Manchester 'up there with Las Vegas'

City leaders and hotel operators are having high level talks about how Manchester’s city centre hotel capacity can grow to support bids to attract bigger international events. A major bid currently at planning stage requires 8,000 available hotel rooms - about 2,500 short of current numbers.

Co-op sells IFA business

The IFA business of the Co-operative Bank has been bought by Ashcourt Rowan. Co-operative Bank Independent Financial Advisers has approximately 55,000 customers with funds invested of approximately £1bn.

Management buys out Royden

Royden Engineering has been bought out by management, securing 89 jobs at its site in Rainford, St Helens. Joint administrators Les Ross and Matt Dunham at Grant Thornton oversaw the sale of the business which designs, fabricates and erects structural steelwork.

Beever and Struthers wins contracts

Manchester-based accountant and business adviser Beever and Struthers has been appointed to provide business planning validation services by seven social housing groups across the country.

Old Trafford plans win final approval

Trafford Council has issued a formal planning approval for the redevelopment of Old Trafford cricket ground, following a decision by secretary of state Eric Pickles that a public inquiry will not be necessary.

LEP bids called before Commons select committee

Insider has learned that ten Local Enterprise Partnership submissions will appear before a House of Commons' select committee next month. Among them are delegates representing bids from: Greater Manchester; Leeds City Region; Business Voice West Midlands; Coventry and Warwickshire; Cambridge and Peterborough; Coast to Capital Hove, Enterprise M3; Newcastle Gateshead; Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and South East Midlands.

Swinton profits down, but acquisitions to continue

Profits at insurance group Swinton have fallen to £39.1m from £48.8m, although the Manchester business built its turnover by almost a third. Net income grew 29.4 per cent to £263.2m, while gross premium income grew by £141.7m to £905.6m.

Hasgrove boosts profits

Manchester-based marketing company Hasgrove has reported an 8 per cent rise in gross profits to £14.2m for the six months to 30 June. The half yearly report shows that turnover rose by 6 per cent to £16.8m.

Turnover halved at Optare

Optare, which specialises in the design, manufacture and supply of single and double deck buses, has experienced a 48 per cent drop in turnover which it is blaming on "weak market demand". The business, which has bases in Leeds and Blackburn, says operating loss halved in the first half of 2010 against the second half of 2009 on a similar turnover.

Tampopo opens in Reading

Manchester restaurant chain Tampopo has opened a new outlet in Reading, creating 35 jobs in the process. The company said it was "actively seeking out" new sites in the South East and London.

Brand new North West Top 500 Database 2011

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Tague on Tour: Food for thought

The proposed Flavours Gourmet Village in Salford sounds fantastic, but is it really likely to happen? Neil Tague wonders if the scheme can expect the sweet taste of success.

In Focus: Opportunities in media and creative

The North West's digital, media and creative sector is under scrutiny from investors and advisers. Michael Taylor sees massive opportunities for investment.

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