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We want devolution - if business gets a voice
Ninety per cent of business and city leaders agree that England's towns and cities need more financial powers to improve local transport and housing, according to a survey published today by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Centre for Cities. While 86 per cent of the 122 leading professionals and opinion formers surveyed are in favour of tools like supplementary business rates, 92 per cent said that business had to have a clear say in how to tackle local transport and housing problems. Angie Robinson, chief executive of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “There's now a greater willingness to devolve both financial and governance powers from national to local government. It’s a great opportunity for those cities and businesses that can get a framework in place and make this work, but there has to be accountability.” The survey is the final part of the City Solutions: Financing Local Growth report.
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EA extends international reach
EA Technology has opened new sales offices in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi as part of a global growth strategy, which includes increasing the number of its international distribution partners from 16 to 25. The Capenhurst-based power engineering specialist has also appointed a new head of international business development, Haydn Rees, to further build the company's presence worldwide. 
Hudson backs his team despite profits dip
Shares in Cheshire-based NWF continue to slide following yesterday's warning that the fuels, feeds, distribution and garden centre group saw profits in the six months to December 2007 decline to £800,000 from £2.5m year on year, in spite of a 12.8 per cent rise in revenues across each division. Bad summer weather, increasing costs of raw materials and delays on a new warehouse project were blamed. Chairman Mark Hudson said: "Despite challenging and in some cases unusual market conditions all four businesses have profitable track records and experienced management teams."
New EY head poised for growth
Simon Allport is set to take over at Ernst & Young (EY) in Manchester as office managing partner at the end of the month, succeeding Jan Gregory, who led the practice over the last two years. Speaking to Insider he described Gregory's role as "transitional" and said: "The whole firm has gone through radical change in the last 12 to 18 months and my appointment is consistent with plans in place to emphasise growth in the North West. We fully understand the need to grow the business and make sure we can stand up and be counted as part of the Big Four locally. The North West has been identified by the firm as an area for investment." Gregory will focus on driving expansion in the firm's audit client base, while the tax practice is also poised for growth.
Bank expands entrepreneur challenge
North West entrepreneurs should have an even better chance of landing up to £5m in interest-free investment following the expansion of Bank of Scotland's Entrepreneur Challenge for 2008. The prize money available nationally has expanded by £10m to £35m, with the northern category being split into two - North West & Wales and North East. Last year's regional prize was won by Matt Riley of Nelson-based Daisy Communications, who went on to win the national Entrepreneur of the Year title.
New FD complete Carole Nash board
Motorcycle insurance specialist Carole Nash has completed a strengthening of its board with the appointment of Clive Roberts as financial director. He has held positions at fulfilment, marketing and ecommerce specialist Zendor.com and Eunite, the IT services and software firm. The appointment follows the arrival of new managing director David Newman in September 2007. Founder Carole Nash sold the business she set up in 1985 to Groupama Insurance in December 2006.
eSay seals UU deal
Salford-based software provider eSay has won a £100,000 contract to provide United Utilities (UU) with a real-time reporting system as it seeks to combat leaks. The company's Pinpoint technology will be rolled out across the North West following a successful trial in Greater Manchester that contributed to UU outperforming sector rivals in fixing leaks, thus avoiding swingeing fines from regulator Ofwat.
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You don't have to Ask twice
Two schemes by Ask Developments are among a shortlist of eight Greater Manchester sites bidding to host the 200,000 sq ft Co-operative Group headquarters. Exchange Greengate, which straddles the Manchester-Salford border, and Bury's Townside Fields are up against schemes including Rochdale's £350m Kingsway. The group is also considering anchoring a redevelopment of its current 20-acre site around Corporation Street, for which Arup, BDP, KPF and Heneghan Peng are competing to masterplan.
Take me to the river
Trinity ICP, a joint venture between Salford City Council and Bruntwood, is to build a riverside walkway from Trinity Bridge and the Lowry Hotel to the Albert Bridge and New Bailey Street. The quarter-acre site was bought from Guardian Media Group with backing from the Northwest Regional Development Agency and forms part of the Irwell City Park project, which was denied funding under the National Lottery's Living Landmarks scheme in 2007.
New blood at Downing's Port
Liverpool landlord Downing has secured a 4,126 sq ft letting to logistics group DHL Global Forwarding at the Port of Liverpool building, where it is carrying out a £10m refurbishment. The deal follows that of current tenant, the investment manager Rathbones, which signed an extension to its lease in 2007.
McLean disposal helps Calderpeel growth spurt
David McLean has sold its architecture and engineering arm Bluegreen to Calderpeel, the Altrincham architecture firm headed by Harry Calder. Although managing director John Caunce will remain with David McLean Holdings as group business director, directors David Hughes, Andy Poyser and Kevin Slack will transfer to Calderpeel, which will keep Bluegreen's Deeside office and also open a new base in Dorset.
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Lloyds backs Woods bid to hit green targets
Lloyds TSB Commercial has backed a £500,000 investment in new machinery by Blackpool waste management business Woods Waste. The equipment will allow Woods to screen and recycle a larger percentage of soil and rubble and tools, which will increase Woods' packaging waste recycling capacity by 10 per cent. With landfill tax set to rise by £8 per tonne a year, Woods aims to recycle 95 per cent of the 80,000 tonnes of waste it processes each year.
Engines for growth
Wirral-based transport and warehousing business Darlington Group has undergone a £1.1m management buyout backed by Merseyside Special Investment Fund and asset-based lender Venture Structured Finance. The company, which dates back to 1930, also supplies salt products, aggregates and gravel and is a major collector of materials for recycling. Former operations manager Keith Jones takes over as managing director of the £6.5m-turnover company, which expects to increase sales by 20 per cent over the next three years.
Verna buyout heralds expansion
Bolton-based healthcare business Verna Group has undergone a secondary buyout backed by Bank of Scotland (BoS) Integrated Finance. The deal, which delivers an exit for LGV Capital from its 2005 investment and sees BoS take a minority stake alongside management, will help the company realise its ambitions for expanding into international markets as a global infection control business. In December Verna sold its Care Shop business, which supplies medical, dental and mobility aids to care homes, to international group Bunzl, and LGV was then rumoured to be ready to sell the core business for around £50m.
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Have your say - call for nominations
Insider is gathering nominations for two of its most popular awards dinners. Visit www.insider-nominations.co.uk now to put forward your proposals for the Insider Young Professionals Awards 2008, held in association with Pro.Manchester on 24 April at the Lowry Hotel, and the Insider Liverpool Professionals Awards 2008, held in association with Professionaliverpool and DLA Piper on 15 May at the Crowne Plaza, Liverpool. Categories at the two events cover disciplines such as accountancy, banking, insurance, property and marketing. And there are still a few tables left for the Liverpool Professionals - call 0161 907 9745 for details.
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17-21 Chorlton Street
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Telephone: +44 (0)161 907 9711
Email:
insider@insiderweekly.co.uk
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