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Worsley Leisure Centre re-opens after £1.4m update

Blog

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09/01/2019

Worsley Leisure Centre re-opens after £1.4m update

Operated by Salford Community Leisure on behalf of Salford City Council, the project has been funded through Salford City Council as part of its £35m master plan to develop leisure centres across the city to boost health and well-being.

Worsley Leisure Centre’s equipment suppliers were carefully selected for their knowledge and expertise. Equipment was provided by Preston-based independent company, Gym Gear, who selected equipment to improve the overall member experience. The new Gym Gear 98e Performance Series cardio with the latest fitness technology was chosen. Members can now enjoy virtual programs and fitness apps alongside audio-visual functionality.

Gym Gear director David Bulcock, said: “Gym Gear is delighted to be once again partnering Salford Community Leisure. Our Entertainment Series Cardiovascular Equipment will provide enhanced exerciser engagement through a range of on-console features such digital TV, immersive workout landscapes and internet browsing. The consoles seamlessly connect with CircleCloudGo – Gym Gear’s cloud solution which enables users to create and track workouts as well as connect to their existing, favourite workout tracking devices. A range of HIIT Cardio products will also allow gym goers to achieve their workout goals in a shorter space of time – Jacobs Ladder, Speedfit Curved Treadmill, Tornado Bikes, Concept II Rowers and StairMaster Gauntlet plus there is an inclusion of a modular rig for functional and small group training and a Sterling Series Half Rack for a range of Strength & Conditioning exercises.”

Worsley Leisure Centre first opened as public swimming baths 80 years ago and has since hosted in excess of 12 million visits from people across Salford, Greater Manchester and beyond.

The centre now includes an iconic 317m2 gym added to the existing building constructed in copper to mirror the older red brick part of the building and to complement the red brick of the older local houses in the area.

The first floor addition houses a new gym complete with state-of-the-art equipment, a dedicated weights area, a HIIT zone and a modular rig for functional and small group training.

A second, larger, multi-purpose studio has replaced the lower ground floor gym to offer more space for exercise classes. A new group fitness class timetable includes new classes and increased capacity following the redevelopment. The extra studio space will also enable more children’s dance and gymnastics classes as well as a range of sessions aimed at helping elderly members get more active.

Existing facilities at Worsley Leisure Centre include a six-lane, 25m swimming pool, as well as two smaller teaching pools, a sauna and steam room and a café.

Plans were proposed and developed by internationally renowned leisure architects, Pozzoni with Wates as the construction partner and the work commenced in April 2018.

Mark Chew, Director of Leisure at Salford Community Leisure, said, “The centre has been the hub of the local community since opening in 1937 and has now been transformed as part of Salford City Council £35m master plan to develop leisure centres across the city to boost local people’s health and wellbeing.

“This development means we can continue to help more people get and stay active. The new facilities are wonderful news for the community and we’re excited to welcome back loyal members and attract new centre users as well.”

Export competition encourages UK SMEs to take UK Plc to the World in 2019

Awards

Sam Whitear

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08/01/2019

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Export competition encourages UK SMEs to take UK Plc to the World in 2019

The Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) has launched its 10th ‘Open to Export Competition’ to encourage businesses to take ownership of their international strategies.

Sponsored by Bibby Financial Services (BFS), the competition asks SMEs to create a coherent ‘Export Action Plan’ using an online planning tool on OpentoExport.com. SMEs can then enter their completed plan to the competition for the opportunity to win international trade support from BFS and the IOE&IT, with one winning company being awarded a further £3000 cash towards implementing their Export Action Plan.

The competitions are a key element of the IOE&IT and BFS’s commitment to boosting UK SME exports. The 10th iteration has the theme of ‘Taking UK Plc to the World’, showing that the UK is committed to international trade after Brexit.

Companies have been given until 8 February to enter their ‘Export Action Plans’ into the competition – an extension on the original deadline of 25 January.

10 shortlisted finalists will then be invited to pitch their businesses at a showcase final at Grant Thornton’s London offices on March 6th. The finalists will pitch to a panel of expert judges about how they would use the £3000 cash prize provided by BFS towards implementing their international growth strategy.

Announcing the 10th competition, Lesley Batchelor OBE, Director General of the IOE&IT, said: “We are delighted to now be launching our 10th Open to Export competition. Since launching the competitions in 2015, we have helped hundreds of SMEs both home and abroad to take their next steps in export. We’re now looking forwards to helping UK SMEs to fly the flag overseas alongside our competition partners Bibby.”

Jim Davis, Managing Director International, Bibby Financial Services, added: “We support more than 10,000 businesses worldwide and we know from our own experience that trading overseas presents SMEs with tangible opportunities to grow. The IOE&IT is a fantastic support service for SMEs and we’re looking forward to reviewing the competition entries.”

Manchester-based PHMG appoints new Head of Talent Acquisition and Development

Appointments

Sam Whitear

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08/01/2019

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Manchester-based PHMG appoints new Head of Talent Acquisition and Development

Audio branding agency PHMG has appointed Gareth Watt as Head of Talent Acquisition and Development.

Watt joins the Manchester-based company to support ongoing global growth plans and will be both spearheading the entire recruitment process, while managing the continual development of staff across the business.

He brings more than 12 years of experience in blue chip and digital media businesses to the role, having previously worked for Dentsu Aegis Network as UK Head of Recruitment, and Barclaycard in senior people resourcing positions.

“PHMG has earned an enviable reputation for the quality of its personnel, passion, hard work and people lie at the core of its ongoing success,” said Watt.

“I will be working to further raise the bar with the service we deliver and help PHMG take the next step in their evolution.”

Chief Financial Officer Matthew Toynton added: “PHMG is a global market leader and we continue to work hard to ensure that our pole position is maintained.

“Attracting and keeping the star performers in our industry is the bedrock of our success so Gareth’s appointment represents a significant investment in our people. With an innovative approach to talent strategy, from process design to HR technology, he will be helping us to better support our clients and deliver market-leading products and services. We are confident he will help the company continue go from strength to strength.”

Double celebration for LJLA with growing passenger numbers and the UK’s best on time performance

Blog

Sam Whitear

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08/01/2019

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Double celebration for LJLA with growing passenger numbers and the UK’s best on time performance

2018 was another successful year for Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) and the cause for a double celebration with the Airport’s latest passenger figures showing a milestone in passenger throughput, at the same time as having the UK’s best scheduled flight punctuality record.

5.1 million passengers chose to use Liverpool John Lennon Airport in 2018, the highest figures seen at the Airport in 7 years and an increase of 3% compared to 2017.

The Airport has seen growth in passenger numbers and services throughout 2018 with a number of new routes having started last year to a diverse mix of destinations including Bergen, Dalaman, Iasi, Palermo, Paphos, Pula, Shannon and Toulouse. LJLA now serves over 70 destinations.

LJLA has also continued to be one of the UK’s best performing airports operationally too. The Punctuality League – a report published by OAG, the world’s leading air travel intelligence company, shows that Liverpool had the UK’s best on time performance record in 2018, with over 84% of arriving and departing flights operating within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival and departure time.

Liverpool has the 7th best record in the world when compared to airports of a similar size for scheduled flight on time performance.

Whilst passenger numbers and choice of destinations continue to rise, the Airport experience for passengers continues to remain one of the UK’s best. Queue times for passengers to go through Airport security remained low throughout 2018, with 97% of passengers taking 10 mins or less to pass through security and over 80% taking less than 5 minutes.

This is great news for the growing numbers of passengers who choose to fly from Liverpool, reassured to know that whilst the Airport has become busier it remains one of the UK’s faster, easier, friendlier airport experiences with queues at a minimum and flights operating on time.

2019 is set to be another busy year for the Airport, with new routes to Corfu, Copenhagen and Varna commencing in the Summer.

John Irving, CEO for Liverpool John Lennon Airport commented, “2018 has been another very good year for the Airport and for the region’s air travellers too, with Liverpool now offering an even greater choice of destinations and a fantastic passenger experience.

As an important gateway airport, Liverpool also benefits the City Region, the North West and North Wales with an excellent passenger experience and improved connectivity helping to attract more inward investment and boosting the region’s visitor economies.”

jammtoday secures £300,000 funding injection to develop digital platform

Energy

Sam Whitear

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08/01/2019

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jammtoday secures £300,000 funding injection to develop digital platform

GC Angels the angel investment arm of the Growth Company, has supported Manchester based jammtoday to secure a funding boost of £300k to develop its consumer focussed investment comparison site.

jammtoday co-founders Adam Bickell and Mark Goldman raised £50k seed investment from GC Angels alongside £250k from startup cofounders Nova (co-invested with Sir Terry Leahy) and Deepbridge Capital SEIS Fund.

jammtoday is an online investment comparison platform that cuts through the confusion around digital investment managers (so-called ‘robo-advisors’), some of which offer investments starting at just £1 a month. The startup helps users to think about and visualise their investment goals and then creates a simple comparison of shortlisted robo-advisors to best match the user’s needs, investment amount and preferred risk level.

jammtoday is using the funding to fast track the consumer launch and expansion of their digital platform which they are developing in conjunction with the FCA’s ‘Project Innovate’, set up to support fintech companies seeking to improve choice, user-experience and better financial outcomes for consumers.

Adam Bickell said: “Consumers are increasingly aware of the advantages of using digital investment managers as a simple, low cost way to invest money, whether that’s to save for a specific future goal such as a house purchase or for retirement, or just to build a rainy day pot. But as the number of players in this market continues to grow it is getting more complex and time-consuming for people to review them and to make the right choice.

“We’re passionate about making investment intelligence available to everyone and the funding and support we have received has made an enormous difference to the speed and ease with which we have been able to develop our model, which we will be bringing to market soon.”

Darren Gowling, Senior Investment Director at GC Angels, said: “Adam and Mark are experienced financial professionals who recognised that there was a huge volume of investment information out there that most people would never be able to access. The jammtoday model is one that people are very familiar with for buying everything from house insurance to energy suppliers which immediately makes it very accessible and appealing to investors at all levels.

“Working with our partners at Nova and Deepridge Capital we’re hugely excited to be investing in a business that will help to give everyone control of their investments and access to some of the most innovative financial products on the market.”

Recom in good shape for Barry’s Bootcamp

Blog

Sam Whitear

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08/01/2019

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Recom in good shape for Barry’s Bootcamp

A Salford Quays company has been appointed as the main contractor for a new Barry’s Bootcamp fitness studio in London after successfully completing the firm’s latest UK venue in Manchester.

Recom Solutions is managing the design, procurement and fit-out for Barry’s Bootcamp in Canary Wharf. The venue is due to open next month.

Recom’s appointment follows its role as the principal contractor for the new Barry’s Manchester in the ABC Building at Enterprise City, a purpose-built cluster for the creative, media and technology industries on the site of the former Granada Studios.

The 5,500 sq ft studio, the first Barry’s Bootcamp in the UK outside the capital, opened at the end of November.

It is equipped with the firm’s trademark red lighting and nightclub-specification sound system, as well as customised treadmills, daily fitness classes, a Fuel Bar, showers, a towel service and athleisure and retail partnerships.

Recom was appointed for the Manchester project following a tender process. The contract was completed in 10 weeks.

Recom director Jason McKnight said: “The Manchester scheme was fast-paced, very detailed acoustically and an absolute pleasure to be part of.

“Our team is used to intensive high-end programmes where a keen eye for detail makes or breaks a project.

“The scheme was another feather in our cap of successfully delivering fit-out schemes in the north west, and we are delighted to have now started on the next Barry’s Bootcamp in London, once again as the principal contractor

“Winning repeat work with clients is in line with a key aspect of our business strategy and this new contract demonstrates our ability to secure projects with national firms beyond our north west heartland.”

James Macaskill, co-owner of Barry’s Bootcamp UK, said: “Right from the start when we appointed Recom, its team was very proactive in procurement, design management and client liaison.

“The project was well-managed onsite and, as our first outside of London, it is one of which we, Recom and Manchester can be proud.

“We have now appointed Recom to deliver our next scheme in London.””

Financial consultants expand in Hale

Blog

Sam Whitear

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08/01/2019

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Now Financial Planning Ltd based at 168 Ashley Road, Hale is growing and expanding into adjoining premises.

It has taken a further 600 sq ft of self-contained office accommodation on the first and second floors to the rear of the building at 3A Cecil Road, Hale. The business has taken a 10 year lease at a rent of £13,000 per annum.

Andrew Morgan, partner, Now Financial Planning, said: “The business has been steadily growing over the last few years and the additional space became available at the right time and we only needed to unlock a door to access it enabling us to occupy a total of 2000 sq ft in one building. We are looking forward to building on our growth.”

Key Travel takes ninth floor at Bruntwood’s iconic St James’ building

Property

Sam Whitear

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08/01/2019

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Key Travel takes ninth floor at Bruntwood’s iconic St James’ building

Leading property company Bruntwood has welcomed third sector travel management leader Key Travel to the newly refurbished ninth floor of its landmark St James’ building on Oxford Road in Manchester.

Key Travel recently announced a merger with Raptim Humanitarian Travel to form the world’s largest travel management company exclusively focused on the academic, humanitarian and faith sectors.

The merged business, which has over 500 employees in ten countries and sales of over £350 million, has taken the entire newly-refurbished ninth floor at St James’, which is just under 20,000 sq ft.

The St James’ Building dates back to 1912 and was once the headquarters of the Calico Printers Association. Bruntwood has sensitively transformed the landmark with a comprehensive refurbishment, which has regenerated the historic building creating a vibrant, contemporary home for Manchester’s next generation of businesses.

One of the finest period properties in the city, St James’ also boasts some of the best digital connectivity in Manchester and as part of the Oxford Road Corridor Innovation District, offers the opportunity to link and collaborate with a wealth of innovative organisations based on the doorstep.

Following the ninth floor refurbishment, Bruntwood harnessed projection mapping and augmented reality (AR) to showcase the suite, creating a bespoke AR app to provide potential customers with an immersive viewing experience.

Adam Selka, Senior Asset Manager at Bruntwood Works, said: “It’s wonderful to be welcoming Key Travel to this outstanding suite, particularly at this exciting point in the business’ journey. Following our work to regenerate the suite, we harnessed technology in the form of an AR experience to animate the space and show its potential to viewers, but there’s nothing quite like seeing a company move into a new suite and bring it to life by putting their own stamp on the space!

“The ninth floor at St James’ is a unique space in the city, offering a spacious, dynamic open plan environment in a beautiful period property complete with outstanding contemporary features, facilities and amenities. St James’ also offers customers excellent connectivity, and great access to a vibrant community of the most innovative and exciting organisations in the region. It’s a great space in an unbeatable location and we wish the Key Travel team the very best of luck as they settle into their new home.”

John O Sullivan, Managing Director for Key Travel in the UK said: “Although we continue to grow our company globally, our Manchester office has always been and will continue to be the heart of our operations. The move to St. James’ will reinforce our presence in the city whilst perfectly accommodating our objectives for future growth and providing a great working environment for our people. We are truly looking forward to becoming part of the history of this great building.”

Northcoders opens permanent base in Leeds

Property

Sam Whitear

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07/01/2019

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Northcoders opens permanent base in Leeds

Manchester headquartered Northcoders, the UK’s leading coding bootcamp for graduate outcomes, has launched a brand new campus in Leeds city centre.

Northcoders was established in Manchester back in 2015 and its very first course launched a year later. Since then it has trained nearly 300 people via 23 cohorts. In the past year, on average 96% of students from across all its courses have secured software developer job offers within fifteen days of graduating and on starting salaries of £25k. Its 80-plus hiring partners are spread across the North and include major names in the automotive, education, healthcare, fin-tech and transport sectors.

The new site is located at Platform – the city’s newest tech community, created by leading property company Bruntwood, which is adjacent to Leeds train station. A team of dedicated teaching and support staff will work across both the Leeds campus and the existing Manchester base in Federation House.

The main course being offered in Leeds is Northcoders’ 12-week, full-time flagship Coding Bootcamp programme which has been devised for career changers. It starts on Monday 25th February. Over the years, Northcoders has helped all types of people switch their careers into tech including delivery drivers, customer service advisers, property managers, accountants, teachers, refugees, supermarket workers, warehouse operatives and social workers as well as mothers looking to return to work.

The comprehensive Coding Bootcamp course covers all of the key skills required to become a Software Developer and launch careers in the world’s most popular and in-demand programming languages. The curriculum includes a deep-dive into programming, building APIs, working with databases, making accessible websites, front end frameworks and an introduction to UX and Dev Ops. All of this will lead up to a final two-week project where students will consolidate everything they’ve learned before graduating and being ready for employment.

As well as the Coding Bootcamp, Northcoders is also staging its two-evening Introduction to Programming course which will start on January 22nd. It has been especially created for absolute beginners and for anyone who is considering a possible career in coding. Introduction to Programming’s simple aim is to provide an accessible platform where people can explore if coding could be right for them via a mixture of short tutor-led sessions and project-based workshops.

Chris Hil, founder of Northcoders, said: “As a business, we have wanted to open a base in Leeds for a while but the timing and location had to be right. Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region has a dynamic and exciting tech community so we wanted to add to that mix by offering a first class coding bootcamp that taught the skills employers actually need.”

Chris added: “A lot has been said about the Northern Powerhouse but for us it’s really just about creating better collaboration across the Pennines. We are so excited about opening in Leeds and our focus in now on delivering a calendar of world class courses that will deliver the coding stars of the future.”

Craig Burrow, director Bruntwood, Leeds, said: “Software developing is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK and there is strong demand for coders across the world. Platform is home to a specialist Tech Incubator and we know well the dynamism in the digital sector – and the exciting career opportunities it offers. The availability of courses to help people gain the necessary skills serves an important purpose and we are pleased to be able to support Northcoders in their new venture.”

Green light for Redfern redevelopment at NOMA

Blog

Sam Whitear

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07/01/2019

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Green light for Redfern redevelopment at NOMA

NOMA, a 20-acre mixed-use neighbourhood in Manchester city centre, has secured planning permission to redevelop Redfern, a Grade II listed former warehouse and office building, into modern office space with ground-floor retail and leisure units. Hermes Investment Management is the investment manager of NOMA, working on behalf of an institutional investor.

Under the plans approved by Manchester City Council, Redfern will be revamped to offer over 50,000 sq. ft. of Grade A contemporary office space spread across six floors. Industrial-chic features such as exposed airducts and suspended lighting will help appeal to the tech and creative firms who increasingly power Manchester’s economy, together with a new roof terrace where workers can relax and socialise.

Redfern’s famous redbrick façade, a hallmark of Dutch Modernist architecture, will also be maintained, with the original period window fittings restored in line with NOMA’s commitment to preserving local heritage.

An additional 7,600 sq. ft. of mixed retail and leisure space split across three units will be provided on the ground floor, which was previously a basement until the excavation of Sadler’s Yard, Manchester’s newest public square.

Redfern was previously home to PLANT NOMA, a community workshop and ‘village hall’, which has now relocated to Old Bank on the other side of Sadler’s Yard.

Stephen Bradley, Senior Asset Manager at Hermes Investment Management, said: “The go-ahead for Redfern’s redevelopment underlines Manchester City Council’s continued confidence in our vision for NOMA. There is now real momentum behind the neighbourhood, with Amazon moving into nearby Hanover. Dantzic, another listed building, is due to complete in early 2019. We look forward to taking Redfern forward and will soon be outlining our plans for the new-build opportunities at NOMA, helping cement our position as the UK’s first innovation district.”

Richmal Wigglesworth, Associate at Sheppard Robson, said: “Redfern – our third refurbishment of a listed building on the estate – is an important part of the NOMA jigsaw, fusing desirable office space and staff amenities with the new neighbouring public space, Sadler’s Yard. The strong civic presence of the building, helped by ground floor uses that directly address the public space, will create a vibrant atmosphere and contribute to the NOMA place making. Occupants will feel connected to the building’s heritage, with sensitive refurbishment sitting alongside new elements, such as the addition of a roof terrace area for the office tenants.”

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