News
Tickets at Old Trafford selling out quick for IoD Annual Conference
The Institute of Directors (IoD), in the North West, is urging its members and business leaders across the region to act quickly if they want to be part of one of the most politically charged and highly anticipated business events of the year so far. This year’s IoD Annual Conference is set for Tuesday 23rd March at Old Trafford – a venue renowned for always hosting full houses.
Since the IoD confirmed that keynote speaker for the day, Ken Clarke MP, will be joined by a host of guest speakers including leading businesswoman Karren Brady, IoD Director General Miles Templeman, and Manchester United Directors of Operations Michael Bolingbroke, tickets for this event have been in high demand.
This will be the first IoD Annual Conference to take place at Old Trafford, and an audience of up to 250 is expected to contribute to an event filled day, which has become one of the key dates on the North West business calendar.
Clarke will address the conference on some of the main political issues, such as the impending general election, the challenges facing businesses as a tentative recovery takes root, and how the Conservatives intend to tackle key issues such as reducing the UK deficit and address the eternal debate over fair taxation policies. And with the leaders of the nation’s political parties set to make British political history with televised debates, the conference is a great opportunity for North West business leaders to get their opinions heard.
Previous IoD conferences have attracted a number of political heavyweights and key figures, with the event hosting Alastair Campbell in 2009 and George Osbourne in 2008.
Darrell Matthews, Regional Director of the Institute of Directors in the North West commented: “This years conference is set to be a fantastic mix of incisive business thought and interesting sessions with some of the region’s most distinguished figures, and we are sure the event will be a huge success.
“We are delighted that this will be the first IoD Annual Conference to take place at the stadium and we are expecting an audience of over 250 directors from across the North West to contribute to an event filled day, which has become one of the key dates on the North West business calendar in recent years.”
To book your place at the Old Trafford event, contact the IoD North West office on 0161 209 3152. Tickets are available to IoD members at a price of £79 +VAT, and at £99 +VAT for non-members. Please book early to avoid disappointment.
The IoD Annual Conference 2010 is kindly sponsored by Business Link Northwest, RMG, Pannone LLP and Brother UK.
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.”
