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World’s top cyber-experts host Halloween Hackathon in Manchester

Sam Whitear
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World’s top cyber-experts host Halloween Hackathon in Manchester

World-leading ethical hacking firm Secarma, based in Manchester, is staging a hair-raising student hackathon aimed at bridging the skills gap in the cybersecurity industry.

In the first event of its kind in the North West, 50 computer science students from Edge Hill University will take part in a ‘real-life’ hacking challenge at UKFast Campus in Manchester.  The challenge, which will take place over the course of five hours on Tuesday 31st October, simulates the work carried out on a daily basis by penetration testers at Secarma.

Ten teams will compete against each other. Their ghoul, or goal, is to find vulnerabilities in a replica of a real-life business IT environment, with points awarded for identifying weaknesses and providing recommendations for fixing the problem.

The exercise is formulated and organised by some of the world’s top ethical hackers and provides a window into the skills required to join the cybersecurity industry.

More cyber experts are needed to combat a sharp rise in data breaches, computer viruses and ransomware.  Government statistics reveal almost half (46%) of UK businesses suffered a cyber-attack in 2016.

Paul Mason, Training and Development Manager at Secarma said: “Cyber-attacks like this year’s WannaCry ransomware attacks, which crippled the NHS, are becoming more frequent and more serious.  This hackathon is a bit of fun for Halloween but real cyber-attacks are extremely frightening. 

“We need to recruit more white-hat hackers to stay one step ahead of the criminals. By running an event like this we want to encourage more talent to take up a career in the cybersecurity industry.”

Secarma’s ultimate aim is to extend the hackathon to different universities and eventually establish a national inter-university challenge.

Secarma is owned by hosting firm UKFast. Founder and CEO Lawrence Jones said: “It’s exciting to be hosting an event of this kind, inspiring young people to take up a career in tech and cybersecurity.  

“Barely a day goes by without a cyber-attack making headlines and the risks continue to grow.  It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to understand what a career in penetration testing involves alongside some of the best talent in the world.”

Manchester employee recognised for 15 years of service at same company

Sam Whitear
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Manchester employee recognised for 15 years of service at same company

An employee at Keyline in Manchester has celebrated the impressive milestone of 15 years of service at the business.

Sales Office Manager, Barry Latimer, joined the Atherton based branch in 2002 and was recently presented with the company’s long service pin and certificate. Barry will also receive vouchers for the company’s internal employee rewards scheme, which can be used online to purchase items from a choice of over 1,000 different outlets.

Barry Latimer commented: “We’re all one big team at Keyline and really support each other, which is one of the reasons I believe many remain with the company for a number of years. I really enjoy my job and it’s nice that my long service has been recognised.”

Dave Ganley, Branch Manager at Keyline Manchester, added: “Our staff are paramount to the company’s success and we rely on the hard work, dedication and commitment shown by exceptional team members like Barry. Our warmest congratulations to him on reaching such a significant milestone, and for his huge contribution to Keyline over the past 15 years.”

Northern Powerhouse resilient as SMEs name Manchester UK’s 2nd most popular business capital

Sam Whitear
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Northern Powerhouse resilient as SMEs name Manchester UK’s 2nd most popular business capital

Trainline for Business, the B2B arm of Trainline, Europe’s leading independent train ticket retailer and train travel app, has revealed that Manchester is the second most popular business capital for SMEs in the UK. Meanwhile, 32% of SME diesel or petrol car drivers in the North, who drive for work, are considering ditching their cars for other forms of transport ahead of the Government’s 2040 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.

As part of its newly-launched SME Business Travel Index – a comprehensive overview of the UK’s SME business travel market – Trainline for Business collected data from over 1,000 business travellers at SMEs across the UK.

While just over half of SME workers believe business travel budgets haven’t changed in the last year (52%), there is increasing pressure on many to drive cost efficiency on business trips. Of the 26% who thought business travel budgets have declined, 40% felt increasing pressure to restrict the frequency of business travel whilst 37% were increasingly expected to choose cheaper options of travel. 21% were increasingly being asked to shorten the length of business trips.

Reassuringly, business travellers are adapting to this pressure by choosing cheaper options of travel, rather than restricting travel altogether. Nearly two-thirds of business travellers choose to travel on Off-Peak trains, with 65% citing ‘cost-saving’ as the key driver. This trend is being led from the top, with owners or proprietors of SMEs the most likely group to travel Off-Peak (at 74%) – higher than any other level.

Ananth Ramanathan, Head of SME at Trainline, said: “Face to face meetings are undoubtedly the best way to build relationships and, for this reason, business travel remains as important as ever. Rail continues to prove a popular mode of transport for business travellers because of the convenience and increased productivity time it offers.

“Our research shows that SMEs are adapting to budgetary pressure by choosing cheaper options of travel rather than reducing the number of trips they’re having to make. The Trainline for Business SME rail travel dashboard is designed to help small businesses manage their budgets easily so that they can focus on closing the deal rather than fretting about travel costs”.

The frequency of business travel shows no signs of letting up, with the average SME business traveller making four business trips in the UK each month as well as over two trips internationally – averaging 6.4 business trips per month. Furthermore, 8% of travellers have travelled internationally four or more times each month over the last year – meaning nearly one in 10 SME business travellers potentially travels abroad 48 times a year.

‘Travelling by train’ and ‘driving in their own car’ were ranked as the most popular methods of business travel for SMEs, with both being used by over two-thirds (68%) of business travellers in the last 12 months. Close behind was ‘travelling by plane’ (46%) and ‘driving in a company car’ (39%).

The UK Government’s recent announcement to ban the sale of new diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2040 looks set to have a huge impact on business travel. 37% of SME diesel or petrol car drivers, who drive for work said the proposed ban would make them consider using a different form of transport.

The Index also revealed that the most popular destination for SME business travel was London, with 58% of business travellers having visited the city in the last month. Hot on its heels were Birmingham and Manchester at 36% each, Leeds and Liverpool at 25% and Cardiff and Edinburgh at 23%.

63% of those that travel for business tend to book their own travel, with 16% looking to their secretary to do it for them. 10% ask their office manager and 8% ask a team assistant. The main method for booking business travel is through a desktop computer (76%), with the phone being the second most popular option (18%). However, the Index also revealed the extent that modern technology is influencing booking behaviours with 17% now using an app on their phone.

The Trainline business account for SMEs is a desktop and mobile solution that allows businesses to manage all rail travel in one place with central payments and reporting tools. It provides business administrators full visibility of all company rail spend, while enabling travel bookers and travellers to easily book and manage their travel with innovative features such as Price Prediction, mobile tickets, auto refunds, easy journey changes, and much more.  There is no charge for using the SME rail travel dashboard

 

 

Stanmore Insurance Brokers shortlisted for prestigious award

Sam Whitear
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Stanmore Insurance Brokers shortlisted for prestigious award

Stanmore Insurance Brokers in Bolton has been named a finalist for a highly prestigious award Schemes Broker of the Year by the Insurance Times.  The Insurance Times Awards are one of the most coveted accolades within the insurance industry and Stanmore is absolutely delighted that their children’s day nursery scheme dot2dot has been recognised for its ongoing success.

Shortlisted for the Schemes Broker of Year award, Stanmore’s hopefully award-winning scheme is dot2dot Nursery Insurance.  Director Jackie Hyde launched the facility in 2003 and dot2dot now insures over 1,800 nurseries nationally with the backing of the UK largest general insurer, Aviva.

Jackie explained “At dot2dot we pride ourselves on providing a very personal service, with every client having a dedicated individual to look after them. Nurseries can face some challenging times, whether that is trying to stay open following a major incident or needing guidance when a member of staff has had an allegation made against them. When this happens, you need to be able to turn to people that truly care”.

“We’re over the moon to be shortlisted. It is testament to the hard work and commitment from the squad at dot2dot and the wider Stanmore team. In addition, we wouldn’t be where we are today without our fantastic, loyal clients. In fact, 67% of our original clients from 2003 are still with us today.” Said Jackie.

Jackie also thanked branding company Relative Marketing who have worked closely to develop the dot2dot new corporate image. “We love the way Relative have raised the profile of Stanley, the dot2dot mascot and the creation of their new strapline, the bear that cares, which typifies what is at the heart of our business”. Explained Jackie

Jackie recently had to present to a panel of industry experts in London who will be making the decision about who wins. All the team at Stanmore now have their fingers crossed until the 7th December when the winners will be announced at a glitzy awards event at the InterContinental 02.

Latest designs for Bolton’s Egyptology gallery released

Sam Whitear
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Latest designs for Bolton’s Egyptology gallery released

As work on Bolton Museum’s new Egyptology gallery progresses, new designs for the £3.8 million project have been released.

Bolton Library and Museum Services are working with museum exhibition designers, Leach Studio, to create a bespoke gallery entitled Bolton’s Egypt.

Conceptual designs have been revised following feedback from the public and partners and these are the latest artist’s impressions of how the gallery will look.

Visitors to the museum will get the chance to view the designs more closely via a display situated in the foyer and on social media.

Bolton’s Egypt, which is set to open in 2018, will be divided into sections depicting the history and importance of the borough’s Egyptology collection.

These include: the Portico; Rotunda; Land & People; and Beliefs.

In addition, there will be a section devoted to Chadwick Museum – depicted as a doll’s house set in parkland – and how Bolton came to acquire such an extensive Egyptology collection.

Chadwick Museum was the town’s first museum; opened in 1884 in Queen’s Park. When it became too small for its growing collections, the museum in Le Mans Crescent was built in the 1930s and eventually opened in 1947, where it still stands today.

Local mill owner’s daughter, Annie Barlow, was a member of the Egypt Exploration Fund in the 19th Century and helped to raise funds for excavations in Egypt. In return for her generous contributions, the museum was given a number of artefacts.

Also, central to the new gallery will be a full-sized recreation of the tomb of Thutmose III.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Resources, Cllr Ebrahim Adia, said: “This project is the most significant development the museum has seen in many years and it is a privilege to be a part of it.

“It’s very exciting to see the designs develop and change in order to reflect the museum’s collection, and I can’t wait to see the finished gallery.

“Bolton’s Egyptology collection is one of the most significant in the UK, so we’ll be pulling out all the stops to create a visitor attraction of international quality and appeal.”

Contractors Willmott Dixon have been on site since the beginning of 2017 and completed essential roof repairs and internal mechanical and electrical works.

Guy Lacey, Operations Manager, said: “It is a real privilege for Willmott Dixon to be delivering such a prestigious and historically significant project that will further enhance Bolton as a centre of excellence in Egyptology.”

Next on the programme of works is the fit-out of exhibition space, decoration and a new shop area on the first floor.

Nichola Ward, Head of Creative, Leach Studio comments: “As museum exhibition designers it’s been fantastic to work with the team at Bolton Museum and Willmott Dixon on such a significant project.

“Working closely with the museum team has allowed us to really explore the collection and create some exciting and often brave designs. It’s inspiring to work with a client team that is open to ideas and is really helping to create a fun-filled experience for visitors that shows the breadth and beauty of Bolton’s astonishing Egyptology collection.

“The designs have received great feedback from the team and we’re delighted to unveil our latest impressions. We hope everyone is as excited as we are – we can’t wait to continue our journey with Bolton’s Egypt and look forward to its opening next year.”

 

Singapore Airlines celebrates one year anniversary of its transatlantic Manchester to Houston route

Sam Whitear
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0
Singapore Airlines celebrates one year anniversary of its transatlantic Manchester to Houston route

Launched on 30 October in the year that Singapore Airlines also celebrated 30 years of flying from Manchester, the route is the first and only transatlantic flight that the airline has ever operated from the UK and helps demonstrate its long-term commitment to the North-West region.

The route has had a busy 12 months, demonstrated by a few fun facts:

1 number of inflight marriage proposals on the route
5 number of weekly flights and number of different A350 aircraft that have flown the route
200 aircraft have spent just over 200 days in the air flying between the two cities in the first year
260 number of departures since the inaugural flight took off on 30th October, 2016
500 over 500kg of scallops and lobster have been cooked up for inflight catering on board
2,000 customers flying the route have consumed just over 2000kg of prawns as part of their inflight meals
5,550 number of bottles of champagne popped in flight
7,000 Almost 7000kg of chicken have been consumed inflight
10,389 litres of ice cream served on board during the year
383,914 Number of customer meals prepared
2.5 million number of miles Singapore Airlines aircraft have flown between the two cities since launch

 

To celebrate the anniversary on the ground, customers flying on the day will be treated to a digital Halloween make-over by Cheshire-based caricaturist Mad Badger (aka John Roberts) and Lancashire based artist Drawn by Mike (aka Mike Bryson), with anyone taking part entered into a draw to win complimentary upgrades on the day. In addition, there will be a few extra treats at check-in and on board along the way.

Anyone worried they’ve missed out can still get involved, however, as promotional fares starting from just £249pp are still on sale via singaporeair.com until 3 November, for travel 1 November-15 December 2017.

Sheldon Hee, Singapore Airlines’ General Manager of UK & Ireland, commented: “We are delighted to be celebrating the first anniversary of our non-stop Manchester-Houston route, together with the return of nonstop Manchester-Singapore services at the same time.

We have a long history in the region of over 30 years and it is exciting to still be celebrating firsts after all this time; from our first transatlantic flights departing the UK to bringing the first commercial A350 flight to Manchester Airport earlier this year. It shows the depth of our relationship with the region and for that we would like to thank both our partners and loyal customers for their ongoing support’.

Stephen Turner, Commercial Director for Manchester Airport, said: “It’s fantastic to see Singapore Airlines celebrating the first anniversary of its route to Houston.  Direct flights to the US and Singapore are hugely important to the 22 million passengers in our catchment area.

“As the only UK airport outside of London to offer direct flights to both Houston and Singapore it cements our position as the UK’s global gateway in the North.”

 

Orange on the menu as Sale Sharks team up with Once Upon a Smile for charity day

Sam Whitear
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Orange on the menu as Sale Sharks team up with Once Upon a Smile for charity day

It’ll be orange versus white for a good cause at the AJ Bell Stadium on November 10, when Sale Sharks host Saracens in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. The game will be played in aid of Manchester based charity Once Upon a Smile.

The Sharks’ first team will wear a limited-edition orange shirt featuring the logo of Once Upon a Smile, the children’s bereavement charity which provides emotional and practical support to bereaved families at their time of need.

This announcement comes a month after Sharks confirmed they will be wearing the Manchester Bee on their away shirt, to show the club’s solidarity with Manchester and the victims of the Manchester attack earlier in the year.

The logo will join those of corporate partners Together, Litmos, Morson and headline sponsor UKFast.

Mark Cueto, Sale Sharks Commercial Director said: “It will be great to see our boys running out in Once Upon a Smile’s colours. They do fantastic work in the community and I know the team will be wearing their shirt with more pride than ever come November 10.

We are very grateful to our sponsors for their support of this initiative, and it’s great to work together in aid of such a worthwhile cause.”

Limited numbers of replica shirts will be available for supporters to order from the club shop with a percentage of proceeds going to the charity, alongside a percentage of the ticket sales.

Daniel Jilling, Once Upon a Smile Co-Founder, said: “We are passionate about sport and supporting our local community, so we are delighted to get onboard as one of the chosen charities on November 10.

For us as a local charity to be working alongside the team is exciting, and to be given the opportunity to tell more people about what we do is one we are very grateful for.”

He added: “We also love the orange kit the team will be playing in and can’t wait to see the squad run out in charity colours.”

There’ll be plenty of entertainment at half-time, as Mark Cueto MBE, Sale Sharks ambassador and Commercial Director, will be dusting off his boots alongside club legends Sammy Tuitupou and Eifion Lewis-Roberts in a catching competition against some of Once Upon a Smile’s celebrity football team.

Hospitality-goers will have the chance to bid on the match worn and signed shirts in a silent auction, as well as a range of other exclusive and unique prizes, with all proceeds going to charity.

As the game falls on remembrance weekend, the team will also proudly wear poppies on their shirts, and The Royal British Legion and The Samaritans will be at the AJ Bell Stadium to show their support.

Tickets for the match are on sale now.

Visit: http://www.salesharks.com/tickets

 

Or call: 08444 994 994

Apprentice of the year announced

Sam Whitear
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0
Apprentice of the year announced

The Apprentice of the Year Award, sponsored by Laing O’Rourke, has been presented to Turner and Townsend’s Ben Deegan, who is currently studying for his Level 4 Apprenticeship in Project management with QA Apprenticeships.

The presentation was made at the Chamber’s Property and Construction Annual Dinner last night (Thursday 19h October) at the Hilton Deansgate, Manchester

The Judges commented: “Ben has demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment to his Apprenticeship and has demonstrated going above and beyond what is expected of him. He has a clear drive and passion to succeed.”

Bethany O’Neill from Willmott Dixon, and Richard Wilson – Kier Living/Great Places were the other finalists. The winner and two finalists were all presented with an award, certificate and cheque.

The event was sponsored by Siemens, Skanska and CBRE, with Laing O’Rourke sponsoring the Apprentice of the Year Award, Parker Wilson sponsoring the programme and media sponsors Place North West.

Polystyrene converter expands into new eco makret

Sam Whitear
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Polystyrene converter expands into new eco makret

A family company in Bury has expanded its polystyrene product range into the low carbon building insulation market – opening up new opportunities that could lead to huge growth.

Molygran Ltd traditionally specialises in custom expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyethylene foam solutions for packaging, display and merchandising.

However, having enjoyed a steady growth for a number of years, the company felt ready to explore new markets.

This led to working with specialists at Greater Manchester’s Business Growth Hub, who introduced Molygran to the potential of capitalising on the growing demand for environmental products and services.

Throughout 2017 environmental business advisors at the Hub have supported Molygran’s senior management team to investigate how its EPS products could offer a low carbon benefit to the construction sector.

The thermal properties of EPS mean it is ideal for low cost insulation in buildings, an opportunity that Molygran had not explored previously.

“Buildings and insulation is effectively a new market for us, something that the Hub’s advice opened our eyes to”, said managing director Keith Fairhurst. “Some of the manufacturing techniques are also new to us so we had to learn to manufacture a product to the consistent level required for these uses.”

Molygran has now developed two new products that combine its existing extensive expertise in CNC profile cutting EPS blocks with its new knowledge of thermal efficiency. This includes both a ‘springy’ and tongue-and-groove insulation board, which is already in production and being sold.

According to the company, the existing and other exciting potential opportunities it has opened up could more than double their staff numbers in the next two years.

“We are also putting what we’ve learnt into practice ourselves”, Keith added. “Our new manufacturing site and head office has insulated composite roof panels installed, as well as LED lighting and a more efficient condensing boiler for office heating.”

Claire Scott, environmental business advisor at the Hub, said: “The market for environmental goods and services is growing rapidly around the world and many manufacturers are sitting on opportunities to diversify without knowing it.

“Molygran’s experience is a great example of how an existing product, if tweaked slightly, can gain a green USP.”

Hotel Gotham Celebrates Success in the Sunday Times’ Best British Hotels

Sam Whitear
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Hotel Gotham Celebrates Success in the Sunday Times’ Best British Hotels

London, 26 October 2017 – Hotel Gotham, part of the Bespoke Hotels collection, is delighted to have been listed in the Sunday Times’ 100 Best British Hotels, appearing in the top 10 within the ‘City’ category, as well as the sole representative of Manchester.

Now in its fifth year, the annual guide highlights the nation’s best hotels, focusing on those where the essentials of comfort, service and value go along with personality, warmth, and charm. Freshly researched each year by trusted members of the travel team, the hotels listed are those The Sunday Times’ loves, and thinks its readers will too.

Hotel Gotham was praised for delivering ‘a glamorous merger of 1920s Manhattan and the moneymen of 1930s Manchester – with bags of charm and humour’. Alongside the decadent suites and outstanding Two AA Rosette food, guests to Gotham can also enjoy exclusive access to Club Brass, ‘a cool members-only rooftop speakeasy’.

This latest accolade adds to the swathe of awards and critical praise received by Hotel Gotham since its launch in April 2015. Most recently, Hotel Gotham’s Senior Sous Chef Ross Chapman was named ‘Chef of the Year’ in the Manchester Hoteliers’ Association Awards 2017, while the property was named The Best Boutique Hotel at this week’s Manchester Awards.

This latest round of acclaim adds to the substantial prior recognition achieved by Hotel Gotham, which now totals 21 awards, including the ‘World’s Best New Hotel’ and ‘Best New Boutique Hotel in Europe’ by the World Boutique Hotel Awards ‘Hotel of the Year’ at the Independent Hotel Show Awards, ‘Top New City Hotel’ in the Hoteliers’ 100 Awards, ‘Best Launch Campaign’ at Caterer.com’s People Awards, ‘Most Stylish Independent Hotel’ at the Hilden Style Awards, ‘Coolest Boutique Hotel’ at the Cool Venue Awards, ‘Manchester’s Finest’, in addition to being named as part of the ‘International Hot List’ by Conde Nast Traveler.

“It is a tremendous honour to have been hand-picked by The Sunday Times as one of the UK’s finest 100 Hotels”, said Mario Ovsenjak, General Manager of Hotel Gotham. “My team work incredibly hard to deliver a unique, unforgettable experience to our guests, as well as to promote our city as an exciting and vibrant destination. As the only property from Manchester included on this year’s list, we take great pride in flying the flag!”

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