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Made Smarter virtual factory tours to accelerate digital adoption among Greater Manchester manufacturers

Manufacturing

Sam Whitear

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12/04/2021

Made Smarter virtual factory tours to accelerate digital adoption among Greater Manchester manufacturers

Made Smarter’s technology adoption programme is deploying smart glasses to Greater Manchester SME manufacturers to virtually fast track their digital adoption strategies and navigate Covid-19 restrictions.

The wearable device enables technology specialists from Made Smarter to perform virtual end to end production line walks of factories with a business as part of the digital transformation workshop (DTW) process.

These fully-funded, bespoke workshops are led by technology advisers who cut through the jargon to provide impartial advice to help a business identify the most effective technologies to overcome their operational challenges.

The virtual visit allows advisers to dial in to a conference call and watch each manufacturing operation being performed in order. This enables discussions around inputs, outputs, process control, and quality performance in order to provide a clear picture of each businesses’ bespoke operation.

The introduction of smart glasses has enabled Made Smarter to overcome access restrictions and limitations caused by the pandemic to get the vital insights needed to support the manufacturer’s digital transformation. It also gives manufacturers a valuable opportunity to test how this emerging technology could be used in their business.

Will Kinghorn, Industrial Digital Technology Advisor for Made Smarter, said: “In the wake of the pandemic we redesigned our digital transformation workshops to continue delivery when in-person visits were not possible.

“This approach has helped 141 manufacturers in the region engage in a streamlined process designed to accelerate manufacturing growth by identifying digital tools and technologies that can maximise operational processes.

“In that same spirit of innovation, as we tread a cautious roadmap out of lockdown, and to minimise the spread of the virus, we have developed virtual line walks.

“When it comes to how things are made there is no substitute for seeing it for yourself, but the use of smart glasses is a fantastic alternative. They are specifically designed to keep both your hands free, letting the wearer demonstrate how things work, what products look like, or easily show relevant paperwork.

“We have designed these workshops to require minimal time investment for manufacturers to turn the actions into results, while still allowing participants to focus on the day-to-day operations of the business.”

Made Smarter has different types of smart glasses to suit different requirements including: the Epson Moverio; Realwear HMT-1; Vuzix Blade; and Magic Leap.

The glasses come with a 4G dongle to ensure connectivity if there are WiFi or network coverage challenges. They even work offline, which means manufacturers can record a video of the production line walk which can be reviewed later.

The glasses are connected through Remote Eye software which enables a live stream video and the opportunity to take high definition screenshots which can be tagged in a library for swift access.

Viewers can also use a cursor to direct the wearer to any areas of interest and annotate the picture in real time.

Digital transformation workshops identify other ways the Made Smarter programme can support a manufacturer including: fully-funded digital technology internships to help implement projects and bring a fresh perspective and new skills into the business; specialist advice about workforce development and skills; and funding for new digital tools and technologies such as data and systems integration, robotics and automation, or additive manufacturing.

Manchester United to welcome visitors back to its Museum & Tour as Old Trafford reopens

Sam Whitear

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09/04/2021

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Manchester United to welcome visitors back to its Museum & Tour as Old Trafford reopens

Manchester United is pleased to confirm that its Museum & Stadium Tour will reopen to visitors this Spring in line with the UK government’s easing of lockdown measures.

The popular attractions are due to reopen on Monday 17th May after more than a year of closures and disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bookings are now being taken for the Museum & Stadium Tour from 17th May, giving visitors the chance to step inside Old Trafford and experience the history and magic of the Theatre of Dreams.

The Red Café, in the heart of the Sir Alex Ferguson stand, is also due to reopen for food and drink from 17th May and fans will be able to visit the club’s renowned Megastore, which is set to reopen its doors on Monday 12th April.

Collette Roche, Chief Operating Officer, Manchester United, said: “We can’t wait to welcome visitors back to Old Trafford and, while we won’t be happy until fans are in the stands again for matches, the reopening of our non-matchday visitor attractions is an important step towards normalisation.”

A range of measures will be in place across the Museum & Stadium Tour, Red Café and Megastore to ensure that visitors can enjoy their experience of Old Trafford while keeping themselves and staff safe.

Manchester United has received certification from The National Tourist Organisations of Great Britain and Northern Ireland confirming that its attractions follow government and industry Covid-19 guidelines, including measures to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.

The Museum & Stadium Tour provides an enthralling experience exploring the triumphs and tragedy of Manchester United’s 143-year history through thousands of unique exhibits in the club Museum, followed by a tour of England’s largest club football stadium. The tour includes the players’ tunnel, the manager’s dugout and a walk alongside the world-famous pitch.

Groups will be limited to 15 people until 21st June to allow for social distancing. All dates are based on the government’s current timetable for the easing of lockdown measures and are subject to review.

Adult prices are from £25 and juniors/concessions from £18 when booked online, with additional discounts available for education groups. Advanced bookings are strongly recommended and can be made here, or by calling the Contact Centre on +44 161 676 7770.

Alice Harling has been appointed Head of Marketing and Brand at luxury women’s wear company NADINE MERABI

Appointments

Sam Whitear

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09/04/2021

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In her new role, Alice will lead the development and execution of brand messaging, marketing positioning and campaigns.

With a strong voice in the digital and start-up community, Alice will also lead the development of strategic marketing direction to both new markets and consumers, whilst retaining the current 400,000 strong loyal following the Manchester fashion brand has built.

Clough & Willis reports upturn in demand for family-style loan advice

Growth

Sam Whitear

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09/04/2021

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Clough & Willis reports upturn in demand for family-style loan advice

Bury and Bolton law firm Clough & Willis has seen a growing demand for advice around family-style loan agreements. The firm has reported a rise of around 40% in new enquiries over the past three months compared to the same period last year.

The popularity of loans between family members or close friends is growing month on month as some commercial lenders become more wary of the risk profiles of their clients – especially since the onset of pandemic. This is compounded by rising job insecurity as the furlough scheme and other government-led initiatives are set to wind down over the coming months.

Other factors driving the trend include the admin costs and charges, interest rates and security required by commercial lenders and relative inflexibility, compared with family loans.

Family-style loans typically take place within a family, between close friends or in an employer/employee situation. The most common are for younger people who want to get on the property ladder, but we there has also been an upturn in their use for bridging finance, to fund divorces and to set up new businesses.

Even in the context of a family loan, there is a need for contractual agreements to be in place in order to mitigate potential issues and disagreements once monies have been loaned. The most popular services the firm is seeing are advising on the best legal structure, preparing loan agreements; and putting in place any security required such as legal charge, debenture, or personal guarantees.

Guy Lachlan – senior associate at Clough & Willis – said: “Despite interest rates being at an all time low, many people are finding hard to access affordable finance, so family-style loans do have a place, but it’s essential that all parties protect themselves and are aware of the terms that ought to be agreed. If they don’t, they risk costly arguments – both financially and emotionally. It is important that it be seen as a commercial undertaking so that good relationships are not spoiled.”.

JBH appoints Digital PR Manager, Lauren Wilden from 10 Yetis

Appointments

Sam Whitear

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08/04/2021

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JBH appoints Digital PR Manager, Lauren Wilden from 10 Yetis

Following the news earlier this year that Manchester digital PR agency JBH has tripled in size, the agency has appointed Lauren Wilden who will join the team as digital PR manager.

Lauren joins from PR agency 10 Yetis where she spent nearly eight years, most recently as Head of PR. During her time at the agency, Lauren worked on award-winning traditional and digital PR campaigns for the likes of Hillarys, Optical Express, Vouchercloud, carwow and holidaycottages.co.uk.

“I feel extremely lucky and so excited to be joining the JBH family. After meeting with the founders and senior members of the team, I knew almost immediately that the agency would be the perfect fit for me in developing my skills and knowledge of the digital PR and SEO industries. Just a few days into my role and I already feel completely welcomed and supported by the entire agency – which is no mean feat whilst we’re all still working from home!

“I’ve been a long-time admirer of the incredible campaigns and results that the JBH team consistently delivers for an ever-growing roster of clients, and I simply cannot wait to get stuck in and help with the next chapter of the exciting journey!”

Jane Hunt, Co-Founder and Marketing Director of JBH said:
“I am delighted that Lauren has joined us here at JBH, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge delivering campaigns for clients in the B2C and B2B verticals.

“Almost a decade of experience along with natural leadership and mentoring skills made Lauren the perfect choice for our next stage of growth for the agency”.

In January, JBH announced that due to a flurry of new account wins which included internationally-renowned genealogy brand MyHeritage and D2C mattress brand OTTY, they had expanded the team by 10 new recruits and upscaled their office space moving into the iconic Express Building in Ancoats.

Jane added: “The last few months have been crazy, we’ve won so many new accounts and we are still driving forward with our recruitment, to find the best PR talent in the North West and all over the UK.”

AWS re/Start and IN4.0 Group to boost careers in cloud computing

Business support

Sam Whitear

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08/04/2021

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AWS re/Start and IN4.0 Group to boost careers in cloud computing

Skills development and training experts Amazon Web Services (AWS) re/Start and IN4.0 Group are collaborating to build an inclusive and diverse global pipeline of new cloud talent by focusing on unemployed and underemployed individuals to help them launch a career in the cloud.

Following the success of the IN4.0 talent academy, a 12-week specialist digital skills training programme, and its three-year partnership with AWS, IN4.0 is working with AWS re/Start on programmes in Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

IN4.0 delivered two successful AWS re/Start cohorts earlier this year with 63 learners graduating from the programme in March 2021. Applications are open for the next cohort, which is due to start on Tuesday 4 May.

The collaboration supports learners in building career skills and helping them through the interview process to pursue entry-level roles that require AWS Cloud practitioner knowledge and skills.

IN4.0, operators of HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology, formerly known as The Landing in MediaCityUK, is working with several employers in the North West region who are already benefitting from ‘work-ready’ graduates to help undertake industrial projects and drive digital transformation within their businesses.

IN4.0 aims to support learners in gaining job-specific skills, connect learners with potential hiring employers, and support them as they embark on cloud careers.

According to the 2019 Global Knowledge IT Skills and Salary Report, nearly 80 per cent of IT decision-makers see hiring as a challenge. While LinkedIn data shows that cloud computing skills have ranked among the top hard skills that companies need the most for the past three years.

AWS re/Start is a 12-week, skills-based training programme that covers fundamental AWS cloud skills as well as practical career skills, such as interviewing and CV writing, to help prepare individuals for an entry-level cloud position. Through real-world scenario-based exercises, labs, and coursework, students build Linux, Python, networking, security, and relational database skills.

The programme also prepares and covers the cost for participants to take the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam, validating their cloud skills with an industry-recognised credential. Ultimately, AWS re/Start can help prepare individuals for entry-level cloud roles in operations, site reliability and infrastructure support.

Mo Isap, CEO of IN4.0 Group said “After working closely with AWS for nearly three years within our talent academy, we are ecstatic to continue this partnership formally as an AWS re/Start collaborating organisation and AWS select consulting partner.

“Securing this prestigious status further extends IN4.0 Group’s commitment to delivering highly skilled technology career starts for individuals from diverse backgrounds, who previously would not have had this opportunity.”

Tejas Vashi, AWS re/Start Global Team Lead said: “The industry demand for cloud adoption is far outpacing the number of new, cloud-savvy workers, leaving organisations struggling to find and hire the talent needed to implement cloud services. To overcome this systematic supply vs demand situation, cloud talent must be cultivated from non-traditional sources. AWS re/Start brings “net-new” talent into the cloud ecosystem by skilling unemployed and underemployed individuals with little technology background and preparing them to launch a cloud career.”

Applications are now open. Find further information and sign up now by visiting: https://in40.co.uk/for-graduates/

Manchester Tech Firm Celebrates 2nd Birthday

Thought Leaders

Sam Whitear

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08/04/2021

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Offers 365 are a lead generation company who use their affiliate lead generation network to help many different sectors improve their revenue. Although most of their live campaigns are based here in the UK, some also exist in the US, and the company has some exciting expansion plans for the next couple of years.

It is run by the Director of Business Development, Seun Olabisi and his business partner Nuno Pereira who fulfils the vital role of Network Operations Director. Seun’s enthusiasm, commitment, and desire to meet client demands, along with Nuno’s experience in marketing and social media, has made for a perfect working partnership. The duo also employs finance, affiliate and accounting staff and works with external consultants and SEO experts.

They’re not just your average affiliate marketing company, and for good reason. The industry is renowned for having something of an image problem. Something which managing director, Seun Olabisi, isn’t afraid of shying away from. “It’s amazing just how many companies out there have suffered reputation problems as a result of working with a dodgy affiliate marketing company”, says Seun. “From brand ads being positioned next to totally inappropriate content, to intrusive practices, and even ad fraud, it’s no surprise that many are distrusting of the industry”.

Offers 365 are proud to do things differently. Firstly, they have an experienced team, with over twenty years combined, despite still being young. With this experience is a remarkable ability to understand both a client brief and budget in depth. They’re also transparent and accountable, with customers being able to see performance metrics in real-time. External advertisers also benefit from reduced costs.

If all of this didn’t sound appealing enough, they’re also pushing for more regulation and compliance in the industry as well.

With all this in mind, it’s no surprise the company has been so successful. Already working with substantial international corporations like Apple, Nintendo and Unilever, they’re starting to broaden their horizons. They’re planning on working with new markets and companies in far-flung locations like Australia, the United Arab Emirates and America.

But what makes this all the more impressive is the fact the business has been able to thrive throughout the COVID pandemic. Seun continues, “We’ve been lucky as a business. We’re still a small company, who are based mainly online, with a remote team, and this seems to have been a successful formula for us”. Offers 365 has also benefited massively from a significant investment from NPFI – BFS and MSIF Microfinance. Allowing them to employ more staff, expand into new, exciting markets and develop new products to only grow the business even more.

PIONEERING CONSUMER DRUG COMPANY SECURES £3.2M INVESTMENT

Investment

Sam Whitear

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08/04/2021

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PIONEERING CONSUMER DRUG COMPANY SECURES £3.2M INVESTMENT

A business that is poised to transform the UK’s self-care market has secured a £3.2m investment in a funding round led by Praetura Ventures.

Maxwellia, which is based at Alderley Park in Cheshire, aims to give people easier and faster access to the treatments they need by converting prescription-only medicines to versions that can be bought in a pharmacy.

Founded in 2013 by chief executive Anna Maxwell – a pharmacist with over 20 years’ experience, Maxwellia specialises in ‘switching’, a process in which prescription only medication is reclassified and made available over the counter. It already has three applications under assessment with the MHRA, and is currently awaiting approval of its first game-changing women’s health product following a public consultation.

‘Switching’ widens the access to medicine, supports self-care and patient wellbeing while reducing the burden on public services such as GPs. It is a rigorous process regulated by the MHRA, and previous well-known examples of switches include Nurofen, Canesten and Viagra Connect.

The government is supportive of encouraging self-care and widening access to medicines, as well as promoting the role that pharmacists can play in communities to reduce pressure on the NHS.

Maxwellia has secured investment of £3.2m, with £1.7m coming from Manchester-based Praetura Ventures, the venture capital fund that targets early-stage businesses in high-growth sectors. Other investors include the Future Fund, Catapult Ventures, Alderley Park Ventures and Biocity along with individual and angel investors.

The business has a robust pipeline, which includes numerous medicines across areas of public health with the greatest unmet need, and it will use the funding to scale up the manufacture and rollout of its drugs following MHRA approval, invest in marketing and expand its team.

Anna Maxwell, chief executive of Maxwellia, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has shown us clearly that we must take better care of our health. A huge part of that is helping people to better manage their own health more easily and conveniently. We have a fantastic, untapped network of pharmacists who are highly trained clinical experts and are at the heart of most communities across Britain on our high streets. As a pharmacist, I have seen first-hand how important they are for helping people self-care. It is vital more medicines are safely changed from being prescription-only so people can access them following a short consultation with a pharmacist.

“With the new funding round led by Praetura Ventures, we’ll be able to scale up our go-to-market operations for our first product launch and our other pipeline of over-the-counter medication, which will be game-changing for those who require more widened access to these drugs. The Praetura team’s understanding of our business and their hands-on approach were key factors in us choosing them to lead this investment round.”

Praetura Ventures has previously invested in healthcare businesses including digital health platform Dr Fertility and fertility research business Ostara Biomedical. The firm’s investment in Maxwellia was led by investment manager Sim Singh-Landa and director Dr Andy Round, who becomes a non-executive director.

Dr Andy Round said: “It is not often that there is the opportunity to play a part in supporting a business that has the potential to transform healthcare for millions of people across the country. Anna’s vision of making it more convenient for patients to access medication is inspiring and we were delighted to be able to be part of this journey.

“As an early-stage investor in exciting businesses in high-value and innovative sectors like healthcare, this investment is right in our sweet-spot. I believe Maxwellia will make a mark in the pharmaceutical switching market with its revolutionary pipeline.”

Maxwellia is Praetura Ventures’ latest investment from the latest Praetura EIS Growth Fund following investments in Leeds-based RapidSpike, tech for good platforms Transreport and Enthuse, and communications platform PixelMax.

DWF and Oyster Venture Partners (Rupert Lewis) advised Maxwellia on the investment.

Hill Dickinson advised Praetura Ventures.

Specialists share insights on securing investment in the digital sector

Business support

Sam Whitear

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08/04/2021

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Specialists share insights on securing investment in the digital sector

Digital businesses keen to secure investment opportunities can hear first-hand from the experts at a free GC Business Growth Hub event.

Paus TV founder and CEO Rishi Kapoor is amongst a panel of industry professionals who will be sharing his insights at the ‘Unlocking and maximising digital economy investment’ session.

Taking place on Thursday, April 15 from 2.30pm to 3.30pm, delegates will hear about Kapoor’s experiences leveraging investment for Paus, a streaming app for independent films.

Kapoor has previously worked for Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. and NBCUniversal and launched Paus last March.

Despite having to cancel the formal launch due to the first national lockdown, support from the Hub’s Creative Scale-up programme helpedKapoor and his team to secure funds.

In November, they held a crowd-funding event and to date have raised £130,000 from CrowdCube and another £370,000 from angel investors.

Paus TV founder and CEO, Rishi Kapoor, said: “The demand for streaming services has really increased because of the pandemic and our community is growing quickly, especially with our crowdfunded campaign.

“Being a sole founder is challenging but it’s important for me to share with others that there is support and help out there, and how to access it.”

The hour-long session will cover the post-pandemic investment landscape, available investment opportunities plus more in-depth advice for those who would like to fine-tune their current investor interactions.

Along with Kapoor, the event will feature GC Business Angels Investment Director Damian Mohammed who has launched an online investor portal for companies across the north.

Sue Barnard, North West British Business Bank Senior Manager, will be on hand sharing her insights and intel on the region.

Delegates will also hear from UK Business Angels Association CEO, Jenny Tooth, who has more than 20 years’ experience of facilitating SMEs’ access to investment.

Completing the panel is Guy Weaver, Praetura Ventures Director – a venture capital firm which focusses on investing in early stage high growth businesses.

The Hub’s Head of Digital, Creative and TechSector Business Support, Sarah Novotny, said: “If you are looking to grow your business and want to explore different ways to secure investment, this event is a must.

“Greater Manchester has a £5 billion digital economy, which employs more than 86,000 people and is home to the largest creative and digital cluster outside London.

“Over the past 12 months, Covid-19 has really accelerated the digital economy’s rise, and this session is a unique opportunity to hear first-hand and learn from a panel of industry-leading experts.”

Businesses must register for the Unlocking and Maximising Digital Economy event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/unlocking-and-maximising-digital-economy-investment-tickets-146570559489.

The event is part of a series of panel discussions and webinars which the Hub is hosting as part of its wider involvement in the Digital City Festival, developed specifically for digital economy businesses based in Greater Manchester.

See the Hub’s full programme of events here: https://www.businessgrowthhub.com/digital-city-festival-2021

Businesses looking to access specialist support can visit www.businessgrowthhub.com for more information about the organisation’s extensive range of services. This and other GC Business Growth Hub projects are part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the GM Business Growth Hub project designed to help ambitious SME businesses achieve growth and increase employment in Greater Manchester. The Hub is also supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester local authorities.

Digital City Festival is returning in 2021 as a truly digital event

Sam Whitear

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08/04/2021

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Following huge success in 2020, Digital City Festival is returning in 2021 as a truly digital event to reflect the pressing needs of the digital sector right now, and provide support and inspiration.

Digital City Festival launched as a physical event in 2020, attracting digital professionals from across the UK and beyond to Manchester for a week of events, but in 2021 it will be hosted on the dedicated Digital City Network – providing even wider access to the high-profile celebration of digital.

It’s taking place across two weeks from April 12th – 23rd, involving thought leadership, an exhibition and solutions showcase, Q&As, roundtables, cultural events and more, all on the Network.

Registration for Digital City Festival, which is totally free, is open now and provides access to all of the events above. The central content will be broadcast from the state-of-the-art facilities at MediaCityUK – Europe’s first ‘connected neighbourhood’ – and produced by Badger & Combes, who recently produced the hugely impactful United We Stream GM, all underpinned by the infrastructure provided by dock10.

The content at the festival will feature the topics that really matter to modern businesses and individuals, including digital infrastructure, skills and talent, inclusion, culture, innovation and more – with tracks for Tech, Marketing, eCommerce, Media and Culture.

Each track will include a range of specialists sharing their expertise and insights to create an all-round digital experience that’s unmissable for a digital professional in 2021.

The Digital City Network will also host this year’s Digital City Awards on April 15th – celebrating top talent in the industry. The awards recognise the best individuals, teams, projects and platforms from the digital world, on a global stage. These will be broadcast on the network, an unmissable event for digital professionals.

The network will remain open after the two weeks is over, helping organisations connect, transform and grow together after the festival closes.

In the absence of in-person meetings and collaboration that organisations rely on, the Digital City Network will bring the global digital community together in one online ecosystem. It features matchmaking functionality and other networking features, enabling companies to engage professionals in new ways.

Digital City Festival’s Headline Partners are tech leader BJSS and international agency Dept, and its Lead Sponsors are iomart, MiQ and HOST. The full list of event partners is available online and includes companies like Hootsuite, EY, Zip and Deloitte as Market Leaders and Keynote Session Sponsors.

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