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Top story
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Fitzgerald ready for 'daunting task'
Liverpool City Council’s new chief executive Ged Fitzgerald has told Insider his task ahead will be a daunting one, but said he remains confident that the city has a bright future. Fitzgerald also revealed he is looking to meet with key property developers over the coming months in a bid to accelerate some of the region’s major regeneration schemes, including Peel’s £4.5bn Wirral Waters development.
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Deals
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Trader Media sells Warrington printer
Walstead Investments, owner of Wyndeham Press Group, has acquired Warrington-based printer Apple Web Offset for an undisclosed sum. Apple, which has now been rebranded Wyndeham Apple, was the last remaining print subsidiary of Trader Publishing, part of Reading-headquartered Trader Media Group.
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Business
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Suttons poised for Middle East move
Widnes logistics provider Suttons Group is targeting the Middle East as part of the next phase of its international expansion after posting a 5 per cent increase in turnover to £106m. Full year pre-tax profits dipped as a result of adverse currency exchange movements, but managing director Andrew Palmer told Insider the company is already ahead of this time last year following a series of contract wins.
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VPhase set for international push
VPhase, the developer of energy-saving products based in Chester, is set for an international sales push after being granted the rights to sell its technology in Australia and New Zealand.
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Forum welcomes procurement plans
The government’s move to make public contracts more accessible to small companies has been welcomed by the Cheshire-based Forum of Private Business. The proposals, revealed by small business minister Mark Prisk, will also link procurement to prompt payment.
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Aerospace research in £2m funding boost
Cluster organisation North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA) has helped to secure £2m of funding for composite material research in the region. The funding will come from two separate projects run by the Technology Strategy Board.
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Manufacturers set for upturn
The rate of business failures in the manufacturing industry fell 43 per cent during the first nine months of the year, according to Deloitte. Mark Stephenson, the firm’s head of manufacturing in the North West, said the drop highlights the efforts made by many businesses to manage cash flow and stock levels.
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Property
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One Park West welcomes Prego
Grosvenor’s One Park West has secured another commercial tenant in Italian eaterie Prego. It is the first restaurant to open at the mixed use development, which includes 326 apartments and nine commercial units, including a 24-hour gym.
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Coulthurst joins Mason Owen
Liverpool commercial property company Mason Owen has recruited industrial surveyor Mark Coulthurst from CB Richard Ellis. He previously worked for Irving Rice and Matthews and Goodman.
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Vacant stock falls to 12 per cent
The residential population of Liverpool city centre and docklands area has passed the 30,000 mark, reducing the amount of vacant stock in the city to about 12 per cent, according to City Residential.
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