Business Manchester

Gino D’Acampo’s love affair with Manchester continues with the opening of his first Pizza & Prosecco Bar at Next, Manchester Arndale

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24/11/2017

The UK’s favourite Italian chef will open his first Pizza & Prosecco Bar, in the refurbished flagship store of fashion retailer Next at Manchester Arndale on Friday 24th November 2017.

This opening follows the huge success of his first Manchester restaurant in the Corn Exchange.

My Pizza & Prosecco Bar by Gino D’Acampo seats over 200 people and is situated on the first floor of Next, accessed both from the store and a dedicated entrance on Corporation Street.

The restaurant will open from 10am until 11pm, seven days a week.

The restaurant has been designed on a grand scale with high ceilings and a glass façade with a panoramic view of Cathedral Gardens and some of Manchester’s most iconic buildings. At the centre of the restaurant is an open kitchen featuring two handmade, copper wood-fired Italian Pizza Ovens and a cold counter including an ice cream bar. Taking centre stage is a 23-metre island prosecco bar.

The restaurant has Gino’s trademark washed woods, Carrara marble and striking green leather. Inspiration is taken from his favourite Italian yacht builder, Riva.

Gino wanted to give all the family, not just Next shoppers, a reason to visit with his clever use of space, designed to allow a very casual, all day, every day drinking and dining experience. Superfast free WIFI, complimentary work stations and a games room are all part of Gino’s vision of providing shoppers with a dining and a lifestyle experience.

Gino was born and raised in Napoli, in the south of Italy, the birthplace of pizza so he takes his promise of bringing real Neapolitan pizza to Manchester seriously. The rest of the menu features favourites once again from his many books and TV shows.

The dessert menu is sure to be a hit with families; all ice creams and cakes are from Gino’s very own bakery and include a “build your own sundae” section for those ready to indulge.

The Prosecco bar features over 30 Prosecco, Franciacorta, and sparkling wines and wines all available by the glass. Gino’s exclusive partnerships with producers in Italy offers a wide selection not available anywhere else in the UK and at great prices.

The menu is complemented by iconic Italian cocktails, artisan bottled beers and last but certainly not least real Neapolitan coffee.

Gino first made his move into restaurants when he teamed up with friend and business partner Steven Walker, founder of Manchester based restaurant group Individual Restaurants. The partnership of Individual Restaurants and Gino D’Acampo goes from strength to strength with five openings this year and many more planned in exciting locations in 2018. A deal was announced with fashion retailer Next earlier this year and they plan significant growth from here.

Gino D’Acampo enjoys equal success on our screens with his rating busting primetime TV series, Gino’s Italian Escape, recently awarded best food show at the TV choice awards 2017. With over 4 million viewers his new show Gino’s Italian Coastal Escape is on ITV every Wednesday at 8pm.

Gino D’Acampo will host the opening in person as always and will be signing copies of his new book which accompanies his latest show.

Gino Said: “I’m super excited to be opening My Pizza and Prosecco Bar in Manchester and with my new partnership with Next. What more can someone want than great pizza, great prosecco and a bit of retail therapy.”

Manchester’s Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites ‘double-decker’ hotel kick starts new era of co-branded hotels in the UK

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Sam Whitear

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23/11/2017

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Manchester’s dual-branded Crowne Plaza/Staybridge Suites hotel will help to redefine the way hotel groups provide UK hospitality.

The era of the co-branded hotel in Britain is gathering pace, according to industry experts, just months ahead of the opening of the ‘double-decker’ hotel on Oxford Road, Manchester, in early 2018.

Now other hotel groups are surging ahead with plans to open dual-branded hotels at sites across Britain too.

Cycas Hospitality, the hotel group that will manage the Manchester ‘double-decker’, is one of the biggest developers of dual-branded hotels and the increasingly popular trend of suite accommodation combined on one site with traditional hotel accommodation. The group will see construction start soon on a Residence Inn/ Moxy hotels dual-branded hotel in Slough, together with the same brands opening early next year in Amsterdam and The Hague as well as the Crowne Plaza/Staybridge Suites in Manchester.

It’s no wonder there is excitement for the growing co-branded sector, especially where apartments and suites are part of the mix – figures for the first half of 2017 released by the Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) show that RevPAR was up 5.5 per cent nationally and 15.5 per cent in London. The average daily rate (ADR) increased 3.8 per cent to £139.08 in the whole of the UK and 10.3 per cent to £185.58 in London.

The capital recorded the highest occupancy at 81.5 per cent, a 4.8 per cent increase on last year, although regional UK reported a 1.4 per cent decline to 76.9 per cent occupancy but with a 1.1 per cent increase in ADR to £90.27.

The news comes on the back of a new Visit Britain report, which shows despite a decline in business visitors during the first five months of the year – down 2 per cent to 3.7 million – leisure visits to the UK jumped by 20 per cent to 5.9 million.

Containing 328-rooms Manchester’s dual-branded Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites – dubbed the ‘double-decker’ hotel because one brand sits on top of the other on the site – is located on Corridor Manchester and will be unveiled to the public in early 2018.

The 19-storey building, just off Manchester’s bustling Oxford Road and within walking distance of the city centre, will boast a 212-room Crowne Plaza and a 116-room Staybridge Suites.

Crowne Plaza, which will feature a 120-cover upscale restaurant, seven meeting rooms catering for over 200 delegates and a gym, is spread over 11-storeys from the ground up.

Whereas extended stay brand Staybridge Suites – which is opening in Manchester for the first time – is located on the upper eight floors and will offer a warm, social and home-like environment through a mix of studio and one-bedroom suites.

Both brands are part of the IHG portfolio.

Andrew Fletcher is General Manager of the dual-branded hotel, which is the first of its kind in the north of England and sits opposite Alliance Manchester Business School and The Royal Northern College of Music.

Andrew said Manchester is following in the footsteps of great cities across the globe that have incorporated dual-branded hotels in their offer.

“The Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites dual-branded hotel will open under one roof in Manchester early next year,” said Andrew, who has 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry.

“The dual-brand concept is extremely exciting as it isn’t something that has been offered to people staying in Manchester before. And it certainly seems to be a trend that is catching on here in the UK as well as across Europe after huge successes in America.

“Being located just off Oxford Road, within Corridor Manchester and next to the Alliance Manchester Business School on the University of Manchester campus, gives us tremendous confidence in our offer.

“We are very different to any other hotel in the city region. What we have is two brands that very much complement each other and ultimately give people different options to what they have had before.”

The dual-branded 328-room hotel forms part of the University of Manchester’s Campus Masterplan, which includes the wider redevelopment of Alliance Manchester Business School. It will also adjoin its new two-storey Executive Education Centre, which will provide a new home for the business school’s corporate leadership and management programmes.

Both Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites sit within Corridor Manchester, which is home to 70,000 students and boasts a workforce of 60,000 people – with 14,000 new jobs planned.

The 116 rooms in Staybridge Suites all have fully equipped kitchens and great views of the city. Guests also have access to a terrace on the 18^th floor, a meeting room, fitness room, laundry facilities and complimentary hot and cold buffet breakfast in a hub kitchen.

The 120-cover upscale restaurant in the 212-room Crowne Plaza hasn’t been named yet, but Staybridge Suites guests will be able to access the restaurant and bar.

Deloitte Real Estate announces raft of promotions

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Sam Whitear

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23/11/2017

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Deloitte Real Estate’s Northern team has announced a number of promotions across its planning, capital advisory, and valuation teams following a strong year in which the firm has helped deliver multi-million pound projects.

Deloitte’s Manchester planning team has had an exceptional year, and recently announced its delivery of 27 key developments in the city between June 2016 and July 2017 that will deliver a combined 8,388 units. This includes Trinity Island (approved in July 2017) and Owen Street (approved in June 2016) at 67-storeys and 64-storeys respectively.

In recognition of this success, the Manchester office has announced a number of promotions across its real estate teams. Andy Cowan has been promoted to Senior Planner following his work on schemes such as Manchester Life Development Company’s on-going development plans in Ancoats and New Islington. The planning team in Manchester also announced the appointment of Rachel Hopkins, who joins Deloitte Real Estate as a Graduate Planner having completed a Masters in Town and Regional Planning at the University of Sheffield.

In the capital projects advisory team, Chris Lewis has been named Senior Surveyor, and Greg Salisbury has been promoted to Surveyor for their consultancy services as part of the team’s work on a range of transformation projects for both the public and private sector.

In the valuation team, Chris Farnworth has been promoted to Surveyor following his involvement in a variety of projects both nationally and across the North-West.

The Leeds team at Deloitte Real Estate has also announced promotions following a strong year. Pete Gleave has been promoted to Assistant Director after leading on a number of planning applications including the St Albans development by Vita Student, which is set to deliver 376 student apartments in Leeds city centre, and the 14-storey Hampton by Hilton Hotel on Bridge Street.

The planning team has also announced the promotion of Ellen Sanderson-Clark to Senior Planner following her work on key projects throughout Yorkshire and the North West. Ellen also provides planning advice to Land Securities on their ongoing asset management of Trinity Leeds Shopping Centre. Ellen has also worked on the regeneration of Circle Square by Bruntwood and Select Property in Manchester.

Peter Wilkinson, Head of Deloitte Real Estate in the Regions, said: “It has been a brilliant period of activity for Deloitte Real Estate, in which we have helped to deliver some of the most significant schemes in the pipeline across the North.

“Our team’s technical and strategic expertise is unparalleled, and so it is with great pride that we announce these promotions in recognition of our commitment to providing an outstanding service to our clients and the wider region.”

GVA brings to market Prestbury Hotel

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Sam Whitear

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23/11/2017

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GVA has been appointed as the sole agents for the sale of The Bridge Hotel in the Cheshire village of Prestbury on behalf of the Joint Administrators of Bridge Hotel (Prestbury) Limited.

The full-service hotel is being offered to the market as a going concern business at a guide asking price of offers in excess of £2.5m.

The hotel is a charming detached period property with an attractive character bar and restaurant, together with a modern rear extension which accommodates the majority of the letting bedrooms and the main function and banqueting facility.

Situated in the popular village of Prestbury, the hotel has 23 en-suite letting bedrooms, a lounge bar, restaurant as well as conference and banqueting facilities for up to 100 guests.

Martin Davis from GVA’s Northern Hotels team said: “This superb hotel is situated in one of the North West’s most desirable and sought after residential locations which provides an ingoing operator with an excellent opportunity to develop trade.”

Joint Administrator Arron Kendall of Moorfields Advisory said: “The Bridge Hotel has been running since 1952 in the heart of Cheshire, but unfortunately fell into financial difficulties earlier this year. The hotel has had a good trading history and would be a good purchase for someone wishing to build on the reputation of the existing hotel.”

Stockport funeral planners Pride Planning are now accepting BitCoin.

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Sam Whitear

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23/11/2017

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The move is a first in the funeral industry as Pride Planning looks at ways to innovate for its customers.

BitCoin is a ‘cryptocurrency’ – a form of digital currency that is created and held electronically. Only 21 million will ever be created.

Customers will be offered the option to pay with BitCoin on the payment pagre on the Pride Planning website.

Mike Noblett, CEO at Pride Planning, said: “We are living in a digital age with new digital currencies and ways to pay.

“We want to be innovators in funeral planning and ways to pay – BitCoin is a fast and secure payment method with an ever accelerating value.”

Pride Planning, based in Stockport town centre, recently announced a turnover of £2.6m in their second year and are on track for £6-7m for 2017/18.

It offers a variety of pre-planned funeral packages and payment plans.

Co-owner Adam Deering added: “Planning a funeral can be a particularly difficult time – we aim to take away the stress by assisting every step of the way.

“Pride Planning has a variety of prepaid funeral plans available which vary in price based on requirements and budget.”

Customers also benefit from the Pride Discount Club and can get money-off offers from a number of retailers including Apple, Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer.

Sale Sharks Community Trust coach honoured to pick up prestigious national award

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Sam Whitear

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23/11/2017

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A Sale Sharks community coach has won a prestigious national award after going ‘above and beyond the call of duty’ to help disadvantaged young people get back into education, vocational training, apprenticeships and employment.

Aaron Phelps Naqvi, who has worked with the award-winning Sale Sharks Community Trust since 2015, picked up the HITZ Champion title at the national HITZ Awards on Tuesday in London.

The HITZ Champion award, which is supported by Comic Relief, recognises an individual who has helped a participant overcome their personal barriers.

Aaron, originally from London, was shortlisted along with nominees from Bath Rugby and Worcester Warriors after he helped 46 learners from the HITZ Salford programme complete qualifications and a work placement in the last 12 months.

“I’m incredibly honoured to be given this award,” said Aaron. “It recognises the fantastic work that the whole Trust does right across the North West.

“We’re lucky to work with some truly inspiring young people and it’s really rewarding to see them go on to achieve what we know they are capable of.”

Delivered across Greater Manchester the Sale Sharks Community Trust in partnership with Premiership Rugby, HITZ uses rugby to increase young peoples’ resilience, self-reliance and confidence.

The programme, which has been running for 6 years, is focused on giving participants the skills they need to get back into education, vocational training, apprenticeships and employment.

Jonny Acheson, Executive Director at the Sale Sharks Community Trust, said: “This award is fantastic recognition for Aaron and the work that he has been doing since 2015.

“He consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty for our learners and the proof is in the amazing results that he – and they – have been able to achieve.”

Speaking ahead of the glittering ceremony, held at London’s BT Centre, one of the judges, Lisa Bedding, Sport for Change Grants Manager at Comic Relief, said: “Aaron has clearly gone above and beyond the remit of his job requirements.

“The results he’s achieved for the participants is really impressive, and credit to the hard work he’s put in.”

HITZ learner Odin Quinn, from Rochdale, was also shortlisted for the HITZ Young Ambassador award, the prize awarded to an individual who has grown and changed for the better, and whose positive attitude has made an impact on those involved in and the programme.

Odin was 20 years old when he joined the HITZ programme at Sale Sharks in September 2016 with learning difficulties and a severe lack of confidence.

He was rejected by a local college and felt as though he had no viable options. But since joining the HITZ programme he has gone on to complete a work placement at Moorgate Catering and gained both confidence and new skills.

“Odin is a fantastic example of how, with a little of the right support, young people can turn their lives around,” Jonny added. “We’re really proud of both Odin and Aaron.”

Chill Factor Celebrates 10 years

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Sam Whitear

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23/11/2017

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Leading leisure attraction, Chill Factor^e, is this month celebrating its 10^th anniversary with a spectacular ski down on its real snow slope, led by the nation’s favourite ski jump personality, Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards.

The longest real snow slope in the UK at 180m, Chill Factor^e has welcomed over 14 million visitors since opening in November 2007 and is home to the only Christmas Grotto on real snow in the country, which sees in excess of 20,000 visitors each year.

Since the destination opened in 2007, the piste basher which grooms the slopes at Chill Factor^e has travelled 4,071 miles – the distance from Manchester to the North Pole! In the last ten years, Chill Factor^e has taught over half a million lessons, sold 1.5 million lift passes and employed over 3,000 people. During that time, 36,400 tonnes of snow has fallen on the real snow slope at Chill Factor^e, an average of 10 tonnes every night!

Over the past decade, Chill Factor^e has welcomed an array of well-known faces, from snow sports stars and Team GB athletes to musicians and soap stars. Amongst those who have graced the slope at Chill Factor^e are Justin Bieber, Colleen Rooney, Ryan Giggs, the Hairy Bikers, Eddie The Eagle, Aimee Fuller, Dave Ryding, Ben Kilner, Katie Ormerod, James Woods and Katie Summerhayes.

But the real heroes; long standing employees who have worked for Chill Factor^e since day one and loyal guests who visited Chill Factor^eon it’s opening day, will join Eddie The Eagle to lead a spectacular ski down on 16^th November. It will comprise of the snow crew, sponsored athletes and instructors from Chill Factor^e, followed by a birthday celebration.

Over the years, Chill Factor^ehas achieved World Record breaking status, including achieving the longest chain of skiers in 2011, the greatest number of people to perform the same trick at a single venue in 2013 and the Greatest Distance Snowboarded Indoor in 24 hours by Richard Millington in 2014, who boarded a total of 46,200 metres – equivalent to skiing down the full height of Mount Everest over five times!

Chill Factor^e’s 10^th year marks the greatest milestone for the destination to date, investing a significant £600,000 in the complete renovation of the Changing Village facilities, installing 900 tonnes of fresh snow on the 180m real snow slope at and offering a completely free calendar of events throughout the summer and half term.

Morwenna Angove, Chief Executive at Chill Factor^e, explains; “As we celebrate our 10^th anniversary, we’d like to thank the wonderful employees and long-standing guests who have enjoyed the journey with us.

“We’re proud to have taught millions of people to ski and snowboard over the last ten years, helping develop the nation’s love of snow sports and making the sport fun and accessible to both beginners and experienced athletes. During our 10-year heritage, we’ve been passionate about nurturing the talent of aspiring young athletes, some of whom have gone on to represent the country.

“It’s our vision to be the leading visitor attraction in the north and we’ve already come a long way in achieving that. We enter our 10^th year following a significant half a million-pound investment and are committed to continuing to deliver a fun filled, memorable day out for families across the UK.”

Amongst the most notable occasions in Chill Factor^e’s heritage was the launch of a Pets’ Grotto which saw visitors bringing their furry companions to meet Santa, the introduction of dog snowboarding lessons and two world’s firsts, a snow zorbing experience and indoor summit challenge corporate offering.

As well as world records and firsts, Chill Factor^e has been involved in the Sportivate programme with Sport England in which it delivered ski and snowboard lessons to 920 children over four years. It also hosted the inter-school games in Manchester, encouraging schools from across the region to compete against each other in snowsports and partnered with the Department of Education programme, Commando Joe’s, to help children realise their full potential.

Chill Factor^e has played host to important snowsports events including the British Indoor SlopeStyle Championship, the first ever FIS European indoor Mogul Championship and British Mogul Championship, the Anglo Welsh British Indoor, the GBR One and Two, as well as the English Ski and Boarder Cross Championship. The leisure destination has also hosted most of the GB Alpine Series, a number of Snowsports England events and held around 18 seeded competitions in the UK every year.

Chill Factore is the North of England Headquarters for Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK), a nationwide charity providing adaptive skiing for individuals with any disability. DSUK have delivered over 8,000 hours of lessons to disabled clients at Chill Factore over the last 10 years.

Earl bird catches the Black Friday bargain in Manchester

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Sam Whitear

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22/11/2017

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New research from leading British retailer, Debenhams, reveals the amount of preparation and planning Manchester shoppers put into making sure they get the item they want on Black Friday.

The survey, which saw 2,000 shoppers across the UK questioned on their plans, found that over a third (31%) of shoppers plan to book the day off work or have already got the day off in order to tackle the Black Friday sales. Nearly half (44%) of men have, or are planning to, book the day off work compared to just a quarter (24%) of women.

When it comes to planning for the ‘big weekend’, one in ten (11%) admitted they started thinking about what they wanted to buy 4-7 days before.

Women are more likely to create a plan of action for the sales – 8% of the women spoken to in the study said that they started to pull together a wish list one to three months before the sales. Men on the other hand prefer to wait until closer to the time – a fifth (21%) left it 1-5 days before, while 4% made a snap decision on the morning.

Around the country, Londoners plan the furthest ahead – they start thinking about what they want up to three months in advance (3%).

It seems that the early bird really does catch the worm when it comes to Black Friday – a quarter (22%) of those interviewed are planning to wake up early to face the sales, setting their alarm for 6.31am.

The majority of shoppers in the region (11%) have given themselves a budget of £101-151 during the Black Friday sales. Across the country, Southampton shoppers have the biggest pot (£351-£400) followed by those in Leeds (£251-£300). More than a tenth (13%) are spending more than last year, while 74% have budgeted the same amount. Men are more likely to have increased their funds (15%) while women have reduced theirs (13%).

The main beneficiaries of the bargains are the people buying them (61%), followed by partners (33%) and children (31%). Men are most likely to shop for themselves (53%) compared to women (50%).

Richard Cristofoli, Managing Director of Beauty and Marketing at Debenhams, said: “Since arriving in the UK four years ago, Black Friday has become a formidable fixture in the country’s shopping calendar. Last year the event was the biggest day of trade in Debenhams’ 239 year history.

Our customers tell us that they love the glamour and excitement that Debenhams offers through including great deals on top beauty brands, exclusive Designer fashions as well as branded electricals and toys in the event.”

Manchester Metropolitan University and Asda launch new retail-focused degree apprenticeship

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Sam Whitear

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22/11/2017

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Manchester Metropolitan University and Asda have launched a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship in Retail.

Asda have been a long-term supporter of apprenticeships, with programmes to help young people take the first steps in their careers. Now they are offering colleagues the chance to study for a degree apprenticeship, a bespoke programme designed to build the skills and knowledge for a successful retail management career in Asda.

Participants in the four-year degree apprenticeship programme have the opportunity to complete a full honours degree alongside their role with the retailer.

Commenting on the programme, Alison Lockwood, Apprenticeship Adviser at Asda said: “We are very passionate about apprenticeships and giving our colleagues an opportunity to develop. We have a great relationship with Manchester Met, who have been invaluable in helping us to establish this new programme.”

The new programme is the result of an intensive period of consultation between Asda and University academics and apprenticeship experts. The curriculum covers core areas of management theory such as managing and leading people, finance and accounting, sales and marketing, and operations. Successful apprentices will also have the opportunity to achieve Chartered Manager (CMgr) status, the gold standard for the profession.

Andrew Lewis, Senior Lecturer in Retail Operations said: “We have a long history of collaboration with Industry partners, so we are delighted to be working with Asda on this tailored retail management degree apprenticeship. We’ve had a great first week and are looking forward to working with this group of motivated and ambitious Asda colleagues.”

Manchester Metropolitan University is the UK’s leading provider of management degree apprenticeships, and is part of an elite group of AACSB-accredited global business schools.

According to latest Department for Education statistics from July 2017, 1 in 7 of all Degree Apprentices in the UK study with Manchester Met. More than 600 degree apprentices are enrolled on the university’s Digital & Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeships and other programmes, such as the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship and the Laboratory Scientist programme. The university is also playing an important role in the development of new apprenticeship programmes, including a new MBA Degree Apprenticeship, which is set to launch in 2018.

Manchester’s Arro Money Opens Doors on Series A Funding

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Sam Whitear

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22/11/2017

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Manchester-based Arro Money, a fast-growing provider of personal and business accounts, has opened a Series A Financing round to global investors.

Arro Money is the latest member of the North of England’s booming technology sector to seek additional financing to grow via expanded services and marketing efforts. Reports show technology investment in the region reached a total of £208 million in the third quarter of 2017 – more than four times the value of the year before.

Aiming to reach its £1 million target by the end of December 2017, the account provider will use the investment to further develop the Arro Money product, which uniquely targets new to country individuals and entrepreneurs.

Arro Money offers straightforward money management for both personal and business accounts. The proprietary technology improves the way consumers and businesses access financial products by eliminating excessive credit checks and reducing the lengthy set-up times that are all too common at traditional banking institutions, helping to improve accessibility and financial inclusion.

The Oxford Road locals are already operating with an active user base that is growing month-on-month, as the organisation continues to exceed its customer acquisition targets. To date, Arro Money has been totally self-funding and is 100 per cent debt free.

Arro Money is in stark contrast to other businesses in this rapidly expanding sector, many of which have rushed to market and burned through vast levels of early-stage funding. Arro Money, on the other hand, has worked to create a sustainable, considered product with a long-term vision – supported by a mix of proprietary technology and key partnerships with industry stalwarts.

Speaking about the Series A Financing, Muhammad Asim, Director and industry expert at Arro Money, explained: “The technology scene in the North is growing rapidly, with investments increasing by nearly 50 per cent between Q2 and Q3, so it’s an exciting time to launch our Series A Financing. We’re proud to do our bit to make Manchester a major hub of technological innovation.

“With this round of funding, we’re hoping to be able to invest further in our products so we can bring them to an even wider audience, and ensure we are playing our role to eliminate the issue of financial exclusion once and for all.”

The current Series A Financing is the first round of funding that Arro Money is scheduled to open over the next 12 months. In total, the business is aiming to generate £10 million of investment by the end of 2018.