Business Lancashire January 2019 by The Samuel James Group

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Praise from Northern Powerhouse Minister for University’s educational blueprint in Burnley

Page 47 Ethiopian Airlines’ makes inaugural flight to Addis Ababa from Manchester Airport

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County’s Business Growth Hub lands £6m three year extension AN award-winning business support service that’s helped over 5,000 Lancashire businesses has received a significant financial boost that will enable it to continue until 2021. Boost Business Lancashire, the County’s Business Growth Hub, has been given £6m to continue delivering wide ranging support for ambitious high growth businesses and start-ups. Since its inception in July 2013, Boost has created over 2,200 new jobs and helped more than 600 new businesses get started, adding £74m of new economic activity to the Lancashire economy. The next phase of Boost aims to support an additional 1,450 businesses in the County, creating over 1,350 new jobs as well as helping to establish a further 200 business start-ups in the region. Edwin Booth, chair of LEP, said: “The LEP has always recognised that ambitious and innovative SMEs are the lifeblood of

Lancashire’s thriving business community and the Boost programme continues to support them as they strive for growth. “With challenges such as Brexit, and increasing competition from other UK regions and globally, small companies in particular can benefit massively from tapping into Boost’s resources. In addition to signposting businesses to relevant national and regional support programmes, Boost directly funds four support programmes for Lancashire businesses. These are delivered by partners chosen through a procurement exercise: • The Growth Support Programme, delivered by Winning Pitch and Enterprise4All, offers specialist masterclasses and coaching for highgrowth start-ups and businesses trading for less than three years. • Growth Mentoring, delivered by

Community & Business Partners and Orvia which provides one-to-one strategic mentoring support from experienced business people who help business owners tackle growth challenges. • Boost Bespoke, delivered by Winning Pitch, East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and North and West Lancashire Chamber of Commerce offers bespoke support to help ambitious Lancashire businesses scale up, access international markets, boost productivity and become more resilient to change. • Business Relationship Management which is delivered by Growth Lancashire, offers dedicated sectorspecialist account managers to engage with Lancashire businesses. As part of the procurement process, Freshfield has been appointed to manage

the marketing of Boost to ambitious businesses across the county. Andrew Leeming, Boost programme manager at Lancashire County Council, said: “It’s wonderful news. We’ve been listening to businesses across the region to evolve the programmes and to understand what kind of support they need going forward." County Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for economic development, environment and planning, said: "Our priority is to help Lancashire’s businesses to grow, creating new jobs for local people and growing the County’s economy. Boost is a key part of this strategy, by giving ambitious local businesses simple access to business support to help them realise their ambitions. If you’re determined to grow in 2019, Boost should be part of your Growth Conversation.”

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WELCOME

January 2019

CONTENTS MANUFACTURING 4 THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

...to the January 2019 edition of the Business Lancashire newspaper.

EDUCATION 7

As we say hello to 2019 Business Lancashire will remain scommitted to showcasing the exciting ood news business stories the region has to offer.

AWARDS 9

In this issue, we learn about how the LEP has set out a techinical traing roadmap for the next 12 years and how Lyndhurst Precision Engineering is helping a local apprentice get the experience he needs.

INTERNATIONAL 26

BUSINESS SUPPORT

ACQUISITIONS 28 TRANSPORT 30

We also note how the Northern Powerhouse Minister is praising education in Burnley and how Links Signs and Graphics has signed up yet another Liverpool development.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

APPOINTMENTS 39 EVENTS LISTINGS

Finally, from everybody at Business Lancashire, we hope 2019 is, a fantastic year for you.

PROPERTY 44

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INSIDE:

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Shankly other iconic 1933 – after ton Dean in rge ie Pres Geo Dix for the ed the FirstJune 2018 nd – and Business Newspaper developing – when he sign ton side promoted to the Everton legeFREE s, er andYOUR in two Pres cement and plan er of the England ast – in honour of the form baller. Preston.” ed with them played in the on the announ 8. and also play foot Belf co own Commenting ision in 1934, Best hotel in thern Ireland ic trophy in 193 Shankly hotel Div Nor icon and the a and be dson ted n ning won gran : “It is a fitting ton team that Cup finals, win Manchester Uni el, Preston will once agai in Bill Shankly’s said Pres , FA the line of Car hot is ber ily was at Chr hotel The Shankly was also a mem Wembley. It dfather for a the Shankly fam will and director, at He l gran and Fina my een to is betw time Cup but it Scotland ng. The project who tribute and legacy collaboration in Liverpool, the 1941 War e his debut for He went Signature Livi in line, in his honour Shankly mad il 1938. be honoured partnership with nkly’s grandson Chris Car el in to be named this time that er. his legacy to England in Apr for his country, Sha s important for his playing care the Shankly hot e 1-0 win against of be led by Bill nce of a also h in tor eara muc t app cura renc er and further ts and re he spen ls and is also co own with Signature Living’s Law Preston, whe on to make four n in wartime internationa the balling highligh edible g amazing foot seve Liverpool, alon t teams during He had some Preston and made some incr her plus another ber of differen at my grandfat hotel into the Kenwright. achievements g Tom Finney, who ess played for a num rpool and Arsenal. to develop the and Lawrence felt sin saw” – I am Buever tions for g Live hhe includin Rela udin The decision ds, ent is incl lder , frien sev Chr eho war er is the that both test play is grea A DELEGATION of Lancashire e “Itsaiwas important to get anbe Head of Stak one bring we ised inbusinesses, ly exciting “the ;really d: “Th was fitting.” Lawrenc is Shankly was Roger Jonas, said will able to has org ese are extreme that un dcil entrepreneurs joined Boost onWe a visit represented our ek Lancashire and sharewethe supincr appropriate and not ghte le building ng, said : “Th portedib deliCo the to Preston, el isessto eklynoticed lute hot was “entirely ess sin We abso nkly to this” Signature Livi Bu icBoost, to be coming e Sha busin ley to hmag the ; “Th nkly to Downing Street discuss county and gained through ess insight ewe’ve erhow Sha ature Living ip wit s withwell. confidence sin ht, said of d: “Burn care the Sign orie rsh bu and of ge sai ing for ent tne mem ing es Kenwrig ball ran som tem e par Leeming. ic foot allbratGovernment widzing provid ial said Andrew the helpcele caninhelp more small We highlighted thetim there is a new era of exci ng aama spec e his icon e of toonly better eri very som rtant d e off two ked ing the , an po of shar k ies our e eth pac im on and nc to get. the thin honinformati sinc ns otsio agewanted es som alsototo , ses I cann of grow. need infrastructure, “We ered icemessage h city and people ts, but der . ievemenbusinesses embfor Pres city. of rt s wit rem d adv and includ m bewe ek. plepo anton thethe peosup e to businessach lea ble a about the ’s nam sin ena nkly ning its min waswith also athe chance Boost, assistance forgyoung buby theBill support needed aess is fast to for d sizes of End in across that heIthad Shaica ys beco run th an ted e: ship is wa es Nor for tion cil lud es cal ton typ city ir rela all ded placin to one Pres on The the ed.aing Y Coun ed for business m ilable inc s towith to helpbusinesses in taking on Chr signcti county’s £7.8m hub, tois small company working from small celebrat ngpra havi d and king , R& BURNLE ess Week again fro ton,D er sol worgrowth Sessions ava n Business Pres be uti honoure well l be somethdifferent inafor rented discov our . Xcject sin t hon ing some of itsto#GrowingLancashire as well as gespro room immeasurably Ow siness, asemployees, Thereiswil a greato llen It is share ting exci Burnley Bu sin3.ess al cha 193 rting Your 18. Support sizes of buthat think rci r Bu ing that all areas of me ily on d allbusinesses rineg fam success stories at athis national level. Th ensuring from thetyp much larger es an th May 20 their growth Sta nklycom ple ts – Save you and the u Sha to be sponso ere we 14th – 18 ice for peo Tax Credi ighted to how a number of business owners advdescribes delinvited group is were London to wh meet Central Government esses and as siness."the region benefit from the Way Yo ert sin ek, ing exp bu We as cil. ang ey bu Burnl the Coun ey Businaess tastic their own Money, Ch Interactive Mock Jimmy Bu McCloughlin, specialstadviser the Northern Powerhouse movement.” based at Cotton Court feel there is SMEs. for g rnl fan ty the rtin of e ori sta nis of og a ho ngs, is a top pri the week and FREE needp. to segment the small business ise yourto the Prime : “We rec meeting Minister on businessBurnley “Often the challenge at or Graou does Do Meeti andGuy Cookson, a co-owner will be bunal, Ra He added is how Mofot in the t Offers. oyd businesses Hotfoot Design, Details of rhuge yment Tri ns, and category Ll based d ime, issues. The meeting was brokered said: “One the ou a brilliant small business with sio plo te & Fleefurther. ies an Cr of ses ic e pora Em pan ber ng nc Cor am rta com Users, traini st dyn ts on the I raised For impo inesstowns Against Cy w to Win Bussmall “The challenges faced by a company by Emma Jones business is that and the mo potential hire its first suc employee? nd by seminars, cess impac rnlpoints e of small re. Defences a, onfrom ey is are es can be fou t theirneed the tailored ip Test, Ho Bu cities of Lancashi Thkin tha with two employees are significantly n. or rsh as in, support organisation Enterprise are just as critical to creating the ese entrepreneurs are g ade .uk tow ked masterclass Le ng .co . . .ess loo of the The /BMW erprisi ess ing a Northern Powerhousergro ritytheir sin entwas sin w.Burnley ess using Lin Nation hav 2 spe Bu up.com bu sin diff erent from those with a headcount ww 28 in al for pro and attended by 15 other so-called – r support that can help businesses g 01 Bu n dia loc oto tne B itin a ow on Me dm l r next par If you are vis cil lloy w B2 ll kn and quickly, create SociaYou holder is oneVisit of over 200 and currently they are rnley Coun are hosted by Ne small across Lancaster such place. jobsweand grow the h support grow tworking , becoming d Bond althbusinesses from growtthe calling Bu prove He Council an Business Ne rting1,500 people work in the contact the viewed and measured in the same way for business country. “Some l the events suppo World, Im rkplac esses pro-active e, hesitate to Sueconomy.” 477213. Al n’tBoost it comes to digital, ort is Lancashire’s the Retail help busin is do pp en Wo in to ek ice s wh ur by the UK Government.” Andrew Leeming, tech and creative sectors in Boost business e We ess Yo ert adv em Sch eing in e Business uncil Busin business exp w To Us and Wellb Anne Williamson, MD at ProgrammeBu Manager, attended Lancaster. growth hub, led rbybuthe Lancashire esses, and rnley Co port.” These are well paid, highly ou sin Design, Ho of supskilled organised Your Catarina King, co-founder grow. jobs and the number is growing Customer Love Ltd, added: “There LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) Secured By r Data to Growalongside t package ek 2018 is team. t of tha e, Burnleyand Lancashirepar me Business We cil, in partnership were many similarities between the of Preston-based space year on year. It is not hard to see why County Council cer ck Cartledg Your Custo Mico-working Coun re. d tive Offi ecu Ex growth hungry businesses in the room ief owner of Cotton Lancaster is well placed to host cuttingand supported by funding from the by Burnley support agencies an s Business and mo siness Society1; Rob Binns, Council Ch ess ert r, Bu and their feedback to Government ina, Business Centre; Guy Cookson, European Regional Development Fund edge businesses.” with busin cyber resilience exp Kevin Porte rector at XcCourt by and partner at Lancaster-based creative Robert Binns, owner of Cotton nt Di (ERDF). reflects the thoughts of many of the supported latest advice areas Developme the er off agency Hotfoot Design; and Anne Court, added: “It was a great Catarina King, who co-founded businesses I work with each week. It Xcina, to of business Williamson of Lancashire-based opportunity to directly speak to the Society 1 in Preston in 2017, said: will be great to see some of the points on a range guidance consultancy Customer Love Ltd. Prime Minister’s special adviser about “I feel as a group of four Lancashire addressed come to fruition.” ed by: Publish

18 May 20 INSIDE:

www.businesslancashire.co.uk/subscription y e l n r Bu s supportses Lancashire firms’ mission If you would like to be involved with BUSINESS LANCASHIRE, s busine & CONTACTS CONTRIBUTORS please get in touch with the below: h to Number 10 to help t n e with sevs small businesses grow es n i s u B Group Editor: Andy Mann Design: Robert Leach This publication is produced by The Samuel James Group Ltd, 07951 731722 01772 364150 / 07930 962609 Week Unit 6/7 Eastway Business Village, Fulwood, Preston PR2 9WT. andy@thesamueljamesgroup.com

Editor: Phil Ghayour 01772 364152 / 07825 884003 phil@thesamueljamesgroup.com

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Praise from Northern Powerhouse Minister for University’s educational blueprint in Burnley THE University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) educational plans and investment in Burnley have been commended as a fine example of the Northern Powerhouse in action. The comments came from Jake Berry, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, as he toured the University’s recently acquired and refurbished

Victoria Mill. The facility forms part of UCLan’s plans to generate a ten-fold increase in the number of university students studying at its Burnley campus by 2025. Commenting after the visit, Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry MP, said: “The rapid expansion of the University of Central Lancashire and their state-of-the-art

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training facilities in Burnley are great examples of the Northern Powerhouse providing young people with the skills and training they need to flourish in a globally competitive economy.” Jake toured the educational facilities of Victoria Mill accompanied by Dr Ebrahim Adia Provost, UCLan Burnley; Mick Cartledge, Chief Executive, Burnley Council; Councillor John Harbour, Executive Member for Housing & Environment and Dharma Kovvuri, UCLan’s Dean of Burnley Campus. The Minister was also shown the area on the banks of the canal where purpose-built student accommodation is to be built with the intention of developing an environment which truly enhances the overall student experience. Commenting on the visit UCLan’s Dr Ebrahim Adia, said:

“The Minister was really enthusiastic about our educational ambitions and aspirations for the future prosperity of Burnley and the wider region. The Government is placing a strong emphasis on degree apprenticeship programmes, linked closely with local employers and skills needs, and we explained that these programmes will play a major part in the University’s educational offer here in Burnley and Pennine Lancashire.” Burnley Council Leader, Mark Townsend added: “It is great to see the Northern Powerhouse Minister recognising the expansion of UCLan in Burnley and the partnership it has with Burnley Council, which will see the number of students in the town grow to 4,000. UCLan’s expansion plans will have a significant impact on Burnley’s economy.”

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Lyndhurst Precision Engineering offers state-of-the-art facility to apprentice

CHORLEY-based, Lyndhurst Precision Engineering has welcomed an apprentice from a valued customer to help them complete a vital part of their apprenticeship. Brad Scott is undertaking his engineering apprenticeship with NIS Ltd in Chorley, currently in his fourth and final year, Brad requires additional experience in machining to complete his apprenticeship, which is where Lyndhurst helped. As a result, Paul Jones, Production Manager at NIS and his counterpart at Lyndhurst, Stuart Walker reached an agreement for Brad to join Lyndhurst on secondment using the firm’s CNC machines. Now working with the Lyndhurst’s skilled engineers, Brad will go on to further his studies once his secondment at Lyndhurst is completed. Brad said: “I want to thank Lyndhurst Precision Engineering for welcoming me into their fantastic facility, I’ve learned a lot about CNC machining here and my time working with both NIS and Lyndhurst has only added to my desire to pursue a career

in engineering.” Mark Marriner, managing director, Lyndhurst Precision Engineering, added: “It was a delight to facilitate Brad’s need to work with CNC machines in our state-of-the-art CNC machining centre. We produce components for the nuclear, defence, medical and renewable energy sectors are manufactured. This will have given Brad a breadth of experience and I hope he continues his studies and achieves a career in engineering. “This is a great example of a positive working relationship between companies, in sharing good practice and working collaboratively to achieve common goals. We hope that this can be a start of many more similar arrangements, to ensure that the talent of the future continues to grow and develop locally. “We are committed to helping apprentices in any way we can and we have helped a number of people hoping to attain a career in engineering gain the valuable experience they need to achieve their qualifications and look forward to welcoming many more.”

Pets Choice invests in food packaging machine for new 65,000 sq ft facility LANCASHIRE Pet food business, Pets Choice, has made a substantial investment in an automated dog food packaging machine for its new 65,000 sq ft manufacturing facility. The Blackburn-based business, which owns brands including Webbox, TastyBone and Meatiful, is now able to pack 300 chub rolls per minute with the new machine. Designed and manufactured according to Pets Choices’ exact specifications, by UK automation specialist Sewtec, the machine uses robotics and sensor-based technology to detect multiple flavours and product colours, then sorts them into variety boxes. Pets Choice operations director, Peter Birch, said: “We have a successful strategy for the company demonstrated by the continued sales growth across our brands. As we have expanded further with our new

facility, it is vital we utilise the very best automated systems to enhance our manufacturing processes. “We appointed Sewtec due to the company’s outstanding track record in delivering bespoke automated solutions for the pet food industry and global food and drink producers. Our machine will deliver enhanced efficiencies, allowing us to operate faster and more effectively than ever before. We look forward to putting the technology into action in our new factory in early 2019.” Sewtec sales director, Paul Johnson, commented: “Pets Choice is a fast-growing, ambitious business. We are very pleased to have been able to work with Peter and his team to design a system that will significantly improve the packaging process and underpin the company’s ongoing expansion plans.”

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Why international private health insurance for employees is a no brainier INTERNATIONAL Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) is essential for any business that is required to have its employees stationed abroad for lengthy periods of time. Preston based leading independent health insurance intermediary, Nugent Santé, provides cost effective IPMI cover for all industry sectors and if your staff are away for more than six months of the year on company business, then their IPMI plan will give employees access to the best medical care in that country. The following case study clearly demonstrates why it is important to have this health cover in place, before your employees leave the UK. Case study One of Nugent Santé’s key clients won a major contract in Ghana, requiring twelve employees to be based there for a 24-month project. Ghana has a health service which is autonomous but there is no automatic agreement that treatment would be readily available for any UK Nationals, under the Ghana Health Service, should they fall ill. There could also be potential hidden additional payments for encountering unknown costs for ambulances and other medical facilities. Then, unfortunately during this time, an employee, aged 38, had a stroke, whilst in Ghana

Way forward in partnership The health insurance policy is still in place for the client, who has now added more employees to it, as the project continues to grow. The organisation is thrilled with the comprehensive and personal service provided by the Nugent Santé team and is looking at extra benefits that can be provided to their team in Ghana.

the employee’s prompt treatment pathway with the insurer. Nugent Conclusion Santé acted as the client and insurer “For employees who are liaison throughout; ensured the stationed abroad, a simple travel hospital engaged with the insurer insurance policy will not be and made the funds for treatment available for the medical costs incurred.

Supporting the client for a satisfactory conclusion Reviewing the incident, Paul Nugent, Managing Director of Nugent Santé commented: “Our client had one point of contact during the whole process and we carried out all the liaison on their behalf, ensuring that everyone had as little stress as possible during this difficult period. “If the client had gone to Ghana The solution without taking the correct medical Utilising their extensive insurance cover, the consequences knowledge of the international could have been dire for both the markets, Nugent Santé initially employee and the company. reviewed the complex policies “The situation could have available and selected the insurer developed, with the potential for with the best benefits and relations worsening health conditions, due in Ghana. This ensured that all to no access to private treatment, employees were covered and also unknown costs and no translation negotiated the most favourable facilities available, making it terms possible for the client. difficult to understand what to do The policy selected included or potential misdiagnosis. comprehensive medical in-patient “Fortunately, with the help and out-patient treatment for of Nugent Santé’s expertise, the diagnosis, surgery and after care. employee is back to full health and Once notified by the client of very grateful for the excellent care the employee’s stroke, Nugent Santé he received.” immediately handled the claim and

adequate, since it will only cover emergency medical expenses” observed Paul, “whereas International Private Medical Insurance covers routine medical conditions, so that when someone is away from home, they still have access to treatment and consequently, can quickly return to work and their normal daily living, with the knowledge that all costs have been covered by their company’s comprehensive health insurance policy.”

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education

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UCLan achieves triple success at the "Oscars" THE University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has won a record three categories at the 2018 Times Higher Education (THE) Awards, more than any other university on the night. Widely regarded as the Oscars of the higher education sector, this year UCLan collected gongs for best International Collaboration of the Year, Excellence and Innovation in the Arts and Most Innovative Contribution to Business-University Collaboration. Joint Institutional Head, Liz Bromley, who collected the International Collaboration of the Year award from host Sandi Toksvig, said: “To walk away with more awards than any other University is absolutely outstanding, and I couldn’t be more proud.” Dr Lynne Livesey, Joint Institutional Head, added: “The fantastic work, which is taking place across the institution, has been deservedly recognised through these prestigious industry awards.” UCLan Chancellor Ranvir Singh, who was in attendance at the awards, tweeted: “So proud of @ UCLan as Chancellor to say we won THREE awards tonight in Arts, Business and International work BOOM !! #THEAwards” UCLan’s International Collaboration of the Year winning entry was for the University’s efforts to relocate nearly 650 medical students and staff from

the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) who were displaced after Hurricane Irma hit the DutchFrench island of Sint Maarten in September 2017. The University has already won three national education awards for this aid effort. The Excellence and Innovation in the Arts award related to UCLan Publishing, the only student-run, trade but not-for-profit publishing house in the world. It is breaking the mould of how a publisher usually operates, empowering students to ‘learn on the job’. This year the team has enlisted big name authors such as Jaqueline Wilson, Jane Johnson and A J Hartley, to give the students experience of big trade, commercial publishing. A J Hartley’s book, Cold Bath Street, was promoted through UCLan Publishing PR and has become a national bestseller, with Waterstones taking it as a promotional title nationally. Debbie Williams, the brainchild behind the Publishing House, said: “I am over the moon to win this award. We have worked extremely hard to bring forward a ground-breaking new type of publisher. We are the only student-led trade publishing house within a University in the world. We’ve proved that it’s possible to make a bestseller and we will continue to

push the boundaries of what is possible. Winning this award is a real thumbs up for our efforts. Onwards and upwards!” A Knowledge Transfer Partnership between UCLan and Recycling Lives, a national recycling and waste business, scooped the Most Innovative Contribution to Business-University Collaboration prize. This partnership has worked together to turn automotive shredder residue from old vehicles into a saleable product and electrical energy, greatly reducing environmental impact and diverting material away from landfill. Professor Karl Williams, who led this initiative, said: “I feel honoured that we have won this award as it recognises the hard work that both UCLan and Recycling Lives have put in over the years to creating this long-term collaboration.” The University had been shortlisted in a recordbreaking five categories which also included Outstanding Entrepreneurial University and Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community.

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education

January 2019

Lancashire sets out 2030 Vision for Technical Education THE Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) Skills & Employment Hub has launched its 2030 Technical Education Vision which will act as the County’s technical training roadmap for the next 12 years. Closely aligned to the LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan, the County’s Innovation Strategy, and Lancashire’s emerging Local Industrial Strategy, the Vision is broken down into five key workstreams. These have been designed to ensure that by 2030 Lancashire’s Technical Education system will: • • • • •

The Vision was recently launched at the Brockholes Visitor Centre near Preston. Over 60 delegates attended including business leaders and local employers, education providers and other key stakeholders. Government agencies, including the Department for Education (DfE), the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) were also all represented at the event. They heard from a range of speakers about some of Lancashire’s great achievements across the vocational Grow the productivity of skills, technical education and careers Lancashire’s workers & businesses advice agenda. Anticipate & respond to market & These included the County’s Digital technology change, with provision Skills Partnership, Lancashire’s growing driven by employer demand Enterprise Adviser Network, the Start with education & experiences Skills & Employment Hub’s Labour at primary level & support Market Intelligence Toolkit and The individuals throughout working lives Lancashire Apprentice Ambassador Work to ensure providers & Network. employers collaborate on the design Lancashire’s recent achievement & delivery of education & training in securing Careers Hub status for Provide a co-ordinated and joined several parts of the county was also up offer through collective planning highlighted, as was the multi-million pound investments the LEP has made & management

in a wide range of local colleges and universities via the Local Growth Deal Fund. The roll-out of the Government’s new ‘T’ Level qualification for post-16 learners, and how that fits in with other reforms within the Apprenticeships framework, was another topic explored at the event. The launch was also used as a platform to discuss where the challenges, opportunities and ‘gaps’ might be which could hinder the implementation of the Vision, and further emphasise that the key to the Vision’s success lay in collaboration and partnership working between both the private and public sectors. Amanda Melton, Chair of the Lancashire Skills & Employment Board, said: “The co-ordinated approach of Lancashire’s Technical Education Vision starts with education and experiences from a young age and provides support right through our workers’ lives. It also involves education providers and employers collaborating on design and delivery of education and training to increase prosperity for all.

“Furthermore, I am confident that our network of high-quality provision of both vocational qualifications and apprenticeships will fulfil the Technical Education Vision, and will continue to respond to growing and emerging technical skills needs.” Edwin Booth, Chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, said: “Alongside the Lancashire Innovation Plan, this Technical Education Vision sets out a framework for nurturing the highly skilled and flexible workforce needed for Lancashire. This is to ensure we are placed at the heart of opportunities set to emerge from the Industrial Strategy and, in particular, the Northern Powerhouse. “The Vision also seeks to build on the proud industrial heritage of Lancashire which has gifted us a legacy of innovative and creative enterprise. Employers are increasingly keen to direct the skills market so that locally grown talent will be central to their success and we will continue to put them at the heart of the County’s skills and training agenda.”

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Winners of ELCC's Innovative Trade Club awards INNOVATIVE Lancashire businesses were recognised for their ingenuity at the prestigious International Trade Club (ITC) annual awards 2018. The event, which took place on Thursday December 6th, acknowledged and promoted the quality, diversity and ingenuity of successful companies engaged in international trade. Over 120 attendees took part in the event which comprised of a murder mystery ‘whodunnit’ event, the awards and a sumptuous lunch. Held at The Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Accrington, the awards are run by the International Business Team of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce (ELCC) and sponsored by local firm of accountants and business advisers, Cassons, who are part of the Baldwins Group. Winners on the day included; Fjelltopp

Limited, who won the Newcomer to International Trade award. Other winners included Blackburn Distributions Limited, awarded the Outstanding Exporter Achievement award and Performance Fluids Limited, won the Outstanding Importer Achievement award. Each winner was presented with a glass trophy by Les Nutter, Cassons managing partner, who said: “It’s a real honour to support these awards and see fellow businesses in Lancashire recognised for their

excellent work across all elements of international trade.” Mandy Lockett, International Business Director at East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce commented: “Businesses face challenges every day especially with the impending changes resulting from Brexit, and here in Lancashire we need to be and are, agile and strong to focus on the positives and implement change when needed”.

Blackburn Distributions collects coveted Exporter of the Year award BURNLEY based supplement manufacturer, Blackburn Distributions, has been crowned the Exporter of the Year at the prestigious International Trade Club (ITC) annual awards 2018, organised by ELCC. Founded in 2004, Blackburn Distributions is a leading supplier and partner to the supplement, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, offering tailor made formulas and quantities, with the highest quality ingredients, to both businesses and consumers, at competitive prices. The manufacturer exports supplements

across Europe, Africa and Asia, as well as having a distribution base in Michigan, USA. Ben Blackburn, Founder and CEO, Blackburn Distributions, said: “Winning an award for our exporting efforts is a real honour for the business and testament to the hard work every member of the team puts in every day. “We export around the world and it’s great to be recognised. As we enter 2019, we will seek to extend our large international footprint and grow our portfolio of export nations.”

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January 2019

Fylde Coast pupils help launch prestigious competition YOUNG students in science and engineering at a Fylde coast school have helped launch a prestigious competition with a big cash prize. This will be the seventh year of The Gazette Young Engineers Challenge which is sponsored by Cuadrilla Resources and facilitated by Blackpool and the Fylde College. St Bede’s High School in Lytham is the current holder of The Young Engineers Challenge and the school won £10,000 after excelling in the competition earlier this year. St Bede’s excelled in a challenge where schools were tasked with designing and constructing an electromagnet crane and manoeuvring it from a fixed base to pick up numbered metal objects and successfully place them into a container. Each object carried a number of points and St Bede’s amassed the greatest points tally to be crowned the overall winner. Andy Shaw, Subject Leader in Design & Technology said the school was delighted to win the competition, and that the children should be very proud of themselves. The huge prize

of £10,000 has made a massive difference to the school’s science facilities in the classrooms. The school has now made a major investment in 3D, purchasing two printers, laptops and a state of the art Roto Cam milling machine which enables students to design and construct large scale 3D models. “This funding couldn’t have come at a better time, I don’t know what we would have done without it. The equipment has helped the students enormously with their GCSE curriculum, and the number of students opting to take STEM subjects has increased significantly.” Now the college is preparing for the next annual competition which will take place in March next year and will see up to 26 schools from across the Fylde coast battle it out for the cash prizes, which go towards improving STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) facilities in winning schools.

Jill Overland, Finance & Corporate Services Director at Cuadrilla, said: “I and many of the team at Cuadrilla have had the privilege of attending the Young Engineers competition over the past few years. “It is wonderful to see how St Bede’s have utilised the £10,000 they won to provide much-needed new equipment and resources for the students. As we enter the seventh year of the competition, I hope that it continues to provide a spark for all students to consider STEM and the many career opportunities that this can open up. “As a local employer, we are committed to Putting Lancashire First and helping to train the next

generation of engineers and scientists and we’re delighted to be supporting this event.” Andy Iredale, Director for Stakeholder Engagement at Blackpool and The Fylde College, said: “We’re extremely proud to be hosting the Young Engineers competition for the seventh year, as producing skilled workers for industry is something we are renowned for at B&FC. “It was great to see last year’s winning students working on the equipment which was bought with the prize money and our engineering team is already working hard on finalising next year’s challenge. Good luck to everyone who enters.”

Chorley Group wins UK Best Place to Work award A LANCASHIRE motor group has been named by its employees as the best to work for in the UK, for the second year running. Chorley Group was awarded the top honour by industry publication, Automotive Management and three of its dealerships were ranked in the top six nationwide. The Burnley dealership came first in the UK, Preston was second and Chorley sixth in the awards, which are based on independent feedback from employees. Judges were looking at

different aspects of working life at the dealerships, including leadership and planning, culture and communications, working environment, relationships with managers, training and development, pay and benefits. Group Sales Director Adam Turner said: “It’s an incredible result — to have three of our dealerships in the top six nationally is phenomenal for the Chorley Group. “We’ve worked hard to build a team where staff members feel they’re valued members of the family. The business has been built

on a very clear ethos: treat everyone; customers, suppliers and our employees, as you want your mother to be treated. “This award is not only recognition of the strength of that philosophy, but of our strength as a team.” The award is the latest in a long line of honours for the family-run business, which has franchises in Chorley, Preston, Wigan, Burnley and Blackpool and employs 240 people. Added Adam: “This is a very special award for us because the

positive feedback comes directly from our employees and we appreciate that they are key to our success and growth as a business.”

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Awards joy for Lancaster firm’s Head of Finance THE Head of Finance at Lancaster-based accountancy firm ICS Accounting received a prestigious accolade at the recent Sub36 awards. Maggie Lawson took home the ‘Young Professional’ award at the event in Blackpool after impressing the judges with her career progression at ICS since joining the company two and a half years ago. Maggie said: “I was very surprised when the judge announced that I had won the category

of Young Professional, mainly because of the high calibre of finalists in my category. Ultimately, I was very proud that the judges had recognised the achievements I have reached at a relatively young age. “I very much consider myself to be a loyal Lancastrian. I am really proud to work for a Lancaster business, knowing that our work contributes to our local community through supporting other local businesses and providing

opportunities.” In Maggie’s role as Head of Finance, she manages two departments, the external accounts teams servicing clients together with managing the ICS Group’s finances. Maggie also delivers internal accounting training and opportunities to study within ICS, after beginning her own career as an apprentice at an accountancy firm. She said: “I feel very passionately about qualifications working

alongside experience. This is one of the reasons that I am a board member of the ICAEW’s (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) learning and professional development board. “I progressed quickly into a higher managerial role at ICS, when I became head of the accounting team that services, over 1,000 limited company clients and is the largest and most profitable department

within the business. I was then promoted to the position of Head of Finance and am now also responsible for the finances of the ICS Group, with a turnover of over £45m.” The judges’ commented stated: “Maggie has progressed from an apprentice to holding a senior role in a large team. She has implemented a number of strategies to improve efficiencies, represents SMEs on the ICAEW board, and mentors

trainees within her own organisation.” John Lyon, managing director of ICS, said: “Maggie has done a superb job in her role as Head of Finance and is a real asset to the ICS team. We’re all extremely proud of her and it’s fantastic that all her hard work and dedication to her role has been recognised with this award win.”

BAE Systems wins National Apprenticeship Awards BAE Systems has won the Macro Employer of the Year Award and the Recruitment Excellence Award at the National Apprenticeship Awards in London, recognising the Company’s dedication to delivering high-quality apprenticeships. The Awards, now in their fifteenth year, are run by the National Apprenticeship Service and recognise businesses that grow their own talent through apprenticeships and individual apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces. Steve Fogg, Managing Director, BAE Systems Shared Services commented on the achievement: “We are delighted to be awarded both the Macro Employer of the Year and the Recruitment

Excellence awards at the 2018 National Apprenticeship Awards in recognition of our commitment to developing young talent. We have a long history of nurturing skills and our apprenticeships offer vocational experience as well as training up to degree and masters level. “We are immensely proud to receive these awards and I congratulate all those involved in delivering our apprenticeships and ensuring our apprentices receive the very best in training, support and career opportunities.” Lucas Benson, a Craft Apprentice at BAE Systems who was shortlisted for the ‘Advanced Apprentice of the Year’ award, was Highly Commended for his work on complex engineering projects such as the F-35 and Hawk at

the Company’s Air business based at Warton. Damian Hinds, Education Secretary, said: “Apprenticeships are an excellent way for anyone to

gain new skills and forge a career in anything from aerospace engineering to nursing. The National Apprenticeship Awards is a fantastic event to celebrate the

achievements of apprentices, employers and training providers, and I want to wish all the winners and nominees congratulations on their incredible efforts.”

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Thousands across the North West to get broadband boost INTERNET speeds are to become faster and more reliable for more than 150,000 homes and businesses across Lancashire. People living in parts of Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside are set to benefit from access to some of the fastest broadband speeds available (up to 330 Mbps), providing enough bandwidth for a family of four to all stream ultra HD or 4k quality movies or TV simultaneously. It’s after Openreach, the UK’s largest telephone and broadband network, announced the next 81 locations, including

Aintree, Blackpool, Dalton-in-Furness and Oldham, to be upgraded under their ultrafast broadband investment. As well as adding even more reliability and resilience to the network, meaning the connection is less likely to drop out, ultrafast broadband brings faster speeds and greater capacity for multiple devices and applications like on-demand video, Virtual Reality gaming and smart home technology. Openreach’s Director for Fibre Delivery in the North, Matthew Hemmings, said: “We are delighted to be upgrading our network and extending our ultrafast broadband reach to dozens of new locations across the UK,

benefitting hundreds of thousands more homes and businesses. The amount people are doing online, often at the same time, is growing every year and the pace shows no sign of slowing. We understand people need to have a fast and reliable connection at home and at work, and our ultrafast broadband network is at the forefront of making that happen. “Our engineers are working hard to extend the reach of our network as quickly as possible. We’re building the infrastructure Britain needs to stay ahead in the global digital economy, and it’s great that the North West is able to benefit from our early work.”

Burnley company installs videowall at Energy Safety Research Institute ACADEMICS working towards a secure global energy future are being helped by videowall technology supplied by Burnley-based Ultimate Visual Solutions (UVS). The Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI), based on Swansea University’s new world class Bay Campus, can now run complex computer-aided design and

simulation routines on a videowall using the latest high-tech equipment. The UVS installation includes six 55-inch eyevis EYE-LCD-5500-ESN displays, with an ultra-small 1.8mm bezel, providing full-HD resolution and a non-stick mode to prevent image retention effects through the prolonged display of static image content.

It is run through a Netpix videowall controller, which creates a large joined-up desktop for network applications, video and graphic sources. The system also enables academics to collaborate via various devices, including tablets and laptops. The vision of the Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI) and Swansea University is “building the

bridge to a sustainable, affordable and secure energy future.” ESRI is positioned to achieve this aim through the discovery and implementation of new technology for a sustainable, affordable, and secure energy future, delivering cutting edge research across energy and energy safety related disciplines.

UVS managing director Steve Murphy, said: “The work that ESRI does is of global significance in the search for a sustainable and clean energy future for us all. “We are delighted that we have been able to help them with this work with a cutting-edge installation that ensures they have access to the best videowall technology available.”

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Lancaster Brewery announces record profit and significant investment plans AWARD winning Lancasterbased brewer and regional leisure venue operator, Lancaster Brewery, has filed record pretax profits of £667,102 in 2017/2018 up 88% year on year and has announced significant investment plans for 2019. Lancaster Brewery, which owns top Lancashire and Cumbria hospitality venues including The Brewhouse & Tap and The Sun Hotel & Bar in Lancaster, The Mill at Ulverston, and The Duke of Edinburgh in Barrow, saw strong profits across the group. Much of Lancaster

Brewery’s record profits were down to improvements made in the brewing plant over the past seven years – such as new cooling air systems, conditioning tanks, the SALSA accreditation and a raft of other projects – that have led to consistent quality levels and resulted in boosted sales of its cask and bottled beer across the UK and overseas. The group has continued its policy of investing around 80% of total profits into venue improvements, long term debt repayment and exploring new brand ventures.

Large sums were also invested in developing the Brewery’s export market with new customers in Asia and Europe. Director, Phil Simpson, said: “We’ve had another really good year in an increasingly competitive

and complex market. We now employ around 130 dedicated individuals and together we have developed a positively robust and progressive company. Whilst we have seen record profits this year, we will put nearly all of that right back into the

business, as we have done in previous years. Our aim has always been to be the best in terms of product and service, it’s worked quite well to date, so we’ll continue with our simple but impossible hunt for perfection.”

Levity research benefits UK Poinsettias LOCAL agronomy specialist, Levity Crop Science is undertaking research, demonstrating how its latest technology is strengthening crops, particularly Poinsettias. This research is focussed on using their groundbreaking technology to improve the delivery of silicon to crops and is initially being tested on Poinsettia plants and is resulting in stronger and more resilient Poinsettias being grown. Poinsettia is a commercially significant plant species of the diverse spurge family. The species, indigenous to Mexico, are well known for their red and green foliage and is widely used during the festive period. Anna Weston, co-

managing director, Levity CropScience, said: “We have developed a new technology that improves silicon uptake and mobility in crops and is important since silicon can help make the branches stronger. “Our research is already showing we can significantly improve flowering and the size of the bracts (the red leaves that look like flowers on a Poinsettia), and help the plants cope better with stress, meaning fewer plants becoming waste, due to broken bracts. “We will be releasing this technology, which delivers silicon to a range of important crops, as a new product in 2019, allowing growers around the world to grow more resilient and stronger yields.”

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January 2019

£300m tourism boost for Blackpool PLANS for the biggest single investment in Blackpool’s tourism industry for more than a century have been unveiled. The £300m Blackpool Central development will bring world-class visitor attractions to a landmark site on the famous Golden Mile along with new hotels, restaurants, food market, event square, residential apartments and multistorey parking. The masterplan for the long-awaited redevelopment is inspired by Chariots Of The Gods, a global publishing phenomenon, written by Swiss author Erich Von Däniken, that explores alien encounters and unsolved mysteries of ancient civilisations. Chariots Of The Gods will be the main theme for Blackpool Central, including the anchor attraction, the UK’s first “flying theatre”, a fully-immersive thrill ride that will create the incredible sensation of human flight. It is estimated that the development will attract 600,000 additional visitors a year with a combined annual spend of £75m. It will also create around 1,000 new jobs. The Leader of Blackpool Council, Cllr Simon Blackburn, described the Blackpool Central project as a potential “game changer”, creating a unique, firstclass leisure destination in the heart of the resort. The 17-acre development site, which currently includes one of Blackpool’s

biggest surface car parks alongside the magistrates’ court building and the former police station, was once earmarked as the site of a Vegas-style super-casino. The Blackpool Central project name relates back to the days when the site housed the resort’s main railway station. At its peak, Blackpool Central Station was the busiest in the world. The project is a collaboration between UK-based development company, Nikal Ltd, and Media Invest Entertainment, which owns the intellectual property rights to Chariots Of The Gods. Blackpool Council is working closely with both parties to help “unlock” the development opportunity which is currently envisaged to be delivered in several phases over an eight to nine-year period, with work starting as early as 2020. Cllr Blackburn added: “I am delighted to be able to announce this hugely significant milestone in the redevelopment of the Central Station site. This really is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that has the potential to alter the face of our town. “Over more than fifty years, many ideas for this site have come and gone. The difference this time is that we have worked very hard with our fantastic partners at Nikal and MIE for almost two years to create a scheme that is not just aspirational, but highly deliverable.

“These new attractions are of groundbreaking international quality and their cutting edge technology will take Blackpool’s tourism offer to another level. “We already have, to my mind, the best amusement park in the UK, in the form of Blackpool Pleasure Beach. These new attractions will allow thrill-seekers to enjoy their visit even more, will attract new visitors, and encourage existing visitors to stay longer. They will create jobs, regenerate a part of the town that is in need of love and attention, and boost trade. “This new development, alongside the other investments taking place in the town, represent a game-changer for our visitor economy. We have long stated that a key objective is to create a year-round destination that delivers year-round employment. Blackpool Central will play a major part in that ambition.” Nick Payne, Managing Director of Nikal, said: “Blackpool Central is a hugely important project for the town and the region and it is an honour to be on board. Place-making and regeneration are the DNA of our business and we thrive on creating dynamic new spaces that inspire, excite and engage. “It’s taken almost two years and a lot of hard work to get to this point. We know that the masterplan fully maximises the site’s potential and will deliver a unique and ground-breaking, entertainment destination with global

appeal that will revitalise and underpin Blackpool’s growth and regeneration.” Norbert Reichart, CEO of Media Invest Entertainment, added: “The unique theme of Chariots Of The Gods will merge entertainment, culture, and history, an enthralling ‘Edutainment’ experience for the whole family, that can be enjoyed all year round. “Together with some of the best companies in the industry, we have developed a one-of-a-kind, exciting indoor entertainment concept with truly world-class attractions which will integrate perfectly into Blackpool’s preexisting leisure cluster. “This well-balanced mix of top attractions for all ages will significantly enhance Blackpool’s reputation as one of the UK’s top entertainment destinations.” Kate Shane, Head of Blackpool Cluster for Merlin Entertainments, said: “We welcome any scale investment that drives further visitation to Blackpool and helps generate greater economic activity for the resort. “It’s good too that we have a clear, well-supported plan for this area. The vision is an exciting prospect and we look forward to working with Nikal and Media Invest Entertainment to incorporate our Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE Centre in the new development.”

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Ranvir Singh accepts new role as Lancashire Ambassador

Lorica Insurance becomes Patron member of NWLCC PRESTON-born television presenter and journalist Ranvir Singh, has been officially welcomed as the county’s newest Lancashire Ambassador by Rachel McQueen, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire and Tony Attard OBE, Chair of the Board of Directors of Marketing Lancashire. The announcement was made ahead of the Lancashire Day event held at the House of Commons, hosted by Andrew Stephenson MP and attended by MPs and representatives from the Department of International Trade, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, the National Farmers Union, Visit England, Virgin Trains and Lancastrians in London. Commenting on her new role Ranvir, said: “Whenever anyone asks me where I’m from, and that can mean they’re asking either about my heritage or accent, my answer is always to proudly say ‘I’m from Lancashire’. It’s a huge part of my identity. I feel so connected with being Lancastrian, especially since I went to Lancaster University first and then to

UCLan, and my first jobs in my career were in Blackpool and Blackburn. “Even though my career has taken me away from Lancashire I can honestly say I’ve never felt the warmth, humour and straightforwardness in people anywhere else and nowhere else feels like home. I’m so pleased to be an ambassador for my home county and to lend my support in getting the word out about how much beauty there is to offer in this special part of the world.” Rachel McQueen, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire, said: “Ranvir is a wonderful champion of her home county and as Chancellor of University of Central Lancashire, is also an incredible role model for so many young people set on careers in media and broadcast journalism. “Ranvir’s Lancashire roots and her position at the forefront of breaking news on Good Morning Britain makes her an ideal Lancashire Ambassador and we’re delighted she has agreed to support our ambitions to raise the profile of Lancashire.”

PRESTON based Lorica Insurance has pledged their commitment to the Lancashire business community by becoming the latest Patron member of the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce. With an office located in Preston, Lorica is a dynamic insurance broker employing outstanding individuals with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the commercial insurance market. Lorica offers an independent, client centric service, via a team of specialist insurance brokers operating from a network of offices spanning the country. Dave Mackie at Lorica, said: “We are a rapidly expanding business operating from the heart of our region and our patronage demonstrates our commitment to the North West. We are honoured to play a valuable role supporting the regional business community.” The Chamber’s Patron Membership package has been developed to offer a select number of organisations a partnership platform showcasing their unwavering commitment to the continued strengthening of the region’s business community, by standing shoulder to shoulder with one of the county’s most highly respected business support organisations, the NWL

Chamber of Commerce. Babs Murphy, Chief Executive of the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, commented: “We are delighted that Lorica has aligned their commitment to the business community of North & Western Lancashire by becoming a Patron of the Chamber. Together our portfolio of business support services will enable both partners to strengthen our leading roles in the promotion, support and regeneration of the local economy. “The Chamber represents its 1600 members, from its offices in Preston and Blackpool, on a wide-range of issues, including red tape, transport, legislation and international trade. “Each Patron has committed financially to the Chamber beyond the cost of their annual membership subscription. The Chamber depends upon the support and goodwill of our Patrons, members and sponsors, who provide financial and tangible support to the Chamber and local businesses. “I would like express our gratitude to Dave and the team at Lorica for putting something back into the economy, via Patron membership. I hope the relationship between the two organisations continues to strengthen during the next twelve months”.

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January 2019

HeliSpeed is a leader in the aviation support industry Global aviation business, HeliSpeed, based at the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, is approaching a decade of success, with its bespoke aviation support offerings. Founded in 2009, HeliSpeed connects aviation operators with appropriately vetted and fully trained pilots. The aviation expert’s pool of experienced pilots are supplied to Governments, blue chip organisations, commercial operators and VIPs around the world. The firm’s outstanding matching service utilises its leading contract performance database, HeliTrax, in order to match helicopter pilots with operators, based on their contractual requirements. HeliSpeed also helps lessors and brokers in the aviation industry, through their innovative support

services including flight testing, acceptance and repositioning of aircraft and asset management. Gemma Walker, Operations Director, Helispeed, said: “HeliSpeed lets pilots focus on flying and operators concentrate on operating, We currently have over 700 pilots stationed around the world, with certifications to operate more than 90 different types of helicopter and we’re continuously seeking to add experienced pilots to our team. “Our innovative HeliTrax software gives pilots access to appropriate short and long term contracts, as well as providing operators with real time information and verified HeliSpeed recommended pilots. “We can provide organisations around the world with highly qualified and

experienced pilots at short notice. We believe we are the only organisation in the world with such a large pilot offering and bespoke service.”

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Small businesses recognised in new annual awards THE Business Owners Network Awards (BONAS), which took place at The Glass House at Staining, celebrated the best of small business across Lancashire in more than 20 categories. The group holds localised monthly meetings across Lancashire and Manchester. This interactive community has grown to be a very close-knit business family unit, with members benefitting from the support and mentorship on offer on a daily basis. The group is comprised of owners of small local businesses and sole traders who often feel they can’t compete with bigger companies in regional or national awards, but are so deserving of winning awards in their own right. Cate McNeal, co-founder, said: “We don’t take ourselves too seriously, we don’t have referral targets, or a suit and tie policy. We don’t focus on how successful businesses are when they come to us. We welcome every business owner regardless of their background, experience or bank balance. “We are about celebrating the

smallest of wins, and encouraging baby steps towards an end goal. It could be that one of members has sold a product in a new place, or secured a new contract, or that they have reached a milestone on social media, we cheer everyone one whenever we can.” Co-founder, Jenny Hardman added: “We are unbelievably proud of all of our members, and we wanted a chance to celebrate with hem, and to reward their hard work and dedication. These people are on their own, they don’t have staff supporting them, they don’t have someone else to take the weight off them, they are their business, and the successes they see is purely theirs. “Many of our members suffer with anxiety and depression, and simply accepting the nominations in the first place was a huge deal for them. Going through the process of being nominated, receiving votes and believing that they are deserving of winning, was a big step in their personal and business growth, and a journey that we’ve made sure they’ve been supported through.”

• Most Outstanding Achievement Michelle Partington – Mentis Training and Consultancy

• Go Getter Kate Harvey – Fabulous Flowers By Kate

• Special Recognition Sue Rowlinson – The Home Organiser

• Rockstar Rookie Paula Diamond – Diamond Pet Services

• Most Inspirational Matthew And Callum Bennett – FMA + 12 Gage

• Human Handbook Cheryl Morrison – Feast and Thrive

• Small Business Support Sam Whitear – Business Lancashire

• Product Perfection Carla Gebhard – Carla Gebhard Designs

• Stella Service Gemma Murphy – Little Zoo To You

• Positively Positive Roger and Monika Clough – Life Resources

• Master Mentor Laura Weldom – Studio LWD

• Master Member Mark Prince – Mark Safety

• Social Superstar Shelly Jagger – Give A Hen A Home • Above and Beyond Ian Squire – Lytham St Annes Carpet Cleaning • Cloud Nine Collaborator Gill Payne – Moments In Time Bridal and Events • Cruising and Crushing It Catherine Bamber – Little Things To Cherish

• Business of the year Samantha Resina – Balanced Serenity • Culture Vulture Ruby Coupe – Dotty Delightful • Mic Drop Lesley Helliwell – Foot Smart Podiatry • I Never Win an Award Award Suzie Jewsbury – Suzie Jewsbury Art • Class Clown Nathan Devonport – Weird Beard Designs

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January 2019

PM+M confirmed as new NWEEG annual sponsor PM+M – the accountancy, business advisory and wealth management group, has announced that it is the new accountancy, finance and payroll sponsor of the North West Employee Engagement Group (NWEEG) for 2019. The deal which starts this month will see PM+M ramp up its involvement with NWEEG, including greater involvement in the organisation’s events

and at its annual conference. It will also hold a special interest group session, judge at the 2019 awards and have a boardlevel presence on the NWEEG committee. NWEEG was established in 2014 by Steve Smith, CEO. Its vision is to encourage and help businesses across the North West engage better with their staff, their customers and stakeholders, and to make the

region the best place to work in the world. It connects HR professionals and business leaders with engagement specialists and peers through ten events throughout the year and regular special interest groups which take place across the North West. Jane Parry, managing partner at PM+M, said: “The NWEEG does some fantastic work in promoting the North

West as a place to do business. We are excited to announce this deal and we are looking forward to working with Steve.” Steve Smith added: “PM+M is one of the most respected accountancy,

business advisory and wealth management firms in the region, so is a perfect fit with us. I’m sure the team will add real value to our members through their insight and expertise.”

Display stand firm generates 400% growth thanks to Rosebud funding package DISPLAY and exhibition stand business Display Wizard has quadrupled turnover and headcount, with the help of a loan and support from Lancashire County Council’s Rosebud Micro fund. The Garstang-based business expects revenues to reach £2.75m this year, compared to £682,000 eight years ago, while its workforce has expanded from six employees to 25 staff in the same period. In addition, Display Wizard has grown from two industrial units to six, with plans to open a seventh unit for storage and production, along with a seventh high-definition printer. This further expansion will take place before the end of 2018, creating an extra two jobs. The business, whose customers include BBC, Trustpilot, Bank of England and Mercedes, is also developing its current premises by adding another mezzanine floor for office staff. Founded in 2004 by Diarmuid Beary and Sally Hiscutt, the business has grown steadily to become a leading player in the display and exhibition industry. Diarmuid said: “Rosebud helped us to raise growth finance when the bank funding was scarce and difficult to get. We’d highly recommend Rosebud and would definitely use Rosebud again if

we were looking for growth finance. “The support from Lancashire County Council and Boost hasn’t just been financial – we’ve had help with training our existing and new staff, plus assistance with registering the Display Wizard trademark. The County Council has been a constant source of support and inspiration as we’ve worked to grow the business.” County Councillor Michael Green,, said: “Display Wizard is a shining

example of how support from Rosebud Micro makes a difference to companies. “We supported them back in 2010, and they’ve grown significantly since then, gaining some impressive clients. And thanks to support from Boost they’re continuing to grow and develop. “Funding can be tough for smaller businesses, especially from traditional lenders, but Rosebud Micro can be part of your funding package. We can also

help you to unlock other support to bring your growth plans to life. Diarmuid added: “Our dream when we founded the company was to offer personalised, high-quality display solutions that would help other businesses to promote themselves more effectively. We were one of the first companies in our sector to embrace e-commerce and can now pride ourselves on being at the forefront of developments in the industry.”

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SPAR wholesaler leads innovative scheme to reduce plastic waste by 40% JAMES Hall & Co, SPAR UK wholesaler for the North of England, has launched a scheme to help increase the sustainability of their stores by reducing the amount of unnecessary plastic waste on the shop floor. James Hall developed the scheme in partnership with Concept Data Display Ltd, working to address the issue of plastic waste created by instore ticket rails. Dave Saunders, Sales Director of Concept Data Display Ltd explained: “Ticket rails are still one of our biggest selling products and large numbers are used throughout stores to display

prices and promotions. “These rails are currently manufactured as a single piece, so when the clear plastic front becomes worn or damaged, the whole unit has to be replaced. We felt that there had to be a greener solution.” Working in partnership with James Hall, Concept Data Display Ltd developed a two-part ticket rail called Enviro-2. The patented design provides a more cost-effective and sustainable solution for retailers, allowing for the replacement of solely the clear plastic front when it becomes worn or damaged.

Dave added: “The new ticket rail has been designed to fit the Caem shelving system and it is the first of a range of ticket rails we will be manufacturing. “This scheme aims to reduce the scrappage of ticket rails within stores by 40% and we are delighted to be working with James Hall & Co to provide a more sustainable option for retailers.” Keith Rose from James Hall Store Design added: “We are proud to be working alongside Concept Data Display Ltd to help our retailers improve their environmental footprint.”

Chamber Low Carbon launches the Green Rose THE Chamber Low Carbon programme has launched a new scheme to help Lancashire businesses act on a Government initiative in 2019. 2018 saw the Government designate 2019 as the Year of Green Action as part of its 25 year Environment Plan. The aim is to engage as many different people and organisations as possible in environmental initiatives on waste reduction, cleaner air and other aspects of pro-environmental behaviour. Involving the business community is a key aspect of the year’s activities. Chamber Low Carbon are already providing support to businesses with guidance in reducing carbon emissions through the introduction of energy efficiency measures, improved waste, resource and water management, and assistance in installing on-site renewable energy generation. The Low Carbon team are responding to the Year of Green Action with the launch of Chamber Green Rose which help businesses develop and implement

an environmental management system (EMS), and is free to eligible Lancashire SMEs. An EMS enables organisations to identify and control the environmental impact of their activities, allowing them to continually improve their environmental performance. With many organisations now looking at environmental awareness in their supply chain it could open the door to new opportunities for those businesses that implement an EMS, as well as improving efficiencies which could also reduce costs. Chamber Green Rose will be carried out over a six-month period and will be made up of an initial environmental audit, 6 masterclass sessions and an assessment at the end to see where a participating organisation has got to compared to recognised environmental standards such as ISO 14001, BS 8555 and EMAS. All of this is backed by ongoing support from the Low Carbon team and peer-to-peer network.

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Launch of the Lancaster Story

A MAJOR new project to give the Lancaster region a stronger and more competitive advantage has been launched to business leaders and community representatives. The launch of the Lancaster Story featured a number of influential speakers including Si Bellamy OBE, head of Eden Project International. Also speaking at the event was Prof Dame Sue Black (Lancaster University), Susan Parsonage (chief executive of Lancaster City Council), Alison Clark (Arts Council) and Alistair Eagles (CEO of Sea Truck Ferries and President of the Lancaster Chamber). The launch is the culmination of intensive work by organisations and individuals from across the wider Lancaster community, who came together in 2017 to develop an exciting ‘place brand’ to attract investment, jobs, students, visitors and people to live in the area. The brand puts the spotlight on the Lancaster region as an area which celebrates its culture and heritage, energises entrepreneurial excellence and is the location of choice for businesses and people wanting to relocate. At its core is a strong narrative and visual language that sums up the region’s key

elements, connectivity, culture, history, future aspirations and community. Championing and leading the strategic promotion of the brand will be the Place Board, a partnership of local business professionals, entrepreneurs and representatives from the public sector. They will develop an exciting strategy for promoting the region and leading efforts to make the area more attractive to businesses, investors and visitors. A series of workshops in the New Year are also being arranged to help local businesses adopt the brand and become ambassadors for the Lancaster region. Alistair Eagles, Chair of the Place Board said: “I really love our region and honestly believe that we are entering an exciting new chapter in our history. The Bay Gateway has opened up a wealth of new opportunities and we now have some of the best transport links in the country, not only by road and rail but also by sea. Critical to our future will be attracting more businesses into the area and to do that we need to shout loud and proud about who we are and what we have to offer, to stand out from the crowd. I believe the launch of the Lancaster Story will do just that and drive real improvement and

growth.” Also taking a seat on the Place Board is local businessman Michael Gibson, who added: “Lancaster is a fantastic place to live and work with talented, creative and innovative people at every turn and companies growing and thriving. “We’ve been hiding this away for too long and now is our opportunity to shout to the world about just how great Lancaster and the district is, so we can seize the opportunities to build the high-skilled high-wage economy that benefits everyone.” The brand’s visual identity is rooted in the Lancaster district’s diverse community and is represented as a kaleidoscope that unfolds to reveal its distinct areas of the city, rural countryside and coastal areas. Coun Janice Hanson, the city council’s Cabinet member for regeneration and planning, added: “There are many compelling reasons for businesses to invest in the Lancaster region but what we have lacked until now is a way to tell our story. The launch of the place brand will help us to develop the local economy, attract visitors and build civic pride in our wonderful area.”

New vision for Morecambe’s Eden Project revealed THE Cornwall-based environmental charity recently presented new images and details to its Northern partners, the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Lancaster University, Lancashire County Council and Lancaster City Council.

Coun Eileen Blamire, leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “What was abundantly clear from the presentation is that Eden have fallen deeply in love with Morecambe. The town’s unique environment and location are the perfect ingredients for an attraction

that has the potential to not only be recognised nationally but also globally. “It’s estimated that in Cornwall the local economy has benefitted to the tune of more than £2billion from the Eden Project – if we can replicate that success locally,

which we believe we can, we will not only regenerate the area economically, but also socially and environmentally. “It’s now important that we get behind Eden and give them our full backing to make their vision a reality.”

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BID to install two public access defibrillators in city centre PRESTON City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) is to install two life-saving public access defibrillators in the city centre, in time for Christmas. The BID has purchased one of the units, with the second coming from the ‘Lancashire Lifesavers’ project, a campaign run by Lancashire County Council, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and BBC Radio Lancashire. The defibs, one of which will be fitted outside Evoque on Church Street, and the second by Roper Hall on Friargate, will provide 24hour access to life-preserving medical equipment in

the event of serious cardiac trauma. Preston city centre is well served with public access defibs being accessible from several locations including the train station, UCLan, the Town Hall and shopping centres. However, many of the units cannot be accessed 24hours a da. Given the locations chosen for the new defibs enjoy significant daytime, evening and night time footfall, these sites have been identified as preferential locations. John Boydell, Chair of Preston BID said: “The BID, in partnership with retail outlets and venues across the city centre, work year-round to attract custom to Preston. We have a collective

part to play in keeping visitors safe and providing access to equipment that could prove vital. We are delighted that we have been able to bring two life-saving pieces of equipment to the city centre and offer our thanks to Lancashire County Council, North West Ambulance Service and BBC Radio Lancashire”. County Councillor Geoff Driver CBE, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “It is great that Preston City Centre will benefit from the Lancashire Lifesavers’ scheme. “Early CPR and defibrillation gives patients in a cardiac arrest the best possible chance, and that’s why it is

so important that community access defibrillators are available in as many places as possible. “Having defibrillators available so close to where so many people shop, eat, work and live could make all the difference.” The equipment, centrally registered with emergency services, is housed in a secure ambient controlled unit which is accessible only by calling 999 in order to be provided with the code. Stacey Penney from Evoque said: “Lancashire Lifesavers is an excellent scheme and we are delighted to be able to support the BID and this vital, lifesaving initiative.”

Buy it in Lancashire and Bring Back a Billion campaign launched LANCASHIRE Business View has launched a major campaign to bring £1bn of business back into the county. And it is calling on organisations large and small to sign up to the pledge: “If you can buy it in Lancashire, buy it in Lancashire!” The campaign was officially launched at Ewood Park in Blackburn on LancashireDay, 27 November 2018. The event featured leaders from across the county including guest speaker Andy Bounds from the Financial Times and a business panel including Antony Chesworth, CEO of EKM, Glyn Jones, F-35 development director at BAE Systems, Guy Topping MD of Barton Grange and Ann Jordan, chair of Benetimo. At the event, publisher Richard Slater unveiled the campaign’s official manifesto and urged companies and organisations to get behind the drive

and do more business locally. He said: “It is a simple campaign. We are calling on businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to work harder to keep more money in the county – by spending a little more locally wherever possible. “We want them to pro-actively seek out opportunities to build relationships and develop local supply chains wherever possible – to work harder to do business with each other. “We are not in any way looking to stop people doing transactions across boundaries – the campaign is not

about protectionism. “What we are trying to do is to keep as much money as we can here, where it can make a real difference.” “If every business and every private sector organisation spent a little bit more money here in Lancashire, we will grow the economy for everyone’s benefit.” The aim is to increase Lancashire’s GDP by £1bn, with anchor institutions and the private sector working to seek out suppliers in the county and working with them to stimulate growth. The campaign has been inspired by the nationally and internationally acclaimed ‘Preston Model’. Since 2013, the share of the public procurement budget spent by organisations in the city has risen from five per cent to 18 per cent, a gain of £75m. Across Lancashire, it has risen from 39 per cent to 79 per cent, a gain

of £200m for the county’s economy. The ‘Buy It In Lancashire: Bring Back a Billion!’ campaign is based on all local businesses and organisations raising their spending on services and goods in the county. Given Lancashire’s £30bn economy, a 3.5 per cent rise would deliver a £1bn-plus boost. Richard added: “We are calling on businesses and organisations to sign up to our campaign, to pledge to increase their local spending and to pro-actively encourage others to take the same approach. They will be our champions. “The aim is to bring the county and its business closer together, to get those businesses to seek out local suppliers. Our message is a simple one. If you can buy it in Lancashire, buy it in Lancashire.” Business Lancashire is delighted to support this campaign.

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Lancaster business continues expansion LANCASTER-based wood-fuel specialist, Logs Direct, is to expanding the business and createing new local employment opportunities, having invested in a new wood processor that is one of the biggest in Britain. A new Pezzalato TLC 1000 compact firewood processor is now partnering with the Halton firm’s existing, seven-year-old Pinosa processor, to tackle the task of keeping homes warm this winter. Able to process up to 40 tonnes of wood per day, making the total cumulative output of the two processors 70 tonnes, the Pezzalato is already pulling its 6000kg weight in the yard. It can be operated by just one person and can work manually or in automatic mode. The processor can pick up 4-metre lengths of tree, cut them into rings with a disc that bears hard, metal-tipped teeth, and

then divide those rings into triangularsized logs that are perfectly sized for a fire or woodburner. The operator can decide on the desired cutting length, the splitting and the positioning and process everything safely, due to great visibility around the processor. The Pezzalato can also exclude wood bundles not needing to be split. Its load-sensing control system is super-efficient, reducing energy consumption and improving working processes at Logs Direct. Logs Direct’s sales director, Stephen Talbot, said: “The Pezzalato will help take our business to the next level, giving us much greater capacity to not only keep up with peak demand in winter, but expand our market and deliver more ready-to-burn, top quality firewood to homeowners and also

more of our speciality woods. “The investment in this equipment comes following our purchase of a second Swedish Ariterm BioComp 200, 1.5-tonne biomass boiler with integral 2-tonne kiln unit, so we are now able to process more wood and ensure that it can all be kiln-dried on site. “We expect to create more job opportunities in 2019, which has to be great news for employment in the local area.”

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Shale gas: What a difference a year can make LEE Petts, Lancashire For Shale, commented: "Back in January, I said 2018 would prove to be a breakthrough year for shale gas in Lancashire and so it has proven. "Cuadrilla has completed drilling the first two horizontal wells targeting shale rock anywhere in the UK, obtained final consent to hydraulically fracture them both from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (under new rules introduced in 2015) and, in October this year, actually commenced ‘fracking’ the first of them. "It’s taken a long time to reach this point when you consider that Cuadrilla first announced its plans to explore for shale gas at the Preston New Road site back in February 2014, and that its last foray into fracking in Lancashire before that was in 2011. "Much has changed along the way. Cuadrilla has certainly changed, having acquired new people and talent. "Regulation has been strengthened, including the imposition of the Traffic Light System of earthquake controls that we’ve all seen in action recently, where Cuadrilla has been very transparently reporting the microseismic activity

it has been detecting deep underground – but not felt at the surface – and pausing whenever tremors of just 0.5 ML (local magnitude) on the Richter scale are observed. For context, at the depths they are occurring, a 0.5 ML event produces surface vibration equivalent to mixed traffic passing on a busy road according to researchers at the University of Liverpool. "Crucially, public opinion has shown signs of changing too. After years of hearing the arguments for and against in the abstract, Lancastrians have now had the chance to see it for themselves and increasingly seem to be concluding that it’s not as bad as they’d been led to fear; the threatened harms haven’t materialised and people can now see they were always far-fetched. That’s not to say there aren’t risks, but it’s clear the risks have been well understood and are being properly managed. "Not only that, but people can see that Cuadrilla has been sticking to its promises of openly reporting its environmental monitoring

results and putting Lancashire first: contracts worth over £11.5 m have been awarded to Lancashire businesses to date, more than 60 jobs have been created and over £200,000 of community benefits have been shared with good causes and local residents. "It’s definitely a driving factor in the growth we’ve seen in support for shale among the Lancashire business community and beyond. They’re proud of our county, they want to see it succeed, and they can now see how a safelyrun and successful shale gas industry could one day contribute to that success. "These were certainly the key themes that emerged at our recent event, which saw over 130 local residents and business people gathered at AFC Fylde to toast Cuadrilla’s recent progress. People told us they are pleased to see Cuadrilla proceeding cautiously, and with care; that it’s living-up to its early commitments to Lancashire; and that they believe a Lancashire shale gas industry has much to offer. "This year will doubtless bring even more progress and, I have no doubt, even bigger growth in support for shale as a result."

26 INTERNATIONAL

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Lancashire business boosts exports

AN award-winning Lancashire manufacturer of plastic household products, including bakeware and cookware, has seen a boost in international contracts, thanks in part to joining the Made in Britain organisation and using its official marque to indicate the provenance of its products. What More UK says a significant part of its international success is owed to the support of Made in Britain, an organisation committed to supporting British manufacturers making the most of opportunities domestically and overseas. The use of Made in Britain’s official accreditation marque, which is included on thousands of What More UK products on shelves on high street stores across the country, and a two-minute promotional video about What More UK, the heritage of its products and the quality of British manufacturing, has contributed to 18% boost in export sales in 2018.

The film was made by the Made in Britain’s marketing team after What More UK agreed to host one of the organisation’s regional training workshops at its factory. What More UK, established in 1999, manufactures a range of homeware, gardening and DIY products under the brand name Wham. It sells in all reputable UK stores and in more than 72 overseas markets, and has most recently won contracts in Vietnam and Azerbaijan. The business recorded sales of around £50million last year and employs 243 people at its sites in Accrington and Padiham, Burnley. Off the back of its domestic and international success, it has invested £11 million in new manufacturing equipment over the past 18 months to boost manufacturing capacity by 25% and plans to expand its manufacturing warehouse by 200,000 sq. ft. Made in Britain, which counts more than 1,000

UK-based manufacturers in its membership, is an independent organisation dedicated to celebrating and supporting British manufacturers of every size by offering a marque of accreditation for goods that have been made or have undergone substantial change in Britain. Tony Grimshaw O.B.E., director of What More UK, said: “Some international buyers assume that products made in Britain are highquality but often too expensive, and that’s simply not the case. We’re changing those perceptions by meeting with buyers face-to-face at trade shows to prove that value doesn’t necessarily have to impact on quality. “We’re seeing a real global trend for buying British and our business is growing at a rapid speed because of it. It’s a great time for British manufacturers to tap into this trend and one of the main reasons we joined Made in Britain was to be part of a network of firms all striving towards the same goal – to showcase the diverse British manufacturing sector so buyers in the UK and overseas can make informed choices.” John Pearce, chief executive of Made in Britain, said: “What More UK is a stellar example to British manufacturers of the types of opportunities that are out there, both domestically and overseas. “There’s an enormous amount of passion for manufacturing in the UK and it’s heartening to see one of our founding members harnessing the trend of buying British. What More UK has pushed into emerging and next generation markets and we’re proud to have helped give them the edge in a globally competitive marketplace.”

Lancashire and German businesses strike trade deal LANCASHIRE businesses will have special access to German trade deals through a new scheme unveiled by two MEPs, inspired by an 18th century Lancashire industrialist. The two MEP’s are Wajid Khan, MEP for the North West and Arndt Kohn, MEP for Germany. Because their names are alphabetically close, they are placed next to each other in the European Parliament. One day, MEP Kohn turned to MEP Khan and asked, ‘Have you heard of Haslingden?’, and began to tell the story of the Cockerill family. William Cockerill moved from his native Haslingden to continental Europe in the 1700s and made his fortune inventing machines for textile manufacturing. He is credited with bringing the industrial revolution to Belgium. After the business passed to his sons, Cockerill factories, mines, engines and inventions spread across the whole region and into the German border region, Aachen. The Cockerill influence is still visible there today, in terraced mill houses and streets and squares bearing the family name. The story so captured the North West MEP that he arranged a trip to the region for Labour councillors from Lancashire County Council. The trip included a presentation to the Aachen council chamber. There, German representatives unanimously approved a plan to facilitate trade and business links between Aachen and Lancashire. Lancashire councillors Gillian Oliver from Preston and John Fillis from Skelmerdale returned from Aachen committed to promoting the Cockerill Scheme to Lancashire businesses. Cllr Oliver said: “Despite the storm clouds of Brexit, the Cockerill story inspires us. There are concrete things we can do to foster business partnerships between our two regions, which are actually similar; a region of towns, and about the same size.” "The idea is to create an online portal to connect businesses, but as the project gets off the ground, the MEP’s offices will be the first point of contact." MEP Wajid Khan, who lives just a few miles from Haslingden in Burnley, said: “If you make apps in Accrington or wallets in Whalley, we want to help you promote and establish your business in Germany. Get in touch and let us support you.”

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Buildings and the Power of Knowledge Richard Nash from BSRIA gives us his views on the power of knowledge within the built enviromment

means processed data about someone or something, whilst knowledge refers to useful information gained through learning and experience. "As the adage says, “knowledge is power” and whilst we all develop our own knowledge base, the power of collective "IN A WORLD in which we are and shared knowledge learned bombarded with information over years and from a range 24 hours a day, it is very easy of experiences is critical when to get confused between applied effectively. receiving information and that The built environment and information being knowledge, those responsible for delivering but there is a very subtle safe and efficient buildings are difference between the two. At facing a number of challenges the most basic level, information – from changing legislation,

the drive to creative productive environments that allow the occupants to thrive and the need to drive down energy consumption – yet none of these challenges are unique, so imagine the difference that could be made if that knowledge was shared so everybody could benefit. "BSRIA, with our global reach and industry recognised experts and membership scheme, makes the ideal knowledge partner for any organisation that is involved at any stage in the supply chain for the built environment. "BSRIA membership allows organisations and all of their

employees access to the BSRIA also provides information team who run the largest library in Europe specialising in the built environment, the latest technical publications, an extensive network programme and the opportunity to share collective knowledge, as well as webinars given by global leading experts, training courses developed and run by industry practitioners and access to industry technical experts. These experts are driven to grow and share their knowledge to help you improve the performance of your buildings."

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28 ACQUISITIONS

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Proposed acquisition of Inprova Finance Limited and Placing by Inspired to raise up to £19.0 million INSPIRED Energy PLC, has conditionally agreed to acquire Inprova Finance Limited for £19.5 million. In addition, and in connection with the Acquisition, the Company proposes to raise up to £19.0 million by way of a conditional placing of 115,151,516 new Ordinary Shares at 16.5 pence per

Ordinary Share. IFL provides energy procurement services to its customers analysing usage data to recommend the appropriate options on either flexible procurement arrangements or a fixed price basis. It also provides consultancy services to its customers to enable customers to buy energy efficiently and monitor and

reduce their carbon footprint. IFL is a significant operator within the UK TPI market with access to 19,000 meter points through over 1,000 customers and has a strong presence in four sectors which it believes have attractive long term growth dynamics being: data centres, social housing, education and construction, which the Board believe with

further extend the Group’s sector specialism. Commenting on the proposed acquisition, Mark Dickinson, Chief Executive Officer of Inspired Energy PLC, said: “We are delighted to have agreed the acquisition of IFL and its group of energy businesses. This acquisition provides an opportunity to drive further growth

from Inspired’s established platform and deliver value creation, both strategically and operationally, in addition to strengthening the Group’s position as a leading TPI in the UK and Ireland. We look forward to working with the team as we continue to accelerate our next phase of growth.”

SpanSet acquires stake in CoreRFID SPANSET, the Swiss multinational which produces lifting and height safety products, has acquired a 33% stake in Skelmersdale-based software firm CoreRFID. The deal will make CoreRFID the leading supplier of lifting inspection software systems worldwide. CoreRFID’s CheckedOK solution helps companies to comply with the rules on safety and maintenance inspections. Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are used to identify cranes, forklifts and other equipment in need of regular inspections, while the software helps to ensure these are carried out and keeps track of the results. The system is a market leader in the UK and Ireland and was adopted by SpanSet several years ago and incorporated into its product range. SpanSet provides lifting, load control and height safety products and services from its bases in 14 countries worldwide. SpanSet UK Managing Director Pete Ward said the company had recognised the need to incorporate an IT solution in its products. “Working with Core, an established provider of RFID and asset management software, proved to be very positive. “As we progressed it became evident that our services committed SpanSet quite closely to CoreRFID and its technology. We also realised that our perspective from the end-users of lifting

and height safety products meant that we were able to help Core develop its offer further. “To secure such a positive partnership seemed like an obvious step to invest in the company. The collaboration will assist Core’s international expansion through the world-wide SpanSet Group.” Munzi Ali, Managing Director of CoreRFID, said:

“SpanSet has been a customer for many years. Meanwhile CoreRFID has set its sights on international opportunities, having dominated the UK and Ireland market for years. “With SpanSet’s global presence and CoreRFID’s market leading technical solution, this partnership makes complete sense. Both companies will now work together to make the CheckedOK system a global brand.”

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ACQUISITIONS

MAG acquires Blackpool parking business

MAG, the UK’s largest airport group, has acquired SkyParkSecure for an undisclosed sum. SkyParkSecure, trading from the domain SkyParkSecure.com, is an innovative price comparison and booking agent based in Blackpool, which allows customers to compare and book over 300 parking options across 28 UK airports. In 2017 SkyParkSecure generated revenues of £2.2 million. The SkyParkSecure business and its team of people will join 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 passengers using MAG airports. The SkyParkSecure business will improve MAG’s distribution capabilities via national online channels. SkyParkSecure is one of the UK’s most innovative online parking businesses. It was one of the first companies of its kind to offer independent customer reviews of car park products, and the first to send mobile parking confirmations. In 2015, it launched its “SkyParkSecure Business Portal”, allowing large businesses to book, manage and save money on corporate airport parking bookings. The acquisition of SkyParkSecure

will allow MAG to improve further its technology capabilities and rationalise costs in distributing parking products through greater scale in sales channels. Dean Pailing, co-founder and Managing Director of SkyParkSecure, will join MAG following the acquisition. Commenting on the deal, Andrew Harrison, CEO, Airport Services, MAG, said: “SkyParkSecure is another great acquisition for MAG’s Airport Services division. We have enjoyed a great relationship with Dean and the SkyParkSecure team, having traded closely with them for a number of years. They will add unbeatable expertise, tech and vision

to our existing talent. SkyParkSecure is a successful, growing business and we are delighted to begin working more closely with the team. Dean Pailing, Founder of SkyParkSecure, added: “Having spent the last twelve years building the SkyParkSecure brand and a base of over 2 million loyal customers, we’re delighted that our business has been acquired by MAG and that we will now have the opportunity to take both businesses to the next level in the online airport parking sector. “This is an exciting time for our customers, as this relationship will enable us to provide a greater level of care and service, as well as increase our service offerings going forward.”

30 TRANSPORT

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Wizz announces another new route WIZZ Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe has announced another new route from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, with flights to commence next Summer to the Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Varna. Flights will commence on 1 July 2019, operating to Varna three times a week with departures on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This latest new service will be the airline’s 8th route from Liverpool, complementing their existing seven routes to Warsaw, Gdansk, Katowice, Budapest, Bucharest, Cluj and Iasi. Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. It is popular with holidaymakers, is a major tourist

Lloyd BMW hosts preview evenings for new X5 and 8 Series LLOYD BMW hosted a number of preview evenings showcasing the newly updated X5 and the brandnew BMW 8 Series across their Blackpool, Colne and South Lakes dealerships. The flagship 8 series model further expands BMW’s range into the luxury performance car market, first engineered for the racetrack,

destination and often described as the area’s most interesting and cosmopolitan town. “Paul Winfield, Director of Aviation Development for Liverpool John Lennon Airport commented, “We are delighted to see the addition of this new route to Varna, which becomes the Airport’s 70th destination and Wizz Air’s 4th new route from Liverpool for Summer 2019, taking the airline’s number of frequencies to over 20 a week from next Summer. “Passengers from across the North West and North Wales will now have the opportunity to fly direct from Liverpool to summer holiday resorts along the Black Sea Coast. "We have seen a host of

destinations added to the Airport’s network of flights over the past year and annual passenger numbers

resulting in a powerful, dynamic and exhilarating package, which has now been developed as a luxury Coupé and not seen since 1999. The new X5 features the sharp handling characteristics of its predecessors as well as an updated, contemporary exterior and interior. Technology is prominent in the latest X5 version, with BMW’s intelligent four-wheel drive system, xDrive, as standard, whilst electronically controlled dampers and air suspension keep the ride smooth and stable. Each of the Lloyd dealerships

entertained guests in different ways. Lloyd South Lakes invited customers to enjoy a refreshing gin bar as well as delicious mini fish & chips. Lloyd Colne provided a sensational Indian buffet and Lloyd Blackpool chose to host their annual Christmas Market on the same evening, giving guests the opportunity to not only preview the brand-new models but also enjoy a selection of festive stalls from local businesses selling a wonderful selection of local goods & produce. Stephanie de Looze, Lloyd BMW’s Marketing Manager, said: “The preview evenings, showcasing

rise to over 5 million, with 2019 looking like another busy year for the airport.”

these incredible new models were a fantastic success at all sites. Guests enjoyed great food and an exclusive first look at the latest additions to the already exceptional BMW range. “Both the 8 Series and X5 received marvellous receptions across our Lloyd BMW sites, with a lot of interest in both of the luxury models. As always, we would like to thank our guests for attending these fabulous events and well done to Lloyd Blackpool, Lloyd Colne and Lloyd South Lakes for putting on a good show.”

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Transport

Ethiopian Airlines’ makes inaugural flight to Addis Ababa from Manchester Airport A LANDMARK route into the heart of Africa has taken off, underlining Manchester Airport’s pivotal role in connecting the North to the world’s most important markets. Ethiopian Airlines’ inaugural flight to Addis Ababa left the UK’s third largest airport 100% full and will now unlock more than 60 connections across Africa. The four times a week service is set to benefit 400,000 people across the North who currently access Africa via other means. A celebration to mark the first flight was attended by Jeremy Lefroy MP, the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Ethiopia as well as hundreds of guests from across the region. The new service has been welcomed by Northern businesses and organisations who will benefit from reduced journey times, unlocking vital economic, trade and investment opportunities. Jeremy Lefroy MP, said: “Ethiopia is a key partner as we look to expand our trading relationship with the wider African continent. This new flight route from Ethiopian Airlines will allow UK companies to build strong ties with their Ethiopian counterparts, increasing the accessibility and affordability of doing business for businesses in both countries. “The Department for International Trade has a range of support available to businesses looking to make the most of the new flight route. Support includes finance through our awardwinning export credit agency, UK Export Finance, and market advise from our in-country HM Trade Commissioner, Emma Wade-Smith.” Ethiopian Airlines, which flies to more destinations in Africa than any other carrier, will operate the ultramodern B-787 Dreamliner on the route with business and economy classes. The service to Addis Ababa will operate on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday

and Sunday. Andrew Cowan, CEO of Manchester Airport, said: “We’re delighted to have Ethiopian Airlines launching its service to Addis Ababa. “It will provide a vital route into Africa for businesses across the North, as well as helping attract visitors and potential investors to the region. “This route highlights the important role Manchester Airport continues to play in connecting the North with key global markets. Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said: “We are elated to start our service to Manchester, our second destination in the UK next to London Heathrow which we have been serving since 1973. As the leading African carrier with the widest network in the continent, passengers from Manchester will enjoy convenient and seamless connectivity options to 60 African destinations operated with cutting-edge fleet like the B-787 and A350, which offer our passengers unparalleled comfort on-board our flights, along with our African flavored Ethiopian hospitality. “The socio-economic implication

of the new flight is immense. With vast investment and trade potentials between Africa and the UK, the upcoming flight holds the promise of boosting trade, investment and tourism with ample business opportunities for investors and business people from both regions.” Mick Bonney, Director of Sales and Business Development, for EDM Limited, said: “Since delivering a comprehensive suite of cabin crew training equipment in 2016, EDM continues to support Ethiopian Airlines as they continue to move towards being the most competitive, leading aviation training centre in Africa. Ethiopian Airlines’ new Aviation Academy sets a highly impressive new standard in the provision of aviation training and we were privileged to play a part in this fine accomplishment.” Chancellor of The University of Manchester, Lemn Sissay, said: “I have a very personal connection with Ethiopia and, through my work as Chancellor, The University of Manchester now offers scholarships to Ethiopian students with a desire to

come and study in the UK. Having a direct Manchester-Addis Ababa flight route will open up these opportunities even further and that is something to be celebrated. “To be considered a truly global city Manchester needs to be open to the world, especially Africa, and this is a massive step forward in that regard. Both from a cultural and economic perspective, unlocking the doors to Ethiopia is another way for Manchester to embrace its place on the international stage.” VisitBritain Director, Patricia Yates said: “Inbound tourism is one of the UK’s most valuable export industries and we want to provide a world-class experience to the millions of visitors who travel here every year, more than 70% of whom arrive by air. “Growing airline connectivity, route development and seat capacity into key regional gateways such as Manchester are crucial to our competitive tourism offer, with the new Ethiopian Airlines flights making it easier for visitors to travel here, explore further and stay longer, boosting the economy.”

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Transport

Rossendale Manchester rail link becomes one step closer A COMMUTER rail link between Rossendale and Manchester could be on track after a study reported the route was ‘feasible and cost effective’. Politicians, business leaders and officers, including Leader of Rossendale Council Alyson Barnes, recently met with Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry in London to update him on the outcome of early strategic case for rail investment. They also lobbied Transport for the North (TfN) to get the link included in its forthcoming Investment Programme. Five options were examined and evaluated in the feasibility study, but Coun Barnes stressed any commuter route had to work in conjunction with the existing heritage East Lancashire Railway. The report describes a ‘promising option’ as a peak period shuttle service between Rawtenstall and Bury using the East Lancashire Railway and a new heavy rail link from a

disused platform at Bury Bolton Street Station to Castleton. Passengers would have full access to Manchester, Rochdale and West Yorkshire. The report concluded: “Overall, we believe this work indicates that feasible options exist for investment which could deliver significant economic benefits, reduce congestion, and meet environmental targets in a way which will not harm the valuable operations of the East Lancashire Railway, and may even be to their benefit.” Coun Barnes said: “The East Lancashire Railway is an incredible success story bringing visitors and tourism into the Rossendale economy and we do not want to lose it. However the current commuter network between Rossendale and Manchester is not. At peak periods both car drivers and bus passengers find themselves in nose to tail traffic on the A56, M66 and in the city centre and

because it had not been a top priority for Lancashire County Council – but now it was.” Transport for the North is also officially considering the plans and Mr Berry, added: “This is the value of having the study done. The there is no potential to ease that next big challenge is about situation. getting Manchester Mayor “We therefore want to Andy Burnham to prioritise see the rail link treated as a it and realise the significant high priority scheme in the growth it could bring to forthcoming TfN Investment Manchester. Programme 2020-50. This “Look at the economic would be a precursor to growth in Rossendale since funding a Strategic Online 2011, unemployment has been Business Case and the halved and more businesses remaining development and than ever are setting up. My planning stages needed to take concern is that unless we solve the project forwards.” many of the transport problems Rossendale and Darwen facing the Valley, it is going MP Jake Berry described to stop further economic growth. This is not just about reconnecting Rossendale and Manchester as ‘crucial’. “I regard people going to Manchester to work from Rossendale but this link as crucial not just for about Rossendale being able to Rossendale but to the whole access the skills of people from development of the Northern Manchester.” Powerhouse. Progress on the Lancashire County Council link had previously failed

Executive Director of growth, environment, transport and community service Stephen Young said: “The County Council is committed to transforming transportation links, particularly in Rossendale which is the only district in Lancashire without a station on the national rail network. We see this as essential in further driving our collective economic aspirations and are fully supportive of this proposal and study.” East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Miranda Barker welcomed the report. She said: “Speaking on behalf of the business community, this would be good for them. Transport is always top of the list in terms of problems that businesses in East Lancashire mention. We are really good at manufacturing in this area, but then when it comes to transportation, it is expensive and slow.”

Vienna conference triumph for Mint Business Travel BURNLEY-based business travel specialist, Mint, is celebrating pulling off a big job arranging journalists’ travel packages from around the world to a major business conference held in Vienna. The challenging task of arranging travel for 27 journalists from South Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, Spain, Holland, Denmark, France and the UK was commissioned by international PR agency, The PR Network. Mint was contacted by The PR Network to provide a quote for flying the journalists in to Vienna to arrive at specific times on the same day so that transfers by bus could be made to take them to the conference venue. On the return flights, each delegate had their own itineraries to accommodate, with some staying longer or requiring different departure airports within Europe. Steve Hall, Managing Director at

Mint Business Travel, said: “Fulfilling the task was immensely challenging but enjoyable. Dealing with last minute changes and individual travel itineraries is all in a day’s work for Mint. The job also required contingency planning in the event of bad weather. Fortunately, the weather was kind and all flights were on time.” Eileen Boydell, Client Services Director at The PR Network said; “It was important for us to find a travel partner who we could trust to provide a quick turnaround on flights and travel schedules even at the last minute. Mint Business Travel was the obvious choice as they were nimble and flexible enough to cater to our changing needs with the level of professionalism you would expect.”

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36 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

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Pendleside Hospice punches above its weight AS a health-care charity Pendleside Hospice looks after around 1,500 people a year but at the same time has to be run like a big business. That’s because it is a fullyoperational, 24-7, 365-daysa-year not-for-profit big business! It employs around 120 staff and manages an army of 450 volunteers, as well as nine charity shops and a charity furniture store. And apart from its 10-inpatient beds it also provides daily day service and outpatient services to dozens of patients and offers bereavement, counselling and therapy services. The complexity of the business is also further enhanced by the North West’s biggest hospice-athome team of nurses. More than 30 of them take to the road every day sometimes spending their entire shift at one patient’s home meeting their individual nursing requirements. It costs more than £4million a year to run Pendleside of which in excess of £3million has to be raised through voluntary donations

PROUD TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE:

which have to be processed and administered. The hospice, situated in Reedley on the border of the boroughs of Burnley and Pendle, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary this year and the biggest fundraiser of the year was the corporate challenge where businesses competed against each other to raise the most money during the summer months. The 37 companies of all shapes and sizes who entered raised an amazing £156,000, between June and September, with a whole range of activities, from body waxing to cycling the length and breadth of Britain. More than 150 guests from all of the businesses attended the glitzy gala dinner and awards evening where a host of category winners were presented with their trophies. It was the third year of the challenge and in total since it was launched in 2016, it has added more than £340,000 to the hospice’s much-needed kitty. The challenge is a glowing example of how businesses in the Burnley and Pendle

area have rallied to support the community’s hospice. But the challenge isn’t a one-way benefit provider. The corporate challenge has heightened staff morale within companies; has given empowerment to the staff who have been tasked to organise the individual campaigns; has broadened employer branding; and has generally ticked all the corporate social responsibility boxes. Helen McVey, chief executive of Pendleside Hospice, said: “It’s always a challenge running a charity bearing in mind that you are also running a business. We have to continually keep the values of a charity in mind at the same time as looking at ways of increasing our revenue streams to ensure that Pendleside continues to succeed. “My challenge as chief executive, as in any business, increases year by year. And like the chief executive of any business

must adhere to all of the complex employment requirements and service provision. “As a charity, there has never been a more important time to seek the continued and increased support from the business community particularly when our allocation of money from the NHS has been frozen for the last 10 years. “The financial challenge gets bigger and bigger and I see the collaboration between ourselves and business as having mutual benefits as is illustrated by the corporate challenge.” A general misunderstanding is that the hospice only cares for cancer patients. In fact, it looks after the welfare of anyone who is suffering a life-shortening illness. Plus it has become an expert service for the care of people suffering from

dementia. It also looks after families and carers at its newlylaunched family centre and offers bereavement counselling and care to anyone suffering after the death of a loved one whether they have been under the hospice’s palliative treatment or not. As a business, the hospice runs training programmes for its qualified staff as well as operating an award-winning apprenticeship scheme. This year alone Pendleside has won the countywide Red Rose Not-For-Profit Business Award; the Making A Local Difference award at the Pendle Business Awards; and apprentice health care assistant Megan Pritchard claimed the health and social care title in the Accrington and Rossendale College’s Apprenticeship Awards. AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING A GOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN

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CSR

Rosemere award complements Trust’s cancer treatment CANCER patients being treated at Rosemere Cancer Centre and Chorley & South Ribble Hospital are to continue to be offered free complementary therapy alongside their conventional medical treatment, thanks to an award of £39,200 by Rosemere Cancer Foundation. The grant made to Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Oncology Directorate, which manages cancer services across both Rosemere Cancer Centre at the Royal Preston

Hospital and at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital, guarantees up to six free holistic health sessions such as aromatherapy, reiki and reflexology per patient up until autumn next year. All the sessions will now be delivered at a dedicated “complementary therapy clinic” within Chorley & South Ribble Hospital’s new chemotherapy unit, which Rosemere Cancer Foundation also helped to fund. Tracey Palmer, Speciality Business Manager, said: “We have relocated all

complementary therapy sessions to the new chemotherapy unit at Chorley to free up vital space at Rosemere Cancer Centre. “We fund 25 hours of complementary health therapy sessions per month ourselves but are extremely grateful to Rosemere Cancer Foundation for its grant as it will enable us to provide another 121 hours of monthly treatments to ensure that all patients who want sessions can have them for the foreseeable future.” Sarah Welsh, Acting Matron for Oncology,

added: “Touch therapies such as massage can really improve the patient experience as they go through their cancer treatment

journey. The feedback we receive for the service from those patients who take up sessions is very positive.”

Lancashire FA partners with The Adam Appeal LANCASHIRE FA has announced a two-year partnership with Garstang charity, the Adam Appeal. The partnership will see Lancashire FA help raise awareness of cardiac risk in young people and fund the distribution of lifesaving defibrillators. The Lancashire FA and the Adam Appeal kicked-off the two-year partnership in December, working closely together to invest in Community Access Public Defibrillators (CPADs) across Lancashire. As part of the launch, the Lancashire FA and Hoole United FC agreed to fund a project to help the Adam Appeal distribute 12 CPADs to grassroots football clubs. Working in conjunction with the North-West Ambulance Service, these CPADs will be placed in areas where there are no Automated External Defibrillators in close proximity. Experience shows that putting defibrillation within 3-5 minutes reach of a collapsed person, following a cardiac arrest, can see survival rates as high as 5070%. The Adam Appeal was set up in memory of 28-year-old Adam Swanwick, who passed away on 2 September 2012, following an acute heart attack,

whilst travelling to sample his wedding meal with his fiancée, Louise. Louise and Adam’s sister-in-law, Pam, want to prevent other families going through the same experience, since following Adam’s death, they learned that a diagnosis of Adam’s condition or

access to a defibrillator might have saved him. The Adam Appeal aims to raise awareness of cardiac risk in young people, promoting screening in young people for undiagnosed heart conditions and providing training and defibrillators in public places in the North West of England. Simon Gerrard, Chief Executive Officer, Lancashire FA, said: “Lancashire FA is proud to support the Adam Appeal and recognises the importance of raising awareness of the risk to young people from cardiac arrests. “As part of this two year deal, Lancashire FA and the now disbanded Hoole United FC will fund as many AED defibrillators and CPAD housing units, which will be gifted to football clubs within Lancashire in areas where no registered defibrillator is located. Fundraising events will also take place in 2019, with activities and venues still being finalised.” “We will also look to fundraise at all of our 20 County Cup Finals during 2019, especially since amateur football clubs that benefit from this equipment are being asked to pledge their support back to the charity by supporting these events.”

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January 2019

MHA Moore and Smalley supports Clitheroe Colleagues welcome back Michelle Wolves Football with a £1.7k show of support Club

MHA Moore and Smalley Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers is to sponsor Clitheroe Wolves Under 9’s for season 2018/19 and season 2019/20. Corporate Services Director, Judith Dugdale, said: “We are thrilled to be sponsoring a local football club for the forthcoming years. Here at MHA Moore and Smalley we value giving something back to our local communities and contributing wherever we can. Clitheroe Wolves relies on contributions and we are proud to be a part of that.” Clitheroe Wolves Football Club is formed from players moving up from the Cubs teams in the area and has peaked in size over the years with it’s most popular season having 28 teams aged U7 to U17.

WORK colleagues at Security Distributor, Norbain were so grateful and relieved to have Michelle Worthington back amongst their number that they said thank you with a £1,700 donation to Rosemere Cancer Foundation. Last year, internal sales engineer Michelle was off for four months undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for cervical cancer at Rosemere Cancer Centre, the region’s specialist cancer treatment centre at the Royal Preston Hospital. Now in remission and back at her desk, Michelle organised a company-wide raffle and fun day that included a treasure

hunt and quiz to raise money for the charity, which supports a variety of projects at the centre and other local hospital cancer units, including Blackpool Victoria Hospital. Michelle said: “Throughout my treatment, Norbain and my colleagues have been brilliant in terms of supporting me. I also received excellent care at Rosemere Cancer Centre so wanted to thank everyone for their help and consideration.” “True to form, the fun day and raffle were both very well received and exceeded the amount of money I originally thought they would raise.”

It’s top down at Lloyd BMW Blackpool for Cash for Kids LLOYD BMW Blackpool pledged its support to the Cash for Kids Christmas Appeal. The dealership acted as a drop-off point for anyone to donate toys and other gifts to disadvantaged kids across the country, using one of the convertibles in its showroom as the drop-off point, putting the roof down for members of both the business community and public to leave their donations. Cash for Kids is Bauer Radio’s network of local charities, which operate across 22 areas around the UK. It’s mission is to respond to the needs of children in their local communities,

and the charity aspires to enable all children to live life to the full and achieve their individual potential. Collectively, Cash for Kids raised over £23 million in 2017, supporting more than 709,000 children across the UK. Stephanie de Looze, Lloyd BMW Marketing Manager said: “Lloyd BMW is committed to helping the local and wider community in any way we can. By supporting the Cash for Kids charity, gave people from across the Fylde Coast the opportunity to donate to children who would otherwise go without presents on Christmas day.

APPOINTMENTS

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CG appoints Dunn to drive business development CG Professional has appointed Andy Dunn as it's new Client Relationship Director. Andy joined CG Professional’s fastexpanding Lancashire legal practice from financial services giant Lombard PLC. “Andy is a dynamic and experienced professional and will help bring a keen strategic focus and drive to business development,” said Stacey Turner, who co-founded CG with Louise Myers. “His CV is impressive and he has a host of contacts in the North-West business community that will help accelerate the growth of the firm. “This appointment represents a significant step for the business. To date, we have been successful thanks to

organic growth but Andy will be able to put his knowledge and energy into developing new markets and business for us.” Under Stacey and Louise’s leadership, CG has taken a fresh approach to the legal sector and CG Professional has expanded the firm’s services offering to include Corporate, Commercial, Banking and Finance, Business Recovery, Commercial Property and Employment Law. CG now advises a number of well-known and established business organisations from across the UK. Andrew said: “I have got to know the business well over recent months and have been hugely impressed by the people, their vision and ambition.

CoolKit welcomes new Operations Director

It’s good to be coming into a business when it is at a relatively early stage of its development and I believe

COOLKIT’S new Operations Director is looking forward to putting his own personal stamp on the business, helping to drive it to future significant growth. Andrew Wearing, who is originally from Burnley, predicts exciting times ahead for CoolKit. He said the rapid expansion of the company is what attracted him to the position, and the challenges that come with such an impressive evolution. “CoolKit has witnessed impressive growth and has been acknowledged by

we can be exceptionally successful. It has a very exciting future and I’m happy to be part of it.”

an array of industry awards. The ambition of the senior management team and the company as a whole is what leads me to believe that it is capable of much more. “I can sense the excitement and potential opportunities for this fantastic business.” Andrew’s role will be to oversee the operational team, making sure that quality and service sit at the forefront of the team’s strategy and daily focus. Starting his career in textiles, Andrew has held operational positions since the early

1990s working at board level since 2000. for the last six years, Andrew has been located in Georgia, USA, readying a manufacturing business for sale. Now he has returned to his roots and wants to continue to build his career, predicting exciting times ahead. “CoolKit is a family business without the corporate feel, but with plenty of ambition. I am looking forward to working with the whole team to grow the business by constantly improving the company’s reputation for innovation, quality and service.”

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APPOINTMENTS

January 2019

Victoria crosses PM+M grows tax the border for team with new Vincents research and development specialist LANCASHIRE law firm Vincents Solicitors has recruited a new private client lawyer to its Penwortham office. Victoria Hill joins from AWB Charlesworth in Yorkshire, and will be providing expert advice on issues such as wills and probate, estate administration, deeds of variation, and lasting powers of attorney for property and finances, health, welfare and businesses. A solicitor with more than a decade of experience of private client work, Victoria focuses on working primarily with older clients. Victoria said: “My main focus is client care and it is important that people are not simply well advised, but that they are treated respectfully and sympathetically and with patience. I like to have satisfied clients and to respond to their individual needs. If they are housebound or in hospital, or simply more comfortable having difficult conversations in the comfort of their own home, then that is where we will meet. “As lawyers, we should always give people the time they need to

ask all the questions they have, and fully understand the details of their instruction. The more we get to know our clients, the better we can advise and achieve the results they are looking for. “The private client team at Vincents very much embodies this ethos, and I’m delighted to be joining them. I’m pleased to be here in Penwortham providing a service for this community which I think is much needed as we have people stopping by every day. Hopefully I can build on this and further develop our links within the community.” Chris Mathews, head of private client services at Vincents, said: “Victoria offered us an appealing combination of knowledge, professionalism and a sympathetic demeanour, and has a reputation for providing her clients with an exceptional level of service. We are pleased to welcome her to Vincents and to have expanded our Penwortham team to include a dedicated private client solicitor in the heart of the town’s high street, to offer our services direct to the local community.”

BLACKBURN headquartered PM+M – the chartered accountancy, business advisory and wealth management group – has further strengthened its tax team with the appointment of Jon Connor, who has joined as a research and development tax credits manager. Jon’s new role will see him working with the firm’s broad range of clients to ensure they are both taking advantage of the available relief and maximising their claims. Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credits is a UK tax incentive designed to encourage companies to invest in R&D. Companies can reduce their tax bill or claim payable cash credits as a proportion of their R&D expenditure.

Jon joins PM+M from R&D Tax Solutions. He has also worked at Cowgill Holloway and NIS Ltd. Jane Parry, managing partner at PM+M, said: “The increasing complexity around R&D tax credits means Jon’s appointment is crucial to the development of our specialist service in this area. His knowledge and experience is already adding value to our clients and his advice will, I’m sure, form an integral part of their future growth and development plans.” Jon added: “I’m really excited about joining PM+M. It is a fantastic firm with great opportunities and expansion plans. Having the remit to grow a service such as R&D tax relief is an exciting prospect.”

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APPOINTMENTS

British Business Bank appoints UK Network Senior Manager for the North West THE British Business Bank has appointed Sue Barnard to a new position as Senior Manager, UK Network for the North West. The British Business Bank, the governmentowned economic development bank dedicated to making finance markets work better for smaller businesses, is establishing a UK Network, with team members based withineach of the English regions and the three Devolved Nations. The UK Network was originally announced as part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy in November 2017, with a

remit to identify and help to reduce imbalances in access to finance for smaller businesses across the UK. The UK Network will help enhance business finance ecosystems across the UK so smaller businesses, wherever they are, can

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grow and prosper. It will also help the Bank develop a deeper understanding of small business finance markets in all parts of the UK so that, ultimately, the Bank can improve its support to smaller businesses everywhere. Sue will represent the UK Network across the North West and will engage closely with business finance stakeholders in the region. She will be supporting Geoff Whiteland, the recently appointed UK Network Director, North of England and the Midlands. Sue joined the Bank in 2016 as Senior Relationship

Manager for the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF). Sue has also held similar positions in the last twenty years with the Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub and the North West Development Agency, delivering a range of programmes to businesses across the North West. Geoff Whiteland, UK Network Director, North of England and the Midlands said: “I am very happy to welcome Sue to the UK Network, where she will be able to build on her existing network in the North West to enhance and build our relationships with key

SME finance stakeholders and to help identify and reduce imbalances in access to finance for smaller businesses.” Sue Barnard, Senior Manager, UK Network said: “I am extremely pleased to be joining the newly created UK Network and look forward to continuing to work across the North West. I want to build lasting relationships across the region’s business finance ecosystem and ensure that smaller businesses are encouraged to explore the different finance options available to them.”

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APPOINTMENTS

January 2019

Celebrating new appointments at Inkden Tattoo Studio LEADING Blackpool-based tattoo studio Inkden is paving the way to success with new appointments as a cutting-edge era of tattooing hits the Fylde Coast. Joining the team in 2018 are tattoo artists Vitalijs Jerjomenko, David Cairns and studio frontman and illustrator Ben Garcia-Vico. Working alongside Shamack Malachowski are artists Danielle Merricks, Holly Andrew, filmmaker & Laser removal specialist Anna Paprzycka and social media assistant Olivia-Tegan Bond. Vitalijs (otherwise known as

Vitaly), originally from Latvia, has worked in the UK for several years and brings with him an array of tattoo skills from the past 6 years. Specialising in surrealism, Vitaly possesses a unique style that allows him to achieve some really interesting and distinctive designs. David joins Inkden as an apprentice. Having drawn all his life, he has a gift for art. A rock ‘n’ roll fan, his love of comics and music has influenced his designs over the years. Since starting with Inkden David has found a love for dot shading and now mixes this with neo traditional

styles, delivering a unique style to the studio. Vitaly and David will be joining the already established artists at Inkden- Shamack, Danielle and Holly. Inkden has grown from strength to strength since owner Shamack Malachowski, award winning and internationally renowned artist and specialist in biomechanical tattoos, took over the business previously known as The Dragons Den two years ago. As tattoo design is becoming an increasingly sophisticated

phenomenon, Inkden has witnessed first-hand the spike in popularity and the studio is helping to change the perceptions amongst the town as tattooing is now widely recognised more as an art form. “Inkden has a fantastic reputation for delivering a professional and quality service. The new team has worked hard to change the way tattooing is perceived within the area. Our unique ethos means we’re leading the way in enlightening people to the art-form of tattooing, and we’re excited for what the future holds.”

Experienced content marketing hire for Freshfield PRESTON-based marketing communications firm, Freshfield, has strengthened its PR and communications team with the appointment of Jacqueline Ballard as content marketing manager. Originally from Australia, Jacqueline is a qualified marketing specialist and joins Freshfield after working for over 15 years in industry.

She previously worked inhouse as a marketing manager for Synergy Technology and will be based in Freshfield’s Preston office working with clients in the legal, accounting, property and public sectors. She said: “This is my first agency role. It combines my skills and experience gained from working in-house in the professional services sector.

Freshfield is highly regarded as experts in delivering marketing and communication services and the team are great too.” Freshfield managing director, Simon Turner, said: “Great content, whether written, visual or motion, is fuelling our successful client programmes and the addition of Jacqueline will strengthen our capabilities.

“Having occupied inhouse roles for a number of leading firms, she also brings to Freshfield the valuable insight of the client’s perspective and expectations of the delivery of quality agency services.” Jacqueline added: “The variety of work is great and it’s the creative culture that I really enjoy at Freshfield. It’s a dream job.”

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Viddyoze relocates its company HQ after significant growth PRESTON-based Viddyoze, the web-based, automated video animation platform, has relocated to a significantly bigger office, after a year of impressive growth. Moving from a small room in Albert Edward House to an impressive 2,500sq ft office on a new business estate in Bamber Bridge, Preston, 15 members of the team will be relocating initially, with plans to scale up to 30 as soon as possible. The successful tech start-up’s new office features a fully stocked bar, TV and games consoles, super-social breakout spaces featuring arcade machines and a SONOS speaker system – all guaranteeing the vibe is kept as fun and fresh as possible. Interiors-wise, Manchester’s Sheila Bird Group and Quay Interiors have worked alongside Viddyoze to harness

a quirky, urban vibe, tapping into the brand’s strong sense of creativity. From odd light fittings to graffiti walls and bold yellow prints, the new Viddyoze office will be anything but your typical corporate setting. But for business meetings and anyone needing a quiet place to work, there are two purpose built meeting rooms available. David Chamberlain, co-founder at Viddyoze, said: “The office move is a significant and exciting step for the business, as we continue on our upwards trajectory to become a significant business within the next couple of years. We have been fortunate enough to experience significant growth over the last three years, meaning we effectively outgrew our current office, and hope that our new working environment will help

bolster the great work our teams are already doing. “It was important to us that we created a space that not only captures the Viddyoze personality

but makes coming into work fun and rewarding every day. I really feel that we have achieved this and can’t wait to move in and start showing our clients around!”

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PROPERTY

World Leisure wins One Bishopsgate Plaza pool contract LEYLAND headquartered swimming pool provider World Leisure (UK) Ltd has been appointed by UOL Development (UK) Limited to build the water leisure facilities at a development in central London. The 43-storey tower under construction at 150 Bishopsgate comprises London’s first Pan Pacific Hotel and will provide five-star wellness, meeting and events spaces and a 380 seat double height ballroom and conference facility. 160 private residences will also occupy the upper levels of the main tower building. With landscaping and retail, restaurants and cafes within a renovated Devonshire Row, developers say the new One Bishopsgate Plaza will become a vibrant heart in the city. Leading water leisure company World Leisure has been commissioned to build a 16.5m x 3.6m swimming pool, with 100% perimeter infinity edge, for use by hotel and domestic residents at the development. World Leisure managing director Simon Smith said: “We are extremely pleased to have been contracted to deliver this project as part of one of the most exciting developments in central London.”

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PROPERTY

January 2019

Award-winning Slater Gordon Solutions Motor moves home AWARD-winning business Slater Gordon Solutions Motor is relocating to new offices as part of an investment drive to cater for growing demand for its services. A total of 250 employees will be moving to purpose-built offices at Bickerstaffe House, on Talbot Road, Blackpool, from the company’s current base at Blackpool Business Park. Slater Gordon Solutions Motor partners with a number of major motor and insurance industry leaders. It helps tens of thousands of customers each year following road traffic accidents, guiding them through the claim process and ensuring they get back on the road quickly. Stuart Russell, chief operating officer, said: “This is fantastic news for our company and for Blackpool. We have been in Blackpool for 25 years and have a huge commitment to the town.

We are all really excited to be moving to a more central location and what this means for our future. "It is a welcomed move for our company and is another step in a £30 million investment programme that will ensure Slater and Gordon offers the UK’s leading claims experience to our partners and our own customers. It opens up many potential opportunities for us to expand our business further. This is a great end to 2018, a year which has seen the business grow and retain a number of its key accounts”. Slater Gordon Solutions Motor, which is part of the Slater and Gordon group, also recently scooped two prestigious Call North West Contact Centre awards for Customer Service Agent of the Year and Outsourced Contact Centre of the Year for the second year running.

David Whitmore, chief executive, of Slater and Gordon, said: “Our motor business, providing hire, repair management, rehabilitation and other expertise is central to the unrivalled range of services we offer to the thousands of customers following a road traffic accident. “Relocating to new state of the art facilities will give us greater ability to cater for the growing demand for our awardwinning services.”

New Lytham base as Firth Architects targets growth ARCHITECTURE practice Firth Architects has relocated to new office space at Jubilee House in Lytham to facilitate its plans for expansion. The firm’s move to the former Land Registry building, also the headquarters of accountancy service provider Danbro, coincides with the appointment of project manager Rob Haynes. With over 10 years’ industry experience, Rob joins from Manchester-based Bruntwood Estates where he held the position of senior building surveyor and project manager. A qualified chartered

building surveyor, he will be responsible for the delivery of projects from inception to completion, including monitoring costs and site progress while acting as the main client liaison. Award-winning Firth Architects was established in 2003 in Manchester before making the permanent move to Lytham 14 years ago. The RIBA and ARB registered Fylde Coast practice has a wealth of experience, having been involved in the delivery of a range of residential and commercial schemes, including office, retail and leisure projects, across the

North West. Joel Firth, director of Firth Architects, said: “We are a small but dynamic practice, and Jubilee House provides us with the flexibility to cater for a larger team as we look to expand, in addition to a well-rounded culture and wellbeing offering for our employees. Rob added: “This is a great time to be joining the Firth team, as we are currently involved in several exciting residential schemes and looking to expand the commercial side of the business. I am very much looking forward to seeing our new ideas come to fruition.”

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PROPERTY

Links Signs and Graphics signs up Mount Property Group in Liverpool

BLACKPOOL BASED Links Signs and Graphics has installed graphics at a key Mount Property Group development in Liverpool. The installation follows the Mount Property Group spotting Links’ high-quality work at a multi-million pound development across the road. Following an initial consultation, Links was

tasked with creating and installing graphics to the hoardings that surround the brand-new student accommodation development, Natex, taking four members of the Links team four days to fit the signage, despite tough weather conditions. Due for completion in 2020, Natex is a £43 million-pound student

development, comprising of 472 cluster units and 94 studio apartments. Carl Bennett, managing director, Links Signs and Graphics, said: “I am really pleased that we managed to pick up this job following Mount Property Group noticing our work from the adjacent development, it just shows our work speaks for itself. In December

2017, Links Signs and Graphics produced and installed over 150m of hoarding graphics to the construction adjacent to the Natex development site for Blackpool developers, Create Construction. “We spent a week manufacturing the signage, once artwork had been received. The signage is finished with anti-graffiti

laminate, so it can easily be wiped clean in the event they become dirty or marked with graffiti.” Michael Chrysokhou, managing director, Mount Property Group, added: “We found Carl and his team great to deal with and very efficient. We are extremely pleased with the Links Signs and Graphics’ installation.”