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RDS to Sponsor The GM Chamber of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Update 2022

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The GM Chamber of Commerce’s 3rd Quarterly Economic Update of 2022 is on its way to Manchester. The event is being hosted by Chris Fletcher, the Chamber’s Policy and Communications Director, and Head of Research, Subrahmaniam Krishnan-Harihara on Wednesday 28th September at Elliot House in Manchester between 8.30-10.30am.

Fletcher and Krishnan-Harihara will be hosting the event and sharing first-hand information about the current state of the Greater Manchester economy and what will be impacting on businesses over the next few months. They will have updates on the Chamber’s key economic indicators and give views on wider issues impacting on the economy.

The event will be streamed live and the latest updates will also be available on the GM Index – the most accurate economic performance indicator around. To register please click here.

This event is being sponsored by Research and Development Specialists Ltd (RDS) – an expert in helping companies to navigate the Government’s HMRC R&D tax incentive scheme.

With a desire to become the best in their field, the in-house team at RDS focuses on understanding their clients’ businesses and current R&D projects, as well as their future planned R&D. This means that RDS can become an extension to a client’s businesses, regularly throwing around ideas, answering R&D questions and strategising – not just creating and quantifying an R&D claim at the end of year. RDS brings a huge range of business experience across multiple sectors.

The professional team at RDS are passionate about helping businesses to access all the R&D tax benefits available and although they have a process they can apply to any business in any sector, they pride themselves on their personal touch to every client.

Chris Cunnane, Business Development Manager at RDS, will be on the panel; giving an overview of the scheme, RDS as a business and sharing a case study / success story of a client that RDS met through a Chamber event – Paul Wilks, fellow GMCC member and MD of Jigsaw Controls / KTech Engineering.

 

Speaking of the event Chris said:

 

“As a company, we are really proud to be sponsoring and taking part in this event. It is seemingly the first time that an event sponsor can provide an immediate service that can really help businesses with the tough times they are facing and will continue to face for the forseeable future.

 

“This is crucially important data for Greater Manchester and will be reflective of the UK as a whole, so it is vital that business owners are aware of what’s coming and the fact our solution can help with these increasingly difficult times. Statistics have shown previously that businesses have seen a 45% rise in overhead costs, so now more than ever a R&D tax claim could be a lifeline for a business.”

 

If you would like to attend the event or for more information, contact the GMCC Events team:

E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: 0161 393 4321

https://www.gmchamber.co.uk/events/q3-quarterly-economic-update-september-2022/

How to increase a visibility of posts on your business Instagram page: a 2022 guide

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In 2022, social media marketing has developed so well that now any beginner can quickly enter the platform and find their audience, monetize content and do their dream job online. This option is especially useful for businesses (small, medium and large corporations) that need a channel to attract new customers and partnerships. In this text, we have collected basic tips on how to maintain your page in the IG in 2022: we answered the question of whether to buy Instagram followers, what to pay attention to in the page management strategy and where to look for support if it seems that it is nowhere to be found.

1. Communicate with your subscribers, comment on their photos with your product or service. This greatly increases loyalty, and if your client’s page has a large number of subscribers, then your profile will be seen by quite a large number of people. Correspondence with a commercial profile is generally quite rare, so this way you can show that you really care about your customers. Moreover, it is important to communicate not only with those who comment positively, but also with those who express a negative opinion – you can not leave such messages just hanging in the air. 

  1. Use hashtags wisely: when you select the right tags, think as if you are your client. What words would you use to search for your product or service? This is what our hashtags should be. Moreover, try to make them as specific and narrow as possible – 30 tags with the widest value will not help you. Stop at 5-10, at the same time, add your own branded hashtag there (a unique tag that you came up with yourself). It will help to maintain the image and highlight your content in the general news feed of your customers. 
  2. If you feel that you are not able to gain enough subscribers to increase the weight of your account, then rely on third-party services. You can simply buy real Instagram followers and close your need, saving yourself a lot of time on more important things – for example, generating high-quality content, creating ads, communicating with customers. Such a service will help you overcome difficulties easier and faster, just try to make sure that you are acquiring real subs, because only they can have a positive impact on your profile statistics. 
  3. Never forget about involving people in the process – ask them questions, ask them to comment and share their opinions, leave likes and share with friends. But do it not with cliched phrases, but sincerely, showing that there is a creator behind the content. This greatly increases loyalty and highlights your content from the gray mass: social networks live by the principle – where there is discussion, there is life. Therefore, try to initiate as much communication as possible on the pages of your content.
  4. There should always be advertising behind your profile: if there is no advertising, then you are not achieving success. It can be targeted advertising, or you can ask for help from bloggers (both small and large). The main thing is that somewhere on the platform there is a process of developing your content, so that information is distributed. Yes, targeted advertising can be quite expensive, but you can slightly reduce the coverage settings to save money – the main thing is that this advertising is in principle.

Summing up

In 2022, it is quite easy to promote a page in Insta, if you know the rules and follow the right tactics. Do not hesitate and use paid services – all the developed pages that you see now once started with this. Therefore, do not be afraid to experiment and try new things: buy subs, take advice from SMM specialists, if necessary, and do not forget about your own efforts, which you need to invest in your account daily.

Car accident management firm finds new home

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Claimsline, a Manchester-based accident management company, has relocated to a new 2000sq ft office to support ongoing growth. 

It has leased an office space at 3 Archway, Birley Fields, which will serve as its new headquarters. The new office, will provide space for 28 staff, working both in person and remotely, as Claimsline intends to grow its team to over 30 by the end of the year. 

The new office also offers several employee benefits, including a free on-site gym, free parking, and an award-winning and subsidised on-site restaurant.  

The business has seen steady growth since it was founded in 2019, resulting in a major expansion of the team, which has grown by over 50 per cent so far this year. Meanwhile, key partnerships with windscreen repair giant, Autoglass, and garage comparison website, WhoCanFixMyCar, have expanded Claimsline’s offering to customers. 

The move to 3 Archway will provide a base for the team to support its increasing customer base, with the business on track to earn a staggering £8m in its fourth year of trading, a 112 per cent increase from 2021.  

Regulated by the FCA, Claimsline provides a fast and reliable recovery service to drivers who have been involved in a motor accident. Its service offers manufacturer approved repairs and like-for-like replacement cars with no impact on a motorist’s no-claims bonuses. Each customer is given their own dedicated claims handler who negotiates between insurance companies whilst providing real time updates on the progress of their claim.   

Andrew Franks, commercial director at Claimsline, said: “The team are all really excited about the move, which comes at an exciting time for Claimsline as we build on our strong vision for the future. We’re looking forward to making our mark on the thriving SME landscape in Greater Manchester.” 

“It’s the perfect place for us to set our roots as we continue to develop and expand our team. I’m incredibly proud of the work of our team to date, and a new office really marks the turning point for the business. We aim to substantially grow in the North West to become the first port of call for motorists who have been in an accident.” 

CARTIME BOOST AS REVILO FOUNDER JOINS CAR SUPERMARKET TEAM

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MANCHESTER car supermarket cartime has welcomed the founder and chief executive of Revilo Group to its team as non-executive chairman on a consultancy basis as the firm looks to strengthen the development and operational efficiency of the business.

Lee Collins brings more than three decades of experience with him to cartime, which has dealerships in Bury and Rochdale, and the firm’s boss is delighted to have him join the company to help the business grow further.

Matt Kay, founder and CEO of cartime, said: “In recent years the business has grown significantly, we added Rochdale and the 4×4 Centre to our list of locations, whilst also dealing with significant ‘headwinds’ from the arrival of Covid.

“I recently invited Lee Collins to assist me and the management team in the further development of cartime. The aim is to improve operational efficiency to help maintain our profitably and improve customer satisfaction. I am pleased to say Lee has now joined the management team on a consultancy basis as non-executive chairman.

“He brings with him a huge amount of automotive experience, along with extensive Board Level experience, not least with Jaguar Land Rover, having served almost ten years on their Dealer Council as Regional Chairman and as the UK Sales Panel Chairman.”

Lee has spent 35 years in the Automotive sector, with Rover, Fiat, BMW, Land Rover & Jaguar franchises; starting his career as a car salesman at Lookers Austin Rover in Rochdale, before moving through sales management into senior management, before completing a management buyout of the franchise dealer group where he was then managing director.

Almost ten years later, he went on to sell the group to Vertu PLC. Along with his dealer group, he also owned and managed his own marketing company, Image Red, which he also sold to Vertu PLC.

Following his appointment, Lee said: “Matt and I have known each other for a while now, and it is good practice for rapidly growing businesses to seek the support of other experienced Directors to help with their development, to ensure the owner of the business additional management support at senior level, when the demands on their time are excessive.

“To Matt’s credit, he had the vision and experience to create Cartime and now, to invite me to join the company during this growth phase, to ensure Cartime has the right management structure, process and procedures in place as it heads towards £100million in turnover.

“After 35 years in the automotive sector, 24 years as a company director and as a business owner, I have a strong track record in creating and operating high performing businesses with an enviable record of customer satisfaction. This and my experience at board level, will allow me to support Matt, to ensure Cartime continues to build on its already successful past performance.”

Awarded as the UK Car Supermarket of the Year for two years running, cartime currently employs 120 staff. It is one of the fastest growing independent used car dealerships in the region stocking more than 1,000 vehicles, from family saloons and 4x4s to high-performance sports models.

Number of UK businesses grew by 808,000 this year – still close to recent record highs despite struggling economy

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The number of new businesses in the UK grew to 808,000 in the past year*, near recent record highs in spite of the stress of inflation and rising interest rates on the economy, says Growthdeck, the private equity investment firm

Growthdeck says that the Covid-19 pandemic unleashed a new wave of entrepreneurialism in the UK. Many individuals have taken advantage of the opportunities available through technology and flexible working to start new businesses.

The number of new businesses created last year was only slightly down on the 836,000 created in 2020/21, which was a record high.

The sector that saw the most new businesses created in the past year was retail, with 98,000 started last year, largely driven by online retail. The online retail sector has been a major growth industry for a number of years. The pandemic supercharged this trend as entrepreneurs took advantage of a more accessible e-commerce marketplace to turn hobbies into business ventures.

The red hot jobs market in the past two years means that recruitment is one of the sectors seeing the biggest rise in new businesses being created. Growthdeck’s figures show that the number of new businesses created in the recruitment sector rose by 11% from 8,000 to 8,900 in the last year as more recruiters sprang up to meet demand from both businesses and individuals.

Ian Zant-Boer, CEO of Growthdeck, says: “Despite the economic uncertainty hanging over the country, the number of small businesses that have been created is a sign of longer-term optimism.”

“The economic headwinds facing the UK mean we’re likely to see the number of startups start to fall in the coming months. It’s worth remembering however that the last recession triggered a wave of new startups. New businesses can grow strongly out of a recession so long as funding is in place to help them thrive.”

Growthdeck says the continued high level of new business creation highlights the need for finance to help these businesses scale up. As the country heads towards a recession, banks are likely to pull back on lending to small businesses so it is vital that the Government does everything it can to ensure businesses have access to the investment they need to scale up.

Schemes such as the Government’s Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) offer access to crucial equity finance for scaleup businesses – something that can be in short supply during a recession.

Zant-Boer says: “EIS and SEIS already have a track record of funding some of the best British businesses to emerge from the 2008/9 financial crisis. We expect to see the same happen again through the current period of economic stress.”

* Year end August 31 2022. Source: Growthdeck analysis of Companies House registrations

Datasite Announces Manchester Office as Part of Continued Global and UK Expansion

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Datasite®, a leading SaaS-based technology provider for global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) professionals, has opened a new office in Manchester. The location was chosen given the city is one of Europe’s fastest growing digital and tech hubs, which is well-positioned to help Datasite better service M&A deals across the North of England with local resources and support. The new office is Datasite’s second in the UK after London, the company brings its global expertise to meet the UK’s growing demand for innovative M&A technology and services.

Merlin Piscitelli, Datasite Chief Revenue Officer for EMEA, comments: “We continue to invest in innovation and global expansion, and we are delighted to open a new office in one of Europe’s fastest growing digital and tech hubs. Manchester and its surrounding region are a great fit for Datasite, and our new office ensures our international expertise and leading technology are on the doorsteps of M&A professionals in the North with on-the-ground resources to make the management of their deals even more effective and efficient.”

Datasite’s office opening comes at a time of year when dealmaking is typically busiest and amid optimism from UK M&A professionals about deal activity despite challenging market conditions.

“Some of the world’s biggest companies run important operations out of Manchester. We wanted to invest in the growing local economy and have a dedicated team based in the city to cater to the specific and uniquely local needs of the businesses here,” adds Jon Hughes, Vice President of Sales for UK and Ireland at Datasite.

The Manchester office follows ten new offices opened globally in the last two years and reflects the company’s growth, which has been powered by the introduction of new products to address management pain points across the entire deal lifecycle, from deal sourcing and preparation to post-merger integration.

Dealmakers in more than 170 countries make their deals in Datasite, including 74 of the top 100 legal firms and all the top 20 global financial advisory firms. In 2021, Datasite facilitated more than a third of the top 100 global deals, including a third of the top 61 US deals, and close to half of the top 25 EMEA deals.

The company has been recognized for numerous awards in the last 12 months, including a BIG Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award, a silver Best in Biz Awards International for enterprise product of the year, a gold APAC Stevie Award for innovation technology development – financial services industries and a bronze Stevie Award for Datasite Prepare™ – fintech solution.

Datasite’s new Manchester office is located at 125 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2LH, UK.

Three is the magic number for Dukinfield-based Contact Originators with treble success at industry Awards

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Dukinfield-based packaging origination and flexographic plates manufacturer, Contact Originators, achieved a momentous hat trick by taking home three Gold prizes at the prestigious 2022 Flexographic Industry Association UK (FIAUK) Awards.

Following double Gold successes in the 2021 and 2020 ceremonies, Contact went one better in 2022 by scooping three Gold awards in front of over 400 leading figures from across the flexographic industry. The origination leaders won Repro Company of the Year and Supplier of the Year, both for the third year in a row, before winning the Technical Innovation Supplier Award to complete a remarkable treble.

The company was commended for another year of excellent customer service and the successful introduction of its innovative PrintHQ technology, an automated digital shim printing system for corrugated printers developed in collaboration with AV Flexologic.

Steve Mulcahy, CEO of Contact Originators, was jubilant, saying: “Everyone at Contact has worked tremendously hard over the last year and it is wonderful to see our team get the plaudits they deserve.

“To take home a hat trick of Gold awards in three highly competitive categories is a testament to the skill and passion of every member of our team, which drives the business to continually improve. The fact we are not only maintaining these award-winning standards, but building on them every year through the introduction of innovations like PrintHQ, is only good news for our customers.”

This year’s awards were hosted at the iconic Silverstone motor racing circuit, with the biggest names from across the print and packaging industry in attendance. As always, the winners were judged by a broad range of brands and experts from across the industry, and separated into Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards, as well as a Highly Commended category for particularly impressive runners-up.

To find out more about Contact Originators and its range of products and services to packaging printers and brand owners, please visit contact-group.co.uk.

How Switching to an EV Fleet Can Benefit Your Business

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Earlier this year, more than 30 companies were fined as part of a regulated effort to reduce emissions. As such, there has never been a better time for your business to consider switching to a green vehicle fleet.

Firms that lease fleets, such as Select Car Leasing, are advocating for UK drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles, and companies that adopt a green vehicle fleet can play a huge part in making our roads more sustainable.

Not only will going green with your company’s vehicle fleet be beneficial for the environment, but it will also have a positive impact on your employees, as one expert explains.

Sarah Worthington, Fleet Specialist at Select Car Leasing says that growth in electric vehicles for the Corporate Fleet Team has been ‘record-setting’.

She reveals: “In the last year, the number of electric vehicle fleets leased has increased from 25.12% to 37.25%.

“Fleets are placing record-setting orders for electric vehicles (EVs), and all evidence suggests that these numbers will continue to rise.

“EVs work a little differently to petrol or diesel vehicles. Whereas those sorts of vehicles burn fuel to create heat that can be converted into movement, EVs directly convert electricity into movement.

“This means that EVs do not waste half as much energy as petrol or diesel vehicles do when they use fuel.

“EVs will also cost far less money to keep running in the long run. Thisismoney.co.uk estimates that an electric car can work out being 61% cheaper than its petrol equivalent.

“Therefore green car fleets come with the advantage of helping companies meet their Scope 1 (direct) emissions and Scope 2 (indirect) emissions targets.

“The UK is on target to reach net zero emissions by the year 2050, and climate change schemes are in place for UK-based companies to ensure that the nation reaches that target.

“Earlier this year, more than 30 companies were issued with fines by the Environment Agency as part of nationwide efforts to reduce emissions.

“As such UK companies are making a considerable effort to go green. Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) recently revealed that 58.5% of EVs on UK roads are company registered.

“Furthermore, Reuters claims that as retail sales have fallen, leasing has become the more popular method for companies that use vehicle fleets.

“Another benefit that EV fleets present businesses is the potential for saving money through tax reductions.

“Tax benefits for electric vehicles introduced in April 2020 mean that businesses can claim up to 100% of the cost of an electric vehicle against the profits of the year of purchase.

“Plus, employees that use a private electric vehicle for business purposes may be entitled to claim an annual tax-free mileage allowance of 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles driven and 25p per mile after that.

“Employees may also be eligible for grants under the Electric Vehicle Homecharge scheme, which contributes 75% towards the cost of a single charge point and its installation, up to a maximum of £350 per household with an electric vehicle.

“Despite this positive trajectory towards greener vehicle fleets in the UK, there are still barriers in place that are enough to put some companies off switching to EVs.

“One concern that some companies have regards infrastructure, in that they believe there is simply not enough accessible EV charging stations in the UK to support a fully green fleet.

“Another barrier that is affecting some companies switching to a green fleet is that the demand for EVs is, at times, outweighing the supply. This situation is not helped by a variety of global issues.

“However, we are seeing the supply of EVs getting better, as manufacturers are prioritising EV build slots since they too have their own production emissions targets that they need to achieve.

“Furthermore, the leasing industry can provide an answer for companies who may find themselves struggling to upgrade to an EV fleet.

“With our Select buying power and close manufacturer relationships, there is no better place for a customer to secure the best pricing and vehicle availability.

“Overall, it is worth remembering that the long-term environmental and financial benefits of switching to an EV fleet far outweigh the headache that any of these stumbling blocks might pose.

“EV fleets are an essential part of our collective fight against the climate crisis since there is already a significant impact on the environment caused by the fuel consumption of petrol or diesel vehicle fleets.

“Switching to a greener fleet is also a way of demonstrating both to your employees and the broader community that your company cares about their long-term health and well-being.

“With an EV fleet, you are making a statement that you are dedicated to delivering services in a sustainable way, which can only reflect well on the public opinion of your company.”

WHN Solicitors bolsters Bury arts charity coffers

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North West law firm Woodcocks Haworth and Nuttall Solicitors (WHN) has thrown its support behind the arts in Bury.

WHN Solicitors, which has eight offices across Greater Manchester and Lancashire, has committed to a year-long sponsorship of The Met, an independent arts and entertainment venue in Bury.

The Met opens access to the arts for the Bury community and helps develop musical talent in the region. It is run by Bury Metropolitan Arts Association and is a registered charity supported by Bury Council, Arts Council England and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

WHN has handed over a £1,250 donation to the charity, adding to the £4,055 the firm has committed over the past three years.

The sponsorship will help the charity fund its outreach and education work, which is designed to get people of all ages and abilities involved with the arts, explore their creativity, build confidence, and improve wellbeing.

Creative learning workshops include theatre groups, music tuition, dance and yoga classes, as well as sessions for the over 50s to tackle loneliness and isolation.

Daniel Long, director, WHN Solicitors, said: “As a sponsor of The Met and a firm committed to the communities in which we operate, we recognise just how important the support and work the charity does locally is.

“The Met makes a really positive difference to the wellbeing of those in Bury and the surrounding areas, so we’re more than happy to extend a hand of support.”

Victoria Robinson, chief executive of The Met, added: “We firmly believe that access to the arts is a right for our community and we work hard to make our organisation as accessible for everyone as possible.

“As a charity, the generosity and support of local businesses helps us to provide sessions both inside our building and across Bury and promote the wider benefit of accessing creative activity. The sponsorship and continued support from WHN Solicitors ensures we can continue our work and remain a hub for our local community.

“WHN has been a firm supporter of The Met for a number of years, so we’re absolutely thrilled to see them commit to another year of support.”

NEW £30K HOSPITAL SUITE RESEARCH FACILITY OPENS IN STOCKPORT – A UK FIRST

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A highly innovative mock hospital, which cost £30K, has been opened this month by Aspect Viewing Facilities in Stockport and is the first of its kind in the UK.

The facility will enable research to take place, including the testing of medical devices such as inhalers, injection pens, catheter, and stoma products in an environment that replicates a number of clinical settings.

Aspect Viewing Facilities creates an immersive experience, recreating a medical facility right down to the finest detail. It consists of a full scale hospital room complete with hospital bed, saline drip, portable and functional medical sink and medical mannequin to mimic patient interaction. It can be set up to replicate an operating theatre, outpatient, hospital or other clinical setting for a highly realistic research environment.

Ultra-powerful cameras have been installed which can move throughout all fields of vision and zoom in on the tiniest detail for experts to review. One way viewing mirrors allow clients to comfortably watch the testing without impacting those taking part in the research.

Lydia Fuller, one of the owners of Aspect Viewing Facilities, commented: “We spotted a gap in the market for medical device research. Manufacturers want to test their products in the way that they are designed to be used but currently there is no medical setting within any other viewing facility in the UK. This allows medical professionals to test devices in as similar surroundings as they would be used to in real life giving our clients the highly accurate feedback which can be used to take their products to market sooner, leading to better patient care and treatments.”

Nick Bradley at Bergo recently said:

“In May 2022 I hired the Aspect Hospital Viewing Simulation Suite to run a usability study of a medical device in development for one of my clients.  A room was set up similar to an operating theatre for surgeons to simulate an implantation procedure using a medical mannequin.  High-quality cameras in the study room recorded close-up interaction of the procedure, which was also displayed on monitors being viewed by the client in an observers’ room. Overall, the Suite provides an ideal setting for simulating medical procedures for research, training and medical device evaluations.”

There is also an additional space within the facility which is set up as a GP surgery, complete with a GP consultation room which is also a fully immersive space, replicating the environment with an adjacent room which is set up as a GP surgery waiting room.

The setting could also be utilised for first aid training and other human factors studies where a clinical setting is required.

Aspect Viewing Facilities also has other research spaces which are set up for traditional market research such as focus groups and individual interviews for a range of any consumer research topics. Aspect is affiliated with Acumen Fieldwork, who manage and organise market research studies throughout the UK and beyond. Their services complement Aspect’s Healthcare Simulation Suite with their expertise in recruiting healthcare professionals and patients to take part in the research.

Aspect and Acumen run side-by-side as sister companies, sharing the same Founders and Directors. This close relationship enables us to work together behind the scenes to deliver the best research experience for our clients.  We take care of the small, yet important details, allowing clients to focus their attention on running the research and gathering the all important insight.

Aspect Viewing Facilities is aimed at market research agencies and medical device manufacturers directly. It is open now and more information can be found at https://www.aspectviewingfacilities.com/venue/stockport/the-healthcare-suite/

The facility will be also holding a Open Day on Friday 7th October between 10am and 4pm.

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