportunity to be recognised as an industry leader.” Countryside is the main sponsor of this year’s NWPAs, with Paul Crowley & Co, Redwing Living, UK Business Supplies, Redrow Lancashire and The Foundry Agency signed up as category sponsors. Furnish That Room will sponsor a drinks reception on the night. For more information about the awards categories and to enter, visit www.nwpas.com
A transformation of Prescot Shopping Centre is anticipated to get underway this year
Calls for Northern Powerhouse to put people first A new social movement will aim to influence the Northern Powerhouse discussions and “put people at the heart” of the concept as it begins holding meetings this summer. The Peoples Powerhouse believes the debate about how to consolidate the resources of northern towns and cities must be “inclusive” and focus on “good growth”. The group aims to start a dialogue around its goals during an event at Doncaster Rovers Football Ground on 12 July, aimed at “all sectors and sections of the community.” Peoples Powerhouse project director Tracey Fishwick, who is also manging director of Liverpoolbased social enterprise Transform Lives, says: “Any investment as a result of the Northern Powerhouse must put people first and that narrative appears to be missing. “People are concerned about
Liverpool’s Transforming Lives managing director, Tracey Fishwick is leading the movement
how growth relates to social justice, inclusion and poverty. We’ve been inundated with encouragement and support from across the spectrum including think tanks, businesses, charities and local people. “Our hope is that the Peoples Powerhouse brings about a step change in the debate; putting people and communities at the heart of powerhouse plans, not at the periphery.”
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News Sales & Lettings Downing makes progress with old and new Liverpool tenants
No.1 Old Hall Street is being prepared for the arrival of Pret-A-Manger
Liverpool City Region engineering firm secures Chorley unit Unit 12 on Common Bank Industrial Estate
Lloyd & Jones Engineers has bought a new industrial unit at Common Bank Industrial Estate in Chorley for £340,000 from owner NIS Holdings. The Bootle-based industrial equipment supplier intends to use the 6,727 sq ft self-contained space as a new manufacturing facility for its recent acquisition, SAL Abrasives. Lloyd & Jones, which has 11 branches across England and one in Nigeria, agreed a long leasehold of 125 years on a peppercorn ground rent. Laura Wilbourn, surveyor and member of the industrial and logistics team at the Manchester office of Colliers International, represented NIS Holdings in the deal. She says: “The price achieved on the sale of unit 12 reflects ongoing high demand for such freehold opportunities.” 8
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Liverpool’s No.1 Old Hall Street is “undergoing a real transformation” as work progresses on a new coffee shop and workspaces. Downing, which has already brought Flexi Offices to the market at the commercial district site, says the additional features will also soon be ready at the building. John Clegg, head of property management at the firm, says: “No.1 Old Hall Street is undergoing a real transformation and this landmark building in the heart of the business district is soon going to house a great new Pret-A-Manger and a new suite of Grade A offices.” The progress comes as another of
Downing’s Liverpool city centre commercial properties, Graeme House, has seen tenants renew their leases. Long-standing tenant Remploy has extended the lease on its 2,650 sq ft ground floor unit for five years, while Economic Solutions has added a further 56 months onto its occupancy. The company lets a 2,180 sq ft space. Clegg adds: “We’re delighted that Remploy and Economic Solutions have decided to renew their leases with us and continue their relationship with Downing. These are both great businesses and we look forward to seeing them continue to thrive at Graeme House.”
Property firm secures office space in Manchester Craigleith Property Group has taken office space in Manchester amid plans to expand its business interests there. The property investment firm has set up a new base at 49 King Street after completing deals worth £100 million in the city during the last 18 months. Craigleith, which also has offices in London and Edinburgh, is seeking to invest £200m in the Manchester and wider North West region’s residential property market over the next year. Geoff Willis, director of Craigleith Property Group, says: “Taking new office space in the heart of Manchester clearly
shows our appetite for investment in both the city and the North West in general. “Our investment model is proving particularly appealing to residential developers looking to exit all or part of their schemes across this region and this investment can also be backed by development funding arranged by Craigleith Finance, so we are able to provide a full turnkey service.” Craigleith is also seeking to expand its North West team with the recruitment of a residential investment manager who will work across cities including Manchester and Liverpool.
Mark Antscherl and Geoff Willis of Craigleith Property Group
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Sales & Lettings News
© McCoy Wynne
Refurbishment sparks interest in One Temple Square
88 Church Street is located near to Liverpool Central train station
Liverpool law firm completes city centre relocation
Liverpool office building One Temple Square is attracting renewed interest from businesses after undergoing refurbishment. The Grade II-listed building on Dale Street has reached 60% occupancy since workspace design consultancy 360Degrees completed a category A fit out throughout. The latest letting is to law firm Kirwans, which has taken out 1,971 sq ft on a five-year lease, while solicitors Canter Levin & Berg signed a new 10-year lease on its 7,800 sq ft space in February. Following its revamp, the MCR Property Group-owned city centre complex now includes modern interiors with new carpets, open-plan suites, a
redesigned reception area and timber staircases, as well as refreshed landscaping outside with open-air breakout spaces. Just over 8,000 sq ft remains available at One Temple Square, with Hitchcock Wright & Partners and Worthington Owen acting as joint leasing agents. Karl Kiernan, acquisition and asset manager at MCR Property Group, says: “The latest letting to Kirwans confirms the ongoing occupier demand at One Temple Square and the success of its refurbishment. “The refurbishment has been well received by both existing and prospective tenants so we’re expecting high demand for the remaining sq ft.”
One Temple Square has most recently attracted Kirwans
Liverpool-based solicitors Driscoll Kingston has relocated to a new premises in the city centre. The law firm, which specialises in compensation claims, has taken 2,249 sq ft on the sixth floor of 88 Church Street. Moving from 8 Water Street, Driscoll Kingston has agreed a fiveyear lease at the prominent building, which last year underwent a £1 million refurbishment including a major restoration of its exterior. Sarah Syvret from commercial agent Worthington Owen, which acted for 88 Church Street owner Schroders in the deal, says: “Driscoll Kingston wanted modern accommodation in the heart of Liverpool city centre. “88 Church Street stood out due to its contemporary, open-plan accommodation, as well as its proximity to both Liverpool ONE and Liverpool Central train station, which they said was perfect for staff.” Driscoll Kingston represented itself in the deal.
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News Development
Liverpool Science Park unveils new collaborative workspace Liverpool Science Park (LSP) has unveiled its newest collaborative workspace. Located on the second floor of the original IC1 building in the city’s Knowledge Quarter, The Collective Space, as it’s known, features eight glassfronted offices. LSP says the design of the new space will make it “instantly recognisable on Liverpool’s expanding workplace scene”. It includes a central communal area complemented by breakout furniture complete with connectivity to what LSP calls “world leading IT infrastructure”. Chris Musson, chief executive of LSP, adds: “The Collective Space reinforces LSP’s commitment to provide tenants with the flexibility to grow their business in a manageable, practical and affordable manner, whilst bringing a level of innovation and flair which they have come to expect from LSP. “Since opening just over a decade ago, LSP has housed some of the region’s brightest companies. “With occupancy at an all time high, the eight additional suites will provide more of Liverpool’s most imaginative SMEs with a cost effective and attractive option for their first physical office.”
The newly created collaborative workspace at LSP
MSB supports developer through latest phase of expansion
The Bling Bling Building was designed by the architect Piers Gough
Liverpool law firm MSB Solicitors has played a major role in the expansion of a local property developer. MSB recently assisted Signature Living with the £3 million purchase of the well-known Bling Bling Building in Liverpool. The iconic structure on Hanover Street is home to the salon of the late celebrity hairdresser Herbert Howe. New plans for the remainder of the Bling Bling Building comprise 8,000 sq ft of office space, including two meeting rooms, 55 co-working desks, 30 dedicated desks, 10 private offices, an on-site café and a rooftop
extension. Neil Kelly, partner and head of commercial property at MSB, says: “We have a long and trusted relationship with Lawrence Kenwright and the team at Signature Living. “The group is making a significant impact in the commercial and residential property market in the city and beyond, and we’re pleased to continue to support them through this latest phase.” MSB has worked with Signature Living since 2008 and has assisted the business through the sales of its apartments and aparthotel rooms at Millennium House and 30 James Street.
Trending stories on MoveCommercial.com • Stonebridge Cross site to be redeveloped after Everton FC decision
10 MOVE COMMERCIAL
• Plans submitted for 1.8m sq ft St Helens logistics park
• Work on £22m Liverpool road scheme to begin
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Development News
Bootle Strand deal ‘something to build on’ for town’s regeneration Sefton Council’s £32.5 million acquisition of Bootle’s New Strand Shopping Centre gives it “something solid to build on” as it looks to regenerate the town. The council’s purchase, which sees the 407,000 sq ft retail space return to local ownership for the first time in many years, has been funded through a loan. Lambert Smith Hampton, which advised on the deal with Ellandi and Avenue Capital, believes the move allows the local authority to “really lead the regeneration of the town centre and secure its long term future”. Ben Roberts, director of capital markets at the property consultancy, adds: “Already very well let with some big brand anchor tenants, the centre gives the council a secure and diverse income stream and something solid to build on with regards to future redevelopment. “This acquisition also reflects the emerging trend of local authorities investing in real estate to generate income as well as assisting their regeneration strategies, as has been borne out in other towns such as Chorley, Stockport and Rochdale.” Sefton Council will spend the next few months putting together plans for the future development of the centre - examining how it can better serve the people of Bootle. Bootle’s New Strand Shopping Centre
International House has been upgraded
Chester Business Park refurbishment completed Commercial property developer Prospect GB has completed a speculative refurbishment project at Chester Business Park. The Liverpool-based firm has upgraded a 7,500 sq ft unit at International House to provide new Grade A office space for potential tenants. The high specification makeover includes the installation of new air conditioning, double glazing, new suspended ceilings, new lighting, a swipe card entry system, motion sensors and raised floors. Located in the heart of the business park, the two-storey building also offers 24-hour security, an on-site standby generator and a barrier-controlled car park with 62 spaces.
Head of Prospect GB’s commercial division, Chris Walker, says: “Our latest speculative refurbishment at International House provides outstanding contemporary open-plan space. “The interior design, the standard of the appointments and our investment in M&E (mechanical and electrical) has attracted some very positive feedback.” Chester Business Park is regarded as a hub for companies in the financial services sector, with its current tenants including M&S Money, Bank of America, Regus, Bristol Myers Squibb and the recent addition Old Mutual Wealth. Legat Owen is the appointed agent for International House.
Oriel Chambers undergoes £500,000 revamp A refurbishment project at Liverpool’s historic Oriel Chambers office building has reached completion. Bruntwood carried out the £500,000 transformation of the Water Street building’s fifth floor, creating a contemporary breakout and meeting space with views of the city’s skyline, known as the Lookout. Following the work a number of new suites, ranging from 150 sq ft to 1,100 sq ft, now feature at the site and many of them have already secured lettings with others drawing interest. Meanwhile, the Grade I-listed building's reception area has undergone major improvements and new communal spaces have been added.
Tony Reed, head of sales at Bruntwood, says: "Oriel Chambers remains one of Liverpool's finest office addresses and continues to attract business occupiers across a range of sectors. "As custodians of this unique building, it's vital that we preserve its longevity by consistently renewing certain features to ensure a modern, vibrant workspace. "The new communal areas will add to the sense of community that already exists here and we already have several strong enquiries linked to the Lookout space." Designed by architect Peter Ellis and built in 1864, Oriel Chambers was the first building to feature a metal framed glass curtain wall and is said to have inspired many of the world’s early skyscrapers.
The new Lookout space at Liverpool’s Oriel Chambers
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News Leisure
Ethical eatery Friska heading for new Manchester Science Park site
In brief... Liverpool Playhouse to undergo summer refurb
The Bright Building opening will be Friska’s first in the North
The Liverpool Playhouse theatre will close for an extended summer break while refurbishment work is completed. Venue owner Liverpool City Council is investing £550,000 so essential maintenance can be carried out on the 151-year-old building between seasons. The revamp includes critical works backstage, external repairs and interior repainting, as well as a refresh of the theatre’s façade, to be completed ahead of a September reopening. The council will recoup the capital through a £5,500 cut to the theatre’s Culture Liverpool Investment Programme funding and an increase in rent for the remainder of its 125-year lease.
Ethical fast food business Friska has signed up to open a new restaurant at Manchester Science Partnerships’ (MSP) Bright Building. The Bristol-headquartered food firm has chosen the Manchester Science Park flagship development, which is due to open this summer, after searching for a northern location over the past two years. Friska currently has eight sites in the South West and the Midlands, with an airside outlet also due to open at Luton airport in June, and employs 85 staff across its locations. It focuses on sourcing ingredients sustainably and also supports a number of charitable causes including Deki, which enables people to lend as little as £10 to entrepreneurs in the developing world. Thomas Renn, managing director at MSP, says:
Manchester acquisition start of ‘exciting journey’ for Chinese eatery Taberu, a high-end Chinese eatery aimed at the professional lunchtime market, has secured a new unit on Manchester’s King Street. The Pan-Asian themed ‘grab and go’ style restaurant which will specialise in ‘bao’ - Chinese steamed buns - is the latest venture from awardwinning restaurateurs Victor and Vinny Yu. A further two branches of Taberu will come to Manchester next year, followed by three in Leeds and three in Liverpool over as many years. 12 MOVE COMMERCIAL
“Friska’s company philosophy and eclectic menu are a great fit for Manchester Science Park’s academics and sci-tech workers. We’re delighted they have chosen the Bright Building for their first Northern restaurant, and we’re pleased to help a new independent brand establish itself in the city.” Ed Brown, who co-founded Friska alongside Griff Holland in 2009, adds: “We cannot wait to bring our brand of fresh, interesting fast food to Manchester and help the MSP team fulfil their vision for the space as a collaborative meeting place for ideas and positive change in the North West.” The 70,000 sq ft Bright Building is the first new build on Manchester Science Park in more than 15 years, and will also provide the headquarters for tech tenants CityVerve and Mi-IDEA.
Unity Theatre to reopen following £845k revamp The Unity Theatre in Liverpool is due to reopen in May following its £845,000 refurbishment. K2 Architects and contractor Vivark have been delivering the revamp, which includes a more accessible entrance and an enlarged bar that doubles as an events space. The project - funded with capital from multiple sources including Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council and personal donations - has also seen improved soundproofing fitted at the venue. The Unity Theatre will open with a series of special events to coincide with the LightNight arts festival on 19 May.
Taberu has acquired the leasehold of 53 King Street
Glasgow bar & restaurant chain targets Liverpool’s Cabin Club
James Ratcliffe of the retail, hotels and leisure team at GVA, says: “Taberu will be an exciting new addition to King Street’s leisure offering. “Its prime city centre location is an ideal place for the brand to launch in Manchester. “A further two branches will be arriving in Manchester next year followed by a Leeds and Liverpool roll out - the acquisition of King Street marks the start of a very exciting journey for Taberu.”
A Glasgow-based bar and restaurant chain has targeted Liverpool’s well-known Cabin Club for its first opening in the city. Initially launched as a pop-up restaurant at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Bar Soba currently has five sites across Glasgow, Edinburgh and Leeds, serving up cocktails and Asian street food. A planning application submitted to Liverpool City Council by the group is requesting “a change of use of the basement, ground and first floors into a bar/café/restaurant.”
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Bitesize thinking
Andrew Stanley managing director, STax
If only I’d known… With the luxury of hindsight decisions are made easy. Aside from placing a large bet on Leicester City at the start of the last season, if I was rewinding the clock I would have started my own business in capital allowances many years earlier. When first working in taxation I spent many years as a consultant and advisor before moving into capital allowances and then setting up my own business, STax, in 2010. If only I had known from the beginning about the low level of awareness and thin provision for advice that existed for this valuable resource (that even to this day often goes unclaimed by owners of commercial property). If I had moved into this sector five years earlier, we would have had five more years to help property owners secure their full entitlement. This would also have been five more years of business growth, five years with only minimal competition and a significantly simpler legislative landscape to the one we must navigate today.
In my crystal ball... After the rollercoaster ride of 2016 I think I have permanently lost faith in my ability to ever again predict anything outside of my core sectors of taxation and real estate! Even on subject the future looks tricky to call. With the uncertainty of Brexit being counterbalanced by the UK-on-sale impact of current exchange rates, the fortunes of the real estate sector appear to be heavily influenced by two diametrically opposed forces. Changes in taxation are likely to be similarly erratic. On one side of the fence you have the unavoidable continuation of project deficit reduction, whilst on the other there is the inevitable pressure that will fall on the government to make post-Brexit Britain an attractive place for business. The only thing I feel I can say with any degree of certainty is that for the next few years we will be “living in interesting times”. It’s a phrase which ironically exhibits a dichotomy between its commonly perceived and actual meaning; not too dissimilar to the situations seen in real estate and taxation.
Photo: Aidan Monghan for Grand Designs / www.pb-architects.com
My favourite building with... Bob Fletcher managing director, Fletcher-Rae
Grillagh Water House When I was asked to contribute to this segment, one building came to mind that left a lasting impression. It's not a grand or large-scale development but rather a personal project by Patrick Bradley, a Northern Ireland architect who crafted a farmhouse out of four shipping containers. The property is nestled in the Irish countryside and possesses a stunning simplicity which belies its hidden complexity to construct. You can sense the passion that went into designing and constructing this creation. It's totally contemporary in a rural environment, yet blends so well with the surrounding landscape, like a piece of rusting machinery in a green field. This distinctive build earned an airing on the TV programme ‘Grand Designs’ and is an example of why the government needs to lift the veil on developing in the green belt. For a scheme to be judged appropriately by a worthy body, the scale and quality must depict the location. 14 MOVE COMMERCIAL
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Bitesize thinking
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Laura Harrild solicitor, MSB Solicitors
Curriculum VITAE Main duties: Acting for a broad range of clients including investors, housing developers and increasingly business owners in the hospitality and leisure sector with hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. Education: I attended St Edward’s College in Liverpool and went on to study law at the University of Cambridge. I completed my legal practice course and training contract in London. First Job: I actually assisted my dad from quite an early age, helping out with paperwork at his accountancy practice during school holidays. Shortest Job: I worked in Sutton Kersh’s lettings department for three months between finishing my degree and starting my LPC. Although it was only ever going to be a temporary role it was great experience, given my chosen area of law. What’s the secret to your success? I try to treat each client with the same level of care. Whether they’re more experienced property owners or someone just starting out with their first business, my approach is always to provide the best possible advice and go the extra mile.
What piece of advice would you give someone starting out in the industry? Don't worry about making mistakes, everyone does - even if they don’t tell you. Failures or mishaps are only a problem if you don't learn from them. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? See above. Learning not to worry about making mistakes has helped me grow my confidence and build better relationships with my clients, based on openness and transparency. What makes MSB Solicitors different? The people – it’s such a talented team and client care is at the heart of everything we do. But there's also a friendly atmosphere within the firm and everyone is super supportive. I feel very lucky. Tell us about MSB Solicitors' plans for the next six months? MSB has grown organically over the past 12 months and the plan is to continue that steady growth. With new members of the team comes new motivation and new ideas and that’s great for the firm.
Tweet all about it
Circle Square, Manchester Joint venture partners Bruntwood and Select Property Group are transforming the 2.5 million sq ft former home of the BBC in Manchester. An integrated mixed-use neighbourhood will be delivered in three phases at the heart of the Manchester Corridor, with two thirds to be completed within the next four years.
APR
Bruntwood acquires a six-acre site from Realty Estates and announces a masterplan and phasing programme for the 2.5m sq ft project. The 617,848 sq ft of residential space will be operated by Select and the 390,000 sq ft of commercial space will be delivered by Bruntwood.
SEP
Plans for Phase 1A of the project, which includes two serviced apartment buildings and public realm space, are submitted.
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The scheme is named Circle Square, and a series of public consultations are held ahead of the submission of one of Manchester’s largest planning applications, which is expected in January 2016.
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Following planning approval, construction commences on Phase 1A of the £750m mixeduse development and is due to be completed in September 2017. Phase 1B, including 105,000 sq ft of workspace, remains subject to public application and will begin in early 2017.
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Planning applications are now submitted for all phases of Circle Square.
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Bruntwood and Select receive planning permission for Phase 1B – the biggest application of the scheme. Construction is expected to start in early 2017.
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The go-ahead is given for Circle Square’s latest application. The innovative MSCP building includes ground floor commercial units, office space, a 1,100-space car park and a hotel.
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Drone footage is released showing construction of Phase 1A progressing rapidly. Meanwhile, Bruntwood secures a new £115.5m, 15-year debt facility with Aviva Investors which will support 450,000 sq ft of commercial development.
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Road closures and restrictions are imposed along the city centre’s main road between the Aquatics Centre and Oxford Road as three projects get underway, including Circle Square.
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The 5 best commercial tweets
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@ArupUKMEA: Congratulations to Dave Richards, one of our directors, who completed #CycletoMIPIM from London to Cannes, raising almost £4k for #charity @PeelPorts: For #InternationalWomensDay we'd like to thank the women of the maritime sector who help keep goods and services moving 24/7, 365 days a year @AirportCityUK: Pleased to welcome a senior delegation from General Office of Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs of People’s Republic of China @TweetsbyMSP: MSP Chairman and @Bruntwood_UK CEO Chris Oglesby tells #MIPIM2017 audience “proximity, density and collaboration” is key to great science cities @TomBloxhamMBE: Sir Howard Bernstein gives a great speech stepping down as chief executive to a background of ‘In defence of Manchester’ by artist FMB
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Appointments
New operations director at Paul Crowley
Philip Barnes
Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors has appointed Philip Barnes as
operations director. Barnes has over 25 years’ experience in strategic development. He will also continue in his role as a supervisor for the Global MBA Programme at the University of Manchester. Paul Crowley, senior partner at the Liverpool-based firm, says: “I am delighted to welcome Philip to our management team. Philip’s vast experience will be invaluable in helping to direct and guide our strategic development. “He has a proven track record for designing and delivering successful business strategy programmes, and I am keen to see where this new partnership will now take the firm, as we look to continue our impressive growth and success.” Barnes adds: “I believe that there is great potential here for further growth and success, which will be aided by a new strategic plan to enhance productivity, skill sets and performance.”
BWMacfarlane appoints trust manager Liverpool accountancy firm BWMacfarlane Anthony Whittaker has recruited Anthony Whittaker to its team as trust and estate manager. He joins the Castle Street firm from Grant Thornton. Peter Taaffe, managing partner at BWMacfarlane, says: “Anthony’s recruitment is a significant coup for the firm. “We offer our clients as comprehensive a range of services as we can and Anthony’s expertise in trusts gives us the opportunity to really grow that side of the business. “Anthony’s arrival also means BWMacfarlane can strengthen links with local law firms who often refer their own wealthy clients interested in setting up trusts.” 16 MOVE COMMERCIAL
Double surveyor appointment for Deloitte
Heather Foxen & Josaphine Ford
Deloitte Real Estate has recruited Josaphine Ford as senior surveyor and Heather Foxen as development surveyor at its Manchester office. Ford joins from Cushman & Wakefield, where she worked for seven years, latterly as senior consultant. Foxen joins from Harworth Group where she worked as a development surveyor on projects such as Waverley, Yorkshire’s largest ever brownfield redevelopment. Simon Bedford, partner at Deloitte Real Estate, says the appointments come at “an exciting time” for the firm and the wider market. He adds: “The region continues to demonstrate enormous potential for growth and, following a record year of construction which has laid the groundwork for a strong pipeline of development, this is set to continue into the years ahead.”
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Bruntwood appoints community engagement manager Jenna Gibson has joined Jenna Gibson commercial property firm Bruntwood as community engagement manager for its new Manchester workspace, Neo. Gibson, who has previously worked for Capital Properties and Allied London, says: “It’s a really exciting time for Bruntwood and for Manchester. Neo is a bold and innovative space and I’m really looking forward to meeting the customers and supporting the community here with a range of events to encourage collaboration and offer more creative ways to do business. “The launch of the building was a celebration for everyone that has chosen to be a part of the Neo community. To help shape our events we’re working alongside partner organisations such as the Manchester Publicity Association (MPA) and Manchester Digital.”
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My Month Lisa Evans, commercial property solicitor, Kirwans From rounding off the first quarter of the year to bringing big deals to fruition, it’s been a busy month in the North West’s commercial property sector for Kirwans solicitor Lisa Evans. She brings Move Commercial up to date on her standout projects and forthcoming plans.
My goal at the start of the month was... Spring cleaning the commercial property department. Aside from archiving files, I like to take stock once the first quarter is over to review departmental processes and procedures and see if we could make changes that would improve our clients’ experience. I also make a point of meeting up with clients and professionals I work with to discuss their plans for the year ahead. Some property owners/developers have large portfolios and make regular commercial changes, so they will often call on me and the rest of the Kirwans team to advise in all areas of their professional lives.
My biggest achievement was...
My biggest challenge was...
Reading a newspaper article about a multi-million pound development I had been involved with (I had acted for the private financier). I remember looking at all the pictures of the finished development and reminiscing over how it had all started – at a meeting with the client in my office, discussing instructions written on scraps of paper by the parties involved. It was such a low-key way to begin what would result in such a stunning development, and it was lovely to see the end product receiving such great publicity.
Meeting deadlines in the first quarter this year. The post-Christmas period is always a particularly busy one as people tend to start the new year determined to lay down the foundations, so to speak, for the year ahead. As a result, there tends to be a big rush at the beginning of the year and the team works incredibly hard to ensure that all client deadlines are met. This is where our departmental procedures really come into their own; following a systematic way of working means we’re able to anticipate busy periods of work and plan accordingly.
Liverpool Waters
The key meeting I had... It was with a client I’ve known for years who is thinking about establishing a new business in Liverpool city centre. It’s always so exciting being part of a new venture and this one has been no different. It’s a solicitor’s role to familiarise themselves with the project, learn details of the client’s plans and help bring them to fruition, while simultaneously looking out for potential pitfalls and making sure the client is aware of them at the earliest possible stage. The best part of the job is then watching it all come together over the months and years that follow.
THE NEWS STORY THAT CAUGHT MY EYE The unveiling at MIPIM of Liverpool Waters’ plans for its Central Docks neighbourhood as part of the £5 billion scheme. This project will, in my opinion, make the Liverpool waterfront one of the best in the world and allow it to compete with its American counterparts. By the end of this year the Liverpool Waters team is apparently expecting to see more than £300 million of construction work starting on site, and after years in the planning I can’t wait to see it taking shape.
My plan for next month... To have as many early nights as possible. I have a lot of high net worth transactions completing next month, and the complex nature of some of them means I’ll have to keep my wits about me. Fortunately we’re used to complicated cases here at Kirwans, and I actually enjoy getting my teeth into the more challenging deals. My plan also involves trying some of the region’s best eateries when dining with clients. Those on my ‘must try’ list include Xiringuito at Cains Brewery, Cosy Club in Liverpool ONE, Neighbourhood on Castle Street or Love Thy Neighbour on Bold Street - all of which look great. MOVE COMMERCIAL 19
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Mark Langshaw mark.langshaw@movepublishing.co.uk
As DONG Energy prepares to open a new state-of-the-art wind farm and maintenance facility in Wirral, Move Commercial caught up with Lee Rollason, head of operations at its Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm, to find out more about the company’s growing presence in the North West.
Winds of change Wind power has been around since mariners first put sails to the breeze and today it forms the basis of a booming industry which has seen exciting developments in the North West. DONG Energy is at the forefront of the region’s renewable power renaissance and its work in Wirral is proving mutually beneficial to the company and the borough. Located approximately four miles from the coastline, where the River Mersey meets Liverpool Bay, the firm’s Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm covers an area equivalent to 1,400 football fields. The facility was the first in the world to use Siemens’ 3.6MW turbines and generates enough energy to power more than 60,000 homes, but DONG’s lofty ambitions in the region stretch even further than this. 20 MOVE COMMERCIAL
The energy giant has built a second wind farm in this expanse of the Irish Sea known as the Burbo Bank Extension Offshore Wind Farm. It spans 40km2 and promises to blow previous generation wind technology out of the water now all 32 of its turbines are operational. The Burbo Bank Extension is a joint venture with PKA and Kirkbi, and a milestone for the industry as the first farm to host the latest eight-megawatt V164 wind machine - the largest hardware of its kind. “We achieved first power on 20 November last year,” recalls Lee Rollason, head of operations at Burbo Bank. “I remember it well because it was also my grandmother’s birthday. We have the new eight-megawatt V164 wind machine there and it’s the first time this particular piece of hardware has been placed offshore anywhere in
the world. “It’s great that we in the North West have achieved that. It was the same at the original Burbo Bank farm, which marked the first installation of the 3.6MW Siemens machine offshore. It seems that we’re quite the innovators at DONG. “Because we have 32 of these machines we expect the electricity generated will be able to power over 230,000 homes in the local area they’re more than twice the capacity of their predecessors. Each of the eight-megawatt turbines can power a house for 24 hours off a single full rotation.” Further upping its presence in the North West, DONG is constructing a state-of-the-art operations and maintenance facility at Kings Wharf in Wirral, a centre which will provide day-to-day
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We have the new eightmegawatt V164 wind machine and it’s the first time this particular piece of hardware has been placed offshore anywhere in the world. It’s great that we in the North West have achieved that.
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monitoring, servicing, maintenance and emergency repairs to the wind farms. “We expect to move into Kings Wharf in late summer of this year,” Rollason says. “Once that site is operational we will be moving our staff at Liverpool and Cammell Laird into the new premises. It will be a huge benefit to have both teams under one roof.” DONG’s growth in the North West has proven a win for the region; just ask Wirral Council, which is working closely with the firm as part of its plans to establish the borough as the ‘Clean Energy Coast’. “I think working closely with the council has proven very beneficial to us, particularly being involved with its ‘Clean Energy Coast’ initiative,” Rollason says. “That’s something we’re proud to be a part of.
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Lee Rollason, head of operations,
“Wirral Council is very forthcoming as a partner. It helped us pick out the Kings Wharf spot. “There were a couple of other locations we were looking into and working with the council enabled us to find the best solution for DONG and the local residents. We have a great relationship with them.” Making inroads in Wirral has also helped DONG forge links with North West businesses and organisations, including construction firm Robertson, which is handling building work on the Kings Wharf facility, and Liverpool John Moores University. Mike O’Shaughnessy, a senior lecturer at the university, teamed up with art students from Wirral Metropolitan College and local poet Nathan Jones to create artwork to brighten up the hoardings surrounding the Kings Wharf
development site, but DONG cannot be accused of giving nothing back. The company makes charitable donations to support the coastal communities around its wind farm sites and is also doing its bit to nurture talent in the renewable energy sector, with an apprenticeship scheme expected to launch in the Liverpool City Region. “We’re donating £200,000 annually to charity through GrantScape and those funds will support projects in the local community,” Rollason says. “That’s Wirral, Liverpool and other areas in the North West close to the wind farm. “We have also started a new apprenticeship scheme through DONG Energy which we’re rolling out in other parts of the country at the moment. It isn’t available in the
DONG Energy Interview
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We’re donating £200k annually to charity through GrantScape and those funds will support projects in the local community.
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Liverpool City Region right now but that will change in the future. “Furthermore, we are working with the Teach First initiative and have entered into a deal with them which will see us mentoring students coming into the workplace as well as trainee teachers.” DONG is officially opening the Burbo Bank Extension on 17 May and, combined with the output of the Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm, the company’s Wirral operations have the potential to meet the annual energy requirements of approximately 310,000 UK homes. Wirral Council has bold ambitions to establish itself as the renewable energy capital of the North and, with the likes of DONG in its corner, the local authority’s plans appear to be breezing along nicely. MOVE COMMERCIAL 21
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Key event Charity clothes drive
International Women’s Day clothes drive Property and business figures helped transform the lives of North West women during a recent clothes drive event. Move Commercial teamed up with fellow Move Publishing title Your Move and Liverpool-based Bluerow Homes to host the International Women’s Day celebration. During their lunchtime visit to Move Commercial’s office, guests were invited to follow the 2017 theme for the awareness day and #BeBoldForChange by donating unwanted women’s workwear to the charity Smart Works. The growing organisation, which has an office in the region, provides interview outfits, styling advice and confidence-boosting training to low-income women seeking employment. Liverpool’s Chinatown-based eatery The Bagelry supported the event by providing food for attendees, who also took the opportunity to network. 1
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1. Clothing rails were filled with generous donations 2. Georgia Flynn and Kylie Reid (Hi-Impact Consultancy) 3. Sandra Ellis (Keppie Massie), Catherine McCarthy (Move Publishing) and Debra Beach (Keppie Massie) 4. Helen Griffin-Booth and Somone Tekbas (Bluerow Homes) with Nicola Wright (Caro Homes) and Kristina Metcalf (Luxor Estates) 5. Donated workwear will help to transform women’s lives 6. Guests enjoyed delicious food, courtesy of The Bagelry 7. The event provided an opportunity to network 8. Georgina Youssef (Rayross Print Factory), Sarah Brown and Lydia Connolly (The Foundry Agency), and Su Armstrong (Move Publishing) 9. Magdalena Haener (Pride Road Architects) 10. Michelle Dow (All About STEM)
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Sponsored Content
Retaining talent Focus
Christine Toner
The right team can mean the difference between success and failure but once you’ve found your star employees, how do you keep hold of them? Paul Bibby, managing director of Liverpool’s MSB Solicitors, says respect and shared ethics are key.
The law of attraction If you’re starting a new job and you want to get an idea about what it’s like to work for your new company, taking a look at its employee retention numbers is not a bad place to start. While some industries are more likely to have high employee turnover rates, if the company’s turnover resembles a revolving door you might want to start questioning your decision. Any good business owner knows the secret to a company’s success is not only to attract the right people but to keep hold of them. And if a firm is regularly losing its best employees it’s clear something is going wrong. Paul Bibby is managing partner at MSB Solicitors - a firm which prides itself on its high retention rate. “[Our secret] has to be that MSB employees feel valued and know that we will do everything possible to help them progress their careers,” he says. “We've always prided ourselves in being fair to everyone, which isn't the same as being arbitrarily generous but ensures that no one feels disadvantaged. We promote social values, which in turn guarantees client empathy.” The benefits of creating and maintaining a good team are plentiful. Getting your workforce right can save huge amounts of time and money on recruitment and training. One study by Oxford Economics found replacing staff
members can cost businesses as much as £30,614 per employee. But what makes employees more likely to move on? Aside from failing to share a company’s ethos and not connecting with other staff, job security can be a big factor. The last few years have been difficult for employees - and indeed employers - across all sectors. An uncertain economy, not helped of course by continued political turbulence, can make staff members fear for their job security. Employees are more likely to jump ship if they are worried about
the future of the company, instead opting for a firm that looks more likely to go the distance. Bibby says MSB Solicitors’ “steady” growth is one thing that has worked in the firm’s favour. “I think our staff feel secure because we have been here for many years and it’s clear that our growth is steady, organic and planned – not speculative,” he says. “Nobody wants to work in a place where they reasonably feel their job could be lost. “Additionally, MSB Solicitors leads from the top down. If our partners and
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I think our staff feel secure because we have been here for many years and it’s clear that our growth is steady, organic and planned - not speculative.
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senior management don’t demonstrate a commitment to social values then respect is lost – so too are our ethics as a firm. Does anyone really want to see their boss driving around in a Lamborghini?” A progressive approach to the work/life balance, it seems, is also key. A recent survey by the Equality and Human Rights Commission found three out of four working mothers in the UK have experienced negative or discriminatory attitudes in the workplace, while 11% of mothers returning to work subsequently felt forced to leave their job. More than 80% of MSB’s 100-strong employee base is female and in the past four years, 22 babies have been born within the firm with every new mother returning to work. “Professional firms have traditionally been quite reticent about promoting a family-friendly environment, believing it disrupts the business,” says Bibby. “MSB Solicitors takes the opposite view. We recognise that people work to live they don’t live to work. “They want to bring up families and have a career. Women shouldn’t have to make a choice.” For more information call MSB Solicitors on 0151 281 9040 or visit www.msbsolicitors.co.uk. MOVE COMMERCIAL 23
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Natasha Young natasha@movepublishing.co.uk
A cathedral in our time A ‘cathedral in our time’ was the vision and in 1958 architects around the world were invited to create a new religious Liverpool landmark. Around 300 designs were submitted, with their creators abandoning the conventions of traditional cathedrals to suggest striking, unusual buildings. “The actual specification was that it had to be a modern cathedral and that, through its design, everybody had a clear view of the altar and it was central in some way for the celebration of mass,” explains Canon Anthony O’Brien, the dean of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. “We were going into the 1960s and there were lots of new ideas in every way, such as art and entertainment, and lots of things were changing but so was building design. “Sixties’ modern buildings were all in vogue – concrete had come into play, along with other types of materials, so that’s what designers came up with.” Built with a sense of urgency and a tight budget, the winning design by Sir Frederick Gibberd was completed in under five years. But it had become about more than fulfilling Liverpool’s needs for a Catholic cathedral – it was 24 MOVE COMMERCIAL
an opportunity to redefine what a cathedral building is. “Over the 20th Century and to date there hasn’t been many opportunities to build a cathedral,” says Father O’Brien. “The majority in our country were built centuries ago and they just get repaired and extended. “The design [Gibberd] came up with added a completely new way of thinking about how our cathedral should be and what the needs were for the building to satisfy. It’s quite different to how people would perceive traditional cathedral shape and design.” From the significant central colourful glass lantern and the standout bell tower to its attention-grabbing overall structure, the emergence of this cathedral came as a shock to many people, according to Father O’Brien. “People watched it going up and thought ‘what is it going to look like?’” he says. “It’s striking but they call it brutalist architecture and it is harsh. “That took people a bit of getting used to. It didn’t have those sweeping designs from the past. “Some people hated it with a vengeance – certain design and architecture people – but many loved it
and, over the years, it has won round many of its critics. It’s now looked on by the vast majority of people with real affection and it does have that wow factor.” Drastically breaking the traditional mould wasn’t always the plan though, as the now 50-year-old building is actually the fourth attempt to build Liverpool’s Catholic cathedral. First came a design by Edward Welby Pugin, who was commissioned in 1853. With a large steeple as a centrepiece, the building was to be situated on St Domingo Road in Everton. However the construction of the Lady Chapel was as far as the project progressed before the Archdiocese instead turned its resources to the development of Catholic schools. “The idea of a cathedral was still in the background but forgotten about,” says Father O’Brien. That was until the 1920s when, due to a growing Catholic population boosted by Irish immigrants, Liverpool’s need for a cathedral was recognised once again. Sir Edwin Lutyens was commissioned to design a building to contrast with the gothic Anglican development which was underway at the opposite end of Hope Street.
Photo: Flickr / Tim Dutton
This year Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral celebrates the golden jubilee of its grand opening, but the history of how the building came to be spans far more than five decades. Move Commercial explores the thinking behind the unique structure and focuses on its importance as a work of architecture, prominent city attraction and place of worship.
His plan was large and ambitious, with a grand dome reminiscent of that of London’s St Paul’s Cathedral. “They started in 1933 with Lutyens’ building and it was going to be a vast undertaking – bigger than the Anglican cathedral,” explains Father O’Brien. “Then after World War II there wasn’t the appetite nor the money or materials to continue building.” The project stalled, leaving a completed crypt which hosted mass for some time before eventually forming part of today’s cathedral. “If [the cathedral had been built] in Everton we’d have been out on a limb and we’d have regretted it greatly,” admits Father O’Brien. “When they were talking about Lutyens’ design though it just so happened that the [current] site had become vacant because it was the site of the workhouse, where a lot of poor Irish immigrants were based. There was a real Catholic association with the workhouse and that made getting the site important. “We ended up on a street called ‘Hope’, quite closely linked with our sister cathedral down the road and, of course, Liverpool has been at the forefront of Catholics and Anglicans working closely
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50 years of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
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If we’d have had the Lutyens design it would have taken 80-90 years to completely build and that’s if the funds hadn’t ran out, so we’d have only just seen it come to fruition over the last 10 years.
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together. We’re still seen as an example of how churches work together and Liverpool should be proud of that.” Adrian Gilbert Scott, brother of Liverpool Cathedral’s architect Giles Gilbert, had been enlisted in 1953 to scale down Lutyens’ plans, still looking to achieve a dome but with a smaller budget. The project was later shelved, making way for the modern approach. “If we’d have had the Lutyens design it would have taken 80-90 years to completely build and that’s if the funds hadn’t ran out, so we’d have only just seen it come to fruition over the last 10 years,” says Father O’Brien. During the five decades the chosen incarnation has been open to the public, it has been the subject of numerous changes to enhance its presence and access. “There’s a whole new front entrance, with that big flight of steps we call the processional entrance and the piazza below,” says Father O’Brien. “Gibberd wanted a flight of steps at the front but they ran out of money, so they just had a ramp at the side for years and there was a building near that front area. “Eventually the people using that building went into liquidation and that
land became available to use, so around 2000 we started building those ceremonial steps. “The glass columns were a later addition around 2008, and the glass marks that this is what’s significant about the building. As you go out of the cathedral the artist’s symbolism is that you take the light from Christ with you. “Then the most recent addition was in 2010-11 when we built the Rotunda to the side of the cathedral, providing a direct link to Lutyens Crypt with a lift.” These days an estimated 400,000 visitors head to Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral annually, including the regular congregation and wider Catholic community, as well as tourists from across the UK and the globe and architectural enthusiasts eager to witness the work of two designers – Lutyens and Gibberd - on one modern cathedral site. “We don’t charge people to enter the cathedral and we’d fight tooth and nail to keep that because we want everyone to have access,” says Father O’Brien, although funding the iconic structure’s maintenance and estimated £3,000 per day running costs is an ongoing issue. “We run at a loss and if we have
significant projects we often have to look for grants, but that’s the story of cathedrals across the country apart from the very big ones with millions of tourists paying to go in.” The building’s position at the heart of the growing Knowledge Quarter helps, as ground rent for surrounding land which is now home to science and research buildings makes a contribution. Plus there are car park rates, collections during services, visitor donations, commercial activities, gift shop sales and event space hire. A schedule of celebrations is also expected to drive footfall to the building in 2017 in honour of the milestone anniversary. “It’s about giving thanks for everything this building has been and meant to people because, Catholic or not, people have lots of memories connected with the cathedral, the events that happened there or events to do with Liverpool where people have gathered at the cathedral,” says Father O’Brien. “It’s also about not forgetting that we now have a duty to try and enable this building to continue for the next 50 years.” MOVE COMMERCIAL 25
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50 years of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Move Commercial finds out what the city’s architects think of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral as its golden jubilee is celebrated in 2017.
The experts’ view….
Alastair Shepherd director, Falconer Chester Hall My earliest memory of the metropolitan cathedral was visiting Liverpool as a nine-yearold in 1984. When I next returned to the city to study architecture in 1993 it was like meeting an old friend again, such was the impression it made. I loved spending time in the building’s vibrant interior while I was a student, appreciating the quietness it offered. Soon after joining Falconer Chester Hall I was lucky enough to be part of the team that delivered the ceremonial approach, which finally stitched the building into its context. At the time it felt like life going full circle.
Chris Bolland managing partner, Brock Carmichael Compared to the Lutyens scheme, ‘Paddy’s Wigwam’ is a truly iconic building delivered on a much reduced budget – a symbol of efficiency. It’s globally known, a strong symbol of Liverpool’s positive outgoing philosophy and of its time, but still fresh, breathtakingly bold and overtly modern. Surrounding science and university parks’ regeneration has recently established a new context and the building is no longer an outpost but rooted in the fabric of the city. It’s a fantastic symbol of peace which has and will continue to bring communities together during difficult times, and makes the case for modern architecture having a strong positive contribution to the progression of the city. 26 MOVE COMMERCIAL
Photo: User: Mdbeckwith / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Frank Olchowski director, Denovo Design Back in 1967 I remember being intrigued by the contemporary design of the metropolitan cathedral, which was regarded at the time as being ‘ground-breaking’. Externally, and fascinating to me architecturally, was the architect’s modern interpretation of ‘flying buttresses’, traditionally built from stone or brick but in this instance made from reinforced concrete, giving a very ‘current’ edge. The completed circular interior was spectacular with the height of the lantern, the multi-coloured stained glass which bathed the congregation with constantly changing colours, and the positioning of the altar – in the centre - providing uninterrupted sight lines. Many years later, space and light continue to be key drivers of the design concepts at Denovo.
Rob Burns urban designer, Blok The metropolitan cathedral says much about Liverpool; the unapologetic modernity of a building designed to work together with the more Gothic-inspired Anglican cathedral, the way in which the building re-uses the site of former structures (in this case a huge workhouse), and the series of events created by an on-off-on project that led to the final design. Along with the Anglican cathedral, the metropolitan cathedral dominates the skyline a manifestation of ecumenical dialogue that is part of the character of Liverpool. It illustrates how designers need context and a sense of place as part of their skillset.
Paul Monaghan director, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris The metropolitan cathedral was my first exposure to modern architecture as a child growing up in Liverpool. It was uncompromisingly modern when it was built, but at the same time it was very popular – it captured the optimism of the city at that time. I’ve learnt a lot from it, but the most important lesson has been that modern buildings built with pride and integrity can be really loved by the public. It’s also had a more direct influence on our work in Liverpool; the Royal Court’s new display is inspired by the cathedral’s bell tower.
Kevin Horton architectural director, K2 Architects What’s truly exciting about this cathedral is it represents a significant moment in the development of modern Liverpool’s sense of identity. The city was stepping into an uncertain future within a post-industrial age. Gibberd took huge personal and professional risks to make a bold statement about how that future could look. I have no doubt that his 1959 design looked for inspiration in the then newly emerging ultra-futuristic city of Brasilia, where a year earlier Oscar Niemeyer had laid the cornerstone for the Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of Aparecida. 1960s Brasilia was a place where anything seemed possible; ironically 1960s Liverpool proved to be a place where anything was possible. The cathedral has since seen some difficult times and has perhaps not always been adequately appreciated. To me, it personifies the real enduring character of Liverpool – it’s enterprising, independently minded and resourceful.
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Call for entries for the 2017 awards Visit www.nwpas.com to submit yours before 30 June 2017
Thursday 19th October 2017 LUTYENS CRYPT, LIVERPOOL METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL
Recognising excellence in the North West property industry
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Mark Langshaw mark.langshaw@movepublishing.co.uk
Research and invention have the potential to change the world as we know it, and the North West has seen more than its fair share of ‘Eureka’ moments. From Liverpool John Moores University’s role in the discovery of new exoplanets to the development of the world’s first steam-powered submarine in Manchester, Move Commercial looks back at some of the region’s most important breakthroughs.
Region of Discovery Out of this world NASA’s research into the secrets of the universe reached a potential breakthrough this year when a system of seven exoplanets was discovered orbiting the cool dwarf-star TRAPPIST-1. With assistance from Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), the space agency established that at least three of these worlds could be habitable, fostering the belief that it’s only a matter of time before we find out whether we’re alone in the universe. Remotely controlling a telescope in the Canary Islands, LJMU’s astronomy team helped detect the planets as they passed in front of the star and provided NASA with vital supplementary data to support the observations of its orbiting Spitzer telescope. According to Dr Chris Copperwheat of LJMU’s Astrophysics Research Institute, who co-led the international team, the university’s involvement in the exoplanets discovery is a win for the region as it could inspire promising scholars to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). “Astronomy has always been a 28 MOVE COMMERCIAL
gateway drug to science,” he tells Move Commercial. “It enthuses people and the response we’ve had to this discovery from children, amateur communities and the general public has been amazing. “The fact we’ve been involved with this is something the entire region can be proud of. Hopefully it will inspire youngsters in the North West to embark on science-based careers.” Dr Copperwheat reveals that his team will be involved in NASA’s followup research into the TRAPPIST-1 system, and is currently upgrading its telescope to make it more sensitive to atmospheric data as tests begin to establish whether the planets could support life.
Super sub Submarine technology existed before Mancunian clergyman and inventor George Garrett introduced his creations in the 1870s, but most of it ended up at the bottom of the ocean. The Moss Side vicar’s work with Swedish industrialist Thorsten Nordenfelt led to the development of the first viable steam-powered sub, armed with torpedoes and military ready.
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The fact we’ve been involved with [Trappist-1] is something the entire region can be proud of. Hopefully it will inspire youngsters to embark on science-based careers.
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Garrett founded the Submarine Navigation and Pneumatophore Company at 56 Deansgate in 1878 but had to travel to Wirral to test his prototypes as Manchester lacked water deep enough. Weighing in at 56 tonnes, the Nordenfelt I was a refined version of Garrett’s earlier inventions Resurgam and Resurgam II - the latter of which sunk off the coast of Rhyl during a trial run - and a lightbulb moment for watercraft development. Although reliable propulsion tech for submarines would not arrive until the 1880s with the advent of electrical batteries, Garrett’s early work and his collaboration with Nordenfelt paved the way for the modern vessels the world’s most powerful navies later adopted.
Plastic fantastic Environmentalists have never been its biggest fan, but it helped save thousands of lives in World War II and revolutionised the supermarket industry. Polythene is the most used form of plastic in the world, and it was first produced in an industrially practical form in Cheshire during the early 1930s. The breakthrough came in 1933 at
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North West breakthroughs Focus
The North West played a vital role in computing
An LJMU team assisted NASA’s exoplanet discovery
ICI Wallerscote’s plant near Northwich by accident when a team of chemists led by Eric Fawcett and Reginald Gibson botched an experiment involving polymers. The unexpected results yielded a white, waxy residue, which turned out to be polythene - a substance billions of carrier bags would eventually be made from. It took ICI Wallerscote a further five years to consistently reproduce the chemical but they did so in time to boost the war effort, with polythene proving invaluable for radar cable insulation. This gave Britain the edge in long-distance air warfare and was vital during the pivotal Battle of the Atlantic.
Fast forward to the present day and the polythene breakthrough was a major coup for the North West for many reasons, not least because it’s now essential to a number of industries including food packing and has become an everyday feature in most homes across the developed world.
Getting with the program In the spring of 1949, with Britain’s postwar recovery on track, University of Manchester researchers Frederic C. Williams, Tom Kilburn and Geoff Tootill made a breakthrough in the fledgling field of computing. The trio’s Small-Scale Experimental Machine, known as SSEM or the ‘Baby’, became the first computer to successfully run a stored graphical program. Following this proof of concept experiment, a full-sized machine, dubbed the Manchester Mark 1 was created at the university, and it went on to form the basis of the first commercially available computer, the Ferranti Mark 1, which left the production line in 1951. The birth of the Baby and the Mark 1 the former of which is on display at
Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry - were milestone moments for the global computing industry, which is vital to virtually every business in the world today and worth more than £350 billion - and that’s just the hardware market.
Making waves Located in the heart of Cheshire’s countryside, away from the electrical interference of the region’s major cities, Jodrell Bank holds a unique position in
the early history of the space age. The observatory was founded to study the effects of cosmic rays in the earth's atmosphere but, in 1950 under director Sir Benard Lovell, it earned a place on the map for innovation in a different field. Using what was then the world’s largest radio telescope, astronomers Hanbury Brown and Cyril Hazard became the first individuals to pick up radio waves from another galaxy when they discovered signals from MOVE COMMERCIAL 29
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North West breakthroughs Focus
The National Graphene Institute in Manchester
Jodrell Bank’s telescope
the M31 spiral nebula in the Andromeda constellation. This breakthrough resulted in the creation of a new subfield of natural science called radio astronomy, of which Sir Lovell became the world’s first professor in 1951. Reflecting on the feat more than six decades later Tim O'Brien, professor of astrophysics at the University of Manchester and associate director of Jodrell Bank, says the observatory’s historic discoveries have boosted the North West. “Discoveries like this one helped develop Jodrell Bank as an internationally leading centre for research and that’s helped attract funding and talent to the region,” he adds. “There’s a lot of value in the inspirational work that has taken place here since then. “Thousands of school kids come on educational visits here and it has undoubtedly inspired many of those to take up careers in science and technology.” 30 MOVE COMMERCIAL
Leading the way Anyone who’s ever used a lead pencil has created graphene, but researchers had no clue how to isolate and extract the world’s thinnest material until a pair of scientists from University of Manchester cracked the conundrum in 2004. Professors Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov earned a Nobel Prize for demonstrating to the world how one atom thick, two-dimensional crystal graphene can be separated from graphite. Ultra-light yet immensely tough, graphene works equally well as a conductor or a barrier and its applications since the University of Manchester duo’s discovery have been many. The material has already made an impact in transport, medicine, electronics, energy, defence and desalination, and this is merely the beginning. “Some recent developments which
have come to fruition in the past few months alone include evidence that adding graphene to children’s toy Silly Putty can create cost-effective and highly sensitive medical sensors to monitor heart-rate and blood pressure,” says James Baker, graphene business director at The University of Manchester. “Through a collaboration with watchmaking brand Richard Mille and McLaren F1 the University of Manchester has also been involved with creating the world’s lightest mechanical watch.” The graphene discovery has helped Manchester secure investment for further research into the material. The £61m National Graphene Institute was established two years ago and the £60m Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre will open its doors in 2018 to ensure the city remains at the forefront of this disruptive technology.
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There is a lot of value in the inspirational work that has taken place at Jodrell Bank.
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Christine Toner
Workspaces are increasingly incorporating vibrant features and comfy breakout spaces, but is there really substance behind the style? Move Commercial investigates whether fixtures and fittings have a genuine impact on staff performance, creativity and efficiency, and how employers can get it right.
Creative Spaces Every good business leader understands the importance of employee engagement. If your team isn’t on your side you’ve got no chance. As the former CEO of GE Jack Welch once said: “It goes without saying that no company, small or large, can win over the long run without energised employees who believe in the mission and understand how to achieve it.” And one of the most important elements of keeping employees engaged is getting the environment in which they work right. Most of us will spend more than 30 hours a week at work and if we don’t feel inspired or motivated by our surroundings it’s unlikely we’ll produce our best work. But what makes for a good office environment? Are the vibrant workspaces like those of Google and Facebook really likely to impact on staff performance? “Yes they do,” says Mark Penketh, managing director of Wirral-based office furniture firm The Penketh Group. “Creating interesting and engaging spaces that help people to collaborate with their colleagues is so important. Collaborative environments encourage teamwork, boost creativity and expand possibilities.” According to reports, Google allows its employees to use a fifth of their working week to do whatever they choose. Its headquarters feature a volleyball court and gym. Architect Clive Wilkinson, whose firm is behind the Google headquarters design along with offices for the 32 MOVE COMMERCIAL
likes of Nokia, Microsoft and Disney, has often highlighted the importance of office design. Speaking to architectural bible Dezeen he once claimed: "In our design practice we are fundamentally trying to address psychological issues. One of the reasons I really like workplaces and interiors is that the impact on humanity is much more powerful than dealing with inert architectural shells, or the decorative outside dress of a building - which frankly is what most architects do." Providing an inspiring environment is just one factor of smart design. The office must also be practical, in terms of meeting employees’ needs. Penketh says choice is key. By giving staff more choice and control over their work environment, you can help them to be at their most productive. As such, says Penketh, employers should invest in a range of spaces so staff have the freedom to choose where they want to work in an office. “Create areas in the office for collaboration,” he adds. “Collaborative environments encourage staff to bounce ideas off each other, work as a team, boost creativity and foster a culture of working together to achieve great things. “Give your staff privacy when they need it. If they’re working on a tricky project or need to focus, it’s good to provide staff with spaces for uninterrupted work to help them to concentrate and think clearer.
Nokia Headquarters Photo: Wikimedia Commons / User: Sektori / CC-BY-SA-3.0
“Take a look at the format of your meetings and consider whether they are as productive as they can be. Innovative products such as Clickshare are revolutionising meetings by allowing teams to work seamlessly from one screen. Set up is quick and it’s really easy to use, with the option to connect up to eight people in one meeting.” A company can only do as much as its budget will allow though, and it’s not always possible to have such a range of workspaces. “The most productive office environments are the ones that include many different working zones,” says Sam Dunbar, purchasing and marketing manager at Cheshire-based interior design firm Officeinsight. “This ranges from individual private booths and relaxing breakout areas to large open stair atriums. This is to cater for the wide variety in ways of working and stimulate informal meetings, collaboration and employee engagement. “However, in reality not every company has a ‘Google budget’, and employers tend to focus on the return from their capital expenditure. The challenge is getting the combination right for your business. We call this workplace balance - we balance the potential of any space against the pragmatic needs, as both are as important as each other when creating a highly productive office space that also delivers the optimum return.”
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Creating the right environment Focus
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Good office design includes providing a solution and listening to the client’s aims, goals, targets and work patterns.
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Getting it wrong
Inequality
Just as the right design can improve productivity, the wrong one can have an adverse effect. According to a study by the British Council for Offices and Savills called ‘What Workers Want’ (2016), while open-plan offices are still the dominant choice of occupiers, only 45% of respondents were satisfied with the noise levels in their office. Penketh agrees. “Almost half of all offices in the UK are open-plan designs – more than double the global average,” he says. “Although there are many advantages to open-plan offices, various reports show they can leave office workers struggling to manage their need for privacy and to find areas where they are able to focus. “The University of California estimates that the average office worker is interrupted or distracted every three minutes and that it takes an average of 23 minutes to return to a task. It makes it increasingly important for companies to offer staff private spaces to work in an open-plan setting.”
Research has found your office environment and facilities are likely to be impacted by your position in the company. A study by architecture and design firm Gensler revealed that hierarchy rather than job needs takes priority within office layout. “The starkest representation of the difference is in the allocation of private offices — 89% of those in senior leadership have private offices, compared to 23% at lower levels of the organisation — and the impact shows across all performance and experience metrics,” it states. Gensler says employers should match space to job needs, not role. “Employees who report that the spaces in their offices are assigned by job requirements, rather than hierarchy, are much more likely to also report an optimal workplace experience,” it says. “Given the current challenges of workplace performance across all levels in the UK workplace, strategies that match space to need rather than seniority are an opportunity to engage and improve at all levels of the company.”
Health and wellbeing
The rewards
But it’s not just employee performance that is affected by office design. The ‘What Workers Want’ survey found 40% of employees believe the office positively impacts on their physical health and 48% believe the office positively impacts on their mental health. Worryingly, 30% of respondents effectively said the office does them harm. The study states physical health can be improved by providing more alternative desk arrangements such as the standing desk; with 20% of male survey respondents saying they would always or often use one if offered it. Paul Eatock, director of sales at Spatial Office Environments in Manchester, suggests standing desks are becoming more prevalent. "Good office design includes providing a solution and listening to the client’s aims, goals, targets and work patterns,” he says. “In our experience recruitment companies and call centres are benefitting from sit stand desks as this promotes good posture, interaction and opens up the airways when in conversation with colleagues and during phone calls.”
The right office environment can have a huge impact on employee productivity but it can also help you to recruit the best people to begin with. The ‘What Workers Want’ survey reveals 25% of employees would be willing to commute an extra 30 minutes in order to work in the perfect office. Clearly, investing in your premises can be a key factor in future growth and success. "The way people think about their workspace is changing at a fast pace and what was once known simply as 'the office' is now the place in our lives that we all see as fundamental to achieving the right work-life balance,” explains Colin Sinclair, CEO of Knowledge Quarter Liverpool. "The smartest employers have figured out that getting the look and feel of their workspace is crucial in attracting and retaining the right people and increasing productivity. "Productivity and place are linked more than ever and the environment you work in is now the product of some very clever research and design." MOVE COMMERCIAL 33
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A S STUNNING TUNNING R REFURBISHED EFURBISHED O OFFICE FFICE B BUILDING UILDING
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E:brianricketts@hwandp.co.uk E :brianricketts@hwandp.co.uk
E:mark@worthingtonowen.com E:mark@worthingtonowen.com
E :seancollins-jones@hwandp.co.uk E:seancollins-jones@hwandp.co.uk
:sarah@worthingtonowen.com E E:sarah@worthingtonowen.com
1 ,593 ssq q fftt 1,593 1 ,722 ssq q fftt 1,722 2 ,045 ssq q fftt 2,045 1 ,862 ssq q fftt 1,862 1 ,808 ssq q fftt 1,808
CENTURY AND DEMPSTER BUILDINGS Brunswick Business Park
LIVERPOOL L3 4BJ
TO LET WAREHOUSE / INDUSTRIAL 1,000 - 12,000 sq ft TO LET HIGH QUALITY OFFICES 650 - 8,000 sq ft
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Key event Annual Professional Liverpool Quiz 2017
Annual Professional Liverpool Quiz 2017 Almost 200 business people put their general knowledge to the test at the Annual Professional Liverpool Quiz 2017. Teams from firms across the city, including Move Commercial, went head to head at the event, which was held in The Shankly Hotel’s Eden venue on Victoria Street. The Bermans team emerged as the winners this year, taking the crown from 2016 title holders Mazars. Participants tackled questions across a range of topics including sport, music, films and picture-related rounds. Guests also enjoyed a curry during the quiz night, which has become a popular fixture on Professional Liverpool’s events calendar. 1
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1. The winners were awarded a trophy for their victory 2. Lawrence Saunders was on the Move Commercial team 3. Teams faced rounds of challenging questions 4. Nick Hall was the quiz master 5. The room was packed for the annual event 6. Participants listened out for the questions 7. Many members of Liverpool’s business community attended 8. Guests mingled between rounds 9. John Hall, CEO of Professional Liverpool
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Lawrence Saunders lawrence@movepublishing.co.uk
The debate gathered industry professionals to Manchester’s Beastro
The debate panel: James Sidlow
Alex Solk
Tom Armour
Dr Gina Cavan
project director, Allied London
partner, Sheppard Robson Architects
director and landscape architecture leader, Arup
senior lecturer in GIS* and climate, Manchester Metropolitan University
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*Geographic information system
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Green infrastructure Lunch debate
As North West cities continue to expand at a rapid rate with increasingly ambitious commercial schemes, the issue of incorporating green space into these projects is as pertinent as ever. Move Commercial brings together a panel of experts to discuss the importance of green infrastructure and how on board the property industry really is with the idea.
Green Sky Thinking How important is the development of green infrastructure to the future prosperity of North West cities? TA: It's essential. It’s fundamental if we’re going to create healthier cities. We need green infrastructure as an essential component and we need to think of it in the same way that we design and plan water, energy, waste and transport. If you read all the research it tells you that linking people to nature is not only beneficial psychologically but we can also build in climate change resilience. The traditional ways of doing things can be much cheaper if you utilise green infrastructure instead. The car has dominated many cities and now we have to fight back and create cities for people again. Green infrastructure is such an important part of that story. What are the biggest benefits of green infrastructure to the people of a city? TA: With a new development you can integrate green infrastructure within it
and it’s more attractive to people - it has social and economical benefits. We can see schemes like Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, which was developed as a sort of centrepiece of that particular event, have become an economic driver for all the regeneration around them. Suddenly they provide a place for locals, and people have access to great city living because they have somewhere to go with their kids or just go out and get some fresh air and escape for a bit. Green infrastructure is essential because it’s a part of who we are as a species - we have this innate connection with nature. AS: I think its scale or connectedness because if you take that new Queen Elizabeth Park or any of the other London parks, they’re so big you could ride a bike through them for half an hour and not hit the other side. The cities around the North West don't have anything of that size in the city centre. What might be quite exciting as perhaps cars become driverless over the next five or 10 years is that some of these roads can become those green infrastructure routes to link green spaces together. It’s not very far
to some of the South Manchester parks from [Spinningfields] but I don't feel like I have access to them now. But perhaps we will be able to get rid of a few roads in Manchester once cars are stacked outside cities and called on demand. There are some really exciting opportunities but the city needs to grab them and plan for them now. Driverless cars are coming and if we don't have everything planned now then we are going to miss out on another opportunity. How can more green space be created in our cities if empty space continues to be built on at a rapid rate? GC: It’s always economics over environment so that’s why we have such a dearth of areas which haven’t been developed on to use for parks. But this is what needs to be done. There is so much brownfield land within cities and I don't agree with this call to develop housing on it - it needs to be turned into green space. We need to look strategically at it, understand what functions or benefits we could get if it was green, so if it’s a
flood risk area or in the core of the urban heat island. We can understand all these benefits and be a lot more strategic about how we are planning our cities because at the moment it’s very site/scale and understanding the economic benefits of constructing one building in a particular place - we need to think a lot more outside of those boundaries. AS: There are some good examples although I think commerciality will remain king for good and bad reasons for a while to come. However if you look at somewhere like Vancouver, which is a super dense city, all the towers are 20 or so stories high but they have nothing at the base of them. They have no ground floor commercial units and are sat up on columns with lovely parks which run through them. It proves that you can get a really commercial 20 or 30-storey scheme which stacks up for the developer and still includes green space. Although some of this green space is fenced off and private, a great deal of it is public, so there are certainly ways in which we can think about bringing more people into our cities and making them greener at the same time. MOVE COMMERCIAL 37
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Lawrence Saunders lawrence@movepublishing.co.uk
Is the property industry fully on board with the need for an increase in green infrastructure or is there still plenty more convincing to be done? GC: The problem we have at the moment is the lack of willingness from the commercial sector to integrate green infrastructure into developments. There’s no incentivisation or method within UK planning policy which encourages commercial developers to integrate green infrastructure into their schemes. TA: A lot of it is thinking outside your particular project. Pulling back a bit and having some strategic long-term thinking on what the city is. It’s very easy to do an individual project and to get locked into that project and the redline but we need wider thinking. The planning system doesn’t help but we also need to be better at explaining the commercial benefits of green infrastructure to developers. AS: Manchester, for example, and Liverpool certainly to a good degree, have been great at pioneering big developments and supporting major things they want to happen in the city centre. They've got a track record of working with developers to regenerate big parts of the city. It proves they can do big things so if they wanted to do big things around green infrastructure they could. GC: Sharing best practice case studies is also so important. Classically we’ve been constructing buildings from the inside and not thinking about the outside at all. We’ve been driven by the climate change mitigation agenda and trying
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to reduce emissions, and we haven’t thought about adaption at all. It’s a lot harder to pinpoint numbers and quantify benefits for climate change adaption, and I think that’s why it’s not being incorporated. TA: Increasingly there is a lot of research which is telling us about the benefits but it’s not quite all joined up yet. People still see green infrastructure as something that's nice to have - a bit of decoration if they can afford it rather than something that's really multifunctional and can help your city economically, socially, and in terms of climate change protection. JS: That is shifting though [developers] really are recognising that. I wasn't there 20 years ago but I dare say when they produced the masterplan for Spinningfields, maybe there wasn't the required green infrastructure. It’s certainly moved on to the point where we’re definitely acknowledging the need for it a lot more. GC: One of the problems is that there are ambitious plans at the beginning but then as overspending happens, green infrastructure is often the first thing to be cut because it’s seen as the add-on isn’t it? TA: I’d argue that you wouldn't leave traffic lights out, would you? And drainage features and outfalls and these sorts of things? Think of it as essential - it’s just as important. JS: With everything we’re doing at Allied London, whether it’s low-rise or high-rise, we’re trying to incorporate some element of green space into it but we’re working within the confines of a city and with quite small plots.
Beastro Irwell Square, Leftbank, M3 A new addition to Spinningfields, Beastro comes from the same team behind street food favourite Bangers and Bacon and secured its own permanent spot in Leftbank after winning a start-up competition last year. Serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner, Beastro aims to give guests a taste of each season while highlighting the best ingredients Greater Manchester has to offer. Where possible all beverages are also sourced nearby with local brewers, coffee roasters, spirits and tonics featuring on the menu. If the weather’s good, Beastro’s delights can be enjoyed outside in The Garden - an oasis of green space kitted out with outdoor heaters and a canopy in case the heavens do open. For more information call 0161 327 0265.
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There’s no incentivisation or method within UK planning policy which encourages commercial developers to integrate green infrastructure into their schemes.
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Green infrastructure Lunch debate
Is greater collaboration between developers required in order to make real strides with green infrastructure? JS: What you tend to find, particularly on the edge of city centres, are pockets of development all with different developers. It’s about these developers talking to each other and making use of the space between their various redlines - you can’t confine yourself to that redline. AS: Do we think it should be led from your side, choosing to link up with other developers, or should it be the local authority dictating on this collaboration? GC: I think it should be a bit of both but there does need to be a national planning policy that stimulates this. In terms of strategic delivery I’m not too sure. JS: There’s so much evidence now that it’s overwhelming. There is a lot of data explaining the net benefits for developers but it’s all very specific to a particular scheme and so that's another excuse. GC: It depends if the commercial
developer is building a scheme and moving on, or if they have some vested interest in staying in that area and keeping hold of the property. Otherwise they probably won’t be encouraged to spend more because whoever buys it will see benefits in 20 years. JS: It’s a difficult thing to overcome and I’m not sure how you can do that. GC: I think it has to come down to incentivisation. There are lots of examples, particularly in America in areas of high flood risk, where the authorities will actually pay for things like green roofs. That’s how you start off stimulating that kind of activity until it becomes the norm. JS: I think it should carry with the sale of the building, almost like a covenant in the lease or the title, so if you buy that
building there is a responsibility during the period of your ownership to do ‘X, Y and Z’. AS: You could probably link that into planning permission so if there is a public space it needs to be maintained for a certain period of time. We have things like that in planning anyway, it just needs to become a covenant. Developers of places like [Spinningfields] and other large schemes in city centres have the opportunity to link things together but how do we make it work with one-off developments when people just build one building and disappear? It’s really, really hard. GC: Maybe it’s about changing people’s perceptions and expectations, and once people start expecting [green infrastructure] commercial developers will need to provide it. JS: We are shifting that way - it may be a long way off but we’re getting there. It would be great to be sitting here in 20 years time and saying we’ve copied a similar model to somewhere like Copenhagen, but you’ve got to work with what you’ve got.
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It’s about developers talking to each other and making use of the space between their various redlines you can’t confine yourself to that redline.
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Key event Cannes Do 2017
Cannes Do celebrates the ‘Best of British’ Commercial property industry insiders gathered at The Rum Warehouse in Liverpool as the city’s annual Cannes Do returned. The popular event, organised by Professional Liverpool, followed a ‘Best of British’ theme for 2017 as it took place at the Titanic Hotel venue on Stanley Dock once again. Guests arrived to a drinks reception before enjoying a lavish lunch and an afternoon of live entertainment and music, with Willie Miller as the compere. A dress code of ‘smart casual with a dash of red, white and blue’ gave attendees the option to embrace this year’s theme further during the social event. Liverpool children’s charity KIND benefitted from funds raised on the day. 1
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1. A brass band greeted the guests 2. Weightmans Solicitors 3. Guests enjoyed the drinks reception before the main event 4. Paul Jasper 5. Sutcliffe 6. Keppie Massie 7. Abode 8. Compere Willie Miller got the guests’ attention with his trusty rattle! 9. Colliers 10. Professional Liverpool chief executive John Hall 11. The event had a ‘Best of British’ theme 12. Titanic Hotel’s Rum Warehouse hosted the event again
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MAKING IT HA APPEN N IN HAPPEN We have recently es We established stablished a new Major Development D T Team eam e to pr provide an enhanced service resource key will help to accelerate the and dedicated reso urce to k ey investors and d developers. The team w deliveryy of housing and economic growth sc deliver schemes, chemes, to develop inno innovative solutions that secure deliveryy whilst proa deliver proactively actively helping develope developers rs to bring for forward ward stall stalled schemes. If you have a track record r of deliver ant to work in a dynamic and driven environment that deliveryy and wa want id significant i ifi t opportunities t iti ffor you tto shape h l ffor ffuture t provides a place generations, then we might just have the role you have been looking for. We are now recruiting into the following posts:
Head of Major Development – ref CVP351 – Salary up to £76,858 Assistant Solicitor (Regeneration) – ref CVP353 – Salary up to £43,821 Principal Regeneration Officer (5 posts) – ref CVP357 – Salary up to £40,057 Principal Engineer (Site Development) – ref CVP354 – Salary up to £34,538 Principal Planner (Development Management - 2 posts) – ref CVP355 – Salary up to £34,538 Principal Engineer (Development Management) – ref CVP356 – Salary up to £34,538
If you think you have the energy, determination and ambition to match ours, are ready to the hit the ground running and want to make a big impact, then visit the jobs section on www.knowsley.gov.uk to find out more. To talk through any of the opportunities, call John Flaherty, Executive Director of Place at Knowsley Council on 0151 443 2410. The closing date for applications is Friday, 2 June 2017. Interviews will take place during week commencing 19 and 26 June 2017.
@KnowsleyUK | www.discoverknowsley.co.uk
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Sponsored Content Natasha Young natasha@movepublishing.co.uk
Knowsley recruitment drive Focus
“
Knowsley is perfectly positioned and well prepared for accelerating growth in jobs, housing and business. It’s a place with a strong vision.
A new multi-million pound Shakespeare North Playhouse is among Knowsley’s prominent projects.
“
Pipeline of development projects prompts recruitment drive in Knowsley A recruitment drive has been launched by Knowsley Council to help progress a number of the borough’s ambitious regeneration schemes. An approved list of large-scale projects is lined up to help boost the area’s business, leisure and housing offer as well as its transport infrastructure, enabling it to capitalise on its close proximity to both Liverpool and Manchester. To help facilitate the transformational developments, a total of 11 posts have been opened up to applicants by Knowsley Council and vary from the head of a newly formed major development team within the local authority to legal and planning roles. Positions for principal engineers and principal regeneration officers are also included in the latest raft of jobs at the council. The move follows the adoption of Knowsley’s Local Plan, which will guide the development of 164 hectares of employment land and 8,100 new homes across the borough, as well as the launch of the council’s Economic Growth Plan and a new Housing Strategy.
Highlighting a number of individual schemes which are expected to enhance Knowsley, John Flaherty, executive director of place for Knowsley Council, says: “We are also in the process of implementing three town centre masterplans, a new Shakespeare North Playhouse, Halsnead Garden Village and five further sustainable extension sites, having secured over £42 million of Combined Authority Single Investment Fund projects to be delivered over the next two years.” Construction is expected to get underway on the 350-seat Shakespeare North Playhouse in January 2018, with the £28m venue aiming to highlight the area’s links to the Bard whilst forming part of a wider masterplan to regenerate Prescot. Meanwhile the government-backed garden village – one of 14 across the country and the only one within the Liverpool City Region – will see a housing-led, mixed-use scheme breathe new life into a site which historically formed part of the Halsnead Park Estate near Whiston. A public consultation took place earlier this year, with employment land
to bring an estimated 867 new jobs, a new primary school and ‘community hub’ as well as improved community facilities, and up to 1,600 homes being proposed for the garden village. Flaherty adds: “Just 15 minutes from Liverpool and 35 minutes from Manchester, Knowsley is perfectly positioned and well prepared for accelerating growth in jobs, housing
and business. “It’s a place with a strong vision, a clear plan of how to get there and the funding resources to deliver against huge ambition.” For more information about the employment opportunities within Knowsley Council, visit the job section at www.knowsley.gov.uk.
MOVE COMMERCIAL 43
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Diary Dates - Green Special Best for Networking
Best for Planning professionals
Best for Education
10 May
23 May
15 June
Chester Green Networking
RTPI North West Rural Planning
Fracking
The White Horse, Chester Racecourse
Macclesfield Town Hall, Macclesfield
Manchester Conference Centre, Manchester
Networking forum Green Pages welcomes green focused businesses from across the region to connect, share ideas and make new contacts. Ideal for budding businesses in the healthy lifestyle space, this informal event gives attendees the chance to meet with like-minded people. If you’re a member of The Green Pages you can attend for free. If not tickets are £10; meanwhile refreshments are available to purchase at the bar.
Organiser Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) North West tackles the issue of rural planning, examining environmental sustainability in the region’s greenfield areas. As talk continues of the need for housing developers to have access to green belt land, this session will look at how rural areas fit into current discussions. There’ll also be a chance to get up to date with legislative changes to rural planning. Tickets are £95 for members and £115 for non-members.
It’s one of the most controversial topics in the UK today and one that will have far reaching implications for the property and development markets. In this seminar RICS CPD Foundation will cover the future of fracking projects, including the impact of press and protesters, the legal aspects surrounding the practice and the key issue of environmental protection. Topics include ‘How is fracking regulated?’ ‘The hydrocarbon licensing regime’ and ‘Is trespass law still an issue?’ Tickets are £30 for RICS members and £40.50 for non-members.
In the know
Professional Pointers
Ecobutton From £9.99, www.ecobutton.com
Saving energy in the workplace with Samantha Nicholson of Business Growth Hub The UK’s SMEs are said to be missing out on energy bill savings of up to 25%, just from easy-to-implement, low or no cost improvements. Samantha Nicholson is head of low carbon at Greater Manchester’s Business Growth Hub, which has saved businesses more than £335 million through award-winning advice. She shares the following three energy-saving steps: 1) Monitor your consumption Take regular meter readings to establish a baseload and track progress. The more information you have, the more accurately you can calculate savings. 2) Quick wins • Heating - Every 1˚C rise increases heating costs by 8%. Set thermostats accordingly, ensure controls are not tampered with and check timers are correct. • Lighting - It’s responsible for around 18% of energy use in commercial buildings. Switch lights off in unoccupied areas and install low-cost timer switches, movement sensors or daylight sensors to reduce unnecessary use. 44 MOVE COMMERCIAL
• Office equipment - 46% of energy in businesses is used outside of standard operating hours. Turn PCs, printers and other equipment off at the end of the day. • Staff awareness - Motivate your workforce to take action, for example through competitions, establishing ‘green champions’ and showing support from senior management. 3) Next steps • Upgrades - Identify priority areas for new equipment. For example, LED lighting uses up to 90% less energy and lasts up to three times longer than traditional lamps, while a boiler more than 15 years old probably needs upgrading. • Consider purchases - Establish an internal policy that ensures lifetime running costs are taken into account when purchasing new equipment. • Publish policy - Develop a publicly-available environmental policy to guide long-term change and ensure energy saving principles are embedded across your business.
Green practices around the office don’t have to be a chore to implement. Take Ecobutton, for instance - a cost-effective gadget which curbs unnecessary energy consumption when connected to a computer. Office PCs left running gobble up precious resources, but one push of the Ecobutton when leaving your desk will send your machine into its most energy efficient mode. The firm behind the gizmo claims it could save your business the equivalent of 135kg of carbon per year, and corporate customers can even personalise their Ecobuttons with the company’s branding. Several enterprise packages are available online, including the ‘Business Edition 2 Pack’ aimed at smaller operations with up to 10 staff members, and the ‘Professional Solution Trial 2 Pack’ which comes bundled with specialist energy saving software.
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Business lifestyle
How to… Make your business greener
Eco-friendly technology
Tried & Tested Business Lunch Wahaca
College Lane, Liverpool, L1 Review by Liam Deveney With no siesta factored into the average working day, a heavy lunch can have a detrimental effect on both concentration and performance. Thankfully, the region’s businessmen and women can now enjoy a midday menu which doesn’t render you unproductive and may even improve your mood in the second half of the day. Wahaca, a Mexican market eating chain with restaurants throughout the UK, has challenged itself from day one ‘to minimise the environmental impact caused… and learned how to build sustainability into every element of its restaurants’. The eatery enjoys a prime location on College Lane in Liverpool ONE’s shopping area, which is a mere five-minute walk from both the traditional commercial district around Water Street and the ever-expanding Baltic Triangle business area. Our waiter, Josh, showed us to a window table and was extremely helpful and attentive throughout our stay. Sadly, the poor weather prevented us from dining at the rooftop bar which is sure to be a massive hit during the summer months. The menu offers a variety of dishes to suit all palates but we opted for street food – tapas style dishes perfect for sharing – washed down with a bottle of traditional Mexican beer (Pacifico Clara, £4). My dining partner chose grilled British steak tacos (£4.65), chorizo and potato quesadillas (£4.35) and marinated chicken taquitos (£4.45); whereas I opted for pork pibil tacos (£4.30), huitlacoche empanados (£4.60) and sweet
potato and feta taquitos (£4.15). Two dishes each would probably have sufficed from a menu which contains only locally-sourced ingredients all cooked daily on the premises. Each dish was tasty, light and cooked to perfection but we both agreed the huitlacoche empanados – crispy pastry parcels stuffed with mushrooms, truffley Mexican corn and melted cheese – was a true delight to behold. Despite being lost in a Mexican culinary dream, I managed to retain enough self-control to test the Wi-Fi speed - typically, satisfaction was guaranteed. I was not only able to send and receive emails but the power sockets under many of the tables meant my laptop had an easily-accessible power source if required. Thankfully, due to the lightness of the food, my dining partner and I were able to make a selection from the dessert menu. I (wisely) opted for churros y chocolate (Mexican doughnuts, £4.25) with my plus one picking the chocolate brownie (£5.50). It came as no surprise that we were both delighted with our choices and it was the perfect end to a most pleasurable experience. Those in a rush to get back to the office can also pay the bill via the Wahaca QuickPay app which can save valuable minutes for even the most time-sensitive diners. It was impossible to find fault in Wahaca, a chain which somehow manages to retain a personal touch: your reviewer’s recommendation could not get any higher.
Introducing environmentally friendly appliances, equipment and technology into the office is an obvious way to up your firm’s green game, but this can be an expensive proposition. The cost barrier can, however, be negotiated by purchasing green products included on the government’s Energy Technology List, all of which come with a 100% tax relief. Part of the Enhanced Capital Allowance tax scheme for businesses, the list can be found on the government’s website and it includes everything from eco-friendly boilers to energy efficient light bulbs, so it may be time to consider a swap.
Cycle to Work scheme Taking measures to minimise your office’s carbon emissions is all well and good, but why not go a step further by cutting them during your workforce’s commute? Encourage your employees to leave the car at home by signing up for the government’s Cycle to Work scheme, which allows companies of all sizes across the public, private and voluntary sectors to loan bikes and cyclist safety equipment to staff as a tax-free benefit. If a higher percentage of your workforce is cycling to and from work, your business will reap the benefits of a fitter, healthier office and reduce its carbon footprint in the process.
Supply chain audit Ensuring your office adopts environmentally friendly practices is only half the battle. If your supply chain is anything less than sustainable, your carbon footprint is still higher than it could be. Consider carrying out a supply chain audit to ensure your raw materials and services are coming from the greenest sources and geographically closest providers so they aren’t clocking up unnecessary miles in transit. There are dozens of premium services out there which will conduct an audit on your company’s behalf while free advice on the matter is available through non-profit group The Energy Trust. MOVE COMMERCIAL 45
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Expert views Ask the panel The government’s recently announced UK Digital Strategy includes commitment to developing a “world class” digital infrastructure whilst, at the same time, it presses ahead with the £56 billion HS2 and the mammoth Trans-Pennine tunnel. With this in mind, Move Commercial asks a panel of North West experts:
Q: What will have the greater impact on growth here in the North West? Digital infrastructure or its physical counterpart? The answer to the question depends on the sectors you operate in and whether we are talking about short or long-term benefits. The development of a world class digital infrastructure would place less emphasis on physical infrastructure as it would enable individuals to work and collaborate with less need to commute and travel, whilst at the same time allowing for productivity whilst travelling. As it stands, mobile broadband between Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds is patchy and in some places unusable, resulting in significant downtime if using public transport. That said, the road and rail links along this corridor also require significant investment in their own right. A balance needs to be struck with investment in both areas; however a focus on digital infrastructure would see significant benefits in the shorter term, whilst longer term advantages would be gained from investment in physical infrastructure. Andy Roberts, managing director, Formby Surveys
Digital and physical infrastructure projects really go hand in hand people increasingly need to be able to interact with services and work easily online, but they also need to be able to get together in real life. Too often physical infrastructure decisions dominate the debate because it's about building big things you can cut a ribbon in front of, whereas for me, the two should be the subject of one conversation. I'd also make the case for 'human' or
'social' infrastructure - that's investment in skills, education and health, as we need a skilled and healthy workforce to use the internet and our trains - but I probably sound a bit Boris 'pro-having and pro-eating' Johnson. I was actually particularly excited about the ‘free WiFi on trains’ announcement in the government’s Digital Strategy. For me, it doesn't matter if it takes me three hours to get to Newcastle as long as I can use that time productively. It will be interesting to see how this works in practice.
Digital infrastructure is far more important than HS2 for growth in the North West. Although it's always nice to meet people face-to-face, gone are the days where meetings don't take place because of physical limitations. More than 50% of meetings that now take place happen in an online space and that number is growing annually.
Technology has led us to a point where we no longer need to be in the same room, city, country or even continent to have a meeting. If somebody was considering travelling from London to Liverpool for a meeting, would a reduction of less than half an hour on the current travel time sway their decision in favour of travelling? I would argue not. For me, digital infrastructure is paramount to success in the region.
Kirsty Styles, head of talent and skills, Tech North
Stephen Ullathorne, CEO, Gas Tag
Research is starting to reveal that the more digitally connected people become, the lonelier they can feel. Our team has observed that people and businesses thrive as part of a community, for example in co-working spaces. Because of this, we are focused on creating spaces that enhance physical as well as digital community. We also believe that, although HS2 is important, current train connections are adequate - so in the short term, digital upgrades are more important. Start-ups to big corporations will all be able to trade with the whole world because of digital connectivity, which is now more important than ever in a post-Brexit trade arena. Sam Lawson Johnston, director of real estate, LJ Partnership
Connectivity counts, be it digital or physical. With people expecting swift travel and internet access anytime, anywhere; digital infrastructure and transport links are both fundamentally important. A number of factors will contribute to making our digital infrastructure ‘world class’. These include the development of the next phase of broadband and mobile capability, 5G and full fibre, supporting digital businesses to grow and giving consumers access to the best deals on digital connectivity. That said, the importance of face-to-face communication cannot be underestimated and is what helps drive innovation and growth. This requires better transport links. We need more capacity on lines to London through HS2 and much faster journeys across the North, making travel easier and giving businesses access to larger labour pools. The greatest impact on growth in the North West will be how successfully the infrastructure necessary to support both physical and digital connectivity can be brought in. Phil Kemp, chief commercial officer, Bruntwood
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