Caribbean restaurant and bar, Turtle Bay, is giving the residents and workers of MediaCity a taste of things to come by staging a big Caribbean BBQ and giving away FREE food and drink to celebrate the launch of their new Salford Quays restaurant, due to open its doors on 19th August. 

Turtle Bay will be bringing the beachside summer vibes to MediaCity piazza on Friday 12th August, dishing out samples of jerk chicken wings, its famous Reggae Rum Punch and Red Stripe beer.

To get their hands on the free samples, Turtle Bay fans simply need to head to the piazza  and follow the scents of the BBQ. The TB Team will be offering up FREE island-inspired treats during two sessions, between 12-2pm and again at 4:30-6:30pm, and once they’re gone, they’re gone!

Famous for its tropical cocktails, late night happy hour and extensive menu of soul-food, Turtle Bay is delighted to be bringing its Caribbean vibes to Salford Quays. Plus, a new cocktail range will be exclusively launching at the Salford Quays branch in September before they land in any other restaurants around the country.

Turtle Bay’s famous Bottomless Brunch will also be coming to Salford Quays this September too. Running every single day from 10am to last sittings at 3pm (5pm on Sundays), it’s a two-hour long Caribbean cocktail and brunching experience  – a sunshine-filled catch up event like no other including unlimited tropical cocktails, mocktails, Red Stripe or prosecco all to a soundtrack of laid back reggae beats. Bottomless brunch includes any breakfast, brunch, burger or fresh roti dish – from Big Kingston Grill Down (the Bay’s Caribbean twist on a full English), to the Vegan Yardbird all for £31.50 per person.

Open for both reservations and walk-ins, Turtle Bay welcomes fans from breakfast through to the small hours. The Bay’s all day food menu boasts a wide selection of Caribbean soul food and grazing options from their island-inspired breakfast dishes to the Jerk Pit BBQ; comforting curries to clean-eating inspired Buddha Bowls; plus an excellent range of burgers, beach salads and sides.

Turtle Bay is also home to one of the biggest vegan collections on the high street with incredible plant-based treats in abundance across the entire menu. From breakfast to mains, desserts and snacks. And the lots of cocktail and mocktail collection is vegan too, including the Reggae Rum Punch.

For more information click here.

Eco-I North West looking for new collaborations after helping 180 organisations cut 3,850 tonnes of CO2

Salford businesses are being urged to sign up to a university R&D programme to accelerate their journey to net zero.

Eco-I North West, a large-scale research and development initiative, supports small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) from any sector to develop low carbon innovations in partnership with six of the North West's leading universities – Lancaster, Central Lancashire, Cumbria, Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores and Manchester Metropolitan.

Launched in 2020, the three-year programme, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is now working with more than 180 SMEs across the region, including 37 in Greater Manchester, to create new sustainable technologies, products and services to accelerate the green economic recovery.

With a year remaining, Eco-I NW is on target to help 369 businesses to develop 135 new innovative solutions and remove 3,850 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere, supporting the UK government's target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Eco-I NW is now looking to connect with the next wave of businesses offering access to fully-funded interns from a pool of highly motivated and talented students across the six universities, match-funded postgraduate researchers for more long term projects, and capital grants to fund prototypes, pilots and demonstration systems.

Andy Pickard, Manager of Eco-I NW and the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation, said:

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"This first two years of the Eco-I NW programme have been extremely challenging in view of the pandemic, which highlights the incredible achievement that we have managed to support 180 businesses to lead the region's transition towards a low carbon economy. 

"Eco-I NW is doing fantastic work to create a melting pot of disruptive innovation, driven by conversation and collaboration. However, to achieve the rapid transition to more sustainable economies and societies in the face of the climate emergency, we need to grow our network of collaborators.

"The North West has the knowledge, people and industry to be world-leading in the transition to a better economy which is sensitive also to the needs of the environment. And with more than 560,000 SMEs in the region, the opportunity for this crucial collective to create green growth is immense. 

"This is why I would encourage any small or medium business in the region, whatever their sector and whatever stage of their journey they are on, to make contact with the Eco-I NW team."

 

For more information visit https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/global-eco-innovation/business/eco-i-nw

Fast-growing proptech business Symple has struck a deal to offer its certification services to thousands of UK holiday home owners whose properties are listed with leading rental agency Sykes Holiday Cottages.

Sykes has registered Symple as a preferred partner as part of its Added Value initiative, which provides exclusive discounts and rates to property owners.

Each supplier has to go through a rigorous interview and checking process before being admitted to the scheme, to ensure a high standard of service and a product offering that owners will welcome.

Sykes, which is based in Chester, is one of the UK’s leading independent holiday home rental agencies with 17,000 owners on its books and a portfolio of over 22,000 properties, ranging from cosy cottages to larger accommodation for 20 or more guests. In total, Sykes hosts more than a million holidaymakers each year.

Symple is an online platform for landlords, estate and letting agents and homeowners which manages the property certificates they require by law for single and multiple sites, such as those for gas safety, boiler servicing, electrical installations, PAT testing and energy performance.

It is a one-stop shop that manages the entire renewal process for certifications, including sending reminders that they are due, managing bookings for inspections and arranging with key-holders for accredited and strictly-vetted service providers – gas engineers, electricians and energy assessors – to carry them out.

Registration is free for landlords and for service providers. Users can check the progress of each job and are then charged for each completed inspection.

Symple, which has its headquarters in Swinton, Greater Manchester, and an office in London, was launched last year by founder and chief executive Simon Dresdner.

From a standing start, its team has grown to 15 and its portfolio to 5,000 properties. Symple is aiming to double its pool of service providers to 2,000 over the next 12 months in line with increasing demand, as it also looks to expand its offering to include repairs and maintenance, cleaning, pest control and property valuations.

Simon said:

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“Our preferred partner agreement with Sykes Holiday Cottages is a superb opportunity to grow our business by taking our services to holiday home owners across the country.

“We pride ourselves on taking away the headaches for property owners with a straightforward process that manages the entire renewal process for certifications.

“Becoming a preferred partner with such a prestigious company as Sykes is a real feather in our cap as we continue our growth journey, and we look forward to working with holiday property owners across the country through this arrangement.”

 

Dominique Morelis, Sykes’ Added Value & Estate Agent Specialist, said:

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“We aim to help our owners in any way we can, including with setting up, managing and maintaining properties, and Symple will definitely support us with this.

“The platform will aid with the management of health and safety requirements and other certification that is required by law.

“Owners can book inspections that will not conflict with guest check-in times, and Symple will liaise with the key-holder if the owner lives in a different part of the country.

“We believe that having Symple on board will strengthen our offering for property owners across the country as we work towards being the number one provider of UK breaks.”

 

Full-service drinks firm and science-led artisan spirits company unite to cement Greater Manchester on the map for distillation. 

Employee-owned Kingsland Drinks Group has partnered with Manchester Still, a company of distillers with an innovative and scientific approach to their craft, to create and install a new fermentation and distillation facility adjacent to its site in Irlam, Salford. 

Up and running this month, the new facility provides Kingsland Drinks Group and its sister company Ten Locks with the ability to produce artisan spirits and marks a major step forward in the firm's momentum towards becoming a full-service drinks company.  

The production facility is also home to the creation of Manchester Still's premium brands – which include spiced, coconut and white rums.  

Together, the companies are building an agile facility, focused on the development of premium, innovative spirits and non-alcoholic beverages that will appeal to mixologists, bartenders and consumers, alike. The investment enables both businesses to meet the growing demand for contract distilling and collaborate with partners across the on and off trade, to create bespoke craft spirits. Manchester Still and Kingsland are planning a pipeline of spirits NPD, with the first home-grown innovation from Ten Locks expected in summer 2022. 

Andy Sagar, Chairman of Kingsland Drinks Group, commented:

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"The partnership is a well planned and executed next step in our growth strategy and sustained investment pipeline, which in part is focused on supporting diversification and extending our services in tandem with complementary partners." 

Manchester Still was founded by Dr Sam Rowley-Neale and Dr Michael Down who employ scientific methods to create delicious artisan spirits, respecting the traditions of the distiller's craft whilst applying science to create hand-made, small batch, premium brands, in the north-west of England. 

Dr Sam Rowley-Neale, co-founder and CEO of Manchester Still commented:

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"The partnership between the Manchester Still and Kingsland Drinks Group has the ambition of developing a truly game changing facility for the innovation, incubation, and development of Manchester/UK based spirits, that in time will garner a global reach. We look forward to engaging and working with the Kingsland Drinks and Ten Locks family on our joint goals and aspirations."  

Sagar continues:

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"The partnership realises a desire we've had for some time – to create world class spirits on home turf and present a true full service offering to the industry. We're proudly creating crafts spirits shoulder to shoulder with Manchester Still. This is the coming together of two northern companies ready to firmly cement Greater Manchester's growing reputation as a hive of innovation in the drinks industry." 

In recent years Kingsland Drinks Group has installed new canning, bag in box and carbonation manufacturing lines and reinstated its onsite winery. Alongside this, it has introduced a new high-speed bottling line, expanded its NPD capabilities with a new laboratory focused on future-thinking and insights-driven product development, and upgraded its capacity to bottle spirits and package new and emerging formats.  

Dubbed the ultimate bartender hack, EasyMixt is the latest brand to join Ten Locks. The deal will see the team distribute and supply the product to the UK retail and hospitality
sectors from its headquarters in Irlam.

Set to shake up the Manchester cocktail scene, EasyMixt empowers cocktail bars and home-bars alike. The brainchild of
Stu Bale,
founder of innovative Drinks Lab, Crucible, it was created to offer a one-bottle premium solution to cocktail making, ensuring consistency and quality across
the most popular serves.

A true innovation, EasyMixt balances sweet, citrus, salt and bitter flavours in one bottle. Combined with its 12.5% ABV, it replicates the creation of bar cocktails by mixing
natural citrus distillates – lemon, lime, pink, grapefruit and clementine – with a blend of acids and sugars for a full mouth taste normally only achievable by bar professionals using multiple ingredients.

Bale’s inspiration for EasyMixt was also to simplify the cocktail making process, minimising the possibility of error for both consumers at home or bartenders. It can be used to create 29 of the top 50 selling cocktails* by mixing equal parts of spirit and EasyMixt before finishing off with the relevant garnishes.

Easy Mixt is a natural, preservative free product that doesn’t need to be refrigerated and is actively carving out implementing a more sustainable packaging solution. The
planned ‘bag-in-box’ format for on trade accounts will not only enable easier serving, but also reduce packaging, reduce storage space in venues and bolster rate of sales.

Becky Davies, Head of Commercial at Ten Locks, said:

“EasyMixt offers such a unique solution to cocktail making, both at home and in the on-trade. As the appointed distributor in the UK, we’re incredibly excited to play our role in stirring up the industry norms when it comes to creating fantastic serves with this pioneering product.

“From our Manchester base, we’ll be working to unlock its full potential through securing additional retail listings and increasing its presence behind the bar in venues
across the country.”

Founder, Stu Bale, added:

“After almost two decades experience working with the best the UK bar scene has to offer, I’ve sampled thousands of cocktail creations from both
amateurs and professionals alike that were over-complicated and offered too much room for error. That’s why we’ve worked hard to craft a brand that works for everyone – offering a cost and time effective, hassle-free solution to ensuring excellence in every
cocktail, no matter what the environment.

“We’re proud to go to the next level with Ten Locks, who share our curiosity and creativity, coupled with a commitment to creating great drinks and bring EasyMixt to the people of Manchester and the UK.”  

Made Smarter survey reveals need for Salford manufacturers to digitalise to survive, recover and grow

Manufacturers in Salford are being urged to accelerate technology adoption to adjust to the economic challenges around the supply chain, energy costs, post-Brexit and COVID.

Made Smarter, the movement connecting UK manufacturing industries to digital tools, conducted a survey of some 200 SME manufacturers in the North West.

The results highlighted how the last two years affected them, and their approach to digitalisation and their priorities going forward.

The survey revealed while many (35%) makers, particularly smaller businesses, are focussed on survival after a turbulent few years, achieving growth by improving productivity and adopting digital technologies are key drivers for SMEs.

In fact, two-in-five manufacturers (38%) revealed they had plans to invest in or adopt new technology in the next two or three years. Meanwhile, one in three respondents said their latest business strategy included integrating digital technology or a roadmap towards automation.

The survey also showed that manufacturing leaders are exploring a range of technologies to revolutionise the way they make and distribute their products. 

Almost half (44%) expressed an interest in data and systems integration technologies, while two-thirds were considering industrial machinery, robotics and automation.

The survey also tapped into attitudes towards technology adoption where it found almost a third (29%) cited productivity, efficiency, and output as key drivers for manufacturers in 2022 and beyond, despite the current business climate. Increasing revenue (18%) was the secondary motivator to invest in new digital tools, followed by attracting and winning new customers (17%).

However, while the majority (80%) of manufacturing leaders expressed a clear understanding of what they need to do and the benefits of investing in new technologies, once they are aware of the benefits, barriers to adoption remain. 

Two in five (42%) manufacturers said that the lack of capital and funding to invest was holding them back from investing, as well as the lack of time (10%).

The survey also revealed a fragmented awareness of the business advice and support available, meaning SMEs are potentially missing out on valuable funding and support available to them.

Donna Edwards, Programme Director for the Made Smarter adoption programme in the North West, said the findings of the research show that the case for digitalisation has never been stronger.

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"SME manufacturers have endured a few unsettling years and continue to face a multitude of recovery challenges," she said. "They are aware that technology brings significant benefits and they risk being left behind by not capitalising on the opportunities on offer. But it is also clear that they need support and advice to create a roadmap to digital transformation to enable them to adopt the right digital tools, progressively and sustainably, to avoid risking wasted time, money and effort." 

Made Smarter was designed to overcome these and other hurdles by helping SME manufacturers navigate through complex technology advice and decisions. 

Initial registration only takes five minutes and is followed up with a digital transformation workshop to identify core challenges, provide a bespoke digital manufacturing roadmap, and pinpoint other ways that Made Smarter can support a maker's digitalisation. 

Edwards added:

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"We have developed a simple and straightforward process which quickly gets to the heart of a business's challenges and supports them to take that first step in their digital transformation. 

"Hundreds of manufacturers have reaped the benefits of our impartial help, identifying the most effective technologies to boost productivity, efficiency, growth and create high value jobs. Meanwhile, hundreds more have taken advantage of funding opportunities to invest in those ideas, as well as investing in the right skill sets and leadership development to help them achieve their goals. 

"Digitalisation is the key to UK manufacturing's post-covid survival, recovery, and growth. And with new challenges at our door, such as rising energy prices, supply chain disruption and labour shortages, now is the time for business leaders to reach out and take advantage of the support on offer." 

 

For more information, visit https://www.madesmarter.uk

The Guinness Partnership is pleased to announce that construction work has started on 63 homes at the Kiwi Street site in Salford, Greater Manchester.

Monday’s event marked the start of construction work at Kiwi Street – on the site of the former Cherry Tree Court building, demolition of which was completed in January 2022.

Senior members of The Guinness Partnership and Caddick Construction were joined by Paul Dennett, the City Mayor of Salford and Councillor Tracy Kelly, the Deputy City Mayor of Salford, along with other partners to officially mark this important milestone.

Caddick, a leading provider of innovative residential construction and regeneration developments, is the main contractor for the eight-story, 63 apartment development on Guinness’s 0.8 acre site. The social housing scheme will see 47 one-bedroom and 16 two-bedroom energy-efficient homes, with car and cycle parking.

Angela Garrard, Director of Development (North) at The Guinness Partnership, said: 

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“The event marks an important milestone in the regeneration of the former Cherry Tree Court site in Salford. We look forward to bringing much needed high-quality homes for social rent to the area. This development reinforces Guinness’s commitment to development in Greater Manchester.”

Paul Dennett, the City Mayor of Salford said:

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“It's great to see that The Guinness Partnership are working with Homes England and their local developer partner Caddick Construction to deliver 63 homes for social rent on Kiwi Street in Salford.

“Currently the UK faces a housing and homelessness crisis, it is therefore critical that Housing Associations maximise the delivery of social rents or rents capped at the local housing allowance, supported by investment from Homes England.

“I'm really looking forward to the development being completed and seeing Salford's residents enjoying their new homes in our great city.”

 

The development is set to complete in early 2024. It was designed by Arcus Consulting LLP.

Deloitte is eyeing a move next year to a state-of-the-art office building in Salford, which would see more than 1,000 people in Manchester relocate to the space. 

The accountancy group has agreed heads of terms for a ten-year lease for 43,000 sq ft of space at 100 Embankment, located above Salford's Greengate Square beside Manchester's historic Medieval Quarter. 

Currently based in a flexible office space at WeWork in the Hanover Building, Deloitte’s 1,050 people in Manchester will move to the new Grade A space in autumn 2023. 

The decision comes amid growth for the firm both in terms of revenue in the region and headcount. Total people numbers have grown by more than 150 in Manchester in the past year alone and plans are in place for Deloitte to increase its Manchester headcount to 1,800 by 2025.  

Amenities will include a dedicated entrance, as well as a communal roof terrace suitable for a range of purposes, from meetings and seminars to outdoor spaces for exercise and individual working.  

It comes as Deloitte recently announced 326 promotions across its North West practice ahead of its new financial year. These include seven promotions to partner, one to associate partner, one to senior director, and a further 19 people to director. 

Andy Westbrook, practice senior partner for Deloitte in the North West, said:

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"We want to substantially grow our practice in the North West and Embankment is the perfect place for us to set down roots as we further commit to Manchester and the wider region. Our headcount has grown by more than 150 people in the last year alone and we have plans to recruit a further 750 people over the next three years.   

"This new space also aligns with our commitments to sustainability, wellbeing and digital connectivity. We will create an inspiring and flexible workplace where our people and clients can connect and collaborate. Its central location makes the office easily accessible via a variety of viable transport options and I am looking forward to designing and shaping our new home with our people."

 

Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, added:

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"Embankment is one of the city's flagship developments and we're extremely proud of its success in attracting major companies. I’m delighted that Deloitte is choosing to relocate here.

"They are coming to Salford at a very exciting time, with our strong strategic vision for the city’s future, built on growth and opportunity."

 

Furniture and home goods makers in Salford are being urged to use the ongoing home improvement boom as a catalyst for digital transformation.

The sectors, which produce sofas, beds and furnishings, face a challenging time following the pandemic, Brexit and rising inflation.

However, the huge demand for interior design, home and garden products and customisation, as well as a further shift to online shopping - driven by a lockdown-induced focus on home upgrades - looks set to continue, presenting a significant opportunity to manufacturers.

The ongoing renovation boom means the UK furniture and furnishings market, worth an estimated £14bn and the second largest in Europe, is estimated to grow by around 3% in 2022.

Six SMEs from the city are among 140 working with Made Smarter's Adoption Programme in the North West to navigate the multitude of challenges and capitalise on changing trends. By tapping into impartial expert technology and skills advice, and digital transformation workshops, Made Starter are helping them take their first steps.

They include: BBS Window Solutions; Bridgewater Laminate Products; Magic Kitchens Manchester; Orb Interiors; and Story Decorating Group.

Meanwhile, others, like Forest Sofa, supported by matched funding, are investing in new digital technology to become more efficient, build resilience, increase productivity and sustainable growth, and create new high-value jobs.

Made Smarter, which has supported hundreds of businesses to deliver an additional £176 million in gross value added, is now keen to reach more SMEs across the furniture and home goods supply chain. They have produced a free guide to help demystify digitalisation and drive technology adoption.

The downloadable guide showcases the benefits of digital technology, how to get started, the top five technology trends across the sector, and case studies of businesses supported by Made Smarter, including furniture maker Starlight Bedrooms and fabrics and upholstery expert Panaz.

Donna Edwards, Programme Director for Made Smarter's Adoption Programme in the North West, said:

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"While UK manufacturing is facing a challenging time, it also presents an opportunity to innovate and transform. Businesses working with Made Smarter over the last three years have shown that investing in technology and digital skills can build resilience and enable them to keep up with the fast moving industry.

"Digital tools can help manufacturers make marginal savings, set themselves apart from competitors in a volatile time, make products quicker, affordable and more efficiently.

"Working with Made Smarter we are helping businesses introduce technologies incrementally, making the most of funding and support to minimise the impact on budgets.

"To help demystify digitalisation and help SMEs to their first step, we have produced some vital guidance as well as explain why implementing digital tools is such a priority in this sector."

 

Commending the impact of the programme, Jonathan Hindle, chairman of the British Furniture Confederation, a group which represents five of the main trade associations representing UK furniture manufacturers, said:

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"The tremendous success of the Made Smarter Adoption Programme in the North West, and the support it is now offering to the sector in other UK regions, has demonstrated the value of targeted support for SME manufacturers to help them take those first steps on their digitalisation journeys.

"The UK furniture manufacturing industry has a global reputation for quality and innovation, combining skilled design and craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. To maintain that achievement and ensure the UK remains competitive against global competition, manufacturers need to embrace current and emerging technologies, and the huge potential digitisation offers, as well as to raise the skills and productivity of the people who work in our sector to the highest level."

 

To download the free guide visit: https://www.madesmarter.uk/resources/guide-digital-technology-in-the-home-goods-and-furniture-manufacturing-sector/

Black, Asian and mixed background tech entrepreneurs are being invited to register their interest for a four-day transatlantic trade mission to Chicago.

The Race Ethnicity And Cultural Heritage (REACH) Mission will visit North America in September (26 to 29).

Aimed at B2B tech sector founders in Greater Manchester and London businesses, the trip will help them to forge new connections, and explore expansion and investment opportunities in the U.S.

Up to 15 places are available on the mission, which has been organised by The Growth Company's Global Scale-Up programme together with the London & Partners Mayor's International Business programme.

Chicago's central location provides multiple opportunities for global trade. According to a global report by policy organisation Startup Genome, Chicago is the world's 19th best start-up region and around a third of their start-ups have either a woman or a person of colour as a founder.

The trip is part funded and participants will have the cost of lodgings, meals and attendance at all events covered. Businesses need to register their interest online by Friday, 15 July.

Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to meet corporations, establish new trade opportunities, join investor roundtables and networking events.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: 

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"This is a really exciting opportunity for underrepresented tech entrepreneurs from Greater Manchester to make new connections and explore new openings in the US.

"Our city-region is the fastest-growing digital and tech hub in Europe, but for that growth to benefit everyone we need to be tackling digital inequalities and ensuring that everyone can develop the skills and forge the connections they need to succeed. Last year's virtual REACH trade mission opened so many doors for those who took part, and this visit will offer an unparalleled insight into trade and investment opportunities in the US, giving a real boost to businesses at the cutting edge of our economy."

 

Deputy Mayor of London for Business, Rajesh Agrawal, added:

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"London's ability to foster entrepreneurship is known the world over, as is the strength of our diversity and commitment to pushing representation in business.

"I am delighted that London has once again joined forces with Manchester to support entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds on our Race, Ethnicity And Cultural Heritage (REACH) trade mission for UK scaleups. Following a successful first year, this mission once again highlights the great work between business ecosystems in London and Manchester and demonstrates how UK cities can collaborate to accelerate the growth of UK companies globally."

 

Last year's delegates included Gori Yahaya, CEO and Founder of training provider UpSkill Digital.Gori said:

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"The REACH mission helped us open doors that we never would have thought possible in such a short space of time.

"Albeit we already had a handful of US clients, this mission enabled us to begin conversations with major players such as Wells Fargo and Comcast, and secure major contracts delivering Inclusion and Leadership programmes with US giants, Walmart."

 

May Al-Karooni, CEO and Founder of Globechain, an online marketplace that connects enterprises to charities and people to redistribute unneeded items, also joined the virtual mission.

May added:

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"Following the initial introduction facilitated by the trade mission, we are now in discussions with a major retail brand. We have had other great successes off the back of REACH, including building relationships with the DIT and becoming members of GBx.

"The mission exceeded expectations, and broadened our horizons and access to a REACH community that really wants to make a difference around diversity and inclusion."

 

For more information about the 2022 mission contact Kirsty.Smith@growthco.uk or akang@londonandpartners.com.

The Growth Company's Global Scale-up programme gives the city region's SMEs access to a global market entry network alongside a combination of tailored coaching, international growth sprints and regular bootcamps. For more information about the Global Scale-up Programme visit https://www.businessgrowthhub.com/globalscaleup.       

Photos: CEO and Founder of training provider UpSkill Digital, Gori Yahaya & CEO and Founder of Globechain, May Al-Karooni

Salford-based furniture installation and interior fit out specialist First Install has been purchased by Ipswich-based Apex Joinery for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition strengthens both businesses creating a new multi-million pound partnership with operating bases in both the north and south of the country with the ability to deliver a wide range of bespoke joinery, manufacturing, installations, and interior fit out solutions to clients nationwide.

With two offices and a combined team of more than 50 personnel, both First Install and Apex Joinery can expect to double turnover in the coming 12 months to more than £5million, with plans to recruit across all areas of the business and embark on a period of concerted growth by securing new clients right across the country.

Both businesses bring a strong reputation for quality, expertise and operational excellence to the new venture which will seamlessly provide clients in the retail, leisure, hospitality, office, commercial and industrial sectors with a turnkey solution to installations and bespoke interior fit outs.

The service will take ideas from vision to reality, covering the complete process from initial concept and design development through prototypes, production and manufacture, furniture and retail display selection and interior layout advice complete with comprehensive 3D visuals and flythrough animation to final installation and handover with warehousing, storage and refurbishment-related construction undertaken as necessary.

Head of sales and operations at First Install, Mike McVey, commented:

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"By joining forces, we have extended our geographical capabilities and established a new multi million pound nationwide operator with the shared aim of becoming the first choice for the design, manufacture and installation of beautiful interior fit outs along with furniture and retail display installation, across a range of different industry sectors.

"In addition to being a mutually beneficial partnership, both combined businesses are committed to further growth and job creation and plan to bring additional complementary businesses on board forming an all-encompassing and experienced group that offers added value and choice for clients and give the client a compelling reason to choose us when selecting an installation, manufacturing and fit out partner."

 

Despite initially doubling in size, turnover and service capabilities, customer satisfaction, attention to detail and a personal approach remain at the heart of every project for the newly merged team.

Mike McVey will head up sales and operations for the new venture, drawing on his vast experience which includes Makro, Halfords and Manchester City Football Club (Kitbag) to name just a few past clients.

With both companies established for more than two decades, First Install and Apex Joinery are renowned for excellence in their operating sectors; First Install delivering professional furniture installation and specialist fit out and Apex Joinery delivering high quality purpose-made joinery. For further information on either business, please visit https://www.firstinstall.co.uk or https://www.apexjoinery.co.uk.

TalkTalk is launching its new Future Fibre Fund in Manchester as it looks to support local community groups with a donation to help them succeed.

As the UK’s only large-scale value provider of connectivity, TalkTalk is passionate about helping people connect affordably to all the possibilities the outside world offers, as it rolls out Future Fibre – the UK’s fastest and most reliable full fibre technology.

TalkTalk is inviting community groups across Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds to apply for a one-off donation of up to £1,500 per city – for example, that could go towards supporting a helpline, buying new kit or making an investment into new facilities.

With the city’s Pride Month festivities in full swing, TalkTalk is calling on local groups that offer support and assistance to the LGBTQIA+ community to apply, allowing them to continue their important work across Manchester.

 Bronagh McCloskey, Head of Public Affairs and CSR at TalkTalk, said:

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“We are delighted to celebrate and support local projects in Manchester with the launch of our Future Fibre Fund this Pride Month.

 The pandemic shone a light on the importance of support networks and community groups for everyone, including the LGBTIA+ community, who we are committed to supporting here at TalkTalk. We hope the Future Fibre Fund helps community-led initiatives in Manchester continue to make a difference as we rollout Future Fibre in the area.”

 

Community groups interested in applying for a Future Fibre Fund donation need to complete a short application form, available on TalkTalk’s website. The application form requests a short summary of the project, what the donation would be used for and how it will have a positive impact and the wider community.

Completed entry forms should be submitted by Monday 11th July and successful projects will be notified from 8th August

The Future Fibre Fund follows the launch of TalkTalk’s Future Fibre and Amazon eero packages, with top average download speeds of 900Mb/s. Combining the benefits of a 100% full fibre connection and Wi-Fi 6 technology, the packages support superior speeds, boost efficiency, and tackle Wi-Fi blank spots – with enough bandwidth to easily handle up to 75 devices connected to the eero network.

For more information on Future Fibre visit: https://new.talktalk.co.uk/broadband/fttp  

Proptech business Symple is ramping up its expansion by doubling its pool of specialist contractors to 2,000 and investing £600,000 in technology to meet increasing demand for its services.

Symple is seeking to recruit 1,000 accredited and strictly vetted service providers – gas safety engineers, electricians and energy assessors – across the UK over the next 12 months.

The company, which was launched in May 2021, is an online platform for residential landlords, estate and letting agents and homeowners.

Symple, which operates nationwide from headquarters in Swinton, Greater Manchester and an office in north London, manages property certificates for single and multiple residential sites, including those for gas and electrical safety, boiler servicing, PAT testing and energy performance.

Its cloud-based platform is a one-stop shop which manages bookings for inspections and arranges for service providers to carry them out.

The recruitment drive for service providers follows continued strong growth for Symple, which now has a portfolio of 5,000 properties.

The company has also earmarked £600,000 for a software upgrade as it launches new services such as repairs and maintenance, taking the total investment in technology since its inception to £1.3m.

Founder and chief executive Simon Dresdner said:

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“Symple has seen continuous strong growth and now we are delighted to announce further significant investment across the business in line with our rapid expansion.

“We need to recruit 1,000 additional service providers to meet increasing demand and ensure inspections are picked up and completed quickly in all areas of the country.

“Our system is based on an Uber model, whereby service providers receive a text message or email about an inspection which has been booked with us, and can then respond if they are in the area and wish to attend.

“Our ease of operation, straightforward administrative process and prompt payment means it’s a very appealing proposition for those looking for an additional source of revenue.

“There is no sign-on fee, and contractors are free to make their own decisions about whether or not to carry out an inspection when it is notified to them.

“They love the model because they know exactly what they will be paid when they see the job come up, and that they will receive payment within seven days directly into their bank account.

“We support them throughout the process, ensuring they have all the information they need to get the job done quickly, with no need to raise invoices.”

 

He added:

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“Landlords, agents and homeowners also love the platform because it’s a one-click order system, there is no registration fee, and Symple manages the entire renewal process for certifications, including sending reminders when they are due and arranging inspections with key holders and service providers.

“We have a long list of services which they require, such as repairs and maintenance, cleaning, pest control and property valuations, which we are looking to add in the future.

“As the platform develops, it will be one that landlords will rely on to take care of any property-related service they need.

“To facilitate this expansion, we are developing our technology with a further investment of £600,000 as we increase the number of properties and contractors, and roll out new services to a growing client base.”

 

Symple is part of Kingsbury Holdings, the parent company of several service providers in the property and facilities management sectors.

The Kingsbury group includes Merco Facilities Services, a commercial cleaning business, and FCS Management Services, a business rates management company.

Backed by Sacha Lord, Greater Manchester’s Night Time Economy Adviser, Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s (GMCA) three-year Skills for Growth programme aims to upskill and retrain employees to aid staff retention, boost morale and attract new staff into the industry.

Through the programme’s bespoke Skills for Growth - SME Support service, which is being delivered by GC Business Growth Hub, businesses in the city-region can work with qualified Skills Coaches for up to six months who will offer an in-depth business diagnostic and workforce development plan tailored to achieve the business’ growth ambitions as well as creating personal employee development plans and signposting to appropriate training courses.

Speaking about the programme, Mr. Lord said:

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“This is huge for the hospitality sector. We have seen an exodus of workers over the past two to three years and many operators are having huge difficulties either attracting new staff to plug skills gaps, or financing training programmes to upskill existing employees.

“This programme offers hope to operators across Greater Manchester’s hospitality and night-time economy sector and will give them a real helping hand through these difficult economic times."

 

Hospitality is an important sector for the city-region, accounting for approximately 86,000 jobs, equating to more than 6% of Greater Manchester’s workforce.

However, the sector has suffered astronomically due to the Covid-19 pandemic and is now experiencing an increase in job vacancies at much higher levels than seen pre-pandemic. As of August 2021, there were around 2,500 unfulfilled hospitality jobs in Greater Manchester.

Skills for Growth tackles challenges like this in hospitality - and in other industries - by working directly with businesses to understand their needs and offering responsive support.

Cheadle based events business, Fresh Approach UK, has seen staff undertake 96 training courses since engaging with Skills for Growth – SME Support, which have helped to create four new jobs, increase productivity by 20 per cent and make £18,000 in savings.

Kelly Humphreys, Head of Support, Fresh Approach UK, said:

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“We’ve had a great experience with the Growth Company, accessing funded training for over half our team.

“We would not have been able to offer this number or variety of training to the team without the support of the team at Skills for Growth - SME Support or the funding towards training.”

 

One key part of the programme is the Greater Manchester Skills Map – an online resource pulling together fully funded commissioned provision across a number of industries as part of the wider Skills for Growth programme as well as other training opportunities outside of Skills for Growth that are available to businesses and individuals in Greater Manchester.

The resource acts as a ‘one stop shop’, making navigating the skills system much easier for employers and learners.

Currently, the directory holds information from more than 200 training providers, including top universities, colleges and commercial organisations and lists more than 2,000 different training courses as well as 457 apprenticeship programmes.

The resource is open to all SMEs in Greater Manchester but for full access, businesses must be registered on the programme.

Some of the training listed on GM Skills Map specific to the hospitality industry include:
• Hospitality and catering (food production and cooking)
• Food safety
• Hospitality leadership
• Security and customer service programme
• Equality and diversity in the workplace
• Customer service for hospitality

Dawn Duggan, Head of People Skills and Talent at GC Business Growth Hub said:

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“Businesses across the hospitality industry are feeling the impact of skills shortages and we want to work with as many of them as possible to ensure they are accessing the range of training available to them.

“Skills for Growth is all about helping SMEs, including the likes of bars and restaurants in Greater Manchester, to grow by identifying skills gaps and providing both the businesses and individuals with training and development to fill them.

“Hospitality businesses that work with us also get the chance to shape the future of the training landscape in Greater Manchester. When we identify skills gaps we feed this information back to Greater Manchester Combined Authority who then look to develop bespoke, fully funded training to support others in the city-region’s hospitality workforce to thrive.

“We know that it’s a challenging time for the hospitality industry and we’d urge any business that thinks they could use some help with skills shortages to get in touch to see what we can do for them.”

 

Skills for Growth is funded through the European Social Fund (ESF) and is an innovative £42m programme that has been developed to fill skills gaps in a number of industries in Greater Manchester.

There are two key strands to the programme; skills training delivered by a number of commissioned providers focusing on upskilling workforces in named sectors and, wraparound SME support for all industries delivered by GC Business Growth Hub.

So far, nine partners have been brought on board offering fully-funded training to businesses and those working across the digital, health and social care, construction, manufacturing, retrofit and logistics industries.

Find out more about the Skills for Growth programme, or visit the Skills for Growth - SME Support website for more information to access fully-funded wraparound support for your business.

An industry and academic partnership between innovation hub operator IN4 Group and Lancaster University, part of the Greater Manchester AI Foundry, has supported 30 SMEs to innovate and grow through a ground-breaking industrial digital accelerator.

The fully funded IN4 Access programme gave SME businesses including Abbey Attachments, Simkiss Control Systems and Rutterkey, the ability to unlock innovative new products and services and uncover business growth opportunities using industry 4.0 technologies. The programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

The partnership brought together Lancaster University’s academic expertise in innovative technologies and IN4 Group’s established experience in delivering applied innovation programmes to manufacturing and engineering businesses.

Chris Lambert, Programme Manager, Department of Engineering at Lancaster University, said: “This partnership between the IN4 Group and Lancaster University clearly demonstrates the value of industry-academic collaboration that directly advances the SME community. We’re proud to have worked closely with IN4 colleagues who have shaped and delivered the accelerator, ensuring it is absolutely right for the target audience. The AI Foundry accelerator has been a great success and a model of private-public partnership, which all stakeholders should be justifiably very proud of.”

The three-month accelerator provided a series of masterclasses, workshops, seminars, panel discussions and networking to business leaders and senior engineers, offering exclusive access to learning and coaching from the industry’s best change experts.

Leading industry speakers included Brian Holliday, Managing Director for Siemens Digital Industries; Alison Ramsay, Workplace Climate Director at BAE Systems; and Professor Ian Sherrington, Director of Jost Institute for Tribotechnology and research lead at the School of Engineering at UCLan.

SME businesses such as Perceptuo, Intelligent Development and Cybione are continuing to work with the Group through accessing its innovation membership, which includes one-to-one support to progress their journey, and support services such as CTO in residence and cyber security.

Mo Isap, CEO of IN4 Group, said:

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“The collaboration with Lancaster University and the GM AI Foundry has delivered ground-breaking outcomes for all of the SMEs involved. This is the perfect example of an outstanding academic and industry partnership, and how you can build an incredible innovation journey, particularly for SMEs. IN4 Access is specifically designed for scaling organisations that are experiencing significant growth within the engineering, manufacturing and digital sectors, so they can see the real benefits of future-proofing their businesses.”

IN4 Access is focused on using disruptive technologies, including cloud and immersive, to streamline business processes through upskilling leadership teams, and explores how digital solutions can help solve the most common industry problems.

The programme supported the businesses to develop proof of concepts in three key areas: machine conditioning and monitoring, supply chain digitalisation and process automation using IoT (Internet of Things).

Chris added:

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“Those participating delegates, made up of SMEs from Greater Manchester have spoken passionately about the value to their business, their customers and themselves that this programme has provided. As a result of participation, those SMEs will go on to generate new products, make productivity improvements and open up new markets because of their increased understanding of AI and digital technologies.”

Simon Bodill, General Manager of Simkiss Control Systems, said:

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“We joined the course because we weren’t sure about AI. As a solutions provider, the fear is being left behind. This has opened our eyes to the potential and endless possibilities of AI, but also how we access it and how we learn. We wouldn’t have had a clue where to start and this course has really given us some good channels to start working on.”

The £6 million Greater Manchester AI Foundry project was developed by Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Manchester, the University of Salford and Lancaster University, and is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. For more information on ERDF visit here.

A groundbreaking ceremony marked the start on the site for the next major phase of development at Middlewood Locks.

Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett and Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham joined a gathering alongside Kevin McCabe, chairman, and Simon McCabe, chief executive of Scarborough Group International which is delivering the major urban regeneration project.

Dongwen Yu, lead director at Beijing Construction Engineering Group International (BCEGI), which is the preferred contractor for Middlewood Locks, also joined the event alongside Zheng Xiyuan, Chinese Consul General in Manchester and other guests.

Planning consent was granted last year for phase three at Middlewood Locks following the successful completion and sell out of 1,117 apartments in phases one and two. The multi-award-winning new neighbourhood is already thriving with more than 1,300 people living and working at Middlewood Locks with a recent report highlighting a £260m contribution to the Greater Manchester economy so far.

Phase three, named ‘Railings’, features 189 new homes including 176 one- to three-bedroom apartments in two blocks, one of 10 storeys and the other 12 storeys, on the northern side of the canal opposite Phase one.

For the first time, there will also be seven canalside, three- and four-bedroom townhouses along with six mews houses to support family living.

The Railings will incorporate first class amenity space, balconies and private gardens that blend into the public realm areas as a continuation of previous phases. The scheme will also feature 5,150 sq ft of ground floor commercial and retail accommodation with an additional 5,000 sq ft of offices.

Paul Dennett said:

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“Middlewood Locks is a Salford success story that keeps on delivering. It has created thousands of jobs for our local economy, delivered over a thousand homes that are desperately needed for Salford residents and transformed a derelict site into a vibrant and sought-after neighbourhood.

“I am excited to see how the next phase unfolds and how it works with its ever-growing community as our city moves forward with this ambitious regeneration project.”

 

Andy Burnham said:

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“I am delighted to see first hand what has been achieved so far at Middlewood Locks. This place is a part of the ‘new’ Greater Manchester and is a fantastic example of brownfield site development that delivers homes where there are great public transport links and green spaces. When we connect Middlewood Locks to our London-style public transport system, it will become an even better place to live, right in the heart of a resurgent North of England.”

The first phase of 571 homes at Middlewood Locks completed in September 2018 and phase two of 546 homes completed in November 2021. Phase two was purchased by award-winning PRS operator Get Living for its first PRS venture outside London.

Both phases are sold out and a new community of more than 1,300 residents now live at Middlewood Locks where iconic brewery brand Seven Bro7hers has opened its first beer house alongside Co-op Food and 92 Degrees coffee shop.

When completed, the 25-acre neighbourhood will provide a total of 2,215 new homes and 900,000 sq ft of commercial space, including offices, hotel, shops and restaurants.

Kevin McCabe said:

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“The creation of this vibrant and inclusive new neighbourhood has been made possible thanks to our successful collaborations and support from the local authorities, Homes England and our delivery partners and we are pleased to be able to showcase this to our esteemed guests today.”

Dongwen Yu said:

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“BCEGI has a strong track record of enriching local communities after having already completed phases one and two, generating £260m local economic benefit for the Greater Manchester region.

“This development has already had a positive impact on the communities of Salford and Greater Manchester, and we are proud to be playing a pivotal role in the process.”

 

Zheng Xiyuan said:

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“The development of Middlewood Locks is an exciting and much needed project to provide high quality homes in the heart of Salford. An investment like this in making our city a great place to live, work and relax is of the utmost importance.”

SGI expects to complete construction of the Railings by late 2024.                    

A team of students from the University of Salford have won a national enterprise competition and will now represent the UK in the European final.

Team hearNprotect developed a device to prevent ear damage in people who work around loud music or other noise, after impressing the judges with their presentation and plans to develop the business.

They competed in the UK finals earlier this month and will now go on to the European finals which are taking place between 10th and 15th of July, in Tallinn, Estonia.

Team member Jake Naylor said:

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“It was a brilliant feeling to hear them say we were through to the European final. We didn’t know how to react at first, we were in total shock. I think it’s only just really sunk in.”

Alongside earning a place in the European final, the team won a social media presence and marketing award and Jake also won UK student of the year award. He said: “It’s an amazing personal achievement, but I wouldn’t be here at the competition without the rest of the team, so I definitely regard it as a group award.”

 

The three-man team of second year students from the Business School, including Arran Macdonald and Jordan Hall, have developed a prototype ear protector that dampens the vibrations in the ears but doesn’t affect the sound quality. They hope it could help the nearly 1 in 6 people who suffer with hearing problems due to excessive loud noise at work or home. They are looking to develop their business idea further and plan to establish a charitable organisation to raise awareness of the issues contributing to hearing loss.

Jake said they’re excited to contend at the finals later this year, after competing previously in the north-west and national finals.

He added: 

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“We’re aware of how much effort we’ve put in through the entire process and we really believe in the product itself so that helps take away from nerves of competing.”

Jake said that him and the team can’t credit staff at the university enough for the time, support and enthusiasm they have offered.

He said:

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“Jonathan Owens, Gabi Round and Hems de Winter have all been incredible, they’ve helped us every step of the way. They’ve continued to put time aside to assist us and boost our confidence when we’ve needed it. Gabi in particular was selfless with her time and really gave us great advice and was a huge help.”

Gabi Round said:

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“The hearNprotect team have a strong entrepreneurial spirit, they are never afraid to learn a new skill or take a risk. The way in which they have developed in confidence and professionalism through this module is outstanding, and a testament to their dedication. It has been a pleasure being their academic mentor through this process, I don’t doubt that they will be hugely successful.”

Module Leader Dr Owens said:

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“hearNprotect’s journey has been fabulous and they have taken so much from the module and the Young Enterprise Start Up Programme.

“The university’s industrial strategy is closely aligned to providing these kind of learning environments for all our students where they can experience real-word outcomes within their academic journey, so it has been fantastic to see hearNprotect gaining so much and developing an enterprising and entrepreneurial product.”

 

To learn more about the hearing protection developed by hearNprotect check out their Instagram @hearnprotect

An R&D tax specialist with offices at Media City in Salford has expanded to Scotland and strengthened its team with three new hires as it experiences significant growth.

Counting King has supported over 150 businesses with R&D tax claims over the last year and is looking to reach even more businesses with innovation funding support and advice by establishing a permanent presence in Scotland.

The team has grown rapidly to 15 people over the past year and there are plans to recruit for an additional four roles in the next few months.

It supports organisations to access grants, tax relief incentives and investment to help scale and grow innovative companies in the UK that are looking to disrupt their industry with commercially successful technology products or services.

Counting King already works with businesses across a range of sectors, including brewing, oil, gas, software development, engineering, construction and manufacturing.

As part of this, it is working with trusted referral partners such as Edinburgh-based Chase Innovate, a specialist intermediary that supports UK businesses with innovation and energy solutions.

Leading the new team in Scotland is director James van Beusekom, who has more than 25 years of experience in the banking and the financial services industry and has previously worked with GE Capital, RBS Group and Bibby.

Gwydron Siswick has been appointed as a business funding consultant with a wealth of financial knowledge and previous experience in the sign, graphics and construction sectors.

Susannah Downs also joins Counting King from international consulting firm Leyton. Prior to this, she worked in the world of sports media with Sky Business and the Scottish on-trade industry, specialising in the brewing sector and working with Innis & Gunn.

Commenting on her new role as business funding consultant, Susannah said:

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“I’m passionate about supporting Scottish businesses of all sizes and in a diverse range of industries, with a keen focus on supporting the creative arts sector as I feel that this is often overlooked or forgotten about when it comes to vital funding support.”

Gary Hilton, co-founder and group director, said:

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“Counting King has experienced phenomenal growth in 2022, having just surpassed the 100 mark of successful new client wins this year. A major part of this is the rollout of additional services, including searching for grants, capital allowances and of course, R&D tax credits.

“Scotland is bursting with innovation, and it is purely down to its reputation of being a world leader in several sectors that has led us to expand and see which clients we could assist. We have brought on some fantastic consultants based in Scotland who are extremely knowledgeable, and in turn, have secured some key strategic partners to further our goal of becoming the UK’s number one funding provider through grants, tax incentives and investment.”

 

Construction project management consultancy RECOM Solutions has welcomed back Sarah Leadbetter as head of its healthcare projects team, a new role created to reflect the company’s growing workload in the sector.

Sarah first joined RECOM in 2017 as an associate director from Deloitte Real Estate, where she was an associate director managing major capital projects.

In 2019 she moved to Turner + Townsend as a senior project manager, before being promoted to associate director.

She has now re-joined fast-expanding RECOM to lead its healthcare offering and support clients across the UK.

RECOM works with clients such as the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the Northern Care Alliance at hospital and healthcare sites. Current projects include developing strategies for the delivery of passive fire protection schemes.

Sarah said:

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“RECOM’s culture and alignment with my own aspirations, together with the opportunity to make a difference in such an important sector, made the decision to return to the business an easy one.

“Since leaving in 2019, I have gained further experience working across large-scale, complex projects, and I’m excited to be bringing this knowledge back to RECOM which will assist with the growth of our healthcare offering.”

 

RECOM, which was founded in 2015 by directors Jason McKnight and Joseph Dillon, 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, passive fire protection and cladding projects.

The company 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. 

Earlier this year, RECOM acquired a three-storey building on the Waters Edge Business Park as its new headquarters to accommodate its expanding team, with staff numbers now at more than 30.

Jason McKnight said:

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"Sarah has established herself as an extremely competent professional and she has immediately settled back in at RECOM.

“She supports our values and vision and is a pleasure to work with, adding experience to our young and dynamic team.

“Her return shows that RECOM has matured in size and scale since she left. We have seen significant growth in the healthcare sector, with places on a number of public sector frameworks, including NHS Shared Business Services, Fusion21 and Rise.”

 

He added:

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“We have a distinguished team which is successfully delivering numerous healthcare projects throughout the UK, and Sarah is the ideal person to lead our expansion in this sector in her new role. To cater for continued growth in healthcare, we will be recruiting further to bolster the team and assist existing and future clients.”

Lime has launched its Gen4 e-scooters in Salford as part of a £1m investment in green travel across the Greater Manchester region.

The company announced the expansion of its successful trial with partners Salford City Council and TfGM which will continue to run until the end of the year.

The trial has seen over 250,000 rides across the city with 190,000 of them taking place within the last year.

The Gen4 version of their e-scooter offers a raft of enhanced features such as better suspension, larger wheels and dual handbrakes.

Lime recently allowed riders free travel to local polling stations at the elections this year and hopes to run similar promotions in the future as it bids to get more people out of their cars.

Conor Chaplin, Public Policy at Lime said:

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“Our recent investment demonstrates our commitment to Salford and Greater Manchester. With so many riders from across the city-region embracing Lime e-scooters, and city officials committed to creating a greener transport network, we recognise the region as a national leader in adopting innovative new transport services. We have ambitions to be a long-term transport option in the area and are hugely excited to launch our latest innovation – the Gen4 scooter. The Gen4 will provide a new and improved rider experience to the residents of Salford and strengthen the role Lime e-scooters can play in offering a reliable, sustainable alternative to cars in Greater Manchester.”