COMMUNITY
MADE IN
MANCHESTER Talking to Christiane Hutchinson and Mike Calvert about the strength of Manchester businesses As we’re sure many businesses did, the teams at Reward Finance Group and Biramis Management Partners Limited team watched the Government’s Coronavirus press conference at 5pm in silence. When it finished, the teams all said that it hit them right there and then that this was serious – that things were going to change very dramatically, very quickly. Both businesses have grown and prospered in Manchester and very much feel they are ‘made in Manchester’ and they credit the city they work in as a reason for their success. Mike, who is a Manchester Board member and the Business Development Director of Reward, a business that provides asset-backed short to medium term lending solutions to SME’s, said: “We as a business quickly decided to support all of our existing customers
MANCHESTER IS THE GATEWAY TO THE NORTHWEST. IT HAS A DIVERSE ECONOMY AND WORLD CLASS LEADING BUSINESSES.
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and continued this throughout the pandemic - it’s been business as usual. We have provided new funding for businesses that have seen unprecedented demand for their products and services. It’s been exceptionally rewarding to support companies who have diversified their business to produce PPE, such as Zero Point 8. Care at Home Group who, as well as becoming our 100th North West customer, recruited 80 carers to cater for the increased number of patients being discharged from hospitals. These are just a few of the many businesses we have created bespoke financial solutions for, bringing our total lending in the region to £30m.” Mike continued: “Manchester is the gateway to the Northwest. It has a diverse economy and world class leading businesses. Manchester attracts talent and new companies ahead of most cities in the UK and
due to the vibrant financial services and professional marketplace it was a natural choice to make for Reward.” Christiane is the CEO of Biramis Management Partners and a Chair of the BITA Manchester Board. Biramis Management Partners was set up in 2018 following a partnership between Christiane and Bernard Kelly. The business, which is based on King Street in the heart of the city centre, has just been presented with the prestigious UK SME Business Award – Best Strategic Management Consultancy 2020. Christiane said: “With such a heritage for ground-breaking technologies and engineering over the past centuries, it feels like there is a local holistic “consciousness” in Manchester, that is all about innovation, doing and making things happen. “We have ideas, we have funding, we have networks all around Manchester. It makes me feel free to explore and innovate. Manchester is fertile terrain to make things happen and I feel this has continued throughout this very difficult time.” “I have gained some great personal friends working in Manchester. Mancunian people are very hospitable, open, and friendly. Manchester is a city of innovation, ideas, and a feeling that the sky is the limit.”
Manchester is the latest chapter of BITA, and it continues to grow month on month as it has moved all of its networking online. To keep up to date with BITA Manchester events, please make sure to check our regular newsletters, and our events page on the BITA website!
