Cumbria unites behind LEP proposal

Councils and business groups in Cumbria have united behind a plan to establish one local enterprise partnership (LEP) in the county. There had been suggestions the region could submit more than one bid - with authorities in Carlisle and West Cumbria thought to be exploring the possibility of going it alone - but a single bid will now be put forward to the government before the 6 September deadline. Maggie Mooney, chief executive of Carlisle City Council, told Insider the decision made sound economic sense.

BFS lending reaches £5m mark

Manchester-based Business Finance Solutions (BFS) has now lent more than £5m to businesses in the North West as part of its small business loans initiative. The loans, which come from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), have been distributed to more than 330 businesses across Manchester, Tameside, Trafford, Stockport, Salford and Cheshire.

Sellafield awards waste contract as NMP posts profit

Babcock and Balfour Beatty Joint Venture have won the contract for the first phase of a massive multimillion pound waste storage site at Sellafield. It comes as Nuclear Management Partners (NMP), which runs the nuclear site, posted a £47m pre-tax profit in its first full year in charge.

Stobart set for further growth

North West transport and logistics giant Stobart Group is forecasting continued growth for the second-half of the year, buoyed by a series of new contract wins. In a trading update to the Stock Exchange, the company said performance of the business is “significantly ahead” of the same period last year despite challenging market conditions.

Retail sales grow, but Deloitte sounds warning

The volume of retail sales grew by 1.1 per cent in July, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics. However, Deloitte believes this could be hiding the economy’s weakness.

Something for the Weekend

This week: Pie's the limit in Blackburn; the stress test; hung, drawn and quartered; and the circus is in town.

Brand new North West Top 500 Database 2011

Do you need help sourcing new clients? Insider’s Brand new North West Top 500 Companies 2011 database is our accurate and comprehensive business marketing list. Try our free sample and pre-order to receive a discount offer (expires 31 January 2011).

P3 instructed by Pannone

Niche property consultancy P3 has been instructed by Manchester law firm Pannone to advise on its property matters. Stratos PDI will continue working with the firm on its future accommodation strategy, while P3 will be the market-facing property agent to assist in formulating and then driving forward the firm’s objectives.

Williams Tarr wins £2.5m contracts

Warrington-based Williams Tarr Construction has landed two design and build contracts with major pension funds worth more than £2.5m. The company has secured deals in Bromborough and Cheetham Hill.

St Modwen has the Quay

Regeneration specialist St Modwen has announced five retail lettings at its £15m development in Connah’s Quay, Flintshire. Deals have been secured with five new retailers at the six-acre district centre: Greggs, Bargain Booze, Just Go Travel, Corbett bookmakers and Barnardos.

NPL retail scheme wins consent

Acting for developer NPL Estates, Manchester planning consultancy HOW Planning has secured planning approval to transform land adjacent to the former power station site in Thornton, Lancashire into a retail-led scheme.

Tague on Tour: Let’s put our heads together

Insider property writer Neil Tague has kept a close eye on the Manchester office agents this week, and is impressed by the spirit of cooperation emerging. Find out why common sense could be critical to the local property community.

In Focus: The club that Jack built

On the 10th anniversary of the death of Lancashire steel magnate Jack Walker, Michael Taylor weighs up the deal to purchase the great man's prized asset - Blackburn Rovers Football Club.

Role of the financial adviser

Financial advisers will play a critical role in the sale of your business - but how do you choose the right one and what are the key questions to ask? Stephen Verber, partner at Alexander & Co, is here to help.

For Insider's full guide to selling your business click here

Forthcoming Experts

Building the management team

If you're selling a business you'll need the right team in place - but this is easier said than done. Ian Wright, managing director of Equinox Financial Search & Selection, shares his advice.

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