Enterprise zones will drive growth – Pickles

Communities secretary Eric Pickles has vowed to ensure that the two enterprise zones in the North West will boost economic growth and stimulate private sector employment. Speaking to Insider, he said the zones - earmarked for areas in Greater Manchester and Liverpool - would not simply be a rehash of Conservative policy from the 1980s.

Middleby makes £58m move for rival

Cooking equipment maker Middleby, whose UK headquarters is in Warrington, has agreed a deal worth £58m to buy Lincolnshire rival Lincat Group. The move is designed to strengthen its presence in the UK market.

Perspective raises £10.6m acquisitions fund

Wilmslow-headquartered Perspective Financial Group, a consolidation vehicle for IFA firms, has raised a total of £10.6m to further boost its acquisition and growth strategies.

Unilever agrees Sanex sale

Anglo-Dutch food and households goods giant Unilever, the world's third-largest maker of branded household products, has agreed to sell its Sanex soap and shower gel business to Colgate-Palmolive for £585m (€672m).

Budget 2011 – North West gives its reaction

Businesses in the North West have voiced their opinions on the measures revealed in this year’s Budget, which include setting up two enterprise zones in the region, cutting red tape and scrapping the proposed rise in fuel duty.

UU on track for ‘solid’ year

Warrington-headquartered water giant United Utilities (UU) this morning said trading in the second half of its year had been slightly ahead of expectations, putting it on track for a "solid" performance for the year. It has also agreed terms for a new £200m loan facility.

Sportech hits full-year expectations

Liverpool gaming and football pools operator Sportech, which processes more than £8.5bn of bets annually, this morning said it could “look forward to the future with confidence” after hitting market expectations for the full-year.

Osborne’s “march of the makers” questioned by MBS panel

Chancellor George Osborne’s heralding of a manufacturing-friendly Budget, the “march of the makers” as his speechwriter put it, was called into question at a panel event convened by Manchester Business School.

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Connor wins Outstanding Contribution award

Chris Connor was last night named as the inaugural winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Merseyside Property award at Insider’s Merseyside Property Dinner. More than 230 guests rose to pay homage to a man widely recognised as one of the stalwarts of the local property scene.

Marks & Clerk confirms Manchester move

Marks & Clerk has confirmed it is to relocate its Manchester office to Bruntwood’s 1 New York Street in August. The new office space is almost double the size of its old office at 11,000 sq ft.

Budget In Focus: Lessons from history

This year's Budget is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary financial climate. Michael Taylor looks at how lessons from history can inform the needs for 2011.

Tague on Tour: On the waterfront

With ACC Liverpool expanding on the waterfront, does this signal the start of more growth on the city's best asset? Neil Tague casts his eye over the area's future.

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