Business Manchester March 2019

Runway Visitor p25 Park to mark the 50th anniversary of Concorde’s first flight

p20

MANCHESTER M

200,000 visit Manchester for Year of the Pig March 2019

Manchester Arena welcomes 30 millionth visitor MANCHESTER Arena, the largest indoor arena in Europe, has welcomed 30 million visitors through its doors since its opening in 1995. Following the acquisition by its new landlord in 2018, discussions are now underway to ensure the arena remains a focal point at the heart of the city for years to come.

This comes as the venue embarks on a packed 2019 show schedule that will see 140 live event nights for the third year running – making it one of the top billed live venues in the world.

The SMG Europe managed and operated arena is expected to welcome 1.2million visitors through its doors in 2019 – a number that has steadily increased since its first year of

operation and places it right in the mix with the world’s leading indoor venues. Former Manchester City Council Chief Executive, Sir Howard Bernstein previously credited the arena as being a fundamental part of Manchester since its inception.

Commenting on the milestone, John Sharkey, Executive Vice President at SMG Europe, said: “Reaching 30 million visitors is a tremendous achievement, but not just for us. This represents every resident and business that make up this great city, as well as every artist that has graced our stage over the years.

“The arena’s impact on Manchester and its economy cannot be

underestimated. Global acts have driven visitor numbers from far and wide, in turn utilising the city’s hotels, visiting its restaurants, shops and other central leisure and tourist destinations. Vital to this has been the arena’s location in the heart of the city – served by unrivalled transport links – which truly sets us apart from other arenas of this size in the UK.” In its illustrious history, the 21,000-capacity venue has hosted some of the biggest names in live entertainment including U2, The Rolling Stones, Madonna and Pavarotti. In 2019, the arena will

welcome fan-favourites Andrea Bocelli, Hugh Jackman, Little Mix, George Ezra, Michael Bublé and Take That, who will be returning for the 44th time.

John continued: “There’s no doubt that we are in the midst of a hugely significant period in the arena’s history. We are fast-approaching our 25th anniversary in 2020, and we recently welcomed new landlords with an ambitious mindset that is aligned with our own. Look out for further announcements in the coming months that should prove really exciting for the city.”

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3

WELCOME

CONTENTS

...to the March 2019 edition of Business Manchester. In this issue, you will read about how BT has invested over a billion pounds in the North West economy and how Tackle4MCR raised more than £200,00 for Manchester's homeless.

You will also read about the Made in Manchester Award winners and how The Samuel James Group, publishers of Business Manchester, has teamed up with national media company, The Telegraph.

DIGITAL 6 CYBER SECURITY

8

EDUCATION 10 AWARDS 11 BUSINESS SUPPORT

12

INTERNATIONAL 23 ACQUISITIONS 24 TRANSPORT 25 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

26

APPOINTMENTS 32 PROPERTY 40

CONTACTS & CONTRIBUTORS Group Editor: Andy Mann 07951 731722 andy@thesamueljamesgroup.com Editor: Phil Ghayour 01772 364152 07825 884003 phil@thesamueljamesgroup.com Design: Robert Leach 01772 364150 / 07930 962609 robert@thesamueljamesgroup.com

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

Group Commercial Director: Sam Whitear 01772 364150 / 0758462676 sam@thesamueljamesgroup.com

This publication is produced by The Samuel James Group Ltd, Unit 6/7 Eastway Business Village, Fulwood, Preston PR2 9WT. Reproduction of the contents of this newspaper in any form is not permitted, without the permission of the publisher.

Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors and/or omissions in advertisements, information, photographs or illustrations. The opinions and advice in this newspaper do not necessarily express the view of the company. © 2019

www.businessmanchester.co.uk

Published by The Samuel James Group

4

March 2019

BT Group contributes £1.6bn to North West economy BT GROUP is responsible for generating £1 in every £105 produced in the North West’s economy, according to a recent independent report.

‘The Economic Impact of BT Group plc in the UK’ report, by Hatch Regeneris, shows that the communications company generated a £1.6bn contribution, expressed as “Gross Value Added” (GVA), to the North West economy during the 2017/18 financial year. The report estimates that the equivalent of 20,700 full-time jobs in the North West are supported through BT’s direct employment, its spending with contractors and suppliers and the spending of its employees.

BT Group directly employs 7,460 people in the North West, with a further 1,670 employed as contractors. It’s estimated that BT Group supports one in every 110 employees working in the North West’s private sector, reinforcing its position as one of the region’s leading employers.

The Group also spent nearly £416 million with suppliers based in the North West.

Across the UK, BT Group directly employed 94,800 people (FTE) and supported an estimated total of 290,000 full-time jobs. It also generated, in total, almost £23bn to the UK economy.

BT Group and EE are making major investments in the North West, bringing 5G to Manchester and Liverpool in 2019, building on major full fibre infrastructure already underway.

Tim Fanning, Director at Hatch Regeneris, said: “Our analysis underlines how vast BT Group’s contribution is to the UK economy, particularly across the nations and regions.

“BT Group is almost unique in contributing to the economies of virtually every community across the UK, supporting significant levels of GVA spend and employment opportunities per region.”

The report from Hatch Regeneris comes in addition to a recent report by PWC which highlighted that BT Group is the 5th highest tax contributor in the UK among FTSE 100 companies, and the highest contributor among non-financial companies. The PWC report also identified BT as the largest capital expenditure investor in the UK. Kieran Charleson, BT Group Regional Director, North of England, said: “Few companies play as important a role in the North West as BT Group.

Not only does BT connect friends, families and businesses across the UK, but we also make a significant contribution to the region’s economy.

“We’re proud to be one of the region’s largest private sector employers and investors. Our investments, including the latest 5G mobile technology through our mobile network EE, will ensure the UK continues to be one of the world’s best-connected economies.

“With 9,130 people directly employed in the region, spending their salaries in local businesses, as well as regularly volunteering on activities such as our Barefoot tech literacy programme in schools, our people are at the heart of the community.”

Damian Waters, Director, CBI North West, added: “BT is a major employer in the North West and has a big impact on the economy and jobs. It is good news to see this significant presence in the region continuing.

“BT Group’s investment in the area not only means a boost to the local economy, but also to skills and high quality jobs, including recruiting apprentices and graduates. BT’s investment in the fastest networks and latest technology is also vital for the region. Being connected is essential for our businesses and for improving quality of life in all our communities.”

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6 DIGITAL

GM digital and tech firms sprint to their growth ambitions DIGITAL, creative and tech businesses from across Greater Manchester recently took part in a two-day Growth Sprint to help them find new ways to grow.

Delivered by Jonathan Courtney, CEO of AJ&Smart, the event at Gorton Monastery focused on building a culture of continual innovation and experimentation among entire business leadership teams.

The Growth Sprint is part of Amplify, a nine-month growth programme from GC Business Growth Hub, with partners Form.

It was targeted at SMEs in Greater Manchester’s digital, creative and tech sectors that have significant potential to scale and create new products, services and jobs in the local economy.

Richard Jeffery, director of business growth, GC Business Growth Hub, said: “The Growth Sprint has been an excellent example of trying to find new and effective ways to help businesses tackle barriers to growth.

“The Sprint helps businesses to get their ideas moving as quickly as possible, generating momentum

for the full senior leadership team and embedding a mentality of continual growth. The energy in the room was palpable, and we can’t wait to see businesses continue their journey on the programme over the coming months”.

“The Growth Sprint has proved a great way for us to tackle some of our challenges as a business quickly and immediately,” said Jaime Gee, managing director at Jam, one of more than 70 participating business leaders. “The momentum it has given us is invaluable.”

Northcoders makes seven new appointments across business MANCHESTER based Northcoders, the coding bootcamp for the North, has added seven new members of staff to its teaching, talent and partnerships, marketing, mentoring and finance teams.

The new tutors are: Tom Simmons, Vel Georgieva and Alex Cox. All three are qualified coders and will be responsible for delivering Northcoders’ curriculum, mentoring students on a group and one to one basis, as well as researching and staying abreast of industry news, technology trends and changes in tech.

Aaron Ward has joined Northcoders as its new talent and partnerships manager.

Aaron is an experienced IT recruitment specialist who has worked solely within the .Net software development arena across the North West of England for the past seven years.

Maddison Griffiths is the firm’s new onboarding mentor and will be helping people to get onto Northcoders’ full time and precourses.

Helen Batra-Squires has been appointed as a designer and will be working closely with the marketing

team on all aspects of Northcoders’ external and internal communications.

Helen originally studied graphic design in London before setting up boutique agency Hels Bells Design alongside running a greeting cards publishing company and wedding stationery design business.

The final new starter is Charlotte Prior, finance manager. Charlotte will be working with the senior leadership team on the financial management of the business.

Vel Georgieva said of her new role: “Northcoders is a fantastic organisation and I am delighted to be part of it.

It offers an in-depth approach to learning that is not just based on how to simply code, but how the code works under the surface. Offering that level of insight is both refreshing and exciting as we help to create the coding stars of the future.”

Chris Hill, founder of Northcoders, added: “The success of our business is built on the experience and expertise of our team, so we are delighted to welcome these new recruits.”

DIGITAL

GBM Digital Technologies injects £100,000 into online retail store

GBM Digital Technologies, nationwide provider of IT services and solutions for businesses and schools, has recently invested over £100,000 into the launch of an online offering for its existing retail store, Sync.

For the last 25 years, GBM Digital Technologies has been helping businesses to increase productivity and reduce business costs through the implementation of the latest technology.

GBM Digital Technologies decided to expand on its foundations by launching its retail offering to bring its technology expertise to more people than ever before. GBM Digital Technologies is an Apple Authorised Reseller, Apple Authorised Service Provider, Apple Authorised Training Centre and Apple Solution Expert for Education, which means it is accredited by Apple themselves to sell its products and services.

Although Sync was only launched last March in Manchester, GBM Digital Technologies, which has twice

been featured in the Tech Track Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in the UK, has already invested more than £500,000 into the retail offering.

Both Sync and GBM Digital Technologies have been born and grown out of Greater Manchester, a city that was recently announced as the UK’s tech capital outside of London, and fittingly, Manchester was also the birthplace of modern computing.

Chris Costello, Director of Sync and GBM Digital Technologies, said: “For the last 25 years, we’ve been transforming businesses with technology to improve productivity and reduce their business costs.

“To really enhance our services, we knew we needed to give everyone the chance to access tech, not just business owners. The result is the launch of a fully accessible e-commerce website, which allows us to take Sync to the next stage by communicating and providing services and products directly to a UK audience.”

Vodafone switches on 5G at Manchester Airport

VODAFONE has switched on 5G at Manchester Airport, with other travel locations set to follow suit.

In a UK first, holidaymakers and travellers getting ready for the halfterm getaway tested the new, superfast network by downloading a film or TV box set using 5G. The testers downloaded content up to four times quicker than over 4G, providing them with more than enough entertainment for their flight.

Manchester Airport is the first of several travel hot spots where Vodafone is trialling 5G. Vodafone 5G masts are now in place at the airport, forming part of the 5G trials taking place across the city.

Passengers at Manchester’s Terminal One visited Vodafone’s special 5G ‘blast pod’ and were given a free Entertainment Pass on streaming service NOW TV. Airport users could download an episode of the new series of Tin Star in 45 seconds and the whole series in six minutes and seven seconds, up to four times faster than over 4G, which took 26 minutes and eight seconds.

At these speeds, Vodafone’s 5G network will allow a home Wi-Fi like experience, on the go.

5G will enable holiday makers and business travellers to load a web page

7

or a video instantly and, thanks to super low latency, people will be able to seamlessly stream a movie over 5G without buffering or lag.

Nick Jeffery, CEO, Vodafone UK, said: “We all love to catch up on our favourite TV shows, play games or finish off some work when travelling.

5G, with its fast speeds and quick response times, will make that quick and easy, even in busy locations. We are proud to be the first provider to bring 5G to an airport and will be adding more major travel hotspots to our 5G network throughout the year.”

Brad Miller, Chief Operating Officer, Manchester Airpor, said: “We are delighted to support Vodafone’s 5G trial at Manchester Airport. As we progress with the design and delivery of our £1bn transformation programme, we are constantly exploring how new innovations and technology can be applied to improve the airport experience.

“As a business with a strong presence in our surrounding community, Vodafone was a natural partner for a trial project like this and we look forward to collaborating with them again in the future.”

8 CYBER SECURITY

Making Tax Digital: The perfect opportunity to boost your digital resilience An overview by Kevin Porter, Business Development Director, Xcina THE current HMRC initiative, Making

Tax Digital (MTD), is a key part of the Government’s plans to make it easier for individuals and businesses to pay the correct amount of tax and keep on top of their affairs.

At the same time, HMRC wants to become one of the most digitally-advanced tax administrations in the world. A major element of the strategy is to use the Making Tax Digital initiative to introduce fundamental, digital-led changes to transform tax administration, so that it is more effective, more efficient and easier for taxpayers to use.

measures in place to protect their business.

We believe the new MTD legislation will help businesses focus on digital resilience, and provide them with a unique selling point when they talk to customers and suppliers.

For example, are you and your accountant confident that your business is digitally-resilient and cyber secure, and not open to a breach? The last thing any company wants is to introduce a virus or malware whilst using the MTD system, or to be the victim of a ransomware attack.

Do you have robust resilience processes and policies in place to minimise and mitigate As a result, HMRC has introduced a new digital the impact of any cyber-attacks? Avoiding process whereby VAT-registered businesses any potential regulatory, reputational and (with a taxable turnover above the VAT financial impacts for breaches is of paramount threshold) must use the MTD service to keep importance for any company – whatever the records digitally and use software to submit size. their VAT returns from 1 April 2019. However, following feedback from clients about business Be prepared readiness and cyber security issues, HMRC has Achieving true digital resilience means asking delayed the mandatory introduction until 1 some probing questions in terms of how your October 2019, testing the service with a pilot organisation operates – for example: scheme until then.

• How robust are the cyber security processes and policies deployed by your own business?

Delay or not, this new legislation presents both a challenge and an opportunity - ensuring your • How cyber secure is your supply chain, company has the digital resilience to comply. including your accountant? Do you ever ask them? How do they demonstrate this?

What is digital resilience?

• Conversely, how do you demonstrate your In a nutshell, digital resilience means own digital resilience to your stakeholders and compliance and business continuity - having your supply chain, if asked? the right technology, policies and staff training • How trained and informed are your staff in in place to ensure you can monitor, detect and understanding the key areas of cyber security? respond to cyber threats and data breaches – and the operational nous to run your business in a • Are you up to date with the latest regulations digital world. and policies on data governance, including How to become digitally-resilient We all know that cyber-security incidents, attacks and data breaches are increasing significantly, meaning more and more companies are recognising the importance of strong cyber security processes and governance.

But more than that, every organisation now needs to have the best resilience policies and

GDPR and UK DPA 2018?

• Do you have processes in place to deal with, and respond to, numerous subject access requests (SAR), in an accurate yet costeffective way?

• How prepared are you for a possible meeting with the ICO, if you were to have a breach?

Answers to all these questions will be readilyavailable and will roll off the tongue – if you’re serious about digital resilience.

We have the solutions Xcina is part of the AIM-listed digital resilience company, Shearwater Group PLC. Our mission is to help companies embed the people, processes, technology and policies that are the keystone to making a company digitallyresilient.

We provide digital, operational and regulatory services in support of end-to-end resilience and risk management for SMEs. We help companies prepare for increasing legislative and regulatory demands on how data is held and processed, using tailored digital strategies and a range of services, including consultancy, e-learning training, ongoing monitoring, analysis, threat detection, and response to cyber threats.

We support resilience and business continuity using our proprietary capability maturity model, which focuses on the three core pillars of people, process and technology.

Specifically, to ensure that your staff are fully aware of the risks and their responsibilities when it comes to security, we offer the following help: Cyber Awareness courses: a one-hour e-learning module for your staff GDPR Staff Awareness courses: a 40-minute e-learning module for your staff GDPR Implementation Practitioner courses: a blended solution to equip staff with GDPR knowledge

Threat detection and monitoring services • Do you use multi-factor authentication to add We always love to talk digital resilience, so if an extra layer of protection to your user name you think we can help, please contact Andy on 07951 731722 and passwords?

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10 EDUCATION

Graphene Oxide slide coating makes living cells and tissues more visible UNIVERSITY of Manchester researcher, Dr Thomas Waigh, Senior Lecturer in Biological Physics, has developed a technology that will make living cells and tissues more visible during analysis.

The addition of a GO (Graphene Oxide) coating to microscopy slides improves both fluorescence imaging contrast and resolution.

Dr Waigh commented: “My team has developed technology which uses monomolecular sheets of GO to coat microscopy slides, thereby eliminating background fluorescence and improving the resolution of images.”

“It’s an important breakthrough as GO is cheap and easy to manufacture in large

quantities. The cost to coat each slide is estimated to be 12 pence.

“The GO coatings are biocompatible and remove background fluorescence from non-specifically bound dyes such as in live cell imaging.

And the GO coatings can be manufactured to cover different shapes and sizes of slides.”

Other applications include imaging autofluorescent proteins to remove background fluorescence and lining of flow cells in flow cytometry to reduce background signal from non-specific dye binding.

Dr Waigh added: “The GO layer is followed by a polymer coating to adjust the distance between the GO and the sample.

The GO quenches fluorescence for any non-specifically bound dye while the polymer layer allows the stained or labelled sample to fluoresce. The quenching of non-specifically bound fluorophores means the GO coated slides are able to eliminate background fluorescence.

This technology therefore greatly enhances the contrast and resolution of the microscopy images.

“The GO layer has already been tested with a range of regularly used fluorescent stains and calculations show that it will work for all dyes.”

The University of Manchester’s technology

transfer office, UMI3 Ltd, is seeking to license or assign the technology to microscopy equipment manufacturers, companies working in fluorescence microscopy, life sciences diagnostics companies, scientific instrument manufacturers and optical slide manufacturers.

11

AWARDS

Made in Manchester Awards 2019: winners revealed

THE Made in Manchester Awards, in association with Future pro-manchester recognised 13 outstanding individuals in hugely competitive categories.

The awards celebrated talent under the age of 35 in Greater Manchester at a glitzy ceremony at The Emirates Old Trafford and were once again hosted by BBC Sport presenter, Will Perry.

Winners included leading professionals from Grant Thornton, EY, BNY Mellon, BDO, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, The Alchemist, GCA Altiuim, seventy7, Eversheds Sutherland, One, Freshfields and Bring Digital.

As well as the Entrepreneur of the Year gong, Bring Digital’s David Ingram took home the most prestigious award of the night. The Chairman’s Rising Star Award is awarded to the person the judges were most impressed by.

David has grown Bring Digital, a boutique digital marketing agency based in Ruth Fairhurst, Eversheds Sutherland Bolton to a 32-strong team, running digital marketing campaigns for household names like DWFitnessFirst, Wynsors World of Shoes, The PGA, Cotton Traders MARKETING PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR and Formula 1.

Claire Keegan, One Marketing Communications Full list of winners: CORPORATE FINANCIER OF PROPERTY PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR ACCOUNTANT OF THE YEAR THE YEAR Mark Smith, GCA Altium Michael Beatty, Malcolm Hollis sponsored by Four Recruitment DIGITAL, MEDIA OR CREATIVE Sakib Isa, BDO TALENT OR RECRUITMENT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR sponsored by ThisisLDA sponsored by RADA Business Megan Capper, Bryan Cave Leighton Sian English, seventy7 Sophie Boden, Freshfields Bruckhaus Paisner ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Deringer BANKER OF THE YEAR sponsored by Brewin Dolphin The Made in Manchester Awards Sarah Cooper, BNY Mellon David Ingram, Bring Digital had a record year, with the most BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GRADUATE OF THE YEAR competitive judging process in its PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR Jujhar Dusanj, EY seven-year history. sponsored by Yorkshire Bank LAWYER OF THE YEAR sponsored The highly commended individuals Georgia Zaryckyj, The Alchemist

by Hall Brown on the evening were: Sam Davies,

Nine ‘Golds’ for the Havas Lynx Group

CREATIVE campaigns to raise awareness of an incredible milestone in modern HIV treatment and the danger of a second heart attack has helped a global communications agency achieve its best ever year at the PM Society Awards.

Havas Lynx Group, which comprises Havax Lynx, Union, Faze and H4B, secured a record-breaking nine Gold Awards at the prestigious ceremony held at the Grosvenor Hotel in London.

The Gold Awards were for six cutting-edge campaigns for a host of global clients, including ViiV, Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron, Teva and Astra Zeneca.

These were followed up by further recognition, with the agency also securing a further 11 Silver

Cowgills (Corporate Financier of the Year); Lily Shippen (Entrepreneur of the Year); Brittany Brown, Grant Thornton (Graduate of the Year) and Emma Ware, Open Money (Marketing Professional of the Year).

Future pro-manchester chair, Doug King acknowledged the great achievements of the awards’ finalists on the evening: “I have to pass on huge congratulations to all of our shortlisted nominees this evening, as getting this far is already a great achievement.

“The Made in Manchester Awards repeatedly welcome the finest talent our region has to offer. In this time of rapid growth for our city, it’s no surprise that we’ve had this record year.” and Bronze titles covering Disease Awareness (Patients), Corporate Communications and Events and Exhibitions.

“Last year, we were recognised in eleven different categories so to almost double that in 2019, especially when you consider the scale of competition and standing of the PM Society Awards,” explained Tom Richards, Chief Creative Officer of Havas Lynx Group.

“It really shows the important role creativity has to play within pharma and health communications and how a strong creative idea has the potential to drive that all important messaging to make a difference to the lives of patients. It’s a really exciting time to be a creative working in pharma.”

12 BUSINESS SUPPORT

Social Communications appointed by The National Lottery and First Ark Group MANCHESTER-HEADQUARTERED Social Communications has been appointed to deliver a major video project on behalf of The National Lottery, and to lead on external PR and communications requirements for the First Ark Group, of which the core business is the housing association, Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT).

The £2million turnover agency will draw upon its integrated expertise and disciplines

across PR, design, marketing communications and digital, to respond to two distinct briefs.

Agency founder and Group MD John Quinton-Barber, said: “Telling powerful stories is our lifeblood, so to have our video capabilities recognised by a major national brand is a real defining moment for this agency. We’re incredibly proud that The National Lottery has appointed our team following a very competitive tender process

involving multiple national agencies.

“Additionally, our business’s foundations are built upon PR expertise in UK housing and infrastructure. It’s fantastic to see First Ark Group recognising our sector specialisms and the strength of work that we deliver for housing clients across the country. We’re looking forward to working with both organisations.”

First LIFE Expo in Manchester flies high CREATED by Coral Horn, founder of North West based Pink Link and The Enterprise Vision Awards, the first LIFE Expo was held at the fantastic Concorde Conference Centre, beneath the wings of the mighty Concorde. The LIFE Expo was an Expo for “Ladies Inspiring Future Enterprise”, whether they wanted to start a business, grow one or find out

how they can change their lives for the better.

Coral Horn said: “This year, Pink Link celebrates its tenth anniversary and the EVAs have grown to be the largest awards for women outside of London The LIFE Expo was a natural progression for supporting women in business, since it is relevant for all ladies who know they want to do more

with their lives.

“The combination of motivational speakers, banks who could fund expansion plans or social media experts to help grow an online presence, was ideal for the busy woman, who could find it all out under one roof, in one day at The LIFE Expo.”

Rebecca Jane, who created ‘The

Lady Detective Agency’ said: “‘A few years into my business journey, I knew I wanted to expand but didn’t know which route was best. I spoke to advisors, like the Business Growth Hub. who exhibited at the Expo.

I decided to franchise my business model and saw my ‘good little business’ become an international success.”

13

BUSINESS SUPPORT

The Samuel James Group forms partnership with The Telegraph THE Samuel James Group and its media brand, Business Manchester, has been selected by the UK national newspaper, The Telegraph, to be its regional media partner for a series of events, including the Festival of Business Manchester.

The Festival of Business Manchester will host over 250 North West SMEs at the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel, Manchester on 4 June 2019.

As part of the partnership, the first event saw Business Manchester promoting the free to attend Business Digital Transformation Forum on 26 February 2019 at The Landing, Manchester, in association with Vodafone.

The Forum explored how

business leaders in the North West can effectively implement new technology and processes, and ensure that their businesses are well equipped to thrive in the digital economy.

Opening with a debate from trusted industry voices, local business leaders and Vodafone experts, attendees also had the opportunity to drill down into key topic areas and gain practical advice in their choice of exclusive workshop. Both sessions provided actionable takeaways and solutions to help power businesses.

Luke Toudup from The Telegraph, said: “We are very excited to announce our media partnership with Business Manchester. The quality of their

business content, coupled with their impressive reach across the North West region, sets the partnership with our Manchester events up for success!”

Added Sam Whitear, Group Commercial Director, The Samuel James Group: “This is a tremendous honour for us to be asked to partner with a media organisation of the standing of The Telegraph.

“Business Manchester was only launched in September 2018 and it illustrates the great progress we have made to establish a good news business newspaper in Greater Manchester and the level of support we have received.”

Media Partners of #GMBExpo2019

17th MAY 2019 - 9am til 3pm USN Bolton Arena

Greater Manchester’s Largest Business Expo is FREE to attend.

14

BUSINESS SUPPORT

March 2019

Plastics design, recycling and sustainability the focus at PDM 2019 A HOST of new features and a strong focus on plastics design, recycling and sustainability have been confirmed for the PDM 2019 exhibition and conference, being held at Manchester Central Convention Complex on 11-12 June, by organisers, the British Plastics Federation (BPF) and Crain Communications.

The two-day PDM conference is set to offer insights, thought leadership and topical overviews to all those involved in the design, manufacture and recycling of plastics in the UK. Topics will include: the impact of Brexit on UK plastics manufacturing, plastics and the circular economy, design for plastics, plastics in packaging and plastics in automotive.

Panel discussions will examine recycling and sustainability as well as marine litter and the wider image of plastics. Technical subjects covered in depth will include the latest on thermoplastic composites, 3D printing, Industry 4.0, automation and innovation in rotational moulding.

New show features for 2019 include a dedicated plastics design hub, offering help with all aspects of plastic product design and innovation, including recycling, recyclability and sustainability as well as material selection, prototyping and manufacturing methods. Four new “Meet the Experts” stands will offer advice to individuals and businesses from expert plastics industry organisations: • Design for Recyclability provided by RECOUP • Polymer Advice provided Plastics Consultancy Network (PCN) • Energy Advice provided by BPF Energy • Funding Advice provided by UK Circular Plastics Network (UKCPN) The BPF’s Business Support Network pavilion will also offer visitors a wide range of business advice including legal, HR, health & safety, taxation, insurance and pensions. Many of the BPF’s member groups, covering diverse specialities within the UK plastics industry, will also be holding their group

meetings at PDM 2019.

The free-to-attend PDM event will showcase leading companies from across the plastics materials, recycling, machinery, toolmaking, moulding, rapid prototyping and ancillary sectors. Local exhibitors include Axion Polymers, which produces high quality recycled polymers, aggregate and solid recovered fuel materials from its processing plants in Manchester and ADM Precision Tools, producers of highly technical precision tools for the plastics moulding industry.

Business Manchester and the Manchester Polymer Group are among leading industry organisations supporting PDM 2019, as well as the Plastics Consultancy Network (PCN), the PMMDA, Scottish Plastics & Rubber Association (SPRA), Composites UK, PlastikCity, RECOUP, and Smithers Rapra.

More information on PDM 2019 and free visitor registration, please go to www.pdmevent.com

15

ADVERTORIAL

Time to get ahead with cloud telephony SINCE 2000 Logical has been serving organisations across the UK with voice and data communications from our Northern headquarters.

It’s with a great sense of pride that this year we get to demo our products to local companies at the Northern Business Expo.

What’s even better is that we will be showcasing products from one of our closest technology partners – NFON. The company has recently expanded from its London HQ to join the Northern Powerhouse, with

offices Manchester Business Park.

NFON’s key product offering, Cloudya, its Cloud Telephone System, is already going down a storm with Northern companies that are investing in digital transformation projects and encouraging their staff to work flexibly.

Put simply, just as cloud computing has changed the world of data, it is now doing the same with voice.

The cloud makes it possible to streamline delivery of data and voice and crucially

enable organisations to have what they really want – one supplier for their voice and data. Business communications have never been this diverse or easy to manage.

If the promise of cost savings and productivity benefits isn’t enough, we are also going retro on our stand and running a Take-Your-Pick game, whereby you’ll be given a key to open a box of your choosing – many of which will have Amazon vouchers inside. Over the course of the conference we will be giving

away £1000 worth of Amazon vouchers – as they say, you have to be in it to win!

In contrast to the nostalgic game shows of the eighties, here at Logical we understand that the new world of work is changing fast, driven on by the millions of Millennial and Gen Z professionals entering the workplace. As businesses become increasingly agile we need to step away from legacy and a step toward the next wave of technology, and the wave after that, all of which are underpinned by cloud services, like NFON’s.

We are really looking forward to showing off our extensive product portfolio, which includes all complimentary services such as mobile and internet access, at such a huge-profile event. If you’d like to hear more about how Logical can provide a ‘one stop solution’ for all your voice and data needs (whilst winning a prize or two) then please head over for a chat (and a demo) at our stand A34.

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BUSINESS SUPPORT

March 2019

Businesses could benefit from millions more in R&D tax relief BUSINESSES in Manchester could be claiming millions more in research and development (R&D) tax credits as more than eight in 10 companies across the city are eligible, according to tax relief specialists Catax.

A massive 84 per cent of companies in Manchester have developed new products or business processes in the last two years, spending an average of £209,758 on these innovations, research shows1.

This means these companies are in line for valuable R&D tax relief that the Government provides to encourage innovation.

But so far only 48 per cent of all Manchester firms report having claimed the tax credits which means at least 43 per cent of eligible firms could start claiming, boosting their revenue by tens of thousands of pounds every year.

Manchester business executives believed the average value of an R&D tax relief claim in the

first year to be just £19,118 when the true figure is more than double that, at £49,000 for firms in all sectors nationwide. R&D doesn’t have to have been successful to qualify and claims can be backdated at least two years.

Companies in Manchester have previously missed out on R&D claims either because they don’t think they qualify or they incorrectly believe that it is expensive and time consuming and ‘would not know where to start’.

This is despite 76% of businesses in Manchester being aware that companies can claim R&D tax relief if they develop a new product or service, according to the Censuswide survey.

Across the UK, the number of firms that have ever claimed is 37%, which puts Manchester ahead of the national average.

Mark Tighe, CEO of Manchester-based tax relief specialist Catax, commented: “There is a great opportunity here for Manchester’s business sector

to really cash in on its impressive investment in innovation by ensuring all eligible companies claim what they are due in R&D tax credits.

“With average annual R&D claims sitting in the tens of thousands, this is a major untapped revenue stream for many Manchester companies and could make a huge difference to their bottom lines.

“There is still a misconception among many companies that R&D is all about science laboratories and test tubes and is not related to their own work. We’d like to see this change.

“Companies in Manchester invest hundreds of thousands each year on developing new products and services so business executives looking to improve margins and efficiencies should take a proper look at their R&D tax relief entitlements.

“If all this money were reinvested in the businesses to fuel further growth and innovation, it could really supercharge the whole city’s economy.”

Former SAS Commander Colin Maclachlan to give talk to business leaders FORMER SAS Commander and TV star Colin Maclachlan is heading to Manchester, giving a talk to business leaders, coders and tech lovers, as part of a debate series hosted by coding school Code Nation.

The event will be on Monday 11th March at 6pm at the Code Nation Manchester campus. Guests on the night will be treated to a special talk from Colin – who will share his fascinating experiences as an SAS commander, elaborating on his mental resilience as well as his new careers in charity work, TV and video games.

Colin, has appeared in Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins and Channel 5’s Secrets of the SAS. He will also ignite the interest of the audience’s coders and gamers, thanks to his gaming world motion capture roles in Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne, Red Dead Redemption II and L.A. Noire.

Colin explained: “I’m thrilled to be a part of this event; it’s just great to be out there talking, and sharing what I’ve been through, and how I focus on getting the best out of myself each day.

If that can inspire attendees in their own pursuits, whatever they may be,

then that’s great.

“I’ve witnessed and been a part of things that could break you, but I’ve channelled those experiences into making me a stronger person mentally and adapt that strength into the variety of career paths I thoroughly enjoy. I really want to convey that on the night.”

Colin expects the Q&A will be about his appearances in video games.

“My career’s taken quite a turn and it’s a complete novelty being part of Rockstar Games. I’m sure coders in the room will want to talk about a lot

of that which will be fun too.”

Colin also works alongside Calum MacLeod, a former soldier with Kings Own Scottish Borders, on the charity they set up together. Who Dares Cares is a not-for-profit charity which they developed to support people from all walks of life who suffer with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Andy Lord, founder and CEO of Code Nation, concluded: “Colin’s a real highlight in our annual events programme and we cannot thank him enough for giving this talk.”

A passion for the details, every step of the way. Central to who we are.

Be it a meeting for 10 or a conference for 3,000, you can expect the same outstanding experience.

Welcome to the venue that’s ready to deliver your best event yet.

To find out more, call 0161 834 2700 or visit manchestercentral.co.uk

18

BUSINESS SUPPORT

THE British Council chose Manchester Central as the perfect place to promote British Education to representatives from around the world.

Selected due to its location and extensive transport routes in and out of the city, the ‘International Education Services Conference’ saw over 550 delegates welcomed to the iconic venue, with visitors travelling from as far and wide as Kenya and Dubai.

Held across the venue’s Exchange Rooms

March 2019

British Council welcome international visitors at Manchester Central

and purpose-built auditorium, the main hall was configured to create a clear divide between meeting and exhibition space, with the organisers also taking advantage of the venue’s smaller meeting rooms for more formal one to one meetings.

With many delegates visiting the city for the first time, the event revolved around a strong social programme, with a civic reception held at Manchester Art Gallery, followed by a gala dinner underneath the wings of Concorde; located at the nearby Manchester airport.

Angie Dickinson, Client Relation Lead for The British Council, said: “Manchester Central was the perfect venue for us. It’s right in the heart of the city and has fantastic conference facilities professional, modern and timeless – a bit like Manchester itself !

"From the beginning, nothing was too much for the team. Our event had a short lead time, but the team were high professional, dynamic and flexible, no matter what we asked of them. They have a vast amount of experience within the industry with one common goal – customer satisfaction.”

Manchester United partners with Remington for multiyear, global partnership SPECTRUM Brands Holdings, Inc. and Manchester United have jointly signed a multi-year, global partnership under which Spectrum Brands’ iconic Remington personal care brand will become the Manchester United Football Club’s first official Electrical Styling Partner.

Brands’ broad portfolio, Remington has been integral to the world’s grooming and hair care routines for generations.

Established in New York in 1937, for more than 80 years the Remington brand has been inventing, reinventing and evolving to create a range of grooming and hair care products at the The partnership, cutting edge of design, which includes fashion and technology. both the men’s and As part of a women’s teams, will major multi-channel see Remington and the activation, Remington club working together and Manchester United to deliver high-impact will collaborate on marketing campaigns a campaign which to Manchester United celebrates individuality and the power of and Remington fans inner confidence. alike.

The partnership will One of the largest underpin and amplify brands in Spectrum

Remington’s “The Story of You” campaign, which champions the brand’s mission to help customers build confidence to be themselves, recognising that a person’s journeys, experiences, values and aspirations make up who individuals are as people. The partnership will seek to inspire and enable more people to “Get Your You On”, motivating them to have the confidence to make their mark in everything they do.

Manchester United’s Group Managing Director, Richard Arnold, said: “Remington is one of the most famous and established brands in

their field and they are a great addition to our family of commercial partners.

Our partnership is not only about bringing our fans high-end styling products, it aims to inspire and encourage individuality though powerful activations and campaigns with both Manchester United’s men’s and women’s

team.”

Tim Wright, Vice President for Appliances at Spectrum Holdings, commented: “Our partnership with Manchester United provides a fantastic opportunity to showcase the quality and versatility of Remington products with passionate fans of the world’s biggest and most revered

sports brand.

“We have an impressive record of breaking the mould with our product innovation worldwide, and we feel this will be translated in our partnership with Manchester United, and in particular our involvement with both the men’s and women’s teams.”

BUSINESS SUPPORT

19

GradTouch secures £150,000 funding injection from GC Angels GC ANGELS, the angel investment arm of the Growth Company, has supported Manchester based Gradtouch with a funding boost of £150k to expand their innovative graduate job matching business.

This latest round of funding takes the total investment in GradTouch to £1.2m and is set to double the size of their Northern Quarter based team to 32, taking the company to a projected £1.6m turnover next year and £3.2million in 2020.

Launched in 2013 by founders Zac Williams and Joe Twigg, GradTouch is a job matching business that enables employers to attract the best graduate talent. A hybrid of an advertising agency and job site GradTouch features employer landing pages, in-depth reporting, candidate management and feedback from job seekers.

GradTouch has grown significantly in the last three years and now works with over 200 employers

to promote and distribute their career opportunities to its network of over 200,000 graduates registered with the site in the UK. With around 50,000 vacancies available on the site at any time, Gradtouch will be using the latest round of funding to double the size of their team, with key target hires of people who are highly expert in the recruitment and graduate sectors.

The most recent equity investment loan will be used to build out the GradTouch offering overseas, developing new projects in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

GradTouch co-founder Zac Williams said: “We know that students today graduate with skills and talents far beyond their degree grade and that employers are looking past CVs and much more at getting the right kind of talent for their business.

“Using the funding from GC Angels and our

other investors over the past two years, we have been able to build GradTouch into a unique business that develops a real cultural fit between companies and candidiates. We’re looking forward to being able to invest in some of the best recruitment professionals to take our offer even wider and to reach ever more graduates and talent hungry employers.”

Darrren Gowling, Senior Investment Director at GC Angels, said: “GradTouch is a great example of the type of innovative and growth focussed tech business that GC Angels was designed to support.

“Having worked with Zac and Joe since their first funding round, we’re now supporting them with equity from both our own fund alongside other investors including Maven and Fig (First Investment Group)to ensure that they continue to put Manchester on the map, with a business that really is changing the world of work.”

20

BUSINESS SUPPORT

200,000 visit Manchester for Year of the Pig MANCHESTER’S popular Chinese New Year celebrations proved to be a big hit again this year with more than 200,000 people turning out to enjoy the city’s festivities to see in the Year of the Pig. The long weekend of celebrations organised by Manchester’s Business Improvement District, Manchester BID, FCAM (Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester) and Manchester City Council brought in an additional 30,000 visitors compared to an average weekend in the city, with 80,000 (up 5% YoY) enjoying the legendary Dragon Parade and celebrations in Albert Square, Chinatown and the city’s retail

district.

Taking centre stage at this year’s celebrations was ‘Piglet’, a large-scale piglet sculpture created by UKartist Alex Rinsler, which took up residence in St Ann’s Square. Gaining thousands of social media fans, Piglet proved to be a real draw for visitors, who were encouraged in the spirit of giving associated with Chinese New Year to donate to homelessness fund Big Change MCR and the Wai Yin Society, one of the largest BME community centres in the UK. Celebrations in Albert Square were bigger than ever before extending across three days from Friday to Sunday for the first time, with visitors

able to try their hand at Chinese arts & crafts, sample traditional Chinese cuisine from food and drink stalls, visit the funfair and enjoy the legendary Dragon Parade and firework display.

Thousands of red lanterns brightened the city’s streets, Exchange Square was home to a 50ft Golden Dragon, while Manchester’s stores and restaurants got into the spirit of things hosting a variety of events, promotions and giveaways.

For the sixth consecutive year, Manchester BID commissioned illustrator Stanley Chow to create the striking Year of the Pig artwork used across the marketing campaign for the celebrations.

Jane Sharrocks, General Manager of Selfridges Exchange Square and Chair of Manchester BID, said: “Manchester’s Chinese New Year celebrations have firmly established themselves as one of the biggest and best in Europe. Each year, together with FCAM and Manchester City Council, we try to bring something

March 2019

new and engaging to the event and this year’s Piglet sculpture certainly achieved that!

“Year on year we’re seeing more and more businesses, retailers and F&B operators across the city getting involved in the celebrations. And with record numbers of visitors, it really demonstrates the positive impact of collaboration when it comes to delivering successful city centre events.”

Cllr Pat Karney, Manchester City Council’s City Centre spokesperson, said: “Chinese New Year is always a wonderful spectacle. That image of a giant pig taking over St Ann’s Square is something that will stay with me for some time, and the Dragon Parade is a highlight every single year.

“The thousands of people who visited the city centre over the weekend, completely absorbed in the Chinese customs, produce and arts on offer, are a testament to the importance of the celebration.”

BUSINESS SUPPORT

ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 set to boost Manchester economy

THIS summer’s Cricket World Cup will significantly boost Manchester’s hospitality economy.

That’s according to Adrian Ellis, the Chairman of Manchester Hoteliers’ Association (MHA), who said he is delighted

that the Old Trafford stadium will host six world cup matches, more than any other host city or town.

The 2019 Cricket World Cup will be held from May 30 to July 14.

Among the matches to be held in

Manchester are India versus Pakistan, Australia and South Africa, England’s game against Afghanistan as well as one of the semi-finals.

Adrian said the increase of visitors to Manchester because of the Cricket World Cup will coincide with huge music events.

“The 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will ensure that there is a boom in the number of people visiting Manchester during the early part of this summer,” said the MHA chair.

“It will be a wonderful tournament and there’ll no doubt be a carnival atmosphere across the city when India play Pakistan at Old Trafford on Sunday, June 16 and England match up against Afghanistan on Tuesday, June 18 at the same stadium.”

“With Manchester

21 favourites Courteeners playing at Heaton Park, Metallica performing at the Etihad Stadium and Sounds of the City at Castlefield Bowl all taking place during the Cricket World Cup, I predict that hotels, bars and restaurants will be very busy. It will be another great summer for Manchester with so many other events taking place too.”

Speaking at an MHA general managers meeting Michael Gaughan, Transport Manager for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, said: “This is the world’s greatest cricket celebration and Manchester is our biggest city in terms of number of matches being played there.

“It’s going to be a very busy city with all the games at Old Trafford already sold out.

“If you like cricket this is definitely the year for you.”

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INFLUENCING With our members, we meet and brief senior international, national, regional and local politicians and decision- makers, influencing public sector agendas to promote business-friendly policies. We promote healthy private-public sector partnerships and work with the various levels of government to create an environment of co-operation and cohesion.

GROWING Downtown in Business is a champion for the private sector. We are an influential, independent business membership organisation that has a diverse, dynamic, entrepreneurial and growing membership – with excellent connections across public sector agencies too. It’s not what you know, it’s who we know.

COMMUNICATING We share intelligence and research with our members through our events, briefings, reports, and bulletins. We help you to raise the profile and awareness of your business through regular bulletins that are circulated to a database of over 18,000, and our monthly digital magazine DM. There are also opportunities for you to promote and market your products on our website www.downtowninbusiness.com and on our social media platforms Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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22

BUSINESS SUPPORT

Assetz Capital lends £700m to UK businesses MANCHESTER-based Peerto-peer lender Assetz Capital has lent more than £700m to SMEs and property developers, as the appetite for alternative forms of finance continues to rise across the UK. Since launching in 2013, the lender has provided alternative finance to businesses and property developers in the UK to support both current and future projects for continued growth.

Assetz has enjoyed substantial progression, lending over £200m in the eight months since it reached its milestone lending total of £500m back in June 2018.

Recent highlights include Winrise One Ltd, for the construction of a purpose-built student accommodation scheme in Nottingham.

Assetz is also working with intermediaries and borrowers across other products such as bridging and refurbishment loans. A recent example is Thorndyke Developments Limited, where £340,000 was advanced for the purchase and renovation of Ty Nel Trefengan Farm.

Assetz’s strong performance has coincided with the development of the peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sector in the UK. This form of finance has grown rapidly in recent years. According to the Peer-to-Peer Finance Association (P2PFA), the sector’s contribution to the UK economy approached nearly £11 billion in September 2018.

Stuart Law, Chief Executive at Assetz Capital, commented: “In recent years, peer-to-peer finance has become more popular with UK SMEs, acting as a viable alternative to bank loans. The flexibility of our products has been recognised by both businesses and their intermediaries, which has led to the remarkable growth we’ve achieved in the last eight months.

“Whilst this is an impressive milestone, there is still plenty of capital to invest. We’re constantly looking to develop our product range to match the changing needs of business owners, and we will remain committed to serving ambitious SMEs and property developers that struggle to obtain funding through traditional means.”

March 2019

Brand new manufacturing facility for heatrod elements SPECIALIST heating company Heatrod Elements has successfully completed a £500K move to a brandnew manufacturing facility at Top Deck Industrial Estate in Bolton; a move which will accommodate the company’s ambitious plans for the future.

The move to new premises will play an integral part in Heatrod’s plans to develop a more extensive scope of industrial products and solutions, whilst continuing to service its traditional domestic market.

Heatrod is a member of The Backer Group and part of the global NIBE Element Group, one of the world market leaders in the design and manufacture of components and solutions for intelligent heating and control.

Simon Ellam, Managing Director, said: “When I joined the company in 2013, I sat down with the team from the head office in Sweden and we set out a very specific strategy to target the industrial market and grow this area of the business. We have already made huge strides in this direction, but our new premises provide us with a fantastic base from where we can develop even further.”

Christer Fredriksson, Chief Executive added: “As a group we have 60 factories all over the world, but during my 27 years with NIBE, there have been very few times we have been able to open a brandnew factory. With new technology and under Simon’s leadership we are in a great position to take Heatrod to the next level and when it comes to the industrial market, I believe this allows us to consolidate our position as the leading manufacturer of electric heating products

in the UK”.

Heatrod’s capabilities in the industrial process heating sector have been further bolstered over the last two years with the strategic acquisitions of Ormandy Electric and Braude, both of which operate in specialist process heating sectors The move has also helped to streamline Heatrod’s manufacturing processes, reduce waste and improve energy efficiency, providing a much more cost-effective base for production.

The team identified the new premises at Seddon Developments’ Top Deck Industrial Estate as a good fit for the company’s environmental requirements.

With solar power and a low carbon footprint, it forms part of Heatrod’s drive towards a more sustainable and environmentally sound production facility.

Simon Ellam, Managing Director of Heatrod Elements, said: “To move an entire manufacturing facility is a huge task so it has been a very challenging 12 months. But thanks to a fantastic team of people, who have put in a lot of hard work, we have achieved something incredible. We’ve already had a great start to 2019, but it’s all about productivity so there’s always more work to do! We’re looking forward to a great future.”

23

INTERNATIONAL

India’s Hero Cycles UK operation announces ambitious new export campaign MANCHESTER-based Indian-owned Hero Cycles has announced ambitious plans to unleash an export drive, in partnership with Cheshire ecommerce giant The Hut Group, for its new bike brand, Insync.

Hero, the world’s biggest bike maker by volume, launched the new Insync range of 75 bikes for the UK market in May 2018 at Old Trafford football ground.

Sreeram Venkateswaran CEO of Hero’s UK subsidiary Avocet Sports, said: “This is one of Hero Cycles boldest ever moves, to grow its international footprint into Europe, “Together with The Hut Group, we have developed the Insync website to be specially optimised to operate across Europe which represents a new and potent market for Hero

ATG Access, the world’s leading innovator of road blocker, bollards and vehicle barrier systems, has bolstered its international credentials by winning the Rising Star accolade at the Greater China Awards.

Open to companies in North West England, the Greater China Awards recognise organisations that have made a significant contribution to developing business or innovative partnerships within mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan. The Rising Star Award is specifically awarded to businesses which have had innovative and successful partnerships with Greater China for less than three years.

ATG Access fought off an eightstrong shortlist to win the much acclaimed accolade, with judges praising the team’s willingness and eagerness to

Cycles. This move shows Hero Cycles’ ambition to totally transform a UK company in Avocet, into a pan-European operation. It has taken a lot of careful planning to arrive at this point. Having invested in our Manchester Global Design Centre and recruited a team of top bike designers, we now have a range of high-quality bikes offering great value to customers in UK and Europe. Plus, we have The Hut Group’s formidable digital know-how to sell and promote the bikes into Europe online.”

Mr Venkateswaran said Hero Cycles’ investment in the UK is a strong example of how Indian and UK companies can join forces sharing expertise and resources.

“India and Britain share a common heritage, culture and language, “That bond makes doing business so much easier. Our venture in Britain is very much in line with what the UK Government wants to see post-Brexit, more UK and Indian companies working together targeting international trade. In terms of India, our model fits with Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign, as the know-how, design and marketing have come from the UK but the actual manufacturing will take place in India. In addition, all the bikes bought via the Insync website will be distributed worldwide from UK warehouses, before eventually moving to warehouses closer to the core markets.”

ATG Access cements international success with Greater China Awards win

forge strong business relationships and fully submerse itself in the territory.

As well as its high profile work in Shanghai.

To overcome cultural and linguistic barriers, ATG spent many years making regular trips to the region, before taking the decision to hire a native Chinese speaking professional to fill the role of South East Asia Export Manager. Appointing someone who has a deep-rooted understanding of this region has enabled ATG to create stronger communication networks and relationships with its exporting partners.

As such, ATG Access has had a long standing relationship with both Northern and Southern China with its first project – securing the National Exhibition Centre in Beijing with

non-impact tested, automatic bollards – taking place in 2010.

ATG Access was also called upon to better protect The Bund, one of Shanghai’s busiest tourist, after the tragic event on New Year’s Eve 2014, where 36 people sadly lost their lives.

The high profile security project involved ATG deploying eighty-six of its SPTTautomatic, crash test bollards at seven different road junctions.

ATG was presented with the prize at an awards ceremony that took place at the Department for International Trade North West in Manchester.

Gavin Hepburn, director at ATG Access, said: “We are delighted to have won the Rising Star Award.What really sets us apart is that we pride ourselves on doing business face-to-face. We don’t just want to arrive in a new

market, we want to fully understand it from a cultural, linguistic and business perspective, which for us means getting out there and putting people on the ground.

“Obtaining the contract in Shanghai did not come easily – it required a considerable amount of groundwork from our Asian manager, as well as our UK sales team who ventured out to the city to meet with stakeholders and build up the essential relationships needed to win the project.

“As part of our continued international growth strategy, we aim to build on our relationships with countries across the globe, so to have an award tied to such an important market for us gives ATG Access the sort of recognition we need to take the business to the next level.”

24 ACQUISITIONS

Dept acquires e3creative e3creative, one of Manchester’s most successful digital agencies has joined international digital agency, Dept.

Founded in 2010 by Jake Welsh, e3creative works with forwardthinking brands to create refined, impactful and inspiring digital experiences.

With e3creative joining, Dept UK strengthens its service portfolio to match client demand, namely creative and digital marketing. e3creative will be able to leverage Dept’s large scale to

service its clients with the additional technology that Dept specialises in, combined with its enriched data and intelligence services.

Jake Welsh, founder of e3creative, said: “It’s a rare and welcomed opportunity to unite with a larger team that echoes our agency values, culture and drive to continue our growth momentum. Joining Dept is an exciting next step for e3creative; our vision since day one has been to become the world’s leading integrated

digital agency and this partnership only furthers that pursuit.”

Managing Director of Dept UK, Jasper van de Luijtgaarden, added: “2019 is an important year for Dept in the UK; we’re looking to expand and complete our service portfolio in order to provide our clients with full-service capabilities. We’re one step closer to achieving our growth ambition with e3creative joining and we look forward to combining our strengths to better service our clients.”

“Since 2016, Dept has grown into an international agency with over 1000 employees, spreading over eleven countries, with a turnover of 130 million euros,” said Dimi Albers, CEO of Dept, “We are striving to become one of the leading digital agencies worldwide in the next few years; an ambition we believe is fully achievable by expanding our regional services and on-boarding exciting agencies, such as e3creative.”

25

TRANSPORT

Runway Visitor Park to mark the 50th anniversary of Concorde’s first flight THE Runway Visitor Park at Manchester Airport will play host to a special event in March to celebrate 50 years since Concorde first took to the skies.

The Aviation Society at Manchester Airport has organised the unique event on March 2, 2019.

It will see afternoon tea served under the wings of British Airways’ flagship Concorde – G-BOAC. As well as a tour of the aircraft, visitors will be able to enjoy a Q&A with special guest Fred Finn who flew on Concorde more than anyone else – over 700 times since it first took to the

skies in 1969.

To mark the occasion, the Concorde on display at the park has been modified to enable its famous drooped nose to move once again. Film footage of Concorde’s first flight and its arrival into Manchester will be also be aired.

Rob Pattison, Runway Visitor Park Manager, said: “Concorde is such a unique and well-loved aircraft. We’re incredibly lucky to have the flagship of the Concorde fleet, Alpha Charlie, housed at the Runway Visitor Park. Our visitors have been enjoying tours of this magnificent aircraft for

fifteen years and I’m excited to mark the jubilee anniversary of Concorde’s first flight with this unique event.”

Peter Hampson, Chairman of The Aviation Society, said: “This will be the first time Alpha Charlie’s famous drooped nose will be brought back to life for the public since the aircraft landed at Manchester. A raffle will take place at the event, the winner of the star prize will sit in the Captain’s seat and operate the actual controls of the nose – something not many people can say they’ve done.”

26 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Mason Advisory receives Excellence in Wellbeing recognition MASON Advisory, independent IT consultancy, has been recognised by Great Place to Work as a centre of Excellence in Wellbeing.

The new UK-wide award recognises organisations with excellent wellbeing practices.

The accreditation tracks six key areas that drive a culture of wellbeing including, work environment mental and physical health, financial security, interpersonal relationships, work-life balance, and fulfillment at work.

Mason Advisory is continually investing and implementing improvements in all these areas to build a culture of wellbeing. This has optimised employee experience and ensures that engagement and productivity are sustainable in the long run. It has introduced a new scheme to enable staff to buy back five days extra holidays per year, and offers extra days off for time served. It has initiated flexible working and an enhanced benefits package including a cycle

PROUD TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE:

scheme, childcare vouchers, and additional bonuses.

Steve Watmough, Mason Advisory CEO, said: “In the last 12 months we have implemented new strategies and activities to support the wellbeing of our employees. Looking after our team’s wellbeing means making their lives as stressfree as possible so they can concentrate on the job in hand, helping them to lead healthier, happier lifestyles.

“We’re in a period of growth with new projects and clients coming on board and we understand the pressures this can put on our team, so as a company we are continuing to listen to them and ensure their wellbeing is at the forefront.

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Seddon turns up the heat to support homelessness charity FAMILY-run construction firm Seddon has pledged their support to the Greater Manchester’s Mayor’s Homelessness Fund with a showstopping firewalk.

The event, which took place at the company’s Bolton headquarters, marked the launch of Seddon’s yearlong commitment to raising vital funds for the charity.

Siblings Jonathan Seddon, CEO of Seddon; Jamie Seddon, managing director of Seddon Developments; and Nicola Hodkinson, director of business services, walked barefoot over redhot wood embers to kick off the company’s Ministry of Fun initiative, which is a calendar of fundraising events.

The trio led a 50-strong team over the 800-degrees Fahrenheit heat, with Dave Bagley – managing director of charity Urban Outreach – also braving the searing temperatures. Also in attendance was the Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Elaine Sherrington.

Jonathan Seddon, CEO of Seddon said: “It’s fantastic to see the whole business get behind this great cause and take part in the firewalk today. To have over 50 employees, including myself and my siblings, take part is a real testament to our commitment to help eradicate homelessness in the Greater Manchester region.”

The Homelessness Fund joins the Christie NHS Foundation Trust as one of Seddon’s chosen charities for 2019, with the company having already raised more than £800,000 for

the renowned cancer centre over the last 22 years.

Now, Seddon is rallying its team – including those at head office and on-site – to back Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s pledge to eliminate the need for rough sleeping across the city region by 2020.

Tim Heatley, chair of at the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity, said: “Seddon is well known for its creative and inclusive fundraising activities.

“The firewalk is a great example of how businesses like Seddon can raise funds for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s charity, whilst also raising awareness among its colleagues and customers.

“Homelessness is a growing challenge for the city region and we’re proud to be a part of the efforts to find a solution. Additionally, cancer is a subject that affects us all and requires wide scale collaborative action – we’re confident that we’ll hit our fundraising target of £1 million for the Christie by 2020” AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING A GOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN

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Vincent Kompany's Tackle4MCR testimonial dinner raises £216,000 FAMOUS faces and business leaders gathered in Manchester in a bid to tackle rough sleeping and homelessness.

Vincent Kompany’s Tackle4MCR testimonial dinner saw £216,000 raised during a historic evening that saw the city truly united – with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both in attendance.

Noel Gallagher performed in front of business leaders, the Manchester City first team, United players and politicians, as did the UK’s number one beatboxing band Duke and multi

award-winning international hip-hop star DJ Yoda.

Football broadcaster Gary Lineker hosted the event at Hilton Manchester Deansgate Hotel. Prizes won during the Tackle4MCR testimonial dinner included a five-a-side game against the Class of 92, a signed Noel Gallagher guitar, a box for 10 at Vincent Kompany’s testimonial game and access for four people to every one of SJM Concerts big hitting gigs this summer including Take That, Spice Girls, Courteeners, Muse, Metallica, Kylie Minogue and many more.

The funds will now go to the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s ‘A Bed

Every Night’ campaign.

It comes after new Government figures showed the first significant reduction in the number of rough sleepers in Greater Manchester for eight years.

Manchester City and Belgium captain Kompany, paid tribute to the unity and strength his adopted home city continues to show in the fight to end rough sleeping and homelessness.

“The Tackle4MCR testimonial dinner exceeded all my expectations,” said Kompany. “To see so many people come together to raise vital funds was heart-warming and showed the strength and solidarity we will need to

continue tackling what is a complex issue.

“Sleeping rough on the streets is something no one should have to do which is why we created the social movement and fundraising vehicle that is Tackle4MCR. “I cannot thank enough the people who have helped us achieve what we have so far. There’s a long way to go but I know these funds raised during the dinner will go directly to Andy Burnham’s ‘A Bed Every Night’ campaign, which is already positively impacting people’s lives.”

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March 2019

JMW signs Armed Forces Covenant and welcomes new Ambassador JMW Solicitors has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, cementing its support for the Armed Forces Community, and welcomed Corporal Andy Reid as its Ambassador.

Corporal Reid lost both his legs and his right arm after stepping on an IED whilst serving with the 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment in Afghanistan in 2009. He astounded people with his recovery, spending just two weeks in hospital before returning home.

He will work with JMW to encourage soldiers to seek help following injury, ending the ‘man-up culture that continues to dominate, and raising awareness around advice, support and securing financial payments.

JMW established its Armed Forces team in September 2018, spearheaded by Partner, Clare Stevens. Clare specialises in advising and supporting injured members of the armed forces and their families.

Andy said: “I’m very passionate about helping injured men and women to get what they deserve from the MoD – people are missing out all over the place, particularly when it comes to financial support and compensation.

“The armed forces is obviously a tough environment, and rightly so, but that shouldn’t prevent soldiers from accessing the help that they need following injury – people need to know about time limits and other stipulations; there are too many smoke and mirrors.”

“I’m looking forward to working with Clare and the team at JMW to raise awareness about

the help and support that services personnel are entitled to, and preventing people walking away with less than they deserve.”

Serving in the British Armed Forces was a childhood dream for Andy, who continues to reflect positively on his time in the forces and the fantastic opportunities and experiences it allowed him to experience. A testament to his attitude in overcoming adversity, he doesn’t let the severity of his injuries stop him from living his life with a positive mind-set.

His new role as Ambassador to JMW Solicitors complements other partnerships with Step Forward Homes, the ABF Soldier Charity and Morson International – part of his

continued commitment to supporting armed forces personnel.

Clare Stevens, Partner at JMW Solicitors, said: “We’re delighted that Andy has agreed to become our ambassador as we look to support more armed forces personnel to secure the help, advice and financial support they need following injury. Andy is hugely inspirational and I’ve no doubt that together we’ll be able to help many more people.

“Too many men and women are dissuaded from seeking compensation they’re entitled to, or pressured into accepting smaller payments than they should be receiving – it’s just not good enough.”

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HURST raises over £12,000 for MedEquip4Kids

A MANCHESTER charity which helps to save and improve the lives of sick children has received a boost of more than £12,000 from accounting and business advisory firm HURST. MedEquip4Kids, which provides hospitals and community health teams with paediatric medical equipment and facilities not available from limited NHS resources, was HURST’s charity of the year for 2018.

Staff raised a total of £12,250 and their efforts have helped fund an upgrade to the children’s emergency department at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, including colourful new seating to brighten the waiting area and new equipment to diagnose and assess patients’ conditions.

HURST’s donation has also funded additional resources for children and adolescent mental health teams, including reference books for parents, picture books for children, stress toys and games and diagnostic kits.

Ghazala Baig, chief executive of MedEquip4Kids, said: “We are so grateful to the team at HURST for their enthusiastic fundraising. They were a pleasure to work with and the commitment they show for supporting local charities is inspiring.”

Among the activities undertaken by HURST staff were the Three Peaks Challenge, a ‘dress up as a kid’ day, cake sales, car washing and valeting, and the firm’s annual corporate football tournament.

HURST chief executive Tim Potter, said: “Knowing that the money we’ve raised helps to improve the level of care which children receive locally is really fantastic. We’re so grateful to everyone who has helped us raise this phenomenal amount.”

AJ Bell staff raise £17,000 for good causes HUNDREDS of underprivileged families and homeless people across Greater Manchester have benefited after kind-hearted staff at AJ Bell raised £17,000 and completed over 200 hours of volunteering to help good causes during 2018.

Their efforts supported Cash for Kids, Wood Street Mission and the Booth Centre.

Nearly 40 employees at AJ Bell,

an investment platform which has its headquarters in Salford Quays, headed to warehouses in the run-up to Christmas to deliver presents and to sort gifts from well-wishers for Wood Street Mission, which supports low-income families in Manchester and Salford, and Cash for Kids, which helps sick and under-privileged youngsters.

AJ Bell staff raised £17,000

during 2018 for the Booth Centre in Manchester, which helps people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to find accommodation, education and training.

Michael Summersgill, chief financial officer at AJ Bell, said: “Many of our staff value the opportunity to be able to give something back to the community and we are pleased to give them the chance to do this in various

ways.

“Wood Street Mission and Cash for Kids share a common purpose of supporting families and children, helping them improve their life chances.

“Many of our staff have given up their time to provide practical help to both charities and many more have raised funds for other excellent causes through activities in the office.”

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March 2019

Manchester charity makes significant donations

A WHOLE host of North West charities are to benefit from significant five figure donations.

Manchester-based Red Sea Pedestrians, a charity which raises valuable funds for organisations throughout the region, celebrated its 10th anniversary by donating more than £100k to 10 charities.

Charities such as Wood Street Mission, The Toy Appeal, Park Lane School, Ronald McDonald

House, Beechwood Cancer Care, Centre Point, Teenage Cancer Trust, Grace’s Place, Henshaws Society for the Blind, Manchester and Reuben’s Retreat all received the funds at a recent special anniversary event.

Trustees of Red Sea Pedestrians like to choose charities who they know will be close to everybody’s heart and whose need for support is the greatest.

Antony Wagman, chair of trustees of Red Sea Pedestrians, said: “There is no better way to celebrate the Red Sea Pedestrians’ significant milestone than to provide vital support for other local charities.

“Each year we receive tremendous support and generosity from our supporters, it is greatly appreciated and without their help and donations, we wouldn’t be able

to assist fellow charities across the North West.

“For our 10th anniversary, we opted to do something different and help out 10 different organisations from across the region. It brings a smile to my face knowing that we’ve made significant donations to 10 charities, each of which is such a worthy cause.”

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Duerr’s makes sweet contribution to Birkenhead charity BRITAIN’S oldest family-owned jam maker, Duerr’s, has donated hundreds of jars of preserves to support Feeding Birkenhead’s community shop.

The Manchester-based manufacturer has donated 300 jars of its jams, marmalades, honey and peanut butter to Number 7, a Feeding Birkenhead citizen’s cafe and supermarket.

The non-profit food shop aims to help build the community’s resilience against hunger, utilising good quality food supplies to enable individuals and families on low incomes to purchase food at heavily reduced prices.

Mark Duerr, managing director of F. Duerr & Sons said: “We are thrilled to be supporting Feeding Birkenhead’s citizen’s shop, it’s such a fantastic organisation and the work they do is

vitally important to the local community.

“Our family business is committed to supporting families across the North West and we are pleased to be able to donate our products for all to enjoy.”

Kay Penkethman, manager of Feeding

Birkenhead’s Number 7 supermarket said: “We’re delighted with the donations from Duerr’s. The product range and variety is the perfect addition to our store and we have no doubt that they will be enjoyed by families across Birkenhead.”

Join the Dots completes charity mission raising £22,000 MANCHESTER-headquartered consumer insight agency Join the Dots raised a total of £22,000 through charitable initiatives in 2018, all of which will be donated to its chosen charity partner, Wood Street Mission.

Over the course of 12 months, the company’s employees took part in a range of individual and team fundraising activities from long distance running – including 10K and half marathon distances, to completing the National Three Peaks’ Challenge, which combines the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland.

Closer to home, the company hosted a range of events such as regular pub quizzes, bake sales, a mini golf tournament and a book club.

Join the Dots’ in-house creative team also created a mindfulness colouring book to mark the business’ 20th anniversary, featuring illustrated portraits of the staff.

The Face Book was sold for £10 – every penny of which went towards the total sum raised for the independent charity.

Wood Street Mission is a children’s charity that helps children and families living on low incomes in Manchester and Salford, providing support with day-to-day needs from clothing to baby equipment, as well as educational costs and book provisions to help improve the lives of those in need.

Des Lynch, manager at Wood Street Mission, said: Thanks to Join the Dots’ fundraising efforts, we will be able to help families with those day-to-day essentials we all take for granted – clothes, bedding, toiletries and so on, as well as continuing our work with Book Clubs, which last year saw over 500 children receive thousands of books and days out during the school holidays. It’s our goal to encourage a love of reading and all the positive outcomes this activity has for their ongoing education.

“The money raised by the Three Peaks Challenge team has allowed us to kit out nearly 180 children as part of our SmartStart project to help them fit in at school and concentrate on enjoying learning, rather

than worrying about not having the right uniform. Because of all the toys and gifts donated to our Christmas Appeal, we were able to provide 3,900 children with toys to open on Christmas Day. Helping to create lovely memories at Christmas is something no child should go without.”

Quentin Ashby, CEO of Join the Dots, said: “It’s a remarkable effort from everyone involved and we’re extremely pleased to have raised an amount that will make a real difference to the charity. It’s been a pleasure to do what we can to help the valuable work that Wood Street Mission’s team carries out 365 days a year. We are so thankful for their work and the commitment to the families that they support every single day.”

32 APPOINTMENTS

Senior promotions at legal recruitment business with sights on global growth DOUGLAS Scott, the Manchesterheadquartered legal recruitment firm, has announced a new Managing Director with current MD Kathryn Riley taking a CEO role.

Gina Swaim-Rutter, who joined Douglas Scott in November last year, has been promoted to Managing Director.

Following another 12 months of growth, the business will look to international markets for expansion, as well as consolidating its growth across the UK. Jon-Paul Hanrahan has been promoted to Executive Director after 16 years with the business and will spearhead the expansion into international markets. Craig Heywood has also received a promotion

as he takes on the position of Associate Director, forging further growth of the successful national insurance and personal injury team he has built.

Founded in 2004

by Kathryn Riley, the legal recruitment expert works with regional, national and international law firms across all disciplines and specialisms. It also has a specialist ‘in-house’ desk, finding the most talented legal counsel for a wide range of companies, from listed businesses through to Silicon Valley technology companies.

Kathryn Riley, CEO, said: “As we enter our fifteenth year of business, we’ve got the strongest team we’ve ever had, at every level and across the

teams. With Gina’s appointment alongside Jon-Paul and Craig going from strength-tostrength, it felt like the right time to make these promotions which will perfectly position us to achieve our ambitions over the year ahead and beyond. 2019 is set to be a great year and I look forward to announcing new initiatives in coming months.”

Managing Director, Gina Swaim-Rutter added: “Douglas Scott is a business that never stands still and I can hardly believe the progress we’ve made in the past three months.

I’m confident that the best is yet to come and am relishing the opportunity my new role presents.”

Manchester law firm appoints Legal Director ALTRINCHAM-based litigation-specialist, FS Legal, has expanded its team with the appointment of Christine Newton as Legal Director.

Christine has joined from the UK home delivery and collections business, Arrow XL, where she spent three years in the role of General Counsel. Speaking about Christine’s appointment, Julia Norris, Partner at FS Legal, said: “Christine has many years’ experience of running complex commercial disputes from inception through to trial. She is particularly well-versed in commercial contract disputes and alternative dispute resolution processes such as mediation.

"Christine is a great lawyer with an impeccable reputation and is a fantastic addition to our growing team. She will really strengthen our commercial litigation offering

for clients.”

A specialist firm of awardwinning litigators, FS Legal advises high net worth individuals and corporate clients in commercial business and private investment.

During her career, Christine has acted for clients in a variety of sectors, including logistics and warehousing, construction, engineering, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.

She is experienced in several practice areas, including construction and engineering, shareholder disputes and insolvency related cases.

Christine said: “FS Legal is a dynamic law firm that is involved in high profile multi-millionpound litigation cases. The firm’s grown rapidly in the last year and it is an exciting place to be. I felt that it was the right firm for me to join.”

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PM+M’s Helen Clayton announced as new treasurer and trustee of The Met

JLL strengthens valuation and lease advisory teams HELEN Clayton, partner at the chartered accountancy, business advisory and wealth management group PM+M, and head of the firm’s Bury office, has been appointed as the new treasurer of The Met.

The Met is a performing arts venue in Bury which houses two theatres, its own recording studio and rehearsal spaces as well as a popular restaurant and bar. It is operated by Bury Metropolitan Arts Association and part funded

by Arts Council England and Bury Council.

The role will see Helen work with The Met’s board of trustees and senior team. Her core responsibility will be to oversee all financial aspects of the organisation to ensure it is fit for purpose and investing for the future. Helen is a personal donor to The Met and PM+M became a corporate sponsor in 2017.

Helen said: “I am incredibly excited about joining the board of trustees and working closely with such a talented group of individuals who all really care about the work The Met does, what it stands for and the benefits it brings to the local community. I’m now looking forward to adding value, helping to enhance its reputation in Bury and beyond and also working to secure more personal and corporate sponsors.”

Victoria Robinson, CEO of The Met, added: “We are delighted to welcome Helen to The Met. Her exceptional skills and experience in finance are the perfect addition to our board of trustees. PM+M has been a keen supporter of The Met, and we know that Helen, as a local resident and a regular attendee of our shows, will help the organisation to keep improving.”

JLL has made two new senior hires in its Manchester-based valuation and lease advisory teams.

Philip Corrigan has joined as an associate director in the consultant’s valuation advisory team. Philip joins from Knight Frank with 10 years’ experience specialising in the residential valuations sector. His appointment is set to strengthen JLL’s development and mixed-use valuation capabilities and he will work with clients on schemes including Circle Square, St John’s and Great Northern.

JLL’s Manchester commercial valuation team comprises 13 consultants making it one of the largest of its kind outside of London.

Tim Luckman, director, valuation advisory at JLL, said: “Manchester has an exceptionally active property development market. This is

translating into demand for a variety of specialist valuation services and a wealth of opportunity for our team as a result.”

Meanwhile, Jonathon Powers has been appointed as an associate director in JLL’s lease advisory team, where he’ll be providing clients with consultancy on lease structures, rent reviews and renewals. Jonathon joins from commercial property agency GVA with 14 years’ experience working across a range of sectors.

Clients of JLL’s lease advisory business include the Department for Work and Pensions, major retailers and a range of independent property companies and occupiers in the North West.

David Lathwood, lead director at JLL, said: “Jonathon and Philip each bring a wealth of experience to our specialist teams, and will help us to deliver expert consultancy to our roster of international, blue-chip clients.”

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Mitchell Charlesworth strengthens corporate recovery and insolvency team

APPOINTMENTS MANCHESTER accountancy firm Mitchell Charlesworth has bolstered its corporate recovery and insolvency team with the appointment of Tim Brock.

Tim has more than sixteen years’ experience in restructuring, accelerated mergers and acquisitions and insolvency across a variety of sectors including retail, education, charity, manufacturing and property. A chartered accountant and insolvency practitioner, Tim qualified with KPMG and has undertaken roles in industry in strategic management, cost reduction and business partnering. He joins as an assistant manager in the firm’s Manchester office.

Jeremy Oddie, partner and head of the corporate recovery and insolvency team at Mitchell Charlesworth comments: “As a firm we are focused on continually investing in our team and recruiting the best talent we can to ensure we continue to deliver the highest-quality service to our clients. Tim’s track record and broad expertise make him an ideal fit for the team.”

Commenting on his new role, Tim said: “Mitchell Charlesworth has a well-established and highly regarded corporate recovery and insolvency practice and I’m looking forward to working with the team to help organisations experiencing underperformance, financial challenge or distress to find practical commercial solutions.”

Newgate North makes two new appointments to the Manchester team NEWGATE Communications has announced the appointment of two new members of staff following a series of client wins and growth of existing accounts.

Jessica Beckett has joined the Northern Quarterbased agency as Senior Consultant, bringing with her several years’ experience in public and media relations.

Formerly a journalist at the Manchester Evening News, Jessica spent seven years reporting on communities across Greater Manchester. She has worked in communications since 2015, advising clients in a wide range of industries including packaging, the

food supply chain, environmental and outdoor sector.

Tom Jones has also joined the Manchester office as Account Executive. He brings experience from both PR and journalism, having previously worked for a multi award-winning PR firm and as a freelance journalist across multiple titles.

Newgate North specialises in engagement, public relations and solving tough communication challenges for public, private and charitable sectors.

Its portfolio of clients includes award-winning property developers Capital & Centric, National Grid and land company, The Peel Group.

Zoe Ensor, Partner at Newgate North, said: “We are delighted to start the new year welcoming some sparkling new talent to Newgate as we continue to grow and expand our offer. Clients want a professional and rounded service from their agency with innovation and delivery of great results at the heart of their campaign and our professional and experienced team is perfectly placed to do just that in 2019. ”

March 2019

Milk Jnr’s & Kidworks promotes Royston Scott to Procurement & Logistics Director

MILK Jnr’s & Kidworks, the Manchester headquartered agency which specialises in creating engaging kids activity packs for some of the world’s biggest family brands, has promoted Royston Scott to Procurement & Logistics Director.

Royston has worked at Milk Jnr’s & Kidworks since its inception in 2010.

His new role will see him head up all the procurement and logistical aspects of the business including the tendering of projects and liaising with its supply chain – from initial briefing all the way through to the manufacturing process and fulfilment.

His remit includes dealing with factories and production suppliers across the UK, Europe and Asia as well monitoring product safety legislation and scheduling to ensure every pack is safe for children to use and is delivered to clients on time.

The agency’s client roster includes the TUI Group, Oman Air, the National Trust and Etihad Airways.

Royston said of his promotion: “I’ve been part of the Milk Jnr’s & Kidworks journey since the start so this promotion means a lot – especially as I am now part of the executive management team so I will play a key role in fulfilling our objectives of driving the business on to the next level.”

Zoe Telfer, Client Services Director, added: “Royston is an integral part of the business so his promotion is hugely deserved and recognises the value he adds to our clients and team.”

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Corporate commercial duo join Browne Jacobson to bolster health team BROWNE Jacobson has expanded its health practice with two new hires, Christian Dingwall and Rebecca Hainsworth. They will be based in Manchester, growing the team there to 27 lawyers, and work for clients nationally.

With over 30 years’ experience in the healthcare sector, Christian Dingwall joins the firm as a partner. Christian specialises in corporate commercial law, NHS governance, regulation and compliance, with a particular focus on advising NHS bodies on organisational and service transformation.

Also joining the team is corporate and competition lawyer, Rebecca Hainsworth.

Previously a solicitor at Hempsons, and an in-house lawyer at NHS regulatory body NHS Improvement, Rebecca has a breadth of experience advising NHS bodies, and public and private sector organisations, on a range of competition and merger control matters. She has advised on a series of mergers, including the establishment of East Suffolk and

North Essex NHS Foundation Trust as a result of the merger of the former Colchester and Ipswich trusts.

The appointments follow a record year for the Manchester health team, after delivering 600 per cent growth in fee income since its launch in 2013.

Led by partner Amanda Callaghan, the specialist team advises on a broad range of clinical negligence, regulatory, criminal and inquest matters for the private and public sectors.

The team’s strong reputation for advising health and social care providers, commissioners and regulators has contributed to its significant growth. The team now acts for NHS England, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust; Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust; Bolton NHS Foundation Trust; The Priory and Care UK, amongst others.

Amanda Callaghan, health partner and head of the firm’s Manchester office, said: “Our health team continues to grow at an exceptional rate, and the addition of Christian and Rebecca, who have

both been at the helm of major UK-wide NHS transactions, further signals our commitment to building our North West practice.

“Healthcare continues to be a core focus of the firm, and it is an area in which we thrive. Having a strong health practice alongside an equally impressive social care practice is a real strength, giving us a distinct advantage in advising clients delivering integrated care projects. We are seeing a consistently high demand for our services from NHS bodies, local authorities and major independent sector providers, so will continue to grow our offering to match.”

Christian Dingwall said: “It’s an exciting time to be joining Browne Jacobson’s health team. The team is already at the centre of landmark projects across the North West, such as the development of an integrated healthcare model in Manchester, and nationally. I look forward to further developing its reach at a time when healthcare models are undergoing major shifts, creating many windows of opportunity.”

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March 2019

Dept names Dimi KPMG grows Albers as Global CEO financial services team with new Manchester partner AS part of its continued growth, international agency Dept has announced that Dimi Albers will lead the role of Global Chief Executive Officer. This is a new and pivotal position overseeing Dept’s rapid expansion across the globe.

Over the past twelve years, Dimi has taken on various roles in the agency including founding its Amsterdam office in 2011 and undertaking daily management with Frank Schmid of Dept’s founding agency TamTam in 2015. Frank will be working alongside Dimi in the role of COO.

In response to the appointment, Paul Manuel, Chairman of Dept’s Board said: “Dimi is one of a kind.

He has a deep understanding of our market and a huge drive to serve our clients in the best way possible. Having been with our agency for over twelve years, he represents both our culture and driven nature.”

Dimi Albers, Global CEO, said: “By giving clients access to specialised digital teams that combine data, creativity and technology, Dept is developing rapidly from its current position as a top-3 European player to a leading global digital agency.

“We firmly believe that our ‘new

kind of agency’ approach can benefit brands immensely, as Dept clients receive an integrated one-stop-shop with simple structures, speed, clarity, and personal contact.”

It was a strong start to 2019 for Dept in the UK with the acquisition of e3creative, one of Manchester’s most successful digital agency, cementing its UK headquarters in the northern city with a talented team of 140 craftsmen. Additionally, Dept launched its UK Commerce division (formerly known as BE EXCELLENT – Germany’s leading Salesforce Commerce Cloud implementation partner). Dept also launched a new digital teams service offering organisations a flexible team of proven experts to accelerate and deliver digital transformation projects.

Managing Director of Dept UK, Jasper van de Luijtgaarden added: “2019 is an important year for Dept in the UK; we’re looking to expand and complete our service portfolio in order to provide our clients with full-service capabilities. We’ll be focusing on building the best agency in the country, enabling our clients to maximise the breadth of our integrated service offering to accelerate their digital reality.”

BUSINESS advisory firm KPMG has bolstered its financial services audit practice with the appointment of Tom Tyler as a partner in Manchester.

Based at the firm’s St Peter’s Square office, Tom will use more than fifteen years’ experience to further strengthen KPMG’s audit offering to the insurance sector, with a particular focus on the growing North West market.

Tom joins from PwC, where he specialised in delivering external audits and assurance to highly regulated financial services businesses.

Tom’s arrival follows the appointment of partners Richard Little and Simon Ryder as joint heads of KPMG’s financial services practice in the UK regions in October. It also follows several other senior appointments for the firm at the tail end of 2018, including the promotion of five Manchester directors to partner and the appointment of new leads for KPMG’s North West technology, forensics, enterprise and value creation practices.

Tom Tyler said: “It’s an exciting time to join KPMG’s financial services team. The market in the North West is growing, underpinned by an innovative community of businesses setting out their stall in a challenging, crowded sector that’s traditionally associated with London. The region’s insurers are no exception, with new technology, changing demographics and the impact of expanding regulation presenting challenges and opportunities in equal measure. I look forward to working closely with companies as they navigate this environment.”

Nicola Quayle, office senior partner at KPMG in Manchester, added: “I’m confident Tom will make an excellent addition to the KPMG partnership and our growing team in St Peter’s Square.

His experience working with the insurance and wider financial services sector, both in the North West and across the UK, will further expand the depth of specialist knowledge we have at our disposal in Manchester.”

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Peter Gallagher appointed new Head of Colliers’ Manchester Office GLOBAL real estate company Colliers International has announced that Peter Gallagher has been appointed new Head of its Manchester Office.

With over 40 years’ experience advising on a broad range of mixed-use commercial developments across Greater Manchester, Peter joined Colliers as a Director in the National Offices team in 2014.

During his time with Colliers, Peter has continued to be involved in major placemaking projects across the city, whilst providing trusted leasing and marketing advise on a number of high value office schemes for clients including Hermes Investment Management, Royal London Asset Management and Legal & General.

“Peter is a highly respected member of the

Manchester business community and a trusted advisor to clients, having played instrumental roles in transformative projects that have helped shape Manchester into the truly cosmopolitan city it is today,” said Tony Horrell, CEO UK & Ireland, Colliers International. “From his involvement in rebuilding parts of Manchester after the 1996 bombing, through to his current work providing development, leasing and marketing advice on the major mixed-use redevelopment scheme, NOMA – his knowledge and understanding of the city and its players will be invaluable as he moves forward as our new head of the Manchester office.”

Peter added: “I am proud to be a part of the incredibly talented team of professionals we have working here in our Manchester office. Since joining

Colliers five years ago, I have been impressed with the way in which our people are empowered to be masters of their own destiny. This entrepreneurial spirit garners a sense of pride through which employees have the freedom to be creative in the way that they respond to clients’ needs, allowing Colliers to offer something different from our competitors.

“It is exactly this ethos that I hope to encourage and promote as I embark on this new role as Head of Colliers’ Manchester office. I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with my fellow Manchester colleagues to nurture our emerging talent, embracing new technologies as we strive to provide the best possible service to our customers, whilst having a bit of fun along the way.”

Inspired Recruitment and CCS Recruitment appoints first Marketing Manager NORTH West based recruitment specialists Inspired Recruitment and CCS Recruitment have appointed Cezara Glynn as Marketing Manager.

Creation of the new role follows an exciting period of expansion at the organisation, as the business continues to invest in its search for top talent.

Founder and Director, Sean Hickey said: “We have experienced significant growth over the last two years and the appointment of our first Marketing Manager is the next big step to drive the brand further developing the IT, and construction

markets.

“We’re delighted that Cezara has joined our team, and there are exciting times ahead for Inspired and CCS.” Cezara will focus on developing the company’s brand, content and digital strategy. She will be responsible for supporting business development, creating and managing marketing material for Inspired Recruitment and CCS Recruitment, in a bid to expand partnerships with clients and candidates across the North West, UK and Europe.

“Recruitment is an extremely competitive industry, so a coherent,

effective marketing strategy is vital for Inspired and CCS,” she said. “I’m very much looking forward to putting my digital and creative skills to good use and helping to drive further tangible growth for the organisation.”

Cezara brings more than nine years’ marketing experience to her new role. She started her career as a junior reporter for Tameside & Glossop Chronicle, before moving into communications and digital marketing in a variety of sectors, including higher education, IT, and digital marketing.

Sean added: “At Inspired and

CCS, we care passionately about our candidates’ careers and matching the best skilled individuals with our clients’ objectives. Cezara aims to enhance the quality of our communications and relationship building to deliver that added value to our work for candidates and clients alike.”

38

APPOINTMENTS

March 2019

Simpson Millar Sharks star now an invests in its ambassador for Salford people with Veterans Charity appointment of new Director of HR NATIONAL law firm Simpson Millar has taken the next step in its ambitious £50m growth strategy with the appointment of a new Director of HR. Helen Sutton will be taking on the brand new role to support the firm’s expanding workforce in Manchester as part of its ongoing commitment to investment in its people.

Joining the firm from Northgate Plc and with past roles at Johnston Press, Hallmark Cards and BAE Systems Helen brings 15 years of HR experience to Simpson Millar, with particular expertise in leading successful organisational change programmes such as employee engagement and organisational effectiveness.

Her new role seeks to support the firm’s growth on the back of its two recent acquisitions of Liverpoolbased law firm EAD and North-West based firm, JWK, and will look to revamp and modernise the firm’s ways of working to innovate its legal practices.

Speaking on the new appointment, Greg Cox, CEO of Simpson Millar said: “We are delighted to appoint Helen as Director of HR. Her role will provide valuable support for our growing teams across the UK, and will help us develop new innovative ways to modernise our legal services, and ways of working to benefit employees and clients alike.

“Her appointment comes at an exciting time in Simpson Millar’s growth plans, following acquisitions and appointments to ensure that we are best placed to meet the growing and ever changing needs of our clients.

“Helen brings a wealth of experience to the table and I am sure her expertise will enable the firm to become even more innovative to push our growth plans forward.”

Commenting on her new role, Helen said: “I’m extremely excited about working at Simpson Millar to help deliver the ambitious growth plans, and to ensure that all employees feel supported, informed and engaged as we move towards achieving the Simpson Millar vision.

“I am looking forward to creating and delivering a strong people plan that will make the company a great place to work for everyone.”

SALE Sharks hooker, Curtis Langdon, has been made an ambassador of Broughton House, the long-standing Salford Veterans charity and care home Broughton House is close to becoming the North West’s first Veteran Care Village with a £14 million redevelopment now becoming a reality After visiting inspiring military veterans at Broughton House late last year as part of a club community programme, Sale Sharks first-team star Curtis Langdon has been made an Ambassador of the charity.

The Sharks hooker met a number of inspiring veterans during the visit, including 95-year-old George Simms, a former WWII marine who survived the D-Day battle despite being wounded twice.

George, who is from Manchester, volunteered at the age of 18 and was selected for service in the elite Royal Marine Commandos. He saw some of the fiercest fighting of the war during the Allied invasions of Sicily and Normandy in World War Two. The visit took place after George met Curtis at a Sharks game for the first time and made him promise to come and visit Broughton House soon after.

Curtis, along with AJ MacGinty and Sale Sharks Community Trust coach Craig Monaghan spent the afternoon meeting residents at the home in November as part of the ‘Sharks Forces’ programme, which is run by the Sharks Community Trust.

“My father Matt was a serving Royal Marine, so hearing more about what life in the forces was like was amazing,

and the stories were genuinely inspiring,” said Curtis.

“By becoming an ambassador, I hope to help raise the profile of the charity even more and offer my support wherever I can.”

The visit was organised by Craig Monaghan, an ex-soldier who is the lead project officer for the nationally-recognised Sharks Forces programme.

“The Sharks Community Trust hosted more than 200 veterans at a game in November last year and, shortly after, we had the opportunity to meet with some of the incredible veterans who are benefitting from the charity’s support,” said Craig.

“It was amazing for Curtis, AJ and I to hear the stories and heroics from many of the brave veterans and to find out more about the outstanding work taking place at the charity.

“It’s fantastic that this visit has resulted in Curtis deciding to become an Ambassador to help promote the work and care that takes place at Broughton

House.”

Broughton House is currently the only dedicated home for ex-servicemen and women in the North West. Once redevelopment finishes in 2020 it will include a 64-bedroom care home with a dementia wing and a separate 30 independent living apartments.

Broughton House chief executive Chris Lindsay said: “We are delighted that Curtis has agreed to become an ambassador of Broughton House.

“As a local charity we rely heavily on the support of people in Greater Manchester and it’s fantastic to have Curtis on board as an ambassador for the home and the work we do.

“As a member of the local community and as a role model for the younger generation, the dedication shown to Broughton House by Curtis is inspirational.

We look forward to working with him in the future.”

39

APPOINTMENTS

Manchester design agency BGN bolsters team with strategic appointments MANCHESTER-based design agency BGN has bolstered its offering with two new appointments to their growing team.

The agency, which is approaching the end of its second year in business, is already carving out a reputation for itself for its brand-led approach to business – maximising the potential of businesses

through effective design, executed across all platforms.

The new hires were strategically chosen to further differentiate the agency from its competitors by strengthening the teams offering in terms of skills, experience and businessminded approach.

Laura Coull has joined the

Manchester-based team as brand planner, having worked previously at Amplifon and Unilever as a global communications manager.

Gary Ratcliffe has also joined BGN’s development team to bolster the agency’s in-house development capability. Previously, Gary worked at E-Jigsaw as senior web developer and has more than seven years’ experience developing and delivering bespoke websites. .Antonio Giansante, operations director at BGN, said both new team members had proven that they understood business from a client’s perspective and were passionate about the impact that branding can have.

Antonio, who founded BGN in April 2017 added: “After what’s been a hugely successful first year and a half in business, we’re pleased to welcome Laura and Gary to the growing team here at BGN. “Gary has joined our development team, while Laura brings a wealth of client-side experience and understands business needs from a client perspective.

“Strategy and insight are the cornerstone of effective design and having someone like Laura to come in and manage the delivery of the brand and marketing strategies we put in place is invaluable for us and our clients.

“We believe in using brand to help businesses grow and as a tool to solve the problems they face. We are now better placed than ever to do just that.”

Laura added: “Joining BGN is an exciting opportunity for me. “They are a young growing agency working on a real growth trajectory and have some really exciting projects with some great brands in a variety of sectors.

“There was real synergy when I met the team in terms of our brandled approach to design and passion in making design effective for business.

“I am really looking forward to working with the BGN team and look forward to playing my part in both delivering their growth strategy and doing an exceptional job for our clients.”

Visualsoft strengthens tech team with new head of IT and security

MANCHESTER based leading e-commerce and digital agency, Visualsoft, has appointed a new head of IT and security to its growing team.

In his new role, Lee will help to enhance

the security of Visualsoft’s eCommerce platform software for retailers. Enhancing the infrastructure to scale up and out. In addition, he will introduce greater automation to drive reliability and resilience.

Having previously worked at Avid Technology as a Global IT operations and systems manager, Lee brings a wealth of relevant experience to the role.

Lee joins Visualsoft’s team, of over 300 staff, who specialise in the design, build, support and marketing of online stores for retailers across the UK. Charles Clinkard, Little Mistress and The Lakes Distillery are amongst the brands on the business’ evergrowing client list.

Commenting on his appointment, Lee said: “I look forward to seizing this opportunity to make

a positive difference at Visualsoft. Security is a vital facet of modern-day online retail, so I’ll be taking our infrastructure to the next level with the development and IT operations teams.”

Neil Innes, Chief Technology Officer, commented: “The nature of our business means security is of the utmost importance to both ourselves and our clients. Online security has

always been a top priority for eCommerce and m-commerce retailers. After recent cyberattacks and data breaches, such as Dixons Carphone Warehouse, we want to ensure our clients have the best security solutions in place to protect their brand reputation.

We’re thrilled to have Lee on board to grow this department further and further bolster our security processes.”

40 PROPERTY

CBRE confirms deal with Knights PLC at Two St Peter’s Square Manchester ACTING on behalf of Mosley Street Ventures alongside Cushman & Wakefield, CBRE’s Office Agency team in Manchester has disposed of the 6th floor at Two St. Peter’s Square in Manchester City Centre, to professional services specialist Knights PLC. Two St. Peter’s Square, owned by a real estate fund managed by DWS, is centrally located within the heart of Manchester’s business quarter. The building offers 161,065 sq ft of high quality, BREEAM ‘Excellent’ Grade A office accommodation. Following this transaction, only the 11thfloor remains at 8,925 sq ft, further demonstrating Manchester’s limited Grade A supply and strong occupier demand.

Knights, one of the UK’s fastest growing regional legal and professional services businesses, has taken a 16,272 sq ft letting on the 6th floor of the property as part of the firm’s ongoing growth plans.

Manchester City Council has invested £185M into St. Peter’s Square as part of the transformation and redevelopment of Library Walk, Central Library and Town Hall Extension, a world class component in Manchester’s civic and business quarter. The Square also acts as a showcase for some of the country’s finest civic architecture and is a major gateway and transport hub, making it the ideal

business location.

Jonathan Cook, Associate Director at CBRE Manchester, said: “We are delighted to confirm a deal with Knights at Two St. Peter’s Square. The property sits in world class public space in the square and is a major gateway and transport hub, making it the ideal location for businesses seeking office accommodation of the very highest standard within the core business community."

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PROPERTY

41

Bardsley Construction wins hat-trick of contracts across Greater Manchester worth a total of £15.6m

BARDSLEY Construction has won three contracts worth £15.6m in total to provide homes and a specialist extra care facility in Greater Manchester.

In a return to its tradition of providing homes for market sale, the family-owned firm in Tameside, Greater Manchester, is developing 24 executive three and fourbedroom homes on the site of a former industrial mill at Bleaklow Mill, Hawkshaw, Bury.

The £4.1m contract on behalf of Silver Lane Developments sees Bardsley deliver a courtyard-style scheme with individual

gardens and parking to maximise available space whilst allowing the best possible view of surrounding countryside.

On behalf of Trafford Housing Trust, Bardsley is designing and constructing 29 apartments and ground floor commercial space at Gatley Road, Sale. The £6.6m project also involves the demolition of existing retail units and apartments to provide nine three-storey houses with communal parking and highway improvements.

The scheme will be delivered over five phases with completion of the entire development scheduled for

May 2021.

Samantha Lafferty, director of customer experience at Trafford Housing Trust, said apartments were for affordable rent and the houses for shared ownership with the commercial units offering a mix of new retailers and some of the existing commercial units being demolished on completion of the apartments.

She added that the scheme would improve the area by providing new housing and commercial space with secure off-road parking while transforming the old flats and shops into a modern and welcoming environment.

The third of the contract wins for Bardsley involves the provision of a specialist extra care facility for Onward at Oaklands House, Fallowfield, procured through the then Cutting Edge Framework.

The £4.9m scheme on the site of a former Contour Homes sheltered scheme is due for completion in January 2020 and will consist of 36 one and two-bedroom apartments. The scheme will provide accommodation for older people with dementia.

Bob Pleasance, project manager at Onward, said: “We are very pleased to be on site with Bardsley Construction in the

development of this extra-care scheme. We believe that it will provide a valuable addition to the services offered to older people in Manchester with dementia’’.

Adrian Rooney, housing and development director at Bardsley Construction, said: “Our historic commitment to provide trained and skilled staff at all levels of Bardsley allows us to deliver demanding schemes across the private and public sectors in areas of specialism including education, elderly care and all aspects of residential development.”

42

PROPERTY

March 2019

EHL Ingredients invest £1m in new Stockport site EHL Ingredients has expanded its premises and invested £1million in a new 8000 square foot site on the Broadstone Industrial Estate, Reddish, Stockport, in a bid to keep up with growing customer demand for its products.

With two facilities already on the estate, this is EHL’s third unit, taking the total space to 40,000 square feet.

The third site houses new machinery, including a vertical form filler which fills pillow bags and tubs for dried herbs and spices, seeds and powders, as well as other products. It will allow the company to process greater volumes of food ingredients, driven by an increase in customer requests and from existing clients placing

larger orders.

In addition to the new premises, the supplier of international food ingredients is celebrating several key achievements. In the last 12 months, it has launched a new foodservice brand, Lähde, made several key staff appointments in blending and packing departments, and achieved Class A BRC (British Retail Consortium) accreditation in its recent audit. The firm currently has 46 employees, its largest headcount to date, and is recruiting for several roles across the business.

It also rebranded and launched a new website with more exciting developments in the pipeline.

Tasneem Alonzo, joint managing

director at EHL Ingredients says: “We’ve outgrown our capacity in terms of storage, staff, machinery, administration and loading areas so needed a space to allow us to expand the business longer term. We decided to stay local and on the same industrial estate instead of moving our whole premises so when this unit came up, we were keen to review it.

“Over the last 12 months we’ve been taking orders for larger quantities which means we need to increase capacity. This new site will allow us to process more orders and higher volumes, more efficiently and quickly and the installation of the new machinery will enhance production and allow us to continue

to innovate further.

“The food ingredient sector is certainly in a period of growth and with the rise in popularity of organic, free-from, vegan and vegetarian foods, we’re continuously innovating to bring retailers, brands, manufacturers and caterers the right ingredients to suit consumer trends.

“Despite the uncertain times we are in, we’re confident in our position as a company. We’ve strengthened our teams, developed many new herb and spice blends, broadened our product portfolio and expanded our customer base into new territories, especially in Scandinavia."

PROPERTY

43

Schroders adds to city tower team with agent appointment MBO secures future of construction products company A LONG-established building products business has undergone a management buy-out backed by a £500,000 loan from Mercia Fund Managers.

Quantum Profile Systems, which employs 90 staff at its headquarters in Oldham, is a leading supplier of contract flooring accessories and plastic extrusion products to builders’ merchants and window manufacturers. The deal gives control of the business to the management team consisting of the Managing Director Clive Bowen, Operations Director Simon Crossley and Sales Director Steve Kean.

Quantum manufactures its own brands including the Quantum range of stair edgings, treads and flooring accessory products, the Dacatie range of cavity wall closers and fire barriers, the Qwood range of timber composite glazing beads and QLean bespoke profile extrusions. The company is a ‘lean’ manufacturer which aims to make what the customer wants, when they want it, whilst providing outstanding customer service through its loyal and long serving team of employees.

Established over 50 years ago, the company underwent a management buy-out in 2000 in which Clive

Bowen took part. In the latest deal, he and his two fellow directors have acquired the interests of a range of retired, retiring and inactive shareholders.

Clive Bowen, said: “Quantum’s success has been due in no small part to our team of loyal employees. We are delighted to conclude this deal which will allow us to take the business forward and secure the long term future for all our staff.”

Chris Pestell of Mercia Fund Managers, said: “In a space of just 15 years, Quantum has moved from being a traditional mass manufacturer to a modern company where the ‘lean approach to business’ is embraced by every employee. With continuous improvement in efficiency and ongoing investment in IT, sales and profitability have been growing. This funding will allow Clive and his fellow directors to take full control of the business and continue its success story.”

Stuart Lees of Signia Corporate Finance, said: “We are delighted to have worked with Clive, Simon, Steve and the rest of the team in helping them to secure Quantum’s future as an innovative and independently owned manufacturing business in the heart of Oldham.”

SCHRODERS has appointed Cushman & Wakefield as joint leasing agent on City Tower, Piccadilly, Manchester.

City Tower is owned in a joint venture held between Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust, the actively managed UK REIT, Schroder UK Real Estate Fund and Immobilien Europa Direkt.

The mixed-use scheme comprises 615,429 sq ft of office, retail, leisure and hotel accommodation and 456 car parking spaces across three acres.

The property is let to over 70 tenants including the National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE), the Ministry of Justice, The University of Law, M&S Food, Starbucks and Hays Specialist Recruitment.

Schroders received planning permission for the redevelopment of the podium level space in 2018.

Plans for the project will see the 2,645 sq ft space transformed to create a new, co-working offering and external terrace for existing tenants.

Cushman & Wakefield will focus on marketing the remaining office space within the tower alongside joint agents, Edwards & Co. Rob Yates Head of North West Office Agency at Cushman & Wakefield, said: “City Tower has a major presence in Manchester city centre. We are delighted to have this opportunity to work on this landmark instruction for Schroders with their existing team. The plans to enhance the current offering are very exciting and this presents a major opportunity to enhance the scheme marketing. The building offers highly attractive accommodation to a market which currently is facing a severe shortage of quality supply.”

44

PROPERTY

March 2019

New £35 million development could see 258 homes built in Bolton A £35 million homes development featuring plans for private cinemas and gyms for residents has been proposed for Bolton town centre.

The new build, which is subject to planning permission, would feature 258 apartments and four town houses.

It is the latest in a series of announcements as part of Bolton Council’s £1bn masterplan to redevelop the town centre.

The residential development, proposed by Bolton-based company Forshaw, would be built on land fronting St Georges Road between Bark Street and Back Bark Street.

Lyndon Forshaw, managing director of Forshaw, said: “This project will set a new benchmark for high quality residential schemes in Bolton town centre.

“It will provide much needed new homes in the heart of Bolton and feature unrivalled facilities for residents.

“These will include fully equipped gymnasiums, private cinemas, residents’ lounges and roof terrace.

“The site is located at an important gateway to the town which has been derelict for years and in need of the regeneration opportunity this development proposal provides.”

Mr Forshaw added: “As a Bolton-based company,

Forshaw is fully behind the council’s ambitious masterplan for the town centre.

“We anticipate this will be the first of several schemes to come forward in coming months and years which will ultimately help to revive the town centre economy.”

Bolton Council is working with investors and developers on its ambitious £1bn blueprint which will see five key areas redeveloped in the heart of the town centre.

This development sits within the Croal Valley intervention zone. Other announcements that have been made so far include £48m plans for Trinity Gateway by Bolton Regeneration Limited, who are also involved in plans to redevelop Crompton Place Shopping Centre.

In addition, details of Muse Development’s £150 million project for a new neighbourhood in Church Wharf were recently revealed.

Cllr Ebrahim Adia, Deputy Leader of Bolton Council, said: “This state-of-the-art proposed development is the latest piece in the council’s masterplan jigsaw, and will regenerate another key gateway to the town centre.

“It demonstrates yet more investor confidence in our strategy and in Bolton’s growing economic

position within the city region.

“As well as transforming how the town centre looks, we are committed to adapting to what residents want and that is clearly high-quality homes close to jobs, services and good transport links.

“This development will provide top quality homes and ultimately create more footfall to help shops and businesses nearby.

“It will deliver much needed homes on a brownfield site helping reduce the pressure on less sustainable locations.”

Truman Design & Build begins work on £6.5m hotel in Manchester WORK has started on a £6.5m hotel next to the Irish World Heritage Centre in Manchester.

Truman Design & Build, based in Bolton, is the main contractor for the 135-bedroom hotel, which is due to open later this year.

Along with the design and construction phases, Truman will also fit out the hotel, which is being developed on a derelict 1.8-acre site on Irish Town Way in Cheetham Hill.

Further works will include extensive landscaping and parking for 110 vehicles.

The Irish World Heritage Centre is a major base for the region’s Irish community, offering a diverse programme of cultural activities alongside conference and events facilities.

Truman is an associate company of

Oldham-based construction, fit-out and refurbishment specialist Medlock FRB. Its team is led by executive chairman Mike Peden, commercial director David Wheeler, project director Dan Lewis and design manager Nick Riley.

Truman targets projects in the £3m-£10m bracket across a variety of sectors, including hotels and leisure, student accommodation, commercial, industrial and healthcare, with a focus on schemes within a 100-mile radius of Manchester.

Recently-completed projects include The Flower Bowl family entertainment complex near Garstang in Lancashire.

Dan Lewis said: “We are excited to be on site for the construction and fitout of the new hotel next to the Irish

World Heritage Centre.

“It is a prestigious scheme which will provide much-needed hotel accommodation for visitors to the complex and to the surrounding area, including Manchester Arena and the city centre.

“We have a team of highly-

experienced professionals who are committed to delivering projects safely, on time and on budget.

This project further underlines Truman’s credibility in the design, construction and fit-out of prominent developments across the region.”

45

Property

Manchester bakery company completes £1m investment to improve production plant MANCHESTER-based foodservice bakery company, Kara, has invested in excess of £1m into its site. The major investment will bring about an improvement to production efficiency and will help the bakery increase its capabilities.

The first wave of improvements have gone towards bolstering the efficiency of Kara’s Lanham line, where the baker’s famous floured baps and seeded deli rolls are made.

A significant portion of the funds have been invested in the Lanham Proofer, this has included the replacement of the proofer enclosure, air conditioning system and hydraulic drive pack.

All of these modifications

will result in a more effective and integrated functioning system to improve quality and consistency as well as to reduce lost time and meet efficient production standards.

Robin Mountain, Business Unit Director at Kara, commented: “This investment marks the beginning of a really exciting time for us at Kara and it’s fantastic to see the completion of a replacement Lanham plant proofer. Improvements to the production plant not only means that we’ll be able to produce a higher quantity of products in a shorter space of time, but also provides an opportunity for Kara to grow and expand further.”

Crusader Mill renovation moves to next phase

WITH the construction programme progressing at Crusader Mill, main contractor Artez, has now appointed a specialist sub-contractor for the next phase of the 200,000sq ft residential development.

The 180-year old Victorian mill, owned by Capital & Centric, will see the creation of 126 one and two-bedroom loft apartments including some duplex, in Manchester’s East Village regeneration area.

Carrying out the mechanical and electrical works will be Aberla M&E who has picked up the £2million work package which includes ventilation systems, thermal insulation as well as sprinkler systems, fire alarms and access control.

With batches of apartments already released to the owner-occupier market, the development will create one of Manchester’s newest neighbourhoods and is perfectly located to benefit

from the vibrant Northern Quarter as well as wider connectivity via Piccadilly Station.

Mike Banton, managing director at Artez stated: “With each apartment being unique in terms of layout and dimensions we were keen to appoint subcontractors who understand the challenges of such a distinctive development. We were aware Aberla M&E had recently completed the conversion and refurbishment of the landmark Black Friar Pub in Salford and their credentials for this type of work was impressive.”

Paul McCarren, managing director at Aberla Group commented: “Crusader Mill is one of a kind and to be working with Artez to bring this impressive building back to use for city centre living will be an exciting year ahead. We’re keen to get on site and push ahead to reach the next milestone with the wider construction team.”

46

Property

March 2019

Two new occupiers at Salford Quays

Bruntwood Works launches £50m customer-focused building transformation programme

EXCHANGE Quay, the 435,000 sq ft office development in Salford Quays, has signed two new occupiers, ProofID and ManpowerGroup.

ProofID, a specialist provider of Identity Access Management (IAM) solutions, has taken 5,415 sq ft on the 2nd floor of Building 8 on a 7.5 year lease term, which forms part of a new let and part of an assignment of a lease from Gyro. The company is relocating its UK office from Lancastrian Office Centre in Old Trafford and also operates a US office in Colorado Springs.

Multi-national staffing and recruitment agency, ManpowerGroup is relocating to Exchange Quay on the 1st floor of Building 8.

Exchange Quay is one of the largest office developments in the North West with 3,000 people now working from the six buildings within the acclaimed riverside development. Acting on behalf of the owner, Ekistics continues to invest into Exchange Quay following an initial £10m investment implemented by Hunter.

The scheme has recently undergone a comprehensive refurbishment programme to

ROOFTOP gardens at Blackfriars and a stunning new art and exhibition space at 111 Piccadilly are among the inspirational new renovations being carried out by Bruntwood Works as part of a £50m transformation project.

The work is the first phase of a major programme of activity by the leading provider of inspirational workspaces to transform a number of its buildings across the North and Midlands.

The first three buildings to receive a major renovation include 111 Piccadilly and Blackfriars in Manchester, and Cornwall Buildings in Birmingham, with work scheduled to start in June.

The programme will then be rolled out on a wider basis across Bruntwood Works’ regional portfolio, which consists of £937 million of assets across Manchester, Cheshire, Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham.

Focused on providing innovative environments with ‘wow factor’, the programme centres on enhancing six key themes across its buildings, from technology and sustainability to biophilia, wellbeing, amenity and art.

The programme will also evolve Bruntwood Works’ commitment to creating connected communities within its regions, by encouraging customers to access new facilities and collaborate with like-minded businesses across neighbouring buildings.

This will support Bruntwood’s recent pledge to the Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Commitment to make new buildings net zero carbon emitting by 2030 and old buildings the same by 2050.

111 Piccadilly will undergo a major transformation, co-ordinated by architect 3DReid. A new café and lounge will be introduced on the ground floor, as well as exhibition and event space. A sculptured ‘Gem’ working area will be incorporated providing a stunning art and seating space for customers.

Exciting changes at Blackfriars include a rooftop restaurant and bar featuring panoramic views across the city. Designed by MgMaStudio Architecture, the rooftop garden will be filled with flowing

deliver Grade A office space, as well as extensive remodelling of the public realm, the introduction of several retail outlets, occupier amenities and launch of a Kids Planet children’s day nursery.

Exchange Quay lies at the gateway to Salford Quays/ Media City, approximately 1.5 miles to the southwest of Manchester City Centre.

It boasts its own dedicated Metrolink tram stop and is strategically located just off Trafford Road which links Salford Quays to both Manchester City Centre and the major motorway networks via the M602.

Tom Eggleston, CEO at ProofID, commented: “Our relocation to Exchange Quay is a result of continuing company growth and now we’ve simply outgrown our existing premises. The move is an exciting and progressive development for us. We’re going to be able to provide even higher levels of service to our customers with the potential for further expansion as we continue to grow, while providing a fantastic working environment for our UK team in a vibrant Grade A waterside development.”

meadows and flowers, as well as uniquely designed seating, lighting and shelter incorporated.

The ground floor space will include a new café, run by the same operator as the restaurant, as well as a lounge, event space and new co-working spaces.

Other stand-out features at Blackfriars include the construction of a balcony, which opens up to the River Irwell and new on-site artwork in the newly created ‘lightwell’, which will offer the opportunity to project incredible interactive light art into the space.

Ciara Keeling, CEO of Bruntwood Works, said: “This is just the start of an exciting period of growth for Bruntwood Works. We have a long history of developing inspirational workspaces and have always sought to disrupt the market through constant innovation of our customer proposition.

This investment will ensure our customers continue to have exciting, innovative and inspirational spaces to work and socialise in. Spaces which not only create incredible environments and communities for our customers to thrive in, but also support the attraction of talent, productivity and wellbeing.

“We have taken learnings from our awardwinning buildings, such as Neo in Manchester and Platform in Leeds to shape the designs which will lead the way in terms of technology and user experience. They will offer a wide range of flexible and collaborative work environments for the wider Bruntwood community to benefit from, with outstanding wellness, retail and leisure facilities at their heart – making our workspaces healthier, happier, connected and more eco-friendly places to be.”

Property

47

Premier Inn for First Street ASK Real Estate, in a joint venture with the Richardson family and PATRIZIA, has exchanged a prelet agreement with Whitbread for a 200-bedroom Premier Inn hotel at First Street, Manchester.

The hotel operator will occupy the top five floors of a new 16 storey mixed-use development which secured planning permission in December 2018. Construction of the new building will start in summer 2019 with completion due in early 2021.

The deal will simultaneously see a second joint venture partnership between Ask Real Estate, the Richardson family and Whitbread bring forward a planning application to redevelop the existing Premier Inn Deansgate Locks hotel site, adjacent to First Street, with a separate c.480,000 sq ft mixed-use scheme.

Premier Inn is the first confirmed tenant in the new building at First Street and will occupy floors 12-16, with 160,000 sq ft of Grade A offices on floors 1-11. The new building will also feature winter gardens on each of the office floors.

BAM Construction has been confirmed as the preferred construction partner for the new building which will be the fourth phase of development at the 20acre First Street scheme.

Commenting on the

announcement John Hughes, Managing Director of Ask Real Estate, said: “With a projected lack of Grade A office space in the city from 2021 we will be bringing forward much needed, high-quality and flexible office space to a buoyant market and are delighted to announce Premier Inn as the building’s first tenant.

“Given the high level of demand we saw from a broad range of businesses for N08, which was 80% pre-let before practical completion, we are confident that there is capacity in the office market for further development at First Street. This is the latest step in the on-going evolution of the First Street neighbourhood which is the proven mixed-use destination we envisaged.”

Nicholas Johnston, Acquisition Manager for Northern England at Premier Inn, said: “As a major investor in Manchester we are continually looking at our portfolio of Premier Inn hotels to ensure we are in the best possible locations and provide a consistently high-quality experience for our guests.

“The decision to redevelop the Premier Inn Deansgate Locks site and bring a latest generation Premier Inn hotel to First Street reflects this.

Working with ASK Real Estate and its partners, we are able to increase the number of Premier

Inn bedrooms in the popular micro-location and bring our latest format to the area.

It’s an excellent opportunity to improve our portfolio in the city and be part of one of Manchester’s most successful business and leisure destinations.”

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council,

commented: “First Street is located at this important gateway into Manchester and as the estate continues to evolve it will further connect the city centre with the Oxford Road Corridor and University district.

“As well as helping to further realise our vision for First Street, we are pleased

that this announcement will also lead to the redevelopment of the existing Premier Inn site.

“The ambition to create a cultural hub for Manchester, bringing up to 10,000 jobs to the city, will be further enhanced by this new phase of first class commercial development.”

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