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The Vita Group’s Italian Acquisiton Sees Staff Numbers Double and Production Quadruple

Naples has grown from strength to strength since the Vita Group opened its Italian operations two years ago.

Vita’s acquisition of Naples based Italian foam manufacturer I.M.P.E. S.p.A in January 2021 saw the group expand its reach into the second largest furniture producing country in Europe and one of the largest furniture exporters in the world. 

With global demand driven by the esteem in which Italian furniture manufacturers are held, the creation of Vita Italy has further enhanced Vita’s international standing. Known as Vita Italy, the site boasts a foaming department, tank farm, two conversion halls, three warehouses, laboratories, offices as well as extensive storage and transport space. Following its integration into The Vita Group’s operational processes, including management protocols and the delivery of an investment programme to upgrade facilities, Vita Italy has seen rapid increases in staff numbers and productivity. Site headcount has doubled from 30 to 60, while the quantity of foam produced has quadrupled from 3,000t annually to 14,000t.  

Vita Italy manufactures value-added and differentiated polyurethane foam for the Italian furniture and bedding industry. The location has enabled Vita to enhance its offering to Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, North Africa and the Americas.  

Antonio Piccolo, Vita Italy’s site manager, said: “Our business has undergone a rapid and positive transformation since we became Vita Italy. The Vita Group puts people at the heart of its operations, and through this ethos our site has gone from strength to strength. With our increased capacity we are producing more foam than ever before – and we look to increase our volume once again next year. In tandem with the excellent progress we’re making on sustainability, it looks set to be another very exciting year for Vita Italy.” 

Gilbert Davids, Comfort Foams MD, The Vita Group, added: “Two years on from the acquisition of I.M.P.E. S.p.A and the creation of Vita Italy, we are thrilled with how the business has integrated into the Vita family. Our investment and training programme has resulted in enhanced facilities and better jobs for more people throughout Naples. The Vita Group now has an established foothold in one of the most prestigious furniture markets in the world, supporting our entry into new demographics and helping us bring our sustainable products to more customers globally.”

A key differentiator for Vita is products such as OriginTM a revolutionary collection of sustainable flexible PU foams made using polyols sourced from plants, thereby reducing the use of traditional feedstock and enabling the company to offer products which have a lower impact on the environment and increased consumer appeal.

Further investment into the plant will see Vita Italy upgraded in line with The Vita Group’s commitment to all of its sites, by having sustainable foam capabilities no later than 2025.

In recent years Vita has demonstrated its commitment to expand its international footprint, with foam capacity expansions in Lithuania, Poland and Romania. This has allowed increased investment in sectors including Bed in a Box, where the company utilises new technology processes and production equipment in the UK, France, Romania and Germany.

In late 2022, the company was named International Company of the Year (£100m+) at the North West Insider International Trade Awards. 

Bitcoin Forecast – What The Experts Say

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Cryptocurrency is developing rapidly and is in demand in many countries. The digital currency is volatile and often raises many questions. Bitcoin is one of the first cryptocurrencies to gain popularity quickly. Since 2018, the digital currency market has declined significantly. Studies show that the cryptocurrency has shrunk by more than $100 billion.

Read more about bitcoin here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrency.  

Since 2021, the situation has started to improve. Already at the end of November, the figure was close to 3 trillion. It is difficult to make bitcoin forecast now, as the cryptocurrency is associated with constant 

volatility. Basically, we should expect a rapid adoption of bitcoin in many areas.

The Value of Cryptocurrency

Throughout bitcoin’s existence, its price has been in the range of 2.5% to 30%. The value can fluctuate, so it is difficult to determine in the future. Statistically, bitcoin has had such a price between 2020 and 2021. The rate varies all the time. 

Taking this volatility into account, it is tough to make price comparisons for different commodities. Moreover, it is problematic for entrepreneurs to measure income and do business in cryptocurrency. Therefore, it is challenging to define bitcoin as a reliable currency in such a matter.

It is worth considering that the cryptocurrency market is still young and poorly regulated. Always the big owners have more power. A large number of non-professionals are constantly being introduced into the cryptocurrency sphere. It is due to the highly manipulative nature of the digital currency market. As a result, there are fluctuations in exchange rates and values. 

Many questions arose after Elon Musk’s tweets went sharply up in value and down in minutes. The price was very high and then dropped drastically by tens of percent. This situation did not only occur with bitcoin. Other cryptocurrencies were also affected by the fluctuations. 

Stablecoins were created as a consequence of such volatility. It was expected to be the most reliable currency, but this perception must be corrected. As a result, stablecoins have gradually disappeared from the digital currency market. It is most likely due to the lack of stability, so crypto is rarely chosen in the long term.

Unsecured stablecoins also raise a lot of questions among experts. Mostly there have been minor deviations, but in the end, they have significantly impacted the development of this currency.

Ways of Calculating Cryptocurrency

All cryptocurrency needs to be highly secure in order to be safe in the long term. All payments are made conveniently. The main advantage is that payments can be made at any time. This causes the popularity of bitcoin.

Many sites offer to make payments anonymously, without registering and filling in a lot of information. This saves time. All payments are made securely and there is no need to divulge user details. 

Crypto casinos are becoming very common in the gambling industry. For example, online casinos that accept Bitcoin and other gaming platforms.There are many casino bitcoin cash online and different gaming sites on the Internet. Pay attention to such brands:

 

1. Lucky Block
2. Bitstarz
3. Winz.io

 

Gamblers in different countries often choose bitcoin for deposits and withdrawals. especially in countries where online gambling is banned. However, despite the many benefits, it can be challenging to determine cryptocurrency’s future. In this industry, everything depends on many factors. 

When one considers the high competitiveness among payment systems, bitcoin is very popular. This currency is available in many countries worldwide, so it is very appreciated. Using bitcoin in countries where other payment systems are unavailable or unprofitable is advantageous. Cryptocurrency payments have minimal fees. It is one of the reasons why people often use it.

Benefits of Investing in Bitcoin

A lot of research has been done recently on the crypto market. As a result, experts have determined that bitcoin volume has increased significantly in recent years. This figure is impressive and makes a case for safe cryptocurrency investments. Large investors are likely only planning to increase their offerings. Major and global investors include the following:

  • Massmutual;
  • Tesla;
  • Square;
  • Grayscale Investments.

The cryptocurrency has attracted significant interest from global banks. Notable ones include Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. Many who are interested in this topic have noticed that in 2021 there has been a shift away from gold in favor of bitcoin. This is most likely due to a change in inflation. The price of bitcoin has fallen by 75%, so the security and reliability is questionable. 

The instability of the digital currency is the main reason why it is difficult to make predictions. The dynamic development of the market attracts the attention of different investors. Bitcoin is mainly liked because it is an affordable currency. Experts suggest that the crypto market will only evolve in the future. Due to this, the fluctuation of the currency will decrease and better stability will emerge. This is the change that many investors are expecting.

Bitcoin is expected to have more advantages in the future. Let’s look at the main of them:

  • anonymity;
  • stability;
  • minimal transaction fees;
  • security;
  • ease of use for business and beyond.

The fee for making payments is minimal compared to other payment systems. Analysts believe that legislation to regulate cryptocurrency will be formed in the future. Some countries are already ready to recognize bitcoin as a banking currency.

The digital currency has been successfully implemented in many areas. It includes the gambling industry, small businesses, and many others. Despite the many benefits, risks remain, so it is always worth reading the current bitcoin stock forecast. This should not be forgotten and should be considered when investing. Bitcoin is used to make payments in many different industries.

Glenbrook Delivers £70M High Definition Residential Scheme to Latimer

Developer Glenbrook has handed High Definition, the £70million residential scheme in MediaCityUK, to Latimer, Clarion Housing Group’s development arm.

Constructed by Bowmer + Kirkland, the 280-apartment build for sale scheme has been designed by Sheppard Robson across two buildings offering 132 one-bedroom, 136 two-bedroom and 12 three-bedroom apartments. 180 apartments will be available for private sale, with the remaining 100 offered on a shared ownership basis.

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Speaking about the completion Liam Gordon, Project Manager at Glenbrook, commented: “High Definition offers residents an opportunity to have an exceptional home in the heart of MediaCityUK, an area which has developed into a well-established place where people can live, work and enjoy to be.”

“We have delivered over 1,300 homes across the North West to date and with further sites across the country, we hope to continue to build our reputation as a best in class residential developer with the ability to create highly sustainable schemes which become an authentic part of the fabric of the environment they are in.”

Steven Bonvini, Director of Delivery at Latimer by Clarion Housing Group, said: “We are delighted to have worked with Glenbrook to reach this significant milestone at our premium High Definition scheme, which will set the standards of future city living. We are immensely proud that new residents can access outstanding green space, culture and connectivity on their doorstep – all whilst living within a vibrant new community boasting high-quality and affordable apartments, co-working spaces and communal areas.”

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The project team includes Abacus as the employer’s agent, SGI as structural engineer, Ridge as M&E consultant and fund monitoring by AA Projects.

Music Artwork Brand Takes Space at King Street

Microdot, the globally recognised music artwork brand has taken 375 sq ft of space at iconic retail and leisure district, King Street.

The brand, which was launched in 1990 by Brian Cannon, created record sleeve artwork for everything released by Oasis and The Verve throughout the 1990’s and has created a selection of artwork for Suede, Cast, Ash and Super Furry Animals. The accreditation ‘A Microdot Design’ adorns over 75 million units of product worldwide.

Tom Royston, Director at DTZ Investors said: “We are delighted to be supporting independent brands at King Street and believe an iconic brand with so many links to Manchester like Microdot supports the wider strategy for the district. We are looking forward to watching them grow and develop on the street.”

Brian Cannon, Founder and Creative Director at Microdot said: “We chose King Street for our Manchester store as it is one of the most premium shopping thoroughfares in the city, being in such close proximity to brands such as Pretty Green is great for us and we just love the vibe of the street.”

This will be Microdot’s second site with their initial store being based in Kendal.

Microdot is set to join a number of other brands located on the street including The White Company, Pretty Green, El Gato Negro, TAST, recently launched Franco Manca and Clarks Originals.

Lyons Thompson Letts and Orme acted as leasing agents on the deal.

How can automation increase productivity for a business and improve worker safety

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Automation is becoming more common in modern businesses, as companies turn to technology to streamline operations and boost productivity. However, automation can play an important role in ensuring worker safety in addition to speeding up processes and lowering costs. In this article, we’ll look at how automation can boost business productivity while also improving worker safety.

How Automation Improves Business Productivity:

The use of technology to perform tasks that would normally require human intervention is what automation in business operations entails. The advantages of automation are numerous, with improved productivity being one of the most significant. A CNC waterjet machine, for example, can automate the material-cutting process, reducing the time and effort required. Or the integration of a forming press that can significantly enhance productivity for a business by streamlining production processes and reducing manual labour.

Automation can be used to automate repetitive, time-consuming tasks, allowing employees to focus on higher-level responsibilities. A manufacturing plant, for example, might use automated machinery to assemble products, freeing up employees to work on quality control or product design.

Reduced Human Error: Mistakes can happen no matter how skilled or experienced an employee is. However, automation can significantly reduce the risk of human error. Machines can perform tasks more precisely and consistently than humans, resulting in fewer errors and rework.

Increased Efficiency: Because automation can work around the clock, businesses can complete tasks more quickly and efficiently than if they relied solely on human labour. A warehouse with automated inventory tracking, for example, can quickly locate and retrieve items, speeding up order fulfilment.

Automation Enhances Worker Safety:

Aside from the productivity advantages, automation can also play an important role in ensuring worker safety. Here are some examples of how automation can improve worker safety:

Preventing Workplace Injuries: Workplace injuries are common in many industries. However, with automation, employees can be moved away from dangerous tasks and into safer positions. For example, an assembly line may use robots to perform heavy lifting tasks, lowering the risk of back injuries for workers.

Reducing Physical Strain: Many jobs necessitate repetitive motions or long periods of standing, which can result in physical strain and injury over time. However, with automation, machines can take over these tasks, allowing employees to take breaks or do less physically demanding work.

Real-Time Monitoring: Automation allows businesses to monitor equipment and conditions in real-time, allowing them to detect and respond to potential safety hazards before accidents occur. A manufacturing plant, for example, may use sensors to monitor air quality and detect the presence of harmful fumes.

Automation can take over dangerous jobs that put human workers in danger, such as working in hazardous environments, handling toxic materials or heavy machinery, and working at heights.

Addressing Automation Concerns:

While automation has many advantages for both businesses and workers, there may be concerns and fears about job security. Here are a few approaches that businesses can take to address these concerns:

Highlight New Job Opportunities: Automation has the potential to generate new job opportunities in fields such as equipment maintenance and programming. Businesses can alleviate job-loss fears by emphasising these new roles.

Employee Training: Companies must provide extensive training and support to employees as they transition to working alongside automation. This can help employees feel more at ease with new technology and develop new skills that will be useful in their careers.

Highlight the importance of Human Input: While automation can perform tasks faster and more accurately than humans, it cannot replace human workers’ creativity and problem-solving abilities. Businesses can help employees see the value they bring to the organisation by emphasising the importance of human input.

Using Automation in Your Business:

If you’re thinking about implementing automation in your business, here are a few things to consider:

Determine which areas of your business could benefit from automation: Begin by identifying areas of your business that are repetitive, time-consuming, or endanger employee safety. These are the areas where automation can be most beneficial.

Choose the Right Automation Tools: With so many automation tools available, deciding which ones to use can be difficult. Consider things like usability, cost, and compatibility with your existing systems.

Provide Comprehensive Training and Support: It is important to provide comprehensive training and support for employees in order to ensure a successful transition to automation. This can include hands-on training, online resources, and as-needed ongoing support.

Conclusion:

Businesses can benefit from automation in a variety of ways, including increased productivity and worker safety. Automation can help businesses achieve their goals more quickly and effectively by streamlining processes, reducing errors, and improving efficiency. Automation can also help ensure worker safety by removing employees from dangerous or physically demanding tasks.

While there may be concerns about job loss, businesses can alleviate these concerns by highlighting new job opportunities, providing comprehensive training, and emphasising the value of human input. If you’re thinking about implementing automation in your business, make sure to identify areas that could benefit from it, select the right tools, and provide comprehensive training and support for employees. Automation, when used correctly, can be a powerful tool for increasing productivity and improving worker safety.

Manchester Organisations Join Forces to Combat Homelessness

Three Manchester-based organisations, including award-winning housing organisation Bedspace, property management company Urbanbubble and Standing Tall – a charity that aims to end homelessness, are joining forces to help homeless and vulnerable people in the city get back on their feet.

As part of the partnership, Bedspace is providing  Bruce, who has been homeless for three years, with six months’ rent-free accommodation in a one-bed flat in Manchester.

Standing Tall works alongside people experiencing homelessness and matches them with employment opportunities. By working with Standing Tall, Urbanbubble has appointed Bruce as a Residential Receptionist at one of its residential properties in the city.

As part of his role, Bruce looks after all of the residents in the property, drawing on his previous experience in people-facing and customer service roles as a B&B manager and as a member of catering staff.

Bedspace is passionate about providing more than just a roof to those it supports, and is dedicated to guiding the vulnerable people it works with on their journey through to independence, with life skills and a flexible support pathway.

The new partnership is part of Bedspace’s wider pledge to support more vulnerable people in the communities it operates in as it looks to grow its services. Its ambitions include a pledge to take on 100 new staff members across the UK in the next two years, and plans to bolster its property portfolio of 500 homes by 40 per cent in the next three years, so that it can transform the lives of more vulnerable people.

The news coincides with Bedspace’s first children’s home receiving Ofsted approval, in line with its move into the children’s residential sector to support vulnerable people from a younger age. As part of the move, Bedspace has ambitions to open five children’s home in five years. 

Nick Thornhill, Managing Director at Bedspace, commented: “At Bedspace, we have supported over 20,000 vulnerable people, and are constantly striving to expand our services and support offering to transform more lives. Partnering with other like-minded charities and organisations that share a vision of helping those who need it most, is just one of the ways that we can make more of a difference.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Standing Tall and Urbanbubble to provide Bruce with the support he needs to get back on his feet. This partnership is just the start of our efforts to transform the lives of even more vulnerable people through our holistic approach to support.”

Edward Radford at Standing Tall, added: “The partnership between Bedspace, Standing Tall and Urbanbubble is a shining example of how organisations can work together to make a real impact and complement each other’s services.

“It has been fantastic to see the impact that we have made on Bruce, who is now almost a month into his new job and is loving it. We’ve noticed a massive shift in his mindset; whilst he has always been a positive person, his belief in his own ability has come on leaps and bounds since we have offered our support.

“I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Bruce, who is the first of many in Manchester to leave homelessness behind for good!”

Hydes Reopens Popular Cheshire Pub Following £300K Investment

Salford-based Hydes Brewery has re-opened the doors of its popular Cheadle Hulme pub, The John Millington, following a £300k refurbishment.

The refurbishment of the premium dining pub, a Grade II listed building bought by Hydes in 2005, includes a full interior overhaul including redecoration, new furniture and fixtures plus a redesigned bar layout and more spacious dining and seating areas.      

 

John Millington interior bar
John Millington interior bar

The interior modernisation has been carried out to fully complement the building’s Listed status and heritage, enhancing its charming features and retaining all the character which has made the John Millington a major destination venue for both drinkers and diners.  

A refresh of the exterior has also been completed, further enhancing the establishment’s outside dining and drinking experience in time for spring.

This latest refurbishment forms part of an ongoing multi-million investment programme across the Hydes’ estate over the next few years. Last year, Hydes committed over £4.5m to refurbishments of pubs across its estate and it intends to increase that investment throughout 2023.

Colin McDonald is the manager of the pub, taking over the site in 2020 pre-Covid after working with Hydes for over 14 years. In his first full managerial role for Hydes, Colin and his team have established the John Millington as a successful destination venue popular with locals as well as guests from further afield.  

Colin McDonald manager of the refurbished John Millington
Colin McDonald, manager of the refurbished John Millington

Managing director of Hydes Brewery, Adam Mayers said: “The John Millington is a great pub in an ideal location and continues to go from strength to strength. It’s great to see it re-open with an inviting brand new look and feel, fully retaining the heritage of the building, which is very important to us and our customers. As a hugely appealing premium dining pub, which is just as popular with local drinkers, we’re confident that customers old and new are going to love this contemporary new look for an old favourite.

“As demonstrated last year, Hydes remains totally committed to all of the pubs across its estate and this latest investment is part of an ongoing programme of planned redesigns and refurbishments. Providing our customers with a quality, memorable experience is top on our list of priorities and we’re confident they’ll want to return again and again to the John Millington.”

Hydes, with its brewery in Media City, Salford, was formed in 1863 and supplies beers to wholesalers, pub companies and other brewers throughout the UK and a pub retailing estate of over 40 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales.

Ward Hadaway Listed as Most Active Regional Dealmaker in UK

Leading Northern law firm Ward Hadaway is the most active regional dealmaker in the UK it was revealed on Wednesday 22nd February, moving them up the national rankings for the fifth year running to 7th overall in the yearly Experian MarketIQ league tables.

The firm completed a total of 106 qualifying deals during 2022 with an aggregate value of over £1.2bn despite challenging conditions and a slowdown in overall M&A activity across the UK.

The data, published by independent analysts Experian MarketIQ, which tracks M&A deals at a regional and national level, has found Ward Hadaway to be leading the way across the North of England, ranking 2nd in the North East, 3rd in Yorkshire and Humber and joint 8th in the North West.

Agility, flexibility and tenacity were at the heart of an approach led by Rob Thompson, Head of Corporate, who oversees a team of 30 corporate lawyers.  Individuals and teams within the wider corporate team at Ward Hadaway feature in the shortlist of multiple categories at next week’s Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards.

Commenting on the results, Rob said; “We are delighted that we have continued to move up the Experian rankings, competing at a national level as the most successful law firm without a London base in the top 10.

“Our team is based in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle, and the latest Experian results underline the success we are seeing in our regions, but our skills and experience are attracting work from across the UK and internationally.

“Our move into the top 3 in Yorkshire and Humber is a particularly outstanding result given the trading landscape in the region. To see us achieve growth at a time when Experian is showing the total number of deals down by 7% overall really reflects the success we are seeing across the Leeds office as a whole.”

The corporate team works with businesses of all sizes and across many different sectors but has a particular focus when it comes to SMEs.

Rob continues; “We are grateful to our clients for continuing to trust us with their transactions, and to our fellow professional advisers who recommend us to their clients.

“Our team is very experienced and has worked together for many years, whilst continuing to attract new talent. We combine consistency and stability with fresh thinking and expanding networks. The fact we continue to climb the national rankings is a testament to the expertise and client-centered approach of my team.  I am indebted to their energy and drive, which have played a huge part in our success.”

Sale Sharks to Launch New Podcast With Mark Chapman

Monthly Swimming with Sharks podcast will be hosted by BBC and Sky Sports presenter Mark Chapman

Episode one features Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson and Sale and England flanker Tom Curry

Episode two will be released to mark International Women’s Day

 

Sale Sharks have confirmed their launching of a new podcast, hosted by BBC and Sky Sports presenter Mark Chapman, and focused on celebrating the very best of northern sport.

The monthly ‘Swimming with Sharks’ podcast will feature guests from Sale Sharks and some of the region’s biggest sporting clubs, such as Manchester City, Everton in the Community and Manchester Storm.

Each episode will focus on a different topic ranging from leadership and building a winning
culture, to how clubs use data and sport science, how clubs grow commercially, how to build the profile of women’s sport and much more.

The series kicks off with a look at leadership and culture within Sale Sharks as Mark is joined by Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson and England and Sale flanker Tom Curry.

Tom, who has led Sale in the Premiership this season and captained England in last year’s Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland, explains how his approach to leadership at international differed from at club level.

And Alex takes Mark through his own thoughts on what makes a good leader, how his dad marked him out as a leader from an early age, and how he helps develop leadership skills within the Sharks dressing room.

And he explains why he and his coaches ‘force failure’ in training to ready the players for the big challenges ahead.

Episode one will be available for download tomorrow (Thursday, Feb 23) at 9am from Apple
Podcasts, Spotify and all other major podcast platforms.

Sharks Sales and Marketing Director Claire Butters said: “We want to take our supporters inside Carrington and show off the personalities that make up the fabric of the north and the culture and brand that we’ve been working so hard to build.

“But this podcast is so much more than that. Rugby, and Sale Sharks, needs to grow its audience and attract new fans and that’s what we want to do. We’re much more than just a rugby club.

“The North is home to so much sport, and some of the best, most innovative and successful
sporting organisations in the country and this podcast is a chance to celebrate that and get an insight into what different organisations are doing and how they are doing it.”

North West Business Advisor Welcomes Two New Corporate Directors

Greater Manchester-based Hilton Smythe has hired two business experts to join its expanding growing corporate team, specialising in M&A.

Nigel Fitzpatrick and Debbie Power have become the sixth and seventh members of Hilton Smythe’s growing corporate transactions team, joining as directors.

The expansion represents the company’s strategy to specialise in providing services that facilitate larger business disposals and acquisitions.

Having built a reputation on being high street brokers, Hilton Smythe has invested in highly qualified personnel to offer a broader range of services to new and existing clients.

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Nigel Fitzpatrick, Corporate Director

Nigel, originally from Burnley, built up his knowledge and expertise following 16 years of working for a business brokerage in Spain.

Nigel Fitzpatrick added: “I’m thrilled to be working at Hilton Smythe and adding my expertise to a growing team that will thrive in years to come.”

Also, with experience working abroad, Debbie, from Rochdale, joins Hilton Smythe after successfully leading a team in Dubai.

Debbie Power said: “Since leaving university, I have taken on many different roles. Advising a business on its sales strategy is a real strength of mine.

“A friend recommended Hilton Smythe and told me about its new corporate division, which immediately appealed to me – so here I am!”

Gareth Smyth, CEO of Hilton Smythe, said: “We are delighted to welcome Debbie and Nigel to our growing corporate team.

“Investing in these two big hires, symbolises our commitment to extending our transactional services to larger organisations wishing to acquire or dispose of their business

“Despite our further expansion into the small-cap market, we will continue to provide our existing services to micro businesses, which we have excelled at for many years.”