Business Manchester - July 2018 by The Samuel James Group

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July 2018

Manchester Airport celebrates 80th birthday

MANCHESTER Airport has developed a wide-ranging programme of activities to celebrate its 80th birthday with passengers, communities and colleagues, past and present. The airport’s “oak” anniversary celebrations emphasised its regional roots and global branches, telling the story of its evolution from a single wooden hut in 1938 to the UK’s third largest airport today. Activities took place either side of Manchester Airport’s official birthday, on 25 June, and also looked forward to how the gateway will be transformed through the £1bn investment programme currently underway. The airport is also set to open up the archives and curate a special exhibition of artefacts from across the decades. These include old airline memorabilia, uniforms and antique luggage scales, some not being seen for many years. These will go on display at the airport’s Runway Visitor Park for its thousands of visitors to see, free of charge.

Manchester Airport has also partnered with airline KLM, who operated the first commercial flight on 27 June 1938 to Amsterdam via Doncaster. The airport has made a pledge to plant 80 oak trees around the region, asking community organisations to decide the locations for them. Andrew Cowan, CEO, Manchester Airport said: “Marking 80 years is a milestone everyone at the airport is incredibly proud of. As we look back, it is clear to see Manchester is a totally different airport to when it first opened in 1938, but we have never lost sight of our local roots and the important role we play in the lives of those living and working around us. “As passenger numbers have grown, along with the number of places we fly to, so have the benefits we deliver to the region, in terms of the number of jobs created, businesses supported through our investment or the trade and tourism links we provide. “I look forward to the coming years and seeing the airport develop through

our £1bn transformation programme that will see Manchester continue to be a world-class airport for all of the North.” The Leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese, said: “Manchester Airport is integral to the city’s prosperity and future growth, helping us to attract investment from

around the globe and create jobs, while connecting international visitors with everything we have to offer. It’s also a really important local employer, so it’s fitting that staff from the Airport joined us for the Manchester Day parade, as part of the 80th anniversary celebrations for this vital asset to Manchester.”

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WELCOME

CONTENTS

...to the launch edition of Business Manchester as a monthly newspaper, initially, 10,000 copies will be available free of charge at over 80Â locations, including, Manchester Central, Manchester Airport, Spinningfields, local hotels such as Gotham and the Midland, ten large supermarkets and a number business centre receptions.Â As a website and newsletter, Business Manchester has been highlighting good news Greater Manchester focussed business stories for 10 months. Now is the time to launch it as a monthly newspaper. The digital version is available online at www.tsjg.co.uk/publications and emailed to business contacts across the region, giving businesses in Greater Manchester a huge voice. We hope you enjoy this launch edition and all the future editions of Business Manchester.

Group Editor: Andy Mann 07951 731722 andy@thesamueljamesgroup.com Head of Sales: Paul Walmsley 07825 884106 paul@thesamueljamesgroup.com Editor: Phil Ghayour 01772 364152 07825 884003 phil@thesamueljamesgroup.com

DIGITAL 6 THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

EDUCATION 11 AWARDS 14 BUSINESS SUPPORT

INTERNATIONAL 28 ACQUISITIONS 30 TRANSPORT 33 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 36 APPOINTMENTS 38

If you have a story for either online or the newspaper, please email it to Editor@BusinessManchester.co.uk CONTACTS & CONTRIBUTORS

PROPERTY 43

If you would like to be involved with BUSINESS MANCHESTER, please get in touch with the below:

Design: Robert Leach 01772 364150 / 07930 962609 robert@thesamueljamesgroup.com Group Commercial Director: Sam Whitear 01772 364150 / 07584626769 sam@thesamueljamesgroup.com

This publication is produced by The Samuel James Group Ltd, Unit 6/7 Eastway Business Village, Fulwood, Preston PR2 9WT. Reproduction of the contents of this newspaper in any form is not permitted, without the permission of the publisher. Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors and/or omissions in advertisements, information, photographs or illustrations. The opinions and advice in this newspaper do not necessarily express the view of the company.

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July 2018

Business Manchester launched as a monthly newspaper BUSINESS Manchester, a sister newspaper, to the already established Business Lancashire, published by The Samuel James Group, hits the Greater Manchester area in early July 2018. Business Manchester is a business to business newspaper aimed at highlighting good news stories from business people and companies in the area. Initially 10,000 copies will be available free of charge, at over 80 locations, including Manchester Central, Manchester Airport, Spinningfields, local hotels such as Gotham and the Midland, ten large supermarkets and a number of business centre receptions. Sam Whitear, Group Commercial Director, commented: "After several discussions and requests about producing a business newspaper for Greater Manchester, we did our research and found that the opportunity to serve the business community with a good news focused business newspaper was there. We then developed a plan to ensure our network and

distribution was correct, before we recently started contacting businesses. "Our aim is to help businesses of all sizes, spread their good news business stories, both online and in print. A number of organisations have been using our online channel and now is the perfect time to bring Business Manchester out in print. "I want to say a big thank you to our sponsors, advertisers and those who send us their stories, because without your commitment and support, this exciting new opportunity wouldn't be happening". Business Manchester will be covering a number of topics every month, including thought leadership pieces from Greater Manchester business owners, specific features, product launches and professional services, as well as showcasing new appointments. As with Business Lancashire, it will have dedicated sections and will include motoring, property and business support.  Richard Sullivan, Marketing Director, Inspired

Energy PLC, commented: "We are already fully committed to supporting corporate and SME businesses in the Manchester area, due to our role as the Utilities partner to the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, where we work with their members to devise and implement effective energy procurement and management programmes. “The introduction of the Business Manchester newspaper gives us an ideal platform to communicate to businesses about the latest movements in the UK energy market and how we can assist them in achieving successful outcomes, when it comes to managing utilities' budgets.” Shaun Hinds, CEO, Manchester Central, added: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming Business Manchester to the city and hosting their launch event in late September. As a venue in the heart of Manchester’s business community, it’s fitting that Manchester Central should be the place where the publication is introduced to local audiences!”

6 DIGITAL

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Push Doctor opens dedicated Digital Health Campus

PUSH Doctor, the UK’s largest digital health provider, has opened a new Digital Health Campus to act as a focal point for the development of digital health in the UK. As part of its investment, made possible by the largest Series B funding round in Tech North, Push Doctor is investing over £3 million into the local economy.

Push Doctor has grown rapidly from four employees in January 2016 to 118 today, and is expected to reach 170 by the end of 2018. As part of a move into new offices to accelerate this growth, the Company has dedicated one third of the new building to its ‘campus’. The space, created in collaboration with Workspace Design and TP Bennett, is

designed to bring together stakeholders across the Health and Tech ecosystem and will be used by organisations, businesses and startups from across the country in a bid to answer some of the most pressing questions facing healthcare in this and the next century. Push Doctor will also host regular events in the campus space,

encompassing all aspects of healthcare. Having pioneered smartphone consultations in the UK, Push Doctor will help drive continued innovation by seeking to include a growing range of external healthcare professionals, in its mission of helping people enjoy happier, longer lives. As part of this, the Company will hold regular doctor co-

working sessions on the future of healthcare, as well as invite the latest thinkers from a range of industries to enable collaboration on this global challenge. Push Doctor is also investing significantly in its own employees, all of whom have unlimited access to the Company’s online GP service, onsite fitness and nutrition specialists and new in-house gymnasium. Push Doctor’s team has a unique blend of skills, ranging from engineers, designers, analysts, doctors, pharmacists to nutritionists and personal trainers. The skills that this team brings allows Push Doctor to target macro health challenges such as primary care and more specifically how those challenges fit within the lifestyle of the 21st century. With its new offices in the recently redeveloped Arkwright House, Push Doctor is

investing in Manchester’s tech scene, with the city already supporting nearly 65,000 digital jobs. Eren Ozagir, founder and CEO, Push Doctor, said: “As category leaders, we believe that opening this dedicated campus in Manchester will enable us to pull together the expertise needed to collectively answer the questions which will make a real difference to health, and ensure we can deliver our own mission to help people live happier, healthier lives. “The creation of this new space also represents continued investment in our own team, who have already led some of the most significant innovations in digital health in the UK. We’ll continue to look at building that team even further by hiring another 60 employees with a range of talents by the end of 2018.”

First Hyper-commerce event in Manchester PUSHON, an award-winning full service e-commerce agency, has partnered with leading e-commerce platform Magento, to deliver a series of marketing and e-commerce seminars across the country. Hyper-commerce, the first event of its kind, will visit Bristol and London, before heading to Manchester on 18 July, where top digital and online marketing experts will discuss a range of issues affecting the e-commerce sector. The Manchester event, which takes place at 11am at the UKFast offices

in Birley Fields, features an impressive line-up of keynote speakers, including Sam Rutley, managing director of PushON, Jonathan Bowers, managing director of UKFast, Neil McKay, CEO, Endless Gain and Richard Gregory, exdirector of Tech North and NED. They, along with the rest of the event’s speakers, will be providing advice on how e-commerce businesses can better service customers, with topics including; rapid personalisation, social proof, life after GDPR, the evolution of optimisation and how businesses can equip themselves to

capitialise on hyper-commerce. Sam Rutley, managing director of PushON, who helped organise the event, said: One of the key issues we often come across when speaking to B2B or B2C businesses is that they are struggling to take their e-commerce offering to the next level, which is stagnating their online growth. In this instance, businesses should be turning to hyper-commerce, which teaches companies how to meet consumer demands, whilst also maximising omnichannel e-commerce. “However, many businesses aren’t

fully aware of how hypercommerce can drive forward online growth. That’s why we’ve set up these events to provide professionals with valuable insight, so they can understand the benefits and make significant improvements to their e-commerce offering.” The event is free and open to all e-commerce businesses. Spaces are limited.

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DIGITAL

UKFast delivers 18% organic revenue jump LONG-TERM investment in R&D and consistently outstanding customer support are driving explosive growth at leading British hosting provider UKFast, as the firm declared an 18% organic increase in revenue in 2017. Revenue of £47m represents an increase of more than £7m on the previous year, bolstered by a massive 30% growth in the firm’s cloud offering, which now accounts for more than 43% of overall revenue. A number of significant contract wins with large enterprises helped private cloud revenue in particular to grow by 40%. Launched in 2013, UKFast’s flagship eCloud range offers public, hybrid and private cloud solutions, as well as cloud desktops; drag and drop vault storage; and flexible, OpenStack development space. Founder and CEO, Lawrence Jones MBE, said: “We place huge focus on innovation and it’s clearly paying off. Not only within the applications we’ve built to run the business, like the telephone system,

launch platforms and CRM software, but also the range of innovative products we’re launching. “eCloud has grown at such an amazing rate because users are realising the benefits of the level of automation we’ve built into the platform and they’re expanding their solutions. We’re continuing this focus on innovation and expanding our R&D team even further, rather than resting on our laurels.” With General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) placing increased focus on data privacy and security, Jones says UK-based hosting firms are at an advantage. “Businesses and consumers understand the importance of hosting their data securely and within the UK. “UKFast offers a really strong alternative to some of the giant cloud providers. Having UK data centres is extremely important. Our network and infrastructure are incredibly closely monitored and we guarantee that data won’t be held outside the UK.”

UKFast has enjoyed 18 consecutive years of double-digit growth and recently doubled the size of its campus HQ in Manchester. Jones added: “I’m really proud of the team. This type of growth demonstrates our commitment to our customers and to delivering innovation to help them grow faster than their competitors. “The best thing about our service is that you can pick up the telephone and we’re here for you. It’s about being helpful and being supportive as much as is humanly possible, and our clients really respond to that.” The portfolio of businesses owned by Lawrence and Gail Jones now employs more than 450 people across a number of brands, including building company UKFast Space, headhunting firm Mysort, technology magazine BusinessCloud and cybersecurity and ethical hacking specialists, Secarma.

Expansion plans see city firm invest £250k in new tech A CITY centre event production company has invested almost £250,000 in new technology as part of continued expansion plans. VisionEvents Manchester (VE-M) has purchased a range of new technology, including one of the largest video walls available in the country, typically used on events like Eurovision Song Contest and Cirque du Soleil. The new 30 metre squared video wall, uses 120, 50cm LED panels, which create ultra high resolution images for displaying live feeds or pre-recorded content.

In total, VE-M has invested in more than 600 pieces of technology, including lighting and sound systems and a major spend on a Green Hippo Hippotizer V4 Karst+ media server. This new piece of kit can generate smooth 4k video play back on the video wall, and display real time generated content, as well as generate 3D mapping and imagery, such as projecting images onto buildings. Twinned with investment in new training and staff, VE-M is gearing up for major growth over the next year. Lisa Clayton, director

at VE-M, said: “We’ve seen rapid growth over the last five years, winning contracts to offer audio visual services for major conferences in the UK, including

working with clients like Matalan, Pro.Manchester and US retailer, TJX. Our investment in new technology will help ensure we are leading the way in terms of the

production quality we offer for events. The video wall will also open the door for work on bigger events and for more work with international brands.

“Our investment in the new server and LED wall in particular, mean we can offer stunning back drop imagery or even projection mapping onto buildings.”

DIGITAL

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One in four young people are ready to consider a career in Artificial Intelligence SAGE, the market leader in cloud business management solutions, has revealed encouraging signs that the UK’s emerging role as a world leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be boosted by homegrown talent; as one in four (25%) young people aged 8 to 18 are considering a future career in the industry. Undertaken by YouGov, the findings are based on responses from 1,484 children aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They indicate that the talent pipeline is being spearheaded by young people who cite their existing enjoyment of technology in general (66%) and believing a career in AI would be exciting and motivating (37%) or wanting to work at the cutting edge of technology (31%). Whilst these are reasons to be optimistic, there are also warning signs; the diversity essential to building

both an inclusive AI industry and one that mitigates negative job prospects for tomorrow’s workforce, could be at risk if not addressed now. Of the young people surveyed, those who were unlikely to consider a career in AI (56%), said: • The most cited reason (29%) was that they would prefer a more creative career. • Nearly a quarter (24%) said they did not think they would have the right educational qualifications. • A worrying 21% simply did not think they would be smart enough for a job in AI. These findings indicate that there are still too many young people being left in the dark when it comes to understanding the breadth and diversity of expertise, experience and education that the emerging AI industry will need to thrive; from

artists, creative writers and linguists to programmers and problem solvers. This could potentially hamper the strides the UK has made in becoming a global leader in AI. The research marks the UK launch of a series of events showcasing AI for young people. Sage FutureMakers Labs, run through Sage Foundation in partnership with charity Tech for Life, is educating young people on the diverse range of opportunities available to pursue a career in AI. Critically, an introduction to ethical design is provided as part of the course, an essential framework for children to embrace at an early stage in their education. Sage has already highlighted the need to ensure the UK has a diverse and healthy talent pipeline to support its customers, the business community and UK economy to deliver on the potential productivity benefits of AI in 2017’s Ethics of Code. Now, Sage is calling for more action from Government and the tech industry to tackle the elitism problem in the AI industry and emerging technologies. Kriti Sharma, VP of AI at Sage, said: “It’s great to see the Government starting to assess the importance of AI, evidenced in the comprehensive sector deal announced recently, committing extra resources and funding to help grow this promising sector. However, there’s still a huge amount of work to be done, particularly when it comes to the elitism problem in the AI industry,

July 2018

as our research confirms. “It’s no longer the case that you need a master’s degree to consider a career in emerging tech; yet 24% of young people we surveyed think you do. We need to educate young people what working in tech really means. “At Sage, we are passionate about safeguarding the future of this important technology, and I am proud our Sage FutureMakers Labs are bringing technology education to young people from all backgrounds. We want to work with more tech leaders to ensure the UK can seize our unique opportunity to shape AI positively and lead the international community in its ethical development.” Lyndsey Britton, Founder, Tech for Life added: “It’s encouraging to see how many young people enjoy technology and believe having a career in the sector will be exciting. We need to make sure that the support is there for them to get the right skills to be able to work in future jobs at the cutting edge of digital like AI. The young people’s events we put on are increasingly popular and there’s a real thirst from young people to learn, especially from industry experts. "Working with organisations like Sage means we can help make sure that opportunities and learning are accessible to young people from any background and ensure there is a future workforce with the right skills and knowledge to do jobs that probably haven’t even been invented yet.”

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DIGITAL

10 THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

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Commercial property myths – leasing commercial premises By Stephen Greenwood, Partner, Farleys Solicitors COMMERCIAL property is a highly complex area of law. Whether you are purchasing a property for business use or taking a lease of premises, the costs of acquisition often represents one of the largest expenditures your business will incur and there will often be significant ongoing costs associated with the property. As such, it is important to ensure that you understand what you are agreeing to, what your obligations are and ultimately that you are making the right decisions, especially if you want to avoid risking substantial sums of hard-earned cash. Here are three commercial property myths – and the truth behind them! “I plan to rent the premises through a limited company so if the company goes bust I can walk away from the property and the lease.” If your company goes out of business, whilst it may no longer be able to make the rent payments, this doesn’t mean your responsibility will necessarily be absolved. Before you are given the keys to a property, it is likely the landlord will try to obtain personal guarantees from you / other directors of the company. Make sure you take careful note of any personal guarantees you provide and where possible, request to include a term enabling the guarantee to be released on assignment. In some circumstances, the court can ‘pierce the corporate veil’, thereby holding directors and shareholders personally liable for the debts of their company. “I am renting a commercial property and therefore don’t need a survey.” Whilst the landlord of a residential property will normally have some repairing obligations,

under the majority of commercial leases, you will be solely responsible for the repair and upkeep of the property and for any liabilities associated with matters such as asbestos and contamination. Even if you are only taking a lease of part, with the landlord being responsible for the repair of structural parts of the building and common parts, you will normally bear some or all of the cost via a service charge. Having a survey at the outset can identify any issues so you can gain an idea of what you are committing to spend should you go ahead. When the time comes that you need to vacate the property, there will be clauses in the lease that require you to leave it in ‘good condition’. Even if the building was not in a good state of repair at the time of possession, without a detailed schedule of condition that documents the condition that the property was in when you took possession, referred to in the lease and annexed to it, you will find that you are liable for the cost of putting the property into a good state of repair when you vacate. It is always worthwhile clarifying your obligations with regards upkeep of the property. Depending on the wording of the agreement you enter into, you might find that your responsibility extends far further than you might have anticipated – for example making you as the tenant liable for undertaking works to the premises so as to comply with any new Government legislation. “There is no need to carry out searches against a commercial property.” Whilst you might assume that it is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure the suitability of the premises for your business’s use, the burden actually lies with the tenant. Searches against a commercial property should be undertaken to investigate any proposed plans

for the street or local area that might potentially affect access to the property. In addition, searches will reveal the planning history relating to the premises. Again, although you might assume that any planning permission issues lie with the landlord, this isn’t normally the case and it is worthwhile spending the time and money required to investigate at the outset before you find yourself committed to a property for the term of the proposed lease. Once a lease for a commercial property is signed, you will be bound by the contents of it. As most leases contain over 50 pages of detailed provisions, it is strongly advisable to consult an experienced commercial property solicitor to interpret and negotiate the terms before you sign.

EDUCATION

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Reuters rates The University of Manchester

A LIST recently produced by Reuters ranks The University of Manchester as the seventh most innovative in Europe, jumping nine places from the 2017 report, and third in the UK. The Reuters Top 100 Most Innovative Universities ranking is based on the number of academic papers, patents filed and citations by other academics and industry, which introduces a quality rather than a volume measure. The University’s worldclass research base has an excellent track record of innovation spanning over 30 years. All of the ideas which are generated by the University’s researchers have the potential to save lives, improve health, increase efficiencies in industry and the environment, and otherwise enhance society and make

positive contributions to our economy. Clive Rowland, CEO, UMI3 Ltd, The University’s agent for IP commercialisation, commented: “The University continues to promote its long-standing commitment to improving society through innovation, whether such positive impacts are achieved by our social enterprises or for commercial gain through our spin-out company and technology licensing work. “We recognise that to be an innovative organisation, we need to look for quality as well as volume with our patenting and our patents need to be both thorough and defensible. “It’s pleasing to see that our results focussed approach and continuous improvement in our way of working, is having an effect as shown by

our upward movement in this index. “The difference between us and those towards the top of the table, in respect of the impact measure, is narrowing too.” Since 2004, the University’s IP enterprises have generated over £115 million to the University, through the sale of shares in spin-outs, licensing income and through IP grants and contracts activity. Furthermore, over £430m has been invested by third party venture funders in the University’s spin-outs, a number of which have received national and regional enterprise awards. Manchester is synonymous with Graphene, following its isolation in 2010 by Nobel Prize winners Professors Geim and Novoselov. The University has one of the most extensive

portfolios of IP rights relating to graphene and 2D materials, with over 300 scientists engaged in 2D materials research here in Graphene City ®. IP encompasses technologies in areas including, the production of 2D materials, 2D inks, desalination and nanofiltration membranes, barrier coatings, polymer composites, thermoelectric composites, sensors, touch screen interfaces, printable electronics and wearable technologies to name a few. The University, with spin-out Nanoco Group PLC, which develops and manufactures quantum dots and nano-materials, recently launched Nanoco 2D Materials Ltd to develop a new generation of nano-materials. Potential commercial

applications for these materials span across a wide range of sectors, including novel catalysts, photo-detectors, photovoltaics, inverters and light emitting devices. Spin-out and AIM listed SkinBioTherapeutics, a skin health specialist, raised £4.5m when it listed on the London stock market last year. The company recently announced that its cream formulation has passed effectiveness studies in models of skin and will now undergo further testing for stability. Earlier this year, another spin-out MicroBioSensor – which is behind a medical device designed to detect life threatening infections – received a £1.4m investment boost and has just successfully completed its first clinical trial.

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EDUCATION

July 2018

University of Salford and Morgan Sindall announce innovative ‘work-ready’ partnership CONSTRUCTION and Infrastructure company, Morgan Sindall, and the University of Salford have announced a new collaborative partnership to help students enter the employment market in a more ‘work ready’ state. Focused on enhancing the employability credentials of undergraduates, the partnership builds on work already undertaken with the University to combine leading academic insight with real world experience and learning. Central to its commitment to develop a ‘future-fit’ workforce, Morgan Sindall is using its growing portfolio of projects in the Salford area to provide onsite experience to undergraduates as well as

supporting PhD students, by providing research opportunities within the company. Members of the team will also continue to undertake regular lectures at the University’s School of the Built Environment (SoBE), as well as offering regular site visits, workshops and experience in preparing project proposals for design, planning, costing and development to SoBE multi-disciplinary student teams. Karen Fairhurst, Project Manager at Morgan Sindall, said: “Morgan Sindall is focused on developing work ready graduates and the partnership with Salford University is a fantastic

opportunity to work with and nurture some really talented individuals. We aim to use our projects as a textbook in construction, providing real world examples which will enhance their understanding of the pertinent challenges within our industry. “In turn, Morgan Sindall will benefit from working alongside the enthusiastic and talented people who will undoubtedly play a part in encouraging innovation in the construction world of the future.” Sam Grogan, Pro ViceChancellor for Student Experience at the University of Salford, added: “Producing students who are fully equipped for the demands of

the modern workplace is the key aim of the University of Salford. “The best way to do this is to work as closely as possible with industry to co-create and co-deliver flexible, agile outward facing courses and to provide our students with the work experiences that will give them the skills required. This partnership with Morgan Sindall will do just that for many of our students and it is one I’m very excited about.” Morgan Sindall currently employs 18 University of Salford alumni in its North West region and has eight staff members currently studying there. The partnership sits as one initiative within the University

of Salford’s Industry Collaboration Zones (ICZs). These innovative zones facilitate students, academics and industry partners to work together on cutting edge industry facing projects and ideas which bring together world leading research and future facing teaching and learning, to offer unique opportunities that better prepare students for life after university. This is part of the University of Salford’s long term vision playing out over the next two decades to link the campus with local industry, culture and residential communities to help drive the local and regional economy.

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EDUCATION

Apadmi and Yorkshire Water join forces to teach kids about careers in tech MANCHESTER-BASED Apadmi and the Yorkshire Water team are encouraging kids to get into vital industries like technology with a workshop in app design. Matt Harney, Creative Producer for leading mobile technology company Apadmi, went into Hilltop Academy, Wakefield, recently to chat about life as a digital designer and what makes a career in technology such an exciting prospect. Apadmi has previously worked closely with schools and universities to push the benefits of training in this arena, which is currently suffering from a huge skills gap. Their aim is to make youngsters aware of the huge potential in the sector, which could lead to an exciting and engaging career

path at the same time. Matt commented: ”It was fantastic to work with the kids, they showed real enthusiasm for the workshop and it was great to see so many creative ideas coming from them. “We’re really passionate about going into schools and showing children exactly what a career in the technology industry could lead to. It’s not just for people with a flair for maths, but for creatives too. There’s a distinctive skills gap in the UX design industry, and we’re addressing this head-on.” The children were challenged with inventing new ways of attracting people to the Yorkshire Water app. The children were split into brainstorming groups, showing them real-world techniques such as story-

boarding and wire-framing, once they’d come up with ideas. Each group then presented their designs back to the class, before everyone voted on their favourite idea. The Apadmi team and Yorkshire Water went back to Hilltop to present the winning team with their “graduation” certificates from the Apadmi Academy as top app designers. Paul Ockwell from Yorkshire Water, added: “Thanks to the students for their great ideas, throughout the process, they’ve been very enthusiastic. They recognised the challenges we face such as water conservation or preventing sewer blockages, and built these into their designs”.

HRH The Duke of York presents awards to University’s iDEA participants MANCHESTER Metropolitan University welcomed HRH The Duke of York, to meet students, staff and apprentices who have completed the opening stage of The Duke of York Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award (iDEA). HRH presented Bronze level certificates at Manchester Metropolitan’s Business School to 30 awardees from across the University, before speaking about the online mini modules – known as ‘badges’ – on iDEA, which is described as the digital and enterprise equivalent of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Last year, the University became the first institution in the UK to introduce iDEA across all courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level, as well as its academic and professional staff. Speaking at the event, HRH The Duke of York, said: “I’m delighted to visit Manchester Metropolitan and present the certificates which mark the completion of the first stage of the

iDEA programme. “We introduced iDEA as the digital and enterprise equivalent of my father’s Duke of Edinburgh Award and it is inspiring to see so many people benefitting from the programme’s challenges and opportunities, while gaining industry recognised awards that help them stand out from the crowd. “I’m looking forward to developing iDEA and seeing more people progress through the Bronze, Silver and Gold stages, with the support of organisations and institutions such as Manchester Metropolitan.” iDEA was introduced by Prince Andrew as a free resource for anyone of any age. It is accessible on any modern device with learners completing a series of web-based bitesized challenges and tasks. The tasks are divided among the categories of citizen, worker, maker, entrepreneur, game and independent, with learners earning badges and points towards a Bronze beginner,

Silver intermediate or Gold advanced certificate. It can be completed at the learner’s own pace and the activities can be undertaken individually, with friends or in a classroom or workshop environment. Professor Malcolm Press, Vice-Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “Welcoming the Duke of York to present our students with their Bronze certificates is a major milestone in our commitment to this fantastic and inspiring programme. “iDEA is something that reflects all five of the University’s pillars – place, ambition, partnership, community and sustainability. “We look forward to continuing to support many more of our staff and

students through the programme.” With students and staff now participating in the iDEA Bronze Award, many are looking forward to completing the Silver and Gold awards which will be introduced later this year and in 2019 respectively. Jeff McCarthy, Senior Lecturer in Digital Marketing and iDEA project lead at Manchester Metropolitan, said: “With more than 50,000 learners in over a quarter of countries in the world now signed up to iDEA, the University is perfectly positioned to offer support through our modern facilities and wide-range of expertise. “Our staff and students are able to take the skills they gain from the modules to support their learning and research, making a real impact on their personal and career development.”

14 AWARDS

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Triple award success for Manchester Central MANCHESTER Central has added to an already impressive list of recent industry successes, by fighting off competition from all over the UK, to be crowned ‘Best Conference Venue (over 1,300 theatre style) at the 2018 Conference Awards. The iconic city centre venue was also named ‘Best City Centre Venue’ at the National Venue Awards in June, whilst Duncan Leavitt, Technical Services Project Manager, scooped ‘Unsung Hero’ at the AEO Awards.

The largest gathering of conference professionals in the UK, the Conference Awards recognise and celebrate achievement within the conference and events industry. The Manchester Central venue impressed the judging panel with its versatile spaces, its outstanding level of service and its constant drive to continually exceed expectations. Manchester Central CEO, Shaun Hinds, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing these awards back to Manchester and we look forward to celebrating with

the rest of Manchester’s business community. “Manchester is one of the most vibrant cities in Europe and we’re proud to be able to offer worldclass event spaces to people from near and afar. “These award wins are a reflection of the hard work that the whole team puts in, but we won’t rest on our laurels, and will continue to improve our offering, whether that’s conferences for 10,000 or meetings for 10”.

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AWARDS

Stars gather for launch of 2018 Northwest Football Awards SCORES of people, including football and sports stars, have flocked to the launch of the 2018 Northwest Football Awards (NWFA) at Manchester House. Former Man City manager, Brian Horton, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Diane Modahl and Happy Mondays singer, Rowetta, were among those celebrating the start of the eleventh edition of the NWFA. High-flying lawyers, property professionals, BBC executives and representatives from NWFA partners Kick it Out and The Offside Trust were also in attendance. It signalled the start of a process that will see thousands of football fans, from the elite to grassroots level, vote for their winner across a range of categories. NWFA organiser Laura Wolfe said that all awards, including the Lifetime Achievement accolade, will be revealed

by the BBC’s Dan Walker at The Point, Emirates Old Trafford on Monday, 12 November. Speaking after the launch party, which saw two songs performed by the Everycolour Choir, Laura, said: “We could not have had a better start to the 2018 NWFA. More than 100 people joined us to celebrate and I’m delighted to say entries to this year’s awards are now open. “It’s been an unprecedented season in the North West with a raft of promotions and title wins. Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers, Accrington Stanley, Tranmere Rovers, Macclesfield Town and Salford City were all promoted. Liverpool reached the Champions League final, Manchester United were runners-up in the FA Cup and Burnley is in the second qualifying round of the Europa League. “On top of that, Manchester City

won the Premier League, along with Manchester City Women almost defending the Women’s Super League.” “It’s not all about what happens on the field though. “The NWFA is all about celebrating the region’s brightest and best in the game, and there are a number of awards that recognise excellence that is achieved off the field.” Winners at last year’s NWFA included Burnley Football Club in the Community, Daniel Taylor, The Guardian, David Silva of Manchester City, David Wheater, Bolton Wanderers, Caroline Weir, Liverpool Ladies, Cerebral Palsy United Football Club, The RedmenTV and Brian Kidd who landed the lifetime contribution

award. The BBC’s Hugh Ferris hosted the evening. On the night he said: “Last year’s awards culminated in that extraordinary moment when the Neville brothers, Vincent Kompany and Ryan Giggs were all on stage to present the lifetime achievement award to Brian Kidd. “The NWFA manages to combine everything that provides on-field play, the incredible emotions that fans go through and everything that happens off the field, including the commercial and community elements. Unsung heroes are also celebrated, and I’m delighted to be here again to launch this year’s event.”

Ward Hadaway named law firm of the Year 2018 MANCHESTER based Ward Hadaway has been named Law Firm of the Year at the annual Northern Law Awards, as the business celebrates its 30th anniversary. Hundreds of attendees from the region’s foremost legal firms and business leaders attended the black-tie event, held at the Hilton Hotel. Hosted by North East comedian and radio presenter, Alfie Joey, the awards celebrate the great wealth of legal talent and success within the region. Ward Hadaway was the recipient of this year’s large Law Firm of the Year Award, sponsored by SD Legal Services. The team was recognised for the quality and calibre of their work, including excellence in the delivery of legal services, outstanding business

performance in client service, financial performance, strategy and winning work. It was also praised for the development of its people, CSR and business progress and improvement over the past year. Martin Hulls, Managing Partner

of Ward Hadaway said the top award reflects the firm’s reputation and its work across all of its teams in the last 12 months. Martin said: “Winning this prestigious Northern award was very much a team effort. It’s a statement of

confidence in us as a leading Northern law firm and to win Law Firm of the Year in our 30th year of business is a great achievement for all of the hard work the teams do. “We are very proud to be part of the Northern Law Awards, which do a great job of highlighting and celebrating the excellence of legal services sector across the region.” Jamie Martin, Senior Partner, collected the award on behalf of the firm alongside Ward Hadaway’s Head of Healthcare, Jeffrey Keeble. Jamie added: “Winning Law Firm of the Year is a fitting tribute to all of our people’s hard work and commitment in our 30th year. We were nominated in nine other categories, so it was a huge achievement to receive so many individual and team nominations.”

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Manchester’s fastest growing family law firm awarded industry accreditation in record time

MANCHESTERBASED McAlister Family Law, founded only a matter of months ago, has achieved Lexcel, the quality mark awarded by the Law Society of England and

Wales to legal practices that have achieved the Law Society’s Practice Management Standard. What’s more, the firm achieved the Lexcel quality mark in only three months, compared

with many practices which take up to five years to reach the same level. The independent assessment and Lexcel accreditation cover all areas of the

practice: management structure; services and forward planning; financial management; managing people; office administration and case management. McAlister Family Law received a mark of 100 percent, with not a single minor for non-compliance, a rarity. Amanda McAlister, Managing Partner, said: “We are delighted, and very proud, of achieving Lexcel accreditation. We knew we were a strong team, dedicated to delivering a service that vastly exceeds our clients’ expectations. But to achieve this in such a short period of time is nothing short

of amazing, and a true testament to everyone’s commitment and hard work." Lexcel is recognised as the only accreditation scheme in the world that focuses solely on legal management. The firm had to undergo a rigorous independent audit of all its systems and procedures across its offices in Manchester and Alderley Edge. “Right from our inception, we set our sights on being the UK’s ‘go to’ authority on all family law matters, with a mission to provide expert advice and guidance to clients within a framework of empathy and

truthfulness,” added Amanda. “Achieving Lexcel accreditation serves to underline that we meet the highest standards of practice management and client care.” “The industry recognition that we deliver unrivalled customer service provides us with an excellent foundation for growth. This is just the beginning.” Led by Matt Fleetwood, McAlister, Family Law is part of Beyond Professional Services Group, a business that believes strongly in doing the right thing for its clients.

B2B International awarded 2018 Achievement in Customer Excellence MANCHESTER-BASED B2B International, the world’s most experienced b2b market research company, has been awarded a 2018 Confirmit ACE (Achievement in Customer Excellence) Award in the B2B category. This honour demonstrates B2B International’s exceptional commitment and unique approach to using Voice of the Customer insights to drive change. In particular, it recognises B2B

International’s approach to B2B win / loss research and the impact that this approach has had for its clients. Confirmit’s ACE Awards program was established in 2005 in order to honour their clients’ dedication and distinct contribution to achieving universal customer excellence. As a recipient of a Confirmit ACE Award, B2B International has demonstrated its continuous drive to improve its clients’ businesses through the practical use of

customer and market feedback. “We are very proud to be a recipient of a 2018 Confirmit ACE Award, as it reinforces our dedication to always thinking of new ways to bring the voice of the customer into our client’s businesses” said Nick Hague, Director, B2B International. “We have tailormade our win / loss approach alongside Confirmit, and it has proved to be very effective over the last year. The ACE Award is a great recognition of this

work, and motivates us to continue innovating, to deliver real impact for our clients. Confirmit has been a great partner in helping us realise this.” “Ken Østreng, President and CEO of Confirmit added. “Their approach to using customer feedback as part of a win /loss program demonstrates an innovative approach to understanding their audience, as well as a profound commitment to improving the businesses that they work with.”

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Record revenues posted by UMIC Events THE UNIVERSITY of Manchester Innovation Centre’s (UMIC) Events arm has delivered record revenues, following a comprehensive refurbishment of its conference spaces. Throughout 2017, UMIC hosted 462 events at its Grafton Street base, while also landing 47 new clients. Acteon, Aeirtec, Blackboard International, Cadtek Enabling education network and Lan2Lan are among the businesses to have used UMIC’s seven events and conference spaces, whilst The Christie Charitable Fund, The University of Manchester and Child Poverty Action Group have all continued to use the Innovation Centre. Colin Curwen, UMIC Events

Executive, said revenues jumped 32% from 2016, with further upgrades to the main atrium also due in Autumn this year. He said: “The past 12 months at UMIC Events has been eventful to say the least. “The seven spaces we offer – which lie in the heart of the Oxford Road Corridor innovation district – are all in prime condition and seem to attract a wide range of organisations. UMIC, home to biotech and hi-tech companies, has also increased its tenant engagement activity, with weekly yoga classes available to anyone working inside the Innovation Centre. Later this year, the Innovation Centre’s atrium will be redesigned

to become a business hub ideal for networking and co-working in modern purpose-built surroundings. Colin added: “We are well positioned to continue our growth

story, while remaining agile to the needs of current and potential clients. “We are also thankful to the Alliance Manchester Business School for its continued support.”

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Small Business Minister chooses Greater Manchester for first visit to a growth hub PARLIAMENTARY Under-Secretary for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Andrew Griffiths, has visited business support service, GC Business Growth Hub, in Manchester. The Government’s Small Business Minister, Mr Griffiths, met Director of Business Growth, Richard Jeffery, and Donna Edwards, Managing Director – Business Support and Business Finance, both from parent company The Growth Company, to discuss the benefits of support from growth hubs for start-ups and SMEs. Richard and Donna talked about how GC Business Growth Hub has engaged 37,000 businesses and provided support to over 9,000 businesses in Greater Manchester over the last seven years, explaining that for every £1 of support the Hub invests in a start-up or SME, £4.65 is generated for the local economy. The

Minister also heard how the GC Business Growth Hub, the first of its kind in the UK, has become the template for other business growth hubs across the country. Following the meeting, Mr Griffiths participated in a roundtable with representatives from seven Greater Manchester companies, from a range of sectors which have all received support from the Hub. These included, workwear company Tibard from Dukinfield; urinary disposal and hygiene specialists U-Drain from Bowdon; Stockport clothing supplier Creative Apparel; gasket manufacturer JA Harrison from Middleton; speech and language therapists Speechwise from Stockport; and Manchester cloud-based app developers, Shaping Cloud. In a lively exchange, topics discussed included the key role that SMEs play in the evolving Greater Manchester

Local Industrial Strategy, digitisation to boost productivity, the importance of inclusive growth in building a sustainable, successful economy, closing the productivity gap with the South, and increasing Greater Manchester’s international trade activity. Earlier in the day, the Minister visited Seven Brothers brewery in Salford. With support from the Hub, including help sourcing suppliers and guidance on logistics, the brewery has created 15 new jobs and has doubled its brewing capacity to over 60,000 pints a week. In addition, the company is selling over £50,000-worth of beer each month and is projected to nearly double its year-on-year turnover to £1.5m by the end of 2018. Richard Jeffery, Director, Business Growth, The Growth Company, commented: “As soon as Andrew

Griffiths was appointed in January, I extended a personal invitation, offering him the opportunity to visit and to find out more about the support we provide to businesses across Greater Manchester. “Today has been a fantastic opportunity to show how innovative approaches to business support are helping entrepreneurs to make their dreams of starting and growing a successful business reality. SMEs are the engine room for the UK economy, and growth hubs like ours are crucial in ensuring today’s SMEs survive and thrive. “We were also able to talk about some of the work we’re doing across the North, like leading

the network of Northern growth hubs to help boost productivity in SMEs across the whole of the region. Andrew Griffiths was particularly interested in our national work, including our mentoring programme that is increasing productivity in the manufacturing sector.” Martin Shepherd, JA Harrison, commented: “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to discuss the issues that really matter to businesses like JA Harrison with the Minister. I was proud to sit alongside the other SMEs at the roundtable, talking about how Greater Manchester is leading the way in tackling issues like productivity, skills, and more recently, the impact of Brexit.”

Andrew Griffiths commented: “This Government is fully behind the entrepreneurs delivering jobs, growth and greater choice for consumers. I was pleased to visit the Greater Manchester growth hub to see how it is supporting local SMEs to start up and grow. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, with over 1,000 being created every day across the country, and in the North West supporting nearly 1.3 million jobs and generating revenues of £111 billion. Through our Industrial Strategy, we are building a Britain in which they will continue to thrive.”

Rule 5 delivers to Nando’s MEDIDACITYUK communications agency, Rule 5, has been recruited to deliver social media training for Nando’s. The agency has been appointed by Gillian Harrison, Regional Marketing Manager for the restaurant company, to create bespoke training for fifteen social media champions, who work for Nando’s restaurants across Scotland, Ireland and the North of England. “Our social media champions look after around ten restaurants each and deliver excellent social campaigns” said Gillian “but it’s always good to get an external perspective and Rule 5 came highly recommended”. The training will cover current best practice

when using leading social media platforms and will also look at what changes may be in store and how that will impact on the work of communications professionals in the sector. For example, developments in AI are already having an impact in social media, both in ordering deliveries and for customer service. “Nando’s has a strong social media presence nationally and regionally” said Rule 5 Managing Partner, Rob Brown “as part of the training, we’ll explore ways the team can build their presence and take advantage of many of the emerging trends.” The team at Rule 5 has been delivering social media training since the agency launched five years training for a host of global brands including, British ago. The team has delivered tailored social media Airways, Wedgwood, British Cycling and ASDA.

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Champion and Belmont celebrate 17 years together CHAMPION Accountants’ Manchester office has been providing expert accountancy and business advisory support for 17 years to Wigan based client, Belmont Packaging. Belmont Packaging develops quality printed, flexographic and corrugated cardboard packaging solutions from its stateof-the-art manufacturing facility in Hindley. The business was formed in 1978 and in 2013, Kate Hulley, now managing director, bought the company and gave it a new lease of life. Kate commented: “I’ve been working with Champion since I bought the business and they were instrumental during that time, always going above and beyond to help me.’’ "Over the years, Champion has provided Belmont Packaging with a range of services, from payroll to insurance needs. More recently, Champion helped Belmont Packaging

identify a spend of almost £80,000 on R&D activities over the last two financial years. “Champion was brilliant throughout the entire process and was able to extract all the information from me and ensure our claim included every possible investment.’’ "With the money that Champion helped claim back, Belmont Packaging has been able to reinvest in site infrastructure and equipment to further improve the products and services it offers to customers. "Over the next five years, I see the company going from strength to strength with more machinery investment, greater product ranges and further growing their eCommerce offering. Champion regularly advises on new opportunities and how best to access the finance for Belmont’s continuous growth. “Over the past 17 years we haven’t once considered

changing our accountants. The team are friendly, flexible and always on hand to help and that’s exactly what Belmont Packaging needs to help with our continued success.’’ The accountancy group, which also has offices in Preston, Blackpool and Chester has celebrated a number of long standing clients already this year, which showcases their ability to provide excellent service. Ged Cosgrove, group managing partner at Champion Accountants, added: “Our long standing clients, are testament to the relationships that our team work so hard to build and maintain. “It’s great to hear such lovely feedback from our clients, but especially those that have continued to work with us over the past ten to twenty years. We’re looking forward to working with Belmont Packaging for another 17 years.’’

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Equilibrium funds grow by £500m AUM in six months EQUILIBRIUM Asset Management is celebrating another milestone, with the investment funds they launched six months ago, hitting over £500m in assets. The three funds, the IFSL Equilibrium Cautious Portfolio, IFSL Equilibrium Balanced Portfolio and IFSL Equilibrium Adventurous Portfolio, had combined assets under management of £516m as of 18 May 2018. Partner & Investment Manager, Mike Deverell, said: “We’re delighted with the rate of growth and with the take up rate from our clients, which has been 100%.” Equilibrium partnered with Investment Fund Services Limited (IFSL), part of the Marlborough group, who act as ACD and administrator for the funds. Simon Chalkley, Associate Director – Relationship Management, at IFSL, said: “We’ve worked very closely with Equilibrium to ensure the smooth launch and subsequent operation of their funds and it’s very pleasing to see their success. “From the outset, we’ve been impressed with Equilibrium’s commitment to providing a first-class service for their clients. It’s gratifying to see those clients, and the business, benefiting from the efficiencies associated with using a fund structure.”

Deverell added: “We felt there would be many benefits to running our investment portfolios via a fund structure so we spent a lot of time and effort explaining that to clients.” Some of the benefits Equilibrium expected include speed of reaction and access to a wider selection of investments. Deverell believes the volatility in stockmarkets in early 2018 was the perfect test of these benefits. “When the FTSE 100 fell to 7,200, we switched 3% of the portfolio from low risk assets into a FTSE 100 ETF. This was something we had always planned to do and we were able to act immediately once our trigger point was reached.” “Investments will always rise and fall, and we went into this period relatively cautiously positioned. Pleasingly, this meant the funds generally fell by less than the sector when stockmarkets were falling earlier this year. We were then able to outperform when the market rebounded partly because of the trades we made in the market dip.”

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New networking group for Tameside Businesswomen takes off A NETWORKING group has been launched for businesswomen in Tameside. Tameside Women in Business has been set up by Carol Parker, marketing associate at Ashton law firm, Bromleys. The group has no membership fees and will hold regular meetings

which are free to attend. Its first event at the Puccini Ashton Italian restaurant attracted 40 women from across the Borough. Among the guests were representatives from the property, retail, charity, education, banking and financial services sectors, as well as a range of small and

medium-sized businesses. Carol said: “There are limited networking opportunities in Tameside and we have set up this group as a way of giving back to the business community. “It’s designed to be an informal way for women to meet, with the aim of getting to know each other, doing business together and recommending one another’s products

and services where appropriate. “The event itself could not have gone better. The feedback has been superb and we are already looking forward to the next event in September.” The guest speaker was Claire Smith, head of business development at outsourced communications provider Moneypenny, who is from Stalybridge.

Claire discussed how a fantastic work environment helps companies to deliver a better customer service, leading to happier clients and business success. Wrexham based Moneypenny is a leading outsourced communications provider, delivering telephone answering, live chat, switchboard and multichannel customer services to a range of UK

July 2018

businesses, including handling two million calls a year for over 950 law firms. Claire added: “It was a great honour to be invited to be the guest speaker at the launch event. The turnout was amazing, the format and setting were perfect and provided an ideal way to meet like-minded businesswomen from across Tameside.”

BGN eyes £500k turnover after solid first year BGN is targeting the £500,000 turnover mark following a successful first year in business. It comes after the Manchesterbased strategic, brand-led design agency landed global outfit NETSOL Technologies, listed on American stock exchange, The Nasdaq Stock Market, as a client. BGN has also worked for high profile companies including Carlsberg, Accent Housing and Lancashire Farm. Since launching in April 2017, the company, based in studios within Bruntwood’s flagship digital space Neo, has established a strong and diverse client base. Antonio Giansante, BGN Founder and Operations Director said the £380,000 turnover achieved in year one will also lead to a boost in headcount. “Following our first year in business, we have a solid platform to now push

on and hit £500,000." “It’s been a strong first year for BGN and we’re proud to have completed projects for several big-name companies. “We are now looking to grow the team to eight after recently winning both repeat business and NETSOL Technologies. NETSOL employs well over 1,000 people, and is a leader in providing innovative IT solutions to the global asset finance and leasing industry, so we’re delighted to have been appointed to work on its brand and website.” Key projects completed by BGN in the past 12 months included the launch of new spirits division Distilled for Carlsberg, brand evolution packaging and website for Lancashire Farm, strategy launch and overseeing a film called ‘So Far’ for Accent Housing and a rebrand for Brand Attic.

The agency was founded by Antonio, 33, from the Wirral, Paul Bailey, 33, from Stockport and David Newton, 36, from Oldham. All three left Ahoy in 2017 to start BGN. Antonio added: “We offer great value compared to London agencies which is an attraction for bigger more established businesses and brands like

Carlsberg and Accent Housing, as we have the capacity and skillset to deliver quality work efficiently. “Moving straight into Neo with six staff was quite a bold move for an agency start-up. But we did it because we wanted to give the type of clients we were trying to attract the same level of service that you get at a large agency.

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Taco Bell UK launches restaurant on Deansgate, Manchester FOLLOWING the success of Taco Bell’s expansion in the North East, franchisee QFM Group is spreading more love to the world’s favourite Mexican-inspired restaurant and opening the doors to a new branch in the heart of Manchester’s City Centre. The restaurant is set to open on Deansgate, a lively area surrounded by bars, accommodating up to 70 people. Similarly to other Taco Bell restaurants across the UK, the restaurant will have an urban esthetic that represents the Live Más style, with a local touch. With a family friendly atmosphere, and open kitchen, Taco Bell encourages everyone to come in, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy the atmosphere while tapping into the free Wi-Fi. The menu will feature sought

after famous craveable eats in Taco Bell restaurants all over the world, including the Crunchwrap Supreme, quesadillas, burritos, and the famous Big Bell Box. Ellen Gault, Marketing Leader, Taco Bell UK & Europe, said: “We’ve seen so much love for Taco Bell throughout the UK, especially in the North. We are excited to announce even later opening hours until 4am everyday – and to welcome more people in Manchester through our doors to experience our delicious Mexican-inspired food!” Arjun Patel, QFM Group, added: “Following the successful opening in Liverpool in March, we are incredibly excited to be bringing Taco Bell to the heart of Manchester City Centre."

AS part of a multi-million-pound investment by owners, Edwardian Hotels London, the Radisson Blu Edwardian, Manchester hotel on, one of only three five-star hotels in central Manchester, has launched a concept that has already blazed a trail through the capital’s dining scene. Based on Edwardian Hotels London’s Kitchen concept, which embraces shared dining, guests are able to choose from an array of small plates from two different cuisines, contemporary Japanese and Mexican. The new restaurant and bar will open this October, and as part of an ambitious drive to recruit

Ground-breaking recruitment initiative for new Manchester restaurant

up to 60 new staff, Amir Jati, Service Excellence Director, of Edwardian Hotels London, has announced a ground-breaking recruitment initiative. Jati has drawn on a wealth of experience gained from senior roles at Nobu, Disney Cruise Lines and The Savoy Hotel to develop a plan that will attract the crème de la crème of the UK’s hospitality personnel. He explained: “I did not want to recruit through the normal channels. So instead, we decided to hold one of two“casting” days. From this, we chose between 80 and 90 of the most impressive candidates and sent them on a seven-week training programme that was divided between London and

Manchester.” Part of this course will involve an immersion into Japanese food and drink, culture and etiquette. “The Kitchen concept has proved enormously successful in London, with Leicester Square Kitchen recently voted one of the top restaurants for both Peruvian and Mexican cuisine in the capital. We know that Manchester is going to embrace it too, but we need to make sure that the ambience, style and service is on a par with Mayfair, Leicester Square and Monmouth Kitchens. Crucial to this will be the staff, and this initiative will ensure we find the very best”.

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MC Construction touches down at Manchester Airport MC CONSTRUCTION has completed a £450,000 upgrade to a 48,000 sq ft hangar at Manchester Airport, which is used to service vehicles used on the airfield, such as passenger buses, aircraft tugs and baggage trucks. The 15-week project was the Salford-based company’s first under a new Manchester Airport building services framework. MC Construction undertook belowground preparatory works before refurbishing the entrance to Hangar 4 in the Western Maintenance Area with a new steel frame, insulated cladding and automated roller shutter doors. The company also created a new pedestrian walkway in the Hangar. Much of the work went on out-of-hours to

avoid disrupting day-to-day operations at the Hangar. The building is used by Manchester Airport’s Motor Transport division for airfield vehicle maintenance and around 30 staff work there. Michelle Richardson, Operations Director at MC Construction said: “This was our first project under this exciting new framework and we are delighted to have assisted Manchester Airport in ensuring the creation of a modern façade for this Hangar, without disrupting the day-to-day operations.” The three-year framework covers airside and landside building works, as well as fit-outs to retail, office and commercial properties. Matthew Gillett, project manager for

capital delivery schemes at Manchester Airport, added: “The project was complicated, given the live working environment, but our key project milestones were met and it was a pleasure working with MC Construction on the programme. We look forward to working with the team again in the future.”

Sankeys Manchester shopping centre announces return to powers up Manchester

SHOPPERS in Manchester can now charge their electric cars in the short time it takes to pick up some groceries and grab a coffee. InstaVolt has installed a pair of rapid electric car chargers at Lime Square shopping centre, meaning drivers can charge up while they do their shopping or visit the gym. Unlike many other charging stations, drivers don’t need to have a card or subscription to use the InstaVolt stations; they simply tap their contactless credit or debit card, charge up and get back on the road.

Users are charged only for the electricity they use on a per-unit basis. There is no connection fee, minimum charge or monthly subscription fee. James Shepherd, Estates Director at Dransfield Properties, which owns and manages Lime Square, said: “Sales of electric cars are on the rise and we’re really seeing that reflected on the ground here in Manchester. We’re delighted to be able to offer shoppers this new service. They’ll find the InstaVolt chargers very fast and easy to use.” Tim Payne, CEO, InstaVolt, added: “As more and more people drive electric vehicles, having a network of places where they can charge up en route, such as shopping centres, will be incredibly important. “We’re thrilled to bring our rapid chargers to shoppers in Manchester.”

SANKEYS has been synonymous with Manchester forever, and after a long wait, the world famous brand returns to its spiritual homeland in September. Entitled Sankeys… The Return, the sure-to-be-spectacular party will be their biggest yet at the 5000 capacity Victoria Warehouse, with a line-up that embodies everything Sankeys is all about. There has been something truly missing on the Manchester clubbing landscape since Sankeys closed its doors in January 2017. For more than 20 years, the club had led the way when it came to underground music culture. It established the city on the world stage with influential brands, DJs and residents, bringing people from all over the world to experience its events. Offering the best line-ups, all playing out in their famously gritty, no-frills home of Beehive Mills in Ancoats, it was a place like no other. The magic of those historic

years will be recaptured at Victoria Warehouse, which itself has a real history, thanks to hosting special one off events from some of dance music's biggest stars, as well as a techno mini festival from the world famous Awakenings and a number of Sankeys parties with the likes of Basement Jaxx and Armand Van Helden. It is an innovative space, dating back to the 1900s, with an industrial aesthetic, powerful sound system and immersive production. Sankeys will add their own spin with light and laser shows and ensure the whole venue comes alive with their usual sense of rave spirt.

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Sunny Thinking celebrates 10th anniversary

Co-working hub takes off at Salford Quays A CO-WORKING hub has been established at the Abito building in Salford Quays. An architect, a forensic accountant and a property fund executive have taken space in Abito at Clippers Quay and talks are under way with other parties. The initiative is the brainchild of the partners at investment group, Infinity, which is based at the building. Their aim is to bring together around a dozen like-minded businesspeople, whose activities complement one another. Infinity, moved to Abito in 2016 from Manchester city centre. Group business development director Paul Wogan said the co-working model enables tenants to share contacts and business opportunities. “The Abito building is in an ideal location, in terms of being close to the motorway network and the Metrolink system, with ample parking and with a view of the Quays. “It’s close to Manchester city

centre, yet affords the opportunity to look out over the water, with a host of amenities nearby. “In addition, it is an exciting time for Clippers Quay, with a £100m scheme by residential landlord Grainger under way and plans to construct a 34-storey tower which will be the tallest building at Salford Quays.” “From a commercial point of view, co-working is cost-effective and offers the potential to win new business by collaborating with the other professionals based here. “Our goal is for the hub to be a vibrant place where ideas are born and deals are done.” Paul said the Abito hub would suit specialists in areas such as financial advice, law and tax, adding that he expects new arrivals in the near future. As well as serving as Infinity’s headquarters, Abito houses property sales and lettings agency Beyond Residential and The Buzz Rooms, a bespoke viewing facility for researchers conducting focus groups.

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ALTRINCHAM-BASED creative marketing agency Sunny Thinking is celebrating its 10th birthday. For the last decade, the team has developed an award-winning reputation for their advertising, branding, design and marketing work. They have enjoyed relationships with a wide range of clients including the NHS, buzz Manchester Health & Wellbeing Service, GreaterSport, Making Space, Manchester Metropolitan University, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Ombudsman Services, Mornflake Cereals and Soreen. The agency was established by Managing Director, Jonathan Reed, in 2008, and has a passion for working with like-minded, forward thinking clients and partners who are

committed to a positive, healthy, fun, prosperous and sustainable future. “I’m hugely proud to be celebrating our 10th birthday and that we’ve stayed true to our beliefs and remained authentic through and through. The marketing landscape has changed out of all recognition in the last decade. Life is faster paced and in a digital world, we are surrounded by automation and manufactured templated approaches. Whilst we obviously embrace digital marketing, we are champions of life offline and also the power of creativity in creating unique and personalised brand stories,” The agency remains boutique in size but has exciting plans for the future. “We will remain small as an agency as I firmly

believe that clients benefit from that level of personal and passionate expertise. We’re a people-oriented business and we also love our base in Altrincham, a town that is really thriving. Building on that and on our relationships further afield, we are also progressing with plans with clients in the rest of the UK as well as overseas, including Australia, Canada, Denmark and US,” To mark their tenth anniversary, Sunny Thinking is taking part in 10 charity challenges for their charity of the year, The Stroke Association. “Each year we give a percentage of our time and profits to help others. This year, we are proud to be supporting The Stroke Association – a charity that does so much wonderful work."

Eric Wright starts £1.1m Oldham bridge refurb ERIC WRIGHT Civil Engineering has started work on a £1.1m bridge refurb project for Oldham Council, which will make the structure safer and more resilient for motorists. The 45-week project delivers essential maintenance and structural repair works to strengthen the Middleton Road (A669)/Oldham Way (A627) bypass bridge, which has corroded and weathered over the years. Specific works include repairing the steel and concrete, resurfacing and waterproofing to limit further deterioration and prevent similar damage reoccurring, as well as building a new reinforced concrete central reserve. Eric Wright Civil Engineering has completed many bridge and highway schemes across the North West, including bridges across the Irwell and Manchester Ship Canal, and a £1.7m project to demolish and replace the M62 Greystone Footbridge near Huyton in Merseyside. The

former ‘Sausage Bridge’ was replaced with a contemporary footpath and cycleway on a single symmetrical cable-stayed deck structure and was highly commended by the Institution of Civil Engineers at the North West Civil Engineering Awards. Diane Bourne, Managing Director, Eric Wright Civil Engineering, said: “This is a complex operation and our site teams are working closely with Oldham Council to ensure a smooth delivery and minimise disruption. This investment will also deliver real benefits by providing a safer and more reliable infrastructure network that’s futureproof for commuters.”

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July 2018

“Bee in The City” art trail A 3D BEE, inspired by Manchester’s industrial heritage, is being sponsored by Far East Consortium (FEC), developers of MeadowSide, the £200m residential development of 756 new homes for sale across four buildings, bordering Angel Meadow Park, one of the city’s largest open green spaces. Named Cottonopolis, the 1.5 metres high, 3D bee construction, is being designed and painted by Yorkbased artist, Leah Pendleton, who has drawn inspiration from Manchester’s role in the industrial revolution as home to fabric production. Leah’s design features spools of

bold, coloured thread reflecting the vibrancy of the city weaved together against a black background alluding to the dark, smoky skies that hung over Manchester in its cotton producing heyday. The bee, which is currently being created in an art studio in Mayfield Depot in central Manchester, will be unveiled when it is moved to Angel Meadow, which was at the heart of the cotton producing district and housed many of the industries’ workers, on 17 July. It will join over 100 other Bees on a spectacular public art trail

taking place across Manchester this summer, presented by Wild In Art and Manchester City Council. Each Bee has been designed by a different artist and celebrates the unique buzz of Manchester, from its industrial heritage to its vibrant music scene. The art trail is raising money for The Lord Mayor’s We Love MCR Charity, when all the bees are auctioned in October. Andrew Bradley Nixon, Senior Sales and Marketing Manager for MeadowSide, said: “FEC is participating in what is the biggest art trail the city has ever seen and it will really put our MeadowSide

Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel completes work on business conference area THE Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel has recently completed work on its entrance and business conference area, creating a new welcome experience for the hotel’s clientele. The hotel, situated in Spinningfieldas, has spent the last few months completing a £500,000 renovation of its reception and lobby, alongside its conference foyer and bar area, to create a new area for guests as they arrive at the hotel. The result is a new open space incorporating all four areas that is now a more relaxing check-in environment that also offers guests a comfortable, stylish workspace, with laptop and phone charging points. When guests now enter the hotel, they will still be greeted by the exposed, original brickwork, cast iron columns, and vintage wooden beams, but will now be able to easily navigate their way from the main entrance to the newly installed ‘Power-Up Pod’ – home to 12 laptop or phone charging points and complimentary WiFi. The work was completed by MC Construction following a tendering process.

Part of the reason MC Construction were chosen, is because the company makes a point of employing people from the local area – a practice the V&A Hotel also subscribes to. Peter Hill, General Manager of the Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel, said: “Manchester is an ever-changing city – the opening of the nearby St John’s Quarter is close, with three new residential blocks at the Slateyard also opening right across the river next year. “This means the requirements of the guests we welcome through our door are changing. At the V&A, we always want to be a hotel that is ready for the next few years, and so, with this refurbishment, we as a hotel are also changing so that we continue to meet their requirements. “We are particularly proud of this refurbishment, as we have kept the 19th Century feel of the original building, but have added all the 21st Century amenities our guests expect. Our guests are at the centre of everything we do, and we’re sure they will find everything they need as part of our new welcome experience.”

development at Angel Meadow on the map. We offer a rare green space in the city centre and our bee will take pride of place at the entrance to the park, where visitors can come and take a stroll or relax in the verdant surroundings.”

Contact Editor@BusinessManchester.co.uk

BUSINESS SUPPORT

Greater Manchester gets new premium gym

NES Global Talent reaches 40th year milestone in the energy industry NES Global Talent (NES), one of the world’s largest engineering workforce providers and with an office in Manchester, is announcing the celebrating of the organisation’s 40th anniversary of servicing the energy industry. The company has grown throughout the years and now boasts 10,000-plus mobilisations, 8,000-plus active contractors, 750-plus employees and 45-plus offices servicing 28 countries. “Our customers are the centre of everything that we do and I’m so pleased that we’ve been able to offer our quality services across the oil and gas, power, construction and infrastructure, life sciences, manufacturing, chemical and mining sectors worldwide for four decades,” said Tig Gilliam, CEO. “These industries have changed dramatically in the last 40 years, and so has the way to properly staff them. The knowledge that our organisation has gained throughout this time has allowed us to learn and grow with these industries, staying ahead of trends, and always providing the top talent and workforce solutions to alleviate any pain points for our customers.” NES, who recently received the Best International Recruitment Agency award at the 2018 Recruiter Awards, has industry and discipline-specific trained Staffing Consultants based around the world.

A premium gym attracting business leaders, media figures and professional athletes has launched at The Foundry on Salford Quays. Senior Trainer and former Ultimate Performance mentor, Matt Warner recognises the importance of hospitality and his passion for optimising performance has seen him launch the unique performance centre, The Gym Works. The 7,000-square foot personal training and group conditioning gym space houses some of the highest quality equipment and amenities seen in a gym facility, making it truly unique in the Manchester fitness landscape. Split over two levels, clients can enjoy a pre-workout coffee or post workout shake with riverside views on the first-floor lounge area and shake bar. They can then shower in spa grade changing rooms while taking advantage of on-site physiotherapy and movement screening from the worldrenowned health professionals at Altius Healthcare, whose clientele includes: Red Bull, Team GB and Premier League footballers. The ground floor sees

a continuation of the contemporary aesthetic, with atmospheric lighting providing a dynamic but relaxed space. This space houses precision resistance training and functional equipment from the likes of Watson Gym Equipment, Atlantis, Life fitness and Concept 2. This site is Salford’s newest hub for lifestyle businesses with local companies like Kettlebell Kitchen and Boda Skins, as well as Foundry Film Studios already in situ. Matt Warner commented: “Return on Investment is key to any successful service and this is something that we see as vital to the objective of The Gym Works Group. "Creating a positive culture requires a platform where clients can express themselves without intimidation, while having the choice to connect with other clients and staff in a relaxed but focussed environment.” A former elite athlete himself, Warner has spent over a decade refining his skills across disciplines involving the world of business, sport, film and television. He continued: “Performance is not a term exclusive to elite

athletes. Connection is key when it comes to achieving positive and sustainable improvements in physical and psychological performance. “We believe that attaining this is more than just achieving a transformation in body composition; it encompasses what it means to be at your best in the environments where we spend most of our time. How we perform at work, at home and in the gym, will dictate the quality, and most importantly, the longevity of results.” Partnering Warner on the project, Jamie Alaise brings added business credibility through his portfolio of exciting business interests such as: The Hive Circle, Kettlebell Kitchen and Flesh Tattoo. This unique relationship sees Kettlebell Kitchen opening the doors of its new headquarters and restaurant next door to The Gym Works Group. It seems that this marriage of healthy food and service-driven improvements in performance will make The Gym Works Group a formidable player in the fitness industry and an asset to the businesspeople of Manchester.

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TickX Partners with Lancashire Cricket and Emirates Old Trafford TickX, the UK’s leading search engine and discovery platform for events and attractions tickets, has agreed an exciting new partnership with Lancashire Cricket and the award-winning Emirates Old Trafford venue, as it continues to bolster its sports offering. The partnership will see the Club’s international and domestic fixtures feature on the ever-growing TickX search engine platform, providing Lancashire Cricket and Emirates Old Trafford with a new wider and larger marketing channel opportunity to bring even more fans to the £60 million redeveloped Emirates Old Trafford. Fans will benefit as TickX pulls results from more than 75 ticket-selling platforms, including Ticketmaster, Eventim and See Tickets, and displays them in one place, so they will always get the bestpriced tickets available. As part of the agreement, TickX has also partnered with ticketing engagement platform SecuTix, who has recently announced a new contract with Lancashire Cricket to become its ticketing system provider. The new partnership underlines TickX’s commitment to give fans of all sports a onestop destination to find and buy the best tickets, with further sporting partnerships to be announced soon. Steve Pearce, TickX co-founder and CEO, said: “We’re delighted

to announce the partnerships with Lancashire Cricket and SecuTix. Lancashire is a forward-thinking club that wants to open up new channels to market. The team at SecuTix has also been a pleasure to work with and it was an easy decision to partner with their market-leading ticket engagement platform. We’re committed to partnering with clubs and stadiums across all sports to make it easier than ever for fans to get the best-priced tickets available.” Jonathon Nuttall, Head of Ticketing and Digital Systems at Lancashire Cricket, said: “The game of cricket is entering a key phase of its development. We’ve been preparing for this with changes to our providers, and the way we approach the sales of tickets across all of our events, to existing, lapsed and new audiences. TickX provides us with a new route to market, and as they develop

their offering to buyers, we hope to grow our supporter base alongside them.” David Hornby, SecuTix, UK MD, added: “It’s fantastic to see our client, Lancashire Cricket, partner with TickX, to bring their events to a wider audience. Our agile platform has integrated easily with the TickX system. This means that customers coming through TickX will experience the same seamless journey as fans who buy direct from the club do. And ultimately, this will help in the efforts to turn first-time visitors into long-term loyal cricket fans.” In addition to sports, TickX also allows customers to find and buy tickets to over 125,000 events and attractions, including gigs, comedy, theatre, festivals and club nights, with over one million customers using TickX last year to plan their day or night out.

BUSINESS SUPPORT

July 2018

Former Altrincham Grammar School student hosts Venturefest PRIYA Lakhani OBE, the founder of national food brand Masala Masala and regular BBC News and BBC World Service contributor, is the host of Venturefest North West 2018. The entrepreneur and former Altrincham Grammar School for Girls student will also give a keynote speech that draws on her experiences of identifying and developing new products, at the region’s biggest annual innovation event at Manchester Central on Thursday 13 September. Having set up Masala Masala and turned it into a line of products now stocked nationally in the major supermarket chains, former barrister Priya went on to establish a charitable arm to the company it donated a meal or vaccination to India’s homeless for every unit the company sold. In 2014, she then founded Century Tech, which uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to understand how the brain learns and responds, enabling educators to receive real-time insights to improve student performance. A member of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills’ Entrepreneurs’ Forum, Priya is also an Advisory Board Member to the Education Foundation, the UK’s leading education think-tank, and was made an Officer of the British Empire in 2014 for services to business, community and voluntary initiatives. Thanks to her wide range of roles and achievements, Priya is a regular contributor to

both BBC News and the BBC World Service’s review of global headlines. She said: “The North West is such a vibrant home to business, and I’m eager to see so many of the region’s forward-thinkers together under the same roof at this unique event. “Having set up two companies in very different industries, I know the importance of embedding innovation into the culture of a business, whether you’re a manufacturer, tech start-up or work in another field. The benefits a day like this offers in terms of networking, profile-raising and learning from the experiences of others are huge, and I’m proud to be a part of it.” Priya will introduce one of the event’s centrepieces, the Innovation Showcase Competition, which is open to start-up and young companies as well as established businesses, with free entries open now at the Venturefest North West website. Ten finalists will have the chance to pitch their business idea to an audience of potential investors, and win a package of business support worth thousands of pounds. There are four categories to enter: Product Innovation, Service Innovation, Digital Innovation and Innovative Established Business.

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WeWork invites Manchester entrepreneurs to come together as part of inspiring event series ON Wednesday 25th July, the space and services provider that fosters collaboration, WeWork, is hosting an evening (6.30 – 8.30pm) of engaging conversation and thought-provoking panel discussion, bringing together the best creatives in the area to toast the business and innovation hub that is Manchester. Taking place at WeWork 1 St Peter’s Square, the event – We, The Creators:

Manchester – is completely free to attend and will offer local entrepreneurs, creatives and the business community the opportunity to speak to like-minded individuals about their passions, experience and motivations, over cocktails, snacks and music. The evening will centre around an exciting panel discussion, which will feature Tom New (Founder, Formisimo), Matt Walsh (Founder, Beat Stream) and Walli Ullah the President of TiE the world’s largest entrepeneurs network, acilitated by Andy Mann, Group Editor, Business Manchester. We, the Creators: Manchester is part of a summer event series from WeWork, in celebration of The Creator Awards. A purpose-led event, The Creator Awards furnishes individuals, start-ups and SMEs with the extra funding they need to take their ideas to the next stage. The awards are available to ‘creators’ in three different categories

(‘Performing Arts’, ‘Nonprofit’ and ‘Business Ventures’), with the intention of offering an opportunity to as many different people as possible. Entrants are invited to apply via a simple online form and finalists for each category will then be invited to pitch their projects and businesses at the UK’s Regional Finals in October. Manchester has been chosen as a location for the event series due to the city’s thriving entrepreneurial and creative communities, demonstrated by the incredible creatives that will be on the panel. Leni Zenimer, WeWork General Manager, UK & Ireland, commented: “We’re very excited to bring our annual We, the Creators series to Manchester. With two WeWork spaces open in Manchester, we know of the entrepreneurs the city and we’re really excited to bring them together and share what is set to be an evening of inspiration.”

Energizer to work with Cunning Plan to launch new phone range AVENIR Telecom, licensee of the world-famous battery brand, Energizer has enlisted the help of Manchester based creative agency, Cunning Plan Marketing, to help it launch a new range of phones to the UK market. There are 14 different handsets in the new long-lasting range, which varies from rugged smartphones to retro flip phones. These new devices promise to shakeup the low and mid-range smartphone space giving consumers long-lasting battery power, durability and great features, at an affordable price. French manufacturer, Avenir Telecom has been a licensing partner

with Energizer since 2010. Cunning Plan has been briefed to promote the brand via a traditional PR and digital media strategy. The agency has previously won awards for its work with the JCB tough phone and more recently the innovative children’s smartphone, Monqi, which launched in October 2017. James Adam, Managing Director, Cunning Plan Marketing, said: “Research has shown that consumers are looking for practical features when buying a smartphone, we are sick of cracked screens and phones that need constant charging! Energizer’s new phone range promises to eradicate these bones of contention and bring a

fresh new approach to the market." Lucile DeVictor, Communication Manager, Avenir Telecom, said: “We needed an agency that could hit the ground running and thanks to

Cunning Plan’s telecom experience, they will help us to reach our target audience quickly using a variety of effective tactics. We’re pleased to be finally launching in the UK and look forward to a long-lasting relationship with James and his team.”

28 INTERNATIONAL

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Northern exporters secure £44 million in overseas sales with UK Government-backed financing UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) annual report and accounts, has revealed almost £10 million of support for Northern exporters, resulting in over £44 million worth of overseas sales. One of the Northern companies benefiting from UKEF support was Leisurewear International, a children’s clothing designer, based in Manchester, that has almost doubled its turnover this year thanks to exporting success. When Leisurewear won a highvalue order from a buyer in Libya, UKEF helped Leisurewear secure the cash it needed to finance the order, by providing an 80% guarantee on a working capital loan from the company’s bank. UKEF also supported Leisurewear’s export orders to China, Venezuela and Ukraine. Yamin Ibqui, Financial Director, Leisurewear International, said: “Not

only has UKEF helped us secure individual export deals, it has boosted our cashflow flexibility, giving us the capacity to buy a bigger range of products and sell in markets we haven’t been able to previously, due to lack of available support.” This year, UKEF provided £2.5 billion of support for UK exporters. This helped 191 companies sell to 75 markets around the world, 77% of which were small and medium-sized businesses. Rt Hon. Dr Liam Fox MP, Secretary of State for International Trade, said: “As an international economic department, our priority is to do all we can to support UK businesses as they seize the opportunities of global trade. UK Export Finance is at the heart of our offer to help them do so, and

this report shows that it has been a landmark year for the UK’s awardwinning export credit agency.” Baroness Fairhead, Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion, commented: “UKEF’s results for 2017-18 once again show that when companies take advantage of its support, the effects on their business can be transformative. By providing innovative and flexible finance and insurance, the Government is helping British businesses, big and small, realise the value they bring to the international marketplace. “The range of exports supported by UKEF demonstrates that the UK’s exporters have a truly world-class export credit agency behind them – and that’s why the Government’s forthcoming Export Strategy will deliver on our commitment to

put UKEF at the heart of trade promotion.” Steve Cowles, Export Finance Manager for Greater Manchester North, Lancashire and Cumbria, said:“From specialist guidance to flexible finance, it is UKEF’s ambition to provide the best possible support for UK companies seeking to grow their business by selling overseas. “From working with multinationals to bring business to the UK, to providing safe routes to export and financial support for smaller businesses, these results show that we are delivering on that ambition.” The results show that UKEF has supported £4.1 billion in export contracts through its trade finance products since 2011, which were introduced to help smaller businesses to export.

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INTERNATIONAL

Predator Nutrition hunts down international opportunities PREDATOR Nutrition is one of the largest supplement companies in the UK, with a commitment to innovation, information and excellence in fitness and supplementation. The company was established in 2009 by British entrepreneur, Reggie Johal, who observed a growing demand from fitness fanatics for nutritional supplements to boost their fitness levels and performance. A former top-level American footballer in the UK, Johal decided

to quit his job at Deloitte and take a new entrepreneurial path, armed with just £6,000 of personal savings. The company quickly grew a loyal following but needed a payment provider that could help it deal with declined transactions and grow internationally. Predator Nutrition looked at a number of payment providers and ultimately felt that for its type of customer and product, Ingenico was the best fit to help it compete in a competitive market,

which Euromonitor International estimates was worth almost £800m last year, more than double the £350m recorded during the London Olympic year of 2012. “Although the market has grown, most of our rivals actually seem to have disappeared or shrunk to a tenth of their original size,” explained Johal. “What’s happening in the UK industry right now is a lot of consolidation, where the manufacturers are selling directly to consumers, or Amazon

to Ingenico, our sales conversion has definitely increased, and the best thing is that this is only the start. Later this year, are coming in and taking we hope to work with away a lot of business.” our ecommerce platform Predator Nutrition provider to build our also noticed that it was international websites. being hindered by a We will then need the substantial number of additional payment transaction declines, methods Ingenico can all of which came with provide, so that we can the vague “DO NOT convert more traffic into HONOUR” message more sales across these from its payments markets.” provider. “We could In the last 12 months, see that customers were Predator Nutrition trying twice, three times, estimates that its UK four, five, six times! They conversions have grown wanted to shop with us, by around 20%, and the but our payment gateway company has noticed was turning them away a drastic reduction in for reasons we just complaints that staff couldn’t understand.” faced from customers “Since we moved having their transactions

declined. In the same period, the business has also seen revenue growth of over 100% in the United States, Sweden and Italy. Currently, 40% of the company’s revenue comes from outside the UK, but a multicurrency option would provide the opportunity to increase this further. “Next for us is further growth throughout Europe and the US, where we’ve identified more opportunities to offer products that customers in those regions typically can’t find elsewhere. That’s an opportunity for us as we aim to grow our business by at least a third over the next year."

30 ACQUISITIONS

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AD Merchandise Ltd completes successful buyout AD Merchandise has successfully completed a partner buyout, giving Amo Singh full ownership of the promotional merchandise distributor, based in Old Trafford, Manchester. Having grown the business to a turnover of £3.5 million alongside co-founder David Moodie, the deal comes as part of a planned restructure to unlock the company’s next chapter of growth. Amo and David established AD Merchandise in October 2009, bringing together decades’ worth of experience and a passion to develop a profitable business, with solid systems and processes and robust, ethical management. Since then, the company has grown to 16 people, achieved ISO 9001 and 14001 certification, and become one

of only a handful of UK companies with BPMA (British Promotional Merchandise Association) Charter Status. A planned exit for David was in the business plan from the outset, and the founders’ commitment to upholding service, quality and environmental standards has enabled them to achieve this ahead of AD Merchandise’s 10th anniversary. “I’m thrilled at the completion of the deal and I know that Amo will continue to run the business to the high standards we set ourselves,” said David. “I’m looking forward to being able to contribute in my new role as Chairman, and I wish Amo and the team all the success for the future.” AD Merchandise has experienced significant growth to date by working

with stakeholders right through the supply chain as partners. Now, having taken full ownership of the company, Amo is excited about future prospects: “Our standing within the industry, together with the quality of our customer base and our reputation amongst them, is excellent. I can’t wait to push on and make AD the best in our industry. We have plans to continue developing and empowering the team in a rewarding work environment, and this will be a catalyst for further success. “I grew up in Old Trafford, and in fact walked past the very building in which we are based on my way to school. For me, it seemed a natural decision to set up here, when we established AD Merchandise nine years ago, and I’m proud to have built

a business hub that contributes to so many in the place that shaped who I am today. “By creating more jobs in the area and working closely with local suppliers, colleges and charities, I hope that we are able to maintain the high standard for which we are renowned and make a positive impact, not just in Old Trafford, but nationwide.”

Dwyer Group acquired by Harvest Partners DWYER Franchising, LLC (“Dwyer Group”), one of the world’s largest parent companies of home service brands, has announced it has been acquired by Harvest Partners, LP (“Harvest Partners” or “Harvest”), a New York-based private equity firm. The deal marks the fourth and largest private equity transaction of Dwyer Group in the franchise organisation’s history. Bright & Beautiful, an award-winning professional domestic housekeeping franchise based in Cheadle, was acquired by Dwyer Group in April 2017 and currently has 56 franchise owners building their own local business. In ten years, the managed service-based franchise has created over 500 jobs and delivered more than 500,000 home cleans. Dwyer Group, headquartered in Waco, Texas, with offices in Banbury and Manchester, serves as the holding company for 20 service brands, with a franchise network including more than 3,200 franchisees operating in the United States, United Kingdom and seven other countries. The combined businesses offer domestic and commercial customers with a community of professional services and

account for approximately £1.3 billion in annual system-wide revenues. Harvest Partners, is an established middlemarket private equity firm with a 35+ year history of investing in companies and partnering with high-quality management teams to support those businesses as they continue to grow to the next level. “We are thrilled to partner with the Dwyer Group management team. They have built an excellent company and we look forward to providing additional financial and strategic resources to help them further build on their market leader status in the service franchise category,” said Steve Eisenstein, Partner at Harvest Partners. Harvest’s purchase transfers majority ownership of Dwyer Group from The Riverside Company, a global investment firm that invested in Dwyer Group two separate times, taking the company private in 2003 and reacquiring the company in 2014. “This acquisition is exciting news for Bright & Beautiful as it will open up many more opportunities for us to grow our network of franchises and clients even further across the UK said Sue Moore, Brand

President of Bright & Beautiful. “It will also be great to benefit from Harvest Partners vast expertise and experience in the service sector.” With each private equity transaction, Dwyer Group has expanded exponentially through add-on acquisitions of complementary franchise service brands and the organic growth of its existing service brands. “The incredible support of Riverside, the skill and resources of our team, and the successful completion of 11 add-on acquisitions, including three in the UK (Drain Doctor®, Bright & Beautiful® and Countrywide Grounds Maintenance®) to Dwyer Group during this second investment have dramatically shaped the trajectory of our growth. We intend to build on our dominant position as a leader in services helping people repair, maintain and enhance their homes and businesses,” said Mike Bidwell, President and CEO of Dwyer Group.

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ACQUISITIONS

HSBC supports AA Projects to achieve successful management buy out A 10-STRONG management team at Manchester-based national property management consultancy, AA Projects, has successfully completed a management buyout of the business. The management buyout (MBO) sees founder and majority shareholder Paul Allen, together with longstanding Directors, Niall Wright and Kevin McEvoy, pass on their shareholding to a buyout team led by Kenneth Wood, Managing Director, and Neil Grindrod, Finance

Director. Paul will continue in his role as Chairman of the Board. Paul Allen said: “The success of AA Projects to date has been built very much around our shared values and highly skilled people, who provide the expertise our clients need. The management team share this same vision leaving the company in very safe hands as it continues its journey.” Established by Paul in 1999, the business is headquartered in Greater

Manchester and has six offices across the UK, providing innovative, client focused consultancy solutions nationwide. AA Projects has a wide range of clients in core sectors including education, residential and healthcare. The business generates revenues of £10 million and employs over 100 staff, with further growth planned in both revenues and people. Kenneth Wood added: “Paul has left a legacy here for us to build on, to enable us to continue to grow and thrive.

It’s an exciting new chapter, where clients can continue to expect a personal service, dealing directly with the owners of the business, and bucking the industry trend of corporate takeovers.” The deal was partly funded by HSBC, who put together a multi-million pound package and supported by law firm Addleshaw Goddard. Hurst’s accountants were involved in due diligence for the management team, with BBS Law providing legal guidance to the management team and

Kay Johnson Gee, chartered accountants, adding their corporate finance expertise. HSBC’s Relationship Director Samantha Hanley, said: “AA Projects is a progressive and multi-faceted property consultancy business which has always strived for growth. We are proud to support this longstanding HSBC customer and its new management team, led by Kenneth and Neil, with its succession planning to equip the company for the future”.

MAG acquires international price comparison business Looking4.com MAG, the UK’s largest airport group, has acquired Looking4.com, the online consolidator and price comparison business. Looking4.com and its team of 35 people will become part of MAG, and integrate into MAG’s Airport Services division, alongside the group’s dedicated technology division MAG-O, which aims to enhance the end-to-end airport experience for its passengers. The acquisition will enable MAG to improve its ability to distribute and market its own car parking, airport lounges and fast-track products, in addition to those at other airports outside of the Group. Looking4.com specialises in online

airport parking price comparison, and also offers deals on private car, train, bus and other types of transfers to a list of global airports. It has experienced rapid growth over the past years and has gained further international reach in countries such as Japan and Australia, following the acquisition of Melbournebased Airport Parking Australia in 2017. This, coupled with MAG’s own successful airport services business in the US, MAG-USA, will further Looking4.com and MAG’s international capabilities. Last year, almost 800,000 customers used Looking4.com and related websites to book their travel services across Europe, North America, South

America, Asia, Oceania & Africa. Commenting on the deal, Andrew Harrison, CEO, Airport Services, MAG, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming the Looking4. com team into the Group. To expand and grow our MAG-O business, we wanted to find a company that had a great network of supplier businesses, fantastic distribution channels and top quality tech that would fit in well with what our team is already working on. “I’m very pleased to say that Looking4.com ticked all those boxes and they are also a like-minded set of people, with a commercial ethos and start up mentality, they’ll fit perfectly

into MAG.” Martin Mansell, MD of Looking4. com, said: “Having spent the last 10 years developing our software platform and network of partners, we’re delighted that our business has been acquired by MAG and will have the opportunity to take both MAG and Looking4.com to the next level in this digital evolution. We’re looking forward to working together, integrating the businesses and accelerating the growth even more.”

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ACQUISITIONS

July 2018

Taylors assists Aligro UK in acquiring iconic brand, Henri Lloyd WITH assistance from Taylors Corporate Restructuring team, Henri Lloyd, the iconic brand of sailing and leisure wear will continue to trade. Henri Lloyd was established in Manchester in 1963 and went into administration on 11 June 2018. The company operated a number of retail shops and outlet stores, as well as 20 concessions in House of Fraser stores nationwide. In recent years, Henri Lloyd had faced difficult trading conditions on

administrators, Aligro UK Limited completed the acquisition of five retail locations at Salcombe, Dartmouth, the high street as well as competition Cowes, Lymmington and Cheshire from emerging brands. Oaks. The transaction maintains the Aligro Group Limited has now presence of the Henri Lloyd brand acquired the Henri Lloyd brand. In in key locations and secures 44 jobs. May 2018, Aligro backed by a Swedish Aligro is now committed to taking investor, completed a rescue funding the brand to new heights with a global package as a prelude to a longer presence. term re-structure plan. However the Andrew Livesey, Corporate Recompany was unable to trade out of its structuring Partner and Head of difficulties and entered administration Taylors Manchester Office, who lead in order to salvage the viable part of the the Taylor’s team, said: “We are pleased to have been able to assist Aligro UK business and to protect the brand. in the acquisition of the Henri Lloyd Following the appointment of

brand and its retail division. The deal represents the best outcome which could be achieved in the circumstances and ensures that a great British brand will continue in existence and go from strength to strength.” With offices in Blackburn and Manchester, Taylors is a commercial law firm exclusively acting for company clients. The dynamic and highly experienced lawyers at Taylors are committed to providing the highest quality service through a first-hand understanding of our clients’ business priorities and specific requirements.

TRANSPORT

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New airfield layout as part of Manchester Airport’s £1bn Transformation WORK has commenced on a new taxiway at Manchester Airport that will help to make its operations more efficient, as part of its £1bn transformation programme. The building of Taxiway Delta Echo, as

the new taxiway will be called, is the start of the reconfiguration of the airfield, at the UK’s third largest airport, to help feed the redeveloped Terminal 2. The works will see 80,000m2 of new

taxiway and apron, 40,000m3 of concrete poured and sixteen miles of cabling installed with the aim of all excavated material being diverted from landfill throughout. The work is due to be completed by July 2020. Galliford Try will deliver the taxiway works as part of the Airfield Phase 2 Design and Build Contract awarded in December 2017. Jacobs are providing MAG with client project and programme management support services for the full airfield scope of the transformation programme. Once finished, it will improve aircraft access to the new terminal, leading to reduced taxi times and reducing the amount of fuel they burn. The works will be the biggest changes to the airfield since Runway 2 came into operation in 2001. Andrew Cowan, CEO of Manchester Airport, said: “It’s great to see the start of work for the reconfiguration of our taxiways, which will help to unlock the airfield capacity and allow the airport to continue to grow. “It’s another exciting

milestone alongside the works already happening on the terminal building. Our airline customers will see taxi times reduced, which will ultimately improve the experience for our 28m passengers.” Chris Scoffield, Managing Director Infrastructure, Rail and Aviation, Galliford Try, said: “Today marks the start of the next phase of this exciting project. Being part of such a significant transformation for the airport and the North West is a great honour for our company and the local people which we employ. “We’re looking forward to beginning this new stage of the transformation project, which will enhance the facilities and connectivity of the airport for many years to come.” Graham Mallett, Airfield Programme Manager, Jacobs, said: “We are pleased to support Manchester Airport in the safe and efficient delivery of new airfield infrastructure, giving airlines and their passengers greater opportunities to travel to and from their destinations of choice.”

Leasing Options. co.uk celebrates LeasingOptions.co.uk, one of the UK’s leading car leasing companies, has surprised its longest serving members of staff with a presentation to say thank you for their ongoing commitment and hard work. Nigel and Karin Brain surprised the team with a pizza and ice cream day at the head office in Walkden, before inviting the 10 longest serving members of staff, who have clocked up an impressive 150 years’ service between them, for a special presentation.

Jo Farnworth, who works in customer support, is the longest serving member of staff and has been with LeasingOptions.co.uk since the beginning, over 30 years, and seen the owners, Nigel and Karin Brain, grow the business to be one of the nation’s leading car leasing companies. Nigel Brain, co-founder and managing director of LeasingOptions.co.uk, said: “Karin and I feel truly humbled to have such a loyal and hardworking team around us. We fully recognise how rare it is to

have so many people stay with one company for so long and we are so proud and thankful to have each and every one of them support us. “We have always been focused on hiring who we believe to be the best people and then treating them as they deserve, as a team of hard working individuals who are driven to achieve amazing results for the business. I think that approach has really worked for us and that’s why we are able to celebrate and recognise such an incredible achievement.”

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TRANSPORT

BMW i8 ROADSTER DRIVES INTO NORTH WEST THANKS TO WILLIAMS GROUP MAKING its debut in the North West of England is the all-new BMW i8 Roadster, thanks to Williams Group, the family-owned prestige automotive retailer operating retail centres throughout the region. The eye-catching plug-in hybrid stole the show at the Williams BMW Liverpool International Tennis Tournament, courtesy of Williams BMW Liverpool being title sponsor of the event for the first time and ahead of the vehicle being available to purchase via Williams Group centres in Manchester, Bolton, Stockport, Rochdale and Liverpool. Combining a powerful electric motor with an extended range of 33 miles with the BMW TwinPower, turbo three-cylinder petrol engine, the BMW i8 Roadster offers acceleration from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.6 seconds and CO2 emissions of up to just 46g/kilometre. Designed to offer both dynamics and agility, the Roadster features an aluminium chassis with ultralight passenger compartment of high-strength carbon fibre, lightweight carbon fibre dihedral (gull wing) doors and an exclusive, all-electric soft-top roof for maximum effect. Complementing these striking features are optional 20” BMW light-alloy wheels and a wide selection of full leather interiors in a range of colours. The BMW i8 Roadster can be charged or refuelled with the BMW 360-degree ELECTRIC package with charging at home via the BMW I Wallbox or charging cable. Its imminent arrival at Williams Group retail centres extends the existing BMW i range to three vehicles alongside the i8 coupe and i3. In the summer of 2019 Williams Group will strengthen its presence in the North West with the opening of a £41m flagship automotive retail centre for BMW, MINI, Jaguar and Land Rover on a 14.3-acre site at Peel Land and Property’s TraffordCity development in Greater Manchester, adjacent to intu Trafford Centre and Event City. Current Williams Group showrooms will relocate from Upper Brook Street and Birchall Way in Manchester to TraffordCity with 240 of the firm’s total of 812 employees making the move and another 20 jobs being created. Nick Cook, managing director, Williams Group, commented: “Williams Group is genuinely delighted to have brought a local touch to the global launch of the BMW i8 Roadster with its introduction to the North West of England at the Williams BMW Liverpool International Tennis Tournament, a local event that attracts an international array of tennis players and we look forward to introducing our valued customers to this spectacular car in coming weeks.” Title sponsorship of the Williams BMW Liverpool International Tennis Tournament – the longest running and largest tennis exhibition in Europe now in its 17th year – reflects the ongoing commitment of the family-owned business to supporting sports and activities throughout the North West and to encourage talent at all levels, including the Williams’ Golf Alliance and the Williams BMW Rochdale Half Marathon.

36 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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NatWest team raises £10,000 for Broughton House veterans A FORMER Royal Marine inspired his colleagues in the real estate finance team at NatWest in Manchester to climb Snowdon in aid of Broughton House, the Salford care home for ex-servicemen and women. Fifteen members of the team climbed the Welsh peak and completed a 35-mile cycle ride across Wirral to raise £10,000 for Broughton House. Those taking part included the bank’s North West head of real estate Heath Thomas, along with directors, regional managers, assistants and graduates. The idea came from Shaun Thomas, the team’s business development manager for Northern England, who served more than six years in the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines, before joining the bank. He undertook tours of Afghanistan and Iraq during his military career and was wounded in action. Shaun said: “Broughton House is a great charity that is close to my heart. Without the bravery of

the veterans who live there, our lives would be very different. “They gave everything for us and the people of the United Kingdom. It’s right that we give something back. The residents of Broughton House deserve the best that we can give them.” The NatWest colleagues completed the Wirral Circular Trail cycle ride in five hours then headed off for North Wales, where they slept overnight at the foot of Snowdon. Shaun added: “The group defied blisters, aches and pains to set out at the crack of dawn to climb the mountain. “It was cold and wet after 12 hours of torrential rain, and visibility was poor, but we managed to reach the summit and return to the base within seven hours. “The soles of my 15-year-old boots came away on the way back down the mountain, so I tackled the

final two hours of the journey in slippery conditions in my socks. “The whole experience was tough but well worth it. Everyone showed great determination and teamwork and can be justly proud of their achievements. Broughton House chief executive Ty Platten, said: “The NatWest team has raised a substantial amount of money to support the veterans who live at Broughton House. “The team has visited the veterans several times and they appreciate why Broughton House is so important to the Greater Manchester public. We’re extremely grateful for their hard work and for their contribution to the welfare of our veterans.”

Duerr’s digs deep for Joshua Tree kids MANCHESTER based jam and preserve maker, Duerr’s, has joined The Joshua Tree charity to start work on a new adventure playground in Cheshire, designed specifically for children living with the life-changing experience of childhood cancer. The playground is being made possible thanks to a donation of £40,000, which was raised by Duerr’s at its annual ball. The donation will build a brand new all-ability playground at the Support Centre The Joshua Tree is building in Sandiway, Northwich and is due to open in 2019. The Joshua Tree charity supports families across the North West and North Wales living with childhood cancer, providing help that is tailored to their needs. The extensive, all access outdoor play area will provide families visiting

its Centre with a vital chance to play without risk of infection, a crucial consideration for immunosuppressed children, who are advised not to play in public playcentres or playgrounds when undergoing treatment. It will also provide families with a space to receive therapy through play, enabling them to build memories together during a challenging time. Reflecting on the impact of the donation from the 18th charity ball held by the company, Director of Marketing, Richard Duerr, said: “We chose to support The Joshua Tree charity because of the excellent work they carry out helping families in the North West during an incredibly traumatic time. We would like to thank our extended family of friends, colleagues and suppliers for continuing to support us and our charity efforts.” Joshua Hill, who the charity is

named after, attended the ball with his parents Lynda and David. David added “The adventure playground will make a massive difference to the many families, who access The Joshua Tree services. We would like to say a massive thank you to Duerr’s for making this possible.” Peter Smith from The Joshua Tree said: “The Joshua Tree Support Centre will provide an appropriate environment for our families accommodating children of all ages

from toddlers through to teenagers. “It will feature a multi-functional activity room, private counselling and therapy suites, office facilities and meeting room, a community ‘heart space’ area with access to a kitchen stocked with family meals, soft play and sensory equipment, a games room and, importantly, an extensive play area, thanks to this funding from Duerr’s, which will be surrounded by landscaped gardens.”

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CSR

Leading footwear e-tailer makes donation to Manchester Dogs Home LEADING footwear manufacturer and e-tailer, Lazy Dogz has made a £750 donation to Manchester Dogs Home. The Rawtenstall-based company, who currently offer products including slippers and sandals, work closely with Manchester Dogs Home, donating £1 for every pair of their shoes which are sold through their website. The cheque was presented by Mark Newman, Lazy Dogz’ Brand Sales Manager, to Colin

Ballance, Home Liaison Officer at Manchester Dogs Home, and Scooby, a rescue who has been at the home for eight months. Colin lives on site and was the first person to discover the horrendous fire which devastated the premises back in September 2014, claiming the lives of 60 animals. Mark said: “I’m delighted to be able to present the cheque on behalf of Lazy Dogz from the money we have recently raised through sales of our products.

“The £1 donation to the home is just one of many reasons people choose to buy Lazy Dogz footwear, and we’re looking forward to selling even more pairs in the future, which will enable us to raise even more money for an extremely worthwhile cause.” Colin, added: “ Manchester Dogs Home would like to thank Lazy Dogz for the generous donation and welcome their continued support.”

World Tai Chi event raises £1,300 for Salford homeless charity AN EVENT to celebrate World Tai Chi Day at MediaCityUK has raised £1,300 for homelessness charity, Emmaus Salford.

MediaCityUK was the venue for a World Tai Chi Day event with more than 300 attendees coming together

for a mass tai chi performance, workshops and demonstrations. Stephen Wild, Managing Director of

MediaCityUK, said: “We’re always delighted to support the World Tai Chi Day as it is such an inspirational day, which

brings people together at the same time across the world.” World Tai Chi Day is celebrated across the globe. In each country, at 10am local time, Tai Chi is performed in city parks, tiny village halls, sports centres or beaches, sending a wave of Tai Chi energy around the world. 2018 is the 20th international World Tai

Chi Day and the sixth year an event has been held in Salford. Simon Locke, Community Director of Emmaus Salford, said: “We are delighted that Emmaus Salford was selected as this year’s nominated charity to benefit from the World Tai Chi Day event at MediaCityUK. I would like to thank everyone who took part in the event and give special thanks to the team at MediaCityUK for their ongoing support of Emmaus Salford.” Emmaus Salford supports formerly homeless people by providing them with a home and work in a community setting. The charity operates shops at Fitzwarren Street and Seaford Road in Salford, as well as the Emmaus Emporium in Swinton, stocking good quality, affordable furniture, household goods, clothes, textiles, books and vintage wares.

38 APPOINTMENTS

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pro-manchester's new Membership & Engagement Manager PROMANCHESTER is delighted to announce further expansion to its team, with new Membership & Engagement Manager, Katherine Barr. Katherine joins promanchester from luxury skincare brand La Prairie, where she was quickly promoted to Business Manager after a hugely successful first year with them. After living in China for two years working with the British Council and studying Asia Pacific Studies & Mandarin at Uclan, Katherine is fluent in Mandarin. She brings with her a wealth of sales knowledge from the retail world and hopes to use what she’s learnt in her new role.

Katherine said: “I am delighted to take up this new role at pro-manchester. It’s a completely different challenge for me, and one that I’m already really enjoying. I’m looking forward to applying what I’ve learnt in retail to promote pro-manchester’s great products, which are hugely beneficial to businesses across the North West.” Katherine has already settled well at the Spinningfield-based business development organisation. Deputy CEO, Sam Booth said: “Katherine’s appointment highlights the exciting time it is for pro-manchester at present. The team is made up of nine individuals who are

excellent at what they do and I’m really looking forward to seeing the organisation grow and develop alongside their wealth of knowledge. Katherine has hit the ground running and I can already tell she is going to be hugely successful in this role.” It has been a fantastic year for promanchester, which has seen them expand the team with three new members of staff, as well as a great series of events, including the Made in Manchester Awards, the Economics Conference and the Business Conference.

Deloitte's senior North West promotions DELOITTE has made nine senior promotions across its North West practice, with Lyndsey Fallon becoming the firm’s latest partner. Fallon has been with Deloitte for 11 years and is responsible for the firm’s Conduct Risk and Regulatory team within the regional Financial Services practice. She has extensive experience in Risk Management, Governance, Conduct Risk and Internal Audit within the retail banking, insurance and consumer credit sectors. The eight new Directors are: Mark Westbrook (Risk Advisory, providing assurance services to clients in Financial Services sector), Matthew Smith (International audit practice, leading on audit and assurance projects for multinational US listed and IFRS clients, specialising in manufacturing and consumer business), Tim Bridge (Sports Business Group, working globally with a number of leading sports organisations across a range of consulting services), Daniel Mowbray (Risk Advisory, leading our external audit analytics team, providing assurance and insight through the use of data), Peter Braddock (Audit & Assurance, leading on Equity Capital Market transactions and Private-Equity

backed audits), Rosina Murdoch (Consulting, working primarily with central government departments on large scale organisation transformation programmes), Katie Minton (Human Capital Consulting, focusing on client challenges at the intersection of business and people) and Nic Hartley (Deloitte Real Estate Consulting, helping the public sector with real estate strategy and transformation programmes). Deloitte operates from offices in Manchester, Liverpool and Isle of Man, employing more than 750 people in the North West region. Richard Bell, Practice Senior Partner for Deloitte in the North West, said: “These promotions recognise the hard work and dedication that each of them has put in over a sustained period. Each individual has demonstrated their ability to provide valuable support to our clients, helping them to make a real impact in the region. At Deloitte, we strive to attract and retain the very best talent, and these promotions are testament to our commitment to develop our people and provide them with opportunities to excel.”

Manchester Airport appoints new Trade Marketing Manager MANCHESTER Airport has appointed a new Travel Trade Marketing Manager, as the global gateway gears up for its busiest ever summer. Olivia Bussey, has joined the UK’s third busiest airport, after previously working as a travel consultant for TUI. Olivia graduated with firstclass honours in Business and Marketing from the University of Sunderland. Working as part of the

airport’s Marketing team, Olivia will be responsible for promoting the airport’s 220 plus destinations and 70 airlines to the travel trade industry. Her role will see her look to strengthen ties with the trade, as well as organising and delivering events throughout Manchester Airport’s extensive catchment area. She joins the airport at a busy time with celebrations taking place for its

80th birthday, and two longhaul route announcements, after Jet Airways announced flights to Mumbai and Ethiopian Airlines to Addis Ababa. Patrick Alexander, Head of Marketing at Manchester Airport, said: “We’re delighted that Olivia has joined the team. She brings with her an extensive knowledge of how the travel industry works. As the airport continues to grow

with a £1bn transformation programme and more new routes coming onboard, it’s hugely important that travel agents come on the journey with us.” Olivia, added: “With so much going on at the airport, it’s a really exciting time to join the team. I can’t wait to get out on the road and spread the Fly Manchester message to travel agents across our catchment area.”

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Buffalo 7 increases staff numbers by over 20% in five months SINCE the turn of the year, there has been an influx of new talent across the business, with new roles for designers, developers and project managers. After outgrowing their previous office and moving to The Treehouse Suite on Portland Street in October 2017, the presentation design agency put a ten-year plan in place to grow the team, but Buffalo 7’s exceptionally rapid growth has taken even them by surprise. “We’ve been growing very quickly for a number of years now, and doubled in employee numbers in 2017, but our growth has further accelerated and at the moment, we seem to be taking on someone new every week. Plans are already in place to alter the layout of the office to allow more desks, as we’re already close to capacity only seven months in,” said Managing Director Richard Barnes. There’s no signs of recruitment slowing down. Having opened a new office in London’s Soho Square, Buffalo 7 has developed new strategies to grow their Client Services team in their new

Soho office, as well as further expanding the Manchester team. “It’s a really exciting time at Buffalo 7. Having joined the company in 2014, we’ve just grown and grown since making the decision to focus solely on presentations. However, this has been the most rapid period of growth for us. And we’re not done yet! We’re still on the lookout for a number of different roles in both Manchester and London” said CEO, Lyndon Nicholson.

Northcoders grows team with three appointments

studied Journalism at UCLan and joins from the Eword where she worked as a digital content executive. James Brooke, co-founder of Northcoders, said: “2018 is turning out to be a ground breaking and record year for MANCHESTER English (BA), Humanities/ Northcoders, but we never headquartered Northcoders, Humanistic Studies at forget that the talent of our the coding bootcamp for the Manchester Metropolitan team is at the very heart of our North, has added three new University. She also worked success. We are really pleased team members to its ranks. The at the university as an intern to welcome Lucy, Alanna appointments follow a busy where she helped international and Steph, especially as their few weeks for the business after students learn fluent English expertise and experience are it was selected as one of the and integrate into UK life. already adding value.” country’s brightest tech stars Alanna Chamberlain is Alanna said of her new in Creative England’s CE50 Northcoders’ newest designer. role: “Myself, Steph and Lucy list, and announced that all Her focus is on developing the are so excited to be joining eight graduates from its first company’s branding and rolling Northcoders at such an exciting ever Developer Pathway course it out across all on and offline time in its evolution. It’s a found junior software developer comms platforms. Before fantastic organisation and we jobs within 10 days. joining Northcoders Alanna are all delighted that we have The first new starter is Steph was a freelance graphic designer the opportunity to play our Slater who has joined as a talent and illustrator working within part in its future growth.” and partnership co-ordinator. the B2B sector. Her role will see her generate The final new recruit is leads, prepare and organise Lucy Adams who is a digital interviews for students with marketing executive. Lucy potential employers and liaise is now overseeing all of with Northcoders’ network of Northcoders’ digital marketing hiring partners. Steph studied and social media activities. Lucy

APPOINTMENTS

July 2018

The Dining Club Group announces its first Chief Marketing Officer THE DINING CLUB GROUP, the largest dining club in the world comprising of tastecard, Gourmet Society and hi-life, has named Anwar Sultan as its first Chief Marketing Officer. Continued marketing efforts have seen sustained commercial growth of the Dining Club Group across the UK & Ireland and Sultan’s appointment marks the commitment to further growth and expansion of the Dining Club Group brands. Sultan, who joins from The Hut Group, where he was Marketing Director, brings nine years marketing, digital and e-commerce experience and will be responsible for both the group’s marketing function, as well as developing the customer experience across the various brands. Reporting into Matt Turner, Founder of tastecard & CEO of the Dining Club Group, and based between both Manchester and Huddersfield sites, Sultan’s first priority is to build a robust & innovative marketing team to help grow the business and support The Dining Club Group’s impressive growth strategy in the fast-paced tech industry. Anwar, commented: “I’m delighted to have joined the Dining Club Group at such an exciting time, the prospect of working with such an engaging product which is used by millions of customers, in a data

driven digital approach, is something I just couldn’t turn down. The DCG business is dynamic and innovative and the opportunities for growth of the business are staggering. The art of the possible is endless.” Matt Turner, Founder of tastecard and CEO of the Dining Club Group, added: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Anwar to the Dining Club Group family at a hugely

exciting time, with the business undergoing a major digital transformation programme which will provide valuable data driven insight to our partners and customers alike. 2018 is already shaping up to be a record-breaking year for the Dining Club Group and his appointment further demonstrates our commitment to an ambitious growth strategy in the UK and abroad.” Comprising three leading discount dining card schemes in the UK; tastecard, Gourmet Society and hi-life, the Dining Club Group has over four million members, spending in excess of £600 million per annum, across the Group’s growing 10,000 restaurant partners.

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APPOINTMENTS

Trio of partner promotions at Brabners INDEPENDENT legal practice Brabners has promoted three of its senior associates to partner across its corporate, family and private client teams. David McGurnaghan is a private client lawyer with more than 10 years’ experience. He specialises in wills, estates and tax planning for high net-worth individuals, trusts and owner-managed businesses, and has significant expertise in power of attorney and Court of Protection work. David will work closely with Duncan Bailey, head of the private client department, which was named Private Client Team of the Year at the Liverpool Legal Awards 2017, to drive the future growth of the team. Joanne Radcliff, who was a finalist in the Lawyer of the Year category at the Made in Manchester Awards 2018, is a specialist in family law and has considerable experience in complex and high value financial settlements. She supports clients with separation, divorce, civil partnerships, prenuptial agreements and issues relating to cohabitation and child matters. Joanne is also a trained collaborative legal practitioner, which offers an alternative method of dispute resolution to her clients. Nikki Whittle, who was recently named Lawyer of the Year at the North West Business Insider Young Professional Awards, is a corporate lawyer who also leads the firm’s corporate team in Preston. She supports a broad range of clients, from SMEs to large corporates, with transactions including M&A, MBOs, JVs and retirement sales. She also deals with non-contentious and contentious insolvency matters. Alongside these partner promotions, Brabners

has also confirmed that its current cohort of seven second year trainees will all remain with the firm as newly-qualified solicitors in September. Nik White, managing partner at Brabners, said: “Making sure we invest in the brightest talent is a vital part of our long-term growth strategy. Attracting quality lateral hires to the firm is a key part of that, as is ensuring that we nurture and promote the talent, ambition and success of the many great commercially-minded people already in our business. This latest round of promotions is testament to that and I’m also delighted that we are

retaining 100 per cent of our second-year trainees on qualification. This reflects the quality of the young people we are bringing on board and also our positive growth mindset, all of which will help us to drive the firm forward into our next phase of growth.” These promotions follow a period of investment in talent at the firm, which has recently announced the senior hires of corporate partner Jon Close, financial litigation partner Phil Sheard and his team, in addition to Lisa Robinson-Behnejad as director of marketing and business development and Ruj Dev as head of commercial finance and project management.

Vernacare appoints new Chief Financial Officer INFECTION prevention specialist Vernacare, based in Bolton and Chorley, has appointed Nicola Boulton as Chief Financial Officer, with responsibility for finance, business planning and HR. She joined the business four years ago as Financial Controller and has helped manage a phase of rapid growth for the company. This includes Vernacare’s 2015 management buyout, led by majority shareholder Palatine Private Equity, and the recent acquisition of Chorley-based Synergy Healthcare Consumable Solutions (HCS). Nicola is an ACCA accountant and a graduate in Business Administration and Management from Sheffield Hallam University. She was previously

Senior Accountant for Johnsons Apparelmaster. She succeeds Paul Wright, who was performing a dual role as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer and can now focus more fully on business strategy. Paul said: “Nicola has a strong record of achievement as a financial and commercial leader. Her promotion comes at an exciting time for Vernacare as we enter a rapid phase of growth following our recent major business acquisition.” Nicola added: “Vernacare has huge ambitions and it is great to be part of a professional and innovative company that never stands still. I look forward to contributing to our continuing success story as we

expand the business, both in the UK and internationally.” The recent acquisition of HCS has almost doubled Vernacare’s turnover and provides the company with two major UK manufacturing facilities in Chorley and Bolton. From these locations, Vernacare produces its safe and hygienic care products, which reduce the risk of healthcareassociated infections in hospitals and long-term care facilities across the globe. Vernacare’s single-use system of toileting and cleansing is providing a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic ‘wash and re-use’ methods.

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Mace expands Northern infrastructure team MACE has appointed two new senior directors to its Manchester office in response to the increasing infrastructure investment in the North of England. The National Transforming Cities Fund, to address my weaknesses in city transport systems, in order to raise productivity and spread prosperity, will see £243m invested in infrastructure in Greater Manchester, as well as £193m spent improving transport connections in Liverpool and The Tees Valley. Richard Dinsdale joins as Operations Director and Mark Holmes as Associate Director, both of whom previously held senior positions with Carillion. They bring their expertise to Mace as its Northern team continues to boost the organisation’s capabilities for delivering large-scale and complex regeneration and infrastructure projects. These new appointments will further extend Mace’s strategic advisory offer for major infrastructure projects in the North of England, building on their

work constructing TfGM interchanges for Altrincham and Bolton and their study to develop the Trans-Pennine Tunnel for Highways England. Richard has gained over 31 years’ experience working in the construction sector and recently created the integrated communities, public sector services and asset strategy that is being rolled out by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). Prior to joining Mace, he worked as Director and Place Lead for Carillion Regions and Communities and has held previous senior roles with Capita and Urban Vision Partnership. Mark brings a wealth of experience to Mace, in both public and private sectors, having worked for more than 23 years in leadership roles in construction, building services, and manufacturing projects. Mark was previously at Carillion where, as Senior Programme Manager, he worked for the Stockport Property Alliance (SPA), providing One Public Estate solutions

Lowry hotel strengthens sales team with four major appointments

and Neighbourhood Asset Reviews within Greater Manchester Combined Authorities. Lisa Bowden, Head of Infrastructure North for Mace, said: “There has never been a more exciting time to work on infrastructure in the North of England. As the Government and our Metro Mayors prepare to invest more money improving transport connections across our great cities, it is time for us in the North to prove we can deliver world-class infrastructure on time and in budget. “Mark and Richard’s appointments are a game changer for Mace, as we bring together the combined expertise of our property and infrastructure teams to developments. This is in recognition that transforming cities is not just about improving transport connectivity, but also taking a holistic approach, with a focus on social infrastructure, such as high-quality housing, business premises, public services and assets, all supported by excellent digital infrastructure.”

team are Matthew Miller as Group Sales Manager, Thomas Ansbro as Sales Manager, Adele Goddard as Corporate Sales Manager and Abigail Moffat as Sales Research Coordinator - all bringing with them a wealth of experience in the hospitality and sales sector.Matthew Miller, who is joining the hotel from Hotel Gotham, will use his 23-years’ experience working in the FOLLOWING the sale of Manchester’s sales sector, to source and secure sales opportunities and ensure sustained five-star Lowry Hotel last year to successful demand for The Lowry Singapore-based CDL Hospitality Hotel’s high-quality services.With Trusts, the hotel is continuing to thrive, with four new additions to their six years’ experience, Adele Goddard joins the team as Corporate Sales sales team.Newly appointed to the

July 2018

Stephensons appoints new Head of Family and Divorce Law SPECIALIST family solicitor, Victoria Gethin, has been appointed Head of Family and Divorce Law at national law firm, Stephensons. She will take over the position from Mike Devlin, who will continue as a partner within the firm’s family team, whilst balancing his latest role as President of the Manchester Law Society. Victoria, who has been with Stephensons since qualifying as a solicitor in 2002, is a noted specialist in complex and sensitive children law cases. Her extensive experience in the field includes acting for Local Authorities, parents and children as well as providing expert consultation to public bodies in matters relating to domestic violence. She is based at the firm’s Manchester office, one of five across Greater Manchester, which is home to a large number of the team’s partners and specialists in family law. The practice is one of the largest in the country and has a rare depth of specialisms across private and public childcare law, divorce proceedings and all aspects of family and

Manager, where she will be tasked with developing and managing key corporate accounts. Joining the team as sales manager will be Thomas Ansbro, who was previously responsible for overseeing all proactive and reactive activity of the 148-bedroom Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel.Abigail Moffat started at The Lowry Hotel in January 2017 as the Food and Beverage Coordinator. Abigail’s consumer facing background is key for the task of building business relationships and generating sales leads.The team will be joining Director of Sales, Scott Brown, who previously worked as the National

children law. Victoria said: “It is a real privilege to lead such a dynamic and diverse team which has a much-deserved reputation for the expertise of its solicitors. “The modern legal sector is a very different proposition for family law compared to five years ago. There is much more demand on firms to provide a wide range of specialisms, to meet the clients expectations in the services we provide, whether face-to-face or onthe-move, and to make sure that our services are available to as many as possible through flexible fee options. “Stephensons continues to flourish in this regard and I am relishing the opportunity to head the department as we continue to provide the best possible legal service for our clients.”

Account Manager at The Marriot Group and joined the hotel in June of last year. The quintet of experienced executes will work together to maximize revenue opportunities across all functions.Scott said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming four new members to the sales team as they all bring with them a wealth of experience, fresh ideas and passion to add to the continued success of the hotel. The new appointments aim to achieve revenue goals, drive profit and build brand awareness for the Lowry Hotel.”

PROPERTY

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Construction milestone at Islington Wharf Locks

URBAN waterfront regeneration specialists, Waterside Places, has marked a major milestone at Islington Wharf Locks, the third phase of homes at its Islington Wharf scheme in Ancoats, with a traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony. The event, which celebrates the construction of the building reaching its highest point – was attended by representatives from Waterside Places and Eric Wright Construction, who are delivering the project. The first homes will be ready to move into from summer 2019. Once completed, the scheme will feature a mix of apartments, two, three and four-bedroom mews houses and three and four-bedroom town houses set around a central courtyard on the banks of the Ashton Canal. Andrew Barton, Project Manager at Waterside Places said: “The topping out event marks a key milestone in the progress and delivery of this soughtafter residential area in Manchester city centre. Waterside Places recognised early on the potential of Ancoats and

now, more than a decade after we first started building homes here, it is one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in the city. The area has really evolved over the years and now benefits from brilliant local amenities, including New Islington School, and a growing number of bars, restaurants and cultural facilities which are attracting people of all ages to put down roots here.” John Wilson, Managing Director at Eric Wright Construction, said: “Today marks the team’s achievements since starting on site and is an important milestone towards completion early next year. Islington Wharf is one of a number of urban living schemes that we’re underway with throughout central Manchester. The scheme has also created numerous jobs locally with more than 70 per cent of the project team living in the area and we’re also committed to upskilling the local workforce by offering apprenticeships and work placements throughout the project.”

Bardsley Construction delivers of £17m Staycity aparthotel BARDSLEY Construction is building on its expertise in the hospitality sector with the delivery of a Staycity aparthotel in central Manchester. The family-owned firm, based in Tameside, Greater Manchester, secured the £17m contract to provide the eight-storey aparthotel located on Mason Street, New Cross. The development will provide a total of 224 rooms via 48 onebed and 176 studio apartments with reception, cafe and gym, to be operated by the fast-expanding Dublin-based Staycity Group. Work has recently started on site with completion due in December 2019. This represents the third Staycity aparthotel in Manchester, alongside its other properties at Laystall Street and Manchester Piccadilly. The other members of the

project team are architect Simpson Haugh, structural engineer SHED, mechanical and electrical engineer, JH Partners and employer’s agent/quantity surveyor, AFA Ltd. Bardsley is already providing a 172-room hotel with gym, café, restaurant, conference and meeting facilities for AC Hotels by Marriot, part of Marriott International, on a neighbouring site bounded by Mason Street and Cable Street, via a £15.5m contract with Axcel Hospitality. Ged Rooney, Procurement Director at Bardsley Construction, said: “Bardsley is an increasingly active player in the delivery of high quality hotel accommodation in Manchester, where demand for new hospitality space continues to rise, as the city improves its international connections with a truly global visitor market.”

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July 2018

Global customer data science company agree 10-year lease at Manchester’s City Tower SCHRODER Real Estate Investment Management has agreed a new 10-year lease with dunnhumby UK at City Tower Manchester. The global leader in customer data science, whose clients include Kellogg’s, Tesco, Coca Cola, Nestle, P&G and Unilever, has taken 8,985 s q ft across the entire 23rd floor of City Tower. The deal takes total income

since the 2017 refurbishment of the 28-storey vertical business district to over £1.4 million. Rob Cosslett, Investment Manager at Schroder Real Estate, said last year’s refurbishment of the Piccadilly Gardens-base tower was instrumental in dunnhumby renewing its lease. He said: “It is really positive to see continued commitment

of dunnhumby to City Tower. “It is our long-term plan to continually enhance the offer at City Tower to meet the changing needs of the workforce. The signing of these new lease terms is testament to the quality of the offering post refurbishment and the level of available amenity that surrounds the building.” Founded in 1989, dunnhumby empowers

retail businesses and brands everywhere to thrive and compete in the modern datadriven economy. Analysts use the power of data and insights – building innovative software using Cloud, Machine Learning and AI to create customer-first, personalised in-store, digital and mobile experiences. 36,400 sq ft of high quality office space across four floors

as well as repositioning of the ground floor reception and lift lobbies throughout the building to support the 3,000 people who work in City Tower. This news follows a raft of lease renewals with tenants including coffee chain Starbucks and IT business solutions provider, Access Systems.

Farleys Solicitors to relocate its Manchester office to larger premises LAW firm Farleys Solicitors has announced it is to relocate its Manchester office to larger premises, as a response to increasing demand for the firm’s services in the city. The firm has signed a 10 year lease at 196 Deansgate, taking 4,500 sq. ft. on the second floor of the building following its multi-million pound refurbishment. The move comes following over ten years of consistent growth for Farleys in the city, having first opened as a satellite office in Parsonage Gardens, 12 years ago. Ian Liddle, Partner at Farleys said: “The move to larger premises is testament to our firm’s overall growth to date and our long term commitment to our staff, our clients and Manchester. “We look forward to continuing our growing presence alongside Manchester’s thriving business community”. Farleys will move to the new offices in August 2018.

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Bolton Council acquires Crompton Place shopping centre for £14.8m BOLTON Council has bought the Crompton Place shopping centre for £14.8m to help accelerate its £1bn town centre regeneration masterplan. The Council has taken over ownership from current owners Santander pension fund. Property management company JLL will continue to run the centre, which contains 46 retail units, kiosks, office accommodation, and a 285-space car park, covering more than 280,000 sq ft. The purchase has been funded from the Council’s £100m town centre fund. The fund is financed through a low interest loan which is repaid using dividends from Manchester Airport and the Yorkshire Purchasing Company. The shopping centre is central to the authority’s Town Centre Masterplan.

Trinity Quarter, Cheadle Square, Church Wharf and Croal Valley are four other key sites in the plan and the Council is currently working hard to bring forward ambitious development proposals for these sites. Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Linda Thomas, described the purchase as an opportunity for transformational change. She said: “The purchase of Crompton Place is fundamental to support the regeneration and transformation of our town centre. “It is at the heart of our town’s civic and retail core and this deal means we now have control of a major strategic site that is critical to delivering the Town Centre Masterplan. “We will now be focusing on ways to regenerate the area for the long-term benefit of the town centre and our

residents across the Borough. “Bolton is following the example of many other Local Authorities across the country that have also invested in their local shopping centres to deliver regeneration schemes. “There will be no changes in the day to day operation and running of the shopping Centre in the immediate future, to ensure it continues to operate smoothly for tenants and shoppers.” Over the coming months, detailed ideas for regenerating the Centre will be developed and in the long- term, Council chiefs envisage building a completely new Centre. Cllr Thomas added: “We have listened to people’s views about the town centre and we are taking action. When we launched the masterplan,

we said we would move quickly to make things happen and making this strategic investment a catalyst for huge regeneration. “We have all seen the amazing transformation of The Market Place and the benefits that has brought in terms of visitor numbers. Crompton Place also requires that kind of vision and investment to deliver our regeneration plans, complement our existing retail offer, and bring new businesses into the town centre.”

Green light for Lidl’s regeneration plans in Stretford LIDL’S £2.5m regeneration plans for the former PC World site on Chester Road in Stretford have been given the green light, after Trafford Council’s Planning and Development Management Committee unanimously approved the scheme. The plans will regenerate a derelict site, enhance the local economy and deliver 40 employment opportunities for local residents. The scheme will significantly increase shopping choice in the local

area, by delivering an award-winning, discount supermarket brand in Stretford. The store will also provide a clean and fresh shopping experience to meet the needs of customers, whilst ensuring a contemporary building design that complements the surrounding area. Work on the site is expected to start in Autumn 2018, with the store scheduled to open in 2019. Nick Harvey, Head of Property at Lidl UK, said:

“We are delighted that Trafford Council has approved our plans for a new Lidl store in Stretford. The local community has been fully behind the scheme and we are looking forward to starting work on the site shortly. “Our plans will provide residents with a greater shopping choice and increased job opportunities in the area and marks the first step of our wider store investment plans in the Borough of Trafford.”

46 THE landmark Manchester city centre mixed-use redevelopment project St Michael’s will go-ahead after the Secretary of State confirmed that the application will not be called in. On behalf of the St Michael’s Partnership, Gary Neville, said he was “excited” to have received the green light. He said: “We are delighted that the Secretary of State has decided to not call in our revised plans for St Michael’s and that the vision for this landmark mixed-use scheme will be realised. “It’s been more than a decade since the idea to regenerate a strategic city centre location was first considered, and our team is very pleased that we can focus on delivering this project for Manchester, bringing a new high-quality development that will enhance the city’s position, both nationally and internationally.” The £200m St Michael’s

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St Michael’s has approved planning permission development off Deansgate on Jackson’s Row will contribute more than £80 million in gross value added to the local economy and £147m in government tax revenues over ten years. The same economic impact study for the scheme estimated that St Michael’s will create close to 1,500 jobs, with a further 270 employed throughout the construction phase. In close proximity to Manchester Town Hall and near both St Peter’s Metrolink stop and Deansgate train station, St Michael’s is to include an international

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July 2018

the past few months has very much been on my role as Head Coach of Wales. However, I’ve continued to stay involved with Gary and the team on St Michael’s. I genuinely believe that St Michael’s is a truly brilliant scheme and will add to the quality of buildings currently on offer and improve luxury five-star hotel, featuring in Manchester is crucial the central part of Manchester, to support our on-going 216 bedrooms and 189 higha city that I love. regeneration and St Michael’s end apartments, in a tower “It’s now about the hard is a case in point for the type reaching 39 storeys. work starting, so St Michael’s of high-quality development There will also be 148,000 can be enjoyed by people sq ft of office space, 33,000 sq that our city centre needs. who both live in and visit our The Jackson’s Row area has ft of leisure space, including wonderful city.” been underwhelming and a stunning outdoor rooftop St Michael’s architect underused for too long and terrace, and a boutique fiveStephen Hodder MBE, star hotel in the former Bootle we welcome the decision by Chairman of Hodder Street police station which will the Secretary of State to move + Partners, said: “This this important project into the development will regenerate retain its frontage. next phase.” A public square will also a pivotal city block, adjacent Also speaking on behalf of to the City’s civic core, and I feature, the refurbished Sir the St Michael’s Partnership, Ralph Abercromby pub and applaud the evident passion, Ryan Giggs, Head Coach of a new synagogue will be built ambition and vision of all those Wales, said St Michael’s will nearby. behind St Michael’s. And that’s bolster Manchester’s position why I’m delighted that this Sir Richard Leese, internationally. Leader of Manchester City significant project has been He added: “My focus over given the go-ahead.” Council, said: “Investment

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Redundant Chorlton office building to be transformed Plans revealed for Hodder designed residential project NORTH West builder, Construction Partnership UK (CPUK) has negotiated a £2.3 million contract to transform redundant Council offices in Chorlton, near Manchester. Manchester developer, Newpark Group & Retail Property Investments is bringing the 1960s building at 102 Manchester Road back to life, with a mixed use scheme that will enhance the neighbourhood. CPUK has begun work on site to create three new retail units at street level, with 22 one and two bedroom apartments on the upper floors. Steve Burke, Managing Director of CPUK, said: “The existing building is on the main road and is bounded on both sides by busy retail businesses and a car park. “Due to this and the restrictive nature of the site, close liaison with the surrounding businesses is essential. Newpark Group & Retail Property

Investments bought the former Council office building in August 2016 and, with work now begun on site, expects the project to complete by the end of 2018. Manchester Road in Chorlton is a bustling street with a range of retail businesses including Barbakan Delicatessen and Bakery and the Unicorn Grocery Workers’ Co-operative. CPUK is currently developing a £2.98 million apartment scheme in one of the last remaining vacant plots in Chapel Street, Salford, building the Albert Vaults, an eight storey building with 25 apartments and a commercial unit on the site of the former Albert Vaults pub, close to Salford Central Station and just a short walk into Manchester city centre. CPUK Group is one of the North West’s leading independent building and civil engineering companies with an annual turnover of £50 million.

PLANS have been revealed for a residential development designed by Manchester architectural practice Hodder + Partners. The proposed scheme, by property developer Dandara, includes the creation of 340 new homes in the town of Bedminster which lies one mile south of Bristol city centre. Stephen Hodder MBE, Chairman of Hodder + Partners, said the 340-apartment scheme forms an important part of the wider masterplan for Bedminster. “This scheme is significant and will start to address the housing shortage in Bedminster and Bristol.” “It will also act as a

catalyst to the regeneration of Bedminster’s main shopping street, East Street, and how East Street connects via a regenerated Bedminster Green to the train station which is just one stop from Bristol Temple Meads.” A spokesperson for Dandara said: “The Bedminster Green regeneration would bring more people into East Street, helping revitalise this important South Bristol retail centre. “Bedminster is one of Bristol’s most sustainable locations for new homes. It is just one mile from the city centre and Temple Meads station, has its own train station, good existing bus services and the new Metrobus.”

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