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It’s Gone Viral’s Film division reports 60% surge in work

Sam Whitear
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It’s Gone Viral, the Manchester headquartered social media marketing company, has seen a surge in the number of projects that it is delivering for film studios after achieving a 60% increase since the start of the year.

The agency’s roster of film studio clients now includes major names such as Lionsgate, Universal, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, BBC Films and StudioCanal.

The firm, which was founded in 2016 by Matthew Thomas, Andrew Trotman and Ryan Williams, produces and distributes video content and viral campaign adverts for international brands across its social platforms. The team is a mixture of content creators, analysts and video producers.

Recent film campaigns delivered by the agency include Nick Frost and Steve Merchant’s Fighting with My Family, as well as HellBoy, Warner Bros’ DC superhero movie Shazam! and Scott and Sid, which was named Best British Film at the National Film Awards. Its next project will be with Daniel Radcliffe for The Playmobil Movie.

Andrew Trotman, co-founder, said: “We only really started developing our Film division in early 2018 so seeing this kind of growth in such a short space of time is fantastic.  Thanks to the number of people we are able to reach and the total views figures we achieve, studios quickly realised that we are a credible outlet for their film content. That awareness has seen us move into working with talent which is a really exciting step for the business.”

Andrew added: Our focus is now on building on these foundations and to grow our profile across the film sector. Ultimately we want to become the first port of call for all major cinematic releases.”

NOMA submits plans for 4 Angel Square

Sam Whitear
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Development manager MEPC has submitted plans for 4 Angel Square, its latest office project at NOMA, to Manchester City Council, as progress continues at the 20-acre neighbourhood.

The new 11-storey office building will sit on the corner of Corporation Street and Miller Street and is NOMA’s first speculative new build office development, with MEPC looking to capitalise on soaring demand for workspace in Manchester thanks to the city’s continued growth.

Designed by Manchester-based architects SimpsonHaugh, the Grade-A office building will bring over 2,000 new workers to NOMA, joining the community of businesses, residents and creatives who have already made the area their home.

In addition to providing 200,000 sq. ft. of premium office space, shops or restaurants will be provided on the ground floor and new public realm as part of a much-improved link to One Angel Square, which will be crucial to unlocking the other new-build development opportunities.

Paul Pavia, head of development at MEPC, said: “Major corporates from not just the UK but across the globe are looking to base some of their operations in Manchester, thanks to the city’s strong civic leadership, thriving culture and leisure scene and increasing transport and digital connectivity.

“4 Angel Square will bring some much needed supply to the Manchester office market, with demand for high quality workspace outstripping supply and we’re excited to be submitting our proposals to the city council.”

Bruntwood Works celebrates opening

Sam Whitear
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Bruntwood Works, has marked the opening of a brand new community space at its Atria development in Bolton with a special celebratory event.

Bruntwood Works has enhanced the facilities on offer for businesses at Atria with the development of the new community space, which will provide a place for people working within the building to connect and collaborate.

Atria is home to a wide range of innovative businesses. Building residents and guests enjoyed a celebratory event complete with prosecco and pies to mark the launch of the new space.

The event also included an update from David Lloyd Bolton which provided Atria customers with exclusive offers, a theatre performance from Bolton Octagon Theatre’s Creative Engagement Team and a talk from the Bolton Lads and Girls Club.

The central community hub features a bright, creative, and welcoming design and includes a range of useful spaces including hot desk options for individuals and groups, private working locations, informal meeting spaces, and an event area, which will also host a dynamic events programme.

Casual seating areas encourage customers to work collaboratively and the hub also features a drinks station, where all building customers can enjoy free tea and coffee while they work.

Andrew Cooke, regional director at Bruntwood Works, said: “It’s brilliant to be celebrating the launch of our new space at Atria, which will offer our customers a fantastic place to mingle and meet for a coffee, grab a chat or even collaborate on a project in one of the breakout spaces.

“Flexible community spaces like this are key to creating positive working environments where people feel welcome, comfortable, and inspired by their surroundings and we hope the new space will help the formation of new community networks and boost collaborations between businesses based at the site.”

Northern Automotive Alliance partners with Business Manchester

Sam Whitear
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A new partnership has been formed between the Northern Automotive Alliance (NAA) and Business Manchester, which aims to bring a new level of automotive expertise and sector awareness to our readers. 

The NAA is an independent, not-for-profit company, which provides a membership service, combined with a project management delivery function, to the automotive community. The NAA supports micro-companies through to our local major vehicle manufacturers, such as Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Vauxhall and McLaren, offering a diverse service using its established networks. This includes the provision of training, events (one per month), funding applications and strategic, business and technical advice. 

The NAA have a large number of members located in Greater Manchester, with close links with Manchester based organisation such as the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and Made Smarter.  The NAA covers a significant region, with members across the North West, Yorkshire and Humber, communicating with over 2,000 automotive companies across the North of England on a regular basis.

Observed Andy Mann, Group Editor, Business Manchester: “The NAA is a strong believer in partnership and collaborative working with both industry and the public sector, as well as working closely with organisations such as BEIS, DIT, Universities, local Councils and LEPs. This exactly matches the aspirations and vision of Business Manchester, where we work with businesses to promote their good news stories and demonstrate that Greater Manchester is a great place to live, work, relocated and do business.”

Commenting on recent developments, NAA’s Chief Executive, Rowan Egan added: “The NAA exists to support the UK automotive sector, but also works with many organisations and companies across numerous different sectors, such as aerospace, marine, chemical and software (to name but a few). 

“The automotive sector has changed more in recent years than ever before, and this trend is set to continue with the introduction of AFV (alternative fuelled vehicles) and CAV (connected autonomous vehicles). These vast changes bring new opportunities for companies who have not traditionally been in the automotive supply chain. 

“The push for electrification, in particular, brings significant opportunities for companies who have expertise in power electronics, electric motors and battery technology, but also for any company who can make contributions towards ‘light-weighting’, thereby making a car more efficient. 

“Often these contributions are made through unique designs and creative use of materials or composites – a particular strength of the North West, which goes back to its history of working with textiles and lightweight metals.  Similarly, for CAV, it is believed that technology and software companies working in sectors such as gaming, will be critical in the development of autonomous vehicles and a whole new CAV supply chain.

“The UK government has recognised these significant changes in technology, and the need to support the automotive sector in the UK, by offering a range of grant funding and support to UK companies, who wish to take on new opportunities, such as those offered by APC (Advanced Propulsion Centre), Meridian (for CAV research) and the Faraday Challenge (Battery research).  At the NAA, we can help a company identify these grant funding opportunities and support the application process.

The NAA would like to speak to any companies currently operating in, or with aspirations to work in, the automotive sector.  Membership ranges from £360 to £2,050, depending on the size of your company. To experience the benefits, the NAA is happy to offer any company interested in membership, a complimentary ticket to one of its monthly networking events. 

The NAA is extremely proud of its reputation as the best automotive networking platform in the North.  This view is reflected by Sally Hepton, Director of Government Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility at Bentley Motors: “Promoting the North West and the wider North as a great place to invest is vitally important to the automotive sector.  The NAA plays a fantastic role flying the flag for Northern automotive and supporting small, medium and large companies to prosper”.

For more information about the NAA and how to join please contact [email protected] or visit the NAA website 

Digital audit just the job for Halecroft

Sam Whitear
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A recruitment agency based in Hale has increased annual turnover by 67% to £1 million following support from GC Business Growth Hub.

Halecroft Recruitment provides bespoke executive-level recruitment services and work across different sectors, including human resources and accounting, on a local, regional and national level.

Wanting to ensure that the business continued to grow, owner Tricia Bullman contacted the Hub, part of The Growth Company, looking for support developing a new marketing campaign that utilised social media and other digital channels.

Having undertaken an audit of the firm’s digital resources, digital growth advisor Chris Murphy helped the company by redesigning and relaunching its website so that the site would perform better in online search results. Furthermore, Chris also trained the Halecroft staff on how to use e-mail marketing software, so that the company would be able to distribute its content and have the means to analyse the success of the mailshots. Finally, Chris also helped the agency to more effectively utilise its social media platforms, showing Tricia how to use paid targeted advertising on both Facebook and LinkedIn to find potential candidates. By using the detailed audience-building tools both platforms offer, which allow advertisers to target users by a range of factors including demographics, geography, interests and behaviours, it meant Tricia and her staff were able to target ads at the right people, improving the Return On Investment (ROI) of the firm’s advertising budget.

As a result of Chris’s support, Halecroft’s website traffic has increased by 1,000%, with site conversions increasing by 70% and enquiries into the business increasing by 80%, thereby meaning turnover has now reached the £1million mark.

Such has been the breadth of the company’s new digital marketing efforts, it became clear to Tricia, who had been carrying out most of the marketing activities herself, that it was time to hire a dedicated marketing executive too. Given the company’s new digital know-how, Halecroft has now launched its own digital marketing arm, helping other companies find the people they need to ramp up their own online presence.

Tricia Bullman said: “I initially contacted Business Growth Hub as I wanted to get our message across to a completely different audience and reach out to new markets.

“All the practical support from the Hub has been fantastic, with Chris helping us to set clear objectives and a strong call to action with our new digital messaging.

“Even more helpful has been the encouragement we’ve gotten though – the phone calls and emails, congratulating us or suggesting something new we might want to try really have made a difference.”

Chris Murphy said: “I really enjoy passing on my digital expertise to help businesses in the region grow, and it’s always satisfying to see that support result in such clear improvements for those I have helped.

“Tricia and her team were very receptive to my suggestions and have acknowledged the importance of digital marketing by taking on a new staff member to ensure these efforts are maintained going forward.”

Businesses looking to access specialist support can visit the Business Growth Hub website for more information about the organisation’s extensive range of services. This and other GC Business Growth Hub projects are part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the GM Business Growth Hub project designed to help ambitious SME businesses achieve growth and increase employment in Greater Manchester.

BrightHR launches £1 million recruitment drive

Sam Whitear
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BrightHR, a Manchester-based HR software firm, is launching a £1 million recruitment drive to help meet international demand for its product.

The firm which was founded in 2015 and funded by two of the North West’s best-known entrepreneurs, Peter and Fred Done, is hiring 25 new software delivery roles over the next three months.

The newly created roles span all levels—from junior to expert—and include product owners, business analysts, developers, development leads UX designers. The firm also plans to strengthen its sales team to support the significant momentum in the SME market for its software.

BrightHR has over 220,000 users in the UK, Ireland and Canada. And soon, it’ll be available in Australia and New Zealand.

Alastair Brown, Chief Technology Officer at BrightHR, said: “BrightHR’s delighted to be investing in securing new talent. The investment will not only benefit our ambitious growth plans but our customers as well.

“We’re thrilled with the products our teams have created so far, and we’re looking for new talent to help us come up with and create fresh technology.”

Brown continued: “It’s a unique and inspiring place to work. And over the last year, we’ve launched four new products, entered multiple international markets, and released and improved thirty new features.

“These are exciting times for BrightHR and we’re keen to attract the best and brightest talent from the North West tech scene.”

Infinity appoints corporate lawyer Anna Kerrane as director

Sam Whitear
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Investment group Infinity has bolstered its senior team with the appointment of Anna Kerrane as a director.

Anna has joined Salford Quays-based Infinity from the Manchester office of law firm Shoosmiths where she was a senior associate.

Before joining Shoosmiths, Anna spent a decade at Weightmans in Manchester.

She is an experienced corporate lawyer who has advised on a range of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, joint ventures and company restructurings.

Over the years she has advised Infinity on a number of deals.

Anna’s arrival at Infinity follows the appointment last year of another director, Paul Wogan, who joined in a business development role.

Infinity, which is led by partners Daniel Finestein, Sarah Butler and Phil Vickers, provides fund management and corporate advisory services across the UK and internationally.

It specialises in the formation, management and operation of investment funds throughout their lifecycle through to exit.

Infinity creates and manages funds for clients utilising its FCA regulatory umbrella service, which offers prospective fund managers a faster route to market.

It also manages its own funds, including ones focused on private equity and property.

Managing partner Daniel said: “We’ve worked with Anna on a number of deals in the past and her experience and approach fits in very well with our team and our vision.

“Her legal background brings a fresh perspective to the services we offer, working alongside our external advisers.”

Anna said: “I know the Infinity team well, having advised on a range of transactions over several years, so I jumped at the chance to join the firm when the opportunity arose.”

New appointment for Atradius’ Northern Hub

Sam Whitear
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Trade credit insurer Atradius has appointed a new business development manager for its Northern Hub.

Chris Williamson joins the Atradius North team as the new SME business development manager, responsible for policy underwriting and developing relationships with the local broker network. He will work alongside colleagues Sally Nolan, Sarah Seddon and Chelcee Witkowski in the business development team, Senior Account Manager Nicola Hinchliff and Account Managers James Armitage and Lisa McMillan.

Chris, a Bath University biochemistry graduate, was introduced to Atradius in early 2018 from the prestigious Welsh Financial Services Graduate Programme; a collaborative programme of work, training and academic study designed and delivered by leading financial organisations. The scheme aims to create a new talent pool of industry professionals with structured work placements alongside a customised MSc in Financial Services Management delivered by the University of South Wales. After a six-month placement with Atradius’ strategic account team, Chris was offered a long-term position and has now been appointed into the new business development manager role in Manchester.

A global leader in trade credit insurance, Atradius has a regional presence across the UK with its long-established Northern Hub serving brokers and businesses across the North of England and Scotland. Atradius’ Manchester based Northern Hub has grown from strength to strength in recent years following the appointment of four members of staff last summer and the strategic office move to The Chancery, Spring Gardens, in the heart of Manchester’s’ financial district in 2013.

Chris said: “Insurers and brokers have the same goal in aspiring to provide best-in-class service for customers who want to trade safely and successfully. Therefore, a strong broker-insurer relationship is essential in order for us, in partnership, to combine our intelligence, expertise and services to achieve greater successes for our customers. I have been given a warm welcome to the region by our broker community and am looking forward to building these relationships further in my new role.”

Stuart Ramsden, Head of Commercial for Atradius UK & Ireland, added: “The Financial Services Graduate Programme is an excellent scheme that enables businesses to identify and nurture future talent.

“Through his placement at Atradius, it was clear Chris would be a great asset to the team, he has a good understanding of the industry and of Atradius’ offering and is motivated to deliver the right solutions for our customers. It is good to see him further developing his career at Atradius in the North.

“As a trade credit insurer, Atradius protects businesses from the risks of trading domestically and overseas and has been doing so for a century. Non-payment is the single biggest risk to a business and, unfortunately, one that shows no sign of diminishing. Atradius can support a business to navigate the fog of uncertainty from the beginning of their trade journey. With a team of global experts, Atradius works with local businesses to analyse trade sectors, markets and countries as well as individual customers, evaluating risk and helping our customers to identify new opportunities. With increasing uncertainty in the business environment and wider economy, it is clear that trade credit insurance continues to be an essential tool for business.”

Bathroom Takeaway to invest £1.35M into UK Market

Sam Whitear
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Bathroom specialist Bathroom Takeaway has announced plans to invest a whopping £1.35 million pounds into its UK business with a strong emphasis on growing its digital footprint, investing in its people development programme and streamlining stock with key suppliers to support sales growth.

Over the past five years Bathroom Takeaway has become a household name across the UK and has made a real splash in the bathroom sector by offering high quality bathroom suites at a fraction of the cost of their competitors.  This added investment will enable the bathroom specialists to remain firmly on the UK retail map for amazing value and reassuring quality.

Chris Norton, Director at Bathroom Takeaway said: “Digital marketing has always been a huge passion of mine and with this added investment we can now further strengthen our digital capabilities and capitalise on the progress we’ve made so far.   For the time being we will be reducing our presence in mainland Europe which frees up £100K to go towards the UK arm. With UK house price growth continuing to slow whilst we await the outcome of Brexit we’ve seen an increased trend for homeowners to invest in their bathrooms and kitchens rather than moving home so now seems like the perfect time to make this added investment and pass our savings onto our customers.”

“As a business we’re incredibly proud of our people and strong customer service record and really do feel it is what truly sets us apart.  With this added investment we will be working closely to offer exceptional training and progression opportunities for our existing employees, many of whom have been with the business for many years.”

 

University of Manchester plays part in aviation breakthrough

Sam Whitear
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For the first time in aviation history, an aircraft has been manoeuvred in flight using supersonically blown air, removing the need for complex movable flight control surfaces. In a series of ground-breaking flight trials that took place in the skies above north-west Wales, the MAGMA unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) demonstrated two innovative flow control technologies which could revolutionise future aircraft design.

MAGMA, designed and developed by researchers at The University of Manchester in collaboration with engineers from BAE Systems, successfully trialled the two ‘flap-free’ technologies at the Llanbedr Airfield.

The technologies have been designed to improve the control and performance of aircraft. By replacing moving surfaces with a simpler ‘blown air’ solution, the trials have paved the way for engineers to create better performing aircraft that are lighter, more reliable and cheaper to operate. The technologies could also improve an aircraft’s stealth as they reduce the number of gaps and edges that currently make aircraft more observable on radar.

Developing such technologies helps to ensure the UK has the right technologies and skills in place for the future and could be applied to the development of a Future Combat Air System. It is the latest technological breakthrough to come from a number of BAE Systems collaborations with academia and industry, that will help the UK to deliver more advanced capability, more quickly, and through shared investment.

Julia Sutcliffe, Chief Technologist, BAE Systems Air, said: “MAGMA is a great example of how collaborating with bright minds at British universities can deliver ground-breaking research and innovation. Our partnership with The University of Manchester has identified cutting-edge technology, in this case flap-free flight, and turned what began as a feasibility study into a proven capability in just a number of months. It demonstrates how STEM can be applied in the real-world and I hope the success of these trials inspires the next generation of much-needed engineers and scientists.”

Bill Crowther, senior academic and leader of the MAGMA project at The University of Manchester, added: “We are excited to have been part of a long-standing effort to change the way in which aircraft can be controlled, going all the way back to the invention of wing warping by the Wright brothers. It’s been a great project for students to be part of, highlighting that real innovation in engineering is more about finding practical solutions to many hundreds of small technical challenges than having single moments of inspiration.

“The partnership with BAE Systems has allowed us the freedom as a university to focus on research adventure, with BAE Systems providing the pathway to industrial application. We made our first fluidic thrust vectoring nozzle from glued together bits of plastic and tested it on a hair drier fan nearly 20 years ago. Today BAE Systems is 3D printing our components out of titanium and we are flight testing them on the back of a jet engine in an aircraft designed and built by the project team. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

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