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Crystal Maze welcomes new Managing Director

Sam Whitear
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The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience, set up by leisure and attractions company, Little Lion Entertainment, is firmly focused on the future as it welcomes a new Managing Director, Glen Mintrim, to help further grow the brand and drive it forward.

Since opening its London site in 2016, following a successful crowdfunding campaign, The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience has only increased in popularity with those travelling across the country to experience the 90’s nostalgia. This surge in bookings led to the Crystal Maze LIVE Experience opening in Manchester on 1st April 2017 to enable more people to work against the clock to solve both mental and physical challenges to win crystals in each of the four themed zones.

Glen Mintrim, former managing director of STA Travel’s UK business, will take the helm with a focus on experience operations to exceed Crystal Maze LIVE’s commercial success, particularly in the competitive corporate event industry.

Keen to hit the ground running in his new role, Glen comments: “Being a part of such a unique company is a welcomed challenge; I’m ready to get stuck in. Seeing how quickly The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience has become so well-known indicates that there are only good things to come.

“In the 90’s I loved the TV show so it was a dream to race through the Aztec zone and try to grab those crystals! Unfortunately, I wasn’t quick enough to make it onto the leaderboard – maybe next time!”

Having previously worked at companies such as Emirates, TUI and British Airways, Glen is eager to put down roots in Manchester after travelling around the world and studying in both Dubai and South Africa.

Welcoming Glen’s appointment, CEO Tom Lionetti-Maguire said: “We are excited to have Glen joining the Little Lion Entertainment Family. We are not a big faceless corporation, so one of our main focuses with That Crystal Maze LIVE Experience brand is that we are a team because every employee matters, and has such a key role to play, which is especially true in Glen’s case.

“As our Manchester site reaches its first birthday, it’s all hands on deck to ensure our growth continues so we look forward to Glen’s input, especially with his worldwide business exposure. We’re excited to see what the next year brings – be sure to expect unexpected news!’

Four full themed adventure zones, a crystal dome and over 30 maze masters at each site ensure the ultimate experience as groups of eight enter the maze every seven minutes. As of late, The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience has seen a growth in commercial bookings of both sites for corporate away days as more companies are searching for a unique experience to further team bonding.

Swinton’s Lowry Mill attracts two new tenants

Sam Whitear
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Lowry Mill is now home to IT support and technology provider IT Lab, who have taken 10,000 sq ft of space, and insolvency specialists Creditfix who have taken 4,500 sq ft. In both cases the design and construction of the suites were undertaken by the landlord, Vanguard Holdings Ltd, as turn-key solutions, with the new suites being occupied within ten weeks of terms being agreed. Joint agents Cushman & Wakefield and Canning O’Neil act on behalf of the landlord Vanguard Holdings.

Lauren Steele, Director of Business Services, for IT Lab commented: “We are delighted with our new accommodation at Lowry Mill. We received excellent support from the team at Vanguard and are hugely impressed with their efficiency and attention to detail. We have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Lowry Mill.”

Built in 1883, Lowry Mill is a former Victorian Spinning Mill which was acquired by Vanguard Holdings in 2008 and extensively modernised to provide office suites and is now 75% occupied. Amenities including an on-site gym, conference room facilities, car parking and restaurant. The final phase of the development, 22,000 sq ft of space is due to come on to the market in June.

Lowry Mill is located less than one mile from J16 of the M60 and a short walk from Swinton Train Station. Other occupiers include Regus, Influential Products, Esay Solutions, Dataspire, and Leisurewear International.

Andrew Crabtree of Cushman & Wakefield’s Office agency team in Manchester commented: “These recent transactions endorse the quality and amenity of Lowry Mill. It reflects the strong demand in the location and Vanguard’s approach of creating a bespoke functional office space while retaining the attractive character of the building.”

Parcel2go awarded ‘Top 15 fastest growing technology companies’ at 2018 Northern Tech Awards

Sam Whitear
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Bolton based, Parcel2go, the UK’s leading parcel delivery comparison website has been awarded ‘Top 15 fastest growing technology companies’ at the 2018 Northern Tech Awards.

The awards which have been running since 2011 work in partnership with technology investment bank, GP Bullhound. Together they discover, recognise and celebrate the biggest tech success stories in the north. Each year they are hosted in a different city, with this year’s being held in Edinburgh, one of Europe’s tech hub hotspots.

This isn’t the first time the Bolton based company have been honoured with an award at the Northern Tech Awards, last year they were recognised as one of the top 100 fastest growing technology companies and in 2015 they were awarded ‘Most innovative company in the North’

Parcel2Go’s Managing Director, Adam Harris was delighted with the award: “It’s such an honour to be recognised once again as one of the fastest growing technology companies. The Northern Tech Awards is such a prestigious event, which highlights all the incredible and innovative work coming out of the North, for us it’s all about the next big thing we can do and being a pioneer within the technology world and receiving acknowledgment like this means we are on the right path. We hope to be back again next year as we continue to grow and develop.”

The winners were selected by a panel of high-profile judges, from some of the UK’s leading and innovative technology companies. This year new judges including Sherry Coutu CBE, Chair of Founders4Schools and Melinda Matthews, chief executive of the Edinburgh-based digital skills academy CodeClan, joined established judges such as David Rowan, founding editor of Wired UK.

Parcel2Go have now won at the Northern Tech Awards several times, alongside other notable awards within the industry, but there’s still room for further progression and innovation. The brand will continue to develop and grow, continuously coming up with new ways to continue to be the leader in its field.

The online parcel comparison site recently launched a new pallet shipping service with Palletways, Europe’s largest pallet delivery network. This service will provide Parcel2Go customers with the ability to send larger consignments on pallets throughout the UK and Europe quicker and more affordably than ever before.

Independent Vinyl records store opens in Altrincham

Sam Whitear
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An independent vinyl records shop, Tasty Records, has just opened at 25 Regent Road, Altrincham.

Ben Molesworth, the owner said: “I’ve been dealing in vinyl records for five years and this is the perfect place to open a new serious store, Tasty Records, which we hope to be in for the next 50 years.  We cover every genre and deal with new releases and are official Record Store Day partners”.

The small boutique outlet is in an excellent location close to the Market Quarter and surrounded by the key new developments in this area. It has taken a four year lease on the 500 sq ft retail unit.

Daniel Lee, director, Regional Property Solutions, who let the retail unit on behalf of a private landlord said: “This area is certainly looking set to become Altrincham’s next hot spot which is borne out by the fact that we let this unit within three days of it coming available”.

Irwin Mitchell launches Will, Trust and Estate Disputes Team in Manchester

Sam Whitear
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Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth is launching a new Will, Trust and Estate Disputes team in Manchester from 1st May which will be headed up by senior associate Nazia Nawaz.

Nazia joined Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth last year in Leeds and is making the permanent move to Manchester to build a new team in the North West.

Having qualified in 2003, Nazia is a highly experienced dispute resolution and litigation solicitor. She will be handling complex disputes between executors and trustees, contested wills and proprietary estoppel cases as well as disputes involving financial abuse and maladministration. Nazia is also a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists.

Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth is the number one ranked team for will disputes in the independent Legal 500 rankings and is often involved in international, ground-breaking and high-value complex cases.

Nazia said: “I worked in in the North West before I joined Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth and so it’s great to be moving back to Manchester to start building a new Will, Trust and Estate Disputes team here. We are already the number one ranked team in the country and are looking to grow further in the coming years.

“This is a specialist area of law as disputes arising from estates and wills are usually highly emotionally charged and can create friction between family and friends. It requires a sensitive touch but it is important for clients to know that we are prepared to take their cases to the highest courts if necessary.

“While I will be based in Manchester I can draw support from some of the best private client lawyers and resources in the country at Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth.”

The leading national law firm’s Manchester office has seen multiple exciting changes in recent months. National Head of Family Ros Bever was named Regional Managing Partner for the office in April, taking over from Roy Beckett. Ros will continue her work as a leading family and divorce law partner.

Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office has also recently seen the arrival of three new Court of Protection Partners, new Corporate partners, Victoria Zivkovic and Adam Kaucher, and announced a move into new offices demonstrating its commitment to growing the business in the city and the North-West.

Ros said: “We are delighted to welcome Nazia and the Will, Trust and Estate Disputes team to the city. We have a great reputation for our legal work here and ambitions to become a large private wealth hub in the North West.

“As National Head of Family Law, the team and I already worked closely with the national Will, Trust and Estate Disputes team. Having Nazia in Manchester will allow us to provide an even better and more personal service to our North West clients.

“We are always on the look-out for high-quality new recruits as we seek to grow our business.”

Paula Myers, National Head of Will, Trust and Estate Disputes said: “Our team is already ranked number one in several locations across the country and we are pleased that Nazia is going to be growing our team over in Manchester, enabling us to help resolve problems for even more clients in the North West.”

More than 600 jobs on offer at Manchester Airport

Sam Whitear
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More than 600 jobs are available at Manchester Airport, as it gears up for its busiest 12 months on record.

Job-seekers from across the region are being invited to attend a special event on Thursday 26th April at Lancashire County Cricket Club’s The Point complex from 10am to 4pm, to learn more about the roles.

As well as roles with Manchester Airport other employers recruiting include Swissport, Boots, HMSHost, Thomas Cook Airlines, Jet2. Jobs available include cabin crew, pilots, retail assistants, security officers, drivers and customer service agents.

Andrew Cowan, CEO of Manchester Airport, said: “As we gear up for our busiest ever summer, we’re looking forward to discussing the job opportunities available with people from a wide range of backgrounds from across the region.

“The airport is a huge source of employment and as we continue to grow, so will the number of employment and training opportunities available.

“Events like this, coupled with the jobs being created through our £1bn Transformation Programme, illustrate the important role Manchester Airport plays in supporting the growth of the region as a whole.”

The jobs fair comes as the airport prepares for its busiest ever summer.

Work on the £1bn transformation programme, which will see Terminal more than double in size, continues at pace, with more than 700 people currently working on the programme.

This summer, there will also be new routes to Seattle with Thomas Cook Airlines, Florence with BA CityFlyer and Cagliari, Palermo and Ponta Delgada with Ryanair.

Manchester Airport is already one of the largest centres of employment in the North West with more than 22,000 people directly employed on site, supporting a further 48,000 jobs in the region.

Virgin Trains buzzing to support Manchester’s Bee in the City

Sam Whitear
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Virgin Trains has been announced as Presenting Partner for this year’s Bee in the City in Manchester. The nine-week long event will be one of the largest mass participation public art events ever held in the North West, expected to attract around 1m visitors to the city centre.

Over 80 individually designed Bees will go on display through streets, parks and public spaces in Manchester this summer taking people on a journey of discovery through the city between July-September. Visitors will be able to follow the free, accessible trail, looking out for the two Virgin Trains Bees, with help from the Bee in the City App, unlocking exciting rewards in the process.

“We’re incredibly excited to BEE on board,” enthused Ady Crymble, Customer Experience Manager for Virgin Trains in Manchester. “It will bring added life and energy to the city centre, connecting the wider community and showcasing all that is good about Manchester.

“It will provide a massive boost for the local community, putting a smile on peoples’ faces whilst raising money for such a worthy cause, and rest assured we will be looking to add a bit of Virgin Trains fun to the celebration this summer.”

Virgin Trains employs close to 700 people in Manchester, operating 47 services every day (Monday – Saturday) from Manchester Piccadilly to and from London, carrying over 10 million customers each year, providing a vital link to help strengthen local economies.

Sally-Ann Wilkinson, Director, Wild in Art said: “We are thrilled to have Virgin Trains on board as a Bee in the City Presenting Partner. Thousands of families will be travelling to Manchester on Virgin Trains from July to September to enjoy what will be one of the biggest and most spectacular public art events ever. Virgin Trains is the perfect partner to take our trail-goers on a creative journey of discovery this summer!”

The Bees will make their final flight at a glittering auction in October, leaving a lasting legacy for various local charitable causes via the Lord Mayor of Manchester’s ‘We Love MCR’ charity.

Antifriction oils wheel of growth with move to bigger premises

Sam Whitear
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A fast-growing specialist industrial parts distributor is doubling the size of its Bolton branch with a move to new premises on Britannia Way Industrial Park.

Antifriction has invested £100,000 in fitting out the newly built property, which will replace its existing unit nearby and act as the main depot for an area stretching from Greater Manchester to the Scottish borders and West Yorkshire.

The Bolton branch, which is run by an eight-strong team led by manager John McInnes, has doubled its turnover over the past five years. The new premises will support its growth plans, allowing it to double its stock and provide a larger trade counter and dedicated customer training area.

The move is part of a £1m-plus investment programme by Antifriction which has seen it establish two new bases in Feltham near Heathrow and Ellesmere Port as well improvements to its Birmingham site and Bristol headquarters in recent years.

Antifriction supplies over 200,000 lines such as belt drives, chains, lubricants, seals, gearboxes, motors and fluid power products for process and general heavy industrial applications. Its serves manufacturing, metal processing, engineering, energy, recycling, paper and construction industries.

Founded in 1976, it is now part of Italian company Gruppo Bianchi, which is one of the biggest industrial distributors in Europe, and acquired the hydraulic hose stockist Ehrco lastyear.

John McInnes comments: “Antifriction supplies critical components to keep the wheels of industry turning. The new premises will allow us to hold a much wider range of products in stock, further cutting down delivery times to our large base of loyal clients and helping them to minimise losses in production.”

Andrew Fleming, Antifriction’s operations director, adds: “With room to expand and excellent access to the motorway network, the office is ideally placed to serve the region’s engineering and heavy industry. The rapid growth of our operations in Bolton and the North West in recent years, gaining many new customers, will enable us to continue on our growth trajectory.”

Andy Burnham opens ‘Moving North’ Conference, focusing on the business opportunities from the shift to greener transport

Sam Whitear
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The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, together with leading speakers from the Northern Powerhouse, the automotive industry and related sectors, came together today, Thursday 12 April 2018, to discuss the future of greener transport in the North and the resulting business opportunities.

Following on from Manchester’s recent Green Summit, the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership’s (LowCVP) 2018 ‘Moving North’ Conference focused on the challenge of cutting carbon emissions and air pollution from transport, and seizing the business opportunities – across the automotive and fuel supply chains, and through to transport companies and innovators in the Northern Powerhouse.

The event opened with a keynote address by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, whose key question was “Can devolution of power to the English regions accelerate the change to greener transport?”. Andy added: “At our Green Summit in March, over 700 people came together to help us set a pathway for making Greater Manchester one of the greenest city-regions in Europe.

“Low carbon transport is clearly a vital component of that ambition. Proposals on the table include establishing a new public sector-led commercial model for the Greater Manchester electric vehicle (GMEV) charging network this year and doubling the size of the network.

“If we are to tackle the challenges involved in reducing transport emissions in the region, and support growing demand for greener travel, it is vital that we bring all sectors together and move as one.

“We must be bold in our ambitions and keep our eyes on the significant long-term benefits, not just the short-term challenges. Greater Manchester wants to move to an emissions-free bus fleet and we will look at whether new bus powers for Mayors of combined authorities can help us to achieve this faster.

“Being among the first to fully embrace new green technologies has the potential to bring huge economic advantages, and Greater Manchester is primed and ready to take that step. The automotive industry is hugely important for jobs in the UK, and the next generation of ultra-low emission vehicles will provide huge opportunities for our digital and manufacturing sectors.”

The Moving North Conference was held in association with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, the Northern Automotive Alliance (NAA) and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM). It was supported by Manchester Metropolitan University – the host for the event – and sponsored by GEFCO and Uber.

The conference featured a range of high profile speakers including:

  • Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester
  • Henri Murison, Director, Northern Powerhouse Partnership
  • Bob Moran, Deputy Head, Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV)
  • Mike Hawes, Chief Executive, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)
  • Ian Constance, Chief Executive, Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC)
  • Lawrence Davies MBE, Chief Executive, Automotive Investment Organisation (AIO)
  • Jon Lamonte, Chief Executive, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)
  • Peter Molyneux, Major Roads Director, Transport for the North (TfN)
  • Andy Eastlake, Managing Director, Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP)
  • Carol Holden OBE, Chief Executive, Northern Automotive Alliance (NAA)
  • Dave Roberts, Director, Smart Interventions, EA Technology.

Andy Eastlake, Managing Director, Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP), commented: “I’m delighted that the LowCVP has been able to bring together a number of different sectors, including the automotive and energy industries, governmental/public sector organisations, ‘new mobility’ companies and other stakeholders, to look at the future of transport in the Northern Powerhouse region – and beyond.

“This future will be driven by ever-tighter regulation of carbon dioxide and pollutant emissions, coupled with growing demand from users for cleaner and more efficient vehicles and the energy to power them. This transition offers huge opportunities for businesses in the automotive, fuels and related sectors.”

Carol Holden OBE, Chief Executive, Northern Automotive Alliance (NAA), added: “I hope this event will play a key role in moving us towards a local, joined-up approach for a Northern low carbon vehicle industry vision and strategy, as well as raising the profile of our regional assets and research, and starting the debate about funding and support mechanisms that make sense for a diverse, geographically spread community.”

Christie & Co appoints Regional Director to new North West division

Sam Whitear
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Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co announces Nick Brown as Regional Director of the newly formed North West region following Christie & Co’s decision to divide its regional business in the North into two separate divisions. The new North West division will be based in Manchester, covering the whole of Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and North Wales.

Nick Brown first joined Christie & Co in 2014 as a negotiator on the Corporate Childcare team and has since supported a number of significant high profile transactions. Nick has also mentored and developed the Childcare Brokerage team, which continues to go from strength to strength. Recently appointed as Director & Head of Brokerage – Childcare UK, Nick will continue in this position alongside his role as Regional Director.

Nick Brown commented: “I am delighted to take on the role of Regional Director for the North West in conjunction with my national role in the Childcare sector, we have a fantastic base on which to build on with a great combination of experienced agents and newer members of the team. These are exciting times and all indications are that 2018 is going to be a very busy year.”

Chris Day, Global Managing Director of Christie & Co comments, “We are confident that Nick’s leadership skills, passion and enthusiasm will continue to be of benefit to the Childcare team and will strengthen the growth of our North West regional business. Historically, the North West has been a top performing region at Christie & Co and the new structure will ensure we continue to provide expert service across the North and throughout the UK.

“David Lee will continue to lead our North East business as Regional Director – North East, and I am positive that both the North East and North West regions will continue to prosper, develop and grow with this new structure.”

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