News
Fantastic opportunity for aspiring PR professionals...
Just finished university? We've got a vacancy has in our technology PR team for an outstanding graduate. For more information, please click here.
Institute of Directors announces North West Director of the Year 2010 finalists
Following an intensive judging process, the Institute of Directors (IoD) North West has announced its finalists for the prestigious Director of the Year Awards 2010.
The finalists, shown below, were narrowed down from 160 entries from directors across the North West region, following an in-depth interview process led by Armstrong Craven.
Darrell Matthews, Regional Director of the IoD in the North West, commented: “The judging panel was extremely impressed by the high number of outstanding directors who were nominated in 2010 following another difficult year for business, and I believe this list of nominees is a prime example of what the North West has to offer.
Cumbria Director of the Year
Maria Whitehead - The Hawkshead Relish Company
Paul Hopper - Northern Securities
Cheshire Director of the Year
Chris Harrison - Fresenius Kabi
Brendan Hynes - Nichols
Rob Crossland - Parasol
Cheshire Young Director of the Year
Steve Swift - Aerelink
Marc Duschenes - Braemar
Gary Smith - Prism
Manchester Director of the Year
Phil Jones - Brother
Mottie Kessler - 2M
Peter Schofield - Tetrosyl
Manchester Young Director of the Year
Ben Davies - The Neighbourhood
Fajer Rabia - Inspired Sisters
Richard Tang - Zen internet
Liverpool Director of the Year
Elfred Thomas - i3
Matt Johnson - Mando
Andrew McNair - OSS
Liverpool Young Director of the Year
Rob Maxwell - Aztec
Phil Hodgkinson - Compass Cost Consultants
Daniel Davies - CPL
Lancashire Director of the Year
Peter Cousins - Brighter Futures
Jane Scott - Keystage Teacher Supplies
Kevin Moseley - SwimFin
Lancashire Young Director of the Year
Simon Cutler - Elite
Richard Freye - Service Care
Natasa Sabanovic - Whittle Eastern Europe
Yorkshire Bank Akroyd Award
Phil Hodgkinson - Compass Cost Consultants
Maria Whitehead - The Hawkshead Relish Company
Gary Smith - Prism
International Director of the Year
Chris Purslow - ATG Willard
Gavin Wheeldon - ALS
Mark Greaves - Flowcrete
Ann Jordan, Regional Chair of the IoD and in charge of the judging panel, commented: “Business directors need to act decisively in an uncertain economy to help steer their businesses and employees through tough times, or on to new opportunities, and we looked for these attributes during the judging process. As a result, we have a phenomenally high-calibre of finalists in this year’s awards, and I look forward to seeing the final results at the awards dinner in October.”
This year’s winners will be announced on 7th October at the Hilton Hotel Deansgate, with the awards ceremony being hosted by BBC TV’s Nicholas Owen.
To reserve a table or buy single tickets for the Black Tie Gala Awards Dinner please contact Andrea Lowe on 0161 247 7634.
IoD confirms move to City Tower
The Institute of Directors is to move its North West operation to a new location at City Tower. The move is another milestone for the IoD, which has enjoyed a busy 2010 hosting a series of key business events throughout the region.
The City Tower office will be open to IoD members from Monday 19th July, and will provide top-of-the range facilities at the centre of the Manchester business community. This move is also designed to support IoD efforts to improve ties between regional enterprises, and the services it can offer business leaders and entrepreneurs.
This latest move follows the recent announcement of the new IoD Committee in Manchester, and is the culmination of a series of developments behind the scenes at the IoD North West, undertaken to improve the benefits to its members.
Darrell Matthews, Regional Director of the IoD in the North West, said: “Over the years the presence of the IoD in the North West has grown consistently, and we’re looking forward to increasing this profile from our new base.
“The IoD is always trying to find new ways to improve its services to members, and this new Manchester hub will provide the perfect place to hold private client meetings, informal discussions or business seminars. What’s more, the office is fantastically furnished and gives stunning views of Manchester, providing first-class facilities for members to use as they wish.
“We’re also looking forward to our new partnership with Bruntwood, who were able to offer the IoD an excellent location in the heart of the city.”
Manchester entrepreneurs complete 100k Challenge
Over the past five days, 10 top businessmen have put their physical strength and entrepreneurial spirit to the test during an epic 100k Challenge across Europe in aid of the NSPCC Hear Our Cry appeal.
Dragging their aching limbs across the finish line in Barcelona last night, the runners were drained and exhausted but immensely proud of the achievement and of the £100,000 raised.
Mike Perls, CEO of MC2 and driving force behind the 100k Challenge, commented: “It certainly hasn’t been a stroll in the park. Ash clouds, stomach bugs and uphill runs in Holland were all unexpected obstacles for us and have made the challenge that bit harder. There were times I think we all thought we wouldn’t make it to Barcelona so I am thrilled that we all completed the last 10k and are still here to tell the tale!”
Airport closures caused by the volcanic ash cloud meant the runners’ best laid plans to fly direct to Amsterdam for the second leg of the challenge on Sunday actually resulted in a last minute dash to Dover for a ferry and a midnight run in a rather rainy Ostend.
Despite the set back of the first day, the team soon got back on track running 10k routes in major European cities such as Brussels, Geneva and Monaco before strapping up ankles, hamstrings and toes for the last leg of the challenge in Barcelona yesterday afternoon.
Perls added: “It’s been an absolutely amazing experience for all of us but we’re hugely relieved that it’s complete. Our energy reserves were virtually empty after two runs and the extra travel on the first day so, from then on, it has been a constant challenge to pick ourselves up ready for the next race.
“We have had great support throughout the challenge, in the cities we have visited as well as from family, friends and contacts at home which has really helped keep us going. People have donated generously for the Hear Our Cry appeal and I’m delighted that we have managed to raise such a substantial sum of money for the NSPCC. We’ve still got a little way to go to hit our target of £100,000 though so if you haven’t donated yet please visit www.hearourcry.co.uk.”
Hear Our Cry is a new campaign for the NSPCC in the North West and has been launched to promote awareness of the vital helpline services provided by the charity, including ChildLine, the UK’s free confidential 24-hour helpline for children, and the NSPCC Helpline for adults concerned about a child.
The aim of the campaign is to raise £2.7m by May 2011 to ensure more children and young people across the region have access to the help they need when they need it most.
Angela Capper, NSPCC development manager for the North West said: “Many thanks to Manchester’s entrepreneurs for their commitment and dedication in completing this epic 10k challenge to support the NSPCC. It is a fantastic achievement and our congratulations go to each one of them. Thanks for the businessmen’s time and fundraising efforts, the money raised will help support our vital helpline services to ensure we can answer even more cries for help from children in the UK.”
To find out more about the 100k Challenge or the Hear Our Cry appeal please go to www.hearourcry.co.uk or to donate the Just Giving page is www.justgiving.com/100kchallenge.
ANS Group does the double at NetApp awards
Manchester-based ANS Group has won the Best New Partner award at this year’s NetApp awards in London.
Having become a NetApp gold partner 12 months ago, ANS won the award as a result of its impressive sales growth, securing a raft of new contracts in both the private and public sectors.
The judges credited ANS for its “highly professional marketing campaigns that focused on Data Centre Solutions and ‘spend to save’, which has led to the creation of high levels of opportunities and a number of new accounts won during the year.”
Paul Sweeney, managing director of ANS Group commented: “Having only been a gold partner with NetApp for the last twelve months, this is a fantastic achievement for the Group and we are delighted to have progressed to become a platinum partner.”
ANS Group also won the award for marketing excellence for its campaign for Infrastructure 3.0 – an innovation that reduces physical servers through virtualisation, creating systems that are truly unified in a stateless and fluid architecture.
Sweeney continued: “It has been a great year for ANS Group and these awards are particularly special as it is testament to the hard work that has made Infrastructure 3.0 such a success, as demonstrated by some fantastic contract wins such as Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.”
The NetApp judges said: "In their first full year of partnership with NetApp, ANS has grown to Platinum Partner status, driving exceptional growth in NetApp sales. The company has built credibility by investing in technical, sales and professional services accreditations. These high levels of commitment and effort have been well received by the NetApp sales team and the market."
ANS Group also won VMware Partner of the Year award in December and was ranked 9th in The Sunday Times Best Small Companies to Work For 2010.
