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Gateley Legal appoints new construction partner in Manchester

Gateley Legal has bolstered its construction team with the appointment of Andrew Harbourne as a partner at its Manchester office.

Harbourne joins the team from his previous role as a partner at Wilkin Chapman Solicitors. Prior to that, he spent eight years at Cripps and has a wealth of construction law knowledge having worked across several areas including property development, commercial development and real estate. He is also experienced in handling property law issues within the charity sector.

In his role at Gateley Legal, Harbourne will assist the team with servicing clients across the North West region and beyond. He will focus on non-contentious construction matters including contracts, development agreements and collateral warranties. Harbourne will also support the development of junior talent.

Commenting on his new role, he said: “I am extremely pleased to be joining the Gateley Legal team in Manchester. After working alongside a few of the team members on previous schemes and having insight into the innovative business model, I knew it would be a great move.”

Emlyn Hudson, partner and head of construction at Gateley Legal, said: “We are delighted to have Andrew join the team here. He brings a wide range of construction knowledge and expertise which will support our clients and meet market demand well. I know he will be a valuable addition to our team.”

Gateley Legal’s construction team operates from offices in Belfast, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham and Dubai. The team is made up of 11 partners and 38 legal professionals.

LAST CHANCE TO SNAP UP A CITY-CENTRE FAMILY HOME NEAR MANCHESTER’S ‘COOLEST NEIGHBOURHOOD’

HAPPY snappers are being asked to submit their insta-worthy shots of Ancoats and the city centre to celebrate the stunning two-bed apartments that have been released to market at The Gateway, the latest Manchester development from Lovell Homes.

Just a stone’s throw from the popular neighbourhood of Ancoats, The Gateway not only offers spacious apartments – just minutes from the buzzing city centre – but there are still a few three-story homes left, which come complete with high-end fittings and fixtures, a garden, terrace, and secure parking.

To celebrate the apartments being released, Lovell has launched an Instagram photography competition to find the best photos of the area. One lucky entrant will win a £75 voucher to spend at Sugo Pasta Kitchen in Ancoats, with the top three entries judged by the Lovell team to be immortalised in the entrance hall of the new apartments.

The brief is to create an image that celebrates life in the area surrounding The Gateway, showcasing its diverse mix of history and culture, along with its thriving independent food and shopping scene.

Anne-Marie O’Doherty, regional sales director at Lovell Homes, said: “The Gateway has been incredibly popular due to the rarity of family homes and apartments just minutes from Manchester city centre, especially those with outside space, a terrace, and secure parking.

“We’re excited to see how those with a passion for photography celebrate the local area, with its thriving food scene, quirky independent shops and diverse culture. For families, there are ample schools close by, playgrounds, parks, libraries, and for football fans the Etihad Stadium is within walking distance, home to Premier League champions Manchester City.”

Just 11 house plots remain at The Gateway – one four-bed and nine three-beds – after 43 were released initially. The first nine of its 19 luxury, two-bedroom apartment plots, which include private outdoor space – a rarity in such a central location – have now also been released.

Ancoats is also surrounded by other Manchester hotspots, such as New Islington, the Northern Quarter, which was recently named as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world, and Piccadilly Gardens, which are all within walking distance of The Gateway.

Appointments to speak to the sales team are available from Thursday to Monday, 10-5pm. Entries into the photography competition can also be sent to LovellHomes@cartwrightcommunications.co.uk.

For more information about Lovell Homes please visit www.lovell.co.uk or follow @Lovell_UK on Twitter.

MBO For Manchester’s Ital Logistics

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Manchester-based forwarder Ital Logistics Ltd, has finalised on a management buyout of the business, selling a 75% shareholding for an undisclosed sum to the management team consisting of Dean Emsley, Ashleigh Morris, Mike Whitney, James Mears and Kurtis Rees.

Advised by business advisory and accountancy firm Cowgills, the sale of holding company Ital Holdings (UK) Ltd consists of both Ital Logistics Ltd and its sister company Ital Transport (UK) Ltd to Ital Holdings Management Ltd. Dean Emsley will take over as Managing Director with Phil Denton adopting the role of Group Chairman.

The business has been run for 22 years by co-founders Phil Denton and Dianne Denton-Morley. It was initially a freight forwarding service with Italy and today also includes Spain, Portugal, Greece, France, Malta, and Germany, with a specialisation in the carriage of dangerous goods.  The company’s portfolio extends to sea and air freight, as well as general forwarding services Europe-wide and through Ital Transport (UK) Ltd, they also provide UK domestic transport services including the carriage of dangerous goods.

New Managing Director Dean Emsley, said: “The last two years have posed many challenges with both Covid and Brexit. However, with commitment from our colleagues we have surpassed all expectations. I am proud of the hard work contributed by all in overcoming the associated difficulties and am relishing the opportunity to drive the business forward as the new managing director.”

Nilesh Modhvadia, Audit Director at Cowgills who oversaw the deal added: “We are proud to have supported Ital Logistics Ltd with this transaction. The business has seen impressive growth over the past couple of years with this trend continuing during the current year, and with the new management team in situ, we look forward to seeing the business go from strength to strength.”

Commercial Director Mike Whitney added: “Despite the challenges of Brexit and the increase in red tape we have grown all of our trade lines along with the newly formed sister company Ital Transport (UK) Ltd. This has led to us building the team from 28 to 50 people and turnover since 2019 has also increased by a third. We anticipate a turnover in the region of £20M this year and we are confident that the future looks very bright for the business going forward.”

Commenting on the sale to the management team Phil Denton said: “In considering our exit strategy, our primary objectives were to ensure the stability of the company by continuity, brand retention, maintaining organic growth, and above all protecting jobs.  We are fortunate to have an incredible team who have always worked tirelessly, and with dedication, even more so through the last couple of years when the going has certainly been tough with the challenges of both the pandemic and Brexit.

“The new management team have big ambitions, drive and new ideas, to take the company forward and Dianne and I are confident that with our continued support, they will achieve their goals. We will continue to provide a quality, reliable and personalised service with openness, honesty and integrity.”

Manchester consultancy opens first US office and appoints Vice President of the Americas

Manchester-based engineering consultancy firm, Coalesce Management Consulting is pleased to announce that the company is opening its first North American office in Dallas, Texas, after two years of successful trading in the US markets culminating in 95.1% growth in GP YoY.

The strategic opening of the US location is in line with Coalesce Management Consulting’s ambitious growth strategy and international expansion plans and will enhance our ability to deliver true expertise to our American partners across the energy and advanced engineering industries.

Part of the Amoria Group, Coalesce Management Consulting (CMC) was launched six years ago with the vision to become the best service-driven consulting business in global STEM markets. Thanks to our clear growth strategy, specialist focus and best service commitments, we’ve expanded rapidly across Asia, Europe and now the USA; and has offices in the Manchester, Amsterdam, Singapore, Vietnam and Kuala Lumpur.

Coalesce Management Consulting enables global energy and advanced engineering market project leaders to fulfil their goals with agile professional service expertise and value-added support from a specialist provider.

To maximise the value to our US customers, we have also appointed Jamie Waters as Vice President of the Americas based in our new Dallas office.

Jamie has over 17 years of experience in the staffing industry, with 11 of those spent working in the US for a global PLC, consistently delivering excellent GP and headcount growth as head of large teams in the Energy and Engineering sector. Coalesce Management Consulting Chair Mike Walker said:

“This is an exciting time for us – having successfully established ourselves as a reliable management consulting partner delivering true expertise to our growing client base in the US and consolidating our network of advanced engineering and energy specialists, we are delighted to be opening our first US office in Dallas.

Jamie’s appointment further reinforces the strength and resilience of our US teams. He brings with him significant experience, and his in-depth knowledge, skill, and passion will play a pivotal role in the Group’s continued expansion into the region.”

Jamie commented:

“It was an easy decision for me to come on board with such a mission-led organisation with an amazing culture at its center, especially after meeting the people behind the business. I’m excited to continue getting to know all our customers, contractors and colleagues over the next few weeks and developing the next stages of our US expansion.

I have been very impressed by the group’s growth strategy, purpose, vision and goals and am enthused about what lies ahead as we build on the very successful platform we already have in the USA. Having worked in the US for ten years, I can see enormous scope for growth in our ability to deliver true expertise to our existing and future customer base.”

Coalesce Management Consulting are delivering true expertise across the USA in Energy and Advanced Engineering. For more information on our consulting services and our best service commitments to our customers, visit cmc-global.consulting.

DAM LAUNCHES NEW COMMUNITY APP AT DOWNTOWN

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Downtown Asset Management (DAM) is underlining its commitment to enriching the new residential communities that it manages with the launch of a bespoke app for residents.

Following Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, which found that ‘residents did not have a strong enough voice in the management of their buildings’, DAM has introduced the new app at Downtown, the £85m Manhattan-inspired apartment development on the Manchester and Salford border.

DAM has partnered with ARK to deliver the app which is now available for residents of all 374 apartments to download, sign up and immediately become part of the Downtown community.

Focussed on nurturing a happy, healthy and safe community where residents thrive, feel heard and enjoy life, the Downtown app offers a wealth of useful general information such as dates for scheduled building maintenance or alarm testing and interesting news, openings and events in the wider local area on a community newsfeed, along with parcel delivery notifications, in-app payments and communal room bookings. Critical safety information can also quickly and effectively be relayed to all residents via the app at the click of a button.

Designed to inform, connect and bring people together, the app forms part of DAM’s wider resident engagement strategy, The Voice, setting new standards in the communication between residents and the building management team.  It is also designed to meet new regulations outlined in The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced following the Hackett review into the Grenfell Tower tragedy that demands more stringent regulations to ensure residents living in high-rise buildings are safe, secure and listened to.

Head of operations at DAM, Rick Medcraft, commented: “Our new app provides an innovative ‘hub’ for residents at Downtown providing effective information channels to forge and foster connections and ensure residents feel happy, safe and listened to.  In addition to helping us get to know our residents in a more visible way and enable us to be more reactive to their needs, the app also creates a sense of community pride in the building that they call home and also the wider immediate surroundings.  We’re pleased to have introduced this and look forward to seeing it make a positive impact within our residential communities.”

Head of partnerships for ARK, Angus Reid, said: “The methodology of our platform is based upon research conducted by the Happiness Research institute which indicates that being happy at home is the second biggest factor in your overall happiness (just behind mental health). Happy communities are connected communities and that is why Ark exists! We are excited to partner with DAM as we provide their bespoke resident engagement app and our concierge software to help them build a more connected residential community at Downtown. We can’t wait to see how things progress!”

Downtown Asset Management forms part of the McGoff Group, a long-established multifaceted family-owned business with the ability to seamlessly acquire, design, build, operate and maintain in the residential, commercial and healthcare sectors.  Delivered on budget, ahead of schedule and all apartments forward sold, the McGoff Group now services all asset management requirements at Downtown through Downtown Asset Management, its dedicated on site team providing concierge services, property letting, property management, building maintenance, block management and furniture solutions.  For more information, please visit www.downtown-manchester.com or www.mcgoffgroup.com.  For more information on ARK, please visit https://communities.projectark.co.uk/.

Northern law firm recruits 13 trainees as strong growth in Manchester continues

A Top UK law firm has appointed 13 trainee solicitors and one solicitor apprentice as it continues to grow strongly and expand its workforce.

A number of the trainees, who have been awarded a two-year training contract at the firm, will be based in Ward Hadaway’s offices in central Manchester.

The trainee appointments follow a strong financial year for Ward Hadaway LLP which recently reported an 11% firm-wide growth with the Manchester office growing by more than a quarter. In July, the business completed a 28-strong round of promotions.

Caroline Jones, recruitment and emerging talent manager at the firm, said: “Our trainee programme is a key aspect of our people development strategy and aligned with our aim to recruit motivated, skilled and forward-thinking individuals with the right mix of competency, skills and attitude. A trainee role is a pivotal starting point in a law professional’s career and at Ward Hadaway we fully invest in each trainee to ensure they have a long, fulfilling and successful career in law.

“Because our focus is completely person-centred, we also support trainees in the step up to a newly qualified role and in progressing towards other development milestones.”

Liz Bottrill, executive partner for Ward Hadaway’s Manchester office, said: “At Ward Hadaway, a key priority is our investment in the lawyers of the future. The foundations of a highly skilled, vastly experienced team are based on the quality of training and development trainee solicitors receive before they fully qualify. It’s something we commit a lot of time and energy towards.

“Every trainee is exceptional in their own way and whilst we implement a structured and well managed training programme to ensure every junior lawyer has a consistent, enjoyable and effective training contract, our trainees are encouraged to develop as individuals – each one having something unique to bring to the firm.

“Once qualified, the support and development doesn’t stop. We’re continually investing in our people, to enable them to progress quickly in their careers with proper structures and processes around professional development and personal wellbeing. Having this year been awarded the coveted gold standard by Investors in People, we have also recently been shortlisted for an IiP UK Employer of the Year Gold award for the work we’ve done in the area of employee health and wellbeing.  This is one of the key aspects that our firm-wide growth strategy is anchored on. It’s great to have our talented trainees on board and I am looking forward to working with them and supporting their progression.”

Mia Armstrong, one of the Manchester-based trainees, said: “When applying for training contracts, Ward Hadaway stood out to me from the start because it had a genuine feel to it from the get-go. The firm is interested in you as a person, not just the experience or skillset you have. Everyone is friendly and down to earth, making the recruitment process both exciting and enjoyable. The recruitment team made a conscious effort to ensure that everyone felt at ease and supported, and the interview was a pleasant experience where I could discuss my professional goals and interests. I am thrilled to be starting at Ward Hadaway and look forward to what my time at the firm will hold.”

Applications to the firm’s Vacation Scheme 2023 and Training Contract 2025 were opened on the firm’s website on 1st November.

For more information about Ward Hadaway’s trainee offering, visit: https://www.wardhadaway.com/join-us/trainees-apprentices/trainees/

Fascination meets sophistication: The Influential Entrepreneur whose luxury store is defying design expectations

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Geoffrey Escudero, the founder and director of The Supercar Store Ltd, has been working on supercars since the beginning of his career. His sharp eye for detail has helped him launch a unique new business crafting art and furniture from supercar and F1 parts. The increasing demand for bespoke orders has catapulted the company to success, with over 250 products already sold. As the business continues to rapidly expand, Geoffrey has opened a new showroom in West Yorkshire to match demand for his distinctive designs.

From Humble beginnings to Accelerated Success

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Geoffrey Escudero, Founder and CEO of The Suoercar Store LTD

Discovering his passion for supercars when working for as an apprentice vehicle detailer in Sydney, Australia, the Frenchman first began building automotive masterpieces for homes in 2016, a year after he landed in the UK. By 2020 he was winning Leeds and West Yorkshire Prestige Awards. Geoffrey’s incredible creations are now present in luxurious villas across 25 countries and exhibited in motor shows, magazines, and art galleries. To own one of these bold pieces of furniture or art, car enthusiasts can expect to invest anything from £3,000 to £50,000. As well as designing and selling his own creations, Geoffrey is regularly commissioned by his clientele to collaborate on tailor made pieces.

The business owner explained: “Our clients are car lovers and collectors looking for something unique. They reach out to us because they’ve seen our work and want to create their own original piece.”
If not supplied by the customer, finding the parts is the first step when commencing a project. Even though they have established an extensive network to source parts, it can still take some time. Not every engine is suitable for conversion, to keep the cost down and to avoid wasting good running parts, the company always tries to source damaged motors.
Hard work and dedication: The behind-the-scenes process
The meticulous design process requires an in-depth mechanical knowledge as well as patience and organisation. Upon finding the engine, the company dismantle and remove all the unnecessary parts, cleaning and modifying the parts they will be reusing in the creation of the piece. Next, they use a variety of engineering machines and design software to manufacture the exact components. Whilst time consuming, the endless creativity of the owner means the business has already completed many projects, including Ferrari and Bentley coffee tables.

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Bentley coffee table, one of Geoffrey’s latest creations

The finest automotive furniture for the most luxurious homes

Some of the company’s most popular items include office chairs, F1 lamps, piston clocks and F1 sculptures.

Office Chairs
Made with genuine car seats and high-quality mechanisms, they’re perfect for home or work use. They’re customizable, so clients can choose from different shape bases and colours and even request from what car makes and models the site comes from.

Piston Clocks
Show off your love for supercars while keeping the time. These are made with pistons and connecting rods, beautifully finished, and have fitted a high-quality quartz movement, so they’ll keep running smoothly no matter how many times they are looked at. Made with different car make and model versions.

F1 Lamps
Using Formula 1 exhausts from the V6 engine powered era, the first lamp was created in 2019, and a second is now available for sale. The full structure is designed and manufactured in their workshop and hand-polished. Powered by 12-volt LED bulbs, and it can be controlled via a remote.

F1 Sculptures
Extraordinary F1 exhaust sculptures have been custom made for client request. Created with an Arrow A21 exhaust system race used in the 2000 Formula One Championship; this specific design sits on a matt black pedestal. The manifolds have been mirror-polished before being plated in 24ct gold and mounted to a carbon fibre. The hexagonal container holding the gold components represents the shape of an engine block. The overall height of this ornament is an impressive 2.4 metres. It has a premium led lighting system, powered by a lead acid battery hidden inside the pedestal.

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An F1 sculpture designed in store

The Supercar Store LTD

With The Supercar Store, you will find a unique motorsport-inspired experience in which supercar parts and high-quality craftsmanship are combined beautifully to build spectacular masterpieces for your home.

Visit https://thesupercarstore.co.uk for more information

Local law firm secures stay of New York court decision

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Manley’s Solicitors, a leading Chester law firm, appeared in the United States District Court in New York this week in relation to the privacy rights of their client. The solicitors virtually represented a client before a Senior US District Judge in New York. The libel case is part of a web of litigation which has emerged following the conviction and death of Jeffery Epstein and the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell.

Maxwell was sentenced on 28th June 2022 to 240 months in prison following her conviction in December 2021 for her role in a scheme to sexually exploit and abuse multiple minor girls with Epstein over the course of a decade. She was sued for libel by one of Epstein’s victims and the US court was called upon to consider release of court papers in the case. Manleys argue that unsealing without redaction to protect victim identities, privacy and other legal rights is not lawful or reasonable.

Solicitor Peri Mornington, appearing at the hearing explained “The Judge made a decision on Friday 18th November 2022 to allow the release of papers without redaction in some cases. As this impacted one of our longstanding clients, we lodged an ex-parte application for stay last Saturday – which was granted very quickly” Manleys client, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is referred to in various testimonies and statements which include major inaccuracies. The stay was granted pending an appeal. Mornington continued: “We were impressed with the speed of the Court’s response to an application made on the afternoon of Saturday 19 November 2022. By that evening the Court granted our application pending appeal. New York is famously referred to in lyrics as “the city that never sleeps”- that was certainly true of the very efficient operation of its legal system last weekend.”

This is the second case in 2022 in which Manleys have represented clients in the USA. It has been actively involved in pursuing another libel case in Miami, working hand in hand with its’ US instructed attorneys Jeff Gutchess and Courtney Caprio of AXS Law Group and has again now turned to them to collaborate on the appeal which will be lodged shortly in New York.

Manleys was founded in 2012 by media lawyer Mark Manley. The award-winning specialist litigation team is recognised by both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners independent legal directories.

For more information, contact Manleys info@manleys.law or 01244 230000

MAC Construction Consultants strengthens Manchester and London presence with senior appointments

Mathieu Ducry, Anahita Mohammadkhani and Sandra Ochuba join the firm

MAC Construction Consultants has strengthened its client offering with the appointment of Mathieu Ducry as Associate Director, Architectural Designer Anahita Mohammadkhani and Project Manager Sandra Ochuba.

Joining the firm with immediate effect as an Associate Director, based out of London, Mathieu brings with him more than 22 years’ experience to the role having worked for a high-profile private sector financial organisation and public sector consultancy firms.

He is the latest in a string of senior hires for the business, which also welcomed Public Sector Director Nicolas Maari to its London Office earlier in the year.

Anahita joins the firm having worked previously as a Part II Architectural Assistant for Fabric Space, and a Teaching Assistant at the Manchester School of Architecture. In addition to her role at MAC, she is currently studying part-time for her Part III Postgraduate Diploma Professional Practice in Architecture at the University of Westminster.

Sandra joins the firm’s Manchester Office as an accomplished Project Management Specialist with over 5 years professional experience supporting successful delivery of a portfolio of multi-disciplinary projects throughout the UK & Europe.

Sandra is experienced in delivering all project phases from pre-feasibility / initiation & planning, through implementation & execution.

Welcoming them to the firm, Director Nicolas Maari said their appointments were indicative of the commitment that MAC has to growing its offering across each region, as well as nationally.

Their arrival follows a strong couple of years of growth for the business, which has continued to secure major private and public sector contracts across the country, and has successfully been appointed to a number of frameworks including most recently the LB Lambeth PM and Associated Services Framework.

Commenting on the appointments, MAC Director Nicolas Maari said: “I am thrilled to be able to welcome Mathieu, Anahita and Sandra to the team across our London and Manchester offices. I believe all three will make brilliant additions to MAC.

“Mathieu’s years of experience, at Director level, in both the private and public sectors brings beneficial knowledge to the team. I speak on behalf of everyone at MAC when I say we are delighted to have him on board as an Associate Director.”

Commenting on his new role Mathieu said: “I’m delighted to be joining MAC, a firm which has truly established itself as a market leader in the delivery of major public and private sector developments over the last few years.

“MAC’s dedication to acting in the best interest of all their clients is unrivalled, this has been reflected in how rapidly the business is expanding to meet increasing demands.

“I am excited to use my own expertise to further their offering to clients within the public sector, both nationally and regionally from the London office.”

MAC is a leading construction consultancy which operates out of a number of strategically placed offices, including Birmingham, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Leeds and London. Its Cost Management, Building Consultancy, and Safety, Health and Environment teams work across a wide range of industries including education, public sector and retail.

Bury company’s global growth ambitions accelerated by £220,000 funding deal

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A Bury-based ecommerce business has been boosted in its attempts to expand globally, after agreeing a £220,000 funding deal with Reward Finance Group.

Clear Crystal, which has been trading for 10 years and is based at Bury Business Centre, is a leading online jewellery and giftware retailer. Key to growing sales worldwide is via securing a working capital facility with Reward, which provides tailored business finance loans and asset based solutions between £50k and £5m to SMEs.

The funding through the lender’s Business Finance product enables the retailer to invest in the inventory needed to fulfil orders globally, having traditionally only supplied to online shoppers in the UK.

Central to this global expansion is a new deal secured with major American-based online marketplace, Groupon, with the working capital allowing Clear Crystal to guarantee fulfilment and place stock on the ground at Groupon’s US warehousing facilities near Chicago.

The retailer has also recently secured a partnership with the Ideal World shopping TV channel in a bid to further grow its UK sales.

Commenting on the new funding deal, Clear Crystal managing director, Lee Donaldson said: “The funding facility provided by Reward is a massive boost to our global growth ambitions and ability to introduce our jewellery and giftware products to new markets. It provides the working capital to secure vital inventory, which in-turn enables us to fulfil international sales and partnerships such as the potentially game-changing one with Groupon in America.

“After 10 years of operating solely in the UK, we’re entering a very exciting period of expansion for the business. Through working closely with the team at Reward, I’ve been really impressed with their understanding of my business needs, their flexibility and the speed with which they operate, something which is critical in the fast-paced world of online retail.”

Steve Noble, managing director for Reward Finance Group in the North West, added: “Being able to provide the financial support that helps Lee and his business achieve its international growth aims and realise its strategic vision is hugely satisfying. We’ve built up a close working relationship with the team at Clear Crystal to understand their business, future plans and how our tailored funding solution can help overcome any short-term operational challenges such as stock availability.

“It’s a very significant chapter for the business and we look forward to seeing its continued expansion both in the UK and globally.”