Infrastructure company Burns & McDonnell has selected a group of international MBA students to undertake a research project on electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. This is being carried out as part of Alliance Manchester Business School’s Commercial Business Consultancy Project.
The group of five students will undertake in-depth research into the UK EV infrastructure market to determine its scale, impact and long-term potential. The project will run full-time until June, at the end of which time the students will produce a report outlining their findings and recommendations for Burns & McDonnell’s business approach.
The report will help inform Burns & McDonnell’s long-term investment strategy in the UK, as they seek to deliver evidence-based solutions for the integration of technologies to help manage energy demand.
The students are drawn from a diverse cohort of specialisms and backgrounds, bringing a unique perspective to the project. They will consult regularly with Burns & McDonnell throughout. They were chosen following a rigorous bidding process at the University of Manchester involving 25 companies across a range of projects, culminating in a formal pitch and Q&A session on their proposal.
Jonathan Chapman, Burns & McDonnell’s UK Managing Director, said: “Electric vehicles have enormous potential to be a transformative force in Manchester and the rest of the UK, but we need the right infrastructure to make it as easy and efficient as possible for people to take full advantage. It is our aim at Burns & McDonnell to help shape the future of EVs, starting with rigorous, applied research.
“The benefits of becoming involved in this project were clear from the start. It offers us the opportunity to base our future decision making on a sound evidence base and draw on the varying experience of the students themselves. It is our hope that through supporting and engaging with the academic community our work will have a meaningful and lasting impact, and that projects like this will inspire the next generation of engineers, entrepreneurs and researchers.
“Throughout the bidding process we were impressed with the calibre of students and the level of detail and imagination in their approach. We’re pleased to have found such a talented group to undertake important research that will help inform our strategy to meet the challenges the North of England faces as it seeks to renew its energy and transport infrastructure for the demands of the modern world.”
Abdullah Aljwirah, a member of the winning team who has a background in industrial engineering, said: “As a team we always knew this project would be a challenge, but that’s part of what drew us to it. We can’t wait to delve deeper into the world of EVs, an exciting burgeoning market. We all believe that the best way to learn is by doing things first hand, and think that Burns & McDonnell’s open and hands-on approach will make for a great partnership.
“As challenging as it will be, we all believe that we can produce impactful work at the end of the project. We can’t wait to get started.”
Newly launched Orbit Defence provides a fresh, human approach to IT compared to standard solutions on the market. Applying cutting-edge technology and world-class partners to an experienced yet innovative team, Orbit Defence delivers cost-effective solutions to de-risk businesses.
Located in Manchester, the team is headed up by CEO Christopher Carr and Chief Operating Officer Tom Haslehurst. Carr has devoted his career to IT with experience across manufacturing, testing, security, finance, and marketing. As well as a law degree and a postgraduate MSc in Information Technology, Haslehurst holds an extensive background in business spanning multiple industries both at home and overseas.
Talking about Orbit’s wider team and objective, Haslehurst quite simply admits “our team come from different backgrounds, however we all have one thing in common: we’ve sat in front of an ageing computer absolutely stumped as to why it will not do as it’s told. It’s for that reason we pull together the brightest minds and share our collective knowledge so that others can sit with their morning coffee and actually like the previously infuriating object in front of them.”
Orbit Defence have built an extensive list of expert partners, including Vapour Media and 4ARMED, to ensure their service delivers world-class, reliable solutions and efficient results. Carr states, “our access to the fastest connectivity solutions available, as well as our capacity to host your website and back it up in multiple datacenters, means you can rest safe in the knowledge that you have the highest possible level of security and, if needs be, instant disaster recovery.”
Despite its Manchester base, the company’s reach and ambition goes much further. Orbit Defence project a client base worth in the region of £400,000 by the end of year one, with year on year growth thereafter projected at 30-50%. To that end, they have been at full sail when it comes to recruitment. With 4 new staff already coming onboard in the first few months of 2018, Orbit have relocated to substantial offices in the city centre to allow for 10 more in the coming 12 months.
Orbit Defence offer flexible contracts for their customers, and, due to their extensive personal experience, specialise in the legal and financial sectors.
The Grade 11 listed Old Lloyd Chambers office building at Manchester Road, Altrincham has been sold for £395,000 by UK Ireland Services Ltd to a private company.
The 5,286 sq ft five storey iconic building has been acquired for residential conversion.
The building was home to UK & Ireland Services for 25 years prior to its recent relocation to Anchorage Court due to expansion.
Daniel Lee, director, Regional Property Solutions, who acted for UK & Ireland Insurance Services in the sale, said: “This acquisition reflects the success of Altrincham’s regeneration initiatives and the growing popularity of converting offices to residential use under Permitted Development Rights (PDR) for change of use. This trend has certainly taken off in Altrincham with a number of projects already completed in the town centre with more in the pipeline as well as new schemes across the area to satisfy the demand as the success of the town’s rejuvenation fans out from the centre”.
A canine visitor to The University of Manchester’s medical school is no mutt when it comes to making medical students happy.
Billy the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, higher education’s first dogtor, is taking part in a scheme for medical students to ease their stresses and strains.
Billy, wearing his doggy uniform, visits the medical school twice a month attending specially designated sessions with medical students
The idea compliments published University of Manchester research which finds that pets are good for your mental health.
And it is one of many the University activities designed to enhance the wellbeing of students and staff, culminating in the annual Wellbeing Week.
There are daily mindfulness sessions and workshops dealing with topics as wide ranging as tackling procrastination or tackling perfectionism. Now Billy is part of the mix for medical students.
Claire Mimnagh, who is a Communication Skills Administrator in the Medical school, was the person who thought of the idea.
She said: “Medicine is an intensive course and our students work incredibly hard. So we feel it’s important to make sure our students can find time to relax.
“Billy brings together our dog-loving students. They love his company and after spending a bit of time with him, feel great. You just have to see the smiles on their faces to realise what a hit Billy is.
“Our students love him – and he evidently loves them; his tail just doesn’t stop wagging.”
Billy’s owner is actor Sue Warhurst who works at the Medical School role playing patients to allow students to practice their consultation skills.
Dr Kelly Rushton, one of the researchers on the pet study said: “We know that having contact with pets can provide benefits for people with mental health problems by alleviating feelings of stress and providing comfort.”
“This scheme sounds as though it’s trying to do something along those lines, and I would personally have loved this opportunity when I was a student.”
Roland Dransfield has been appointed by the Blackpool Pier Company to handle PR for the seaside resort’s illustrious North, South and Central Piers.
The Manchester-based agency, which launched its consumer division in July last year, has been tasked with devising a plan to celebrate Central Pier’s 150th anniversary this May.
The RD team must construct a campaign to raise the profile of all three piers as well as identifying suitable brand partnerships for Central Pier’s iconic Big Wheel, the grade II listed North Pier’s stunning art deco theatre and the South Pier’s new rollercoaster.
Blackpool’s central pier first opened to the public on May 30th 1868 and this year the Blackpool Pier Company, in conjunction with Roland Dransfield, is planning a host of festivities to mark it’s 150th anniversary.
The oldest of the piers is North Pier, which was opened on 21st May 1863 and cost £11,740 to construct. South Pier is the shortest of all three piers and opened, with a choir, two brass bands and an orchestra, on Good Friday, 1893 .
Adam Moss, Roland Dransfield’s Head of Consumer, said: “It has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride since we launched the consumer arm in July last year. We’ve won lots of new accounts and our consumer offer is quite clearly turning heads.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have been asked to handle the PR for the Blackpool Piers. They are three genuine icons of the British seaside. At the heart of our campaign is the 150th anniversary of the Central Pier on May 30th.
“We are already talking to some big brands about partnership and sponsorship opportunities around the piers, the big wheel, new rollercoaster and, of course, the stunning art deco theatre.”
Renee Sedgwick, Blackpool Pier Company spokeswoman, said: “We are delighted to have Roland Dransfield on board to manage PR for the Blackpool Piers.
“We needed a strong PR agency which understood the importance of the piers and had a real grasp of what was needed to ensure they prosper. Roland Dransfield demonstrated all that, fantastic creativity and much more.”
Roland Dransfield’s consumer division already counts new Manchester double-decker hotel Crowne Plaza/Staybridge Suites as a client, as well as D&D London’s flagship 20 Stories restaurant in Manchester city centre. Their consumer arm also looks after PR for online art gallery Drella as well as Manchester city centre indoor golf club The Range. Their consumer client list has been bolstered further by accounts with First Street Ice Rink, The Offside Trust, Debate Mate and Boodles Tennis.
Growth of the booming restaurant and bar scene in Manchester is now more than double that of London. Latest industry data shows that Northern cities dominate a new league table of hospitality growth, occupying six of top eight places, with independent operators leading the surge as some casual dining chains struggle.
New analysis by Northern Restaurant & Bar, the trade show for the Northern hospitality industry which opens in Manchester next week, and CGA, the hospitality data and insight specialists, has shown that the “M62 corridor” spanning Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds is a hotspot for new restaurants and bars. The number of city centre outlets within Manchester itself has increased by nearly 25% over the last five years, more than double that of London, which had a 10.4% increase during the same period.
Thom Hetherington, CEO of Northern Restaurant & Bar said: “We’re delighted but not surprised by the data, as we have seen the changes first hand – new restaurants and bars are opening almost every day. Manchester is building a top class food and drink scene, and that’s great news for diners. Despite this being a challenging period for hospitality businesses, the growth is being largely driven by ambitious regional independents, and we’re proud that NRB can help to inspire and inform them.”
Jamie Campbell, Retail Business Unit Director of CGA, said: “Of course London is a much bigger restaurant and bar scene in absolute terms, but percentages don’t lie, the change in the cities in the North is more pronounced and has a proportionally greater impact on diners, whether residents or tourists. Moreover we are working on additional data which shows that growth in the region is indeed being driven by independents, with the featured Northern cities showing an increase in independent outlets at over twice the national rate.”
The continuing boom in the Northern hospitality scene is reflected in the success of NRB, the trade show for the industry in the region, which returns to Manchester Central, for its eighteenth year, next week on 20 & 21 March. Visitor numbers are set to be at an all time high, and stands for exhibiting suppliers sold out well in advance. NRB hosts 275 exhibitors providing every product and service a hospitality business needs, delivers 65 exciting live food & drink demos, and brings the entire Northern hospitality industry together for two days of networking, discovery and inspiration.
The Spinning Gate Shopping Centre in Leigh is celebrating diverting 100% of its waste away from landfill throughout 2017. The centre and its retailers produced over 107,000kg of waste during the year and as a result of the recycling processes in place, are proud to announce they have saved the equivalent of 70 trees and over 30,000 car miles during the past year!
B&M Waste Services have provided a total waste management solution at Spinning Gate since 2009. B&M Waste Services and Spinning Gate Shopping Centre have worked in partnership to deliver a bespoke service to increase recycling levels and eliminate waste to landfill, and they are now celebrating reaching this milestone.
The Shopping Centre processes its own waste, from the centres internal bins on the mall used by shoppers, along with waste from the centres retailers. An on-site compactor is used for general waste to ensure collections are only carried out when necessary. This minimises transport costs and carbon emissions, and the shopping centre only pays for the actual quantity of waste that is generated. The centre’s waste operatives then separate cardboard from the general waste which are then processed at B&M Waste Services recycling plant.
Prior to implementation of the new waste service, the centre was using large open containers to store waste and these were often being broken into and required frequent, costly collections. Now the waste is avoiding landfill and the centre benefits from a Carbon Neutral waste management strategy.
Karen Cox, Centre Manager of Spinning Gate said: “What an achievement, to ensure non of the waste produced from the centre goes to landfill and is 100% recycled or recovered is testament to the centre team, its retail partners and of course our waste partner B&M Waste Services. Spinning Gate Shopping Centre is fully committed to our environmental pledge, recycling initiatives and help driving awareness on the benefits recycling provides.”
Jayne Kennedy, B&M Waste Services Marketing Manager said: “Working in partnership with Spinning Gate Shopping Centre has been fantastic; they are truly committed to improving their environmental performance. We’re now planning some other activities together such as a joint litter pick with a local school and some tree planting as part of our Carbon Neutral commitment.”
The British Cleaning Council (BCC), the UK’s leading authority on commercial cleaning, waste management and hygiene, has revealed that the North West is set to see a boom in cleaning jobs over the next six years.
Data from the BCC’s latest research predicts that 43,000 jobs related to the cleaning sector will need to be filled in the region by 2024 through a mix of organic growth and replacement demand.
The BCC also believes the nature of many jobs being created in within the cleaning industry during this period will be radically different from the ‘cleaning operative’ role which most people are familiar with today.
Stan Atkins, Chair of the BCC, said: “Our figures indicate that the North West, which already employs over 70,000 people within the cleaning sector, will see over 40,000 job opportunities being created as the sector grows and people retire. However, many of the cleaning jobs of the future will require different skills, and will be much more visible.
“For example, increasing automation within commercial cleaning will see a rise in demand for more technicians, but we also anticipate the need for daytime cleaning staff who will be required to work around people in offices, shops, factories and public buildings.
“These roles will need a very different skillset to the traditional office cleaner, and recruiters will be looking for individuals who are comfortable interacting with customers, as well as being able to clean a workplace efficiently.
“The BCC also anticipates that with our aging population, and the need to keep people out of hospital and care homes for as long as possible, domestic roles currently seen as separate will morph into a new hybrid profession where caring, shopping and companionship services will be combined with cleaning and other tasks.
The BCC has also calculated the North West is currently home to over 3,800 cleaning firms, representing a 34% increase since 2010.
A presentation of the BCC’s findings to the UK’s cleaning and facilities management (FM) industries is set to be one of the highlights of next month’s Manchester Cleaning Show, a major trade exhibition and conference being hosted at Manchester’s Event City in April.
The two-day event (April 11-12), which is co-produced by the BCC, is set to focus on every part of the cleaning and FM supply chain and will host over 20 talks and seminars from leading industry experts.
The show, being held in the North West for the second time, will also feature over 80 exhibitors drawn from across Europe including Karcher, Nilfisk, SEBO, Bunzl and Killis.
Greater Manchester will also be well represented by the likes of Bolton-based janitorial specialists Jangro, Tameside-based cleaning chemical giants Greyland, and Sale-based Floorbrite Cleaning & Facilities Services
Floorbrite’s Marketing Director Nina Wyers, said of the event: “Floorbrite Cleaning & Facilities Services are delighted that The Cleaning Show is coming back to Manchester.
“In its debut year in 2016 our experience surpassed our expectations. Our stand with a seven-strong team struggled to cope with demand at times but it was a great opportunity to reinforce new and existing client and supplier relationships and to showcase our full portfolio of services.”
Another highlight of the 2018 Manchester Cleaning Show will be the return of the Window Cleaning Challenge.
Open to professionals and amateurs alike, the competition is based on who can clean three 1.143m high windows and the sill, in the fastest possible time, leaving no smears. The fastest times of each day will see two competitors earn a prize of £250.
Entrants can also take a shot at the official Guinness World Record time of just 9.14 seconds, set in 2009 in Blackpool, by legendary Essex window cleaner Terry ‘Turbo’ Burrows.
Terry himself will be in Manchester to see if his record is finally broken, and it will be adjudicated by the Federation of Window Cleaners, who themselves are based in Reddish, Greater Manchester.
Silas Heys from Harrison Drury solicitors talks through some of the key property issues to consider when launching a hospitality venture.
Property is something that all hospitality ventures have in common. Whether you intend to let a cottage to small groups or accommodate larger numbers in a hotel, and whether you are an individual seeking a nest egg, or a company diversifying your business, the following points almost always need to be considered before committing to your new venture.
Overcoming restrictive covenants
The property you have set your mind on for your hospitality venture might be for sale or to let. Either raises different issues to consider as to whether the property is right for your intentions.
Purchasing the freehold interest in a property means you are not beholden to a landlord and can choose to use the property as you please (subject to planning and licencing consents – see below). However, historic transfers of freehold property often include covenants restricting its use, particularly in picturesque locations such as Cumbria where past landowners will want to prevent future purchasers from changing the character and usage of the land. The most common covenants seek to prevent the sale of alcohol – a key concern if your business will contain a bar or restaurant. Others often prevent development without approval of plans from prior landowners.
It is essential that your conveyancer reviews the title documents and reports to you on such matters as early as possible, so that they can be resolved, or your plans adapted to ensure there are no breaches which could leave you open to costly litigation.
Taking a lease of a property has many benefits, not least meaning precious capital for your business is not tied up in physical property, but the lease will always stipulate how the property may be used and what can be done to the property, as well as liabilities regarding repair and returning the property at the end of the term. These covenants will almost always be more onerous than those on a freehold property, but crucially your solicitor can negotiate them with the landlord before you enter into the lease. This can give you the certainty you need that you are free to do what you need to with the property in order to make the venture a success, but consideration needs to be given to future plans in order that the lease doesn’t preclude your vision becoming reality.
Getting the right planning permission and licencing consents
If you are making physical alterations to the property or are changing its use, you may need planning permission. Additionally, in areas falling within a National Park, many buildings are listed or subject to further controls on development, including local occupancy restrictions.
Your solicitor will be able to advise of any such restrictions and whether appropriate consents are in place but planning often requires a collaborative approach between your professional advisors who can ensure that you fully comply with requirements. Failure to comply with either one of them could result in you having to undo any changes you have made, at your own cost.
Secondly, if you are to provide a licensable activity such as sale of alcohol or serving food between certain hours, you will need to have a premises licence. When purchasing an existing business this licence can often form a large part of the consideration you pay, and it is crucial that it is transferred with the purchase of the property or assignment of the lease. The licence does not run with the ownership of the property, and your solicitor will need to ensure that you can take the benefit of any premises licence to continue running the business.
Finally, you must remember that a successful application for planning permission does not override any restrictive covenants. The local council does not review the title documents or any leases affecting a property when considering a planning application, because the requirement for planning permission is entirely separate from the requirements of any restrictive covenants.
Being clear on Tax and Allowances
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) can be a large, up-front outlay when purchasing or leasing property. It is important to carefully consider how much SDLT will have to be paid as different circumstances can lead to different rates.
You should always ensure you apportion the purchase price of any property correctly on fixtures and fittings, land/property and, if you are buying an established business, stock and goodwill. SDLT is only payable on the land element so you may be able to substantially reduce your SDLT liability by appropriately apportioning the purchase price to individual elements.
Where the property is clearly commercial, such as an established hotel, SDLT is usually straightforward, but it is worth noting that SDLT is payable on the VAT payable on a purchase price of the land. This means it is crucial you establish from the outset whether the property has been opted for VAT by the seller, as it could give a not insignificant increase to your initial outlay.
However, buy-to-let and holiday homes fall under more complex rules as part of the residential property rates. Standard residential rates still apply but, if you already own an interest in residential property worth more than £40,000, the SDLT payable on the purchase of additional residential property will be increased by 3% of the total purchase price.
If you are purchasing numerous properties, or a main property with an annex or other granny flat, reliefs on SDLT such as Multiple Dwellings Relief may be able to reduce your assessment, even if you would ordinarily be liable for the 3% surcharge. It is essential you discuss the plans with your solicitor who will be able to refer you to a specialist tax advisor if appropriate.
A further finance point is the existence of capital allowances, which may allow you to offset future tax liability for refurbishments and improvements against the previous seller’s pooled allowance.
This is a complex area, and the potential for savings on tax liability can be significant, so you should establish at the offer stage if there are any capital allowances available and speak to your solicitor and other professional advisors without delay.
Still keen?
Hospitality and leisure is a rewarding sector and a natural fit with the rugged beauty and culture that north-west has to offer, with its areas of outstanding natural beauty, national parks and vibrant towns and cities. However, careful thought and discussion needs to be had with your professional advisors in order to ensure you make your move fully informed and with the minimum of risk. If you are considering a new or enlarged venture in hospitality, make sure you consult a professional advisor at the earliest opportunity.
Toast PR is celebrating four new health and beauty consumer account wins since the start of 2018, with two skincare brands, Utopia and LA by Lisa Armitage, MEMI make-up, and Foods You Can – the health test and nutritional supplement experts – all joining the agency’s impressive range of consumer, corporate and B2B clients.
Utopia is range of skincare products for mature skin, aged 45+, and has been developed by an award-winning formulation scientist whose previous work includes inventing the patented anti-ageing antioxidant complex used in the renowned Boots No7 Protect and Perfect serum.
Matt Popow at Utopia says: “We were extremely impressed with Toast’s credentials in both the business and beauty industry – they offered us an ideal combination of both and were a natural fit with us to help us achieve our objectives for the Utopia brand.”
Joining Utopia as a new Toast PR client is LA by Lisa Armitage – a new range of superfood skincare products, created by a former professional chef who has combined her background in nutrition and her passion for natural health in her collection.
Natural health is also a key focus for Foods You Can – with their comprehensive range of private health tests, health food boxes, and vitamin and mineral packs – and Toast has been appointed to drive consumer awareness through national media.
Completing the collection of Toast’s new health and beauty clients is MEMI – a cruelty-free make-up range offering premium quality at affordable prices and aimed firmly at millennials.
Toast PR is working with MEMI (pronounced Me-My) to drive interest and awareness through consumer and social media, and securing celebrity and fashion brand partnerships. Thanks to Toast, MEMI has already appeared in Grazia, Look, The Telegraph and Marie Claire online.
Toast PR was founded by former Boots PR manager Julia Mitchell in 2004 and the agency’s first consumer account was the global suncare range, Soltan, before Toast expanded the business to work with clients in technology, property, and the hospitality sector.
Many of the senior team at Toast come from a strong consumer PR background with shared previous clients including Johnson & Johnson, Estee Lauder and Glaxo Smithkline.
Julia comments: “Despite growing our B2B credentials these past few years we’ve always been a consumer agency at heart, so combing the two is ideal for the team as it’s a great use of our varied experience and contacts.”
“We’re thrilled to be working with four new and exciting entrant brands in the health and beauty industry and helping them to realise their full potential. It’s a highly competitive sector but thanks to our combined passion for what we do and what their products can offer I’m delighted to say we are already achieving results.
“Our clients come to us for our expertise and experience in key sectors and they stay with us because of our focus on creating lasting partnerships with them, the media and other influencers.”
