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Manchester-based production company Reels in Motion has won an award for their powerful videos highlighting the stark realities of domestic and verbal abuse

Sam Whitear
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The EVCOM Clarion Awards 2022 were hosted in London two weeks ago, and Reels in Motion – who provide film services for businesses and charities across the UK – was awarded the Bronze award for their Break the Silence campaign with Press Red, which shared realities of domestic abuse.

The aim of the emotive and harrowing short videos is to help more people understand the stories of those involved in domestic abuse, and ultimately be part of the solution to ending gender-based violence and take action when they see abuse happening.

EVCOM celebrated the brilliant use of film as a powerful storytelling tool for the third sector to change mindsets and raise awareness of good causes. Over 500 production companies took part in the 2022 awards.

Break the Silence was written by Creative Director of Reels in Motion, Phil Bland. The script was based on research provided by Press Red as the non-profit Christian organisation shared details of domestic encounters that people may have witnessed and not actioned.

The Manchester-based production company sourced 50 actors to help capture the distressful experiences that happen to women across the UK at work, in pubs or bars and even on their commute home.

The short clips deliver disturbing scenarios with a positive message at the end of the three videos by showing how people have chosen to take action and protect the victim from further verbal or domestic abuse.

Matt Hubbard at Reels in Motion, coordinated, filmed, and produced the thought-provoking piece.

Clarion Awards commented: “Since breaking into the Televisual Top50 corporate production companies we knew Reels in Motion were at the highest level of video production in the UK, and we wanted to enter a project in the Clarion awards that not only showcased our ability, but also gave Press Red a bigger platform to raise awareness about their campaign. It was the first time we’d entered a project into the EVCom Clarion Awards so to walk away with a bronze award was really satisfying, especially when you see the scale and budgets of the other entries we were up against. We’ve always been proud of giving our clients good bang for their buck so this felt like a good victory for us. We’ll be entering again next and going for the gold.”

Press Red commented on the award win: “We were already aware of the amazing work that Press Red do so when they approached us to work with them on the Break the Silence campaign we jumped at the chance. We felt it was our opportunity to use our production skills to make a positive difference and play a small part in helping to stop violence and sexual harassment towards women and girls. “

Global powerhouse Radius partners with MC2

Sam Whitear
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Global provider of sustainable mobility, connectivity and technology solutions, Radius, has enlisted the support of strategic marketing communications agency MC2 as it looks to continue its impressive growth trajectory.

Since 1990, Radius has been quick to adapt to market trends and evolve its offering, becoming the 23rd largest private company in the UK and generating revenues in excess of £3bn. The company employs over 2,300 talented colleagues across 18 countries and five continents, supporting a customer base of more than 300,000.

With an enviable list of industry-leading partners across the world, Radius is now focusing its efforts on supporting the energy transition in transportation. By leveraging this network and continuing to invest in innovative proprietary technology, Radius is transforming the way businesses operate through data-driven, tailored solutions and helping them navigate towards a sustainable future.

The agency was tasked with reviewing Radius’s brand positioning and go-to-market offer before carrying out a brand refresh, full rebuild of the corporate website and the creation of supporting brand assets. This work will lay the foundations for Radius’s next phase of growth, as it continues to scale organically and through acquisition.

Bill Holmes, CEO of Radius said: “MC2’s strategic prowess and specialism in working with high-growth, ambitious organisations made them the obvious choice for us. The team have completely immersed themselves in our business and continue to surprise us with their collaborative ways of working and creativity. They have challenged us to think differently where needed and remain focused on adding value wherever possible. We are extremely proud of the outputs we have achieved together so far.”

Jonny Saatchi, Managing Director of MC2, said: “The Radius story is nothing short of astounding, and that’s testament to Bill and the leadership team’s drive, agility and innovative nature. For a long time we have followed the company’s progress, so we are immensely proud to be supporting the team on their journey. It’s a pleasure to be working with such a forward-thinking tech company that is truly transforming businesses worldwide.”

NPIF – Maven Equity Finance invests £250,000 in RegTech start-up, RiskSmart

Sam Whitear
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NPIF – Maven Equity Finance, managed by Maven Capital Partners (“Maven”) and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (“NPIF”), has invested £250,000 in RiskSmart (“RiskSmart”). RiskSmart is currently developing an integrated risk management platform that will make risk management simpler for SMEs by utilising Machine Learning (“ML”) and Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) technologies to leverage valuable data. Its platform and solutions simplify, centralise and digitalise risk management to increase confidence and business resilience.

Manchester based RiskSmart was founded by Ryan Swann and Michael Aldred, both of whom have an extensive background in risk, having held senior positions in FinTech firms. The business was set up in order to fill a gap in the market, with risk management increasingly becoming a key priority for SMEs with the majority of existing risk management solutions focused on larger enterprise clients. RiskSmart’s platform offers SMEs an easy-to-understand, cost-effective, and simple to deploy platform to manage risk, save time and add value.

Funding from NPIF – Maven Equity Finance will support the business as it aims to bring its innovative solution to market, with its minimal viable product set for a ‘soft-launch’ this summer.

There are more than 6 million SMEs in the UK, accounting for over 99% of all businesses across the country. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has made many businesses reconsider their current compliance and risk management processes and mitigation strategies, with 71% of SME’s predicting an increase in spend in this area over the next five years.

Maven’s investment in the early-stage start-up comes as part of a wider £1.05 million investment in the business.

Dean Cox, Investment Director at Maven, said: “This is an exciting investment for Maven and NPIF. More established providers of risk management solutions focus on larger companies and are priced accordingly so there is a clear gap in the market for an ambitious business like RiskSmart to target the underserved SME segment. The team have significant experience in this sector, and we look forward to helping them move a step closer to creating an enterprise product which can be scaled.”

Ryan Swann, Founder at RiskSmart, added: “Maven and NPIF’s investment marks a significant moment for RiskSmart as we look to launch our solutions to the wider market. We’re excited for the opportunity this provides and we’re looking forward to seeing the positive impact our business will have on SMEs during this uncertain time, where managing risk is more important than ever.”

Sean Hutchinson at the British Business Bank, added: “NPIF continues to provide crucial funding to Northern businesses across the region, creating impactful change for companies looking to move to the next level of their growth journeys. Through investment, RiskSmart is now ready to bring its service to market, offering an important risk-management tool for small businesses to use. NPIF continues to bring equity financing opportunities to small businesses and driving forward its goal in building a stronger North.”

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.

BOOST&Co North hits major milestone with more than £100m of deals funded

Sam Whitear
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Independent asset manager BOOST&Co has achieved a major business milestone as its North team, which has bases in Manchester and Leeds, has now provided more than £115m of growth capital to innovative UK SMEs, in addition to successful exits of all deals completed in 2019 as well as many 2020 deals.

The team has more than tripled in size since the first Northern office was opened in Manchester in October 2018 and now provides tailored funding support for businesses in the North West, Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland. Following this expansion, a second northern office was established in Leeds in 2021.

Key strategic appointments during this period include Seth Vaughan and Oliver Reece, both joining as Principals, followed by Michael Collins joining the firm as Business Development Manager, bringing with them more than 30 years of combined, relevant lending experience.

Having funded businesses in a range of sectors including technology, media, telecoms, professional and business services , BOOST&Co has now successfully cemented its standing as a leading growth capital provider in the region and nationally.

As the North team passes this milestone, it creates an ambitious target for BOOST&Co’s other regional offices – many of which have opened in the past 18 months as part of the firm’s commitment to local lending at a time when many traditional banks are withdrawing from the SME lending market.

Ryan Sorby, Head of North and Scotland at BOOST&Co, said: “This is a landmark achievement for everyone in the BOOST&Co North team and for all of our colleagues in the wider business that continue to support our success.

“It was recognition of the vast array of talent and entrepreneurship in the North West that led us to open an office here in 2018, but our experience of working with exciting firms across the northern regions has encouraged us to broaden this scope in the past two years.

“Not only have we now surpassed the £100m funding milestone we have seen successful exits of all our deals completed in 2019 and a good number of our 2020 deals. This is a fantastic story so far and testament to much hard work since the start of BOOST&Co’s journey of supporting fast-growing SMEs.”

MSB SOLICITORS STRENGTHENS TEAM WITH RAFT OF PROMOTIONS

Sam Whitear
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North West-based full-service law firm, MSB Solicitors, has made good on its policy to invest in its people and drive staff success with the promotion of four employees this month.

The latest raft of promotions sees three of the firm’s team members appointed to Associates, two of which have been with MSB since beginning their careers in law as Legal Assistants. The new Associates include Sarah McGuinness in the Commercial Property department, Sarah Coakley in Commercial Property and David Tarttelin, who is part of the firm’s Civil and Commercial Litigation department.

Calum Whelan, who is part of MSB’s Family Law department and joined the firm in 2021, has also been promoted from Solicitor to Senior Associate in the latest raft of promotions.

From its inception, MSB Solicitors has held a focus on promoting employees from within and providing its staff with opportunities to develop and progress through the ranks within the firm.

The latest promotions take the total number of Senior Associates to nine and Associates to 10 just as MSB reaches 183 employees in total. The news follows a remarkable start to the year for the law firm after it increased its North West footprint by opening its first Manchester office in April, as well as welcoming over 74 new members of staff in the last 18 months alone.

Sarah McGuinness, who has worked at MSB since 2014 and qualified as a Solicitor in 2018, said:

“I’m so happy to have been promoted to Associate after eight years with MSB. I started my journey as a Legal Assistant here before qualifying as a Solicitor four years back, and I feel incredibly lucky to be able to continue with my progression now as an associate.

“I hope to contribute to the continued development and success of MSB and am excited to play a role in the firm’s undoubtably bright future.”

Emma Carey, Managing Partner at MSB, said:

“At MSB, we know that to do the best work, we need the best people. Since the launch of the firm in 1988, we have been committed to the development and success of our staff. Our in-house training department has played an important role in helping us continuously develop, progress and promote our staff, which ultimately benefits them, the firm and our clients.

“We’re extremely proud to reward the determination and talent of Sarah, David, Sarah and Calum. They’ve played a crucial role in MSB’s growth and are a true credit to our business.”

The full-service North West law firm has a history stretching back 34 years and now operates from offices across Liverpool City Region and Manchester.

RSM announces new look leadership team in the North West

Sam Whitear
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Leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK has appointed new managing partners in Manchester, Preston and Stoke to build on the success of each office and continue to grow its market share.

Kevin Duffy has been appointed as managing partner for the firm’s Manchester office, in addition to his regional managing partner role. Kevin takes on the role from Eric Solomons who, having led the office for seven years, has stepped down and remains a senior partner in Manchester acting for an established portfolio of high profile clients.

Adam Krupski has been appointed as office managing partner in Stoke. Adam joined the firm as a trainee in 2006 and brings 16 years’ audit, accounting and business advisory experience to the role. As part of his career, he has developed key expertise within the automotive, manufacturing and retail industries; and heads up the regional sector group for manufacturing. Adam takes on the role from Anne Lakin who has been with the firm since 2002. Anne has worked in Stoke on Trent all her career having joined the Stoke office as a graduate.

In Preston, Karen Musgrave becomes office managing partner. Having been with the firm since 2003 she brings extensive experience specialising in advising owner managed businesses and not for profit organisations including further education colleges and charities.

Adam and Karen join both Kevin and Graham Bond, office managing partner in Liverpool and Chester, to shape the new look leadership team.

Kevin Duffy, RSM UK’s regional managing partner in the North West, comments: ‘I’d like to thank Anne and Eric for their huge contribution and the role they have played in our success. We have achieved so much as a business in the region, particularly in recent years, and Anne and Eric have been instrumental to what we have done. I’m excited about Karen and Adam joining our leadership team and I know they will help to drive the next stage of growth for our regional business – building on the success to date.

‘We are committed to supporting our people to grow, and we have a culture which empowers our people to shape their own careers, with the right training and support in place to help them succeed. It’s great to see two of our people come right through the business to take on leadership roles in Stoke and Preston – acting as real role models to our teams showing that whatever your ambitions, you can shape your career here at RSM.

Young Manchester creatives given a ‘Foot In The Door’

Sam Whitear
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Six young Manchester creators seeking rewarding careers in the creative industries have unveiled their first ever outdoor advert telling what it takes to get that all important Foot In The Door.

The work, which appeared on Ocean Outdoor’s large format digital screen at The Printworks, was created by Aala (23), Divine (24), Frankie (18), Grace (21), Lysette (23) and Michael (19). The short film marks the group’s completion of a talent development and work placement programme funded by The Andy Taylor Foundation and Manchester social enterprise SharpFutures.

‘Foot In The Door’ was designed to develop the skills and opportunities for socially and economically diverse young people who live in Greater Manchester and are passionate about a career in content creation.

One component of the 12 week bootcamp was to create an advert for Ocean screens using a mixture of video, graphic design, branding and a call to action. ‘Now that we’ve got a Foot In The Door’ celebrates the cohort’s new found skills, closing with the upbeat message #bethenextus.

Scott Webster, Ocean Outdoor regional account director, said: “We all know how difficult it can be to get into the creative industries. Competition is stiff and non-inclusive selection processes often exclude those with the best potential. Being able to help mentor this cohort of young people working with SharpFutures and the Andy Taylor Foundation has been a privilege.”

During the programme, the cohort learnt about different production techniques, digital storytelling, creative ideas generation, writing and pitching. They also developed their communication and teamwork skills through a wide range of workshops and masterclasses with Ocean and other supporters.

The participants then spent six weeks of the programme developing their creative digital skills on work placements with digital publisher LADbible Group, Lime Pictures (the team behind Channel 4’s Hollyoaks), production company Studio Lambert North (Naked Attraction, The Circle, Gogglebox) and ITV Studios.

Aala said: “This course has been really valuable to me. I always have ideas but if someone had given me a job to come up with ideas, I won’t have known how to go about the process. We got to learn about so many different fields of media. I wanted to go into scripted drama, but there are so many other areas where I can now utilise my skills. This has really boosted my confidence and given me the skills to go further.”

Lara Taylor, chair of the Andy Taylor Foundation, said: “Congratulations to the Foot In The Door Class of 2022! We have been so inspired by these young people from the minute we first interviewed them. It has been a joy seeing them develop as they have progressed together on an incredible journey.

“This first partnership for the Andy Taylor Foundation has exceeded all expectations, largely due to our chosen delivery partners including SharpFutures, Ocean Outdoor and our numerous masterclass providers, plus the breadth of brilliant work placements. Foot In The Door has shown that the media industry recognises and supports our aim to improve the diversity of opportunity in the sector. Our next steps are to attract more great industry partners and find the next class of young people with huge potential but struggling to find opportunities.”

Lee Stanley, CEO of SharpFutures said: “The last 12 weeks have been an amazing experience for everyone here at SharpFutures as we have seen the ‘Foot In The Door’ group develop their skills, confidence and ability whilst being challenged to come out of their comfort zones and become the professional creatives they are now.

“We are very grateful to Ocean Outdoor for their support of ‘Foot In The Door’ through delivering workshops and setting the brief for the Manchester Printworks outdoor screen. I’m sure the group will be very proud of what they’ve achieved.”

Deloitte Manchester grows its financial advisory offering with new director appointment

Sam Whitear
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Deloitte has announced that Stephen Lashmar has joined its real estate team – within the financial advisory practice – as a director in Manchester.

Specialising in land assembly, compulsory purchase and valuation advice, Stephen will have predominant focus on projects involving regeneration, levelling-up and infrastructure schemes in the North and Midlands.

He joins the team from Manchester-based surveying practice Roger Hannah and has more than 20 years’ experience with practices in the North West, including Keppie Massie and CBRE.

Stephen has been involved in many high-profile regeneration schemes, this includes advising the Manchester, Trafford, Stockport and Preston councils, as well as the North West Development Agency and English Partnerships.

As a Chartered Surveyor and Registered Valuer, Stephen has extensive experience in providing valuation advice for a range of purposes to a variety of stakeholders in the sector, such as investors, developers and lenders.

Stephen Lashmar, director at Deloitte Manchester, commented: “Deloitte has an exceptional blend of skills, encompassing specialist real estate, financial and strategic advice to public and private-sector clients. I am looking forward to bringing my experience to the team and to deliver regeneration, levelling-up and infrastructure schemes for our clients across the region.”

Graeme Lawes, director and head of land assembly and compulsory purchase at Deloitte said: “We are very pleased that Stephen is joining Deloitte in Manchester to further strengthen our national Land Assembly and Compulsory Purchase team. He has huge experience in advising both acquiring authorities as well as and will complement our established Planning & Development practice. I am looking forward to working with Stephen to further build our capability in Manchester in the coming months.”

Qualcomm Becomes Official Global Partner of Manchester United

Sam Whitear
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Manchester United today announced a multi-year global strategic collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

The arrangement will feature the Snapdragon brand. Snapdragon platforms power many of the world’s premium smartphones, PCs, gaming devices, connected cars, smart wearables and more.

Bringing together the world’s most popular football club with a global leader in technology innovation, the strategic collaboration will create unique events and experiences for Manchester United fans at Old Trafford and around the world, powered by the premium performance that Snapdragon® platforms deliver.

In addition, Qualcomm Technologies will advise Manchester United on planned improvements to mobile connectivity at Old Trafford, which will enhance fans’ experience on match days.

Victoria Timpson, CEO Alliances and Partnerships at Manchester United, said: “Snapdragon platforms will enable ground-breaking experiences for fans across the globe, deepening their engagement with the football club they love.”

“Manchester United has always pushed boundaries of what’s possible and we are excited to be partnering with a company at the forefront of innovation.”

Don McGuire, SVP of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and CMO of Qualcomm said: “We are proud to bring the power of Snapdragon together with one of the most iconic names in world sport.”

“We look forward to showcasing Snapdragon to Manchester United fans everywhere and joining the new era of technology innovation at Old Trafford.”

RAFT OF CONTRACT WINS PROPEL SCANLANS TO MILESTONE

Sam Whitear
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Property management and surveying firm Scanlans has reached a milestone after
securing a raft of block management contracts at sites across the country.
The spate of wins means Scanlans has surpassed 20,000 units under its
management for the first time.
Recent instructions have come at apartment blocks in West Yorkshire, the West
Midlands and East Midlands, Liverpool and Bournemouth.
The latest agreement, which enabled Scanlans to reach the milestone, came in
Birmingham.
Scanlans has been appointed by Elevate Property Group to manage 79 luxury
apartments at Priory House, a former forensic science laboratory in the city’s popular
Southside.
The 77,000sq ft building was previously home to the Forensic Science Service,
where experts analysed evidence from crime scenes for police forces in England and
Wales.
Scanlans manages over 300 residential sites nationwide, from listed apartment
blocks to new-build housing developments.
Other recent instructions include ones to manage 850 units across various locations
for Ground Rents UK, and a number of apartment blocks in Harrogate, North
Yorkshire.
Partner Ian Magenis, who heads Scanlans’ property management division, said the
firm has grown its portfolio by 10 per cent in the past 12 months, largely due to
recommendations from existing clients.
He added: “Reaching the 20,000 milestone is testament to the high standards of
service that our dedicated and professional team provides to clients across the
country, and reflects our growth as one of the largest property management firms
outside the London area.
“Leeds and Birmingham have been strong areas of expansion for us, but we have
also expanded our portfolio in a number of regions beyond our office locations.

“We have recruited in key positions and have developed the skillsets of existing staff
to cater for an expanding client base, while at the same time investing in our systems
and processes.
“Our staff are key to our development and, as a firm, we place great emphasis on
internal progression to nurture them and offer a clear career path from entry level to
experienced property manager.
“Alongside them, our senior management team have been with us for many years,
and this ensures continuity internally and for our clients.”
Ian added: “As a firm of chartered surveyors and as members of the Association of
Residential Managing Agents, we are well-placed to understand and lead our clients
through an ever-changing landscape in the property management industry,
especially in view of the new Building Safety Act which will mean increasing
requirements in relation to compliance and accountability.
“We believe our professionalism and the depth of knowledge of our team will prove
significant differentiators as clients seek out firms which are regulated by industry
bodies and possess these attributes to help them meet the demands of the new
landscape.
“With over 30 years of providing property management services, Scanlans is well-
versed in all issues and we have developed systems to ensure the greatest level of
efficiency. We’ve invested heavily in bespoke technology so residents and clients
alike can interact via our online portal to progress, repairs, make payments and view
documents.
“However, we do still recognise the need to provide a more intimate service, and
each development has an experienced property manager as its first line of approach.
“We are confident that our robust business model, vast experience and wealth of
knowledge stand us in good stead for the future in a highly competitive market.”
Alongside property management, Scanlans provides commercial and residential
property valuations and surveys, expert witness, building surveying and LPA
Receivership services.

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