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uk THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

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Looking at the many routes to
bridge the north west skills gap
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 3

GREATER MANCHESTER
CONTENTS BUSINESS WEEK
4 NEWS REVIEW
6 OPINION: Gideon Levene, head of projects at
Styles&Wood Group
8 FEATURE: The rise of Generation K and how
businesses are scrambling to engage with them
10 FEATURE: The number of boozers in Greater
Manchester is falling is it the last-chance saloon for
our pubs?
15 FEATURE: Investigating how north west
businesses from all sectors are using apprenticeships
to bridge the skills gap
18 FEATURE: How far away are we from losing jobs
to robots?
20 FEATURE: Looking at the fall out from the BBC
gender pay gap row
22 DIGITAL, MEDIA AND CREATIVE: Leading
broadcast equipment supplier is to move to new
studios in Gorton
25 A COFFEE WITH: Ben Martin, creative director
at Peppermint Soda
15
26 ENTERPRISE: The entrepreneur who has
designed an app to connect basketball players
28 OUT OF OFFICE: The delights of a city break in
Dubrovnik
30 PROFESSIONALS: Greater Manchesters
economy is growing faster than Londons
32 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY: A new masterplan is
revealed for Chorlton
34 FEATURE: The former actress is has set up a new
business organising luxury bridal parties
37 TECHNOLOGY: The importance of networking
events for start-up companies
38 AGENDA: What is happening in the world of
business this week
34 10
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Published by M.E.N. Media, Mitchell Henry House, Hollinwood Avenue, Chadderton OL9 8EF
4 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

NEWS REVIEW

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Row over Crossrail

backing heightens
EMP LOYMENT
EMPLOYM ENT
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APPRENTICESHIPS

WORK The transport secretary has accused

UNIVE
UNIVERSITY
RSITY
Greater Manchesters mayor of very
effective political mischief-making in
the row over London getting more
Looking at the many routes to money than the north.
bridge the north west skills gap Andy Burnham spoke of his anger
over the at-risk Manchester to Leeds
rail electrification after Chris Grayling
In a few weeks it will be decision gave his backing to a 30m London
time for the countrys youngsters as scheme. The regions mayor said he
they ponder whether to go to was furious after the future of the huge
college, university or join the northern project was put in doubt,
workplace. while the Crossrail 2 scheme was given
This week we take a look at the Mr Graylings support.
opportunities available to them, In a comment piece for the M.E.N,
but importantly what local Chris Grayling accused Burnham of
businesses are doing to tackle the grabbing good headlines by creating a
skills gap. sense of competition between the
While theres still a long way to north and south.
go, especially in areas of digital and He claimed that was unfair because Transport Secretary Chris
tech where employers are crying the government is still totally Grayling
out for talent, the regions firms are committed to working with Transport
making headways with a range of for the North (TfN).
opportunities. Graylings fresh take on the row of very effective political mischief had been around for nine years,
Universities too are thinking comes after he sparked widespread making, he wrote. compared to the Manchester to Leeds
about how to equip the future fury by casting doubt over the long- Describing the mayor as a skillful routes four, meaning plans for the
workplace and degree awaited electrification - despite his politician, Grayling said he achieved southern scheme were more advanced.
apprenticeships could soon predecessor Patrick McLoughlin good headlines for northern transport They were working with London on a
become the norm. insisting the plan was at the heart of links by comparing it to Crossrail 2. fair scheme for the taxpayer, Grayling
This brings me onto Generation the Northern Powerhouse. But he added: The only problem is said, while finalising initial plans for
K, thats the next generation of 15 He also said plans to add two they dont actually represent whats the north and investing record
to 22-year-olds, the social natives platforms to Manchester Piccadilly happening, because the government is amounts, including the 1bn rail
who are both consumers and were being reviewed. still totally committed to working with upgrade which has already seen
creatives. Anger among passengers and Transport for the North on plans for improvements - electrification - to the
Theyre different to the so-called northern leaders was then heightened Northern Powerhouse Rail. Manchester to Liverpool line.
Millennials as this is the generation by Graylings announcement that Thats why weve given TfN 60m to He said he was keen to work with
that have been fundamentally Londons 30bn Crossrail 2 scheme work up proposals for the scheme. Burnham, but condemned him for
shaped by smartphones and ever does have his backing. My department is even working with creating a sense of competition
evolving technology. Among dissenters was Burnham, them to help make the business case as between the cities.
They are coming of age in the who said passengers were sick of strong as possible. Chris Green, MP for Bolton West,
shadow of economic decline, job sub-standard rail services and Accusing Burnham of expanding his warned the transport secretary that
insecurity, increasing inequality suggested people outside of London remit with comments on outdated doubts over electrification are
and a lack of financial optimism. were paying for Crossrail 2. cross-Pennine services, he said particularly difficult to take after the
How businesses connect and But, in a statement which fails to improvements were planned for both government confirmed its backing for
interact with this generation is once mention the electrification Manchester to York and London to Londons Crossrail 2 scheme.
going to be important moving project by name, Grayling has now Sheffield for 2022. Green said: We cannot rebalance
forward. accused Burnham of using the crisis for Insisting his positions on Crossrail 2 our economy and the north cannot
Shelina Begum, Business Editor political gains. Id like to congratulate and Northern Powerhouse Rail were prosper without proper investment in
Andy Burnham this morning on a piece exactly the same, he said the former our infrastructure.

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THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
For your daily dose of business news as it happens, see the Manchester
Funding for
mattress start-up
A luxury mattress start-up, launched by
a Manchester entrepreneur, has raised
17.6m to expand its product line.
Leesa Sleep, which donates
mattresses to poor families, raised the
money in a round led by One Better
Ventures, an investment company led
by Seventh Generation CEO John
Replogle.
Mr Replogle will join Leesa as
chairman of the board alongside Peter
Graham who was chairman of Seventh
Generation until its recent sale to
Unilever.
Launched at the beginning of 2015 by
e-commerce entrepreneur David Wolfe
and mattress industry veteran Jamie
Diamonstein, Leesa has already
delivered triple digit growth and sales
are expected to exceed 152m in the
next 12 months.
Leesa will use this latest round of
funding to invest in the brand and to
drive growth by launching a series of
new products as well as to extend the
reach and impact of its partnerships,
events and celebrity relationships.
Said founder and CEO David: We
are humbled and invigorated by the
extraordinary response Leesa has
received in such a short period of time,
and we are excited to use this round of
funding to broaden our reach to
customers and influencers alike as well
as expand into the retail category.
PZ Cussons
scrubs up well
Imperial Leather maker PZ Cussons
has hailed a solid performance as
pre-tax profits edged up 0.5 per cent to rates and like-for-like.
103.5m despite challenging market
conditions.
The Manchester-headquartered
group, which is behind brands
including Carex, St.Tropez and
Sanctuary Spa, said performance in the year currency devaluation in the
UK washing and bathing division was
robust, while Asia traded strongly in
the second half driven by continued
improvement in Australia.
The FTSE 250 companys revenue fell
1.5 per cent in its full year to 809.2m. innovation and renovation continues
Operating profit was down 2 per cent to underpin the Groups ability to
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Property giant Bruntwood has been
exploring how urban greening can
contribute to the health and
wellbeing of cities and citizens as
part of its headline sponsorship of
this years Royal Horticultural
Society (RHS) Flower Show Tatton
Park 2017.
The Bruntwood Experiment
garden championed urban greening
and explored the different ways that
plants - often written off as weeds
- naturally colonise urban spaces.
on a reported basis at 106.3m in the 12
months to 31 May, and down 0.9 per
cent on a constant currency and
like-for-like basis, while profit before
tax was ahead 0.5 per cent at 103.5m,
or up 1.7 per cent at constant exchange
Chair Caroline Silver said: The
Group has delivered a solid set of
results with profits slightly ahead of the
previous year.
This is despite a significant year-on-
Groups largest market Nigeria and
general tough trading conditions in
most of the markets in which we
operate.
Our strategy of ongoing brand
9LVLWRPDQDLUFRPHQRURXUDSS
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The experiment aimed to show how
such plants can thrive despite their
unconventional surroundings,
supporting new wildlife and
contributing to the biodiversity and
overall well-being of a community.
The outcome of the experiment
will help inform Bruntwoods future
design of green spaces.The RHS
Flower show attracted some 80,000
visitors over five days.
Pictured is Kate Vokes, director of
culture at Bruntwood.
maintain or grow our market shares.
During the year we completed a
number of significant launches
including a refresh of the Groups
largest brand Imperial Leather, a
relaunch of the Cussons Kids range in
Indonesia and the launch of a new
range of products within the Beauty
division specifically targeting the
millennial consumer.
Sales continue to
rise for bar owner
The Greater Manchester operator of
Revolution and Revolucin de Cuba
has reported an increase in revenues
despite sales being impacted by the
GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 5
Manchester terror attack.
AIM listed Revolution Bars Group,
which operates 68 premium bars
across the UK, reported total sales of
130.4m for the 52 weeks to 1 July.
Thats up 9.2 per cent on the previous
year. However like-for-like sales rose by
1.5 per cent, down from the 1.7 per cent
reported after 44 weeks in the period to
July 1.
The group said the terrorist attacks in
Manchester on 22 May and in London
on 3 June impacted business during the
days that followed, particularly in the
north west where the group has a
significant number of venues - five in
central Manchester and five in
Liverpool.
Like-for-like sales growth has since
strengthened, up by 2.7 per cent over
the last six weeks.
As planned, the group opened six
new bars during the period.
WiFi firm goes
international
A north west company which provides
public and guest WiFi to the hospitality
sector, apartment buildings and large
public spaces, has expanded its
international reach with its latest
acquisition.
Airangel, which is headquartered in
Warrington, Cheshire, has bought
Belgium-based cloud services provider
Captive.net and FDXTENDED, a
supplier of complimentary wireless
products.
The latest deal is Airangels fifth
acquisition since 2010, with this latest
funded via investment earlier this year
to support the comp[anys
international growth.
Dean Wilkinson, CEO, says, Were
very happy with the acquisition.
Captive and FDX have great
reputations in the industry and are a
perfect complement for Airangel.
Over the last couple of years, we
have been shifting our attention to the
Channel and international growth.
We believe that this latest move
highlights our dedication of working
with partners to deliver first-class
wireless solutions, with the best
possible guest experience, to the
biggest hospitality brands all over the
world.
6 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK
OPINION
Want to join the debate? Have your say online by joining the M.E.N. Media Business Group on LinkedIn, or
follow GMBusinessweek on Twitter. Email shelina.begum@men-news.co.uk with submissions for Viewpoint
Developers
turn their
attention
to existing
city spaces
Gideon Levene, head of projects at property
T
management firm Styles & Wood Group
he IHS Markit and
CIPS Purchase
Managers Index data is
often considered to be
the true barometer for
how the construction
sector is growing. The
data so far this year supports previous
predictions that growth of the sector is
somewhat muted.
However, for many working in
Manchester, these stats feel like they
underplay the huge level of activity
weve seen over the last five years. The
region has been in a boom phase for
some time now. Year on year, there
seems to be more work in the city
centre. And, in 2017, projects have
continued to come forward at a rapid
rate, despite many thinking the market
would have reached a peak by now.
This is largely being driven by
investors appetite to have exposure to
the positives seen in both Manchesters
commercial and residential sectors.
Vacancy rates in commercial space
are incredibly low and while headline-
grabbing inward investment stories
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
Gideon Levene
may have been few and far between profits. The residential market is as hot
lately, the city is buoyed with a strong as the commercial sector, with new PRS
base of commercial occupiers. For developments coming forward as
investors, particularly foreign quickly as new office space. For some
institutional funds which are landlords, their stock may work better
benefiting from current exchange rates, based on location, size, and
the city has one of the most attractive composition in the residential sector.
propositions in the UK. Doing so is also allowing some
A cursory look at the citys skyline landlords to release cash quicker by
shows that this interest is selling individual units at a time
translating into new giving them a picture of how
developments. However, they could make their assets
new build activity more liquid in the longer
comes with a longer term. Were working on
lead in time and a conversion of a
many are turning commercial
to existing space For many its a case of property in St Anns
as it allows them Square into new
to access returns trying to access the flats and expect
far faster than market as quickly as that this will be an
land-led possible increasingly
development common theme for
does. Gideon Levene the sector this year.
For many its a The effects of this
case of trying to access huge interest in
the market as quickly as Manchester as a hub of
possible. However, investing investment and have seen us
in refurbishment is also providing involved in 500,000 sq ft worth of work
strong returns weve seen some in the city centre alone in the last 18
investors attain double digit yields in months.
Manchester by refurbishing offices in This year will no doubt mirror what
clever ways at the right time. weve seen in the last five years, with
Turning some commercial assets even more work done to remodel the
into new homes is also another avenue city as it continues to evolve as a major
some investors are taking to achieve regional economic hub.
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8 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK
FEATURE
Why companies
have hunger for
the special Ks
Businesses are scrambling to engage with the next generation of
customers and talent, but who are this group and what makes
them tick? Lucy Roue reports on the rise of Generation K
T
eenagers nowadays
very rarely interact in
the real world or at
least this is the
common stereotype.
Eternally online, these
multi-screen savvy
youngsters were born post-digital
boom and it has shaped their
understanding of the world.
These 15 to 22-year-olds, or
Generation K, are social natives who
are both consumers and creatives.
And for the first time research has
been dedicated into the way they think
and how their identities have formed.
In a panel event, jointly hosted by
Weber Shandwick and Alliance
Manchester Business School,
academic professor Noreena Hertz
shared her findings. First off, the
millennial label is self-explanatory
but where has the K come from to
Professor Noreena Katz,
centre, at the panel event
describe their younger cohort?
K stands for Katniss Everdeen,
heroine of The Hunger Games, a
trilogy of young adult dystopian novels
written by American novelist Suzanne
Collins, explains Hertz.
Unlike the older millennials who
grew up thinking the world was their
oyster, for this generation the world is
very much Katnisss world. It is
dystopian and harsh.
They feel connected, yet lonely.
Theyre unprecedentedly open, yet
inherently distrustful.
Elaborating on why they feel this
way, you only have to look at global
events during their coming of age.
This is a generation that has ben
shaped by three very distinct forces,
says Hertz.
We know that they are the
smartphone generation. They are the
first to come of age with the iPhone
and they are fundamentally shaped by
technology, permanently connecting
and multi-screening.
This is also the generation that
came of age during the global financial
crisis.
Unlike the older millennials that
grew up in a boom-time believing yes
we can this group were shaped during
their most formative age by the
financial crisis.
It was a time of economic decline
and job insecurity.
Finally, they were born in the
shadow of 9/11. They have grown up
with this increased, perceived,
existential threat.
This sense that the world is more
dangerous today. They see and
experience danger in a much different
way because they are seeing it 24/7 on
their phones and because in the UK
they experience terrorism in their own
cities in a way we havent seen in
decades.
Hertz drew these conclusions from
an academic research project into
Generation K, involving huge surveys
across the UK and US.
She then followed it up with one-to-
one interviews and focus groups
admitting she was fascinated by their
outlook.
I had been teaching for a long time
and I noticed there was something
distinctly different about the younger
students that I was teaching, she says.
They had different concerns and
different values and it made me
wonder how is this generation
different to older millennials?
As it turns out, she spotted some
distinct beliefs and values there were
typical of this generation.
Ones that need to be understood by
brands and businesses who will soon
target these as consumers.
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
They are distrusting of traditional
institutions with only 6% having faith in
them.
This not only applies to large
corporations, but also central
government and politicians as well.
And it transcends into advertising as
Generation K are much more likely to
engage with brands that are
recommended by peers or
influencers.
Co-panelist Samuel Barrett agrees.
The head of business development at
Takumi, a platform that connects
brands to a network of influencers on
Instagram, said: People dont trust
typical adverts, it is your friend over the
billboard.
You see influencers playing a much
more prevalent role in marketing now
because of this lack of trust between
brands and consumers.
What this generation really wants to
have is a more personal relationship
with the brands that they are
purchasing. It goes beyond purely
transactional.
This leads into another vital trait of
Generation K, they are a cohort of
creators and co-creators.
And the brands that take a risk and
dare to build that relationship will be
the most successful.
For example when Starbucks got
wind that teenagers were ordering
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 9

Jennifer Lawrence as
Katniss Everdeen in The
Hunger Games films

weird concoctions they could have officer and got slated on social media.
easily shut it down and pulled rank. The video has been removed from
Instead they amplified it and started YouTube and in a statement, the
sharing the bizarre secret menu company said: Pepsi was trying to
choices on Instagram. project a global a message of unity,
Suddenly peoples cotton candy peace and understanding.
Frappuccinos and coffee Mojitos were Clearly, we missed the mark, and we
being celebrated rather than apologise. We did not intend to make
overlooked. light of any serious issue.
It was authentic and a genius Finally, if you want to engage
move, as Hertz points out, as this with Generation K you need to
demographic are now their go where they are the
fastest growing. A group likes of Instagram,
that doesnt even drink Snapchat, YouTube
coffee. And you need to
However, this speak in their
willingness to hand language.
over the reigns can This is also the For employers
come at a cost. generation that came of this could mean
Barrett says: I age during the global texts rather than
think for these huge emails, suggests
companies it is financial crisis Hertz.
quite hard to let go Prof Noreena Katz And scrap the
and let them be annual review idea
co-creators because they are much more
brand guidelines get in the used to an ongoing
way, or legal departments. dialogue.
Hertz also offers a warning. The professor added: You think
You need to authentically speak to of them as the selfie generation but
their values and concerns, not hijack they are not selfish. They volunteer
them. more, they give more to charity
An example of the latter was Pepsis compared to other generations.
controversial advert featuring Kendall And they really care about social and
Jenner. It showed her at a sanitised ethical issues equality is one of the
protest handing a can to a police things they care about the most.
10 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK
FEATURE
Last-chance saloon
Across Greater Manchester time is being
called on traditional pubs so is it last
orders for our boozers, asks Alex Scapens
I
t is an area where pubs were
once the beating heart of the
community. But now there
isnt a single boozer for its
7,000 residents.
Welcome to Brinnington,
a part of Stockport where the
troubles faced by the pub industry are
on stark display.
The area is the type of close-knit,
working-class district where the local
was once the bastion of socialising, but
its last pub shut 18 months ago.
And across Greater Manchester, time
is being called ever more loudly for the
pub trade.
Cheap supermarket booze, business
rates, and changing tastes have all
taken their toll on the traditional
British boozer. And its all combined
with another fact, we are drinking less.
Six years ago there were some
1,740 pubs and bars across Greater
Manchester. But since this time there
has been a net loss of 245 venues a
fall of nearly 14%, much more marked
than the national decline of 11%.
With many feeling the pinch of
nearly a decade of austerity, new
figures from the Office of National
Statistics in May revealed how the
proportion of adults who regularly
drink alcohol is at the lowest level of
on record.
Some landlords are trying to move
with the times - but say the business
has changed and they are now
competing not just with other pubs
but with entertainment complexes
and home entertainment channels all
luring people away from their local.
Back in Brinnington, residents are
still licking their wounds after a hard-
fought but unsuccessful campaign to
The recently-shut Jack and Jill
was the last pub in Brinnington
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
save the last pub, The Jack and Jill.
When the licensees left, its owners
Robinsons decided that the business
was no longer viable.
Residents had unsuccessfully tried
to save the venue, which followed
the closure of The Farmers Arms,
Cheshire Cat and Horsfield Arms. But
a planning application has now been
approved to knock it down and build
10 new homes.
Stockport has lost almost a third of
its pubs (210 to 150) over the last six
years.
Chris Murphy, a local councillor
who has lived in Brinnington all his
life, says the area has now had to find a
new focal point at community centres
and residents groups.
He said: A constant stream of
people used to go in the Jack and Jill all
the time but habits have changed, with
people being more health conscious
and young people tending to drink
before they go out.
Pubs used to be the focal point of
the community where you met your
mates and there were football, pool,
darts and cricket teams.
It is unfortunate and a sad loss but a
lot of things have come about that have
affected pubs. The trade is being priced
out by the breweries, theres rates and
the smoking ban.
People have said there are no pubs
but if they were still being used enough
they would still be there. It is changing
habits and costs, they become
prohibitive, particularly in areas like
Brinnington. makes us a community. We will soon number of pubs and bars increase (by
Residents who signed the Jack and have no community left for when our 5%) in the last six years.
Jill petition included Katy Renshaw, children grow up. But in other areas Tameside (26%),
who said: The community of The Jack and Jill was the heart of Bolton (21%), Rochdale (18%), Oldham
Brinnington is losing everything that the community for almost everyone (18%), and Wigan (17%) there have also
that lives here and has lived here in the suffered substantial falls.
past. And it could get worse before it gets
Resident John Stead, also from better as a change in the way business
Brinnington, added: Its a shame as rates are calculated came into force this
its going to rip the heart out of this year.
community. Simon Delaney, 52, licensee at The
For its part Robinsons said it took the Firbank, Wythenshawe, said: This
reluctant decision to close when the came in as of April and means it is
licensees left as an assessment of the worked out on turnover rather than
business found it unviable. profit.
This is a situation repeated across For example there may be two pubs
Greater Manchester. with a turnover of a million but one has
Of all its boroughs only Manchester a profit on 10,000, the other 500,000.
itself, led by popular destinations such Both pay the same. We are now seeing
as the Northern Quarter has seen the the first wave of closures from this.
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 11

for good old pubs?

Simon Delaney is the landlord

of The Firbank in Wythenshawe

for the next 20-30 years. You have to

find out what they want and replicate Barbara
that on their doorstep so they want to Buxton
save a taxi fare into Manchester. runs the
A community pub doesnt have to Buxton Inn
mean a run down one on a back street.
You have to have a drinks offering that
is on trend, for example gins at the
moment.
There is cheap booze in
supermarkets but thats not to say we
cant compete. You may buy a can for
50p there but you cant get served at
your table in a nicely presented glass
while watching Sky Sports for free.
Value for money doesnt have
to mean cheap, little things make a
difference for example we keep our
toilets immaculate and use nicely
presented glasses.
The cheap and cheerful approach
Greater Manchester has seen 245 with food and drink is one favoured by
pubs close in the last six years
Wetherspoons but even this pub giant
is feeling the pinch.
Perhaps a reflection of the difficulties custom with a family and food offering.
Wythenshawe, like Brinnington, is that have closed it is their own fault for faced in Tameside, the companys To this end the Buxton Inn is possibly
an area where rising prices may be not diversifying and moving with the Cotton Bale pub, on Hyde Market the only pub in the area where you can
felt more keenly by customers but the times. Place, shut on July 16 after bosses see drinkers figuring out how to cheque
Firbank is thriving and last year was For example we were against the decided it was no longer profitable. mate each other.
named Best Community Pub at the smoking ban but you need to deal with Eddie Gershon, from Wetherspoons, Barbara, 60, said: What you do with
Great British Pub Awards. it and we made a nice outside area said: All staff at the pub will be your interior is really important. I am
Delaney has been licensee since where people can have a cigarette in relocated to other Wetherspoon pubs an avid reader and I love chess, when
1995 and has seen huge changes in the comfort. and there will be no job losses. families come into a pub sometimes
industry. Time was we would never have We appreciate that our loyal there is nothing for the children to do
He said: I have had the pub 22 years. dreamed of introducing coffee but we customers will be disappointed. We but we have books and chess sets set
I started off as a DJ and one day the did as it is no longer the 1990s where have to make commercial decisions up.
owner said he was leaving. We had a you can just open your doors and and on occasion close some of our Theres also Jenga and Snakes and
meeting where I hoped to persuade people will come in and drink. pubs. Ladders, you have to do something
him to stay and at the end of the Now we are competing with But a short distance away in Gee for everyone and have a welcoming
meeting I had the keys and the pub. multiplexes where there is all sorts Cross is the Buxton Inn, on Mottram atmosphere where you know all the
I didnt want one but that was how of entertainment and bars like the Old Road and by happy coincidence locals names.
easy it was to enter the trade back then. Alchemist in Manchester and we have run by Barbara and Andrew Buxton. The low cost of beer in supermarkets
I must have done something right since to do something about it. They took over in 2015 after the pub is a problem so having good food is an
because we are thriving. We are now reaching out to the 18- had a run of four licensees in five years
The industry is in decline but a lot 30 market as they will be our customers and say the trick is balancing locals Continued on page 12
12 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

FEATURE
From page 11
important way to get people to come Toby Colbourne, right, and Paul Ashworth
in with their families but you also need from the Four Kings Brewery in Hyde
a differing offer for the locals and cater
for all people.
There are challenges, every second
pub on the high street is gone. It takes
over your life and is very hard work,
you cant go out or go on holiday when
you want.
I was nearly 60 when I took on my
first pub and my husband had never
pulled a pint in his life but always
wanted to have a pub. The place was
on its knees.
You have to do things to set yourself
apart and keep up with trends. People
can get into financial difficulties with
pubs but we love it, we are at an age
where we have no dependents and it is
my last big adventure.
One trend that sprang up in
response to pubs closing was the
creation of a co-operative where
residents clubbed together to buy their
local that would have otherwise shut.
And while this grabbed headlines
and saved a much-loved pub in
the immediate term, what was not
always reported was what happened
thereafter.
The Star Inn, on Back Hope Street,
Higher Broughton, since the 1860s,
became the first in Britain to go down is the main thing that causes pubs to recently pointed the finger of blame and we open a bar once a month. It
this route in 2010. close. We are a freehouse and can do elsewhere. does well and people put it in their
By the end of last year though our own stuff, that is a big advantage. It says business rates are crippling diaries but if we did it more, even
the Star was again facing closure as Breweries and pub companies its members and in the past has said once a week, the novelty value would
community goodwill alone could are also at the mercy of the industry varying forms of tax paid by pubs is a disappear.
not provide the detailed plan to keep decline. third of turnover. But what of the future? Will there
the pub thriving against the difficult Robinsons, who owned the Jack A spokesman said: Pubs are being be ever more Jack and Jills tumbling
industry background. and Jill, still have 280 pubs through inordinately squeezed by business down the hill or can the good old
Paul McVay, 39, was brought in as its hometown of Stockport, Greater rates on a level that is not matched in fashion pub climb back up to the top
manager to turn the place around in Manchester and the north west. other sectors. of the mound?
November with less than a month to It has tried tackling the decline with The businesses that contribute so The answer probably lies somewhere
save it from closure. He now sees a product innovations such as teaming much economically and socially, and in between with reasons for concern
bright future for the Star and other up with rock band Iron Maiden to which have helped to regenerate high and optimism being served up in
pubs. make a beer and opening a visitor streets, are in danger of being forced equal measure.
He said: This pub was famously centre, where food and drink events out of business by a system that does Jim Flynn, from the South
one of the first co-operatively owned are held. not work. Manchester branch of the Campaign
pubs where locals bought it and put The company was also renovated In any industry, as businesses close for Real Ale (CAMRA), said: We are
money into it but it was struggling and some of its pubs such as the niches open up and are filled by new very disappointed at the number of
it needed properly managing. Devonshire Arms, in Mellor, the ones. In the pub industry this has closures, we think it is down to social
You have to keep the community Royal Oak, in New Mills, and even taken the form of microbreweries and changes but also the behaviour of the
happy and give them something to get as far away as the Queens Head, in micropubs. pub companies.
off their sofas for. Troutbeck, Cumbria. Among them is the Four Kings The price of beer is going up so
It doesnt need to be food, that Following the closure of the Jack Brewery, in the Newton area of Hyde, people are drinking at home more.
works for a lot of pubs but there are and Jill a spokesman for the company which was opened by Toby Colbourne There are some positive fruits
other ways to turn things round. Real said: We have always strived to in November. appearing with micropubs,
ale is taking off and will do even be an active member of the local He brews five different types of beer particularly around south Manchester
more, in the next 10 years pubs will be community. and turnover for him is split between and I think that is part of the future.
back. As many other brewers have found, selling to pubs and a monthly night at They have low overheads and are
You can revive pubs, but you need some pubs have struggled to remain his own premises. Even so it can be a not tied to pub companies. You only
a proper plan. We ripped everything viable businesses in recent years for struggle to make money. need two people behind the bar,
out and changed it all. It is nice having both licensees and the brewery. Toby said: We are doing OK but it is the beer is cheaper and if you get 20
a 160-year-old pub but you need to Reluctantly we took the decision very difficult for a microbrewery to sell customers that is enough, it wouldnt
bring it forward by mixing old and to close the Jack and Jill pub in beer through pubs as the big breweries be for a normal pub.
new, not just leave it in the past. Brinnington, these decisions are have them tied into deals. I hope there is still a place for the
But it is best to keep it simple, always difficult and only taken Typically Wetherspoons may traditional pubs and I suspect the
you dont have to throw money at after a lot of careful thought and pay 50 for a barrel of beer, we have period of mass closures has come to
entertainment, we get students in who consideration. to sell at around 70. Although an end in most areas.
go round with a collection bucket. The British Beer and Pub microbreweries seem popular it is a lot The micro pub niches will continue
When a pub makes money then Association, which speaks for of hard work. to grow and the traditional pub will be
the breweries want more money, that breweries and pub companies, has We have to have our own set up under pressure for some time.
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
FEATURE
Tapping into a fresh idea
P
Emily Heward takes a look at Manchesters growing micropubs.
ub closures have been
a depressingly familiar
headline across the
country in recent
years, shutting down
at an alarming rate of small, cosy and intimate where you
around 20 a week at
the last count.
In just the last year, Manchester
has said goodbye to institutions such
as The Old Grapes while others
including the Sir Ralph Abercromby
have been threatened by development. micropubs in Greater Manchester are
But against this bleak backdrop, a
more positive trend is emerging as
micropubs and brewtaps spring up
everywhere from old shops to railway
arches.
Roger Protz, the editor of CAMRAs
Good Beer Guide, describes micropubs
as a national phenomenon. There are
now around 250 in the UK, with just
under half making it into the latest
guide.
CAMRA the Campaign for Real Ale
traces the trend back to The Butchers
Arms, which opened in a former
butchers shop in Kent in 2005 with
seating for just 10 people.
Since then, pint-sized pubs have
popped up all over the country,
including dozens in Greater
Manchester five of which made it into
this years Good Beer Guide.
It always takes a spark to get
things going and I think it tapped into
something, says Protz.
It was offering something very
can meet friends, somewhere warm,
comfortable and convivial.
Its a completely different drinking
experience because its so unlike a
traditional pub.
Among the Good Beer Guide-listed
Heaton Hops in Heaton Chapel - voted
CityLifes own pub of the year last year
and the Chiverton Tap in Cheadle
Hulme, whose newly-opened Bramhall
sister site The Mounting Stone took the
crown this year .
People are fed up with the big
corporations, says Chiverton Tap
landlady Mary Ellis.
Every pub seems to be a chain
Heaton Hops in Heaton Chapel
GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 13
or a big brewery or a huge Wacky
Warehouse place. Theyve diversified
too much, theyre Jack of all trades
trying to be a gastropub rather than
just being a pub and concentrating on
that.
A lot of the bigger places are just
about turning over a profit, and its not
that were not about that too, but in our
business the overheads are sufficiently
low that you can afford to get in the
quality products without having to
overprice it. We are very reasonable for
the quality of product.
We might not have the buying
power of Wetherspoons, who can
buy late or buy end of cask to keep
their prices down, but weve got low
overheads.
Despite their differences, micropubs
have more in common with traditional
boozers than it would appear at first
glance: loyal regulars, a landlord on
first name terms with them and a
friendly sense of community.
We try to get to know our customers
and I dont think you get that massively
in pubs anymore, says Damian
OShea, who opened Heaton Hops in
2015.
Some pubs are a little bit soulless
now and they dont have that customer
interaction.
Bob and Mary Ellis from
the Chiverton Tap
We get all walks of life coming in,
were part of the community.
Whether its greedy pubcos,
restrictive beer ties or cheap
supermarket booze driving the demise
of the great British pub, one thing is
clear its not a lack of thirst for beer.
Last night at last orders we had
people queuing out of the door to
come in and drink beer, says Damian.
Its about getting the whole package
right.
One traditional pub that has done so
is The Smithfield Tavern in Manchester
city centre. After taking it over two
years ago, local brewery Blackjack has
brought the old-school boozer bang
up to date without sacrificing any of its
charm.
According to Nick Toone, head of
sales at Blackjack, the key to their
success is combining tradition with
modern tastes.
Classic ales and bar snacks like
pickled eggs sit comfortably alongside
more boundary-pushing craft beers,
while pub games like darts, shove
happeny and table skittles prove as
popular as ever.
Its about marrying the two things
together really, embracing the
traditional Mancunian pub, says
Toone.
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
FEATURE
The futures bright...
Apprenticeships are helping north west businesses tackle the
skills gap across all sectors. Shelina Begum takes a look
T
here is plenty to
admire in some of the
efforts by the regions
companies to beef up
apprenticeships and
training for young
people.
The north west is tackling the skills
gap across all sectors from traditional
ones such as construction to
professional services and lately there
has been an even bigger push to train
young people in digital and tech.
UKFast, a Manchester-
headquartered web hosting specialist,
employs 400 staff with 18% of the
workforce made up from current and
former apprentices.
The total number of apprentices
across IT, software development,
maintenance, customer service, events
and facilities management is growing
year-on-year and today the company
has around 50, with another record
intake expected in September.
For each vacancy, UKFast receives
27 applications demonstrating the
increasing credibility and popularity
of its scheme which it says mirrors the
rising popularity of apprenticeships
across the country.
UKFast CEO Lawrence Jones says:
Apprenticeships and technical,
hands-on education really is critical.
UKFast has done apprenticeships
slightly differently from other
businesses. Weve created a dedicated
learning environment with four full-
time teachers and really invested huge
amounts of time, money and energy
into these kids.
Kids come out of school and theyre
learning at an incredible rate. Over the
years weve seen people leaving some
GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 15
universities complaining that they
almost ground to a halt, doing a couple
of hours a week of actual lectures and
not getting value for money.
What were seeing through
apprenticeships is that the kids
maintain the momentum in education
that they have after leaving school and
it gives them a massive opportunity to
hit the ground running in innovative
workplaces.
The popularity of apprentices in the
digital sector can be felt across the city.
Technology firm ANS runs its very
own academy.
Based at its headquarters in
Manchester Science Park, they take
apprentices through managed IT
services training over three years.
Since launching the academy in
2013, it has taken on 48 apprentices.
CEO Paul Shannon says: It is crucial
UKFast has created a raft of
new places on its popular IT
and software development
apprenticeship programmes
that the government addresses the
IT skills gap, both nationally and in
the north west. We heard promising
proposals in this years Spring
Budget, including raising the National
Living Wage, and we hope that the
government will take this even further
and prioritise the development of
digital skills for young people across
the UK.
With social media on the rise
across all sectors and an increasing
demand for social media managers,
communication agency Tangerine
launched its award winning Juice
Academy, a not for profit social media
apprenticeship programme, formed
in 2014 to help fill the digital skills gap
in the north west region and create
quality roles for young people.
It has created more than 200 jobs in
Continued on page 16
16 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

FEATURE
From page 15
some of the regions leading
organisations and is unique in that all
of the training is delivered by practicing
specialists, ensuring that it is current
so important in the ever-changing
world of digital marketing.
Founder Sandy Lindsay says while
her firm has always run job creation
programmes, helping young people
gain a foothold in the sector, the
government needed to do more.
They should allow more flexibility
in the system so that funding can be
spent where it is needed, not where its
always been spent, she says.
The apprenticeship levy should be a
training and development levy which
CAN be spent on apprenticeships
but also can be spent on other ways
to continually upskill your current
workforce.
Rose Marley, a National
Apprenticeship Ambassador, is CEO
of SharpFutures, a social enterprise
that supports young people and new
entrants into employment in the
creative digital sector. Clients include
The Sharp Project, BBC, ITV, Cisco and
independent business.
It is currently hiring young people
through its SharpFutures People on
Demand service.
The service supplies young, diverse
new entrants delivering creative digital
skills into the workforce on a short-
term basis.
Asked about the future of the
workplace she says: The future
workplace will be infinitely more
adaptable and flexible for both
employees and employers.
Work spaces where people come
together and work will still exist
and be an important part of project
management, team development,
product and service delivery but the
need to be available 9-5 at a specific
location will significantly decrease.
Critical thinking and managing teams
and projects remotely will be a key
skills requirement.
While the digital and tech sectors
are actively trying to close the skills
gap, traditional sectors such as
construction, engineering, hospitality
and manufacturing continue to
support young people with training.
Jaguar Land Rover, which employs
4,200 people in the region offers a
number of opportunities for young
people from placement programmes
for undergraduate students, to
graduate programmes, advanced
apprentices and degree apprentices.
But Steph Stephenson, head of
HR at Jaguar Land Rover Halewood
Operations, says more could be done
on encourage girls/women to consider
engineering starting with educating
girls at school.
If they are asked today if they want
to go on engineering trips - most will
say no because they think its a boys
subject or an oily subject. Can the LEP
look to address this perception locally
and encourage girls to come and find
out more?
Alstom has been part of the rail
industry in the UK for over a century.
It has 20 regional sites, including the
newly opened Alstom Technology 30 of which are upskilling the current has a rich heritage of developing the
Centre in Widnes. team. engineering and technical skills central
It recruits a number of graduates and In total, the company will deliver to a thriving rail industry.
apprentices across the UK each year - 15,000 training days a year. This heritage is one of the reasons
The Alstom Academy for Rail will open Managing director of trains and why we decided to open the new
in September 2017 and will support 65 modernisation, Alstom UK & Ireland, Alstom Technology Centre and
apprenticeship places in its first year, Mike Hulme, said: The north west Academy for Rail in Widnes, as we

Apprenticeships offer strong alternative

It will be decision time for many
school/college leavers soon but do
they go for a degree or go for an
apprenticeships we look at the
options.
For students facing the end of their
A Levels, the decision of what they
should do next has always been a
trial, but not for generations has the
choice between apprenticeships and
higher education been so tricky.
There was a time when
apprenticeships were for those going
into manual jobs, while university
was for those following professional
or academic routes. But these days
things are not quite so simple.
Increasingly universities are
opening their doors to less academic,
more vocational courses, while these
days apprenticeships are not just the
route into work for tradesmen with
everything from law firms to software
companies offering increasingly
competitive apprenticeship routes.
As higher education tuition fees
rise, the option of a training route
where you actually get paid to learn,
becomes particularly compelling.
A recent study published by The
Sutton Trust, also argued that a
high-quality apprenticeship is likely
to offer you as much long-term
financial security as many
undergraduate degrees.
The think tank calculates that
youngsters who opt to study for a
Level 5 higher apprenticeship
equivalent to a foundation degree
will earn around 1.44m over their
lifetime.
Thats almost 52,000 more than a
student who studies at a non-elite
university, who can expect to take
home around 1.39m.
Students who graduate from the
elite Russell Group university,
though, will earn around 1.6m.
Thats 160,000 more than
someone who does a higher
apprenticeship and around 212,000
more than a student at another
university.
Those who gained a degree from
Oxford and Cambridge have the
highest earnings power, with average
lifetime earnings of around 1.79m.
About 10,000 higher
apprenticeships are undertaken each
year, the report says, and are
available at different levels, including
foundation level, undergraduate
degree and masters.
A poll conducted as part of the
study found that 80% of young
people, who said they were more
likely to go into higher education
than start an apprenticeship, thought
that getting a degree would be better
for their career prospects.
Sutton Trust chairman Sir Peter
Lampl said: If undergraduate
degrees are seen as a gold standard,
these vocational qualifications are
too often seen as second best, or a fall
back option. But some of the UKs
most famous and successful
entrepreneurs were formerly
apprentices from the celebrity chef
Jamie Oliver to the billionaire
jeweller Lawrence Graff to the late
fashion designer Alexander
McQueen. Success can come through
apprenticeships, but work is needed
to boost their quantity and quality
and change their public perception.
New figures show that
apprenticeships are more popular
than ever with almost three million
created since May 2010 as part of a
government drive to create
opportunities for all.
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
Rose Marley, National
Apprenticeship Ambassador,
and CEO of SharpFutures
recognise the great possibilities for
untapped potential in the North West.
At Alstom we are committed to
playing our part in ensuring the rail
industry has the skills it needs to
succeed. The Alstom Academy for
Rail will help to make sure that young
people starting out in the industry will
be equipped with the very latest digital
skills they will need to succeed.
Banking has been another sector
which has seen staff come through
from apprenticeship programmes.
Last year Yorkshire building Society
took on 12 apprentices land are in the
process of recruiting 24 this year.
They will work across a variety of
roles covering IT, marketing, risk,
customer service, HR and finance,
predominantly at its Leeds and
Bradford office sites.
A spokesperson said many
organisations are already seeing the
benefits of introducing apprenticeships
to the workplace.
One of the key issues for promoting
apprenticeships is the lack of
understanding within schools and
colleges about how these can develop
their students.
More can be done to ensure
apprenticeships are placed on an
equal footing with continuing into
higher education when it comes to
outlining options to school and college
students.
Its not just teenagers
boosting job prospects
Over 50? It is never too late to begin a
fresh career.
In fact as the UK faces a major
skills gap and working lives are being
extended as life expectancy rises, the
government is encouraging
companies to commit to employing
older workers.
Andy Briggs, chief executive of
Aviva UK Life, is calling on UK
employers to publicly commit to
employing 12% more older workers
by 2022.
Briggs, who is also the
governments business champion for
older workers, said employers
should publish their workforce data
by age.
Aviva, Atos, Barclays, The Co-
operative Group, Home Instead
Senior Care, the Financial Services
Compensation Scheme (FSCS),
Mercer, and Walgreens Boots
Alliance are the first employers to
publicly pledge their commitment to
meeting this target and have already
published their age data.
Briggs said: The UK is facing a
colossal skills gap, and older workers
are vital to filling it.
Businesses can show leadership
here, through committing to real
change and actively seeking to
recruit more over 50s into their
organisations.
Bringing more people over the age
of 55 into the workforce could also
boost the UK economy by 80bn,
says PwC.
The professional services giant
conducted the research for its
Golden Age Index, which found the
UKs employment rate for 50 to
64-year-olds is currently 70%, with
England faring best at 70.6% and
Northern Ireland worst at 63.6%.
PwC said matching Sweden, the
best-performing EU nation in the list
at 82%, could deliver the extra 80bn,
boosting the UKs GDP by 4.2%.
The companys chief economist
John Hawksworth said: As the
number of people over 55 continues
to grow steadily and life expectancy
increases, the UK needs to make it as
easy as possible for people to
continue working for longer if they
wish to do so. This would boost both
GDP and tax revenues, so helping to
pay for the increased health, social
care and pension costs of an ageing
population.
GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 17
working on live client projects, and
the opportunity of a permanent
position on completion.
The programme is targeted at
former managers.
It is also looking to recruit 200
students to their award winning
Business Apprenticeship scheme
that will start in September this year.
Successful applicants will work
towards an apprenticeship and a
globally recognised accountancy
qualification, on a structured
programme that will offer on-the-
job coaching and the opportunity to
work with EY clients from day one.
The full-time role will have a
starting salary of up to 21,500 and
Duncan Foster is on the the career path and experiences will
Barclays apprenticeship be the same as for graduates.
programme Vacancies are available in
Manchester as well as other cities
across the UK.
SO WHAT ARE THE PwC has increased the number of
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OLDER places on its Back to Business
PEOPLE IN THE WORKPLACE? return to work programme tenfold to
Banking giant Barclays has help get more talented women back
established its Bolder into the workplace after career
Apprenticeship programme breaks.
designed to extend opportunities for The 16-week paid senior return to
apprenticeships across the work programme started in PwCs
organisation, specifically providing Deals business and due to its success
support for adults over the age of 24 is being extended to all of the firms
wishing to get back into the business areas.
workplace. KPMGs Return to Work scheme
Mike Thompson, director of also entails a 12-week internship
apprenticeships at Barclays, says: programme for people looking to
We believe that age or social return to the workforce after an
circumstances shouldnt be a barrier extended career break. While it tends
or deciding factor in finding a viable to attract women, the scheme does
route to employment. Reskilling can not have an age limit.
be achieved at any age.
To date, Barclays has recruited 89 OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT
Bolder Apprentices since its launch LIMITED TO THE PROFESSIONAL
in 2015. SERVICES SECTOR.
BTs Openreach is recruiting 150
WHAT ABOUT JOBS IN trainees to join its engineering
ACCOUNTANCY? workforce in the North West by
Some of the big accountancy firms October.
are also offering apprentices that The local network business, which
dont have an age cap. is part of BT Group, is seeking
EY, KPMG and PwC all offer similar recruits from across the region to fill
opportunities for those looking for a new, full-time and permanent roles
career in finance. to extend its fibre broadband
EY currently supports experienced network and improve customer
professionals who have taken a service. So far the scheme has
career break of between two and 10 attracted 35 trainees aged over 50.
years, to return to the professional The National Express runs a
workplace. scheme to recruit people for whom
EY Reconnect is a 12-week paid age and extended career breaks can
programme that offers training, pose a barrier to finding
mentoring and coaching, whilst employment, including the over-50s.
18 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

FEATURE

Rise of the machines?

Will robots be taking Robot technology will replace
over our jobs in 30 human workers in more jobs
over the next 10 years
years? Shelina

I
Begum takes a look
ts the question many of us
are asking will robots and
artificial intelligence leave
your staff out of a job?
Robots, cyborgs, self-driving
vehicles, genetic engineering,
and space exploration are all
among the factors likely to impact on
the work we do in the next 30 years.
And according to PwC, around 30%
of existing UK jobs are susceptible to
automation from robotics and artificial
intelligence (AI) by the early 2030s.
Experts from industry and academia
say technology will change the jobs we
have and the way we do them.
Robots and AI are among the
technological advances already being
seen in the workplace.
They pose a threat to people working
in mundane and monotonous low paid
employment but also those in sectors
such as law, accountancy and banking,
plus fishing and farming.
But while technology will threaten, or
even do away with, some jobs, others
will be created.
There are likely to be new posts that the main march of the robots, and training, blending online to classroom 20 to 30 years away, he said.
across the board in tech industries, other technological quantum leaps, time, will increase. In five to 10 years Anthony Painter, director of the
from app development to space are still some years off. we will shift to a blended level, thats action and research centre at the
exploration and bio-engineering. Mark Skilton, professor of practice already happening. The Royal Society for the
And in sectors where the total at Warwick Business School and an We will also see a lot of personal Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures
number of jobs will decline, such as expert in business technology who wearables and smart homes, and more and Commerce (RSA), runs a think-
manufacturing, there will be new, high- has advised government, is convinced lifestyle coaches. tank covering the economy, education
pay, specialist roles created. automation will change the workplace Farming is automated already, and the future of public services and
Meanwhile, service-related jobs and threaten workers in retail, but it will be increasing yield and communities.
that cant be replicated by robots and banking and insurance jobs in the next productivity. We are talking about the future of
automation will need more people decade, and impact low-skilled and But when I asked a room of 60 work and how we can support people
than ever. management jobs too. millennials if they think they will lose to adapt to the many changes they face
These are likely to include the care But, again, there will be winners and their jobs to automation they said no. and may face, said the author of Left
industry, construction and even losers. They think smart apps, which will Without a Future?: Social Justice in
financial advice. The jobs that go will include talk in different languages in real Anxious Times.
But, one thing is certain: workers banking and insurance admin jobs, time, will assist with jobs and we will That includes technology and the
will need to be more highly skilled and for instance, but it will create portfolio be smarter and more productive as a impact it is likely to have. There have
flexible. services jobs, where they are offering result. been predictions about the number
That will have implications for other services. That is happening And while the legal professions of jobs that will go with automation
companies and education providers, already, a blurring of the role of back office will disappear, replaced and AI. I dont believe that. If history
who will need to work closely to ensure advisor, he said. by algorithms and robots, you wont is right we can be relatively optimistic
jobs are filled and existing staff are So low end jobs in the service get them making ethical judgements. about more jobs and jobs at the high
retained and retrained. market will disappear but there will be Machine knowledge is not that smart. end.
It could be that the government even more advisory jobs and more skilled Going into the dock and seeing a robot But it depends on the pace and
needs to subsidise some courses in the jobs. is a way off yet. adoption of the tech. It will be different
sectors most hit by a skills shortage. Also, there will be more health What we call world knowledge is in different countries. Places like Japan
However, alongside this bright shiny sector jobs that are community-based. still a long way off. will be interested in robotics because
future, there could also be a continuing And there is lot of demand for He also said there will be more they have an aging population.
growth of low-paid, gig-economy scientists to do automation and automation with robotics in surgery, We may do it more slowly, and we
work, with attendant implications for programming, the UK economy, but again, a few years away yet. have a preference for keeping people
individuals, the economy and society. particularly in places like London and In the next 30 years there will in work.
And, while some of these changes Cambridge, is good at that. be complete automation of routine But people will have to gain new
are happening now, experts are agreed My own area is education, so online medical procedures. But thats still skills and adapt, he said.
Manchester based solicitors
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20 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

FEATURE

What can
firms do to
help women
mind the
pay gap?
The BBC has suffered a backlash after
publishing the list of its 96 top earners last
week. Lucy Roue looks at the fall out from

T
the gender pay gap debate.
he nations The gender pay gap reporting rules
broadcaster remains require that the proportions of males
under fire after and females across four quartiles of
revealing the huge gap the business need to be produced.
in earnings between The BBC figures further
male and female demonstrate the common theme that
employees. organisations are top-heavy with
After publishing, for the first time, male employees.
the pay of stars earning 150,000 or Despite vows to close the gender pay
more, BBC figures revealed that gap by 2020, BBC director general
two-thirds of these were men. Lord Hall said the corporations gap is
Meanwhile, the top seven earners in 10%, compared with an 18% gap
the list were also male. The total pay across the UK as a whole.
for those on the list is almost 30m.
DJ Chris Evans topped the earners So what is the gender pay gap?
with more than 2m, dwarfing the pay The gender pay gap is, essentially, the
packet of the corporations difference between men and
top-earning woman Claudia womens average full-time These could be that a woman works However, the first step is to carry out
Winkleman. earnings calculated on an fewer hours because of childcare a review of the job roles in the business,
With a salary of between hourly or weekly basis. arrangements or that they take lower who carries out the roles and the rates
450,000-499,999 she For full-time paid jobs. of pay.
is one of only two workers the current Re-addressing these challenges may Palmer also instructs employers to
ladies in the top ten, gap is 9.4% be one way of closing the gap according examine if there is subconscious
alongside The One meaning a to Peninsulas head of advisory Kate discrimination taking place in their
Show presenter The BBC figures full-time female Palmer. business.
Alex Jones. demonstrate that employee earns She said: Although the gender pay To remove the risk of subconscious
Enrique Garcia, an average of focus is often on women, employers discrimination, employers should
employment law organisations are top- 9.4% less pay can consider the opportunities scrutinise recruitment, promotion and
consultant for the heavy with male than a full-time available to men, such as flexible training practices to ensure these offer
ELAS Group, says: male employee. working and rates of pay for family equal opportunities to both male and
The fact that the
employees Removing the leave. Offering equal rights to men female employees and retrain
BBCs highest earners Enrique Garcia gender pay gap through these initiatives will allow managers in charge of these.
are mostly male shows a within a company them to contribute equally towards
common theme across the might not be as family life and, in turn, ensure women What else can be done?
labour market the higher up the straightforward as it seems have an equal opportunity to attend The wider gender pay gap issue is set to
organisation, the more males and because there are complex reasons for work and earn a full-time salary if they be addressed with an upcoming
fewer females there are. the gap. choose this. change in legislation.
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
From next year, larger businesses,
those with 250 or more employees, will
be required to report on their gender
pay information.
And it could be the first stage in
making a real difference to equality of
pay and equality of senior positions in
large organisations.
These employers affected must
report five statistics each year
including:-
The difference between men and
womens hourly rates of pay;
The difference in median pay;
The difference in bonuses between
men and women;
The proportion of men and women
who receive bonuses and;
The gender payslips breakdown
between quartile pay bands.
This requirement is not applicable to
small businesses but there are further
steps they can take to reduce the gap.
Pay includes a basic salary, holiday
allowance, maternity, sick pay, shift
premiums and some bonuses.
Emma Hamnett, a partner and
specialist in employment and HR
at Clarke Willmott LLP is not
convinced.
She points out: The problem is that
there is no penalty for noncompliance,
although those who do not publish
figures are likely to come under
scrutiny from trade unions,
campaigning organisations and
potentially individual employees as
well.
Currently it appears to be legislation
without teeth.
GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 21
The BBC has been
criticised after it published
Weve come a
a list of its top earners
long way, but
we cant be
complacent
More than 100 years ago a
movement began in Manchester
that resulted in womens right to
vote, changing the political
landscape forever. Thanks to this
hard-fought campaign, women
now have a say in the political
decisions that affect their lives.
Considerable progress on
womens equality has been made
but there is a lot more to do. We
saw a record number of women
elected to parliament in the last
general election, we have women
on the board of every FTSE100
company and there are record
numbers of women in work.
We have come a long way and
we should be proud of that. But we
should never be complacent
about the need to address future
challenges.
It is great to see women in
boardrooms and in seats of power,
but if there is still a gender pay
gap, then the country is still losing
The top 10
out. We need to work together to
address gender parity in the
workplace and close the gender
BBC earners pay gap completely.
In Manchester, the gender pay
gap currently stands at 13.6%.
1. Chris Evans That is better than the national
(right) average of 18.1% but that is still
2,200,000- 13.6% too high.
2,249,999 With more women in work than
2. Gary Lineker ever before, it is absolutely vital
1,750,000- that we make sure theyre
1,799,999 reaching their full potential.
3. Graham Norton Manchesters economy is bigger
850,000- than Wales and Northern Ireland
899,999 and has a Gross Value Added
4. Jeremy Vine 700,000- (GVA) of 56bn. Women need to
749,999 be a part of that growth if we want
5. John Humphrys 600,000- Manchesters economy to
649,999 continue to thrive. This is not only
6. Huw Edwards 550,000- fair, it is good for British business.
599,999 ANNE MILTON,
7. Steve Wright 500,000- MINISTER FOR WOMEN
549,999
8. Matt Baker 450,000-499,999
= Claudia Winkleman 450,000-
499,999
10. Nicky Campbell 400,000-
449,999
= Alex Jones 400,000-449,999
= Andrew Marr 400,000-
449,999
= Stephen Nolan 400,000-
449,999
= Alan Shearer - 400,000-
449,999 Minister for Women, Ann Milton
22 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK
DIGITAL, MEDIA, AND CREATIVE
Email: lucy.roue@trinitymirror.com
ProVision in
search for
more Space
I
TV owned ProVision is to
move its Manchester
operation to West Gortons
Space Studios this autumn.
The leading UK equipment
supplier of broadcast film and
television equipment, has a
successful track record supplying cameras,
lighting, grip and sound equipment across
drama, factual, entertainment, commer-
cials and feature film production since
1989.
With the move of ProVisions Manches-
ter branch into Space Studios Manchester,
and their Leeds branch in to new premises
on Burley Road, the company has
refreshed and reshaped the way they work
across the North.
THE VIEW FROM THE MPA
Steve Kuncewicz, principal lawyer,
Slater and Gordon
Last week, I was asked (because, lets
face it, Dan Nolan was on holiday) to
chair the panel discussion at the latest
event from the MPAs Professional
Advice Hub, sponsored by Slater &
Gordon, Santander and Crowe Clark
Whitehill.
We heard from a diverse set of
speakers from across the sector and
professionals who work for them, and
at least five really good ideas came out
of the event - some of which have
already found their way into my
business plan.
This got me thinking about an article
referred to me by the awesome Jo
Leah about PR vs Lawyers and
how comms professionals
should push back on legal
advice where it could cause
real reputational issues for
their client.
The event reinforced
what truly enlightened
professionals and their clients have
known for some time working in
partnerships where paid advisers
dont assume that theyre the most
important people and the discussion
Graham Waite, head of ProVision said:
As drama and production in the North
continue to increase we have taken time to
reshape the business.
This will help to maximise our poten-
tial in the two main northern production
hubs.
Space Studios Manchester is a perfect
fit for us and is an exciting community to
be part of.
Not only does it place us in to the heart
of a vibrant media hub, it also puts us in to Space Studios
the home of drama, which is an increasing
part of our business.
With our Leeds operation also recently
moving to new premises on Burley Road,
we are well placed to develop our business Manchester added: We are very pleased
further.
is led by commercial objectives, backed
up by advice that helps to deliver them,
can produce some amazing results.
As much as the creative sector is
used to collaborating with each other,
maybe its time for them to open the
door to their professionals in exchange
for those also collaborating with each
other for the benefit of a diverse and
thriving sector, to help assure the
future of all concerned.
Something tells me whoever is
part of that conversation will
find that they have
more in common than
divides them, and that
shared evolution is a
democratised
opportunity.
Adrian Bleasdale, CEO of Space Studios
that ProVision have chosen Space Studios
Manchester as their base.
Their vision fits perfectly with our
ongoing development, ensuring that we
continue to build on the eco system for the
broadcast and film industry here in Man-
chester.
We are aiming to make further
announcements regarding the develop-
ment of the Space Studios Manchester eco
system very soon.
The move is expected to be complete
Claire is future chair
at pro-manchester
Claire Sofield co-owner of Manchester
and Lancashire recruitment company,
Four Recruitment, has been appointed
as chair of future pro-manchester.
Claire moves from the position of
vice chair having risen through the
ranks of the future pro-manchester
committee. She will be joined by
vice-chair Doug King, in continuing to
promote and develop young talent
within Greater Manchester.
They will work together on The Made
in Manchester Awards, which returns
in February 2018 for a seventh
consecutive year, plus a range of
business focused activities designed to
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
late 2017. ProVision Manchester is cur-
rently operating from The Sharp Project
until their new 17,500 sq ft permanent
home is complete.
Space Studios Manchester is a purpose
built facility for large-scale film, TV, com-
mercial and VFX production. Since open-
ing in 2014, high demand has seen the
development of a large-scale site expan-
sion, including a new 30,000 sq ft produc-
tion stage, due to open this year.
Space Studios Manchester is part of
Manchester City Councils creative digital
asset base operated by MCDA ltd.
help young professionals.
Claire is a huge supporter of The
British Lung Foundation and local
charity Sams Gift, which, will both be
supported by the future pro committee
during Claires time as chair.
She said: Its a real honour to
become the chair of future pro-
manchester. Having started my
business at a particularly young age,
the help, support and advice I received
from my business network was vital.
Future pro-manchester greatly assists
young professionals in developing the
skills necessary to grow and nurture
their own network.
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 23

NEWS
Manchester-based Flipbook Studio is
set to expand its workforce and relocate
to larger offices.
The leading video content producer
is progressing after significant funding
from Santander Business Banking.
Established in 2010 by entrepreneurs
Ben Haworth and Andrew Lord,
Flipbook has grown to a pan-European
video reproduction company.
The business uses animation and CGI
to enhance visual content for TV
commercials, dramas, film, video
games and factual programmes.
Their enviable portfolio includes
work completed for the BBC, ITV, Aldi
and Reebok.
The funding from Santander Business
Banking will enable Flipbook to
relocate to new, larger offices in
Manchester city centre.
This will also accommodate a second
post-production suite.
The post-production suits allow
Flipbook to offer full offline and online
editing and audio facilities, alongside
their visual effects and animation
services.
The new offices will also
accommodate the recruitment of three
new employees.
Andrew Lord, CEO and co-founder of
Flipbook started out as a producer
working alongside some of the best
VFX and animation teams in the
country.
He said: By expanding our team and
relocating to larger offices, we are
responding to an increased client
demand for us to provide better
post-production facilities.
This means that they can come to us
as their one-stop visual content
producer.
The team at Santander have been a
great support as we progress into the
next stages of growth for our business.
Luke Rowbotham, relationship
director at Santander Business
Banking, added: Were delighted to
have been able to support the team at
Flipbook as they develop their
business.
They have grown into a leading
pan-European video content producer
in just seven years.
Now we look forward to seeing what
is next for this ambitious business as
they respond to their high client
demand.
Flipbook Studios created the Aldi
Christmas advert in Manchester.
In brief
Manchester communications
agency Bird Consultancy has been
appointed by interim chef
recruitment specialists CJUK,
following the successful delivery of
the CJUK Live Chefs conference in development teams with our
January 2017. Bird will work with
CJUK to deliver a digital PR and
social media strategy to support the
#ABetterWay campaign, and
demonstrate the benefits of a
career as a CJUK Chef. Chris Bird,
CEO and founder of Bird said:
Since I started Bird in 1990 our
ethos has always been clear,
making PR personal is our number
one priority. CJUK clearly feel the
same about their business, they
genuinely care about their chefs
and feel passionately about what
they do. We have some great
initiatives planned, and we are
looking forward to working with
Katie and the whole team. The
independent communications
companies is known for its work in
the hospitality and events sectors,
having previously worked with
Manchester Central, The Point at
Emirates Old Trafford and
Q-Hotels.
Retail marketing agency IPOS
has expanded its UK offering into
mainland Europe, with a new office
in Amsterdam, supporting its
London and Manchester sites. The
agency, which specialises in
point-of-sale marketing for both
online and offline retail channels,
said the opening is in response to
on-going positivity about the
investment brands are making in
their bricks and mortar stores.
were running our own studio.
Fabriks CEO Graeme Ankers
added: At the very start of Fabrik
one of our key approaches was to
unite brand new game
in-house expertise. I am truly
proud to see this realised with both
The Lost Bear and the creation of a
very talented and brand-new
studio in Oddbug. This mix of
experience meets new talent,
combined with a passion for
bringing new ideas and games to
market makes Fabrik different.
Macclesfield fintech firm Quint
Group has appointed a new
acquisition manager as it continues
its digital-led expansion in the
consumer credit market. Digital
marketing specialist Sangam
Mishra joins Quint from fintech
company Valour Group to head up
the companys paid channels and
drive growth. Sangam, aged 31,
from Didsbury, brings 13 years of
digital marketing experience into
his new role, having occupied
various roles at Valour Group after
completing an MBA at Manchester
Metropolitan University. He said:
Having been at my previous
employer for nearly a decade I was
ready for a new challenge and when
I met the team at Quint it was clear
that the company was a perfect fit
for me. I am very familiar with the
finance market in the North West
and have been impressed by Quint
and its recent growth.
Property services group
Styles&Wood is set to target

Monastery appoints Managing director Samm Lloyd

said: Weve always had plans for
European expansion, and with
opportunities in the public sector
for its proprietary estates and risk
management technology following

head of marketing
Gorton Monastery has appointed Ray
Hanks as its first head of marketing.
He will oversee the marketing for
Monastery Manchesters corporate
events and wedding business as well as
the Charitable Trust, which raises
funds to maintain the grade II* listed
building.
Ray has a background in advertising
and marketing having worked for three
of the top ten advertising agencies in
the UK.
Originally from London, he moved to
Manchester in 2002 and became
regional business adviser then head of
creative and digital industries at the
North West Development Agency,
responsible for setting up the team that
helped secure the BBCs relocation and
the creation of MediaCityUK in Salford.
Ray became a Trustee of the
Monastery of St Francis & Gorton Trust
in 2010 and continues to sit on the
board.
He said: I have been involved with
The Monastery for many years so its
great to be able to give the marketing
function my full attention.
With the completion of the new
Welcome Wing, there is no better time
to tell the world about this magnificent
building.
several of our long-standing clients its appointment to the
working from head offices in Governments G-Cloud 9
Amsterdam, the city seemed like a framework. The appointment to the
natural next step in our growth. framework, which is an agreement
between the Government and cloud
A new start-up gaming company, services suppliers, makes
Odd Bug Studios, is about to release Styles&Woods intelligent estates
its first project. Based at The Sharp management (IEM) software, iSite,
Project, the team has been formed and its Arctick governance,
around Fabrik Games and their compliance and risk (GRC)
first game is out for PlayStation VR platform accessible to the public
very soon. Game director Daniel sector. Martin Ward, director at
Robinson said: It all started at Styles&Wood, said: Our
Norwich University of the Arts appointment to G-Cloud 9 will
when The Lost Bear was just a side allow the public sector to access
project and a place for me to store our full range of experience and
my ideas. One thing led to another knowledge in creating services to
and before we knew it The Lost monitor and reduce sources of
Bear was being developed and we potential cost.
 SAS DANIELS LLP

Whether you require legal advice for

The right your business or need legal advice
on a personal subject for you and
legal advice your family.
Our experienced team are there for
today can you when it matters most, meaning
you can rely on us and focus on your
create priorities.
To find out the benefits of using
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SAS Daniels LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC333138. A list of members is available at our registered office, 30 Greek Street, Stockport,
Cheshire, SK3 8AD. SAS Daniels LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
our solution too.
The 26-year-old studied graphic
design at Ravensbourne in London
before moving up to Manchester.
Now living in the Green Quarter in
the city centre his free app is available
across the UK as well as the city.
Logging on as either an organiser or a
participant and with the ability to
flick between the two in app every
angle has been covered to revolutionise
the way people approach sport and
fitness.
As an organiser, time-consuming
administration has been centralised,
with users creating events, taking
payments, replacing drop-outs with
waiting lists and talking directly to
participants through internal
messaging.
As a participant, users can see
instantly what sporting events and
fitness classes are available in their
area and around the country, allowing
them to find opportunities in their
favourite activities or discover new
events.
Asked why he decided to set up his
new app in the north Urbonas said:
Manchester seemed the ideal place to
start the app.
What were trying to create is a
digital sporting community, so where
better to base Hoops than a sports mad
can help you achieve your goals.
To find out the benefits of using SAS Daniels, please visit our website or call us today.
city full of friendly people.
The fact that the app is free is a big
selling point and we are excited to see
how it will be received.
With Hoops now open to the public,
efforts are being stepped up to connect
with organisers and to fill the
Sports
GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 27
community with viable events.
Organisers of sport, fitness and dance
classes who want more information on
advertising their sessions through the
app can find more information online.
The app is available in both iOS and
Google Play app stores.
Emma OLeary, ELAS
Agony aunt
We are about to recruit for a new
role, can I ask the applicants
whether they are fit to do the job?
Since the introduction of the
Equality Act 2010, it is prohibited
to ask pre-employment health
questions. This means that before
an offer of employment is made -
at the application and/or
interview stage - an employer
cannot ask a prospective
candidate whether they have any
medical conditions or disabilities.
There are exceptions, however:
1. If, in order to attend a job
interview and/or complete any
application process, such as
psychometric testing, a disabled
applicant requires adjustments.
2. To establish whether the
applicant can carry out an
intrinsic part of the job e.g. if a
large part of the role requires
working up ladders.
3. If the role involves dealing with
clients with mental health issues
and you require a candidate that
has their own experience.
4. If certain regulations require
you to ensure that the applicant is
physically fit, such as Merchant
Shipping Regulations.
You can only make further
health-related enquiries once a
job offer is made. It should be
noted that a candidates failure to
disclose a disability up front will
not give rise to a fair dismissal
Failure to take account of this in
your recruitment practices could
result in disability discrimination
claims.
consultant
28 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK
OUT OF OFFICE
City break
taking its
deserved
place on
the throne
Chris Higham visits Dubrovnik which has
a starring role in Game of Thrones
I
T is easy to understand why
Dubrovnik has become one
of Europes must-see cities
in recent years.
Its starring role as Kings
Landing, capital of Westeros
seven kingdoms in TVs
Game of Thrones, has drawn many
thousands of visitors from around the
globe.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site city
also comes with the endorsement of
Lord Byron, poet and intrepid traveller,
who called it the Pearl of the Adriatic.
Game of Thrones
It has been compared and
favourably so with Venice. But where
the Italian city lies flat as a pancake in
its lagoon, Dubrovnik Old Town the
citys main attraction stands high
above the sea, completely enclosed by
magnificent medieval walls.
Little wonder that the Game of
Thrones producers chose it for the Iron
Throne seat of power currently
occupied by sneaky Cersei.
With all this going for it you might
expect Dubrovnik to be one of Europes
most expensive cities.
Far from it: the latest Post Office
Travel Money City Costs Barometer
shows that prices are more than a third
lower than in Venice, and cheaper than
Paris and Barcelona too.
Late September is a great time to
visit. Unlike many sunshine cities,
where tourism grinds to a halt by the
end of August, Dubrovnik is open for
business long after the school term
starts. It is sunny and warm although
less so than in July or August and the
citys tourist attractions are open.
Best of all, there are fewer cruise
ships and therefore fewer crowds.
If youre keen on walking, Dubrovnik
is great to explore on foot because its
perfectly preserved old town is
pedestrianised and therefore blissfully
car-free. But do not underestimate the
amount of walking and climbing to
be done, most of it on cobbled streets
and steps.
The sunset over
Dubrovnik is one of the
highlights of a city break
Pack comfortable walking shoes. You
have been warned. First sight of the old
town is impressive, entering through
one of two huge arched gates. Most
people arrive at the Pile Gate on the
western side but it can be a crush at
peak times because this is where the
cruise ship buses deposit their
passengers. To the east, the Ploce Gate
is a much quieter, calmer option.
Inside, youll discover a labyrinth of
picturesque streets and alleys,
beautifully restored after the damage
inflicted during the Balkan War in the
early 1990s.
The main thoroughfare is the
Stradun, lined on both sides with
restaurants, bars and cafs and paved
with cream-coloured stone so shiny
that youll wonder at first whether it is
slippery too. It isnt, but the effect is like
a giant mirror reflecting light all
around. There are plenty of souvenir
shops in the Stradun, but more
authentic local arts and crafts, such as
fine embroidered items or lavender oil,
can be found by turning into the side
streets or heading to the daily morning
market at Gundliceva Square.
Make sure you have some Croatian
kuna to pay for souvenirs or you could
miss out on a bargain the local
artisans are not keen on plastic
payments.
At the Pile Gate end of the Stradun is
the main entrance to the city walls, an
unmissable part of any Dubrovnik city
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
break. Built in the 10th century as a
formidable defence against invaders,
these are 25 metres high in places
and almost two kilometres long from
start to finish. It is best to be aware of
this before embarking on the
rampart walk because there are only a
couple of places to duck out along the
way.
A smart move is to walk the wall early
in the morning when it is cooler and
there are fewer people. Better still, plan
an evening sunset trek for stupendous
views of the sea and nearby islands or
to look across the old towns terracotta
roofs punctuated with architectural
treasures.
Those treasures come thick and fast
at every street corner. There are
baroque gems such as the Church of St
Blaise in the Square of the Loggia, the
citys hub, and Dubrovnik Cathedral
with its splendid interior hung with
Italian and Dalmatian paintings.
The Rectors Palace, meanwhile,
offers an elegant mix of late Gothic and
early Renaissance architecture. Most
interesting, to my mind, is the
Franciscan monastery, dating from the
early 14th century and home to
Europes oldest pharmacy.
Of course many of these and the
great forts that stand on promontories
outside the walls will be familiar to
Game of Thrones fans.
It is impossible to escape the fact that
this is the city where so much of the TV
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
series is filmed. Tours seem to run
continuously with guides boasting of
their roles as extras in famous crowd
scenes like Cerseis naked Walk of
Shame.
Unless you are a real devotee, do as
we did and skip the tour but piggy-
back sections of it along the way!
One of the GoT filming locations is
the nature reserve island of Lokrum, a
ten-minute boat ride from the city with
the bonus of views of the impressive
city walls and the old port on the return
journey.
Another way to see remarkable views
is on the three-minute cable car
journey up Mount Srd.
Eating out in Dubrovnik invariably
means exactly that. There are
restaurants in all the main squares
where alfresco dining is the only way.
We avoided the most obviously
touristic, preferring instead the many
hideaway bars away from the centre.
The Komarda Konoba Caf Bar is a
great example, situated in a small park
just outside Ploce Gate, shaded by trees
and overlooking the old port. Its
excellent daily lunch menu made it
hard to spend more than 25 on food
and drinks.
A word of caution: if you pay on a
credit or debit card you will rack up an
unexpected charge. Stung on a
previous trip, we took some of our
spending money on a travel money
card, which is not only a safer way to
carry cash but also avoids the
transaction charge.
Further along the coast from the
Komarda Konoba is the five-star
Excelsior, where the Game of Thrones
cast and crew stay while they are
filming.
With its panoramic views along the
coast back to the walled city, it is easy
to understand why. The extensive
restaurant terrace is a treat with
modern Mediterranean style cooking at
affordable prices. Our three-course
lunch with a bottle of wine weighed in
at just under 70.
If youre celebrating a birthday or
anniversary, the best restaurant we
found is also one of the longest
established. Proto, in a tiny street off
the Stradun, served the Duke and
Duchess of Windsor in days gone by
but is still turning out great seafood
dishes in its first floor covered terrace
draped with greenery.
Did Dubrovnik measure up to all it
promised? I would say so. And, like the
Post Office figures suggested, its good
value for money, too.
At Buza Bar, accessed through a hole
in the city wall, a sunset glass of wine
cost 30 kuna the equivalent of around
3.75 and when we averaged out meal
costs for two, we found that we had
spent around 50 per meal with drinks
included.
Wine-swilling Tyrion Lannister
would be pleased.
GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 29
Its the white stuff
Theres a name that crops up quite a
lot when Im reading about wine, at
wine tastings, drinking wine and
generally being a wine geek. The
name is Jean-Claude Mas and its
highly likely youll have seen the
brand he represents Domaines
Paul Mas.
You can pop into most
supermarkets and find one of their
wines but despite the extent of the
range, the quality is always really
good.
Jean-Claude took over his fathers
35 hectares in Bordeaux in 2000 and
steered the business in a different
direction, acquiring a range of
wineries across the Languedoc.
There are now 12 Domaines Paul
Mas estates across the region.
Here are four of their whites,
perfect for summer.
Paul Mas Vinus Frisante (8,
Morrisons, 12% abv): Youve just got
to love a drop of fizz. This wine is
new on shelves this month and is a
blend of 55% picpoul and 45%
chardonnay. Sparkling wines from
the Languedoc are growing in
popularity and here the local
picpoul (which I think has the
nickname lipstinger!) adds a good
bite to the blend with the
chardonnay adding body and
structure. Theres plenty of green
apples and a good citrussy zest.
Domaine Paul Mas Estate
Marsanne 2016 (10.99, or 8.99 in a
buy six deal, Majestic, 13% abv):
This is a classic from the Paul Mas
stable, with grapes grown on the
limestone and clay soils of the
Limoux and Carcassonne areas,
blended with wine from grapes from
the warmer area of Hrault. It has
aromas of lemon and peach, with
floral wisps of blossom and
honeysuckle. It has a touch of
creaminess in the mouth, where
honey, peach and lemon, all play
their part.
Paul Mas Vinus Clairette du
Languedoc 2016 (8, Morrisons,
12% abv): This wine hails from the
smallest and oldest appellation in
the Languedoc which was created in
1948. The grape itself is one of the
oldest in the region. It has
traditionally been used as a
blending grape but here it flies solo
and very nicely too. It has
a nose of ripe red apples, springtime
flowers and peach; in the mouth
flavours of citrus and apple cradle a
mouthwatering acidity.
Paul Mas Reserve Languedoc
Blanc 2016 (Waitrose, 8.99, 13%
abv): Heres another new wine for
this summer and I love it. Its a
blend of 40% grenache blanc with
marsanne, vermentino and viognier
having an equal remaining share.
Some of the blend has had oak
contact which brings complex
notes. The wine has aromas of
vanilla, pineapple and apricots; and
whats this? A touch of cinnamon?
Perhaps. Those fruits can be found
as soft mouth-filling flavours too.
Discover more at paulmas.com
and on Twitter @paul_mas
Also in my glass... Summer time is
a happy time and Aldis popular
Belletti Prosecco Spumante (11%
abv) is now available in a magnum
size at 12.99 which is perfect for
sunny celebrations. This sparkler
which sells at 5.79 in 75cl was
one of my top fizz tips last
Christmas. It has aromas of apples
and pears, a touch of lemon, and
hints of peach. Mmm, lovely.
Get in touch by emailing:
jane@onefootinthegrapes.co.uk
30 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK
PROFESSIONALS
email: shelina.begum@men-news.co.uk
Regions economy
has grown faster
than the capital
The economy of Greater Manchester
has grown faster than Londons in the
three years since the Northern
Powerhouse initiative was launched,
according to new research.
UK Powerhouse report, which is
produced with the Centre for
Economics and Business Research
(Cebr), provides a quarterly estimate of
GVA and job creation within 45 UK
cities 12 months ahead of the
Governments official figures.
According to UK Powerhouse, the
economy of Greater Manchester has
grown by 7.5% since the end of June
2014.
Inner Londons GVA grew by 6.9%
during the same period, whilst the
economy of Cambridge, currently the
fastest growing in the UK, expanded by
7.1%.
The figures are even more favourable
for the city of Manchester where the
economy is reported to have grown by
9.1% since June 2014 - the highest
posted figure within the study during
that period.
Job creation in Greater Manchester
since the launch of the Northern
Powerhouse by the then Chancellor
George Osborne, has however only
grown by 4.3%, much lower than in
Gateley advises City FC owners
The Manchester office of law firm
Gateley advised the owner of
Manchester City FC, City Football
Group (CFG), on a strategic 50:50 Joint
Venture with Goals Soccer Centres, a
leading operator of outdoor small-
sided soccer centres with 48 sites,
including two in California, USA.
Gateleys Manchester-based Sports
Sector team provided comprehensive
legal and commercial advice to CFG on
the JV, which will combine Goals
existing North American operational
expertise and site sourcing capability
with its footballing, marketing and
commercial expertise in order to
accelerate the growth of the Goals
brand in North America.
Regions GVA has
grown by 7.5%
London which boosted its headcount
by 7.3%, says the study.
Highlighting the fact that more needs
to be done to rebalance UK economy,
the report predicts the Manchesters
economy will grow by 14.8% in the next
10 years, compared to 16.1% for
London and 22% in fast-growing
The deal will transfer all of Goals
North American operations, both
existing and pipeline sites, to the JV
and CFG is providing $16m of initial
expansion capital, which combined
with cash flow from the JV will self-
finance an ambitious programme of
new site openings in North America.
Corporate partner for Gateley, Paul
Jefferson, said: We are delighted to
have advised City Football Group on
the deal, which will go a long way to
increasing the profile and fire-power of
Goals Soccer Centres in North
America.
These are exciting times for both
CFG and Goals, and we wish them the
best of luck for the launch in LA.
Milton Keynes.
Roy Beckett, Regional Managing
Partner at Irwin Mitchell in
Manchester, said: It is of course very
encouraging to see the Manchester
economy performing well over the last
three years, but its important to
remember we are still at the start of the
devolution journey here in the North
West.
Our new Metro Mayor, Andrew
Burnham, now needs to build on the
citys strengthening skill base and
momentum in the tech sector and
increase education spending.
Manchester is well diversified
economy integrating a strong media
sector, rich scientific development and
high tech digital start-ups. The citys
prospects are bright, but we must
maintain the momentum that we have
built in the last three years.
Jack Coy, Economist at Cebr, said:
Despite the UK-level economic
slowdown over the first quarter, it is
good to see some bright sparks in local
economies across the country.
In particular, the best performing
cities have benefitted from a
combination of cutting-edge,
productive industries and high-skilled
workforces.
Paul Jefferson, Gateley
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
In brief
The legal profession and advice
sector are joining forces on
Thursday 28 September for the
Manchester Legal Walk.
The Legal Walk is a 10km
sponsored walk around
Manchester to raise money for
local advice services.
It is one of over 30 similar events
across England, Wales and
Scotland.
The event will be attended by
the High Sheriff of Greater
Manchester, Gerry Yeung.
Teams from local law firms,
chambers and in-house legal
teams will come together along
with local judges to raise funds to
support vital, local legal advice
services such as Citizens Advice
Bureau and Law Centres.
The event is run by The North
West Legal Support Trust which is
a grant-making charity that raises
and distributes funds to support
free legal advice services and
access to justice for all in the
North West of England.
The Trust covers a wide area
that includes Cumbria,
Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire
and Greater Manchester. It is part
of a network of Legal Support
Trusts, working with the Access to
Justice Foundation, to facilitate
access to specialist legal advice for
the poorest and most vulnerable
in the community.
To get involved visit www.nwlst.
org.uk.
Corporate lawyer Simon
Wallwork has been appointed
head of the Slater Heelis
Corporate team.
Wallwork has nearly 30 years
experience in corporate law and
has been repeatedly ranked by
Experian as one of the most active
dealmakers in the North West.
The corporate team is going
from strength to strength after
seeing significant growth since
2015 and a strong first half of
2017.
The team has seen fee income
more than double, completing 34
transactions in 2016, with the rate
of transaction completions rising
again in 2017, with 17 deals
completed since January.
Wallwork said: I believe there is
a gap in the market for an
energetic, high quality corporate
law team that puts clients
interests at the forefront of the
work they do.
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 31

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Private equity
backing for
MBO at Antler
The Manchester office of private equity
firm Endless has completed its third
investment in only 10 days with the
management buyout of Antler, the
luggage firm which has roots in the
region.
The deal marks a substantial exit for
private equity house LDC, which first
invested in Antler in 2010.
CEO David Sharman will continue to
lead the company after the Endless
buyout. Antler has a turnover of 35m,
with 280 employees based in London
and across 32 retail locations
throughout the UK.
North West locations include stores
at Cheshire Oaks, The Lowry Outlet
Mall, and Pilot Mill, Bury.
Established over 100 years ago in
Bury, Greater Manchester, Antler has
operations in the UK, China and the
USA.
The company designs and supplies a
range of luggage across two brands,
Antler and Revelation.
The deal was led by Endless
Manchester partner Tom Jack and
investment director Richard Harrison,
both of whom will join the Antler
board.
Jack said: We are delighted to have
invested in this iconic British brand.
Antler has
undergone an MBO
with backing from
Endless
With fresh investment and hands-on
support from Endless, we believe
Antler is capable of delivering strong
sales and profit growth in the future
and were excited about the
opportunities ahead.
This is the third deal for our
Manchester team in only 10 days,
reflecting the strength in depth Endless
has as it continues to invest in the
North West deals market.
The deal with Antler follows the
acquisition last week of Go Plant,
which was also led by Jack, and the
acquisition of CTI led by partner
Mathew Deering.
Simon Adcock, senior portfolio
director at LDC, said: This is a good
outcome for all parties. Bringing an
external investor on board provides
management with an opportunity to
deliver their ambitious growth plan
and to further invest in the Antler and
Revelation brands both in the UK and
overseas in what remains a growing
market.

Acas a range of services for your business

Acas +elpline2QOLQH Training courses

For free impartial advice on workplace issues. :HUXQWUDLQLQJFRXUVHVDOODURXQGWKH
country designed for managers, line
+HOSOLQH2QOLQH is a quick and easy ZD\ managers, supervisors and HR professionals.
WRILQGDQVZHUVWRWKHPRVWSRSXODU 2ULI\RXSUHIHUOHDUQLQJDW\RXUQJHUWLSV
employment-related questions. try one of our free e-learning packages.
ZZZDFDVRUJXNKHOSOLQHRQOLQH www.acas.org.uk/training
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Advice and guidance In-company business solutions

Our website can answer queries on a full
range of employment-related issues or you
FDQGRZQORDGRQHRIRXUKHOSIXOSXEOLFDWLRQV
www.acas.org.uk/advice
Acas specialists can visit your organisation,
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ZLWK\RXWRWDLORUSUDFWLFDOVROXWLRQVWRDGGUHVV
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managers.
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Resolving workplace disputes Healthchecks and diagnoses

&RQLFWLQWKHZRUNSODFHLVFRVWO\$FDV 8VHWKH$FDVRQOLQHPRGHOZRUNSODFHWR
RIIHUVDUDQJHRIVHUYLFHVWRKHOS\RX identify areas of concern in your workplace or
resolve disputes. FDOODQ$FDVDGYLVHUWRKHOS\RXUHYLHZKRZ
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QGRXWPRUHDERXW$FDVVHUYLFHVDW www.acas.org.uk
32 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK
COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY
by David Thame
New homes
proposals in
masterplan
for Chorlton
A dramatic plan to change the face of
central Chorlton has been revealed -
and itll be very different.
The shopping precinct and former
leisure centre would be knocked down
and replaced by new shops and
housing.
And 70 luxury homes would be built
on open space off Ryebank Road, near
Longford Park.
It is part of a masterplan for Chorlton
to be discussed at yesterdays council
meeting ahead of a massive public
consultation.
Chorlton precinct, which is owned by
the Greater Manchester Pension Fund,
would be demolished to make way for
new shops along Manchester Road and
a total of 190 new homes including a
row of townhouses to the west of the
site and several sets of new apartments.
The plans state that the precinct is no
longer fit for purpose and could be
redeveloped to ensure Chorltons
shopping district, which is already
successful, can build on its existing
success.
At the same time it could provide
badly-needed housing, it says,
although it remains unclear whether
Office market upbeat after positive results
Manchesters office market is still on
track, with take-up 15% up on this time
last year.
CBREs H1 Manchester Office market
view says the first half of 2017 saw a
strong performance, and they predict
more progress in the autumn.
CBREs market view reveals take up
15% greater than for the corresponding
period in 2016 with business services,
consumer services and leisure and
banking and finance being the
strongest sectors for take up in the first
six months. Business services
any of it would be classed as
affordable.
The aim is to open up the sites access
to Manchester Road, onto which the
precinct currently turns its back.
Meanwhile the former leisure centre,
which was closed in 2015 and replaced
by the new Hough End centre, would
be sold by the council under plans for
new affordable rent to buy housing.
Independent Unicorn co-operative
supermarket is working with landlord
Southway on building a cafe on the
ground floor. But that building has
already been designated as an asset of
community value which means other
local groups could bid to take it over
instead.
On Ryebank Road, a little further out
An artists impression
of the Chorlton plans
accounted for 34%, consumer services
and leisure for 20%, and banking and
finance for 18%.
The data comes as some senior
figures in the Manchester office market
are beginning to worry about a dearth
of larger requirements from
professional firms the traditional
bulwark of the city office market.
They worry that an influx of tech
firms in the business services,
consumer services and finance sectors
is seeking lower cost space and
insisting on shorter leases which
of central Chorlton, Manchester
Metropolitan University is planning to
sell off the remains of its old campus.
The open land, near to Longford
Park, would have 70 new executive
houses built on it.
Chorlton councillor Matthew Strong
said that while the proposals would
help ease south Manchesters housing
crisis, he has concerns about the
proposals for the precinct and
stressed new homes must be
affordable.
I believe that any substantial
housing developments across Chorlton
should result in an increase in
affordable housing in the local area, he
said.
I am pleased that the pension fund
have brought forward plans for the
redevelopment of Chorlton District
Centre.
However I believe there needs to be
much better balance between retail
and housing units than is being
proposed. So although I welcome the
fact local people will be able to have
their say in this consultation, residents,
traders and shoppers will feel these
current plans are a long way from being
could mean instability in the office
market in the future.
However, the CBRE report remains
upbeat. Manchester city centre
achieved a healthy take-up level of just
under 480,000 sq ft for the first six
months of 2017. The largest deal was to
WeWork who took 55,800 sq ft at No.1
Spinningfields.
Other significant lettings included
32,900 sq ft to CarFinance247 at
Universal Square and 22,100 sq ft to
Rentalcars.com at 42/44 Fountain
Street.
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
Chorlton is set
for a revamp
suitable. He also said it was essential
no local business was forced out of the
area due to redevelopment.
Chorlton councillor Sheila Newman
agreed that currently there are too
many flats planned in comparison to
shop units, adding that she would like
to see more parking provided in the
plans.
And Coun John Hacking raised the
pressure on local services such as
schools and GPs as an initial concern.
These proposals are at an early stage
but they raise a number of issues which
I would wish to have early reassurance
about, he said.
Chorlton precinct was sold to the
pension fund in 2014 for 10m and
has long been a regeneration target
for the council, including for a new
gym.
Duncan Smith, Strategic Director,
Business Development and Growth at
Southway Housing said The area is in
great need of affordable housing and
we are really pleased to be involved
with this opportunity to work in
partnership with Unicorn and the
council to create a new area of social
value in south Manchester.
Total availability in the city centre at
the end of June stood at 2.2 million sq
ft, down 17% from the end of 2016.
Occupiers have realised that good
quality stock is dwindling, with
many now making moves to secure the
best space before others do, said
CBRE.
Two speculative schemes have
started in 2017, these being Landmark
and 125 Deansgate. The expectation is
that Eleven York Street, 100
Embankment and Two New Bailey
Square will start on site later this year.
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 33

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Developers plan for

warehouse expansion
Developers are proposing a 600,000 sq
ft extension to an M65 Lancashire
logistics scheme as the warehouse Eshton are planning
market suffers a summer wobble. an expansion to its
The proposal by Leeds-based M65 site
developer Eshton is for a 32-acre site
south of the M65 close to junction 9,
adjacent to the A679 Accrington Road.
Branded as Burnley Bridge South, the
scheme will provide a similar mix of
warehousing and industrial units to the
existing 100-acre site.
Eshton say the 45m extension is
likely to see six units totalling 600,000
sq ft although a bespoke building with
a footprint in excess of 500,000 sq ft
could be accommodated on the site.
However, the plan comes as the
fast-rising warehouse property market
begins to look like it might be about to
turn. Warehouse property has been the
big growth story of the last two years,
pulling in investors with billions to
spend. The north west has been a
major beneficiary.
The latest data suggests a market
beginning to slow. Data from surveyors
JLL and Gerald Eve suggest a slide in
demand for big sheds as economic
uncertainty and high exchange rates dominated by manufactuers. months. Colliers say that just 17m sq ft from 5% at the end-2016 to 6% at
begin to bite. Figures from Gerald Eves quarterly of speculative floorspace is under mid-2017.
According to JLL take-up of prime logistics bulletin showed take-up construction, but the total is due to fall Regionally JLLs research shows that
warehouse floorspace was down 35% in in the second quarter of 2017 down fast to just 3.5m sq ft. overall availability of Big Box supply
the first half of 2017 compared to the 12% on the first quarter of last year. The Commenting on JLLs new research, represented a national vacancy rate of
second half of 2016. total let or occupied was 11.3m sq ft. Tessa English, associate director, UK 6% during H1 2017. The North West
In a sign that occupiers are pulling in Separate data from Colliers Research, said: Manufacturers were has vacancy rates below the national
their horns, the supply of brand new International suggests higher exchange the most active source of warehouse average, suggesting the market in the
Grade A warehouse floorspace rose in rates as diverted consumer spending take-up in the first half of this year, region is holding up better than some
the first six months of the year, 24% up from imports to UK manufactured making up 35% of the total, but others.
on the end of 2016. goods, pushing up demand for retailers were comparatively subdued. Richard Evans, lead director Logistics
Confirming data from Gerald Eve floorspace from manufacturers. Grade A availability increased over the & Development, JLL UK, added: Our
published last week, JLL say that Research published this morning first six months of 2017, following a forecasts suggest that distribution rents
distributors have made few shows the supply of vacant space has pick-up in both new and good overall will grow by 2.9% per annum
appearances in the market for new dropped fast, and there is now quality secondhand supply. nationally over the next five years, with
floorspace, which has instead been sufficient for just one year and four Nationally, our vacancy rate ticked up growth stronger in core locations.

Manchester firm secures success in Wales

MCR Properties, the Manchester
Ash Court
property business that flourished in the
Noughties boom, has bounced back in
north Wales.
Only three months after successfully
letting the remaining space at Ash
Court on Parc Menai Business Park in
North Wales, Legat Owen has secured
the sale of the office building on behalf
of Manchester-based MCR Properties.
Purchased by a Private Investor
Client of Chartered Surveyors, Fifield
Glyn for close to the 1.4m quoted
value, Ash Court is a 20,000 sq ft office
development located on the
established and fully-occupied Parc
Menai business park.
Abuse prevention charity, Hafan
Cyrmu, which recently let the
remaining 800 sq ft suite, joined
existing national and local businesses,
Alzheimers Society, North Wales
Advice, Nestor Primecare Services and
Agored Cyrmu, to fill the office
building. Richard Smith at Fifield Glyn
acted for the purchaser and have been
retained to manage the scheme.
34 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

FEATURE

Zeri hopes her

swan parties
will take flight...
Former Waterloo Road star Zeri Burt-Skeete has set up Swan
Parties, for ladies who want a more elegant celebration instead of
strippers and shots, writes Dianne Bourne.

F
orget hen parties a time! After a recent trip to Berlin for but beach clubs, private dining and
Manchester Valentines week, I decided to start a personal shopping trips did!
entrepreneur believes business plan on a concept Id been I realised I had found a gap in the
Swan parties are the considering for some time. When market to provide people like myself
new thing for luxury- Paul proposed on February 14, luxury holidays for bridal
loving brides-to-be. 2016, in an ice church at the Ice parties, so I came up with Swan
Former Waterloo Hotel, I wanted to take my Parties!
Road star Zeri Burt-Skeete has set up bridal party to a luxury Burt-Skeete, who will
her Swan Parties business to cater destination that head to Cannes with
for what she believes is a gap in the was high end and her girlfriends for
market packages for girls to fly out to
sophisticated. her party, says
luxury destinations for an upmarket Ive been instead of a hen,
version of the traditional hen party. lucky enough to Anyone who has the idea is that the
Burt-Skeete set the business up travel to some planned a bridal party bride is a swan
while on maternity leave with her baby amazing places will know how time who is sassy, sexy,
son Romeo, now nine months old, around the world sophisticated,
and in the midst of planning her own and didnt want consuming it can be loves to travel and
wedding to Manchester businessman my bridal party Zeri Burt-Skeete be entertained
Paul Cheetham-Karcz. celebration abroad to in opulent
She says: Six months into my be compromised. surroundings.
maternity, I started getting itchy feet Whilst looking online She launched the
and wanted to dip my toe back in to for a company to book this venture with a VIP afternoon
work. I was in no rush, but I had a through, I was disappointed to see tea party at Menagerie bar in the up Red Russian PR in November 2011. I
business idea I wanted to delve into that a lot of them couldnt offer what city, attended by guests including was featured in Scott and Bailey, Sunny
and with having some spare time on I was looking for. Strippers, shots Real Housewives of Cheshires Seema D and TV commercials whilst still
my hands, it seemed like the perfect and suspenders didnt excite me, Malhotra. running my business. My contacts in
Burt-Skeete, 34, played schoolgirl entertainment helped with my PR work
Celine Dixon in Waterloo Road, a role so it was a great synergy.
she won just weeks after graduating But since setting up Swan Parties,
from her PR degree at Leeds Burt-Skeete has taken the decision to
University. When she left Waterloo close the PR side of the business to
Road she decided to return to the PR concentrate on that.
world and set up her own company, She says: Since I had my boys I took
Red Russian PR. a break from PR to become a mummy
She says: I graduated from Leeds and getting back into it was tricky, as I
University with my PR degree and really needed to start networking and
landed my role on Waterloo Road six getting back into the media circles Id
weeks later. lost touch with. I decided to close the
I decided to work freelance in PR business as Swan Parties started to
between filming to keep myself busy. pick up.
Micah Richards who was playing for Running a home, two young
Manchester City at the time became children and two businesses was a
my first client, I also went on to lot and something had to give. Red
working with restaurants, clubs and Russian PR was my baby before I had
Zeri with her two sons, Romeo and Rocco and, fashion brands. babies and a tough decision to leave
right, pictured with fiance Paul Cheetham-Karcz
Once my contract with the BBC it behind but Swan Parties is my new
finished, I took up PR full-time and set chapter and I want to give it 100%. Ill
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
still be using my social channels to
promote and PR Swan Parties.
She still dabbles in acting but her
priority now is Swan Parties and her
adorable children.
She says: Im still with the same
casting agency but dont really have
time to go for castings as much
anymore. My boys are also with the
same agency. Rocco my two-year-old
has landed modelling campaigns with
childrenswear brands and Romeo my
nine-month-old has filmed for ITV and
the BBC this year.
I get more pleasure seeing them
doing it than me these days!
Brides-to-be can choose from
eight destinations initially with
Swan Parties to Las Vegas, New
York, Dubai, Paris, Milan, Barcelona,
Cannes and Marbella, and Zeri will
look after everything from flights,
accommodation in five-star resorts,
tables at some of the top bars and
restaurants in the world, and activities
such as yacht hire, beach clubs and
helicopter rides, to name a few. The
average price per swan is from 750
upwards, although Burt-Skeete stresses
GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 35
Zeri Burt-Skeete at the launch
of her Swan Parties business
that each package is tailormade. be, Swan Parties is there to all the
She says: Anyone who has planned groundwork by recommending places
a bridal party will know how time to drink, dine, relax and discover all
consuming and frustrating it can over the world.
Since launching the business, Burt-
Skeete has already been responding to
Zeri and Real feedback and seeing how to develop
Housewives the concept in different ways.
of Cheshire She says: The generic feedback
star Seema was that some ladies within the bridal
Malhorta parties may not have the disposable
income to spend on these packages.
Again, its all down to working with
each group booking to make sure all of
their party is catered for.
Some ladies might want to do a
helicopter ride around the Statue of
Liberty, and some, like me who arent
great flyers, would prefer to book a spa
day. So bookings can also be spilt over
the days ladies are away so some may
end up paying less or more than others
should they wish.
For further info see swanparties.
com
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THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
TECHNOLOGY
The real benefits of
social networking
Networking events give start-ups an opportunity to meet and
N
subsequently win business, as Ben Rooth discovers...
etworking events can
initially seem an
inconvenient
distraction for
entrepreneurs from
the day-to-day
running of their
company.
But all the evidence suggests that
there is business to be won for savvy
networkers.
Networking events range from
business breakfasts to after-work happy
hours at restaurants, as well as more
formal events.
And the benefits frequently become
manifest on innumerable levels
regardless of the setting or the tone of
the event.
But Will Kennedy, sales and
marketing director at managed services
provider Solar Communications,
believes that the IT sector in
particular is missing a trick when it
comes to the many benefits of
networking.
He explained: The impact of
networking in the IT industry is often
underestimated, even by the very
people working within it.
After all, once weve installed the
software and done twiddling with the
wires, do they need to see or hear from
us again unless theres a problem?
That, I fear, is the perception, and it
couldnt be more wrong.
Whats so important for us in the IT
industry to understand and appreciate,
is that our products are critical to the
everyday functioning of our clients
businesses.
Being on hand, be it through a fully
furnished corporate event, or over a
cappuccino, strengthens that sense of
trust in us as providers of solutions who
will always be there should things go
wrong.
Many networking experts maintain
that there are five steps when it comes
to successfully building business
contacts...
1. INTRODUCE YOURSELF Be
proactive by initiating conversations
rather than waiting for others to
approach you;
2. SWAP BUSINESS CARDS Think
of your business card as a marketing
tool which could help win future work;
3. BE ATTENTIVE Networking
events can be beneficial as a means of
self-promotion but remember to listen
actively to those people you meet;
4. JOIN ONLINE NETWORKS
These days, there are numerous online
resources for networking with LinkedIn
being among the most popular for
business people;
5. HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Remember that networking is
generally a long-term process and its
unlikely to prove effective unless you
keep returning to the same group.
Kennedy added: Cultivating and
developing that trust through regular
contact with clients is good for building
a reputation, understanding more
about their business and a stronger
relationship but it also has another,
more basic function - increased sales.
Ours is a fast-moving industry, and
new technologies and solutions are
appearing all the time offering new
ways for businesses to execute mission-
critical processes more quickly, more
efficiently, more easily and more
cost-effectively.
Regular face-to-face contact with
clients gives us the opportunity to
showcase these solutions and,
GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK 37
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Networking is vital to
win new business
hopefully, close sales further down the
line.
A reputation for reliability and
trustworthiness is vital for all
industries, but particularly so for ours,
an industry whose failings can have a
catastrophic impact on our clients
businesses.
Organising events where we can
share our levels of expertise via thought
leadership allows clients both existing
and prospective an opportunity to see
and hear that they are right to put their
faith in our solutions and in our people.
It consolidates their belief in us, and
that belief can translate to enhanced
loyalty, greater custom, and new
partners. Successfully selling a product
to a client shouldnt be the end of
face-to-face interaction with them - it
should be the beginning.
Tech Manchester was launched
earlier this month with the expressed
remit of enabling the next generation of
tech entrepreneurs to access the
support they require to grow their
business.
As part of this process, it has
promoting networking and is
organising events throughout the year.
For more details visit:
techmanchester.co.uk/events
Networking
face to face is
invaluable
There is nothing more important
for a start-up than getting to know
people. Potential customers,
potential mentors, other start-ups
and successful businesses
everyone knows something or
someone that you dont.
Nowadays, theres really no
excuse. The internet has opened
up the world and there are more
routes than ever to meeting new
people. I recommend using all of
the tools at your disposal
LinkedIn is fantastic to expand
your network and access to
professionals whereas Twitter
gives you more personal, broader
access. Twitter is an incredible
tool for getting advice and linking
into events that you cant make.
That being said, nothing can
replace meeting face to face.
Getting to know someone over a
cup of tea, a game of squash or at
an event rather than solely online
is a sure-fire way to build a lasting
business relationship.
When I first met Sir Richard
Branson, we went for a run every
morning. Whilst getting exercise
and enjoying the beach around us,
we were chatting about business
and asking each other questions.
We ran for hours and the insight
that I gained was extraordinary.
Equally, Ive been skiing,
climbed Mount Snowdon and
been camping with many business
leaders, rather than sitting in an
office forcing the conversation
If youre struggling with where
to start, take a look at TechMCR
which connects businesses and
mentors and holds events
throughout the year for tech
startups.
Lawrence Jones,
CEO, UKFast
38 GREATER MANCHESTER BUSINESS WEEK
AGENDA
Is there an event you think should be included on this page? Let us know by sending details to eventsdiary@men-news.co.uk or speak to our business reporter
Emma Curry on 0161 211 2476. Please include the name of the event, a brief description, the time and date, the venue, and the contact information.
Thursday, July 27
Opportunities in FinTech
Continued
After the success of the last
FinTech Lunch, this follow-on
session is designed to take the
conversation further and
explore how FinTech is
flourishing in the Manchester
region.
Join pro-manchester and our
expert panel for lunch as we
discuss what Manchester has
to offer FinTech businesses.
The panel on the day will be
James Hiffins, product director
at AccessPay, Phil Nunn, chief
executive of The Blackmore
Group, Adam Hosker, global
lead at Software One, and
Susan Hall, partner at Clarke
Willmott.
Also in attendance will be the
Lord Mayor of the City of
Londo,n who is keen to engage
with businesses in the
northern regions and find out
more about what is driving the
northern economy.
Tickets cost 38 plus VAT,
including lunch.
Time: Noon - 2.30pm
Location: The Bridgewater
Hall, Lower Mosley Street,
Manchester, M2 3WS
Further information: nicola.
mccormick@pro-manchester.
co.uk / 0161 833 0964
Monday, July 31
Health and Safety for
Managers and Senior Leaders
This course is delivered by
Michelle Hay, a health and
safety advisor and trainer
whose clients include Hughes
Safety, Hendrik Veder,
Hallidays, Ryding Care and
many more.
Michelle will help you to create
and maintain a safe and happy
workplace for you and your
employees.
All training courses are
delivered in an interactive,
friendly and inclusive way
using Michelles 30 years of
people management

 



experience.
This one-day course is
designed specifically for senior
managers, directors, board
members and human
resources professionals.
It will give attendees the
knowledge and confidence to
be able to lead a positive
health and safety culture from
the top down.
The overall aim is to recognise
the moral, legal and financial
implications of not complying
with health and safety
legislation.
Delegates will also learn that
developing a positive safety
culture has endless benefits for
their people, processes and
profits.
It can reduce accidents, ill
health and absences, increase
productivity, improve
reputation with suppliers,
customers, employees and
stakeholders and reduce
insurance and legal costs.
It can also improve business
continuity and workforce
morale.
After this course, delegates
should be able to recognise the
costs/implications of decisions
made in the boardroom that
make their business liable and
understand the importance of
strategic management of risks.
They should also be able to
appreciate the consequences
of failing to manage health and
safety effectively, and the
importance of competent duty
holders cooperating,
communicating and
coordinating health and safety.
They will recognise the need to
appoint competent people and
the limitations of such an
appointment, be able to
identify the basic tools for
introducing a proactive health
and safety culture into their
organisation, and be ready to
achieve behavioural change
through leadership.
Tickets cost 149.00 plus VAT,
or 125.00 + VAT for members
of Greater Manchester
Chamber of Commerce.
Churchgate House,
Oxford Street
Thursday, August 3
Content Marketing - The
Essential Fuel for Your
Digital Marketing Strategy
The most successful
brands have two things in
common - great products
and stories that capture
attention.
At the heart of marketing,
storytelling sets a brand
apart from its competition
a strong story is engaging
and taps in to peoples
emotions, which creates
brand advocates and
repeat sales.
This workshop will arm
entrepreneurs with a solid
understanding of
copywriting and content
creation, enabling them to
harness the potential of
digital marketing and
reach, warm, convince and
convert a wider audience
than before.
Attendees will learn how to
build a content plan that
supports digital marketing
activities, write compelling
content, use a variety of
digital tools to develop
content, and measure
performance and optimise
strategy.
Time: 9am - 4.30pm
Location: Workplace,
Fourth floor, Churchgate
House, 56 Oxford Street,
Manchester, M1 6EU
Further information:
info@businessgrowthhub.
com / 0161 359 3050


 


Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: Chamber Space,
Elliot House, 151 Deansgate,
Manchester, M3 3WD
Further information:
professionalservices@
gmchamber.co.uk / 0161 393
4321
Thursday, August 10
Stockport Breakfast Club
This monthly event will
feature a speaker and the
chance for 12 businesses to
take part in a free mini
exhibition.
Attendees can bring along a
pop-up banner/roller stand
and display their literature
during the morning.
If you think you might be
interested in taking part,
email victoria.kerr@
gmchamber.co.uk as the
stands will be offered on a
first come, first served basis.
The event will also include
updates from Greater
Manchester Chamber of
Commerce, as well as the
usual opportunities to
network with like-minded
businesspeople from
Stockport and the wider
Greater Manchester area.
The event is open to any
business, but places must be
booked in advance.
Time: 7.15am - 9.30am
Alma Lodge Hotel, 149
Buxton Road, Stockport, Sk2
6EL
Further information:
victoria.kerr@gmchamber.co.
uk / 0161 393 4342
Tuesday, August 22
Champagne Tasting with
Mot Hennessy
Guests at this pro-manchester
event will enjoy a three-
course dinner and a private
tasting of Champagnes from
the Mot Hennessy portfolio.
During the evening, a
Champagne expert will talk
attendees through the history
and origin of each
THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017
champagne.
The drinks they will sample
will be from the prestigious
Mot and Chandon, Veuve
Clicquot, and Ruinart houses.
Mot Hennessy will also give
provide guests with access to
preferential rates on all their
range for any corporate gifts
or events opportunity they
might have in 2017.
Numbers are limited to 30
(two guests per member
firm), so book now to avoid
disappointment.
Tickets cost 45 plus VAT,
which includes four glasses of
champagnes and a three-
course dinner.
Time: 6pm - 8pm
Location: King Street
Townhouse, 10 Booth Street,
Manchester, M2 4AW
Further information: nicola.
mccormick@pro-manchester.
co.uk / 0161 817 3483
Friday, October 13
Pro-manchester Economics
Conference
Manchester has emerged as
the largest growth
conurbation outside of
London.
This event will examine the
success of the economy and
the significant impact has on
the wider region.
The city faces many
opportunities and challenges
in the years ahead. Will the
region face up to the task?
Themes for the day include
Manchester and the Northern
Powerhouse, life after Brexit,
balancing the books in
Greater Manchester, housing
and whether Manchester has
it covered, and the sectors
driving growth.
Tickets cost 125 plus VAT.
Time: 8.15am - 3pm
Location: Hilton
Manchester Deansgate, 303
Deansgate, Manchester, M3
4LQ
Further information: nicola.
mccormick@pro-manchester.
co.uk / 0161 833 0964


 

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www.pwc.co.uk/who-we-are/regional-sites/north-west














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