News
Show Business Interiors appoints marketing agency MC2
Show Business Interiors, the leading show home interior design firm based in Sandbach, has appointed the North West’s largest independent marketing and communications agency, MC2.
The move follows the company’s successful re-brand at the end of last year and will see MC2’s dedicated property team working on a retained basis to re-affirm Show Business Interiors’ position within the market as a high-end show home design practice. In addition, MC2 will be working with Managing Director, Jackie Summerfield, to raise her profile amongst the business community.
Tristan Evans, sales director at Show Business Interiors, said: “The new brand promotes the company as a stylish, quality interior design practice and we now need to be reflecting this in our ongoing communications to the market place.
“We are lucky enough to work with many of the top house builders in the UK so the last eighteen months have been a challenging time but we are seeing the situation improve, we are getting busier and we hope to grow the business significantly in the coming years.”
Account Director at MC2, Clare Lawrence added: “Show Business Interiors boasts clients the length and breadth of the country including Taylor Wimpey, Redrow, Bellway and Barratt Homes so it is a real pleasure to be working with such an exciting company.
“The management team at Show Business Interiors is extremely ambitious and has a clear growth plan for the business, we look forward to supporting this strategy with a variety of marketing and communications to the market.”
CBRE sells Issa Quay
Leading commercial property advisor, CB Richard Ellis, has sold Manchester’s part-developed Issa Quay to a local property developer. CBRE acted on behalf of administrator, KPMG.
Issa Quay, originally conceived as a residential and retail development on Dale Street, on the edge of Piccadilly basin, comprises 83 apartments and retail, food and bar areas.
BS Construction, the developer behind Issa Quay, was placed into administration in May 2008, with CB Richard Ellis appointed to advise on the sale of the development.
Julian Such, associate director in the Leisure and Alternative Investment team at CB Richard Ellis North West, commented: “The instruction generated significant market interest, mainly from serviced apartment and Aparthotel operators who viewed the development as a good prospect due to its proximity to Piccadilly train station and other established schemes. The team has worked incredibly hard on what was an extremely difficult instruction in bringing the sale of Issa Quay to conclusion, overcoming a huge range of challenges during the past 18 months.”
North West sees second highest leasing activity in 2009, says CBRE
A report by leading property firm CB Richard Ellis says the North West secured a 19 per cent market share and the second highest proportion of leasing activity in the logistics market across the UK in 2009 with over 3.3 million sq ft let or sold.
Boasting the largest deal of the year – B&M Retail’s acquisition of 618,000 sq ft at The Vault in Speke – the region also saw four other transactions over 200,000 sq ft as tenants took advantage of the favourable terms being offered by landlords.
The report goes on to say that there has been a significant increase in supply over the year in the second hand market whilst the availability of quality stock has seen a marked reduction. The unexpected collapse of occupiers such as Woolworths and MFI inevitably increased levels of supply with the sharp rise of secondhand space on the market. By the end of Q4 the North West had the second highest proportion of supply with a 21 per cent market share, just behind the South East with 24 per cent and ahead of the West Midlands at 18 per cent.
Tom Davis, senior director of Industrial at CBRE North West, said: “One of the most notable characteristics of 2009 was the nature of demand. Much of the take up has been opportunistic with occupiers taking advantage of distressed owners and developers - there have been some amazing bargains to be had. With no new development in the foreseeable future, and the stock of available space diminishing quickly, these deals will not last long. There are only a few buildings left and in some areas, notably Greater Manchester, there are currently no units in excess of 200,000 sq ft available on the market, which illustrates the distinct shortage of new space.
“We foresee a hardening of rents and prices over 2010 as supply reduces and developers start to gain the upper hand. Rather than undertaking risky speculative developments we are seeing more developers aiming to develop new premises on their land banks on a design and build basis. Unfortunately this will further exacerbate any potential undersupply that may emerge throughout the next 12 months and until we see a sustained improvement in the availability of debt finance, and a re-balancing of the supply and demand situation, speculative development will not be viable.”
IoD North West to bring fresh thinking to business leadership
Business leaders looking to find new innovative ways to help their business grow are being invited to a high profile breakfast seminar on 3rd March at the Palace Hotel, Manchester, from 7.45am. The Institute of Directors, North West, has teamed up with organisation development experts, Acua to provide an event designed to encourage innovative new thinking in business leadership.
Speakers Steve Brooks and John McMillan, Acua business coaches will offer members expert advice on how to unlock the innovative potential in their business that will allow them to thrive in new, creative ways. The event is a chance for like-minded business leaders to share their thoughts and bring fresh thinking to business leadership. Steve and John will also be on hand following the presentations for further discussion.
Acua, a national management training organisation boasts an impressive client base, having worked with businesses such as Caterpillar and Land Rover Jaguar.
John McMillan, of Acua, said: “The ability to drive innovation which has a positive impact can quite simply be the difference between an organisation being a success or a failure.
“Getting the culture of change right can however be very challenging and we will be looking closely at how businesses across various sectors have embraced innovation to support growth, and importantly how they have done so.
“The seminar will be a perfect opportunity for business leaders to share experiences and lessons learned when attempting to drive change and also discover how the learning and development world can support and encourage innovation in the workplace.”
Darrell Matthews, North West Regional Director for the IoD, commented: “There is huge opportunity for businesses at the moment, and any extra advice on how to uncover these openings and make progress should be listened to. Here in the North West we have a huge number of forward thinking businesses who want to embrace change and put the region at the forefront of the UK economy’s recovery.
“John and Steve are experts in their field who can give great advice to our business leaders on how to recognize the innovative potential of their company.”
FC United urge football supporters to join Beyond the Debt Rally
- FC United Beyond the Debt rally set to attract football supporters from across UK
- Club will be joined by high profile guests
With the debate on football finance and club ownership currently in the spotlight in Manchester and across the country, FC United of Manchester is holding a supporter rally, Beyond the Debt, ahead of its game against North Ferriby United at Gigg Lane, Bury, on Saturday 27th February.
As a club formed and owned by its members, FC United is a fervent advocate of supporter-owned clubs being central to the future of football in the UK. Alongside members of the FC United board who will be contributing to the debate, the club has attracted high profile supporters to the cause. Speaking at Beyond the Debt will be respected journalist David Conn, of The Guardian, representatives from German Bundesliga club Schalke FC, and Supporters Direct, which represents football fans throughout the UK.
Fans of football clubs across the country, who are concerned by the current situation of debt at all levels of the national sport have also been invited to attend.
Andy Walsh, General Manager of FC United, commented:
“Football is at a critical juncture, with the need for clear leadership and regulation never more evident. An alternative model of how the game is structured has never been more needed with supporter-ownership absolutely fundamental to that model.
“FC United is part of that debate, an example of that alternative and with our guests and friends that will join us on the day we aim to make the point that supporter ownership is the only way forward.”
The rally begins at 12 noon, and is free to attend. Entry to the match is £7.50 for adults and £2 for children.
