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CHARITY OF THE YEAR CHOICE HONOURS ‘SWEET LITTLE ANGEL’ RUBY 

Construction workers in the north west have chosen the North West Air Ambulance Charity as their charity of the year in memory of a colleague’s sister who was treated by a crew following a hit-and-run.

Ruby Cropper, aged 11, from Radcliffe, near Bury, was critically injured in August 2020, when she was struck by a speeding motorist while crossing a road with a friend to go to a nearby park.

Ruby Cropper
Ruby Cropper.

The youngster suffered severe head injuries and was treated at the scene by the North West Air Ambulance Charity’s crew before being taken to hospital, where she passed away two days later.

The motorist drove off but later handed himself in, and in February last year he was jailed for five years after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

Following the tragedy, Ruby’s family donated her organs in accordance with her own wishes, and three lives have been saved so far. This led to Ruby being posthumously honoured with the Order of St John UK Award for Organ Donation. Her family accepted the honour on her behalf.

Ruby’s brother Ryan Veitch, aged 26, is a business services assistant at Salford-based MC Construction and nominated the NWAA Charity as the company’s charity of the year for 2023.

Ryan said: “The crew who attended the incident were amazing. They were on the scene within 15 minutes and dealt with the situation very well to give Ruby the best chance of survival. They also helped to keep my mum calm at what was an incredibly traumatic time, and reassure her that Ruby was in the best hands.

“I will always have a lot of respect for the charity. It’s a wonderful cause and an organisation which has a special place in my heart. It functions with no government funding, and I want them to be able to continue their work and support them wherever possible.

“I think it’s fantastic that the staff at MC Construction have voted NWAA Charity as our charity of the year. Everyone at the company has been really supportive. We’re like one big family here and hopefully we will be able to raise a lot of money.”

Ryan paid tribute to Ruby, saying: “She was a sweet little angel. She had a very caring nature, she was funny, witty and always laughing. She was clever and a star student at her school.

“She is greatly missed by everyone who knew her. I wear a necklace containing her ashes so she is always with me.”

Ryan is planning a series of fundraising events and activities involving MC Construction during the course of the year.

Ruby as a bridesmaid in 2018 with mum Shelley and brother Ryan 1
Ruby as a bridesmaid in 2018, with mum Shelley and brother Ryan.

The North West Air Ambulance Charity’s helicopters and rapid response vehicles operate 365 days a year, with highly-skilled specialist doctors and paramedics on board providing enhanced pre-hospital care and hospital transfers to patients across the entire north west – an area covering 5,500 square miles with a population of over eight million people. 

Since it launched in 1999, the charity has been called to over 22,000 missions across the region, with the service called out an average of seven times a day. 

It is completely reliant on public and corporate donations to keep it operational and helping to save lives, needing to raise over £9.5m a year to support its lifesaving service.     

NWAA Charity helicopter

MC Construction director Chris Purcell said: “We’re extremely pleased to be supporting North West Air Ambulance Charity as our charity of the year. 

“Everyone at the company has been touched by the tragic loss of Ruby, and this is a way of showing our support for Ryan and his family too. 

“The charity provides a service which is vital for the region, and we hope that the money we raise will make a significant difference.”

Amy Hulston, NWAA’s head of high value giving and corporate, said: “We are hugely grateful to MC Construction for choosing to support North West Air Ambulance Charity. 

“With support from companies such as MC Construction, we are able to bring the hospital to the patient across the region. We are looking forward to supporting all of the company’s fundraising efforts throughout 2023.”

What 2023 DIY Trends We Can Expect From TikTok

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With the development of TikTok-influenced home design trends, do-it-yourselfers have a wealth of information at their (digital) fingers. TikTok’s #DIY page has been seen 229.6 billion times, so if you’re looking for inspiration for a weekend project, you don’t need to go any further. A pole-wrapped kitchen island sits alongside ingenious ways to repurpose old Ikea furniture in this bottomless scroll of tips and tricks.

As a site where new DIY and home decor trends can emerge and quickly become viral, TikTok is more than just a handy resource.

It should come as no surprise, then, that DIY gurus who have their fingers on the design pulse are fueling TikTok trends. Based on surveys and studies conducted in the sector, here are eight exciting new directions in DIY. Sustainability, making a relaxing haven, and getting the most out of your money are recurring ideas.

Explore some of the savvy and cost-effective DIY TikTok trends of 2023.

1.   Creating Your Own Wall Decorations

Making art is a skill that everyone can learn.

The caption for a video that Castillo posted. She then demonstrates the process by which she transforms a plain wall in her living room into a work of stunning-looking decorative wall stickers. Effectiveness is maximized in this basic component.

The DIYwallart page on TikTok has received 25. 4 million views and features everything from extremely textured canvases and sponge paint hacks to framed peel-and-stick wallpaper that looks like museum-worthy art. These examples indicate that the concepts, not the implementation, are the most challenging component of a project.

2.   Reusing household items as an ornament

Today, homes are being filled at an unprecedented rate with cheap furniture that ends up in landfills. According to a recent article in The New York Times, “each year, Americans throw away more than 12 million tons of furniture, creating mountains of solid garbage that have risen 450 percent since 1960,” citing data from the Environmental Protection Agency. That’s why one of the most exciting and important developments in interior decoration is finding new uses for things you already have.

Additionally, it’s a fantastic method of lowering financial outlays. Because of “record-high inflation and an impending recession,” homeowners “no longer have significant money to spend on DIYs and house design”

3.   Using a variety of styles together

One of the newest trends this year is to get your custom sticker designs and the fusion of disparate design elements into a single, cohesive whole. Organic and contemporary, or country home chic and contemporary, are two examples.

Julie Sousa of @the avantgarde, a Boston-based do-it-yourself guru, and her assistant, Gigi Rodriguez, recently remodeled their apartment to incorporate this style-blend trend.

According to Sousa, the main style they were going for was modern. Thus they made their major furniture purchases (sofas, chairs, coffee tables, floor lamps, and mirrors) in that vein.

Additional Sousa explanation: “The eclectic components emerge from minor things like the wall art, the gilded frames, and the use of vivid colors.” Combining the two complementary styles creates an atmosphere that is fresh and uniquely your own.

4.   Organize your bathrooms like a day spa.

As the epidemic has progressed, the strain on the population has increased and shows no signs of going away. In light of the fact that fewer people are taking vacations than in the past, it is not surprising that many find inspiration in recreating the comforts of a luxury hotel in their homes. The National Kitchen and Bath Association determined that luxurious bathrooms designed to “improve homeowner experiences” will be quite popular in 2023.

Aside from spacious, two-person showers with numerous rain showerheads, the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) suggests neutral white color palettes with blues and greens, medium wood grains, bathroom technologies to create a personalized atmosphere, and so on as other spa-like characteristics.

You don’t want to do a full remodel of the lavatory, do you? Achieve a higher level of relaxation in the shower by installing a smart showerhead, such as the Hai Fuse attachment, that incorporates aromatherapy into the water stream.

5.   Clutter elimination on a massive scale

Perhaps it’s because of the exponential growth of the “Marie Kondo effect” each year. Perhaps due to having to stay indoors during the pandemic, the new year will see a firm commitment to a more orderly home life. The National Knockdown Center for the Arts reports that individuals are looking for more and more ways to hide their clutter. That’s why they’re betting on the rise of utility rooms doubled as pantries and mudrooms in the coming year.

Leyla Chong, better known by her TikTok handle @livingwithley, is a DIY guru with over 238K followers. Chong says she found herself fantasizing over Pinterest pins of luxurious mudrooms. Because the foyer had become “an eyesore and a jumbled disaster” after she had moved in, she decided to “install storage that is also aesthetically pleasing.”

How to Integrate Ecommerce With Social Media Efforts

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Integrating E-commerce into your business is one of the most interesting aspects you have to pursue as the owner of a business or as an entrepreneur who wants to explore the benefits of digital commerce. As we are slowly recovering from the pandemic restrictions and changes in the field of logistics, turning to various social media efforts seems to be a logical solution. The tricky part of this endeavor is to create a special schedule, evaluate your list of resources, and ensure that you have an execution plan that focuses on every vital element of the social media world! 

How to Integrate Ecommerce With Social Media Efforts 

– Embed Social Media Buttons and Trackers on Product Pages. 

It is one of those tasks you must start with when you have a business website. Add social media links and special buttons to your web page sections and underneath the product descriptions. It’s also necessary to add trackers and social media news as a special widget to help your customers and visitors see the latest events and promotions. If you have a multilingual website, consider approaching translationreport for linguistic help. The integration of social media into different countries of the world has certain specifics that must be considered as the links and buttons are added. 

– Interact With Customers on Social Media Platforms. 

Use social media platforms to actually talk to your customers and assign at least two individuals on your team who can interact with the social media visitors and reply to the comments as you make posts. If you can hire a multilingual person, it will be even more beneficial. It is recommended to have another person handle the social media posting part. It must be a person with good writing and analysis skills. If it poses a problem, explore TopEssayWriting as a great solution to check your writing for being unique and accurate. Just share your writing concerns, and an expert will help you achieve clarity and commercial value! 

– Participate in Social and Promotional Campaigns. 

If you want to make your social media work memorable and let people recognize your efforts, you must consider participation in social campaigns both locally and worldwide. Do not forget about various seasonal promotions and do your best to keep people inspired by promoting your brand and focusing on the educational part by offering special workshops and video interviews with product specialists (if relevant). It will help to add more multimedia elements to your website. Take your time to add YouTube and Instagram channels with quality videos and graphics as social media additions. A business profile on LinkedIn can also be used for social promotions and environmental work as it helps to attract potential investors and show that you represent a socially-responsible business. 

– Implement Influencer Marketing Methods

Do not ignore an opportunity to cooperate with social media influencers to promote your business on social media. While you may not be able to pay the required amounts by an average celebrity, there are young people online on Instagram and Facebook who have thousands of followers. If they represent your target audience, it might be your chance to cooperate and even use the best essay writing service tactics as you take your business to another country and promote it worldwide, read review. Make sure to discuss your objectives and outline the shared responsibilities so your business sees the revenue and conversion of visits to the actual sales. You should also read the influencer reviews and ask for more testimonials from the business clients before signing anything! 

Social Media Requires Constant Activity! 

Unfortunately, this important aspect is often ignored by large businesses and corporations in the UK. The challenging part of social media efforts is the necessity of continuous efforts and constant posting. It does not have to include lengthy posts or product presentations all the time, but the daily updates and the changes will help social media to work and showcase the attitude. It is exactly how digital marketing businesses work. If you are active and participate in as much social media life as possible, it always brings you higher within the search and popularity social media ranks.

The Team Leader’s Guide to Being a CEO: Education, Motivation, and Tips

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While there is no universal guide that would instantly fit every team of people working for the same goal, almost every successful CEO team leader will tell you that there are three main important aspects you must consider. These are education, motivation, and the sharing of tips as you work together. It is the art of giving back and knowing how to lead people by showing a positive example where everyone plays an important part and can contribute to the best of one’s abilities. Therefore, today we offer you a team leader’s guide to being a CEO – read on to learn all the tips and tricks.

The Team Leader’s Guide to Being a CEO: Education, Motivation, Tips 

Make Continued Learning Your Top Priority. 

Since the world of business is changing all the time, both because of local and global events, the only solution that you have to implement as the team leader is the focus on continued learning. It may include basic workshops and presentations from guest lecturers to field trips and leisure gatherings. At the same time, you must focus on the quality of writing and the written content of your business. It’s possible to approach a site that writes essays for you and receive consulting assistance regarding grammar, structure, and logic. When you focus on this aspect, it can be turned into a team effort to keep everyone inspired! Essentially, you are aiming at business improvement! 

Show Motivation and Readiness Yourself. 

If you want to motivate others, you have to show motivation yourself and be an example of what you would like to see. Don’t be too pushy, and take your time to explore what motivates people. Remember that some people need time to consider their ideas! Add music, sports, and different games to your business experience where everyone can participate and be the first to offer something, or create business surveys where everyone can have a say! It will help you to evaluate your opinions and let people brainstorm various ideas as you combine business and fun! 

– Pay Attention to the Sociocultural Factor. 

If you want to keep people inspired and achieve success as a CEO, you have to explore the cultural background and skills of each person on your team. It will help you to create a totally different environment and benefit from the heritage and the experience of each person’s skills. It’s what you have to do as a team leader! You may approach Wordpoint to create a personal note in a native language of a person by offering a special present or consider a movie that all of your team may watch to learn more about each other’s culture. It will also help people to feel at home wherever they may be! 

Expand Your Business Team Collaborations Worldwide

Another great way to become a successful CEO and a memorable team leader is to let your team work with the rest of the world. Participate in social campaigns and research possibilities worldwide, and make sure you travel and explore the benefits of each land via collaboration and helpful hints. You may consider a freelance translator to help prepare your presentation as you can work with a creative individual who will fully understand your objectives and meet the rest of your business team!

Mediation as Conflict Resolution 

Without a doubt, you will eventually face certain conflicts or individuals who will not feel happy about other people or the tasks that they have been assigned with. The rule of thumb is to use mediation as the method of intrapersonal or group conflict management. As a team leader and CEO, your task is to collect this information and seek solutions that will act as a compromise. In such a case, you should use a mediator who is unbiased and can help the sides express their concerns and talk them out. This way, you are not directly involved and only work with the information that has been collected by the trained mediator who is not leaning toward either side of the conflict. It will also help you to show your impartial attitude and readiness to listen to all sides of the issue, thus confirming your leadership status!

Valentine’s Day at Corn Exchange, Manchester

Manchester’s Corn Exchange has completed all the hard research this Valentine’s (or Palentine’s – yes that’s a thing) Day, so you don’t have to, with a quiz if you are stuck where to dine, top ten picks for your Valentine’s date and a host of special Valentine’s offers.

We know that you don’t need one specific day to show love to your significant other, your friends or even yourself but the 14th February serves as a reminder that we all need a treat every now and then. 

That’s why the guys at the Corn Exchange in Manchester City Centre have created some handy tools to impress your date or mate. The Corn Exchange is the perfect meeting place with a whole host of restaurants to choose from. So much so that choosing can sometimes be a bit tricky! The Corn Exchange have put together this handy guide to finding your perfect spot. Whether you are looking for an intimate time or want to show off your date, a creature of comfort or like surprises – just take the quiz and they guarantee to find the perfect place. 

Looking for more than a nice meal? Then be sure to check out their Top Ten Date Night Picks in and around the Medieval Quarter. From enjoying live music in their atrium to a bottomless supper club or catching a 25th Anniversary screening of Titanic over at the IMAX to exploring the city with an Escape hunt outdoor adventure or walking tour. Whatever kind of date you are looking for, adventurous, cosy, sporty or traditional, you will find some great picks that will make your significant other impressed with your efforts!

Plus, if you dine between 6-9pm and their resident cupid spots that you are getting amorous, you may just get presented with an exclusive Corn Exchange Red Rose if they see you #exchangeakiss. 

If you are looking for a date that doesn’t cause your bank balance heartbreak, then make sure to look up their list of Valentine’s offers available. They include:

Free Prosecco at Doner Haus (book by 6th Feb)

Free Kir Royale at The Real Greek

Limited edition Valentine cocktails and desserts at The Cosy Club

Valentine’s date Night Click & Collect menus at Tampopo

A host of drinks offers at Banyan, Cosy Club, Doner Haus, Garten Bar, Sixes, Tampopo & Vapiano.

2 courses for £13.95 at PizzaExpress

3-course Valentine’s Menu for £24.95 at Zizzi

Grilled Meat Sharing Platter for 2 for £30 at The Real Greek

And more…

For all the information on Valentine’s Day at the Corn Exchange, visit 

cornexchangemanchester.co.uk/valentine

GREATER MANCHESTER MAYOR CELEBRATES TECH TALENT AT OFFICIAL BOOKING.COM CAMPUS OPENING

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Booking.com, one of the world’s leading digital travel companies, has recently welcomed Andy Burnham as guest of honour at the official opening of its new Manchester campus.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester joined Booking.com’s CEO and president, Glenn Fogel, for a tour of the new Brooklyn-inspired workspace at Manchester Goods Yard.

The launching of the new site represents an £80m investment in Manchester’s burgeoning tech scene by Booking.com, which has created 450 jobs in the city in the past 12 months. The Manchester office plays a leading role in bringing Booking.com’s ‘connected trip’ vision to life, with employees researching and developing software that supports multiple services, including in-trip experiences and transport (car rental and taxis), as well as insurance. 

The Mayor learnt more about the vision for the new campus which is Booking.com’s second largest international office behind its global headquarters in Amsterdam and their plans to recruit for a further 200 roles this year.

The team in Manchester, which comprises more than 70 different nationalities, plays a pivotal role in developing Booking.com’s global technology platforms. The Booking.com app was the most downloaded online travel app globally in 2021, with the work undertaken in Manchester directly contributing towards its development 

The campus sits in Manchester’s new media, tech and creative district, Enterprise City – on the site of the former Granada Studios. The campus fitout includes a series of winter gardens, games rooms and conference auditorium facilities with a seminar event space for 250 people.

Speaking during his visit, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “Greater Manchester is home to a thriving and rapidly growing digital and tech sector. Booking.com’s investment reflects the strength of the sector and confidence in our tech talent, and visiting the new Manchester campus was a great opportunity to see this in practice.

“Global companies like Booking.com have an important role to play in our £5bn digital ecosystem. As its presence in Manchester continues to grow, we look forward to working together to provide good quality jobs for people and opportunities for businesses in the local tech cluster.”

Glenn Fogel, CEO and president at Booking.com, said: “Booking.com has had a presence in Manchester for almost two decades and this investment underlines our commitment to the city. We’re looking forward to the new campus becoming not only another home of innovation for Booking.com, but also a place that inspires and supports everyone across the tech supply chain locally.

“It was a pleasure to welcome such esteemed company as the first external visitors to the campus and to have their support as we look to play our part in enhancing what is already a vibrant, innovative tech cluster in Greater Manchester and the wider UK.”

Cranes placed in Stockport as Capital&Centric’s Weir Mill reaches key milestone

The restoration of the historic Weir Mill site is continuing to take shape as two giant cranes appear on Stockport’s skyline. The work to preserve the iconic building will create new homes and public space, transforming the once neglected site into a buzzing new neighbourhood.

Construction at Capital&Centric’s town centre project began last summer. With the foundations for two new apartment blocks now laid, the towering cranes (50m and 31m tall) have started to build the homes that will add to Stockport’s skyline. 

More than 100 people are now working to deliver the project, working on the £60m transformation of the Grade II listed historic landmark to create a new neighbourhood at the heart of the town centre. Once complete in 2024, it’ll be a district oozing with personality, including 250 design-led apartments side-by-side with green outdoor hangouts, indie bars, restaurants and shops.

It’s is set to be a stand-out destination in Stockport’s Town Centre West masterplan – a 130-acre regeneration district being driven by Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which will see the delivery of 4,000 new homes, alongside local amenities, green spaces, new workspace and radical transport improvements.

Adam Higgins, co-founder of Capital&Centric, said:

“There’s such as buzz around Stockport right now and so much happening that’ll change the feel of the town centre for the better. The cranes punctuating Stockport’s skyline are a really visible sign of progress and the scale of ambition to turn brownfield land into new neighbourhoods that pull a crowd. We’re powering ahead with both the painstaking work of restoring the mills as well as the neighbouring new builds.

“More and more people are waking up to Stockport’s charm and are wanting to call it home. Weir Mill will cater to that rocketing demand for homes, while creating a community of people living right in the centre. That’s a real shift for Stockport, increasing footfall and bringing a new dynamic to town.”

The existing mill buildings are also packed with activity. Now shrouded in scaffolding, the first step was to strip back and clean up the red-brick interiors, revealing the beauty of the historic features. 

Capital&Centric’s restoration of mills – parts of which date back to the 1700s – will retain as much of original charm as possible, creating unique character-packed apartments for rent.

Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council, said:

“This is a momentous occasion for Stockport as work starts to transform this area of the town centre into a new £60m neighbourhood, providing hundreds of much needed new homes, as well as vibrant outdoor spaces and even more great leisure facilities for people to visit and enjoy. Confidence from the private sector has never been better, and the fact that we’re attracting renowned developers like Capital&Centric to take this project forward speaks volumes. 

“Weir Mill will complement our other ambitious projects in the town centre, such as the new Transport Interchange, Stockport Exchange and improvements to Merseyway. I’m looking forward to seeing plans progress and this historic building being brought back to life again.”

The plans are MDC’s Town Centre West masterplan, an integral part of the £1billion town centre wide transformation.

Lord Bob Kerslake, Chairman of the Stockport MDC of the Stockport MDC, said:

“The work Capital&Centric is undertaking to revive this historic building is vital in enabling us to create much-needed new town centre homes and giving underutilised spaces back to the community. 

“The arrival of the cranes just months after work on site began last year, demonstrates the pace at which work is progressing, and the MDC’s continued commitment to the delivery of the Town Centre West masterplan. This year is a significant year for Stockport, with developments such as Weir Mill, alongside the new Interchange scheme and the next phase of Stockport Exchange all nearing completion.

“Stockport is already being dubbed one of the most exciting towns to live in the UK, and the culmination of these developments will enable Stockport to set a new benchmark for town centres, not just in the Greater Manchester region, but across the UK.”

The Manchester-based social impact developers behind Weir Mill are shortly set to star in a primetime new Channel 4 series. The Big Interiors Battle – based at Capital&Centric’s Eyewitness Works restoration project in Sheffield – will see budding designers take on a series of challenges in a bid to win their own historic apartment. North West-born AJ Odudu is set to host the show, which will broadcast this spring.

It’s take off for Holiday Inn Manchester Airport as doors to airport’s newest hotel open

Hotel is the first Holiday Inn in the UK to feature Turkish dining concept, Firin

Holiday Inn Manchester Airport has officially opened its doors ready to welcome travellers flying in and out of the city’s international airport. Located directly opposite Terminal 2, Holiday Inn Manchester Airport is the closest hotel to Terminal 2 and is also handily located just a few minutes’ walk from both Terminals 1 and 3.

As well as offering 280 stylish and contemporary bedrooms, suitable for a range of guests from solo travellers to families, the hotel also features the Holiday Inn’s signature Open Lobby, combining the front desk, lobby, restaurant, bar and lounge in one versatile space. The ground floor is also home to three meeting rooms with a dedicated arrival welcome desk and pre-function lounge. 

07Lounge
Lobby.
Boardroom @ Holiday Inn Manchester Airport
Office Space.

There are a variety of dining options for guests to choose from, with Turkish restaurant Firin at the culinary heart of the hotel. A modern vision of the traditional Istanbul pide salon, the laid-back luxury interior is centred around a theatre kitchen, with a menu offering traditional Turkish dishes, from delicious open oven baked pide to dips, mezze and grills.

Firin 1
Firin served at the Holiday Inn, Manchester Airport.

In addition to Firin, guests can enjoy dining in the Open Lobby, which serves a Full English breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and dessert, with kids eating for free, or for those in a hurry, they can grab a quick coffee and pastry from the hotel’s on-site Starbucks corner. There is also a full-service bar, offering a variety of drinks and mocktails, and in the Spring the hotel will launch its exciting 7th floor roof terrace bar with fantastic panoramic views of Manchester and beyond.

For those who want to sneak a final workout in before they head off on their holidays, they can make use of the fully equipped Fitness Suite, with Peloton bikes, free weights, rower, treadmill, and full-length mirrors, along with spectacular runway views.

Each of the 280 bedrooms feature floor to ceiling windows and are equipped with coffee and tea making facilities, WiFi, and en-suite walk-in showers. There is a range of double, twin, family, premium and accessible rooms. The hotel also features a number of pet friendly rooms and on the southern corner of the 6th floor there is a spectacular king suite with its own exterior terrace. 

HI Bathroom Shower
Bathroom.

Rooms are priced from £96, for more information or to book please visit:

https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/gb/en/manchester-airport/manap/hoteldetail

IHG® Hotels & Resorts is one of the world’s leading hotel companies aiming to deliver True Hospitality for Good. Its diverse portfolio of differentiated brands are well known and loved by millions of consumers around the world. IHG® Hotels & Resorts has the right hotel brand for both its guests and owners, whatever their needs.

TESCO TO OFFER FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS AS PEOPLE NEGLECT ROUTINE HEALTH CHECKS

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People in Greater Manchester are being urged to encourage their loved ones to take up a free blood pressure check on Valentine’s Day.

This comes as new stats reveal many people are struggling to prioritise their health during the cost-of-living crisis.

New research recently shared by Tesco shows that Mancunians are more likely to service their cars (64%) and household boilers (58%) each year than attend a routine medical examination (31%), with 1 in 2 (50%) more likely to prioritise the health of their loved ones over their own health.

Routine checks for people in are the simplest and most effective way of Greater Manchester residents spotting high blood pressure, which is associated with around 50% of heart attacks and strokes. The NHS estimates that during the next five years, blood pressure checks at local pharmacies could prevent over 5,000 heart attacks, more than 8,000 strokes and save over 4,000 lives.

Just 30% of Mancunian men and a third of women (33%) attend a routine medical check at least once a year, and just over one in three (37%) of adults say they haven’t had their blood pressure checked in the past 12 months, according to Tesco’s research. This compares to:

  • 64% of people servicing their vehicle annually
  • 58% servicing their household boiler every 12 months
  • 65% of people checking their vehicle’s tyre pressure at least once a year

In addition, the latest data suggests that the after-effects of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have increased the chances of risk factors such as high blood pressure going undiagnosed:

  • BHF estimates that as many as 5 million adults are living with undiagnosed high blood pressure in the UK (1)
  • Analysis by the BHF Data Science Centre at Health Data Research UK found nearly half a million people missed out on starting medication to lower their blood pressure during the Covid-19 pandemic (2)
  • Previous analysis by Tesco found that more than half of those under 40 (57%) said they had deprioritised their health as a direct result of the rising cost of living (3)

Amid these warning signs, Tesco is working with the British Heart Foundation to encourage more Greater Manchester people to routinely check their blood pressure, for free, at the supermarket’s network of in-store pharmacies, with thousands of appointments available. Based on NHS analysis, these appointments could help detect thousands of cases of high blood pressure and prevent hundreds of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes.

Among the pharmacies offering the free tests is the Bury store, Congleton Store, Altrincham Store, Baguley Extra, Wigan Extra, Oldham Chadderton, Manchester Gortn Extra, Accrington Extra, Oldham Huddersfield Road and Salford Extra.

Jason Tarry, CEO, UK & ROI at Tesco, said: “Reducing high blood pressure is one of the biggest changes people can make to reduce their risk of heart attacks and strokes, but most people don’t realise that they can get their blood pressure checked for free, without an appointment, at an in-store Tesco pharmacy.

“Seventy-one % of people told us that supporting the health of their loved ones is a top priority, and there’s no better way to show your loved ones that you care than by encouraging them to take easy measures to look after themselves.

“This February, we have thousands of blood pressure checks available at our pharmacies in communities across the country, helping to make checking your blood pressure as simple as doing your weekly shop.”

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Every week in the UK, around 4,000 people are admitted to hospital for a heart attack or stroke, with treatable high blood pressure contributing to many of these life-threatening events.

“This means the opportunity for a free blood pressure check could be one of the most valuable deals on offer when doing your weekly shop. It’s quick, easy and could even save your life.”   

“At a time when the health service is under incredible strain, making blood pressure checks and health information readily available in places like Tesco supermarkets has the potential to help millions of people improve their health and prevent countless heart attacks and strokes.”

The research also found that 1 in 10 Mancunian men (11%) have never had their blood pressure measured in their lifetime. Of those men, almost a third (31%) believe they only need their blood pressure checking if they have a medical condition or are taking medication.

The Tesco research also found that young people in Greater Manchester are less likely to be checking their blood pressure regularly. Forty-eight % of those under 35 haven’t had their blood pressure checked in the last twelve months, compared to 37% across all age groups. Of those aged 18-24 who have never had a blood pressure check, almost 1 in 4 (24%) believe they’re too young to need a blood pressure check, 1 in 5 (22%) think they are in good health and 1 in 6 (15%) simply don’t know how to get it checked

To find your nearest Tesco Pharmacy and book a free blood pressure check visit: www.tesco.com/pharmacy.

Tesco has also created a series of recipes, in association with the British Heart Foundation, that help people make positive changes to support heart health. Customers can visit the Tesco Real Food Hub (realfood.tesco.com/heart-healthy-recipes) for more details and inspiration for their Valentine’s menu.

First anniversary of Manchester Airport’s AeroZone education centre causes for celebration

A state-of-the-art educational facility at Manchester Airport celebrated its first anniversary yesterday.

AeroZone, which gives children the chance to learn about the workings of an airport and the various careers available, was opened on 7th February last year by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

The AeroZone project was funded through Manchester Airport’s £1bn transformation scheme, which also included work to expand and modernise Terminal 2. More than 3,500 school pupils from across the region have benefitted from the facility since its launch.

AeroZone provides a mix of teaching space and interactive zones, including a mocked-up plane cabin with real seats and a cockpit, complete with flight simulator. In addition to exploring these areas, a school visit will typically include guest speakers working in various roles at the airport, giving youngsters the chance to put questions to them.

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The experience is built to complement the curriculum and provide pupils with new skills and insights they can take back to the classroom with them.

In addition, the facility also hosts a series of targeted educational programmes. ‘Tech to Terminal’ opens pupils’ eyes to the world of technology in aviation, whilst ‘Girls in Science’ sessions allow pupils an opportunity to hear from women working in ‘STEM’ (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields, within the aviation industry, discussing the career pathways available to the next generation of the workforce.

A group of pupils from Newall Green Primary School in Wythenshawe visited the facility on its first birthday and were treated to a special programme of activity including treats and balloons, an airport scavenger hunt in the new Terminal 2 and guest speakers from the Manchester Airport Fire Service.

The group’s teacher, Rachel Bond, said: “Our pupils have had a fantastic time at AeroZone today. It’s a hands-on and interactive experience and it aligns really well with our History lessons this term, where we are looking at early aviators. The team at AeroZone were really welcoming, brilliant with the pupils, and ensured they got the best out of the experience.”

Marcella MRabety, Head of Education, Skills and Employment at Manchester Airports Group, said: “We are incredibly proud of the work we do in engaging with schools in our neighbouring communities, spreading awareness of the variety of opportunities available to pupils on their doorstep.

“We want to inspire them to think big, and to ensure that their visit to the airport leaves a lasting impression. AeroZone is a big part of that vision and it is fantastic that we have been able to reach more than 3,500 pupils in our first 12 months.

“As of today, we are now taking bookings for the next academic year. We were fully booked very quickly last year, so if schools are interested in seeing what AeroZone can offer them, we would encourage them to get in touch with us as soon as possible, so as not to miss out.”

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AeroZone is part of a wider programme of educational outreach at Manchester Airport, as outlined in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy. Airport operator MAG has committed to ensuring ‘opportunity for all’ as one of the Strategy’s key objectives; this includes initiatives such as its ‘MAG Connect’ scheme, aiming to reach up to 12,000 young people per year through a range of outreach activity, and the Airport Academy, which helps jobseekers develop their skills and access job opportunities at the airport.

For more information on AeroZone, download the AeroZone brochure here, or find out more at https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/education/.