Liftoff! 30 jan 18

ISSN 2514-0728

Spring 2018 - Issue 30 ÂŁ5

co m m u n i c at i n g w i t h b u s i n e s s i n G r e at e r M a n c h e s t e r a n d C h e s h i r e

Read how Airport City Manchester is creating the conditions for long-term success and the benefits of being socially responsible.

In this issue...

Bermans wins national award Lowry Christmas appeal smashes target Didsbury Gin toasts first year in business follow us

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Manchester energy tech startup wins £180,000 government innovation funding

Manchester-based smart energy technology start-up, Qbots has been selected as part of an innovation competition on Infrastructure systems by the UK government.

Qbots will be receiving £180k in funding to develop and test its smart energy management software with battery storage to deliver a positive impact for Manchester & the UK. This is part of the £370k Q-PLUS (intelligent building energy management system utilising energy storage) industrial research and development project in Manchester, co-funded by UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. Qbots will be leading this project working in collaboration with the University of Manchester. £2.4bn of system cost savings per year could be achieved by 2030 with the addition of energy storage, according to Carbon trust. If just 50% of this savings was passed onto customers it could reduce the average household electricity bill by up to £50 a year.

“The funding will enable us to make use of University of Manchester’s world-class battery storage research facilities and will help create new jobs in the region within automation & data analytics”, said Co-founder & Marketing Director, Vijay Natarajan.

Reduction in subsidies and feed-in-tariffs has made investing in renewable technologies financially less attractive to commercial building owners. But, there is a need for renewable generation sources to play a significant role in enabling the UK to meet the emission reduction target of at least 80% of the 1990 level. Although other technologies being adopted like electric vehicles and heat pumps will help lower emissions, without efficient energy management both of these will further increase the peak load on the power system.

Up to 16% of the UK’s peak electricity requirement or 9.8GW can be provided by non-domestic customers either shifting demand away from busy periods or using on-site generation with flexible energy storage2 .

Qbots provides innovative solutions to utilise this flexibility in demand while integrating energy storage systems in the electricity network to ensure the security of supply while providing the owners of these assets

with long-term savings and new revenue streams.

The Q-PLUS project will develop and demonstrate a commercial solution, based on new research, which will help alleviate some of the challenges the UK faces specifically in 'Clean Energy' generation and improving 'health & well-being' through affordable energy and clean air.

Specifically, Manchester Climate Change Agency estimated that in 2016, 46% (1169 kilotons of CO2) of Manchester’s carbon emissions were from commercial buildings. Currently, there is a 15% shortfall to reach the targeted savings by 2020; through this project, Qbots will build the tools necessary to support Manchester in achieving these targets.

Qbots is currently working with a range of commercial and manufacturing building owners including Bruntwood, key Universities and hotels within Greater Manchester to bring them the benefits of energy storage and smart energy management technologies.

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Trafford Council’s Town Centre Loans helps entrepreneurs set up business The first new businesses have opened using funding from Trafford Council’s innovative Town Centres Business Growth Programme which launched in the summer.

Council helped us solidify the support of other investors, partly by illustrating the Council’s continuing support to the regeneration of our shared urban spaces.”

Since the launch of the original town centres loan scheme in 2013 that offered up to £10,000 to encourage businesses to occupy vacant units, 32 businesses have been helped to get up and running. Not only this; 148 jobs have been created and it is estimated that over £1.4m of private investment has been levered into town centres as a direct result of these openings.

Now, following the success of this scheme, the Council has increased the loan offer for businesses occupying vacant units and including new loan opportunities to help fund marketing or training costs.

Cllr Hopps, Louise Duerr and Claire Howells.

The programme allows businesses to borrow up to £20,000 to set up in Altrincham, Sale, Stretford of Urmston town centres, or access some extra cash for training or marketing.

Get Chucked, a burger joint, began trading in Urmston since opening as a pop up but after borrowing £20,000 from the Council’s programme, it has now moved and expanded into larger premises on Flixton Road offering an enhanced menu and a range of beers and wines.

Owner, Scott Power, said: “As a relatively new business, the Town Centres Business Growth Programme has enabled us to secure the funding necessary to transform a virtually derelict, prominent building in the heart of Urmston into an amazing space to eat and drink. We had outgrown our previous site and the loan has given us the opportunity to further grow the business without moving away from area as we have built up a great, loyal customer base. We are now in the process of scaling up from an intimate 26 cover burger bar on a back street to a 78 cover proper restaurant on the high street.”

Gift and Home in Altrincham, which stocks a range of gifts for the whole family, also borrowed £20,000 through the scheme. The shop began trading in Hale Village and has now expanded its operation to George Street.

Owner, Louise Duerr, said: “As a small business securing funding to expand is not easy and as such the loan from Trafford was a godsend, enabling me to open a second shop in my ideal location of Altrincham which is now growing into a vibrant and exciting destination. Without this funding I would have struggled to raise the amount needed to proceed with the project which I am now pleased to say is open for business!"

Finally, Blanchflower, a new bakery and restaurant on Shaws Road, has been opened by Claire Howells with help from the Business Growth Programme.

She said: “In our case, the £20,000 loan was part of much bigger round of funding but that should not lead anyone to underestimate its importance. Having the support of Trafford

The loan fund offers up to £20,000 to businesses who will bring vacant ground floor premises back into use; up to £5,000 to help promote and market a business and ensure that it remains competitive; and up to £1,000 to help a business to upskill or improve customer care.

Executive Councillor for Housing and Strategic Planning, Cllr David Hopps said: “We are committed to supporting our town centres and enabling them to thrive. This Council has already helped 32 businesses to open with loans in excess of £340,000 and our town centres are once again thriving following the recession. The offering of loans allows the repaid funding to be reinvested in the town centres, maximising the Council’s investment.

The vacancy rate across Trafford’s town centres has fallen by 11% and empty units are being snapped up – with many new openings being a direct result of Trafford Council’s support and investment.

We are currently investing heavily in improving the look, feel and flow of Altrincham and Stretford Town Centres; ploughing millions of pounds into regeneration works. We have a dedicated Town Centres Team which acts as the first point of contact to assist businesses and investors and a dedicated Start-Up Advisor and Business Growth Advisor to provide specialist one-on-one support.”

ELF raises 40k for Care after Combat The producers of the hit musical ELF donated their opening night takings to Care after Combat. Producer Micheal Rose said: “It is a wonderful charity and perhaps this will encourage people to donate as well.”

The hit show recently ended its run at the Lowry Theatre in Salford.

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Jobs joy for first locals to land roles working on £1bn airport transformation An 18-year-old construction pro, a sports-mad plasterer and an aviation studies student are among the first people to land a job working on the transformation of Manchester Airport.

Work started on the £1bn project - the largest infrastructure scheme in the North last year, with 1,500 new jobs set to be created.

The Airport’s on-site academy joined forces with main contractor Laing O’Rourke to deliver a specially-tailored course for those wanting to work on the scheme.

“With construction progressing rapidly, there will be many more opportunities for people to train in the skills they need to play a part in creating a bigger and better Manchester Airport.”

Now, the first cohort of students, who range in age, background and experience, have secured roles working on the transformation and will start on site in the New Year. All live locally and were out of full-time work before being given the opportunity.

The Rt Hon Mike Kane MP said: “It is great to see the investment Manchester Airport is making is bringing real benefits to the area by creating jobs for local people, especially those who have been out of work for whatever reason.

Overseeing the graduation was Manchester Airport’s CEO Andrew Cowan, who said: “Our investment in Manchester Airport will give the North the world class international gateway it deserves.

“Many people in my constituency grow up aspiring to work at the airport and it is hugely positive to see schemes like this making that a reality for them.

“But it will also do a huge amount to boost the regional economy by creating jobs, tackling local unemployment and driving up skill levels, ensuring the transformation leaves a lasting legacy.

“That is why it is pleasing to see the first wave of people fill newly-created roles on the project and I congratulate them on passing their course and securing a job with Laing O’Rourke.

“This is just one example of the many 4

initiatives we have on site for people to gain access to employment across the entire airport campus.

“I wish all the graduates well with their careers and look forward to seeing the Manchester Airport Transformation Programme progress in the weeks and months ahead.”

Bryan Glass, Project Director from Laing O’Rourke said: “I congratulate the graduates on completing their course.

“The projects that we deliver have an impact on the local economy that goes beyond physical construction. By working with the Airport Academy, we are able to support local

people back into work that lead to sustainable and fulfilling careers while also creating a pool of talent to complete the Transformation Programme.”

A dozen students started the inaugural three-week course, which covers a range of modules designed to help in the construction industry. These include: health and safety, team building, time management, manual handling, working at height and dust awareness to name a few.

The students are from all walks of life, aging from 18-50 and coming from places including Wythenshawe, Northenden, Cheadle and Baguley. A pre-requisite to take part includes passing literacy and numeracy at Entry Level Three. Plus, applicants need to be at least 18, in receipt of an active benefit e.g. Job Seekers Allowance and a resident in the EU for at least three years.

Those graduates successful in securing a role will be introduced to general construction, giving them a chance to better familiarise themselves with the opportunities available throughout the industry.

Minstrell Recruitment has been involved alongside the Airport Academy and Laing O’Rourke. Any graduates who are unsuccessful at interview stage with Laing O’Rourke will immediately be registered and offered temporary work with one of its

‘Recruitment Arm’ clients. They are able to provide an integrated service offer from screening, selection and training through to the placement of candidates onto other local construction/infrastructure projects.

New hostel provides extra beds for homeless people

Launched by The Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP work officially started last summer on Manchester Airport’s Transformation Programme (MANTP).

A hostel for homeless people has opened its doors as part of Manchester City Council's commitment to reduce rough sleeping.

This project, the largest private investment in the region, will reinforce Manchester Airport’s standing as the UK’s global hub in the North of England, enabling better and more international connections and supporting economic growth across the North.

Extensive refurbishment has been undertaken to get the property in Openshaw ready. It will rehouse people who are ready to move on from current temporary accommodation but who aren't quite ready for a permanent tenancy - in turn freeing up more temporary accommodation.

residents referring them to other services that can help them address issues they still need support with, such as substance misuse or health-related problems and help them to gain the skills necessary to move on to more long-term accommodation so that they do not need to return to the streets.

MANTP will provide millions of passengers and airlines with facilities that combine state of the art services with excellent customer service. With the new development complete, the airport will be able to grow alongside a thriving northern economy to handle 45 million passengers a year, an increase of almost 20 million compared to today.

The property is a large shared house providing 13 beds for single people who have been homeless and who have been assessed as ready to move into this type of temporary accommodation.

There will be no limit on how long residents can stay but it is hoped that residents will be in a position to move on within six months.

Manchester Airport is already amongst the world’s top 15 best connected airports by destinations served and this investment will facilitate ever greater levels of trade and investment into the UK that will drive a rebalancing of economic growth across the country.

In recent years, the airport has become the only airport outside London to offer many direct routes to long haul destinations like Seattle, Beijing, San Francisco, Houston and Muscat.

MANTP will enable the airport to further improve the North’s international connectivity and the airport is currently targeting expanding its route network into North America, the Gulf, Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Manchester Airport estimates that MANTP will create more than 1500 jobs in the construction phase alone, nearly 200 of which will be apprentices. Manchester Airport already plays a key role in the Northern Powerhouse, generating £5bn every year in economic activity in the local and regional economy, employing 20,000 people on site and supporting a further 25,000 jobs indirectly.

The Airport Academy aims to help unemployed people to get jobs in the travel trade, with training provided by tutors from Stockport College designed around skills needed for roles within an airport environment. One of the first projects of its kind in the world, the initiative has helped 1,200 out-of-work people in Greater Manchester into employment since it was launched by Manchester Airport in 2012.

To take part in a future cohort, people should email the Airport Academy on airportacademy@stockport.ac.uk

Councillor Bernard Priest, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "Bringing additional temporary accommodation back into use it means that we can help people move forwards and support them as they work towards getting permanent accommodation. By creating beds for people to move on to, we can free up beds for other rough sleepers who need more intensive support early on.

"People need different levels and types of support at various stages in the process to getting back into settled accommodation and we want to ensure that the right level of support is on offer at the right time for those who need it."

Experienced staff will be on site 24 hours a day and will provide support and advice for

The house will link in closely with the work of other homelessness services provided by a number of agencies and will form part of the pathway that helps people who may have slept on the streets into accommodation and on to appropriate long term housing - with suitable support in place at every stage of the journey.

The new hostel will be one of around 50 different housing and accommodation offers for homeless people in Manchester, with each providing support to different groups of homeless people and meeting different needs.

This announcement follows the opening of the Longford Centre in Chorlton, a homelessness prevention centre in January, designed to support those new to homelessness by putting a roof over their head while they are given early help.

Happy Chinese New Year

Wishing you a prosperous year of the dog 新年快了，狗年大吉!

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Northern Powerhouse Minister and Manchester Airport CEO Andrew Cowan launch the £5m campaign at the UK's third biggest airport.

A new frontier for the Northern Powerhouse Northern Powerhouse Minister, Jake Berry, recently visited Manchester Airport as it kicked off a £5m drive to boost the international profile of the North.

North to those travelling through the airport, whether that be for business of leisure.

“That is why I am looking forward to working with our colleagues across the North to showcase the things that combine to make this a world class place to visit and do business with.”

The UK’s third largest airport is searching for the people, businesses, attractions and other assets that make the North a great place to trade with, invest in and visit.

It plans to showcase these success stories to the 27.8m passengers who pass through its terminals each year, travelling to locations ranging from Boston to Beijing, Houston to Hong Kong and Singapore to San Francisco.

Worth an estimated £5m, over the course of the next year, the campaign will see the airport work with leaders in each of the Northern regions to identify the things that best represent their global strengths. Every month new images and artwork from different areas across the North will be added to new sites across the airport.

As well as being displayed across the Manchester Airport campus, the stories will be promoted via a tailor-made social media campaign, both in the UK and around the world.

The commitment was made during a visit to the airport by Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry, who was joined by Manchester Airport CEO Andrew Cowan, as they took the wraps off an eye-catching collection of Northern Powerhouse images that celebrate the North’s strengths in a range of fields, from 6

sport and natural beauty to its world class universities and exporting businesses.

The Minister also met with a series of leaders from across the North to find out more about their international exploits. This included exporting businesses, tourist attractions, retailers and universities.

Northern Powerhouse Minister, Jake Berry, said: “We are proud to work hand-in-hand with Manchester Airport to open a new frontier for the Northern Powerhouse. The success of the Manchester–Beijing route, and the new direct flights to Seattle opening up later this year, reinforces our shared vision of having a superconnected global North bringing the Northern Powerhouse to the world and the world to the Northern Powerhouse.”

Manchester Airport CEO Andrew Cowan said: “Manchester Airport has a critical role to play in driving growth across the North by connecting it to the world’s most important markets.

“It is this connectivity that will enable businesses to export their products and services to economies in all corners of the globe, and that will bring tourists, investors and students to our Northern towns and cities.

“As well as providing direct access to more than 210 international destinations, we are always eager to promote the collective strengths of the

The Minister unveiled images showcasing some of the North’s leading universities and sites of natural beauty, such as the Lake District. Others pointed to the £54.5bn of exports done by Northern businesses each year and images linking the likes of Bradford to Beijing, Liverpool to Los Angeles, Manchester to Madrid and Teesside to Texas.

During the coming months, the Airport will work worth each Northern Powerhouse region to select a series of images relating to that part of the world to go on display.

The first will be revealed during a week of international-themed activity across the North in February.

Manchester Graduate Talent • • •

Free recruitment service Advice on recruitment timings, salaries and student availability Help with writing job descriptions

• • • •

Free targeted advertising Shortlisting of candidates Arranging interviews All candidate administration

Call the team to discuss recruitment options on 0161 275 2465 or email recruitment@manchester.ac.uk

Manchester Graduate Talent celebrates 10 years of supporting Manchester based companies

Manchester Graduate Talent, The University of Manchester’s free tailored recruitment consultancy is celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2018.

Run by a professional team of recruiters based at the Employer Engagement Team in The Careers Service advisors work with Greater Manchester businesses in helping them access talent and gain a broad understanding of the Manchester graduate labour market.

Angela Standish, Employability Executive, said: “MGT has been hugely successfully in helping companies access student and graduate talent in a quick and professional way saving companies thousands of pounds on recruitment fees and giving valuable time back to hiring managers.

“MGT reaches more than 1500 graduates every year looking to stay and work in Manchester. Advertising job vacancies is really simply and the MGT added promotion over social media ensures roles are put right under our graduate noses!”

If you are looking to bring fresh graduate talent or offer an industrial placement (sandwich year), please contact the team directly via 0161 275 2465 or recruitment@manchester.ac.uk.

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Apprentices get chance to work on Manchester’s biggest construction projects through Total People partnership

Total People, in partnership with Manchester City Council and Manchester Life Development Company, is offering apprentices the opportunity to contribute to some of the most high-profile construction projects in the Greater Manchester region, working with a range of leading employers.

Participants in the scheme, which represents a genuine alternative to university, will gain a Construction and Building Services Management Level 4 NVQ and a HNC qualification, while picking up invaluable industry experience that will put them ahead of their peers.

Total People, part of LTE group, is one of the largest providers of workbased learning in the north west, directly supporting more than 2,000 employers and 6,000 learners with Apprenticeships, study programmes, traineeships, ESF short courses and commercial courses. Total People works with a significant number of major employers across a number of vocational areas.

The M Futures programme, led by the City Council, will include the redevelopment of Manchester Town Hall project – Our Town Hall – and be strengthened by the support of key developers and specialist trade contractors.

The Our Town Hall project will safeguard, repair and partially restore the building, which, while structurally sound, is more than 140-years-old and seriously showing its age with many elements reaching the end of their natural lifespans.

Linda Dean, Managing Director of Total People, said: “We are proud to be part of an innovative project that provides apprentices with a real alternative to university.

“There are no fees, loans or debts on an Apprenticeship programme, and apprentices will earn a salary of £15,000, rising in-line with age related and performance pay structures. On completion, they can make over £20,000 and potentially obtain company sponsorship to complete a degree in their chosen pathway.

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“This is a unique opportunity to work and develop skills while experiencing a number of different professional roles, and work within a wide range of areas.”

The kind of jobs the apprentices can experience during the project include Developer, Designer, Project Manager, Quantity Surveyor, Contractor’s Team, Speciality Local Authority and Consultancy.

Throughout the Apprenticeship, they will learn about briefing, design preparation, quantity surveying, project management, planning application and consideration, procurement of contractors and the finishing stage of construction.

The project is open to learners 18+, who hold a GCSE English and Maths grade C or above, and a Level 3 qualification or A-Level in a relevant subject area. The closing date for applications is 22 April 2018.

Executive Member for the Environment and Skills, Councillor Angeliki Stogia, said: “The M Futures apprenticeship scheme is a fantastic option for anyone who is keen to forge a career in the construction sector.

“Those who join M Futures will benefit from a fast-track route into paid work, resulting in academic qualifications which will open doors to a wide range of jobs in the future - while also gaining the opportunity to contribute to major schemes like the once-in-a-lifetime Our Town Hall project.”

For more information, visit https://www.totalpeople.co.uk/newsblogs/manchester-recruiting

I-COM on course to smash £2m turnover Manchester-based digital brand development agency I-COM has just completed its third quarter with revenues up by 15% on last year. deliver the numbers of visitors they used to and we now recognise that brand awareness and credibility is all important for online success.

“We have worked hard to develop our capabilities and expertise through new hires and training in areas such as PR, data analysis and content creation, and by utilising our unique range of skills we are able to drive success for our clients.”

The refocused business strategy has already been successful and led to numerous significant client wins including SockShop, Chooz, Millbank, Lanes Group, Marc Darcy and Linens Limited, supported by continued revenues from existing clients including Brand Attic, JMW and King of Servers.

I-COM’s revenue growth has been achieved alongside efficiency improvements that have allowed the business to fund a significant investment in a new high-speed next generation hosting environment, which will ensure the agency can provide its clients with infrastructure that will cope with traffic increases and increasingly data-hungry applications.

This increased revenue means that the business will this year generate sales in excess of £2m for the first time in its 13-year history.

I-COM spent the last year re-focusing its business to become a specialist brand development agency, providing a range of services designed to help organisations grow their brands and businesses online.

It has also undertaken research and development to create a new next-generation hosting environment for its clients that require a platform which is rapidly scalable and allows websites to be viewed more quickly.

Mike Blackburn, Managing Director of I-COM, said: “I-COM started out to be an SEO agency but we quickly recognised that our clients wanted a single agency that could build their websites, as well as promote them. Traditional SEO techniques can no longer be relied upon to

The agency’s brand marketing team has almost doubled in size, with four new staff recruited towards the end of 2017, including brand marketing strategist Alexandra Moorhouse. Alexandra spent four years at Manchester Central, where she was responsible for driving strategic marketing and communications activities and brings with her a wealth of experience which will be used to help clients developing their brands.

Mike said: “It’s great to have Alexandra on the team, bringing another string to our bow with her experience in a large events-driven organisation.

“We are continually looking to improve our business and the services we offer. As part of this we are actively seeking opportunities to acquire complementary businesses, the next year should be an exciting one for I-COM.”

Internship provider expands to Vietnam After eight years building the Manchester-based company Intern China Ltd, MD Jamie Bettles has set his sights on global expansion.

On the back of recent success, delivering projects for the British Council, Education New Zealand and countless university partners, Bettles and his team have launched Pagoda Projects Ltd. The newly formed organisation unifies a growing family of brands, the latest of which is Intern Vietnam.

Intern Vietnam provides internship programs in Ho Chi Minh City starting in summer 2018. Pagoda Projects are delighted to be working with Cardiff University in the first year of programmes, and are aiming to place a total of 25-30 British students in Vietnam in 2018.

Jamie Bettles says that “launching Pagoda Projects has been a long time in the making. It has always been my dream to help young people from diverse backgrounds access some of the most exciting destinations around the world.”

For further information, please contact: Jamie Bettles, Managing Director +44 (0) 161 8188823 jamie.bettles@pagodaprojects.com www.pagodaprojects.com Pagoda Projects Ltd, Innospace, The Shed, Chester St, Manchester, M1 5GD

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Family firm's profits up 40% thanks to Cheshire Business Doctor A family business in South Manchester has been able to create eight new jobs in just 12 months thanks to the support of a local Business Doctor.

Kevin Cook of Business Doctors, a well-established and growing consulting service that provides business support for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK, has helped Branagan Flooring to increase its turnover by 40% over the same period.

Based in Wythenshawe, Branagan Flooring employs 25 staff and has seen a leap in turnover, which has increased from £1.2m to £2m in a year thanks to Cook’s help. The family Kevin Cook. company, which is run by Richard and Kate Branagan, had reached out to Business Doctors for advice after being unable to get the support it needed from its bank.

Kate, the flooring firm’s Director, said: “We were looking for finance because cash flow was a nightmare but the banks weren’t helpful at all.

We met Kevin through a local Growth Accelerator group, and with his expertise and knowledge he helped us to make some simple changes that had a huge impact.”

After Kevin performed a strategic review of the business, the Branagans were able to identify the issues that the company was facing, before being handed a 12-month action plan that would address them.

Kevin, said: “When I first met them, Richard was literally on his knees seven days a week fitting flooring, and Kate was spending a huge amount of time on credit control.

“They were in a very common situation of being incredibly busy but not making a lot of profit from individual jobs. We talked about the type of

work they had coming in and looked at the type of profit margins they should be looking for, then identified the types of jobs that they should say no to and the ones that they should be pursuing.”

This resulted in great dividends for the Greater-Manchester company, with it witnessing increased turnover and profits, as well as being able to take on eight more team members. This, in turn, allowed Richard and Kate to be able to spend more time on growing the business further.

Kate, added: “In the building trade, you have three tiers of contractors – tier ones are the huge operators, tier threes are the small local firms. We were the little ones at the bottom, and we were winning a lot of business but it wasn’t helping us to grow. Thanks to Kevin’s insight, our contract values are now a lot bigger – before he got involved, a £40,000 job would have been unimaginable for us – now it’s standard.”

She added that despite the large increase in profitability thanks to Business Doctors, Branagan Flooring did not have to make any significant alterations to the way the company was being ran. Kate continued to say that as it is so easy to get “bogged down in the day-today”, it helps to have someone as experienced as Cook “on the outside looking in”.

Kate, concluded: “I’m not frightened of saying how it is – businesses need external support to help them focus. I’d recommend Kevin’s help to anyone – in fact I frequently do.”

Business Doctors, which was established in 2004 by business veterans Matthew Levington and Rod Davies, is a market-leading business consultancy service for SMES. Over the last 14 years, it has developed and helped transform hundreds of companies across a spectrum of industries. Business Doctors also currently has investment opportunities available for anyone with the skills and passion to help SMEs unlock their growth potential.

MLP Law wins Team of the Year Award MLP Law has scooped Team of the Year Award at the LawNet Awards.

The firm’s Employment and HR Team won the accolade at the prestigious LawNet annual conference and awards dinner, where more than 200 delegates from across the industry celebrated in style at the luxurious Heythrop Park resort in Oxfordshire.

The judges praised the MLP team for its revenue growth, client calibre and retention, and superior levels of strategic support.

“We’re thrilled to win this award; it recognises a hugely successful 2017 and a great start to the new year,” says MLP Managing Partner Stephen Attree.

“We’ve been delighted to welcome more highly skilled professionals joining to serve our new and existing clients all over the UK.” MLP’s Employment and HR Team doubled in size last year and has increased its revenue by almost 300%, while also being responsible for the firm’s charity initiatives. The company is opening new offices in Cheshire and London, taking its branch total to five. Further appointments are expected to be made in the first quarter of 2018.

Stephen, said: “The firm is growing quickly but we are still proud to deliver a personal professional service to all our national and international clients. This award recognises that service, so it is a huge well done to the team.”

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LawNet is the UK and Ireland’s leading network of independent law firms. The annual conference is the flagship event in the LawNet calendar each year, with speakers, debates, awards and networking for attendees.

National award for Manchester law firm North West law firm Bermans has recently won a national award for its dispute resolution service “Escalate”.

The new service solves disputes for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) without going to court.

Escalate, which removes all financial risk including upfront cost, was launched at the start of 2017 as a joint venture between Bermans, Moore Blatch (a south of England based law firm) and accountants PKF Littlejohn, and has since gone on to be a success.

In October 2017, Escalate won the award for “Accounting Innovation project of the Year (Large)” at the British Accountancy Awards.

For suitable claims Escalate provides a two-stage procedure aimed at securing a settlement on favourable terms in the first phase within 3 months. If there is no settlement the dispute is then “escalated” to a court claim, but with no up-front costs, fixed fees payable only in the event of a successful outcome and no risk to the business. Insurance and disbursement funding are included in the package.

hinders their cash flow. That’s why we’re seeing so much interest from our client base, and that’s why we’re winning awards.”

Recent research from the Federation of Small Businesses suggests there were at least 3.4m commercial disputes involving SME businesses in Britain between 2010 and 2015, yet in most cases these are not pursued for a variety of reasons including the cost and slow speed of the court process.

YouGov research has found that on average an SME business will encounter 8 legal issues in a year yet nearly 60% of them spend less than £1,000 a year on legal issues.

Andrew Koffman, Litigation Partner based at Bermans’ Manchester office, said: “Escalate is a groundbreaking and unique service. It has the power to change the way business disputes are resolved and make the entire process much quicker and more satisfactory.”

Nick Harvey, Bermans’ Head of Litigation based at the firm’s Liverpool office, said: “Pursuing a If you would like to make a claim, please click here commercial dispute has tended to be a costly, [www.bermans.co.uk/funding-solutions/escalatelengthy and risky undertaking. Escalate has enquiry-form/] and fill out this simple form.

Andrew Koffman. changed that by providing a smarter way for Alternatively, contact Andrew Koffman on businesses to resolve commercial disputes. Escalate gives SMEs an 0161 827 4604 or Andrew.koffman@bermans.co.uk for further opportunity to resolve their disputes in a way that helps rather than information or to arrange a meeting.

"Keeping You Moving" - An additional £2m cash boost for Trafford road improvements Trafford Council has revealed it is to invest an extra £2m into significantly upgrading roads across the borough before the end of March 2018.

The welcome cash injection is in addition to the ongoing maintenance investment that the Council contributes on an annual basis through its budget setting processes.

The additional funding has been generated from a higher than anticipated take-up of the Council’s green waste collection service this year, plus increased income from its shares in Manchester airport, which has done amazingly well, with increased passenger numbers and higher than expected dividends.

The Council is very clear that rather than these additional funds be used to support the general revenue budget, an explicit commitment should be made to spending more on our roads and pavements and that this will be welcomed by local residents and businesses.

The Council currently maintains 518 miles of road, and the work programme includes repairing roads, reducing the occurrence of future defects and carrying out major improvements works to ensure they remain safe, reliable and comfortable to travel on.

Leader of Trafford Council, Councillor Sean Anstee, said: “Investing in the infrastructure of our borough is vital to ensuring that Trafford continues to thrive and grow. We’ve listened to both our residents and our highways experts and fully appreciate how important it is to continue to invest in our roads to ensure one of our most important assets is maintained.

“We are delighted to be in a position where we can use additional funding from such successful initiatives to honour our commitment to ensuring our highways are in the best condition for the benefit of everyone and to ensure Trafford remains a place where people want to live and work.”

Over the coming months, the Council will have more information to share on the whole of its Highways Investment Programme, which will include “when” and “where” improvements are taking place across the borough under its “keeping you informed” campaign, which will be available early in the new year.

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Airport City Manchester

– A place to embrace a chang MAG Property CEO Lynda Shillaw on the benefits of being socially responsible.

Many people are now looking for more than just great quality products and service when they make a purchasing decision.

Increasingly, they’re looking to align Lynda Shillaw themselves with those companies that are proactively making a positive impact beyond their bottom line. Whilst many businesses now claim to be socially responsible, achieving this in a genuine and effective way requires a strong vision and unfaltering commitment.

More commonly known as corporate social responsibility (CSR), this self-regulating approach takes many guises, but all should contribute to social development and drive added value outside of a business. From the Victorian philanthropists to modern day multinationals, embracing social responsibility isn’t new, but there is a clear and increasing need for doing business in a responsible way.

My own business experience has reinforced this view, working in a number of businesses that never lost sight of their commitment to

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social responsibility, even during the most testing of times. Like all of those companies with a committed CSR strategy, the principles of being socially responsible were embedded into every aspect of the businesses, including property.

Providing conditions for success This is our ambition for Airport City Manchester, creating a world-class destination where commercial success in a rapidly-changing and highly connected world goes hand-in-hand with delivering a positive and lasting impact in the local community.

The catalytic success and positive social impact of Global Logistics, where almost 1m sq ft of logistics space and around 3,000 jobs have been created, is a precursor to what we plan to achieve in the future. At Airport City North, our completion of the £15m link road unlocks 70 acres of land on which brand new offices, hybrid facilities, hotels and leisure space will be created. Here we aim to bring forward 16,000 career opportunities and high-quality jobs over the next 10-15 years in a location defined by outstanding connectivity and aspiration.

But it’s not just about developing infrastructure and creating brilliant buildings. By understanding what’s important to a new generation, we are helping create a sense of place by proactively

orchestrating the facilities, networks, activities, opportunities and attitude for great things to happen; far greater than those that would be realised by people and organisations working in isolation of each other.

Investing in communities Already, we’ve made a conscious decision to invest early in the social fabric of Airport City Manchester; giving occupiers, visitors and local people the chance to form a connection from the outset. This is being achieved in a number of ways, most notably with our interactive ‘Platform’ event space, which has been designed for the business and local community to enjoy a wide range of pop-up activities from food, drink and entertainment, to education, talks and product launches.

ging future Having successfully welcomed over 4,000 people and 18 local pop-up traders, this approach is already providing a great success, helping enliven the development in its formative stages. But its implementation is merely a forerunner for many more events and activities that will bring the physical to life and ensure it is a world-class place for people to work.

Key to this is an emphasis on health and well-being, to help enable and promote a happier and healthier workforce and community. This will be achieved in a variety of ways, from building design, clean air and green spaces, to the quality and variety of amenity and sustainable mobility available.

Cycling sits at the heart of this, and at the top of the transport hierarchy.

Making sustainable transport matter Working with British Cycling and TfGM, our commitment to enabling and promoting cycling is taking shape in the form of high quality bike hub provision, changing facilities, maintenance workshops and cycle way development, enabling users to embrace riding in and around Airport City Manchester, either on their own bikes, or those available to hire across the site. Simple, safe and enjoyable routes will connect key regional locations, allowing users to commute, exercise and relax with ease.

Most notably, our recent Enterprise Way Community Ride gave 150 cyclists of all ages from across the region the unique opportunity to ride around a 1km loop on a major piece of infrastructure prior to its opening. Not only did this event provide the opportunity for people to engage with the place being created, it also launches our CSR strategy which sees placemaking, health and well-being and community engagement at its very heart.

In doing so, we aim to provide a unique and compelling platform from which ambitious and responsible businesses can connect with, as well as providing opportunities for and benefit from the diversity of people and communities in Manchester and the surrounding area.

Embracing a Changing Future Drawing inspiration and input from key stakeholders across the local and wider region, our ‘Embracing a Changing Future’ CSR vision is built around four important pillars, which range from opening up a world of opportunity to creating a place where great things happen. Each will see the activation and delivery of a diverse programme of initiatives and commitments, from sustainable transport, green space and

eco-friendly buildings, to global apprenticeships, community food projects and well-being education.

Airport City Manchester aims to attract like-minded businesses that are driven by commercial endeavour, corporate purpose and the opportunity to translate their ambition into realised local impact; businesses that understand the potential within the local community and workforce and see positive engagement with those communities as key to their corporate success.

Creating a positive legacy Increasingly, developers need to be mindful of the influence creating new places can have on the local and global community.

From employee welfare, community development to environmental sustainability and education, their actions can have a positive and lasting impact that resonates far beyond the destinations they create.

Having a social purpose that your audience can relate to also helps drive business and loyalty, although this is merely a benefit, rather than a starting point. Successful CSR is grounded with solid foundations from which a clear and relevant purpose can be delivered.

That’s why we’re excited by the potential of Airport City Manchester, where we are committed to providing the conditions for long-term success, not just for the organisations that choose to locate and do business here, but for the lasting positive impact it will have on Greater Manchester, the North and, most importantly, the people and communities who live nearby.

To find out more about Airport City Manchester’s vision for ‘Embracing a Changing Future’, please visit: https://www.airportcityfutures.com/

Lift-Off! will be sending updates on Airport City on behalf of MAG Property. If you wish to receive these updates and are not already receiving your free e-copy of Lift-Off!, please email: info@lift-offmagazine.co.uk 13

Historic city tower complex undergoes transformation to tell a new story of the history of Chester Chester’s medieval Water Tower complex is set to undergo a refurbishment over the next few months to create a new heritage attraction telling the story of the city’s walls, and the people who built, maintained and lived within them over 2,000 years.

The exhibition, called 'Within These Walls', will replace the current Sick to Death visitor attraction, which was famously home to the Chester Plague Doctor.

Chester-based social enterprise Big Heritage, which holds the lease for the historic Grade I-listed Water Tower and Bonewaldesthorne’s Tower, is funding the revamp of the stunning new attraction, offering both residents and visitors to the city more information about Chester’s world famous walls.

Dean Paton, founder of Big Heritage, said: “The walls of Chester are one the city’s most unique selling points, but there is no dedicated place that tells their fascinating story.

“This new attraction will change that. It will explore the Roman origins of the walls, their medieval expansion and the Victorian interventions, before bringing their story back to today, focusing on what is happening on the walls both now and in the future.”

Once open, the complex of medieval towers will also host a regularly updated 'People’s Gallery' – where people living and working in different parts of Chester will be given the opportunity to help co-curate and display information, art and artefacts that are relevant and interesting to city residents and visitors.

The dedicated Within These Walls exhibition will mean Sick to Death will be transformed into a roadshow attraction that will be taken right across the UK. The Within These Walls attraction will also link with a new project Big Heritage are creating at St Michael’s Church in Bridge Street. More details will be announced on this in due course.

The tower complex will be closed during the renovation, which starts this week and is expected to be completed in Spring 2018.

The water tower complex set to be transformed by the team at Big Heritage.

Fieldfisher Intellectual Property Head joins Appleyard Lees Leading intellectual property firm, Appleyard Lees has announced the appointment of a new partner to its Manchester office.

Bill Lister joins as a Protection and Enforcement Specialist in Intellectual Property and Media Law, with a wide range of experience advising UK, US, European and global clients. Bill joins from Fieldfisher LLP where he was head of the Manchester Intellectual Property team and a partner in their IP, Technology Protection and Enforcement Group.

With a substantial reputation spanning branding issues, registered and unregistered trade marks, copyright, design, patents and trade secrets, Bill advises a number of global household names, in conjunction with public and private companies, and public sector organisations. He has been involved in high profile cases such as ‘Nike and Rugby Football Union – v – Cotton Traders Ltd’ and ‘Scoredraw Limited – v – Finch’; both cases dealing with rights in national emblems.

Bill has a wealth of experience representing media clients in matters with the BBC Regulatory Department, OFCOM and IPSOS. Bill is a regular contributor to both hard copy and online legal journals, and is the author of well received practitioners’ work on High Court Practice and Procedure. Bill is also a past Chairman of the former Independent Broadcast Authorities (now OFCOM) Local Advisory Committee on Radio.

Described as “highly rated” by Chambers UK, Bill has been listed

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each year since 2005 as a ‘Leader in the Field’ and by The Legal 500 as a ‘Leading Individual’. Described by Legal 500 as a “highly experienced IP lawyer who is very talented at reacting quickly to complex problems and then producing an BIll Lister. excellent outcome for his clients. He knows his stuff inside out”, Bill has also been ranked as a leading practitioner by the World Intellectual Property Review since 2017.

Joanne King, Managing Director at Appleyard Lees, said: “We are delighted that Bill joins us to strengthen our disputes team. His appointment as partner demonstrates our commitment to providing our clients with the highest quality expertise, advice and support in all aspects of IP.” Speaking on his new appointment, Bill added: “I am really pleased to be joining Appleyard Lees which is an exciting opportunity for me. Their reputation will enable me to provide added value to my clients and a one-stop service covering all areas of IP.”

From bathtub to Belgravia as Didsbury Gin toasts first year in business

Liam Manton and Mark Smallwood - Didsbury Gin.

An artisan gin business has taken its product from a home distillery in Didsbury to the shelves of Harvey Nichols and the pages of Vogue, using a £20,000 loan from Business Finance Solutions (BFS), the North West delivery partner of the government’s national £310m Start Up Loans programme and a lending partner of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Gin enthusiasts Liam Manton and Mark Smallwood took their inspiration for Didsbury Gin from the botanical gardens of Fletcher Moss and Parsonage, which were given to the village of Didsbury by Alderman Fletcher Moss. From an initial experiment in the back room of Liam’s Didsbury home and after securing finance from BFS in February 2017, Didsbury Gin has now taken the drinks market by storm, with distribution in Harvey Nichols and Selfridges and salutations from British Vogue, who recently hailed it “one of the most exciting new British gin brands.”

Now hand crafted in an eco-friendly copper in batches of just ten bottles, the flavours of the gin are inspired by the plants and flowers of the eponymous gardens, combining a blend of botanicals, fresh grapefruit, orange, lime and lemon peels, underpinned by British roots and aromas.

Liam and Mark went on to launch a limited edition Christmas Gin, which sold out in a day, and plan to develop more flavoured gins.

Other goals for 2018 include securing additional investment to expand the brand, growing stockists numbers and embarking on a period of domestic and overseas growth in 2018. Liam and Mark will also be growing their team with two new sales roles this year and looking at how they can train young people as they grow their hospitality offer Liam said: “Working with BFS in our first year was great - they helped us sense check our business plan, challenged us in areas where we needed to expand our knowledge and have linked us in with the Business Growth Hub who are helping us with our growth aspirations.

Without the Start Up Loan, we’d quite simply not be on this journey today.”

Roger Seddon, Head of Lending at BFS, said: “Liam and Mark have achieved a huge amount in the 12 months since they first came to us with the concept of a locally inspired gin. So many of our client success stories start as similar ‘eureka’ moments and we have been able to finance the growth and development of those concepts into some remarkable businesses that are now competing in national and international markets.”

BFS will see £15m allocated to new start-ups across the North West over a two year period, creating around 3,000 new businesses and over 5,000 new jobs in the region.

BFS is the finance arm of The Growth Company and supported by the GM Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership. BFS is a key alternative source of funding for businesses in Greater Manchester and has grown a comprehensive range of finance products from £500 through to £500k, with support on raising early stage equity through the Co Angel Investment Service of up to £2m.

BFS currently manages over £100m of publically-backed small business investments across the UK. Find out more about BFS finance at www.businessfinancesolutions.org.uk or by calling 0161 245 4737.

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Dreamscope TV acquires C22 Media In an exciting move, Visual Experience SpecialistsTM Dreamscope TV have acquired Bolton-based video production company C22 Media for an undisclosed fee in order to enhance the videography side of the business, allowing their forward-thinking creative team to concentrate on and further develop their innovative, tech-heavy Visual Experience core offering.

Established in 2002, and based at the Old Granada Studios, Dreamscope are experts in the field when it comes to cutting-edge visual media and recognised the need to concentrate on future tech without this impacting on their video production roots.

“We appreciate that for some clients, a point and shoot film is all they need and so it was important to us that we provide these clients a quality bespoke solution whilst we invest in our more visually creative projects, this is where Noel and the videography team come in!” said Dreamscope’s Managing Director, Darren Hutchinson.

Noel Croke, formerly Director of C22 Media, is ecstatic to have joined the Dreamscope family: “I have closely collaborated on client projects with Dreamscope in the past and cannot think of a better, more professional, creative company to become a part of.”

Effective immediately, Noel Croke now heads up the Videography department at Dreamscope.

“Whilst all our projects are always of broadcast quality standards, having a separate videography department to manage some of the smaller projects that don’t perhaps require as much direction, crew or technology means that Dreamscope can continue to nurture clients across all budgets whilst concentrating on some of the more advanced tech projects under our flagship ‘Visual Experience SpecialistsTM’ banner”, says Creative Project Manager, Louise Jones.

“Visual Experiences incorporate all manner of weird and wonderful visual wizardry, including, but not exclusive to, 360 film, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Interactive film, visual installations, 3D animation and cinematography; utilising high-end, incredible technology in both production and postproduction.

“Our ethos is ‘If you’ve dreamt it, allow Dreamscope to create it!’ We have an incredibly talented, dedicated team here and are over the moon to have expanded it even further.”

Dreamscope’s latest reel gives viewers a fantastic flavour of their services and can be viewed on Dreamscope’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/dreamscope.tv

Council publishes brownfield register Stockport Council has published its brownfield register as part of its efforts to maximise the use, or previously developed and underused, land for new housing.

In March 2017, the Council endorsed an eight-point plan to promote the development of brownfield land. Measures include applying for external funding, direct intervention in some locations, reviewing policy and working collaboratively with key land owners.

In line with national regulations, the brownfield register sets out what land is available now for potential housing use.

A full list of the areas is available on the Council’s website, as well as a map.

The content of the register is carefully prescribed by regulation, so it doesn’t provide the full picture of all housing opportunities within the urban area.

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Councillor Kate Butler, Stockport Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: “The publication of this register represents just one part of a wider effort to bring brownfield sites back into effective use across the borough.

“Alongside ensuring everyone has access to a decent home, we are eager to ensure proper use is made of derelict land and empty buildings. If we use the existing land resource effectively then we can minimise the use of open areas and greenfield land to meet future housing needs.”

For more information visit www.stockport.gov.uk/brownfield

What’s the WORD ON THE STREET for Manchester Day?

The UK’s biggest community celebration will return on Sunday 17 June and organisers are now accepting applications for groups to be part of the show of the summer.

Each year Manchester Day transforms the city centre with a cacophony of colour, sound and artistry – and this year will be no exception as the event celebrates the city with the theme “Word on the Street”.

Commissioned by Manchester City Council and brought to life by outdoor art specialists Walk the Plank, this year’s event will celebrate the diversity and community across the city, which is a huge part of Manchester’s history, present and future. It’s an opportunity for Manchester people to come together and listen to what people across the city are saying.

Manchester Day is a chance to remind ourselves what the word on the street was one hundred years ago when the Suffragettes were fighting to get votes for women; or the streets around the city’s universities as some of history’s greatest discoveries were being made; or the streets of the industrial revolution during the birth of the world’s first modern city.

volunteer right up to the event to create the spectacle in June.

Even if you’re not part of a group, The WOW Crowd gives individuals a chance to take part, which is a great opportunity to meet people, work with artists, musicians and performers, and be part of a fantastic day of community celebration.

If you want to apply to be part of Manchester Day 2018 please apply at: www.manchesterday.co.uk/participateperform/ Deadline for applications is Monday 5 February.

Manchester Day is about bringing people together and as many people as possible are encouraged to apply. However, entry cannot always be guaranteed due to the popularity of the event.

place to live and this event is a celebration of everything that makes our city special. It’s always fantastic to see communities come together on the day and remember that we are only as strong as the sum of our parts.”

Liz Pugh, Walk the Plank co-founder and Manchester Day producer, said: “For our 9th Manchester Day we’re delighted to be exploring Manchester’s reputation as a vocal and pioneering voice at so many key points in history, and the way in which it has given confidence to so many different groups of people and sections of society.

“We’re looking forward to a wide range of interpretations on this exciting theme which we think will resonate with people of all ages.”

Cllr Pat Karney, Chair of Manchester Day, said: “Manchester Day has grown and grown in the past few years and we are incredibly excited to be able to invite people to be part of the show in June.

More than 2,000 people parade through the street each Manchester Day in celebration of everything that makes the city a brilliant place to work, live and visit, while the Squares across town become pop-up venues for the day showcasing the talents of the best performers from across the region. Unbeatable street food and drink tops is the cherry on the cake.

“Tens of thousands of people turn out each Manchester Day to cheer on the parade and enjoy the entertainment in the city centre, and this is your chance to be part of the show of the year.”

Every float, artwork, prop and costume is made completely by hand and organisers are also looking for an army of creative people to

Cllr Luthur Rahman, Manchester City Council’s executive member for culture and leisure, said: “Manchester is an incredibly diverse and exciting

Photographs courtesy Mark Waugh.

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Loungers and the Gym Group join Redrock Stockport line up Another 19,400 sq ft of space has been let at Redrock Stockport as Loungers and The Gym Group add their names to the growing line up.

The additions mean that South Manchester’s newest leisure destination is now 90% let, with tenants reporting that initial trading figures are significantly exceeding forecasts.

Tenants in the new £45m leisure development have been thrilled with visitor numbers from day one with anchor tenant The Light Cinema calling this their “most successful opening to date”.

Loungers have already begun fitting out their new Berretto Lounge ahead of opening on 24 January. Occupying a 4,400 sq ft unit that overlooks the public square linking Redrock with Stockport’s main retail centre, which attracts over 10m shoppers each year, Loungers popular casual dining and bar concept will expand the food offering at Redrock even further.

The Gym Group have also signed up to take a double unit totalling 15,000 sq ft of space at Redrock. The Gym Group, is a fast growing, leading provider of high quality, 24 hour, low cost gyms with 95 gyms in major towns and cities nationwide. Their presence at Redrock will build the leisure element of the development even further bringing visitors to the scheme throughout the day and evening. The Gym Group have also just begun their fit out work and are due to open over the coming weeks.

The Gym Group and Loungers have added their names to the growing line up at Redrock which includes The Light Cinema, PizzaExpress, Zizzi, Mangobean Coffee and Gourmet Burger Kitchen.

John Teharne, CEO of The Gym Group, said: “The Gym Group are delighted to be operating in Stockport and we look forward to welcoming potential members into the gym this springtime once the work has been completed.

“We had been looking for a suitable site in Stockport for some time so Redrock is a key location for The Gym Group, strengthening our position in the North West where we are currently under represented. We believe gym membership should be affordable and accessible for everyone across the country.

“Members at Redrock will benefit from non-contract membership that is open 24/7, giving the people of Stockport more flexibility than they have ever had before.”

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Speaking about Redrock, Mike Thomson, Commercial Director at The Light Cinema, said “This has been our most successful opening to date with thousands of visitors flocking to the cinema and Redrock.

“The development is a game changer for Stockport and we’re delighted to be part of what is undoubtedly becoming a must visit destination in South Manchester.”

Cllr Kate Butler, Stockport Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, said “The success of the Redrock development is integral to our continuing town centre regeneration plans and with visitor numbers already exceeding all expectations, it’s a huge pleasure to welcome Loungers and The Gym Group to add to that success.

“We’ve a lot to be proud of in Stockport and Redrock is proving a big hit with locals and visitors alike.”

Lunson Mitchenall and BarkerProudlove are appointed as agents for Redrock Stockport.

For more information about Redrock Stockport visit www.redrockstockport.co.uk

North West firm awarded two international environmental awards Sale based cleaning and facilities management specialists, Floorbrite, has won an International Green World Award in recognition for being one of the world’s greenest companies.

The firm was also awarded a Green Apple Award for services to the environment in 2016, for work done with Manchester based manufacturer, Duo UK, in reducing waste at their Miles Platting headquarters – the details of which have been published in The Green Book (available on Amazon), which is an invaluable reference source for projects of significant environmental merit.

Linda Wyers, Chairwoman at Floorbrite who attended the awards in Dubai, commented on the win: “Being named Environmental Ambassadors is truly an honour for us, we couldn’t be more proud of the work that Trudie Williams, our Waste and Environmental Division Manager, and her team has undertaken to achieve this accolade.

“This is the third year we’ve been awarded a Green Apple award, and being invited to Dubai to receive the Green World title further cements our commitment to long term sustainability.

The firm was awarded a global bronze award in the Waste Management Industry category at the international awards ceremony held in Dubai, and was attended by Joint Managing Director Nik Wyers, Chairman Linda Wyers and Waste and Environmental Manager Trudie Williams.

Floorbrite was also pitted against more than 500 other firms in a range of categories to be awarded Gold in the Green Apple Awards for Environmental Best Practice held at The Houses of Parliament in November, including BMW, Bank of England, and Network Rail. In winning the award, Floorbrite are officially now Green World Ambassadors which means The Green Organisation will plant 100 trees in Floorbrite’s name over the next 12 months.

“2018 is set to be an exciting one for Floorbrite with many exciting plans in the pipeline, including expanding our Waste and Environmental division and attending The Manchester Cleaning Show in April, so we hope to continue to build on the fantastic work achieved to date.”

The Green Apple awards began in 1994 and have become established as the country’s major recognition for environmental endeavor among companies, councils, communities, and countries.

Floorbrite is a truly family run company, set up in 1972 by the late Martin Wyers and owned and operated by Martin’s wife Chairwoman Linda Wyers, and children Joint Managing Directors, Alex Wyers, Nik Wyers, and Marketing Director Nina Wyers.

The Lowry Christmas Appeal SMASHES £25k target to raise £56k for Salford’s homeless young people Theatregoers that attended Christmas shows at The Lowry have helped the Salford arts centre raise more than £56,000 for its Christmas Appeal.

The annual fundraising effort will, this year, support young people aged 16-24 who are experiencing homelessness in the city.

Collections drew to a close with the final performance of ELF The Musical.

The money will be used to fund a year-long programme, based out in the community and led by professional artists and highly trained support staff.

The young people will take part in employability and skills development that will give them new qualifications and training as well as one-to-one support which will help them gain new skills, boost their confidence and support them to move towards a more positive future.

Young people experiencing homelessness are some of the most vulnerable people in Salford.

New research shows that 26% of young people aged 16-24 have had to sleep in an “unsafe place” due to homelessness. This can be in a car, a car park, a tent in a public space, on the streets or ‘sofa-surfing’, with just under 300,000 doing so across the UK on any one night.

Julia Fawcett OBE, Chief Executive of The Lowry, said: “We’ve been absolutely overwhelmed at the generosity of our audiences. The Christmas Appeal is a really great example of the impact The Lowry and its audiences can have on the lives of young people in Salford and I’d like to thank each and every person that has donated for their very generous support.”

The shows that took part in the appeal included: ELF The Musical, Around The World In 80 Days, The Gruffalo and The Extraordinary Tale of Holly Christmas.

The Lowry is a registered charity, no: 1053962.

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Three cheers for NK Theatre Arts’ anniversary year Leading office technology provider Midshire is thrilled to announce the renewal of its sponsorship agreement with local charity NK Theatre Arts for a third consecutive year.

With 2018 set to be an exciting 30th anniversary year of celebration for the Romiley-based theatre, Midshire has ramped up its support for the coming months.

In addition to financial contributions, Midshire has donated a popcorn machine to generate additional cash flow, created a series of eye-catching commemorative logos, and designed a special 2018 anniversary calendar.

A backstage supporting cast and financial sponsor as part of NK’s 1000 Club since 2014, Midshire will continue to fuel the theatre’s celebrations; pledging its design, print, and marketing expertise throughout this very special year.

Kerry Day, NK Theatre Creative Director, said: “When we started this organisation back in 1988, I wanted to motivate the community, particularly children and young people to feel and share a passion for performing arts, I never dreamed we’d be celebrating such a huge milestone!”

Run predominately by volunteers who dedicate time, skills, and expertise to their love of theatre, NK offers children, young people and adults of all ages weekly workshops in dance, drama, and musical theatre.

Adrienne Topping, Group Marketing Manager at Midshire, said: “NK are a really fantastic organisation, they provide local communities with a much loved and much needed service, offering a safe place for people to express themselves and do what they love.”

Several well-known public figures are involved in the organisation as patrons, including actors Andy Moss, Kerry Bennett, and Will Mellor, comedian Bobby Ball, and musician, comic writer and the man behind TheBradshaws, Buzz Hawkins.

Adrienne, adds: “As part of their 1000 Club, Midshire receive complementary tickets to NK’s fantastic performances.

Their shows are breath-taking, hilarious, heart-breaking, electrifying, and downright entertaining. I cannot recommend their productions enough!”

Kerry concludes: “As a registered charity we are entirely reliant on patrons, donations, and corporate sponsors like Midshire. Their marketing tips take our relationship beyond finance, it’s always been special.”

The theatre will host a stellar showcase of performances this year, take a look at their busy show schedule here: http://nktheatre.co.uk/events.php

Direct Food Ingredients welcomes new faces Macclesfield-based, Direct Food Ingredients is consolidating its team with the appointment of five new employees.

Andrew Aitchison, Emma Woolley, Mandy Murphy and Sofia Chinea-Rodriguez will work across a variety of areas at the company’s HQ, situated on Waters Green, while Olmer Hercules joins the team at the Los Angeles office.

Sales Account Executive Andrew brings with him several years experience in the food industry.

Emma will work within Direct Food Ingredients’ quality department as an administrator; her expertise in the pet nutrition market will help to grow this area of the business.

Mandy has taken up the role of customer service administrator and sales support administrator Sofia will assist the sales department and help with customer requests.

Based at Direct Food Ingredients office in Escondido, Los Angeles, Olmer will provide administration support to the company’s dedicated US base.

Steve Loake, Managing Director at Direct Food Ingredients, said: “We are thrilled to be strengthening our team with the appointment of five new experienced professionals.

Sofia Chinea-Rodriguez and Andrew Aitchison - two of the new employees to join Direct Food Ingredients.

“As demand grows, it’s important that we have the very best personnel in place to continue to ensure we deliver unrivalled customer service to our varied client base, here in the UK and internationally.”

Direct Food Ingredients’ head office is located on Waters Green in the centre of Macclesfield and currently employs 25 people. The business is an established leader in the importation, storage and distribution of functional foods, nutritional and sports ingredients as well as vitamin and mineral premixes.

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Sergio Romero with Paula and the Foundation BTEC team.

#UnitedandPaula: Sergio Romero helps young keeper achieve her goal Manchester United Foundation has released the latest film in its inspirational social media campaign, #UnitedandMe, featuring 17-year-old Colombian goalkeeper Paula.

Piqué, and latterly Juan Mata and David de Gea, don the famous Manchester United shirt.

She had an unconventional start to her life as a goalkeeper, beginning as a striker, only to be put in between the sticks due to an injury to the first choice keeper. Paula’s goalkeeping skills impressed so much that she continued in the position and has never looked back.

Paula said, “I only started playing football when I moved to Spain and I started playing as a striker to start off, but I was really bad. The first time I went in net I did really well so they kept me and I really liked being a goalkeeper from that day on.”

Paula with Sergio Romero.

The second #UnitedandMe film of the 2017/18 season shares the story of Paula, a 17-year-old student who is chasing her dream of being an international goalkeeper, with help from her tutors on the Foundation’s BTEC in Sport programme.

Born in Colombia, South America, Paula moved with her family to Spain at the age of four before moving to Manchester three years ago.

She has built up her education and sporting ability as a goalkeeper in the process, proving her personal and professional development knows no bounds.

Paula’s love of football grew strong through her father’s influence in Colombia and she grew up watching the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gerard

Now living in Manchester and studying a BTEC in Sport qualification run by Manchester United Foundation in partnership with Salford City College, she credits the course for aiding her confidence and giving her the chance to develop in both her studies and her sport.

“I’ve always liked sports and really liked the idea of combining that with playing on a football programme linked with Manchester United Foundation,” Paula said.

“I love the way the tutors teach us, and how they make the subjects and classroom interactive and interesting. It’s really helped me as on the pitch I feel like I am a better goalkeeper than when I started the course and off the pitch I am more confident speaking to the girls on the team and to other people outside college.”

Receiving one-on-one coaching from a Manchester United player is something many people can only dream of but through her studies on the BTEC, Paula has been receiving pro tips from the likes of Sergio Romero.

United’s second choice keeper and fellow South American native was only too happy to guide Paula through many different training exercises and in-game situations much to the teenager’s delight.

“It was a great experience getting to know a player like Sergio; someone who has played in a World Cup Final and has won an Olympic gold medal,” Paula said. “He taught me a lot in a short space of time and was great at giving me advice that I now think about in training and in games.”

The future looks promising for Paula, who plans to attend University and ultimately pursue a job in the sports industry, all whilst continuing to play the sport that she loves.

“I like the idea of playing football while getting my qualifications. I’d like to go to university and get a job in the sports industry, whilst continuing to play football as a keeper.”

Paula’s film is available to watch on the Manchester United Foundation YouTube channel, where you can also find out about other inspirational young people involved with the Foundation.

Watch #UnitedandPaula: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcLrQvsJ7-E Download film: http://bit.ly/2COw9D7 Download images: https://we.tl/ZMSJ5iIWMR You can find out more about #UnitedandMe by following Manchester United Foundation on social media and looking out for the hashtag or at www.mufoundation.org/UnitedandMe.

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The Accountant's Clinic FREE Readers' Service Building a business strategy for 2018 For many business owners, the New Year often feels like a welcome breath of fresh air. You’re back at work rejuvenated after an extended break, and there’s a strong whiff of optimism and expectancy in the office atmosphere. Anything could happen over these next 12 months – and that’s an exciting thought.

By looking back on 2017, you can give yourself every chance of enjoying a prosperous year. This involves being honest about your shortcomings, as well as analysing the areas in which your company surpassed expectations. These can function as the focal points for assembling a strong strategy that takes your company forwards into invigorating new territory.

What went wrong?

It’s not easy to admit when you’re wrong. But as a business owner, you’re not going to make all the right decisions all the time. You need to accept, acknowledge and understand your missteps so you can reduce them.

Now we’re in the New Year, it’s the ideal time to look back and evaluate where things didn’t go according to plan in 2017. Doing so will mean that you don’t make these same mistakes again. Recruit the help of an objective voice so you don’t skip anything along the way.

If you received an unexpected tax bill during the year, you may need to work on preparing tax returns correctly. If you experienced cash flow issues, it could be time to improve forecasting or even re-evaluate expenditure.

The more truthful you are when applying logic to these problems, the better your business will be for it.

What worked better than expected?

On the other side of the coin, your business may have excelled in particular areas where you were expecting limited growth at best.

If this is the case, you can’t afford to just give yourself a pat on the back.

Instead, you should get into the mind-set of a growing company.

Some businesses choose to nudge up product prices and make savvy investments whilst the going is good, but to see success continue, you need to set higher targets.

Never rest on your laurels; keep pushing forward if you have the resources to do so.

For a Free Initial Consultation call 0161 998 4276

Most importantly of all, remember that higher profits mean bigger tax bills.

If you’ve been operating at a steady rate for some time, the implications of increased revenue may not even cross your mind. If you flourished in 2017, be warned that your liabilities to HMRC are set to change – especially if you’ve crossed a tax threshold.

Putting together your plan…

In some circumstances, setting up an effective strategy for 2018 will simply be a case of analysing your setbacks and successes, and then refining your approach accordingly. However, in the event of significant changes, you may need to start a new financial plan from scratch.

In either case, Nabarro Poole can help you revise your business model by offering you specialist financial and accounting support. Get in touch today on 0161 998 4276 to set up a completely free consultation.

Seb hired as Statiflo’s first apprentice A teenager plans to become the third generation of his family to work as an engineer after joining Macclesfield company Statiflo as its first apprentice.

Sebastian Freke-Morin, 18, is looking to follow in the career footsteps of his father Alan, who works as a design engineer, and grandfather Fred, who was the chief engineer at pharmaceutical firm Beechams in St Helens.

“He comes from a family of engineers and we believe he will be a real asset to the team.”

Seb, who lives in Macclesfield, has begun a three-year programme as a technical apprentice at Statiflo as an alternative to university after passing his A-levels.

Seb’s Mentor will be Statiflo Founder John Baron. John, 67, established the business in 1983 in a spare bedroom at his home in Wilmslow. He sold a majority stake to Gareth last year but has remained as Chairman.

Statiflo is a world leader in the design and distribution of static mixers and other chemical process equipment.

Gareth said: “John has over 40 years of chemical engineering and process knowledge and experience and is a wonderful teacher.

It supplies the water and wastewater treatment industries, oil and gas, petrochemical, food, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper sectors.

“Having John as a mentor is a fantastic opportunity for Seb as he learns the practical skills which will enable him to become a wellrounded member of the team.”

The company’s static mixers are also used in the production of everyday goods such as beer, ice-cream, yoghurts, cosmetics and detergents.

Seb is receiving training at Macclesfield College one day a week and spends the rest of his working week at Statiflo. He will work in different parts of the business, including engineering and sales.

Sebastian Freke-Morin, front right, with John Baron, front left, and Gareth Fry, rear.

Managing Director Gareth Fry said: “We have a niche range of products and need to nurture our own engineers to help ensure our continued success.

“I’m passionate about apprenticeships, as I began my career in the same way.

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“Seb stood out from the many applicants and we are delighted to welcome him into the business.

Seb said: “The role at Statiflo ticks many boxes for me, as it focuses on technical design. The company uses 3D printing for rapid prototyping and I have built a 3D printer in my own time, so this also really attracted me to the company.”

Join the Midnight walk for St Ann’s Hospice Businesses across Greater Manchester are being asked to support a local charity by joining thousands of people hitting the city streets this April.

St Ann’s Hospice’s flagship fundraising event, the Manchester Midnight Walk, is back for its twelfth year, and organisers are encouraging businesses to enter teams to take part. This year there’s also a brand new venue for the pre-walk warm up. Participants are invited to join in the fun from 9pm on Friday 27 April at Manchester Cathedral.

The event has pulled in the crowds every year since it began, creating a unique late-night party atmosphere and raising over £2m for the hospice in that time.

Eamonn O’Neal, Chief Executive of St Ann’s, said: “Last year’s walk was fantastic, with thousands of people joining in to raise an amazing amount for the hospice. We’re really excited for this year’s event, and can’t wait for everyone to see what we have planned for the evening in this iconic Manchester venue.”

Interested walkers can sign up to take part in the 10km moonlit stroll now, by visiting the website www.mmwalk.org.uk or calling 0161 498 3631. A special early bird rate is available for keen walkers who book their place early, and there’s also a special group rate for teams.

Eamonn added: “As one of the oldest adult hospices in the country, we are constantly looking at new ways to raise the £16,000 a day we need to keep our hospice doors open. We’re really fortunate that Mancunians and Salfordians alike rally around in support of our patients, and the Manchester Midnight Walk is a perfect example of that.

“It's amazing to see so many people out in force passing local landmarks to raise money for local people.”

Many walkers take part in memory of lost loved ones, whilst others join in simply for a night of fun, fundraising or team-building. *To register please call the hospice on 0161 498 3631 or visit www.mmwalk.org.uk *Early Bird fee of £15 is available until 28th February 2018. Following that date, the Standard Adult Fee of £20 applies for those aged 18 and over. The Youth Fee for walkers aged 11-17 years (walkers must be aged 11 or over) is £10, with Previous Walkers at £15, and Groups (5 people or more) fee of £15 per person.

Glossop Caravans break new frontiers with range of special edition motorhomes Glossop Caravans launched its first-ever range of Special Edition motorhomes at The Caravan & Motorhome Show 2018, EventCity, Manchester.

Customer demand has persuaded the family-run company to extend long-established relationships with leading UK manufacturers Elddis and Swift to create a luxuriously-appointed selection to complement its popular Special Edition Caravans.

Models from the brand new Elddis Chatsworth and Swift Celebration ranges - which both include two-berth to six-berth options - were on show alongside the company's Special Edition 2018 Coachman Festival, Elddis Chatsworth and Swift Celebration caravans at the Manchester show.

"We've been working in close partnership with the UK's top three manufacturers to create high-specification caravans offering unbeatable value for money for the past 25 years - and they've never been more popular," said Stan and Brian Laing, Joint Managing Directors, Glossop Caravans.

"Over the past few years, they've won a string of prestigious awards for their high standards of design and workmanship, which have raised the bar and also proved a huge hit with our customers.

"Their positive feedback has persuaded us to take the plunge and work with both Elddis and Swift to offer the same top quality features and attention to detail at competitive prices in our new Special Edition motorhomes 2018.

"Motorhomes are becoming increasingly popular as more and more people discover the freedom and flexibility they can bring to their leisure time - whether on carefree weekends away, once-in-a-lifetime road trips or midlife 'gap' years.”

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Connecting businesses Information is a business’s most powerful tool, keep your clients informed and you keep them happy. Internal and external publications make your employees and clients feel valued and engaged.

TMC’s publication team work with you to understand what you want to achieve from the information you share. We focus on your business and the messages you want to deliver and create clear and interesting internal and external publications that inform and share your ethos.

Corporate publications define your company – make them stand out.

TMC takes the hard work out of print and publicity material

procurement, we are a tightly-run consultancy, delivering innovative and cost effective design, print, and media solutions to a growing range of diverse businesses and organisations.

Dedicated to keeping the cost of print, and associated services and products, down, freeing up your time so you can devote your efforts and expertise to your core responsibilities.

With the growing number of companies and organisations we work with, in and around Greater Manchester and Cheshire, we are able to connect businesses so they can work together to enhance each other’s enterprises.

To learn more about how we can help your business, please contact Heather on T: 0161 998 9411 E: heather@traffordmc.org.uk

Our services include: Newspapers, magazines, newsletters Internal/external publications ● E-newsletters

Press releases Editing ● Copywriting

Design Photography ● Illustration

Event management Print – digital, litho, web, large format ● Direct mail campaigns

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TMC (Trafford Media & Communications Limited) is a media co-op.

A registered co-op and a member of Co-operatives UK. Trafford Media & Communications Ltd, South Court, Sharston Road, Manchester M22 4SN