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Three new partners at KPMG in Manchester

Appointments

Sam Whitear

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30/04/2019

Three new partners at KPMG in Manchester

Business advisory firm KPMG has strengthened its offering to Manchester’s business community with the appointment of three new partners.

Based in the firm’s St Peter’s Square office, Rick Harrison, Joanne Brien and Daniel Hurley will respectively bolster the firm’s restructuring, tax and insurance practices.

Rick brings more than fifteen years’ experience in corporate restructuring, turnaround, refinancing and insolvency to KPMG. He joins the firm from Deloitte where he worked with corporates, lenders and financial sponsors to support businesses facing challenges. He has worked with businesses across the North spanning a wide variety of sectors, ranging in size from owner managed companies to large, multinational organisations.

Joanne Brien has been promoted to partner in KPMG’s tax practice. Her team spans KPMG’s Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham offices. She advises privately owned and listed companies across the North and Midlands on all aspects of executive pay, including employee share plans and corporate governance.

Daniel Hurley has also been promoted to partner in KPMG’s actuarial insurance team. He specialises in life insurance, with a particular focus on actuarial reporting and transformation. In the last three years Daniel has worked closely with Aviva, Phoenix Group and LBGI.

In addition to the new partner appointments, KPMG has also promoted Gareth Holly and Edward Bartlett to director in the firm’s Manchester consulting and legal practices.

Nicola Quayle, Office Senior Partner at KPMG in Manchester, said: “We’re always on the lookout for the best external talent, but it’s also very rewarding to welcome the colleagues we work alongside every day to the KPMG partnership. Together, Rick, Joanne and Daniel reflect the experience and depth of specialist expertise we offer both Manchester’s business community, and organisations across the wider North of England.

“As a region, we are still navigating a challenging economic and political landscape. I’m confident our new partners will help us support business leaders through this period and continue to build our reputation as a full-service business advisory firm.”

Joining Rick Harrison in the firm’s Northern restructuring team is James Clark, also from Deloitte, as a new associate partner based in KPMG’s Leeds office.

David Costley-Wood, restructuring partner at KPMG in Manchester, added: “High profile insolvencies, both regionally and nationally, since the start of the year provide a reminder of the challenges faced by companies as they grapple economic and political uncertainty and tougher trading conditions.

“The appointments of Rick and James are the latest in a string of investments we’ve made in our market-leading restructuring practice in the North. Combined, they have more than 30 years’ experience supporting businesses in times of distress. We’re confident their arrival will help us continue to work on some of the highest profile mandates in the UK.”

PR Agency One blossoms with new client

Blog

Sam Whitear

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29/04/2019

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Retail and ecommerce specialist, PR Agency One, has been appointed by one of the world’s largest online florists, SerenataFlowers.com, to implement its communications strategy as it embarks on a period of growth.

The e-tailer has been operating in the UK since 2003 and is now one of the largest online flower retailers in the world, according to site visit data from SimilarWeb.

PR Agency One was appointed following a competitive pitch process and will be responsible for the online florist’s entire communications strategy – including consumer media relations and corporate profiling activity.

The agency will focus on building brand awareness of SerenataFlowers.com amongst its key target audience, and improving the website’s organic performance.

James Crawford, managing director at PR Agency One, said: “SerenataFlowers.com has led the transformation of the floristry market over recent years, and as the business embarks on a journey to become the world’s largest online florist, marketing and PR efforts to boost visibility, awareness and in turn, sales, are imperative.

“We are thrilled to have been appointed by SerenataFlowers.com as it looks to scale up its UK operation and expand its offering. We are confident in our ability to deliver a multi-channel campaign and build on the business’ success.”

Businesses in the North West urged to enter Innovation Showcase Competition

Awards

Sam Whitear

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29/04/2019

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Businesses in the North West urged to enter Innovation Showcase Competition

Entries for this year’s regional Innovation Showcase Competition open today.

Organised by GC Business Growth Hub, part of The Growth Company, the competition is one of the highlights of the Venturefest North West 2019 event.

This year’s competition has four categories for small and medium-sized businesses to enter:

Product Innovation
Service Innovation
Digital Innovation
Innovative Established Business

Innovative entries that address the challenge of the aging society, recognising older members of our population are creating new demands for technologies, products and services, are particularly welcome.

Winners of each of the categories will receive a package of business support provided by partners of the Hub, while all applicants will be able to benefit from specialist business advice as part of the competition process.

It’s free to enter and all a business needs to do is fill in a short online form on the Venturefest North West website.

Those shortlisted will then go through to the quarter and semi-final stages, taking place between July and September, before the finalists pitch to an audience of potential customers and investors at Manchester Central on Wednesday 20 November.

In addition, an Audience Award, voted for by Venturefest delegates, will be handed out, and an Overall Winner will also be crowned.

Reach and Rescue won both the Product Innovation and Overall Winner categories last year for its range of specialist telescopic rescue equipment.

Jo Taylor, director, said: “Reach and Rescue benefitted tremendously from winning the Innovation Showcase Competition.

“First, it has confirmed that we’re growing the business the right way. Then there’s the PR we received, which was fantastic and definitely raised awareness of our products. And it also had a huge impact on our team – it still gives us a proud feeling to say ‘we are an award-winning company’ and to know the hard work has paid off.”

Entries for the 2019 Innovation Showcase Competition are now open to SMEs from across the North West. To enter, visit VenturefestNorthWest. The deadline for entries is Monday 8 July 2019. Venturefest North West 2019 is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Businesses looking to access specialist support can visit BusinessGrowthHub for more information about the organisation’s extensive range of services.

Bitrez wins Queen’s Award for Innovation

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29/04/2019

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Bitrez wins Queen’s Award for Innovation

Bitrez Ltd, the UK’s leading manufacturer of specialist polymers and chemicals has been named a winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The Wigan-based company secured the award in the Innovation category for its Bisphenol A (BPA) free resin, Curaphen.

Launched in 2013, Curaphen is used for the internal coatings of food and drink packaging.

Following a worldwide health scare regarding the potential harm caused by BPA to humans, with media emphasis directed to expectant mothers and babies, Bitrez developed Curaphen – an alternative polymer to BPA based grades, for use with non-epoxy-based systems.

Bitrez’s exports have increased by 45 per cent in the past five years, with almost a third of this coming from Curaphen. The company has also doubled its capacity and now runs a 24-7 operation to ensure it can continue to meet increasing volume requirements. To date, Bitrez has sold over 800 tonnes of Curaphen equating to millions of food and packaging containers safely coated with Curaphen every week.

Paul Jones, Bitrez Ltd Managing Director and formulator of the product said: “I’m delighted that Bitrez has won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise especially in the innovation category. Resolution of regulatory and technical problems is at the heart of our business strategy and commitment to product development. This is what drives us to continue to design products like this Curaphen grade and being able to manufacture an alternative to conventional BPA derivatives with equivalent performance is a great example of the positive impact creative chemistry and ingenuity can have on our lives.

“This award celebrates everyone at Bitrez who worked so hard to bring the product to market, as well as the loyalty of our much valued supplier and customers who trust in our expertise and commitment to develop innovative products to comply with regulatory reform.”

Nijman Zeetank develops its niche transport and logistic offerings

Blog

Sam Whitear

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29/04/2019

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Nijman Zeetank develops its niche transport and logistic offerings

Nijman Zeetank, a leading North West specialist international logistics company, is looking forward to a period of sustained growth, following increased demand for its specialist services across the UK and Europe.

The firm, which has UK bases in St. Helens and Hull, provides organisations across Europe with safe, reliable, transparent and cost-effect logistics solutions. Offering transport via road, sea and rail, Nijman Zeetank works across many sectors, transporting glass, chemical liquids, fuels and cryogenic gasses.

The logistics specialist has worked closely with Pilkington Glass since the 1960s and took over the whole Pilkington UK Transport Division in St. Helens in 1993, further reinforcing the already strong relationship with Pilkington Glass. Consequently, Nijman Zeetank recently celebrated 25 years in business in the UK.

One of the highlights of this relationship is the work associated with the development of ‘floatliner’ vehicles, which carry large and heavy sheets of flat glass, with loads of up to 29 tonnes.

More recently, besides their long-standing significant involvement with dangerous goods logistics, the company has diversified into the transportation of concrete castings for the property market, LNG transportation from inbound ports, as well as general haulage.

Bill Owen, Technical Director, Nijman Zeetank, said: “Demand for our specialist, diverse offerings is growing day by day, as organisations across the UK seek to safely, cost-effectively and confidentially transport their products across Europe.

“We employ 70 logistics professionals at our St. Helens site, servicing more than 140 clients, with over 70 specialist vehicles. Last year, we were delighted to be recognised for our capabilities and skillsets, with the St. Helens Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence in Logistics award.

“As part of our bespoke offering, we also take responsibility for the preparation of import and export documents, as well as the clearance of good travelling across borders.

“We are experts in transport and logistics, who enjoy the confidence, trust and respect from our customers to deliver on time, intact and cost effectively.”

UK Labs targets 20 exports countries in 2019

Blog

Sam Whitear

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29/04/2019

0

UK Labs targets 20 exports countries in 2019

Warrington based E-Liquids manufacturer, Bowman Specialised Liquids, is targeting a 20 country export milestone, only a year after founding their new range ‘UK LABS E-Liquid’. The company currently exports to eight countries, including France, Germany, Spain, Norway and South Korea and is now targeting Japan, South Africa and Canada, as well as others, as it establishes a greater global presence for its innovative E-Liquids products.

Established in May 2018, UK Labs is experiencing a period of rapid and sustained growth, with its team of eight, focused on delivering the highest quality E-Liquids, in the UK and globally. The growing business currently manufactures six product ranges, with more than 40 available flavours.

Chris Bowman, Managing Director, Bowman Specialised Liquids, said: “Bowman Liquids was established in June 2013, with the intention to supply the UK market with a clean and UK made alternative. The recently formed UK LABS brand was subsequently formed to allow us to push our products into new markets both in the UK and beyond.

“For a relatively new company, UK Labs has experienced exceptional success, across our small but diverse range, both here in the UK and globally. This year, we are aiming to break into more international markets, working with both our partnership stores and distributors to give UK Labs a truly global footprint.

“As well as targeting 20 export countries, we are also developing three news products lines and overhauling our website, giving our customers a greater choice and online experience. All of our products are manufactured to the highest quality, at our bespoke UK facility.

“We are very proud of the products we produce and delighted with the global demand. It is going to be a challenging but exciting next twelve months and one which the team is really looking forward to.”

EY announces 2019 Entrepreneur Of The Year North finalists

Sam Whitear

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29/04/2019

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EY announces 2019 Entrepreneur Of The Year North finalists

EY has announced its 2019 Entrepreneur Of The Year North finalists, with 14 businesses from the North West making the shortlist.

The shortlist highlights the vibrant diversity of the North’s entrepreneurial landscape, with companies from sectors such as retail, technology, healthcare, energy and financial services represented.

The North West finalists are:

–Richard Hayes and Nicholas Sherratt of Mojo, a digital mortgage broker based in Macclesfield

–Anthony Morrow of OpenMoney, an online financial adviser based in Manchester

–Imran Hakim of Hakim Group, an opticians business based in Darwen

–Roy McGillivray of Swift Dental, a full-service dental laboratory headquarted in Bolton

-Chris Meehan of Sentric Music Group, an independent music publisher based in Liverpool

-Stephen Turner of Edam, a credit hire organisation based in Manchester

-Steven Jackson OBE DL of Recycling Lives, a nationwide recycling and waste management businesses based in Preston

-Faisal Lalani and Jamil Mawji of National Care Group, a care and support services provider based in Accrington

-Elan and Shailendra Raja of SCAN, an IT hardware supplier based in Bolton

-Sid Sadique of NRG Fleet Services, a commercial fleet services business based in Skelmsdale

-Michael Asher and Anthea Morris of Better 2 know, a sexual health testing business based in Morcambe

-Jonathan Lill of bbf, a manufacturer of own brand cake and chilled desserts based in Blackburn

-Andrew Preston of GRI, a recruitment outsourcing business based in Knutsford

-Gavin Snell of Ellis Whittam, a legal and regulatory services provider based in Chester

Victoria Price, partner and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year leader in the North, said: “I could not be more proud to lead this programme for EY in the North – it supports the incredible entrepreneurial community we have here and helps to put the spotlight on some truly unique businesses and inspiring entrepreneurial leaders. This year’s programme recognises and connects another 24 Northern businesses from across the North West, Yorkshire and the North East, all of which create jobs and contribute to the continued growth of the North’s economy.”

The 24 finalists in the 2019 North programme will convene at an awards ceremony in Manchester in June, where an independent panel of judges will select winners across a number of different categories. Similar events will also be held in Scotland, the Midlands and South West, and London.

Regional winners will then progress to the UK final held in London in November, to vie for the coveted title ‘EY UK Entrepreneur Of The Year’. The UK country winner will then represent the UK at the ‘EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Forum’ in summer 2020, which gathers the world’s most inspiring entrepreneurs from more than 60 countries.

Last year’s North winner, Blackburn-based forecourt retail operator EG Group, went on to become the overall winner at the national Entrepreneur Of The Year awards and will be representing the UK at the global awards, being held this June.

Some of Britain’s best-known business figures are former EY Entrepreneur Of The Year winners, including: Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who founded the low-cost airline easyJet; Dragon’s Den investor Peter Jones, who started-up Phones International Group; and Richard Reed, one of the founding partners of Innocent Drinks.

Previous winners in the North include Jennifer Atkinson of ITC Luxury Group, Fred Done of Betfred, James Lambert of R&R Icecream and Matthew Riley of Daisy Group plc.

North judging panel

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year North 2019 judging panel will be chaired by Steve Smith, Director, Daisy Group Holdings.

Steve will be joined by:

Jonathan Bell, Head of North West, LDC
Lucy Armstrong, CEO, The Alchemists Northern Limited
Jacqui Hall, MD, CNG Ltd
Clare Roberts, CEO, Kids Planet Day Nurseries
Jonathan Seaton, Founder and CEO, Twinkl Educational Publishing

Full list of 2018 North finalists by category:

Jonathan Lill, bbf, a Blackburn-based manufacturer of own brand cake and chilled desserts.

Michael Asher and Anthea Morris, Better 2 know, based in Morcambe. Better 2 know is the world’s largest private provider of sexual health testing services.

Stephen Turner, Edam, a Manchester-based credit hire organisation.

Gavin Snell, Ellis Whittam, a Chester-based legal and regulatory services provider.

Anthony Morrow, OpenMoney, a Manchester-based online financial adviser.

Lee Hartley, Fairstone, a Newcastle-headquartered full-service financial advisory and wealth management house which is technology-led.

Dr Sam Chapman, The Floow, based in Sheffield. The Floow, is a leading telematics provider delivering solutions to insurers, OEMs and fleet operators globally.

Andrew Preston, GRI, a Knutsford-based independent recruitment outsourcing expert.

Imran Hakim, Hakim Group, which is based in Darwen and represents a rapidly growing portfolio of over 100 independent optician practices across the UK.

Neil May, iPortalis, based in Harrogate. iPortalis helps enterprises and channel partners to quantify usage, save costs, operate efficiently, and improve multi-vendor cloud service utilisation through a single self-service portal.

Brenda McLeish, Learning Curve Group, one of the UK’s largest training providers, based in Durham.

Richard Hayes and Nicholas Sherratt, Mojo, a digital mortgage broker based in Macclesfield.

Faisal Lalani and Jamil Mawji, National Care Group (NCG), an Accrington-based provider of care and support services to vulnerable adults throughout the UK.

David Brennan, Nexus Vehicle Rental, based in Leeds. Nexus is a technology driven business which specialises in supplying temporary vehicles to businesses.

Fokhrul Islam, Northern Gas and Power, a Gateshead-based business-to-business energy consultancy offering energy contract brokering, consultancy and energy monitoring technology in the UK, US, France, Malta and Singapore.

Sid Sadique, NRG Fleet Services, a commercial fleet services business based in Skelmsdale.

Stuart Paver, Pavers, a York-based show retailer which employs more than 1,700 people in the UK alone.

Sean Ramsden, Ramsden International, based in Grimsby. Ramsden International is the world’s leading exporter of British-branded food and drink; the only UK grocer to export to 100+ countries.

Ravi and Sunny Sharma, PetBrands, based in Birstall. PetBrands is a vertical integrated pet business involving design, manufacture and distribution of innovative pet treats and accessories.

Chris Meehan, Sentric Music Group, a Liverpool-based, independent music publisher. It boasts an international creative and administrative infrastructure, and represents more than a million musical works across modern hits and timeless classics.

Elan and Shailendra Raja, SCAN, a Bolton-based innovator of performance IT hardware, supplying prosumer and enterprise markets via a multi-channel sales model.

John Dobson, SmartSearch, an anti-money laundering client verification business based in Ilkley. The SmartSearch platform allows regulated businesses to verify individuals and businesses in the UK and internationally.

Roy McGillivray, Swift Dental, a full service Dental Laboratory specialising in the manufacture of dental restorations, which is headquarted in Bolton.

Steven Jackson OBE DL, Recyclinglives, Preston-based Recycling Lives is a unique organisation combining nationwide recycling and waste management businesses, a social enterprise delivering food redistribution and offender rehabilitation programmes and a charity managing a homeless residential programme.

Hill Dickinson grows private client team with two new associates

Appointments

Sam Whitear

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26/04/2019

0

Hill Dickinson grows private client team with two new associates

Hill Dickinson announced the expansion of its private client team with the addition of two new associates.

Joining Hill Dickinson’s growing team in the North West are senior associate Richard Leslie and associate Kelly Monaghan.

Richard Leslie joins the North West team as a senior associate based in the firm’s Manchester office. Richard has been a solicitor for over 20 years and is a full member of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners). Richard joins Hill Dickinson from Weightmans where he previously worked as a consultant solicitor for five years. Richard has extensive experience helping families and business owners on succession planning and tax mitigation through wills, trusts, deeds of variation, family charters and family investment companies.

Kelly Monaghan joins Hill Dickinson’s Liverpool office as an associate from Maxwell Hodge. Kelly qualified as a solicitor in 2016 but has over four years’ experience working in the private client field. Kelly specialises in will drafting and the administration of estates including obtaining grants of probate. Her other areas of expertise include the preparation of lasting powers of attorney and applications to the Court of Protection.

Announcing the appointments, Susan Sherry, legal director of the private client team, commented: “We are thrilled to expand our existing strong private client team in the North West with two excellent new solicitors. Both Richard and Kelly will be great additions to the team and bring a wealth of skills and knowledge with them.”

Digital content specialist joins SKV Communications

Appointments

Sam Whitear

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25/04/2019

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Digital content specialist joins SKV Communications

Award-winning SKV Communications has appointed digital journalist, and former Manchester Evening News business reporter, Stuart Greer, to work across its extensive portfolio of b2b clients.

Stuart moves from MEN Media where, in his role as trending writer, he used real time analytics of audience metrics to optimise the performance of content.

Skilled in developing engaging SEO and evergreen content as part of long-term editorial search strategies, he will work with SKV’s clients to help create, shape and amplify their communications.

With thirteen years’ experience at MEN Media, Stuart has held a number of posts including Business Reporter at theManchester Evening News, working across print, web and social channels, and as a Senior Reporter on the Macclesfield Express, Salford Advertiser and Oldham Advertiser.

Stuart has been short-listed for the Business and Finance Journalist of the Year category in the Regional Press Awards for 2018.

At SKV he will be working across a client base which includes the UK arm of Siemens Digital Industries, the Siemens operating company responsible for industrial digitalisation.

He will also work on the Made Smarter North West pilot, a £20m joint private sector and government initiative which promotes and delivers the benefits of Industry 4.0 processes and technologies to the region’s SME manufacturers.

Managing Director, Andrew Spinoza, said: “Stuart’s combination of news reporting, business to business experience and extensive digital and online expertise makes him the perfect fit for SKV, especially with regards to our national and regional b2b accounts.

“I also anticipate that he will get involved with our public sector and consumer work, especially with regards to maximising online content and generating a buzz across social media.”

GCA Altium signs to No.1 Spinningfields

Blog

Sam Whitear

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25/04/2019

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Schroder Real Estate has announced a further deal at No.1 Spinningfields with Global Investment Bank GCA Altium.

The financial company has agreed a deal to occupy 5,600 sq ft on the 9^th floor of the 19-storey building in Spinningfields. GCA will launch its new office and officially move in during June.

This latest deal follows the announcement that online price comparison platform and tech giant Moneysupermaket.com will occupy two floors in the building later this year.

GCA Altium is the European business of GCA, a global investment bank that provides strategic M&A and capital markets advisory services to growth companies and market leaders. The firm offers worldwide coverage with over 400 professionals in 20 offices across America, Asia and Europe.

GCA Altium is moving from Belvedere to take larger space in No 1 Spinningfields due to recent expansion of the business in Manchester.

Jourdan Rajwan, Investment Manager, Schroder Real Estate said: “We are delighted to add another brilliant tenant to complement the mix at No.1 Spinningfields, following hot on the heels of Moneysupermarket.com. The building is made up of a diverse tenant mix and continues to attract top talent form both outside the city and from within offering the best in class office space, amenity and connectivity. ”

The acquisition of No.1 Spinningfields by clients of Schroders in 2017 from Allied London was one of the largest single-asset trades recorded in the region, at c.£200m.

Schroders has continued to work with Allied on the transition from a development to a virtually fully let building offering the highest levels of occupational performance.

Currently, the building boasts a diverse tenant portfolio across professional services, legal, tech and leisure. The building also offers significant amenity including flagship restaurant and bar 20 Stories, independent coffee operator Pot Kettle Black, excellent connectivity with a Wired Score Platinum rating and one of the most sustainable buildings in Manchester.

Jourdan continued: “The lettings strategy for No.1 has proven very successful and in addition to the remaining vacancy on the part 3^rd floor we have recently taken a surrender of level 17. Level 17 is the highest office floor in the building and boasts panoramic views of the Manchester city scape.”

2018 set a record for office space take-up in Manchester at 1,750,276 sq ft over 314 transactions – driven largely by the tech sector, as global giants Amazon and Booking.com took up 89,449 and 225,000 sq ft respectively.

Phil Adams, CEO, GCA Altium said: “We are really excited about our forthcoming move into No 1 Spinningfields. Our business in Manchester has grown dramatically in recent years and we believe our new home will provide us with the perfect base to give our employees a contemporary, flexible working environment and our clients a superb facility to enjoy when they meet with us. We are delighted to make No 1 Spinningfields our latest office along with the other 20 offices we have globally and can’t wait to move in.”

Michael Ingall, chief executive of Allied London said: “We’re pleased to see No.1 Spinningfields reach near full occupancy, with GCA Altium becoming the latest occupier, a real testament to the design and vision Allied London had for this world class commercial building. With an almost full house of occupiers and successful retail & leisure offering now in place, No.1 has set a new standard for commercial workspace in Manchester”.

Will Lewis, transactions and asset management, OBI said: “We are delighted to have concluded this acquisition. It was a complex transaction as it involved assigning GCA Altium’s lease in Belvedere simultaneously with legally committing to the new lease at No 1 Spinningfields. The level of amenity within No 1 Spinningfields and the critical mass of high quality occupiers on the estate were stand out factors in the decision making process.”

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