Home Blog Page 750

Digital marketing agency Embryo wins Best Digital and Creative Agency of the year at the City of Manchester Business Awards 2021

Sam Whitear
-
0

The whole team at Embryo are celebrating their success after receiving the award for Best Digital and Creative Agency 2021 at an exclusive awards ceremony at the Lowry Hotel in Salford yesterday evening. The multi-channel agency, who are known for their strategic and innovative digital marketing ideas, was nominated for two awards.

One was their director, Ross Green, for Best Young Entrepreneur of Year, while the other was Best Digital and Creative Agency for which the team were delighted to receive this award.

Account Director at Embryo, Charlotte Fallon commented: “ We are absolutely delighted to have won the award for Digital & Creative Agency of the Year 2021. It was amazing to be back at a live event, let alone to come home with an award. Needless to say, all of us at Embryo are chuffed to bits to have won such a competitive category with some other fantastic nominees. Thank you so much to all of our clients and Downtown in Business who voted for us.”

Winning this award signifies the growth and business transformation that director and founder, Ross Green, has implemented. The agency has grown to a team of 43, scaling up massively, despite the pandemic, and has added talented individuals to all departments including Digital PR, SEO, PPC, Social, Web Design and Development, and Client Services.

Last night’s event was one to be cherished, owing to the fact that it was the first in-person awards event to be attended by Embryo in almost two years! This award highlights the agency’s ethos – “We See What Others Don’t” – and was celebrated by numerous team members well into the night!

Disability charity and textile accessory business turn to Access to ramp up their digital experiences

Sam Whitear
-
0

Access has expanded its impressive client list with two new wins – international disability charity Leonard Cheshire and European B2B textile accessory business Beechfield Brands.

Appointing Access as its digital partner, Leonard Cheshire’s London based team aims to enhance the charity’s digital presence and build on its user experience. It hopes to broaden the international reach of its work, which spans policy, research, education, employment and events.

Leonard Cheshire supports disabled people to live their lives as freely as they choose and campaigns for a society where people with disabilities have the same education, employment and other opportunities as everyone else. Its goal is to change attitudes towards disability and support disabled people around the world.

The charity’s website is an essential element in its operations, not only to communicate what services it can provide, but for reaching donors, supporters and fundraisers to provide event and project information and drive donations. In 2020 it supported 61,000 disabled people in the UK and internationally, the vast majority through education, employment and community programmes.

Calling on its charity experience as WaterAid’s global digital partner for the past three years, Access will be providing a full-service digital programme – from supporting the charity in its choice of digital products and implementing best practice design, to undertaking site usability studies and website development to ensure it delivers an effective user experience.

Access has also been appointed to build a future-proofed digital platform for B2B textile accessory business Beechfield Brands. Operating across Europe, Beechfield provides a range of products that can be branded or personalised by its distributors and authorised network of garment decorators throughout Europe. Ideal for commercial and educational audiences, its accessories range from personalised, printed or embroidered bags to headwear.

Access’ remit is to transform Beechfield’s five websites to create a digital experience platform that reflects the business’ creativity, innovation and core values. While the platform will continue to be non-transactional, it will seek to inspire and leverage eCommerce design conventions in areas such as navigation and product search functionality, to improve the experience and usability of the websites as a sales channel/for its trade buyers.

The new site will cater for every tier of customer, from large distributors to promotional product suppliers. CMS and design updates, digital asset management integration and system integration will all be added to the site’s capability.

Mark Hope, Digital Director at Access, said: “It’s fantastic to be partnering with such diverse and interesting organisations as they invest and focus on improving their digital operations and customer experience.

“It’s a credit to our team’s continued hard work that we continue to attract and win new clients, and we’re also successfully adding to our team with new staff across all areas of expertise. With specific sector and technology expertise to call on, we are looking forward to supporting our new clients’ ambitious plans.”

Express Solicitors Group turnover at record high of £31.3m

Sam Whitear
-
0

Manchester-based personal injury law firm, Express Solicitors, has announced its best ever financial results, with group turnover up by 14% from last year to £31.3m.

Turnover for Express Solicitors was up from £22.6m in 2020 to £26m in 2021 while medical reporting agency, Ontime Group, increased turnover from £4.9m to £5.3m.

Caseloads over the year have grown by 36% to 19,015.

Marketing spend increased to £8.4m and has bolstered business during the pandemic, with a new website and increased PPC working alongside the firm’s existing marketing routes.

With recruitment and training carrying on as normal, head count at the firm has increased from 308 to 389 employees.

The firm has a policy of promoting from within and is proud to carry on the tradition of bringing bright new talent through the ranks, making 56 promotions across the business in the last financial year.

Express Solicitors’ Managing Partner, James Maxey said: “It’s been another successful year and we’re delighted with our progress, despite claim volumes plummeting during the first lockdown.

“Our team has worked very hard to help us grow, and this has meant further opportunities for promotion and development of our lawyers and managers. Everyone in the business has done an amazing job of stepping up through the pandemic, getting the job done and continuing to provide exceptional customer service for clients.”

In the last financial year, Express Solicitors has also bought another personal injury law firm and two caseloads, helping to cement it as one of the top firms in England and Wales specialising purely in personal injury.

Express Solicitors are ranked in The Lawyer Top 200, its lawyers and the firm are recognised in The Legal 500 and the firm is noted in Chambers and Partners. Express Solicitors specialises in personal injury and accident claims, clinical negligence claims and serious injury cases.

Start-ups and scale-ups dominate the featured 100 breakthrough UK companies

Sam Whitear
-
0

Export and growth ambitions are driving the UK businesses at the intersection of creativity and technology celebrated in the new CreaTech ‘Ones to Watch’ list.

Of the 100 businesses on the 2021 list, 57 already export, despite the majority of the 100 (66) reporting relatively modest annual turnover of under £632,000.

Of those already exporting, they are most likely to have made sales to Asia Pacific and North American markets.

The vast majority of the CreaTech ‘Ones to Watch’ companies are also in overt growth mode, with 84 describing themselves as either start-up or scale-up operations.

Two companies (Blue Zoo Animation Studio and Imagination) already have more than £10m in annual turnover. A further seven turn over more than £2.5m a year.

Ambitions for the future growth of such CreaTech businesses are built on the innovation these companies offer. Typically, they mix technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual or augmented reality with creative expertise to add value to entertainment, experiences, business services, or public goods in multiple categories.

The ‘Ones to Watch’ list is published annually by the Creative Industries Council (CIC), with support from Digital Catapult, Facebook, Moore Kingston Smith and UKRI (AHRC) to highlight such breakthrough CreaTech businesses from across the UK. The list was selected by a panel of industry leaders, funding bodies, and experts.

Twenty of the Ones to Watch companies will feature in a dedicated CreaTech platform on September 21st, as part of the London Tech Week (Sept 20-24) of virtual events. As well as showcasing some of the listed companies, CreaTech video sessions will explore funding, export opportunities, talent, and future directions.

The nascent CreaTech space has been praised by UK government, industry and venture capitalists for its potential to generate new sources of revenue, employment, and cultural value.

Venture Capital (VC) funding in UK CreaTech is forecast to rise by 25% to a record £1.2bn by 2022, according to The Tech Nation CreaTech Report 2021. By this assessment, CreaTech and ClimateTech are two of the fastest growing areas of VC tech investment in the UK.

Interest in CreaTech is also increasing the value placed on hybrid creative technology skills. Between 2017 and 2019, advertised vacancies for some key CreaTech roles grew almost five times faster than total UK job vacancies, according to Tech Nation.

Within the creative/design job category, 56% of advertised vacancies required CreaTech skills. The median salary for these CreaTech creative/design roles was 11% higher than the UK median advertised salary.

CreaTech could have an important role to play in the economic recovery of the UK creative industries that have been severely disrupted by audience restrictions and other measures
introduced to counter COVID-19. Before the pandemic, CreaTech was one of the growth hotspots in the UK creative industries, which in total contributed £115.9bn to the UK economy in 2019.

The pre-COVID growth rate of the creative industries was more than three times faster than the UK economy as a whole, and creative businesses also over-delivered in terms of their
share of UK service exports.

Welcoming the 2021 CreaTech Ones to Watch list, Minister for Digital and Culture Caroline Dinenage said: “Our creative industries are an economic powerhouse and it’s no
surprise that the 2021 Ones to Watch list includes 100 businesses with big ambitions. Creative technology has transformed our lives, it was central to keeping us entertained during the pandemic, and will be at the heart of our recovery as we build back better.”

Dr Jeremy Silver, CEO, Digital Catapult, the UK authority on advanced digital technology, and Chair of the CIC R&D and Innovation working group, said: “The coming together of the creative industries with the technology sector has enormous potential for the UK economy, as demonstrated by the amazing line-up of innovative businesses in the ‘Ones to Watch’ list, and there’s still lots more to come.

“The UK is a global creative industries super power. So we’re well placed to build on that and develop new ways to boost collaboration between academia and industry. The time is
now to accelerate innovation in the creative industries and boost R&D, to fuel the UK’s Covid recovery and to take our industries to new heights.”

Janet Hull, CIC CreaTech Organiser and Director of Marketing Strategy at the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising, said: “Ones to Watch provides a valuable showcase to demonstrate to government, industry, and investors through concrete examples the multiplicity of scalable commercial business opportunities being created at the convergence of creative industries and tech. In combination with the evidence from The Tech Nation CreaTech Reports, we now have a robust base from which to seek government collaboration, commitment and support for an effective long-term growth plan.”

More about the 2021 CreaTech Ones to Watch and the Tech Nation CreaTech reports at www.thecreativeindustries.co.uk/createch

The 2021 full List
www.thecreativeindustries.co.uk/ones-to-watch/2021

Continue

North West businesses receive highest number of Start Up Loans outside of London

Sam Whitear
-
0

The British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme today announces that it has passed a major milestone of £600 million worth of loans delivered outside of London. Since its launch in 2012, the Bank has provided 10,881 loans to entrepreneurs in the North West, making up 12 per cent of the national figure.

 

Start Up Loans provides mentoring, support and funding to aspiring business owners across the UK and its impact has been particularly noticeable among individuals who might find it difficult to secure finance from traditional lenders.

 

Businesses in the North West received over £94 million in Start Up Loans. Of these loans, 39 per cent went to female-owned businesses. These figures reflect the diversity of entrepreneurialism across the country and highlight the success of the programme in supporting small businesses that reside outside London.

 

Case study: Vie’s Jamaican Rum Cakes, Kendal, Cumbria

 

Vie’s Jamaican Rum Cakes is a recipient of the Start Up Loans programme. Founded by Elaine Remy and based in Kendal, it received a loan of £5,000 in January 2020. Elaine set up the company after her mother Viola, known as Vie, passed away. She wanted to honour her mum as the generous and talented cake-maker she was and turn the loss into a legacy.

 

Elaine Remy, Founder of Vie’s Jamaican Rum Cakes said: “It was a tricky start for us, just two weeks after we sold our first cake, the UK was plunged into the first lockdown and all the events that we had planned to sell at were cancelled. Thanks to the Start Up Loan, we were able to get a website up and running, put some money into marketing and ramp up production. We’ve now been able to establish partnerships with rum companies and create a subscription service.

 

Having the support from Start Up Loans, as a government-backed programme, gave me the confidence to believe in myself and fully make the move to become by own boss. I hadn’t come from a business background, so whilst the low interest loans were brilliant, having access to the pre-and-post loan advice and guidance was crucial for me, and is ultimately what attracted me to Start Up Loans as a lender.”

 

Sophie Dale-Black, UK Network Director, North of England, said:

“Providing £600 million worth of funding to new businesses outside of London is a huge milestone for the government backed Start Up Loans programme and the strength of the North West reflects the broad diversity and ambition of the region’s small businesses at a grass roots level.

 

We have always been committed to providing support and funding to small businesses that hail from each corner of the country, particularly in areas of deprivation where people may struggle to access funding, and this milestone is tribute to that.

 

We are proud that our loans, mentoring and support for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs is helping to support the Build Back Better agenda and we’re delighted to have been able to help Elaine make her dream into a reality.” 

 

Breakdown of loans by region excluding London

UK Region Loans Made Amount Lent (£) Average Loan Amount (£)
East Midlands 4,883 41,863,670 8,573
East of England 6,106 55,471,473 9,085
North East 4,875 42,506,048 8,719
North West 10,881 94,240,374 8,661
Northern Ireland 1,356 11,049,064 8,148
Scotland 5,626 47,044,172 8,362
South East 8,378 81,207,421 9,693
South West 7,487 66,003,753 8,816
Wales 4,019 38,961,700 9,694
West Midlands 7,264 63,655,522 8,763
Yorkshire and The Humber 7,497 68,748,296 9,170
Region not obtained 185 2,164,521 11,700
Total 68,559 612,916,012 9,115

 

Start Up Loans figures up to 31 August 2021

The Future Of Marketing Automation

Sam Whitear
-
0

Running a successful digital business is tasking at the best of times, so any tools that can make things run faster and more efficiently are without a doubt a valuable investment.

According to Social Media Today, three–quarters of all companies use marketing automation in one way or another, with the vast majority planning to spend more of their marketing budgets on automation tools this year. Recent studies show that 80% of businesses who use automation tools experience more leads overall.

But what exactly is marketing automation and how is it set to adapt over time? If you aren’t already using these life–changing tools, here’s a little more information for you to further your understanding.


What Is Marketing Automation?

Marketing automation allows businesses to save time on carrying out repetitive tasks, freeing up time and resources, so that focus can be placed across other areas. These specialisedtools help to streamline the entire marketing process, increasing the chances of making sales and can provide a rich, detailed overview of the behaviour of your customers.

What Are The Benefits?

The main advantage of automated marketing is that it can save you bundles of time – and everyone knows that in business, time is money. By posting anything from email campaigns to product pages at set times on your behalf, you can turn your focus to other tasks that need completing. Another popular use for automated tools is to tailor your content to individual clients. This makes them feel highly valued, building stronger relationships helping to increase engagement and customer loyalty. If you wish to generate more leads, automated marketing tools can also help you target those who engage with your brand the most. With this priceless information, you can carefully create email campaigns to capture these individuals, encouraging them to make a purchase.1uw00L6h8DEAAAAASUVORK5CYII=

 

Marketing Automation Trends

As these specialised tools take the marketing world by storm, we spoke to email marketing automation experts, Wired Plus, about what advancements we can expect to see going forwards. Here’s what forecasted trends they had to share with us:

1. Advancing Email Marketing Automation: Personalised and u

ser-specific automated marketing emails will drive engagement. Simply including a customer’s name in an email is no longer enough to satisfy your customer base. Utilising a customer’s online behaviour and relationship with your business is imperative for maximising engagement levels. If they have been repeatedly viewing a specific product or service that you provide, why not send them a tailored discount code to nudge them to make a purchase? This also encourages customer loyalty with your customers, making them feel valued.

2. AI Personalisation Tools: AI tools can help with marketing segmentation and consumer profiling for a more tailored marketing approach. These tools can provide you with a deeper understanding of your audience, helping you develop overall engagement by personalising your content. You can even use automation to create a single customer view to create tailored content for each individual customer.

3. Pivoting Paid Media Messaging: Adata–driven strategy with ad messages tailored to user’s profile to stand out from the competition. With so many ads targeting us every single day, it’s important to cut through the noise. Rotating personalised ads to match your customer’s specific interests is a sure way to help you stand out against competitors.

4. Privacy Provisions: Lawful use of consumers’ private information is critical to maintain trust and engagement. Businesses that use cookies and data will need to be more transparent to maintain trust with consumers – strengthening relationships over time.

 

Vaping: A Beginner’s Guide To E-Liquids And Expiration Dates

Sam Whitear
-
0

Vaping is a trend that took the world by storm, with people of all ages ditching their cigarettes in favour of vape pens, e-cigs, pod systems, and box kits. E-liquids provide the flavour and nicotine each time you vape and are not only functional but also fun to use; available in several flavours, many people enjoy the variety that they can’t get with traditional smoking. However, vape liquids do need to be handled with the proper care, and it’s essential that every vape user, whether they’re a beginner or a vaping veteran, understands the basics and how to store their e-liquid properly. In our beginner’s guide, we provide you with valuable tips about e-liquids and their expiration dates that every vaper should know about. 

Expiration Date

Many people who vape are unaware that their vape liquid has an expiration date, but as with any consumable, e-liquids can go bad. The shelf-life for vape liquids can depend on a variety of factors, as certain flavourings and colours can have a shorter shelf-life than others. Another factor that can affect how quickly your e-liquid degrades is the container it is stored in; plastic bottles can cause the liquid to deteriorate faster due to the amount of air or light the bottles let in, whereas glass-bottled liquids tend to last longer. How you store your vape liquids can also impact the shelf-life.

However, you don’t need to throw away your vape liquid if it’s reaching the expiration date. As with all consumable goods like food or drink, the expiration date is a suggestion and is a guideline of when your liquid will be at its best. E-liquids can go bad before they reach their expiration dates, typically due to how they are stored, and it’s important to pay attention to any colour, smell or taste changes to know if your liquid needs to be thrown away. Check out this helpful guide from AquaVape if you have any questions about vaping.

Has Your Liquid Gone Bad?

While it’s not necessarily harmful to use an e-liquid that has gone past the expiration date, there are a few signs to look out for that your vape liquid has gone bad or is about to expire. 

The first and easiest sign to look out for is the colour of the vape liquid. If the colour begins to fade or change in any way, it’s a good indication that the e-liquid has gone bad, and you need to open a new bottle. Often as the colour fades or changes, you will also notice that the flavour of the vape liquid is less intense than you would typically expect. When your liquid no longer has the same strong flavour you expect to experience, it can mean that it is about to expire. However, it’s crucial to remember that our taste buds can become used to a flavour which can cause a natural dulling in flavour. Another indicator is the smell; if your liquid had a strong scent during the course of use and now suddenly doesn’t smell as strongly, this means it is about to go bad.

The nicotine content can start to fade as a liquid reaches or passes the expiration date, which can be a significant problem for people who have changed from smoking to vaping in order to reduce the harm from traditional tobacco products. A lower nicotine level can lead to increased withdrawal symptoms if your body depends on a certain amount of nicotine. If you notice a sudden increase in withdrawal symptoms without any changes in your vaping habits, it will be worth checking the bottle to ensure your vape liquid has not passed the expiration date. 

Proper Storage

Due to the shelf-life, it’s vital to ensure that you are storing your vape liquids properly. The best places to store your e-liquids are dark boxes, draws, or a cabinet where they can be kept cool and away from direct sunlight; this way, you can preserve your vape liquids and enjoy the whole experience of vaping. Take note of the expiration dates before you store your liquids so that you can use them in plenty of time without having the burden of needing to test any that have expired before opening. Heat breaks down vape liquids and can leave the solutions flavourless and with low levels of nicotine; this is why it’s essential to keep your e-liquids out of direct sunlight and in cool places.

Safe Disposal

If you are left with a vape liquid that has expired, it’s crucial to dispose of it safely. Due to the nicotine and other chemicals that can be found in e-liquid, it is best to avoid pouring it down the sink as it is considered a hazardous contaminate. If you regularly use coffee grounds or have cat litter in your home, they can be used to absorb the liquid before safely disposing of it in the bin.

Culture Shift Raises £1.5m To Help UK Workplace Culture ‘Build Back Better’

Sam Whitear
-
0

The Manchester-based impact software firm, Culture Shift, has raised £1.5m via Praetura Ventures and Blackfinch Ventures.
Culture Shift plans to use the funds to continue its success to date and help UK organisations proactively improve culture post pandemic.

Manchester-based technology business Culture Shift has secured £1.5m investment in a funding round led by Praetura Ventures and Blackfinch Ventures.

Founded in 2018, Culture Shift has created a platform for people to confidentially and safely report workplace harassment.

Over the last few years, debates over work locations and office culture have consistently made headlines, both regionally and on a global scale. Adapting to new working conditions, along with increased awareness of harassment and other issues, has pushed employees and employers to have an open conversation about the future of work.

A growing body of research paints a worrying picture of the modern-day workplace. Research from Breathe HR in 2021 suggested almost a third of people in the UK quit their jobs due to toxic workplace culture.[1] The report states that this churn costs the UK economy £15.7bn per year.

As the workforce ‘returns’, there could be further complications. According to Culture Shift’s own research, 37% of employees said they feel more likely to experience something they would describe as bullying or harassment while in the workplace. In a new hybrid world, this raises questions of how managers are going to attract employees back to offices.

In terms of attracting new talent, culture is increasingly prioritised by those applying for new jobs. In 2019, Glassdoor published research suggesting 57% of UK workers would consider workplace culture before salary.[2]

Many companies have fallen foul of this new debate, but Culture Shift sees this as an opportunity to reset the status quo. Its team suggests employers are now faced with a ‘critical chance’ to show they’re taking a proactive approach towards overcoming these issues.

The new funding will allow Culture Shift to make a significant number of new hires in Manchester, and expand into new markets across the UK, helping it support more UK organisations in proactively improving culture.

This latest investment follows a funding round in March 2020 which saw Culture Shift secure £1.35 investment from Praetura Ventures and GC Angels. Since then, the business has significantly grown its client base and operations.

Culture Shift’s proprietary online reporting platform – which removes the barriers to reporting issues of harassment or bullying, enabling organisations to take a proactive and preventative approach to protecting their people and their culture – is now employed by more than 70 of the UK’s top universities, while the business is working with a number of other organisations.

The software provides individuals a safe environment to report an event and then offers direction to appropriate emotional or practical support. The system also provides the organisation with data to manage and address any particular issues or a growing pattern of misconduct that may have been occurring, as well as a case management tool to effectively manage communication with the involved parties.

Thus far, the response to this technology has been overwhelmingly positive. Both students and staff have praised the system’s contribution towards solving some of their challenges around dealing with negative interactions.

Gemma McCall, CEO and co-founder of Culture Shift said: “We’re extremely proud that over one million people in the UK now have access to our reporting platform. This investment and the continued support from Praetura and Blackfinch will help us now continue our mission to help organisations better manage their own workplace culture with the right tools.”

David Foreman, MD at Praetura Ventures said: “The work Culture Shift is doing is so important. Everyone wants to work in a place where they feel safe. Gemma and her team work tirelessly to make this a reality for so many people. We’re so pleased to be supporting them on their journey and excited to see them continue to improve the lives of workers in a variety of industries.”

Dr Reuben Wilcock, Head of Ventures at Blackfinch said: “We were hugely impressed by the drive and ambition of the Culture Shift team, who all believe so strongly in the company’s mission to reduce harassment and bullying in the workplace. It is exciting to be backing such a forward-thinking vision, and one that aligns so well with our own Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) values.”

IoD appoints Debbie Francis OBE as Manchester chair

Sam Whitear
-
0

The Institute of Directors (IoD) has appointed one of the region’s leading business figures to chair its Greater Manchester branch.

Debbie Francis OBE joins as the IoD ramps up its support to help local directors to rebuild, recover from the pandemic and prosper.

Debbie is best known in Manchester and across the North of England for her vocal support for transport infrastructure investment in the North and the need for levelling up, alongside her efforts and strong advocacy for equality, diversity and inclusion.

She is the chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, and her business career has also included senior executive roles with Arcadis UK, Direct Rail Services, London North Western Route Finance and Network Rail.

She also holds several non-executive roles with organisations including Harwich Haven Authority, MDC Stockport, Loram UK, Penny Bridge Church of England Academy and Pave the Way. As well as her OBE, Debbie has several awards and honours recognising her contribution to business and the community including IoD North West Director of the Year for Inclusivity and Woman with Edge at the Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2019. She is currently working towards a PhD at Manchester Metropolitan University with leadership at the core of the research.

Debbie said: “It is a tremendous honour to become chair of an organisation that has represented directors for more than a century. Greater Manchester’s business community is diverse and resilient, and I am determined to give directors the tools and inspiration that they need to lead the UK economic recovery.”

Steve Bennett, chair of IoD North West, said: “We are delighted to secure Debbie to lead one of our biggest and most active branches. She will be the standard bearer for local directors, providing support where it is needed most along with inspiration through a programme of business events as we recover and rebuild the IoD across the region.”

Debbie will work alongside a team of branch ambassadors to provide local directors with connections, professional development, and an influential lobbying voice.

Manchester India Partnership gears up to strengthen bilateral ties on the road to the first major UK-India free trade deal

Sam Whitear
-
0

Manchester’s award-winning Manchester India Partnership (MIP) has appointed a new chair, director and board members ahead of the 2021 Manchester-India Business Summit with an aim to re-vitalise and steer the Partnership into new areas of growth and success.

The new MIP chair, Simon Arora, Chief Executive of B&M Retail, Board member of the British Asian Trust, and a highly prominent figure within the Indian diaspora and business community will bring a wealth of new connections and opportunities. Jo Ahmed, Global Employee Services Partner at Deloitte and a founding member of the MIP will now take the position of Deputy Chair.

Shehla Hasan, the former Head of the Confederation of British industry in India and South Asia has taken over as Director of the MIP, and she will be joined by new Board Member Vikas Shah MBE, one of the UK’s highest profile entrepreneurs and business commentators representing TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs).

Daniel Gidney, Chief Executive of Lancashire Cricket club will also join the board to build on the Partnership’s broadening of focus on sport and culture and Dr Zubair Hanslot will replace Dr Kondal Reddy Kandadi representing The University of Bolton.

The new board will host the MIP’s annual Manchester-India Business Summit next week on the 9th and 10th September in partnership with The Department for International Trade at Lancashire Cricket Club, to celebrate and coincide with the England v India Men’s Cricket Test Match.

The Summit will promote the strong relationship between Greater Manchester and India as well as highlight opportunities around trade, investment and innovation across the two regions, particularly within the context of, and lead up to the UK and India 2030 Free Trade Agreement.

The high-profile event, which will include a welcome dinner for special guests, is due to attract up to 100 attendees including leading dignitaries, key India influencers and stakeholders, national and local Government along with representatives from universities across Greater Manchester.

The ‘2030 Roadmap’ was announced in May this year as part of an historic commitment made by the British and Indian Prime Ministers to strengthen work between the UK and India over the next decade covering areas such as health, climate, trade, education, science and technology, and defence.

The MIP was established in February 2018 to unite private businesses, academia and the public sector across India and Greater Manchester to build and strengthen trade, investment, cultural, and educational ties.

Simon Arora, Chair, Manchester India Partnership, said: “I’m really excited to take up this role as Chairman of MIP. It’s such an integral time in the UK & India’s relationship with the Enhanced Trade Partnership now in place and clear roadmap ahead. India is a strategic market for Greater Manchester and I’m looking forward to leading MIP’s continued success to further strengthen and deepen ties.”

Jo Ahmed, Deputy Chair, Manchester India Partnership, commented: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of Deputy Chair of the MIP, working with our esteemed new Chair and Director to drive forward the next chapter in the MIP success story at a time when there is so much focus on the importance UK and India relationship and so much opportunity for us to work together across borders for mutual benefit.

Shehla Hasan, Director, Manchester India Partnership, commented: ” This is truly an exciting time for the Manchester India relationship. The UK and India are progressing steadily towards a closer trade and investment relationship through the Enhanced Trade Partnership. In my long experience of working in the UK-India corridor, more recently as the India head of the Confederation of British Industry, I have seen the Manchester India Partnership grow quickly as a strong brand. I look forward to making this relationship even more robust and sustainable in the long run”

Tim Newns, Chief Executive, MIDAS, said: “India was the third most active inward investor in new projects in Greater Manchester between 2017 and 2020, creating a total of 15 projects and over 792 jobs. Now, with a fantastic new team in place, I am really looking forward to seeing how the Manchester India Partnership can build on this tremendous success, by deepening existing relationships and leveraging new networks and opportunities in the lead up to the 2030 Free Trade Agreement.”

1...749750751...1,093Page 750 of 1,093