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Top story
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Woolies stores a further boost to TJ Morris
Liverpool discount retail chain TJ Morris is set to open 30 stores over the next six months after it confirmed that it is to take over 14 former Woolworths stores. The business, which trades as Home Bargains, will refit and open sites including stores in Liverpool, Kendal and Preston. This morning, operations director Joe Morris told Insider: “We’ve bought these sites from the administrator and it means that we’ve got around 30 sites due to open in the next six months or so. A lot of the stores have gone back to various landlords, so we may or may not look at further Woolworths stores, depending on various factors.”
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Today's news
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Out and about with The North Face
Retailer The North Face, whose UK base is in Kendal, has seen sales increase as consumers choose walking in the Lakes over sunbathing in Spain and seek out quality products over cheaper brands. Speaking to Insider last night from the opening of the company’s Glasgow store, Patrik Frisk, general manager of The North Face EMEA, said like-for-like sales had increased strongly across the 40-store European portfolio. “We are fortunate that the outdoor sector has not been affected by the downturn,” he said. “Places like the Lake District are seeing a boom now as people will spend more time in the UK.” He anticipates further UK growth. “Any major centre or city has the potential for us to have a presence,” he said, pointing to a March opening in Bristol, which just beat Liverpool for a new store. “The market is not really growing, but we’re a global brand and a lot of retailers are looking to consolidate. Consumers are consolidating too – saying they’re going to buy less but of better quality.” 
NSG announces job cuts
The parent company of glass manufacturer Pilkington is to axe 5,800 jobs worldwide – 15 per cent of its workforce. Pilkington employs around 2,000 people across the North West. NSG Group, which acquired Pilkington in 2006, said it expected to make a loss of £173m for the financial year as a result of restructuring costs and a fall-off in business. Around 3,000 staff are expected to leave the business this year with the remainder finishing by March 2010. Earlier this week, NSG announced it had refinanced £300m of the £1.8bn debt used to buy Pilkington.
Auto industry must survive, says Bradley
Liverpool City Council leader Warren Bradley has spoken out against critics of the city’s economy and is adamant that Liverpool will continue to grow. Speaking at a Striding Out event, he rubbished recent reports that the city would be one of those worst hit by the recession and underlined the importance of the automotive industry to the region. “Land Rover Jaguar and Vauxhall must survive as there are too many supply chains on the back of them,” he said. “If we see the closure of just one of those plants it will be a disaster. Whole generations of local families will lose their way and we will have something akin to when the docks closed. The future of Liverpool hinges on the automotive industry and our business people.” He added that 2008 changed the image of Liverpool and brought real confidence. “It is this that will sustain us through this recession and continue to engineer the success of Liverpool,” he said.
Ainscough-Johnston looks for nuclear family
Property fund Ainscough-Johnston has made an unconditional bid for three sites being sold by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The sites total 1,052 acres in Essex, Gloucestershire and Wlyfa on Anglesey. If successful at the next stage, Ainscough-Johnston, the Wigan business set up by former Ainscough Crane Hire man Martin Ainscough, will enter a joint venture with an energy company to deliver nuclear facilities or other energy uses. The outcome of the auction is expected by March 2009.
Partner status for Mando
Liverpool web developer Mando Group has earned certified status in Microsoft’s Partner Programme, which recognises the company’s ability to deliver Microsoft technologies to meet the needs of customers. Managing director Ian Finch said achieving official accreditation is the next step in strengthening its position as a leading Microsoft development house. “The benefits provided through our accreditation will allow us to continue to enhance the offerings that we provide for customers,” he said.
Insider needs your recommendations
There’s nothing worse than working away from home and not knowing where to get a good meal or decent bed for the night. We realise that our readers are a hard-working bunch who often have to travel up and down the country on business trips, so we’re putting together a Business Travel Guide that will take a look at the main UK business destinations and outline in a nutshell the best places to eat, sleep, entertain clients and do business. Our readers’ recommendations will form the backbone of this guide, so if you know a good hotel, restaurant, business facility provider, bar or café, we would like you to tell us about it. Click here to give your recommendations, which may be included in the final guide.
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Something for the weekend
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Deal of the week
Deals are thin on the ground on Merseyside this week but the leisure sector is an interesting proposition at the moment. The Tall Trees Lodge in Warrington has been acquired by husband and wife team Jeff and Marjorie Riley for an undisclosed six-figure sum. The three-star hotel, thought to have been one of the UK’s first budget hotels when it opened in 1992, has 20 bedrooms and is located close to junction 12 of the M56. The deal was part funded by NatWest, while Liverpool-based Mitchell Charlesworth advised.
Twitter and shout
So the micro-blogging craze Twitter will see Liverpool join cities across the world in a Twestival on 12 February. As the city’s efforts will be held from the funky but not exactly cavernous, Leaf Tea Shop and Bar it can be assumed much of Liverpool’s yet to wake up to what Twitter can do for them. All-round nice guy and gadget freak Stephen Fry’s done a lot to publicise Twitter, but the percentage of people informing the world of every detail of their lives that are anywhere near as interesting as Fry must be minute.
A bunch of fives
Brace yourself if you’re anywhere near Church Square, St Helens, over the next four Fridays, where a link-up between the centre and local radio station City Talk 105.9 FM will see the Phantom Fiver Flinger “wearing a cloak and mysterious mask” dispatching fistfuls of fivers to those keen enough to follow some clues. The way the pound’s going, it’s probably cheaper than using Zimbabwean dollars.
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