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Digital Secretary backs UK Tech Cluster Group call for grassroots-led tech recovery

Sam Whitear
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Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has revealed that the government will be publishing a new digital strategy in Autumn, in an announcement made at the UK Tech Cluster Group (UKTCG) Roadmap to Recovery Summit yesterday (June 23).

The Digital Secretary, who closed the virtual conference with a keynote speech, highlighted how Coronavirus has delivered a ‘sucker punch’ to the economy and explained the leading role tech must play in helping the UK get back on its feet.

Mr Dowden acknowledged that we are ‘living in a different world’ following COVID-19’s outbreak and impact on both the economy at large and everyday working practices. Reiterating that ‘tech must play an important part in our recovery’, the Digital Secretary revealed that the upcoming Digital Strategy will seek to build a highly skilled digital workforce, help citizens adopt digital more widely and support businesses in being further enabled and transformed by tech.

Commending the UKTCG’s work on helping tech communities across the country bounce back for from COVID and harnessing tech more broadly to help regional economies recover from the pandemic, Mr Dowden outlined government’s commitment to engage with regional grassroots tech communities to ‘power growth and productivity across the whole of our United Kingdom’.

The UKTCG is a self-assembled group of individuals and organisations which support geographical clusters of technology and digital businesses across the UK. Forming two years ago, the Group exists to connect, share and grow the communities it serves. Through understanding ecosystem needs at grassroots level, the group has real time access to tech companies and communities and shares its expertise across the UK to help regional tech ecosystems grow.
David Dunn, UKTCG Chair and CEO of Sunderland Software City, said: “This event was designed to arm attendees with the understanding, rationale, stories, connections and evidence needed to help attendees act positively in their local areas.

“This event truly was a first of its kind; we had people from all over the UK connecting and sharing knowledge about tech sector growth and supporting digital adoption across wider sectors in their communities.”

Building on the event, the UKTCG will soon release a report complete with research insights and recommendations, as it looks to work closely with government to ensure grassroots tech companies and communities are being heard in the upcoming Digital Strategy and levelling up agenda.

Mr Dunn added: “We’re tremendously proud of what we’ve achieved with this summit. The breadth of topics we’ve covered and the amount of people who have connected and taken valuable intel back to their regions is fantastic. We’re very excited by what’s to come next.

“I’d like to thank the entire Tech Cluster Group for making it possible and to the Digital Secretary for providing such an inspiring keynote, acknowledging the key role grassroots insights and communities must play in the upcoming Digital Strategy.”

The Roadmap to Recovery event, organised in the last three weeks and attended by over 400+ people, was put together to explore and develop ideas on how to both help the tech sector grow as part of the UK’s economic recovery and to better understand how digital can accelerate the recovery of other sectors too.

Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: “One of the best things about the Cluster Group is that its members truly reflect the full length and breadth of the United Kingdom’s sprawling tech sector.

“It’s not all about London, so it’s great to see all of our regions represented here today. You’re doing some great work to help tech communities across the country bounce back from COVID, and to use tech more broadly to help your own regional economies recover from the pandemic.

“The grassroots tech communities in all of our regions power growth and productivity across the whole of our United Kingdom. I know that when a lot of people speak about driving growth in tech, they’re thinking only of London and the South-East. I’m determined to change that.
“When it’s published, our new digital strategy will form one of the building blocks of our recovery. A recovery that will be tech-led but will benefit all.”

Speakers on the day included cluster leaders from UK tech hotspots, Cabinet Secretaries, Mayors, policy leaders, leading CEOs and international investors.

The event explored themes ranging from the impact of COVID-19 to insights into how tech clusters can power the reboot of the economy across UK towns and cities. Morning sessions covered an array of hot tech topics including enabling a digital workforce, connectivity, the investment landscape, digital for young people, the future of space and digital adoption.

In the afternoon, sessions explored building effective communities, tech supporting leisure and tourism, tech advancing health and social care, cross-cluster collaboration, tech supporting the food and drink industry, tech to get us to net-zero, incubators, smart manufacturing, connecting corporates and SMEs, tech and the high street and utilising universities for economic growth

INQUESTA HIRES MARKETING MANAGER AS COVID-19 CREATES IMPETUS FOR FURTHER GROWTH

Sam Whitear
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Forensic accounting and insolvency practice Inquesta has recruited a marketing manager as it gears up for its next phase of growth.
Matthew Titcomb has relocated from London to Manchester to join Inquesta in a new role for the business.
He was previously a marketing executive at Hanson Wade, a conference organiser and provider of data products and services based in the capital.

Matthew has a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing and marketing management from the University of Exeter and a master’s degree in marketing from the University of Bath.
Inquesta director Rob Miller said marketing is key to the growth plans of the firm, which has its headquarters in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, and a presence in Leeds and London.
He said Inquesta is gearing up for an influx of corporate insolvency cases due to the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis.

The firm is also anticipating a surge in demand for its forensic accounting expertise as cases of alleged fraud concerning furlough claims and Bounce Back loans emerge from the Covid-19 crisis.

Matthew will work alongside Rob, co-director Steven Wiseglass and the rest of the Inquesta team to develop and implement a marketing strategy aimed at helping the firm to grow market share in its specialist fields.

Rob said: “With a spike in corporate insolvencies on the horizon, and a greater need for advising distressed businesses and helping them to restructure and navigate through the choppy economic waters ahead, as well as alleged fraud cases arising from the current crisis, this is a vital time to have Matthew on board.

“Marketing forms a key part of our growth strategy, and Matthew’s skillset and proactive and focused approach make him ideally suited for the role.
“His appointment is a major step forward in the evolution of the business. Our brand is already well-known, and our strategy will enable us to attract bigger, better quality work and to attract the best people to accompany us on our journey as we expand.”

Matthew said: “I’ve been impressed by the compassionate and pragmatic approach Inquesta takes towards insolvency cases and I’m excited by the prospect of helping the firm to gain wider recognition and expand its market presence.

“The opportunities created by the current disruption offer interesting challenges and enable the team to explore new and exciting directions.
“Despite the exceptional circumstances, the team have been fantastic and made me feel right at home with the warmest of socially-distanced welcomes.”

HIRING HUB UPGRADES SPACE AT FOURWAYS

Sam Whitear
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International real estate advisor Savills, on behalf of Helical, has agreed a new lease to recruitment agency management platform, Hiring Hub, at Fourways in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

Already subletting space within the building, the firm has agreed a new 5-year lease for an additional 2,378 sq ft (221 sq m) of workspace at £26.00 per sq ft within the scheme.

Located on Hilton Street in the sought after Northern Quarter area of Manchester city centre, Fourways is a converted grade II listed brick building constructed in 1906. The property now provides characterful office accommodation over ground and five upper floors totalling 59,000 sq ft and is nearing completion of a substantial refurbishment of the atrium and communal space.

Simon Swan, CEO of Hiring Hub, comments: “We’ve long been happy with the location at Fourways but required additional space to accommodate a growing team. We’re fortunate this coincided with a stunning refurbishment of the building, which I believe makes it one of the most architecturally-interesting offices not only in Manchester, but in the country – it’s a place that Hiring Hub is proud to call home.”

Daniel Barnes, associate director in the office agency team at Savills, comments: “With the refurbishment nearly complete, Fourways has made its mark as a standout office building in the heart of the Northern Quarter. This letting to Hiring Hub follows the upsizing of existing occupier RSK earlier in the lockdown, showing that Fourways continues to be in high demand in spite of the current situation.”

William Parry, senior property executive at Helical comments: ‘We’re delighted that Hiring Hub has made the decision to commit further to Fourways and we look forward to welcoming them to their new suite within the building. This is the fourth lease Helical has completed in Manchester since lockdown, demonstrating the resilience of the Manchester office market and its continued appeal to a range of occupiers.”

ACCOUNTANTS AND BUSINESS ADVISORS BEEVER AND STRUTHERS APPOINTED BY SPECIALIST LABORATORY AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER LTE SCIENTIFIC THANKS TO EXPERTISE IN MANUFACTURING SECTOR

Sam Whitear
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Specialist laboratory and medical equipment manufacturer LTE Scientific has appointed accountants and business advisors Beever and Struthers to provide tailored tax and audit services.
Established in 1947 and based in Greenfield, Oldham, Greater Manchester, LTE Scientific has produced a wide range of laboratory and medical equipment for over 70 years, with products shipped throughout the UK and internationally to clients in sectors including healthcare, education, research, pharmaceutical, biotech, food/beverage and chemicals.
The 70 staff at LTE Scientific manufacture sterilizers for the NHS, laboratory and medical markets, endoscope drying, storage cabinets and laboratory thermal equipment including ovens, incubators, freeze-dryers and environmental chambers/rooms for a wide range of applications in the private and public sectors.
As all of the Company’s products are maintained, serviced and tested by a fully qualified nationwide team of engineers who carry work out to both NHS and UKAS Standards, the privately-owned business has established an outstanding reputation with clients at home and abroad.
As a provider of both product and services to the NHS and the Public Health labs, LTE is proud to have played an important role throughout the Covid pandemic
LTE Scientific appointed the Manchester head office of Beever and Struthers to provide tax and audit services because of the firm’s long-established strength and reputation in the provision of tailored accountancy and financial advice to the manufacturing sector.
And Beever and Struthers’ membership of HLB International, a global network of about 700 well-established accountancy firms with some 25,000 staff in 150 countries, with most practices ranking among the top 12 nationally, also appealed to LTE because of its international client base.
Kim Cooper, finance and service director at LTE Scientific, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Iain and his team at Beever and Struthers, the transition from our previous auditors has gone extremely well”.
Iain Round, audit partner at Beever and Struthers and a key member of the firm’s manufacturing and engineering team, is delivering tax and audit advice for LTE Scientific and said: ”We have provided proactive business advice for many years to a wide range of manufacturing and engineering businesses, both large and small, producing a whole range of different products and LTE Scientific is a valued and prestige addition to our client roster.”

£1.25m boost for town centres

Sam Whitear
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A £1.25m package of measures to support businesses across the borough has been unveiled, including free weekday parking in Bolton town centre.

All district town centres and Bolton town centre will benefit from the fund, as Bolton Council backs businesses re-opening following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Shoppers visiting Bolton town centre could soon park for up to two hours free of charge, on weekdays, if the report is approved.

The offer would be available on-street in pay and display bays, at Bolton Market’s Ashburner Street car park, and Octagon, Topp Way and Deane Road NCP multi storey car parks. Parking is already free in district centres.

Proposals which will benefit all town centre include new social distancing highways signage and installing contactless hand sanitising stations in Bolton town centre and Farnworth, Horwich, Little Lever and Westhoughton high streets.

Town Centre Information Officers have already started work in Bolton town centre and the district centres to help local businesses and their customers, and a marketing campaign to back Bolton businesses to reopen safely is also being drawn up.

The council was awarded £253K from the government’s Reopening High Streets Safely Fund and is also looking to divert £1m from a budget which was set aside for grants for new businesses expanding to Bolton.

The authority also plans to review relaxing conditions to allow outdoor seating in areas outside bars, restaurants and cafes, and is looking at how to make streets and roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists to help with social distancing.

The council has already widened footpaths on Newport Street, and Knowsley Street and work on Blackhorse Street is also set to take place.

The announcement comes after extensive conversations with local businesses.

Bolton Council Deputy Leader, Cllr Martyn Cox, said: “We have been in regular contact with local businesses throughout lockdown and we have listened carefully.

“These initiatives are a direct response to what these business owners have told us they need.

“Our shops, our high streets, our independents all need your support more than ever right now – so please support them.

“Coronavirus has had a huge impact on our high streets and we want to do everything we can to support local enterprise at this challenging time.”

Subject to approval at the Deputy Leader’s portfolio meeting on June 29, the free parking offer will be in place in NCP multi-storey car parks within a week.

It will be implemented in a few weeks’ time at Ashburner Street and on street, once pay and display machines have been reconfigured.

It is anticipated that the free parking offer on weekdays will be in place until November.

The all-day offer of free parking at all town centre multi-storey car parks at weekends and Bank Holidays will also remain in place.

Bolton Council Leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh, added: “We will be with our partners in the local business community every step of the way offering all the help we can.

“No-one is pretending this economic recovery will be easy, but as a council we need to be introducing proactive measures as well as words of support, and this considerable package of free car parking will, we believe, be one in a number of initiatives that we hope will help.

“Of course, the reopening of the retail sector must be done safely, and work has already gone into making Bolton town centre safe with social distancing and other appropriate safety precautions in place. We want to replicate this in our district centres.

“I urge residents, if you are able to do so, to come out, stay safe and support our local Bolton businesses. Back our shops, back your community, back local business, back your local high street, and back our borough.”

Ahead of shops reopening, Bolton Council has also sent out more than 2,000 information packs to businesses.

The authority has processed thousands of claims from local businesses seeking government support grants during the pandemic – more than 5,000 businesses have been helped and £58m has been awarded.

Council staff were redeployed from other departments to ensure claims were processed quickly, helping local businesses receive tens of millions of pounds in financial assistance.

The council has also applied the government’s 100% business rates relief schemes for leisure, retail, hospitality and childcare in the 2020/21 financial year.

Business Bolton is the council’s business support service and has been offering advice to local firms since the start of the coronavirus crisis.

Over 600 residents from underrepresented groups in Greater Manchester and Lancashire set to benefit from digital workforce funding

Sam Whitear
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14 projects from across Greater Manchester and Lancashire have been announced as the successful applicants of the Fast Track Digital Workforce Fund.

The Fast Track Digital Workforce Fund, which was developed to address locally identified digital skills gaps, is a joint venture between the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership (LDSP).

The £3million fund, which is the first of its kind in the UK, was set up to support both Greater Manchester and Lancashire residents with accessible routes into digital employment, specifically targeting disadvantaged groups and those under-represented to help them get into digital roles.

The 14 successful projects are additional to the six programmes which received funding in round one to support over 200 Greater Manchester residents. Tech Returners were one of these projects, securing round one funding for their‘Your Journey into Tech’ programme to support people wanting to return or enter the technology industry after a career break.

This latest round of funding will enable the successful consortia to deliver a range of digital skills training programmes, creating inclusive opportunities for groups of people that don’t currently have access to these digital opportunities and currently under-represented in digital roles including BAME communities, under-employed individuals, women and ex-armed forces.

Successful applicants from round two of the initiative include Burnley College’s programme to help experienced manual workers transition into digital programming roles within the manufacturing sector. Manchester’s Tech Equity aims to upskill unemployed women from black and ethnic minority backgrounds and provide a pathway for them to move into junior network engineer roles.

Digital Minister Caroline Dinenage said: “We are investing heavily to boost people’s digital skills that are more important than ever in these times. We want everyone to be able to seize the opportunities our world-class digital sectors bring. It is fantastic to see this new funding targeting innovative schemes that will make a real difference to people’s lives in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.”

Greater Manchester and Lancashire have a high demand for specialist digital roles due to their growing digital industry. The Fast Track Fund was designed to help support the local economy by building on the key digital skills requirements identified by local employers.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said: “In the current climate this fund is more important than ever, this pandemic has highlighted the real importance of digital skills and technology and digital will be a vital element in how we ‘build back better’.

“In Greater Manchester our ambition is to be recognised as a world-leading digital city region. This fund helps bridge the digital skills gaps across our city-region and build a diverse talent pool in Greater Manchester, to ensure local businesses have access to the highly skilled workers they need.

“We have been overwhelmed with the fantastic applications received, which are testament to the range of organisations who are actively working to diversify talent and offer opportunities to under-represented groups in the sector, ensuring digital skills are never a barrier to social mobility.”

Steve Fogg, Chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership said: “I am delighted Lancashire residents will be able to benefit from further funding for digital skills through the Fast Track Fund. The work of the Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership has already provided invaluable support to people looking to improve their digital skills.

“Lancashire has a vibrant and growing digital sector, boosting productivity and high value jobs, with a thirst for new talent and we need to ensure everyone is able to benefit from emerging opportunities. However digital skills will also have an important role to play across all of our key sectors including our cutting-edge manufacturers, of which there are many in Lancashire. This is evident in the current covid-19 situation in which businesses have quickly adapted and diversified to manufacture ventilators and PPE.

“We are delighted to see so many applications from business and provider collaborations that aim to accelerate the diversity of the digital workforce in Lancashire through innovative approaches to quickly building the digital skills that are in demand from local employers.”

Transport for the North wins prestigious CIHT Transport Planning Award

Sam Whitear
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Transport for the North has scooped a prestigious industry award after setting out a 30-year vision for investment in the region.

The statutory, sub-national transport body took home the Transport Planning Award at the 2020 CIHT Awards for its Strategic Transport Plan (STP).

The STP, published in February 2019, sets out a vison for the North where world-class transport supports sustainable economic growth, excellent quality of life and improved opportunities for all. Drawn up and agreed by civic and business leaders, it sets out how the economy can be ‘levelled up’ through a pipeline of coordinated investments.

It details how sustained, pan-Northern investment in transport infrastructure can support transformational economic growth and provide opportunities for the region’s people and businesses for generations to come.

Judges commented that the entry was “An outstanding project with a clear vison to provide a strategic travel plan for a complex area. The scheme was grounded in engagement and produced a good evidence base with clear benefits to society.”

Barry White, Chief Executive of Transport for the North, said:

“On behalf of the North’s people and businesses we’re delighted to receive the CIHT Transport Planning Award.

“The Strategic Transport Plan represents the first time that political and business leaders from across the North have come together to outline a shared vision for the future of our region – it is a plan by the North for the North.

“This award is a credit to the collaborative effort of our Members, partners, and colleagues, who all worked tirelessly to deliver the STP last year.

“Their efforts have only increased since then, and the need for strategic investment in our roads and railways is as vital as ever. Together we’ll continue to make the case for “levelling up” our region through infrastructure projects which will aid economic recovery and support future growth.”

The Transport Planning Award category “celebrates the value of transport planning in achieving positive outcomes for the benefit of the public, in creating new communities or on reducing the adverse impact of transport in communities.”

Specialist entertainment consultancy Sundae to lead communications for Lost Horizon, the world’s largest music and art festival in virtual reality.That’s

Sam Whitear
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Festival from the team behind Shangri-La at Glastonbury, will feature line up of global superstar artists, in support of The Big Issue and Amnesty International UK.

Specialist entertainment consultancy, Sundae Communications, is leading publicity, social media and marketing for new independent virtual reality music and arts festival, Lost Horizon, created by the team behind Shangri-La at Glastonbury in partnership with Sansar and VRJAM.

The ground-breaking festival, taking place on 3rd & 4th July, has been created to support The Big Issue and Amnesty International, and also as an outlet and platform for all the creatives whose season of work has been cancelled.

The result of a whirlwind lockdown development process, Lost Horizon is set to be the world’s largest music and art festival in virtual reality, featuring four stages, (Freedom, Gas Tower, Nomad and SHITV), some of which Shangri-La regulars will recognise, with more than 50 music acts, over than 100 artists, 50 plus films, and an incredible 250 artworks.

With a star-studded line up, featuring Andy C, Carl Cox, Fatboy Slim, Jamie Jones, Noisia (DJ set), Peggy Gou and Seth Troxler on the Gas Tower stage, programmed by Orca Sound Project, plus A. Skillz, Alabama 3, Coldcut, Frank Turner, My Baby, My Bad Sister and Krafty Kuts on Global Local’s Freedom Stage, the festival is expecting to reach a huge audience across the world.

In addition, Nomad will feature underground acts, whilst SHITV is the festival’s media centre, screening films from the absurd to the enlightened, from the sidelines, frontlines and back-stages of alternative culture.

The whole event is an epic undertaking, condensing years of work into a few months, and Sundae is looking after press, social media and marketing, plus working with partner agency Instruct Studio, who created the Lost Horizon brand and website.

Sundae announced Lost Horizon at the start of June, to a tremendous global reaction, with over 250 outlets across the globe covering the news in 48 hours. There has been huge social impact, generatin nearly 2 million impressions in just over a week.

Sundae MD, Fiona McGarva comments: “This is a once in a lifetime, dream come true project. Lost Horizon is at the forefront of VR for music and art, creating something that has never been considered before, and setting the bar incredibly high.

“I was elated, but not surprised when the team first got in touch with the initial idea, as it is in their make up to push boundaries, whilst always thinking about the greater good before themselves. The most important outcome for us is to raise as much support as we can for both The Big Issue and Amnesty International UK.”

Kaye Dunnings, creative director of Lost Horizon and Shangri-La comments: “Working with Fiona and Sundae is an absolute dream! Dealing with Shangri-La is a pretty overwhelming task – the chaotic nature of how we work and the ridiculous amount of content we have to share is a challenge that Fiona and her team have absolutely risen above. The communication is consistently smooth, the messaging is always so clear between us and the outside world; we feel supported and championed, respected and totally secure in every way.

“Sundae spent a lot of time getting to know us, our ethos, our vibe, how we speak, our tastes, it runs very deep, and this is why they get such incredible results. The way Fiona and co-manage to keep up with constant changes, working between a field in Somerset and now the virtual festival, keeping us in check and on deadline, as well as assisting us with assets and design, also needs mentioning – it’s just incredible. Fiona’s attention to detail is unsurpassed – nothing gets missed, and she is just so wonderful to work with – her humour, kindness, understanding and fierceness blows my mind every day. I bloody love her! ”

Lost Horizon is fully interactive and multi-stage event to explore via PC, VR or mobile app (iOS and Android) and streamed live and direct to wherever you are on the planet via Beatport and Twitch, and via partner and artist Facebook, YouTube and Twitch accounts. The festival is a deep multi-layered experience, filled with wild dance-floors, secret headliners, a visual feast of art and performance, hidden venues and huge artists.

Also featured is a partnership with Manchester cultural organisation Design Manchester whose co-director Malcolm Garrett curating a new virtual reality exhibition, known as Yours Truthfully with Lost Horizon creative director Kaye Dunnings, bringing in globally recognised graphic designers including Paula Scher, Morag Myerscough and Patrick Thomas, all of whom have appeared at DM events. Prints of their virtual work will be available to purchase in aid of The Big Issue and Amnesty UK.

Founded in 2011, Sundae produces high profile press and publicity campaigns for clients in television, film, festivals, venues and events, working with global brands, international broadcasters and independent creative businesses.

Sundae’s recent and ongoing work includes campaigns for Everyman Cinema Group, Manchester’s city-wide creative festival Design Manchester, Channel 5’s Milkshake!, Leopard Pictures, London Short Film Festival and Channel 4.

Corecom Consulting appoints Sam Hameed as Associate Director

Sam Whitear
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The UK’s Leading IT Recruitment Company, Corecom Consulting, has expanded with the appointment of Sam Hameed as Associate Director.

Sam joins after eight years at iSource Group, most recently as Associate Director, where he built a 500k per annum IT Architecture practice and was responsible for managing a team of 15 experienced consultants. This is as well as holding an operational role for the company’s technology events business.

His experience covers identifying and placing exceptional technology talent within organisations predominately within IT Architecture and Senior Appointments across a variety of IT markets, .NET Development, Data, Analytics & AI, Change & Transformation and Programme Delivery. Sam’s successes so far include successfully placing a number of high-profile positions within Media, Insurance and IT Security, as well partnering with a number of household name brands.

Sam, who will be based primarily at the company’s Manchester office, said:

“Having been at my previous organisation for eight years, it was always going to be a huge step starting something new and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone.

“What attracted me to Corecom Consulting was the company’s ambitious growth plans, fantastic leadership, the people, the business and the community and charity partnerships they are involved with. The company has secured numerous award shortlists and wins for these achievements.

“I’m really excited about developing and growing the company’s brand and market presence in Manchester – the opportunities here are endless with it being the UK’s number one tech location outside of London.”

Jonathan Sanderson, Managing Director at Corecom Consulting, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Sam to the management team. He brings with him fantastic energy and enthusiasm for the team and the company, with values which are very closely aligned with ours.

“We are looking forward to seeing Sam manage and grow the Manchester office through new client acquisition, account development and our market offering, as well as his focus on the Senior Appointments and IT Architecture market.”

Manchester Data Centre Announces £2 Million Investment into Expansion Project TeleData to increase its data centre footprint by 7000ft2

Sam Whitear
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Manchester cloud hosting and data centre operator, TeleData, has announced the start of a 7000ft2 data centre expansion project at its Delta House facility in Wythenshawe, increasing its offering at a time where the firm says, capacity is nearing a critical point – particularly in Manchester.

The project, into which the business will be investing up to £2 Million, will bring online up to 200 server racks for customers, in a range of configurations, within highly resilient Tier 3 space – news which is also attracting additional fibre providers to the data centre. These fibre providers are investing heavily into the expansion of their own networks to deliver diverse solutions to network intensive clients hosted at the carrier neutral facility, increasing high capacity connectivity and dark fibre options for TeleData customers.

The expansion will make use of the most advanced technologies available to ensure maximum efficiencies, and the entire facility will benefit from a number of non-disruptive changes to power and cooling systems to improve resilience even further. The business is also implementing advanced monitoring systems and intelligent Building Management Systems (BMS) which will make TeleData one of the most intelligent facilities in the UK, bringing together monitoring and alerting processes that are enhanced by machine learning.

Matt Edgley, TeleData Commercial Director commented; “TeleData is expanding at a time when available data centre capacity is nearing a critical point, particularly in Manchester, with a serious lack of new investment into high quality supply coming from other providers in the region. As the world emerges from the current pandemic situation, data centres form an increasingly important part of the national fabric, enabling remote and flexible working with high capacity networking and compute solutions to ensure peace of mind. Customers who are serious about their technology, the environment and effective continuity of key services should be considering TeleData as a provider as we strive to keep our facility ahead of the technology curve. Our new data centres will be able to accommodate anything from quarter racks and half racks to dedicated suites or rooms, and phase one of the expansion will be complete in Q4 of 2020.”

This announcement comes after the firm made a six figure investment into its cloud platform in 2019, as well as a £1.2 Million investment into energy efficiencies – TeleData recently became the first UK colocation facility to join the smart grid with battery storage, as part of a project to improve environmental efficiencies with low loss transformer and voltage optimisation, boosting the resilience of the facility by improving the shelf life of equipment, while reducing unnecessary energy waste and optimising the incoming power supply.

TeleData has also recently announced the release of private cloud and private cloud desktop products to expand its portfolio even further and provide key solutions that are designed to help businesses accelerate their digital transformation.

Based in Wythenshawe, TeleData provides colocation, cloud hosting, workplace recovery and data centre services to businesses across the UK. The firm’s solutions are designed to enable organisations to protect their applications, data and online presence from the damaging effects of downtime, and to make the most effective and efficient use of technology with secure and scalable hosting platforms tailored to business critical needs. The building has some of the most sophisticated security of any data centre in Europe, with an on-site police-linked, NSI Gold Approved, BS5979 certified control room and alarm receiving centre making TeleData unique in the UK.

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