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Kuits announces significant promotions round

Sam Whitear
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The news comes shortly after the firm, that employers over 200 people, announced the promotions of Sam Jackson to Associate level and Caroline Brennan to Partner earlier in the year.

Kuits’ property team has seen the promotions of Charlotte Barker, Nadia McMahon-Wilson and Kate Kurtz to Associate level, while Emma Nimmo and Claire Heron have been promoted to Senior Associate.

The firm’s corporate department, ranked Band 1 in the Chambers and Partners legal directory for advising SME and owner-managed businesses, has promoted Solicitor Kate Gledhill to Associate level.

Elsewhere, intellectual property Associates Humna Nadim and Yasmin Kalantari have both been promoted to Senior Associate, along with Rebecca Ingram in the licensing department and Phillip Warburton in the litigation team.

Managing Partner Steve Eccleston said: “We are delighted to have made such a large number of promotions during what has been a difficult time for many businesses and the wider economy.

“These promotions demonstrate our commitment to developing our team members and providing opportunities for progression.

“Each team member that has been promoted has remained committed to providing service excellence to our clients throughout the pandemic, as well as providing clients with commercially sound advice. We, as a firm, could not be more proud of them all.”

Edge Hill University announces new major collaboration with AMRC (NW) and Manchester Metropolitan University Manufacturing Connect

Sam Whitear
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A new joint initiative led by Edge Hill University to support the adoption of productivity-boosting digital technologies in SME manufactures, has officially been launched across the north-west.
The Manufacturing Connect (MC) initiative brings together manufacturing, technology and business experts from Edge Hill University, Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NW), and Manchester Metropolitan University.
The UK’s productivity challenges are well documented, and the recent impacts of the Covid-19 epidemic have only served to exacerbate this issue. Digital technologies have an important role in improving productivity, embedding business resilience, and supporting growth and recovery. In the UK, the rates at which SMEs adopt even well-established and known digital technologies is far behind that of other European and North American countries.
BEIS and Innovate UK have recognised this issue and are supporting regional initiatives like MC to trial and test methods which will seek to overcome the common barriers to this adoption: lack of knowledge, lack of information, productivity literacy, and unclear impacts and benefits.
The initiative is designed to support manufacturing SMEs from all sectors across the North West and the dedicated team are currently looking for interested businesses to take part to overcome their barriers to adoption.
MC seeks to actively support over 100 SMEs up to February 2021, by running cycles of a digital facilitated Adoption Sprint Process.
The initiative will focus on 3 digital technology types for SMEs to adopt: Customer Relationship Management, Production Planning, and Resource Planning.
MC has worked with digital experts to capture their knowledge and practical expertise to share with the SME participants of the project. Experts from commercial technology vendors, business support agencies, and from organisations who have experience in implementing digital technologies in-house have made a significant contribution to the content developed to support the project.
Explaining about MC, Professor Simon Bolton from the Productivity & Innovation Centre at Edge Hill University said: “Adopting a new technology is a major investment for manufacturing SMEs. It is an important part of their decision-making process that they are fully informed and supplied with real accounts of the impact and benefits of the technologies from vendors, other SMEs and those with significant expertise in the digital technology adoption process. The combination of knowledge, advice and experience from a range of industry experts and peers will add real value and depth to SMEs overcoming barriers through to adopting the technology that is right for their business.”

Porsche Centre Bolton recognised in the Top 100 Porsche Centres worldwide

Sam Whitear
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Stratstone is delighted to announce that its Porsche Centre in Bolton has been awarded a Porsche Top 100 Excellence award for its outstanding customer satisfaction and sales performance.

The award recognises the Top 100 performing Porsche Centres across the world, with only five UK Centres receiving the accolade from Porsche Cars GB.

To qualify for the award, Porsche Centres are measured on several aspects of their business including overall customer satisfaction, sales performance, the quality of the sales process as well as being assessed in a number of mystery shops.

A spokesperson for Pendragon, owners of Stratstone, commented: “We are extremely pleased to see our Associates hard work and dedication recognised in the Porsche Top 100 Excellence Awards. We strive the put our customers at the heart of our business and it is the perfect reward to see ourselves alongside other top performing Porsche Centres around the world.”

Porsche Centre Bolton continues to support its customers with their car buying needs during the current local restrictions. The Centre remains open for new and Porsche Approved vehicle reservations, unaccompanied test drives and aftersales as well as continuing to offer Click & Collect and ‘We Come to You’ Home Delivery.

Huckletree launches ‘Entrepreneur in Residence’ programme to support North West fashion and creative startups

Sam Whitear
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Creative workspace and accelerator Huckletree is launching a new initiative to help support local fashion entrepreneurs and businesses recover and thrive through work space and mentoring at its co-working space in the iconic Express Building in Ancoats, after one year of opening.

The ‘Entrepreneur in Residence’ programme will see a chosen entrepreneur handed a full year of office space through a Huckletree membership, alongside regular mentoring sessions with in-house experts on marketing, commercial growth and leadership skills, as well as access to Huckletree’s extensive range of digital programming including investor office hours and pitch deck clinics.

Huckletree Ancoats is already home to exciting fashion and retail businesses like Depop and Stand4Socks. The space is also home to related creative businesses including Programmatic marketing specialist Regital, who work with Gymshark and prolific local design and branding team JBH.

Huckletree offers members unrivalled access to a carefully curated ecosystem of innovative entrepreneurs, and its commitment to supporting members throughout the pandemic has seen members JBH (digital SEO agency) triple in size,while Stand4Socks attribute a 300% e-commerce growth in 2020 to having access to Huckletree’s team and facilities throughout lockdown. The space’s General Manager Imani Chimo is also well versed in the fashion world, having run a successful lingerie startup.

Huckletree founders Gaby Hersham and Andrew Lynch decided to set up the Entrepreneur in Residence initiative after witnessing the cutting-edge approach entrepreneurs in the fashion and creative industries have taken when faced with the huge challenges Covid-19 has thrown up.

In 2019, Huckletree invited one entrepreneur to join their Soho London space, which supports challenger brands and investors. Erase All Kittens, a gaming platform to educate kids 8-14 about coding, was awarded a space and after 12 months of their residency have grown their business in size, won awards including European Digital Woman of the Year and have been introduced to investors through the Huckletree network. The business has since seen a 500% increase in traction during lockdown, making five new hires and securing a $100,000 grant from Grant From The Web.

Founders can apply by visiting huckletree.com. The successful candidate will be selected in January by a panel of judges, and they’ll have access to Huckletree and its facilities almost immediately.

Gaby Hersham, Huckletree Co-founder and CEO stated:
‘We realised the pandemic has been an equaliser for business. New businesses were being founded from bedrooms, but those new founders were finding themselves in a foreign world of entrepreneurship without the safety net or the bond of community. We know from the past 6 years of our own business that having a network – a community of minds and being connected to people in a similar field or sector – goes a long way in helping entrepreneurs achieve their goals. We’re passionate about supporting innovative founders in everything they do, which is why we’re inviting one entrepreneur to build their business with us. This goes beyond desks, and will give a game-changing entrepreneur the space,and mentoring they need to match their ideas and talent.

It’s been inspiring to see our members innovate their way through the pandemic and continue to blaze a trail across their industries, but we know that innovation doesn’t happen at home. We remained safely open throughout the pandemic to help foster collaboration and creativity, and will continue to do so in order to protect the startup and scale-up ecosystem that we know is vital for the UK’s economy, especially at such a turbulent time. We’re especially excited about the fashion and creative scene in the North, where fashion brands like Pretty Little Thing, The Manchester Bee Company and creative marketing businesses like Regital and JBH are tackling the pandemic with a combination of inspiring resilience and the creative approach that brought them their initial success.

AO OPENS NEW OUTLET STORE IN BOLTON

Sam Whitear
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Online electricals retailer AO announces today that it has opened a new and improved outlet store on St Helens Road in Bolton.

Known as Elek Direct, the new AO Outlet stocks new products from AO.com at heavily discounted prices. The outlet is a great opportunity for local customers to grab a bargain on appliances from a variety of well-known manufacturers.

Previously tucked away on Spa Road Industrial Estate, the new 26,000 sq ft premises officially opened this week. Although products may not be perfect, all appliances sold at the outlet are new. Star Buys and Reduced Buys offer an exclusive price on new items, while Clearance Buys are discounted products with very slight material damage.

Phil Martin, Site Manager at Elek Direct, the AO Outlet, said: “We’re really proud of the new store and are looking forward to helping customers to find affordable and great quality appliances here in Bolton. We’re confident that our new location will mean even more people can come and find themselves a bargain.”

Mark Rothwell, Director of Outlet Sales at AO, said: “AO has always been a Bolton-based company, so we’re excited to open the new outlet in the area. From our Head Office in Lostock to the £1 bet in a local pub that launched the company, our roots are firmly in the North West and we’re pleased to be able to offer leading brands for a fraction of the price.”

AO also have an established outlet in Telford, where refurbished appliances are sold at discounted prices. The fridge recycling plant in Telford has a dedicated refurbishment team who give a new lease of life to old appliances.

With hundreds of appliances on offer, the outlet is open seven days a week, selling everything from washing machines to discounted TVs and games consoles.

EXCEPTIONAL RUN OF CLIENT WINS GENERATES NEW ROLES AT HURST

Sam Whitear
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Accounting and business advisory firm HURST has created five roles following a raft of new client wins.

HURST has added staff to its corporate finance, marketing and outsourced payroll teams as well as recruiting two graduates.
Amy Devereux has joined HURST Corporate Finance as a research executive. She was previously a corporate business analyst at KBS Corporate, which is part of AIM-listed K3 Capital Group.

Cezara Glynn has been recruited as digital marketing manager. Before joining HURST, Cezara was a newspaper reporter and over the past 10 years has held a variety of marketing roles on client and agency sides. She will be managing HURST’s increasingly important digital presence and overseeing a rebranding project for the firm.

Hollie Freeman has joined HURST as an executive in its expanding payroll team. She has moved from HR, employment law and health and safety consultancy Peninsula, and before that she worked in the client payroll division at BDO.

HURST’s latest graduate recruits are Nathan Jones, who has a degree in accounting and finance and a masters in financial technology, and Natasha Novakovic, who has a law degree.
Meanwhile Samantha Tingey has been promoted to manager in HURST’s business services team.

HURST partner and director of practice development Simon Brownbill said: “We have experienced an exceptional run of new UK and international business wins in recent months across sectors including manufacturing, engineering and wholesaling.

“As a result, we have needed to strengthen our teams to support new clients, as well as to help us to meet the expectations of existing ones.

“We received a large number of applicants for all of the new roles, and so we were in a good position to choose the very best candidates.

“Our clients are sophisticated, and we need people with the right skillsets to work with them combined with a positive, can-do approach that fits with our team ethos.

“We are delighted to welcome our five newcomers and are pleased to announce Samantha’s well-deserved promotion.
“It is gratifying to be in a position where we can support them all in developing their careers during such a period as we find ourselves in, which in turn comes from some of the region’s leading businesses seeking out HURST for support.

“Our continuing growth means we are currently recruiting for more senior roles across all disciplines as well as graduate positions.”

KOMI group grows team with three new appointments

Sam Whitear
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KOMI group – the Manchester headquartered social media marketing company – is continuing to grow after appointing three new members to its social and media teams. Their arrivals follow the recent news that its turnover hit £1m for the first time and that it aims to double that figure over the next 12 months. It also announced that its headcount grew from seven to 30 people. The firm expects that number to jump by another 15 by mid-2021.

The first new starter is Vishnu Pamar who is the company’s new creative manager. Prior to joining KOMI, Vishnu worked as a successful self-employed creative designer. His new role will see him lead on all creative work for the agency’s roster of clients. He will also manage the wider creative team and be central to the new business strategy.

Tuan Tran joins KOMI as its newest paid media executive. His work will focus on all internal and client paid campaigns across Google, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn. Since graduating in 2017, Tuan has worked for various start-ups, SMEs and large enterprises on a freelance or interim basis helping them to boost their online presence and generate sales and/ or leads using paid advertising channels.

The final new appointment is Zoe Laufer who joins as a junior community coordinator. This will see her finding content for the group’s It’s Gone Viral and Go Fetch pages, reaching out to creators to ask for permission to use their content or license their videos as well as editing content – primarily for Instagram and TikTok. Zoe is a recent graduate and she has also worked as a personal and production assistant for a content creator on YouTube.

Andrew Trotman – managing director of KOMI group – said: “The last twelve months have been strong for the company and these new starters all bring with them a wealth of ideas and creative thinking which is what sets us apart. The early part of 2021 will see some more exciting new developments and arrivals so Vishnu, Tuan and Zoe will, I’m sure, play an integral role in our next phase of growth.”

Vishnu added: “I’m really pleased to be part of KOMI group as I’ve admired the company for a while now. My new role allows me the opportunity to really add my creative stamp to the clients we work with and be part of a growing and innovative agency.”

Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, KOMI has won major contracts with brands including SWAN, Mars Pets and The Flava People. It has also committed to take out additional office space at its base in Beehive Mill, Ancoats. Earlier this year, it rebranded from It’s Gone Viral and restructured which saw it become a three divisional agency business consisting of dedicated social media, marketing and licensing teams.

Its team of content creators, analysts and video producers have made and then distributed video content and viral campaign adverts for international brands such as BBC Films, O2, Universal, Bud Light and Disney.

Content has been shared across its Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts including the It’s Gone Viral page, which is dedicated to relatable, informative and educational content; as well as Go Fetch, a platform for dog lovers to connect with one another; Happiest, which focusses on bringing the most entertaining and uplifting content and real life stories; and Ultimate which is a community based around crafts and lifestyle.

On average the company delivers over one billion views across its portfolio of pages each month.

Greater Manchester SME manufacturers urged to take a strategic approach to capitalise on technology adoption

Sam Whitear
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Made Smarter survey finds 55% don’t include technology in their vision and growth strategy

Greater Manchester manufacturers are risking wasted time, money and effort adopting digital technology without a strategic plan for digital transformation, research by Made Smarter North West Pilot has revealed.

In their pursuit of digital transformation, Greater Manchester manufacturers may benefit from the expertise of data cable installers to ensure a seamless integration of technology and efficient connectivity within their operations.

A survey exploring the awareness, attitudes and approach to digital technologies of 201 SME manufacturers found huge appetite and motivation to introduce new digital tools into their operations.

Three quarters (75%) of respondents claimed to have adopted new technology in the last three years, compared to 12% who have never made the investment.

But the survey also highlighted the lack of a strategic approach to adopting technology.

More than half (55%) of manufacturers admitted technology was not part of their future vision and growth plan. This was highest among micro-businesses (60%).

Further probing found that business leaders were more likely to upgrade existing technologies to maintain continuity rather than to improve productivity.

The research suggests too few are approaching the opportunities and challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in a planned, strategic manner.

Donna Edwards, programme director for the Made Smarter North West pilot, says the answer to a successful digital transformation is a holistic approach.

“What is clear from our survey is that Greater Manchester manufacturers manufacturers recognise that digital tools and technology are essential to remain competitive, cut costs, increase growth, and enhance the customer experience, and without capitalising on the opportunities digital technology offers, they risk getting left behind,” she said.

“But it is also clear that too many makers have employed technology without the technical understanding of which areas to focus on first – which leads to disparate, disconnected equipment, and increases the risk of wasted time, money and effort.

“Whilst digital tools enable opportunities, it’s how we choose to use these that determines their success.”

Despite the clear appetite for technology adoption, barriers remain. The survey found the biggest were insufficient capital (50%) and a need for guidance (44%).

Many businesses also cited a lack of time as a reason why they hadn’t obtained business support or funding.

Made Smarter was designed to overcome this by helping manufacturers to navigate through complex technology advice and decisions.

The initial registration with Made Smarter only takes five minutes. A three-hour digital transformation workshop will identify core challenges, provide a bespoke digital manufacturing roadmap, and pinpoint other ways that Made Smarter can support a maker’s digitalisation. This includes a pioneering leadership programme, digital technology internships, specialist advice to support workforce and skills development, and funding support for technology projects.

Edwards added: “Before implementing technology, Greater Manchester makers need to consider whether they have a culture of innovation, the right skill sets, good digital leadership, and the buy-in and support of the team. Then they need to identify the most effective technologies to overcome their operational challenges and create a digital transformation roadmap to help them achieve their goals.

“It is this holistic approach to digitalisation offered by Made Smarter that will help SME manufacturers move forward progressively and sustainably, and capitalise on the opportunities offered by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

Made Smarter has helped hundreds of businesses in Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, to boost growth, productivity, efficiency and create high value, well paid jobs of the future.

Businesses working with Made Smarter are solving their challenges across a range of manufacturing functions, through the adoption of a range of industrial digital technologies, including Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Additive Manufacturing and Robotics.

Glyn Jones, Service Delivery Director at BAE Systems and Chair of the Made Smarter Pilot Steering Group, said: “Using technology, Greater Manchester manufacturers will become faster, more responsive and more efficient. This will play a vital role in delivering the recovery we so badly need in the wake of the pandemic and ensure our place at the heart of future manufacturing.

“The restrictions COVID-19 placed on all businesses have challenged us to make the previously impossible, now possible. Technology sceptics have now become champions. So-called ‘traditional’ industries have demonstrated a forward thinking mindset.

“Overcoming challenges has been as much about how we think differently as introducing new technologies, but one has to come with the other to be successful.”

The key findings from the survey feature in a new report explores the difference that Made Smarter’s North West Pilot programme is making to manufacturing SMEs in the region two years after its launch, the impact of technology adoption on their businesses, and how the tools are supporting their resilience.

New Data Breach Survey Exposes Lack of GDPR Compliance in UK Businesses

Sam Whitear
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Tech Nation reveals the five top early-stage tech companies in the North West

Sam Whitear
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Tech Nation announces the five regional winners based in the North West of its Rising Stars 3.0 competition. In its third year, Rising Stars 3.0 is the UK’s only national competition for innovative, early-stage tech companies, designed to showcase the best in the country and to help companies on their growth journey.

The five regional winners for each region and nation across the UK have been selected by a panel of industry experts, and are regarded as tech leaders within their respective regions. These companies will now compete nationally for the chance to be named as one of Tech Nation’s 10 Rising Stars 3.0. The Rising Stars UK Winners will be revealed in February 2021.

Tech Nation’s Rising Stars are on track to become the world leading tech companies of tomorrow, using technology to tackle the world’s greatest challenges. The competition provides the opportunity for the best of the nation’s early-stage scaleups to meet leading investors, influencers and corporates. The five regional winners from the North West illustrate how Covid-19 is changing the economy. The companies joining the competition from the North West are all working in key parts of the economy that have been affected by Covid-19. For instance, AeroCloud Systems provides IT solutions to the aviation sector, while CGHero, Jobseekrs, SupplyWell and Your Flock all represent the future of how companies will hire talent and collaborate in an increasingly digitised world.

Last year, one of the 10 Rising Stars Winners was based in the North West: Tootoot a mental health app that gives young people the ability to confidentially talk about anything from mental health concerns to bullying, and was officially recommended to schools, colleges and universities by the UK Government’s Department for Education during lockdown. Having raised £600,000 from GC Angels and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority before Christmas, tootoot launched a business version of its app called Stribe, which makes it easier for business leaders to support the wellbeing of employees.

The Five Regional Winners from the North West:
AeroCloud Systems (Macclesfield, Leisure, Travel & Tourism) Founders: Ian Forde-Smith and George Richardson
AeroCloud Systems provides innovative IT solutions for the aviation sector, including the first fully SaaS-based product for the airport market. Its products dramatically improve an airport’s operational situational awareness and performance, and enhance passenger experience and engagement.

CGHero (Manchester, Digital Entertainment / Creative Tech) Founders: Jonathan Lloyd and Chris Lawrence
CGHero is a collaborative marketplace for 3D & CGI content creation, bringing together the world’s top talent to work on feature productions across gaming, architecture, TV & film, automotive and retail. The platform has been used by the likes of Valvoline, Sega, B&Q, Unilever, and NHS.

Jobseekrs (Manchester, HRtech) Founders: Jamaal Brathwaite
Jobseekrs is a careers platform that mitigates unconscious bias at the sourcing and screening stage of recruitment to increase diversity and inclusion and to decrease churn. The Jobseekrs algorithm matches a candidate to a potential employer based on skill set and culture alignment, producing an overall percentage fit score which is presented to the employer anonymously. The employer then purchases credits to reveal and engage with candidates.

SupplyWell (Liverpool, Edtech) Founders: Michael Heverin, Raina Heverin and Dan Price
SupplyWell is a digital recruitment solution putting control in the hands of teachers and schools. It connects teachers and schools together directly removing the need for slow and costly traditional agencies, which allows teachers to earn more while schools pay less and ensure that wellbeing comes as standard.

Your FLOCK (Manchester, HRtech) Founders: Michal Wisniewski, Dan Sodergren and Sandy Lindsay MBE
Your FLOCK is a SaaS platform that uses the data and science behind motivations at work to enable teams to be more productive and engaged. Your FLOCK is a machine learning-driven software that helps managers to coach their teams by providing users with activities tailored to their motivations and designed to help them be more ‘in sync’ and work more effectively as a team.

Mo Aldalou, Entrepreneur Engagement Manager – North West, Tech Nation, comments: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome these five incredible North West companies as regional winners for Rising Stars 3.0. The quality and quantity of applications we received from the region was truly unprecedented and the judges had to make some difficult decisions.

“Our Rising Stars competition is an excellent opportunity to celebrate and showcase the best early-stage tech scaleups from across the UK. I’m confident that these founders will excel at the semi-finals and beyond.”

Michal Wisniewski, CEO of Your FLOCK, comments: “It’s a great honour for Your FLOCK to be in the Top 5 startups in the North West. It shows how Covid is changing the future of work and remote working. Our technology to help remote working teams develop has just been backed by Innovate UK and we are raising our Seed round with a series of investors, so the timing couldn’t be better.”

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