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Ashley Finance reports year of bridging success

Sam Whitear
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SME finance specialist, Ashley Finance has announced significant new business growth for its bridging product, with a 95% increase in new customers compared to 2016, including a milestone loan of £2.2m – its largest to date – following its launch in Scotland and an increased investment in its bridging team.

New hires, which saw the company’s bridging team double in size, include industry expert, Dawn Trustam and Kayley Stelfox. In her role as Regional Sales Director, Dawn provides a much-needed presence for brokers and SMEs in the South of England.

Following a successful pilot, the lender launched its new bridging product into the Scottish market, with plans for it to be further developed in 2018.

Ashley Finance’s bridging team cited its improved speed and flexibility as key factors in its recent success. The company has paid out deals in as little as four days – from the initial enquiry to the releasing of funds – and takes pride in being significantly quicker than the industry average completion time of 50 days.

Liam Cavanagh, Operations Director at Ashley Finance said: “We’ve had a stellar year. The whole team are delighted with these results. Bridging was a key growth area for the company this year and is anticipated to continue as we progress further into 2018.

“While the huge increase new business is definitely the result of the hard work and dedication of our bridging team, it also highlights the need for an open-minded lender like ourselves in the market. In the last year this need has become widely recognised with more brokers coming on board than ever before, which is extremely encouraging.

“Ashley Finance is dedicated delivering fast and flexible funding to all small businesses that need it and without judgement. Following this fantastic year, we have high hopes that growth will continue into 2018 and beyond.”

Ashley Finance offers a range of products to meet customer cash needs, including bridging loans up to £2million against loan-to-value up to 75%, with rates starting at a competitive 0.95%. The firm also specialises in invoice finance, and business loans which are flexible and open to those SME’s who have struggled getting funding support from other lenders.

Construction boom in the North-west is providing a surge in jobs for women

Sam Whitear
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The construction boom in the North-west is providing a surge in jobs for women reports a leading Manchester city centre recruitment company.

Core Talent, which provides recruitment solutions across construction,  engineering and manufacturing as well as purchasing and supply chain, is showing the way in this trend. Victoria Goodier heads the company’s Construction division along with Priya Sirpal who manages permanent recruitment positions in the industry.

Core Talent has made a record-breaking start to the year in its Construction division and Victoria Goodier is optimistic for the region’s industry in 2018 and beyond, she said: “The construction industry is starting to shift its focus away from London and firmly back to the North-west as the Northern Powerhouse gains momentum.”

The company, which plans to build its turnover from £5 million to £20 million over the next three to five years and has clients across the UK, is seeing the upturn in construction reflected across all its sectors.

As a result,  the company plans to take on an extra 17 people to add to its current 28-strong workforce between now and March, 2019.

Equilibrium steps up recruitment drive with nine hires

Sam Whitear
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Equilibrium is continuing its ambitious growth plans following a raft of new hires and another employer of the year award win.

The wealth management company’s headcount is now 72 and comes after Equilibrium became a £7 million turnover outfit at the end of its last fiscal year in 2017.

Equilibrium landed ‘Employer of the Year’ at Friday’s Greater Manchester Business Awards in Manchester city centre and has announced new recruits including former infantry officer in the British Army Daniel Morgan, Rachel Lee, who has returned to Equilibrium having left the company in 2015, and ex-teacher turned Client Manager Belinda White.

Six other new employees who have joined the Wilmslow-based company are Client Manager Jonathon Molloy, Australian Jason Mountford, who has spent 10 years in the financial industry, experienced financial adviser Rachael Settle, Wildlife Biology graduate Josie Corfield, Michelle Manley who has joined full time after project managing the recent fund launch and Administrator Deborah Start.

With Equilibrium named as the fifth best small company to work for by The Sunday Times in 2017 Managing Partner Gaynor Rigby said: “Last year was a momentous one for Equilibrium and our long list of clients. We continue to manage clients with expertise, warmth and knowledge which we know is reflected in us having landed more than £100m of new assets under management in 2017.

“It’s no secret that we recruit talent for all the right reasons and also make them feel welcome when they arrive for their first day.

“Among the many benefits of working at Equilibrium are 33 days holiday plus bank holidays and the fact we provide breakfast every working day for all 72 members of staff. This along with other policies and initiatives is the reason we continue to be recognised for being a great employer. Winning Employer of the Year at Friday’s Greater Manchester Business Awards was another brilliant achievement for Equilibrium.”

She added: “Both I and Sarah Warburton, our Head of Culture, are delighted to have welcomed nine new recruits to various teams since the turn of the year.

“All are already showing just why we decided to offer them careers with us in the first place.”

Staff retention rates at Equilibrium have been strong for several years; in the past 12 months that figure is 87% whereas since September 2017 it is 94%.

Head of Culture Sarah Warburton said: “People need to feel like they’ve joined a great company so we ensure they feel comfortable from the moment they walk in the door.

“Firstly, new starters are allowed to turn up a bit later than other staff on their first day, but when they arrive they meet all the team and find a personalised mug on their desk as well as inspirational books that also link to their role.

“Following a welcome email from me – with all unavoidable forms and admin – they go out for lunch with their team.

“I also populate their diaries, so they can meet everyone properly in person. On top of there’s also a training plan that new staff receive so they can update it with their line managers as they progress.”

Sarah added: “We spend so much time at work which is why we believe it’s about what we give back to employees as an employer.

“Benefits, holidays, pension arrangements. We talk all that through and people find it very interesting as it’s about them and their journey and what they are going to get from us.

“I do absolutely believe that people get a very warm welcome. We also have a directory and a floor plan and circulate a photo of a new starter, so they can be recognised by members of staff.”

New Client Manager Daniel Morgan said: “Following five years in the British Army after graduating from Lancaster University, I identified that a career in financial planning suits my strengths and interests.

“As an infantry officer I gained experience in leadership and management, and by completing a degree in theoretical physics I developed excellent analytical and numerical skills. I am looking forward to applying these strengths while studying for the Level 4 Diploma and in my role as a client manager.

“Equilibrium stood out to me as an innovative and enterprising company who are constantly looking to improve the way that they conduct business in order to improve client experience. This is reflected in the array of awards that the company has received over the years. Since starting, the atmosphere has been professional, friendly and incredibly welcoming.”

Sandy Lindsay MBE joins Northcoders as Non-exec Director

Sam Whitear
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Manchester headquartered Northcoders – the coding bootcamp for the North – has appointed Sandy Lindsay MBE as a Non-exec Director.

Northcoders, which recently expanded into Federation House, was established in 2016. It offers courses that are designed to help 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 Barclays, ThoughtWorks, MoneySupermarket and Apadmi.

In her new role, Sandy will be working with James Brooke – co-founder of Northcoders – on the strategic direction of the business.

James said: “Almost two years to the day, Sandy strode up to a panel I was speaking on and, after it’d finished, handed me her business card and said ‘we need to talk’. Since then, I’ve learnt that not only do we share similar values and visions for how things should be, but how useful it is to have her challenging our thinking and ultimately helping us make better decisions. I’m delighted she’s part of the team.”

Sandy added: “Businesses of all sizes in the North are crying out for specialist coding talent and that demand is only going to get stronger so there’s never been a more important time to help fill that gap. I also love Northcoders’ ethos and whole-heartedly support its core values of Community, Northern Values, Fun, Diversity and Inclusion. I’m now focussed on adding as much value as I can.”

GVA secures new occupier for Saddleworth Hotel

Sam Whitear
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A new occupier has been found for the popular Clough Manor Hotel in Saddleworth after a new lease is granted.

GVA acted on behalf of Alan Tupman, a local businessman and current landlord of the hotel, bar, restaurant and established wedding venue, situated in the picturesque village of Denshaw.

The 23-bedroom hotel, restaurant and bar, and banqueting suite has been acquired by Zaman Hotels PVT Limited, which owns a number of hotels across the UK, including the nearby Best Western, Broadfield Hotel in Rochdale.

Martin Davis, Director of the Hotels and Leisure Team at Manchester’s GVA office, said: “The full-service hotel business offers a range of income streams as well as an opportunity for the ingoing operator to further develop the trade.”

Zishan Zaman of Zaman Hotels added: “We are delighted to have added the Clough Manor Hotel and Restaurant to our growing portfolio of hotels.

“We are excited about the prospects for the future of the business given its excellent location surrounded by open countryside with views of the Peak District yet benefiting from easy access to the M62 connecting Manchester and Leeds.”

 

No1 Spinningfields leads the way in recycling innovation

Sam Whitear
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Working with ALL+ Management, Carbon Neutral B&M Waste Services have commenced a highly innovative and bespoke waste management strategy at the prestigious, newly built No1 Spinningfields site in Manchester City Centre.

A dedicated recycling area was built into the initial building design with the objective of encouraging the highest level of recycling possible throughout the multi-tenanted and multi-use site.

A marketing package incorporating the No1 Spinningfields branding was compiled to ensure the sleek design continues throughout the building and into the recycling area. Occupier handouts and signage were all incorporated to ensure segregation, increased recycling and diversion from landfill.

To allow ALL+ Management the ability to understand the multi-waste streams of each occupier, and achieve the target KPIs for recycling and sustainability of the building, B&M’s Independent Waste Monitor has been installed as an innovative approach to monitoring waste produced by each occupier on-site.

This bespoke equipment allows each occupier’s cleaning operative to follow the process clearly shown on the computer screen to record each waste stream and weight of such, utilising the weighing scales. It also provides the opportunity to confirm any waste contamination, which can then be addressed in service improvement and occupier meetings. A data download in Excel format is available for the Building Manager to save on a central computer for analysis against KPIs.

Jonty Hughes, Property Manager, said “Working with B&M Waste has been easy as they’ve helped us develop the correct approach from the start. Their attention to detail, fully comprehensive training programme for the cleaning staff and waste operatives, and branded up signage has made a significant impact in rolling this out.”

Wendy Mitchell, National Sales Manager, said “Building a solution into the initial building designs means everything has been thought of and accommodated for, and I can’t praise ALL + enough for being so forward thinking in developing an in-house, recycling-focused waste strategy that ensures the site is prepared for any future legislation – all whilst using the very latest technology available from B&M Waste Services.”

Bromleys raises over £1,350 for the Anthony Seddon Fund

Sam Whitear
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A Tameside charity which supports people with mental health problems has received a cash boost from Bromleys Solicitors.

Staff at the Ashton-under-Lyne law firm chose The Anthony Seddon Fund as its charity of the year for 2017 and raised more than £1,350 to support its activities and projects.

Anthony, who lived in Ashton, took his own life in 2013 at the age of 30 after a 12-year battle with bipolar disorder.

His family set up the charity in his memory to raise money to improve the quality of life of people with mental illness and their relatives, friends and carers.

It also campaigns to increase awareness about the issue, in particular among young people.

Bromleys staff raised a total of £1,353.18 for the charity during 2017 through a variety of activities.

Partner Paul Westwell said: “The Anthony Seddon Fund provides invaluable assistance to people suffering from various forms of mental health issues and we are delighted to have supported this excellent charity.

“It’s right on our doorstep and, although our 12-month commitment has come to an end, we have forged a close friendship and will continue to support them where we can and remain involved with them.”

Anthony’s mum Donna said: “Small charities like ours are in desperate need of core funding and our thanks go to Bromleys for their amazing fundraising efforts.

“We’ve had such fun working with the team and everyone has been so welcoming and supportive.”

Staff at Bromleys have voted Francis House Children’s Hospice as the firm’s charity of the year for 2018.

Francis House supports more than 460 children and young adults with life-limiting conditions and their families from across Greater Manchester.

Emma Rapley of Francis House said: “We are most grateful to Bromleys for making this commitment to our charity and we look forward to working with the team throughout the year.

“We get very little government funding, so we rely on the support of the local community and organisations to ensure that we can continue to provide a free service to the families who need us most.”

 

Mason Advisory shortlisted in five categories at Management Consultancy Association Awards

Sam Whitear
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MediaCityUK-based Mason Advisory, independent IT consultancy, has been announced as a finalist in five categories at the prestigious Management Consultancy Association (MCA) Awards 2018.

The consultancy has been nominated in the Performance Improvement in the Private Sector (with Rathbone Investment Management) and Best New Consultancy categories, with individual nominations for Performance Improvement Consultant (for Arun Sharma and Jon De’Ath), and Young Consultant of the Year (for Bharat Choragudi).

Steve Watmough, Mason Advisory CEO, says: “We are thrilled to have been shortlisted in so many categories. This landmark is testament to the outstanding work we have delivered and the high calibre of consultants in our team, who are really driving our business forward and producing quality results and solutions for our clients.

“We know we face tough competition on the night, but for us it’s a real honour to be shortlisted alongside such major industry players. We’ve got exciting growth plans for 2018 and beyond, so this really puts us on the consultancy sector map, as we continue to deliver innovative and transformational IT projects across the UK and abroad.”

The main event in the consultancy industry’s calendar, the MCA Awards are the benchmark for quality within the sector and attract the very best submissions while bringing together key professionals to showcase, celebrate and reward high quality results.

The winners will be decided by an independent panel of judges and announced at the awards ceremony on 26th April at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel, London. In addition, the winning projects, consultancies and individuals will feature in a special awards supplement in The Times in May 2018.

Mason Advisory has offices at MediaCity and in London, and employs over 30 staff, with plans to continue its expansion during 2018. It provides IT consultancy services to match technology know-how with commercial and business sense. Clients include organisations in the financial services, life sciences, retail and FMCG, energy, government, emergency service, and not-for-profit sectors

National roll-out for Broderick’s pioneering vending loyalty app – a UK ‘first’

Sam Whitear
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Broderick’s pioneering new vending loyalty app Pay 4 Vend – a UK first for the sector – is now available to customers throughout the UK following a hugely successful pilot programme.

Created in association with graduates from Manchester Metropolitan University and Italian tech giants COGES, Broderick’s Pay 4 Vend has emerged as a strong customer engagement device, a hassle-free payment tool and a popular loyalty builder. Its big prize promotions have also proved a great incentive for repeat custom at pilot scheme sites.

Broderick’s are already receiving enquiries from facilities teams and company management eager to reap its many rewards, including the convenience and entertainment value that the new loyalty app presents to customers and the business benefits afforded to host companies & snack manufacturers.

As Broderick’s MD John Broderick highlighted, Pay 4 Vend is an asset for everyone involved and is key to the future of vending. “We’ve launched the app as we spotted a real opportunity to leverage the loyalty schemes seen on the high street, with our vending customers. Our latest ‘first’ from Broderick’s raises the bar by delivering a completely fresh and convenient consumer experience in vending services.   Payment has never been easier, customers can simply upload credit to the app using a cash card at a convenient time and be ready to pay the hassle-free way when they’re on the move and want to refuel at a vending machine.   With 52% of people heading out of the house with no coins in their purse or pocket, this has to be the future of vending. 

“However, Pay 4 Vend is far more than just a handy, integrated vending payment system, it’s informative, enjoyable and engaging and a platform for big draw competitions, rewards, discounts, news and promotions from household names and emerging brands. So far, our app pilot scheme has offered an opportunity to win spectacular prizes through the company’s vending services, including the trip of a lifetime to New York and tickets to must-see music events and experience days. Following the national roll-out we now have a full programme of showcase prizes and promotions scheduled throughout the year!”

With more than 10,000 plays of the Pay 4 Vend app video already registered since the pilot launch, consumers clearly love what they see, and these engagement figures are proving that people are keen to join in the fun, get refreshed whilst on the move and be in with a chance to win big prizes and experiences of a lifetime.

Broderick’s Pay 4 Vend is already realising its potential as a go-to resource: it gives back which means loyalty to Broderick’s and ultimately a higher spend as repeat purchases are handsomely rewarded.’’

North West companies shape Manchester Metropolitan’s Business Management Degree

Sam Whitear
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Businesses in the North West came together with Manchester Metropolitan’s Business School to inform the development of one of the university’s most popular courses.

Representatives from companies including IBM, Kelloggs, ECOM Recruitment, Hays, Jacobs and BASF shared their views on how the BA (Hons) Business Management degree can help prepare students for a graduate career in business.

The meeting is part of Manchester Metropolitan’s Employer Advisory Group, which sees the university’s Business School working closely with employers to shape its degree programmes while offering placement and employment opportunities for students.

Joshua Steer, Business Consultant at IBM, said: “It’s great that Manchester Metropolitan are actively listening to employers’ observations and shaping their Business Management course around the feedback we provide.

“This will ensure that their graduates are best prepared with the skills and knowledge needed to gain employment within a highly competitive graduate market.”

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