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New partnership formed to promote Rochdale’s £600m growth

Transport

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01/02/2018

New partnership formed to promote Rochdale’s £600m growth

A new partnership of leading Rochdale businesses, including Zen Internet, Tetrosyl and The Casey Group, has joined forces to promote the borough’s growth, which is set to total more than £600m per year, with the creation of 19,000 new jobs.

The partnership was officially launched at an event at Zen Internet’s Rochdale HQ, where Rochdale Council chief executive Steve Rumbelow told business leaders from across the region about the borough’s remarkable growth story.

Steve Rumbelow, Rochdale Council Chief Executive said: “Our future is focused on the whole borough progressing together, improving, working harder, and getting and smarter – everyone has a role to play in doing that. That’s why this event is so critical in bringing the public and private sectors together.”

With over £200 million invested in the area over the past five years, and hundreds of new businesses set up over the past seven years, the borough has gone from strength to strength.

This growth is expected to continue under the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, which will bring 15,500 new homes, create 19,000 new jobs and increase the borough’s GVA by over £600m per year.

The new partnership of businesses will work in collaboration with the Rochdale Development Agency to further promote the borough and drive additional inward investment, as Rochdale seeks to attract more success stories to join the likes of ASDA, JD Sports, FootAsylum, Eddie Stobart and Argos, who already base operations in the town.

So many industries have thrived in Rochdale because of the low costs available. For example, renting industrial properties in Rochdale can cost as little as £4.50 per square foot, keeping costs down for new and developing businesses. What’s more, Rochdale has the most industrial space in Greater Manchester – almost 30 million square feet – so there is plenty of space for companies to grow.

With a huge regeneration programme currently underway in the town centre, more businesses are expected to invest in the local area in the near future, too.

In addition to offering excellent value for money, Rochdale is also one of the most connected places in the country. More than 9.5 million people currently live within a one-hour drive of Rochdale, and 2.6 million people of working age live within a 45-minute drive.

Being located alongside the M62, and having five Metrolink stations and a train station with direct services to Manchester city centre, means that Rochdale is easily accessible for a huge amount of people in the North West.

Aside from excellent transport links, there is also a wealth of support available to new and growing businesses in Rochdale. Council grants, business-rate reductions, free training schemes, and recruitment services all mean that more and more businesses are seeing Rochdale as an ideal place to grow.

Phil Cornell, KP Industries Managing Director said: “Thanks to the support of Rochdale Development Agency and the Business Growth Hub, we were able to identify how we could be even more successful. Taking their advice on board was directly instrumental in us meeting with one of the world’s leading generator manufacturers.”

Rochdale Development Agency works with public partners, private sector partners, and economic organisations to take action and invest in projects that have a positive impact on Rochdale.

Top businesses sign up to taste success as Bee in the City

Blog

Sam Whitear

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31/01/2018

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Fifteen high-profile Manchester businesses have signed up to support the city’s latest creative adventure – its biggest ever public art trail, Bee in the City.

Wild in Art is delighted to announce its first corporate Sponsors (listed in order of sign-up): Pinsent Masons LLP, Manchester Central, Manchester Arndale, Ellis Brigham, Great Northern Warehouse, Deloitte, LDC (the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group), BDO, The Printworks, The Oast House and DWF.

On the higher tier, four Official Supporters have also been secured; U+I Group PLC, which is leading the regeneration of the historic Mayfield site near Manchester Piccadilly Station, will provide vital space for sculpture painting and storage at the site.

TfGM will partner with Bee in the City to help visitors making a bee-line for the trail explore the bees by Metrolink, train, bus, bike or on foot. Construction company Mace will provide 85 plinths upon which the Bee sculptures will be displayed across the city and Marketing Manchester will amplify the event through its channels.

Touching down this July for nine weeks of visually spectacular, free fun and creativity, this ambitious event will see up to 85 individually designed, 2m high 3-D Bee sculptures displayed across Manchester’s streets, parks and public spaces. The trail is expected to attract over one million visitors. A Learning Programme will give children and young people the chance to explore their city through creative endeavour. They will design over 100 smaller Bee sculptures to take pride of place inside various high-footfall venues.

Helen Ridge, Head of Manchester Office, Pinsent Masons said: “Pinsent Masons is delighted to support Bee in the City as a sponsor and we can’t wait to choose our bee design in April. It’s exciting to be associated with such an inclusive, fun and family-friendly event. We see this as an unprecedented creative opportunity to raise our profile, promote our brand values and support our long-term commitment to inspiring young lives in our local communities.”

Bee in the City’s event producer Wild in Art, backed by Manchester City Council, is connecting corporate, public and community partners with the creative sector. Professional and as yet undiscovered, regional artists will create the visual WOW factor with their imaginative Bee designs and artistic techniques. Organisations who sign-up will associate their brand with a hugely popular event that will boost business impacts, tourism visits and community pride in the city. Sponsor, Partner and Supporter packages come with impressive benefits including the ability to be able to offer rewards via the trail’s app, there are exciting opportunities for creative and even surprising collaborations during the project’s lifecycle.

Sir Richard Leese CBE – Leader, Manchester City Council said: “It’s fantastic that so many national and local businesses are supporting Bee in the City this summer. We’re confident that it will be one of the most spectacular public art events the city has ever seen. I would urge you to get involved, and bring your friends and families to Manchester to follow the trail and enjoy this incredibly accessible event.”

All those who join Bee in the City will ultimately support The Lord Mayor of Manchester’s We Love MCR Charity which aims to improve the lives of local residents, helping them to reach their full potential.

There’s still time for companies to dip their wings in the honey pot, and organisers are urging those who are interested to get in touch as soon as possible to secure their involvement and maximise their return on investment. Sally-Ann Wilkinson, Director of Wild in Art said: “It’s important that Bee in the City celebrates everything that makes Manchester so characterful, including its businesses, organisations, communities and individuals. This event is created for and by Manchester and we are thrilled that the business community is both understanding and embracing its unique promotional potential.”

Sale Sharks extends deal with Leesa Sleep UK

Blog

Sam Whitear

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31/01/2018

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Sale Sharks extends deal with Leesa Sleep UK

Sale Sharks has extended its partnership with Manchester-based mattress company Leesa Sleep UK for a further 18 months.

The new deal, which runs to the end of the 2018/19 season, maintains Leesa’s position with the north west’s only Premiership Rugby team as providers of a better’s night’s sleep for players.

The extension to the current partnership is announced after Six Nations call-ups for Sharks’ wingers Byron McGuigan and Denny Solomona.

Sale Sharks Commercial Director, Mark Cueto MBE, said: “Professional athlete or not, adequate sleep before an important day can’t be underestimated. It plays a huge part in maintaining a healthy lifestyle too.

“From my own time on the pitch and even now, a bad night’s sleep means I’m more likely to be fatigued and have lower energy levels and focus the next day.

“It’s been a great year with Leesa Sleep UK and having them on board for another 18 months is fantastic.

“It’s all in the details and a good sleep is amongst the key ingredients for success at elite level.”

Leesa Sleep UK, which is a subsidiary of Virginia-based Leesa Sleep, manufactures premium mattresses in the UK with a head office based in Manchester city centre.

Leesa Sleep UK Managing Director Richard Tucker said: “We are really pleased with how the first year of our partnership with Sale Sharks has gone and it was a very easy decision to extend the agreement.

“With most of the Sharks’ squad now sleeping on a Leesa mattress we hope we are contributing in a small but important way to their performance! Mark and the team are great to work with and we have exciting plans for developing the partnership over the next 18 months.”

Sale Sharks’ next home game of the 2017/18 season is against Saracens in the Aviva Premiership.

New graphene Chief Executive appointed at The University of Manchester

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Sam Whitear

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31/01/2018

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New graphene Chief Executive appointed at The University of Manchester

James Baker has been announced as Chief Executive Officer for Graphene@Manchester which leads business-facing development of graphene and 2D materials at The University of Manchester.

Graphene@Manchester includes the National Graphene Institute (NGI) and the new Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC).

James was previously Graphene Business Director at the NGI having joined the University in 2014. Previously he spent 25 years in industry where, most recently, he was Vice-President of Technology Collaboration Programmes and Managing Director of the Advanced Technology Centres for BAE Systems in the UK.

As CEO, James will lead the acceleration, application and commercialisation of these new materials and technologies. Recently the University announced that a graphene-enhanced specialist running shoe would be on-sale later this year after research collaboration with British sportswear brand inov-8. Laboratory tests have shown that the rubber outsoles of these shoes, are stronger, more stretchy and more resistant to wear thanks to the incorporation of graphene.

This year will see the opening of the GEIC housed in the recently named ‘Masdar Building’, named after the Abu Dhabi-based clean energy and renewable energy company and key funders of the GEIC building. The GEIC will complement the existing NGI to create a critical mass of graphene expertise made up of scientists, engineers, innovators and industrialists.

Commenting on his new position James said: “I am delighted with what we have achieved in graphene research and commercialisation here in Manchester to date. We are now developing the next phase of the graphene story in our city with the imminent opening of the GEIC.

“We’re already working with over 80 companies and a number of key strategic partners which means that right here in Manchester, the home of graphene, we now have an exceptional infrastructure to accelerate the implementation of graphene and related materials applications.”

Housing leading industry expertise in collaboration with academics, the GEIC will focus on pilot production and material characterisation, together with application development in composites, energy, solution formulations and coatings, electronics, and membranes.

The facilities and close ties with industry will help research breakthroughs progress by developing innovative products and industrial processes by understanding the issues involved in manufacturing and scale up. The GEIC will allow new applications such as graphene membranes for water desalination, or next-generation batteries for electric vehicles to develop industry-ready prototypes.

Professor Luke Georghiou, Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester said: “James’ wealth of experience and background in industry has been vital for attracting major commercial companies to work with the University on exciting graphene and 2D materials projects.

“Together the NGI and GEIC, with support from major companies, SMEs, entrepreneurs and innovators provide an unrivalled critical mass of graphene expertise in the heart of the Northern Powerhouse. This innovation ecosystem is key to creating a Graphene City within Manchester.”

The GEIC is set to officially open later in 2018. The building is funded by Masdar, the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF), Innovate UK, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Local Growth Fund.

Year of the dog gets off to a flyer thanks to Manchester Airport

CSR

Sam Whitear

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31/01/2018

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Year of the dog gets off to a flyer thanks to Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport is bringing the popular Pugfest back to Manchester for a special Chinese New Year themed event, celebrating the year of the dog.

Taking place on Sunday 25 February at Tribeca on Sackville Street, Pugfest will see Chinese entertainment and activities including the Grand Pug Dog Show, Chinese themed food and drinks, a Chinese fortune teller for both humans and pugs and calligraphy and Chinese lantern workshops.

Pugs are encouraged to wear their finest Chinese and Aviation themed fancy dress – with prizes on offer for the best dressed pug. Last year’s Pugfest in Manchester was a sell-out event with more than 4,000 people and 1,000 pugs attending

Tickets are just £2 per person, with proceeds going to The French and Pug Dog Foundation and other dog charities.

Patrick Alexander, Head of Marketing at Manchester Airport, said: “With direct flights to Beijing and Hong Kong, Manchester Airport is the North’s gateway to China and is sponsoring the event as part of our Chinese New Year celebrations. We’ll also be decorating the airport with Chinese lanterns and surprising passengers arriving on a flight from Beijing.”

Martin Clowes, Event Coordinator at Pugfest said, “We are really thrilled to be back in Manchester. After our sell-out event last year, we are looking forward to working with Manchester Airport to bring pug owners and pug lovers a fun Chinese themed day out for the whole family to enjoy.”

Conference call provider WHYPAY? saves callers £7.6 million in 2017

Blog

Sam Whitear

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31/01/2018

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Conference call provider WHYPAY? saves callers £7.6 million in 2017

Manchester-based telephone conference provider WHYPAY? has announced it saved UK callers £7.6 million in 2017.

Data shows that over 150,000 callers used the free conference call platform last year, enjoying over 37 million minutes (or 70 years) of telephone conferences for free.

If callers using WHYPAY? had instead dialled the 08 or short-code access numbers provided by other leading conference services, they would have faced a combined, astounding bill of £7.6m.

WHYPAY? provides permanent, free and instant telephone conference rooms which use a standard geographic rate 03 number. This enables users to join calls from landlines and mobiles in the UK as part of any inclusive bundled minutes they have with their phone provider.

Other platforms, which may not charge users to host or join calls, often use expensive 08 numbers and special short codes, meaning the cost to access their conference calls, particularly from mobile phones, can be very high. In December 2017, WHYPAY? conference call participants dialling from a mobile phone saved £7.35 per call on average.

WHYPAY? operates on an innovative business model generating revenue through a small wholesale rebate it receives from BT on calls to its 03 numbers, rather than charging users.

Kieron James, Managing Director of WHYPAY? comments on the data; “Many providers claim to be free but operate their services on 08 numbers, so when calling in from mobiles, users will be stung by hidden costs from operators.

“When you add it up, the amount WHYPAY? users save each year is staggering, particularly when our service does not involve any compromise on quality.

“We don’t charge to use the WHYPAY? service or any of its extra features. We’re proud to offer genuinely free conference calls to thousands of organisations across the UK, saving a huge amount of money for our users – money which can certainly be put to much better use.

“For example, the £7.6 million saved by our users in 2017 alone would cover the average annual salaries of 200 junior doctors or 400 police officers. It certainly makes you think.” Kieron added.

Stagecoach sleighs at Christmas karaoke fundraising

CSR

Sam Whitear

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30/01/2018

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Stagecoach sleighs at Christmas karaoke fundraising

Stagecoach Manchester raised an impressive £4,370 for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH) following its Christmas themed fundraising last month.

Father and son duo, and Stagecoach Manchester employees, Rob and Matt Stennings led the fundraising by performing seasonal tracks dressed as Santa and encouraging passengers to sing along on South Manchester routes.

They were supported by a team of 50 Stagecoach Santas, Elves and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital mascot Humphry, who also boarded Stagecoach buses to spread the festive joy and help to raise money for the hospital. This was the first fundraising activity since announcing that RMCH was Stagecoach Manchester’s new charity partner.

Rob and Matt Stennings, who dressed up as Stagecoach Santas, said: “Performing for the passengers was great fun, especially seeing them getting involved and singing along. We have previously sang at local elderly homes so already had a backlog of Christmas hits to perform.”

Elisabeth Tasker, managing director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Christmas is a notoriously expensive time, so it’s a real testament to the generosity of the local people who have pulled together to raise this impressive total.

“The enthusiasm and willingness of our staff to dress up and sing for passengers every day in the lead up to Christmas is a real demonstration of their goodwill and character, and we will now continue as a company to help raise more much needed funds for RMCH.”

Local accountancy firm continues expansion with appointment of another Wigan College apprentice

Blog

Sam Whitear

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30/01/2018

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Local accountancy firm continues expansion with appointment of another Wigan College apprentice

Standish based accountancy firm McGinty Demack has sustained its growth with the appointment of a further apprentice.

Alex Schofield, from Coppull, joins the company as a Trainee Accountant, whilst she studies for her AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) apprenticeship at Wigan College. Alex fills the vacant position left by Alice O’Hanlon, who following her successful completion of the Wigan College apprenticeship, was recently promoted to a full-time role with McGinty Demack.

Additionally, McGinty Demack is searching for a Semi-Senior Accountant to expand the team further, on a training contract, for either a ACCA or ICAEW qualified person. The ideal candidate will supply vital help to the firm’s busy accounts team.

Karen Richardson, Managing Director, McGinty Demack said: “We are excited to have Alex on board, her drive and desire impressed us and we’re sure she will follow in the footsteps of her predecessor, Alice.”

McGinty Demack moved to Standish in 2013. Now headed by Karen Richardson, they have introduced a new approach to delivering accountancy services. Their employees are fundamental to the service and the revitalised training programme has resulted in several enthusiastic trainees joining the practice, to support its experienced and long serving staff.

Kids Allowed expands to TraffordCity

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Sam Whitear

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30/01/2018

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Multi-award winning nursery group Kids Allowed has announced it is set to open the first nursery in TraffordCity within a new £1.5 million purpose-built facility in September 2018, expanding its number of nurseries to eight.

The contemporary and sustainable building, which will be developed by Peel Land and Property, will be conveniently situated next to the iconic Venus building and will provide quality care for 106 children from babies to five year olds.

The unique building will feature Manchester’s first Urbanscape innovative green roof system which will improve the energy efficiency of the building as well as enhance local air quality for children and employees by removing carbon, particulates and heavy metals from the atmosphere.

Jennie Johnson MBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Kids Allowed said: “We’re delighted to be opening our eighth nursery at such a fantastic and high profile location. We’ve been working closely with Peel to make our expansion plans a reality and we’re excited to deliver what will be a stunning and sustainable nursery for locals and employees of TraffordCity to benefit from.”

Paul Chappels, Head of Asset Management for TraffordCity said: “Peel is delighted that the first nursery to open at TraffordCity will be the prestigious Kids Allowed brand. It’s a fantastic addition to the growing portfolio of attractions and businesses opening here and it will be a huge success as demand will be high for spaces. We’re also looking forward to seeing our first green roof at TraffordCity and exciting research opportunities on air quality improvements are already being discussed with the University of Manchester.”

Manchester Irwin Mitchell private wealth lawyer makes Citywealth’s Powerwomen Top 50 List

Blog

Sam Whitear

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29/01/2018

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Manchester Irwin Mitchell private wealth lawyer makes Citywealth’s Powerwomen Top 50 List

A family lawyer from Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth is the only woman in Manchester to be named on a list of the top 50 most powerful women in the legal and financial sectors.

Ros Bever who is national head of family law at Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth has been named on Citywealth’s 2018/18 Powerwomen Top 50 list.

Ros is one of four lawyers named outside of London, and is the only woman from Manchester to make the list. The rankings, which are decided by Citywealth’s editorial team, includes women from the legal and financial sectors.

Ros’ place in the rankings is justly deserved thanks to her outstanding national and international reputation in the legal world following the success of Ros’ two Supreme Court cases, Sharland and Gohil. Ros’ position as a market-leader for innovative family law has been secured with a host of accolades including being previously listed in The Lawyer’s Top 100 rankings, where she was the only divorce lawyer to be listed outside of London.

Ros is also nominated for Citywealth’s ‘Inspirational Woman of the Year’ award at Citywealth’s 2018 Powerwomen Awards, which will take place next month.

Ros, who has over 18 years’ experience in family and divorce law, said: “It’s fantastic to have been named on Citywealth’s Powerwomen list and I’m absolutely thrilled to have received a place and be recognised for the excellent work our team is doing on behalf of our clients.

“I was born and raised in Manchester, so being from here is a big part of my identity both personally and professionally. I’m proud to be flying the flag for family law outside of the capital.

“We are working on ground-breaking landmark family and divorce cases which are setting precedents for the future. Many of these are for clients with international assets who come to us for our experience and expertise, and recognise that you don’t have to be in London to get the best advice.

“Though I love working with my clients in London, the Powerwomen list shows that you don’t have to go to the capital to find great lawyers who are working on some of the very best and cutting-edge cases.”

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