Scores of disadvantaged young people hoping to transform their lives have signed up for a snow sports programme which begins this summer. Snow-Camp charity, whose supporters include rower Sir Steve Redgrave, Britain’s most successful skier Chemmy Alcott and Olympic medal-winning snowboarder Jenny Jones, will launch its north west scheme at Chill Factore near the Trafford Centre on Monday August 13. Chemmy and Team GB Winter Olympics star Emily Sarsfield will be among those attending the launch.

Snow-Camp is a national charity which gives young people aged 13-21 the chance to develop their skills and confidence through snow sports. So far, around 150 have signed up for First Tracks, the organisation’s debut programme in the north west, with 200 places up for grabs in total. It is a two-day introduction to skiing and snowboarding and for every hour participants spend on the slopes they will also be taught life skills to help build their confidence and self-esteem. After First Tracks, Snow-Camp North West will offer further training courses leading to instructor qualifications and job opportunities.

The programme is being financially supported by AJ Bell, the Manchester-headquartered investment platform.

Chief executive Andy Bell said: “Snow-Camp’s innovative and entrepreneurial approach of using snow sports to engage young people and help them improve their lives fits perfectly with our own ethos and culture.

“It provides life skills training, nationally-recognised qualifications and work experience to help young people increase their motivation and aspirations, enabling them to gain employment in the snow sports industry and beyond. “We think the programme will be a great asset to the north west where we are based, and we are delighted to support the launch.”

Since its launch in 2003, Snow-Camp has helped thousands of young people through programmes in London, Bristol, the Midlands, Cardiff and Scotland. For the north west programme, Snow-Camp is working with youth projects and youth service providers across the region. Those who have signed up so far have been recruited through projects and groups in Manchester, Salford and Liverpool.

Dan Charlish, founder of Snow-Camp said: “We’re incredibly excited to launch First Tracks in Manchester. Our programmes have turned around the lives of young people in cities across the UK and we are looking forward to reaching more in the north west. “Many of Snow-Camp’s participants are on a negative life path and need support to change their direction. They need someone to believe in them and give them an opportunity. “Snow-Camp enables them to develop their skills and confidence through snow sports, which many are experiencing for the first time in their lives.”

Swedish engineering consultancy Sweco has opened a new Manchester office after taking 5,582 square feet at Abbey House on Booth Street.

Sweco has agreed a 5-year lease for the fourth floor of the property to provide a city centre base for its 40 strong team. Sweco has consolidated two offices as part of the move, with the majority relocating from their previous base at Manchester Airport.

The transaction was secured by Avison Young on behalf of Booth Street Property Company. Quoting rents at the building are £24.50 per square foot.

Positioned on the corner of Booth Street and Mosley Street, Abbey House has recently undergone a full refurbishment to include new full height windows, newly refurbished reception area to include touchdown meeting rooms, and a new shower facility in the basement. Existing occupiers include Gleeds, Chubb Insurance and Mathys and Squire.

Harry Skinner, Senior Surveyor at Avison Young, said: “As todays occupiers are increasingly looking for more from their office space, Abbey House has been completely repositioned to provide Grade A office space with exceptional facilities. We are pleased to see this investment is already paying dividends with the arrival of Sweco, and with further space under offer we look forward to making further announcements soon.”

Sweco is headquartered in Stockholm and has 14 regional offices throughout the UK, with its head office located in Leeds.

Lambert Smith Hampton is joint letting agent for Abbey House.

The chance to realise retail dreams with four weeks of free pop-up space in the soon-to-be -launched next phase of Manchester’s new shopping and dining destination, Hatch is up for grabs in a unique competition.

The winner of the contest will be awarded a 160 sq ft shipping container retail unit for a four-week period at Hatch – an innovative pop-up scheme on Oxford Road, Manchester.

Along with rent-free space at one of Manchester’s most exciting new retail destinations, the competition champion will also win up to £500 towards the fit-out of their new pop-up premises and 12 months free membership with Enterprise Nation, providing access to expert business support to help them take their business to the next level.

The Hatch competition is designed to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with a foot on the ladder and the opportunity to take their retail concept to market. The winner will be given the advice and support they need to launch and build their fledgling businesses.

The winning unit will be unveiled at the highly-anticipated launch of Hatch’s next phase of development, which will see the scheme expand to over 30 units and the incorporation of a live music stage and covered courtyard area. Hatch is currently open to enquiries from traders for phase two of its much sought-after retail space.

Entrepreneurs, creators and makers who believe they have what it takes to be the next big thing at Hatch are now being invited to enter the pop-up space competition. The competition entry period will run from the 1st August to the 14th September, with entrants being asked to answer a series of questions online about their business proposition.

The competition is supported by leading property company, Bruntwood, the name behind both Hatch and Manchester’s independent shopping emporium Afflecks.

Shortlisted finalists will be asked to pitch their plans in person to a panel of expert judges including Toby Sproll, Bruntwood’s Head of Retail, Tony Martin, the General Manager of Hatch and Afflecks, Kate Day, Director at Manchester Craft & Design Centre, Lucy Ward, Creative Brand Director at Trouva, the online home for independent boutiques and Emma Jones MBE, Founder of Enterprise Nation.

The overall winner will be announced in September, with their dedicated shipping container being launched along with the next phase of Hatch in late October (subject to planning).

Toby Sproll, Head of Retail, Bruntwood said, “As we have seen with Hatch already, the North West is home to a wealth of entrepreneurs offering fresh and exciting new food, drink and shopping experiences. We want to help support these ventures, which play an important role in our regional economy and bring diversity and dynamism to Manchester’s retail and leisure scene.

“Hatch is a social hub, part of the Circle Square neighbourhood development, and provides a supportive, lively base for businesses with new concepts to take to consumers. The Hatch competition is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious start-up to take its ideas to market, free-of-charge, in a high-profile location, with high footfall and the full backing of our specialist business support network.”

Lucy Ward, Creative Brand Director at Trouva, said: “Getting a new retail concept started is always going to be a big challenge. Hatch’s competition to provide budding entrepreneurs not only space in a prime location, but mentoring and business support, is an amazing chance for Manchester’s brightest rising retail stars to really show off what they can do. We can’t wait to unearth some of the city’s hidden gems and with this incredible opportunity they could become the next big ones to watch.”

Anyone interested in entering the competition and hatching their business should visit www.hatchmcr.com/competition for further information and entry details.