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Top story
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Manchester climbs again in Europe
Manchester has climbed to 14th in the Cushman & Wakefield European Cities Monitor 2008, a rise of four places, which makes it the list’s joint biggest climber with Düsseldorf. It scored highly in easy access to markets, quality of telecommunications, languages spoken, leapt from 19th to tenth in value for money of office space and was second only to Leeds in availability of space. Colin Sinclair, chief executive of Manchester investment agency Midas, told Insider: “It’s very encouraging, especially as we’ve moved above Dublin. There are a lot of places in the list that have heavily incentivised inward investment, but we’re there on merit rather than for throwing money at it.”
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Deals
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BDO packs up at Avalon
Administrators at BDO Stoy Hayward are this week looking for a buyer for Wigan-based packaging manufacturer Avalon Packaging as they attempt to protect more than 100 jobs in the region. Established over 25 years ago, Avalon manufactures an extensive range of packaging products, mainly for the food industry. Dermot Power business restructuring partner at BDO Stoy Hayward, said: The tough economic climate has played a role in the companys current challenges but the business has strong foundations to weather the difficulties and thats why were working to sell the business as a going concern."
Co-op deal with Somerfield approved
The Office of Fair Trading has given the go-ahead to The Co-operative Groups £1.565bn acquisition of Bristol-headquartered retailer Somerfield. The group secured the deal in July, having driven the price down from the £1.9bn that Somerfields major shareholders, Apax Partners, Barclays Capital and Robert Tchenguiz, wanted earlier this year. The news clears the way for the creation of a stronger fifth player in the grocery market.
Rosebud funding for consultancy
Lancaster business consultancy Crowberry is expanding after receiving funding from Lancashire County Councils Rosebud Finance. Crowberry Consulting provides services to businesses, charities and the non-governmental sector on environmental management, ethical issues and corporate responsibility management. Established in 2006 by Becky Toal and located at Lancashire Universitys Gordon Manley Building, Crowberry is moving into a bigger unit and hoping to take on more staff.
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Business
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Cumbria Vision report backs on Stobart
The plans by Stobart Air to develop Carlisle Airport have received a boost with the publication of a report commissioned by economic development body Cumbria Vision. The report by consultancy Ekos, entitled The Economic Impact Appraisal for Carlisle Airport, will be used by Stobart Air in support of its new planning application. It estimates that 1,255 full-time jobs and £36.25m would be safeguarded for the local economy, 157 new jobs created and £2.12m added to Cumbria’s economic value.
Expansys chairman steps down
The chairman of wireless technology business Expansys stepped down this morning at the AIM-quoted companys AGM. Barry Roberts, who is leaving to pursue other interests, will be replaced by non-executive director Graham Dawber as acting chairman of the Trafford Park-headquartered company. In July the company, which operates 50 websites in 12 different languages, admitted to a tough first year on AIM as it announced a pre-tax loss of £2.5m to the end of April, up from £800,000 in 2007.
Collinson returns to the chair
Well-known regional businessman Len Collinson has returned to an organisation he founded by taking the position of chairman at business lobby group Private Sector Partners (PSP). He founded PSP following a walk out of business groups from the North West Assembly in 2002. Today it represents more than 20 professional bodies and trade associations and speaks for more than 100,000 private firms in the North West. It is vital the cause of business, particularly smaller businesses, is championed and listened to at this time of economic turbulence, said Collinson. The government may be taking the plaudits for bailing out the banking system, but it is smaller businesses that will pick up much of the bill.
Parkinson to unveil key findings at Insider forum
After the huge success of last year’s inaugural event, Insider is heading to London again next month for the Insider UK Investment Forum 2008. This year’s event is entitled How UK Cities Can Create Competitive Advantage and will feature an exclusive presentation by Professor Michael Parkinson on the impact of the credit crunch on UK regeneration projects. To be held over lunch at the Hotel Andaz in London on 7 November, the forum marks the launch of the flagship UK Business Insider 2009 title, our guide to the UK regions, and will feature a panel including Chris Brown, chief executive of Igloo Regeneration and Ken Shuttleworth, director of Make architects. If you are interested in attending this event or would like further details please email helen.power@newsco.com.
Pannone launches new training course
Manchester-based Pannone is to launch a bespoke training programme with The College of Law that will be run from the colleges new Manchester centre when it opens on New York Street in September 2009. The college will provide both Pannones year-long legal practice course and its professional skills course. The firms partners plan to have direct input into the programmes to ensure trainees have first-hand experience of what it is like to work at the firm.
Salford dials 999
The North West office of creative agency 999 Design is moving to Salford to join the expected industry influx around MediaCity. Office managing director Andy Helme said: The BBC move to Salford is expected to be the catalyst for a growing creative industry in the area and we hope to capitalise on this from the beginning. 999 established its Manchester office in Castlefield ten years ago and now employs eight staff, with a further 11 people in London and 26 in its Glasgow office.
M61 venues boost economy
The M61 Group, a collection of conference venues and hotels along the M61 corridor between Manchester, Bolton and Preston, claims to have generated over £240,000 for the local economy in the last six months, using a national multiplier developed by Visit Britain, which is used to assess the value of conference tourism. The group covers a range of venues, including major hotel brands, sport and entertainment facilities and historic properties. With another six months to go in the financial year, Nick White, head of tourism at Bolton Council, said: We currently have a number of booking enquiries that are pending confirmation. These alone are expected to be worth an additional £347,000 to the economy.
Design agency clinches national award
NMC Design+Print, a design and print agency run by and employing designers with muscular dystrophy was awarded a £5,000 cash prize at the Enterprising Solutions Awards at a ceremony in London last night. The awards reward the UKs most successful and innovative social enterprises. Based in Winsford, NMC was established 17 years ago by the Neuromuscular Centre.
Ride of your life
Altrincham-based Carole Nash has again been voted by UK bikers as the nation’s favourite motorcycle insurance broker. It is the sixth time in seven years that the company has topped the riders’ poll in bikers’ bible RiDE. Each year the magazine surveys thousands of bikers to discover their loves and hates. In the 2008 report, over 6,000 bikers named their Most Used Broker, with Carole Nash emerging as the favourite among the 49 insurance firms surveyed.
Auckland quits One Central Park
David Auckland is stepping down as chief executive of Manchester business park One Central Park after three years in the role, to focus on his own business advice venture. The park, which is dedicated to helping fledgling businesses in the knowledge economy, is home to 40 businesses and was set up by partners including Manchester College of Art and Technology, the citys universities and Manchester Science Park.
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Property
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Co-op funds Asks Bury scheme
The Co-operative Bank has provided a £35m debt package for AskBurys Townside development in Bury. AskBury, a joint venture between Ask Developments and Bury Council, has already started work on the first phase of the scheme, which will include a 50,000 sq ft primary care centre for Bury Primary Care Trust, a 40,000 sq ft building opposite the Town Hall for Bury Council and a new 400-space car park. Phase two consists of a further two buildings - a 110-bedroom hotel pre-let to Whitbread for a Premier Inn and a 20,000 sq ft office building, pre-let to Bury Council for occupation by Six Town Housing.
Wigan secures funding for Leigh study
Wigan Council is set to receive a £50,000 grant from the Northwest Regional Development Agency to fund a feasibility study and masterplan for Leigh town centre. The regeneration plans market the next phase in a transformation that has already seen projects such as Leigh Sports Village and the development Bickershaw Colliery. Plans being considered include demolishing some of the towns eyesores and creating new public spaces and premises.
Beva buys in Blackburn
In a sale and leaseback agreement Beva Investments has bought the factory of Precision Polymer Engineering (PPE) off junction 6 of the M65. The deal includes the construction of a new 23,000 sq ft extension, increasing production facilities to 57,000 sq ft. PPE will take a new ten-year lease on the whole premises. Beva will also build a 3,500 sq ft office block on an adjacent site, which will incorporate new training facilities for the business. The project is due for completion in early 2009.
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