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Top story
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"Animal" Fletcher's call to arms cheers IoD
In what became a competition of acceptance speeches at last night’s Institute of Directors (IoD) North West Director of the Year Awards at the City of Manchester Stadium, top honours must go to Scott Fletcher of IT and telecoms company ANS Group, who won Manchester Young Director of the Year. “Nobody said anything about speeches or winning,” he said, before falling quickly into his stride. “We started out with nothing. Six of our board didn’t get degrees – we’re all from the University of Life. We’re animals and we’re going to get through this recession along with all of you in here tonight.” Nobody managed to top this, but other worthy winners included Steve Corcoran of Speedy Hire, who won North West Director of the Year, and former Insider 42 under 42 Imran Hakim from iTeddy, who took home North West Young Director of the Year.
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Today's news
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Manchester can lead the world, says nuclear giant
Manchester is well placed to become a world leader in nuclear fuels research and advanced reactor development, according to David Powell, the vice president for the UK of nuclear giant Westinghouse. Speaking at Urbis last night to welcome Tim Abram, the University of Manchester's first chair in nuclear fuel technology, Powell said the company's collaboration with the university was a vital step in building the skills needed to support the growth of the UK's nuclear industry. He said: "We are committed to building AP1000 reactors in the UK, but we need the infrastructure to back that up. That's why our links with academia are so important." The university this week announced plans to create a £25m Centre in Nuclear Energy Technology.
TIF tit-for-tat continues
The efforts to convince voters ahead of the December vote on Manchester's Transport Innovation Fund bid have stepped up on both sides. Accountancy firm KPMG this week said £17m a year would be saved in transport costs, while property consultancy Arup said that 10,000 jobs in construction and transport could be created. The Greater Manchester Momentum Group responded: "The report's findings simply don't stack up. Even without consideration for the current economic climate the report ignores businesses choosing to relocate or employees moving outside the zone to avoid the congestion charge."
Sedulo launches new division
In a sign that there can be growth in professional services even in the toughest of markets, Manchester accountancy and business strategy firm Sedulo has launched a new financial services division offering investment advice to personal and corporate clients. Sedulo Financial Services is headed by independent financial adviser John Stephenson and the firm, which has a second office in Cheshire, is run by Paul Cheetham and Nik Hynes.
Online hotel site calls in administrators
EC&S Developments, the Cheshire-based company that trades as reserveahotelonline.com, has become one of the latest victims of the troubles hitting the holiday industry as after appointing Begbies Traynor as administrators. The company blames the nature of the industry and the strong euro for it being unable to generate sufficient sales to break even, even though the directors have cut costs. Administrator Paul Stanley said: "This is a hugely competitive sector and margins are constantly being squeezed. In the current climate, it is advisable for consumers to use their credit card when booking hotels online as debit card payments will not offer the same protection."
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Something for the weekend
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Deal of the week
There can only be one top deal this week really - the merger of Lloyds TSB and HBOS - but on the regional front we also saw the private equity team of Aberdeen Asset Managers lead their own management buyout and move to Leeds to form a new private equity business called Spirit Capital Partners. Always good to see the professionals undergoing their own deals process for that first-hand experience
What the cooking hell is that?
Congratulations to The Inedibles, a team representing Addleshaw Goddard and Coutts, which emerged triumphant at the Great Northern Cook Off on Tuesday. Other winners included Salford City Reds’ The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and reigning champions The Chipolatas, made up of budding chefs from Leonard Curtis, GE Capital and Positive Cashflow Finance. Insider’s favourite team name came from law firm DWF – Dangerous With Food. Insert joke about not swallowing anything from lawyers here.
Paragons of virtue
The British Property Federation (BPF) reckons that local authorities should be encouraged to accept funding from property developers to improve the planning process. Although the BPF acknowledges that councils are in fact already allowed to do this, it thinks councils feel restricted by "unnecessary fears over issues of probity". Really? One would think getting developers to dig deep in the current climate would be the main issue.
Slightly surprising press release of the week
Don't think lawyers are cool? Shame on you. Solicitors at Lancashire firm Napthens have advised on an image rights deal between Blackpool clothing company H&V Trading and Radio 1 DJ Judge Jules covering branded t-shirts, caps and hoodies under the company's Heroes & Villains brand. Mr Jules - or may we call you Judge? - has also agreed to wear and promote the clothes himself to his fans and H&V's customers.
Things could be a lot worse quote of the week
Simon Danczuk, Labour candidate for Rochdale, thinks the Kingsway project is a drain on the public purse: "I am constantly being asked by people what is going on at Kingsway? People want jobs not vague promises of the future and rosy rhetoric about their âexciting plans'. I am very concerned that their actions are leading to Rochdale being made to look stupid in the national media." One word, Simon: Omega.
Canapé won't pay
Good efforts from Urbis with mini shepherd’s pies and mini steak tartars at the nuclear bash last night, and from NB Architects, which luckily also selected the first day of summer for a rooftop barbecue. But the honours go to Manchester’s Victoria Baths where Love Saves the Day served up a fancy buffet and wine to mark the completion of phase one of the venue’s restoration. There was also a vividly-coloured special cocktail, but political veteran Sir Gerald Kaufman told Insider: “I’m not drinking anything blue!”
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