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LOCAL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES UP FOR GRABS AT UPCOMING AUCTION

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29/11/2022

LOCAL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES UP FOR GRABS AT UPCOMING AUCTION

A pair of investment opportunities situated in Bolton, Greater Manchester are set to go under the hammer at an upcoming auction next month at Walsall Football Club’s Bescot Stadium on 8^th December.

The auction, which is hosted by the UK’s largest residential and commercial property auction company Auction operating as Loveitts Auction House Coventry and Warwickshire, features an exciting range of investment and residential opportunities, with notable mention to two, three-bedroom properties, both of which being tenanted.

The two properties are tipped to be hot lots on the day, with intense interest already received in both.

The first three-bed semi-detached property up for grabs, situated at 9 Kingsway in Kearsley, Bolton possesses an initial guide price of between £100,000 and £120,000 acts as an ideal investment opportunity, offering rent payable of £6,000 per annum.

The property also features a rear and front facing gardens plus a conservatory, gas central heating and double-glazed windows throughout.

Another lot that is tipped to be subject on a fierce bidding war on the day is a mid-terraced leasehold property is at 27 Jubilee Street, with 866 years remaining that is understood to have three bedrooms.

The property also comes with a rent payable of £6,000 per annum.

Sally Smith, Director and Auctioneer at Loveitts commented: “These two properties based in Bolton, Greater Manchester act as fantastic investment opportunities either for a seasoned or first-time investors.

“While the auction will feature a number of exciting lots these two properties act as ideal investment opportunities given the promising rental yield each offer prospective buyers.

“As such, and given the interest already received in each so far, both are tipped to be subject of a fierce bidding war on the day, therefore we urge people to not miss out on this these two fantastic opportunities.”

The auction will take place at Walsall Football Club, Bescot Stadium, Walsall, WS1 4SA, commencing at 11:00 a.m.

Attendees either can bid in person at the auction or register for telephone, proxy or internet bidding online.

The event will also be streamed live.

For further details on these or other properties up for grabs, or to watch the live stream, log on to www.loveitts.co.uk

FROM ‘BACK OF THE NET’ TO ‘BACK OF THE BOXES’, DELIVEROO DELIVERS THE FOOTBALL ‘ROOSULTS’ TO THE NATION

News Desk

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29/11/2022

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FROM ‘BACK OF THE NET’ TO ‘BACK OF THE BOXES’, DELIVEROO DELIVERS THE FOOTBALL ‘ROOSULTS’ TO THE NATION

Deliveroo is set to be the first food delivery service to deliver live football scores on rider delivery boxes during the group stages of the world’s biggest football tournament
The three-sided HD LED digital screens, placed on bespoke rider boxes, will display the latest football scores to help keep bus drivers, emergency workers and general football fans on the street up to date with the latest scores.

Can’t watch the football game? No problem. From ‘back of the net’ to ‘back of the boxes,’ Deliveroo has today announced it is helping the nation keep up with the latest group stage goals thanks to the launch of its ‘Roosults’ Rider squad featuring digital screens that will display match goals and results.

In a UK food delivery service first, Deliveroo has turned a selection of its rider delivery boxes into three-sided HD LED digital screens, giving passersby live goal updates in less than a second. From which team is playing to the current score, as well as signing and posting the score at half time and full time, Deliveroo’s Roosults rider screens will keep everyone up to speed during England group stage scores in multiple cities across the nation.

The screens will be particularly useful for public health and emergency workers, bus and taxi drivers as well as commuters, who might not be able to listen to matches on the radio or watch the games on the 21st, 25th & 29th of November.

Aisha Jefferson at Deliveroo said: “As many of the games will take place during the day and early evening, thousands of people in local communities where we operate will be at work, on their way to work, or out and about running errands. Our ‘Roosults’ rider screens mean people won’t have to miss a minute of the action and can rest easy knowing Deliveroo is not only there to deliver tasty match-day meals but match-day scores, too.”

Football fans on the move can spot the Roosults Rider Squad in London, Manchester, Nottingham and Birmingham on 21st (from 1pm) and 25th November (from 7pm), and London, Manchester, Cardiff, Swansea on 29th November (from 7pm).

UK’s first Vodafone Edge Innovation Lab launches at HOST in MediaCity

News Desk

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29/11/2022

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UK’s first Vodafone Edge Innovation Lab launches at HOST in MediaCity

Vodafone’s first of its kind Edge Innovation Lab in the UK has launched at HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology, in MediaCity, Salford, to support the growth of digital industries in Greater Manchester and create a global centre of excellence for real-time mobile applications.

The Edge Innovation Lab at HOST will offer the opportunity for companies, academics, software developers and public sector organisations to see and test the possibilities of the next generation in network technology – Multi-access Edge Compute (MEC). This digital innovation will promote greater economic diversity in the region, supporting the government’s levelling up agenda

Software developers and innovators in the Greater Manchester region will have access to these technologies in the earliest stages of development. This head start will create a global centre of excellence for real-time mobile applications in the region, supporting the growth of digitally-led businesses and industries in the area, as well as in the rest of the UK.

Nick Gliddon, Business Director, Vodafone UK, said: “MEC enables the creation of digital services and platforms that would otherwise be impossible to deliver. The lab offers innovators the opportunity to experiment with next-generation technologies and bring to life ideas that could revolutionise the way we do business and deliver public services. It will place Manchester and surrounding region at the centre of the next stage of digital revolution.”

MEC technology enables real-time data processing at the network edge, allowing for the creation of low latency services that would not be possible on today’s traditional network infrastructure. This offers innovators in the Greater Manchester area an opportunity to be at the forefront of next-generation digital services.

By installing specialist servers either in Vodafone or customer facilities, applications are able to respond to command significantly faster. This time applications take to respond, known as latency, is a barrier for next generation innovations that require almost instantaneous reactions, or are powered by artificial intelligence. When combined with 5G, latency could be reduced to speeds faster than the human brain processes information.

Use cases enabled by MEC include autonomous vehicles, autonomous operations in factories, immersive augmented and virtual reality, remote medicine, cloud gaming and drone transport.

Vodafone has deployed Dedicated MEC servers at the Edge Innovation Lab and has launched a Distributed MEC zone in the Manchester area in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), as part of their AWS Wavelength Zone infrastructure. Vodafone will also showcase Mixed Reality and Visual Inspection services at the lab. Vodafone has partnered with Kyndryl to offer customers professional and managed services for dedicated MEC and wider cloud managed services to Vodafone customers.

Tosca Colangeli, President, Kyndryl UK&I, said: “We are excited, as part of our strategic partnership with Vodafone, to be supporting the Edge Innovation Lab in Salford and to use the facility as inspiration and co-creation for our joint customer engagements. We expect edge technologies to increasingly become an enabler of business outcomes; allowing end users (and machines) and industries including manufacturing, energy and retail, to reap the benefits of traditional cloud computing while gaining advantages such as reduced data latency, better data autonomy and enhanced security.”

This builds on Vodafone’s four-year partnership with HOST in MediaCity, where the lab will be located. HOST combines skills, innovation and start-up growth services all under one roof, with an inclusive community that supports businesses to learn, grow and succeed. It focuses on key sectors including data science, AI, cyber and immersive technologies so individuals and businesses can explore the pioneering opportunities available in these areas. HOST is also home to the UK’s Unity Centre of Excellence and Skills City’s digital Skills Bootcamps.

Mo Isap, CEO of IN4 Group, operator of HOST, said: “We are excited to extend our partnership with Vodafone as they bring their Edge Innovation Lab to HOST in MediaCity, Salford. Our mission is to support and develop use cases in innovation with start-ups, scale-ups and established businesses, and this is the missing piece of our jigsaw, which connects with our Unity immersive and AWS cloud infrastructures, our Cyber Security Operations Centre, and now we have Edge computing capabilities. This becomes a unique environment for any company looking to progress and accelerate its innovation in the region.”

Alongside the launch of the lab, Vodafone is also running the Edge Innovation Programme 2.0.

Using both dedicated and distributed MEC technologies, the Edge Innovation Programme 2.0 will inspire the creation of innovative and futuristic services, products and applications. Participants of the trial will be able to “try before you buy” MEC services and will also receive a voucher for further discounts on additional services following trials and proof-of-concepts, as well as work alongside Vodafone network and technology experts to bring ideas to life.

Vodafone has already worked with more than 20 companies to trial new MEC services, including:

Aurrigo: Cambridge-based SME Aurrigo used MEC and Vodafone’s 4G/5G network to improve the safety and performance of its driverless vehicles, as well as enhancing security as data is not exposed to the public internet (more information here).
Sportable: The company’s ball embedded and wearable IOT technology captures every movement on the pitch, delivering real-time insights to fans, coaches, officials and broadcasters (more information here).
InterDigital: MEC can better support applications like ‘zero-defect’ manufacturing, to unlock huge benefits for the Industry 4.0 and smart factories (more information here)
Keyless: Keyless is a privacy-first biometric authentication solution that makes the authentication processes for digital payments faster. MEC makes real-time multi-factor authentication a reality for all end-users, meaning business and consumers can embrace seamless biometric technology (more information here)

LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES TO BENEFIT FROM A DONATION OF UP TO £6,000 TO IMPROVE THEIR SUSTAINABILITY

Business support

News Desk

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29/11/2022

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LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES TO BENEFIT FROM A DONATION OF UP TO £6,000 TO IMPROVE THEIR SUSTAINABILITY

Donations of up to £6,000 and coaching sessions on offer for small businesses through TalkTalk’s Future Fibre Fund
The sustainability initiative comes as TalkTalk continues to bring full fibre to homes and businesses across Greater Manchester
Research shows that Full Fibre is 80% more energy efficient than legacy copper technologies
Small businesses account for 44% of national non-household emissions

Salford-based TalkTalk is bringing local businesses an early Christmas gift this year in the form of a new green donation, the Future Fibre Fund for small businesses. Through the Future Fibre Fund, TalkTalk aims to support small businesses in Greater Manchester with a one-off donation of up to £6,000 to be used for sustainable initiatives. This might involve them purchasing energy monitoring technology, recycling facilities, working towards environmental certifications – like joining the SME Climate Hub, or contributing towards bigger investments such as solar panels.

Successful applicants will also benefit from a one-off coaching session with TalkTalk’s Head of Sustainability, Will Ennett, on what steps can be taken to help reduce their carbon emissions using their MEAD framework, which consists of four actionable steps for businesses.

As the only large-scale connectivity provider based in the North West, TalkTalk is passionate about helping the local community. The fund is open to small businesses based in Greater Manchester and applicants must submit their application forms by January 12^th – see details below.

Small business carbon challenge

The new initiative follows recent findings that estimate SMEs are responsible for 44% of national non-household emissions. This insight demonstrates the need to engage small businesses will be crucial to meet the UK’s net zero targets.

Nine out of 10 of the businesses surveyed said they face barriers to taking climate action, with financial constraints found to be one of the most common barriers.

TalkTalk green efforts

TalkTalk has taken on several measures to become a more sustainable business. Following its launch of a companywide environmental policy, TalkTalk has so far been able to lower its operational carbon footprint by 80% over the past five years. It is also helping customers to reduce their lifetime carbon emissions by encouraging consumers and businesses to switch from standard broadband to full fibre – a more environmentally friendly technology.

Will Ennett, Head of Sustainability at TalkTalk, said: “We are delighted to open our Future Fibre Fund to small businesses in Greater Manchester to support their sustainability efforts. At TalkTalk we have been taking on several measures to become more sustainable and we hope this initiative will enable small businesses around our local area to do the same.”

How to apply

Small businesses across Greater Manchester can apply for the initiative by submitting a short application on TalkTalk’s website here www.talktalk.co.uk/futurefibrefund and have up to the 12^th of January 2023 to apply.

Those interested in applying will be asked to answer a small number of questions about their business and how the donation would be used to improve its sustainability efforts. Successful applicants will be notified from the 6^th of February 2023.

For more information about the Future Fibre Fund visit: www.talktalk.co.uk/futurefibrefund

Cocogreen expands senior team to support continued global growth

Appointments

News Desk

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28/11/2022

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Cocogreen expands senior team to support continued global growth

Cocogreen, winner of prestigious business awards including the Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade, announces the appointment of Simon Shelbourn as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Joining the business with immediate effect, the move demonstrates Cocogreen’s commitment to continued growth and further international expansion as the global leader in low-carbon, high-yield and sustainable growth substrates for berries, salads, citrus and avocados.

With significant experience spanning numerous finance and senior leadership roles, Shelbourn brings invaluable knowledge, insight, and expertise in scaling internationally to Cocogreen’s senior leadership team. Prior to joining the business, he held the position of group finance director at County Milk Products and has also worked internationally over three decades, ending a hugely successful career as a finance director with multi-billion euro dairy conglomerate Arla Foods amba in the UK/Denmark, and remains a Pension Fund Trustee.

A key strategic hire for Cocogreen, Shelbourn’s appointment forms part of a wider, forward-looking, and highly ambitious growth strategy for the sustainable coir substrate brand. In 2021 the business secured a multi-million-pound growth equity investment from Circularity Capital, a specialist investor in the circular economy, which has already enabled accelerated expansion globally and helped the business deliver record performance.

Commenting on his new role, Shelbourn said: “Cocogreen is a hugely exciting company with an enviable customer base, unique products, unmatched technologies, and a globally renowned brand. This, alongside Cocogreen’s clear mission and purpose was a real pull for me.

“When I first met the senior team, the great success they had already achieved became immediately apparent, but more importantly it was clear the company was exceptionally well positioned to capitalise on the increasing global demand for high-performance growth substrates. The next phase of the growth story is set to be an exciting one that I am really looking forward to being part of.”

Thomas Ogden, Co-Founder and CCO of Cocogreen, commented, “Cocogreen is internationally respected for consistently delivering high-performance, sustainable growing substrates from our vertically integrated, traceable in-house supply chain. Cocogreen’s offering is essential for the large-scale cultivation of food, achieving this in a more efficient, sustainable and ethical manner. Simon’s appointment will help us to explore the many significant opportunities to expand our brand in existing, new, and horizontal markets.”

Dr. Sudesh Fernando, Founder and CEO of Cocogreen, added, “As a global company which believes in the vital importance of a circular economy underpinned by ESG with substance, it was vital for us to follow a thorough search process to appoint someone with extensive experience in senior finance roles as well as being equally committed to our core values. Simon’s knowledge and experience will further support our outstanding continuous growth globally and we welcome Simon onto the Cocogreen Executive Board^”.

For more information about Cocogreen, visit: https://cocogreen.co.uk/

Credit Union’s Emergency Plan offers hope to local families with spiralling cost of living

Finance

News Desk

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28/11/2022

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Credit Union’s Emergency Plan offers hope to local families with spiralling cost of living

Residents across South Manchester are being offered support and advice from their local credit union on how to protect themselves and maximise their income as the cost of living continues to soar.

South Manchester Credit Union has launched a ‘Cost of Living Emergency Plan’ which outlines five vital steps for people to take, whatever their income bracket or financial situation, in order to survive the current crisis and work towards long term financial security for themselves and their families.

The Credit Union’s plan, which is outlined below, has been created to help those on lower incomes as well as those with more stable finances.

Sheenagh Young, chief executive of South Manchester Credit Union, said: “We are all experiencing a really tough and unpredictable time with everyday costs, such as heating and food bills, rising beyond our income bracket and, as we head rapidly towards the winter, it is becoming a huge source of stress for a lot of people.

“As a credit union, we are a not-for-profit, ethical financial organisation and there is a lot we can do to help people. That is why we have created this ‘Cost of Living Emergency Plan’ which is there to provide support to those on lower incomes who have struggled to access credit in the past and may be stuck in a cycle they feel they can’t escape from.

“It also offers support to those on more stable incomes but who are now, due to the cost-of-living crisis, having to tighten their belts and want to make sure they maintain their financial stability through the crisis by simplifying their credit and consolidating any loans they have.”

Credit unions exist to put people first and to help anyone who needs financial support. Credit unions also help people to save for the future and become financially independent.

Sheenagh continued: “Following the Covid pandemic, we saw a huge increase in people wanting to do more to help others in their community and, if we can encourage those people on higher and more stable incomes to use the credit union for their loans, whether it’s for a house, car, wedding or holiday, rather than borrowing from a corporate lender, it will have a huge benefit on their local community and will enable us to help more people who are desperately struggling though this crisis.”

Lisa Smethurst, from Ardwick, is a single parent living on benefits. She says that the credit union is helping her to budget and restore her credit through the cost-of-living crisis; “The credit union has supported me through some very tough times and is now helping me to start saving for the first time. They have been my guardian angels through this cost-of-living crisis.”

Winston Carrington, from Withington, is a retired DJ and stagehand in the music industry. Winston says that the credit union is good for his mental health; “I always feel secure knowing my money is being looked after by the credit union as they only ever do what’s best for me. They have given me complete financial peace of mind.”

Hichem Boualeche, from Burnage, is a cargo agent. The credit union has helped Hichem to focus on simplifying his expenses and repair his credit. He said: “The credit union’s consolidation loan meant I was able combine all of my loan repayments from other providers into one simple loan package. Their helpfulness, professionalism, and positivity have made navigating this cost-of-living crisis much more straightforward.”

Kimberley Hudson, from Burnage, is a working single parent as well as a student at Manchester College. She said: “The credit union has been a lifeline for me. I’ve been able to get two car loans, as well as save up for rainy days. They help you into a better financial position and equip you with the money management skills you need.”

South Manchester Credit Union’s five step ‘Cost of Living Emergency Plan’ is:

Maximise your income

You may not be able to earn more, but there may be ways you can maximise your income. Could you upskill yourself to create more earning potential? How about starting your own business? By investing a small amount in new equipment, it could create new income opportunities for you. Are you accessing all the benefits you are entitled to? We can help you to assess your benefits through a special online benefits calculator. Did you 36,000 eligible households in Greater Manchester are not claiming their Pension Credit? That’s a third of those who are eligible (source: GMCA).

Simplify your expenses

Take a close look at your expenses. Are you prioritising the right ones? What are your key bills? Work out what you really want to spend money on and make sure you prioritise them. We can help you do this so you’re not alone.

Kickstart a savings habit

No matter what your income, saving is a habit that you can create and, once you do, it can become very addictive. Are you encouraging your children to save too? Your credit union can help you to create a savings plan so that you can create some financial stability for your family’s future. Our new Dream Saver product will help you to hold on to your dreams through the current crisis and plan well ahead for a wedding or future holiday.

Repair your credit profile

Did you know that by repairing your existing credit, it will help you to access more affordable credit? Your credit union can help you to prepare for difficult times ahead by refining what you have spent in the past. If you have a historic problem that is causing you stress and worry, we can help you to overcome this by working with you one to one. We will work with you to look at your current financial situation and create a way forward which helps you to save first and then borrow in an affordable and structured way.

Take good care of your mental health

Financial anxiety is very common, especially at a time like this. It’s very easy to feel out of control and overwhelmed but it’s really important to take care of yourself and understand that you can overcome these challenges, with a little help. We have created a Wellbeing Hub on our website which offers advice and support to help guide you through these difficult times and to show you how you can stay in control. Also, take a look at our Cost of Living Support page for details on other organisations and initiatives which may help.

Sheenagh, concluded: “Following two years of the pandemic, our communities are struggling once again. Many who have never experienced debt or hardship before, are facing a very uncertain winter and we can help. Because of the unique way that credit unions operate, we are able to lend money that people can afford to repay, as well as encouraging them to save for a more secure future.”

South Manchester Credit Union offers competitive loans with interest only charged on the reducing balance. Its Welcome Loan of between £150 and £700, available to first-time borrowers joining the Credit Union, has an annual interest of 36% (42.6% APR) and helps borrowers to save as they borrow. For those on a more stable income looking to borrow for a more expensive milestone, it’s Smart Loan of between £1,000 and £15,000, has an interest rate of 13.2% (14% APR).

To find out more about the support offered by your local community credit union, visit www.smcreditunion.co.uk.

IKEA CO-WORKERS IN THE NORTH WEST TO RECEIVE PAY BOOST AS PART OF WIDER £12M INVESTMENT TO HELP WITH COST-OF-LIVING

News Desk

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28/11/2022

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IKEA CO-WORKERS IN THE NORTH WEST TO RECEIVE PAY BOOST AS PART OF WIDER £12M INVESTMENT TO HELP WITH COST-OF-LIVING

Co-workers at the Manchester and Warrington stores will pocket a pay rise in January, as retailer ramps up financial and wellbeing support measures across UK & IE to help with the cost-of-living.

MORE than 959 IKEA co-workers in the North West – 579 at the Warrington store, and 380 at the Manchester store – are set to receive a pay increase as part of the retailer’s £12 million investment to support its people through the cost-of-living crisis.

Co-workers at the Manchester and Warrington stores will further benefit as the retailer also introduces a broad range of support measures across the UK & Ireland.

As one of the few major retailers to match the new Living Wage Foundation rate, hourly paid co-workers will receive a boost in earnings – £10.90 – as part of IKEA’s continued pledge to pay the Real Living Wage.

Eligible salaried co-workers in the North West will receive a pay rise of six per cent on average, in line with the retailer’s commitment to paying a fair and sustainable rate of pay.

The retailer is also ramping up its existing benefits package for co-workers, investing in additional financial, physical, and mental support measures, including increased discounts on IKEA products which reduce waste, more free food options in the co-worker restaurant, travel season ticket discounts, and more.

In addition to the cost-of-living investment, to recognise exceptional performance, all eligible members of the team throughout the UK and Ireland will receive a bonus – of approximately one month’s salary – in time for the festive season.

Darren Taylor, Country People & Culture Manager, IKEA UK & Ireland: “Our people are at the heart of the success of our business and we have always been committed to paying a fair, sustainable rate of pay based on the cost of living. This year is no different.

“Recognising the increasing challenges brought by the rising cost of living, we are pleased to share some of the additional measures we are taking to ensure needs are met; and hope that it will ease some of the pressures of the current climate. By building on our existing co-worker benefits, and by heightening the focus in this area, we want to ensure that our colleagues feel supported during this challenging period.”

As the cost-of-living continues to impact families and their finances across the UK and Ireland, IKEA is investing in the following enhanced support:

Co-worker discount has doubled (increasing to 30 per cent up from 15 per cent) across 2,000 ‘People and Planet Positive’ items – products which help to save resources and reduce waste, including appliances, water-saving taps and LED bulbs, food containers; curtains; duvets; blankets and rugs, for example – as well as all items within the Swedish Food Market
In addition to the existing free meal option for co-workers, there will be more free food options at the co-worker restaurant, including free cereals, porridge and a free ‘winter warmer’ meal option in addition to a healthy meal option, which is already available to co-workers at no charge.
Employees of more than six months will have the option of a flexible, no questions asked loan of up to £1,000, or up to 10 per cent of their salary.
They can also apply to access a €10m Ingka IKEA ‘social fund’ – managed by the Retail Trust – set up to help those in need of one-off, non-repayable financial assistance
Season ticket discounts are increasing from 15 per cent to 25 per cent for those who take public transport to work.
In addition to an ‘iBenefits’ portal with access to discounts on everyday items and essentials, co-workers also have access to a 24-hour helpline, facilitated by the Retail Trust.

Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “Since joining the Living Wage Foundation in 2016, we’re delighted that IKEA continues to show real leadership on pay in retail. We all need a wage that meets our everyday needs, and in paying a real Living Wage to co-workers IKEA will provide them, and their families, with security and stability now and in the months ahead. During this cost-of-living crisis, it’s never been more important for workers to earn a real Living Wage, calculated based on the cost of living.”

Pay increases for all eligible UK & Ireland co-workers and access to the loan and Ingka IKEA Social Fund will come into effect in January 2023.

Team expansion and partner promotion at SAS Daniels LLP

News Desk

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28/11/2022

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Team expansion and partner promotion at SAS Daniels LLP

North west law firm SAS Daniels LLP has appointed a quintet of conveyancing assistants and promoted a senior property lawyer to partner.

Steph Lyke has been promoted to partner in the residential conveyancing team after joining the full-service firm as an associate in 2019. She heads up a residential real estate team at the Chester office and specialises in working with brokers and IFAs across the UK.

Jack Lawrenson-Leroux, Leon Gagnon, Danielle Jarrett, Shanae Byrne and Rebecca Stubbs have been appointed conveyancing assistants at the north west law firm.

Jack, Danielle and Leon will be based in Chester, Shanae in Macclesfield and Rebecca in Congleton.

Jeremy Orrell, chief executive officer at SAS Daniels LLP said:

“Steph joined us three years ago and she quickly made her mark adding strength and depth to the team. Her promotion to partner is very well deserved and reflects her expertise and contribution to the growth of the firm’s property offering. Steph’s well-developed relationships with other advisors and the repeat instructions from long-standing clients is testament to the excellent personal service she consistently provides.

“Our team continues to expand in line with demand for our services and I’m delighted to welcome our new assistants.”

Steph Lyke said:

“Since I joined SAS Daniels three years ago the property market has been buoyant, and this is reflected in the growth of our conveyancing team. I’m looking forward to continuing to work closely with our partners and clients in the months ahead.”

SAS Daniels has a 40-strong residential property team located across its four offices in Stockport, Chester, Macclesfield and Congleton. A full-service law firm, SAS Daniels acts for businesses and individuals across the northwest and nationally.

‘Tech-for-good’ digital transformation firm GWD raises £750,000 from NPIF Maven Equity Finance

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28/11/2022

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‘Tech-for-good’ digital transformation firm GWD raises £750,000 from NPIF Maven Equity Finance

Funding will be used to accelerate product development and add new service lines

British tech-for-good company GWD has secured a £750,000 investment from NPIF Maven Equity Finance, managed by Maven Capital Partners (“Maven”) and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (“NPIF”), delivered by the British Business Bank.

GWD supports socially minded organisations in the digital transition, accelerating their ability to build stronger relationships with customers and clients through impactful products and services.

A flagship product of GWD is its contactless fundraising device, the Donation Station, which uses interactive storytelling and intuitive design to help organisations enhance the donor experience, encouraging engagement, and creating a lasting impression of a fundraising cause.

Headquartered in Sheffield, GWD has deployed hundreds of Donation Stations across the UK. The company is proud to be a partner of choice for organisations across the charity, faith, arts, heritage, and corporate sectors, which can include institutions such as libraries, gardens, and museums.

The £750,000 worth of equity will allow GWD to accelerate key product development and add new service lines, so the company can continue helping its clients to build long-lasting donor relations even more effectively.

GWD was founded by Marek Narkiewicz and Ben Widdows and over the years, they have assembled a strong team united by an ethos of client service, innovation, and sustainability. This investment by Maven, one of the UK’s leading venture capital firms, is a vote of confidence in GWD’s journey.

Alex Rothwell, Investment Director at Maven, said: “We are delighted to provide funding to GWD as it enters its important scale-up phase. GWD have market leading products in sectors that are rapidly growing, with great potential to expand the business rapidly. I am excited to be working with Marek and Ben and the rest of the team.”

Marek Narkiewicz, Co-Founder and CEO of GWD, said: “From the first meeting we were confident that Alex and Maven were the right funding partner for GWD. We have a fantastic team and a mission to bring innovative technology to right where it’s needed and Maven immediately saw the value in that. I’m excited to push on with their support and to continue serving our clients.”

New Recyclable Packaging for HMG Paints

News Desk

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28/11/2022

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HMG Paints, the UK’s leading independent paint manufacturer, has unveiled new packaging for its Water Based range of products. The new packaging utilises recycled content to manufacture the containers and the process and materials used also means the final container can be recycled. The new range of 2.5 Litre and 5 Litre packaging will launch at the beginning of 2023.

Growing the circular economy

At HMG we’re always looking at ways to improve our sustainability and these new PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) containers have been a long-term project for us.” Commented Helen Clark, HMG Paints Purchasing Manager. “The use of PCR containers contributes to growing the circular economy. This helps reduce negative impact on climate change, whilst maintaining the same performance and standards you would expect from regular containers, something which was key for us and our customers.”

The new containers perform to the same standard as virgin material and also include a new livery design for HMG’s range of Water Based and Decorative products. The PCR containers allow HMG to reduce their use of virgin material and offer full recyclability of the new containers in appropriate PP recycling streams due to monomaterial construction, a feature which is increasingly important to all stakeholders.

Coatings Made in Britain

HMG Paints range of Decorative coatings will be amongst the first to appear in the new packaging. All of the products in the range are Made in Britain accredited with all production, including the colourants, taking place at Riverside Works in Manchester. The range contains products such as Vinyl Matt Emulsion, Acrylic Eggshell and Fence and Shed Paint, all of which will carry the British Coatings Federation “Low” VOC globe.

The VOC Globe scheme is part of a wider initiative by the coatings industry to raise consumer awareness of the amount of VOCs contained in decorative paint products, allowing consumers to make more informed, and hopefully greener choices. Greater involvement from paint manufacturers, such as HMG, in the scheme will also greatly help paint recyclers separate solvent-based and water-based leftover paint with ease, which aids reuse and recycling and assist in growing the circular economy.

HMG’s range of Decorative products can be purchased via their online shop, https://shop.hmgpaint.com/ or by calling them directly on 0161 205 7631. Additionally, you can purchase HMG products from their national distributor network. As an independent paint manufacturer HMG Paints rely on a loyal, countrywide distribution network to supply and service customers a range of products and colour matching options.

With HMG’s unique position as a British based coatings manufacturer, they are able to supply products quickly to customers. Uniquely HMG also develop new and bespoke products, whether that be toll manufacturing or completely new formulations for white label customers. All products manufactured by HMG can be produced quickly with flexible batch sizes, including in the new PCR containers.

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