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UMIC opens Atrium Business Lounge as part of £1.5m investment in facilities

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30/11/2018

UMIC opens Atrium Business Lounge as part of £1.5m investment in facilities

A business lounge for start-ups has opened inside The University of Manchester Innovation Centre (UMIC) as part of a £1.5 million investment in facilities.

Hot-desking is available inside the atrium, with a number of spin-outs and start-up companies already using the space.

Listed companies including WideCells and Nanoco are based within a stone’s throw of the Atrium Business Lounge which is based inside UMIC’s base on Grafton Street in the heart of the Oxford Road Corridor.

Head of UMIC Yvonne Loughlin said a co-working hub – currently being renovated as part of a wider £1.5m UMIC investment programme – will also open before the end of 2018.

She said: “UMIC’s Atrium Business Lounge is now open for business the Lounge is open every day from 8am to 6pm and offers a great selection of daily newspapers, cold and hot beverages as well as snacks throughout the day.

“The modern bespoke décor makes the lounge an ideal place for you to catch up on your emails, gather together for small meetings or simply just to relax with a coffee and snack after a long day. Hot- desking facilities are also available making UMIC the ideal base for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses.”

Local businesses celebrate at the Made in Bury Business Awards 2018

Sam Whitear

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29/11/2018

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Local businesses celebrate at the Made in Bury Business Awards 2018

After much anticipation, the winners of the Made in Bury Business Awards 2018 were announced on at a glittering ceremony here in Bury.

The Made in Bury Business Awards, in association with Bury Council, thebestofbury and Tower FM, champion local businesses and celebrate their outstanding achievements. Bury was recently named the most entrepreneurial town in Greater Manchester, and we are proud to help local businesses achieve the recognition they deserve.

More than 360 businessmen and businesswomen, including judges, sponsors and some of Bury’s most high-profile professionals, attended the prestigious awards ceremony, which took place at the Longfield Suite, Prestwich. The room was transformed with the help of students from Bury College and a red carpet was rolled out to welcome guests to the black tie event.

Councillor Rishi Shori, leader of Bury Council, said: “Bury has just been acclaimed as the entrepreneurial capital of Greater Manchester, and the annual Made in Bury awards are proof that business in our borough is in rude health. Local companies and employers are vital in ensuring that Bury continues to flourish. Their investment in jobs, skills, imagination and creativity makes Bury the great place that it is to live, work and study. I congratulate the award winners and wish them, and the whole Bury business community, the very best for the future.”

The evening featured a drinks reception sponsored by BusinessLodge, with guests being entertained by musicians from Holy Cross College and magic tricks by the amazing Ian Lavin. The team at the Longfield Suite served a delicious three-course meal which was accompanied by performances from local singer Sarah Dennis, the kids at Sparkles Academy of Performing Arts and The Northern Sopranos.

After dinner, the winners of the 21 prestigious awards were announced by Andy Crane, MC for the evening, receiving their awards to a rapture of applause as recognition of their achievements:

Best in Class – Start-Up Business – Sponsored by NatWest – Winner – Slate Barbers

Best in Class – Creative – Sponsored by Stables Country Club – Winner – Icon Kitchen Studio Ltd

Best in Class – Motoring & Transport – Sponsored by The Joshua Wilson Brain Tumour Charity – Winner – Cartime

The Woodcocks Haworth & Nuttall Manufacturing & Engineering Award – Winner – Molygran & Co

Best in Class – Backing Young Bury – Sponsored by Horsfield & Smith – Winner – Military Standard Training Ltd

Best in Class – Food & Drink – Sponsored by E. Anthony Orme Gallery – Winner – The Fisherman’s Retreat

The Connect Comms Health & Beauty Award – Winner – Lavender Hotels

The Nettl of Bury, Professional, Legal & Financial Award – Winner – PM+M Solutions for Business LLP

Best in Class – Technology – Sponsored by Platinum Care – Winner – Easy Crypto Hunter

The H.H.Smith & Sons Environmental Impact Award – Winner – Molygran & Co

Best in Class– Retailer Award – Sponsored by Cartime – Winner – LNK Motors

The AFG LAW Property & Construction Award – Winner – Icon Kitchen Studio Ltd

Best in Class Award – Tourism & Leisure – Sponsored by Complete Driveway Designs – Winner – East Lancashire Railway

The BusinessLodge Customer Excellence Award – Winner – Car Benefit Solutions

Best in Class – Family Business – Sponsored by Square Peg Associates – Winner – Lavender Hotels

The Longden & Cook Excellence in Developing People Award – Winner – Military Standard Training

Best in Class – Community Impact – Sponsored by Bury College – Winner – The Victoria

Best in Class – Large Business – Sponsored by Sambro – Winner – Cartime

Bury Businesswoman of the year – Sponsored by Rakem – Winner – Hannah Broughton – Twinkleboost

The Milliken Businessman of the Year Award – Winner – David McCann – Woodcocks Haworth & Nuttall

The Bury Council Outstanding Achievement Award – Winner – Rakem

Clough & Willis Residential Property team sets sights on growth with appointment

Sam Whitear

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29/11/2018

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Clough & Willis Residential Property team sets sights on growth with appointment

Bury and Bolton law firm Clough & Willis is further strengthening its Residential Property department with the appointment of Kelly Fitton as its newest property conveyancer. She has joined the firm from Cyril Morris Arkwright.

Kelly’s new role includes working on sales and purchases, re-mortgages, transfers of equity and Help to Buy transactions.

Lorraine Stratton-Webb, Partner and Head of Residential Property at Clough & Willis, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Kelly to the practice and I’m sure she will be a valuable addition to the team.”

Whilst Kelly added: “I have respected Clough & Willis for many years so I am pleased to have been given this opportunity. I am now looking forward to working with the team and building on the established reputation the Residential Property Department already has.”

Government-backed scheme selects Manchester start up as an ambassador for UK small businesses

Blog

Sam Whitear

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28/11/2018

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Government-backed scheme selects Manchester start up as an ambassador for UK small businesses

A family business from Manchester, who set up a natural and organic children’s snacks company, has been chosen to represent successful UK start ups by the government-backed Start Up Loans Company for its annual Ambassador Programme.

The founders of Naturelly will be honoured at a dedicated launch reception at the Houses of Parliament in London to celebrate some of the UK’s most successful small businesses. The Shadow Economic Minister to the Treasury, Jonathan Reynolds MP, will attend the event, along with Lord Smith of Kelvin, the Chairman of the British Business Bank.

Dean and Joanne struggled to find healthy snacks for their children so decided to take matters into their own hands and create their own. Launched in 2015 with the help of a £25,000 loan, Naturelly produces two main products, Ben & Holly’s Magic Jelly, which is aimed at pre-school and nursery aged children, and Juicy Jelly in a pouch, aimed at primary and secondary school children.

Before successfully getting products stocked in Sainsbury’s, their pitch was rejected four times. Now the products are sold in 555 Sainsbury’s stores across the country. They are also available in over 200 Waitrose stores and have exported oversees including the Middle East and Asia.

The launch event in Westminster will kick-start the year-long Ambassador Programme which will see Naturelly and the other Ambassadors take part in a series of local and national events, where they will offer advice to other aspiring business owners about becoming their own boss.

Dean Dempsey, co-founder of Naturelly, said: “When we first started looking at snacks for our children, we couldn’t believe how much sugar there is in the products on the market. We were inspired to take action and create our own healthy snacks. The Start Up Loans Company allowed us to make real progress in our business, and we are so happy to be a part of the Ambassador programme.”

Kelly Tolhurst, Minister for Small Business, said: “With more than 1,000 starting up every day, the UK’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy and at the heart of our modern Industrial Strategy. Congratulations to the newly-appointed Ambassadors for the Government-backed Start Up Loans Programme, which helps aspiring business owners across the UK turn their dreams into a reality with finance and mentoring support.”

Patrick Magee, the Chief Commercial Officer of the British Business Bank, said: “From healthy snacks for children to gourmet baking kits and waste-free supermarkets, our 2018 Ambassadors showcase the wonderful range of small businesses that we have in the UK.

“All of our Ambassadors’ stories show the grit and ambition it takes to set up a successful business, and we’re incredibly proud of everything they have achieved. We hope that, with the right guidance and support, we can help even more aspiring business owners realise their dreams of becoming their own boss.”

Worsley company takes on two more apprentices

Sam Whitear

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28/11/2018

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Worsley company takes on two more apprentices

A vehicle leasing company has employed two new apprentices after their most recent apprentice was taken on full time at the end of their placement.

Thomas Crook, 18 and 18-year-old Christopher Lucas joined Worsley-based LeasingOptions six months ago, following in the fruitful footsteps of Conor Hill who has recently joined the company in a permanent role.

Conor joined the business in 2016 as an apprentice under the sales support banner, completing ad hoc jobs to assist the team.

Since starting in this role, Conor moved around different aspects of sales support, aiding in different processes and procedures to become a capable all-rounder in the team.

He took 12 months to complete his apprenticeship, coupling working for LeasingOptions with attending The Growth Company’s Business Growth Hub for tuition.

Conor is now a fully-fledged administrator and member of the sales support team, plus he’s also been given more responsibility and new roles to keep him growing.

Thomas and Christopher are now hoping to become the next apprentices taken on by LeasingOptions as full-time members of staff at the end of their placement in six months’ time.

Just like Conor they’ve both started work under the sales support banner in the proposals team, which has included processing finance proposals.

Mike Thompson, LeasingOptions’ director of sales and marketing, explained that apprentices are helping the company bring tomorrow’s talent to the forefront of vehicle leasing.

“Apprenticeships allow people to learn on the job, an essential skill in today’s fast-moving market,” said Mike. “Very often, university graduates come to us with three years of in-depth studying and the resulting qualification, but very little hands-on experience.”

“We find that apprentices have the get up and go needed to work in this industry, something which Conor really embraced and one of the reasons why we couldn’t let him go at the end of his apprenticeship,” said Mike.

“Now it’s the turn of Thomas and Christopher to make the most of this opportunity, with just six months to go, we’re seeing real promise in them both.”

Stagecoach Manchester celebrates wins at UK Bus Awards

Awards

Sam Whitear

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28/11/2018

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Stagecoach Manchester celebrates wins at UK Bus Awards

Stagecoach Manchester has won the bronze award for Top City Bus Operator in this year’s UK Bus Awards 2018.

It is the second year running that Stagecoach Manchester has taken the bronze in the Top City Bus Operator category. The company also celebrated a win for Ben Coghlan, after he was awarded silver in the Engineer of the Year category.

Speaking about the success, managing director for Stagecoach Manchester, Elisabeth Tasker, commented: “The UK Bus Awards are a celebration of the fantastic work that goes on throughout the industry. To win Top City Bus Operator and Engineer of the Year is a fantastic achievement, and a testament to our team’s hard work in enhancing customer experience.

“Stagecoach Manchester was the only company to have more than one employee shortlisted in the Top National Bus Driver category, which reflects the dedication of all of our drivers.

“These awards celebrate another great year for Stagecoach Manchester and this success is something I look forward to building on in 2019, as we continue to invest in our fleet and our services.”

TickX launches personalised discovery service

Blog

Sam Whitear

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28/11/2018

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TickX launches personalised discovery service

Greater Manchester-based, TickX, has announced the launch of its new personalised discovery platform, designed to make it easier than ever for users to find experiences that they love based on their interests and preferences. The revolutionary new service lists inventory from over 100 partners and is designed to help ticket partners expose their inventory to new audiences, ultimately growing the experience market.

Steve Pearce, TickX CEO said: “As an aggregator, it’s important that we add value, both to our ticketing partners and our users. We’re really excited about our new Intelligent Discovery engine, it’s designed to give our users a personalised experience, exposing them to new events that they may not have been aware of and help to grow the experience market for TickX and our many partners.”

Paul Kirwin, TickX CMO added: “We’ve been faced with a challenge in our early years where consumers saw us as a ticket seller. We’re far from it, it is not our world, our partners are the sellers. We’re a discovery platform that allows our users to find tickets to events they know about and discover ones they don’t. This brand refresh helps us to articulate our position more clearly.”

Skiddle smash £100,000 fundraising target for Macmillan Cancer Support

CSR

Sam Whitear

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27/11/2018

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Skiddle smash £100,000 fundraising target for Macmillan Cancer Support

Skiddle has announced that it has raised £200,000 for its charity partner Macmillan Cancer Support. Initially aiming to raise £100,000, this money will help the charity provide vital support and services for people living with cancer across the UK.

In 2015, Skiddle lost a beloved member of their team, Chris Glaba, to cancer at the age of 27. Since then, the North West based company have taken part in a variety of fundraising events, challenges and activities to raise money for Macmillan. They have also launched a charity checkout scheme, which gives customers the opportunity to donate £1 every time they buy a ticket through Skiddle.

The event guide and ticketing outlet, based in Preston, have now set a new target for the next 12 months of a further £50,000. This aim is announced today on Giving Tuesday, a global movement empowering people to give generously.

This new £250,000 fundraising target could help Macmillan continue to provide a range of services such as information booklets, the charity’s Support Line Services and front line Macmillan Nurses.

Richard Dyer, Co-Founder and Director of Skiddle, commented: “If you had told me in 2015 that we would be standing here today having raised nearly £200,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, I wouldn’t have believed you. Supporting this cause is overwhelmingly important to us and there is no better feeling than exceeding a fundraising target, especially when it’s for something that means so much to me and the team at Skiddle. It’s made us more determined than ever to push for £250,000 and reach this goal within the next 12 months.”

Pippa Lock, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, commented: “We want to send a heart-felt thank you to Skiddle staff and customers for their hard work and enthusiastic support. At Macmillan, we rely almost entirely on support from the public and our partners. Without it, we can’t continue to be there for people living with cancer across the UK.”

BGF Manchester invests £6m in Evoke Creative

Sam Whitear

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27/11/2018

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BGF Manchester invests £6m in Evoke Creative

Evoke Creative, a design-led manufacturer of interactive digital solutions, has received a £6m investment from BGF to support further growth in the UK and overseas.

Based in the Wirral, Evoke Creative supplies interactive digital solutions, including self-service kiosks, video walls, digital signage and payment terminals for blue-chip customers in the retail and leisure sectors. Its systems allow brands to connect and engage with their customers in dynamic and rewarding ways, helping to maximise transaction conversion rates, improve customer journeys and reduce costs.

Led by founders Neil Clark and Dean Ward, Evoke prides itself on creating bespoke solutions and providing an end-to-end service for customers, with design, software development and product assembly performed in-house to ensure quality is maintained. The success of this approach is evident from the long-term relationships they have cultivated with multinational brands including JD Sports, McDonalds, Biblioteca and Google.

With a growing workforce of 75, including award-winning design engineers and software developers, Evoke recently moved into purpose-built offices in Bromborough, which has enabled the business to have a workspace, showroom, warehouse, factory and production lines on site. Evoke has been voted as one of the 50 fastest growing companies in the North at the Northern Tech Awards in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Mark Mills, former CEO of Cardpoint and NXC of Velocity Composites and Mini-Cam has been appointed as Non-Executive Chairman, following an introduction through BGF’s Talent Network, which connects portfolio companies with expertise to help support growth.

Neil Clark, CEO of Evoke, commented: “We’re really happy to be partnering with BGF as we continue to scale up and win more contracts in the UK and overseas. We offer something different to other businesses in the market, creating bespoke products for our customers and working with them from initial concept to final implementation and aftercare. This commitment, underpinned by our strong relationships with some of the world’s biggest brands, gives us the edge over our competitors and puts us in great stead, with BGF by our side, to take on new business in the UK and abroad.”

Matt Widdall, investor at BGF, said: “Evoke has demonstrated impressive international growth over the past few years, particularly with changing market requirements, and we’re delighted to be partnering with a fantastic, experienced team to achieve their ambitious growth plans. Their ability to be an end-to-end digital partner for customers and provide custom-built products assembled on site puts them head and shoulders above their competitors and we’re excited to support them as they take on more opportunities in the rapidly expanding UK and international digital solutions market.”

Fitness Space confirmed at No.1 Deansgate

Blog

Sam Whitear

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27/11/2018

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Fitness Space confirmed at No.1 Deansgate

Acting on behalf of Millerbrook Properties, Avison Young has announced that national boutique gym franchise Fitness Space has agreed a 15-year lease at the iconic No.1 Deansgate in Manchester.

Founded by 400m runner Tim Benjamin, who has competed in both the Olympics and World Athletic Championships, Fitness Space has 29 gyms nationally. No.1 Deansgate will be its first site in Manchester.

No.1 Deansgate, which was designed by Ian Simpson, is one of Manchester’s iconic city centre buildings. The deal with the fitness operator makes use of shell space which has been underused since the building was developed in 2000. Fitness Space is currently fitting out and the gym will be open to members in the New Year.

The gym will have its own entrance onto Deansgate with an internal staircase to the mezzanine level, comprising a total floor area of 6,300 square feet. The high-end boutique gym concept uses state-of-the-art training technology and members will benefit from a wide range of fitness and training classes as well as nutritional advice and DNA testing. Earlier this year planning consent was secured for the space following planning committee approval.

Commenting on finalising the deal Harry Skinner associate director at Avison Young said: “We are delighted to complete this transaction which will finally make good use of this vacant space. The concept will work well in the Manchester market and is a great addition to the building.”

Tim Benjamin, founder, Fitness Space, said: “No 1 Deansgate is the ideal location for our first Manchester-based Fitness Space. We believe in offering a supportive, friendly environment where people can train in state-of-the-art facilities and are looking forward to rolling out the concept at No 1 Deansgate. We have an expert team of coaches to help members in Manchester get started on their fitness journey.”

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