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Shoppers in Greater Manchester urged to support UK’s biggest food drive.

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01/12/2022

Shoppers in Greater Manchester urged to support UK’s biggest food drive.

Shoppers encouraged to help as the Trussell Trust and FareShare expect to provide food to 1.2million people in the UK this winter

Generous shoppers in Greater Manchester are being asked to donate to the UK’s biggest food drive this weekend as charities warn of increasing need for food.

The 10^th annual Tesco Food Collection, which takes place in every Tesco store from December 1st to 3rd, comes as charities the Trussell Trust and FareShare expect to provide food to 1.2million people in the UK this winter.

During the collection shoppers are being encouraged to donate long-life food items at their local Tesco store. The donations will support food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network to provide emergency parcels to people in crisis and help FareShare supplement fresh food donations to thousands of frontline charities.

The items most needed by local foodbanks and charities will be highlighted in store, and shoppers at large stores will also be able to pick up pre-filled donation bags containing items that food banks and local charities have chosen. During the collection Tesco customers can also round up their bill at the till to make a small donation to the charities or donate Clubcard vouchers online, with Tesco matching their value.

“Our customers have been incredibly generous during our decade-long partnership with the charities and have helped to donate more than 100 million meals worth of food to date,” said Tesco CEO Ken Murphy.

“This is going to be a difficult winter for food banks and charities and every can, packet or jar our customers donate to this weekend’s Tesco Food Collection will make a difference. We will top up all those donations with 20% in cash to support the charities.”

Miranda Kaunang, Development Manager at FareShare Greater Manchester, said: “Ten years on, the Tesco Food Collection has never been more important. The ongoing cost of living crisis has forced millions of people into food insecurity.

“This event is crucial in helping to collect long-life food and we are immensely grateful to Tesco for their continued support which will help us to continue getting food where it is most needed. If you’re able to donate just one item at your local store, you’ll be helping to provide a meal for someone facing economic hardship this winter.”

“We are extremely grateful to Tesco for the invaluable support that they have provided to food banks across the UK over the last decade, said Emma Revie, Chief Executive of the Trussell Trust. Tesco and its customers are the biggest single source of food donations for the Trussell Trust’s network of food banks but our partnership has also offered far more than just food.

“Now, at a time when food banks in Greater Manchester are facing a tsunami of need created by the soaring cost of living, the support of Tesco and their customers is appreciated now more than ever before. We encourage anyone who is in a position to make a donation to visit a Tesco store across Greater Manchester and take part in the Winter Collection, you’ll be helping keep food banks open this winter.”

Improving Innovation in Your Business

Business support

Sam Allcock

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30/11/2022

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Innovation is the application of new ideas to create better results, and in business, it’s an essential part of developing a competitive advantage. If you’re running a business, looking for ways to innovate and improve your business is the key to delivering a better product or service to your customers and increasing the revenue that you generate.

You can achieve innovation by adopting new technologies, improving business processes, meeting changing customer demands and needs or creating better internal systems. Your company’s ability to innovate will directly affect its competitiveness and survival. However, for innovation to succeed, it needs to have the support of everyone in the company, including you, your employees, and any other business partners. Embracing startup-focused software development can provide a valuable avenue for fostering innovation and staying ahead in the rapidly evolving business landscape.

Successfully innovating allows your business to stay ahead of the competition, although it’s not easy to achieve. Your business strategy, capacity, market knowledge, and procedure adherence will all influence how you approach innovation. These procedures can frequently expand your company’s capability for little or no additional expense. If you’re looking to improve how your business innovates, you can find strategic innovation courses online. You can also follow these steps to help implement more innovative practices.

Hiring the Right People

Any business needs to focus on hiring the right people to be successful, but if you’re trying to foster an innovative culture, you really need to focus on your hiring process first. The hiring process can be difficult, but it’s essential to get it right in order to save costs and create the right culture. You should be identifying and hiring people that not only share the values of your company but also have an innovative mindset and the ability to think outside the box.

You can introduce questioning in the hiring process that seeks to better identify innovative and creative thinking. You can also look for candidates that have past experience with helping previous companies innovate. Finally, you should be looking for people with different perspectives and backgrounds. Hiring people from different backgrounds leads to a more diverse and innovative team.

Encouraging the Sharing of Ideas and Collaboration

Establish working procedures that will motivate staff to collaborate and find the best ways to. You can put innovative concepts into practice to help promote participation, such as permitting work swaps that develop fresh viewpoints from various employees. In order to help solve common issues, you might also permit brainstorming meetings with individuals from different departments too.

Idea sharing should be encouraged as much as possible, with employees able to bring up suggestions to their managers when possible. Honest feedback should also be accepted and it’s important that all aspects of the business are as transparent as possible. Some companies increase innovation by providing a common area where all employees can interact in a relaxed environment and share ideas more openly.

Reward Innovative Thinking and Don’t Punish Failures

As a business owner, you want to encourage innovative thinking as much as possible. This means rewarding employees who share ideas and also ensuring that people aren’t punished for ideas that don’t work out. By punishing attempts at innovation, you’re making your employees less likely to try again in the future.

The people who work for you should feel motivated to provide new ideas and to give their all. Motivation can be as simple as giving praise to those who have done a good job, but other rewards can include gift cards, cash bonuses and days off.

Provide Training to Employees

If you want to retain your employees and for them to improve and get better while working for you, it’s a good idea to provide the right level of training and education. You can help your employees develop their skills through online courses and training that focuses on problem-solving or on implementing new ideas.

The Key Role of BPO for Businesses

Business support

Sam Allcock

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30/11/2022

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Modern businesses have been made more efficient by the advent of an ingenious new practice: Business Processes Outsourcing. It’s a term with which decision-makers across the business world have become suddenly familiar. But what exactly does it mean, and how can it benefit your business? Let’s take a look.

BPO Explained

Business Process Outsourcing, or BPO as it’s more commonly known, means allowing an external contractor to perform a specific function that’s key to the business. This tends to mean anything that could theoretically be handled ‘in-house’, but which is instead outsourced.

It’s a way of collaborating with more specialised experts – or those with the broad expertise necessary to join up different processes. It’s something that businesses, nonprofits, and government organisations now do.

Certain tasks are more commonly outsourced than others. You might entrust your accounts and payroll processes to a third party, or your customer support, or your sales and loyalty initiatives. Similarly, a specialised courier will be able to provide same-day delivery.

How does BPO help businesses?

The main benefit of outsourcing is that it frees up resources in the main business. Rather than spend time and energy picking up a new capability, the business can focus on what it’s good at. This tends to mean a more efficient workload. If a problem should arise with the third party, then the arrangement can be easily reexamined and possibly rearranged.

The Main Benefits of BPO

There are several other substantial benefits to BPO.

Specialisation

A specialised entity might be able to perform a specific task much more effectively than your business can internally. For example, an accountant who files hundreds of returns in a year will likely be able to handle your return with far greater speed and efficiency.

What’s more, when you entrust certain functions to a specialist, your business becomes freer to specialise. Provided that you have a few members of staff with the range of experience and skills necessary to analyse and coordinate everyone, this can be a tremendous boon.

Technology

As a result of their specialisation, a business of this kind might be able to invest in more specific tools which would be out of the reach of your business. So, the company that comes in to deal with your IT might have access to technical tools that are beyond your reach or understanding.

Cost control

Companies that outsource tend to have a better grasp of the cost of a particular activity and are, therefore, in a better position to bring those costs under control.

Experience

BPO companies tend to function not only as service providers, but as expert consultants, whose input might lead to broader improvements in the business. In some cases, you might hire outside consultants to come in with troubleshooting in mind from the start.

Manchester-based developer Northern Group brings pet-friendly city living to the Northern Quarter with new apartments

News Desk

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30/11/2022

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Manchester-based developer Northern Group brings pet-friendly city living to the Northern Quarter with new apartments

Northern Group, the Manchester-based developer behind numerous domestic and coworking spaces across Manchester’s city centre, is proving to be ahead of the curve when it comes to meeting the needs of the city’s animal-loving renters. Its new development, The Quarters, brings pet-friendly apartments to the city’s infamous Northern Quarter, with the development’s completion comes after news of the government’s changes to tenancy rules but well before the law is introduced in spring 2023.

The Quarters, situated on Spear Street and Oldham Street in the heart of Manchester’s creative quarter and hipster hotspot, has been popular with renters, with phase one positively received. This ‘pawfect’ pet-friendly development comprises 100 one-bedroom, two-bedroom two-bathroom spacious apartments, 100 cycle parking spaces and four fabulous communal roof terraces located over five and eight-storey blocks. The second phase is now available for rent and will include three-bedroom and three-bathroom apartments. A showroom is now available.

The apartments were designed to bring life back to Oldham Street after the former Dobbins Department Store was fire damaged in 2013.

As well as offering the very warmest of welcomes to the city’s four-legged friends – The Quarters will have a dedicated rooftop for dog meetups, with bins and dog bowls and each new tenant moving in with a four-legged friend will get a free introductory offer to Doggyland Park in New Islington. A free introductory dog walk will be offered to residents, allowing them to test out the local pet companion services that the area has to offer. The Quarters also provide a daytime concierge, smart bookable workspaces and meeting rooms. Broadband completes the package to make this a reliable home for hybrid working.

All these amenities fall within the monthly rent, which starts at £1,075 for an unfurnished one-bedroom apartment.

Recently, the government published plans to give private tenants the ‘legal right’ to have a pet. It’s hoped that the Renters Reform Bill will stop blanket “no pet” clauses being imposed by landlords, but it’s not expected to be introduced until the end of spring 2023.

Under the government’s proposed new rules, it will be easier for responsible tenants with well-behaved pets to secure rented accommodation. The new standard agreement has consent for pets as the default position and landlords will no longer be able to blanket ban pets without good reason. If a landlord does have an objection, they will have to put their reasons in writing within 28 days of a tenant making a written pet request. Tenants will also have a legal duty to repair or cover the cost of repairs to any property damage caused by their pet.

In the meantime, only 7% of private UK landlords advertise pet-friendly properties, despite 52% of adults being pet owners. A recent report from one leading animal welfare charity highlights the difficulties facing tenants when it comes to pet ownership.

Demand for pet-friendly rental accommodation is high – even more so since the pandemic, during which over 3.2 million UK households bought a pet. Today, 43% of tenants own a pet and a further 33% hope to in the future. This sees 76% of tenants being impacted by landlord pet policies, making restrictions on pets very problematic for around 3.6 million households.

Emily and Tom, who have recently moved into The Quarters – along with their short-haired moggie called Holmes said: “Pets are part of the family and so having a home that welcomes them is important, especially in today’s world. With it becoming increasingly difficult to get onto the property ladder more people are renting for much longer, but most apartments still don’t welcome animals. The company of a cat, dog, rabbit, snake, or whatever you have, can have great mental health benefits – this especially rang true during the pandemic when people were home alone. When searching for a new apartment, it being pet-friendly was one of our key requirements, and The Quarters have been great at discussing our needs. They are always friendly, and we have been impressed with their service so far”

Paul Dobbs, chief operating officer at Northern Group and agent for the apartments, said: “We set out to lead the way with the launch of The Quarters and what the development means in terms of Manchester city centre living. The developer, Kempton Homes, has designed the property with tenant’s needs in mind, and we’re delighted to launch this one as pet friendly as that’s what they really want.

“We’re a city of animal-lovers. Earlier this year Manchester was named as one of the UK’s most dog-friendly cities. Caring for a pet provides so many health and mood-boosting benefits and the Northern Quarter, which is where this development is located, is absolutely brilliant if you’ve got a dog. From the cafes, bars and restaurants to the shops, so many are super dog-friendly and it’s really easy to get out and about with them.

“There’s a real need to provide more pet-friendly rental accommodation as demand for rentals that let you own a pet is huge – three in four tenants are reportedly looking for exactly this, and we can safely rubber stamp this data as already 50% of new tenants coming to The Quarters own a pet”.

Apartments at The Quarters are ideal for single inhabitants, couples, or shared living. Its one-bedroom portfolio gives tenants the loveliest of city-living spaces with a large L-shape open plan kitchen-living area, sizeable bedroom, bathroom, and convenient utility area. Juliette balconies let in lots of natural light and fresh air when the full height doors are open.

The two-bedroom apartments also have two bathrooms – one of which is en suite – a large L-shaped open-plan kitchen, dining and living area and utility room, as well as lots of storage space. The second phase of the development will deliver three-bedroom apartments, boasting three bathrooms.

The Quarters has created this round-up of some of the best pet-friendly hangouts in the Northern Quarter to take in on your next dog walk. Sniff out a friendly spot for coffee, lunch or a well-deserved pint or glass of wine, not forgetting the ‘Puppucino’:

TOP TIPS FOR GREEN ENERGY DIVERSIFICATION

Legal

News Desk

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30/11/2022

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TOP TIPS FOR GREEN ENERGY DIVERSIFICATION

Priscilla Hall, Head of the Green Energy Sector at national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP, considers how farmers and landowners are continuing to embrace green energy diversification and outlines some key tips to consider when diversifying in green energy for the first time or upgrading existing technology.

Farmers and landowners have always been adaptable in the way they have managed their farms or estates regardless of size, type or location.

An NFU survey found that the proportion of farmers with a diversified business jumped to 37% in 2021 from 30% the year before. This annual increase is bigger than in previous years. In 2019 and 2018 the percentages were 30% and 28% respectively. With national policy guidance to planning authorities supporting farm diversification this is hardly a surprising finding.

The extent to which non-farming activities contribute towards business turnover varies considerably. The NFU survey states that on average it contributed 16% in 2021, up from 11% in 2020.

Any diversification will always be subject to a variety of considerations including the quality and suitability of the land. If the land is used primarily for food production which is graded on its quality – with 1 being excellent and 5 classified as very poor – this will have a bearing on what land can be diversified.

As a general rule the higher the quality the less likely the land will be permitted for diversification. If the land grading is not known, it is worth establishing what it is and any proposed changes to Government policy which is likely to take into consideration energy and food security along with environmental and carbon reduction objectives.

Over the last couple of years there has been significant debate whether to allow onshore wind farms in England. The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has suggested that the Government might reverse its effective ban on onshore wind farms. Currently it needs only one objector to stop a development, but potentially a local consent solution might enable developments to proceed possibly in the form of community ownership.

Diversification can and has come in many different forms from B&Bs, holiday complexes, rural business parks and wedding venues to manufacturing including cheesemaking, wool- filled duvets and clothing, along with the production of gin, beer and cider amongst many other innovative and varied activities. One area which has seen significant diversification in agriculture is renewable energy development over the last three decades.

With the Government increasingly focusing on energy security, reducing consumer energy costs and its commitment to net zero, there has been no better time to consider making farms or estates sustainable. It is estimated that at any point in time a quarter of farmers and landowners are actively considering a green energy diversification strategy. With technological advances, changes in Government policy and the availability of land, I suspect many more will consider this route in the coming months and years.

However, before making any changes it is important to consider any inheritance tax implications to ensure your family do not end up with a large and unexpected tax bill.

Having worked in the renewable energy sector for many years acting for landowners, developers, contractors, and operators, I often get asked about more general questions about what to consider when embarking on renewable energy projects.

With this in mind, I would like to share my top seven tips to consider.

Aims and Objectives

Understand and clearly articulate what the aims and objectives of the project are. They could include reducing expenditure to provide a better overall ROI, establish regular profitable income to support cash flow challenges, environmental considerations as part of a wider sustainability strategy or a combination to give a true vision. Throughout the process these should be front and centre of thoughts to ensure they are realised.

Policy Guidance

As mentioned, national policy guidance to planning authorities is to support farm diversification. It would be prudent to review this guidance and the local plan to establish how the project objectives sit alongside these guidelines. If the local plan is not formed, this could be an opportunity to get involved in supporting the neighbourhood plan.

Market Research

Sometimes it can be a case of “not seeing the wood for the trees” when looking at which option to deploy. Make sure you look at the various alternatives, which might steer you down a particular route. Initially, a wind farm might look the most appealing but consideration for other energy generation forms such as solar, bioenergy, air source heat pumps might be better solutions. With advances in technology, current thinking might be out of date. Often a SWOT analysis can support the decision-making process.

Business Case

The vast majority of green energy developments are considered a success in terms of achieving their objectives. The two main areas of focus should be the financial feasibility and technical considerations of the project to validate the risks of the project. Often projects fail as the sponsor can go in with an “eyes wide shut approach”, not considering the major elements.

Seek Support

Due to the potential complexity of the project chosen, it is unlikely that the farmer or estate manager will have all the knowledge to get the project from conception to completion and operation. It is wise to engage with specialists at the various stages of the project. Areas which could be included are planning, funding, legal and project management. For example, a farmer could engage a solicitor in relation to the grant of options and leases, detailed due diligence grid connection reports, ancillary documents such as direct agreements, and the sale of development land including clawback arrangements, options and pre-emptions. These are just some of the many areas that timely advice could be greatly beneficial.

Planning

Consider the planning process as a series of steps to get the approval to start developing the project. Get the support of neighbours and locals. Outline your vision with passion demonstrating the positive impact the project will have in terms of employment and sustainability before seeking a pre-planning opinion from the relevant planning officer and parish councillors. Create the story with visuals and a clear non-technical plan on how the project will be delivered along with how it complements the current national and local guidance.

Communication

As part of the project programme, which might need the expertise of a project manager, it is worthwhile to build in a proactive communication plan to address any concerns that stakeholders might have about the project regardless of size and complexity. It is always good to celebrate success and when the project is fully operational this would be a good opportunity to tell your story as this will build long term goodwill, particularly if future additional projects are likely.

For many years Clarke Willmott has been at the forefront supporting clients in the agriculture and green energy sectors. By building long-term relationships with many of our clients, not only do we provide seamless and timely legal advice but also keep clients abreast of regulatory, legal and political developments. Our nationally recognised green energy sector team supports landowners, developers, investors, contractors, operators and local authorities in achieving their objectives.

Clarke Willmott is a national law firm with offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton, and Taunton. For more information visit www.clarkewillmott.com

The Agency Creative support Wythenshawe charity ‘BW3’ with brand launch

News Desk

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30/11/2022

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MANCHESTER, UK, 30^th November 2022 – BW3, a Wythenshawe based community charity that has been established for 20 years, are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year and are marking the occasion with a number of awareness and networking events that feature their new branding.

Together with The Agency Creative, a branding and digital creative agency based in Bowdon, the two organisations have collaborated to refresh and relaunch the BW3 brand.

Wythenshawe is one of the most deprived wards within Greater Manchester and whilst there is a rich pool of talent, this is not always matched by opportunity. BW3 work hard to redress this situation.

Since 2002, BW3 has been delivering innovative programmes, activities and events. Working in partnership with local businesses, education providers and the community, the charity has been able to have a positive impact on the lives of residents. A core objective of BW3 is to build lasting links between local businesses and the local community.

Through donations, mentoring and networking, BW3 galvanises volunteer time, funds and resources to inspire and support positive change.

BW3 is headed up by co-ordinator, Zara Rudkin, who is passionate about creating opportunities for local people. By matching the needs of local schools and community groups with the experience and skills of established businesses, positive outcomes become possible.

Zara, commented on the new branding ‘We are delighted with our new look, it’s fresh and vibrant and really conveys the energy that both the businesses and people of Wythenshawe bring. This is a great opportunity for us to raise our profile further as we continue to engage with local business people to become mentors, coaches and inspirational influences for our community.’

The new BW3 branding features 3 interlocking W’s to represent the collaborative and intertwined nature of business and community within Wythenshawe. The bold colour palette represents the rich diversity, passion and talent that exists within the area. A new website, a range of printed information booklets, branded event material and animations were also produced as part of the project.

Managing Director of The Agency Creative, Nick Birch commented ‘It was through our work with Manchester Airports Group, that we were invited to get involved in the BW3 branding and website project. It was great to learn about the amazing work that BW3 undertake and I’d certainly encourage any business to get involved in mentoring or coaching. It can make a real difference to the chances of a young person in Wythenshawe.

For further information on BW3 – visit www.bw3.org.uk and The Agency Creative – visit www.theagencycreative.co.uk

Bespoke International Group reveals record growth in 2022

News Desk

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30/11/2022

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Bespoke International Group reveals record growth in 2022

Bespoke International Group have once again recorded record revenues, profits and staff numbers this year, effectively doubling the size of the company. There company’s most major clients are in the financial, retail, telecoms, travel, utilities and insurance sectors.

The businesses most impressive growth figures include:

The company headcount now topping 1400, up from 700 in 2021.
Employee numbers growing from 700 to 1400 in the past 12 months

Bespoke’s customer base includes one of Manchester’s fastest growing E Commerce retail businesses. They have also been successful in breaking into new geographic markets during 2022, onboarding clients in both the U.S and Australia.

Warrington-born Bespoke International Group (Bespoke) CEO Mark Thomason lives in Cheshire and is one of the founding fathers of the international call centre industry in South Africa. Operating as a UK-based strategic consultant, the director commented:

“We’re delighted with our performance over the past year. Six new clients, mainly in the utilities / energy sector and retail customer services have helped us deliver our impressive growth. This is a real testimony to the talents and efforts of our outstanding team. The senior team at Bespoke includes those who have progressed from ‘floor to board’ and they attribute the rapid growth to having attracted the ‘right clients’, which align with their company culture.”

Operationally, the call centre in Durban has also undergone a huge transformation and an investment in technology that matches the company’s rapid growth in clients and revenues.

Recognising how the Bespoke value proposition continues to be a compelling one, Mark Thomason commented:

“We always focus on continuous improvement and strive to achieve, as a minimum, the same performance levels as our clients or partners in-house teams. Having recently been audit approved for ISO 20071, we’re looking forward to having an even greater validation of our service offering.”

BRUNTWOOD’S UNION FULLY LET AFTER WELCOMING INFLUX OF NEW CUSTOMERS

News Desk

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30/11/2022

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BRUNTWOOD’S UNION FULLY LET AFTER WELCOMING INFLUX OF NEW CUSTOMERS

Bruntwood’s Union now fully let following influx of new workspace customers and the opening of restaurant operator, Maray
Specialist insurance firm NMU makes first move into Manchester city centre, while Glenbrook Property and Jon Matthews Architects also join the Bruntwood Works community at Union
Bruntwood also expands its head office within the building, taking another floor as it continues to promote collaborative working

Bruntwood has welcomed a wealth of new businesses to its dynamic, community-focused workspace Union, in the heart of Manchester City Centre.

NMU, Glenbrook, and Jon Matthews have collectively taken over 13,400 sq ft of flexible workspace across three floors, with Bruntwood also expanding its headquarters on the third floor, taking an additional 10,420 sq ft.

Located in the heart of the city centre in Albert Square opposite Manchester Town Hall, the newly refurbished building benefits from the recently pedestrianised Albert and Lincoln Square, while also offering considerable transport connections – just a four-minute walk to St Peter’s Square station, one of Manchester’s extensive network of tram stations – a significant factor for the three new customers.

Within walking distance of the city centre’s retail shops, bars, and restaurants, Union is designed to integrate work and lifestyle and promote a healthy balance. It focuses on providing a sense of community, which is enabled through its strong amenity offering. It benefits from an on-site gym delivered by community-centred fitness brand, FORM, featuring extensive shower and changing scheme with lockers facilities and towel service along with Bruntwood’s state of the art flexible offices with breakout spaces.

Union’s newly refurbished reception is also home to independent coffee vendor Ditto, which has been open since 2021. Its network of artisan coffee shops serves ethically sourced and locally roasted coffee. While also providing a selection of homemade cakes and snacks and serving up diverse bottomless brunch specials on the weekends that showcase Union as a destination for visitors beyond Bruntwood’s ecosystem of businesses.

Acclaimed restaurant group Maray also recently chose Union to open its first site outside of Liverpool. The 3,326 sq ft ground floor site is Maray’s fourth opening as the group continues its expansion across the North West. Inspired by flavours of the Middle East, the established restaurant network serves up dazzling tapas style cuisine with bold and delicious cocktails.

Union also offers its customers opportunities to attend community events like Bruntwood volunteer days, seminars and workshops, and their Spark education programme is also designed to bring people and businesses together and thrive as a collective.

One of the new customers at Union, NMU, a Munich Re Company, focuses on providing specialty insurance solutions to insurance brokers. Expansion into their new Manchester office is set to support a larger and more hybrid workforce, and create a regional hub for the Munich Re Specialty Group.

Bruntwood has also welcomed Glenbrook, a property company that specialises in development, investment, and asset management. This builds upon Glenbrook’s existing relationship with Bruntwood, having recently collaborated on the residential element of Bruntwood and Trafford Council’s Lumina Village in Trafford.

Rounding out the new trio, Union has also welcomed Jon Matthews Architects from City Tower, a 20-strong team who specialise in commercial architectural development.

The three new customers will be joined by current Union residents, artisan coffee shop Ditto, award-winning integrated communications agency, Citypress, BJSS and Planixs.

Josh Hancock, head of commercial at Bruntwood, said: “With people returning to the workplace in increasing numbers, businesses are reassessing their workspace requirements, which has led to an increase in office expansion and relocation in city centres across the UK. As part of this, employers are also focusing more on what their offices need to provide for their employees – whether that’s more breakout spaces, types of workspace, wellbeing facilities, food and beverage offerings or close proximity to transport links.

“This is true for our new customers, who have identified quality, location and improved amenities as some of the most important factors in their new workspaces, making Union an ideal fit for their new home.”

Bruntwood was supported by interiors and construction specialists Dragonfly on the fit-out of its new space, with the firm advising on the design and specification throughout.

David Perfect, Managing Director at NMU, said: “We are excited to be expanding into Union and to be adding another regional hub to provide continued and committed support to our broker partners. Our relationship with Bruntwood will allow us to provide outstanding office space to our people and focus on supporting a larger and more hybrid workforce, whilst creating a regional hub for the Munich Re Specialty Group.

“We really value our employees, and Union’s blend of work and lifestyle embodies this. The state of the art facilities and customer support the building has to offer will allow us to focus on employee wellbeing and building a strong company culture. We are excited to be joining the community and look forward to moving into our new base in the region.”

New office design revealed to target professional market.

News Desk

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30/11/2022

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New office design revealed to target professional market.

A new office in Manchester has revealed its high-end design with detailed CGIs. 11 York Street will offer businesses 22,000 st ft of office space in the heart of the city’s business district.

The serviced offices will be offered by Gilbanks, which aims to create a premium working environment for professional companies.

The designs show an airy business lounge for customers with the extensive use of plants to create a tranquil atmosphere. It uses a combination of materials, pallets and plants to create a tranquil yet dynamic environment focused on productivity. In addition, the offices will be equipped with soundproofed booths for video calls and state-of-the-art meeting rooms.

Commenting on the development, Alex Duckett, managing director of Gilbanks, said: “We are creating something special at 11 York Street. Our members will experience a superior working environment that is a new generation of workspaces designed for post-pandemic working. The plans we have developed with ADT Workplace do a fantastic job of bringing this vision to life.”

It is the only new-build Grade-A building in the central business district, having been named the best new build outside of central London and has already attracted Rolls Royce and Avison Young as occupiers. The building is operated by Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva plc.

The flexible office space offers 12-month terms to support tenants’ business requirements. It is designed for task-based and hybrid work, designed to inspire younger workers back to the office. Members at 11 York Street will benefit from several event spaces that can host large seminars to yoga sessions, as well as a sky suite on the eighth floor to host events with views over the city.

Stacey Charlesworth, design director at ADT Workplace, said: “We were delighted to be able to partner with the team at Gilbanks on its first venture outside Leeds. When we first met with the team, they were very much looking for a partner who was able to understand Gilbanks’ unique offering and brand personality and deliver a space which would reflect this and provide professional comfort at its best through high-quality, contemporary design.

“By working in close partnership with the team throughout the project, we have helped introduce Gilbanks to the Manchester market with a co-working space that is ideal for the most discerning of professional businesses. We are excited to see what the future holds for Gilbanks in this thriving city.”

LSH Auto partners with Harvey Nichols to host a luxury Christmas event at Mercedes-Benz of Stockport

Partnerships

News Desk

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30/11/2022

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LSH Auto partners with Harvey Nichols to host a luxury Christmas event at Mercedes-Benz of Stockport

LSH Auto has partnered with Harvey Nichols and a number of local artisan stall holders to host a luxury Christmas event this week.

Mercedes-Benz of Stockport, the dealer group’s flagship showroom, will be transformed into a winter wonderland from 4pm to 9pm on Thursday 1 December. Alongside the full range of Mercedes-Benz and smart vehicles displayed in the showroom, Harvey Nichols will be showcasing a collection of festive food and wine hampers, luxury fragrances and beauty products, alongside winter fashion accessories and designer Kidswear.

LSH Auto is also supporting a number of local, artisan businesses, who have been invited to join the event, offering a range of perfect festive gifts from jewellery and art to tea, confectionary and gin.

Stefan Bowett, Dealer Principal of Mercedes-Benz of Stockport, said: “We’re starting the festive season in style this year and looking forward to welcoming new and old customers to our event on Thursday. We’re delighted to be partnering with Harvey Nichols again after the success of our make-up masterclass with them last month. Our brands are both luxury icons and our customers thoroughly enjoy the experience when we welcome them to our showrooms.”

In addition to the Christmas market, festive entertainment will be laid on for visitors, with something for all the family. Guests will be invited to make craft baubles, there will be an opportunity to meet Father Christmas and families will be able to enjoy a 360-degree VR experience with an Ice Princess.

Lady Barn House School Choir will be performing Christmas Carols from 5.45pm and a range of delicious drinks and snacks will be available. To book your place at the free event visit Driving Home for Christmas and reserve your spot.

With Mercedes-Benz dealerships in the North West and the Midlands, LSH Auto offers all-new models from the Mercedes-Benz and smart car collection, premium approved used vehicles and exceptional aftersales services including maintenance, repairs, servicing, parts and accessories.

For more information visit lshauto.co.uk.

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