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CloudM Strengthens Leadership with Duo of Senior Promotions

Sam Whitear
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Manchester-based cloud software specialist CloudM has strengthened its growing senior team with the appointment of two new directors.

James Smithhas been appointed as the company’s first Customer Experience Director and Daniel Ackers takes the reins of Sales Director. With a combined history of more than 14 years working at CloudM and sister company CTS, the duo bring a wealth of experience to the senior team from within the company and in previous roles.

James Smith has held six positions during his tenure at CloudM, working with organisations such as Google, BBC, UK Gov, and Ofsted. At CTS, he oversaw people and processes as Operations Director and later, at CloudM as Head of Sales Engineering and then Head of Technical Services, steering the ship through a rapid change, growth, and acquisition programme.

Having previously held the title of the top Google Workspace seller in Europe, and recipient of the Partner Champion Award in 2019 award, Daniel Ackers’ step up to Sales Director comes as no surprise. The appointment spells continued growth for CloudM with his stellar experience in strategic and enterprise cloud migration and management deals.

The appointments come amidst a host of forward momentum as part of CloudM’s wider ambitious strategy to more than double the business’ turnover in each of the next three years. Managing Director Gary Bennion commented:

“The experience, passion, and technical know-how make James and Daniel irreplaceable assets to the business. These are promotions they have earned and massively deserve, and I’m confident will drive the business forward in new and exciting ways. James and his new team will now spearhead the experience of our customers, who are the cornerstone of everything that we do. Daniel’s sales leadership will open new doors to commercial growth and I’m looking forward to the future.”

A Promising Start to 2021 with Multiple Client Wins for the Manchester Video Studio

Sam Whitear
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Online and Social Video Specialists Coolbox have had their most successful quarter to date. Despite ongoing turmoil that the pandemic has brought, the production house based at M-One Studios in Manchester has been able to navigate the choppy waters of covid uncertainty, to secure several high profile clients.

Director and Founder of Coolbox Marc Grundy commented on how the pandemic has affected the business over the past 12 months.

‘It’s been an unimaginably difficult year for people all across the UK, and businesses in the creative sector have been hit hard. The same goes for the food, beverage and hospitality industry, who happen to be Coolbox’s primary client base.’

‘We identified pretty early into the first lockdown that if we wanted to survive (and thrive), we needed to pivot, and adapt our offering. Luckily we managed to avoid furloughing any of our staff for long, and made good use of any ‘downtime’ with training, learning new techniques and experimenting with new filmmaking equipment – enabling us to offer a plethora of new services when our clients felt safe (and were allowed) to go back to work.’

Pivoting the business’s offering opened the door for Coolbox to begin working with customers outside their usual client base, namely infection control specialists InfectProtect and Google Shopping machine learning technologists Bidnamic. The video creators also partnered with their long-time collaborators Luma Marketing to help launch two new start-ups, Rebelleon and Rise Futures.

But Coolbox hadn’t forgotten about their core customers; after all some sectors of the food and drink industry were thriving. In response to the cancellation of most live events, Whisky Magazine appointed the video production company to help create their Whisky Live At Home online events. Head of Content & Marketing at Paragraph, Christopher Coates said.

‘Working with Coolbox has allowed our business to pivot into delivering high-quality video content, in spite of the challenging circumstances presented by the pandemic.’

The client wins continued into 2021 for the video company, with Coolbox being appointed as video production supplier for Peak District beer producers Buxton Brewery, and the University of Leeds.

Marc Grundy added. ‘In spite of the current situation, we wanted to step it up a gear this year, and we weren’t going to let the pandemic slow us down. It was great to see all our hard work pay off as we were awarded the contract to be one of the University of Leeds’ video suppliers for the next four years. It’s a fantastic opportunity, and we can’t wait to start working with the University’.

Coolbox’s good fortune didn’t end there either; with their Producer/Director Cain Jennings being nominated for Marketing and Creative Professional of the Year at the Made in Manchester Awards.

Windmill Green becomes 75% let during pandemic, as two more deals announced at building

Sam Whitear
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Manchester’s most sustainable office building, Windmill Green, is set to welcome two more occupiers to the fold, as owner FORE Partnership has agreed terms with recruitment company Oscar Technology, and fintech firm OneStream Software.

Oscar is relocating its UK headquarters to the building, reflecting the growth of the company and Manchester’s strong draw for companies within the tech sector in which Oscar operates.

Additionally, OneStream has taken 10,000 sq. ft. across the building’s sixth floor, relocating from NEO.

Both lettings follow Hana’s commitment to the scheme in May 2020, which saw the CBRE-owned co-working operator sign up to 26,000 sq. ft. at Windmill Green.

In total, some 44,000 sq. ft. – more than 50% of the building – has been let during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aurélien Collignon, Associate Director at FORE, commented: “These companies operate in the tech, IT and digital sphere, making them a brilliant fit for Windmill Green, as the building has been specifically engineered to support the ambitions of businesses that operate within digitally-driven industries.

“It’s great to have secured these deals during the lockdown period. It really demonstrates the enduring appeal of the building and is a positive sign for what’s to come in Manchester. We’ve actually let 50% of the building during the pandemic, in three separate transactions, so evidently the office market is far from ‘dead’.

“We’re looking forward to adding more exciting tenants to the mix and seeing Oscar and OneStream making the space their own.”
Oscar will be occupying part of the third floor of the building, taking 7,865 sq ft. on an 11-year lease.

Windmill Green is Manchester’s very first BREEAM “Outstanding”-rated multi-let office building. It has also achieved WiredScore “Platinum” status, signifying the building’s best-in-class digital connectivity and tech infrastructure, and has been awarded a Cycle Score “Platinum” accreditation, celebrated as Manchester’s most cycle-friendly building. It has won a number of awards including being named the Most Innovative Office in Northwest by the British Council of Offices and winning the prestigious RICS Social Impact award in Commercial category, Northwest.

The building boasts a rooftop terrace with sweeping views over the cityscape, its own apiary, a cycle hub with a fleet of Swifty Scooters, a Brompton Bicycle docking station, and Manchester’s largest living green wall.

The highly sustainable, low-carbon building was developed by FORE Partnership to be a bustling community in the heart of Manchester just off St Peter’s Square.
The scheme totals 80,000 sq ft of Grade A office space across seven floors in the heart of the city, and is home to occupiers including CBRE’s flexible workspace offering, Hana, and tech giant Interact Software.

Knight Frank and CJCH Consulting are leading the letting activity.

Shoot the Moon and Delineo target growth with merger to form stm_grp

Sam Whitear
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Two of the north’s largest independent agencies have merged to create an 80-strong team with big plans for the future. The new group brings together the talents of a unique collection of specialist, independent agencies with a firm eye on client results.

The merged Group will continue to operate through the Shoot the Moon, JGM, Eat & Breathe, Anytime After 9 and Delineo brands under the direction of a newly formed Board. The Board comprises 4 directors from Shoot the Moon Group, 4 directors from Delineo and a non-executive director, they plan to grow revenues of the combined business by 100% to £10+ million over the next 5 years.

Phil Marshall, Group CEO commented:
“Collectively stm_grp will maintain the spirit of independence, ensuring each studio nurtures its own specialism, team and identity, whilst embracing their collective talents, service-driven ethos and agile workflow.”

Both Shoot the Moon and Delineo have industry sector specialisms and track records of developing talent around emerging marketing strategies and technologies. Delineo have established markets in Technology, Finance and Manufacturing sectors, complementing Shoot the Moon, who established themselves working in Retail, Food, Drink and Leisure over 3 decades. More recently, Shoot the Moon acquired ‘Anytime after 9’, an agency specialising in Clinical and Medical communications to complement JGM, acquired in 2019, who, as well as Public, education & 3rd Sectors, have a long history of work within clinical trial recruitment – including intensive work on the Covid-19 vaccine trials over the last 6 months. The group also includes Eat & Breathe, the award-winning Food & Drink content studios, with locations in Manchester & Leeds City Centres.

Commenting on the merger, Phil goes on to state:
“Merger discussions commenced early in 2020 and continued throughout the lockdown. Rather than sit back and wait to see what happens after the global health crisis, we’ve chosen to be bold and target growth. It won’t be easy with so much uncertainty out there, but there is strength in numbers, depth of talent and diversification. By bringing the agencies together we have a team that operates across multiple industry sectors with a broad spectrum of agency services – from strategic consultancy to photography, performance marketing to brand communication. We believe the combined Group is great news for our team, clients and their customers, who remain our top priority.”

Reflecting on the need for change in the ‘new normal’, Stephen Frater, COO of the group commented:

“The two businesses have a long track record of navigating change, having successfully adapted to evolving markets over more than two decades. Together we will adapt for the future to deliver the agile agency model that clients need, and the team will thrive in. This merger is the first step in a journey of change both in services and service delivery – being easy and intuitive to work with has never been more important.”

The stm_grp Board comprises Phil Marshall, Stephen Frater, Julia Ingham, Sam Rowlands, Oliver
Zebedee-Howard, Leigh Sheridan, Rob Stafford, Stephen Oakes and non-exec director, Nick Melvin.

NorthInvest partners with leading intellectual property law firm Appleyard Lees

Sam Whitear
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Leeds-based investment non-profit NorthInvest and Appleyard Lees are delighted to announce their partnership, offering specialist IP support to tech and digital start-ups. This collaboration will enable Appleyard Lees to help Northern start-ups reach their full potential by maximising the value of their intellectual property through their entire life cycle.

With offices across the UK, Appleyard Lees is a leading intellectual property law firm with over fifty patent and trademark attorneys and litigators. The firm will take part in NorthInvest events throughout the year to connect with the entrepreneurial community and offer them expert advice on how to effectively protect and monetise their intellectual property.

Helen Oldham, Founding Board Director of NorthInvest said ‘We’re very proud to partner with Appleyard Lees, who can help our network of entrepreneurs and start-ups to understand how best to protect their intellectual property. This partnership marks an exciting step for NorthInvest as we help northern start-ups reach their full potential.

Paul Beynon, Senior Associate of Appleyard Lees commented ‘As a firm with a strong presence in the North ourselves, we recognise the importance of bolstering the tech start-up community across the region. We look forward to working closely with NorthInvest to support this community through our range of services and expertise.’

Founded in 2016 by serial entrepreneur Professor Adam Beaumont, NorthInvest is a not-for-profit investment organisation dedicated to building a stronger and more connected tech investor and start-up community across the North of England. In 2020, NorthInvest increased its impact significantly to facilitate 19 rounds of funding worth over £9 million and deliver 294 free coaching and mentoring sessions to entrepreneurs.

Time is running out for businesses to apply for Greater Manchester Bounce Back Loans

Sam Whitear
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Businesses in Greater Manchester struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic are being reminded by GC Business Growth Hub that loans of up to £50,000 are available to support them but time is running out to apply.

 

Greater Manchester Combined Authority launched a £10m GM Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) in November to specificallysupport small and medium sized businesses such as sole traders, entrepreneurs and business owners.

 

The fund is for eligible SMEs based in and trading from Greater Manchester, who are unable to access Bounce Back Loans from their own banks.

 

The UK’s only non-profit government-backed loans provider GC Business Finance (GCBF), part of the Growth Company, is delivering the scheme across the region.

 

Businesses can borrow from £2,000 and up to £50,000. They will also receive additional tailored support from the Hub and GCBF.

 

The Hub supports businesses at all stages of their growth journey with a broad range of services, including expert one-to-one and peer-to-peer business support, events, specialist programmes and more. Most of this support is fully-funded and is provided at no direct cost to businesses.

 

The loans are 100 per cent guaranteed by the government and there are no fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months.

 

The Hub is now calling on firms to apply before it is too late – deadline for applications is March 31, and the scheme will close once the fund is fully committed.

 

Richard Jeffery, Director of Business Growth at GC Business Growth Hub, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has had a detrimental impact on many SMEs in the region who were once thriving but are now struggling financially.

 

“These businesses are facing incredibly challenging circumstances and a Bounce Back Loan could be a lifeline to a firm which has not been able to access funding elsewhere.

 

“Since the scheme was launched in November there has been a huge demand for Bounce Back Loan funding and 400 jobs have been secured across the region with the help of the fund.

 

“My advice is this – do not delay, apply now – filling in the form to check if you’re eligible only takes a few minutes.”

 

Businesses can find out more and apply atbusinessfinance.growthco.uk/funding/bounce-back-loans.

 

Businesses looking to access specialist support can visit www.businessgrowthhub.com for more information about the organisation’s extensive range of services. GC Business Growth Hub is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and is also supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester local authorities.

AWARD WINNING BUSINESS COACH TO MOTIVATE MANCHESTER THROUGH LOCKDOWN

Sam Whitear
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Award-winning business coach, Martin Robert Hall, is offering free motivational mindset training sessions to Manchester businesses as they deal with the challenges that have arisen during the pandemic.

The initiative named Motivational Mondays is now in it’s fourth successive year and takes on even more significance in 2021 as busines leaders and their teams deal with brand new challenges around motivation, mental health and a lack of contact with their colleagues.

Martin originally launched the idea in 2018, which saw him bring his unique brand of leadership and mindset training to Manchester’s top businesses and resulted in him being crowned Business Coach of the Year at the International Coaching Awards.

The campaign was designed to support the Manchester business community, sharing skills around resilience and mental strength at a time when people really need it. Instead of Martin charging a fee for his time, he encourages those who take part to make a donation to Mind Manchester, who support people young and old with their mental health.

Martin has been coaching these methods in business and elite sport for 12 years and believes there has never been a more important time to focus on these topics.

He commented: “This has been an extremely challenging period for everybody in different ways. Keeping motivated and mentally strong during this time has been extremely difficult for many people and I am just pleased to support Manchester businesses with this initiative.

“The ONS reported that one in five people are considered to be on the threshold of depression, twice that of this time last year. A survey by Qualtrics echoes this by finding that 44.4% of newly remote workers said their mental health had declined since the outbreak of the pandemic.

“Employers have a responsibility to look after their people, now more than ever. I have worked with some great companies who do this tremendously well and others who just seem to push it down the priority list.

“If my Motivational Mondays Initiative can help employers with a simple solution and give their people some extra support during a period of darkness, now matter how small, I will feel I’ve made a difference in my own way.”

To learn more about the initiative, which begins on Monday 15th February please visit: https://martinroberthall.co.uk/motivational-mondays-2021/

Foresight investment to boost leading eCommerce agency Space 48

Sam Whitear
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Foresight Group LLP (“Foresight”), a leading listed independent infrastructure and private equity investment manager, has invested into Space 48 Limited (“Space 48” or “the Company”), a digital eCommerce agency. The investment and Foresight’s involvement will support founder and Managing Director Jon Woodall in taking the business through its next stage of growth, further building on Space 48’s success and current market-leading position.

Space 48 offers clients a full range of eCommerce consulting services with a focus on designing solutions to improve end-customer experiences and drive online sales. This includes eCommerce design, engineering, re-platforming, platform improvements, growth marketing and eCommerce consultancy.

The company, which has around 50 employees, has a long track record as an independent consultant across leading eCommerce platforms and offers a differentiated proposition in the market due to the breadth of these relationships. Space 48 is known for its high-quality work as demonstrated by organic revenue growth of over 25% in the past two years, and its expansive customer portfolio.

The eCommerce agency market represented c.£1.5 billion sales in the UK in 2019 and is projected to continue to grow by 7% annually through 2024. As retailers increasingly focus on driving online sales channels and improving customer experiences by investing in eCommerce technologies and infrastructure, an agency like Space 48 is well positioned to help ambitious online retailers thrive.

Foresight’s investment will drive further growth across the business, with plans to develop the sales team, go-to-market strategy and explore international opportunities. As part of the transaction, Foresight is appointing a Chairperson from industry, who will be instrumental in leading the business through its next phase of growth, driving operational efficiencies and exploring expansion opportunities.

Commenting on the investment, Jon Woodall, Managing Director of Space 48, said: “The company has grown organically since 2008 but, in order to take it to the next level, we decided to bring in a new partner to help realise our full potential. Foresight’s focus on growing UK businesses and its track-record of investing in eCommerce were key for us. As we look to expand our reach and breadth of customers for services, I am confident that the business will flourish with Foresight’s support.”

Matthew Pomroy, Investment Director at Foresight, added: “Jon and the team at Space 48 have built a very strong business from the ground up and have become one of the most reputable companies within the sector. As shown by feedback, it’s clear that Space 48’s quality, range of services and value-add insights are behind its long-term customer relationships. We believe the growth in eCommerce will remain robust and Space 48 is well positioned to become one of the market-leading eCommerce agencies.”

Wattbike appoint digital innovation agency, Apadmi, to disrupt indoor-cycling market

Sam Whitear
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The global indoor smart bike brand, Wattbike, has partnered with leading mobile-first digital agency, Apadmi, to bring an immersive, connected experience to indoor cycling.

Off the back of Wattbike’s expansive growth in 2020, the duo have already begun a large-scale digital transformation project, combining Wattbike’s power-based training solutions, with leading, state-of-the-art digital technology.

The partnership will focus on building elite training tools and systems using leading data and technological insight from Apadmi’s team of strategists, designers, developers, engineers and systems integration experts.

Wattbike CEO, Rich Baker, commented: “We’re so pleased to announce our partnership with Apadmi. Their valuable industry expertise and knowledge of the digital ecosystem will help us continue to lead the way with performance-driven indoor cycling.

“We’re living in a time of exciting progression and growth for Wattbike, off the back of investment and emergence into global markets. Sharing this sense of motivation with Apadmi will guarantee premium product growth and an outstanding difference for our customers.”

Manchester-based Apadmi have their roots in mobile technology, with a focus over the last few years on sport innovation. They’ve recently built a world-first solution for new, global sailing initiative SailGP, along with a portfolio of unique products with Chelsea Digital Ventures, the innovation arm of Chelsea Football Club.

On their appointment, Apadmi’s Jasper van de Luijtgaarden, Chief Revenue Officer, added: “Wattbike has been headlining the indoor cycling industry for many years now, and as a user myself, I’m eager for our digital experts to hone in on the immersive, performance and data-driven qualities of the brand to fuel world-first innovation for their users.

“At Apadmi, we’ve got some eager sports fanatics both on and off the bike, who are supercharged and ready to take Wattbike’s idea of ‘driven to be different’ into each stage of the digital journey.”

Apadmi has recently undergone large-scale growth, almost doubling their headcount of technical leaders, enhancing their offering for their varied portfolio of clients in the healthcare, sport, retail, and finance landscapes.

The agency, headquartered in Salford Quays, has operated a company-wide remote working approach since March 2020, yet has continued to thrive. They’ve recently been awarded Most Impressive Agency Growth at the European Agency Awards in 2020.

Commercial Sound Insulation and How to Minimise Noise in Industrial Buildings

Sam Whitear
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With commercial spaces being designed to be more open, airy and bright, noise is an issue that must be addressed to maintain healthy and inviting spaces. We have shared some advice below so that you can get optimise your noise levels and create a space that is functional and safe for everyone.

Basics of Soundproofing

Soundproofing is the process in which different types of insulation are used to reduce the noise level (decibels) in a space or to absorb the noise in a space. There are a range of materials that can do this, and the type you need will depend on the type of noise you are trying to reduce.

The materials used to soundproof a room work to:

• Block airborne noises by adding mass to a structure – this then reflects the noise or converts it into heat.
• Dampen the level of noise by adding a separation that will reduce the circulation of sound.
• Absorb sounds that would typically reverberate around a room otherwise.

To understand which soundproofing you need, you will need to first be aware of the different types of sound to choose the right materials for the job. The following categories will help you decide which sounds you need to insulate against:

• Impact Sound – this type of noise happens when there is a firm impact between an item and part of the building. For example, impact noise occurs when a chair is dragged or when hammering occurs.
• Airborne Sound – this noise type is transmitted through the air and comes from a noise source such as an animal making a noise or a television or music being played. Airborne noises need a barrier in place to reduce their impact.
• Flanking Sound – this sound tends to occur when a building has been made from lightweight materials as sound can then travel around the entire building through the interior walls.
• Structure-Borne Sound – this is the noise that is transmitted from the building’s physical structure and then travels around the building. It is typically created through impact noise in a different part of the building – for example, when you can hear footsteps.

Reducing Noise Through the Right Soundproofing Material

There are a wide range of materials that you can choose from when you want to soundproof a specific space, and there are a variety of options depending on the area you are working on. When it comes to understanding how effective a material is, you will typically find a dB rating on it to help you work out the total minimisation it can offer.

Some of the most common soundproofing materials include:

• Soundproofing sheets (foam, PVC or PUR)
• Soundproofing mats (bitumen or plastic)
• Soundproofing foam
• Soundproofing tiles and panels
• And more

Effective soundproofing is only possible when you are able to seal as many sound inlets as possible, meaning that you will need to use a variety of the products mentioned to get the coverage you are looking for.

Commercial Sound Testing

The only way to know if your soundproofing efforts have been successful or not is to have sound testing completed by a local reputable supplier such as NovaAcoustics. These testscover the requirements as laid out in Part E of the Building Regulations and will provide you with the information you need to prove that your building provides the right level of sound insulation.

When you arrange sound testing, your building’s compliancewill be checked along with the party walls and floor insulationagainst Part E (Resistance to Sound) of the UK building regulations. Once complete, you can share the results with your building inspector ready for your building to be signed off.

 

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