Home Blog Page 905

Call for ambitious Greater Manchester creative businesses to join new Creative Scale-Up programme

Sam Whitear
-
0

Creative industry businesses in Greater Manchester who are looking to grow and attract investment are being given the opportunity to join an innovative new programme that is set to further boost one of the region’s fastest growing sectors.

The Creative Scale Up programme, launched by GC Business Growth Hub, part of The Growth Company and fully funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), is designed to support Greater Manchester’s creative industry businesses to successfully scale up.

With a vibrant community of more than 8,500 creative businesses, generating £4.1 billion of economic growth annually, Greater Manchester boasts one of the country’s leading creative clusters outside of London.

The programme will provide bespoke business support tackling gaps in investment and growth in the sector, while empowering creative businesses to realise their full growth potential. It will provide the training and tools necessary to take creative businesses to the next level.

The initiative is one of three UK wide two-year pilots (the others being in the West of England and West Midlands), is fully funded by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and is being delivered by the Hub.

Helping business leaders realise their ambition, successful applicants will have the flexibility to choose how to learn with the module-based curriculum including:

  • Access to mentors who want to share their experience, sector expertise and best practice
  • The opportunity to work alongside dedicated and industry-seasoned Hub Advisors to support each business’s growth journey which includes one-to-one dedicated support tailored to the individual business
  • A programme of interactive workshopsto discover the different types of finance and investment available and explore what potential investors will expect to see, in terms of businesses planning and strategy
  • Connections with investors following completion of the Creative Scale-up programme businesses will be given the opportunity to connect with appropriate investment opportunities

The workshops will focus on eight business areas which are key to investment readiness, including the organisational structure and leadership required for growth, winning an investment pitch, developing a two-year growth strategy and sales and marketing skills required for rapid growth.

Creative businesses with a minimum of eight staff (including freelancers) who are already growing or are looking to grow from any of the following categories can apply:

  • Creative Content (Film, TV, Radio, Gaming, AR, VR Businesses)
  • Creative Originals (Design, Fashion, Jewellery Businesses)
  • Creative Services (Marketing, PR, Architecture, Publishing Businesses)
  • Creative Experiences (Museums, Galleries, Performing Arts Organisations)

Creative Industries Minister Nigel Adams said: “Our creative industries are a world-renowned success story contributing over £100 billion to our economy.

“We want to ensure the sector continues to thrive, and this new programme will help businesses in Greater Manchester scale up. Not only will this provide a boost to the local economy it will also create jobs and unlock new opportunities for the local community.”

Sam Whitear, Creative Industries project manager at GC Business Growth Hub, added: “This is a remarkable opportunity for the creative industries in Greater Manchester to build on what already is a thriving industry.

“Greater Manchester has recently been named as the second most creative city in Europe, with an estimated gross value added (GVA) revenue impact of £1.4bn to the city from culture and creative industries.

“We are delighted to be launching this targeted programme to support and further grow creative companies. Applications are now open, and I encourage all qualifying creative businesses that wish to benefit from this dedicated support, to apply for the programme.

“However, you need to be quick as places are limited and demand is expected to be high.”

To apply for the programme, visit the GC Business Growth Hub website.

Ylem Energy Appoints Business Development Director

Sam Whitear
-
0

Flexible energy generation specialist, Ylem Energy Ltd, has appointed Jon Feingold – former commercial director of Gazprom Energy – to head up the Salford-based company’s business development activities.

Jon Feingold’s arrival as business development director, comes at a time when Ylem Energy is rolling out an ambitious programme of expansion. This includes further development of its own portfolio of natural-gas-fuelled flexible generation plants, large-scale battery energy storage systems and helping industrial and commercial clients to optimise their sites’ energy systems.

For more than thirty years, Ylem Energy has been at the forefront of independent power generation and helped pioneer the generation of electricity from landfill and anaerobic digestion gases. Whilst still very-much active in these sectors, the company’s move into flexible generation has been a logical step and one that has enabled it to further utilise its enviable skill set to provide competitive advantages that benefit its clients.

Ian Gadsby, Ylem Energy’s managing director, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jon into the team at such an important time in our company’s growth. His impressive track record, insight and experience gained from developing businesses in the UK energy sector will be a great asset to our company’s plans.”

“This is perfectly demonstrated by him having been a founder of Pennine Natural Gas Ltd, a company that quickly established itself as the UK’s largest independent supplier of business gas. It was subsequently acquired by the Russian energy giant Gazprom, where it continued to grow and become one of the largest suppliers of gas in the UK.”

Jon Feingold, Ylem Energy’s new business development director, commented: “I am really pleased to be joining Ylem Energy. The team has exciting plans for growing their already-impressive business. The company’s advanced flexible generation and storage technologies, coupled with an unrivalled engineering and commercial capability will undoubtedly play an ever-increasing role in helping the UK’s grid to decentralise and encourage the integration of more renewable energy generation capacity.”

Leading Bury Creative Agency Wins the Double at The Talk of Manchester Awards

Sam Whitear
-
0

Think Design is celebrating after scooping two gongs at the prestigious ‘Talk of Manchester’ awards (TOMs).

The leading creative agency, based in Bury, won Best Brand Agency and Best Search Engine Visibility beating off stiff competition from agencies across the region.

The TOMs, which are in its fifth year, celebrate and reward exceptional businesses based in Manchester and the region.

Paul Grogan, managing director of Think Design said: “I’m so proud that we walked away with two awards at the TOMs. The fact that we were nominated and voted for as part of a public vote means so much to us.

“As an agency we have grown significantly over the last 18 months with incredible client wins and new members in our team. To end 2019 with these amazing awards is the real icing on the cake for us and we can’t wait for 2020!”

Think Design is an award-winning creative branding and digital agency based in Bury, Greater Manchester.

Its services include brand positioning and design, marketing communications design, website design & development, and digital support post-launch including SEO.

Schools across Greater Manchester & Cheshire raise over £14,000 during Airport’s Dragons’ Den activity

Sam Whitear
-
0

A group of six pupils from Priestnall School are celebrating after securing the first prize in Manchester Airport’s annual Dragons’ Den competition for aspiring entrepreneurs.

The group’s selection of Manchester worker bee tote bags, Christmas cards and badges impressed a panel of Dragons including representatives from the Airport, Singapore Airlines, Enterprise Rent a Car, John Lewis & Partners and Macdonald Hotels.

They raised £7,037 for their chosen charity, the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, and will be rewarded with a VIP night out including limousine transfers from their school to Salford Quays, a meal out and tickets to SIX the Musical at the Lowry.

Other winners included Fred Longworth High School (Tyldesley), whose eco-friendly reusable metal straw, sold through a website set up by the pupils themselves, delivered success in the Most Innovative category. The King’s School, Macclesfield, scooped the award for Best Presentation. Each team member from both schools will receive £20 in shopping vouchers as their prize.

The victors were revealed in a gala event at Hilton Manchester Airport yesterday. Each group was given the chance beforehand to present a summary of productivity, finance and lessons learnt as a result of the experience.

Priestnall School Headteacher, Craig Burns, said: “We are thrilled for our pupils who have worked incredibly hard to develop and deliver their vision.

“They have learned important lessons, built their skill sets and gained invaluable experience along the way.

“We hope they enjoy their prize and are thankful to Manchester Airport for organising this competition and giving them this opportunity.”

Ten schools from across Greater Manchester and East Cheshire took part in the challenge, generating a hugely impressive £14,135 for good causes between them.

Teams were tasked with developing a product or business idea, pitching and gaining a £100 grant from Manchester Airport to get it off the ground. They then had seven weeks to turn a profit, with the help of a mentor.

Helen McNabb, Community Relations Lead at Manchester Airport, said: “We are now in the eleventh year of this competition and the range and quality of ideas produced never ceases to amaze us. It was wonderful to see such creativity on display and our judges had some tough choices to make.

“Our annual Dragons’ Den activity is part of our wider educational outreach programme, where in the last year we have engaged with more than 13,000 pupils.

“We hope that all pupils who took part this year gained knowledge and skills that will stand them in good stead for their future careers.”

One team had a particularly memorable experience in this year’s competition, with a visit to Old Trafford for a workshop and a helping hand from a number of Manchester United first-team players.

The group from Manchester Enterprise Academy were supported by the Manchester United Foundation in delivering their business idea, which involved making letter-shaped wooden decorations.

United players including Phil Jones, Mason Greenwood, Fred and Tahith Chong crafted their own decorations and signed them for the team to raffle off. They were ultimately able to raise £843 for their chosen charity, the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

David Bell, Principal at Manchester Enterprise Academy, said: “We’re very proud of our pupils’ efforts and this has been a thoroughly unforgettable experience for them. They have learned skills that they will be able to apply through the remainder of their studies and beyond.

“We’re grateful to Manchester Airport for the opportunity to take part in this competition and to the Manchester United Foundation for all of their support.”

Rebecca Newton, Head of Communications at the Manchester United Foundation, said: “The players really enjoyed meeting the group, finding out about the project and supporting their initiative, however all the credit should go to the pupils of MEA.

“They were wonderful ambassadors for their school and set very high standards in the quality of their work – this included telling the players if they made any mistakes when they decorated their own Christmas letters!

“The Foundation has followed their incredible journey and will soon release a short video showing highlights of their Dragons’ Den experience.”

The full list of schools that took part and their products are as follows:

Wellington School (Altrincham) – Christmas Eve ‘hampers’ for children including a hot chocolate spoon, make-your-own bauble and ‘reindeer food’.
Manchester Enterprise Academy (Wythenshawe) – Christmas decoration: wooden initials, painted and decorated in Santa costume
Stretford Grammar School – laser-cut wooden tea-light holders
Stockport Grammar School – chocolates in a variety of flavours
Alder Community High School (Hyde) – Yankee candle in a glass container with Manchester worker bee symbol
The King’s School, Macclesfield – Christmas stockings with a selection of stocking fillers including handmade chocolates, air-pod cases, chargers and phone covers
Priestnall School (Stockport) – Manchester worker bee tote bags, Christmas cards and badges
Alderley Edge School for Girls – personalised laser-cut keyrings
Wilmslow High School – scented soaps and handmade fudge
Fred Longworth High School (Tyldesley) – metal drinking straws in a protective fabric bag

For more information on Manchester Airport’s Community Relations programme, visit https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/community/.

Two new partners for Brabners’ fast-growing Manchester team

Sam Whitear
-
0

Growth continues with increasing pace for Brabners with the appointment of two new partners, Stephen Hadlow and Piers Dryden, to its corporate team based in the firm’s Manchester office.

As well as further strengthening Brabners’ leading corporate practice, the appointments add to Brabners’ already significant expertise in the tech sector.

Stephen has more than 20 years’ experience in the North West advising UK corporates and high-growth tech firms on strategic transactions and mergers and acquisitions. He also advises on corporate disposals to employee ownership trusts, a growing trend in exit strategies for business owners. He joins from Knights plc, having previously held partner roles at Turner Parkinson and JMW.

Piers’ appointment marks the establishment of a new FinTech regulatory practice at Brabners covering a broad range of FinTech sub-sectors. Having worked at firms including Slaughter & May, Debevoise & Plimpton and Ogier, Piers advises on a broad range of FinTech matters, including: blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) utilisation; digital asset issuances; alternative payments services; and smart and automated contract implementation for businesses. He also has extensive experience of corporate advisory matters as well as investment fund formation and maintenance.

Nik White, managing partner at Brabners, said: “Growing the practice based in our Manchester office is one of our key strategic objectives, which has seen us increase the size of our partnership in the city by more than 60% since the start of the last financial year.

“Growth in Manchester’s FinTech sector in particular continues to outpace all other parts of the UK, so it’s imperative that we build on our offering to further support those high-growth businesses operating out of the city region, as well as further afield. Piers’ experience in particular opens up whole new practice areas for us in what we believe will be a truly unique offering in the North West and with national reach.”

The appointments come after Brabners ranked top in the Legal 500 table of North West law firms, secured three rankings in the Times’ Best Law Firms 2020 and announced another year of sustainable profit and revenue growth.

The firm generated turnover of £33.6million in the year to the end of April 2019, up from £33.1million the previous year, and invested over £1.8million to boost growth as part of its three year change programme.

Manchester agency celebrated as UK Elite Creative Agency 2019

Sam Whitear
-
0

The UK’s most effective brand activation agency, ZEAL Creative, has been identified as one of the country’s top-performing independent creative agencies by leading global media platform, The Drum.

Based in Farringdon and MediaCity Manchester, ZEAL Creative works across forty-six EMEA countries with big brands including Kelloggs, Nestlé, and Pringles. It has been recognised as an elite UK agency, an accolade only awarded to 10 agencies in 2019.

The most comprehensive marcomms study of its kind, to compile the elite table, The Drum reviews agencies’ performance through client satisfaction scores and feedback. ZEAL Creative scored highly for client services in The Drum Recommends and was determined by clients as the highest rated brand activation agency, ranking 18th in the media platform’s client poll. The assignation of elite status is also based on the business’ financial performance and a successful track record for campaign delivery.

ZEAL Creative is listed in The Drum’s Top 100 Independent Creative Agencies where, in its first year of entry, is ranking 40th overall. The Drum’s rating follows ZEAL’s success at the Institute of Promotional Marketing (IPM) Awards where it took home Agency of the Year 2019.

Creative partner at ZEAL, Stewart Hilton, comments: “We are thrilled to have been recognised as an elite agency and it means even more to us as the ratings are based on more than business performance but are directly influenced by our clients, who see our work as creative, effective and offering real value.

“This has been a great year for us as we have also earned the prestigious title, Agency of the Year by IPM and scooped seven awards for brand campaigns at the European IMC awards. We have a great team of innovative professionals who strive to deliver fantastic client services, which has led to our business growth. The polls really recognise everyone’s efforts and supports our aim of becoming the most recommended agency.”

Manchester Publicity Association set to celebrate its 100th year as organisation welcomes nine new board members

Sam Whitear
-
0

The Manchester Publicity Association (MPA) will be celebrating its centenary in 2020, as it marks 100 years of championing the region’s Media and Creative industries.

The not-for-profit membership organisation was founded in 1920 by media pioneers in Manchester and has welcomed hundreds of agencies as members in the century since.

With over 2,000 members, the association is the largest of its kind in Europe and offers members a host of knowledge sharing, networking, social and fundraising opportunities including the prestigious ‘MPA Inspiration’ awards ceremony each year.

The association will be launching an official ‘100 years’ campaign commencing in January 2020, and using the unique platform the centenary will provide to bolster its charitable fundraising efforts.

While the majority of the year will be focussed on NABS fundraising, throughout March, the MPA committee and its members will raise money for Prevent Breast Cancer, the Manchester-based charity who uniquely support research into preventing women against breast cancer.

Christian James, chair of the MPA, said: “It’s a personal honour to be Chair of the association in it’s centenary. Manchester is the best place on the planet to be working with or in the Media, Digital and Creative sector and the centenary is an opportunity for us to get that officially recognised.

“Fundraising is at the heart of what we do, and so we’re all really looking forward to coming together and donating our time and money to both NABS and Prevent Breast Cancer. Manchester is a city with a big heart, so we’re confident that our connections and friends across the region will dig deep and club together to support us.”

The growing organisation has recently welcomed a clutch of new board members, as it looks to diversify its board and membership.

These are: Lucy Boland, Agency Director of Accord Marketing; Lisa Morton, CEO of Roland Dransfield; Laura Milakovic, Senior Account Manager at Accord Marketing; Jonathan Ashworth, MD of Mighty Giant; Sean Keyes, Manchester & The North Lead, Twitter UK; Erika Ingham, CFO, Mediacom; Marcus Hadfield, Chief Strategy Officer, Apadmi; Nick Entwistle, MD of One Minute Briefs; and Martha Moore, Account Manager at Roland Dransfield.

“It’s fantastic to welcome these esteemed practitioners to the MPA board, whose knowledge and expertise will doubtless help the association to continue growing and diversifying.”

£9.46m turnover reported for Equilibrium as company sees another successful year

Sam Whitear
-
0

Equilibrium Asset Management has announced its end-of-year financial figures, following a transformational 12 months for the wealth advisory firm.

Headquartered in Wilmslow, Cheshire, the company has performed strongly for another year, reporting a £9.46m turnover.

The news follows a slew of recent award wins for the company, further cementing its foothold in the marketplace.

Most notably, Equilibrium was ranked 17th in FT Adviser’s Top 100 Financial Advisers. The prestigious list names the country’s best and brightest wealth management firms, and founder Colin Lawson described the acknowledgement as “fantastic”.

He said: “Everything we do at Equilibrium serves our core purposes of making lives better, so it’s brilliant to be acknowledged by FT Adviser for our company’s achievements”.

Colin founded the company in 1995 and has overseen its exponential growth in the years since. Earlier in 2019, the business announced its ‘Vivid Vision’ – a strategy outlining how Equilibrium will boost headcount to 110 and secure £1.4bn in assets under management within the next three years.

“The team has made some exceptional strides this year towards achieving our Vivid Vision, and to have this recognised by these award wins is a great feeling.

“A key component in the company’s growth is our strong company culture; we’ve worked hard to make it inclusive, rewarding and vibrant, so we’re very pleased also to have taken home awards for workplace wellbeing.”

Equilibrium also scooped the top prize for ‘workplace health and wellbeing’ at the North East Cheshire Business awards. The same awards also recognised the firm in the ‘Best company to work for’ and ‘Excellence in customer service’ categories.

Managing Partner, Gaynor Rigby, commented: “One of Equilibrium’s core values is ‘growth’, so it’s crucial to us that we are providing our incredible team with a positive environment that will allow them to thrive.”

“Our company’s purpose is to make people’s lives better, and this, of course, includes our clients and our team. It’s fantastic to have our efforts and achievements recognised by this award.”

£20m-turnover Cheadle company with 170 staff becomes employee-owned

Sam Whitear
-
0

An engineering consultancy with 170 staff has become employee-owned.

Otto Simon Holdings is a £20m-turnover business with its headquarters in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, and operations in Stalybridge, Rotherham and Forfar.

The group, founded in 2004, provides design and build, project management, operation and maintenance and manufacturing services to global customers in the steel, petrochemical and renewable energy sectors.

Steve Haywood, the group’s co-founder and chairman, acquired full control of the company in 2008, when its annual turnover was just £2m.

Since then Otto Simon has grown organically by expanding its global customer base and by diversifying into emerging sectors such as waste-to-energy and biofuels, as well as through two acquisitions.

Steve has now transferred his shares to an employee ownership trust.

The day-to-day running of the Otto Simon group of companies will now be led by the directors of its four divisions, Chris Bridgland, Nick Shaw, Richard Buckley and Gary McCombie.

Steve was advised on the transaction by a team of corporate finance and tax experts at HURST led by Nigel Barratt, partner and head of HURST Corporate Finance, and Liz Gallagher of the tax team.

Nigel said: “I advised Steve in 2008 and helped with the subsequent acquisitions. It’s really pleasing to see the latest transaction conclude his long-held ambition for the company.”

Rob Loveday of Manchester law firm LLM Solicitors provided legal advice.

He said: “We are delighted to have helped Steve and his team take the company to this new and exciting stage in its development.”

Steve said: “My view has been that employee ownership would be the best way of preserving our culture and ethos when the time came for me to step down. 

“We have created a great team to ensure that the business has strong foundations for future growth and I know it is in safe hands.”

He added: “I have had great advice from Nigel and Rob over the years and I really appreciate HURST and LLM supporting us through a highly-complex transaction with great skill and professionalism.”

Employee ownership trusts were introduced by the government in 2014 and HURST has a specialist team to advise companies on their creation. 

HURST recently advised Warrington-based Building Technology Systems on its sale by owners Graham Spark and Dean Brookes to an EOT.

Other EOT transactions in the north west on which HURST has advised include ones at recruitment and payroll services company Kinetic and coatings business Northpoint.

Duo of wins for Jam_

Sam Whitear
-
0

Integrated agency, Jam_, is celebrating two new client wins, including a brand awareness campaign and a creative rebrand project.

Following a three-way pitch, Ipsum Group, a utilities and infrastructure specialist that delivers efficiencies and drives value through innovation, hired Jam_ to bring together its four division companies, CALM Solutions, SPEC Ltd, EEG and Stormport.

Jam will be responsible for implementing a B2B brand awareness campaign, which will focus on introducing Ipsum Group to trade media as a disrupter within the utilities industry, and positioning them as a progressive business.

The UK’s leading provider of safes and security products, Associated Security Solutions, also appointed Jam_ to undertake a creative refresh for a number of its sub-brands, including SMP Security and SLS.

Jam has been tasked with updating the look and feel of the three companies, with the aim of the brands being adapted and fluid, as well as modernising all three websites to showcase the evolution of the overall Associated Security brand.

Jaime Gee, Managing Director and co-founder at Jam, said: “We’re delighted to add Ipsum Group and Associated Security Solutions to our roster. The team impressed both clients with their strategic and creative approach to each brief, and we look forward to bringing both projects to market over the coming months.”

Greg Fernie, CEO of Ipsum Group, said: “Jam recognised the importance of building and retaining our history as four individual companies, but provided a well-thought out strategic approach for integrating the companies together to become Ipsum Group.”

The new client wins follow Jam’s ambitious growth plans, which saw three senior hires welcomed to the Manchester-based office.

Current clients include Argos Pet Insurance, APJ Solicitors, Survivors Manchester, Koura, Sync, The Furniture Recycling Group and Printworks.

1...904905906...1,106Page 905 of 1,106