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Manchester’s OHS to provide water compliance services across 457 Pets at Home UK stores

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Following a competitive pitch, OHS has been awarded a compliance consultancy contract to provide Pets at Home’s water risk assessment and remedial work across all of its 457 UK stores.

The work will see OHS send teams of assessors to Pets at Home stores to evaluate its properties and ensure the pet supplies retailer is compliant in managing its water systems.

Pets at Home Facilities Manager, David Hulston said: “During the tender process, it became clear that OHS could offer the best service provision and infrastructure to manage our estate, and all at a competitive cost.  As a busy facilities manager, it’s reassuring to be able to pick up the phone at any time and have experts from OHS on hand to offer instant compliance advice whenever we need it.”

OHS’s Managing Director, Andy Fowler said: “Having such a big brand in our portfolio of clients demonstrates our ability to fill a truly UK-wide contract.  We give Pets at Home access to our bespoke compliance portal, which offers its facilities managers both visibility and transparency on compliance, plus real time reporting so they can see what’s happening across their whole estate and download reports as necessary.”

Under a new management team, compliance consultancy OHS has expanded over the last year with new offices and a laboratory in Manchester, and new software that will enable it to offer facilities managers and duty holders improved asbestos, fire and water services.

Manchester PR agency trebles revenue and lands national charity client

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Manchester-based communications agency Sway PR is celebrating adding national mental health charity Bipolar UK and trebling its client roster over the last 12 months.

Sway PR will drive awareness of the charity as part of a UK media relations campaign.

Bipolar UK plays a vital role in being the voice and encouraging understanding of the one million plus people living with the mental health condition around the country.

A cornerstone of the agency’s work will include providing media support for a parliamentary reception to deliver policy recommendations direct to Westminster.

The new client win comes off the back of the agency chalking up another quarter of growth, including onboarding four new clients.

This has seen Sway PR grow its revenue by 166% in the last 12 months.

Managing director and founder of Sway PR, Mark Hayward, said:

“After the challenging times of COVID, we are growing faster than ever both in terms of our team and the clients we support.

“Bipolar UK is a dream client for us, as we strive to bring awareness and recognition to organisations that enhance and support our lives.

“People living with bipolar face widespread challenges such as delayed diagnosis, inability to access the correct resources, all resulting in an increased risk of suicide.

“By sharing some of the many inspirational stories with our national media contacts, we hope to give those who are struggling more information to identify and manage living with bipolar. This will not only help improve quality of life, but also save lives.”

Simon Kitchen, CEO of Bipolar UK, added:

“We’re delighted to be working with the incredible team at Sway PR because they understand how complex and misunderstood bipolar often is.

“It is vitally important that we put a spotlight onto bipolar. With a timely diagnosis and specialist support, people living with bipolar can lead vastly improved and fulfilled lives.

“We have several exciting campaigns and events coming up, and Sway PR will be able to help us drive national media coverage, sharing our key messages and getting bipolar into the conversation.”

Based in Manchester city centre, Sway PR launched a new site in Leeds this month, led by head of consumer PR Mia Hodgkinson, who joined the team in January.

Hayward, who is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, said:

“Sway PR is all about giving brands that enhance our lives the recognition they deserve. Whether through their products or the way they do business, we help companies and charities grow through increased awareness and an enhanced reputation.”

As well as continuing to grow its client base, Sway PR also aims to expand its team over the next year, enhancing its growing reputation as one of UK’s top performing small agencies

Plans submitted for ‘next generation’ pioneering workspace at NOMA

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PLANS for two pioneering office buildings at NOMA, which pay homage to the city’s heritage and underline its status as one of Europe’s most forward-thinking cities, have been submitted.

The new buildings, 2 and 3 Angel Square, will jointly deliver around 440,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, providing a new benchmark for sustainability, wellbeing, smart connectivity and flexible use of amenity spaces.
Designed by architects Cartwright Pickard to connect with the public realm around NOMA, and to encourage collaboration and interaction, the new buildings will be net zero carbon operational energy*, targeting BREEAM Outstanding and targeting a five star NABERS rating. Other features include: a potential rooftop restaurant, stunning garden terraces including a water feature, a piano nobile terrace overlooking Angel Square and lower and upper ground floor commercial retail uses.
Dan Hyde, Development Director at real estate asset manager and developer MEPC which is delivering the NOMA masterplan, said: “This flagship development will raise the bar in the North by delivering Grade A office space that is truly environmentally friendly for today and tomorrow, as well as providing enhanced amenities that will optimise the workspace.

“We’re in a time where having sector-leading sustainability credentials matters not just to investors and funders, but to occupiers too. The next generation of employees are more sustainably conscious than ever before, and providing them with the most sustainable and user-friendly working environment with access to green space, can become the important differentiator. At 2 and 3 Angel Square, we’ll be delivering exactly that.”
Standing 14 storeys in height 2 Angel Square will deliver 197,926 sq ft of office space and a further 17,200 sq ft of potential commercial space on the top floor. 3 Angel Square will be 13 storeys, delivering 241,531 sq ft of Grade A office space and 22,690 sq ft of commercial space.
2 and 3 Angel Square will complement the landmark 1 Angel Square, and 4 Angel Square, which is due to be completed in early 2023 and is Manchester city centre’s largest, and most sustainable speculative development.
Peter Cartwright, Founding Director at Cartwright Pickard said: “Designed with the future in mind, these striking, contemporary buildings will be of the highest standards, with health, wellbeing and sustainability at the core. The open plan ground floor and upper ground floors with a mix of complementary uses and interconnecting spaces will help create an inviting entrance to the building for tenants and the wider community.

“By encouraging footfall along Thread Street and maximising the extent of active frontage around the building we believe the scheme will add incredible vibrancy to the surrounding streets and strengthen links between Angel Meadow to the north and the city to the south.”

The façade of the buildings will be in keeping with the heritage buildings in the NOMA estate, and use glazed, angled terracotta panels, which will reflect different colours as the sunlight reflects on them at different times of the day.

With a further nod to Manchester’s industrial heritage, the public realm around 2 and 3 Angel Square pays homage to its past – the site was the location of textile pioneer Richard Arkwright’s Shudehill Mill.
Kevin Redhead, Landscape Architect at Planit.IE, which is responsible for the public realm explains: “The significant level change between Angel Square and Thread Street provides the opportunity to create a dynamic series of steps and planted terraces. A proposed water feature will run through the terraces, taking advantage of the natural level change and referencing the historic water wheel associated with Shudehill Mill.”
Wellbeing is at the heart of the design, with excellent levels of natural light and access to outdoor space for office workers. More than 250 cycle spaces are planned for across the two buildings as well as facilities to encourage active travel.

By using the east-west level change to their advantage, the design team have effectively ‘buried’ amenities such as cycle storage, waste facilities and car parking in the lower part of the site.

Manchester-based banking technology company BankiFi expands operations into North America

BankiFi, an embedded banking solutions provider, announced its expansion into North America with the launch of BankiFi Americas. The organisation’s growth and expansion into the U.S. market will support the unique digitisation and payment modernisation requirements of SMBs, while placing financial institutions at the heart of the relationship.

Currently, community financial institutions in the U.S. are facing existential threat from fintech platforms, national banks and accounting package vendors that are offering a competitive suite of payment solutions to SMBs. With BankiFi’s open cash management platform and architecture, financial institutions can embed a flexible solution that can be tailored to address the unique segments of their small business portfolio. The platform addresses critical SMB requirements through digital workflows that collect payments faster, automate data integration with accounting platforms, and provide comprehensive insights to optimise working capital.

“SMBs in the U.S. are facing the same problems we’ve seen in the U.K. and Australia, including late payments and time delays due to financial administration,” said Mark Hartley, CEO and Founder of BankiFi. “Within our technology, we aim to transform services available to SMBs within community banking, across the U.S.”

Financial services veteran, Keith Riddle, has been appointed to lead BankiFi Americas. With more than 35 years of experience in the financial industry, Riddle’s career spans executive roles at Sherpa Technologies and several industry-leading firms specialising in digital banking, bill presentment and payment, EFT processing services, wholesale financial services and cloud computing.

“I’ve been following BankiFi’s incredible success in partnering with financial institutions to serve SMBs in the U.K. and realized the importance of enabling a comprehensive open cash management solution for financial institutions and their SMBs within the U.S.,” said Keith Riddle, CEO of BankiFi Americas. “I’m delighted to take the reins at BankiFi U.S. and build on what the U.K. team is doing in terms of digitising the critical small business workflows and embedding the solution within financial institutions’ digital channels, in what is certainly an exciting time for the sector.”

Hollis bolsters team with key promotions and new appointment in Manchester

International, independent real estate consultancy Hollis is delighted to announce four key promotions – including one to Director – and an appointment at their Manchester office, demonstrating the firm’s commitment to hiring and nurturing top talent and rewarding hard work with career progression.

Manchester promotions:

Dan Roberts has been promoted to Director after seven years with the firm. Roberts is Head of Hollis’ Workspace Consultancy specialising in Cat B office fit-outs and also heads up the project management team in Manchester.

Ben Clarke has been promoted to Senior Chartered Architectural Technologist, and Elliot Haworth and Karl Smith have been promoted to Senior Chartered Building Surveyor; all three began their careers with Hollis as graduates.

Commenting on the promotions, David McBride, Head of Hollis in Manchester and Liverpool, said: “Dan, Ben, Elliot and Karl have each shown an exemplary level of work ethic, commitment to excellence and an innovative mindset, taking every opportunity to develop their own skills and help grow the business over the years. The fact that three of those promoted began their careers with Hollis is a testament to the firm and its culture of learning and growth. I am delighted to congratulate all three on their promotions; they could not be more deserving.”

Manchester new hire:

Zaw Lwin joins the Manchester office as an Engineer. Lwin specialises in designing mechanical HVAC systems for both residential and commercial properties and will work alongside the project and design team to implement these systems across a range of commercial, industrial and warehousing projects. He will also work closely with the operations team on TDD Surveys, MEP inspection surveys as well as helping to solve on-site technical issues for clients.

On Lwin’s appointment, McBride added: “Zaw’s appointment forms part of a company-wide recruitment drive to ensure new and existing clients continue to receive consistent and high-level service. His industry expertise will be invaluable as we look to bolster our client offering in Manchester and Northern England. We are delighted to welcome him to Hollis and look forward to seeing his career flourish.”

Further support for small businesses feeling the squeeze as £4.5 billion Recovery Loan Scheme extended

A vital support scheme offering Government-backed loans to small businesses will be extended for a further two years, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has announced today (Wednesday 20 July). The Recovery Loan Scheme, originally launched in April 2021 to help businesses recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, has supported almost 19,000 businesses with an average of £202,000 in support.

The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) is a government scheme aimed at supporting access to finance for UK businesses. It gives lenders a government-backed guarantee against the outstanding balance of the facility.

The extension provides further government support for businesses grappling with cost pressures and adds to measures already announced by the Chancellor, such as increasing the Employment Allowance, slashing fuel duty, and introducing a 50% business rates relief for eligible high street businesses.

Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, said:

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the British economy, which is why we are determined to support our traders and entrepreneurs in dealing with worldwide inflationary pressures.

“The extension of the Recovery Loan Scheme will help ensure we continue to provide much-needed finance to thousands of small businesses across the country, while stimulating local communities, creating jobs and driving economic growth in the UK.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nadhim Zahawi, said:

“Small businesses are the engines of economic growth, supporting jobs and livelihoods in communities right across the UK.

“The Recovery Loan Scheme has supported thousands of businesses over the past year and this extension will ensure they continue to access the finance they need to navigate the months ahead.”

The scheme has supported over 16,000 English businesses, as well as 1,000 businesses in Scotland, 600 Welsh businesses and 300 in Northern Ireland.

Examples of businesses which have benefitted from the scheme include Leeds-based firm Wildfire Marketing, which used the loan to take on new employees to help the business grow, and White Light Ltd, a lighting firm which required finance to purchase new equipment for the latest West-End shows.

The principle behind the extended Recovery Loan Scheme remains unchanged: government will underwrite 70% of lender liabilities, at the individual borrower level, in return for a lender fee. Lenders must ensure that the benefits of the government guarantee are passed through to businesses.

The maximum loan size remains at up to £2m. However, recognising that businesses and the UK more generally are now in a better position than they were during the pandemic, lenders may now require a personal guarantee from the borrower, in line with standard commercial practice.

Chris Wilford, CBI Director of Financial Services Policy, said:

“Amidst challenging economic headwinds and continued cost pressures, this remains a difficult time for business.

“With cashflow difficulties at the forefront of the minds of many business owners, continued access to Government-backed loans will bring great comfort.

“This next phase of the Recovery Loan Scheme will provide a critical lifeline for firms. The CBI will also continue to work with Government and lenders on ensuring businesses have access to the finance they need to go for growth.”

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

“After two years of pandemic disruption and with a faltering global economy, the BCC has been calling for this continued financial support for firms. The two-year extension to the Recovery Loan Scheme will be a lifeline for many businesses facing a rising tide of costs.

“It is now essential that businesses in need of this extra support can access the scheme as quickly as possible to make sure they get help before it’s too late.”

URBAN SPLASH SECURES £43.5M REFINANCING DEAL WITH AVIVA INVESTORS

Award winning regeneration company Urban Splash has secured a new refinancing deal with Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva plc, completing a £43.5m eight-year debt facility on its commercial portfolio.

Aviva Investors has committed to funding an 800,000 sq ft workspace portfolio primarily focused on Liverpool and Manchester. The space is currently 97% let in a diverse portfolio with customers in accommodation from 100 to 50,000 sq ft.

The facility includes a commitment by Urban Splash to work towards ESG improvements of the assets as part of Aviva Investors’ Sustainable Transition Loans framework, which has provided over £1 billion of climate-linked loans since its launch in December 2020.

Urban Splash director Nathan Cornish said: “We are absolutely delighted to complete this long-term deal with a funder of the stature of Aviva Investors. It is a great endorsement of the value of the Urban Splash brand, our commercial assets, our people – and the customers operating out of our buildings.”

The transaction completed in just six weeks. It refinances and consolidates separate portfolios which were previously funded by IGC Longbow, Rothschild and the Pears family.

Gregor Bamert, Head of Real Estate Debt at Aviva Investors added: “We are very pleased to have started a lending relationship with Urban Splash and look forward to developing it further over time. The diverse property assets are well-designed, well-located and of high quality. Urban Splash manages an impressive range of commercial communities and we are proud to support them as they continue to reduce the carbon footprint of the portfolio.”

Urban Splash comprises regeneration, residential and commercial operations, the latter operating mixed workplace portfolio offering a variety of award-winning units for start-ups through to multinational businesses. The company offers flexible lease terms with a customer approach that has seen it enjoy high occupancy and retention levels. Nathan continued: “We are proud of our commercial portfolio and have carefully nurtured our workspaces in recent years, investing in new ideas that will accommodate changing occupier appetites and a new approach to work.

“It is an area of Urban Splash that has perhaps not occupied the spotlight as much as our residential or regeneration projects, but it is a consistent part of our business which has always underpinned what we do. I am proud to have reached another milestone today and the support of a major financial institution.”

Major assets within the 25-asset Urban Splash portfolio include Beehive Mill, Waulk Mill and Stubbs Mill in Manchester, and a number of buildings in Liverpool including Vanilla Factory and Tea Factory in the centre of the city, and the Matchworks in South Liverpool.

Leading Orthodontics, with clinic in Spinningfields, announces 125M investment

Impress, the European leader in the orthodontic sector, today announced a $125M Series B funding round. The first closing of 100M was made this week, helping to propel the company’s expansion into new markets as well as cement its #1 position in existing markets. The company is on track to make the second closing of $25M within 60 days. Impress completely redesigned the invisible aligner industry by building a hybrid, tech-driven orthodontic clinics. Something the clear aligner industry has missed until now.

Impress was founded in 2019 in Barcelona by renowned orthodontist Dr. Khaled Kasem and serial entrepreneurs Diliara and Vladimir Lupenko, with the idea of combining the best of orthodontic tradition with the most innovative technology in the sector.

In just 3 years Impress has become the number one brand and category leader in Europe. The company already has more than 130 clinics across 8 different countries, including all strategic markets: the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France, creating a unique and scalable business model with a strong base of proven success.

Impress HQ is in Barcelona, and it has a global team of 1,000 employees, of which 500 of its team are medical professionals specialised in orthodontics.

Technology is one of the main pillars of Impress. The digital orthodontic brand has a growing network of hybrid clinics and is leveraged by a top tier clinical team, vertically integrated tech stack (AI-driven Management Practice Software, patented treatment planning software, and best-in-class AI driven treatment monitoring App). Recently Impress also put into operation one of the largest European R&D and clear aligner production facility.

While DTC models keep losing credibility, Impress has bet on the hybrid model having own tech-enabled orthodontic clinics since the very beginning. This has led to industry-leading sales conversion rates, an exceptional customer experience (NPS 84), and best-in-class clinical outcomes, all driven by a tech stack that is getting harder to replicate by the day. Even though the company was founded just 3 years ago, 80% of the clinics are already profitable and show a very strong growth.

“We created a new orthodontic experience powered by tech. All the processes are fully digitalised thanks to Impress’ own product and software. This accomplishment would not have been possible without close contact between our patients and medical team, because this is the only way we can understand their needs and expectations”, says Diliara Lupenko, Co-founder and COO of Impress.

Impress has developed a mobile application to deliver outstanding customer experience whenever our patients want to be. With the use of the app, they connect 24/7 their patients with their doctors, make remote scans, book appointments across their clinic portfolio and refer friends and family to Impress. Most recently, Impress has introduced a new paid subscription model to provide current and non-Impress customers with post-treatment oral care services such as medical procedures, checkups, and consultations from the team of orthodontics experts. In the first month after launch Impress onboarded 1,000 patients, while it’s planned to sell 20,000 subscriptions in the next 12 months. Now 2 subscription tiers are available starting from just €12.5 per month.

The fresh financing will be used for further expansion in Europe (organic and M&A), further investment in tech and extending of the in-house production facility. “We are building the global leader in next-generation orthodontics”, emphasises Lupenko.

Valéry Huot, Partner Head of Venture at LBO France, said: “Impress is disrupting the orthodontics market while maintaining medical excellence and patient care at highest level. We are thrilled to join Impress shareholder base and contribute to its fantastic scale-up.”

Peter Stein, executive chairman at Norgine Ventures, said: “We are very excited by our investment in Impress. The clear aligner market represents an attractive growth opportunity. With this investment, we support a company that, since its inception in 2019, has achieved significant growth and geographical expansion, with a differentiated offering focusing on quality of care, patient journey and operational efficiency, and is well positioned to further grow and capture a significant share of the market.”

How technology is advancing the food industry

 

Technology is reshaping much of our lives and the food industry is no different. It’s changing how we produce food, how we learn to cook and the tastes we explore. And it’s particularly important given that ethical food consumption is soaring in the UK: in 2021, UK annual spending on ethical products exceeded £100bn for the first time. Below, we explore how exactly technology is advancing the food industry and how you can benefit.

Technology has helped teach people to cook

For a start, technology has helped teach people how to cook and even open successful food businesses. Online educational technology has now made access to cookery courses more accessible than ever before. Previously, time and family constraints might have prevented you from learning new cooking skills. But now, you can learn from top chefs from the comfort of your own home. What’s more, technological developments in e-commerce are making it easier than ever before to fund and run a food or beverage business. These two skills combined have led to many new small businesses thriving in what was once a difficult marketplace. 

How the food industry changed

Technology is driving innovations in the food industry all the time. Much of this is in response to growing concerns surrounding the food industry’s environmental impact. As such, 67 per cent of food decision-makers want to improve the environment. Technology has therefore focused on making food production more efficient, to avoid waste and lower its carbon footprint. Robots now track the health of crops, allowing farmers to tend to ailing areas of their fields and moisture sensors can reveal areas of a field that need watering. Meanwhile, in the future 3D printing and nanotechnology could allow outlets to create fresh ingredients instantly from the store. 

What dishes can you learn from the web?

Technology can also help you learn new dishes from the web. This might be through an online course, or it might be that you can simply find recipes with ease online. For instance, if you’ve recently bought yourself a wok, you might be wondering which dishes work well with it. Fortunately, with the internet, you now have a wealth of stir fry recipes at your fingertips to inspire. Plus, if there’s any cooking technique that you don’t understand, you can search for tutorials and masterclasses online as well. Thanks to the advancement of technology, you can learn plenty of dishes from the web.

Technology is changing the face of the food industry. On a macro scale, the way food is produced is shifting rapidly. And individually, you can now benefit from having an array of cooking resources at your disposal.

How to pick the best domain for your business

The elementary basis of a company is its name. This is also true for the Internet! A suitable domain is the basis for a promising business idea and a crucial element for your success on the web – accordingly, you should give it a lot of thought. It is your identity on the web and can add enormous value to your marketing and branding activities. Therefore, you should think about what kind of domain name you choose. 

A good domain can bring a company to a lot of success. With a good web address, internet users are lead directly to your website. However, before settling on a domain name, there are a few things that should be considered first. Does the domain name make sense? Does the domain name convey the goals of the business enterprise? Or does the domain name have no connection to the content of the website?

This article shows what you should look out for when searching for a suitable domain and what criteria to consider.

What do you need to consider before registering a domain name?

Short and memorable name

Your company name should be as short as possible. Short domains are more successful than long ones. The probability of mistyping a short domain name is low and it is easier to remember. Google, Yahoo or Facebook have two syllables, some other company names usually have three. It should further be memorable in the sense that when you say the name you should also know how to spell it.

Fantasy names? Perfect for branding

Fantasy names are a great way to establish a brand. Bose, Dell, Boss, Porsche, Mercedes or Rolex: they are all fantasy terms or surnames of well-known luxury manufacturers who naturally attach great importance to branding. And the best way to do that is with a proper name.

When it comes to fantasy names, creativity is important. Many company names are created by combining initial letters. One example of this is the German confectionery company Haribo, which was founded by Hans Riegel from Bonn.

Registration of multiple domains

You have found a suitable domain and are ready to go? Many companies leave it at one domain but it is highly recommended to registering multiple domains, in order to protect your brand. For example, if you run an international business, it may make sense to register the domain with the country-specific domain of your country (e.g. .es for Spain, .co.uk for the UK or .fr for France). However, not all countries allow the unrestricted registration of country-specific domains. Many countries only allow it if you live or register a business there.

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There are domain name generators that show a list of names. For this purpose, it uses a number of prefixes and suffixes. The registration of multiple domains serves to protect your brand. The domain name generator of IONOS supports your search for the right website name. 

Legal protection for your domain name

Moreover, in the whole creative process of finding a name for your website, legal protection should not be neglected. Does your domain name infringe naming rights? Has it already been registered as a trademark? Research in advance whether the selected domain name is not already taken. On the websites of hosting providers, you can check whether the desired domain name is still available. There are certain tools, such as the domain checker, with which you can check the domain availability of your desired address on the net within a very short time. If the name you’re aiming for is already taken, you can do the following: 

  • Try a different domain extension
  • Get in contact with the owner of the domain
  • Consider a rebranding

Conclusion 

To sum it up: when choosing a domain, you should think carefully and be quick. An unbelievable high number of new domains are registered every day. The probability that someone will snatch away your domain name, unfortunately, is rather high. True to the motto “better safe than sorry”, you should register a suitable domain name instead of coming up empty-handed in your search for the perfect name.