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Sale Sharks ‘100 Club’ annual review sees Tom Curry’s boyhood club receive £10k

Sam Whitear
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Hundreds gathered for Sale Sharks’ ‘100 Club’ annual review, with Tom Curry’s boyhood rugby club landing a major financial boost.

At 18 years and 360 days old Tom, who grew up playing for Crewe & Nantwich RUFC alongside twin brother Ben, became England’s youngest debutant since Jonny Wilkinson during the summer fixture against Argentina.

As part of Sale Sharks’ ‘100 Club’ – a major project to help secure the future of rugby in the North West of England – the Premiership outfit gave £10,000 to Crewe & Nantwich in recognition of Curry landing an international appearance.

During the ‘100 Club’ annual review, which is run in partnership with Bollington Insurance, a further £8,000 was donated to grassroots clubs throughout the north west.

Manchester Rugby Club and Waterloo each pocketed £2,000 after former players Luke James and Sam Moore made their Sale Sharks debuts earlier this season.

Aaron Reed and Matt Sturgess’ first appearances for the north west’s only Premiership rugby side saw their ex-club Preston Grasshoppers land a total cash injection of £4,000.

Sale Sharks’ director of rugby Steve Diamond said: “Sale Sharks’ vision is to have 75% of our senior squad consisting of players from the North West of England by 2020, and the ‘100 Club’ in association with Bollington Insurance is an integral part of that objective.

“The first full year of the ‘100 Club’ has been a real success. Strategically, we are well on our way to achieving objectives which include creating well balanced young people, developing future England internationals, retaining talent in the north west talent pool and rewarding grassroots clubs across the region.”

He added: “Since January 2017 coach education sessions have been completed at 10 rugby clubs, with 12 more planned for other clubs in the region during the remainder of the 2017/18 season.

“As part of this pioneering long-term initiative 1,277 players have been assessed for the Academy Developing Player Pathway (DPP), with 608 players currently in the DPP, 890 players expected to be in it by the end of the season and 73 clubs represented in the DPP.”

As an official partner Bollington Insurance is providing quality commercial insurance and risk assessments to rugby clubs who form part of the ‘100 Club’, as well as competitively priced personal and commercial insurance to club members and their families.

Wayne Andrew, Corporate Business Development Manager at Bollington Insurance, said: “The ‘100 Club’ aims to help secure the future of rugby in the North West of England.

“We’re delighted to be so involved with this unique project which helps young sportspeople reach their full potential.”

Manchester heads regional hotel investment

Sam Whitear
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Manchester has retained its position as the most attractive hotel investment destination in England outside of London, ahead of Cambridge, Oxford, and Bath, according to an annual survey of senior hospitality industry leaders by Deloitte.

Deloitte’s European Hotel Investment Survey, which focuses on the UK and wider European hotel market, has revealed that investment in the Manchester hotel sector is set to continue its momentum in 2018 as the region delivers key projects.

According to the findings of the survey, which follow the 29th annual European Hotel Investment Conference, hotel investors are optimistic about 2018 growth prospects in the Regional UK hotel market. Growth is expected to be highest in the larger cities, such as Manchester, with the majority of respondents expecting growth between 1-3 per cent.

The findings are in line with Deloitte’s annual Manchester Crane survey, released in January this year. Offering a definitive review of construction and a barometer of future supply for real estate development in Manchester, the report noted an uptick in the regional hotel sector.

Adding to the 338 rooms delivered in 2016, a further 1,040 rooms were under construction and expected to complete this year, in a move which continues to deliver and diversify the tourist offer. Key projects under construction include Roomzzz Manchester Corn Exchange and the 19-storey Crowne Plaza and Staybridge development on Oxford Road. Both hotels are set to open in early 2018.

Simon Bedford, partner at Deloitte Real Estate, said: “Manchester has developed a robust hotel market with strong occupancy levels and a track record of absorbing new supply. Appetite for hotel investments in the region is of little surprise in the wake of tourism from overseas while the pound remains weak. It is pleasing to see Manchester secure its position as the most attractive city in England for hotel investment outside of London, and we look forward to tracking the continued growth of the sector in next year’s Manchester Crane Survey.”

Virgin Trains to(i)let Will Ferrell loo-se with onboard toilet announcements

Sam Whitear
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Virgin Trains’ passengers may be accustomed to advice not to flush their ex’s sweater, hopes, dreams or goldfish down the toilet, but when they pop to the on-board loo this festive season, they could be greeted with advice from an unexpected A-lister.

To celebrate the release of new Christmas comedy, Daddy’s Home 2, on the 22nd November, Virgin Trains on the West Coast has collaborated with Hollywood funnyman Will Ferrell to treat its passengers to some real toilet humour.

Ferrell will be on hand on selected Pendolino trains across the route to remind passengers to press the lock button of the toilet door to avoid the dreaded ‘slow reveal’, and encourage them to make the most of their journey by downloading Virgin Trains’ entertainment app, BEAM, which offers hundreds of hours of movies, TV, boxsets, magazines and games.

To coincide with the release of Daddy’s Home 2 in cinemas on November 22, customers travelling with Virgin Trains on the West Coast throughout November and December can watch Daddy’s Home, the original family comedy starring Will Farrell and Mark Wahlberg, completely free on BEAM.

Adrian Varma, Head of Commercial Partnerships at Virgin Trains on the West Coast, said: “We’re really excited to be working with Will Ferrell on Daddy’s Home 2, and to be playing the hilarious Daddy’s Home on BEAM throughout the festive period. Christmas is a busy time of year as our passengers tackle their Christmas shopping and travel home to enjoy the break with family and loved ones. We hope Will’s messages will help spread a little festive cheer to everyone travelling with Virgin Trains this Christmas.”

Will Ferrell’s on-board toilet announcements will be playing on selected Pendolino trains from 16thNovember to 31st December 2017. Daddy’s Home is showing on BEAM from November 1 until December 31, 2017. Daddy’s Home 2 is released nationwide by Paramount Pictures on Wednesday November 22, 2017.

North West recommended for smart tech pilot

Sam Whitear
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A national rollout of industrial digitalisation technology could give a huge boost to sustainability and resource efficiency, and the North West could be the first to benefit.

The recommendation is a key part of the government’s new Made Smarter Review, which was commissioned to explore how the UK could make the most of cutting-edge digitalisation of industry, also known as Industry 4.0.

Digitalised smart technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and the Internet of Things (IoT), offer huge benefits to manufacturers.

For example, AI systems can support the analysis of huge amounts of complex data collected by digitalised machinery, helping to identify “golden moments” where a product could be produced for half the energy or emissions, or scrap dramatically reduced.

Meanwhile, AR can enable engineers to see energy, water and waste flows in real time in the factory setting.

It is estimated that these sort of technologies could help deliver over £10 billion in reduced resource costs for UK manufacturers, while delivering a 4.5 per cent reduction in carbon emissions and a 25 per cent productivity boost.

However, while large companies are investing in these improvements, there is a poor level of adoption amongst SMEs due to concerns about cybersecurity and a lack of common standards allowing technologies to connect.

To help spread the benefit throughout the manufacturing sector, the Made Smarter Review recommends the creation of a ‘National Adoption Programme’ to accelerate take-up from SMEs.

The review suggests a six month pilot of the programme should take place in the North West, with the aim of engaging 3,000 SMEs.

Professor Jurgen Maier, chief executive of Siemens UK and lead author of the review, called for government and the business community to embrace the proposals.

“I believe [the proposals] represent a very positive agenda that we can all get behind. Focusing on the long-term challenge of the new industrial revolution will bring us closer together as a nation and make our country more prosperous.”

Pimberly exceeds first year ambitions earning international recognition 

Sam Whitear
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Manchester-based tech business, Pimberly, has been named in technology analyst firm Forrester’s Product Information Management (PIM) report, less than a year after launching. This coveted recognition of its SaaS solution follows a fruitful year of client wins and on-boarding of new recruits.

Pimberly, backed by Jigsaw24, has added eight new members of staff to its IT and marketing teams since January. The company has also taken on 13 new clients, including Westcoast Distribution and Ellis Brigham. These successes have contributed to the firm securing more than £500k of annual contracted revenues since launch.

The report, Vendor Landscape: Product Information Management (PIM), Q3, 2017, comes from one of the most highly regarded analysts in the technology industry. Forrester introduces business leaders to the PIM landscape as companies, particularly in retail, ecommerce and distribution, search for solutions to manage an increasing range of product data across numerous customer touchpoints.

Pimberly, based in St James’ Tower in Manchester city centre, is the only wholly UK owned and based PIM provider named in the report. The inclusion is a huge boost to what is an already vibrant, fast-paced North West retail scene, which includes several household names and supporting tech partners.

Martin Balaam, CEO at Pimberly said: “This is the cherry on top of what was already a fantastic first year for us.We’re all ecstatic to be included in Forrester’s new global PIM report and this is testament to the incredible effort and commitment from everyone at Pimberly.

“The fact that we’re also the only UK owned firm to be included says a lot for the quality of our technology.Pimberly is putting Manchester at the centre of innovation when it comes to PIM technology in the UK, and our solution is now turning heads on a global scale.”

PIM software allows companies to enrich product data that can include images, video, dimension information, colour, instruction manuals and price, and consolidate this information from partners and suppliers. Improving the quality of product information leads to higher conversion rates, improved SEO and fewer returns.

Forrester’s report helps digital business professionals make informed decisions about how they can use product information management (PIM) solutions to introduce products to market in a fraction of the time that it has taken in the past. The report also aims to demonstrate how users are able to eliminate thousands of spreadsheets, automate content distribution to reseller channels and onboard and govern content that hundreds of suppliers provide to them.

New look, new name and new approach for two of Greater Manchester’s business centres

Sam Whitear
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Two of Greater Manchester’s business centres are celebrating a rebrand and are now under new management as part of a UK-wide merger.

The centres in Rochdale (Norman Road) and Bolton (Manchester Road) are now under new management, having been rebranded from the previous Evans Easyspace to Flexspace. Lee Maytum, Managing Director of Flexspace, explains:“At the start of 2017 we started to merge 50 Evans Easyspace centres across the UK into an existing portfolio of eight Flexspace centres.

“The rebrand to Flexspace is, in fact, one of the final steps of the merger. The last six months have been focussed on ensuring each of the new Flexspace centres benefits from improved data connectivity, telecoms, customer service and much more.”

Spencer Davies, Area Manager for Flexspace in Bolton, adds: “Along with the rebrand from Evans Easyspace to Flexspace we will be providing a more personal service to tenants in Greater Manchester. Starting up or managing a small business is a challenge; as Flexspace and with our new management, we’re set up to provide support to business owners as and when they need it.”

Travel Counsellors best for customer service

Sam Whitear
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Travel Counsellors, the provider of bespoke corporate and leisure travel, has been recognised by the National Business Awards for its outstanding levels of service, claiming the 2017 Customer Focus Award.

This rounds off an exceptional 12 months for the Manchester-based travel company, which this year witnessed record sales figures, both in the UK and internationally. Between March 2016 and March 2017, total transactional value hit £500m for the first time, while accounting turnover rose to £188m in the year to October 2016, up from £162m last year. This is the 11th consecutive year of double digit revenue growth, while profits also rose by more than a third.

This international growth has seen the company secure a place in the 2017 Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200, the sixth time that Travel Counsellors has been included on the list.

Held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, the National Business Awards recognises and rewards excellence across the UK. Now in its 16th year, the event is attended by more than 1,200 business leaders across the country, with a judging panel including the likes of IBM, M&S, Unilever and the Prince’s Trust.

The Customer Focus Award was designed to recognise those companies that strive to innovate around customer experience and exceed existing industry standards. The judging panel considered how Travel Counsellors’ customer service strategy contributed to its improved financial performance, as well as the ongoing operational performance and leadership.

Steve Byrne, CEO at Travel Counsellors, said: “This award is testament to the quality of the people at Travel Counsellors and the care we show our customers, and reflects the success of the business model created 23 years ago. Travel Counsellors’ highly relational model is based on empowering our 1,700 travel business owners to create lasting relationships with their customers, building trust and caring for them more than anyone else.

“We invest heavily in technology to enhance the really personalised experience they provide, rather than replace it. We are constantly innovating and looking at what we can do next to support our people even further in doing this. So, we are delighted to have been recognised for our commitment to doing the right thing for our customers with such a prestigious award.”

Manchester Airports lounges have a refresh

Sam Whitear
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Manchester Airport’s four Escape Lounges have re-opened following a brand refresh and will from now on offer completely all-inclusive food and drink provided by MAG’s own staff.

The lounges have had a refresh, with new colour schemes, menu designs and locally-inspired artwork.

The new food and beverage options, which will now be handled for the first time by in house MAG staff at every lounge, are fully ‘all inclusive’. Items that used to be paid upgrade options, including hot breakfasts, premium beers and spirits, and hot meat and vegetarian main dishes, are now available for the single-entry price. This includes Veuve Valmante sparkling wine and Manchester Pale Ale, supported by a local partnership with independent Manchester brewery JW Lees.

Whatever time of the day guests visit the lounges, they will find the buffet packed with a range of delicious dishes – all freshly prepared daily on site. Passengers can enjoy a selection of breakfast favourites including pastries, cereals, fresh fruit and hot items. Those joining for brunch or lunch can discover a range of hot buffet options such as pastries, spiced chicken and curries, as well as favourites such as mac n cheese, cottage pie and the soup of the day – served alongside cold buffet salads. For those with a sweet tooth, a choice of cakes and biscuits are available.

The lounges also feature new “Instagram walls” where passengers will be in with a chance of seeing their own Instagram photos displayed for a limited period of time.  Guests simple have to tag the lounge – @escapelounges or use the hashtag – #escapelounge

Beth Brewster, Executive Vice President, Lounges at MAG said: “Since opening our first Escape Lounge in 2000 their popularity has risen with our passengers.  We have taken this opportunity to give our Manchester lounges a revamp that should make them an even more enjoyable space for passengers to use before they jet away.”

Prices start from £25 per person and for more information or to book, visit: www.manchesterairport.co.uk/at-the-airport/escape-lounges/

All colleagues who worked in the Escape Lounge food and beverage operation for Delaware North Company have been given the opportunity to transfer across to become MAG employees.

Jinglefest all the way at AJ Bell Stadium

Sam Whitear
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AJ Bell Stadium, Salford is rolling out the red carpet for its annual Jinglefest, which returns for the fifth year, with a series of festive party nights. Suited for both small and large businesses up to 650 people, the Christmas party nights offer the perfect opportunity to get the team together to celebrate the successes of the last year.

The Jinglefest 2017 package starts from just £42.50 per person and includes delicious three-course festive meal and a sleigh full of entertainment. VIP upgrade and unlimited drinks packages are available from an extra £10 per person.

Party-goers can enjoy a menu of pea, mint and smoked pancetta soup to start, followed by a parcel of English turkey filled with sage and onion stuffing, wrapped in bacon and served with all the trimmings, and concluding with a dark chocolate and cherry delice, black cherry ripple and Chantilly cream, before dancing the night away.

Exclusive hire is also available for groups between 60 and 650 guests that want to have the party all to themselves. With a range of impressive private function rooms to choose from, the dedicated events team will create a bespoke festive event with menus, prices and entertainment packages to suit every business’ needs.

Jinglefest party night dates available:

  • Saturday 2 December
  • Friday 8 December
  • Friday 15 December
  • Saturday 16 December

To book or make an enquiry please contact AJ Bell Stadium’s Christmas coordinator on: 0161 786 1580 or email [email protected].

UKFast Backs Accelerating Tech Startup  

Sam Whitear
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Manchester cloud hosting firm Ans is taking a stake in Stuartkerrs.com, a hotly tipped startup which unlocks increased processing potential within servers.

Stuartkerrs.com is based in Manchester, with a 13-strong team working across the globe, including a number of high-end developers in the USA.

The move makes UKFast the largest single investor in Stuartkerrs.com’s current funding round and is part of CEO Lawrence Jones’ mission to speed up the internet.

Jones said: “This is an extraordinarily exciting investment for UKFast and for the future of the internet. There are only so many times you can launch a new chip with increased processing power or add more cores.

“Stuartkerrs.com is unlocking the technology that supports growth in virtual reality, big data and machine learning. There is an incredible future ahead for these guys.

“Ultimately, we’re committed to speeding up the internet – it’s in our DNA – and Stuartkerrs.com is facilitating the very technology to make this happen. We’ll be looking to make use of it within our products as we look to integrate greater use of AI and machine learning.

“Stuartkerrs.com is undoubtedly set to make a huge difference to a lot of businesses.”

Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are chips able to perform many, many tasks at the same time, providing significant speed enhancements (10-100x) over the same code running on traditional CPUs. However, the skills required to program FPGAs are not readily available to most businesses.

Stuartkerrs.com lets users program FPGAs with Go – a more simple programming language than the complex code commonly required to program the chips.

The technology means businesses bypass the current need for hard-to-find developers and costly R&D budgets.

Common applications for FPGAs include AI and machine learning, cloud monitoring, data analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT), all of which require high-performance compute power to process large datasets.

Stuartkerrs.com CEO Rob Taylor said: “With this investment, UKFast becomes the single largest investor in this funding round. We look forward to building a working partnership and creating the next generation of computing infrastructure.

“We aim to bring on investors who add value to our business and having this relationship with UKFast opens many major doors.”

UKFast is the UK’s largest independently owned hosting provider and is on track to turnover £46 million in 2017.

Lawrence Jones’ business portfolio also includes cybersecurity firm Secarma, technology magazine and events company BusinessCloud, office fit-out and refurbishment company UKFast Space and a ski hotel in Verbier, Switzerland.

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