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How to Start a Side Hustle

Thought Leaders

Sam Allcock

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05/10/2022

Thinking about starting a side hustle? Many people have set up their own businesses on the side in recent times and this can be a great way to improve your finances as well as give you an exciting new project to get stuck into. It is important that you know how to start a side hustle to give yourself every chance of finding success. These are the main steps to follow.

Find Your Niche

First, you need to come up with a business idea and find a niche. It is likely that you already have a project in mind if you are reading this article, but there are a few more ideas at the end if you need them. You then need to determine your target market and keep them in mind when building your brand so that you can appeal to this niche.

Create a Business Plan

All new business ventures require a detailed business plan before getting started. This will allow you to outline your vision and guide you to success. The key stages include:

Executive summary
Vision and business idea
Marketing and sales strategy
Management team and personnel
Financial forecasts

Consider Funding

You will likely need to spend money to get your side hustle up and running even if it is a business that you run from home. You need to calculate what your startup and ongoing costs are and then find ways to raise this amount. You can fund your business from money from your savings, ask friends and family for loans, get a bank loan, approach investors or get crowdfunding. You do not want to start your business without enough funding in place as you do not want to run into financial trouble early on.

Get Insurance

It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to insurance for your side hustle, especially if you could be liable to cover the costs out of your own pocket for any issues. The type of insurance will depend on the type of business you are running, but a few basic types include:

Public liability
Product liability
Employers’ liability
Professional indemnity

Side Hustle Ideas

Like the idea of starting a side hustle but not sure on a business idea? Here are a few popular side hustles worth looking into:

Web design
Content writing
Tutoring
Babysitting/pet sitting
Social media management
Delivery work

Starting a side hustle can be a great way to give your finances a boost, which is something that many will be looking to do during the cost of living crisis. It can also give you an exciting new project to get stuck into and could even become your main source of income down the line. Hopefully, this post will help you to get up and running with your side hustle.

Quanta Law hails Santander’s dropped legal challenge against FOS’ review on mortgage overcharges, a “necessary outcome for justice” amid soaring interest rates and the cost-of-living crisis

Legal

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04/10/2022

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Quanta Law hails Santander’s dropped legal challenge against FOS’ review on mortgage overcharges, a “necessary outcome for justice” amid soaring interest rates and the cost-of-living crisis

In a turbulent week that has seen interest rates hike to record levels following the Chancellor’s mini-budget, Manchester firm Quanta Law, has welcomed a high court outcome which could help thousands who have been mis-sold a mortgage.

High street lender, Santander, dropped its judicial review which aimed to prevent the Financial Ombudsman Service from having access to historic SVR variations more than six years before a mortgage complaint was lodged.

Quanta Law, who challenged the review explaining that full transparency in a client’s mortgage term was critical to assess their case properly, have called the decision a “step towards justice”.

The lender has agreed to pay both the FOS’ and Quanta Law’s costs in the matter.

Financial experts predict mortgage rates could top 6% in the coming months, with mortgage prisoners potentially facing rates of 10%.

Jonny White, CEO of Quanta Law, commented:

“This decision is important and necessary for firms like ours striving for justice on behalf of clients that have been mis-sold mortgages.

“We’re delighted that Santander filed a notice of discontinuance and the FOS’ decision to look at the full mortgage term regarding each rate variation to assess overcharge claims, can go ahead.

“At Quanta Law, we have a duty of care towards our clients, and doing what is in their best interests has always been our primary objective.

“When the Bank of England cut interest rates after the 2008 global financial crisis, lenders failed to cut their standard variable rate (SVR) for mortgage holders by a corresponding amount.

“That move, against a backdrop of increases when the base rate jumped, was unfair and, some might say, designed by lenders to shore up their profits and protect themselves from the massive drop in people taking out new mortgages.

“It is vital that the FOS is able to closely scrutinise the interest rate decisions taken by lenders which is subject to fairness tests under EU consumer law that was applicable at the time.

“There are hundreds of thousands of homeowners currently paying more than they should have done for their mortgage. What’s even more worrying is that many of these are mortgage prisoners who have been prevented by lenders from switching provider, so will be stuck on punitively high interest payments with no means of switching their mortgage to another lender.

“As a firm which seeks to acquire redress on behalf of our clients, having all the necessary information at our disposal in order to move cases towards justice, is crucial. If lenders feel as though they’ve acted morally, then there should be no need to supress important information at all.”

The news comes amid the Bank of Ireland’s €100m fine by the Central Bank for similar regulatory breaches in Ireland in relation to tracker mortgages.

The investigation, amongst other things, discovered that the bank’s contractual documents to customers were unclear and ambiguous regarding their right to a tracker interest rate after a fixed rate period.

And just a few weeks ago, Co-Operative Bank’s legal challenge to prevent the FOS from looking into a consumer’s mortgage overcharge complaint, was dismissed at high court.

Similar to Santander’s, the initial judicial review by the Co-Op considered whether the FOS could investigate historic standard variable rates (SVRs) in relation to customer Gwendolyn Davies.

Speaking about the wider picture, Mr White added: “The recent decisions will hopefully now encourage others who’ve been mis-sold mortgages to come forward.

“Mortgage overcharge cases often take several months before a client sees any redress, and the continued delays are causing untold harm to the financially vulnerable who are paying the costs of this every month.

“Our main priority is to help those who’ve been financially impacted as a result of mis-selling. We hope these outcomes will encourage lenders to think about their processes long term.

”We now eagerly await the FOS’ decisions particularly in circumstances where amending the mortgage balance to reflect a fair interest rate, will go a long way to help clients manage the cost of living crisis, and in some cases could be the difference between having their home repossessed or not.”

INNSiDE Manchester Launches Special Dog-Stay Hampers in Collaboration with Sticks & Socks

Hospitality

Sam Allcock

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04/10/2022

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INNSiDE Manchester Launches Special Dog-Stay Hampers in Collaboration with Sticks & Socks

INNSiDE Manchester, part of Meliá Hotels International, has revealed a dedicated dog offering at the 208-bedroom, First Street hotel – curated hampers including must- have travel accessories and a birthday treat box.

With a pet friendly approach as standard across the INNSiDE by Meliá UK collection – with hotels located in Manchester, Newcastle and Liverpool – INNSiDE Manchester has elevated its stays for dogs, due to demand, with a collaboration with neighbourhood independent and sustainable lifestyle store, Sticks & Socks.

With a 75% increase in pet stays over the past year, INNSiDE Manchester recognised the demand from owners needing items for their dogs during their stay, including treats, toys, bedding and the all-important waste bags.

Connecting owners and dogs to Manchester’s thriving independent scene, INNSiDE Manchester has teamed up with the cool Ancoats’ Sticks & Stocks store to create two must-have travel hampers, the ‘Night Away Dog Hamper’ and ‘Weekend Break Dog Hamper’ available to purchase at INNSiDE Manchester’s unique kiosk. Sticks & Socks has also created a bespoke birthday box for pampered pooches celebrating their special day at INNSiDE Manchester – plus for any other extra special occasions, specially curated Sticks & Socks hampers are available for pre-order.

The Night Away Dog Hamper contains Sweet Dreams Organic and Natural Dog Treats – perfect sleepy time treats for dogs with Chamomile, Lavender and Fresh Ginger. The hamper also contains an Eco-Friendly Mini Organic Shampoo, Mongrel Tennis Ball, Plastic free poo bag roll and a Furr Boost Dog Drink Box – a healthy hydrating drink for dogs that’s perfect after a long day exploring Manchester. The Night Away Dog Hamper retails at £19.

The Weekend Break Dog Hamper is an extension to the Night Away Dog Hamper and contains exclusive products including the Frill x Sticks & Socks Grooming kit – all products within the kit are organic and come in mini sizes inside a brass coloured metal tin: paw balm, heal balm, paw cleanser and home mist/dog bed freshener. The Weekend Break Dog Hamper retails at £30. For a special birthday treat, guests can upgrade to the Birthday Dog Hamper which contains exclusive Sticks & Socks products, plus a Bouclé Bone Pillow – handmade in the UK and perfect as a toy or pillow for dogs. The Birthday Dog Hamper retails at £39.

Commenting on the collaboration with the local dog store, Garry Fortune, Director or Operations at INNSiDE UK North said: “Over the last year we’ve seen a big rise in guests booking into our hotels and bringing their dogs too. The UK has a reputation of being a nation of pet lovers and we are definitely seeing that at INNSiDE UK! Our new collaboration with super-friendly and independent lifestyle store Sticks & Socks is perfect for dog-lovers – it means we have them covered if there are any forgotten items when they arrive. More recently, we have seen guests celebrating their dog’s birthday with us, so Sticks & Socks created the ultimate birthday treat box for the kiosk.”

Alice Codrea, Founder of Sticks & Socks, said: “We are all for creating special moments between dogs and their humans, so we are very excited to have handpicked some of our favourite brands and products for the hampers and travel kits now available at INNSIDE Manchester, which we hope will make each stay an extra special experience!

“At Sticks & Socks, we care a lot about the four-legged and the environment, so when typical dog products didn’t cut it, we went on a journey of discovering and carefully curating a unique collection of aesthetically pleasing and sustainable products for both dogs and people. Our new collaboration perfectly resonates with the hotel’s longstanding commitment towards sustainability – and we are proud to be part of it.”

At INNSiDE UK, each stay is enriched with music, art, lifestyle and wellness curated by the hotel’s local experts and in keeping with INNSiDE by Melia’s philosophy ‘Stay Curious’, which promises to accommodate guests’ every need with considered comforts and inspiring experiences.

Available across INNSiDE UK hotels are complimentary INNSiDE-branded dog treats ensuring all furry friends receive a special INNSiDE welcome. Dog-friendly dining has also been extended across the hotels – First Street Kitchen at INNSiDE Manchester and Gino D’Acampo restaurants at INNSiDE Liverpool and Newcastle welcome dogs to dine with owners at breakfast. At both INNSiDE Manchester and Newcastle dogs are also welcome to join owners on the terrace spaces.

Guests are required to inform INNSiDE if they plan to travel with pets ahead of their stay, to ensure it complies with the hotel’s terms & conditions policy. INNSiDE deep clean all rooms thoroughly following each guest’s stay.

Social:

Instagram: @innside_by_melia_uk

Twitter: @innsideuk

Facebook: Facebook.com/innsidebymeliauk

#StayCurious

www.innside.com

www.ginodacampohotelsandleisure.comv

The Perfume Shop celebrates re-opening of Trafford Centre store

Retail

Sam Allcock

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04/10/2022

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The Perfume Shop celebrates re-opening of Trafford Centre store

Scores of people gathered at The Perfume Shop Trafford Centre after the retailer reopened its doors following a full-store refit on Friday.

The iconic retailer revealed a new and improved customer experience. Bestsellers of the day were Paco Rabanne Fame and Dior Sauvage.

The stylish new store previewed its brand-new layout and upgraded services including digital screens, interactive tablets and a personalised ribbon machine to make gift-wrapped purchases even more special.

The reopening was overseen by Store Manager Nosheen Naz who has worked for The Perfume Shop for 14 years.

Nosheen said: “We loved revealing our new look to our customers and our brilliant colleagues and we hope the brand-new look and upgraded facilities will keep people coming back.

We hope people will take advantage of our personalisation services as well as the truly passionate staff and a brilliant selection of fragrances which we have always made our focus”.

One of the UK’s largest speciality retailers and home to nearly 130 brands from designer perfume houses to celebrity fragrances, The Perfume Shop has been a staple of the high street for 30 years serving those with a nose for a bargain.

The new store is located at Unit L75, 35 Regent Cr, The Trafford Centre Manchester Lancashire, M17 8AR.

Manchester-based digital display provider secures multi million pound funding to fund first acquisition

Finance

Sam Allcock

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04/10/2022

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Manchester-based digital display provider secures multi million pound funding to fund first acquisition

Manchester-based Adxba, a company which designs and delivers high-impact digital displays, has secured a multi-million investment from independent asset manager BOOST&Co. The funding enabled the business to acquire Astra Signs, a manufacturer of architectural signage and print, as well as create new jobs throughout the UK.

Astra Signs was a long-standing partner to Adxba and its acquisition has provided security to the business at a time of significant growth. The acquisition, which is the company’s first, has made the combined business, which going forward will be branded Astra Group, one of the leading full-service providers of signage solutions in the UK.

Adxba is a renowned provider of digital signage products to digital-out-of-home (DOOH) advertisers, transport hubs, sports stadia and live entertainment arenas. The company handles the entire process from design to installation and continued maintenance, offering bespoke displays to meet differing customer needs. Notable projects include working with Manchester Airport on its transformation of Terminal 2 and provision of displays to The Trafford Centre, Gatwick Airport and BT. The business is also pursuing international expansion, partnering with like-minded organisations to grow its international partner network.

BOOST&Co has chosen to work with Adxba because of its status as an ambitious, growing business with a strong acquisition strategy that will enhance growth and create new job opportunities. The business also has a number of long-term servicing contracts which offer good revenue and cash visibility, along with evidence of strong customer retention rates.

Jim Kerr, newly appointed Chief Executive at Astra Group says: “The business has recently experienced a period of significant growth and the creation of our new group entity will further accelerate our growth ambitions. The team will be expanding, and we are passionate about creating additional jobs and adding more talent to the business. The BOOST&Co team has been a pleasure to work with and this funding will enable us to take the next step on our growth journey and ensure that we have the supply to meet increasing demand for our services.”

Adam Brinn, Head of London and East at BOOST&Co, says: “It is a really exciting time for the team at Adxba and Astra Group and our funding has enabled the business to make a significant growth development with the acquisition of Astra Signs. This will bring a number of benefits to the company, ensuring security of supply and enabling it to take on further projects, as well as add to its growing team. We look forward to seeing the new group continue to go from strength to strength as it further establishes its presence in the sector.”

Shaun Hyland, Debt Advisory Director at Leonard Curtis, advised on the deal. He says: “Our approach in sourcing the right funding for Adxba was to ensure that the lender was able to make the connection between historic and forecast performance, understanding the rationale for the acquisition. Adam Brinn and the team at BOOST&Co saw the opportunity in this deal to enable Adxba to grow the business while also smoothing operational cash flow.

We are delighted to have been able to support Adxba in its acquisition plans, using our whole-of-market knowledge to deliver the best outcome for the client.”

BOOST&Co is a leading provider of growth capital for innovative, fast-growing UK SMEs. The independent asset manager offers loans ranging from £2m to £10m, covering a wide range of sectors. It has funded more than £500m across more than 130 deals to date and provided close to £200m under the government’s CBILS initiative to support SMEs during Covid-19.

For more information about BOOST&Co, visit boostandco.com

For more information about Adxba, visit adxba.co.uk

Image: Adam Brinn

Peel L&P reports third-year progress towards decarbonisation, enhancing biodiversity and adding social value to communities

Green

Sam Allcock

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04/10/2022

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Peel L&P reports third-year progress towards decarbonisation, enhancing biodiversity and adding social value to communities

Regeneration business, Peel L&P, has unveiled a report which demonstrates how it is leading the way on sustainability and outlines the action it has taken on its Five Year Sustainability Plan during the last financial year.

The business, which has a track record of transformative and exciting projects like MediaCity at Salford Quays and the trailblazing Manchester homeless project Embassy Village, has achieved progress on all 22 of its five-year sustainability targets, which are underpinned by globally recognised principles and calls to action from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In its 2021-2022 Sustainability & ESG Report, Peel L&P highlights the activities, actions and achievements of the last financial year which have focussed on lowering carbon emissions, enhancing biodiversity, and delivering considerable social value.

It has acted on energy with a 18% reduction in energy consumption and a saving of nearly 3,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions in just one year; it has acted on waste by sending zero waste to landfill for a fourth consecutive year; it has acted on water, with a 34% reduction in water consumption; and it has acted on the natural environment by improving biodiversity through the management of conversation sites, new public realm, and the planting of hundreds of trees.

Highlights from the last year include:

Understanding the climate adaptations needed in its asset management plans and the reporting of Climate-related Financial Disclosures.
Joining Business Declares and unveiling its Climate Positive Plan, a promise to take more greenhouse gases out of the air than it produces by 2030.
Embedding Biodiversity Net Gain into its master planning activities, ensuring that the business’ impact on existing ecosystems and habitats are evaluated with a commitment to leave a site with a better level of biodiversity than when it started.
Introducing a Social Value Framework across the business to capture the needs of existing and new local communities within the areas it works to boost jobs, local skills, and housing.
Undertaking natural capital assessments across the business to better understand where it can act to amplify urban cooling, carbon capture, improve air quality and flood resilience, and increase access to nature. This is a significant move towards achieving ‘environmental net gain’.
Embedding sustainability throughout its teams through training and toolkits, including the Carbon Literacy programme, giving everyone in the business an introduction to climate change and how they can reduce their carbon footprint.
Engaging with around 2,000 external stakeholders, sharing plans, and getting vital input to identify and prioritise the most important ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) issues.

Jo Holden, Sustainability Director at Peel L&P, said: “This year’s Sustainability Report demonstrates a huge step forward on our Five Year Sustainability Plan. It includes some of the key projects and initiatives we have delivered with our stakeholders and partners over the last year to drive real change for the benefit of people and the planet.

“The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which guide our work, ensure that sustainability is embedded into all our placemaking activities. This means that, as a business, we are connecting the dots between the net zero carbon agenda and the nature-based solutions that are needed to slow the effects of climate change. Our Climate Positive Plan demonstrates just how deep this commitment goes.”

Steven Underwood, Chief Executive of Peel L&P, said: “At Peel L&P, we are all proud to be part of an organisation that is leading the way in areas critical to the creation of better places for everyone but we can’t do this alone. We strive to be a trusted partner in the regeneration and transformation of land and property, working alongside partner organisations who share our ambition to help people and places to realise possibility and deliver a more prosperous, sustainable future for all.

“Being a trusted partner requires action and so, in our sustainability report, we have worked with a range of partners to achieve our commitments, such as our recent pledge to Business Declares, which is delivering authentic action on the ground that has had a measurable impact.”

View Peel L&P’s 2021/22 Sustainability & ESG Report here.

Read the Five Year Sustainability Plan here.

THINK PINK – HARD ROCK CAFE(R) MANCHESTER ANNOUNCES 23rd ANNUAL PINKTOBER(R) CAMPAIGN

Hospitality

Sam Allcock

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04/10/2022

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THINK PINK – HARD ROCK CAFE(R) MANCHESTER ANNOUNCES 23rd ANNUAL PINKTOBER(R) CAMPAIGN

Hard Rock International continues to support breast cancer awareness and research with its 23rd annual PINKTOBER campaign taking place throughout the month of October.

Hard Rock Cafe Manchester will be participating in the campaign through fundraising efforts supporting the Hard Rock Heals Foundation®, the charitable arm of Hard Rock®, with proceeds benefiting The Caron Keating Foundation, a family-run charity in Caron’s memory which supports all types of cancer causes.

Flavours of Pink

Kicking off this year’s PINKTOBER activations is a special partnership with world-renowned chef and breast cancer survivor Dominique Crenn. Hard Rock will also offer PINKTOBER limited-edition menu items and specially designed merchandise.

Throughout PINKTOBER®, Hard Rock Cafe Manchester will feature a limited-time menu of pink-themed food and beverage items; £1 from every order of tacos sold will go to Hard Rock Heals to benefit The Caron Keating Foundation.

Partnership with Chef Dominique Crenn

This year, Hard Rock is teaming up with world-renowned French Chef and breast cancer survivor, Dominique Crenn, who is currently the only female chef in the United States to attain three Michelin Stars for her restaurant Atelier Crenn, in San Francisco, California. In partnership with Crenn, Hard Rock will create a limited-time menu item of Baja Style Shrimp Tacos exclusively available at Hard Rock Cafes around the world, with a portion of proceeds donated to a local charity chosen by the Cafes.

The PINKTOBER® menu features:

PALOMA – A refreshing classic Mexican cocktail. Patrón Tequila with grapefruit juice, agave syrup and a hint of lime, topped with club soda.
BAJA STYLE SHRIMP TACOS – Three achiote-marinated shrimp tacos, topped with charred salsa roja, pickled red onions, spicy pepitas, avocado and shredded cabbage on warm corn tortillas.

Limited-Edition Pinktober Merchandise

Hard Rock International is offering uniquely designed, limited-edition merchandise in support of breast cancer awareness and research, which includes a PINKTOBER-themed Hard Rock T-shirt, hat, water bottle, tote bag and a newly designed PINKTOBER pin. Through the Hard Rock Heals Foundation, a percentage of all proceeds will go to charities that help raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.

Additionally, in partnership with Crenn, Hard Rock will produce special pink chef coats, adorned with a breast cancer awareness ribbon and the headline Stronger Together, for all Cafe head chefs to wear during PINKTOBER.

“Hard Rock Cafe Manchester is honored to support those in need, especially those in our local community through the Caron Keating Foundation during PINKTOBER,” said Aneta Jarzmik, General Manager at Hard Rock Cafe Manchester.

“This year, we’re proud to partner with Chef Dominique Crenn, a breast cancer survivor, who shares our passion in raising awareness and giving back to local charities and communities.”

Starting October 1, Hard Rock locations around the world will participate in fundraising efforts supporting the Hard Rock Heals Foundation®, the charitable arm of Hard Rock®, with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society and local charities. Hard Rock has donated millions of pounds toward breast cancer research over the last 22 years of the PINKTOBER campaign. Last year, Hard Rock raised over £700,000, representing the largest amount the company has fundraised since the inception of the program back in 2000.

To reserve a table, head to www.hardrockcafe.com/location/manchester

To buy Hard Rock merchandise, visit the instore Rock Shop or go to https://shop.hardrock.com.

For additional information on the Hard Rock brand, visit www.hardrock.com/pinktober.

Express Solicitors Named in the 2023 Legal 500 for Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence

Featured Businesses

Sam Allcock

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04/10/2022

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Express Solicitors Named in the 2023 Legal 500 for Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence

Express Solicitors are proud to announce that they have been named in the Legal 500 for the 12^th consecutive year, with Partner, Jon Andrews ranked as a Next Generation Partner.

The Legal 500 rankings are in their 36^th year and exist to showcase both firms and individuals for providing the highest quality of care to their clients in their respective areas of law.

In the 2023 edition Express Solicitors featured for both Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence, ranking alongside other leading and national firms.

Practice Heads mentioned are Senior Partner and Head of Occupiers and Public Liability Claims, Daniel Slade, Richard Lowery, Partner and Head of Employers’ Liability and Kimberley Kirkby who is also a Partner and Head of Road Traffic Accident Claims.

Cases handled by Express Solicitors that were of particular note in reaching the decision to rank were claims for catastrophic brain damage, severe neurological injuries and an above knee amputation following failed surgery.

A published Testimonial from a barrister interviewed for the 2023 rankings by the Legal 500 reads:

‘Express Solicitors have a keen eye for detail in a personal injury claim. In my experience, they investigate each claim to the fullest extent and are not afraid of the challenge of a difficult case.’

Express Solicitors are particularly pleased to see Employers’ Liability Partner, Jon Andrews ranked as a “Next Generation Partner”.

Jon Andrews said:

I am delighted to have again been recognised in the Legal 500. I do consider it a privilege to spend my professional life helping injured people and training and developing young lawyers to carry on that same work. Since joining Express solicitors it has been a pleasure to engage in a business devoted to this work and focused entirely on achieving the very best results for Claimants. Obtaining damages for injured people can really change lives for the better and in my view is some of the most valuable work that lawyers can undertake. It is therefore especially gratifying to see the efforts of my colleagues and the very considerable talent and technical ability of this firm reflected in such a well-recognised guide to legal services, as the Legal 500. I am really looking forward to playing my part in developing yet further the fantastic offering here at Express and hopefully earning further accolades.

The UK edition of The Legal 500 is relied upon by millions as a reliable guide to the quality of lawyers and law firms. The Legal 500 rankings are applied after thousands of interviews with lawyers, barristers and clients. They provide a detailed qualitative assessment of a range of factors, including work conducted by law firms over the past 12 months, the level of experience and depth of specialist teams and an evidence based assessment of level of service to the client.

Two testimonials from the clients of Express Solicitors were featured:

‘All members of the team were unanimously understanding and reassuring, always willing to help and patient.’

‘Express Solicitors dealt with my personal injury claim with professionalism and compassion right from the first contact.’

Managing Partner, James Maxey said ‘We are delighted to see that the outcomes achieved for our clients have been recognised by our firm ranking again in the Legal 500. We are working hard to build strength in depth in all legal departments and deliver the best possible results for our clients, with the aim to be ranked even higher in the next Legal 500 within the fields of Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence.’

Image: Jon Andrews

LEADING GAME ART STUDIO SET TO MOVE TO MANCHESTER WITH 100+ NEW JOBS PLANNED

Growth

Sam Allcock

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04/10/2022

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LEADING GAME ART STUDIO SET TO MOVE TO MANCHESTER WITH 100+ NEW JOBS PLANNED

AIRSHIP Interactive has announced its plans to move its headquarters to South Manchester – bringing with it over 100 new jobs by mid-2023, and over 200 within the next three years.

The Lytham-based co-development studio, which provides art services for some of the world’s largest gaming companies including Disney, EA, Microsoft, 2K, and Sony, is set to take up residence in Bruntwood SciTech’s Glasshouse at Alderley Park, after committing to a massive 15,000 sq. ft studio.

Airship Interactive CEO and founder, Joe Harford said: “Manchester is one of the best cities in the world, it is the home of great industry and innovation, so making the leap to Glasshouse at Alderley Park, just 30 minutes from the centre and situated within 400 acres of inspirational countryside, made complete sense to us.

“Airship is unlike many other game art studios; we are driven by a culture of excellence not just in our game art but in our people. This move is not just about the business’s growth, but about providing our crew with the tools and environment they deserve to continue being the best at what they do. That’s why, year after year, the world’s biggest game creators want to collaborate with us. “

Tim Horton, Airship’s Chief Commercial Officer added: “This move has been many months in the making, we wanted to choose a location that would represent our values: quality, ethics, reliability, growth, passion, and innovation. That’s what Glasshouse is about. It’s a thriving tech community with first-class businesses and exceptional facilities for our crew.

Airship will join a community of forward-thinking businesses at Glasshouse, many of which are working in areas such as AI, software development, digital animation and fintech, as they come together in a collaborative ecosystem. The Park is home to an array of outstanding amenities including a gym and sports complex, thriving events programme, Grade II listed pub and restaurant, and woodland trails suitable for walking, running and cycling.

The move comes at a time of great strategic growth for the company after it received £450,000 of investment to expand its service delivery, supercharge recruitment and grow its global footprint.

Airship has also received multiple award nominations this year including, Best Small Business, Best Global Business, and Best Place to Work. Growth has been exponential over the past year. The studio has grown by over 70% and continues to make key strategic hires from within the sector, and the titles contributed to have been released to mass acclaim.

Josh Whiteley, Head of Commercial at Bruntwood SciTech said: “We’re really excited to be welcoming Airship Interactive to Glasshouse. Glasshouse has been specifically designed for hi-tech, innovative and creative companies, providing space to be inspired and collaborate – it’s the perfect place for Airship Interactive’s next chapter in the North West and I can’t wait to see what they get up to in their studio.”

For more information on Airship Interactive, please visit www.airshipinteractive.com.

Regional SMEs save £71million thanks to Champion’s R&D advice

Finance

Sam Allcock

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04/10/2022

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Regional SMEs save £71million thanks to Champion’s R&D advice

SMEs across the North West and beyond have identified more than £71million in research and development (R&D) tax relief thanks to Champion Accountants’ tax and advisory expertise.

R&D tax relief supports companies that work on innovative projects, with Champion’s specialist R&D tax advisors supporting clients in sectors as diverse as interior design, construction, technology, and manufacturing.

The largest R&D tax credit awarded to a Champion client amounted to more than £560,000. With many SMEs still navigating ongoing challenges and recovering from the impact of the pandemic, R&D tax relief can be a lifeline.

Claims can be made for projects up to two years after the accounting period during which the activities took place. This means that many businesses in the region may be eligible to claim for past projects, even if they were unsuccessful.

Champion Accountants, which has practices in Manchester, Chester, Preston and Blackpool, has a 100% success rate, meaning that every R&D tax relief claim submitted to-date has resulted in a tax reduction or cash payment.

Manchester Union Brewery used the Government scheme to generate capital to continue developing its lager products, fine tuning their taste, colour, strength and body to create the perfect Manchester brew.

Ian Johnson, head brewer at Manchester Union Brewery, said: “We didn’t have any experience of claiming R&D tax relief until Champion, and with their existing knowledge of how breweries work, they suggested it to us. The process was extremely simple; we provided the team with details of how we work over the course of a year; Champion drafted our application for us, we reviewed it and submitted it.

“As they’re so knowledgeable about brewing and the drinks manufacturing industry, there was no need to explain our methods of working in any great depth – they already understood and knew how to pull all the right information together on our behalf. Champion made this whole experience really easy for us, and now we have extra capital available to put towards the day-to-day running of our business.”

Bolton’s Lea Scaffolding and Access has also made a successful claim thanks to Champion Accountants.

Karen Jones, director at Lea Scaffolding and Access, said: “With the claim having been successful, we’re able to use the money for capital growth. We’ve invested into additional equipment, which will enable us to scale up more quickly as we’ll have the opportunity to enter more markets. Completing this process has created a lot of excitement for us, as our potential has expanded.

“This is the first year we’ve submitted a claim, but this is something we expect to become normal practice, year on year, using the Champion team’s expertise. They are always on hand for anything we need, and the team’s knowledge goes far beyond anything I’ve ever encountered before.”

David Herd, group director and lead R&D tax advisor at Champion Accountants, said: “R&D tax relief is still incredibly misunderstood. Even among those who are aware of it, there’s a misconception that it only applies to a certain type of business – one that employs people in white coats who work in a lab. That just isn’t the case. Construction companies and interior designers have made successful claims with us, with the relief available for anyone who has invested in researching or developing an advance in their field.

“With businesses still feeling the pressures of the pandemic, it’s more important than ever to capitalise on the savings you are entitled to. We can identify from a 15-minute conversation whether an application will be successful or not.”

Visit www.championgroup.co.uk.

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