News
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.
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.”
Eliminating the UK’s annual £24bn cost of workplace conflict
Peter Vinden, managing director of The Vinden Partnership and practicing mediator.
“The furor this week over accusations of a ‘climate of fear’ in Downing Street as well as British Airways staff voting to strike over cost-cutting measures at the airline has thrown a spotlight on the effects of workplace conflict that is going unchecked, however its monetary cost to the UK economy is more shocking still.
“Believe it or not, according to research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the estimated annual monetary cost of workplace conflict to the UK is a staggering £24bn – an unnecessary burden that the economy can scarcely afford. In addition, aside from its cost to the economy is the impact of conflict on the individuals involved; a serious concern that must be given due attention by business owners and HR managers.
“As the UK battles its way out of recession, each and every business is under immense pressure to achieve cost savings wherever possible. As such, companies of all sizes should be paying diligent attention to the impact workplace conflict could be having on their company - £24bn is an incredible amount of money to be flittered away on something that is so easily remedied.
“There are several primary ways businesses lose money as a direct result of workplace conflict, namely via lost management time, lower productivity, higher absenteeism and higher staff turnover. All of these factors result from an unhappy workforce and – crucially – all of them carry a direct cost to the UK economy.
“In addition to the above are the indirect effects of workplace disputes, which often present an incredibly serious issue for businesses. These include increased theft or sabotage, interruptions to supply chain mechanisms and poor customer service, to name just a few!
“The bottom line is that those in charge of HR and recruitment need to think about how they can collaborate and develop their workplace procedures to get the best from their most important resource – people – and put systems in place to resolve conflicts in a speedy, private and economical way.”
