Business Manchester

Bolton best for job satisfaction

Blog

Sam Whitear

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05/11/2018

Bolton has ranked the highest for job satisfaction in the country by one of the world’s largest job and recruitment websites.

The town topped the table in Glassdoor’s ’25 Best UK Towns & Cities to Work In’.

The list, which is now in its third year, found Bolton rated the highest for job satisfaction, matching Cambridge.

Glassdoor has more than 42 million reviews and insights from employees on more than 800,000 companies in 190 countries.

The report is compiled by comparing 50 of the most populated UK towns and cities with populations above 100,000 people.

Job satisfaction is based on at least 80 company reviews shared by employees on Glassdoor over the past year.

Bolton and Cambridge both shared an overall Glassdoor Job Satisfaction rating of 3.6 out of five, where five means ‘very satisfied’.

Deputy Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Ebrahim Adia, said: “These results show Bolton is firmly placed as one of the best places in the UK to live and work in.

“We are delighted to top the rankings for job satisfaction. Bolton has a diverse workforce and we work closely with employers to ensure that there are a variety of opportunities to meet the needs of our residents.”

The town was also once again ranked ninth best overall town or city to live in, retaining its spot from 2017. This ranking was determined by three factors: how easy it is to get a job; how affordable it is and employee satisfaction.

Bolton’s ranking eclipsed some of the country’s biggest urban centres such as Oxford, Leeds and Liverpool.

And the authority is working to attract more inward investment to continue to make Bolton a place where people choose to live and work.

Cllr Adia added: “Bolton has something that is quite distinctive – we have a strong retail, leisure and cultural mix. Investors have the choice about where to put their money and they are choosing Bolton.

“Just one success story is Logistics North – one of the largest and most successful developments of its kind in the north of England. When complete in 2019, the site is expected to create up to 7,000 jobs.

“We will continue to work with and grow our existing businesses as well as bringing in new ones.

“We are driving forward our £1bn masterplan to reshape the town centre. Our regeneration blueprint has already secured £250m private sector investment.

“We are also looking at the changing requirements of businesses and making sure we firmly establish Bolton as digital-friendly to meet the needs of employers, staff and residents.”

Iain Thomson, Head of Communications at Harworth Group – the developers behind Logistics North – added: “We’re not surprised at all by these fantastic results given what’s happened at Logistics North.

“In the past five years, 5,500 jobs have been created with leading employers including Amazon, Aldi, Whistl, Lidl and with investment into built space by the likes of M&G Real Estate and the Lancashire County Pension Fund.

“The reason for this is simple – Bolton has a great workforce and is well-connected to other parts of the UK. With its retail and cultural offer continually improving, this investment is bound to grow.”

A spokesperson for Bolton Regeneration Limited, the private consortium planning to redevelop the Crompton Place Shopping Centre, said: “Job creation and skills training are at the very heart of our ethos.

“Our plans for Bolton are centred on the retention and growth of a wide range of long-term employment opportunities and a work force skilled to match the changing requirements of employers.

“We are also focused on generating an environment that will not only ensure the retention of employment but attract new employers and employees to the town.”

2018 Manchester PA Awards: winner’s revealed

Awards

Sam Whitear

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05/11/2018

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The winners of the Manchester PA Awards have been revealed at a ceremony held at Emirates Old Trafford, celebrating and rewarding the incredible talent of PAs, EAs and VAs across the region.

The not-for-profit awards, organised by the Manchester PA Network and event partner Make Events, were hosted by television and radio presenter, Gethin Jones, and saw more than 720 professionals from across the country come together to celebrate the best of the best in business support roles.

Judged by industry experts with representatives from the likes of the Manchester PA Network, EPAA and UKFast, the winners chosen exceeded expectations and have exemplified hard work, dedication and passion within their roles.

Those picking up accolades included Jo Wilson, from Hall Brown Family Law, while Melanie Sheehy and Amanda Hargreaves were recognised for their services to the city’s PA industry through the Manchester PA Network.

Co-founder of the Manchester PA Network, Melanie Sheehy, said: “Once again we were overwhelmed by the wealth of talent nominated for the awards, which is evidence of all the hard work EAs, VAs and PAs are putting in to support businesses across the region.

“Last night’s awards helped to recognise all of the great achievements and we want to say a big thank you to everyone that came along to join in the celebrations. Congratulations to all those that were shortlisted and particularly those that picked up an award on the night.”

Lawrence Jones, chief executive officer at headline sponsor UKFast, said: “PAs and EAs play an incredibly important role in any business and are often the unsung heroes, so it’s fantastic to be able to pay tribute to them and the work they do. It’s a real honour to help celebrate their success and shine a light on the leading talent through the awards”.

Organisers raised £5,300 at the event which will go towards the Christie fund and Manchester PA Network’s target to raise £200K for the charity by 2020.

For the first time the awards also recognised those working outside of Manchester with the introduction of the External PA Network Award which was picked up by the Birmingham PA Forum.

The full list of winners for the 2018 Manchester PA Awards is:

Best Event – Fiona Hardman, Guenther Bakeries UK Ltd
Brand Ambassador – Jemma Carr, Victorian Chophouse Company
Business Leader of the Year – Doug Hann, Indigo Planning
External PA Network – Birmingham PA Forum
Fundraiser of the Year – Jo Booth, Stocks 2015 Limited
Internal PA Network – Arup UKIMEA Secretarial Network,
Leader of the Year – Catherine Hunt, PwC
Lifetime Achievement – Stella Corbett, Brother UK Limited
Rising Star – Lawrence Adlum, KPMG
Social Media Champion – Sam Johnson, SES Engineering
Team of the Year – Chiesi Support Services Team
Virtual Assistant – Jules Aston, Aston Assists
UKFast Excellence – Sarah Muench, Sky
Above and Beyond – Martine Tempest-Mitchell, Timpson/The Christie
Special Recognition Award for Company Culture – Addleshaw Goddard
Services to the Manchester PA Industry – Melanie Sheehy and Amanda Hargreaves, Manchester PA Network
Manchester PA of the Year – Jo Wilson, Hall Brown Family Law

Join the Dots bolsters visual communications offer with dedicated creative team

Sam Whitear

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05/11/2018

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Global consumer insight agency, Join the Dots, has established a dedicated creative team due to the growing success of its visual communications for the company and its roster of global clients.

Sarah Batten who has worked for the company for five years is joined by senior creative Nick Tomlinson and junior graphic designer, Dan Towns.

The team was formed in response to Join the Dots’ demand for creative output to complement its delivery of insight and research findings for clients. Together they oversee all aspects of visual communications, from brand identity and concept to graphic design, digital illustration and print.

Sarah explains: “More and more we’re finding insights need to reach a wider audience than the core research team – it’s crucial that findings are communicated clearly and in an engaging manner. We work with the client and researcher to diagnose what the best type of output would be given the audience and message, whether that’s physical print such as booklets or brochures, or digital creative in the form of e-books or an animated infographic.”

Nick continues: “Having worked with external agencies, you don’t always receive that connection and understanding at the individual level. As a team we have the ability to be extremely agile, which is becoming a real selling point in the industry at the moment. We are also now focussing on offering our creative expertise to clients outside of the research industry, which is going to be beneficial for other areas of the business and vice versa.”

As part of the new creative team Nick is also leading business development, consulting on proposals, offering visual communications training and upskilling researchers by taking part in external webinars and industry seminars.

Kate Rhodes, marketing and brand manager at Join the Dots, added: “After twenty years in the insight industry, we know how important it is for research to make an impact within an organisation, and visual communication is a key part of us delivering that for clients. Our creative team help ensure that we produce work that our clients are proud to share as their own.

“Our objective is always to deliver high quality outputs; having won the AURA Communication award five times is a testament to the standard of the team’s work and ensures our research has a positive business impact all round. We hope to expand on this and plug in to the creative hub that surrounds our head office in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, to offer more creative services and added value as we grow.”

Icon Industrial’s development for The Hut Group moves one step closer

Blog

Sam Whitear

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05/11/2018

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Plans for a logistics and global content creation studio in Manchester for one of the world’s largest online beauty and wellbeing businesses have taken a step closer to becoming reality.

The proposed development, called ICON, will house The Hut Group’s (THG) new logistics and content creation studio in a 168,000 sq ft warehouse as well as providing 104,000 sq ft of office space over four floors. The development is part of THG’s co-location at Manchester Airport which includes a new 280,000 sq ft office building at Airport City North.

The development will be delivered by Icon Industrial at its 45-acre warehouse and logistics site at Manchester Airport.

Icon Industrial, a strategic joint venture by Stoford Developments and TPG Real Estate, has submitted a reserved matters application to Manchester City Council for the two buildings.

ICON could house up to 2,000 people who will work on the company’s expanding logistics function and video production and photography to be used across THG’s digital offering.

Dan Gallagher, joint managing director of Stoford Developments, said: “We are delighted to welcome THG to Icon Manchester Airport and their arrival is a fantastic boost for the North West. They have recognised that the site is in a key strategic location at the very heart of the Northern Powerhouse and its unrivalled airport connectivity will enable THG to reach its worldwide market.

“This project is the second exciting development on the scheme and the remaining land presents potential occupiers with an excellent opportunity to have a unit built to their specific requirements.

“The connectivity this site offers occupiers makes it a hugely significant site as an important logistics hub for South Manchester and the region as a whole. We can’t wait to get started on delivering this exciting development on behalf of THG.”

Matthew Moulding, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Hut Group, said: “Following THG’s acquisition and integration in 2017 of Hangar 7, the UK’s leading content studio, ICON is now the next step in expanding the Group’s content production and logistics capabilities dramatically. We look forward to expanding even further from here, attracting and retaining the most innovative and inventive talent from across the globe.”

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “As a first phase investor in Airport City Manchester, THG’s arrival is a major vote of confidence in the city and begins to unlock the major potential of Airport City as a hub for employment.”

Northern Property talent celebrated at British Council for Offices’ NextGen awards

Sam Whitear

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05/11/2018

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Heather Evans, Head of Sustainability Consultancy at Rider Levett Bucknall UK was named the Rising Star of the North, North Wales and Northern Ireland at the third annual British Council for Offices (BCO) NextGen Awards.

The Awards are part of the BCO’s NextGen programme, which sets out to mentor and encourage the next generation of professionals to become future leaders in the industry, whilst providing a platform for new talent to share ideas. The awards dinner in London was attended by the country’s top designers, developers, architects and occupiers under the age of 35. It celebrated the achievements and successes of young professionals in the commercial property sector across the UK, and the individuals who mentored them.

The BCO NextGen Rising Star award recognises an under 35’s outstanding contribution to the office sector in their region. Heather Evans was named as the North of England, North Wales and Northern Ireland’s winner by a panel of local judges.

The judges noted Heather’s remarkable career history – joining RLB as an Environmental Assistant in 2014 and progressing to her current role as Head of Sustainability Consultancy in under four years with the company.

Heather, who is based in the Manchester office, has had a key role in developing RLB’s Sustainability offering, helping them to build the market-leading SKA consultancy service they offer today. Her team has also recently certified the first Gold, Silver and Bronze SKA Higher Education projects in the country. Working alongside RICS, Heather developed the criteria for the SKA scheme, and has been instrumental in raising the profile of SKA nationally.

Heather’s passion for sustainability and wellbeing in commercial workplaces led her to speak at the BCO Conference in Berlin on a panel discussing how the industry can design for healthy, inclusive working environments. She also regularly presents workshops on wellness, multigenerational design and sustainability as part of her roles across a wide range of industry groups; including BCO NextGen, Forum for Tomorrow, pro-Manchester, Manchester Young Professionals and Women in Property.

Robert Phillips, Project Director at Cartwright Pickard and member of the BCO NextGen committee in the North of England, commented: “Heather has had an impressive career to-date – her journey from Environmental Assistant to Head of Sustainability Consulting in just four years should be widely celebrated, and inspire others joining our industry. Her success is testament to the commitment, passion and energy that she brings to work with her each day.”

Katrina Kostic Samen, President of the BCO, added: “Heather left a lasting impression amongst the judging panel, her dedication to the industry and determination to constantly challenge herself and her team is particularly admirable – many congratulations, Heather!”

Matt Brooker, National Head of Commercial for RLB said: “We are delighted that Heather has been recognised as the Rising Star of the North at the awards – an acknowledgement that is incredibly well deserved. Nurturing and developing our staff is one, if not the, most important roles we can do as in turn this drives the services we offer our clients, our reputation and our business success.”

Housebuilding on the rise as CPUK appointed to £6.6m Oldham scheme

Property

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05/11/2018

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Leading North West-based building group Construction Partnership UK (CPUK Group) has been appointed to deliver a £6.6 million housing scheme on a brownfield site in Oldham.

The contract is the latest in a string of residential projects that Lancashire’s CPUK is working on across the North West as the region’s housebuilding sector continues to gather strength.

It will build 54 homes on the Wellyhole site for Hale-based House Crowd Developments, part of the multi award-winning House Crowd group of companies. It is its second negotiated project with the developer.

The scheme, off Wellyhole Street in the Lees area of the town, will include nine apartments and 45 two and three story properties which will be available for private sale.

The homes designed by Oldham architects Hall Needham Associates, will be built on the site of a demolished mill and a filled in millpond. CPUK will carry out remediation work before starting the construction phase.

CPUK has extensive experience in the residential sector, and has a growing number projects across the North of England.

It is also working for House Crowd on a 36-home residential development in Mossley in Tameside in a £5.3 million negotiated project.

And in a successfully negotiated £5.4 million contract with a repeat client, Newpark Group of Prestwich, CPUK is building 44 homes on redundant farmland off Crescent Road in Crumpsall.

The group is also on site in Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley, designing and building 30 new homes for Hillcrest Homes. It is CPUK’s fifth project with Hillcrest, the luxury homebuilding arm of Manchester based developer Nikal.

CPUK managing director Steve Burke says the Wellyhole project is an indication of the growing strength of the residential sector across the region.

He said: “It is fair to say the residential sector is buoyant. We’re continuing to see an increase in the number of homes being built across the region as developers rise to the challenge set by the government to step up the pace of housebuilding.

“The aim is to increase the number of homes built across the UK from 220,000 a year to 300,000. It’s an indication of the need to build that exists across the country.

“Buyer demand is also strong and the now well-established Help-to-Buy scheme has done a good job in both kick-starting and growing the market.

“It has helped people to both get on and move up the property ladder. All in all, the residential sector in the North West is in a good place with developers eager to start on sites.

“At Wellyhole we’ll be bringing a brownfield site back to life and creating much-needed quality homes for local people.”

Salford company secures exclusive battery energy storage supply deal

Sam Whitear

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05/11/2018

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Independent energy generation specialist, Ylem Energy Ltd, has announced that it has secured the exclusive UK rights to large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) from leading global provider. The deal is a coup for the Salford-based firm as it underpins its expansion into the flexible energy market, which helps balance the electricity grid when demand fluctuates and can help businesses save money by reducing their reliance on peak-time energy tariffs.

For the last thirty years, Ylem Energy been a pioneer in generating environmentally-friendly electricity from biogas fuels – such as that captured from landfill sites and anaerobic digestion (AD) plants that utilise waste organic materials from sources such as food and drink manufacturing, farming and sewage treatment works.

Packaged into a shipping container, the company’s new battery technology can store and release up to 1MW(*) of electricity, enabling it to quickly respond when required, much faster than other types of generation systems, making it ideal for balancing the grid at peak times. With more local, decentralised power generation systems being installed throughout the UK – especially renewables such as solar PV and wind – there can be fluctuations in output, which need to be managed and battery systems can help match production with demand – especially when they happen at different times of the day.

Ian Gadsby, managing director, commented: “We’re really delighted to secure this deal for the supply of battery energy storage systems, our partner is a global player and its systems are cutting edge, which will be a big boost for our region and further afield throughout the UK. This will create new employment opportunities and draw on the technical and engineering skills we’ve developed over the last three decades.”

“We have a lot of other technology that we’ll also be introducing, and this will help both the UK keep the lights on during this important phase of its decentralisation process and empower businesses to take control of their energy costs.”

Tameside firm promotes STEM careers with local students

Education

Sam Whitear

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02/11/2018

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Business technology solutions provider, Brother UK, has hosted Tameside’s fifth annual HACK event as part of its 50thanniversary celebrations, in partnership with Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.

Students from local high schools and colleges visited Brother UK’s Audenshaw headquarters over two days, taking part in a programme of activities designed to explore science, technology, maths and engineering (STEM) subjects and the associated career opportunities.

40 students entered the Grand Challenge, taking inspiration from Brother UK’s current product ranges to imagine the next 50 years of technology. With a focus on increasing efficiency, boosting productivity and encouraging collaboration in the workplace, the students were challenged to develop a product that Brother could be making, selling or working with between now and 2068.

Phil Jones MBE, Managing Director of Brother UK, commented: “The technology we supply to our customers now is very different to the technology we were working with when we first started out. 50 years of innovation have gone into making us the business technology solutions supplier that we are today – it’s been great to meet some of the brightest minds from local schools to see what they think the next 50 years could bring.”

To judge the competition Phil Jones was joined by Andy Johnson, Head of Product Solutions at Brother UK, and Naomi Timperley, co-founder of Tech North Advocates – an organisation which champions the North of England’s potential as a world-class hub for tech and digital businesses.

The judges were on hand to support the students as they brainstormed business ideas, reviewed market trends and developed their digital skills. A series of inspirational talks was also delivered throughout the two days, to offer guidance with the Grand Challenge as well as broader career advice.

The winning team in the Grand Challenge was called ‘Foreseers’, made up of Will Aspery Carr, Jack Pullen and James Gregory from Longdendale High School in Hollingworth. Their virtual reality contact lenses idea impressed the judges for being well-researched and well-presented, with features including smartphone connectivity and a virtual assistant called ‘Brother’. The winners were presented with £100 Amazon vouchers, a pile of Tameside HACK goodies and a Brother UK office solution for their school or college.

A sub-challenge was set to find a new technology or software solution that would make life easier for people with disabilities. The winners were Poppy Wall-Chappell, Tatyana Sajid and Tamania Hussain – or ‘Computerspiele’ – from Fairfield High School for Girls in Droylsden. The team proposed a synthetic wrapping product to protect vulnerable body organs, with sensors that link to an app.

Naomi Timperley commented: “It’s great to see the appetite for STEM careers in our local community. Getting the students into an entrepreneurial mindset will help them become more employable as they look beyond school and college, giving them the skills to make a positive impact in our society.”

BJSS dedicates resources to inspire and encourage young women into STEM

Blog

Sam Whitear

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02/11/2018

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BJSS, the UK’s leading privately-owned IT and business consultancy, and recent winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, has announced sponsorship of Digital Her: Inspire & Empower Roadshow to expand its support in inspiring and empowering girls in Manchester to engage with STEM-related subjects.

The programme, launched by Manchester Digital, will be rolled out across Greater Manchester constituencies to inspire as many young women in the region into careers in the digital industry. The visits will educate school pupils on the opportunities available to them in the industry and provide them with practical experiences to help them make informed choices and expose them to industry role models.

According to estimates, women make up between 11% and 17% of the UK technology industry. BJSS is proactively spearheading an increase of female representation across the industry and sees this partnership as a key part in its mission to encourage greater gender diversity across the tech industry. Key BJSS female role models will participate in these events and inspire delegates through interactive workshops and sessions.

As part of the company’s award-winning CSR programme, BJSS is also the official partner for Turinglab, an organisation dedicated to teaching fundamental coding skills to school children aged between 11 and 16. Part of this initiative is aimed at a number of state funded girls schools in Manchester, Leeds, London, Nottingham and Glasgow to ensure a fairer gender balance in STEM education.

Managing Director at Manchester Digital, Katie Gallagher, said: “We are very pleased to have BJSS on board as partners for our Digital Her programme. Inspiring young women to take up careers in digital and tech really isn’t possible without support from industry. Forward thinking companies like BJSS are committed to working with us to make a difference and ensure that our industry is inclusive and diverse.”

Matt Whalley, Head of Delivery for Manchester, commented: “We are proud to be an advocate for diversity in the technology sector, and very pleased that Manchester Digital is joining our portfolio of award-winning CSR partners. Together we will continue to promote our shared values of digital diversity and help shape the exciting future of technology in the North.”

Accor Hotels set for Paddington Village

Blog

Sam Whitear

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02/11/2018

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Liverpool City Council has announced it has selected Accor Hotels for a joint Novotel hotel and aparthotel for its £1bn Paddington Village scheme in the city’s Knowledge Quarter.

The £35m development, which will involve a 160-bedroom Novotel hotel and 60-bedroom upscale aparthotel, will be operated by Legacy Hotels & Resorts.

Legacy Hotels & Resorts, through its wholly owned subsidiary Branded Hotel Management, operationally delivered and now manage the Pullman Liverpool, also on a franchisee agreement with Accor Hotels, on the city’s waterfront. Adding to its existing services in Liverpool city centre, this will be the first combined hotel/aparthotel from Accor Hotels in the region.

Located opposite the new Royal Liverpool Hospital the striking 18-storey tower will have a commanding presence across the city as its highest venue, and when lit at night it will be the beacon for KQ Liverpool.

To be designed by Ryder Architecture, the four star hotel will include a generous reception foyer and atrium with multi-purpose conference and event facilities, function bar, restaurant and executive bar lounge, fitness suite and meeting rooms.

Subject to planning approval it is anticipated construction, to be undertaken by Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure, will begin in summer 2019 and completed in 2021 with the build supporting 400 construction jobs – two thirds of which will be recruited from the local labour supply chain.

As well as a landmark building, the hotel has already provided a boost to the city’s economy with all the appointed designers coming from Liverpool: Ryder (architects), Curtin’s (structural engineers) and Steven Hunt Associates (mechanical and electrical). Furthermore 65% of the hotel’s projected £2.5m annual spend is set to be procured within the Liverpool city region.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson, said: “I’m delighted we’ve selected Accor Hotels to be the brand partner for the Paddington Village hotel. This will be a landmark venue for KQ Liverpool and we need a quality brand and operator to deliver the hotel.

“I’m also thrilled at how many Liverpool businesses are involved in its design and construction – this will truly be an iconic landmark for the city, by the city and echoes everything we are aiming to achieve in Paddington Village to underpin the city’s position as a world leading innovation district.”

“Paddington Village is attracting huge international attention with the prestigious roster of names signed up to the scheme and it already has a hallmark for excellence. This new hotel will reflect that status from its design through to its service and I’m confident once complete it will be a hotel the city will be proud of.”

The new hotel will follow the development of four major schemes already secured within Paddington Village, with a construction value of £150m: The RCP’s new northern headquarters – The Spine; The Rutherford Cancer Centre North West, a new live-learn centre by Kaplan for Liverpool International College and a new diagnostics centre.

The £1bn Paddington Village scheme is one of the flagship regeneration projects in Liverpool and the City Council is also in the process of devising a Spatial Regeneration Framework for the KQ Gateway, along the Lime Street Corridor.

Colin Sinclair, CEO of KQ Liverpool, said: “When Accor showed us their stylish new Novotel at Canary Wharf in London, we knew it was the iconic presence we needed for this landmark site. It is yet more evidence of the growing importance of Liverpool as a world-class destination for culture, tourism, sport, education and business, creating jobs for the people of Liverpool and adding to the city’s already vibrant hotel scene.”

Barry Roberts, managing director at Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure in the north, said: “This announcement is the latest key stage of the development of what will be a pivotal element of the Knowledge Quarter, and we are looking forward to working with Novotel and Adagio and the wider project team to make their ambitious plans for this hotel a reality.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of our work at Paddington Village is the positive impact it has on the wider city, and we will continue to ensure our ongoing presence benefits the regional economy through the incorporation of local businesses in our supply chain, as well as creating jobs and training opportunities for local people.”