Botham hails £85m Ordsall Chord decision

Network Rail’s programme sponsor Graham Botham has hailed the government’s backing of the £85m Ordsall Chord – a stretch of rail linking Victoria and Piccadilly stations in Manchester – as “tremendously good news” for the region. But he stressed that it was only the first step in delivering the Northern Hub project – the £530m trans-Pennine rail scheme that could revolutionise rail infrastructure across the North. Insider is campaigning for the project to go ahead.

Colloids secures £1m facility

Merseyside speciality compounds manufacturer Colloids has secured a £1m funding line from Barclays Corporate. The cash has enabled the company to buy its premises on the Knowsley Industrial Park.

Pickles reveals vanguard North West enterprise zones

Communities secretary Eric Pickles has revealed that the two areas in the North West – along with sites in Nottingham and London – will be “vanguard areas” for the government’s newly-created enterprise zones.

Leach warns of “dragging anchors” on UK recovery

Graeme Leach, the Institute of Directors’ chief economist, has warned of the “dragging anchors” that could hold back the recovery of the UK economy.

Etihad to create 160 Manchester jobs

Etihad Airways has confirmed plans to open a contact centre in Manchester which will create 160 jobs in the region.

XCAP forges international links

XCAP Securities, the Wilmslow-based finance boutique firm, has formed a strategic alliance with two international institutions as it moves to develops new revenue streams in the Middle and Far East.

Frenkel Topping reveals record results

Revenues and profits have increased at Salford-based Frenkel Topping, a provider of independent financial advice, following a record year in 2010.

Something for the weekend

This week: All off for a good cause; PRS Yearbook; Fight for your right to party; Hemmingway back in fashion; Fair go by Faibridge; and canapé won’t pay.

Port Salford could be the North West’s key

Peel’s Port Salford, the proposed 28-acre water, rail and road freight interchange planned for the north side of the Manchester Ship Canal at Barton, is vital to the North West’s logistics future, Insider’s logistics breakfast was told.

And then there were four – BBC bids are in

The closing date for final bids to land the BBC site on Oxford Road has passed and Insider understands that four bidders are still in the running: Bruntwood, Downing, Realty Estates and the Greater Manchester Property Venture Fund.

St Modwen wins approval in Burnley

St Modwen has secured outline planning permission and conservation area consent for a £20m mixed-use development in Burnley.

Talking Point: Not appealed your business rates? Chances are you’re paying too much

Businesses continue to be faced with mounting costs in all areas. But Mark Rigby, chief executive of business rates specialist CVS, argues that too many are happy to take the Valuation Office Agency’s business rates estimates at face value – which could be a huge mistake.

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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