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Top story
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Strong growth at Brammer with more ahead
Industrial services group Brammer has posted strong profit and revenue growth for the first half of the year and said it expects further progress for the rest of 2008. Pre-tax profit was up from £7.2m to £11m against the same period last year, while revenue grew by 33 per cent to £241.6m, boosted by acquisitions and organic growth. The Wythenshawe-based company, which produces bearings, gear boxes and other manufacturing-related parts, said its 33 per cent revenue growth was 11 per cent from organic growth, 10 per cent from acquisitions and 12 per cent from exchange rates. Chairman David Dunn said: "While the overall business environment at present is challenging we believe that Brammer is well positioned with a strong and robust strategy in a large and diverse market place."
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Cyprotex chairman steps down
Following yesterday's strong interim results, Cyprotex, which has recorded a net profit for the first time, has announced that chairman is stepping down to become a director from Monday. The role of chairman at the Macclesfield-based drug discovery technology company will be taken over by Steve Harris, an experienced non-executive with a range of companies in the life sciences sector, who is also a non-executive director of Cheshire-based Advanced Medical Solutions.
Following yesterday's strong interim results, Cyprotex, which has recorded a net profit for the first time, has announced that chairman is stepping down to become a director from Monday. The role of chairman at the Macclesfield-based drug discovery technology company will be taken over by Steve Harris, an experienced non-executive with a range of companies in the life sciences sector, who is also a non-executive director of Cheshire-based Advanced Medical Solutions.
Zoom goes whoosh
Canadian low-cost transatlantic carrier Zoom Airlines has suspended its operations with immediate effect, leaving fewer flights from Manchester to Canada and hundreds of passengers stranded. The airline blamed its collapse on an increase in the price of fuel, which has seen operating costs increase by $50m during the last year. Manchester Airport said that the cancellation of its once-a-week flights to Toronto and Vancouver has meant that around 400 passengers have been left without return flights.
Canadian low-cost transatlantic carrier Zoom Airlines has suspended its operations with immediate effect, leaving fewer flights from Manchester to Canada and hundreds of passengers stranded. The airline blamed its collapse on an increase in the price of fuel, which has seen operating costs increase by $50m during the last year. Manchester Airport said that the cancellation of its once-a-week flights to Toronto and Vancouver has meant that around 400 passengers have been left without return flights.
Keen on green at Chester Developments
Manchester-based Chester Developments has launched its own carbon offsetting scheme called Carbon Keepers, which enables developers and construction firms to make their developments carbon neutral by offsetting emissions with an investment in a large-scale environmental project in Sri Lanka. The project, run in association with the Sri Lankan Government, will see over 200 million trees planted in the first three years.
Manchester-based Chester Developments has launched its own carbon offsetting scheme called Carbon Keepers, which enables developers and construction firms to make their developments carbon neutral by offsetting emissions with an investment in a large-scale environmental project in Sri Lanka. The project, run in association with the Sri Lankan Government, will see over 200 million trees planted in the first three years.
Architects take a share
The Manchester office of architectural practice The Harris Partnership has gone through a restructuring that has seen the company's associate directors who head the office, Ben Battye and David Evans, receiving shares in the company. In the North West the firm counts high-profile schemes such as the Birchwood Shopping Centre, Warrington, and a 160,000 sq. ft Tesco in Oldham in its portfolio.
The Manchester office of architectural practice The Harris Partnership has gone through a restructuring that has seen the company's associate directors who head the office, Ben Battye and David Evans, receiving shares in the company. In the North West the firm counts high-profile schemes such as the Birchwood Shopping Centre, Warrington, and a 160,000 sq. ft Tesco in Oldham in its portfolio.
People in green houses
Skelmersdale-based Construction Partnership UK is set to create its first eco-homes in Manchester. The company has negotiated a £1.9m contract with Crosby Lend Lease to construct a new apartment development, which will aim to set new standards in green construction in the North West. The company will build 24 one and two-bedroom apartments in Whalley Range, near Manchester city centre. The apartments will be the first Crosby Lend Lease development built in accordance with the government's new Code for Sustainable Homes, which includes minimum standards for energy and water efficiency.
Skelmersdale-based Construction Partnership UK is set to create its first eco-homes in Manchester. The company has negotiated a £1.9m contract with Crosby Lend Lease to construct a new apartment development, which will aim to set new standards in green construction in the North West. The company will build 24 one and two-bedroom apartments in Whalley Range, near Manchester city centre. The apartments will be the first Crosby Lend Lease development built in accordance with the government's new Code for Sustainable Homes, which includes minimum standards for energy and water efficiency.
Numero plays with Game
Numero has signed a deal with computer games retailer Game to use the Stockport-based company's SmartAgent email response programme to manage all inbound email contact from online customers for Game's three brands: Game, Gamestation and Gameplay. The programme will support up to 25 contact centre agents in Game Group by improving customer service and productivity, and providing a platform to support continued growth.
Numero has signed a deal with computer games retailer Game to use the Stockport-based company's SmartAgent email response programme to manage all inbound email contact from online customers for Game's three brands: Game, Gamestation and Gameplay. The programme will support up to 25 contact centre agents in Game Group by improving customer service and productivity, and providing a platform to support continued growth.
Connaughton scoops entrepreneur gong
Vinnie Connaughton, chief executive of Manchester-based accountancy Lewis, Alexander & Connaughton, has scooped the overall Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Northwest Entrepreneur Awards 2008, held last night at New Century House in Manchester. The ceremony, organised by events company Square Mango, featured 14 categories with finalists including family businesses, solicitors, restaurants, property developers and internet service providers. Connaughton told Insider that he was delighted with the win, adding that it was recognition for the firm’s solid progress. He said: “We’ve won more than 100 clients in the last 12 months and are really going from strength to strength. In the last three years we’ve doubled in size and now have a broad range of clients.”
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Something for the weekend
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Deal of the week
It's been a quiet, four-day week for deals, but Bodycote pulled off the £417m sale of its testing business to New York-based private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier and Rice, a sign that big deals are still to be done - and at their expected price. The Macclesfield-based company said it plans to return £260m, or 80p per share, to shareholders and will invest the remainder of the proceeds in its thermal processing business in a bid to expand in emerging markets and boost performance of underperforming facilities in North America.
It's been a quiet, four-day week for deals, but Bodycote pulled off the £417m sale of its testing business to New York-based private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier and Rice, a sign that big deals are still to be done - and at their expected price. The Macclesfield-based company said it plans to return £260m, or 80p per share, to shareholders and will invest the remainder of the proceeds in its thermal processing business in a bid to expand in emerging markets and boost performance of underperforming facilities in North America.
Restrained quote of the week
Martin Edwards, head of employment law and human resources at Mace & Jones, on being appointed as an external adviser to The Football Association: "We are excited by the prospect of acting for one of the most high-profile and significant employers in the country and we are very much looking forward to working alongside the impressive team of HR and legal professionals within The FA." Go on, just say you're looking forward to some free tickets!
Martin Edwards, head of employment law and human resources at Mace & Jones, on being appointed as an external adviser to The Football Association: "We are excited by the prospect of acting for one of the most high-profile and significant employers in the country and we are very much looking forward to working alongside the impressive team of HR and legal professionals within The FA." Go on, just say you're looking forward to some free tickets!
Rage against the machine
So-called e-rage is sweeping the nation, but it seems your attitude towards that annoying heap of metal and wires on your desk depends on where you live. A survey by ISP Eclipse Internet found that 10 per cent of workers in Manchester would resort to hitting their computer, but only 3 per cent in Liverpool would literally lash out at their PCs. What this says about stress levels in Manchester we don't know, but rest assured that there are even more crazy people out there - 18.5 per cent of Glaswegians take out their frustrations on their computers.
So-called e-rage is sweeping the nation, but it seems your attitude towards that annoying heap of metal and wires on your desk depends on where you live. A survey by ISP Eclipse Internet found that 10 per cent of workers in Manchester would resort to hitting their computer, but only 3 per cent in Liverpool would literally lash out at their PCs. What this says about stress levels in Manchester we don't know, but rest assured that there are even more crazy people out there - 18.5 per cent of Glaswegians take out their frustrations on their computers.
Reasons to be cheerful
Things might seem a bit gloomy at the moment, but be thankful you're not in Edinburgh. A research team from the universities of Sheffield and Manchester has revealed that Manchester is the second happiest place to be in Britain, behind Powys, the most sparsely populated county in Wales. Topping the list of least cheerful places were the Scottish capital, Rhondda and north-east Derbyshire. The news didn't go down too well in Edinburgh, with the city's irked council leader Andrew Burns saying: "It is certainly not a description of Edinburgh I recognise." Cheer up, eh?
Things might seem a bit gloomy at the moment, but be thankful you're not in Edinburgh. A research team from the universities of Sheffield and Manchester has revealed that Manchester is the second happiest place to be in Britain, behind Powys, the most sparsely populated county in Wales. Topping the list of least cheerful places were the Scottish capital, Rhondda and north-east Derbyshire. The news didn't go down too well in Edinburgh, with the city's irked council leader Andrew Burns saying: "It is certainly not a description of Edinburgh I recognise." Cheer up, eh?
or maybe not
Manchester might be Britain's second happiest place, but not all its residents see it that way. Take Manchester United's under-the-weather defender Nemanja Vidic. In an interview with a Russian football magazine, the Serbian is alleged to have said: "In England, they say that Manchester is the city of rain. The winters are mild but in summer the temperatures seldom go higher than 20 degrees, and it rains, rains, rains. Its main attraction is the timetable at the railway station, where trains leave for other, less rainy cities." He's now denied ever saying such a thing and promises that he has "too much respect for the people of Manchester to criticise them in this way". What's all the fuss about? By this summer's standards, it's hardly breaking news that it's raining in Manchester.
Manchester might be Britain's second happiest place, but not all its residents see it that way. Take Manchester United's under-the-weather defender Nemanja Vidic. In an interview with a Russian football magazine, the Serbian is alleged to have said: "In England, they say that Manchester is the city of rain. The winters are mild but in summer the temperatures seldom go higher than 20 degrees, and it rains, rains, rains. Its main attraction is the timetable at the railway station, where trains leave for other, less rainy cities." He's now denied ever saying such a thing and promises that he has "too much respect for the people of Manchester to criticise them in this way". What's all the fuss about? By this summer's standards, it's hardly breaking news that it's raining in Manchester.
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