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Manchester agency celebrated as UK Elite Creative Agency 2019

Sam Whitear

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16/12/2019

Manchester agency celebrated as UK Elite Creative Agency 2019

The UK’s most effective brand activation agency, ZEAL Creative, has been identified as one of the country’s top-performing independent creative agencies by leading global media platform, The Drum.

Based in Farringdon and MediaCity Manchester, ZEAL Creative works across forty-six EMEA countries with big brands including Kelloggs, Nestlé, and Pringles. It has been recognised as an elite UK agency, an accolade only awarded to 10 agencies in 2019.

The most comprehensive marcomms study of its kind, to compile the elite table, The Drum reviews agencies’ performance through client satisfaction scores and feedback. ZEAL Creative scored highly for client services in The Drum Recommends and was determined by clients as the highest rated brand activation agency, ranking 18th in the media platform’s client poll. The assignation of elite status is also based on the business’ financial performance and a successful track record for campaign delivery.

ZEAL Creative is listed in The Drum’s Top 100 Independent Creative Agencies where, in its first year of entry, is ranking 40th overall. The Drum’s rating follows ZEAL’s success at the Institute of Promotional Marketing (IPM) Awards where it took home Agency of the Year 2019.

Creative partner at ZEAL, Stewart Hilton, comments: “We are thrilled to have been recognised as an elite agency and it means even more to us as the ratings are based on more than business performance but are directly influenced by our clients, who see our work as creative, effective and offering real value.

“This has been a great year for us as we have also earned the prestigious title, Agency of the Year by IPM and scooped seven awards for brand campaigns at the European IMC awards. We have a great team of innovative professionals who strive to deliver fantastic client services, which has led to our business growth. The polls really recognise everyone’s efforts and supports our aim of becoming the most recommended agency.”

Manchester Publicity Association set to celebrate its 100th year as organisation welcomes nine new board members

Sam Whitear

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16/12/2019

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Manchester Publicity Association set to celebrate its 100th year as organisation welcomes nine new board members

The Manchester Publicity Association (MPA) will be celebrating its centenary in 2020, as it marks 100 years of championing the region’s Media and Creative industries.

The not-for-profit membership organisation was founded in 1920 by media pioneers in Manchester and has welcomed hundreds of agencies as members in the century since.

With over 2,000 members, the association is the largest of its kind in Europe and offers members a host of knowledge sharing, networking, social and fundraising opportunities including the prestigious ‘MPA Inspiration’ awards ceremony each year.

The association will be launching an official ‘100 years’ campaign commencing in January 2020, and using the unique platform the centenary will provide to bolster its charitable fundraising efforts.

While the majority of the year will be focussed on NABS fundraising, throughout March, the MPA committee and its members will raise money for Prevent Breast Cancer, the Manchester-based charity who uniquely support research into preventing women against breast cancer.

Christian James, chair of the MPA, said: “It’s a personal honour to be Chair of the association in it’s centenary. Manchester is the best place on the planet to be working with or in the Media, Digital and Creative sector and the centenary is an opportunity for us to get that officially recognised.

“Fundraising is at the heart of what we do, and so we’re all really looking forward to coming together and donating our time and money to both NABS and Prevent Breast Cancer. Manchester is a city with a big heart, so we’re confident that our connections and friends across the region will dig deep and club together to support us.”

The growing organisation has recently welcomed a clutch of new board members, as it looks to diversify its board and membership.

These are: Lucy Boland, Agency Director of Accord Marketing; Lisa Morton, CEO of Roland Dransfield; Laura Milakovic, Senior Account Manager at Accord Marketing; Jonathan Ashworth, MD of Mighty Giant; Sean Keyes, Manchester & The North Lead, Twitter UK; Erika Ingham, CFO, Mediacom; Marcus Hadfield, Chief Strategy Officer, Apadmi; Nick Entwistle, MD of One Minute Briefs; and Martha Moore, Account Manager at Roland Dransfield.

“It’s fantastic to welcome these esteemed practitioners to the MPA board, whose knowledge and expertise will doubtless help the association to continue growing and diversifying.”

£9.46m turnover reported for Equilibrium as company sees another successful year

Blog

Sam Whitear

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12/12/2019

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£9.46m turnover reported for Equilibrium as company sees another successful year

Equilibrium Asset Management has announced its end-of-year financial figures, following a transformational 12 months for the wealth advisory firm.

Headquartered in Wilmslow, Cheshire, the company has performed strongly for another year, reporting a £9.46m turnover.

The news follows a slew of recent award wins for the company, further cementing its foothold in the marketplace.

Most notably, Equilibrium was ranked 17th in FT Adviser’s Top 100 Financial Advisers. The prestigious list names the country’s best and brightest wealth management firms, and founder Colin Lawson described the acknowledgement as “fantastic”.

He said: “Everything we do at Equilibrium serves our core purposes of making lives better, so it’s brilliant to be acknowledged by FT Adviser for our company’s achievements”.

Colin founded the company in 1995 and has overseen its exponential growth in the years since. Earlier in 2019, the business announced its ‘Vivid Vision’ – a strategy outlining how Equilibrium will boost headcount to 110 and secure £1.4bn in assets under management within the next three years.

“The team has made some exceptional strides this year towards achieving our Vivid Vision, and to have this recognised by these award wins is a great feeling.

“A key component in the company’s growth is our strong company culture; we’ve worked hard to make it inclusive, rewarding and vibrant, so we’re very pleased also to have taken home awards for workplace wellbeing.”

Equilibrium also scooped the top prize for ‘workplace health and wellbeing’ at the North East Cheshire Business awards. The same awards also recognised the firm in the ‘Best company to work for’ and ‘Excellence in customer service’ categories.

Managing Partner, Gaynor Rigby, commented: “One of Equilibrium’s core values is ‘growth’, so it’s crucial to us that we are providing our incredible team with a positive environment that will allow them to thrive.”

“Our company’s purpose is to make people’s lives better, and this, of course, includes our clients and our team. It’s fantastic to have our efforts and achievements recognised by this award.”

£20m-turnover Cheadle company with 170 staff becomes employee-owned

Sam Whitear

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11/12/2019

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£20m-turnover Cheadle company with 170 staff becomes employee-owned

An engineering consultancy with 170 staff has become employee-owned.

Otto Simon Holdings is a £20m-turnover business with its headquarters in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, and operations in Stalybridge, Rotherham and Forfar.

The group, founded in 2004, provides design and build, project management, operation and maintenance and manufacturing services to global customers in the steel, petrochemical and renewable energy sectors.

Steve Haywood, the group’s co-founder and chairman, acquired full control of the company in 2008, when its annual turnover was just £2m.

Since then Otto Simon has grown organically by expanding its global customer base and by diversifying into emerging sectors such as waste-to-energy and biofuels, as well as through two acquisitions.

Steve has now transferred his shares to an employee ownership trust.

The day-to-day running of the Otto Simon group of companies will now be led by the directors of its four divisions, Chris Bridgland, Nick Shaw, Richard Buckley and Gary McCombie.

Steve was advised on the transaction by a team of corporate finance and tax experts at HURST led by Nigel Barratt, partner and head of HURST Corporate Finance, and Liz Gallagher of the tax team.

Nigel said: “I advised Steve in 2008 and helped with the subsequent acquisitions. It’s really pleasing to see the latest transaction conclude his long-held ambition for the company.”

Rob Loveday of Manchester law firm LLM Solicitors provided legal advice.

He said: “We are delighted to have helped Steve and his team take the company to this new and exciting stage in its development.”

Steve said: “My view has been that employee ownership would be the best way of preserving our culture and ethos when the time came for me to step down.

“We have created a great team to ensure that the business has strong foundations for future growth and I know it is in safe hands.”

He added: “I have had great advice from Nigel and Rob over the years and I really appreciate HURST and LLM supporting us through a highly-complex transaction with great skill and professionalism.”

Employee ownership trusts were introduced by the government in 2014 and HURST has a specialist team to advise companies on their creation.

HURST recently advised Warrington-based Building Technology Systems on its sale by owners Graham Spark and Dean Brookes to an EOT.

Other EOT transactions in the north west on which HURST has advised include ones at recruitment and payroll services company Kinetic and coatings business Northpoint.

Duo of wins for Jam_

Sam Whitear

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10/12/2019

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Integrated agency, Jam_, is celebrating two new client wins, including a brand awareness campaign and a creative rebrand project.

Following a three-way pitch, Ipsum Group, a utilities and infrastructure specialist that delivers efficiencies and drives value through innovation, hired Jam_ to bring together its four division companies, CALM Solutions, SPEC Ltd, EEG and Stormport.

Jam will be responsible for implementing a B2B brand awareness campaign, which will focus on introducing Ipsum Group to trade media as a disrupter within the utilities industry, and positioning them as a progressive business.

The UK’s leading provider of safes and security products, Associated Security Solutions, also appointed Jam_ to undertake a creative refresh for a number of its sub-brands, including SMP Security and SLS.

Jam has been tasked with updating the look and feel of the three companies, with the aim of the brands being adapted and fluid, as well as modernising all three websites to showcase the evolution of the overall Associated Security brand.

Jaime Gee, Managing Director and co-founder at Jam, said: “We’re delighted to add Ipsum Group and Associated Security Solutions to our roster. The team impressed both clients with their strategic and creative approach to each brief, and we look forward to bringing both projects to market over the coming months.”

Greg Fernie, CEO of Ipsum Group, said: “Jam recognised the importance of building and retaining our history as four individual companies, but provided a well-thought out strategic approach for integrating the companies together to become Ipsum Group.”

The new client wins follow Jam’s ambitious growth plans, which saw three senior hires welcomed to the Manchester-based office.

Current clients include Argos Pet Insurance, APJ Solicitors, Survivors Manchester, Koura, Sync, The Furniture Recycling Group and Printworks.

Secure Trust Bank appoints Regional Managing Director to its Manchester office

Sam Whitear

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10/12/2019

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Secure Trust Bank appoints Regional Managing Director to its Manchester office

Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance has bolstered its senior team in the North West by appointing Paul Johnston as Regional Managing Director.

Paul has over 30 years’ experience within the asset based lending market. He joins from Santander where he held positions including Director of Asset-Based Lending (ABL) and Director of International Trade and Working Capital. Prior to this, he held senior roles at Landsbanki Commercial Finance and Lloyds Bank.

In his role at Secure Trust Bank, Paul will be working alongside accountants and business advisors to support SMEs seeking asset based lending solutions between £1m and £50m. As Regional Managing Director, Paul will be responsible for developing and implementing the local strategy and leading the relationship and origination teams in the North West.

In its latest interim results, Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance revealed it had provided £220.7m worth of funding to UK businesses up to 30 June 2019 – an increase of £33.2m in comparison to the same period last year.

On his appointment, Paul said: “The North West is a thriving, prominent region in the UK, home to a host of businesses in sectors such as manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. I’m delighted to be joining the Manchester team and hope to drive the firm’s success within the region. Secure Trust Bank’s flexibility is what makes it different to other lenders and I look forward to working with businesses across the North West to boost their growth.”

St Pierre Groupe Honoured with Queen’s Award for Enterprise

Awards

Sam Whitear

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09/12/2019

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St Pierre Groupe Honoured with Queen’s Award for Enterprise

Manchester-based international market leader in the bakery sector St Pierre Groupe was honoured with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade today (3^rd December), in recognition of the company’s meteoric global growth.

Supplying European bakery products into the UK, Ireland and worldwide export markets via the multiple, convenience and wholesale channels, the company’s brand portfolio includes St Pierre, Baker Street and Paul Hollywood. Its export range encompasses 77 products listed in over 35,000 stores worldwide.

Receiving the award from the Vice Lord-Lieutenant at the company’s new offices in Didsbury, St Pierre Groupe founder, Jeremy Gilboy, comments: “Winning the Queen’s Award is a huge achievement for us. It follows a successful few years for our business that includes rebranding from Carrs Foods earlier this year and being well on our way to doubling our turnover in the next three years to reach £150m by 2022.

“Our business has grown exponentially in the past twelve months and, as well as receiving this prestigious award, we have also moved to new, larger offices to continue our ambitious expansion plans.”

Now in its 53^rd year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are among the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winners able to use the Queen’s Award emblem for the next five years. St Pierre Groupe has also secured a top ten place in The Sunday Times International Track 200 for the third consecutive year.

Applications open for innovative tech scheme to support the next generation of ambitious entrepreneurs

Sam Whitear

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09/12/2019

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Applications open for innovative tech scheme to support the next generation of ambitious entrepreneurs

Exchange, a revolutionary new digital and technology programme, has opened applications for its first cohort, as it looks to foster the UK’s next best start-ups.

The one-of-a-kind scheme will offer ambitious, early stage, tech companies and entrepreneurs access to the tools and infrastructure they need, to learn and succeed, paving the future of tech and digital in the UK.

Exchange is part of Enterprise City, a 2 million square foot tech, media and cultural cluster in the heart of Manchester city centre. The Exchange programme will be a pivotal part of Enterprise City’s vision, to create a place for scale-up and global tech businesses to grow and root their headquarters, as it creates a community of like-minded businesses.

The Manchester-based scheme, situated in Bonded Warehouse, and part of Enterprise City, is spearheaded by Allied London, an award-winning property development and investment company, and will support over 200 individuals with its 6-12-month development programme, as well as establish Manchester as a global tech hub.

Exchange is currently accepting applications for its first cohort of members, with businesses needing to meet one or more of the following criteria: the business has been trading for less than three years, it’s headquartered in the UK, it is a digital tech business with a product or service to sell, has at least one active client or pilot in progress, or has ambitions of growing and scaling.

In collaboration with its knowledge partner, Tech Nation, Exchange will empower ambitious entrepreneurs to encourage smarter growth through its flexible workspace, focused workshops, up-skill sessions and high-profile speaker events and panel discussions.

Michael Ingall, Founder and CEO at Allied London, said: “We are continuing to set a precedent with the Enterprise City brand by launching Exchange, a truly valuable programme within the tech and digital industry. Exchange is a key part of the Enterprise City vision, reinforcing the beginnings of a renowned place for innovators, creators and trailblazers. From world-leading technology companies to media production studios, we have attracted huge brands to the new district already, and the Exchange programme intends to grow the UK’s next best start-ups as a result of the environment we are creating.”

For more information on Exchange and to find out how businesses can join its latest cohort of tech entrepreneurs and global organisations, visit www.enterprisecityuk.com/exchange.

Visualsoft well suited for fashion specialist Master Debonair

Sam Whitear

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09/12/2019

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Visualsoft well suited for fashion specialist Master Debonair

Manchester based eCommerce and digital marketing agency, Visualsoft, has secured a two-year contract with men’s clothing and accessories retailer Master Debonair.

The new account win will see Visualsoft manage both the digital marketing and ecommerce platform for the growing fashion business.

The two-year contract will allow Master Debonair to benefit from Visualsoft’s shared success model – an all-in-one solution which includes an enterprise ecommerce platform and access to a suite of marketing services including PPC, SEO, social media, email marketing, affiliates, videography and market places.

Master Debonair was founded in 2016 by husband and wife, Simon and Eve Whitaker, and currently employs 32 people. It has two physical stores, in Boldon, South Tyneside, and Chesterfield, Derbyshire, as well as its popular website selling thousands of products.

Eve Whitaker, creative director at Master Debonair, said: “We chose to partner with Visualsoft as they have lots of experience in fashion ecommerce. Their understanding of our business and the challenges we face was first-class, and we hope to take our business to the next level with this partnership. Visualsoft’s proactive platform and marketing strategy means that we will be well equipped to face the final quarter of the year and its key sales events, which is an important sales period for us, and a large driver of our annual revenue.”

Martin Walker, sales director at Visualsoft, said: “We are delighted that Master Debonair chose Visualsoft as its ecommerce partner to help grow its brand over the coming years. Visualsoft has a plethora of experience in the fashion industry and we are excited to be able to help Master Debonair reach its full potential. We’re excited to develop what is already a successful North East company even further.”

LOCAL BUSINESSMAN HONOURED BY THE UNIVERSITY SALFORD

Education

Sam Whitear

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09/12/2019

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LOCAL BUSINESSMAN HONOURED BY THE UNIVERSITY SALFORD

Established and influential local business man Andrew Roberts received an honorary degree from the University of Salford in recognition of his contribution to the world of science and innovation. The award sees Dr Roberts become an honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) with the degree presented as part of the university’s winter ceremonies at Maxwell Hall on December 4.

Andrew is the Managing Director of the Bury-based unified communications company, Avoira (formerly Pennine) and Director of the parent, Salford based, Nycomm Group which is the largest independent telecoms distributor within the UK.

He said, “It is a great honour for my life’s work, first in radio comms, then telecoms and most recently in the field of Unified Communications, to be recognised with this prestigious award. I am grateful to the University of Salford and the School of Science, Engineering and Environment for this honorary Doctorate.

Dr Roberts has had a 20-year relationship with the university and is an active industry partner at many levels. Professor Nigel Linge, Director of the Data Science and Computing Directorate within the School of Science, Engineering and Environment, presented the award on behalf of the university and said: “For over 40 years Andrew has worked within the telecommunications sector within which he has risen from radio technician to Managing Director. He is a vital industry partner for the university playing a pivotal role in the development of our programmes that we offer, acting as a role model and provider of masterclasses for students and supporting us in the delivery of public outreach and academic conferences.

He has paved the way to create opportunities for our students and graduates as well as sharing his unrivalled knowledge of the sector. We are grateful for all that he has done for the university and are delighted to honour and celebrate his achievements with this well-deserved award.”

Role Model for students

Andrew has an impressive career that spans over 40 years and is well known in the community for the support he provides young people getting them on track for their future careers. He started his career as an apprentice straight from college and worked his way up the company. His story reaffirms the university’s value of being unstoppable and the rewards of what hard work can achieve making him an exemplary role model for young people.

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