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Haloodies supports Action Against Hunger event at Dishoom

Sam Whitear
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Halal food brand Haloodies has supported an event which saw chefs turn the tables on food critics and raise thousands of pounds for charity.

The highly-anticipated ‘Too Many Critics’ event, organised by Action Against Hunger, challenged top restaurant critics and writers to see if they have what it takes to withstand the heat in the kitchen themselves. They were tasked with preparing an array of delicious dishes for judges at the event at Manchester’s Bombay café Dishoom.

Haloodies, a leading supplier of fresh and cooked halal meat, was represented on the night and supplied its BRC and IFS certified lamb chops for one of the main dishes.

Spicing up the Haloodies’ meat was Louise Rhind-Tutt, the managing editor of community magazine I Love MCR and a leading restaurant reviewer. Other writers donning chef whites alongside her included Simon Binns from LADbible and Emily Heward from the Manchester Evening News.

The event raised more than £22,000 for Action Against Hunger and contributed to the charity’s ongoing work in providing malnourished children across nearly 50 countries with healthier futures.

Noman Khawaja, co-founder and CEO of Haloodies, said: “The main reason we wanted to play a part in the event is because we believe in the important cause of the charity, making sure everyone has access to nutritious food and getting the message out to others to join the cause.

“Being a halal company, we follow the principles of Islam and part of that is looking after those in need.”

Fiona Layfield, Action Against Hunger events officer, added: “The money raised is the equivalent needed to save the lives of 525 severely malnourished children, a truly amazing result,” she said.

“We couldn’t do events like this without the support of companies like Haloodies, so we’re incredibly grateful for their invaluable support.”

Record-breaking Manchester Central recognised at the Exhibition News Award

Sam Whitear
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Manchester Central has capped off a record-breaking year in the exhibition sector by being named ‘Best Venue over 8,000sqm’ at the Exhibition News Awards.

The venue, which has been an iconic feature within the city since 1880, fought of competition from all over the UK, including the likes of Olympia London and the NEC.

Over the past twelve months, the venue has hosted more exhibitions than ever before, all of which contributed to generating over £100m of economic value within the city.

Shaun Hinds, CEO, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing this award back to Manchester. From the outset we have been connecting people, originally as a railway and how an exhibition and congress centre.

Our city centre location offers delegate a truly unique experience for organisers. This makes us an incredibly attractive destination as a world class venue in the heart of a world class city.”

Each year we welcome over 500,000 people through our doors, many who have travelled from far and wide to be here. We’re incredibly proud that for many of our visitors, exhibitions held at the venue are the hook which gets them to visit our great city for the first time.”

mmadigital adds five new call centre recruits to its growing team

Sam Whitear
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Didsbury-based digital marketing specialist for law firms, mmadigital, has announced five new appointments to support its ambitious growth plans and ongoing business success.

To assist with inbound claims enquiries for personal injury or medical negligence, Alex Mcquarrie joins mmadigital as Contact Centre Manager, bringing with him over 2 years of legal sector claims experience from CSE Ltd and 15 years operational leadership experience running contact centre operations with British Gas. He is joined by senior advisor, Bethany Davies, who joins from JPS Walker and has 4 years’ experience working in this sector. Three other experienced contact centre advisors have also joined the team: Katie Burton, Rachel Lea and Liane Ayre.

Now with a seven strong team in its contact centre, mmadigital has trained the team to validate each of the high number of claims enquiry types they receive, to then introduce those claimants with a validated enquiry to mmadigital’s panel of solicitors and legal specialists who will take on the case.

mmadigital is on a recruitment drive to attract even more experienced call handlers to its expanding team. The role offers a unique opportunity for individuals to progress into other areas of law and financial services, working alongside qualified advisors with up to 20 years of legal and claims experience.

Dez Derry, CEO at mmadigital commented: “Bringing new people on board has been crucial to support the unprecedented growth we experienced last year. We have been incredibly lucky to have found so much bright, young talent at this pivotal time and look forward to bringing even more people on board.”

Mason Advisory ranks in FT 1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies 2019 report 

Sam Whitear
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A MediaCityUK-based company has been named the fastest growing management consultancy in the UK.

Mason Advisory was ranked number 467 in the FT1000 Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies report and was the highest-ranking management consultancy from the UK.

This is the first time the consultancy has entered and featured on the list and it is one of only three UK management consultancies to have made the final cut this year. The inclusion of Mason Advisory is a public acknowledgement of the company’s reputation and performance within the European business landscape. It has been in operation since 2014 so this is a landmark achievement for the independent IT consultancy.

The report recognises the companies that are the driving force of the European economy, and that have achieved the highest growth rate in revenue between 2014 and 2017. It reviews businesses from a wide range of industries in terms of revenue growth, headcount, and pre-tax profits. Alongside the rankings and an analysis of their composition, the report explores why growth is valued so highly. It also reveals some lesser-known innovation hotspots and looks at which types of government policy lead to lasting growth.

Steve Watmough, Mason Advisory CEO, says: “We’re all so excited to be featured as the fastest growing management consultancy in the UK and the sixth fastest growing in Europe. The technology sector is thriving in Europe, as demonstrated in the report, which includes 149 tech organisations.

“There are many highly-respected companies featured in the report so to be included alongside them really enhances our profile and will hopefully support our sustained growth and propel us towards the next stage of our international expansion.

“To be featured on the FT1000 list for the first time is testament to the positive and effective impact our work is having on the consulting industry and for our customers.

“Despite the uncertain, disruptive times we are in, it’s great to see so many businesses succeeding, overcoming challenges and prospering.

“I’m proud of the outstanding results our team has delivered and their hard work behind this achievement. Our growth is down to the high calibre of consultants on the team and our shared desire to bring digital transformation and technological innovation to our customers around the world.”

Worldwide maths learning centre to open admin office in Altrincham

Sam Whitear
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A maths learning centre has taken an administration office at Fairbank House, 27 Ashley Road Altrincham.

Mathnasium, The Maths Learning centre, has a centre in Bramhall and a further seven across the UK, making a total of over 1,000 centres worldwide.  The maths-only centres deliver a customised learning plan designed to address each student’s needs whether they are behind or ahead in maths to develop understanding and build a love for maths.

It has taken 1,064 sq ft on the second floor of Fairbank House on a five year lease at a rent of £17.60 per sq ft including car spaces.

Steve Felmingham, Mathnasium’s director of UK Operations, said: “We have grown the network to such an extent that we now need dedicated office space to administer and manage the business as we move forward with our roll-out across the UK and into Europe.  Altrincham’s excellent road, rail and air links make it a perfect base for our rapidly-growing European operations.

Daniel Lee, director, Regional Property Solutions, who acted for the landlord Hyrst Garth Estate Limited, said:  “Fairbank House is now fully let with Mathnasium taking the last refurbished office suite in this 9,000 sq ft office building, which has undergone a careful and comprehensive refurbishment as suites became vacant.  This has resulted in an uplift in rental income”.

Second phase of £1m office scheme begins at former cotton mill

Sam Whitear
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The second phase of a £1m refurbishment designed by architects Atelier MB has begun at a former cotton mill in Manchester.

The scheme at Grade II listed Chatham Mill on Chester Street will create a further 3,800sq ft of modern office space on the ground floor.

Working on behalf of owner Span Group, Atelier MB also designed the first phase, covering 5,000 sq ft, which was completed in December.

WilsonCooke, a brand, digital and marketing agency, took the space for its new studio, advised by Savills.

Andrew Burns, managing director of Atelier MB, said the second phase, involving the refurbishment of two adjacent buildings, would provide office accommodation for up to 40 people.

The first phase involved stripping out partitions and paring back other later aspects of the building fabric to expose original cast-iron columns and beams and original finishes to the walls, timber floors and ceilings.

Other interior works included the installation of new heating, lighting, electricity, a shower room and toilets, and glazed partitions to form an attractive corridor leading to the new office space.

The loading bay was converted into a new, double-height entrance with disabled access.

Andrew said: “The entire project is designed to enable the new occupiers to really appreciate the building in its raw form, drawing on the energy and aesthetics of the historic mill, with a new entrance that gives a great sense of arrival at stimulating workspaces which are full of character.

“The second phase is a similar undertaking to the first, involving the refurbishment of the two buildings to the same standard and retaining original features.

“Once finished, the new offices will appeal to up-and-coming businesses in Manchester’s burgeoning creative, digital and media sector seeking to establish a base in a superb location.”

SEL Business Languages gives manufacturer a wider global audience

Sam Whitear
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Horwich based SEL Business Languages Ltd is celebrating the completion of a new key, complex translation service for a client. The work involved the translation of 20 pages into 12 different languages, giving their client the capability to inform its customers in their native language.

The proven language solution – translating the two manuals for a welding mask manufacturer based in Bedfordshire – was complex since they needed to be translated simultaneously into some of the world’s more unusual languages, including Czech, Hungarian and Finnish, three of the hardest languages to master.

Working with their international partners and a network of over 3000 native-speaking professional linguists, the company offers a service to translate more than 60 languages. This service is enhanced by SEL Business Languages having partner offices in China, Italy, Germany, Spain, Russia and Latvia.

SELBL’s Graeme McLeish commented: “It took our team only five working days to translate the manuals into 12 different languages, giving the product a far wider international market. It can now be used both in print and digitally.

“The manufacturer is delighted with its expanded global reach and commended the excellent-value, rapid servicedelivered by SEL Business Languages.

“We specialise in translation, interpreting and language training services for a range of disciplines, across many industries and sectors, including manufacturing, engineering, automotive, legal and digital. Our work is recognised by the Department for International Trade and we are ISO 9001: 2015 self-accredited.”

Economist Dr John Ashcroft joins Equilibrium Asset Management in consultancy role

Sam Whitear
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Equilibrium Asset Management has appointed economist Dr John Ashcroft as a consultant.

John was Chief Executive of pro-manchester for nine years up to October 2018 and has previously worked with Goldman Sachs, Bain and Company, First Boston, Wasserstein Perella and S.G. Warburgs.

Over the next 12 months John will advise Cheshire-based Equilibrium on global macro-economics and investment portfolio allocations.

He will also develop positional papers on economics, investment and finance, work closely with Equilibrium’s management and investment teams while also providing market overviews at quarterly client presentations.

John, who was founding Chairman of the North West Business Leadership Team, has served on the board of Marketing Manchester, the CA Business Leadership Council and as Chief Economist for the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said he is delighted to be working with Equilibrium.

“Equilibrium currently manages over £850 million of assets for over 1,000 families and is a Chartered wealth management company that offers genuinely personalised financial planning to its growing client base.

“Founder Colin Lawson and his team have done an exceptional job over the past 23 years and I’m excited to be working with such talented people over the next 12 months.”

John, who has served on numerous Boards including Marketing Manchester and was formerly Managing Director, then Chief Executive and Chairman of international public company Coloroll, will also use his status to boost the profile of Equilibrium among professional service firms, large corporates and high-net-worths in Manchester and across the north west.

Wilmslow headquartered Equilibrium specialises in all areas of wealth management, investment, pensions, tax planning and estate planning.

Founder Colin Lawson said: “Equilibrium is more committed than ever to delivering exceptional services to all our clients, making a positive difference for them and ensuring they can enjoy life to the full.

“John’s vast experience and expertise means we are in a position to add value to our wide breadth of services.”

It’s Gone Viral hits 2.2 billion views 

Sam Whitear
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Manchester headquartered social media marketing company, It’s Gone Viral, has seen its reach and viewing figures rise from 738 million to 2.2 billion views in the past twelve months.

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 such as BBC Films, O2, Universal, Bud Light and Disney across its social platforms. It was also recently signed up by Nick Frost and Steve Merchant to promote their latest film, Fighting with My Family.

It now has three million followers across its Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts. The It’s Gone Viral team is a mixture of content creators, analysts and video producers.

Matthew Thomas said: “This past 12 to 18 months has been a big journey for the business. In that time we have worked hard to build up and then fully utilise our large network of followers to promote major brands, products and services. That ability to reach millions of people each week has been a real draw for our clients as they know that we can provide fantastic platforms on which they can directly talk to their markets in a cost effective and strategic way”

Matthew added: “We believe the primary reason for our success is our consistent and analytical approach to our follower base. We see them as a community of people who need to be engaged with rather than a generic audience that is simply targeted. We know what they want to view so we curate content that is relevant and that will create a viral effect.”

Based on its current trajectory, It’s Gone Viral has major growth plans and is aiming become one of the most influential media companies in the UK within the next five years.

Matthew explained: “We are incredibly proud that our clients enjoy an average ROI of 250%. Those kinds of results mean they are investing their marketing budgets in us which, in turn, means we can invest in our own platforms and in the building of new brand pages.”

Investment in Northern tech reaches ten-year high

Sam Whitear
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Investment in Northern tech companies has reached a ten-year high, as investors worldwide target the region’s fast-growing digital sector, according to Livingbridge.

The private equity firm’s research, conducted in partnership with Experian Corpfin, revealed that 206 deals involving Northern tech companies were completed in 2018, almost double the number seen in 2009, following the UK-wide recession, and 10 per cent more than in 2017. The growth in investment represents the third year-on-year rise in the number of tech deals completed across the North.

The overall value of tech investment in 2018 also soared, with more than £2.3bn completed in 2018, up 77 per cent on the value of deals in 2017.

One of the biggest deals seen across the region was the £235m investor buyout of Chorley-based ParkingEye Ltd from Capita Plc. ParkingEye’s car park management system uses automatic number plate recognition software to help supermarkets ensure their spaces are available for customers. Other landmark deals included the £40m fundraise by Cheshire-based Blue Prism Group, the provider of automation software, through a primary placing of new shares.

In the last decade, a total of 1,585 deals were completed, with £22bn invested in tech businesses across the North of the UK.

Over this period, investors worldwide have been particularly attracted to tech-enabled communication providers, with computer programming and publishing the most heavily-invested subsectors. Electronic manufacturing businesses and telecommunications companies have also proved strong growth areas.

Matthew Jacobs at Livingbridge, said: “With an exceptional talent pool, the North West has forged a reputation as a global powerhouse for digital investment. Businesses across the region are continually trailblazing in their respective fields, producing cutting-edge tech solutions and snapping up gaps in the market with new innovation.

“With MediaCityUK and a raft of large-scale ecommerce headquarters such as AO.com and Boohoo, the North West is a hub for creative, digital and ecommerce tech. A particular point of difference for the region is Manchester’s ‘Data City’, a data science and software company which uses open data, online figures and artificial intelligence to comprehensively map the region’s emerging tech capabilities, the only one of its kind in the UK.

“Last year we saw a rise in investment across the sector, from fintech to computer manufacturing, and it is interesting to see a large number of deals backed by overseas investors, with the US a particularly prominent player. With such a degree of agility and world-class entrepreneurship in the North, there is great investor appetite for businesses looking to scale.”

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