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According to Deloitte Crane Survey, Manchester’s cultural sector leads sustainable construction boom in 2022

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08/02/2023

According to Deloitte Crane Survey, Manchester’s cultural sector leads sustainable construction boom in 2022

● 381,000 sq ft of new leisure and retail space commenced construction in 2022, alongside record delivery of over 1,500 new hotel rooms

● 702,000 sq ft of office space completed, with construction levels above 15-year average

● 2,724 new homes delivered, the first decline in seven years

● Education construction remained strong with 263,000 sq ft delivered in 2022

Manchester and Salford’s development market continued to show strong growth, with 25 new projects starting construction in 2022 and 57 schemes under construction. Notably, the city’s cultural sector saw the greatest transformation amidst sustained expansion, whilst office construction remained resilient, according to Deloitte’s annual Manchester Crane Survey.

Now in its 23^rd year, the Manchester Crane Survey monitors construction activity across a range of sectors including offices, residential, hotels, retail and education, and is seen as a barometer of developer sentiment and future supply.

Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality

Selected as Best In Travel 2023 by Lonely Planet and the only UK destination to appear in National Geographic’s Best of the World 2023, Manchester’s leisure, tourism and hospitality sectors continued to thrive in 2022. With 381,000 sq ft of leisure and retail space currently under construction, developments including Factory and Co-op Live Arena will only further strengthen the city’s existing cultural offerings of sport, entertainment and live music.

With increasing numbers of tourists visiting Manchester, as well as eased travel restrictions taking effect, Manchester’s hotel market boomed in 2022 with 1,504 rooms delivered, nearly matching the previous three years combined (1,594). Notable tourist attractions delivered in 2022 included the opening of the Mayfield park – the first new park in the city centre in over 100 years. The park has delivered 2.6 hectares of green space to the city centre, including 142 new trees and almost 300,000 plants, supporting targets set out by the Manchester Climate Change Agency of achieving Net Zero by 2038.

Joanne Roney, chief executive officer of Manchester City Council, said: “As a city, we’re incredibly proud of our strong cultural ties, providing a diverse and vibrant destination for people from around the world. The last few years have only worked to solidify this, with work underway on major cultural attractions including Factory International, Co-op Live and the completion of the Mayfield park ensuring Manchester remains one of the UK’s most exciting destinations for tourists and residents alike.”

Commercial Offices

The end of 2022 saw a total of six office developments complete across Manchester and Salford, delivering 702,000 sq ft of new floor space. Notably, Enterprise City provided 402,900 sq ft of office space in the St. John’s area, with tenants such as global media giant WPP and Booking.com representing Manchester’s continued global competitiveness.

With hybrid work patterns driving demand for high quality office spaces that prioritise the employee experience, the pipeline for commercial office space also remains strong. A total of six office developments remained under construction, set to deliver 1.7m sq ft of office floor space, sitting above the 15-year average of 1.1m sq ft.

John Cooper, partner at Deloitte, said: “New builds still dominate the market, making up 89% of office space currently under construction and new schemes are increasingly pushing the boundaries in terms of environmental credentials as they look to future proof against market trends and what is a rapidly evolving area of the office market. Refurbishments currently make up 11% as owners look to minimise embodied carbon and future proof their estates.

“With many companies now choosing hybrid working models, it’s encouraging to see such a strong pipeline of office space development driven by a desire for more flexible office space utillisation, enhanced environmental credentials and overall quality of employee experience. In addition, as new EPC minimum requirements hit commercial offices in 2025 and again in 2027 as well as 2030, the ESG credentials of existing office spaces is likely to only further increase, particularly as owners are compelled to retrofit and decarbonise their existing estate.”

Residential

Despite 2022 seeing a slight fall in completions of residential developments, the market still remained buoyant. By the end of 2022 2,734 homes were delivered to market, marking the first decrease in seven years. However, the pipeline of new homes remained strong, with 11,759 homes in the pipeline ensuring a steady flow of homes being delivered over the next three years based on anticipated completion dates.

Salford City Centre has remained the leading area for residential development, with 13,578 homes completed since 2014. In Manchester City Centre, Great Jackson Street has helped to deliver 2,632 homes since 2014, notably with the Deansgate Towers development catalysing the regeneration of the area and becoming a focal point in the city’s skyline. Ancoats and New Islington has also helped to deliver 2,760 new homes.

Cooper added: “An increase in city centre living means people’s commutes are shorter and they have access to more sustainable modes of transport. It’s helping to facilitate a more sustainable way of living and driving a reduction of CO2 emissions per capita across Manchester. Residential hubs also supporting businesses in the area through additional footfall, ultimately driving growth in the local economy.

“As we continue to see new residential developments across Manchester, what’s clear is the need to design neighbourhoods in a manner that ensures they can successfully co-exist with leisure and cultural activities that sit at the heart of Manchester’s identity and are important hubs for the city’s economy.”

Education

Throughout 2022, Manchester remained at the forefront of providing world-leading higher education facilities, delivering 263,000 sq ft of floor space, with a further 306,000 sq ft to be delivered in 2023.

Manchester Metropolitan University’s new School of Digital Arts (SODA) provided state of the art facilities to aid the development of Manchester’s rapidly growing tech and creative sectors. The facilities delivered in 2022 also helped to solidify the Oxford Road corridor as a world leading research hub, working to both attract and retain talent in the region.

The higher than anticipated intake of students across universities in Manchester in 2022 demonstrated the ongoing popularity of the city as a place to study. In order to address this increasing demand and ensure continued competitiveness, with students returning to campus for the 2022/23 academic year, the universities are currently reviewing their requirements and working with the city council to assess the appropriateness of existing planning policy and review the pipeline of potential PBSA development sites.

When looking ahead to the next few years of development in Manchester, Cooper said: “As in previous years, Manchester is showing positive levels of development as we head further in 2023. Despite economic headwinds there is much to be excited about, with a strong development pipeline promising key investments in green economic growth and enhanced resilience.

“With sustainability sitting at the heart of Manchester’s strategy, transport will be a particular focus. As the city council aims to reduce car-based trips into the city, continued investment into cycling infrastructure, enhanced walking and cycling routes and the ongoing process of removing cars from the city centre will all be priorities. Other, larger scale projects will help to further consolidate this, including planned expansions to the Metrolink and expanding Greater Manchester’s greener modes of transport.”

Preston Pets At Home employee nominated for Community Hero Award

Olivia McHugh

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07/02/2023

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Preston Pets At Home employee nominated for Community Hero Award

Amy Angus, a Preston-local, at Pets At Home (Charity Manager for the company) has just been shortlisted for a ‘Community Hero award’ at the prestigious Retail Week Awards 2023, the benchmark of excellence in the sector!

Amy is one of only a handful of individuals from across the UK to have been shortlisted for the Community Hero award which celebrates the vital and unique role that retail plays in local communities. On the back of the pandemic, and at a time when shoppers and their communities are affected more than ever by the cost of living crisis, this award applauds individuals or teams who have gone above and beyond their day job to help others. The judges will be observing nominations that demonstrate the positive impact retailers can have on people’s lives on a local level and that shine a light on the true brand ambassadors in their business. 2023 judges include Mike Coupe, Executive Chair at New Look, Oak Furniture Land, Simon Roberts, CEO at Sainsbury’s, Jo Jenkins, CEO at White Stuff and more.

In terms of Amy’s background and reasons as to why she stands out & testimonials:

Amy joined Pets at Home Preston store 10 years ago, and has been Community and Charity Manager for the last four years. She always goes above and beyond to support pets and the people who love them and never stops searching for new ways we can help. Amy has been nominated for this award as she continually puts the community at the heart of decision-making and works so hard to make a positive difference to pets and the people who love them.

Amy also manages the colleague hardship fund, supporting colleagues who need it most. She has ensured the process for colleagues is streamlined, so support can be given effectively. Over 400 colleagues have received funding totalling over £600,000.

However, over and above her remit, Amy strives to support those who need it most, for example:

-When the crisis in Ukraine unfolded, she immediately took action to see how the business could help. Within weeks, Amy launched an online fundraiser which raised over £100,000 within 4 weeks, which was supported by an additional £100k pledge from the business. This has been the biggest UK fundraising campaign targeting pets impacted by the war. Amy then worked alongside experts and organisations on a daily and weekly basis to ensure the funds were awarded where and when it was needed most. Amy held check ins with the organisations to ensure the support was reviewed and the impact shared with our customers and colleagues.

-In response to the cost-of-living crisis, Amy was passionate about supporting people within communities who were facing the difficult decision over whether they could afford to feed their pets. In response to this need, Amy developed and led the business’ response launching the first UK nationwide trial of pet food banks to help keep more pets and people together in loving homes.

Outside of work Amy also goes out of her way to support her local community:

-Amy is the section leader for her local Cubs group, supporting 20 children on a weekly basis with engaging and educational child-led programmes.

-Chair of the local school fundraising group, raising over £5,000 in the last 5 months.

– Safeguarding Governor for the local school.

Amy’s kindness for those in need shines through, supporting people and communities inside and outside of work, it is part of her DNA. She is a true brand ambassador for the business putting her energy and passion into helping pets and people who love them in local communities.”

Funds raised

-Over £5 million raised within the last 12 months

-Over £100,000 raised and £100,000 pledged to support the Ukraine crisis

Impact

-Over £3.5 million donated through grants funding supporting 86 organisations

-1,100 pallets of food distributed to pets in need

-Over 9,500 hours donated through community days

-Record-breaking fundraising events including £2.2 million raised in the Santa Paws appeal.

-Driving 342 local community relationships between stores and charities

-Supporting over 400 colleagues through times of hardship

-Launching pet food bank initiative across the UK

Testimonials

Kelly Grellier, Chief Operating Officer, Blue Cross:

“Every conversation we have had over the past year or so you demonstrate your core motivation for both pets and their people. But you don’t just talk about it you take action. From a comment during a meeting on Ukraine, where I mentioned we were working on a national food bank solution, you were positive from the outset and saw the potential to work together to have a greater impact and ensure pets did not go hungry.

“Your focus is always centred on ensuring that what we do will definitely make the biggest difference for pets and people. At the risk of embarrassing you, I love the things that make you tear up, seeing the pet loss room in our Grimsby hospital and how it was set up to be a tranquil space – because you know what that will mean to owners and knowing the precise number of pets that have not gone hungry because of the pet food banks, picturing their happy wagging tails!

“I really hope you win this award, you work tirelessly to help as many people and their pets as possible nationwide and you never give up because a problem is knotty, you keep going with the end impact in mind.”

Robert Kent, Chief Data Officer, Pets at Home:

“Amy is the driving force behind all of our charitable initiatives and has had another fantastic year as Charity and Community Manager at Pets at Home. A few of the highlights from the year include the successful launch our new company volunteering programme “Our Better World Pledge” days; an amazing fundraising campaign focussing on helping pets in need in Ukraine raising over £100k, and our most successful “Santa Paws” fundraiser to date that enables the Foundation to continue to be the biggest grant giver to rescues across the UK and award grants to small and large rescues and other pet charities across the UK”

Amy is now getting ready to attend the Retail Week Awards ceremony in London on 30 March which will celebrate the standout achievements of the retail workforce over the last year.

STAGECOACH OPERATIONS MANAGER PRAISED FOR HEROIC ACTIONS, AS BRAVERY HELPED TO SAVE MAN FROM VIOLENT ATTACK

Olivia McHugh

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07/02/2023

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<strong>STAGECOACH OPERATIONS MANAGER PRAISED FOR HEROIC ACTIONS, AS BRAVERY HELPED TO SAVE MAN FROM VIOLENT ATTACK</strong>

Stagecoach Manchester Operations Manager Zachary McAskill has been praised for heroic actions whilst on the job and honoured with a Star of the Month award.

Zachary has been recognised for his bravery when responding to a situation outside of Stagecoach Manchester’s Hyde Road depot, which saw him intervene when five men attacked one man, with one of the attackers visibly carrying a knife.

Zachary was able to diffuse the situation which meant the victim was free to board a bus that was waiting at the bus stop.

Zachary’s bravery and calm demeanour allowed the victim to escape a potentially deadly situation and head to safety.

As part of Stagecoach Manchester’s monthly staff recognition programme, an employee from each depot is commended for their efforts, from exceptional customer service to looking after their local communities, with one member of staff chosen to receive the company’s Star of the Month.

When asked about his courageous actions, Zachary said: “I’m just glad that I was there to help the man who was in danger. That situation could have easily escalated and ended with a loss of life.”

Lee Wasnidge, Managing Director of Stagecoach Manchester, also commented: “Stagecoach strives to serve its community, but the action taken by Zachary when faced with this terrifying situation was truly outstanding. His bravery helped a person escape from danger and he should be very proud of himself, just as we are of him.

“Zachary is truly deserving of this month’s Star of the Month award, and we’re proud to have him on our team.”

Tech Returners acquired by Northcoders in £1.5m deal

Olivia McHugh

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07/02/2023

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Tech Returners acquired by Northcoders in £1.5m deal

Northcoders – the Manchester-headquartered independent provider of training programmes for software coding and data engineering, which also has sites in Leeds, Newcastle and Birmingham – has acquired Tech Returners in a cash and shares deal worth £1.5m. A 120-person company will be created as a result of the deal tomorrow (Wednesday 8th February).

Tech Returners is predicted to be fully integrated into Northcoders by Q2-2023 and will continue to operate under its existing brand. Founders Beckie Taylor and James Heggs will join the Northcoders senior leadership team on completion of the deal. The two businesses share a myriad of values – especially around promoting inclusivity and diversity in tech – so this deal will build on those with new focused initiatives and projects expected to launch over the coming year.

Established in 2016 and based in Manchester, Tech Returners specialises in training and placing of mid – senior level professionals looking to re-enter the workplace after a career break in the technology sector. The business uses its industry leading knowledge and techniques to refresh and up-skill corporate-sponsored individuals or existing corporate teams for large businesses across a number of industries. Across the Tech Returners brand, the team deliver award-winning programmes focused on software engineering, confidence, and digital leadership. Its client roster has included global brands such as AutoTrader, BBC, booking.com, checkout.com, The Guardian, Holiday Extras, Lloyds, On the Beach and the Telegraph.

Following the acquisition, Northcoders will not only benefit from entry into a new service area, specialising in mid – senior level re-training, but the team of 16 at Tech Returners will support the company in building a significant presence in key locations such as London. There is a solid shared cultural focus between the two firms – especially around diversity in the technology sector, with over 60% of returners being women and a strong track record of training ex-services personnel, refugees and supporting international disposition.

In 2019 Beckie, who is the 12th most influential woman in tech according to Computer Weekly, founded Reframe Women in Tech – the largest Women in Tech conference in the North of England – which she will continue to run and grow as part of the Northcoders Group. Whilst James will continue to run the hugely successful DevOps Manchester meetup. He has also been instrumental in helping to set up the new Northcoders DevOps course which is launching in March.

Chris Hill – CEO of Northcoders – said: “Northcoders and Tech Returners share many common goals and values so this deal is an exciting step in our joint evolutions. Over the past eight years, Northcoders has grown to become one of the country’s leading coding bootcamps and is respected across the tech ecosystem as a place that produces talented junior devs in software development, data engineering and dev ops. Tech Returners have been on a similar mission but for experienced people returning to tech.

Chris added: “As a result of this deal we will become the only organisation that allows businesses access to the most diverse and comprehensive pool of top tech experts across all experience levels, and that’s something that will stand us apart from the competition.”

Beckie Taylor commented: “James and I have respected and collaborated with Northcoders in the past, so we know the fit is right. Our shared objectives are to ultimately drive talent retention in businesses, to attract the best and most passionate minds in the tech industry and to help build diverse teams. By combining our experiences and skillsets, I believe that we will create something really special that will have a lasting impact.”

New partnership between Greater Manchester and Daikin boosts innovation for net zero energy and to retrofit homes

Olivia McHugh

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07/02/2023

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New partnership between Greater Manchester and Daikin boosts innovation for net zero energy and to retrofit homes

GREATER Manchester has signed a new landmark partnership with Japanese manufacturer Daikin that will see up to 1,000 homes benefit from low-carbon retrofitting trials.

The agreement, which is the first of its kind between a UK city-region and a Japanese firm, will also see Greater Manchester become a test-bed for new net zero technologies and services, with the aim of boosting investment and job creation in the city-region.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Friday 3 February by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Chairman of the board of Daikin Europe N.V. and Senior Executive Officer of Daikin Industries, Ltd., Masatsugu Minaka.

Across the next two years, between 800 and 1,000 homes across Greater Manchester will benefit from trials of retrofitting measures and low-carbon heating technologies, including air-source heat pumps.

The new partnership is the result of seven years of collaboration between Greater Manchester and Daikin which has seen several hundred air-source heat pumps already installed in social housing developments across Wigan, Bury, and North Manchester – the largest such project in Europe.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:

“This landmark partnership between Greater Manchester and Daikin builds on years of collaboration and friendship between our city-region and Japan. It’s a vote of confidence in our ambitious, science-based plans to become carbon neutral by 2038, and shows how we’re using our international outreach to make a positive difference to people right here in Greater Manchester.

“We want to connect the dots between decarbonising our homes and buildings, fostering net zero innovation, and developing skills in the green industries of the future. As part of our Trailblazer negotiations with the Government we are making the case for more devolved control in these areas, and for the role that city-regions have to play in addressing shared global challenges. This partnership with Daikin will provide a strong foundation for more opportunities to bring those green jobs, skills, and investment to Greater Manchester.”

Masatsugu Minaka, Chairman of the board of Daikin Europe N.V. and Senior Executive Officer of Daikin Industries, Ltd., said:

“This pioneering partnership between Daikin and GMCA will see Greater Manchester take significant steps towards its goal to become carbon neutral by 2038. We believe this relationship is a best practice approach to meeting decarbonisation targets in social housing.

“We are committed to making a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of Greater Manchester and will continue to engage in public-private partnerships in the future, as well as bringing innovative environmental technologies to market in the UK and across Europe.”

The signing of the new agreement took place following a visit to the Green Skills Academy in Trafford Park. The newly opened facility will offer comprehensive training in a range of low-carbon technologies and skills, and will play a crucial role in Greater Manchester’s ambitions to become carbon neutral by 2038.

In October 2022 a delegation from Greater Manchester, including representatives from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Manchester Metropolitan University, SSE, and MIDAS, visited Osaka to meet with Daikin and other partners, and discuss opportunities for collaboration. This was followed by a return delegation from Japan, facilitated by MIDAS and the Greater Manchester-Japan Steering Group, featuring members of the Osaka City Council, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hitachi Zosen, Hitachi Zosen Inova, and Daikin Europe N.V.

Developing UK-Japan relations has been a priority in recent years, and in 2021 the Greater Manchester-Japan Steering Group was formed to explore how the city-region can increase trade, investment, and research opportunities. The group brings together a diverse network of stakeholders from business, academia, and the private and public sectors.

Manchester Young Professionals’ popular Mentoring Programme is back – here’s how to apply and develop your career

Employment

Olivia McHugh

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07/02/2023

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<strong>Manchester Young Professionals’ popular Mentoring Programme is back – here’s how to apply and develop your career</strong>

Networking group Manchester Young Professionals (MYP) is opening applications for its sought-after 2023 Mentoring Programme this month (February 9th).

They’re inviting professionals across the area to take advantage of the free and cross-industry initiative before spaces fill up. It will see like-minded individuals paired up to offer invaluable insights, knowledge and guidance that will give them an edge in the world of work and beyond.

The fourth cohort of MYP Mentoring will take place from February to December – and people can apply to be a mentor, mentee or both – depending on what stage of their career they’re in.

Each mentee will be connected with a suitable mentor, who will provide expert guidance and specific advice covering all areas of career progression, including applications, networking, building connections within their industry, as well as support with development plans.

While the mentoring programme launched in 2021, MYP was founded in 2013 by Rich Tyrrell and Andrew Bennie, after they noticed a lack of opportunities to connect with their peers outside of work. The pair set out to bring people together, both personally and professionally, across hundreds of fun and accessible networking events in Manchester.

Using a free online Personality Questionnaire, and carefully considering a combination of industry, educational background, university, outside-of-work interests and respective objectives, MYP follows a robust matching process after applications are received through the website.

Whether you’re a Trainee, Undergraduate, Associate or Director, there will be opportunities to develop and also to learn from others in the MYP community.

Since the start of the mentoring programme, MYP has matched more than 200 mentors and mentees. Mentees are led by the objectives of their relevant mentors through regular calls, emails and face-to-face catch-ups.

One success story is from Manchester-based Alexis Holt, Adidas’ paid Search Assistant Manager, who entered the mentoring program in 2021 for assistance in self-development and professional advancement and was paired with mentor, Alex Di Giuseppe.

Since then, Alexia has claimed much of her skill set, knowledge and confidence were enhanced by this pairing, contributing to her success at Adidas. She became the proud winner of the ‘’Most Confident Performance’’ award at this year’s EU Superstar Awards, as a result of her dedication to her role.

Alexia attributes her recent award to her mentor, a connection that was established as part of MYP’s mentoring scheme: “Paramount to my success is the project involvement and guidance I’ve been lucky to have had by my mentor Alex Di Giuseppe”.

The scheme continues to grow and get great results for applicants. For more details or to apply to be part of the next intake, simply complete the sign-up form here from Thursday 9th February.

Megan Ritchie, Client Service Executive at Manchester-based digital marketing Embryo, revealed how the programme was instrumental in her career progression: “As I’d recently moved into a new role within my existing company (and into a new department), the programme came at such a good time to help broaden my skillset and help equip me for this new role.

“I was paired with someone in a similar role to me but more senior, so she was the perfect person to learn from. We’d set agendas for our sessions and cover different topics, but even just the tips and tricks I learnt for the day-to-day of my role were super helpful!

“By the end of the programme, I’d already been promoted internally – I strongly believe my experience in the mentorship programme assisted that. Having a mentor external to your place of work just adds another element to your development – and it’s one I can’t recommend highly enough!”

Rich Tyrrell, co founder of Manchester Young Professionals, said:

“Since Andrew and I moved to Manchester, we noticed there wasn’t really anything out there like this that was inclusive, that was free to come along to or be a part of. MYP has continued to grow and we are lucky to have run hundreds of successful events over the years, experiencing so many new venues that this city has to offer – it really is a great time to be in Manchester.

“We’re excited to be opening applications for our fourth cohort. With a growing, dynamic and diverse young professionals community, and taking on board positive and constructive feedback from our first two cohorts of mentors and mentees, we’re looking for individuals from the MYP Community to develop one another and build up your network in the process.

“Each mentee will be assigned a mentor who they have something in common with, be it sector, degree background, university or outside of work interests. We’re encouraging people to apply for the 2023 Mentoring programme before spaces fill up. But, if you do miss out this time, the next application window will open again in January 2024.

“Because MYP is all about connecting people, we are excited to hold our first mentoring event to launch this intake. It will take place at our Breakfast Club at Albert’s Schloss on Thursday 9th February where applicants have the opportunity to connect face-to-face.

“Check out our events page for more information on how to get involved.”

RETIREMENT DEVELOPER SUPPORTS APPRENTICES IN THE NORTH WEST

Olivia McHugh

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07/02/2023

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<strong>RETIREMENT DEVELOPER SUPPORTS APPRENTICES IN THE NORTH WEST</strong>

ROSIE, AGED 19 FROM PRESTON, TALKS ABOUT STARTING A CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION, AND HOW SHE WANTS TO ENCOURAGE MORE GIRLS INTO THE SECTOR

Rosie Coyle – Level 4 Construction Management apprenticeship

A long-held passion for building and construction was behind Rosie Coyle from Preston’s decision to pursue an apprenticeship with the UK’s leading manager and developer of retirement communities.

Rosie is based at McCarthy Stone’s North West’s divisional office in Altrincham, as part of the development team, which means that she is working on some of its new, state-of-the-art retirement living developments in areas right across the region, including Liverpool and Greater Manchester.

Rosie, 19, started her level 4 construction site supervisor apprenticeship in September 2022 after completing her A-levels, and is loving the variety of the course and the different perspectives it brings.

“I changed my mind a lot when I was younger, about what I wanted to do with my career. I’d been around building sites in the past and had been fascinated by the process. I began looking into apprenticeships and it became clear this was the right path for me.

“As a girl at a very academically focused school, a career in construction was perhaps an unusual choice – but I’m loving it and I’ve no regrets.”

Rosie continued: “I love the fact that in the construction industry you can see the difference and the progress you are making. You can experience the complete lifespan of a project, from acquisition of a piece of land, right through to completion and new homeowners moving in; and when you’re on site you can see the build progress day by day.”

Rosie’s reasons for choosing an apprenticeship rather than another learning path were clear and simple: “I learn best while working on the job. Working alongside learning means I am able to pick things up quicker.”

“It’s also helping me develop my communication and problem-solving skills, while I’m able to gain valuable knowledge by asking questions of the experts as I go.”

As well as working on site doing various rotations between the different specialist teams, Rosie attends college 32 hours per month where she is learning the theory behind quantity surveying and site management.

Rosie chose McCarthy Stone to apply for an apprenticeship due to their strong reputation in the sector. “McCarthy Stone are a well-established company and therefore I knew I would be learning from people with great knowledge. I also liked the ethos of the company. Creating communities for the elderly that allow them to live independently for as long as possible, and where they have easy access to support is very important, and with an increasingly ageing population, we need to build more of this type of housing to better cater to their needs.”

Rosie thinks more girls would consider a career in construction if they knew about all the options available.

“Some girls may be put off by the fact that construction has historically been quite male dominated, however I have come across lots of women during my training who are hugely successful within the field. I’m really enjoying my apprenticeship and would encourage other girls to consider construction as a worthwhile career. There are so many diverse roles that you can do and so much opportunity to build on these skills and qualifications.”

More than nine out of 10 customers would recommend McCarthy Stone to a friend, ensuring it has received the full Five Star award for customer satisfaction from the Home Builders Federation. McCarthy Stone is the only UK housebuilder of any size or type to achieve this rating every year we have taken part in the survey.

McCarthy Stone boasts over forty years’ experience in creating award-winning premium properties that are thoughtfully designed to assist retirees as they grow older. A McCarthy Stone apartment offers more than a stylish home to feel proud of. It gives retirees access to a vibrant, community of neighbours and friends. Homeowners can get as much or as little support as they need. Plus, all its properties are carefully located within easy access to amenities, like shops, restaurants and sports facilities.

For more information about retirement living in the North West, please visit McCarthy Stone.

North West Hydrogen Alliance strengthens as hydrogen producers Vertex Hydrogen and Carlton Power join

Olivia McHugh

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07/02/2023

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North West Hydrogen Alliance strengthens as hydrogen producers Vertex Hydrogen and Carlton Power join

Two leading hydrogen production companies, who are committed to bringing low carbon hydrogen to the UK, have joined the North West Hydrogen Alliance (NWHA).

Vertex Hydrogen and Carlton Power have added their weight to the NWHA, a growing body of the most influential organisations in the North West focused on developing the nation’s hydrogen economy.

Vertex Hydrogen, a joint venture between Essar Oil UK and Progressive Energy, is designing, developing and building the UK’s first low carbon hydrogen production plant. An essential part of the HyNet Track 1 low carbon cluster – selected by Government to progress as one of the first in the UK – the production plant with a capacity of 1GW will be located at the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex located in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. The hydrogen will replace the use of fossil fuels in industry and so rapidly reduce CO₂ emissions.

Carlton Power is developing a number of green hydrogen production facilities around the UK, with two planned in the North West. Plans for a 200MW green hydrogen project in Trafford, Greater Manchester, were permitted in October 2022. Trafford Green Hydrogen forms part of the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park which includes the largest liquid air energy storage scheme in Europe and one of the largest battery storage schemes in the UK. Plans for a similar facility in Barrow, Cumbria were submitted late last year.

Joseph Seifert, Chief Executive at Vertex Hydrogen said: “We are very proud to be developing the first large scale, low carbon hydrogen production hub in the UK, right here in the North West as we fuel the decarbonisation of the region and help secure and grow our vital industries with highly skilled jobs. NWHA is a critical element of growing the hydrogen economy and we are delighted to have joined.”

Eric Adams, Projects Director at Carlton Power said: “Carlton Power are a leading developer of energy projects in the UK, in addition to the planned Trafford Green Hydrogen situated at the old Carrington Coal Fired Power Station, we are progressing with plans for up to 800MW of green hydrogen projects across the UK.

“We are excited to join the Alliance to provide support in enabling the use of green hydrogen across the North West region, which will complement the HyNet scheme by providing hydrogen to smaller industrial users in advance of injection of hydrogen into the gas network.”

The NWHA recently launched the UK’s first national Hydrogen Week. Taking place on 13^th-19^th February 2023 it will bring together stakeholders across the UK, celebrating and promoting the role of hydrogen in reaching net zero. A showcase event Delivering the Hydrogen Economy is being held in Liverpool on 14^th February with speakers including Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, INOVYN, Cadent, Vertex Hydrogen and Carlton Power.

Professor Joe Howe, Chair of the NWHA and Executive Director, Energy Research Institute at the University of Chester, said: “The North West is at the heart of the UK’s hydrogen economy with great things happening across the full chain of production, distribution, transport, storage and fuel switching. It’s great to welcome Vertex Hydrogen and Carlton Power to the North West Hydrogen Alliance, who as future hydrogen producers are a vitally important part of the jigsaw. The news couldn’t be more timely as we gear up for the UK’s first Hydrogen Week later this month, which will shine a spotlight on all the amazing hydrogen projects taking place not just in the North West but all across the nation.”

The North West Hydrogen Alliance is the largest industry-funded regional hydrogen alliance, representing 38 of the UK’s most influential organisations driving forward the development of a hydrogen economy in the North West of England.

Which Trades are the Biggest Earners?

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Claire James

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07/02/2023

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Choosing a career is no easy task, particularly when markets are uneasy and recession looms. Businesses are on shaky ground, just as the consumers that justify them. But while white-collar companies threaten to topple, trade entities are much more likely to weather the storm – and offer a reliable route to income for hard-pressed households. Which trades, though, are the biggest earners – and which might you consider leaning towards in your own career development?

Trades in High Demand

According to data collected by Indeed, the highest-paying trade jobs fold practical, hands-on experience in with more theoretical understandings of systems and processes. Just as an architect earns more than a joiner, building inspectors earn more than the builders themselves. Building inspectors earn an average of £37,187 per year.

However, it is true that trade work is in uniquely high demand at the moment. This is more starkly visible in electrical engineering, where domestic electricians are in short supply – in turn, driving up the cost of call-outs, and raising salaries for those that do start a career in electrical work. The average salary for an electrician is £32,187 per year, with wages skewing higher for said demand.

New Niches

While demand is enough to make many ‘bread-and-butter’ trades highly lucrative for new entrants, it is also the case that new demands are emerging in response to new generational needs. A key example of this might be sustainable trades, such as solar panel installation or the fitting of other eco-friendly alternatives to energy and heating.

These technologies are no longer cutting-edge, but they continue to be refined – and require a knowledge base all of their own to install correctly. This knowledge base includes electrical engineering and structural architecture, amongst other things. Training for these trades would put one in good stead for a well-paying role in an industry guaranteed to see more clients over the next two decades.

A Word of Warning

If you are looking for advice on the best place to place your efforts with regard to a lucrative career, then this is word of warning for you. Trade jobs of any description are highly effort-intensive, whether through gruelling shifts or the sheer volume of physical labour required. This is to say nothing of the niche knowledge required to succeed in certain fields, and the niche-specific risks that you would face over the course of a given day.

None of the above should be enough to dissuade you from pursuing a dream career in a trade – but it should be enough to dissuade those of you looking for little more than an opportunity to raise your salary. Trade work requires considerable discipline, good physical condition and a commitment to progression – without these, a career in any of the above trades will not work for you.

Tempt Agency Announces New Partnership with Unity Radio’s New Talent Academy

Olivia McHugh

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07/02/2023

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Tempt Agency Announces New Partnership with Unity Radio’s New Talent Academy

Manchester-based Marketing & PR agency Tempt is celebrating its recently formed partnership with Unity Radio’s New Talent Academy.

With a 20-year history and 30,000 weekly listeners, Unity Radio broadcasts dance and urban music on 92.8FM, DAB and online. Based at Media City’s HOST, Unity Radio’s New Talent Academy provides NCFE-accredited courses in TV & Film, Radio and Music Production for school leavers and young people in Greater Manchester.

Since launching in 2021, New Talent Academy offers ‘real life learning’ experiences and has seen previous students progress into roles such as presenting for Unity Radio and BBC Radio One.

With ambitious plans ahead for the community-led initiative, Tempt is engaged to deliver tactics with the aim of increasing awareness, recognition and interest. This includes brand strategy, PR and digital marketing in order to generate coverage, share success stories and facilitate new sponsorship opportunities.

Tempt will also be raising awareness of Unity Radio’s ‘Presenting Under Pressure’ corporate team-building workshops, which give companies from all sectors the chance to present their own radio show live on air.

Established in 2018, Tempt is an award-winning marketing agency that delivers powerful, creative, and memorable consumer campaigns. Based in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, Tempt has managed marketing and PR campaigns for brands including Mercure Hotels, Olive Branch Fostering, Ewe Bar & Restaurant, Bar Hütte, Pong & Puck, and Victoria Warehouse.

Managing Director of Tempt, Beccy Gibson says: “We’re really excited to be involved in this rewarding, community-led project, supporting the next generation of talent in Greater Manchester. New Talent Academy is an amazing asset to the community, driving social value and giving learners the chance to get hands-on broadcast experience with industry professionals. We can’t wait to continue working with the team.”

Lee Dinsdale, Director of Unity Radio and New Talent Academy, says “Last year, New Talent Academy supported 87 learners – 10 going into further education, 25 taking on volunteering roles and 19 going into employment within the creative, media and digital sector. This year, we plan to build drastically on these figures, making a real impact in the community. We chose to work with Tempt because of their passion, creativity and strategic approach, we’re thrilled to be working with the agency as they support us on the journey ahead.”

Join the conversion on Tempt’s socials: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and TikTok.

Trades in High Demand

New Niches

A Word of Warning

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