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Manchester scheduling company named Supplier of the Year at NHS awards

Sam Whitear
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Manchester based scheduling company Malinko Software has been named Supplier of the Year at the NHS in The North Excellence in Supply Awards 2018.

The awards recognise the work of businesses, third sector bodies and the NHS in working together to provide great patient care. They are organised by NHS North West Procurement Development and Northern Customer Board, which helps NHS organisations to procure for value as well as best standards of care.

The Awards were sponsored by the Innovation Agency; Health Innovation Manchester; and Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network.

Malinko has been solving organisational scheduling problems since 2010, including working with Landscape UK to keep gritting lorries on the roads during snow alerts.

In 2017 Malinko, in partnership with Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and part funded by Innovate UK, applied their expertise to the challenge of caseload scheduling and managing a distributed workforce in NHS community nursing.

Salford Royal was operating a manual system for caseload allocation and booking visits to patients, which was labour intensive. Working with Salford Royal, Malinko introduced an automated and intelligent system which improved the process, keeping mileage and travel times for nurses to a minimum and giving nurses more time to care.

As a result, Salford Royal’s community nursing service saw a 20 per cent increase in the average number of patients seen in a morning by the team, and a 10 per cent reduction in travel time and mileage.

Andrew Threlfall, Founder Malinko Software, said: “We feel we have uncovered a significant problem that the NHS will want to solve – how NHS organisations can ‘intelligently’ schedule, matching capacity with demand. Our plan is to leverage the success and share Salford’s outcomes and results across the NHS.”

Malinko is also one of four companies selected as part of the Greater Manchester Digital Health Accelerator, run by Health Innovation Manchester. The scheme, which launched in September this year, gives companies support, speciality training and opportunities to meet experts and showcase their products with NHS decision-makers. The Greater Manchester Digital Health Accelerator is one of five schemes aiming to rapidly increase the adoption of digital health products in the NHS.

Awards judge Mick Guymer of NHS Northern Customer Board for Procurement, said: “Malinko’s solution makes greater and more effective use of health service resources in the community, thus increasing the volume and level of care delivery to the patient – a real positive change in a relative Cinderella service of the NHS.”

Chief Executive of event sponsors Health Innovation Manchester Ben Bridgewater said: “The collaborations with external partners showcased by the awards are having a huge impact in improving patient care and on achieving better value and efficiency. Huge congratulations to all the winners and very worthy finalists.”

Vodafone first to switch on full 5G in the UK

Sam Whitear
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Vodafone today became the first company in the UK to carry full 5G over a commercial network.

Live mobile data traffic is now being streamed to and from the Internet exclusively over 5G from a site in Salford, Greater Manchester, connected to Vodafone’s nationwide converged fibre network. Until now, companies have tested the technology either within a single location, or using parts of the 4G network to complete the 5G service.

Only last month Vodafone conducted the UK’s first holographic call using 5G spectrum from its Manchester office with Steph Houghton MBE, England and Manchester City Women’s Football Captain.

Providing coverage to MediaCityUK and the surrounding area, the new site in Salford is an important step in connecting businesses and consumers with 5G technology. It is enabling Vodafone to test the technology end-to-end using wireless routers and forms part of its 5G trial in seven cities this year.

Vodafone is now inviting local companies and organisations to register their interest in experiencing the faster data speeds and ultra-responsiveness of 5G at its new ‘Future Ready’ innovation centre and digital incubator when it opens in Spring 2019. In partnership with the Mayor of Greater Manchester and MediaCityUK, the innovation centre will be equipped with our very latest digital technology.  This includes 5G wireless routers, gigabit-capable optical-fibre links and Internet of Things (IoT) services, which can digitally connect everything from office security systems, vehicles, and household appliances to livestock and pets.

When 5G-compatible handsets and devices become available, people will be able to play games on the go in 4K resolution with little or no time lag.  They will also be able to immerse themselves in augmented reality where virtual objects appear in real-life surroundings and enjoy extremely fast Internet access.

Vodafone UK Chief Executive Nick Jeffery, said: “We are leading the roll out of 5G across the UK, starting with Greater Manchester.  A further six cities – Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool and London – will shortly receive full 5G too. Next year, we will bring 5G to the Scottish Highlands, Cornwall and the Lake District, among other locations.

“We have worked closely with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, to help ensure the city is not only an economic powerhouse, but also a digital powerhouse. That is why we are making a multi-million pound investment to offer world-class communications to Greater Manchester’s thriving media and tech community, consumers and our own 1,000 or so employees who work there.”

 

Strategic Land Group secures trio of housing sites

Sam Whitear
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Manchester-headquartered Strategic Land Group (SLG) has secured a trio of development sites across the North, with the potential to deliver a total of 435 new homes.

The new projects come as SLG marks its tenth year supporting land owners in bringing sites to market and working alongside house builders to deliver much-needed new homes.

The largest of the three sites, located at Pole Lane in Bury, Greater Manchester, has the potential to accommodate around 275 homes as part of a wider site of 600 homes. Part of a proposed development allocation in the emerging Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, the 12.5 ha site could also see the creation of a new neighbourhood centre, along with provision of public open space and a community orchard, plus improvements to existing recreation facilities. New cycle routes through the site could also be delivered as part of Olympic gold medalist Chris Boardman’s Beelines cycle network.

In Kirton-in-Linsay a 10.4 acre site will be promoted with the potential to provide 100 new homes, while Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, could see the development of 60 new homes on a 6.7 acre site. The latter will help Newcastle-under-Lyme council deliver the circa 12,000 new homes that are needed over the next 15 years. It will also include an element of affordable housing, along with a substantial area of open space and the retention of hedgerows and trees.

Paul Smith, Managing Director, Strategic Land Group, said: “All three sites are located in areas with established housing need to support a growing population. The newly updated National Planning Policy Framework reaffirms the government’s commitment to closing the gap between housing supply and housing need. So with this in mind, it’s great to be able to secure these sites, which have the ability to deliver much-needed new homes along with supporting amenities that allow communities to thrive.”

He continued: “SLG marks its tenth anniversary this month and, while it’s great to be able to continue supporting landowners in releasing underused sites for genuine housing need, it’s dismaying how little has changed, with the yawning gap between housing stock and need continuing to widen. I sincerely hope that the next ten will yield more positive changes!”

Visualsoft celebrates two decades in business

Sam Whitear
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Manchester-based e-commerce and digital agency, Visualsoft, is celebrating 20 years in business this October, having grown from an innovative web developer to market-leading online retail platform with a roster of over 1,000 clients. 

The company, which is still headquartered in Teesside and opened its current office in 2015, has grown rapidly over the past two decades – now counting nearly 300 staff of digital specialists, with plans to grow this by at least 25% in the next 12 months.

Latest financial figures show impressive year-on-year growth, with the business doubling its profit before tax to £2million and increasing turnover by 18%. 

Visualsoft is soon to open a brand new office in central Newcastle and a new wing of its Stockton office, having just completed a renovation of its Manchester Peter Street base.

The business has continually invested in both its people and new strategic marketing services to help grow its clients’ online sales.

In 2014, the company introduced unlimited holidays and flexible working for its employees, which it credits with creating a culture with trustworthy and hard-working staff who focus on high service – rather than those that appear to work hard but don’t deliver.

In 2017, it also introduced a new revenue model – Shared Success – in which client fees are based on a percentage of their sales, instead of upfront and fixed fees.

More recently, Visualsoft was made a Google Premier Partner and tier one agency and a Bing Ads accredited partner, highlighting its commitment to marketing best practice.

Visualsoft’s CEO and founder, Dean Benson, commented: “Twenty years is a long time in digital. Even over the past 12 months, we’ve seen huge developments in online retail beyond what anyone could have imagined back in 1998 – the same year that Google’s first webcrawler started examining the links between online pages.

“The ability to rapidly adapt to these changing market conditions has been of paramount importance. What’s more, consistent research and development means that we are not only keeping up with the needs of the industry, but paving the way in terms of great client experience. Here’s to the next 20 years.”

50,000 meals generated by local social enterprise

Sam Whitear
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Since 2016, social enterprise Foodinate has brought over 50,000 hot, nourishing meals to people in need in deprived communities in Manchester and across the UK.

Foodinate only celebrated reaching the 10,000 meal mark in January 2018. Caroline Stevenson, founder of the social enterprise and recent winner of Inspirational Woman of the Year at the Enterprise Vision Awards, says about the remarkable rate of growth:

’The problems are becoming impossible to ignore. People can see the hardship in their own towns and cities and want to know what they can do to help’

After witnessing the rise of poverty in and around Manchester where she grew up, Caroline decided to create Foodinate to help alleviate the rise of the problems she could see growing around her.

She said: “We live in the 7th richest country in the entire world, and yet so many people are going without. I wanted to create a link between the two sides of the same coin, enabling local businesses, and local people to help those in need in their own community. It’s about making a sustainable, scalable impact on a huge issue but in a really simple way.”

Originating in Manchester and going from strength to strength, the organisation is now making an impact in 12 regions across the UK, including London, Birmingham, and Leeds. Each time a customer in a partner restaurant buys a meal marked with a Foodinate logo, a hot meal is provided to a person seeking help locally.

Caroline said: “We are incredibly proud of all of our partners for reaching the 50,000 meal milestone together, and we feel very fortunate to be in a position where we can give back to our local communities.”

Proove Pizza, one of the scheme’s partners, is expanding its restaurant base in Manchester and Sheffield, meaning Foodinate is growing with its backers and vice versa.

The director at Proove Pizza, says: “We’re delighted to make such a real and tangible contribution to homeless charities via Foodinate – we have given over 20,000 meals to local people in need in Sheffield and Manchester since the end of last year! To have such a big impact within our local communities is fantastic, as it means we know we are making a real difference.”

Co-owner of George’s Dining Room and Bar in Worsley and ex-Manchester United player, Ryan Giggs, who backed the initiative during its early stages, said: “Foodinate has been a success. We really liked the simplicity of the concept from the outset and we are proud to be one of the first restaurants to sign-up to it.”

Since then, he and Gary Neville have signed up their events and catering venture, GG Events & Catering, ensuring every person attending a private event booked at one of their venues results in a meal through Foodinate.

The Alchemist, Foodinate’s first national chain backer with 13 locations and counting, has increased the scheme’s reach to a national scale.

The managing director of The Alchemist commented: “The Foodinate initiative has been brilliant for our business, I love the fact that it allows our guests and our teams to engage with their immediate communities and feel good about contributing to a cause that is close to all of our hearts. We look forward to a long-lasting relationship and further supporting the scheme with our upcoming openings in London.”

City Council signs UKFast to deliver major IT upgrade

Sam Whitear
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Manchester City Council today announces a major upgrade of its ICT facilities, awarding a long-term contract to hosting firm UKFast.

The upgrade sees UKFast hosting the Council’s servers across two separate sites, including two new data centre facilities created especially by the firm.

Through the long-term colocation deal UKFast is set to provide greater service availability and resilience for the Council’s ICT infrastructure and critical services while bringing cost savings and efficiencies.

As part of the package, UKFast has committed to contribute 2.5% of the contract’s value back into the Council’s Social Value Fund, which is made up of contributions from the Council’s partners and supply chain. The fund helps local people through work experience and apprenticeship opportunities to improve their skills and offer a route to the jobs market.

UKFast’s focus on the community played a key part in securing the deal. The firm works with more than 60,000 children and young people, across more than 50 schools and universities in the region.

Cllr Carl Ollerhead, Manchester City Council’s executive member for finance and human resources, said: “UKFast are experts in their field that can offer the Council state of the art, highly secure data storage – using industry-leading technology – which we simply could not deliver on our own. This represents a major upgrade to the Council’s current data storage, meaning increased production and resilience for our residents’ data.

“A key factor for choosing UKFast was their commitment to the city, including a promise to engage local schools to unlock training programmes to empower the next generation. I’ve also been impressed by their standing in the community, inviting local young people to use their sports and technical facilities for free.”

The Council’s choice to sign a multi-year deal with a local firm enables further investment into the local area by the hosting firm.

UKFast CEO Lawrence Jones said: “Winning such an important contract inspired us to build an entirely new facility with increased resilience, specialised toward government hosting and machine learning. The investment also brings further connectivity options to the region.

“It’s reassuring to hear how much the leaders in the Council value our contribution to the community and I am looking forward to teaming up with them on future initiatives.”

University of Manchester spin-out Fotenix, a modern M.O.T for crops, eyes growth

Sam Whitear
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University of Manchester spin-out Fotenix is eyeing growth after launching earlier this year.

Co-founded by Professor Bruce Grieve, Director of e-Agri Sensors Centre at the University, and Dr Charles Veys, the company offers a new online crop analysis tool, that aims to help improve yield quality and shelf life significantly.

Fotenix’s technology is the result of four years of hard work that Veys carried out during his PhD at the e-Agri Sensors Centre.

Veys describes his technology as a modern M.O.T for crops, following recent research field trips to Canada, China and multiple European countries.

“Our technology looks at the ripeness of fruits on the plants,” said Veys. “Fotenix’s ultimate aim is to increase efficiency in the agri-food industry across the world.

“We want to instil sustainable models, rather than intensive models which is an industry drive.”

He added: “With our technology, producers and agronomists can identify plant characteristics earlier in the season, well before they become visible to even the sharpest agricultural eye.

“This real-time information means that appropriate action can be made sooner and better informed, particularly when paired with the latest machinery – a huge advantage that will improve agricultural production efficiency and reduce its environmental footprint.

“Essentially, it’s a lifeline for the producer in realising what level the crop is at, and when to act.”

Fotenix, based at The University of Manchester Innovation Centre (UMIC), is now on the brink of scaling up operations and is looking to increase headcount.

Veys, also a food editor for a small independent magazine in Manchester, has been supported by the University’s Innovation Company, UMI3 Ltd, and its Innovation Optimiser initiative during his leap from the academic to the commercial world.

“When you spend four years on something you don’t want to just stop and park that on a shelf,” said Veys.

“I wanted to get it all out there and get my technology working in the field and we are getting closer to achieving that with each day that passes.”

He added: “Our work with the patent office is ongoing and we have received early-stage funding from The University of Manchester as well as lining up VCs for the next stage of seed funding.

“Being someone who is used to the technical arena and moving into the commercial arena has been quite a challenge. As you are suddenly in China, Canada and other countries on the ground while also going out and meeting with software developers and machine manufacturers.

“But that’s been very enjoyable, and become the next stage of education for me, and Fotenix is very close to becoming a scalable operation.

“Our aim is to soon be an OEM supplier to large farming manufacturers, looking to enhance their product offer. The industry has previous for this and it allows us to concentrate on what we are good at.”

“At present the large manufacturers use cameras on field machinery to look identify areas to apply fertiliser or herbicide and even when to harvest horticultural produce.”

“Our idea is to enhance this with our technology. We look at many different colours beyond the human eye – in some ways similar to night vision but with more colour.”

Specsavers Fallowfield hosts vintage tea party  to raise funds for RNIB

Sam Whitear
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The team at Specsavers in Fallowfield turned back time to raise money to support people with sight loss.

To celebrate Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)’s 150th anniversary, the Fallowfield Specsavers store raised £350 for the national sight loss charity.

The store was decorated with bunting and balloons, tea and coffee were offered to customers and delicious cakes were baked in support of the event on 19th October 2018.

Staff even dressed up in Grease style costumes to really get into the swing of things. Female team members dressed as the iconic pink ladies, whilst male colleagues were T-birds for the day.

The store also hosted a raffle, which included prizes donated by local businesses. The top prize included a luxury hamper with beauty products and prosecco, and a file and polish at nearby Body Torque Beauty Salon.

The money raised will go towards providing free talking books, offering essential advice and support as well as ensuring the RNIB’s helpline can continue to run and make a difference to people’s lives.

Amanda Pedder, store director from Specsavers Fallowfield says: ‘We want to say a huge thank you to all our customers for coming out to support our Vintage Tea and the incredible work for the RNIB. The day was filled with fun and proved to be a huge success. It was fantastic to see so many team members getting creative with their outfits, and even better to see how popular the cakes were!’

The Buzz Rooms gains industry recognition

Sam Whitear
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0

A boutique viewing facility in Salford Quays used by market researchers from across the UK, Europe and the United States has been recognised by the industry for its high standards.

The Buzz Rooms at Clippers Quay was established last year as a venue for hosting focus groups to test new products and services for global brands and businesses.

Now The Buzz Rooms has been admitted as a member of the Viewing Facilities Association, a trade association which promotes best practice in the sector.

Only facilities which meet the VFA’s high standards of service and equipment qualify for membership. As part of the process, clients are asked to rate each applicant and The Buzz Rooms gained an overall score of 4.9 out of five.

The Buzz Rooms was established by Sarah Butler at the headquarters of Infinity Asset Management, of which she is a co-founder and partner.

It has been used by market researchers and insight teams involved in sectors including fashion, retail, food and drinks, media and transport.

Sarah said: “We’re delighted to be accredited with membership of the VFA, which demonstrates to customers that we provide a highly professional and quality service.

“It’s a significant feather in our cap which shows we are capable of competing with viewing facilities across the country.

“We have hosted market research agencies from throughout the UK, Europe and the US looking to test a wide range of new products and services on consumers from the north west.

“Our continued growth through new and repeat bookings from small and large research agencies and insight teams shows we are now firmly on the map.

“The facility has received extremely positive feedback. Clients love our location near MediaCityUK, the excellent transport links and free parking, as well as the quality of our staff, premises, catering and technology.

“They also welcome the fact that we have one studio and that they are therefore never sharing the facility with competitors.”

The Buzz Rooms has a clients’ viewing room with a large one-way mirror through which they can observe the focus group in an adjoining room.

The respondents’ room has video and audio recording equipment and an online streaming capability so their discussions can be viewed remotely.

Sarah said: “It’s a modern facility which is seeing increasing demand and we are confident of maintaining our growth in the coming months.”

UCFB reveals which ‘Next 25’ students have been selected for a full degree scholarship

Sam Whitear
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Twenty-five students will be receiving a once in a lifetime opportunity to study a degree with all tuition fee costs covered at the University Campus of Football Business (UCFB).

Recipients of the ‘Next 25’ fund – launched in partnership with Kick It Out to celebrate their 25th anniversary and worth more than £1 million – will complete degrees at either UCFB Etihad Campus in Manchester or UCFB Wembley in London. The Next 25 fund gives recipients full tuition fee scholarships – worth up to £54,000.

UCFB will be introducing the Next 25 at UCFB Etihad Campus on 24th October and discussing Kick It Out’s education work across all areas of football.

UCFB’s Chief Marketing Officer Sharona Friedman, said: “we are thrilled to be gifting this once in a lifetime opportunity to the 25 scholars and are very excited to welcome them to the institution, where they will begin their extraordinary journey”.

She said: “UCFB is committed to inclusion and diversity within the football industry at all levels, so we’re delighted to be able to partner with Kick It Out to offer this incredible scholarship opportunity.

“The recipients of this award will not only receive a first-class education to begin their career in the football and sports industry, but the opportunity to represent Kick It Out and UCFB around the country is truly a one-off experience.”

Approximately 2,200 students currently study across UCFB’s bases with the iconic Etihad and Wembley stadiums at their heart. And 90% of UCFB graduates are in employment or further education within six months – with almost two-thirds working in sport.

The event will be taking place on 24 October at UCFB Etihad Campus in Manchester, from 2.30pm onwards. It will consist of networking, interview opportunities and a presentation for the Next 25 scholars from Brendan Flood, Chairman of UCFB and Keeley Baptista, Programmes Manager at Kick It Out.

The recipients of the Next 25 scholarship will become official ambassadors for Kick It Out across the football industry and act as peer educators on behalf of Kick It Out.

Roisin Wood, Chief Executive of Kick It Out, said: “Kick It Out and UCFB are dedicated to educating the leaders of tomorrow in the importance of diversity and a level playing field at all levels and in all sectors of the game. This unique scholarship is the perfect way to promote inclusion and help spread the word on diversity in football.

“As Kick It Out proudly celebrates how far we have come on our 25th anniversary, I am excited to see how the Next 25 scholars will play a pivotal role in helping us move forward over the next 25 years.”

The Next 25 scholars who will be receiving the fund are listed below, alongside what they will be studying:

  • Finley Walker – BA (Hons) Football Business & Media
  • Huxley Barnacle-Best – BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management
  • Mohamed Jama – BA (Hons) International Football Business
  • Julen Beer- MSc International Sport Management
  • Jair Mauricio Grajales Giraldo – MSc International Sport Management
  • Joshua Brimacombe-Wiard – MSc Football Coaching & Analysis
  • Conor Ogilvie-Davidson – International Sport Management (Online)
  • Jenna Naidene Henry – MSc Sport Management
  • Sheriff Tajudeen – MSc Football Coaching & Analysis (Part Time)
  • Ediong Udom – MSc Sport Management
  • Adeodatus Ronie Twumasi – MSc Sport Management
  • Karthik Shyamsundar – BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management
  • Uthman Akitoye – BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management
  • Michael Joseph Loghan knox – BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management with Foundation Year
  • Bethany Jane Powney – BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management
  • Ilias Pajoheshfar – BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management
  • Maria Fernandes – MSc Football Coaching & Analysis
  • Lekan Odushola – MSc Football Coaching & Analysis
  • Sabiha Jamal – BA (Hons) Football Coaching & Management
  • Shakeel Mira – MSc Football Coaching & Analysis
  • Moaz Awadelkarim – MSc International Sport Management (Online)
  • Charlie Dawson – MSc Football Coaching & Analysis
  • Cigdem Turkan – MSc International Sport Management
  • Joao Paulo Felix – BA (Hons) International Football Business
  • Asad Farooq – BA (Hons) Stadium & Events Management
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