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Flagging confidence hits professional services
The region's professional services firms are seeing their sharpest falls in business for a decade as the economic slowdown continues, the CBI has warned. The organisation's quarterly service sector survey found that consulting, accounting and legal services firms are experiencing the worst decline in volumes and values since the survey began in 1998. Daniel Mouawad, chief executive of professionals organisation Pro.Manchester, said the sector is feeling the pinch but there is still cause for optimism. "Resilient businesses in the city region with a reputation for delivering in a testing financial climate are still continuing to perform and the mid cap market is still coming up with the goods," he said. "Margins are tight and it's a tough time for trading, but there is still real opportunity for businesses that innovate and can adapt to the turbulent market."
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Korova Corp battles to fend off recession
Korova Corporation, owner and operator of several Liverpool restaurants and bars, has placed two of its venues into administration. Administrators at Begbies Traynor in Preston this morning told Insider that KVRP Ltd, which trades as Korova, and Babycream Ltd, were in their hands, but said that both bars were still operating. The companies are listed in official journal The London Gazette, alongside Babycream subsidiary Stagestyle Ltd, as having appointed Begbies on 8 August. Karen Gutmann, marketing director at Korova Corporation, told Insider: “We are trying to come through the recession fighting. We are shedding unprofitable companies and moving forward with our city centre portfolio.” Earlier this month the company, which was founded by Liverpool leisure entrepreneur Rob Gutmann, sold its Negresco Nord restaurant on Manchester’s Deansgate. His previous venture, the Lyceum Restaurant Group, went into liquidation in December 2005.
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University increases world ranking
The University of Manchester has climbed eight places in the annual league table published by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. The institution climbed to 40th place in the respected league table from 48th last year and up to sixth in Europe from ninth place last year. The University of Liverpool is placed in the 101 to 151 bracket in the world and 12 to 16 in Europe. The University of Shanghai Jiaotong ranks 2,000 universities using criteria such as the number of Nobel Prize winners among its alumni, the number of research papers published in leading magazines and various other academic achievements relative to a university's size.
The University of Manchester has climbed eight places in the annual league table published by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. The institution climbed to 40th place in the respected league table from 48th last year and up to sixth in Europe from ninth place last year. The University of Liverpool is placed in the 101 to 151 bracket in the world and 12 to 16 in Europe. The University of Shanghai Jiaotong ranks 2,000 universities using criteria such as the number of Nobel Prize winners among its alumni, the number of research papers published in leading magazines and various other academic achievements relative to a university's size.
LSC names regional council
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in the North West has appointed 13 members to form a new regional council that will lead the organisation's regional and local presence and ensure the successful delivery of the LSC's agenda in the North West. The members include: Pat Bacon, principal of St Helens College; Claire Dove, chief executive of Liverpool-based Blackburne House Group; Christine Gaskell, HR director at Bentley Motors in Crewe; and Alan Roff, deputy vice-chancellor for the University of Central Lancashire.
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in the North West has appointed 13 members to form a new regional council that will lead the organisation's regional and local presence and ensure the successful delivery of the LSC's agenda in the North West. The members include: Pat Bacon, principal of St Helens College; Claire Dove, chief executive of Liverpool-based Blackburne House Group; Christine Gaskell, HR director at Bentley Motors in Crewe; and Alan Roff, deputy vice-chancellor for the University of Central Lancashire.
Richard Taylor rings AJ Bell
AJ Bell, the Manchester-based pension scheme administrator, has appointed Richard Taylor as managing director of AJ Bell Pensions, which is responsible for its Self Invested Personal Pensions and Small Self Administered Schemes business. Taylor, who joined the firm in 2005 as legal and technical director, will work alongside Charles Galbraith, managing director of Lawshare, the group's stockbroking arm. Founder Andy Bell remains as chief executive of the entire group.
AJ Bell, the Manchester-based pension scheme administrator, has appointed Richard Taylor as managing director of AJ Bell Pensions, which is responsible for its Self Invested Personal Pensions and Small Self Administered Schemes business. Taylor, who joined the firm in 2005 as legal and technical director, will work alongside Charles Galbraith, managing director of Lawshare, the group's stockbroking arm. Founder Andy Bell remains as chief executive of the entire group.
Green-roofed restaurant opening for business
The North West's first grass-roofed restaurant will be opening at the start of October. Nineteen Duxbury Park, based in Chorley, will have a living roof made up of sedum species and mosses to retain warmth and minimise the need for additional heating. The restaurant will use European Larch, a fully renewable source of wood, for cladding. Despite its unusual appearance, Nineteen has been designed to complement its neighbouring listed buildings.
The North West's first grass-roofed restaurant will be opening at the start of October. Nineteen Duxbury Park, based in Chorley, will have a living roof made up of sedum species and mosses to retain warmth and minimise the need for additional heating. The restaurant will use European Larch, a fully renewable source of wood, for cladding. Despite its unusual appearance, Nineteen has been designed to complement its neighbouring listed buildings.
Shops told to turn out the lights
Retail outlets could be missing out on savings of up to 30 per cent of lighting costs according to the Carbon Trust, with the potential for lighting-efficiency measures to have a dramatic impact on energy bills. The organisation has launched a free Display Lighting Technology Guide, offering advice and tips on how retailers can reduce energy costs through use of energy-efficient light bulbs or natural lighting, while cutting carbon and complying with legislation, yet without losing the visual impact required to drive sales in a retail environment.
Retail outlets could be missing out on savings of up to 30 per cent of lighting costs according to the Carbon Trust, with the potential for lighting-efficiency measures to have a dramatic impact on energy bills. The organisation has launched a free Display Lighting Technology Guide, offering advice and tips on how retailers can reduce energy costs through use of energy-efficient light bulbs or natural lighting, while cutting carbon and complying with legislation, yet without losing the visual impact required to drive sales in a retail environment.
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DSA buys two sites
The Driving Standards Authority (DSA) has completed two acquisitions in the North West, represented by the Manchester office of industrial property agency Lambert Smith Hampton. The first acquisition is of Blackburn MPTC at Blackburn Interchange, a 6,000 sq ft building located on a 2.5-acre site near junction 4 of the M65, from Pendle Bracken Developments on a 40-year lease. The second acquisition is of Atherton MPTC & LGV Testing Centre in Gibfield Park, near Wigan. The 8,000 sq ft property was bought from Rok Developments also on a 40-year lease.
The Driving Standards Authority (DSA) has completed two acquisitions in the North West, represented by the Manchester office of industrial property agency Lambert Smith Hampton. The first acquisition is of Blackburn MPTC at Blackburn Interchange, a 6,000 sq ft building located on a 2.5-acre site near junction 4 of the M65, from Pendle Bracken Developments on a 40-year lease. The second acquisition is of Atherton MPTC & LGV Testing Centre in Gibfield Park, near Wigan. The 8,000 sq ft property was bought from Rok Developments also on a 40-year lease.
Consultancy joins EP panel
Manchester-based property and construction consultancy Rider Levett Bucknall has been appointed to the English Partnerships (EP) Project and Cost Management Consultants Panel. EP maintains a number of consultants' panels and term consultants to deliver its regeneration and development programmes. Appointment to the panel until 2012 will allow Rider Levett Bucknall access to regeneration projects across the UK. This December, the Homes and Communities Agency will be launched, taking over the roles of English Partnerships, and the investment arm of the Housing Corporation.
Manchester-based property and construction consultancy Rider Levett Bucknall has been appointed to the English Partnerships (EP) Project and Cost Management Consultants Panel. EP maintains a number of consultants' panels and term consultants to deliver its regeneration and development programmes. Appointment to the panel until 2012 will allow Rider Levett Bucknall access to regeneration projects across the UK. This December, the Homes and Communities Agency will be launched, taking over the roles of English Partnerships, and the investment arm of the Housing Corporation.
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