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Top story
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High hopes for nano spin-out
A new nanotechnology business spun out from The University of Manchester has been backed by the UMIP Premier Fund, set up this year to transfer technology to create successful businesses. Nano ePrint is a start-up from the school of Electrical & Electronic Engineering in 2006. Scott White, chief executive of Nano ePrint, said: “We will be able to pursue the international markets, which will turn Nano ePrint into a successful commercial organisation.” Ernie Richardson, who runs the fund, said: “We expect the company to move quickly towards commercial samples.” This is the third investment made by the fund since its first close in March 2008 and is a product of The University of Manchester’s technology transfer and incubation process managed by UMIP.
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Today's news
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Begbies rides high on insolvencies
Begbies Traynor, the Manchester-headquartered professional services organisation, this morning issued a trading update for the six months to 31 October. Levels and margins in the group’s insolvency and corporate recovery operations rose ahead of the same period last year and well ahead of the second-half performance for the last financial year. This division accounted for about 80 per cent of overall revenues in the first half. Profits from tax consulting and other divisions have also increased, but corporate finance suffered as the market “ground to a virtual halt”, said the statement. The division saw operating losses of £1m. Executive chairman Ric Traynor said: “We have adequate resources for the group to capitalise further on an anticipated sustained period of improved new work flow in our insolvency practice.”
Former management blamed for ACG demise
Manchester property group Artisan has placed part of its construction business into voluntary liquidation. The proposed liquidation of ACG North will not impact on any of the other businesses operating in the Artisan Construction Group. Paul Curran, newly appointed managing director of ACG North, said: “This situation has not arisen because of the economic downturn but because of a legacy of poor management decisions by personnel who have now left the company.”
One more for Yearsley
Heywood-based frozen food outfit Yearsley Group has acquired the former Innovate cold storage and distribution depot at Portbury, Bristol. The deal follows the acquisition of Innovate Logistics’ frozen food division earlier this year and provides the firm with a strong foothold in the South West. The Yearsley Group is a family-owned and managed company established in 1955. Today the company is a major player throughout the UK in two areas: the sale of frozen foods and the storage and distribution of frozen foods throughout the UK and Europe.
Hill Dicks has a good air day
North West law firm Hill Dickinson has secured a contract to provide legal services for business, special-mission and trainer aircraft manufacturer Hawker Beechcraft. The business, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, has UK bases in Chester and Oxford and will receive corporate, commercial, property, employment, insurance and intellectual property advice from Hill Dickinson.
Science funding for Manchester
The University of Manchester has been awarded £20m from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to train a new wave of scientists and engineers as part of a £250m programme to establish 44 centres for doctoral training across the UK. Manchester will lead three centres including one for nanoscience with support from Lancaster University. It will also lead an industrial training centre for nuclear engineering in conjunction with Imperial College, The University of Bristol, The University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield and The University of Strathclyde, and a training centre for nuclear fission research in partnership with The University of Sheffield.
New manager at Strand
Warrington-based Strand Technology, a clinical electronic care record provider, has appointed Hamish Kemp as its new UK business development manager. Kemp will work on strengthening Strand Technology’s partnerships with Mental Health and Primary Care Trusts, users of the company’s electronic care records solution CareNotes CRSm and with health organisations that use Strand’s healthcare solutions such as CareNotes and Prism Risk Management.
Manchester dominates biomedical awards
Bionow, the Northwest Regional Development Agency’s biomedical cluster support group, held its annual Northwest Biomedical Awards at Mere Golf & Country Club this week. Dr Nick Goldspink of Manchester-based scar reduction company Renovo was named young biomedical technologist of the year and Conformetrix, a Manchester Incubator company, was crowned biomedical start-up of the year. Meanwhile, fellow Manchester Incubator resident DxS, which specialises in molecular diagnostics, was named biomedical company of the year.
The Hut takes entrepreneur award
Matt Moulding, chief executive of online retailer The Hut, based in Northwich, has won the national final of the annual Bank of Scotland Entrepreneur Challenge. It is the second consecutive year that it has been won by a North West company and The Hut will receive £5m of funding over three years after beating competition from six other regional finalists. The company delivers ecommerce solutions to a range of high-street brands such as Asda, Phones 4u and Dixons, as well as operating its own online retail operations.
New Manchester head for Bibby
Bibby Financial Services has appointed Nick Kindon as head of operations in Manchester. The company says the move will strengthen the invoice and asset-based financier’s national presence and give support to businesses seeking alternative financial solutions throughout Manchester. Kindon’s previous roles include division manager for the north at HSBC Invoice Finance.
To good health in Colne
Developer St Modwen has exchanged contracts with NHS East Lancashire for the purchase of a 1.3-acre former Kwik Save site on Craddock Street, Colne, to build a £10m medical centre. Before the end of 2009 NHS East Lancashire will apply for planning permission to build the 5,000 sq ft facility. A start onsite is expected in 2009.
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Something for the weekend
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Deal of the week
So much more these days than a cult trucker, Cumbrian haulage group Stobart this week bought Southend Airport from Regional Airports for £16m, with a further £5m to be paid depending on aspects of the airport’s development. It forms part of the Thames Gateway development zone, which includes the new DP World London Gateway Port, and Stobart plans to grow both freight and passenger flights from Southend. Chief executive Andrew Tinkler said: “At one stroke we have found our southern base and greatly enhanced our position as a point-to-point service provider for customers in the UK and Europe.”
Calm breaks out in TIFland
It’s been a mercifully quiet week in the usually storm-tossed seas of Greater Manchester’s Transport Innovation Fund debate. To be fair it would have been hard for either side to sink lower than the mudslinging over the shock video and helpline farrago of the past couple of weeks, but still, we should be grateful. Here’s looking forward to some more shrill hysteria next Friday, when the public vote is announced.
The breakfast of champions
Move over Paul Heathcote, Nigel Haworth and Simon Rimmer, there’s a new kid in town. Mario’s Café Bar in Westhoughton is offering a breakfast comprising ten eggs, ten sausages, ten rashers and ten slices of toast, plus five black pudding slices, tomatoes, mushrooms and beans. It costs £10.95, but if you polish the lot off you eat for free, although all diners must sign a disclaimer. A spokesman for the British Heart Foundation said, rather needlessly: “Eating this amount in one sitting is not a good idea.”
Head to head reds
Although Liverpool FC currently sit atop the Premier League table, these are still nervy times in the city. At yesterday’s Legends Luncheon at the city’s Crowne Plaza, an event packed to the gills with former Reds players as well as manager Rafa Benitez. Host Jeff Stelling asked for a show of hands as to the likely winner of the league and Manchester United seemed to be the most common answer, leading Stelling to enquire: “Who did you vote for, Rafa?”
Canapé won’t pay
This week’s prize goes to law firm Pinsent Masons, which called on the ever-reliable Harvey Nicks to do the honours at its Christmas drinks bash. Although the wine was flowing, Insider’s correspondent was getting worried that he may have to leave for his next engagement before the tuck arrived. Fears were allayed by the timely arrival of fish and chip cones, chicken skewers and what can only be described as halloumi lollies. We’ve come a long way.
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