A Stretford-based training provider for engineers says it has accepted the findings of inspectors who identified major shortcomings in its safeguarding procedures.

The Salford and Trafford Engineering Group Training Association (STEGTA)  has been downgraded from ‘good’ to ‘inadequate’ in Ofsted’s report following an inspection in January.

The independent learning provider subcontracts to Salford City College, The Trafford College Group, Wigan and Leigh College as well as others in Yorkshire and the Midlands and was responsible for training 318 apprentices in engineering and manufacturing at the time of Ofsted’s visit.

STEGTA was deemed ‘inadequate’ overall despite being judged ‘good’ in three categories of assessment – quality of education; behaviour and attitudes and apprenticeships. In the personal development category it was judged ‘requires improvement’ and for leadership and management it was ‘inadequate’.

In their report, the inspection team said leaders ‘should urgently strengthen their safeguarding processes and procedures to ensure that apprentices are safe’.

They were told to provide comprehensive training to ensure that all staff have the knowledge and understanding to identify, report and follow up safeguarding concerns effectively.

Quote

 

“Leaders should ensure that all members of the governing body and safeguarding team are appropriately trained, experienced and qualified in safeguarding to carry out their roles effectively,” the report said.

“They should ensure that apprentices’ knowledge and understanding of all aspects of safeguarding are developed further.”

 

Leaders were also told to work more closely with subcontractors to develop and provide challenging and relevant curriculum content for all apprentices.

The report, said:

Quote

“Training officers should focus on challenging apprentices to develop their knowledge and skills to a higher standard beyond the competencies demanded by their qualifications,”

STEGTA delivers level 2 to 4 apprenticeships in engineering, manufacturing and construction.

Board members felt they did not get enough training on safeguarding and ‘prevent’ duties, and leaders did not regularly review the policies for safeguarding.

Apprentices were not always provided sufficient information to understand risks associated with radicalisation and extremism, the report said.

Chief executive of STEGTA John Whitby told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

Quote

 

“We accept Ofsted’s findings.

“We had major staffing issues which impacted our administration and leadership and management in the run up to the inspection.

“We are now back to full capacity within our leadership and management team and have restructured and strengthened our safeguarding team and systems, and have full confidence in our action plan going forward.”

 

Mr Whitby also insisted that apprentices they are responsible for are ‘safe’.

With this week marking the bi-annual event of switching the clocks, the relative merits and disadvantages of daylight saving time (DST) briefly enter public debate. As dinner table conversation, everyone has their own personal anecdote.

University of Salford Business School’s Dr Gordon Fletcher, School Lead for Research, grew up in a location where the arguments against daylight saving had won favour. Those arguments? That daylight saving fades the curtains and confuses the cows. Not a very strong evidence base to make decisions. Even worse, it was the sight of still-closed curtains on an early morning summer ride that become the original inspiration for one of the most vocal advocates for daylight saving in the 20th century, William Willett.

There are only three possible outcomes to any daylight saving debate. Maintain the cycle of switching between standard and daylight saving times, permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time. But, there are a vast array of scientific arguments for and against each of these options. Here, Dr Fletcher explores them…

The economic argument: reducing energy consumption and improving productivity

The original purpose for introducing the bi-annual cycle of daylight saving is primarily an economic one. The case that is made is that moving clock time forward in spring reduces energy consumption and improves productivity. There is less need to turn on the lights in the workplace, factory or farm. This argument finally persuaded politicians in WWI to adopt DST in 1915. While this may seem like quite a recent introduction, it is worth remembering that standard time (or Greenwich Mean Time) was only formalised in 1880. And standard time had only became a necessity with the development of the rapid transit offered by cross-country trains and more importantly, train timetables.

The health and safety argument: battling between the sun, body and social clocks

More recent arguments have focused on the health and safety issues relating to bi-annual daylight saving time. Medical researchers put it best when they describe daylight saving as a battle between the sun clock, the body clock and the social clock. The sun clock is the observed natural clock which equates midday with the sun being at the highest point in the sky. The body clock relates to our own rhythms for sleep and relative exposure to light and dark. The social clock is the time that appears on our watches and other devices.

Social clocks and sun clocks align during standard time but only on the meridian that we set our time from - which is Greenwich in the UK. If you live west or east of this, meridian social clocks will not quite line up with the sun clock. The social clock of Belfast and Margate office workers for example are not the same, with around 30 minutes difference between sunrise in the two locations currently. Factor in the difference in daylight hours travelling between the north and south, and this influence on our body clock also helps to explain why being a domestic tourist within the UK can sometimes feel so disorientating. Factoring in consideration for differences in body clocks between ages, as well as those who are "night owls" or "early birds," and the battle of daylight saving appears very personal.

From a safety point of view, this is where the problems arise. Every time there is a change in the social clock to or from alignment with the sun clock, accidents happen. Shifting the daytime away from the evening causes road accidents as tired workers drive home in the dark, we have slower reactions due to fatigue and children struggle to adjust to bedtime. Losing an hours sleep in March also creates tired workers whose body clock is displaced, and this can lead to workplace errors and accidents that can aggregate to millions of pounds in lost productivity. This is not a problem experienced over a single day and has been shown to last many weeks. There is also some medical evidence for an increase in heart attacks with the spring change in clocks.

Permanent daylight saving time or standard time avoids these safety, health and productivity issues. But this can place some at a permanent disadvantage with the social clock constantly being out of sync with their own body clock. Perhaps following Billie Eilish and the trend for wearing two watches could be put to good purpose. It also inspires a rewriting of Segal's Law: a person with one clock knows what time it is. A person with many clocks is never sure.

Switching up the social clock

The debate is particularly important for the EU where the decision to abandon bi-annual changes in the social clock was voted for and agreed. However, the implementation is still to happen. The Central European Time Zone stretches from Spain to Poland and means that sunrise in Madrid and Warsaw currently varies by 99 minutes. A variation that also helps to explain why there are differences in timings for social activities across the continent.

The UK has also experimented with social clock options in the past. Between 1941 and 1945, during WWII, the UK enjoyed permanent double summer time with the clocks set two hours forward (a note for all historical filmmakers). Permanent daylight saving was also introduced between 1968 and 1971, but abandoned after a free vote in the House of Commons.

There are strong arguments for maintaining a single social clock throughout the year. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents estimates that 2,500 less people were killed or seriously injured in the winter during the permanent daylight saving period, between 1968 and 1971. This was an 11.7% reduction; even though a number of additional injuries occurred in the mornings, the decrease in evening accidents far outweighed this.

But, the bi-annual resetting of the clocks has become part of the cycle of annual rituals that bring us shared opportunities for conversation that are not directly about the economy, politicians or global instability. Everyone has a daylight saving story to share and that is important too.

https://www.rospa.com/media/documents/road-safety/british-summertime-factsheet.pdf#:~:text=Overall%2C about 2%2C500 fewer people were killed and,casualty reduction figures. The Evidential Road Safety Benefits

Building resilience to future shocks is essential for businesses to not only survive, but to thrive during times of economic uncertainty. This is even more critical for SMEs (small to medium enterprises) who must continue to innovate during trying times to boost growth, while ensuring employees remain engaged and are bought in to the company’s vision, mission and values.

University of Salford Business School has been supporting the North West’s SME community with their scaling strategies in recent months, enabling them to accelerate growth by making simple changes.

Data has confirmed highly engaged workforces are considerably more profitable, while low employee engagement costs companies billions each year. Further to this, recent research from Small Business Britain and TSB Bank revealed, SMEs across the UK are bearing the brunt of the UK’s economic crisis, with 52% of small businesses currently experiencing difficulty but continuing to press on. While the vast majority (81%) are concerned about recession, which is having a knock on effect to confidence and optimism on the future, also resulting in them downgrading growth plans[ii].

It is however a different story for businesses like System Hygienics, a ventilation compliance company, which has been able to considerably improve productivity and efficiency by enhancing employee engagement, thanks to the support of Salford Business School’s Help to Grow: Management course.

System Hygienics is a company that employs 80 people each with different working styles, across various departments within the business. From Engineers and Project Managers to sales and administration employees, Commercial Director, Phil Tetlow, manages an eclectic mix of people and required support to help empower change by engaging each and every member of his team.

Phil comments:

Quote

 

“Following a recommendation from an associate of our Managing Director, I registered for the Help to Grow: Management course and haven’t looked back. While it’s still early days, after only completing the three-month programme a few weeks ago, I’ve already been able to make considerable improvements that I know will be instrumental as we continue to accelerate our scaling strategy.

“High-performing teams are crucial to business success and growth, which is why I was keen to develop my management skills. Since completing the Help to Grow course recently, I’ve been able to showcase how the new processes we are planning to implement will benefit every team within the business”

 

The Help to Grow: Management course is 90% funded by the UK Government and is open to all businesses with between 5 and 249 employees, who would like support to scale their company. Covering everything from enhancing management and strategic capabilities, as well as improving employee engagement, to building resilience, learning how to innovate and driving digital transformation through the adoption of new technologies to boost productivity and operational agility, the programme comprises a range of modules to help businesses grow domestically and across international markets.

Richard Magennis, Help to Grow Programme Lead at Salford Business School, adds:

Quote

 

“SMEs are a vital part of the UK economy, making considerable contributions. Many are paving the way when it comes to innovation and positively disrupting their respective industries, while offering exciting employment opportunities nationwide.

“SMEs will play an essential role in the UK’s ambitious growth plans and supporting them to thrive during the current challenging economic climate, through programmes like Help to Grow, is an integral part of our strategy at Salford Business School.”

 

System Hygienics was established in 1993 and has developed a reputation for being innovative and responsive within the ventilation compliance industry. The business works with many high-profile customers including, The Restaurant Group, Battersea Power Station, Heathrow, AstraZeneca, Alstom, IKEA and Barclays, amongst others.

Phil continues:

Quote

 

“Help to Grow enabled me to take a step back from the day-to-day within the business and focus on the bigger picture, to determine what was required for us to grow in the current landscape.

“The course enabled me to establish long-term goals and meet other businesses experiencing similar challenges to ours, to learn from each other. The mentoring was also particularly valuable and the changes we have been able to implement, thanks to the course, have set us in great stead for the multiple ISO accreditations we are aiming for.”

 

To find out more about the Help to Grow: Management course, visit: https://smallbusinesscharter.org/h2gmcourse/salford-nw-cohort-12/.

On the 15 March, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will reveal his Spring Budget 2023. On the same day, the latest economic forecasts will be published by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). So, what should we expect from this budget?  

Before answering this question, a recap of the past six months and previous two budgets are particularly useful to put the Chancellor’s challenges in context.

The last six months… 

First, let’s not forget that these are unprecedented times, not only for the UK but for the global economy in general. However, in addition to the major challenges shared by economies globally (i.e., post-pandemic recovery, international conflicts and the geopolitical climate), the UK has also faced political instability, including three new Prime Ministers (PM) in just seven weeks, between September and October 2022, and it is also facing major complications due to Brexit. 

It seems a while ago now but, in September 2022, only six months ago, we were welcoming a new PM, Liz Truss, and a new Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng. At that time, we had a so-called ‘mini-budget,’ which was everything but mini and completely ignored the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).  

The plan of the then PM was to decrease taxes paid by those who are better off (i.e., higher earners) and borrow to do so. According to ‘Trussonomics,’ this would have stimulated much-needed economic growth. The financial markets did not like the idea and, as a consequence of what is now commonly referred to as the Truss-Kwarteng’s disastrous mini-budget, government borrowing costs increased to the highest rates since the financial crisis in 2008, and the value of the pound decreased to a record low.

It’s also important to remember that the financial markets have been closely watching the UK since the Brexit referendum in 2016. Following the mini-budget it became clear that, despite major U-turns on initial tax cuts, intervention from the Bank of England and the firing of the Chancellor, the financial markets still did not have confidence in the UK economy and its political management. Liz Truss then resigned and in October 2022 we welcomed a new PM, Rishi Sunak, former Chancellor of the Exchequer for Johnson’s Government during the pandemic.  

Sunak’s new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, had the difficult task of unveiling an ‘emergency budget’ in November 2022, mainly to announce major U-turns and a change in strategy with respect to the previous disastrous mini-budget. This was an attempt to deliver a credible plan for stability, growth and public services, while regaining the trust and confidence of the financial markets.

Predictions for the 2023 Spring Budget   

Hunt will have to unveil the upcoming Spring Budget next Wednesday. The economic outlook for the UK in 2023-24 is now looking better than it was in November; government borrowing costs have decreased, however it is largely anticipated that ‘significant’ tax cuts will not be included in the coming budget. Public finances are still fragile. In fact, in the financial year to January, the public sector borrowed £117bn which is less than expected by the OBR, but still £7bn more than over the same period in the previous year. With the financial markets still closely watching, it does not come as a surprise that the Chancellor wants to remark his key priority of keeping public debt under control.  

High inflation persists, as well as the wave of public sector strikes and, with workers asking for an increase in pay, the Chancellor will have to decide what to do in terms of public sector wages, contemplating one-off bonuses or permanent increases. The Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) says that an increase in public wages or bonuses funded by an increase in taxes rather than borrowing, might reduce the inflationary pressures.

Even if significant tax cuts should not be anticipated, an extension for a further three months from April of the energy support scheme (i.e., the Energy Price Guarantee, which caps households’ average annual energy costs at £2,500) is most likely to be included. We might also see fuel duty frozen for a year. These measures will clearly be welcome, but largely insufficient to tackle the severe cost of living crisis facing the country.

The tax increases for investors, specifically the cutting of capital gain tax (CGT) and dividend allowance, due to decrease from £12,300 to £6,000 and from £2,000 to £1,000 in April 2023, will most likely be confirmed. In April 2023, corporation tax will also increase from 19% to 25% and Hunt could also confirm the application of the 15% minimum tax on multinational companies, as per international agreement.  

Focusing on the labour force, the insufficiency of which is one of the factors impeding economic growth, the Chancellor has stated on more than one occasion that he intends to implement a number of policies and reforms, including pensions, childcare system and benefits etc., to convince part of the inactive population to join or re-join the labour market.  

The hope is that the Chancellor can find the right balance between keeping the financial markets happy, providing the country with the necessary support during a cost of living crisis and ensuring economic growth in the longer term. 

Comments provided by Dr Maria Paola Rana, Lecturer in Economics and Finance, University of Salford Business School.

Made Smarter Adoption programme and Manchester Metropolitan University collaborate to accelerate SMEs towards digital transformation

Made Smarter has launched a new fast-track leadership programme to help Salford SME manufacturers accelerate their digital transformation.

In just three months, the ‘Leading Digital Transformation’ programme will turn participants into digitally-informed, empowered leaders, armed with a bespoke digitalisation strategy.

The funded solution has been designed by Made Smarter’s North West Adoption Programme, the government-funded industry-led initiative to increase technology adoption among SME manufacturers, and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).

It will be delivered through a blend of face-to-face workshops, online webinars, case studies and site visits to smart factories, including Print City, MMU’s 3D additive and digital manufacturing hub, where participants will see technology in action.

Heading up the programme is Dr Ann Mulhaney, Senior Enterprise Fellow for the Centre for Enterprise at MMU, an expert in organisational transformation, strategy and innovation, leading change and employee engagement.

Leaders will walk away with a set of practical tools, a strategy for digital transformation and an offer to access further support from Made Smarter, including funding for new technology.

The new programme is available by application to manufacturing businesses with less than 250 employees, a turnover less than £36M or balance sheet less than £18M, and a significant part of their operations based in the North West.

With places limited, it builds on the success of Made Smarter’s trailblazing leadership initiative which launched in 2019 and went on to equip 60 business leaders with the vision and the skills to pursue smarter manufacturing.

Donna Edwards, Director of Made Smarter’s North West Adoption Programme, said:

Quote

 

“Manufacturing leaders have endured an incredibly difficult few years, steering a course through the pandemic and facing up to new challenges such as rising energy prices, supply chain disruption and labour shortages. 

“Technology and a digital strategy is important for SME leaders so they are better equipped to deal with current and forthcoming challenges and opportunities. 

"The Made Smarter leadership programme was the first of its kind and developed a generation of digital leaders. We are confident that our new fast-track, funded Leading Digital Transformation programme will have an even greater impact, supporting a new generation of leaders to make the most of opportunities that digital transformation can offer.”

 

Ruth Hailwood, Made Smarter's Organisation and Workforce Development Specialist Adviser, said:

Quote

 

“After four years with our finger on the pulse of manufacturing, Made Smarter understands what SME leaders want and need. 

“This programme focuses on strategy and how to identify critical priorities for taking a business forward, as well as highlighting where digital tools can help. It examines the business from the top floor to the shop floor, capturing real perspectives about their readiness for digital transformation.

“It has been designed to be flexible for manufacturing leaders to fit around their busy schedules, allowing them to take time out of their business to reflect on the bigger picture and share ideas, experiences and opportunities with their peers in manufacturing.”

 

Mandy Parkinson, Director of Centre for Enterprise at Manchester Metropolitan University, said:

Quote

 

“MMU is delighted to collaborate with Made Smarter on this new leadership programme which will provide fast, focused support to business leaders at such a critical time. 

“Since 2015, we have supported more than 2,000 SMEs in areas including growth, innovation and resilience and we are looking forward to seeing the difference our range of expertise will make to more businesses across the region.”

 

Registration to join the programme, which starts on March 30th, is now open.

For more details on the visit: https://www.madesmarter.uk/adoption/develop-your-digital-leadership/leading-digital-transformation-programme-nw/

Henley Investment Management who purchased the Regent Retail Park site from M&G for a sum of £16m in 2020, is planning to redevelop the site into a new residential neighbourhood with the addition of a 5 acre park to be built on the site.

11 of the industrial units would be demolished including Costa Coffee, TK Maxx, Home Bargains, and Boots.

10 residential blocks would replace them, including two tall buildings at either end.

The consultation documentation says:

Quote

 

"We want to put the wellbeing of local people at the centre of our scheme. That is why our proposals have evolved to reserve approximately five acres of green space throughout the development and create a new park on the scale and ambition that Salford and the local community needs.

"Our working vision for Regent Park is to create public spaces for everyone to enjoy, so we have divided the park into four separate areas with their own distinct characters and purposes."

 

Sainsbury’s, which occupies part of the wider site, would be retained and unchanged. 

Work on the plans is still in its early stages due to existing leases not ending on the units until 2026.

Architect Matt Brook, said:

Quote

"At the heart of our placemaking-led, people-first vision for Regent Park is a new urban park, which will provide much-needed green space for Salford residents.

"Our Masterplan creates a safe, walkable and inclusive neighbourhood where nature and architecture work together harmoniously, fostering a community that prioritises liveability and wellbeing"

Consultation is currently ongoing until the 15th March after which more details proposals will be consulted on later in the year.

Planning documents are expected to be submitted to the council by autumn this year and pending approval, construction could start as soon as 2026.

https://regentparkconsultation.co.uk/

Images ©: Henley Investment Management

The year has got off to a flying start for those companies putting their employees at the heart of everything they do, with the Q1 2023 reveal of the 'Best Companies to Work For' in the UK. Broadcast live from Salford's MediaCity and hosted by TV presenter Dan Walker, Best Companies Live Q1 revealed the league tables of the Best Companies to Work For in the UK - nationally, by region and by sector.

The top 10 Best Companies to Work For in the North West, based on their employee engagement scores are:

Hydrock

In Technology Group

Barnett Waddingham

Mills & Reeve

JMW Solicitors

Brabners LLP

Weaver Vale Housing Trust

CAE Technology Services

AppLearn

SMG

Construction consultant Hydrock were not only crowned ‘Best Company to Work For in the North West’ but also in the West Midlands and Wales. The company wants to make a positive contribution to shaping a global and sustainable future community, and is committed to providing an environment where their people can thrive.

Dr Brian McConnell, Chief Executive Officer, Hydrock, said:

Quote

“The wellbeing of our people has always been at the heart of our culture, which is why we invest in experiences that bring our people together, learning and development programmes that can enhance all of our lives, and promote a supportive, respectful and caring culture.”

Recruitment firm In Technology Group, ranked number two in the North West league table, were also named the second 'Best Small Company to Work For in the UK'.

Will Wareing, Director, said:

Quote

“At In Technology Group we prioritise our employees and their well-being as they are the key to our success. We begin each month with a company meeting where employees are celebrated for the month before and are also able to communicate with me directly and voice any opinions they need. There is a two-way commitment in place and a trust that is integral to a successful working environment. Our company values each and every one of our employees and would be nothing without their hard work.”

As well as a day of celebration, Best Companies Live Q1 gave employee-first workplaces the opportunity to share valuable insight on what they're doing well and how they're navigating some of today's biggest corporate challenges.

Free-to-view panel discussions on the infamous red chairs covered topics such as supporting workforces through a deepening cost-of-living crisis, how to listen to employees to build corporate confidence and ways to break down silos and create a vision that unites.

For Best Companies' founder and CEO, Jonathan Austin, it's been a solid and encouraging start to 2023:

Quote

"There are companies that truly shine in challenging times. They continue to innovate, finding new ways to show their employees how valued they are, as well as keeping them involved in the fundamentals, like shaping the vision and values. Through Best Companies Live, we're giving these organisations a platform to inspire others and help make the world a better workplace."

Best Companies' quarterly league tables concept is now in its second year – a move away from the previous annual list. It gives workplaces more flexibility on when to survey their employees. They can do it once or up to four times a year, giving them more opportunities to showcase what makes them great places to work in a competitive recruitment market.

The ranking positions on the quarterly League Tables are based on employees' responses to the B-heard survey, which uses Best Companies' unique 8-Factor methodology to produce a BCI (Best Companies Index) score. 

On Saturday 18th February almost 30 women came together to brew a special beer at Salford’s Strange Times Brewing Co which will be pouring at a celebratory event at Port Street Beer House on International Women’s Day.

Members of Manchester Crafty Beer Girls, women from across the city’s hospitality sector, and others from further afield all joined hosts Strange Times in getting hands-on to brew a Hazy Orange Pale Ale and enjoy a day of learning, sharing and companionship.

Educational And Fun-Filled

Participants were up bright and early to take part in the ‘mashing in’ at the start of the brew and learnt all about the water, malts, hops and yeast that were to go into the beer. There was a lot of zesting, chopping and juicing of fruits with over 25 kg of fresh oranges also going into the brew. Along with a beer-based Q&A, a tutored tasting of Strange Times’ beers, and a quiz with prizes, everyone was treated to delicious handmade pizzas generously provided by the Strange Times team. There was even the appetite to enjoy some well-earned post-brew pints at the local Bee Orchid pub.

Women And Beer

Manchester Crafty Beer Girls is a social group for beer-loving and beer-curious women who have monthly meet-ups in independent pubs, venues and taprooms across Greater Manchester. It was founded in 2022 by Francesca (Chess) Slattery after she moved to the city. As a Beer Sommelier, Certified Cicerone® and international beer judge, who has worked in the independent brewing industry for over 8 years, Chess says the aims of setting up the group are simple.

“We just want to encourage other women to enjoy beer and offer a welcoming space for those who are curious but don't have any pals who share this interest. Manchester has so many fantastic venues that champion great beer and we want to support that as much as we can.”

This was their first collaboration brewing project, organised with Strange Times’ Head Brewer Lauren Guy and Sarah Hyde of Rambling Beer Co, as part of the annual International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day ‘Unite’ celebrations.

Lauren had already come to some of the group’s Meet-Ups and was excited to host the collaboration.

“We wanted it to be as informative and hands-on as possible but really it was all about enjoying the day and spending time together creating something that we can all be proud of. I was blown away by how many women came to join us and the curiosity and enthusiasm they showed.”

Representing Strength

The beer has been named ‘Boudica’s Chariot’ and is described as tasting refreshing and zesty with some pleasing biscuity notes and juicy sweetness.

Named in honour of the historic British heroine who is a symbol of justice and, in-keeping with Strange Times' love of mythology and legend, the Chariot tarot card was an inspiration for its representation of willpower, determination and strength.

The beer also features the British hop Boadicea (an alternative spelling of Boudica) which Lauren was keen to use as part of supporting the local hop growing industry. The design has been created especially by artist Mina Mond who does all of Strange Times’ labels.

Sustainability

Sarah brought Corin Bell of the Open Kitchen into the project. They are Manchester’s leading sustainable catering company that utilise surplus ingredients to tackle food wastage. They kindly donated much of the fruit that went into ‘Boudica’s Chariot’.

“I’ve had fun working with Open Kitchen in the past, using surplus fruits to brew great beers with. It was wonderful to bring them into this project as we were able to save these unsold oranges and turn them into something delicious!”

Welcoming Women From All Walks Of Life

Claire Coster and Lorna-Jane Evans are keen home brewers with ambitions to open their own microbrewery one day. They read about the brew day in an online publication and travelled down from Cumbria especially to join.

“It was an amazing opportunity to network with new people and to get hands-on in the brewing process on a larger scale than we’re used to with our home brewing.

“We are still buzzing from the experience and we were made to feel so welcome by all.

“Networking with like-minded women who are passionate about beer allowed us to share ideas, knowledge and experience, empowering us further to plan our own microbrewery journey within our local area. A massive thanks to all involved!”

Ana Morimoto, who lives full-time in Brazil, was over visiting a Manchester-based friend and they couldn’t miss the opportunity to get involved.

“I felt very welcomed and inspired by the great women I met. It was the first time I had the opportunity to see the brewing process up close and get physically hands-on with it. I’ve never had such deep conversations about something that is normally taken as a “man’s subject”. I never saw anything like that in my country and I’ll definitely gather women to get our own Sao Paulo Crafty Beer Girls!”

Cath Potter is a cider expert and Chair of Central Manchester CAMRA branch. She’s been attending the Manchester Crafty Beer Girls Meet-Ups from the beginning but has never had a chance to do a brew day before.

“The Strange Times crew and everyone were so welcoming and I learned loads! To see so many young women engaged in the brewing process was inspiring and shows the future of the industry and in the consumption of quality beer.”

Devon McDevitt-Norman is the Deputy Manager of Northern Quarter beer destination, The Crown & Kettle. She’s already hosted a Crafty Beer Girls Meet-Up at the pub and she and three female members of her team joined on the day.

“I think it was a brilliant brew day, perfect for beginners, pros and everyone in between. It was refreshing to see so many women come together to brew a tasty craft ale, especially in a typically male-dominated sector.”

International Women’s Day Showcase @ Port Street Beer House - Wednesday 8th March 2023

Along with Lauren Soderburg and Fahmida Hussain at Port Street, Chess has organised a free entry International Women’s Day Beer Showcase that is open to all. Alongside ‘Boudica’s Chariot’ will be other female-brewed beers pouring on the bar from breweries including Neptune, Cloudwater, Squawk, Alphabet and Track.

Chess and Sarah will also be delivering an interactive beer and food pairing featuring the International Women’s Day beers and pizza and ice cream from Nell’s Pizza.

Entry to Port Street Beer House is free for all. If you’d like to join in the beer and food pairing, tickets are just £15 per person and include five beers plus three pizzas and one ice cream beer pairing.

The showcase is from 3pm and the Beer and Pizza Pairing takes place from 7-8pm. Tickets are available directly from Port Street Beer House or on Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/international-womens-day-beer-showcase-port-street-beer-house-tickets-540942402287?fbclid=IwAR1dXiKgDghf2Qm7sziwJjossXwE-JerkTt-holcwcePDGYWDrIR7jXfF_E

A new management team has been unveiled for RECOM Solutions’ passive fire protection division, the fastest-growing arm of the group.

Revenues for the division are on track to exceed £4.5m in the 12 months to April, up from £2.6m, following a raft of contract wins which has seen it expand into a nationwide operation.

RECOM Passive Fire Protection has doubled the size of its team of directly-employed installers to 40 over the past 12 months.

The team undertakes projects at locations including NHS Trusts and hospitals, schools and universities, government offices, social housing schemes, apartment blocks and office buildings.

In line with its expansion, RECOM Passive Fire Protection has a new-look management team after a series of promotions and appointments.

Sarah Leadbetter has been promoted to the newly-created role of head of the division, which will see her lead on the delivery of its commercial targets, focus on client retention and expansion, and support RECOM’s directors with their growth plans for the group.

Jay Newby has been promoted from contracts manager to the new role of operations manager for RECOM Passive Fire Protection. His new position sees him working closely with contracts managers and leading on all site operations and project delivery.

Gvidas Teresas has been promoted from supervisor to contracts manager and he will support Jay on service delivery.

Richard Green has joined RECOM Passive Fire Protection as a contracts manager from Bell Group. He brings expertise in fire doors, with more than 10 years’ experience in this specialist field.

Due to the division’s geographical expansion, Keron Jackson has been recruited as a contracts manager for the Midlands and is based in Birmingham. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to bolster RECOM’s national coverage.

RECOM, which has its headquarters on the Waters Edge Business Park in Salford Quays, is an approved contractor under the UK’s Fire Accreditation Scheme (FIRAS) for its fire protection services, which include passive fire protection installation, fire door surveys and installations, repairs and upgrades, fire strategy reviews, compartmentation surveying, advice and guidance, training, development and support.

The company, which was founded in 2015 by directors Jason McKnight and Joseph Dillon, also undertakes construction project management and main contracting work across sectors including healthcare, education, retail and leisure, commercial and residential. It also provides consultancy services to assist in the design and delivery of health and safety, sustainability and cladding projects.

Jason said:

Quote

 

“The creation of a dedicated management team for RECOM Passive Fire Protection, together with our new arrivals, provides an excellent platform for further strong growth for the division.

“The market is growing rapidly amid greater awareness of the need for risk assessments, remediation work, building upgrades and ongoing maintenance in the new-build sector as well as at existing sites.

“Only recently, new fire safety regulations have come into force as the government seeks to improve fire safety in high-rise apartment blocks by implementing recommendations made by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. This once again demonstrates how seriously the issue of fire safety and protection needs to be taken throughout the property and construction sectors.

“We have a highly-skilled and committed team and I am proud of their achievements to date. Our investment in new staff working alongside the new management team will give us the ability to take the division to the next level.

“We are continuing to expand the team by recruiting additional supervisors and contracts managers to reflect the growth we are seeing across the UK. At the same time, we are placing a lot of emphasis on nurturing talent from within, and five RECOM trainees have recently gained diplomas to qualify as passive fire installers.”

 

Salford-based global recruitment and design consultancy business, Morson Group, has celebrated another milestone in delivering the company’s vision for developing future generations of STEM talent (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths), with the official opening of a new learning centre in Salford.

The facility, located in The Beacon Centre, is a collaboration between the University of Salford, The University of Manchester, and national education charity IntoUniversity. It aims to provide long-term educational support to young people facing disadvantage, who are typically underrepresented in higher education.

Morson’s sponsorship of the new learning centre, as one of a number of donors, builds on the company’s commitment to STEM skills and social mobility. The company has already established the Morson STEM Foundation in partnership with the University of Salford, which offers undergraduate scholarships, and is the main financial backer for the Morson Maker Space at the University of Salford. Located in the University’s new £65million Science, Engineering & Environment Building, the Maker Space is a STEM centre designed to provide students with opportunities to innovate and gain hands-on experience of the types of equipment used in the workplace.  

CEO of Morson Group, Ged Mason OBE explained:

Quote

 

“Our involvement with the new learning centre, through IntoUniversity and the University of Salford, closes the loop when it comes to inspiring and supporting future talent in STEM.

“As a global talent business working with some of the world’s most progressive companies, we know that the workplace of the future will rely on the next generation of STEM talent. All too often, potential is lost early in the education journey, perhaps because children weren’t switched on to the excitement and variety of STEM subjects, or due to socio economic factors.”

 

Working closely with local schools, businesses and universities, the centre offers long-term support to young people aged 7-18, helping them to discover their focus, build their capabilities and ultimately have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Support offered at the centre includes after-school academic support, mentoring with local university students and professionals, in-school aspiration-raising workshops and enrichment and work experience opportunities. Once established, the centre will support more than 1,000 students per year.

Ged Mason continued:

Quote

 

“The new learning centre aims to ensure the potential of Salford’s children is nurtured and prioritised, inspiring them to learn, engage, aspire and achieve. Those principles lie at the heart of both levelling up and addressing the need for a talent pipeline for some of the UK’s most innovative sectors.

“We hope to see the children who access support from the learning centre move through school and on to university. Who knows, the young people that are supported through the learning centre today, may be using the Morson Maker Space and receiving a Gerry Mason or Morson Group Scholarship in the future.”

 

The launch event brought together around 25 students aged 7-18, who will benefit from the centre, their parents and guardians, donors, organisers and local supporters.

Guests were also surprised by a special video message from award-winning comedian and Salford alumnus Peter Kay, who himself had a life-changing experience by going to university to study Media and Performance.

He offered some sound advice for students at the centre, telling them:

Quote

“There’s a lot on offer at IntoUniversity to help young people achieve their potential and realise ambitions they may have never even considered. For all the children benefitting from the centre, my advice would be to take every opportunity you’re offered. You’re never going to know what will come up in life and you might fall in love with something you’ve never thought of. You’ve got time to explore many new subjects - keep your options open because you never stop learning.”

Salford was found to be the 18th most deprived local authority in England, out of 317, according to the Government's 2019 Index of Multiple Level of Deprivation. Figures suggest around 22% of children in Salford are living in poverty (Greater Manchester Poverty Action, 2022). Pupils facing disadvantage in Salford are now 22.9 months of learning behind their peers by the time they finish their GCSEs (EPI, 2020), making it a high-priority area for this additional educational support.

The 39 IntoUniversity centres around the country have a strong track record of improving outcomes for young people in England. 66% of school leavers who attended IntoUniversity centres in 2021 went on to progress to university, compared with 26.6% of students from similar backgrounds nationally.

Professor Helen Marshall, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Salford, said:

Quote

“As a university, we have a strong track record in the area of widening participation and are motivated to helping students realise their full potential. We are proud to make a major contribution to providing access to higher education across Salford, the North West and nationally.”

Dr Maria Stukoff, Maker Space Director from the University of Salford, added:

Quote

“We are proud to take an active role in addressing STEM skill shortages by working in partnership with Morson to inspire young people to consider a future career in STEM by learning real-world digital fabrication skills in their studies. Our motto, ‘Make in Salford’, is a creative call to action for inspiring engineers of the future to realise they can succeed in STEM fields. With the opening of the new learning centre, we can now support IntoUniversity to engage with our local young people in a safe environment for exploring digital tools and engineering skills to fuel their passion for engineering and prepare them to develop big ideas for the future.”

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said:

Quote

“University education is a transformative experience for individuals, and for the prosperity of our local communities, so we are really enthusiastic about this new partnership with IntoUniversity in Salford. It adds to the existing IntoUniversity centre we support in North Manchester, which has already supported more than 2,500 students with their academic work since autumn 2018. I’m very grateful to the staff, students and donors who have helped make the Salford centre happen and who will ensure its ongoing success.”

Dr Rachel Carr, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of IntoUniversity, said:

Quote

“We are delighted to have officially launched this centre in Salford Central, building on our existing work in the Greater Manchester area. The young people of Salford have so much to offer, but circumstances can mean they don’t get the same opportunities as other young people to reach their potential. We’re delighted that through this unique collaboration between local universities, we can provide many young people in the area with the support they need to succeed. We’re looking forward to continuing to build partnerships with schools and families in the local community and supporting students to achieve their ambitions.”

To find out more about IntoUniversity, visit https://intouniversity.org

Work could begin this year on the development of Cotton Quay, which will feature almost 1,500 homes along with two hotels. Frogmore purchased the site for an undisclosed sum back in 2018.

The company is reportedly hoping to be on-site for early stage planning within the year.

Global events, volitivity and instability in the market faced by developers has been given as the reason that work has not started sooner.

Salford council green-lit the development back in March 2020 when hybrid planning consent was granted for the site which lies next to Ontario Basin. 

One of the standout features of Cotton Quay is its location. The development is situated on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, offering any future residents stunning views across the water as well as the benefits of living in close proximity to amenities within the wider Salford Quays area. The location is also well-connected, with easy access to public transportation, including trains, buses, and trams.

As well as hotels and homes, there are plans for a Lido at Cotton Quay which will be created within the St Francis Basin.

The History Of Cotton Quay

During the 19th century, Cotton Quay became a hub of activity, as ships carrying raw cotton from across the world docked at the quayside. The cotton was then processed at nearby mills and transformed into finished goods, before being shipped out to markets around the world. This era was the height of the industrial revolution in Salford and Manchester, and Cotton Quay was at the heart of it all.

However, by the mid-20th century, the industrial landscape of Cotton Quay had changed dramatically. The decline of the cotton industry, combined with the rise of new forms of transportation, such as trucks and trains, meant that the ship canal was no longer the critical component of the city's economy that it once was. The area fell into disrepair, and many of the buildings were left abandoned until the area was redeveloped as part of what is now Salford Quays.

Photo ©: via Planning Documents

Salford Red Devils are delighted to launch their new Club website, in partnership with Mosaic Digital Media. 

Our new interface makes it even easier for supporters to navigate and dive into different aspects of the Club. From player profiles to fixture list, the site has seen a complete change with fresh graphics and additional features.

Mosaic Digital Media is a full-service digital marketing and website development agency.

They provide a wide selection of advertising solutions such as website development, social media marketing, search engine optimisation, email marketing, content writing, branding development and asset creation.­

James Murphy, Managing Director at Mosaic Digital Media said:

Quote

 

“We’ve been delighted to work with Salford Red Devils on the revamp of their website ahead of the 2023 season.

The new website has been designed to make it easier for fans to access the content that they want to see. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Salford Red Devils and supporting them during this exciting new season”.

 

Hannah Edge, Salford Red Devils’ partnerships manager, added:

Quote

 

“We’re delighted to launch our brand new website and continue our incredible partnership with Mosaic Digital Media. 

“Our new website is user-friendly, but also gives us the opportunity to create fresh and exciting content for our fans to enjoy on a daily basis.

“Their expertise in data will also allow us to identify how we can give supporters a better match-day and non-match-day experience. All of this means everyone is really excited to see where this venture takes us!”

 

Supermarket chain operator, Tesco, said it intends to reduce the number of lead and team managers in large shops as part of an ongoing shake-up of an management structure, which will impact around 1,750 workers.

The UK's largest supermarket chain said the shake-up will also introduce around 1,800 new shift leader roles in stores, leading operational duties on the shop floor.

It also said its remaining counters and hot delis are to close at stores from February 26, having previously removed counters from the majority of shops already.

Tesco said all affected workers will be offered alternative roles. It did not say how many staff work on counters and delis.

The retailer also said 350 workers will be impacted by a series of localised changes, such as the closure of eight pharmacies and reduced hours at some in-store post offices.

Stores within Salford will be affected.

Tesco UK and ROI chief executive officer, Jason Tarry, said:

Quote

 

“These are difficult decisions to make, but they are necessary to ensure we remain focused on delivering value for our customers wherever we can, as well as ensuring our store offer reflects what our customers value the most.

“Our priority is to support those colleagues impacted and help find alternative roles within our business from the vacancies and newly created roles we have available.”

 

Lidl has submitted a 'scaled-back' plan for a proposed store at the Castle Irwell development, after its previous plan was thrown out by councillors back in August of last year. (2022)

The revised plan suggests that a smaller store could work better within the available space on the corner of Littleton Road and Cromwell Road. 

The city council’s planning officers said at the time that the scheme would “weaken the positive and high-quality urban design attributes of the emerging Castle Irwell neighbourhood”.  

Despite an appeal by Lidl, the decision was upheld, forcing the supermarket chain to go back to the drawing board.

The new proposals would see the store front moved closer to the road, which was one of the reasons cited for rejection of the previous plans.

The new layout would see the new store accessed via Cromwell Road instead of Littleton Road.

Last year Lidl opened another store nearby, on the former site of Mocha Parade in Lower Broughton. Since its opening the store has benefitted the local community with lower priced food and veg and ease of access for those unable to venture further afield.

In our opinion, the council should factor in the current cost of living crisis and the benefit of lower costs for local people in the area as part of their decision on the new store.

Quayside MediaCity in MediaCity, Salford is one of two retail destinations that are the first of their kind to achieve ‘Net Zero Carbon – Operational Energy’, in line with UKGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework.

Quayside MediaCity and Gloucester Quays have been added to the growing list of Peel L&P’s buildings which have achieved net zero carbon status, the highest cluster of which sit within MediaCity, demonstrating the company’s commitment to climate resilience by rolling out net zero carbon initiatives across its estate.

The buildings have achieved ‘Net Zero Carbon – Operational Energy’, in line with UKGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework, following action taken to reduce those emissions and their renewable energy use. In 2021, many of Peel L&P’s assets were transferred to a 100% renewable electricity tariff linked to named wind farms, which considerably reduced carbon emissions across the property portfolio. Within the retail outlets, energy efficiency programmes have included upgrading lighting systems across all spaces including public areas, food courts, back office and advertising signage.

Jo Holden, Peel L&P’s Sustainability and ESG Director said:

Quote

 

“This is a huge milestone. To have achieved net zero carbon with two significant retail destinations is a UK first and shows just how serious we are at taking action to reduce carbon emissions across our portfolio.

“Net zero carbon status has really driven our energy team and everyone around the business to seek out ways of using less energy and more renewable sources. The impact on our carbon emissions has been far-reaching and the effort of our people shouldn’t be under-estimated. But it is our ambition to build on this and make our properties even more resilient to climate change, which is why we were so proud to have eighteen buildings verified at the end of 2022, including two key retail centres.”

 

Yetunde Abdul, Head of Climate Action at UKGBC said:

Quote

“The challenge of decarbonising the UK’s built environment is a complex one, but Peel L&P’s long-term commitment to aligning their built assets to UKGBC’s net zero carbon buildings framework demonstrates their ambition to take this challenge head-on. Given that buildings are directly responsible for around a quarter of the UK’s carbon footprint, businesses across the sector must work together to fundamentally change the way we construct, operate and de-construct our buildings, and ultimately drive a more sustainable built environment.”

Kelly Hurst, Centre Manager, Quayside MediaCity added:

Quote

“Quayside sits within the heart of one of the most sustainable destinations in the UK and we have worked hard to raise our game in line with the other buildings across the site to achieve UKGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework ‘Net Zero Carbon – Operational Energy’. As we evolve Quayside, it’s important for our local residents, employees and customers to know we our committed to achieving our sustainability goals and maintaining them.”

Peel L&P’s work to reduce carbon emissions across its assets is part of its five-year sustainability plan which supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) to help create a fair and sustainable planet by 2030. In 2022, Peel L&P unveiled its Climate Positive Plan, a promise to take more greenhouse gases out of the air than it produces by 2030.

120 Government lawyers will be based within Salford's Three New Bailey by this spring. 

The Government Legal Department agreed to sub-lease 6,000 sq ft of HMRC space until December 2026. 

A 25-year lease on all of the buildings 157,000 sq ft  space was signed by HMRC in 2018. 

GLD is the government’s principal legal adviser consisting of almost 3,000 staff, 2,500 of which are lawyers.

Susanna McGibbon, treasury solicitor and permanent secretary of the GLD, said:

Quote

 

“This is an exciting moment for the Government Legal Department, 

“Establishing a new office in the North West is an important step in us becoming truly national and creating unique career opportunities across the country.”  

 

Many telecoms customers face rising costs for their home phone, mobile and broadband services in the next few months, as some providers hike their prices.

Some telecoms firms have price rises written into customers’ contracts. This means that in March / April, as we move from one financial year into the next, they may increase prices in line with the terms of their contract.

These types of price rises are usually linked to inflation – and current high inflation is the main reason for customers facing potential significant increases in the prices they pay for their telecoms services.

Other providers say prices may go up during the contract, but don’t specify in advance what they will be.

What providers must do

If your provider doesn’t specify a price rise in your contract (either a set amount or one linked to inflation) – then raises their price – you are free to exit that contract and move to another provider without penalty. They should tell you about a price increase, or any other change, 30 days before it happens.

Providers who include prices rises in customer contracts must make this clear before you sign up.

Ofcom are currently investigating whether providers have been setting out these price rises clearly enough before customers signed up.

If you don’t think your provider did this, you should complain to them. If you’re not happy with how they deal with your complaint, you can take it to the ombudsman who will make an independent ruling on your case.

They're also concerned about the transparency of inflation-linked price rises in contracts, and how well they’re understood. Ofcom says that it is examining this issue to ensure customers’ interests are protected.

Why are these price rises happening?

Ofcom does not set retail telecoms prices. They say that they support competition in the telecoms sector, as this provides choice for customers with a range of providers, services and packages on offer. This competition leads to providers offering discounts to attract new customers.

It’s also important to remember that while average household spend on telecoms services has been broadly flat in real terms in recent years, at the same time customers have benefited from better, faster services and are using more data than ever before.

And as demand for data continues to accelerate, the UK’s broadband and mobile infrastructure is getting a much-needed upgrade.  This requires significant investment from telecoms companies, who are also increasing the capacity of their networks to accommodate increasing data use.

Ofcom regulate wholesale telecoms prices in a way that sets the right conditions for companies to build these faster, more reliable networks. In total, next-generation ‘gigabit-capable’ broadband is now available to 70% of the UK – nearly 21 million homes – and around seven in ten UK properties are in areas where 5G is available from at least one mobile network operator.

What else can you do?

If you’re out of contract you have the freedom to switch provider, giving you the opportunity to get a better deal elsewhere.

If you’re receiving certain benefits, you could be eligible for a social tariff – these are lower-cost packages for customers who might be struggling to afford their broadband or phone services.

Ofcom has also put together some tips for cutting your phone, broadband and pay-TV costs. 

See if they could help you.

Pioneering North West adoption programme supports new digitalisation projects worth £560,000

Made Smarter's pioneering technology adoption programme has marked its fourth anniversary by helping its 250th SME manufacturer invest in new technology.

Orb Interiors, manufacturers of kitchens for trade and retail, based in Salford, and Manchester Printers, specialists in digital, litho and large format printers, based in Eccles, are among the latest businesses to secure support from the government-funded and industry-led initiative.

Launched in 2019 to help businesses digitalise, decarbonise and drive growth, the government-funded and industry-led initiative has helped 12 Salford-based businesses with £200,000 towards technology projects, worth £560,000 after private sector investment. 

These manufacturers are forecasting their investments will create almost 50 new jobs, upskill almost 90 existing roles, and deliver an additional £8.7M in gross value added (GVA) for the Salford economy over the next three years.

Made Smarter has helped manufacturers adopt technologies which enable them to integrate systems, capture and analyse data, and even create simulations of their plants and processes, others are now using 3D-printing, automation and robotics to solve business challenges and meet increased demand.

By adopting cutting-edge technologies, these businesses are benefiting from improved productivity and revenue, increased exports and job creation, an upskilled workforce, lower energy bills, and a reduced carbon footprint.

By supporting many of these businesses to take their first steps towards digitalisation, Made Smarter is also paving the way for more advanced technologies coming quickly down the track such as the industrial metaverse.

Orb Interiors, based in Salford, invested in software to automate and streamline production.

Jose Ouaknin, Head of Production, said:

Quote

 

"Made Smarter has supported a project which enabled us to digitalise a traditionally inefficient paper based process. Planning software optimises workflow, works orders are shared on tablet and we have live reporting giving us full visibility and traceability.

"Our investment has been transformative, reducing waste, identifying efficiency gains, increasing capacity by 30% and giving us more time to focus on growth areas. We have already been able to create a new job with more in the pipeline."

 

Across the North West, Made Smarter has supported more than 2,500 businesses on their digitalisation journeys, offering fully funded support including expert, impartial technology advice, digital roadmapping workshops to help manufacturers take their first steps to transform their business, and skills development.

250 manufacturers have secured funding for 275 projects worth £18M, including £5M funded by Made Smarter and £13M from the businesses themselves.

Almost 1,300 new jobs are forecast to be created, 2,400 existing roles upskilled, and an additional £209M in GVA for the North West economy over the next three years.

Commenting on the programme's achievement, Donna Edwards, director of the North West adoption programme, said:

Quote

 

"When we launched the Made Smarter adoption programme four years ago our ambition was to boost growth, productivity, efficiency and create high value, well paid jobs of the future, as well as play a vital role to help accomplish the UK's aim of reaching net-zero greenhouse gases by 2050.

"Digital adoption is still rife and robust in the SME sector. It's been great to see that so many firms have tapped into our expertise to help them select the right approach for their business, how much to invest and which technologies will bring the greatest benefits. 2023 promises to be another busy year for Made Smarter.

"As trailblazers, we are tremendously proud of our achievements working together with the manufacturers we have supported, but now is not the time to rest on our laurels. More challenges lie ahead for manufacturers as they navigate a multitude of demands on their businesses, whilst also trying to keep up with the rapid pace of change.  So, I would encourage any North West manufacturers who are wondering where to go next with technology to help manage their business more efficiently and sustainably to get in touch with the Made Smarter team."

 

The 167,000 sq ft Grade A office development, 100 Embankment based in Salford has agreed a series of lettings taking the building to c.75% full with over 120,000 sq ft let and cementing its place as the ‘city’s best performing office’ in the upcoming office take-up figures.

Professional services firm, Deloitte, will occupy 63,840 sq ft of space from early 2024 across three floors of the nine storey tower. Deloitte will also create a bespoke entrance on the ground floor as part of its wider fit out plans.

Infrastructure consulting firm AECOM has also signed up to take almost 20,000 sq ft of space across the fourth floor on a 15-year lease. A comprehensive fit-out project has already commenced.

Flexible workspace provider x+why, has also announced they will be taking the Ground Floor East, first floor and half of the second floor which totals 34,277 sq ft. The operator has sites across London and Birmingham with 100 Embankment being their first co-working space in the North of England.

x+why aims to create a community of mission-led entrepreneurs, movements and leaders. The organisation has recently celebrated B-Corp status due to its commitment to meet high standards of social and environmental performance which aligns with Salford’s accolade of being one of the most sustainable council’s in the region.

The innovative co-working operator will be activating and running the ground floor, reception area and roof terrace on behalf of landlords, Salford City Council. This will bring community collaboration and culture to the building and the wider Embankment estate.

The x+y fit out which includes the reception and communal roof terrace begins on the 1st February with completion in June 2023.

100 Embankment, located in Salford boasts a stunning rooftop terrace amongst other enviable features and is a joint partnership between Ask Real Estate, Tristan Capital Partners and Salford City Council.

Its strong sustainability credentials, contemporary design, matched with its prime location have helped secure this acclaim as Manchester’s best performing office.Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett:

Quote

 

“These figures speak for themselves. It’s been a really successful period for Embankment in terms of attracting businesses to our city and securing new leasing agreements. The story behind these figures highlights that the decision for the City Council to invest in this development and on-going regeneration of our city was indeed the right one.

“The recent successes further prove that Embankment meets the unique needs of a range of tenants, offering businesses the solutions they need, and whilst the buildings are important the wrap around components, in terms of infrastructure, accessibility, support, transport links and available staffing resource reflect what we already know, that Salford is a great place to do business. As we welcome the likes of Deloitte, AECOM and x+why and others, what I’m most pleased about are the opportunities that these businesses create for our residents and the city itself.”

 

Photo: 100 Embankment

A Salford based civil engineering firm which carried out works on the M6 motorway in Cheshire has been fined more than £4 million after causing overhead power line cables to fall in the path of passing vehicles.

Staff working for Kier Infrastructure and Overseas Limited twice stuck powerlines between junction 16 for Crewe and 18 for Middlewich, while carrying out overnight road works as part of the smart motorway scheme.

In one incident, an overhead cable the Kier workers brought down hit a lorry. The second time, a cable landed on the motorway.

An investigation by workplace regulator the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found after one incident, Kier workers failed to immediately tell the network provider Scottish Power what they had done.

During the first incident, a team of three from Kier were working a night shift on March 28, 2018.

The workers were clearing tarmac from the hard shoulder and loading a truck with a digger.

A still image from CCTV showing sparks as the powerline is hit (Image: Health and Safety Executive)

As they moved the truck along with an attached crane raised, it struck and severed a 11kV overhead powerline that landed in the motorway and in a nearby field.

The company failed to immediately tell Scottish Power, which meant the cable was reenergised a number of times while it was lying on the motorway and vehicles were passing.

During the second incident, another team from Kier was taking down a motorway barrier on January 21, 2019.

A tractor struck an overhead cable which led to an unmarked 11kV powerline being hit and snapped by an oncoming lorry.

HSE found that inadequate planning from Kier meant the vehicle used in the first incident was unsuitable, despite other more suitable vehicles being available.

There was also no task-specific risk assessment available for the workers.

In the second incident, the workers were unaware of the overhead hazards.

In relation to the first incident, Kier Infrastructure and Overseas Limited, of Clippers Quay, Salford, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

In relation to the second incident, they pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

In total, the company was fined £4.215m and ordered to pay costs of £80,759.60 at Manchester Crown Court on January 12, 2023.

HSE inspector Mike Lisle said:

Quote

 

“This is a significant fine reflecting the seriousness of the failures here.

“The company’s failure to plan the work properly and provide an adequate risk assessment put its workers and those using the motorway in significant danger.”