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MANCHESTER’S VENTURE FURTHER COMPETITION SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Sam Whitear
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Students from across The University of Manchester have taken part in the city’s Venture Further Awards, a unique competition that showcases the entrepreneurial talent of Manchester’s students and alumni.

Now in its 15th year, the annual business start-up competition is open to all current students, researchers and recent alumni across The University of Manchester, and supports budding entrepreneurs with expertise and a prize fund of £75,000.

Led by a team from the Masood Enterprise Centre at Alliance Manchester Business School, the competition gave students the chance to gain practical business planning skills and receive expert support in progressing their business ideas. Over five categories – business, creative, environmental, social and technology – the finalists submitted detailed business plans and pitched their proposals to panels of expert judges.
One of the standout winners included the socially responsible production company, Blue Shoes Productions, which scooped the prize in the creative category. Founded by three MA History students from the University, Blue Shoes Productions creates audio and visual content based on underrepresented voices in society. Recent work includes a documentary on an asylum seeker experiencing homelessness in the North West, and a podcast series based on mental health in the South Asian community.
A notable entrant in the environmental category was the Green Energy Guru, an initiative that allows businesses and homeowners to research and buy products that promote a sustainable future. Founded by Finn Lawton, an alumnus of Alliance Manchester Business School, the business compares prices on products such as heat pumps, solar panels and electric vehicle chargers.
Electric Bazaar, an ethical fashion social enterprise aiming to empower artisan workers in Pakistan, also impressed the judges. The company promotes ‘slow fashion’ – producing pieces that will last longer and value fair treatment – by partnering with small, local producers to source fabrics. It also runs a Sewing Machine Project to enable women in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab regions to start self-sustaining tailoring businesses.

Lynn Sheppard, director at the Masood Enterprise Centre, said: “Venture Further continues to evolve, and as it does it plays an important role in highlighting and nurturing the wide range of entrepreneurial students and alumni at Alliance Manchester Business School and The University of Manchester.

“Manchester is a global hub for entrepreneurship, and the competition has helped to launch many successful new ventures and careers. It’s especially inspiring to see ventures with ethical and sustainable issues at the core, and we will continue to support the development of real talent and uncover the responsible business leaders of tomorrow.”

The competition is the latest spotlight on entrepreneurial talent that has been supported by the Masood Enterprise Centre, after Alliance Manchester Business School alumna Christina Taylor was named in a list of 10 female entrepreneurs to watch in 2020 by Business Insider.

Christina founded dance company Aim Sky High, which works to help socially mobilise children and young people and address social issues through their dance classes. With an average of 500 children attending a week, the group has danced for high profile celebrities such as Justin Bieber and Stormzy, and starred in a CBBC documentary about the dance school.

Sustainability business appoints sales director

Sam Whitear
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Craig Walker has joined green initiative In the Circle, which is hosting a conference in Manchester in the spring, as sales director.

With a 25-year track record working in a range of sales and management roles, Craig has experience in a variety of sectors including automotive, home renovation products and construction. In his new role, he will be responsible for attracting sponsors, exhibitors and delegates to In the Circle’s three physical and virtual sustainability conferences that are being held next spring.

The series of regional events, sponsored by Music Magpie and Squire Patton Boggs, has been designed to help businesses of all sizes to move towards becoming part of the circular economy and to demonstrate the business benefits this will deliver.

The inaugural In the Circle conference will take place on Wednesday 24th February 2021 in Leeds, with conferences also scheduled at the NEC in Birmingham on Tuesday 9th March 2021, and at Manchester Central on Thursday 22nd April 2021. Delegates will be able to attend the conferences, either in person or via live streaming and each event will bring together more than 30 speakers and 50 exhibitors, showcasing best practice plans and initiatives to help all businesses build and develop their own sustainability policies and programmes.

“While the COVID-19 outbreak initially disrupted our plans, we are now finding that the crisis has made many companies re-think their priorities and the desire for sustainability has moved higher up the business agenda,” explains Alec Walton, chief executive of In the Circle. “With his solid experience of developing sales and working across diverse industries, Craig will be a real asset to the team, helping us to connect with delegates, exhibitors and sponsors across Yorkshire, the North West and the Midlands.”

Craig commented, “Sustainability is an issue I feel very strongly about. Many people still don’t appreciate the scale of the damage being done to the planet and this is an exciting opportunity to raise awareness and educate companies about sustainability. The conferences will bring people together to learn from some of the leaders in the field about how they can incorporate sustainable practices into their own businesses and the commercial benefits this will bring.”

The three regional conferences are expected to attract hundreds of business leaders, directors, managers and sustainability experts from across the UK.

JMW advises on £3.9m sale of Stockport’s Homa House

Sam Whitear
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The Real Estate team at JMW Solicitors has advised Sina Assets Limited (SINA) on the £3.9m sale of Homa House, Stockport.

The Marriott Street building has been acquired by a housing association.

The new build residential scheme was developed by SINA, comprising 20 one-bed and 12 two-bed apartments close to the centre of Stockport.

Stockport will benefit from extensive regeneration in the coming years, particularly its “Town Centre West” area, where the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation is set to deliver a 20-year vision to create a new ‘walkable community’ with 3,000 new homes.

Reza Negarestani, Director at SINA, said: “The need for affordable housing is well documented, so it’s positive to be able to contribute to closing that gap, particularly with such high-quality homes. The apartments have proved very popular, with the building completely let on completion.”

Ruth McCarthy, Partner and Joint Head of Real Estate Commercial at JMW Solicitors, said: “This is the latest in a string of positive deal announcements for Stockport, and provides much-needed affordable housing stock. There is a huge amount of interest in the town, which will continue to accelerate as the regeneration of Stockport Town Centre West moves forward.”

NEW DIRECTOR APPOINTED AS UNIQUE VENUES OF MANCHESTER PLAN FOR REBRAND AND ROLL-OUT

Sam Whitear
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Unique Venues of Manchester (UVM), established in 2013, was set up with a clear vision to offer a collaborative community and a platform to promote high-quality event spaces and facilities in some of the city’s most exceptional and inspirational settings. Since then, it has grown to offer services for unique venues in both Liverpool and Leeds.

Beccy joins Mathew Jayne as a director, as they plan ahead for the next 12 months. Together they have already been working on a number of projects including a ‘soon to be launched’ re-brand.

While continuing to support Manchester’s most exciting and unique venues for conferences and events, such as the People’s History Museum, Royal Northern College of Music, Contact Theatre and Halle St Peters, they are now planning for a rollout in further cities, including Newcastle, Birmingham, Glasgow and Cardiff.

Mathew, founder of Unique Venues of Manchester Ltd says;

‘Beccy is an incredible talent, so I’m absolutely delighted that she has agreed to join, and at a point where we are really starting to move forward with the development of Unique Venues as a brand and as a community. This will include the delivery of Unique Venues of Great Britain, as the umbrella site to our city regions.’

Unique Venues of Manchester promotes venues through a variety of marketing activities – from listings and articles to social media features, special offers, direct mail and networking. They provide venues, hotels, restaurants, bars and industry suppliers with a simple and cost-effective tool to market. They encourage collaborative marketing opportunities and shared presence at industry exhibitions such as CHS and Venues + Events Live.

Beccy says;

‘I’m delighted to officially come onboard and drive the Unique Venues brand forward into new markets across the UK. I’ve known Mathew for a while now, and I think our skills complement each other’s’ brilliantly. Exciting times ahead as we complete the rebrand process and build additional websites, and with this, communities’

Beccy also runs a hospitality and events marketing & PR agency, Tempt and is on the national board for The Female Hospitality Network.

A new campaign supporting reuse in the built environment

Sam Whitear
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Sponsored by Had & Co

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‘The greenest building is the one that already exists.’ So said Carl Elefante, former president of the American Institute of Architects

Having for years worked on renovation and change of use projects for existing projects, especially in Lancashire HAD & CO who are a Lancashire & Manchester based Architecture & Property company are supporting the Architect’s Journals ‘Retro First’ campaign. 

Saira Hussain, one of the founders of HAD & CO Property Consultants has endorsed the campaign and will actively work towards the retrofit option where possible with any new projects, she said ‘’ by the time we come on board, a decision has already been made based on very limited information, that a new building will be cheaper, less risky and easier to build. The three demands by AJ are based on sound science. It is ironic that those who care about renewing and upgrading existing buildings are reprimanded financially when they try to do so. We have worked on many change of use projects with existing buildings over the years, one of the most notable projects is the ex Lava & Ignite Nightclub in my home town Burnley which we converted to luxury apartments.’’ 

Amid the escalating climate crisis, the AJ campaigns to prioritise retrofitting existing buildings over demolition and rebuild.

If there’s one significant thing we can do to help mitigate the climate crisis, it is to put retrofit first. To work, where possible, with what’s already in our built world.

The three demands of RetroFirst:

Cut VAT rate on refurbishment, repair and maintenance from 20 per cent to 5 per cent.

Promote the reuse of existing building stock and reclaimed construction material by introducing new clauses into planning guidance and the building regulations.

Stimulate the circular economy and support a whole-life carbon approach in construction by insisting that all publicly funded project look to retrofit solutions first.

Throughout the world the construction industry consumes virtually all the planet’s cement, 26% of aluminium output, 50% of steel production and 25 % of all plastics. The industry’s carbon emissions are sky-high. While the UK construction industry has much to be proud of, it produces no less than 35-40% of the country’s total emissions. As the government’s chief environmental scientist, Ian Boyd, has said of our current economic system, ‘emissions are a symptom of consumption and, unless we reduce consumption, we’ll not reduce emissions’. We lose more than 50,000 buildings through demolition every year and, while more than 90 per cent of the resulting waste  waste material is recovered, much of this is recycled into a less valuable product or material, rather than being reused material is recovered, much of this is recycled into a less valuable product or material, rather than being reused.

HAD & CO are committed to the AJ campaign and where possible will advise clients ‘’The greenest building is the one that already exists’’

HAD offer change of use planning applications for existing buildings, including Industrial Mills, with a large portfolio of works completed, recently completed projects include a grade two listed commercial to HMO (House in multiple occupation) conversion in Burnley town centre and projects in Deansgate and works to the Royal Exchange building in the city centre.   

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LANDMARK BRIDGE LINKS WYTHENSHAWE WITH MANCHESTER AIRPORT SITE

Sam Whitear
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A giant foot and cycle bridge linking Wythenshawe to the Manchester Airport campus was installed this weekend.

The 380-tonne structure spans the M56 spur airport approach road and its installation marks a major milestone for the Airport City Manchester project, which will deliver more than 15,000 jobs in the years to come.

Costing £6m, it was rolled into position overnight by a specialist team of eight people using two 800 tonne, 20 axle, self-propelled modular transporters.

The bridge – part-funded by Manchester City Council – will serve as a valuable pedestrian and cycle link between the Woodhouse Park area of Wythenshawe and the airport site, benefitting the thousands of local people who work there.

It will also provide direct access to the employment opportunities being created by Airport City Manchester, as well as enabling people to walk or cycle to the airport’s train, tram and bus station.

The bridge was fabricated by Cleveland Bridges who, working closely with main contractor BCEGi, were also responsible for undertaking the complex 12-hour installation.

There are around 25,000 people working on the Manchester Airport site. It also has its Airport Academy training centre within its Ground Transport Interchange, which provides employment and training for local unemployed people. Earlier in the year, a state-of-the-art AeroZone interactive classroom opened, which will be used by all schools in Woodhouse Park and the wider Wythenshawe area.

Mike Kane MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, said:

“I am delighted to see this finally open at Airport City Manchester. A dedicated pedestrian and cycle bridge gives safe and convenient access to many types of public transport arriving to and departing from the airport’s hub and crossing our region. I am a determined to improve active travel for all and am delighted Airport City Manchester is providing the opportunity of new jobs and new connectivity for both businesses and residents alike.”

Brad Miller, Chief Operating Officer at Manchester Airport, said:

“Manchester Airport is proud of the role it plays in providing employment for so many local people, either directly or with the dozens of different companies that operate on our site.

“This new bridge will give those living in surrounding neighbourhoods a safe and sustainable way to travel to the airport campus, whether they work here, are using our Ground Transport Interchange or are accessing other facilities like our new AeroZone education centre or Airport Academy training hub.

“As excitement builds around the Airport City vision becoming a reality in the months ahead, this link will help give local people the best possible access to the opportunities being created.”

Airport City Manchester has the capacity to deliver a diverse range of more than 15,000 jobs across a number of sectors. Already, the first phase of The Hut Group’s £1bn THG business campus is underway and, upon completion, this 1m sq ft global headquarters site will support up to 10,000 jobs.

Work on Airport City Manchester’s new £180 million hotel district is also gathering pace, where three new hotels and 1,500 new beds will be delivered by 2022.

The wider site also has the capacity to accommodate further development, including two 92,000 sq ft Grade A office buildings and a multi-story staff car park, planning consent for which has been granted.

The brand new bridge at Airport City Manchester is set to open to the public in November this year and when fully complete will blend into the neighbouring buildings with extensive landscaping and public realm, as well as providing feature ramps and passenger lifts to ensure it is accessible to all.

Designed by Manchester architects 5Plus and structurally designed by RoC Consulting, the 52.5m long and 6m wide bridge is a striking addition to the landscape at Airport City Manchester. Featuring more than 21,000 perforations across its length, it has been constructed from Cor-Ten steel which develops a rust-like aesthetic after several years’ exposure to weather and eliminates the need for painting.

Jonathan Haigh, Managing Director of MAG Property and Airport City Manchester Development Management Leader, said:

“The new bridge is a key component of the Airport City Manchester masterplan and capitalises on the exceptional connectivity to multiple modes of public transport at the Manchester Airport Ground Transport Interchange. In turn this will underpin increased usage of public transport to more sustainably facilitate occupier needs and enhance convenience for employees, visitors and neighbouring residents alike.

“It’s a striking addition to the local landscape, with the architecture reflecting our ambition to create a real sense of place and signal a high quality of environment. The bridge connects the emerging hotel district south of the M56 spur road to the larger swathe of development-ready land to the north, which is earmarked primarily for office and ancillary uses. It also enables car parking to be decanted away from the heart of the scheme helping to enrich the amenity value of public open spaces.

“Together with significant additional investment in enabling infrastructure and the live construction activity underway to deliver our first two hotels and the THG HQ campus, we continue our pursuit of the many lasting positive benefits of the scheme.”

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said:
“This bridge is a landmark in the development of Airport City which will link Wythenshawe people with the jobs and opportunities being created there. It’s a symbol of that connection as well as another boost to walking and cycling facilities in this city.”

Chris Droogan, Managing Director of Cleveland Bridge UK, said:

“We are very proud to be part of such an important stage of the development of Airport City Manchester, which is such a significant location for the North of England. The unique design of the bridge, with its extensive collection of perforations, required the extensive experience of our skilled engineers and fabricators who have transformed the architect’s vision into a structure that can be enjoyed by visitors and local people.”

Northcoders appoints Amy Wild as its new chief commercial officer

Sam Whitear
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Manchester and Leeds based Northcoders – one of the UK’s leading coding schools – has grown its senior team with the appointment of Amy Wild who joins as its new chief commercial officer. Amy’s new role will see her lead on the development and execution of Northcoders’ commercial strategies and objectives. She will also head up the sales, partnerships and marketing team.
Amy has worked in sales and marketing roles for over 17 years in the digital, property, construction and aviation sectors. She started her career at Finnair and prior to joining Northcoders she was an associate lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University where she delivered the sales and marketing module on the chartered management degree course. Amy also ran her own consultancy called WildOne Consulting.

Over the years, Amy has built up a strong track record of managing complex commercial situations, thanks to her ability to influence change and deliver strategic leadership. Central to her approach and ethos is balancing people skills with a belief that strong partner relationships are crucial to every business’ long-term success.
Commenting on her role, Amy said: “I’ve long admired what Northcoders is trying to achieve, and as soon as I met the team it was easy to see how the company is built on a foundation of passion that is focused on the training and development of people. Its culture and community minded approach also has a strong ethical message which is combined with a well-respected offering in an industry that is set to grow and grow. I see nothing but opportunities for Northcoders and I’m excited to be part of its evolution moving forward.”

Chris Hill – CEO and founder of Northcoders – added: “The last year has been a real period of growth for Northcoders and we are delighted to welcome Amy to the team. She brings with her a wealth of industry experience that will directly benefit the business in terms of our commercial activities. Her understanding of what we do, and her appreciation of how we operate, really stood out so I’m confident she will become a central part of our success over the coming years.”
Since its inaugural course in 2015, Northcoders has helped over 500 people switch careers into tech, with average starting salaries of £25,000. As well as the Manchester campus, Northcoders also has a site at tech hub Platform in Leeds.

Over the past 18-months, it has been selected as one of the country’s brightest tech stars in Creative England’s CE50 list and was named Business of the Year at the 15th Annual Chamber Business Awards. It has also launched scholarship schemes and a deferred payment programme aimed at women and gender minorities, as well as those who identify as BAME or LGBTQ+, have a disability or have had limited access to education, to help address diversity in tech. The firm also relocated its Manchester campus to a new 10,000 sq. ft space at Manchester Technology Centre on Oxford Road.

Link bridge to life-saving Helipad marks major milestone for Manchester hospitals

Sam Whitear
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A 45 metre section of a link bridge was successfully lowered into place at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s (MFT) Oxford Road Campus today, marking a major milestone in the construction of the site’s £3.9 million new Helipad.

The steel link bridge houses a high-level patient transfer corridor connecting the Helipad landing site to the hospitals on MFT’s Oxford Road Campus and was lowered into place by two cranes – one 350 tonne crane and one 250 tonne crane – on Friday 10th July.

The 130m-long corridor between Grafton Street Car Park and MFT hospitals is suspended 19 metres above street-level with direct access to the hospitals’ Emergency Departments.

Once completed, the new helicopter landing site will allow more than 300 patients to be airlifted to the campus each year.

Situated on the roof of Grafton Street Car Park on Oxford Road, it will enable critically ill or injured adults, children and babies to be transported directly to the city-centre hospitals. This includes the Emergency Departments at Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH).

The MRI is a Major Trauma Centre for Greater Manchester and RMCH is the Major Trauma Centre for the entire Greater Manchester region and one of only two dedicated Children’s Major Trauma Centres in the whole of the North West providing care for seriously ill or injured children.

Currently, critically ill or injured patients can be flown to these facilities at MFT but the helicopter has to use a secondary landing site in parkland a mile away and patients are then transferred by road ambulance. Having landing facilities directly on site is expected to save lives locally and regionally and increase the chances of a full or improved level of recovery in many seriously ill or injured patients.

David Furnival, Group Director of Estates and Facilities at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said; “After months of hard work at ground level and up on top of the Grafton Street Car Park, I am delighted that this major milestone has now been reached. The newly-placed 45 metre link bridge is a crucial piece of construction that will allow patients to be transported quickly and safely from the helicopter landing site into one of our hospitals.”

Alistair Rennie, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Major Trauma at Manchester Royal Infirmary said; “When dealing with major trauma and serious injuries, seconds count, and getting patients to the right care can potentially mean the difference between life and death. This new Helipad facility will allow us to save more lives, and help more people than ever before.”

Funding for the Helipad was raised by MFT Charity’s Time Save Lives Appeal, which raised the money in just 12 months, thanks to the dedication and generosity of its supporters.

The Appeal was the focus of the Charity’s fundraising, with individuals, businesses and community groups from across the North West all showing their support. This included a generous donation of £1.36million from the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads and £1.1million from the government’s LIBOR fines funds in the Chancellor’s Budget.

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal said: “We first held discussions with the hospital six years ago and are delighted that this vitally important helipad project is coming to fruition. We know our funding for the helipad and its automatic fire fighting system will make a huge difference to patient survival and recovery, including those treated at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital which is the Major Trauma Centre for the whole region.”

Logik Developments has submitted a planning application to Manchester City Council for a commercial scheme that will form part of the £1 billion Mayfield Masterplan

Sam Whitear
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The plans will see the developer transform the land on Baring Street – next to the Mayfield Park – to create circa 215,000 sq ft of commercial office space and a 170,000 sq ft hotel. with plans to start on site Q2 2021 subject to planning approval.

The proposed scheme will become part of the £1 billion Mayfield Masterplan launched by U+I which aims to create 1500 new homes, office space and an improved public realm across a 24-acre site in Manchester.

Neil Spencer Managing Director of Logik Developments described the development as ‘in keeping with the Mayfield history’ he said: “The Mayfield story has been widely incorporated into this project encompassing the River Medlock, Mancunian Way and the abandoned Mayfield train station. The building nods to the industrial feel of the masterplan and this has been integral to the focus and development of this project.”

The office accommodation spans 12 storeys. OBI has been appointed to market the scheme.

OBI Founder Will Lewis said “The scheme will appeal to a range of occupiers and there will be a great deal of interest in the commercial space at Baring Street. This is an exciting new neighbourhood and its great news to see the scheme moving forward”.

Tim Groom Architects is leading the project design. RECOM Solutions has been appointed as Project Managers with Hoare Lea providing M&E consultancy and Roscoe advising on civil and structural design. Deloitte is the planning consultant for the scheme.

Neil Spencer added: “The scheme that is moving into planning, depicts the appetite for development, in which will be, one of Manchester’s most sought-after locations. The building is in keeping with Mayfield masterplan encompassing of Mayfield’s history and in keeping with the SRF. This is a fantastic and exciting scheme to be involved in.”

The scheme is adjacent to Manchester Piccadilly railway station with the Mancunian Way also nearby.

Detailed discussions are currently ongoing regarding the hotel element of the scheme and Logik is having exclusivity talks with a new operator entering the UK market.
Manchester based Logik Developments currently has another scheme with planning secured and recently announced a joint venture partnership with High Street Group to deliver a residential development on Arundel Street in Castlefield. The scheme comprises a residential block with 355 one, two and three bed apartments as well as commercial space.

Through our connections, we’re able to bring new and unique sites to market which not only advance a city’s strategic masterplan but also deliver long term value to the community.

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More than £250m grant funding and rate relief provided to Manchester businesses during Covid-19 response

Sam Whitear
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More than 9,000 organisations have been supported by the Council since the beginning of the pandemic, with a range of rate relief and cash grants giving a lifeline to some of the city’s businesses.

As the country went into lockdown, the Government provided an initial two tiers of grant funding for businesses – Small Business Rate Grant and Retail Leisure and Entertainment Grant – and followed-up with a discretionary grant for businesses not eligible for the previous funding. Rate relief was also provided for small businesses and those directly involved in retail, leisure and entertainment.Manchester was provided £108.64m as part of the initial Small Business Rate (up to £10k per business) and Retail, Leisure and Entertainment (up to £25k per business) grants.

To date we have paid out 7,851 grants totalling £99.16 million and representing 87.4% of payments. The remainder of applications are made up of complex cases where Council officers are working with businesses to process payments as quickly as possible.

These two grant funds remain active and if businesses still require support and have not applied for funding already it is not too late.

Find out more here

At the end of May, Manchester was provided £5.1m as part of the latter discretionary fund which has already been distributed to support 885 of businesses, and the fund will be fully spent by the end of July.

The Council has also provided 100% business rate relief worth £145.5m to 3,918 businesses and relief to 77 nurseries worth £855k.

Lea Recruitment Consultancy Ltd – Discretionary Fund recipient 

Ally Lee runs a recruitment consultancy business specialising in IT and telecommunications from a managed service office near the Airport.

The business resides in an all-inclusive space, which means her business is located in premises which do not have a rateable value and therefore was ineligible for the initial round of business grant support from the Government.

Ally said: “I went from being a thriving business one day to all my work being cancelled within 48hrs – and there was no end in sight. It was heart-breaking to find out from the Council that I wasn’t eligible for the initial grants because of the guidelines put forward by the Government.

“I realised that small businesses in my building and across the city would be in the same situation. Small businesses generate a huge amount to the city’s economy, but we’re also vulnerable and being unable to access financial support could’ve meant disaster. It felt like such an injustice”

Ally remained in close contact with the Council – with support from her property management company, Colliers – and the Council began lobbying the Government for a new fund to be set up to help those that had missed out.

Ally continued: “When the discretionary grant scheme was announced the Council were very clear that the fund was limited and there wouldn’t be enough for every business. I really appreciated that honesty and transparency. And I know some Councils aren’t making discretionary payments at all, so the sense of relief when I found out the business was going to get help was huge.

“My alternative was getting a loan, which would’ve put a massive burden on the business at a time when it wasn’t clear when work was going to return. The help I got from the Council made me and other small businesses feel like we are valued. So a huge thanks to them for lobbying the Government with us and on our behalf.

“We’re now back up and running and it’s a relief to know that our bills are paid for a couple of months while we concentrate on the recovery and future of the business.”

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “It’s an incredible feat to have supported more than 9,000 businesses with more than a quarter of a billion pounds worth of grant and relief support in just a few months. However, it was a vital lifeline for many businesses across the city that simply could not have survived the economic impact of lockdown.

“We felt that as the grant funding support was made up of public money, it was important that we carefully audited applications to avoid fraudulent payments – and we can say that we have supported only legitimate businesses.

“While keeping a close eye on the continuing public health response to manage the virus, our focus now must be on the city’s economic recovery. So if you own a business that needs support and you haven’t applied for either the small business or the retail leisure and entertainment grants and rate relief  yet, there is still time as long as you act quickly.”

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