Move Commercial 57

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Issue 57

A decade of Move Commercial

the billion dollar man Improbable’s Rob Whitehead

Man vs Machines How will AI and automation affect North West workforces? www.movecommercial.com

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Issue fifty seven Move Commercial

Welcome to Move Commercial

Contents News

In this issue we mark a special milestone – our 10th anniversary.

It’s certainly been a decade of change for the North West and the commercial property and business sectors alike, and Move Commercial has been here to cover it all. To celebrate, we reflect on some of the key moments and prominent names to have graced our pages over the years.

Plus we look to the future, focusing on key technological advancements which could disrupt our industries.

A varied panel of experts discusses the impact artificial intelligence and automation could have on our workforces and commercial space in our latest

debate. Meanwhile Rob Whitehead, the Liverpool co-founder of tech start-up Improbable, speaks to Move Commercial about receiving a landmark investment from Japan’s SoftBank which prompted the business to be valued at $1 billion.

Plus we explore the ways high street retailers are turning stores into leisure experiences for customers, and we shine the spotlight on Liverpool’s iconic former Littlewoods building as it’s set to be given a new lease of life.

06 Aberdeen Asset Management completes 4 St Paul’s Square acquisition 07 Two Knowsley masterplans adopted 08 National housebuilder recommits to South Liverpool base 09 Saint-Gobain Building Distribution agrees 10-year lease for Birkenhead site 10 Falconer Chester Hall celebrates milestone anniversary

Natasha Young, editor natasha@movepublishing.co.uk

11 Application imminent for Parkside colliery regeneration 12 Hoteliers warned to ensure premises are safe for visitors

Features 14 Bitesize Thinking Food for thought 16 Appointments Who’s moving where?

19 My Month MSB Solicitors’ Brad Armstrong reflects on a busy month at work

24

20 Debate: Machine Logic

Photo: © John Bradley / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Experts discuss the impact artificial intelligence and automation could have on workforces 24 A Decade of Transformation We mark Move Commercial’s 10th anniversary with a look at the key moments and developments 30 At Your Leisure

34

38

High street retailers fight for footfall by creating new leisure experiences 34 Founding Building

Advertising Director Fiona Barnet. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Advertising Team Catherine McCarthy, Natalie Holden, Anthony Santos, Kimberley Wheeler.

Editor Natasha Young. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Editorial Team Lawrence Saunders, Mark Langshaw, Christine Toner, Matthew Smith. post@movepublishing.co.uk Design Mark Iddon.

Cover Image iStock / User: iLexx.

Photography Robin Clewley – Debate: Machine Logic.

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.

We shine the spotlight on Liverpool’s iconic former Littlewoods building 38 Interview Rob Whitehead, Liverpool co-founder of Improbable, on the firm’s recently secured huge investment 44 Business Lifestyle Top tips, events and reviews for the summer 47 Ask the Panel Does the government’s business rates pledge go far enough?

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News Latest

Aberdeen Asset Management completes 4 St Paul’s Square acquisition Aberdeen Asset Management has completed an £18.7 million acquisition of Liverpool Grade A office building 4 St Paul’s Square.

The firm has purchased the 107,000 sq ft property from English Cities Fund (ECf) – a joint venture comprising Muse Developments, Legal & General and the Homes and Communities Agency.

Located in the city’s commercial district, the building forms part of ECf’s wider St Paul’s Square development, which also features two other office buildings, a residential block and a multi-storey car park.

Currently 40% vacant, 4 St Paul’s Square is home to occupiers including Santander, Mercers, CBRE and GVA. There is said to be strong interest in the remaining space with one whole floor currently in legals.

Robert Cass, head of UK property transactions at

Aberdeen Asset Management, says: “We are delighted to have acquired this multi-let office investment for one of our funds. The city continues to show strong growth and demand for high quality office accommodation with considerable office stock also being converted to other uses.

“ECf has created a first class development and a very attractive environment for modern occupiers at St Paul’s Square and we look forward to capitalising on the strong demand existing for space in the building.”

Phil Mayall, development director at Muse Developments, adds: “This is a high quality scheme and has established the area as the city’s prime commercial business district office and mixed-use location. We wish Aberdeen well in its ownership.”

Aberdeen Asset Management was advised by Parkinsons and Worthington Owen, and ECf (General Partner) Ltd was advised by GVA.

4 St Paul’s Square is said to be attracting strong demand for its remaining space

Trio of lettings at South Liverpool business park

Meridian is located nearby to motorway links

Merseyside-based property developer Prospect GB has secured three new lettings at Meridian Business Village in South Liverpool.

The trio of tenants has taken a combined 4,152 sq ft of office space with just two units now remaining at the Hunts Cross business park.

Chris Walker, head of Prospect GB’s commercial division, says: “The remaining units have attracted some serious enquiries from 6

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various start-ups and successful SMEs seeking a larger base to accommodate their expansion.

“The location has also been a key competitive strength, not just in strategic business terms but also in terms of lifestyle quality and convenience for our tenants’ staff.”

Keppie Massie and Hitchcock Wright & Partners are acting as joint agents on the scheme, which is located off Woodend Avenue.

Growing law firm launches new commercial property service A new ‘one-stop shop’ service for commercial developers and landlords is being launched by Liverpool-based BMD: Law. The growing firm, which was established in 2006 and has an office in Wavertree Village, is unveiling the programme following the success of its ‘Landlord Angel’ tool which assists landlords with tenancies and disputes and ensures they are compliant with necessary regulations.

The new service will provide clients with access to expert insight, accountancy, financial planning and property management alongside legal assistance.

There will also be access to architects and agents to assist with planning applications and property purchases.

Bernadette McDonald, manging partner of BMD: Law, says: “We are very excited to expand our commercial services and offer a complete property solution for the region’s developers and landlords.

“The success of our Landlord and Business Angel services within the property and commercial sectors has showcased the appetite for this kind of all-inclusive package, so we are eager to launch and help businesses grow.”

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Latest News

Knowsley Council adopts Huyton and Halsnead masterplans Knowsley Council will progress with masterplans for two of the borough’s most ambitious employment and housing projects.

The local authority adopted both the Halsnead Garden Village Masterplan and the Earlsfield Park Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) during a recent cabinet meeting.

The mixed-use vision for Halsnead, near Whiston, which was named as one of 14 government-backed garden villages in the country in January, includes up to 1,600 new homes alongside employment development opportunities.

Councillor Graham Morgan, Knowsley’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, says: “The adoption of the Halsnead Garden Village

Masterplan is vital to support, encourage and guide investment in the development of this large site over the next 18 years.”

Meanwhile, the 23-hectare Earlsfield Park has been earmarked as a “prestigious employment and housing location” with businesses contributing to the economic growth of the Liverpool City Region.

Located in North Huyton, the site will include around 100 new homes and a minimum of 16 hectares of employment land.

Cllr Morgan adds: “Our ambition is to create a prestigious employment and housing location in Knowsley, which will be supported by enhancements to the community facilities at the existing playing fields and Knowsley FC and Oak Plantation.”

Yin Yan pop-up heading for Castle Chambers

Yoga, pilates, talks and workshops will take place at Castle Chambers

A series of lunchtime and after-work wellbeing sessions are being lined up for Liverpool’s Castle Chambers.

Pop-up yoga and pilates provider Yin Yan has agreed a deal with Merseyside Pension Fund to host the classes at the 43 Castle Street site.

Talks and workshops will also be held by the company as part of the programme.

Andrew Willoughby of CBRE,

which manages the building on behalf of Merseyside Pension Fund, says: "Yin Yan is a welcome added amenity for all our stakeholders and is a good fit with our place-making strategy for the building."

Robin Ellis, founder of Yin Yan, adds: "We can't wait to engage occupiers and help people with free sessions that participants can do in work clothes, such as spinal health and optimising your brain power."

The Halsnead site will be transformed

Companies show support for We Love Manchester Emergency Fund Two professional services firms have offered to help the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund for free.

KPMG and PwC, which both have offices in the city, will provide auditing services and tax advice to the charity, which was set up in response to the attack at Manchester Arena in May. Launched by Manchester City Council and British Red Cross, with support from Manchester Evening News, the fund has raised £12 million for people who were injured or bereaved as a result of the incident.

Siddiq Musa, partner at KPMG in the UK, says: “After we learned about what had happened, we started to think about how we could help. Many of our staff in Manchester know people who were affected by the attack, and across the UK our firm is full of

people from different backgrounds, working together side-by-side, so this is an issue very close to our hearts.

“It is important that we all do our bit to support the victims and their families, and do what we can to make sure something positive may come from such an appalling act.”

Iwan Griffiths, PwC's regional chair for the North West, adds: "PwC is proud to be appointed auditor of the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund and happy to do so for no charge.

“We want to help ensure as much of the money raised goes to help those impacted by the sad events of May. It's important to our people that we play our part and do the right thing for the city and community that we all love and are proud to call our home."

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News Sales & Lettings

Bruntwood welcomes Changos eatery to the second of its sites Aviation House has been remodelled

Housebuilder recommits to new look South Liverpool base Keepmoat Homes has renewed its lease at MCR Property Group’s Aviation House in South Liverpool.

The national housebuilder, which specialises in both large and small-scale developments, will continue to occupy 8,772 sq ft of Grade A space across two floors at the building.

Formerly known as Keepmoat House, the office complex has recently been completely remodelled and is being relaunched under the Aviation House name.

Office spaces, entrance foyers and common areas at the 17,620 sq ft site, formerly known as Keepmoat House, have been comprehensively refurbished as part of the

building’s transformation.

Following the deal Karl Kiernan, acquisition and asset manager at MCR Property Group, says: “We are delighted that Keepmoat Homes Ltd has recommitted to Aviation House.

“Following the complete remodelling, we are looking forward to welcoming more highquality occupiers to this fantastic development.”

Hitchcock Wright & Partners and Matthews & Goodman are acting as joint agents at Aviation House, which is located at Estuary Business Park.

A total of 8,848 sq ft of office space remains available at the building, situated close to Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Bruntwood has welcomed its latest tenant to Liverpool’s Queen Insurance Buildings.

Mexican food outlet Changos has opened at a Dale Street unit within the mixed-use complex following its success in Manchester.

Welcoming the burrito bar, Toby Sproll, head of retail and leisure at Bruntwood, says: “Changos is based in our St James Building in Manchester and has developed something of a cult following, with customers often seen queuing out of the door.

“We have been delighted to work with Roger and the team to bring them to Liverpool, adding to the increasingly diverse array of food outlets at Queen Insurance Buildings, and I have no doubt they will enjoy great success.”

The eatery serves up burritos with a range of options, as well as other Mexican classics including nachos and chilli.

Roger Taylor, owner of Changos, says: “The Changos ethos is all about high quality food using only the freshest ingredients and the tastiest sauces, all hand-prepared and cooked on the premises.

“This approach means everything to us and has helped us to enjoy great success in Manchester. We hope to develop a similar buzz with our new outlet in Liverpool and we are sure our new location will allow us to do just that.”

New arrivals at Aintree Racecourse Retail Business Park

The new Plumbing Depot trade counter is one of 50 centres nationwide

A trio of new trade counter lettings has been announced for Aintree Racecourse Retail and Business Park.

New arrivals at the Orbit Developments scheme include Benchmarx Kitchens, CTD Tiles and Plumbing Depot.

Benchmarx Kitchens, part of the Travis Perkins group, will provide kitchen and design services exclusively to trade professionals from its 8

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5,500 sq ft store.

Meanwhile, James Hargreaves (Plumbing Merchants) Ltd has signed up to a 4,000 sq ft unit and will be trading as Plumbing Depot.

Finally, CTD Tiles, part of The Saint Gobain group, has taken a 4,000 sq ft unit.

The new tenants will join existing brands at the park which include Screwfix, Toolstation, PTS and Clifton Trade Bathroom.

Dennis Dwyer, divisional director for Merseyside for Orbit Developments, says: “These lettings demonstrate the popularity of Aintree Racecourse Retail and Business Park as a trade counter location servicing Liverpool and the surrounding areas.

“The desirability of the park is enhanced by the strong line up of brands in addition to ease of accessibility.

“We are very pleased to welcome our new customers to the business park and wish them the best for the future.”

Changos’ new Queen Insurance Buildings outlet follows success in Manchester

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Sales & Lettings News

Saint-Gobain Building Distribution agrees 10-year lease for Birkenhead site Downing’s John Clegg

Deal hat-trick for Liverpool’s No.1 Old Hall Street A trio of new deals has been secured at Liverpool’s No. 1 Old Hall Street office development.

Sensible Staffing Ltd is new to the Downing building, which offers Flexi-Office workspaces, and has taken 203 sq ft on the second floor.

Meanwhile existing tenant Zeus Claims Solutions has expanded its operations at the site.

Having started with one unit in the commercial district building, the company has now signed up for a third unit of 203 sq ft on the second floor, bringing its total space to 1,100 sq ft.

Market research company Vision One Recruitment has renewed its lease on a 924 sq ft unit for three years as it continues a period of growth.

John Clegg, Downing’s head of property management, says: “We’re delighted to see our tenants continuing to grow and expand with us at No.1 Old Hall Street.

“Providing these fast-growing, ambitious SMEs with a streamlined, business-friendly letting option means their offices can grow with them as they expand - a flexibility that supports ongoing growth rather than hindering ambition.

“We’ve got great plans afoot for No. 1 Old Hall Street and we’re really looking forward to continuing to provide outstanding accommodation for businesses in the heart of Liverpool’s commercial district.”

Saint-Gobain Building Distribution Ltd has agreed to let Unit 6 at Birkenhead’s Commerce Park on a 10-year lease.

The firm’s CTD (Ceramic Tile Distributors) business, which operates around 100 outlets in total, is already trading at the site.

The deal for the 7,745 sq ft space adds to a trade counter offering at the park which also includes Benchmarx, Tool Station and Clifton Trade Bathrooms.

Landlord Chainbid Ltd was represented in the deal by the agent Mason Partners, which has also recently retained two units to let at The Power Station in Bromborough following a client acquisition.

The 1a and 1b industrial spaces at the Thermal Road site, which total 12,335 sq ft, will be ready for occupation in autumn 2017.

They’re situated at the entrance of the eight-unit industrial development, which is currently under construction.

Mason Partners is acting as the joint agent for the site alongside Legat Owen.

The CTD trade counter at Birkenhead’s Commerce Park

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News Commercial

Falconer Chester Hall celebrates milestone anniversary North West architecture practice Falconer Chester Hall (FCH) is currently celebrating its milestone 20th anniversary.

The firm was established in Liverpool in 1997 and has since grown “exponentially in terms of the scale of the practice and its workload,” according to managing director Adam Hall.

Having expanded from a six-strong team in the city to 60 staff across its Liverpool studio and bases in Manchester, London and Malaysia, FCH’s birthday has provided an opportunity to reflect on two decades of projects and long-term partnerships.

Hall highlights the mixed-use transformation of Liverpool’s Queen Square to include a hotel and restaurants as an early project during the company’s inception 20 years ago, and says the practice has “continued to be very active” in such mixed-

use regeneration work.

He adds: “We’ve certainly built relationships that still move with us too.”

Downing is said to be one of the early FCH clients which still brings work to the firm, along with Peter Hynd and Promenade Estates, and Paul Bolton and Mark Connor who founded property firm Vermont.

Meanwhile several members of staff who worked with FCH 20 years ago remain part of the team which is currently enjoying the anniversary celebrations.

Looking ahead, Hall adds: “Consolidation is the focus now, and we’re looking to really build on Manchester and London as work in the Far East continues. We feel we can cover the country geographically very well.

“We’re still strong in the hotel sector, student accommodation and residential, and the market is very strong for us.”

The practice is celebrating its 20th anniversary

MSB’s managing partner, Paul Bibby

Liverpool law firm reports record financial results MSB Solicitors’ turnover has exceeded £5 million for the first time in the firm’s history.

The Liverpool-based company has reported its strongest financial results to date for the 2016/17 year.

Figures show a 16% increase on the same period last year, with net profit leaping by more than 50%.

Measures including responsible staff expansion, capping overheads and utilising existing office space are said to have contributed to MSB’s steady growth.

At the beginning of 2017 the firm relocated its city centre office to 4 St Paul’s Square, financing the move wholly from money that would otherwise have been spent on dilapidations under its previous lease. A fouryear rent-free period was also secured under the new lease in a deal aided by Worthington Owen.

The team also grew by almost a third in 2016, with more than 100 staff and consultants now based across three offices, and the firm has worked on a number of major contracts in both Liverpool and Manchester.

Managing partner Paul Bibby says: “I’m hugely impressed with the performance of the entire team at MSB. Contribution to our latest results has been from across the board, with increased revenue in every team.

“The commercial property and plot sales team has performed particularly well and we can boast an impressive portfolio of prominent developers, including X1, Ascot and Signature Living, who are all having a significant impact on the changing landscape in Liverpool.”

Financial firm strikes exclusive deal with auctioneer North West-based financial firm Together has joined forces with UK auction network SDL Auctions in an exclusive partnership.

Through the deal, auction specialist Together will be the only finance provider in attendance on SDL’s auction days to assist property buyers with short-term finance.

The agreement is the first of its kind that SDL Auctions has made with any of its suppliers.

The company, which auctions residential and commercial properties at events across the country, has more than 35 events lined up in 2017 including an auction at Chester Racecourse and a sale 10 MOVE COMMERCIAL

at the AJ Bell Stadium in Manchester.

Rory Daly, chief executive officer at SDL Auctions, says: “We have worked with Together for over 10 years now across the East and West Midlands, so we are confident that it is the best lender for our customers across the whole of the UK, thanks to its thorough understanding of the auction market, combined with great customer service.”

Scott Hendry, director at Together, adds: “It’s a testament to the success of our approach that SDL Auctions trusts us to serve its customers and we’re delighted to be its exclusive auction finance partner.”

Rory Daly (SDL Auctions) and Scott Hendry (Together)

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Development News

Application imminent for Parkside colliery regeneration Developers behind the proposed regeneration of the redundant Parkside colliery in Newton-leWillows have confirmed plans will be submitted in July.

The application will be for the first phase of the site’s redevelopment, which would include up to 93,000 sq m of employment space and could create as many as 1,200 new jobs.

Parkside Regeneration, a joint venture between Langtree and St Helens Council, has also confirmed that further public information days will be held in advance of the application’s submission.

John Downes, group managing director of Langtree, says: “We have

consulted extensively on our proposals and received some very constructive feedback.

“The submission of a planning application is a key milestone in the joint venture’s ambitions for Parkside.

“It will show us the nature and scale of the opportunity before us to deal with long-term, generational unemployment in St Helens and bring a redundant, brownfield site back in to productive use.”

Following the 31 July submission no date has yet been set for the planning application to be heard, although it is expected to be ruled upon before the end of 2017.

Cheshire East Council reveals intended Royal Arcade development partners

The 1950’s office building will be fully modernised internally

M7 begins Merchants Court refurbishment Property management firm M7 Real Estate has begun its £2.4 million refurbishment of Merchants Court in Liverpool.

Overlooking Derby Square, the 50,000 sq ft office building is located near to Liverpool ONE and the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts.

Serviced office provider Regus has already agreed to take the two top floors with the entire second floor still remaining.

Refurbishment works will include external cleaning, new windows and a “striking” new entrance foyer.

How the scheme could look

Brian Ricketts of agent Hitchcock Wright & Partners has been advising and providing strategic letting advice to M7, and says: “Merchants Court will provide a much needed boost to the current paucity of high quality office space in the current city centre market.

“Our clients have a strong belief in the city and are totally committed to providing the highest quality office space.

“We are confident in securing new tenants to the building and those discerning occupiers seeking a high quality professional business address in a truly stunning environment.”

Two intended development partners have been identified to transform Crewe’s Royal Arcade site. Cordwell Property Group and Peveril Securities have been named by Cheshire East Council, with post-tender discussions now underway.

Cordwell Property Group proposes a mixed-use leisure and retail scheme with a 450-space multi-storey car park and a new bus station.

William Warrack, managing director of the firm, says: “It will offer more than 90,000 sq ft of retail space in addition to an eight-screen cinema, gym and five restaurant units. They will be housed in a cutting-edge setting designed to stimulate pedestrian flows through a regenerated town centre.”

The developer is currently said to be working closely with partner Peveril Securities – part of the Bowmer and Kirkland Group – and Cheshire East Council to finalise the terms of the scheme.

A formalised development agreement is expected to be brought to the cabinet for consideration in September.

Warrack adds: “Our letting agents Colliers, Knight Frank and New Street Commercial are already in discussion with a leading cinema and gym operator, together with a major household name retailer to anchor the scheme.”

The development would still be subject to planning consent from the strategic planning committee at a future date.

Councillor Don Stockton, Cheshire East’s cabinet member for regeneration, says: “We are focusing much of our energy in Crewe on the redevelopment of the Royal Arcade site as this will be the most important aspects of the town centre’s regeneration.

“However, we are mindful that there is much more that needs to be done and are developing plans for wider town centre regeneration, including options for the future of Crewe’s markets and new public realm.”

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News Leisure

£16m funding boost announced for The Factory A major funding boost has been announced to contribute towards the £110 million cost of new Manchester venue The Factory.

The cash was announced as part of Arts Council England’s (ACE) latest round of funding announcements, and includes £7m of capital from the Lottery fund along with £9m of annual revenue from 2018-22.

Designed by Rem Koolhaas’ Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), The Factory will be the flagship cultural venue for the North and will be operated by Manchester International Festival.

Aside from this latest contribution, the total cost comprises £78m of Exchequer funding, up to £20m from Manchester City Council and a minimum fundraising target of £5m.

Enabling works on the building are about to get underway, with a groundbreaking ceremony lined up for 8 July.

The Factory will form part of the city’s new St. John’s neighbourhood, which is being developed by Allied London in partnership with Manchester City Council on the site of the former Granada TV Studios.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, says: “The economic benefits to the city and wider region are huge. The impact it will have on arts education and the development of creative and technical talent is significant.

And the range, scope, and scale of cultural opportunities it will provide for audiences from far and wide to come to the city and enjoy in this transformative and unique space will be unrivalled.”

The £9m annual revenue funding is an additional allocation to the ACE budget specifically for The Factory, and the venue’s application has not competed with other organisations for the main ACE National Portfolio Organisation funds.

Image courtesy of OMA

The purpose-built hotel is situated two miles from Junction 19 off the M6

Property group adds Manchester hotel to growing portfolio Property group Shepherd Cox has expanded its portfolio with the purchase of the Comfort Inn Manchester North.

The 42-bedroom hotel on Manchester Old Road in Middleton, situated close to Heaton Park, was sold by GVA with a guide price of offers over £2 million.

London-based Shepherd Cox now boasts a portfolio of 18 hotels as well as other real estate investments including care homes and residential property.

Nick Carlile, Shepherd Cox company director, says: "We are delighted to add the Comfort Inn Manchester North as the 18th hotel to our portfolio.

“It is well positioned and offers opportunities to increase the business through strategic occupancy and rate management. We are continuing our sourcing of attractive hotel assets with our agency partners."

GVA acted on behalf of its South East-based client which sold the hotel for strategic reasons with plans to grow its hotel business in other locations.

Martin Davis, director of GVA’s hotel and leisure team in the North who brokered the deal, adds: “The deal was arranged by way of a low key, confidential marketing campaign which demonstrates the continued demand for quality hotel assets in the North.”

New Manchester venue The Factory

Hoteliers warned to ensure premises are safe for visitors North West hoteliers are being urged to review health and safety processes to avoid endangering visitors and risking costly damages.

James Barker, solicitor at Kirwans law firm, is reminding operators they have a responsibility to ensure premises are safe, with repairs being kept up to date.

He says: “Under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957, hoteliers have an obligation to ensure that visitors to the premises are safe. That means carrying out regular inspections and repairs to 12 MOVE COMMERCIAL

their property. They also have a responsibility to take out the correct public liability insurance.

“Implementing regular risk assessments and actively looking for risks is crucial at all times, but especially during peak holiday times such as the summer period.

“A failure to do so can not only endanger visitors’ safety, but also put hoteliers at risk of being left with a hefty amount of damages and legal fees to pay if they are found to be in

breach of the act.”

Hoteliers are therefore advised to regularly conduct room risk assessments; monitor electrics; arrange regular gas inspections; check drawers, cupboards and spaces under beds are safe; follow food safety regulations; be prepared for fire emergencies; spot window dangers; ensure glass doors and patio windows are safe; regularly supply clean towels and bedding; and have a clear policy for mopping up spillages.

James Barker is urging hoteliers to be aware of safety responsibilities

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No two spaces are the same Small suites available with a special all-inclusive pricing offer on spaces up to 500 sq ft.

If you’re a small business starting up or an established one in need of new workspace you’ll find a range of inspirational offices in Bootle, Crosby and Liverpool city centre. Our all-inclusive pricing can make your transition to a new office even easier.

If you’d like to take a look around, give us a call or visit the website

p01-20_Move Commercial 03/07/2017 15:23 Page 14

Bitesize thinking

Dan Burn development director, db symmetry

If only I’d known…

The rise in ecommerce was anticipated by many, but the speed and the way in which it has revolutionised consumers’ shopping habits has been unprecedented.

This has been driven by customers’ ever-increasing demand for ultimate convenience, receiving goods when and where they want them.

New retail platforms and traditional retailers are all wanting to sell volume through the internet, which is leading to an insatiable appetite for new space.

The ‘last mile’ is becoming more fundamental as a result, with retailers such as Amazon and parcel operators such as DPD choosing to place fulfilment centres near to major cities to ensure they can not only reach their market, but also access a ready labour supply.

This has produced a surge in demand for strategic locations at, or close to, metropolitan hubs which had previously been earmarked for alternative uses such as residential.

In my crystal ball...

Despite the recent election result and consequential instability, coupled with a likely expensive Brexit divorce around the corner, the fundamentals of the market will remain.

Online sales will continue to grow at a steady rate of 3-5% over the next decade, which will maintain a strong occupier demand against low levels of supply.

Whilst retail has been, and will continue to be, the main driver of the industrial and logistics sector for the foreseeable future, as an industry we shouldn’t neglect the more traditional markets, especially manufacturing.

We are already seeing many UK headquartered companies ‘reshoring’ their manufacturing operations to maintain quality as costs rise overseas and I expect this to continue post-Brexit.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons / User: Mdbeckwith / CC-BY-3.0

My favourite building with...

Jim Nicholson chief executive, Pochin

John Rylands Library Living just a few miles from the city centre, I really love the diverse range of architecture in Manchester.

Walking down Deansgate you can take a trip through the ages, from the ultra-modern Beetham Tower at one end to the Gothic Manchester Cathedral at the other.

If I had to choose one building on that walk though, it’d be the John Rylands Library. Its neo-Gothic architecture has truly stood the test of time and makes you wish it was still feasible to create buildings with that level of detail and grandeur.

When it comes to commercial builds, we’re more accustomed to the contemporary glass creations you’ll find in the neighbouring Spinningfields district.

Despite being alongside these models of the 21st Century, the library still stands proud and has to be considered one of the most interesting European buildings of its age.

We’re extremely lucky to have it on our doorstep in the North West and it’s a great example of how heritage sites’ character can be preserved with the right development around them.

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Bitesize thinking

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Paul Wood director and founder, Vantage Building Consultancy

Curriculum VITAE Main duties: Director of a firm which covers building services from dilapidations to due diligence, project management and measured survey services to mention just a few.

Education: From humble beginnings as a house captain at Yorston Lodge in Knutsford, I progressed to Kings Macclesfield, then a BSc (Hons) degree and later a masters in commercial building surveying.

First Job: Selling ice creams during the summer at Tatton Park.

Shortest Job: Morrisons’ distribution centre in Northwich where my forklift driving skills were found to be lacking. A crash with a chiller saw me finish my first and last shift earlier than expected!

What’s the secret to your success?

Believe in what you do, listen to others and deliver on your promises.

What piece of advice would you give someone starting out in the industry?

Focus on what you’re good at and do it better

than anyone else. I always end my RICS lectures to the next generation of surveyors with this.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

I’ve had a few great mentors but a comment

by Alex Ferguson resonates with me - “We have two eyes, two ears and one mouth for a reason”. I always listen and look before I speak.

What makes Vantage Building Consultancy different?

It was built around really understanding our clients’ needs and a willingness to go the extra mile.

We also embrace new technology and industry advancements to ensure our services are at the forefront - off the shelf corporate reports are not our style.

Tell us about Vantage Building Consultancy’s plans for the next six months?

There’s a consensus that the market will plateau for a while due to Brexit and political influences and we’ve been ready for this for some time. Proactive active asset management assistance is our big push for the coming months, helping clients make the most of the situation they find themselves in.

Tweet all about it The 5 best commercial tweets

1 2 3 4 5

@Bruntwood_UK Last year our staff volunteered over 1,600 hours across our regional cities. It's great to hear so many others doing the same #volunteersweek @livuninews We added £652m to LCR economy in 2015/16, support one in every 57 jobs and have boosted student numbers by 19% in five years

Project Jennifer, Liverpool Regeneration specialist St. Modwen partnered with Liverpool City Council to transform part of Great Homer Street, providing a new district centre for the north of the city, with a new supermarket, shops, improved public spaces and new homes.

2003

SEP

St. Modwen boards the project after entering a development agreement with the council. The firm won an open design competition following a public consultation.

AUG

The developer is granted planning permission to create a new district centre between Great Homer Street and Scotland Road.

DEC

Project Jennifer gains momentum again following delays due to the recession and a failed bid by Tesco to build a free-standing superstore at the site.

FEB

A legal challenge from Tesco presents a further hurdle, but Sainsbury's completes a deal to become the new anchor tenant and pledges a 60,000 sq ft store, which would later be scaled back to a 40,000 sq ft outlet.

DEC

Project Jennifer takes a significant step forward as a Compulsory Purchase Order is approved, allowing the council to acquire land in the area for redevelopment.

NOV

A ground-breaking ceremony takes place, following the launch of the new ‘Greatie’ Market and Liverpool Housing Trust homes on Boundary Street East earlier in the year.

OCT

Building work on the new 80,000 sq ft district centre begins after planning consent is granted in March. It follows commitment to the scheme from B&M Bargains in recent months and Liverpool Mutual Homes’ redevelopment of Marwood Tower.

2016

SEP

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.

MAY

Project Jennifer opens to the public, with work on the district centre continuing.

2005

2007

2009

2010

2012

2014

2015

@sarahfwood STEAM not STEM (where A = Arts) is where UK has unique credibility and opportunity to compete and win on global playing field @BrabnersLLP We are delighted to announce that @StAnnsHospice has appointed us to provide business advice to its #Manchester team @CllrKennedy It was with tremendous satisfaction that I welcomed #RibaNorth to #Liverpool tonight. A dream born in 2010. #architecture

Liverpool City Council reveals plans to regenerate part of Great Homer Street to provide a range of new retail and community facilities in the north of the city.

2017

p01-20_Move Commercial 03/07/2017 15:23 Page 16

Appointments

Glenbrook hires investment director Manchesterbased property Chris Lloyd firm Glenbrook has appointed Chris Lloyd as investment director.

Lloyd has been in the North West commercial property sector for over two decades having previously held positions at Cushman & Wakefield, formerly DTZ, and was more recently asset manager at MCR Property Group.

He says: “The property market is at an interesting point; the backdrop of political change both regionally and nationally is presenting some exciting challenges and the investment market is suffering from lack of business space stock for occupiers and investors.

“I’ve always respected the way in which Glenbrook operates and I believe the company has the agility and capability to react to these changing market dynamics and capitalise on investment opportunities in the market.”

New recruit for Riddelltps Investment and asset management business, Ben Roberts Riddelltps has recruited Ben Roberts to join its team.

Roberts will work alongside directors Gareth Riddell and Andy Crompton as consultant director of investment. He was previously head of the Manchester office and partner for capital markets at Cushman & Wakefield.

Gareth Riddell, founding director at Riddelltps, says: “With Ben’s support, we have an opportunity to grow Riddelltps into the future by creating new services and building a team. We have worked with some great clients on ground-breaking transactions and managed some excellent assets and Ben coming into the business, as well as being a real coup, means we can start to realise our ambitions.”

16 MOVE COMMERCIAL

Gray Scanlan Hill appoints Darren Hughes Building surveyor Gray Darren Hughes Scanlan Hill has appointed Darren Hughes as director.

Hughes joins from Lambert Smith Hampton where he spent over 13 years primarily as a director in building consultancy.

He says: “Gray Scanlan Hill is a well-established Manchester-based building surveying practice focussed on providing high service levels and crafted independent advice to some impressive clients.

The business is conscientiously evolving with its clients firmly in mind and holds exciting potential for further development. I am pleased to be joining a first-class team and look forward to making an effective contribution to what the company has to offer.”

Simon Hill, director at Gray Scanlan Hill, adds: “We've known Darren for a number of years and it’s a real coup that he has decided to join us.”

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New Sensor City leader in Liverpool A new executive director has been appointed for Alison Mitchell Sensor City - a collaborative venture between Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool.

Alison Mitchell will help lead the drive for sensor technology and development across the UK, and brings high level industry experience to the role.

She joins from BT Business, where she was chief information officer and helped to transform the company’s products, services and technical delivery.

Mitchell says: “I’m looking forward to unlocking the wealth of expertise that exists between Liverpool’s two leading universities in collaborating with the region’s highly capable SME community to put Liverpool at the forefront of sensor technology development and innovation.”

You You Seek, Seek, W We eF Find. ind. kingsleyrecruitment k in g s l e y r e c r ui t m en t ..co.uk c o .u k Call 0151 242 0161 393 9889 Call 0 151 2 42 11630 630 / 0 161 3 93 9 889 Liverpool Liverpool | Manchester Manchester B Birmingham irmingham | L Leeds eeds | L London ondon R RECRUITMENT ECRUITMENT SPECIALISTS SPECIALISTS

p01-20_Move Commercial 03/07/2017 15:23 Page 17

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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

18 MOVE COMMERCIAL

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My Month Brad Armstrong, partner and head of plot sales, MSB Solicitors From securing a clutch of sales at a major mixed-use development in Liverpool city centre to welcoming the newest member of his family, it’s been a pretty busy month for solicitor Brad Armstrong. We caught up with him to get the lowdown on his most challenging deals and what’s up next.

My goal at the start of the month was...

To continue to grow the plot sales department at MSB and secure instructions from new clients who we have been in discussion with regarding large-scale developments in the North West.

The department has gone through a period of accelerated development in recent months. We have taken on major contracts in Liverpool city centre, appointed three new solicitors and attracted several new clients since the turn of the year - it is exciting times.

My biggest achievement was...

Securing the exchange of contracts on sales for one of our newest client's developments, The Rise in Low Hill - a mixed-use scheme of residential and student accommodation units.

This is a significant project for us, not only because of its scale but also because it draws us close to the city’s developing Knowledge Quarter and is on the doorstep of the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

It is an area that has long required investment and regeneration and we’re pleased to be able to play a part in that.

It wasn’t an easy contract to secure - the process has been drawn-out and convoluted for various reasons - but we succeeded through great team work, great leadership from Beth Conway, and great relationships with our client and the agents.

THE NEWS STORY THAT CAUGHT MY EYE Well, of course, the general election has dominated headlines. Now that’s done and dusted we can only hope that the North and North West will be a priority for our new government. Our region and the North generally requires significant investment in infrastructure in order to bridge the productivity gap.

Whilst work is good and there are a number of new projects in the city region, Liverpool city centre is falling behind other cities in the provision of Grade A office space and, in fact, despite a number of residential developments, we still face a chronic shortage of accommodation - those things combined could greatly hamper our ability to attract inward investors.

Let’s hope our new leader realises the opportunities in the North West and makes investing here a priority.

My biggest challenge was...

Getting some sleep! My wife gave birth to a baby boy, Rafferty. He’s fantastic, but a bit of a night owl.

The key meeting I had...

Was with one of our key clients to discuss their plans to purchase and develop additional land in Salford. The acquisition is in its early stages but very interesting.

As a department we are set to complete around 500 new apartment sales in the area for the client in the next 12 months.

My plan for next month...

Photo: Policy Exchange

To focus on developing the relationships we have with both new and existing clients, overseeing the completion of a client development in Leeds, and taking in some of the British Open with friends and clients at Royal Birkdale.

MOVE COMMERCIAL 19

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Mark Langshaw

The debate gathered industry professionals to Manchester’s Grindsmith

The debate panel: Neil Mort

John Flint

Dr Steve Davis

Glyn Powditch

director, CBRE

partner - commercial & private litigation, Clarke Willmott Solicitors

lecturer in manufacturing, automation & robotics, Salford University

CTO, Dream Agility

p21-40_Move Commercial 03/07/2017 15:25 Page 21

Artificial intelligence and automation Lunch debate

As a growing number of North West businesses turn to machines to support their workforces, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are becoming an integral part of our professional lives. Move Commercial assembles a panel of experts to discuss the pitfalls and possibilities these disruptive technologies present.

Machine logic What are the main implications of introducing AI and automation in the workplace?

JF: In terms of the legal sector their strengths lie in their ability to streamline processes, reduce costs for the end user and bring us more intuitive analysis.

I’m a litigator and we use AI when we need to review a large amount of documents. In the past this meant mass recruiting paralegals which is an inefficient process - it’s time consuming and costly, and it’s difficult to consolidate each individual’s knowledge for analysis.

NM: I think one of the biggest areas of impact is on, with all due respect, lower-skilled professions such as paralegals, so there’s the issue of how they need to reskill to re-enter the business.

JF: Yeah, I think that’s a challenge AI presents. It is removing the need for more mundane tasks to be carried out by humans but the important thing for the North West is to find ways of reintegrating people into the economy in different ways. Our big advantage over AI is our ability to use our brains and we should be working in roles where our skills can be applied.

SD: I think you’re exactly right on

that point. AI is very good at pattern recognition and repetitive tasks but the creativity and imagination is not there.

These are skills that we bring which machines are unable to reproduce at the moment. That human factor is difficult to replicate.

To what extent are AI and automation putting jobs under threat in the North West?

NM: It’s nothing new, is it? AI is another disruptive invention that has made life easier for people. Going back to the Industrial Revolution, machines came along and made certain professions obsolete. People had to reskill and that’s what will happen with AI. JF: We shouldn’t see it as a threat.

We need to deal with it and find ways where AI can help our businesses evolve. It’s a collaborative approach and is not meant to be a threat.

If we view it as a threat we are going to be left so far behind that it’s going to become an academic exercise in the future because there will be other countries stealing the ground from beneath our feet.

SD: We have seen it before, not just with the Industrial Revolution but also

with the computer. It replaced the typewriter in many instances but that didn’t result in mass unemployment.

We all have different skills now.

GP: It can be a hard sell to businesses in certain sectors. Those who think of our product and services as pure automation tend to feel threatened by it while others think they can beat a machine at certain tasks, but that’s simply not true.

On the flipside, you still need humans to actually guide the machines and this is the future of many businesses. Humans are very good at taking abstract principles and black swan events like the financial crash into account, while machines struggle to incorporate them.

Will the rise of automation and AI result in smaller workforces in the future?

JF: I think it will result in a different type of workforce, not necessarily larger or smaller.

Businesses will evolve to do more things and this will help them advance more quickly and should help us find more avenues of work. We may be working in a different way - less nine to five, more agile working, working from home or hot desking - but

nobody is going to complain about the loss of a call centre or a warehouse full of people packing fish fingers.

SD: And as I mentioned before, all of this new technology needs people to support it. For all of the unskilled jobs it puts under threat we’re creating new ones in manufacturing, tech support and programming.

GP: AI will likely result in an expansion of the knowledge worker economy. People with STEM degrees will probably do better than ever before when they enter the workplace, while those who graduate with ‘soft skills’ may start to struggle.

I don’t know how easy it will be for some of these people to reskill because many are never going to be interested in maths or optimisations.

You can’t necessarily force yourself to embrace these subjects or go back to them midway through your career path.

NM: In Manchester the creative industry makes up 15% of the pie. It was around nine or 10% only five years ago, so you can see how these companies are growing, and we need these creative industries to develop this AI. This is a big sector in the UK and it will continue to grow, so it’s clear some businesses may actually have a larger workforce.

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Mark Langshaw

What effect is the emergence of these technologies having on office take-up in the region?

NM: I think in 15-20 years it will have a major impact on the type of space businesses need. Space is changing all the time for occupiers. You see a lot more collaboration areas and breakout facilities in modern offices. The workplace is changing without AI, but I think these technologies will take that to a different level.

Some businesses are heading for a predominantly online future, particularly in the digital and creative sectors - look at the likes of Autotrader.

Many of these businesses only need space for designers and app developers.

GP: This is happening now. We realised our sales team was spending a lot of time following the same process again and again, searching for potential clients through the same system.

Although this can work, it’s such a scale game - we’ve now automated a large part of this process so one room in our office is just full of machines performing analytics for us.

JF: AI will enhance our workspaces going forward. Companies will be able to adopt more biophilic designs and more intuitive ways of working, and I think people will respond to that.

The office environment of the future will look very different from today’s. It has already changed considerably when you think about it we’re not stuck in cubicles anymore.

They are opening up now and people want light and natural elements - AI will bring further change in this regard.

NM: Advancements in AI and automation don’t necessarily mean

22 MOVE COMMERCIAL

smaller office spaces in terms of square footage. Going back 10 years or so professionals in a sector like legal would have their own offices, but now it’s mostly open plan with collaborative spaces. The amount of required floorspace is the same but it’s less insular now.

These technologies have forced us to rethink how we market properties, however, as landlords have to look at office space differently. Much more must be set aside for collaboration and breakout areas. Occupiers are keen to ensure that their space reflects where they are going as a business.

Are there any industries which are immune to the effects of these technologies?

SD: I don’t think any of the creative industries will be using this technology on a significant scale anytime soon.

Innovation is not what AI does - it’s good at solving specific problems through set procedures but thinking outside of the box is not its strong point.

NM: Certain job roles are immune to an extent. AI is unable to take human behaviour into account. If I’m negotiating a property deal for a client, they have their views about what that deal should be, I have my views and whoever we are negotiating with has their own views on the outcome.

These views can change all the time and there are other factors to take into account - what sort of space is the occupier looking at? Can we mould the deal to reflect the fact that they are desperate to secure a premises? There are always different factors in your own mind that change on a daily basis which AI cannot pick up on. That’s the art of negotiation and I don’t think a computer can do that.

SD: Any role involving innovation is relatively safe. There was an article a couple of years ago about a piece of art produced by a computer. There was nothing truly innovative about it - it looked at work from a number of artists, learned their style and used that as inspiration. Is it really creative?

Probably not. The computer merely analysed patterns and replicated them, while a good artist would produce something original.

GP: Yeah, I think the future for any job that can be easily automated is going to be machines, but they will always struggle with anything which requires a modicum of creativity.

Grindsmith Deansgate, M3 Grindsmith began life as a crowd-funded pod in Salford but its popularity soon saw it spawn three permanent bases across Manchester.

The growing firm’s Deansgate branch combines the best elements of a traditional coffee shop with a productivity hub, with power points dotted across its spacious interior and free WiFi on offer.

Serving food and drink from locally-sourced ingredients, Grindsmith shares its premises with co-working space Central Working and start-up incubator Rise, making it a popular haunt among business punters, particularly those plying their trade in the digital and creative sectors.

Grindsmith opened a new venue in MediaCityUK with a focus on food last summer and continues to operate its ‘Pod’ outlet at Greengate Square.

For more information email info@grindsmith.co.uk.

“

Humans are very good at taking abstract principles and black swan events like the financial crash into account, while machines struggle to incorporate them.

“

p21-40_Move Commercial 03/07/2017 15:25 Page 23

Artificial intelligence and automation Lunch debate

How should businesses be preparing for AI and automation to gain prevalence?

JF: They need to recognise the fact that adopting these technologies is an imperative, not an option, and I think the ones that embrace it sooner rather than later will be at the vanguard moving forward and steal a march on everyone else. It will affect every part

of our working lives.

NM: We were talking earlier about how AI and automation is putting the so-called lower skilled jobs at risk, so people in those kinds of professions will need to retrain and acquire skills that a machine cannot replace.

SD: I’ve done a lot of work with the food industry because there are a lot of food manufacturers in the North West looking to incorporate

automation. A lot of these companies were outsourcing work, but embracing automation has actually helped them save jobs. They need to make sure there are people on site who can deliver and provide maintenance for these technologies.

NM: It’s like Amazon, isn’t it? The way they deal with logistics now is different to the way they would have 10 years ago. They have robots that pick and place, and that’s made the process more streamlined, but this has created jobs because they had to bring in a team to maintain the machines.

GP: I think most savvy businesses are already preparing for this. A lot of the entry-level legal roles are making way for machine learning tech, so businesses in this sector and the others that have been disrupted have to ask themselves ‘if we were going to start our business from scratch today, how would we go about it?’ They need to overhaul from the ground up with the latest tech in mind.

“

Businesses need to recognise the fact that adopting these technologies is an imperative, not an option, and the ones that embrace it sooner will be at the vanguard moving forward.

“

MOVE COMMERCIAL 23

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Natasha Young natasha@movepublishing.co.uk

Ten years ago Move Commercial’s very first issue was released into the North West’s commercial property and business community.

To celebrate, we take a look at how our publication, the region and the industries we cover have grown and evolved.

A decade of transformation For the North West, 2007 was a year of ground-breaking development which would go on to change the face of the region.

As Liverpool’s milestone 2008 European Capital of Culture year loomed, a brand new arena and Liverpool ONE leisure and retail complex were being prepared in time for the occasion.

And in Salford construction began on Peel’s transformational MediaCityUK, creating a new northern home for media heavyweights including the BBC and ITV, as well as an environment for the sector’s startup businesses to thrive.

It was also the year that Move Commercial was born – a publication which would closely follow the North West’s commercial property and business sectors to reflect their achievements, key changes and developments, needs and importance to the region’s overall success.

During the past decade, Move Commercial has been on hand to track the progress of some of the area’s most prominent and important schemes.

From St Paul’s Square at the heart of Liverpool’s commercial district and the birth of Peel’s ambitious Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters visions, to new facilities supporting Manchester’s pioneering Graphene discovery and the city’s major mixed-use NOMA project.

Plus there’s been widespread regeneration throughout the region’s boroughs, and historic landmarks like the Royal Liver Building and the India Buildings are among the many to have been revitalised.

We’ve also interviewed a long list of key industry figures from the North West and beyond, including tech leader Sarah Wood, whose business Unruly was acquired by News Corp in a deal worth up to £114 million; and a global entrepreneur who needs little introduction - Sir Richard Branson.

Meanwhile prominent property names who have continued to oversee their companies’ growth in the region throughout the past 10 years have graced the pages of some of the earliest issues of Move Commercial.

Downing chairman George Downing, Bruntwood CEO Chris Oglesby, and Tom Bloxham, chairman and co-founder of Urban Splash are just a few of our past profile stars.

It’s been a decade of change for the North West, with business’ demands 24 MOVE COMMERCIAL

for commercial space shifting to different geographical areas and evolving styles and concepts. New sectors have also been rising to the forefront bringing huge growth potential for the region, such as digital/tech and energy; while the likes of high street retailers have been forced to adapt to consumers’ changing demands in a world where everything is available at the touch of a button.

Alongside this, the arrival of the Northern Powerhouse concept cast a wider spotlight on the key North West cities and, as is the case nationwide, Britain’s vote to leave the European Union has shaken up politics and left businesses of all sectors questioning what the future holds.

More recently we’ve shone the spotlight on the legacy of long-standing Manchester City Council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein, who led the city through decades of transformation before retiring from the role. And we’ve caught up with Professor Janet Beer, the vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool who is also chair of the board of Knowledge Quarter Liverpool – a £2 billion vision which is gathering momentum to create a world-class destination for innovation.

With help from experts throughout the industry Move Commercial has been here to cover it all, but not without addressing its own need to grow and evolve over the years too.

What started out as a quarterly print publication can now be picked up more frequently by the North West’s business community, and has an evergrowing online presence at www.movecommercial.com and @MoveCommercial on Twitter. In addition, our daily mailouts keep subscribers up to date with news and features sent directly to inboxes.

And aside from hosting Move Commercial events and debates, and covering the highlights of your industry calendar, we’ve also brought you rolling coverage from key industry exhibitions and conferences including Liverpool’s International Festival for Business and London’s MIPIM UK. As Move Commercial’s milestone 10th anniversary has given us the perfect opportunity to reflect on our success and yours, we look forward to bringing you more news, in-depth analysis, events and big interviews in print and online during the years ahead.

p21-40_Move Commercial 03/07/2017 15:25 Page 25

Move Commercial celebrates 10 years Anniversary special

Unruly’s Sarah Wood

The MediaCityUK vision

Early Liverpool Waters plans

The first edition of Move Commercial (2007)

Liverpool ONE

Bruntwood CEO, Chris Oglesby

Professor Janet Beer

Sir Richard Branson

MOVE COMMERCIAL 25

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Tireless

In our pursuit of ground rent and service charge arrears. jbleitch.co.uk

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Lawrence Saunders lawrence@movepublishing.co.uk

Walk into any department store in the North West these days and you're just as likely to find a coffee shop as you are men’s suits or the women’s perfume section. Move Commercial investigates whether this increasing clamour for in-store leisure is a dispensable add-on or the way forward for high street retailers coming under ever-increasing pressure from mobile and online shopping.

At Your Leisure High streets and shopping parks have long understood the need to offer customers a fully rounded leisure experience.

Restaurants and cinemas are as commonplace in most retail parks as clothes shops and toy stores, but in recent years it appears things have shifted up a gear with more high street retailers incorporating a leisure offering directly into their previously onedimensional stores.

This leisure-led retail trend made headlines earlier this year when House of Fraser (HoF) appointed a new chief executive who boasted zero retail experience.

Despite his apparent lack of trade savvy, HoF was adamant Alex Williamson, who has spent the last nine years at Goodwood - the group behind the Goodwood Revival and Festival of Speed - was the right person to lead the “transformation of the business”.

Williamson’s hiring is central to HoF’s plans to turn its shops into "lifestyle-led experiences" by adding restaurants, cafés and more beauty services.

Another well-established high street name which looks to be following suit in focusing more on its leisure offering is Debenhams.

The department store group revealed plans aimed at boosting its appeal as a ‘destination’ shop.

30 MOVE COMMERCIAL

“

Debenhams in Manchester has got a coffee shop right on the ground floor window line. In the past that would have been prime retail space.

“

The changes are part of chief executive Sergio Bucher’s £1 billion ‘Debenhams Redesigned’ strategy, which it’s hoped will revive the almost 250-year-old company’s flagging fortunes.

Bucher has stated he believes the future lies in the idea of ‘social shopping’, which perceives shopping as a “fun and sociable activity” with friends and family.

Meanwhile clothes chain New Look, which in June reported a drop in fullyear profits and sales, recently announced it’s to launch a new 24,000 sq ft flagship store in London featuring a hair salon and make-up bar - a model which could be rolled out nationally if successful.

The firm’s chief executive, Anders Kristiansen, says the move is in response to a “shift towards more experience-led purchases” from consumers.

Tempting customers to spend more time in-store with the draw of coffee shops and the like is nothing new.

However it certainly seems like the pace of change has gathered momentum in recent times.

“All of these [shops] are competing for people’s money and, to a certain extent, a lot of them are saying ‘we’ve got to have it because everyone else has got it’,” says John Pal, senior

lecturer in retailing at Manchester Business School.

“The Debenhams in Manchester, for example, has got a coffee shop right on the ground floor window line. In the past that would have been prime retail space but now they're using that space for something else because they want to get people to spend a lot of time in the shop.

“Similarly if you take a company like W.H. Smith, what it has done is taken out product which doesn't give it a lot of margin and replaced it with a coffee shop, a concession or a post office.

“It’s undoubtedly the case [that the trend will continue]. Retailers are going to use their stores as showrooms.”

Pal admits he found HoF’s choice of chief executive “very unusual”, mainly because in the past, retailers have chosen from one of their own.

Similarly the appointment of Richard Solomons, chief executive of InterContinental Hotels Group, as a non-executive director at Marks and Spencer, alongside Tesco’s hiring earlier this year of Unilever’s Alessandra Bellini as its new chief customers officer, are further signs that retailers are thinking a little differently when it comes to recruitment.

“The common theme amongst these appointments is that they know

p21-40_Move Commercial 03/07/2017 15:26 Page 31

Photo: iStock / Eva Katalin

In-store leisure offerings Focus

Beauty services could become widespread in some retail chains

In-store coffee shops are taking previously prime retail space

customers - they’re consumer marketers,” adds Pal. “What they’re looking at is how consumers are spending their time, spending their money and where they are doing it, and thinking ‘what can we do to make [visiting the store] a better experience?’”

One way many major high street retailers have been attempting to make a store visit a ‘better experience’ has been through the seemingly omnipresent coffee concession.

“Coffee culture of the UK has come more in line with Europe and America,” says Jonathan Owen, commercial director at SK Real Estate.

“People will specifically go to a location for that specific type of coffee

so increasingly retailers are drawing customers in off the back of their food offer - not just to the store.

“Retailers know that their customers eat, drink and enjoy coffee so they’re just capitalising on that and giving them what they want in-store.”

It’s not just large high street retailers which are looking to offer broader experiences for their customers.

Smaller traders have also been following the trend.

In Liverpool, on the busy shopping thoroughfare Bold Street, several independent retailers have been making some leisure-inspired additions, including REX: The Concept Store, which until earlier this year, had been offering independent retailers a space

to sell their wares in the former HMV unit.

One of these traders had been local roastery and coffee shop 92 Degrees Coffee, which had its own popular concession at the front of the store.

REX closed in January with plans to open in a new unit in the near future, but this isn’t the only example of retailer’s diversifying their offering on Bold Street.

Long-standing casual fashion outlet Resurrection recently put forward plans to open a café on its first floor, complimenting its existing hair salon.

According to proposals submitted to Liverpool City Council, the owners want to utilise a small area of the shop to serve teas, coffees, juices, alongside prepared food such as sandwiches, soups and cakes.

It appears the penchant for in-store leisure choices is here to stay.

Or as Owen puts it: “The internet is eating in to the retailing industry when it comes to ordering books, clothes, records etc. but you can’t really do that with a hot cup of coffee, can you?”

“

Retailers know that their customers eat, drink and enjoy coffee so they’re capitalising on that and giving them what they want in-store.

“

MOVE COMMERCIAL 31

p21-40_Move Commercial 03/07/2017 17:23 Page 32

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p21-40_Move Commercial 03/07/2017 15:27 Page 34

Christine Toner

A new lease of life Few buildings in Liverpool play such a central role to the city’s history as the former Littlewoods building on Edge Lane. While the art deco structure may have stood vacant for many years now, there was a time when it was a bustling home to thousands of employees during the heyday of the Moores brothers’ empire.

Built in 1938, the building was the headquarters of Littlewoods, created

by Sir John Moores and his brother Cecil.

As is widely documented, the Littlewoods brand included a catalogue firm, chain of department stores and, of course, the Football Pools.

Littlewoods was the first company in the UK to launch football pools, back in 1923. The brand became so popular it was named as the first sponsor of the FA Cup and in 1961 merged with Sherman’s Pools, another notable brand, after launching a takeover bid.

The pools business prospered even as other elements of the Littlewoods empire began to struggle. In 2000, however, it was sold on to Rodime along with its online subsidiary Bet247.co.uk.

In 2003 the lease for the Littlewoods building was sold to the North West Development Agency (NWDA) but it has remained empty until the present day.

34 MOVE COMMERCIAL

“ “

Photo © John Bradley (cc-by-sa/3.0)

As one of Liverpool’s most iconic sites gets set for a makeover, we take a look back at what makes the former Littlewoods headquarters one of the city’s founding buildings.

The chance to bring this building back to life and have it once again contributing to the economy is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Rescued from the wrecking ball With the iconic building left to fall into disrepair, fears grew that demolition might be on the cards. Something the architectural charity SAVE Britain’s Heritage was vehemently against.

In 2013 therefore when Manchester-based developer Capital & Centric Plc announced its intention to buy the building, the move was widely welcomed.

Marcus Binney, president of SAVE Britain’s Heritage, said at the time: “It was the fierce opposition to the demolition of the Art Nouveau Firestone factory in London over a bank holiday weekend in 1980 which prompted the first listing of the great factories of the 1920s and ‘30s.

Littlewoods is a spectacular example of the architecture of this golden era and doubly impressive for its enormous size.

“Liverpool has been a pioneer in the restoration of great landmarks of this date, notably with the handsome

conversion of Speke Airport and its pair of matching hangars. It is excellent that Littlewoods is to join them and funds are being earmarked for the work.”

Initial plans involved commercial premises as well as a hotel but by April this year when Capital & Centric completed its acquisition of the building those plans had taken an altogether more creative turn.

The developer agreed a 250-year lease with Liverpool City Council to deliver a major hub for film, television and other creative industries.

p21-40_Move Commercial 03/07/2017 15:27 Page 35

Littlewoods building Founding Building

The Littlewoods building is a visual landmark from all over the city of Liverpool

Looking forward “There are very few structures in Liverpool that are more iconic than the Littlewoods building, and far fewer still that have been allowed to fall into such disrepair,” says John Moffat, development director at Capital & Centric. “The chance to bring this building back to life and have it once again contributing to the economy is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“At a more commercial level, the quantum of space and generous floor to ceiling heights on offer are perfect for what we are looking to deliver.

“We have been working with the city council for quite some time and have already successfully delivered the multi award-winning Bunker Building, which is the first phase of the scheme.”

However, Moffat says the building is not only important in Liverpool’s history but also in that of the nation as a whole.

“During the Second World War the building was turned into a factory that produced 12 million shells, six million fuses, five million parachutes, thousands of barrage balloons, and even parts of aeroplanes,” he says. “There is no doubt that this site played a vital part in the war effort. Its importance stretches far

beyond the war though, the pools were played by over 10 million people by the 1980s and had become an integral part of the nation’s culture.

“The success of the pools and the rise in popularity of football were very much correlated. At its peak Littlewoods was the largest private company in Europe, and that success was driven in part by being at the forefront of new technologies.

“Littlewoods was a pioneer of computing and, amongst other examples, in 1967 became the first company in the UK to install an optical character reading machine.”

In relation to Liverpool, Moffat says it is difficult to quantify just how important the firm is to the city.

“The company employed over 20,000 people at its peak and the majority of those were in its home city of Liverpool,” he says. “As the city was on its knees after the war, the rapid growth in employment at Littlewoods Pools was a lifeline for the economy.

“There are few people in the city who can’t say they are related to someone who worked in the building. Littlewoods Pools didn’t just create menial work, it was widely renowned as an excellent employer which paid a generous wage.

“

There is no doubt that this site played a vital part in the war effort.

Its importance stretches far beyond the war though, the pools became an integral part of the nation’s culture.

“

“Just from a visual perspective, being 200 ft tall and situated at a high point, the clock face on the west wing tower is a visual landmark from all over the city.”

Looking ahead Moffat says Capital & Centric’s vision for the site is to see it “not just become the heart of Liverpool’s vibrant film and media industry with brand new sound stages at its heart,” but also a draw to companies in this sector both nationally and internationally.

It’s certainly a smart move. The city has already proven to be a hotspot for feature film locations and TV dramas.

Indeed, according to the most recent figures from the Liverpool Film Office, more than 250 films and TV programmes were filmed in Liverpool in 2015, bringing £11.5m to the local economy.

Meanwhile, conservationists need not worry too much about the structure losing its identity.

“We don’t plan to make wholesale changes to the elevations of the building, interventions will be kept to an absolute minimum,” adds Moffat.

“Once the stucco is repaired and the elevations redecorated the building will be back to its stunning best.”

MOVE COMMERCIAL 35

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Lawrence Saunders lawrence@movepublishing.co.uk

Virtual simulation start-up Improbable made headlines globally in May when it raised $500 million (£390m) in a funding round led by Japan’s SoftBank. Move Commercial caught up with Liverpool-born co-founder and chief technology officer, Rob Whitehead to find out more about this remarkable investment which has valued the firm at over $1 billion.

Virtually Improbable As Rob Whitehead was growing up, the idea that he could one day make a living out of computer games wasn't something he gave much thought to - that was until he started making thousands of dollars on one of them whilst still in school.

Fascinated by technology from an early age, Whitehead began picking up snippets of HTML and code at the age of 11, but it wasn't until he downloaded the popular online game ‘Second Life’ that he truly learnt the language of computers.

‘Second Life’, which launched in 2003, is an entirely online virtual world where users create representations of themselves, known as avatars, and interact with places, objects and other users.

Players can explore the vast alternative world and engage in a range of activities but for Whitehead, the ability to build, create, and ultimately sell items on the game was the real draw.

He became a dab hand at building weapons to order for other users in the game, making real money in the process - a total figure Whitehead 38 MOVE COMMERCIAL

puts in the low $10,000s.

“Making things in ‘Second Life’ made me realise that it was something I wanted to do moving forward in my life, but I guess I never knew that it could be my fulltime job,” says Whitehead.

“When you’re a kid you always think you’ll have to get a proper job eventually but now it’s strange looking back because all the things I learnt in ‘Second Life’, and the coding, is super relevant to what we’re building at Improbable.”

After graduating from Cambridge with a first class degree in Computer Science in 2012, Whitehead was offered what he calls a “decent” job at a high profile hedge fund in the City of London.

Despite the patent appeal of the proposal, he turned it down and instead decided to pursue his university friend’s “crazy idea for a computer game”.

“The idea was for a computer game were the entire world is alive,” explains Whitehead.

“A lot of games are really fake. For example in ‘Grand Theft Auto’ when

you park a car, walk away and then come back the car will have disappeared because the game world is not actually alive.

“Most computer games today are about pretending to make a world.

“We wanted to make a game that was really alive, where the trees actually grew and there was an actual ecology of animals - all with tens of thousands of players in the same space.”

That university friend with the crazy idea was Herman Narula, who Whitehead met during a dissertation review and soon bonded with over a mutual interest in multiplayer games and virtual worlds.

Straight after graduation Whitehead moved into a converted barn next to Narula’s family home in North London and Improbable was born.

For their ambitious game to become a reality, the pair knew they’d have to create some new tech but, during the process of doing so, discovered that their skills in fact lay in creating technology rather than games.

“

There was no celebration when the investment was announced.

This is just someone putting a bet on us and we haven’t won the race yet.

“

“We went ahead to make the tech needed to build our game and we realised we weren’t actually that good at making games but good at making technology, and that’s when we started moving towards what we’re doing now,” says Whitehead.

The technology Whitehead helped create was SpatialOS. In layman’s terms, SpatialOS is a game engine made out of hundreds of game engines all stuck together.

Using hundreds of cloud-based computers, each running a single game engine, SpatialOS can create a cluster of conventional game engines that overlap together to create a huge, continuous world.

“You can imagine it like a patchwork quilt,” explains Whitehead.

“Imagine each one of those computers is running a small part of the game - almost like an area of the world.

“This isn’t a strictly new idea, it has been done before. The unique part of our idea was to use normal game engines.

“Normally people would build all

p21-40_Move Commercial 03/07/2017 15:28 Page 39

Rob Whitehead, co-founder, Improbable Interview

of this from scratch but what we did was take existing game engines like Unity and Unreal, which games developers already knew and could use easily.”

In the week preceding our interview, Whitehead was busy overseeing the launch of ‘Worlds Adrift’, a massively multiplayer online (MMO) adventure game developed in partnership with Bossa Studios using the SpatialOS framework.

The game, which stems from what Whitehead calls a “ridiculous” idea based around a vast open world of floating islands and flying ships, has a strong emphasis on physics with everything that moves and everything the player touches having its own particular weight.

“Because we’ve made technology which can make games more like the real world, we’ve actually made technology which is really good at simulating the real world as well,” says Whitehead.

“If you’re able to simulate an entire city’s worth of traffic in a game then you can use that to simulate real cities.

“

[Our investor] has a vision for what the world is going to be like in 300 years and he sees SpatialOS as an important technology in this vision.

“

“Similarly, if you can make a simulation of the real world as complex and realistic as the real world, people might use that place to socialise, make friends and even as a place to work in rather than working in this world.

“I know this is starting to sound a little crazy, a bit like ‘The Matrix’, but that is kind of what the end vision of this is.”

Fortunately for Improbable, one person who didn't find the idea crazy at all was Masayoshi Son, CEO of Japanese multinational telecommunications and internet corporation SoftBank.

In fact, Son was so impressed by what Improbable was doing that he signed off on an investment package which classified the company as a ‘unicorn’ (any start-up valued at more than $1bn).

Whitehead and Narula retain a controlling stake in the business following the deal - something Whitehead says was vital.

“We’re still a British company which controls its own destiny.

“Often when investors come in

they will try and steer you in a certain direction but this investment has given us the independence to do what we think we need to do.

“Son has a vision for what the world is going to be like in 300 years and he sees SpatialOS as an important technology in this vision.”

Although Whitehead is unable to go into specifics over exactly what the huge investment will be used for, he does say the capital will allow Improbable to focus on its long-term vision rather than worry about the short-term financial status of the business.

The massive vote of confidence and funding doesn't mean Whitehead has any plans to take his foot off the gas yet though.

“There was no celebration or party when the investment was announced,” he says.

“This is just someone putting a bet on us and we haven’t won the race yet.

“It’s good that there are people in the world who really support what we’re trying to do but we’ve got a long journey ahead of us.”

MOVE COMMERCIAL 39

p21-40_Move Commercial 03/07/2017 17:22 Page 40

Online. Offline.

Anytime.

Get the north-west’s latest business and property news wherever you are. www.movecommercial.com

@MoveCommercial

p41-48_Move Commercial 03/07/2017 16:33 Page 41

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Diary Dates - Summer Special Best for building contacts

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Professional Liverpool Summer Drinks

RICS Networking Barbecue

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Networking group Professional Liverpool gets ready for its summer get-together at popular Liverpool venue Restaurant Bar & Grill.

The event will give members the chance to catch up with old colleagues and meet new connections the group has attracted over 100 new members in the last 12 months so there’ll be plenty of new faces.

Tickets are £16.50 and the price includes all drinks and a selection of canapés.

The RICS Greater Manchester team and the Chartered Institute of Building welcome guests for this annual barbecue at Rain Bar. For just £5 you can meet and network with a variety of other construction professionals from throughout the North West, and a business card draw, barbecue and a choice of drink will be included.

Join young professionals at the Future Pro-Manchester Summer Social - the networking group which focuses on developing new talent within the Greater Manchester business community.

Enjoy street food treats and live music in the CASA HAVANA drinking garden while making new contacts with the next generation of professionals.

Tickets are £22 including two drinks, food and entertainment.

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For business owners as well as staff, summer can bring the temptation to slip into clockwatching, dreaming about holidays and days on the beach instead of focusing on the work in hand, explains Phil McCabe, development manager of the Federation of Small Businesses in Merseyside, West Cheshire and Wigan. But it is more than possible to keep on top of the seasonal slowdown by following his expert advice: It is important to lead by example. Nothing frustrates employees more than their boss disappearing into the sun just as a new contract comes in. Time your own holidays carefully - avoid leaving your staff in the lurch and you will reap the rewards. You should, of course, ensure you have a proper rota to allow yourself and staff to take time off to recharge the batteries, keeping everyone motivated without any damaging loss in productivity.

See the slowdown as an opportunity. Selfemployed people can take advantage of any competitors’ inclinations to put their feet up. Get out there, network and win business while others are taking it easy.

44 MOVE COMMERCIAL

Photo: iStock / User: gerenme

with Phil McCabe of the Federation of Small Businesses

Summer might not always be the right time to complete projects but it can be a period in which you are geared up to successfully bid for contracts. You can fill out PQQ forms just as easily in the garden as in your office, as long as you maintain a dedicated workspace. A word of warning though, if you are easily distracted it might be better to shut the door to keep the sights and sounds of summer out.

The key is planning. This is always important but, in the summer when the workload can be slower and meetings and conference calls aren’t happening as readily, you can benefit from planning out what you need to do, and who you need to meet, before hitting the road to get ahead and grow your business. It really can make all the difference.

Even Britain is bound to have some scorching weather this summer, but that won’t hamper your workplace productivity with Dyson’s Pure Hot + Cool Link working its magic on your desk.

The vacuum cleaner giant’s latest fan-heater hybrid may be on the pricey side, but it promises to remove 99.95% of allergens and pollutants as small as 0.1 microns from the air while intelligently heating or cooling the room.

While most prospective desktop fan buyers must choose between power and quietness, the Dyson’s Pure Hot + Cool Link is virtually silent when firing on all cylinders and will cause minimal distraction in the office.

It will serve your business well throughout the summer and prove equally useful when the colder months arrive thanks to its smart heating mode.

p41-48_Move Commercial 03/07/2017 15:29 Page 45

Business lifestyle

How to… manage in a heatwave at work

Know the law

Tried & Tested Al Fresco Lunch The Vincent Café and Cocktail Bar Exchange Flags, L2 Review by Liam Deveney Enjoying a prime location amongst the commercial office space in Exchange Flags, The Vincent Café and Cocktail Bar offers al fresco dining in the shadows of Liverpool Town Hall.

With the city basking in a mini heatwave as temperatures nudged 30 degrees, your reviewer and dining companion welcomed the opportunity to sample the express lunch menu whilst enjoying the sunshine.

Opened in June 2015 offering a menu of both British and international dishes including ‘Gringo Sushi’ – a meat alternative to fish, Vincent promises to deliver “delicious fresh food in great surroundings”.

It’s immediately obvious that impeccable service is part of the café’s DNA: our waitress, the manager and even the head chef welcomed us as we settled at a table under cover to the front of the building.

We chose to share cauliflower beignets with curried mayonnaise (£3.50) as a starter and, despite having reservations of cauliflower as a delicacy, it was the second-best decision made that day and comes highly recommended.

The express lunch menu offers two courses for £8, including a freshly made soup followed by either a sandwich, pasta or salad.

I opted for soup (tomato, delicious) and salad with my plus one choosing soup and a sandwich.

Despite the extremely high temperatures which were fast approaching 1976 levels, the soup made an excellent choice for lunch. It was

rich, creamy and clearly fresh, and the salad which followed was light, beautifully presented and dressed in a delicious nicoise sauce.

My plus one opted for the chilli beef sandwich with rocket salad and Mexican sauce plus nacho sides, and was suitably impressed with both the taste and portion size.

Aside from the express menu diners can also choose from a wide range of dishes including vegetarian options, with many of our fellow diners spotted enjoying the sushi for which the eatery is renowned.

A quick test of the WiFi speed between courses raised no issues, with mail received and sent with ease. There is also a meeting area available for hire which can seat up to 16 for a working business lunch and includes a 60” TV which can be used for presentations.

We both enjoyed a cappuccino (£2.90) before making our dessert selections. My plus one plumped for the cheeseboard (£9.50) and described it as the “best one I’ve ever had,” while I opted for the vanilla cheesecake (£7), which was also a wise choice.

It’s worth a visit alone just to sample this stunning dessert which comes with small chunks of rhubarb on top and was the perfect end to a memorable culinary experience.

The Vincent Café and Cocktail Bar is perfectly located to service the business community but it gets it right, too. Your reviewer’s recommendation could not be any higher.

Contrary to popular belief there isn’t a maximum temperature allowed in workspaces before staff should be sent home.

According to the Workplace Regulations Act 1992, temperatures must “provide reasonable comfort”.

The Health and Safety Executive’s Approved Code of Practice (which provides guidance, not statutory regulation) says for reasonable comfort temperatures should not exceed 30 degrees Celsius.

Reconsider your dress code If your workplace has a dress code it may be worth relaxing this when the weather is really warm, particularly if your staff aren’t client facing.

As an employee, ask your employer if it’s possible to wear more comfortable clothes during the hot weather.

Provide access to drinking water NHS Choices recommends increasing water intake during heatwaves so it’s important to make sure you provide access to drinking water for staff.

Ensure water coolers are refilled regularly and allow staff to take more breaks to get drinks.

Allow flexible working when possible If possible, allow your staff to work from home when the weather is particularly hot, especially if your workspace is difficult to keep cool.

If it’s not feasible to allow staff to work remotely, at least consider relaxing start and finish times so that staff can avoid the busiest commuting periods.

Give extra consideration to vulnerable staff members Staff members who are pregnant, elderly or have existing health conditions could be more affected by the heat.

Employers should consider any special needs in these situations and try their best to accommodate them.

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Expert views Ask the panel

Despite not securing a majority the Conservatives look set to remain in power, propped up by the Democratic Unionist Party. One Tory manifesto pledge was to conduct a structural review of business rates. With many firms having already contributed to similar consultations over the last few years, we ask the experts:

Q: Does the pledge go far enough? What would you like to see the party do for the business community now?

The Conservatives’ failure to secure a majority will mean the government’s focus is now firmly on Brexit.

It seems the long-awaited full business rates review, along with the 100% business rates retention legislation, plans to provide small business rates relief and relief for public houses are unlikely to be progressed for the time being.

Perhaps we might expect some support to be introduced for businesses adversely affected by our exit from the EU, in particular those on the high street. There should be cross party support for this.

Meanwhile, it’s hoped the region’s local authorities will establish viable schemes to push out funds from the promised £300 million business rates relief package.

With the politics of our EU exit taking precedence over the pragmatic needs of business for a while, we must hope there are incidental benefits to business from Brexit, such as changes to regulation which reduce the cost of doing business.

Perhaps the chancellor’s hints of more focus on infrastructure, and the fact that HS2 stage two was referred to in the speech, are indicators the North West may start to have some of its chronic infrastructure problems addressed.

Ross Wellman, commercial director, Vincents Solicitors

The current system is flawed when a large out of town national retailer pays significantly less in rates than a small high street retailer.

When details first emerged of the review it had a pro-northern bias. The smallest enterprises are exempt and provinces, including the North West, will gain some benefit but new rateable values could impose harsh rises on mid-sized London and South East businesses.

Further to the election, Philip Hammond may amend plans but he’s unlikely to back down from his defence that the review is ‘revenue neutral’, redistributive in a good way and adverse only for businesses in prosperous areas.

He needs to consider that business rates are a charge for local services, not a tax, and no business will be content to pay more for deteriorating infrastructure and policing.

A smarter calculation of ‘revenue neutrality’ would take account of profits generated, jobs created and benefits unclaimed in thriving towns and high streets. On that basis, the Treasury would be better off if there were no rises in business rates.

In my view reducing corporation tax

Rather than tie rates to the property, a fairer system would be based on the value of the business occupying the space.

The government needs to also reform empty rates as this is preventing redevelopment of properties in secondary areas and is an unfair tax on property owners.

Pledges from the government to conduct reviews are all well and good, but what the business community needs is affirmative action and for the party to listen to our recommendations.

Mark Davies, director, Philip J Davies Holdings

will promote investment, job creation and, hence, an overall net benefit in Treasury coffers.

With the internet providing geographically unconstrained pricing for goods, businesses in more prosperous areas may need more help than those in poorer areas as they typically carry higher overheads.

Therefore the redistributive aspects could be destructive on an aggregate national basis.

Steve Barber, managing director, Bridging Finance Solutions

The manifesto reads as though the Conservatives have had little to do with the business rates system over the previous seven years. If they carry out reform to the extent that they set out then all well and good, but forgive those of us in the industry who see little evidence that they either understand or are inclined to make changes to make the system easier to administer or more transparent.

The revaluations should be carried out more regularly with the ideal being three-yearly with a potential move to annual. This has now been mentioned but again makes the decision in 2012 to postpone the 2015 revaluation look even more ridiculous. The government has said it will report on a consultation paper which had a deadline of July 2016 later this year. That paper covered both the frequency and type of valuation basis with options including a formula basis or what appears to be their preferred basis of self-assessment.

What the government needs to do is follow Colliers’ manifesto which includes more frequent revaluations, three-yearly, at least, by 2022. More urgent is to immediately make the new Check Challenge Appeal (CCA) process fit for purpose before the whole system implodes.

John Webber, head of rating, Colliers International

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