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Pensionhelp appoints Rory Percival as non-executive director

Sam Whitear
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Manchester-based Pensionhelp Ltd is pleased to announce the appointment of Rory Percival as a non-executive director with immediate effect.

The appointment has been made to provide additional expertise to the Board.

Rory Percival was ‘the face of the FCA’ to advisory firms for many years. He worked at the regulator for 10 years and was involved with many high-profile projects such as risk profiling, centralised investment propositions, the RDR, research and due diligence, and the assessing suitability review as well as speaking regularly at conferences.

Prior to joining the regulator Rory worked in the advisory for sector for 20 years mainly in compliance and training roles. He has Chartered Financial Planner status. In November 2016 he launched his own firm – Rory Percival Training and Consultancy Ltd to help support professionalism in the advisory sector. He is also a member of the Personal Finance Society Board.

Rory Percival said: “I am very happy that Pensionhelp invited me to join the Board. It is a comparatively young firm with an interesting proposition. I look forward to working with the firm in the coming months and years.”

Mark Wilson, Managing Director of Pensionhelp said: “On behalf of the Board at Pensionhelp, I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to secure the services of Rory in this position. He will bring significant knowledge and experience to the Board. He is the ‘go to’ person in the sector we operate, and I am looking forward to his contribution in our strategic vision.”

Recruitment partnership seeks young people for training opportunities

Sam Whitear
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The UK’s largest privately owned contractor, Bolton-based Seddon, is looking for 15 new trainees this Wednesday 7 March to take part in the latest round of its recruitment partnership.

The sector-based work academy (SBWA) scheme is run by the company in conjunction with Jobcentre Plus and Salford City College as part of a drive to deliver on-site training and career support to unemployed young people across the UK.

Successful applicants take part in a two-week training course and work experience placement are guaranteed a job interview with the company at the end of the process.

Now in its fifth year, the award-winning initiative has so far trained 45 candidates, with 5 going on to secure full-time employment at the company and other candidates offered additional support via Jobcentre Plus and Salford College to move into work in their chosen career.

This year applicants aged between 16 and 25 are invited to attend Salford City College, Worsley Campus on the 7th March 2018 at 13.00 or speak their Jobcentre Plus Work Coach.

Kat Healey, Training Manager at Seddon, said: “The sector-based work academy is one of our most successful training initiatives and offers young people in the community a real chance to get back into employment and potentially into a career in construction.

“As a company we believe strongly in investing in talent and providing the next generation with the skills they need to succeed.”

Suzanne Cross, Employer Resource Manager at Jobcentre Plus, said: We have built a great relationship with Seddon by working closely with them to support their recruitment needs, and have been able to support customers into their chosen career. As a company, Seddon have shown flexibility in their recruitment methods and made adjustments to enable our customers to apply. This initiative is well received by employers, staff and customers and has proved to be a winner”.

Allan Milne, head of apprenticeships and business development at Salford City College, added: “We work in partnership with Seddon on a number of training schemes that have given large numbers of young people the chance to develop their careers and wider skill sets.

“The sector-based work academy goes from strength to strength each year and we look forward to working with the next cohort to help them achieve their goals.”

Allan Milne, head of apprenticeships and business development at Salford City College, added: “We work in partnership with Seddon on a number of training schemes that have given large numbers of young people the chance to develop their careers and wider skill sets.

“The sector-based work academy goes from strength to strength each year and we look forward to working with the next cohort to help them achieve their goals.”

British manufacturers help Manchester Airport take off

Sam Whitear
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British manufacturers have been instrumental in helping Manchester Airport stay open through the winter by coming together to install an airplane de-icer system.

The fluid storage and processing system, created for Airline Services Handling LTD, had assistance from three British manufacturers.

The de-icer containers were supplied by Tuffa Tanks, which provided seven 15,000-litre capacity portable units. Two de-icing rigs were also provided to the airport by Northern Ireland firm, Mallaghan – A manufacturer of airport ground support equipment.

Nigel Daniel, Managing Director of Airline Services Handling LTD, praised these organisations coming together while promoting the provider of the de-icer itself:

“It was great to see all British manufactured products from Tuffa and Mallaghan being used on this project, together with de-icing fluid manufactured in the UK by the Haltwhistle based Chemical manufacturer, Kilfrost,”.

The de-icer system is a safety-critical measure which is vital for the safe operation of aircraft. The new layout of the tanks and plant has enabled the airport to meet demands for travel due to the rapid expansion of flights out of Manchester.

Located at Terminal Two but portable to reach other parts of the airport, the tanks are lightweight – requiring just a forklift truck to be manoeuvred. Housed in an integrated frame, they can be attached directly to fill the de-icing rigs providing there is a suitable concrete base. This has led to the new system being described as a “plug-in and play operation”.

The tanks can be easily drained and transported to another location, making them an ideal choice for multi-site ground crew operators.

The seven de-icer tanks were manufactured in polyethylene – a substance known for its prolonged usage and durability as well as its compatibility with de-icer chemicals.

During the manufacturing process, the tanks are baked in a large oven and cooled. They are then bunded, with the outer ‘bund’ having a minimum 110% capacity of the inner tank. As a result, this extra safety measure helps prevent over-filling and spillage, as well as offering clean, pollution-free storage, and meeting all legal requirements for secondary containment.

A moulded plastic cabinet is also added to the front to contain all the pumps, gauges and dispensing equipment. The result is a bespoke system suitable for the demands of Manchester Airport.

Tuffa Tanks UK General Manager, James Shenton said: “The aviation industry has specific requirements in terms of the grades of material required to store de-icer fluid, the bulk storage capacities required and the mixing and dispensing to the ground crew de-icer rigs. At Tuffa, we have many years’ experience of this type of project and have an expert, specialist team in the design, production and supply of de-icer tanks to airports.”

Manchester Lawyer wins Inspirational Woman of the Year

Sam Whitear
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Ros Bever, family law expert and National Head of Family at leading national law firm Irwin Mitchell Private Wealth, has been awarded bronze for ‘Inspirational Woman of the Year’ at the Citywealth Powerwomen Awards.

The awards took place at the Rosewood Hotel in London, recognising several women in the financial and legal sectors for their achievements.

Ros’ award win follows her recent inclusion on Citywealth’s Powerwomen Top 50 list, which includes women from the legal and financial sectors. One of only four lawyers named outside of London, Ros is the only woman from Manchester to make the list.

Ros said of the award: “It’s fantastic to have received this award so soon after being included on Citywealth’s Top 50. I’m absolutely thrilled to be recognised for the excellent work our team is doing on behalf of our clients.”

Speaking about her recent inclusion on Citywealth’s Top 50, Ros also said: “I was born and raised in Manchester, so being from here is a big part of my identity both personally and professionally. I’m proud to be flying the flag for family law outside of the capital.

“Though I love working with my clients in London, the Powerwomen list shows that you don’t have to go to the capital to find great lawyers who are working on some of the very best and cutting-edge cases.”

Northcoders launches The Developer Pathway: the revolutionary route into the tech industry

Sam Whitear
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Manchester headquartered Northcoders – the coding bootcamp for the North – is fundamentally changing the way that people can enter the tech sector by launching its brand new Developer Pathway programme.

This unique teaching innovation promotes a fundamentally different, bespoke and compassionate way of learning. It is uniquely personal and ensures that student software developers graduate with the skills to find work that have been learned at a pace that’s right for them.

The Developer Pathway is different. Unlike other courses it is divided into six two-week blocks. At the end of each block, if a student is ready, they’ll move straight onto the next block. But this is where The Developer Pathway is unique: if a person needs more time to consolidate their skills, they have the opportunity to repeat the block immediately at no extra cost.

Northcoders believes that learning in this way will allow students to progress at their natural pace – whether that takes 12, 14 or 16 weeks.

Northcoders has gained a unique insight into the entry standards required by companies across a wide-range of sectors and at different stages of their maturity, from start-up to enterprise, and Developer Pathway is designed to guarantee that each student meets those standards on graduation.

Students on The Developer Pathway course will also work with Northcoders’ in-house team of career development experts who provide support that is tailored to individual ambitions. Their priority is to find every person the right job via their extensive network of Northern tech employers.

James Brooke – co-founder of Northcoders – said: “The launch of The Developer Pathway is a game changer for us as a business but also for the wider tech industry. It is a truly innovative teaching model that will ensure that all students graduate with absolute confidence in their own skills. That is so important to us as we know that everybody learns differently and there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’. It was conceived by exploring our brand values, and what they implied we should change to give the best possible experience for every student who comes on our course.”

James added: We want every new software developer who comes to Northcoders to thrive and to follow the pathway that is right for them. It’s not just about finding a job, it’s about being in the best possible position to not just find work but to fly in their new career.”

Northcoders recently expanded into Federation House. It offers courses that are designed to satisfy the increasing demand for developers across various industries and sectors in the North of England.

The courses aim to give graduates the opportunity to learn coding to an industry-standard level and to ensure they have skills, initiative and attitude well beyond what is usually expected for an entry-level software developer.

To date, seven cohorts – with a total of 129 students – have graduated. The business employs 19 full-time members of staff. Northcoders offers an industry-led curriculum, which is constantly in review against its hiring partners’ needs. Hiring partners include ThoughtWorks, Barclays, Apadmi and MoneySupermarket.

Applications for the first Developer Pathway courses, which start on March 19th, April 3rd, April 16th, April 30th, May 14th, May 29th and June 11th are now open.

Last surviving Dam Buster to give talk at Manchester Airport’s Runway Visitor Park 

Sam Whitear
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Under the wings of Concorde, the last surviving British member of the infamous Dam Busters raid will take to the stage and talk about Operation Chastise.  On April 19, Johnny Johnson MBE DFM, will talk about his role in the raids on German dams in May 1943 by the Royal Air Force 617 Squadron.

As part of Manchester Airport’s 80th celebrations, The Aviation Society and the Avro Heritage Museum has organised this very special event that marks 75 years since the operation.  As well as the talk there will be entertainment from a 1940’s singer the Lancashire Belle and there will also be afternoon tea.

The aircraft used for the raid was the Avro Lancaster bomber which was predominantly developed in the factories around Greater Manchester and its first flight was from Ringway airfield which became Manchester Airport.

Johnny Johnson, MBE, said: “I am very much looking forward to our evening in Manchester. In my opinion the Avro Lancaster, was the finest four engine heavy bomber aircraft of World War 2, myself and colleagues look forward to sharing our experiences of Operation Chastise and other missions where the Lanc was certainly put through her paces.”

Peter Hampson, Chairman of The Aviation Society said “This is without doubt a unique event which will bring together so many fascinating people from the world of aviation. Johnny Johnson is a true hero having flown over 50 missions during WW11 and operated as a Bomb aimer on the Lancaster during operation Chastise. It’s very appropriate that Manchester and specifically the airport from where the iconic Lancaster made its first flight has been chosen as the venue for this presentation.”

There will be a number of special guests joining Johnny for the evening including Mary Stopes-Roe, (Daughter of Sir Barnes Wallis), Eric Verdon Roe (Grandson of Sir Alliott Verdon Roe – founder of the Avro Aircraft Company), Sir Charles Masefield – President of BAE Systems and former Avro Chief Test Pilot.

 

Preparing businesses for GDPR

Sam Whitear
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The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into effect 25 May 2018 and businesses failing to comply may face a large fine – up to 4% of their turnover – imposed by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).

GDPR applies to all organisations processing the personal data of individuals, in both electronic and physical formats. Failing to ensure proper procedures are in place will pose a high risk to businesses; under GDPR, a business is liable if a data breach leads to an individual’s information being stolen.

Research from the ICO revealed that over 40% of UK data security incidents in 2017 were attributed to paper documents and, under the new legislation, businesses using a standard office shredder may still be at risk since documents may not be shredded to a high enough standard.

B&M Secure Shredding, are supporting organisations with the transition to GDPR compliance, helping them to reduce potential risks. Paul Curtis, Director of the Carbon Neutral shredding service, advises: “It’s important to try and reduce human error as much as possible, taking responsibility away from your staff. The most secure process is to use a locked console for storing all potentially sensitive paper waste then have it professionally – and, most importantly, securely – shredded.”

B&M’s uniformed operatives, vetted to BS 7858, visit each locked console and remove the full sacks, replacing each with an empty sack. They then offer an on-site or off-site shredding service for confidential material. All organisations – regardless of whether they choose an on- or off-site service – will receive an electronic Certificate of Destruction as proof that can be held for audit purposes.

Beast from the East brings unexpected windfall

Sam Whitear
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Whilst this week’s weather has wrought havoc on businesses across the UK, one sector has been snowed under with new customers, and we’re not talking grit suppliers. The conference call sector has been booming as workers dial in from home and even from stranded cars and trains.

Kieron James founder of Manchester based WHYPAY?, a service that provides free conference calls, has seen call traffic increase yesterday by 77% compared to this time last week, said: “It’s been good for us, but I know it’s been terrible for many people. We’re just glad that we’re able to help people stay in touch and keep their businesses on track when a lot of our physical infrastructure is weighed down by the snow and ice.”

“We were expecting an increase, but the upsurge has been astounding.” From the moment the ‘Beast from the East’ blew in, the call numbers started escalating and whilst cars have been stationary on the motorways the traffic to WHYPAY?’s servers has risen every day this week. Call volumes are expected to be at their highest ever level today – Friday 2nd March.

“Our data reflected the actual movement of the weather systems” Kieron added “with dial ins from the eastern side of the company being the first to show up on Tuesday. Today we’ve seen a deluge of calls from Bristol and the South West.”

The Baldwins KickStart Young Entrepreneur Awards open

Sam Whitear
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Manchester’s up and coming entrepreneurs are being given the chance to kick-start their business ideas with a five-figure investment.

The Baldwins KickStart Young Entrepreneur Awards are open in Manchester for 18 to 25-year-olds as the competition enters its sixth year, which has seen £150,000 invested in start-up businesses since 2013.

The winner of the awards will be given a grant of £10,000 along with £10,000 worth of mentoring and accountancy advice, while two runners-up will each receive £5,000 worth of mentoring and accountancy advice.

Last year’s Baldwins KickStart Young Entrepreneur Awards saw 19-year-olds Harry Smith and Jack Cornes scoop the top prize for their concept of wall-climbing painting robots, with the investment enabling them to develop their prototype ready to show to investors.

This year’s three finalists will be invited to present in front of more than 400 people at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on Thursday, November 15.

Les Nutter, from Baldwins in Manchester who are part of the Baldwins Group, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for young people who have just started a business or are looking to turn their idea into a reality.

“At a time of economic uncertainty it’s important that we are nurturing the next generation of business professionals, particularly when it comes to the practicalities of setting up a business and creating a steady flow of income, and applicants that are invited for an interview will receive constructive feedback to help their ideas flourish.

“The awards are not restricted to any sector and everyone who enters will have the invaluable experience of putting together a business plan.

“Ten people are chosen to be interviewed about their ideas, which will then be whittled down to a final three.”

The 2018 Baldwins KickStart Young Entrepreneur Awards come off the back of another strong year of expansion for the Baldwins Group, which now has 60 offices around the UK.

Baldwins, a CogitalGroup company, is one of the UK’s leading business services groups. Currently, CogitalGroup has 4,700 people operating from 150 offices in seven countries, with revenue in excess of £320 million.

David Baldwin, director at Baldwins, has overseen the Baldwins KickStart Young Entrepreneur Awards since its inception.

He added: “These awards have developed an enviable reputation for producing some talented home-grown entrepreneurs, and the growing standard of entries that we receive year-on-year shows us that there is still more to come.

“Our senior management team has overseen the development of a skiwear brand called Snooks which is now trading in the UK high street, while another of our winners that prints and designs products celebrating iconic sporting moments has recently expanded to larger premises.

“The best thing anybody can wear is confidence, if you have that and an idea that addresses a gap, then please get in touch.”

From world-class professional rugby to trendy micro-brewery business start-ups; there’s something to interest everyone at Salford Red Devils’ first Club 13 business networking event

Sam Whitear
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Club 13, a new business club run in association with Salford Red Devils, has today announced guest speakers to launch its inaugural event as international rugby star Robbie Hunter Paul and Seven Bro7hers brand owner, Nathan McAvoy.

Aptly held on 13th March, Club 13’s business networking event will discuss the transition from field to office. Exploring how elite athletes have taken skills developed in sport and applied those talents and competitive mindsets to life after sport.

New Zealand born Paul, former international rugby ace with an impressive 243 tries under his belt, will be sharing insights from his past professional rugby career at Salford Red Devils, Huddersfield Giants and Bradford Bulls. To then discuss the path that then led him to his current role as Managing Director for TXM Sports Ltd, a Sports marketing company specialising in sponsorship and content creation.

Fellow retired professional sportsmen, Adrian Morley and Paul Highton, who led successful Rugby League careers, and both played for Salford Red Devils will join guest speakers at the Club 13 event. Morley, the first British player to win both a NRL and Super League championship, will discuss life after a successful career in sport having retired from Rugby League just two years ago.

Adding to the business club’s first bill of guest speakers, Salford born micro-brewery and Manchester bar owner, Nathan McAvoy, of beer brand Seven Bro7hers will also speak at the AJ Bell Stadium on the topic of building strong business networks steeped in community and discuss ideas to create opportunities to take local businesses to the next level, whether nationally or globally.

Local lad, McAvoy, 41, alongside his six brothers turned their love of beer into a brewery business and are now living the dream having opened their first bar in Manchester’s hipster-favourite neighbourhood of Ancoats, while operating a micro-brewery in Salford that now employs 20 people across the two sites.

Since Seven Bro7hers launched in 2014, the business has gone from strength to strength with 2017 exceeding the business estimated £500,000 annual turnover mark. Stocked nationwide in Co-op, Booths and with Tesco knocking on the door, it’s the business ambition to occupy a larger brewery site and launch two further bars in Leeds and Liverpool to meet demand for the much-loved beer.

Speaking ahead of the first Club 13 event, Andrew Rosler, a founding director of SRD Holdings, said: “We are excited to unlock the key to successful business networking here in the North, and provide inspiration from our guest speakers.”

“We have carefully hand-picked Club 13’s first guest speakers to pave the way for future events, always held on the 13th of the month, to assist our Club 13 members in their business aims whether new ventures or helping to take business plans to the next level.”

“Robbie is testament to how retiring rugby players can turn their unique career path into a profitable and successful business, likewise, Nathan is a fantastic example of how small-scale family-run businesses using start-up loans can profit and grow from strength to strength and all in under just three years.”

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