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Interest rate hikes: here’s how it might affect you

Thought Leaders

Sam Allcock

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15/11/2022

Interest rate hikes: here’s how it might affect you

With the Bank of England posting the highest interest rate hike in over 30 years, many of us are already feeling the effect on our finances. But how could it affect you? Read on to find out more

Why are interest rates rising?

The interest rate – also known as the base rate – is set by the Bank of England. It tends to rise to help combat the rate of inflation as it limits borrowing and spending to drive prices down in line with demand. On 3^rd November 2022, interest rates rose by 0.75 percentage points to hit 3% – the biggest rise since 1989. And while this might help to curb inflation (which has also reached record heights this year), an interest rate hike means that many people will face higher financing costs and increased loan rates.

But what might this mean for you and your finances?

Higher mortgage payments

A mortgage may be the most substantial debt you have – and your biggest monthly outgoing. While 6.3m of us have fixed rate mortgages and won’t be immediately affected by the interest rate hike, there are 2.2m of us with variable rate mortgages who may now be facing increased monthly repayments.

There are two main types of variable rate mortgage: tracker mortgages follow the base rate while standard variable rate (SVR) mortgages change at the lender’s discretion, although most will also increase their rates in line with the Bank of England.

The exact amount that you can expect your monthly mortgage payment to increase will depend on your initial agreed interest rate and the amount borrowed but, according to finance expert Martin Lewis, you can expect to pay roughly £50 more each month (£600 a year) per every £100,000 of mortgage debt for each percentage point rate increase.

More expensive new mortgages

If you’re looking for a new mortgage, you might find that the rates you’re being offered are much higher than they might have been a few months ago. Whether you’re looking to buy a new property or remortgage as your current deal is coming to an end, it might be hard to find an affordable fixed-rate term. And if you are lucky enough to find one, expect a high interest rate. The average two-year fixed rate home loan increased from 4.74% in September 2022 to 6.65% by October 2022. This type of mortgage will likely remain more expensive than a tracker mortgage for the time being due to the uncertainty of the housing market.

Increased financing costs

If you’re already in debt or looking to take out a new loan, you might find that rising interest rates make your situation harder. The cost of borrowing is rising with the average effective interest rate on credit cards increasing to 18.96% in September 2022. And if you’re struggling to keep up with these rises, you’re not alone; UK Finance data reports that the number of homeowner mortgaged properties repossessed rose 5% in June 2022 when compared to the previous quarter. Don’t be afraid to contact your lender as soon as you start to struggle, you might be able to come to an agreement that helps you make some payments and avoid repossession.

Improved savings

The last few years have seen savings accounts dip due to low interest rates but the one silver lining to an interest rate hike is that your savings could start working a lot harder. If you already have a bank account that pays interest or you’re considering adding more money into your savings, you could now see a better return than you may have done a few months ago.

Difficult times for businesses

If you’re self-employed or own your own business, you might find that the interest rates hikes lead to reduced demand for goods and services. The increased cost of credit may make people more reluctant to reach for their credit card when shopping and those with savings might choose to leave them untouched to earn interest rather than spend. You may also find that it now costs more to borrow from lenders for your business and that suppliers’ prices also rise.

How to cope with interest rate rises

Interest rate hikes impact everyone’s finances, but there are steps that you can take to make the increases easier to handle. If you can, putting a financial plan in place that takes rate rises into account can make it less of a shock when your monthly ongoings start to increase.

You may also want to take steps to improve your credit score. While it can take time to boost your score; registering on the electoral roll, regularly checking your credit report, and keeping your credit utilisation low could all help you qualify for better interest rates in the future.

If you currently have a fixed rate mortgage that’s set to end soon, you could consider overpaying while the rate is still low. This is only an option if you have disposable income available, but it could help keep your future repayments manageable when your deal finishes.

Finally, remember that you don’t have to be struggling with money to seek debt help and advice from an experienced debt advisor. They can help you make a workable budget and assess your outgoings before you get into financial difficulty, as well as helping you find the right debt management solution for you if you are falling behind with payments.

If you’re looking for debt advice, our friendly team of experts at My Debt Plan are here to help. Give us a call on 0161 8260 585 or send a message here.

FINANCIAL GIANTS DESCEND ON MANCHESTER FOR ANNUAL FINTECH NORTH CONFERENCE

Finance
Tech

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15/11/2022

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FINANCIAL GIANTS DESCEND ON MANCHESTER FOR ANNUAL FINTECH NORTH CONFERENCE

FinTech North will return to Manchester on Thursday 24^th November, welcoming a raft of big-hitters, newcomers and everything in-between in the UK’s FinTech scene.

Taking place at the University of Manchester’s iconic Whitworth Hall, the schedule is jam-packed with experts and FinTech trailblazers from the world of payments, digital banking, e-commerce, embedded finance and more.

The event is running in partnership with thought leaders in UK FinTech research, The University of Manchester; global financial services provider, Mastercard; cloud computing specialists, Amazon Web Services; cyber-security experts, DARE Technology; embedded finance professionals, Weavr and digital transformation leaders, GFT Group.

The hybrid event is expected to draw over 250 delegates, attending in-person and watching online.

Expert speakers set to converge on Greater Manchester include: Max Lambertson, Economist at Mastercard; Markos Zachariadis, Professor and Chair of Financial Technology at the University of Manchester; Daniel Greiller, Chief Commercial Officer at Weavr; and Jamal Issouquaein, Customer Success Engineer at Dare Technology.

Delegates can expect to hear a first-hand account of how some of the world’s most successful digital banks were built from the ground up, in a fireside chat with Amazon Web Services and GFT Group – both partners in developing and launching Mox Bank in Hong Kong and Al Rajhi Bank in Saudi Arabia.

Panel sessions throughout the day will include discussions on female entrepreneurship and funding from female led collective Fund Her North, as well as a deep dive into Greater Manchester’s FinTech ecosystem with Whitecap Consulting.

Attendees will also hear from some of the region’s best success stories in the FinTech showcase. More than 15 cutting-edge FinTech businesses from Manchester will be participating, including accountancy software providers Rupee Solutions – speakers at the 2021 FinTech North Manchester conference, who have now made the city their home! The showcase will be sponsored by Croatian ICT solution providers TIS and their UK counterpart, Bluebird IT solutions.

To compliment the North-West contingent of FinTechs, there will be a selection of international FinTechs to round off the agenda, hailing from as far afield as Ukraine and Nigeria.

Chris Sier, FinTech North Chairman and HM Treasury FinTech Envoy for England, comments:

“It’s a real privilege to be back in Manchester for our fifth annual flagship conference in the city. It’s great to see such longevity of a platform that year after year grows larger, and continually boasts an impressive line-up of regionally and nationally significant speakers from all corners of FinTech. This year is no exception.”

“Aligning with the Kalifa Review, which recognised Manchester as an established national FinTech hub, we’re certain this year’s Manchester Conference will once again demonstrate that FinTech in the regions continues to thrive.”

FinTech North is a non-profit organisation founded in 2016. It aims to champion the UK’s Northern Powerhouse as a region of excellence for FinTech, providing a platform to forge relationships between the North’s FinTech start-ups, innovators, established tech giants, policymakers and academia.

The full agenda for the FinTech North Manchester conference is here. Tickets can be purchased here and are priced at £75 per delegate. The live-stream event is free and places can be reserved here.

HYATT HOTELS MANCHESTER ANNOUNCED AS MANCHESTER MUSEUM’S HOTEL PARTNER

Partnerships

News Desk

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15/11/2022

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HYATT HOTELS MANCHESTER ANNOUNCED AS MANCHESTER MUSEUM’S HOTEL PARTNER

Hyatt Hotels Manchester has become Manchester Museum’s exclusive hotel partner as part of its strategy to cultivate positive community impact and promote tourism to the district. The 12-month sponsored partnership coincides with the museum’s much anticipated re-opening, which is scheduled for February 2023 following an extensive £15m refurbishment.

The dual branded Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House Manchester will run themed campaigns for guests to promote the new exhibition spaces, including the centrepiece ‘Golden Mummies of Egypt’ Hall. The purpose-built hall will house an exhibition that has toured the US and China and features eight mummies and over a hundred objects from the museum’s existing Egyptology collection.

The 19-storey building comprises a 212 bedroom Regency Hotel and Hyatt House; a 116 bedroom apart-hotel. With a choice of luxurious rooms, suites and studios, the 4-star hotels located on Booth Street West will also welcome and host media and VIPs attending the museum’s press launches as well as running new and unique leisure stay packages with a creative twist to entice families to visit the new museum collection.

The major refurbishment programme at the museum named ‘hello future’, includes a new space called the Belonging Gallery, the Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery, a new display area for the dinosaur and prehistoric exhibitions, and a South Asia Gallery, which is in partnership with the British Museum. As part of the refurbishments, accessibility has been improved at the neo-Gothic building, with a new ramped entrance on Oxford Road.

Assumpta McDonald, general manager at Hyatt Regency Manchester, said: “We are delighted to support Manchester Museum, one of our closest neighbours, in this landmark year. The new exhibitions and the vibrant programme of activity are bound to attract visitors not just from the region, but from across the UK and overseas. As a global hospitality chain, our brand provides a familiar and luxurious welcome to guests from all over the world. We are looking forward to theming rooms, menus and offers and displaying exciting artefacts in our lobby to tie in with exhibitions at the museum.”

Esme Ward, director at Manchester Museum, added: “The hotel is simply round the corner from us and there couldn’t be a better base for exploring the results of our exciting refurbishment. With over 4.5 million items to discover, it’s a great idea for visitors to plan an extended stay and we are very thankful to the hotel for pledging their commitment in supporting us as we re-open to the public and for a very exciting year ahead.”

For more information, visit Hotel Near Manchester Oxford Road | Hyatt Regency Manchester

Meat retailer carves out future growth with six figure NPIF investment

News Desk

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15/11/2022

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Meat retailer carves out future growth with six figure NPIF investment

Manchester-based Sterling Meat Company has bolstered its growth following the roll out of two new Sterling Food to Go Stores and the creation of 20 jobs after securing a £500,000 investment from NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance, managed by FW Capital and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).

The Sterling Meat Company which operates under two brands; Meat Mart and Sterling Foods to Go, is run by experienced meat entrepreneur Tom Cribbins. The business plans to scale its North of England customer base with the opening of two new Sterling Food to Go Stores in Middleton and Doncaster, increasing its headcount by creating 20 new jobs. The investment will also support the firm’s capital expenditure and working capital needs.

Meat Mart is a dedicated high street butchers store brand, offering a quality range of fresh meats, frozen food and ready to eat pies and sandwiches at six locations across the North and Midlands – Astley, Barnsley, Hellaby, Hunslet, Wigan and West Bromwich. Sterling Foods to Go are high street shops offering hot and cold food to go and has five locations which include Stockport, Salford, and two in Hull in addition to the two new stores.

Adam Husband, Investment Executive at FW Capital facilitated the investment for Sterling Meat Company following an introduction from Ben Day at Cowgills.

Howard Lomax, Operations Director at Sterling Meat Company said: “Our vision at Sterling Meat Company is to increase our presence on the high street and increase our number of stores to over 12. The cash injection received from the investment from NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance is helping us to realise these growth ambitions and bring our brands and products to a wider audience of consumers.”

Adam Husband, Investment Executive at FW Capital, said: “The NPIF funding is all about supporting growth and this is a great example of a well-run business that was looking for additional support to fulfil its next stage of expansion. The management team at Sterling Meat Company have a very strong track record and both brands deliver quality products to its customer base which is why it is doing so well. The growth the business is currently experiencing is testament to this and I’m delighted to be supporting Sterling Meat Company grow its presence across the North.”

Sean Hutchinson at the British Business Bank, said “Access to finance is a key tool to driving growth and development in the North, and the investment will play an important part in helping Sterling Meat realise its expansion goals. The creation of 20 new jobs highlights the role of businesses in supporting the economic growth of the region, and NPIF plays an important part in supporting this development.”

FW Capital can provide loans in the NPIF region with a focus on Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, and the Tees Valley.

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.

JLL Manchester expands Project and Cost Management team following significant client growth

News Desk

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15/11/2022

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JLL Manchester expands Project and Cost Management team following significant client growth

Leading property company JLL has doubled the number of Quantity Surveyors within its Manchester-based Project and Cost Management team, as it welcomes a Programme and Project Manager and two new Quantity Surveyors.

This follows a busy period for the team as they work on several large-scale developments in Manchester and marks the first step in plans for expansion in the North.

The Cost Management side of the team welcomes Elgan Jones as Senior Quantity Surveyor, who joins from Co-op where he was Commercial Manager and Joe Coe has also joined the now four-strong team as Assistant Quantity Surveyor.

Faye Gilly joins the Project Management practice, which caters to a mixture of interior fit outs, including new builds and refurbishments. She brings a breadth of experience to the role of Programme Manager, having worked at CBRE and LabTech London, and most recently as Senior Project Manager at Ridge and Partners LLP.

At JLL, Faye will be leading on the Roku account, as the digital media company has opened its fourth UK office in Manchester at a new tech epicentre just off Oxford Road. She will also be working on a range of schemes across the country including Manchester, Cardiff, and Amsterdam.

Nick Currie, Head of Project and Cost Management at JLL Manchester, said: “Demand has rocketed for our Cost and Project Management team’s services recently. Notably so in the North West, as companies prioritise finding the perfect office space, to promote wellbeing and attract employees back into the office.

“Faye, Elgan and Joe have joined at an exciting time and have already strengthened our current capabilities with a huge amount of combined expertise. I’m sure they will prove to be invaluable to both teams.”

Manchester-based K3 Syspro becomes NexSys to reflect ERP+ portfolio

News Desk

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15/11/2022

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Manchester-based K3 Syspro becomes NexSys to reflect ERP+ portfolio

Local Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) specialist K3 Syspro has rebranded to NexSys Solutions Limited as part of a strategic move to better represent its services and solutions. The new brand was revealed during the company’s annual Customer Day at the Jaguar Experience Centre in Birmingham in front of over 150 customers and partners.

The Manchester-based company remains an elite partner of SYSPRO ERP, specialising in delivering best-of-breed solutions to customers. This involves integrating its own technologies with SYSPRO at the core to enable customers to gain maximum visibility over business-critical data, thereby aiding aid rapid decision-making.

Nick McGrane, managing director of NexSys, explained how the new name better reflects the company’s proposition. “We’re going through a period of change where businesses are having to continually evolve, adapt and update their proposition in order to remain competitive. Innovative solutions are critical to this and throughout our near 40-year history, we have been committed to providing best-of-breed solutions that help our customers thrive.”

“We are excited about the future that digital transformation offers for companies looking to power business growth through advancing technologies. SYSPRO ERP remains central to our solutions, complimented by our own DataSwitch integration tool, our Orchard warehouse management technology, and Making Tax Digital solution. Our focus is on helping businesses gain a competitive advantage by adopting appropriate technologies which integrate to solve pressing challenges, and our rebrand reflects this. As part of the global K3 group, NexSys has access to complementary technologies, expertise and support which benefit our customers.”

K3 Syspro was established in 1983 under the previous name of McGuffie Brunton. In 2007, the firm was acquired by the K3 Business Technology Group for £12.5 million, becoming a focal point in the K3 portfolio for manufacturing and distribution technologies. NexSys remains a K3 company and will celebrate its 40^th anniversary in 2023.

McGrane continued: “We may have a new name and brand, but we retain our ethos of putting people at the heart of our operations. Our customers know that an investment in SYSPRO is not just an investment in an ERP product, but an investment in a long-lasting partnership with us.

“We have also carried over our culture from K3 Syspro. We remain customer-focused and approachable, as extensions to our customers’ technology project teams. Most of our own people have been with us since the McGuffie Brunton days. Indeed, I have worked my way up through the company over the past few decades and remain proud of everything we have achieved. With a new name, a new brand, and continually developing technology innovatively, we remain well positioned to help our customers navigate the future.”

NORTH WEST DESIGNER LEADING THE WAY IN ETHICAL FASHION

News Desk

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15/11/2022

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NORTH WEST DESIGNER LEADING THE WAY IN ETHICAL FASHION

Slow-fashion designs worn by Kate Nash and Aimee Lou Wood
Timeless pieces – that can be worn season after season
Care, Repair & Recycle initiative
Autumn/Winter 22 collection made from deadstock fabric

Designer Hailea Crichton from Accrington is on a mission with her team to make looking good and doing good the same thing with a new sustainable fashion brand, which is already a favourite among celebrities including Kate Nash, actor Aimee Lou Wood and Radio 1 presenter Vick Hope.

Created in 2021, Deidei is an anti-fast fashion lifestyle brand that prides itself on creating timeless collections, designed to be worn season after season.

Founder Hailea Crichton designs and develops all garments in-house, with designs inspired by the spaces where nature and people meet. Sustainability and circularity are considered at every stage of the design process, she consciously chooses fabrics and finishes that are part of a closed-loop system such as Tencel and Cupro.

This slow-fashion approach can be seen in Deidei’s collection of dresses, tops and accessories, which feature details that are adaptable to changing bodies such as ties, buttons, and pockets for maximum versatility and longevity.

All of the brand’s garments are made in the UK to minimise their carbon footprint, with limited runs produced by a family-run factory in London.

Committed to the circular fashion movement, Deidei launched ‘Restore’ this year, a project that provides valuable advice for responsible care, repair, and recycling to prevent garments from having an end life. They also run a rental service too, so that pieces can be worn and used again, many times over.

Hailea and the team have launched a limited collection for Autumn Winter 22, with garments made exclusively from hand-picked deadstock fabric, sourced from UK mills. Deadstock fabric is leftover fabric from textile and garment factories, which is destined for landfill.

And it’s not just the products that have to be ethical! Hailea grew up in a mill town and was taught to sew by her grandmother, who told her stories about working in the weaving sheds of the textile factories. Tales of men abusing their power and the bad working conditions in the mills, which affected her Grandmother’s health, inspired Hailea to find a better way of doing things in fashion industry.

Hailea said: “I saw the need for a clothing brand that I could trust, a brand with empathy and joy, that cares as much about the people making the products as they do about the people wearing them. This is where Deidei has come from, a brand that helps people look good, feel good and be good to the Earth. We are a female-led and self-funded team that is looking forward to growing the brand and educating customers on their sustainable journey.”

Deidei clothing and accessories are available to buy online www.deidei.co.uk or can be rented via: byrotation.com.

KEY GROUP OFFSETS ALL HISTORIC CARBON EMISSIONS AS IT LAUNCHES SUSTAINABLITY STRATEGY

Sustainability

News Desk

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15/11/2022

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KEY GROUP OFFSETS ALL HISTORIC CARBON EMISSIONS AS IT LAUNCHES SUSTAINABLITY STRATEGY

Key Group – the leading later life servicing group based in Fulwood, Preston – has marked the launch of its Sustainability Strategy by announcing it is funding the planting of enough trees in the UK to offset all of its historic direct carbon emissions.

The strategy sets out Key Group’s approach to four vital areas:

Responsible Business Practices
People and Culture
Safeguarding the Environment
Supporting our communities

With over 700 colleagues, the Group is committed to playing an active role in supporting positive change in these areas. Whether it is the diversity and inclusion focus groups or the charity day which each colleague is encouraged to take to support a cause of their choice, Key Group is making changes to its business to support the delivery of its sustainability ambitions.

With the help of energy consultancy firm Inspired PLC, Key Group has been a carbon neutral organisation since 2020 having annually purchased offsets to cover the operational (Scope 1 and 2) emissions it produces. Being carbon neutral is part of Key Group’s strategy to minimise its environmental impact as it works towards the ultimate aim of achieving net-zero. Key Group is working closely with Inspired PLC to develop a robust strategy to reach net-zero.

As a fast-growing business, Key Group’s priority will continue to be on minimising current and future emissions using smart working practices and renewable energy. The group has recently launched an electrical vehicle car scheme to colleagues and the first EV chargers are currently being installed at its Preston head office campus.

To compensate for its historic environmental impact, Key Group has funded, through verified offsetting schemes, enough trees to sequester the equivalent amount of carbon emissions produced by the business since its launch.

Simon Thompson, Group CEO at Key Group said:

“As a responsible employer and organisation operating in the UK, we are committed to supporting positive change when it comes to the environment, society and the communities we operate in. The offsetting of our carbon emissions is just one example of a host of different measures we have in place.

“Whether it is colleagues taking the time to engage with a charity of their choice or increasing the diversity of our teams or helping more people to support local communities, we know each of these are vitally important and we are delighted to be in a position to outline our approach.”

Kristina Beadle, Head of Carbon Services at Inspired PLC said:

“Sustainability and net-zero are undoubtably buzzwords at the moment, and we are seeing colleagues, customers and partners care more and more about a company’s approach to the environment and the communities they operate in. It is therefore great to work with a company like Key Group who are taking responsibility not only for their current and future environmental footprint, but also doing what they can to compensate for their historic impact.”

Stainless Steel Services Limited shines with lending facility from Cynergy Business Finance

News Desk

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15/11/2022

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Stainless Steel Services Limited shines with lending facility from Cynergy Business Finance

One of the UK’s largest independent distributors and processors of stainless steel, Stainless Steel Services Limited (SSS), has secured an invoice discounting facility from Cynergy Business Finance (CBF) to help manage a flexible cashflow.

Founded in 1987, SSS is a Stainless Steel Service Centre based on the border between Birmingham and West Bromwich. The fully comprehensive processing facility allows SSS to offer a one stop shop for its customers stainless steel requirements. SSS is part of the Irestal Group, which is based in Barcelona with 21 divisions across five countries.

After experiencing an exceptional rise in business sales, as well as the increasing cost of raw materials, SSS sought external financial support. CBF were able to offer SSS a bespoke invoice discounting package, including a facility that was double the size of which it had previously received. This enabled SSS to ensure adequate growth opportunities were available despite challenging economic conditions.

Part of Cynergy Bank, CBF provides finance solutions between £200,000 and £20 million to businesses across the country against business assets such as receivables, plant and machinery, inventory, and property. It also offers cash flow loans and provides complementary export funding.

Lesley Heather, financial director at Stainless Steel Services Ltd., said: “Cynergy Business Finance took the time to offer exactly what we needed to take our business forward which was a breath of fresh air after working with a high street bank. We are excited to see what the future holds and we thank Cynergy Business Finance for providing us with such a versatile facility.”

Dan Burton, executive director at Cynergy Business Finance, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Stainless Steel Services. We were more than happy to replace its restrictive line with a facility that was double the size and released a significant amount of availability to them on the day we transferred the facility across. We are excited to see what the future holds for the businesses and are pleased to support the team on their journey.”

ALL YOU READ IS LOVE RETURNS FOR A THIRD YEAR

Charity

News Desk

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15/11/2022

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ALL YOU READ IS LOVE RETURNS FOR A THIRD YEAR

Full-service brand and communications agency, Agent, is bringing back its festive giving campaign, All You Read is Love, for a third year. The campaign will build on previous success, donating thousands of books to children and young people across the North West.

Initially launched in 2020, the agency has dedicated the past two festive seasons to giving back to the local community, spreading joy through the gift of books. Agent, which has studios in Liverpool and Manchester, has recruited clients and partners to lend a helping hand in donating books that inspired them when they were young, to spread some festive cheer to those who need it most this year.

The campaign has seen incredible growth over the past two years and Agent is aiming to surpass last year’s record of giving away more than £10,000 worth of books, with the help of donations from businesses and individuals to reach even more young people this Christmas.

Books donated during the campaign are delivered to organisations, charities and community groups who work with children across the region.

As well as buying from local independent bookstores, and encouraging others to do so too, this year, given the cost-of-living crisis, the agency is encouraging the donation of second-hand books, to minimise any expenses.

Paul Corcoran, CEO of Agent, said:

“For many families, Christmas can be the hardest time of year. Particularly in a time of economic crisis, it’s really important to help wherever we can and that includes spreading some Christmas joy!

“The delight that books bring is unmatched so it’s a no brainer for us to share this gift with the children and young people of our local communities across the North West. The past two years have seen an incredible amount of books donated and we want to go even bigger and better this year. We encourage everyone to get involved and donate any new or well kept second-hand books so that we can make a difference this Christmas, big or small.”

The campaign will also focus on supporting emerging, new writers, as well as those from underrepresented groups, such as LGBTQ+ and BAME authors. Each book will include a handwritten message for the recipient, including who their book was chosen by, and why.

In previous years books have been donated to the likes of LFC Foundation, Forever Manchester, Manchester City Council’s Foster for Manchester, Nugent, and The Regenda Group.

Matt Parish, CEO at LFC Foundation, said:

“This is the second year that we have been able to distribute books to some of our participants thanks to Agent’s ‘All You Read is Love’ campaign.

“Access to books for children when not at school should be a right and not a privilege, and this project gives us the opportunity to enhance the lives of young people we support within the Liverpool City Region, especially during the Christmas period.”

Yasmin Bibi, Participation & Engagement Lead at Manchester City Council, said:

“A huge thank you to all the team at Agent, your kind donation of books was a precious gift to our children and young people. A priceless gift that encourages lifelong learning.”

Vicki Snowden, Community Builder at Forever Manchester, said:

“It was wonderful to be involved in the ‘All you read is Love’ campaign. The box was left in a community centre used by many community groups and people were encouraged to take a book and if they wanted, bring it back and take another.

“An added benefit to this meant that groups were able to meet one and other who wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to meet, as they were able to access the books during the centres opening hours.”

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