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Revealed: The region’s fastest growing companies 2022

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Today, the winners of the annual Ward Hadaway North West Fastest 50, in partnership with GMCC are revealed. Did your company make the list?

The Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 celebrates the North West’s fastest growing businesses that are independently owned. Now in its 12th year, the North West Fastest 50 has been officially revealed and you can view the full list on the Ward Hadaway website. 

From Bolton to Burnley and Cheshire to Chorley, these North West’s businesses have demonstrated their talent, drive, innovation and resilience as they’ve adapted to ever emerging challenges and continued to grow. Entrepreneurialism is alive and kicking across the region and the post-Covid era is shaping up to be a very exciting time for North West businesses.

Armed with ambition, creativity and determination, they are breaking barriers and attracting investment, prosperity and jobs to the region. The 2022 Fastest 50 exemplifies this, demonstrating growth in a wide range of industries from manufacturing and construction to education and healthcare.

Our congratulations to all those who made the list, it’s a fantastic achievement.

View the full Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 list, and find out who won awards as the fastest growing small, medium, large and overall business here.

Britain could be ill-equipped to cope with dual crisis

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  • Parallels with 2008-09 are emerging
  • Failure of regulation has allowed means pension are vulnerable
  • Weaknesses were exposed by mini budget

Dr Tony Syme, finance and economy expert at the University of Salford Business School, says Britain is facing a dual crisis of its economy as the fallout from the mini budget continues.

He said: “Britain is facing a twin crisis. An economic crisis that causing anxiety for millions of households and a financial crisis that has too many parallels with 2008-09.

“The Bank of England has been keen to point to the war in Ukraine as the primary cause of the current inflation, but they have also highlighted two other factors: labour supply shortages and post-pandemic supply chain disruption.

“The ONS reported this week that a record number of people – 2.5 million – were economically inactive because of long-term sickness. Add in the Institute of Employment Studies’ report earlier this year that there were 1.1 million fewer people in the labour force than would have been expected on pre-pandemic trends and it is clear why so many employers are reporting difficulties in filling vacancies.

“This can help to fuel inflation. But is also clear that policies to increase healthcare – in terms of occupational, physical and mental health – may be more effective supply-side policies than the trickle-down economics proposed by the current government.

“The mini-budget which announced those policies exposed a key weakness within the financial system. The lack of OBR economic forecasts to accompany the mini-budget and the Treasury and the Bank of England appearing to be pulling in opposite directions caused major problems for sterling as its value plummeted.

“It also caused the value of UK government bonds to fall as fears over the government funding deficit rose. That is when the role of Liability-Driven Investments (LDIs) became important and forced the Bank of England to act.

“LDIs use derivatives to generate the shortfall in cash that pension funds may need to make their monthly payouts to pensioners. They are a type of insurance contract against unexpected moves in markets. With interest rates, and yields on government bonds, having been so low since the last financial crisis, the cash from these LDIs have been used by asset managers to secure higher returns on more risky assets. A form of leveraged bet, which has parallels with CDOs prior to the 2008-09 Financial Crisis.

“They are important as the value of these LDIs has quadrupled over the last decade. When the fall in bond yields caused asset managers to scramble to find the cash to cover their LDI-related derivatives, there was a real danger of some pension funds collapsing. The Bank of England was forced to intervene. Instead of its previous policy of trying offload its holding of government bonds, it was forced to buy them.

“This is a failure of regulation and foresight that is reminiscent of the years before the 2008-09 Financial Crisis. That crisis had a huge impact on the economy and austerity was a price that the public paid for many years thereafter. Given the current cost of living crisis, we are very ill-equipped to pay for another financial failure.”

LSH Auto wins People and Culture Award

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LSH Auto has won the People & Culture Award at one of the UK’s most prestigious motor trade awards.

The AutoTrader Retailer Awards 2022 celebrate the very best automotive retailers that not only inspire those in the automotive industry but set the bar for all retailers across all sectors.

The People and Culture Award, introduced for the first time this year, recognises a business that puts its people first and has created a dynamic, open and diverse work space.

LSH Auto was selected for its ongoing work to promote diversity, equality and inclusion, its commitment to Mental Health First Aiders in the workplace, and its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Martyn Webb, Managing Director LSH Auto, said: “We pride ourselves on putting our people and our customers first, so winning this award is a wonderful recognition of that.

“We’re making good progress in promoting and supporting diversity, equality and inclusion in all its forms. We understand that diversity provides a range of experiences and perspectives that strengthen and add value to our collective performance. And we know that our colleagues perform best when they feel included, valued and treated fairly.”

Over the past two years, LSH Auto has trained more than 50 colleagues to become Mental Health First Aiders.

Martyn Webb said: “We understand that in the UK one in four people experience mental health issues each year and at any given time, one in six working-age adults have symptoms associated with mental ill health. So in 2021, we launched an active programme to support the mental health and well-being of our colleagues. As a result, all managers are trained in Mental Health First Aid and we have at least one dedicated Mental Health First Aider in every location to support our colleagues.”

Following the first UK lockdown, LSH Auto worked closely with Public Health England to initiate workplace testing. Within weeks the business trained 40 Covid testers in all locations who carried out over 10,000 tests in multiple locations and successfully removed cases from within the workplace.

“Our workforce said they felt safer knowing that we were doing our bit to find and isolate positive asymptomatic cases.

“The award win is testament to the wonderful team spirit and hard work that our whole team contributes.”

The winners of the AutoTrader Retailer Awards 2022 were announced at 8 Northumberland Avenue in London on the afternoon of Wednesday 12 October.

Gender Equality in Recruitment and Manufacturing

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Even though women represent almost half of the UK workforce, unfortunately there is still a long way to go to promote gender equality within both the recruitment and manufacturing sectors.

Shockingly, there is a 70% difference between male and female representation in the manufacturing industry, with the overall workforce being composed of 85% men. However, where there is a challenge, there is a great opportunity.  Recruiters for the sector must take responsibility for driving that change.

The way the manufacturing industry adapted during the pandemic demonstrated that the organisations within this sector are resilient and the industry is thriving. Consumer goods remains the largest manufacturing sector in the UK and by placing the right talent in the right businesses, this fact will remain for decades to come – but how do leaders in the sector ensure that they are increasing their talent pool by appealing to both men and women? What happens when there is a lack of women applying for roles within manufacturing? The onus must be on the recruitment agencies, and the manufacturing businesses they recruit for, to create positions and an environment that will appeal to women – across all levels.

Alexander Steele is leading the way. Across their offices in Edinburgh and Manchester they understand that to see the change, you need to be the change. They place importance on gender equality within their own business and offer equal pay at all levels. For every position they recruit for internally, they endeavour to interview an equal number of women and men for the roles and to offer salaries based solely upon experience and responsibilities.

Today, companies have to practise inclusive hiring and it’s a recruiter’s job to ensure standards are being exceeded.  Alexander Steele educates their clients on best practices and ensure this is rolled out for every vacancy. Aside from that, they encourage their clients to consider carefully the way in which a role will appeal to all, and discuss with them their structure and environment in order to promote equal opportunities.

In the opinion of founder Courtney Steele, a balanced workforce is what will ultimately drive sales and growth. Adaptability is one of the business’s core values at Alexander Steele and Courtney Steele believes women have a natural tendency to be out-of-box thinkers vital to this value. Men and women have different perspectives and when a business brings fresh ideas to the table and adjust processes, it thrives as a result.

Gender equality in the workforce starts with adequate representation in leadership.  Until recently, there has been a lack of board level, female role models in the staffing industry; but this is changing and is another area in which Alexander Steele is proud to lead the way. As a female Director, Courtney Steele focuses on equipping her female employees with the skills, guidance, motivation and support they need to help them climb the ladder.

Many candidates may feel a hesitation to recruit within an industry so heavily male dominated but in Steele’s experience, the female recruiter in manufacturing has the edge. In a world of male voices, women represent a different point of view. If you as a sector want to encourage more women into manufacturing roles, who better to communicate that, than women themselves?
Unlike recruitment within service industries, consumer goods is proven to thrive throughout economic challenges; as long as people continue to eat and drink, you will continue to win business, and salaries within manufacturing sit 12% higher than in the rest of the economy. It is a fast-moving and exciting industry to work within. Those working in this sector see new products and consumer trends before the rest of the world, they witness the emergence of brands and their growth, and work alongside these businesses to expand teams and combat demand.

If you are interested in a career in recruitment or manufacturing or would like to explore new opportunities, please get in touch with Alexander Steele.

Alexander Steele is a recruitment consultancy with offices based in Manchester and Edinburgh. They work across the UK, hiring talent for the consumer goods sector.

No Brainer wins TakingCare SEO and digital PR brief

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Cheshire-based digital PR, SEO and content marketing agency wins competitive brief to bolster the leading UK personal alarm specialist’s digital footprint 

Leading northwest digital PR, SEO and content marketing agency, No Brainer, has won the SEO and digital PR brief for the UK’s biggest private personal alarms provider for older people.

No Brainer won a competitive pitch for the brief and is now helping TakingCare Personal Alarms develop a winning SEO, content and link-building strategy, as well as creating SEO content, editorial newsjacking and digital PR hero campaigns.

Which?-approved TakingCare, part of the AXA Health, is the largest private personal alarm provider in the UK and was named the ‘Best Elderly Personal Alarm Specialist’ in the GHP Social Care Awards 2022.

The account will be led by No Brainer’s Head of SEO and Insights Laura Rudd and Tori Attwood, the company’s Digital PR Account Director.

“TakingCare is a fantastic and exciting UK brand and we’re delighted to be working with the team to continue to grow their business,” said Laura.

“They are doing some genuinely meaningful things to help older people live better and more independent lives, and we love nothing more than helping purpose-led brands like TakingCare do well. We’re incredibly proud to be working alongside them and to be supporting their efforts to grow through better SEO, digital PR, and link-building.”

Daniel Lennox, Head of Sales and Marketing at TakingCare said: “For us when it came to selecting our SEO and digital PR agency, it was a ‘no brainer’. From the outset, the team developed a pitch and shaped a model and approach we knew could help us win big in the digital space and we’re delighted to be working together.”

No Brainer supports a range of companies across the UK with SEO, PR and digital PR and social and content marketing, and shapes the SEO strategies for a range of brands, including the HomeServe Foundation, the registered charity of FTSE-250 company HomeServe, and leading commercial law firm Primas.

No Brainer was named the North West’s ‘PR Consultancy of the Year’ by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) in 2021, as well as one of Prolific North’s Top 50 PR agencies and NW Business Insider’s Top 20 PR Agencies. In 2021, it also won the Media Relations Award at the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) Awards.

Raytheon UK to run free cyber workshops for veterans at the beginning of November 2022

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Local Manchester company looking to train veterans with key cyber security skills

MANCHESTER – Raytheon UK, a local Manchester technology company, is offering 50 fully funded places for veterans to attend their virtual Cyber Academy workshop. The online workshops focus on training those with no previous experience in coding but who are passionate about protecting the UK in the digital age.

With cyber power becoming an ever more vital lever of national power and a source of strategic advantage Raytheon UK’s workshops aim to help address cyber security gaps and strengthen the UK’s cyber capabilities. As a technology and innovation leader specialising in defence and national security, Raytheon UK is committed to the United Kingdom’s security, defence and skills in an increasingly hostile global climate.

“The workshops have always been aimed at those with no previous experience of security-related tasks and concepts” said James Gray, managing director for Cyber, Space and Training at Raytheon UK. “We are keen to provide our military veterans with a glimpse of what it is like to work with Raytheon UK’s cyber team, where our innovation protects against the most complex threats and vulnerabilities.” 

The free multi-course training program course, delivered in partnership with the University of Texas, is available to UK veterans and includes classes tailored to all different stages of an individual’s cybersecurity journey.

“We are particularly proud to offer these free cyber training opportunities to veterans as they transition to the next stage of their lives,” added Gray. “With the support of charities like the Career Transition Partnership, Royal Air Forces Association, and SSAFA, the armed forces charity, we hope to leverage the unique skills and experiences of veterans in the vitally important area of cybersecurity.”

To complete the course and receive their certificates, veterans will be given an exercise in which they are tasked with securing a target system using the knowledge that they gain throughout the workshops. These types of skills, according to lecturer Dwayne Williams from the University of Texas, will put them in good stead for a future career in cyber.

“Technical workshops cover topics and hands-on skills that are not often addressed in a traditional academic courses,” said Williams. “Workshops like these absolutely help veterans prepare for careers in information technology and cybersecurity.”

To support the continuation of their cybersecurity journeys, veterans that successfully complete this year’s workshops will be invited to a meeting hosted by the Raytheon UK team to hear first-hand what it is like to work in the cybersecurity sector and what a career at Raytheon UK looks like.

“We collaborate with universities to support the development of advanced cyber skills in the UK because it’s one of the best ways of getting people into the sector,” said Gray. “In a fast-changing world, it is vital that cyber knowledge is taught throughout the education system, and we are here to inspire the next generation of cyber leaders.”

If you are a veteran interested in registering for the workshops, please email [email protected]

PAUL BOLSTERS FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT TEAM AS HE RETURNS TO SCANLANS

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Property management and surveying practice Scanlans has welcomed back an experienced property manager who has retrained in fire risk assessment, as an fire risk assessor, bolstering the firm’s specialist team in line with growing demand for its services.

Paul Christopher initially joined Scanlans in 2005 and remained with the firm until 2016.

He returned a year later and stayed as a property manager until early 2022. He has now re-joined again, this time in a new role as part of the building surveying team led by Tony Mancini.

Paul is based in Scanlans’ Manchester office and is working across the north west as the firm expands its fire risk assessment service beyond its own portfolio of managed apartment blocks to cover commercial buildings, including shops, offices and warehouses, and residential sites such as sheltered accommodation, houses in multiple occupation, local authority and housing association properties.

He has been accepted as an associate of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers and is already an associate member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a member of the Institute of Residential Property Management and a member of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management.

Scanlans’ partner Ian Magenis said: “Paul spent many years as a senior property manager and built a reputation as a well-respected practitioner in the north west market providing the highest standard of service.

“He’s always enjoyed working at Scanlans and appreciates that we are a supportive organisation which offers exciting and fulfilling career development opportunities.

“We will always look to develop the skillsets of our staff, even in new specialist areas. Paul was seeking a new challenge and so we sponsored him through his training to enable him to become a fully accredited fire risk assessor.

“With an increasing emphasis on fire safety across the property sector, Paul’s new role enables us to expand our offering and it’s great to have him back with us.

“We believe that his experience and qualifications will provide clients and colleagues with an excellent and knowledgeable perspective in this field, as he has an insight into not just the regulatory requirements but also into how these impact on the residential market, and practical solutions within leasehold legislation.”

Paul said: “After 17 years in property management, I decided to change direction and take on a new challenge.

“I saw an opportunity at Scanlans to move into fire risk assessment and I’m extremely grateful to the partners for supporting me with the required training to achieve the necessary accreditation. I’m excited to embark on this new phase of my career with the firm.”

Alongside property management and fire risk assessments, Scanlans provides commercial and residential property valuations and surveys, expert witness, building surveying and LPA Receivership services.

Legal experts celebrate 10 years of Court of Protection Practitioners Association CoPPA celebrated its anniversary at Manchester Art Gallery

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Legal experts from across the region came together earlier this month to celebrate the 10th anniversary since the launch of CoPPA – a national organisation supporting, informing and connecting everyone who works in the Court of Protection.

Founded in Manchester by specialist Court of Protection lawyer Kate Edwards in 2012, CoPPA now has nine regional hubs spanning the whole of England and Wales.

Dedicated to the understanding and development of the Court of Protection, and Mental Capacity Law, its committee consists of leading experts from across the country, including CoPPA Co-Chairs Melanie Varey and Mathieu Culverhouse, who are Partners at Simpson Millar and Irwin Mitchell respectively.

Held at Manchester Art Gallery, the celebratory 10th anniversary event welcomed prestigious guests including the current Vice-President and High Court Judge, Mr Justice Hayden, as well as the former Vice-President, Sir William Charles.

The North West Regional Lead, His Honour Judge Burrows, former North West Regional Lead, Judge Butler, and District Judge Matharu, were also in attendance.

Commenting on the event CoPPA’s founder and committee member Kate Edwards, a Senior Associate at Simpson Millar and the co-author of the Court of Protection Handbook, said: “CoPPA was established to champion best practice in the Court of Protection and in the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, so it was wonderful to see so many members in attendance at the recent anniversary event.

“Having started as a small group of individuals in Manchester in 2012 we now have nine regional hubs, and a strong presence in all areas of both England and Wales. That growth is indicative of the dedication and commitment of the people operating in this legal field, and I am excited to see what the next 10 years has in store.”

Chamber Embarks on Mission to Put Employers at the Heart of the Skills System

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Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce has launched the largest skills and recruitment survey of its kind in a bid to make the skills system more responsive to the needs of employers.

The Chamber is the designated Employer Representative Body tasked with developing and delivering the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Greater Manchester. Funded by the Department for Education, the first stage in developing the plan is to understand why businesses struggle to recruit and which skills are in short supply.

Businesses large and small and from all sectors across Greater Manchester are invited to complete the Chamber’s short survey designed to understand where the skills gaps are. Once the data has been analysed, it will be shared with post-16 skills providers. The Chamber will then work with providers, employers and relevant stakeholders to deliver the Local Skills Improvement Plan which will address the skills shortfalls and provide businesses with the skilled workers they need.

Chris Fletcher, Contract Director for the Greater Manchester LSIP and Policy Director at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said:

“Without doubt, this is one of the most important skills projects we have undertaken in the history of the Chamber. In helping employers with some of the frustrations they have in finding the people with the right skills for their businesses, we can unlock the future growth potential of businesses across our region.

“It’s not just another skills survey. At a time when some businesses are cutting back, not investing in skills, struggling with supply chain delays and a range of other rising costs, planning for the future is key. We can start to address the main skills gaps through the delivery of the Local Skills Improvement Plan so that when businesses are ready to grow once again, they have the workforce they need to do it.”

Businesses can complete the survey here. The Chamber is also organising events across Greater Manchester to gather the views of businesses, and working with Local Authorities and other business representation organisations to reach as many sectors as possible.

For more information about the Greater Manchester Local Skills Improvement Plan, click here: https://www.gmchamber.co.uk/chamber-research/local-skills-improvement-plan/

The Top Cities for Women in Tech Revealed

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As one of the fastest growing tech hubs in the UK, Manchester has been named as a top city for women seeking jobs in the industry.

While all our lives transition more into digital, a growing number of women are transitioning into different fields across the tech sector. So, as the tech industry receives more investment across the country, experts from FDM Group have collected data to reveal the most prosperous cities women can work in.

They reveal that Cambridge, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Leeds offer immense opportunities for employment and growth, pointing to the number of jobs, tech investment, gender pay gap, and average pay in each city.

Sheila Flavell, COO, comments: “Women play an incredibly instrumental role in the tech industry, and while there is still a lot of progress to be made, we are pleased to see so many cities across the UK offering more opportunities in the space.

As this progression has been made, we have also seen an increase in women hired for leadership and senior roles within the business. Last year, we took significant strides in improving everything we do for greater gender equality in the workplace. And from our 2021 gender pay gap report, we are pleased to report a 0.5% mean gender pay gap”.

Here are FDM Groups‘ top UK cities for women seeking a role in the tech industry.

  1. Cambridge

Despite only having a population of around 130,000 people, Cambridge has emerged as a prominent tech city and a place to watch for up and coming talent. Raising a huge £145 million in investment, Cambridge has rightfully earned a place at the top of our list.

This city also has some of the highest salaries in the country, averaging at around £62,500, or £37,000 higher than the national average. Of all the cities on our list, Cambridge also has the smallest gender pay gap, coming in at 9.6%. Proportional to the smaller population, there are currently just over 1,500 jobs on offer.

As a smaller city in the UK, Cambridge isn’t sprawling, making it incredibly easy to get around. With most shops, restaurants, and offices within walking distance, there’s no stress from the daily commute, meaning there’s plenty of time to take a picturesque walk down the River Cam or grab lunch at the open-air market.

  1. Manchester

As one of the fastest-growing cities in Europe, Manchester has a wealth of opportunities on offer, many of which are in the technical field. Bringing in an impressive £300 million in investment in 2021, Manchester is gearing up for huge growth.

With over 4000 jobs available in the tech space, and an average salary of £57,500, there is a lot of potential for women seeking high-earning jobs in this city. With a gender pay gap of 12%, this city has lessened the gap more than other larger cities in the country.

As a thriving city, there’s plenty to do in Manchester to relax, unwind and disconnect from the workday. Whether you’re looking for fine dining, an upmarket wine bar, or exciting nightlife, there is something for everyone. In fact, Manchester remains one of the best cities for live music, with bands and musicians from all over the world playing here.

  1. Edinburgh

The Scottish capital has seen a lot of growth over the last few years, raising a whopping £117 million in the tech sector. With salaries averaging £58,405, there is great earning potential for professionals in Edinburgh.

Salaries are also extremely competitive here, with the average tech job paying £58,405 a year. The average pay gap is around 14% here, which is slightly lower compared to other large Scottish cities such as Aberdeen where the gap is 17.2%.

As a progressive city, Edinburgh is a fantastic place to live and work. A number of businesses in Edinburgh are also participating in the UK’s four-day work scheme trial, looking at whether employees can operate at 100% productivity with no reduction in pay. If this scheme is successful, people across Edinburgh and the UK could look forward to an extra day off.

  1. Bristol

As a growing tech hub in the UK, Bristol had to be featured on our list. With Bristol tech firms raising an astronomical £111 million in VC funding in 2021, there are immense options for growth and employment in this city.

Tech salaries in Bristol are also some of the highest in the country, averaging at around £52,500. Of all the cities surveyed, Bristol also has one of the lowest gender pay gaps, at around 9.6%. There are currently over 2,400 jobs being advertised here.

Located in the South East, Bristol is situated in one of the best areas for work-life balance in the UK, according to a survey conducted by MoneySupermarket. As a manageable, friendly, and activity-filled city, it’s no surprise so many people enjoy working and living here.

  1. Leeds

Last, but certainly not least, is Leeds. As a thriving and growing tech city in the UK, Leeds has a lot of tech jobs on offer, with over 2,500 current vacancies. Last year the city was also able to bring in over £29 million in tech investment, marking it as a major digital and tech hub.

Home to fast-growing companies such as Big Change, Smart Search, Techbuyer, there are a lot of exciting companies to become a part of here. And with salaries averaging £57,500, there is also potential for high earnings.

Offering good transport links, a vibrant city centre, and fantastic countryside surrounding it, Leeds is the ideal place to live for a good work-life balance. With options for great dining, shopping, and entertainment, residents have plenty of places to enjoy themselves after work. And for those needing an escape, the countryside is a meer 20 minutes, accessible by car or train.

Methodology

Locations were selected based on UK cities with the most tech investment. Each city was then assigned a rank based on average tech salary, the number of current tech job vacancies, the level of tech investment they received in 2021, and the average gender pay gap in each location. Data was taken from the Office of National Statistics, Indeed, FDM 2021 Gender Pay Gap Report, and SmartSurvey.

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