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‘Marathon Man’ Gary McKee brings his 365 Challenge to Media City and Manchester

Charity

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17/11/2022

‘Marathon Man’ Gary McKee brings his 365 Challenge to Media City and Manchester

Legendary ‘Marathon Man’ Gary McKee is coming to Media City and Manchester Sat Nov 19 0730, as a one off, to complete his 323rd marathon – and first this year outside of Cumbria – and to later hook up with KEVIN SINFIELD as he completes his latest 7/7 ultra challenge at OLD TRAFFORD that evening.

Gary, from Cleator Moor, Cumbria, is running a marathon every single day this year for his Three Six Five Challenge in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home West Cumbria. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/threesixfive

On Saturday, 19^th November, Gary will run around Media City with Manchester-based supporters and clinicians, before taking part in Stretford Park Run, where he will be joined by hundreds of running well-wishers including Altrincham prostate cancer patient Tony Collier, who is running his own 5k 365 challenge.

Then in the afternoon Gary will head to the Rugby League World Cup fiinal, where he will greet fellow charity marathon legend, Kevin Sinfield, who will complete his own 7/7 challenge that day.

Then on Sunday 20 November, 1pm – 6pm, Gary will be undertaking 105 laps of the London Community Track at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, where he’ll join fundraiser Shree Laturia and the East End Road Runners, who have run a few marathons with Gary in Cumbria.

Gary admits this will be his toughest physical challenge yet (when completed, he will have run more than 9,500 miles) not to mention his most ambitious fundraising challenge – he is hoping to raise £1 million.

The 53-year-old, who has supported Macmillan for over 18 years, said: “I’m really looking forward to running my 323rd marathon of the year around the great sights of Manchester accompanied by some fellow runners and fundraisers.

Gary said: “I’ve run the same route around my hometown Cleator Moor for all my marathons so far this year except for two in the summer, and so a change of scenery is going to be lovely.

“I’ve always seen the challenge as a day at a time, a 365-piece jigsaw, each day regardless of the weather I lace up my shoes and put one foot in front of the other for 26.2 miles.

“I’ve only ever looked at it as a day at a time, you don’t look any further than the day after when you’re doing your run – you focus on what you’re doing and setting yourself up for the following day.

“If I can support people going through cancer and other life-limiting illnesses while inspiring people to get out there and fundraise themselves, then every marathon I do every day is worth the effort.”

Gary is no stranger to tough challenges and over the years, his fundraising feats have included jumping from aeroplanes, climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Brazil. In 2017, Gary was the recipient of Fundraiser of the Year for the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain awards after running 100 marathons in 100 days to raise £100k for Macmillan and only last year, he completed 110 marathons in 110 days, raising an incredible £200k.

The dad-of-three was inspired to start fundraising for Macmillan after his father was diagnosed with cancer in 1997; his father died from an unrelated illness in 2003. He turned to running as a positive way of keeping his father’s memory alive while helping millions of people suffering from cancer. He has been hugely inspirational to those who follow him.

Tony Collier said: “The task that Gary has taken on is gargantuan. I’ve run many marathons but the thought of doing two days on the trot let alone 365 days just staggers me. I wasn’t able to walk the day after most of my marathons.

“The funds that Gary is raising are going to two great causes. As a cancer patient I’ve been very grateful for the work that Macmillan do to support people like me and would like to thank Gary for raising so much to support that work and the vital work of the wonderful Hospice At Home West Cumbria. It truly makes a difference.”

Aggie Sheppard, Macmillan Cancer Support’s Fundraising Lead for the North of England, said: “We’d like to thank Gary for his amazing commitment to raise funds for two causes close to his heart. His efforts last year were extraordinary enough, but the scale and ambition of this 365 Challenge are almost incomprehensible. We know Gary is inspired by the three million people who are living with cancer in the UK. He says that if they can undergo the rigours of treatment and the many challenges that cancer brings, then he can put himself through this. Nearly all (98%) of Macmillan’s funding comes directly from donations. It’s only through our fantastic fundraisers like Gary that Macmillan can continue to deliver the services that people living with cancer desperately need, now and in the future.”

Stella Walsh, Hospice At Home West Cumbria Marketing and Income Generation Team Leader said:

We are honoured that Gary is supporting Hospice at Home West Cumbria by undertaking this incredible challenge, as a small local charity the difference Gary is making is immeasurable. His dedication and determination to running a marathon every single day is inspiring, and the support from people both locally and nationally has been amazing. The money Gary is raising is helping us care for patients and families in our community who are going through the most difficult time in their lives. We are looking forward to supporting Gary and his team this weekend in London and through the last couple of months of this epic challenge.”

Gary is appealing for everyone to once again get behind him and help him reach his phenomenal target.

To register to run alongside him on the 20^th November, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/garys-365-run-a-long-tickets-443929062777

Or to sponsor Gary, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/threesixfive

To share Gary’s journey, follow him on the ‘365 Marathon Man’ Facebook page. The page will give daily updates and information about how you can sponsor one of his running vests.

Mobysoft Launches Cost of Living Support Programme for Employees

Business support

News Desk

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16/11/2022

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Mobysoft Launches Cost of Living Support Programme for Employees

Manchester-based software as a service (SaaS) firm Mobysoft has announced a raft of financial support measures for its employees to help combat the effects of the current cost of living crisis.

The scheme aims to support Mobysoft employees identified as being most financially impacted by the cost-of-living increases over the coming months. Following the completion of benchmarking of other similar support programmes in operation by other larger companies to consider how to target support directly to those who need it most, the company has aligned its scheme with the average payment.

Under the support programme Mobysoft will pay a £1,200 cost of living support payment split over the next 4 months (November 2022 to Feb 2023) to its employees earning up to £35,000. In addition, Mobysoft will also offer a tapered support programme for others earning up to £40,000.

Mobysoft CEO, Alex Karle, said of the programme: “We have selected the £1,200 deliberately to provide all employees earning up to £35,000 with £1,000 after tax under the 4-month programme and hope this can provide reassurance in turbulent times.

“Mobysoft are the first company in the ECI portfolio to offer this and are in the 1% of companies our size currently providing this. We truly believe that this exemplifies our human values and our commitment to supporting employees.”

Mobysoft Client Services Team Coordinator, Mandy Costello, said of the initiative: “I’ve found Mobysoft to be so invested in its employees and their wellbeing, especially over the last two years, and this latest scheme is testament to its dedication in supporting its staff.

The support is greatly appreciated with the bills and costs fluctuating at the moment. It means that our employees can relax over the Christmas period without having to worry about finances knowing there is a little bit extra available for a few months.”

General Manager appointed ahead of new Holiday Inn Blackpool opening

Appointments

News Desk

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16/11/2022

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General Manager appointed ahead of new Holiday Inn Blackpool opening

With plans underway for the opening of the Holiday Inn Blackpool next year, RBH Hospitality Management has appointed Mark Winter as General Manager.

Taking on the management of the 144-bedroom hotel, which will include a Marco’s New York Italian restaurant, Mark will spearhead the recruitment campaign for around 70 team members over the coming months.

The hotel, managed by RBH Hospitality Management, is council-owned and part of the city’s wider regeneration project, Talbot Gateway. The development is conveniently placed off the side of the train station, offering a central hub for both business and leisure guests arriving in Blackpool.

Having previously managed the opening of two Holiday Inn Express hotels, as well as managing another Holiday Inn property, Mark is adept in successful launches and understands the brand well. Joining the RBH hotel portfolio in 2015, Mark became the company’s youngest ever General Manager at 25 years old and this will be his fourth managerial position within the business.

Mark has always demonstrated both his commercial and operational expertise, but has also always strongly believed in the importance of giving back, whether it be to his own team, the community or the environment, thus engaging with RBH’s Giving Something Back programme.

On his appointment as General Manager, Mark said: “This is an exciting time to be joining the campaign for Blackpool’s regeneration, to help both business and tourism in the area thrive. The operational strategy prior to the hotel’s opening is crucial for a successful launch and we’ll therefore be running a dedicated recruitment campaign in the new year to find the right team of talented and passionate hospitality professionals.”

David Hart, RBH’s CEO said: “The management of this new property is key in our growth strategy to expand into more city locations, and Mark’s roles over the past few years set him in great stead to lead this hotel. With so much experience not just in understanding RBH’s values and approach to business, but specifically with the Holiday Inn brand, Mark’s ability to educate will be hugely beneficial in training a new team to deliver the right service and experience for guests.”

The Holiday Inn Blackpool is set to open in Autumn 2023.

New Skills Bootcamps launched to connect people with manufacturing jobs in Greater Manchester

News Desk

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16/11/2022

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New Skills Bootcamps launched to connect people with manufacturing jobs in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has awarded £548k funding through the Department for Education to enable three providers to deliver training in manufacturing skills as part of their Skills Bootcamps scheme.

In the UK, manufacturing has been identified as a key sector due to its contribution to the economy. On a local level, manufacturing serves a long tradition in Greater Manchester however skills intelligence shows that manufacturing employers are facing growing challenges in regard to upskilling and recruitment.

The Skills Bootcamps are designed to address these challenges as part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee and Plan for Jobs. The offer is a flexible, up to 16-week training course which will build sector-specific skills and guarantee an interview with a local employer.

The three providers delivering manufacturing bootcamps in Greater Manchester are; 3D 360 who specialise in 3D printing courses; Rochdale Training who are focusing on welding and Salford City College who are offering training in industrial textiles.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, Greater Manchester’s lead for Education, Work, Skills, Apprenticeships and Digital said:

“Skills Bootcamps represent such an amazing opportunity for our residents and local businesses. The number of Greater Manchester residents employed in the manufacturing sector is estimated to be between 100,000 – 116,000, representing 7.4 – 8% of the workforce.

“The scheme is designed to help local people gain new skills to pursue exciting careers and places an emphasis on the technical skills welcomed by businesses across Greater Manchester.

“This is not just about manufacturing and technology, it’s about the benefit and value we can provide to our residents and city-region.”

Rochdale Training’s Skills Bootcamp is a five-week training course in welding and fabrication. It’s designed in partnership with engineering employers across Greater Manchester and tailor made for people who wish to retrain and gain practical skills to pursue a new vocation.

Training will enable learners to develop the skills, behaviours, knowledge, and health and safety awareness required to prepare them for working as a welder or fabricator.

3D 360’s Skills Bootcamp will focus on providing an understanding of the capabilities of Additive / Digital manufacturing & Industry 4.0. The courses include:

Intro to Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) and 3D CAD Skills Bootcamp (Level 3)
Digital Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 Skills Bootcamp (Level 3)
Advanced Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) Skills Bootcamp (Level 3/4)

Salford City College Group’s Production Sewing Machinist Skills Bootcamp has been co-designed with UK Fashion & Textiles Association, to give learners the skills and knowledge needed to start a career in production sewing industry. The rejuvenated textiles industry is enjoying a renaissance, with manufacturers in fashion, interior design, health, automotive and other sectors requiring ethically sourced products to meet demand in a fast-growing industry. The course will suit residents in Greater Manchester who are:

Seeking entry to an innovative sector and understand manufacturing as the foundation for a career
A returner to the industry
Seeking a career change
A Sewing enthusiast, wishing to monetise their knowledge by upskilling and progressing to work as a freelancer

Jill Nagy, Chief Executive at Rochdale Training, said: “This is an exciting project for Greater Manchester residents and employers. The training will allow people to re-train or upskill for a sector that needs a skilled workforce. On completion of the course, learners will have gained the valuable skills necessary to progress on to full-time employment, an Apprenticeship, or further study in the sector.”

Jill Nagy, Technical Director at 3D 360, said: “3D 360 is delighted to be partnering with Greater Manchester Combined Authority to deliver Skills Bootcamps tailored to support the Manufacturing industry to build technical capability. 3D 360 are experts in 3D Printing, 3D CAD, digital manufacturing integration and R&D.

“All 3D 360 training courses teach industry transferable skills sets which focus on addressing regional skills gaps within the new emerging digital skills sectors.”

Victoria Kielty, Salford City College Group’s Head of Centre for Pendleton College and Future Skills, said: “Salford City College Group are delighted to be working in partnership with UK Fashion & Textiles Association to meet the skills needs of the sector with our new Production Sewing Machinist Skills Bootcamp. We are supporting employers in Greater Manchester with the recruitment of new staff and working with our learners to provide the foundations of a rewarding career. The partnership will contribute to our city’s distinguished legacy in the textiles industry.”

Skills Bootcamps are completely free for individuals looking for a career change, new job opportunity or wanting to upskill as the courses are fully-funded. Large employers looking to upskill their current staff will contribute 30% of the cost for their staff members upskilling. Small or medium employers (SMEs) will contribute 10% for their staff members upskilling.

Skills Bootcamps will focus on supporting individuals across priority groups including:

Low paid workers
The unemployed or out of work
Veterans
Ex-offenders
Women
Ethnic minorities
The over 50s
Those returning work after a break/maternity leave
People living with a health conditions or disabilities

To apply for Rochdale Training’s Bootcamps please visit: Skills Bootcamp in Welding – Looking for Work | Rochdale Training

To apply for Salford City College’s Bootcamps please visit: Production Sewing Machinist – Salford City College (salfordcc.ac.uk)

To apply for 3D 360’s Bootcamps please visit: Manchester: DfE Skills Bootcamps – 3D 360 Ltd (3d360printer.co.uk)

For more information about Skills Bootcamps please visit: Skills Bootcamps – Greater Manchester Combined Authority (greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk)

For further information please contact the Communications and Engagement team on 0161 608 4092 or email: news@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk.

Find us on social media @greatermcr.

Rise in number of wills being challenged

Legal

News Desk

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16/11/2022

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Rise in number of wills being challenged

A North West law firm is reporting a rise in the number of wills being challenged by disgruntled beneficiaries using ‘caveats’.

Any family member or beneficiary can register a caveat at the probate registry if they don’t agree with what has been written in a will. This temporarily prevents the deceased’s estate from being administered.

It currently costs just £3 to enter a caveat but wills and probate lawyers are urging those considering such a challenge to exercise caution or they could face thousands of pounds in court fees if unsuccessful.

Kathryn Clare specialises in contentious probate at SAS Daniels LLP. She said:

“Caveats can be extremely useful in the right circumstances, but what we’re seeing is an increasing number of people entering caveats without properly thinking through the repercussions. Over the past year we’ve seen a rise in the number of people doing this, and in many cases, they don’t actually have a valid reason to support the caveat.

“If you want to challenge a will and prevent a deceased person’s estate from being administered, you must have a good and valid reason. Valid reasons can range from the deceased being coerced into writing the will, not being of sound mind when they made the will, or it could be that an error has been made in the drafting of the will.”

The number of caveats being registered has risen in the last five years. Kathryn adds:

“People are more likely to challenge a will if they feel they’ve been unfairly left out but if you enter a caveat and a court deems that there is no basis for maintaining it, you could be liable for thousands in court fees. If you’re thinking of entering a caveat, get legal advice first.”

SAS Daniels is a full-service law firm with four offices located in Stockport, Macclesfield, Chester and Congleton.

Save the Children launches Christmas Jumper Day campaign

Charity

News Desk

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16/11/2022

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Save the Children launches Christmas Jumper Day campaign

Save the Children has today launched its multi-channel campaign for Christmas Jumper Day 2022 – set to be its biggest yet as the UK government pledges to double donations.

Now in its 11^th year, Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day prompts millions of people around the UK to don their jazziest jumpers in exchange for a £2 donation to the charity.

This year Christmas Jumper Day will take place on Thursday 8^th December and Save the Children’s campaign is encouraging people to make it a team effort by signing up via its site for additional support in getting workplaces, schools, and friends and family involved.

For the first time, it has also been chosen for the government’s UK Aid Match scheme that provides grants to UK based Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for poverty reduction projects in developing countries. For every £2 donated by the public the UK government will also contribute £2 of UK aid, up to £2 million, to help the charity’s projects go further in changing and saving lives.

As Save the Children’s media communications partner, Manchester-based MediaCom North is managing the media placement for the fourth year, and has implemented a new strategy that aims to maximise reach to relevant audiences travelling to schools and workplaces during the next four weeks, in the run up to the big day.

Rachel Green, Senior Marketing Manager at Save the Children UK, said:

“As well as increasing awareness of Christmas Jumper Day, this year’s campaign has been designed to drive registrations via our online sign-up process – so the messaging is very much focused on how easy it is to get work colleagues, friends and family involved, making it a team effort to raise funds.

“By condensing the user journey to make it as easy as possible to sign up, create a JustGiving page and get fundraising resources we hope both individuals and groups will make the day super fun.

“Alongside resources, the web site shows how the funds will be used to help children around the world, and how every penny donated makes a big impact on people’s lives.

“We’re also running the day itself on a Thursday this year to reflect the change to many people’s working week, and the increase in hybrid office and home working patterns. Our aim is to get as many workplaces, teams and schools involved.

”With the extra government funding we really hope that the campaign encourages people to spare just £2 this year to make this our best Christmas Jumper Day yet.”

Chris Pollard; Business Director at MediaCom North added:

“In line with this year’s focus on getting workplaces and schools involved again, the media planning has been shaped around ‘owning the commute’ through a combination of commercial radio and digital out of home timed to reach audiences on the way to work. The campaign is running nationally across all commercial radio stations through the Newslink Network, and is synced with Global’s DOOH portfolio to maximise synergy. This approach is based on insight that by using these media channels in conjunction increases their overall effectiveness.

“These tactics are coupled with Online Video (OLV) advertising, PPC and display to further boost overall reach. We’ve also utilised Google’s latest platform Performance Max (Pmax) to maximise sign ups for the event.

“After a difficult couple of years we want to bring everyone together on Christmas Jumper Day for fun and fundraising, and by catching people before work in the weeks before the day itself we’re hoping it’s fresh in their mind to prompt conversations in the workplace.

“With strong awareness and a clear call to action we can’t wait to see the results and see workplaces, teams and schools coming together to have some fun.”

https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/christmas-jumper-day

Alliance Manchester Business School to launch new Centre for Financial Technology Studies

Finance
Tech

News Desk

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16/11/2022

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Alliance Manchester Business School to launch new Centre for Financial Technology Studies

Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) is launching a new specialist centre to accelerate research into financial technology and develop real-world solutions to new challenges in the sector.

The Centre for Financial Technology Studies (CFTS) will become a knowledge and research hub for digital advancements in finance, including open banking, cryptocurrency, blockchain and artificial intelligence in financial services. It will collaborate with industry partners to provide theoretical insight and practical solutions to help businesses respond to the latest challenges they face and accelerate the adoption and impact of technology.

As the sector continues to diversify, the CFTS plans to offer a broad range of specialist courses and research areas for students and academics, spanning topics such as FinTech Disruption, Decentralised Finance (including NFTs and Web3), and Open Finance: Economics & Strategy of open APIs.

The CFTS will also act as a knowledge-sharing platform, bringing together Fintech firms and financial services institutions in Manchester and across the UK. It will host conferences, seminars and Hackathons, setting problem-solving challenges for some of the industry’s brightest minds, throughout the year.

The Centre builds on the extensive financial technology expertise within the current AMBS team, led by Professor Markos Zachariadis, Chair of Financial Technology (Fintech) & Information Systems at AMBS, which has played a pioneering role in Fintech research over the past 15 years. It has developed strong industry links and is already a strategic partner to independent industry body Innovate Finance.

Professor Markos Zachariadis, Chair of Financial Technology (Fintech) & Information Systems at AMBS, said: “The rate at which digital innovation is shaping the financial services sector has accelerated dramatically, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic. The Centre for Financial Technology (Fintech) Studies will ensure we can continue to lead on pioneering research that helps businesses to keep up with these ongoing developments.

“At AMBS we’ve always prided ourselves in being at the forefront of Fintech studies. The Centre will bring our experts closer together and enable us to combine our knowledge to accelerate research into new areas. By working closely with industry partners, we will ensure our studies relate to present issues and will have maximum real-world impact.

“The financial services industry needs new talent to drive the sector forward, and we hope we can play a key role in supporting future Fintech leaders.”

The new Centre will officially open at a launch event on the 23^rd November. The event will comprise panel talks from AMBS academics and industry leaders, as well as representatives from the FCA and Innovate Finance.

You can register to attend the event here: https://www.alliancembs.manchester.ac.uk/events/launch-of-the-centre-for-financial-technology-fintech/

Shard Credit Partners provides additional funding in support of MAPD’s acquisition of a majority stake in Bermans.

Acquisitions

News Desk

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16/11/2022

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Shard Credit Partners provides additional funding in support of MAPD’s acquisition of a majority stake in Bermans.

Shard Credit Partners has provided additional senior debt facilities to The MAPD Group (“MAPD”) in support of its acquisition of a majority shareholding in Bermans (2012) Limited (“Bermans”), a North-West based commercial law firm specialising in invoice and asset finance.

This is the largest acquisition by MAPD to date, as it seeks to consolidate the highly fragmented legal services sector across the UK market. This brings total financing provided by Shard Credit Partners to MAPD in support of its buy and build acquisition strategy to £13.2 million, since March 2020.

Bermans is a highly regarded commercial law firm specialising in asset finance and invoice finance legal services. The business employs 72 staff and operates from two offices located in Manchester and Liverpool. The acquisition of Bermans also bolsters MAPD’s property, corporate law and litigation legal services throughout the north-west of England. The acquisition adds significant value to MAPD as the group continues to execute its strategy of organic and acquisitive growth.

MAPD stands for ‘Making a Positive Difference’. It is building a group of successful law firms, propelled by a single shared purpose; Making a Positive Difference. This ethos fuels business performance, motivates people, leads MAPD to deliver high quality work for their clients and roots firms more deeply in the communities, focusing on sustainable growth.

MAPD acquired the Jackson Lees Group (comprising Jackson Lees and Broudie Jackson Canter) in March 2020, and Myers and Co., in 2021. The business is looking to invest in aligned businesses within the legal sector via a nationwide acquisition strategy.

Brian Cullen, CEO of MAPD said: “We’re really pleased that Shard Credit Partners shares our vision. Our approach is based on acquiring strong regional law firms and giving them the rocket fuel they need to take them to the next level. We say ‘powered by MAPD’, our approach is to make something that’s already good, great.

“We did a lot of research and learning around different models prior to settling on the approach we now have. Once we decided that MAPD is a movement, not a business, it became much clearer. We are serious about Making a Positive Difference. It is so fundamental to our success, it became our name.

“Our approach is such that we don’t come in and do things to people we come in and do things with people. The strength of the law firms we are buying comes from the brand equity and the people.”

Alastair Brown, CEO at Shard Credit Partners, commented: “The acquisition of Bermans marks a substantial leap forward for MAPD’s proven strategy of growth through acquisition, as it seeks to become a major player in the UK’s fragmented legal services market. We share Brian and Joanna’s vision for growth and look forward to working with them as they continue to expand the platform into other regions of the UK through further acquisitions”.

Legal advice to MAPD was provided by O’Connors, led by David Malone, Natasha Lackner and Craig Geraghty. Strategic M&A advice was provided by Dow Schofield Watts, led by James Curtis and Connor Monaghan. Legal advice to Shard Credit Partners was provided by Gateley Legal.

Shard Credit Partners’ strategy is to become a leading provider of flexible and patient capital to entrepreneur and management-owned companies located throughout the UK, with a strong focus on driving transformational growth and jobs creation. Since 2017, Shard Credit Partners has invested more than £150 million in supporting regional Management Buy-Out transactions and M&A buy-and-build acquisition strategies, as well as growth capital expenditure financing.

Free webinars help businesses cut carbon and cut costs

News Desk

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16/11/2022

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Free webinars help businesses cut carbon and cut costs

Businesses in Greater Manchester can get expert advice on cutting their energy bills – and their carbon emissions – at a series of free webinars.

SME support programme Skills for Growth is running four Cut Carbon, Cut Costs webinars in November and December.

The Skills for Growth programme is delivered by the GC Business Growth Hub social enterprise and Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Its aim is to help firms achieve their growth ambitions by plugging skills gaps and improving training and workforce development.

The webinars will be led by the programme’s sustainability and net zero experts and will provide firms with key market intelligence around energy efficiency, sustainability and climate change.

Firms can find out how to switch to renewable energy or upgrade fleets to electric vehicles. Other sessions will look at how to engage employees and how to gain competitive advantage by marketing your sustainability achievements.

A recent survey of businesses in Manchester found that 45% needed support to deliver on their environmental and 33% needed support to develop a plan to minimise their environmental impact.

GC Business Growth Hub is working the winter to ensure that businesses have the support they need in the face of rising inflation and a predicted economic recession through its Here for Business: Cost of doing Business campaign, providing a range of specialist support.

The Here for Business: Cost of doing Business campaign provides a range of specialist support to businesses.

Janine Richardson, programme manager at Skills for Growth said: “Like households, UK businesses are facing soaring energy costs this winter. Rising inflation is hitting all sectors of the economy, and at the same time the impact of climate change is being felt across the globe. Solving these two challenges goes hand in hand – by taking a more sustainable approach to energy use we can alleviate some of the cost pressures facing businesses. Tackling these issues is a win-win for companies and the environment.

“Our free webinars this year will equip firms with the tools and knowledge needed to do this. It will help our SMEs in Greater Manchester to address some of the key challenges they face around energy costs and sustainability. And they will explore practical ways which firms can keep bills down by reducing their energy usage.

“Crucially, they will focus on ensuring SMEs have the right skills and expertise in place to thrive when it comes to sustainability and energy efficiency. And it will help them better tell their story, while avoiding the risks of so-called ‘greenwashing’.”

The first webinar takes place at 11am on Monday, November 21 and will explore the links between climate change and the energy market. The session will explore the benefits of taking action and will provide an overview of the UK energy market.

The second webinar, which takes place at 2pm on Thursday, November 24, has a focus on energy consumption and will look at practical renewable or zero carbon energy supply options. Also on the agenda will be the practicalities and benefits of switching to electric vehicles.

A third session at 2pm on Monday, November 28 will cover the workforce implications of company climate policies, including the strategy and resource implications of engaging employees. A final webinar at 11am on Thursday, December 1 will explore the sustainability conversation – with a focus on gaining competitive advantage through improved marketing.

All sessions will be delivered by Carl Hirst and Bex Bowcock, sustainability and net zero advisors with The Growth Company.

More sessions are planned for in the New Year, so businesses that miss out this time still have a chance to attend.

To sign up for the Cut Carbon, Cut Costs webinars, and for detailed agendas on each session, visit: http://bit.ly/3ge0yU1

Find out more about Here for Business at the GC Business Growth Hub website

Largest tech and digital careers festival in the North announces 2023 event

Digital
Tech

News Desk

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16/11/2022

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Largest tech and digital careers festival in the North announces 2023 event

The North’s longest running and largest talent and skills festival for the digital and tech industry will take place from February 6-10, 2023 across Manchester city centre.

The Digital Skills Festival, which has been run by industry trade body Manchester Digital for more than a decade, brings together the leading North West tech businesses with the future stars of the digital and tech world.

Katie Gallagher, managing director of Manchester Digital, said: “Our 2023 Skills Festival will showcase the region’s digital and tech sector at its best and will ensure that even through difficult economic times, there are still vacancies and opportunities on the table.

“A recent study found that 28% of all jobs advertised in Manchester were for the tech sector. On top of this, the average tech salary is 50% higher than the average salary for other jobs, making it a hugely attractive industry for young people and career changers.

“While the sector is always impacted by economic conditions, its resilience and ability to innovate will mean that the sector continues to grow and importantly create high quality jobs which are key to the region’s overall prosperity and improving the lives of our citizens.”

Manchester City Council has been confirmed as the strategic partner for the event, and Auto Trader returns as headline sponsor. Other sponsors include Atkins; GlobalLogic UK&I, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, Zühlke, hackajob, Bentley, University of Salford and Bruntwood SciTech.

Up to 300 job opportunities will be on offer on the flagship Talent Day (Wednesday, February 8), including roles in software engineering, data, cyber-security, UX, design, business analyst, project management and much more.

Conference Day (Monday, February 6) will see the launch of the annual Digital Skills Audit, as well as keynote speakers on the latest industry issues such as the current economy and rising inflation, skills shortages and the lasting impact of the Covid pandemic.

Sherelle Fairweather, digital strategy lead at Manchester City Council, said: “We are super thrilled to be supporting the festival. The citywide Manchester Digital Strategy 2021 – 2026 focuses on the need to build on the city’s strengths to grow the digital sector and digital ecosystem – creating more good quality learning, employment, business, and investment. Manchester City Council have been long supporters of Manchester Digital and its community, and we look forward to contributing to and being immersed into a great week!”

The event also coincides with National Apprentice Week, with a dedicated apprenticeship day to inform and guide anyone considering a tech apprenticeship programme.

The five day event, will take place at venues across the city centre, as well as online sessions, from February 6-10, 2023, with more speakers and professional sessions to be announced.

To find out more about the Digital Skills Festival, visit:

https://digitalskillsfestival.com/

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