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AO bolsters Manchester Thunder in new 5 year sports sponsorship deal

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Manchester Thunder, the reigning and four times Netball Super League (NSL) champions, have today announced that they have entered into a new 5-year strategic partnership with AO, the UK’s household electricals retailer, that will see them become the club’s principal sponsor for the 2023 season and beyond.

 

The partnership will see the AO brand embedded across Manchester Thunder’s broad range of assets from the front of NSL dresses and training kit to the match day court and associated courtside assets.

 

This long-term strategic partnership provides a firm foundation for the journey towards the full professionalism of the Manchester Thunder franchise and Netball as a whole, as well as providing financial security to allow Manchester Thunder to invest in long term initiatives.

 

Debbie Hallas, Managing Director of Manchester Thunder, said: “We’re delighted to have secured sponsorship from such a high-profile brand as AO. This partnership cements our vision to ‘be the best elite netball club in the UK, on and off court’ and we’re excited to be associated with AO.

 

“I passionately believe that if we want to realise our potential as a sport, we need to bring the biggest brands into our support and this agreement represents a major step towards achieving this goal.”

 

Vicky Monk, Director of Brand and Marketing at AO, added: “We’re continuing to invest heavily in our brand and our new partnership with Manchester Thunder marks an important part of that strategy.

 

“With our roots firmly in the North West, we’re thrilled to support a Manchester team to raise the profile of netball on their journey to professionalism and are excited at the prospect of inspiring and encouraging young people to take part in sport.

 

“We’re delighted to be continuing to support our local neighbours, as Manchester Thunder joins our roster of regional sponsorships including; the AO Arena, Sale Sharks, Lancashire County Cricket Club and Bolton Lads and Girls Club.”

Plant based chef scoops third place and Highly Commended Main at Care Chef of the Year 2022 competition

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Manchester based Charity Vegetarian for Life (VfL) is delighted that their Plant Based Roving Chef Justina scooped 3rd place at the recent National Association of Care Catering (NACC) Care Chef of the Year 2022 competition. Roving Chef Justina was also awarded Highly Commended Main for her satay tofu served with coconut rice and pickled vegetables, rounded off with a vegan Fraisier cake (French style strawberry cake).

Justina was one of just 11 chefs to qualify for the national final, which unfolded on recently at West Nottingham College. In just 90 minutes, the line-up of talented finalists showcased their culinary skills and specialist knowledge to impress the panel of expert judges, led by Head Judge, Steve Munkley.

Focusing on the importance of food, nutrition and positive mealtime experiences as part of quality care, entrants are challenged to create an appealing and delicious two-course menu (main and dessert) appropriate for people in a care setting.

Throughout June and July 2022, regional heats took place across the NACC regions – Scotland, North, Midlands, Wales, South West and South East – with care chefs showcasing their skills and specialist knowledge in a bid to secure their spot in the final of the prestigious event.

The brief was that the combined food cost for both courses should be no more than £3.00 per head based on three portions and it must be nutritionally balanced. Both dishes came in under budget, at just £2.96 per person for a two-course meal. Only half a point separated second and third place.

The judges were looking for clear nutritional understanding of the foods being used and how they support the needs of their clientele, plus culinary flair through flavours, menu balance, execution, presentation, and hygiene and waste management best practice.

Head judge, Steve Munkley said: “As a newcomer to the NACC Care Chef of the Year competition, I was astounded by the incredibly high standard of cooking from all the chefs. The ten finalists performed really well and exceeded all expectations.

“It was a closely fought final, which is evident in the fact that out of 500 marks, only 40 marks separated first and tenth place.”

Justina told us:

I was delighted to be one of the finalists of NACC Care Chef of the Year 2022. It was a great pleasure to cook in the same kitchen as other talented chefs. Getting to the finals is its own prize itself. Not only is it confidence boosting, but also a great learning experience, which brings inspiration to create even better and tastier meals.

I was amazed when my dish was announced as a winner of the ‘Highly Commended Main’ prize, and even more so when my plant-based menu took third place. I am proud to showcase that the future for great vegan food in care homes is in everyone’s hands – and anyone can futureproof their menus by being inclusive.

Justina is also the host of the charities free online Lunch Club for the over 65s. This is open to vegans, vegetarians, and meat reducers and offers attendees the chance to learn new dishes, get tips from an experienced vegan chef, and meet like-minded people from across the UK. The club takes places through Zoom on the fourth Tuesday of every month.

People can email [email protected] to find out more, or to book your place and get the Zoom link and password. Or call the VfL office on 0161 257 0887.

Since there are only two fully vegetarian care homes in the UK, one of VfL’s major goals is improve the standard of vegan and vegetarian catering in existing homes. We seek to do this through our UK List, which is a geographical listing of organisations and care homes that make a special effort to cater for vegetarians and vegans.

“We are striving towards a vision where at least 1 in every 6 UK care homes are members of our UK List – and 1 in every 100 will be VfL accredited.”

Asda invests into Greater Manchester Veterans’ charity to train ex-military as HGV Drivers

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Greater Manchester based charity, Veterans into Logistics have received a welcomed funding boost of £40,000 from Asda, that will enable the charity to train 10 armed forces veterans into new careers as HGV Drivers.

The charity has a two year established partnership with Asda Logistic Services who support their mission of preventing homelessness and unemployment in the veteran community.

This significant donation from Asda will help to provide training and mentoring for the veterans to pass their HGV licences, resulting in new driving careers.

Veterans into Logistics COO (Chief Operations Officer) and Chair of the Trustees, Major Ian Battersby is passionate about supporting ex-military personnel. Alongside the charity’s dedicated driver training scheme, the team also provide personal mentoring as they understand the skills, discipline, and hard-working ethos that ex-military personnel have from their careers in the armed forces.

Major Battersby and the team make it their mission to support those who have fallen on hard times after leaving the military as some can slip through the net, ending up unemployed, homeless, suffering with addiction issues or even ending up in prison.

Major Battersby said: “We are extremely grateful for this donation from Asda which will enable us to train 10 veterans into new careers as HGV drivers.

“We are so pleased that Asda continue to partner with us and see the benefits of employing veterans with the dedication and skills they bring. We have already upskilled and supported veterans who are working for Asda Logistic Services who say they are enjoying their new careers and feel respected and appreciated by Asda.

“This donation will be life-changing for the veterans it supports, bringing structure, stability and financial security.”

Now an Asda Colleague, sixty-year-old Carl Smith left the Armed Forces in September this year after 43 years’ service. He joined as a junior soldier in 1979 and served as a regular in the 3rd Royal Horse Artillery for 22 years before becoming a full-term reservist with the Royal Artillery Regiment. He left with a rank of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant.

Liverpool-born Carl served in Northern Ireland, Germany, Kosovo and Bosnia and saw action in the first Gulf War in 1991. He’s been married to Paula for 40 years and has five children and seven grandchildren.

He got in touch with Veterans into Logistics as soon as he left the Armed Forces and he’s now a trainee HGV driver at Asda’s Skelmersdale depot.

Carl said: “Getting this job means a lot. I envisioned having to get my CV done for all kinds of jobs and sending them off to people and take a gamble like everyone else but Veterans into Logistics opened those doors and closed them at the same time if that makes sense and they got me a direct link into Asda. I really appreciate the fact that Asda have taken me on.

“I think it’s amazing what Asda and Veterans into Logistics are doing. I did not expect it to be honest. What they have done for myself is great but what they are doing for other people who are probably less fortunate than me is amazing. It’s a really good thing and I hope more companies will look at doing it.

“Some people may think that because you’ve been in the military all your life you are boxed off and sorted, but you’re not. There are lots of people with lots of problems still who need gainful employment.”

Carl has been working in the transport office at Skelmersdale while he does his HGV training.

He said: “The plan is that when I pass my HGV test then I will be buddied up for six to eight weeks with an experienced driver and they will teach me the ropes until I’m deemed ready to take to the roads on my own. The whole set up is really good and I’m so happy to be employed by Asda.”

Melanie Richmond, Training Manager at Asda Logistic Services said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Veterans into Logistics with this investment that will help to support 10 armed forces veterans with the opportunity to be upskilled to hold an HGV licence.

“We have been working with Veterans into Logistics for the last two years, helping them with their vision of supporting and rehabilitating ex armed forces back into work and civilian life and the next step of their life journey.”

Veterans into Logistics has had an exceptional first two years by either successfully training or supporting hundreds of ex-military personnel into new HGV driving careers, featuring in a BBC 1 documentary, receiving high profile ministerial visits from the Cabinet Office and being awarded the prestigious Gold Armed Forces Covenant for their support to reservists, service leavers and the veteran community.

Over 1 in 3 mid-sized North West businesses plan to restructure as cost pressures mount

Karen Jones
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According to new research from leading business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP, a combination of inflationary pressures, rising interest rates and high energy costs, and ongoing supply chain issues are all significantly impacting the financial viability of many mid-sized businesses. 

 

Grant Thornton’s Business Outlook Tracker*, which surveyed 101 businesses in the North West in October 2022, found that, in the face of these mounting pressures, just under half (48%) of respondents have already restructured their operations, with a further 40% having plans to do so.  

 

Many businesses are having to secure additional finance to work through the escalating costs facing the market, with 48% already having secured further funding and 38% planning to do so. Similarly, 41% of businesses have already reviewed headcount with another 39% planning to. 

 

The strain on funding has also led to a drop in investment expectations across all areas monitored by the Tracker. The most significant drops compared to the last round in August 2022 were seen in technology (-11pp), employee wellbeing (-3pp) and recruitment (-2pp).  

 

But investment looks to be being directed to areas that will have the most impact on reducing costs. Well over three quarters (84%) of respondents have already invested, or are planning to invest, in productivity, efficiency and automation. 

 

Carl Williams, North West Managing Partner for Grant Thornton UK LLP, said:  

 

“Businesses are facing incredible cost pressures from all sides. The combination of input cost price increases, high energy costs and rising interest rates, are seeing businesses faced with increases from 5% to as much as 100% in some cases, when combined with the added strain of ongoing supply chain shortages in some areas. The severity of the environment is clear, with the majority of those surveyed either planning to restructure their operations, or already having done so.   

 

“There isn’t one solution to fix these issues but there are always sensible steps that businesses can take to start to rebuild confidence. For example, reducing the businesses debt level to counter interest rate rises, reducing energy usage and looking for efficiencies in the face of energy cost rises, and considering alterative, cheaper suppliers.  

 

“Many businesses are also reviewing their budgets for the next 6-12 months. It’s vital that these forward plans account for assumptions that may need to be made over this period, such as the impact of the end of energy bill relief, and rising interest costs. Businesses need to be proactive and take action where they can, rather than burying their heads in the sand – its these businesses who will work their way through this challenging environment, and emerge a more resilient, efficient organisation.” 

AGENT ACADEMY CONNECTS EMPLOYERS TO YOUNG TALENT TO ATTRACT FUTURE WORKFORCE

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Agent Academy is inviting leaders from Greater Manchester’s digital and tech community to join them for an afternoon of thought-provoking guest speaker sessions and discussions, to explore how to effectively attract, develop, and retain future talent in the North West.

Despite the fact that Gen Z is expected to account for 27% of the country’s workforce just three years from now, businesses are facing challenges in attracting and retaining this talent. According to The Youth Lab, there is a cultural divide in workplaces and with issues regarding work environment, leadership styles, and culture and values, businesses have a lot to learn when it comes to adjusting to this new workforce.

This event, hosted at No.1 Circle Square, is in response to Greater Manchester’s growing and diverse economy that is creating exciting career opportunities for those who reside here. In order for the area to fully thrive, businesses must understand how to attract the local, untapped pool of future talent so that they can benefit from this evolving landscape.

Taking place on Wednesday 9th November, speakers at the event including leaders from TalkTalk, Bruntwood, HPE, and Roku, will highlight the benefits of working in Greater Manchester and why it’s important to retain our local talent. Attendees will also hear from early careers talent, who will shed some light on what their employers did well to attract them and what future talent really want from the companies and places they work in. This includes Agent Academy’s Rise graduates who left the twelve-week training programme, which gives young people the skills and experience needed to land a job, and went onto start meaningful careers with digital and tech businesses that reside in Manchester, such as CGI and Havas Lynx.

Zoe Wallace, Director at Agent Academy, said:

“Talent for Growth will be one to remember. Together, we’ll explore how local talent can benefit from economic growth and secure high-value career opportunities with leading companies based in Greater Manchester.

“Strengthening the relationship between businesses and young talent is at the heart of what we do at Agent Academy. During this event we will be looking at examples so how employers are disrupting traditional recruitment practices and open opportunities to people from diverse backgrounds who might otherwise have been locked out.  There is so much incredible talent right on our doorstep and we want to encourage more business to innovate when it comes to attracting and onboarding future talent.”

Jessica Bowles, Director of Strategy at Bruntwood, said:

“Manchester has an ever-growing number of amazing companies creating more and more high-quality jobs. We know we have hugely talented people in this city – our challenge is to help them connect.

“Events like this are a great place to work out how to do this better. I’m particularly looking forward to hearing more from young people in the city, our fantastic tech businesses and of course the inspirational Agent Academy.”

Helen McHugh, Head of North West Engagement at TalkTalk, said:

“There’s no doubt that the digital and tech ecosystem in Manchester is thriving. A huge part of this is the young talent that inhabits our city, bringing new ideas, perspectives and opportunities to any business.

“At TalkTalk, it’s incredibly important for us to nurture our homegrown community so that no one is left behind. Through our initiatives in the tech sphere, we’re determined to give minority groups equal opportunities that ensure Manchester is the go-to place for digital and tech jobs. I’m really looking forward to showing exactly how we do this at Talent for Growth.”

Businesses and young talent are encouraged to attend Talent for Growth and can register for free here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talent-for-growth-tickets-427904783727?aff=erelexpmlt

Iconic One Express building in Ancoats, Manchester is the new home of accountants and business advisors Beever and Struthers.

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Having taken a 10-year lease on 11,000 sq ft of the second floor of the iconic One Express building in Ancoats, Manchester, accountants and business advisors Beever and Struthers are relocating from St George’s House, Chester Road.

One Express is a unique space which hosts its own gym and café and is surrounded by other useful amenities.  Ancoats has benefitted from significant regeneration and is now one of the most desirable areas of Manchester to work and live.

The new open-plan space offers a diverse range of working areas, collaboration spaces and private booths – equating to 200 flexible working stations.  This beautifully restored and refurbished building is a great fit for Beever and Struthers’ profile and culture.

Maria Hallows, executive partner at Beever and Struthers, said: “Our people are our most valuable asset. The move will allow Beever and Struthers to maintain a local and accessible office for our valued clients, current and future staff and our network of professional contacts.

“This fabulous new space is designed for effective teamwork, knowledge sharing, collaboration, and a more enjoyable working day.  And in a thriving diverse neighbourhood. Who wouldn’t want that?

“Relocating allows us to continue to deliver the five-star service our clients have come to expect from Beever and Struthers, whilst providing a much-improved hybrid working environment for current and future staff. Having the team located on the same floor, something we did not have previously, was really important to us.  We look forward to welcoming clients and colleagues to our exciting new home.

“As a firm our carbon footprint is very important to us, so we have not only accepted but embraced Greater Manchester’s Net Zero ambitions. Our new home is environmentally smart and also accessible to both major train stations and the Metrolink system encouraging our colleagues and clients to travel by public transport or to take advantage of our cycle to work scheme”.

The firm’s relocation follows a successful period during which it defied the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.

Headquartered in Manchester with 16 partners and around 200 staff, it continues to provide a full suite of specialist and tailored services for clients including audit and assurance, corporate services, tax and VAT services for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The partners would like to thank architect John Boardman of Stephenson Studio. A great visionary and perfectionist, he worked closely with the firm to create a modern, functional, and beautiful office space that befits the Art Deco iconic building. It was a pleasure for the firm to work with him.

Thanks also goes to Angela Seddon, project manager of in4m Property Consultants and Tom Ailes of The Furniture Practice who also helped Beever and Struthers to achieve the perfect working environment it set out to achieve.

GIFTS THAT GIVE: M&S PUTS BOLTON COMMUNITY GROUP AT THE HEART OF THIS YEAR’S CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN

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  • M&S has partnered with Neighbourly to give £1 million to 1000 local community groups through the giving platform as 69% of local community groups report rise in pressure on services but drop in funding
  • TV ad set to Harry Styles’ ‘Treat People with Kindness’ features Kearsley Youth Brass Band, based in Bolton – one of the community groups to benefit directly from the M&S donation to Neighbourly
  • ‘Gifts that Give’ campaign reflects research findings from M&S which found that two thirds of families are determined to make the most of Christmas despite cost-of-living concerns, with gifting still a top priority for shoppers
  •  30% of this year’s gifting range £10 and under and 70% of the range is under £20

(Friday 4th November) With just 50 days to go until the big day, M&S has unveiled its Christmas Clothing & Home campaign for 2022, following the launch of the Christmas Food campaign on Wednesday (2nd November), with a special feature from Bolton’s very own Kearsley Youth Brass Band.

The 2022 campaign – Gifts that Give

A true celebration of togetherness and community, the 2022 campaign joyfully brings-to-life how a gift given from M&S this Christmas will keep on giving, with the retailer donating £1 million to 1,000 community groups and good causes through Neighbourly – a unique giving platform M&S has worked with since 2015.

Produced by Partizan and directed by the filmmaker Michael Gracey, best known for directing The Greatest Showman, the TVC is set on Christmas Day on a quiet cul-de-sac and features a series of thoughtful gifting moments. Inside each home something unusual is happening … every time an M&S gift is opened, there is an unexpected occurrence that disrupts family Christmases and draws them to the street outside to find it taken over but a joyously eclectic range of real-life community groups who will benefit from M&S donations – including Kearsley Youth Brass Band.

Neighbourly and M&S worked together to identify the 1000 amazing community groups who will receive funding – as well as shortlisting nine to feature in the TV campaign.

One of the groups to appear in the advert and directly benefit from the £1 million donation is Bolton’s own Kearsley Youth Brass Band, who want to ensure income is no barrier to learning to play instruments. They provide tuition, uniforms and instruments to members free of charge, and boasts members aged between 5 and 83. They all work together to perform at local events, giving back to their community in more ways than one.

Rhiannon Harrison, Secretary at Kearsley Youth Brass Band, said: “We are so thrilled to be a part of the M&S Christmas advert. Being a part of the Neighbourly network has made a huge difference to the number of people in our local community that we can support. Thanks to the donation from M&S, we can’t wait to bring the joy of music to even more people in our local community.”

Anna Braithwaite, M&S Clothing & Home Marketing Director, said: “Christmas is a time that brings families and communities together and we know customers are determined to protect those celebrations. Through our campaign and product ranges we want to help make that possible; providing much needed funds to the incredible groups that light up our local communities and by doubling down to deliver the exceptional trusted value our customers want – as they seek out more considered, stylish and thoughtful gifts. There’ really is no better feeling than giving – and we hope this, feel-good campaign puts a smile on our customers’ faces this festive season!”

Steve Butterworth, Neighbourly CEO, said: “M&S’s Christmas campaign is a brilliant celebration of kindness and a timely reminder of the importance of community at a time when support at a local level is needed more than ever.

“Findings from our recent community survey found that 83% of local groups are already experiencing a rise in demand on their services yet 69% reported they’ve found it harder to find funds in the last three months. We’re delighted to have partnered with M&S on the distribution of this £1million fund which will make a huge difference to groups in our network over the winter period. This campaign builds on a long-standing community strategy that has seen M&S support over 6,000 good causes in the Neighbourly network and donate nearly 50 million meals worth of surplus food.”

Understanding what customers want this Christmas

This year’s campaign reflects findings from Marks & Spencer’s latest Family Matters Index which revealed that two-thirds of families are determined to protect Christmas despite rising cost-of-living concerns. According to the research conducted amongst over 5000 families across UK – at-home gatherings will be the most popular choice of celebration this Christmas (approximately two-thirds of people plan to celebrate with family and friends) and value is becoming a bigger priority when deciding where to shop – with 61% saying it is the single most important factor when deciding where to shop (up 2% from the last Index).

Giving gifts will remain a top priority for shoppers this Christmas (second only to food) however price will be the number one factor when it comes to deciding what presents to buy (73%), followed by quality (59%) and meaning (54%).

Delivering Trusted Value on M&S’ best loved and biggest gifting lines

M&S is doubling down on its commitment to deliver trusted value to its customers on the products that matter most, when they matter most as customers place value above all else this Christmas.

M&S will continue to protect its market-leading value for money perception by ensuring 30% of this year’s gifting range is £10 and under (including Obsessed Make Up Palettes and Disney Spiderman and Princess gift sets), and 70% £20 or less (including Silk Embroidered Eye Masks for £15). Last year’s cult Light Up Gin Globe is back for 2022 but at a new lower price point (£16 versus £20), and its hero Chocolate gift box is now £15 (saving £5 on last year’s price).

This year’s Christmas campaign focuses on this year’s biggest Christmas present lines and most popular gifts. Family PJs have already been a hit with customers this year, with more than 100,000 sold since September. Candles continue to be a go-to gift amongst M&S shoppers, and the retailer’s much-loved Mandarin, Clove & Cinnamon scent celebrates its 30th birthday this year, with 15,000 sold in recent weeks. Additionally, you may choose a Couples Hamper, making it one of the best options for a Christmas gift for your loved one. Cosy gifting continues to be a key theme and M&S has seen positive customer reaction to its seasonal hoodies and snuggles, with nearly 100,000 sold to date – with the Teddy Fleece and Percy Pig options proving the most popular.

Female entrepreneurs join NatWest and Fund Her North in masterclass aimed at boosting the impact of women-owned business

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Female entrepreneurs and business owners gathered in Manchester this week to learn how to source funding to grow their businesses and explore the contribution women-owned businesses can bring to the economy.

The full-day finance masterclass, hosted by Fund Her North and NatWest, focused on how female entrepreneurs can source the right kind of funding for their businesses at the right time and also offered insight on how to successfully pitch to potential funders, as well as sell and exit a business.

The event was inspired by NatWest’s Rose Review, first published in 2019, which highlighted that £250bn could be added to the UK economy if women in the UK matched men in starting and scaling businesses. The most recent Rose Review progress report in 2022 demonstrated the progress achieved to date and revealed that more women than ever are starting new businesses, with 140,000 all-female founded companies created in the previous year.

However, access to and awareness of funding remains one of the biggest barriers for women entrepreneurs, with women-owned businesses securing less than 5% of available venture capital funding, according to the British Business Bank’s Small Business Equity Tracker.

Business owners at the event heard from local entrepreneurs who have sourced funding and turned their idea into a successful business. One speaker was Grace Vella, founder and CEO of Miss Kick, which specialises in football sportwear for women and girls.

Grace, a former footballer, founded Miss Kick in 2017 after realising women and girls with an interest in football had little choice of sportswear to suit their needs. She had support to build her business through the NatWest Accelerator free business building programme.

Grace said: “Football has always been my passion and I realised that there was a gap for sportswear for women footballers but also a need for more representation of women and girls in football overall.

“My business started out, like so many new businesses, around the kitchen table. I then joined the NatWest Accelerator programme and things really took off from there. I’m so grateful to now be in a position where I can offer other female entrepreneurs advice on how to get their businesses off the ground and find the funding they need to grow.”

Fund Her North, which organised the event, was set up in 2020 to improve access to funding for female-led businesses in the North of England, with an ambition to that at least 30% of all UK investing funding to go to female founders by 2030.

Jordan Dargue, Founder of Fund Her North, said: “This event was the first Fund Her North in person entrepreneur masterclass for female business owners and the inspiration and energy in the room was fantastic.

“When Fund Her North was set up in 2020, we knew that by collaborating with great people and companies like NatWest we could achieve great results and start to make a difference, enabling more women in the North to be supported when it comes to accessing funding.

“We’ve been so impressed with the speed and impact Fund Her North has had on the female business community and the amount of high-calibre female entrepreneurs who are operating and growing their businesses here in the North. The excitement at being able to make a collective difference in supporting female entrepreneurs is palpable and we are excited at what the future holds.”

Alison Rose, CEO of NatWest Group, said: “Since the Rose Review was published in 2019, a series of initiatives have been created to address the barriers to female entrepreneurship, including Fund Her North. Not only has this expanded access to funding, it has demystified the funding process, developed networks of female founders and investors and importantly – supported more women to start their own business.

“The Rose Review found that £250bn could be added to the UK economy if women in the UK matched men in starting and scaling businesses. Today’s event was a fantastic opportunity to help realise that opportunity, and to bring female entrepreneurs together to learn practical advice on how they can successfully access funding to take their business to the next level.”

Confidence continues to plummet as NW small businesses fear for the future

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The latest research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) demonstrates a second successive quarterly sharp decline in confidence amongst small businesses in the North West region.

The quarterly Small Business Index (SBI) – which measures business confidence – demonstrates clearly the negative sentiment felt by business owners across the region, falling from -27%% in Q2 of 2022 to -37% in Q3. In the first quarter of 2022 (Q1) confidence was at +4%.

With the exception of a dramatic decline throughout the pandemic, the new figures show business confidence in the region is at its lowest since the quarterly survey began.

The challenging economic environment against a backdrop of surging operating costs, a high tax burden, and a significant labour shortage is devastating the small business community, threatening the futures of hundreds of thousands of small firms and sole traders.

Other key headlines from the report are:

A greater number of small businesses are reducing staffing levels than are increasing them, which is indicative of trying to deal with falling revenues and looking to reduce overheads.

Half of small businesses in the North West are now reporting falling revenues. Just 27% report increasing sales receipts over the last three months.

Businesses are pulling back on investment plans as they seek to shore up their balance sheets. The lack of confidence is feeding through into diminished growth ambitions.

62% of small businesses cite the general economic climate as their greatest concern at present. This would indicate that inflation and reduced consumer spending are now really biting.

27% of small firms see utility costs as the greatest concern.

Despite reduced demand for labour, 25% state that appropriately skilled staff is their greatest business headache at present.

Paul Wareham, North West England Policy Representative, commented:

“Our latest findings from the small business community across the North West of England lay bare the challenges which many small businesses are facing, and there is very little optimism out there. Costs are continuing to rise and sales are falling as customers are now reluctant to spend on non-essential items.

“Energy costs are still a concern and many small firms are trying to work out what their bills are likely to look like through the winter.

“In normal times a business with rising costs would need to increase its prices to maintain profitability.  That’s easier said than done at the moment because customers are typically looking to pay less, so businesses are being squeezed on both sides.

“FSB wants to see the new Prime Minister deliver stability to the economy.  Ensuring that businesses are supported with unaffordable energy bills, and reducing the cost of employing people through lower National Insurance payments must be a central foundation of helping small businesses to survive the next few months and then look to the future with more optimism as we move into 2023.”

Express Solicitors continue their growth strategy in PI sector by acquiring Michael W Halsall Solicitors

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Express Solicitors, a Top 100 law firm, has acquired Michael W Halsall Solicitors, in Newton-le-Willows, as part of an ambitious growth plan, which they completed on 31 October 2022.

Managing Partner at Express Solicitors, James Maxey said: “We’re delighted to have acquired such an excellent firm with a long-standing reputation of helping injured people. We look forward to welcoming the talented staff at Michael W Halsall Solicitors on-board and this will assist in our growth. We will continue to operate from their modern premises in Newton-le-Willows. The Directors Ian and Nial have done a fantastic job building up Michael W Halsall Solicitors to the level it is now”.

This acquisition adds 2500 ongoing cases and 37 more staff to Express Solicitors’ practice in personal injury law.

Michael W Halsall Solicitors has been around since 1987 and it was important for their outgoing Directors to find the right successor practice.

Ian Halsall said: “We are very pleased to find a suitable firm to look after our staff, the firm’s heritage and finding the right fit was very important to us. We are pleased to see during our dealings with Express Solicitors that they are committed to client care, staff welfare and progression and wish them every success”.

Maxey said: “An exceptional service will continue for the ex-Michael W Halsall Solicitors, now Express Solicitors’ clients, aided by a smooth integration of our Proclaim case management systems. Both IT departments and legal teams are working closely together to provide a seamless transition”.

Head of RTA at Express Solicitors, Kimberley Kirkby is taking the lead on integration and will be based partly from the Newton-le-Willows office for the foreseeable future.

During the acquisition, Express Solicitors was advised by long term corporate law firm, O’Connors Solicitors, Liverpool; with Michael W Halsall Solicitors being advised by Clarke Wilmott, Manchester.

Express Solicitors, a leading Top 100 law firm, now has over 20,000 cases thanks to its continued growth. Maxey reported that Express Solicitors were delighted to have the continued support of RBS, and are keen to look for other suitable acquisitions as they strive to become the Number 1 Claimant Personal Injury firm in the UK.

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