Monthly Archives: May 2024

News

£2m restoration works completed at Manchester Opera House theatre

A £2m facelift for the façade of Manchester’s historic Opera House theatre has been completed.

Salford-based MC Construction was the principal contractor for the scheme.

The restoration project included extensive repairs to the render, brickwork, windows and ironmongery fixings, weatherproofing works, the replacement of rainwater goods and a full decoration of the main façade to ensure a more historically authentic exterior and to help safeguard the venue for future generations to enjoy.

Careful analysis of the existing paint layers stretching back over a century was undertaken, so that the colour scheme of the 15-bay façade and windows now better reflects how the venue would have looked when it opened in 1912.

The theatre remained open throughout the restoration project.

The scheme forms a significant part of a £4.5m capital investment this financial year across the Opera House and its sister venue in Manchester city centre, the Palace Theatre, which are both owned by ATG Entertainment.

The Opera House is a grade II listed building which was originally called The New Theatre. It has been through several iterations and was renamed the Opera House in 1920.

It is one of the largest theatres in England, with a seating capacity of 1,920. The venue plays host to high-profile concerts, plays, musicals, ballets and a Christmas pantomime.

Famous shows performed there over the years include Phantom of the Opera, Barnum and Oliver! plus a host of world premieres, such as Bat Out of Hell: The Musical and Take That‘s musical The Band. During its long history, it has also served as a bingo hall and a cinema.

Russ Forshaw, managing director of MC Construction, said: “Drawing on our extensive experience of successfully delivering projects at numerous listed buildings and other landmarks across the city, such as The Whitworth art gallery, Manchester Museum and the Imperial Chinese Arch in Chinatown, we are delighted to have undertaken this restoration scheme at the Opera House, which is less than a mile from our company headquarters.

“Once again, our team have produced the goods and left their mark on a cherished Manchester building. It was great to work with the ATG Entertainment, whose ongoing investment in its buildings ensures they can continue to delight audiences across the north west and beyond.”

Robin Hawkes, theatre director at the Opera House and Palace Theatre, said: “In tandem with the Palace, the Opera House has been a jewel in the heart of Manchester’s cultural fabric for many generations.

“I am delighted we’ve been able to restore and refresh the theatre’s beautiful Edwardian exterior, as part of a wider suite of works which will improve the experience of everybody visiting and using the two venues for years to come.”

Stefan Ziemelis, senior project manager at ATG Entertainment, added: “In addition to delivering essential repair works, this project has also been driven by the celebration of the intrinsic character and uniqueness that is woven into this heritage building.

“Working with our partners to breathe new life into the Opera House has been a rewarding experience, and it’s good to know that the work we have completed here will preserve and protect the theatre for future generations of theatre lovers.

“The façade restoration project has been carried out by MC Construction and its partners in a thoroughly professional manner with minimal disruption to our patrons, and we are delighted with the outcome.”

Other professionals involved in the Opera House restoration project included Motion Project Management, Osbornes Chartered Architects, quantity surveyors Marshall Kenny and design consultancy ORSA.

MC Construction is a family-owned business which employs more than 60 staff.

Founded in 1971, the company delivers complex construction projects throughout north west England with a focus on the commercial, education, heritage, hospitality, industrial, local authority, social housing and healthcare sectors.

News

Get Ahead Partners Celebrate Five Years In Business

Basingstoke-based businesswomen Kristy Roff and Suzanne Evett, owners of Get Ahead South, are delighted to be celebrating five successful years in business.

Friends for over sixteen years, Kristy and Suzanne founded their Get Ahead franchise in May 2019 to work flexibly around their families and gain a better work-life balance. After a successful start, they had to navigate the challenges of COVID-19 and homeschooling. But with restrictions eased, they seized the opportunity to accelerate their business growth, expanding into Surrey to create a new Get Ahead South superhub in 2022 and winning the Great British Franchisee Awards in 2023.

Commenting on the milestone, Kristy said: “Becoming partners with Get Ahead was a great decision for us, and we would wholeheartedly recommend it. The freedom it has given us to balance work and family life has been life-changing.

Suzanne and I are living proof that going into business with a friend can be rewarding and highly successful. We are both mums juggling work and family life. But we boldly decided to put life in our own hands by starting our own business. It was a scary step, but we wouldn’t change a thing. There have been tough times for both the business and us personally, but it has all been part of the journey.”

Rebecca Newenham, founder of Get Ahead, said: “I am so proud of all that Kristy and Suzanne have achieved in the last five years. It was an honour to accompany them to the HSBC British Franchise Awards 2023 and see them gain recognition for all their hard work. Kristy and Suzanne have navigated all the challenges of running a business and a family, particularly through a global pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, with such resilience and professionalism. They are a shining example of how to do franchising well.

Over the past five years, they have grown their own territory and expanded into new territories to accelerate the development of their business. They launched a new monthly networking event in 2023, Get Connected, which proved to be so successful that it has now spread to seven cities across the South East. They have supported their local business community and played a vital role in supporting the Get Ahead franchise network, mentoring new franchisees and transforming our internal processes. They have so much to reflect on and celebrate. I look forward to continuing to support them in the coming years. I’m sure great things are ahead for this brilliant partnership.”

Get Ahead offers a comprehensive range of nationwide marketing and business support services designed to help businesses of all sizes and from all sectors get ahead

News

Sussex mum toasts success as small business grows

The glass is definitely half-full for one Sussex mum – as she prepares to take her growing fruit infusions business to a number of large food and drink shows in the South East and beyond over the rest of 2024.

Busy mum-of-two Michelle Pratt from Horsham will be taking her brand Fruitology to the BBC Good Food Summer Show at Birmingham NEC from 13-16 June and Goodwood Good Food Festival from 16-18 August.

And, alongside a number of other markets in Sussex, Michelle will also be showcasing the brand at the Surrey Gin Fest at Loseley Park on 7 September, and at the Festive Fayre at Hampton Court Palace from 6-8 December.

Michelle only took over the brand – and lots of glass bottles – from a friend in 2023 and has seen her business go from strength to strength in a short period of time.

She has already showcased the brand at large and small markets and fairs – including running tasting sessions at One Garden Brighton – and is stocked in 10 shops across the UK, including stores in Salisbury and Weymouth.

Fruitology combines freeze dried fruits and sugar in a reusable glass bottle. To customise it to your taste, all you need to do is add your favourite alcoholic spirit and leave it to infuse for three to four weeks. After that it’s ready to drink over ice, in prosecco, or in cocktails – and you can even eat the infused fruit too!

There are three core flavours available all year round – Berry Blast, Blackcurrant Burst and Strawberry Cooler – which are available in 250ml and 750ml bottles, as well as environmentally-friendly refill pouches.

There are also seasonal specials – currently Summer Heat (which brings together pineapple, mango and chilli flakes) and Mango Sunset, which mixes mango and raspberries. Gift sets are also available – and busy mum Michelle has recently branched into wedding favours too.

Michelle says: “It’s fantastic that I’ll be able to showcase Fruitology at the Good Food Show this summer – it’s like a dream come true, albeit one that sometimes keeps me awake at night. Who would have thought I would be exhibiting there after less than a year!

“I love what I do, but I couldn’t do any of it without my husband Dave and the rest of my family who have all been brilliant – helping me with labelling and supporting me at markets.

“It’s been an absolute whirlwind over the last 12 months, and I can’t believe how much the business has grown in such a short time. My next dream is to be stocked by a national retailer – so if Waitrose or John Lewis are reading this, drop me a line.”

News

The Future of Baking? Great British Bake Off Finalist Shows How to Combine Cake and Chemistry

Asynt, a global provider of innovative technologies and services for scientific research, is partnering with Great British Bake Off Finalist and Chemist, Dr Josh Smalley, to combine chemistry with cake. 

During CHEMUK, Josh will demonstrate both his culinary and chemistry skills at Asynt’s stand by creating sticky toffee pudding using Asynt’s DrySyn® range of oil-free laboratory heating blocks. 

Using regular cake batter, Josh will transfer the mixture into the DrySyn® Reaction Vial Inserts, which can be used for up to 27 parallel heated reactions at once. Subsequently, Josh will infuse cream for flavoured ganache using the DrySyn® Multi-S kit, whilst delving into the scientific underpinnings behind each step. 

The DrySyn® range is designed to offer clean, safe synthesis for single or multiple reactions in a sustainable way and allows safe and rapid temperature ramping to over 300 ºC. The low well design of DrySyn bases and inserts prevents cracking of glassware and gives excellent reaction visibility. The DrySyn heat blocks require no messy oil, have heat resistant handles and are simple to configure making the products and processes efficient and safe. 

Commenting on the demonstration, Josh said: “As a chemist by trade and avid baker, I’m extremely passionate about sharing the many ways chemistry influences our daily lives, particularly its parallels with baking, and what better way to do this than with a cake demonstration. I’ve always hoped to use my platform to showcase how exciting chemistry can be and I’m thrilled to be partnering with Asynt to bring this to life using their DrySyn heating block range. And who knows, maybe this could be the future of baking!”

Martyn Fordham, Managing Director & Head of Product Development at Asynt, said: “This is truly a unique collaboration which blends the world of chemistry and culinary arts and we can’t wait to watch the demonstration. Dr. Josh Smalley’s participation at CHEMUK with the Asynt team is a testament to our commitment to innovation, education, and sharing the joy of science.”

Business Advice, Media & Online Media, Training, Training News

Startups trained on how to become successful public speakers and media stars

Affordable media training offer for ambitious startup founders and leaders 

UK startup leaders are being encouraged to take advantage of a new series of cost-effective training courses which will help them to become successful presenters and media performers.

While many early stage businesses have little spare cash for public speaking and media training, particularly in the current economic climate, speaking to audiences and reporters is often one of the best and most cost-efficient ways to promote new services and products.

 

‘Media Training for Startups’ has been launched by a former BBC TV and radio correspondent with the aim of helping startup founders and leaders to present their businesses better and to perform well when engaging with the media.

Ex-BBC political correspondent, Tim Reid, said: “Working with a range of startups across the tech and environment sectors, we realise that budgets are often extremely tight and that media training can be pushed further down the long list of priorities.

“As a former journalist, I firmly believe that achieving good media traction and knowing how to engage audiences can make a mountain of difference between a successful startup and a struggling one.

“Performing well in front of the camera or microphone is not the same as pitching to investors. Good training will teach you the techniques and tricks to perform well and promote your business to best effect.”

 

London-based Tim Reid Media offers public relations and comms support, media and presentation training to a broad range of global businesses and charities.

 

Vicky Wilson, co-founder of award-winning tech bereavement notification service, Settld, said: “Before launching Settld, I hated public speaking.

“Fast forward 18 months, and I remember the sensation of waiting backstage, mic fitted, ready to present to an audience of 20,000 people. I was nervous, of course, but I’d received the perfect training, thanks to Tim Reid Media.”

Earlier this year, Settld was ranked in the top 25 of the 100 best startups in Britain in the prestigious Startups 100 index and was a previous Tech Nation Rising Star winner.

 

Two online Media Training for Startups courses are available during May, and further sessions are taking place throughout 2024.

For further details visit, timreidmedia.co.uk/event-list or contact tim@timreidmedia.com

Cybersecurity

Learning at work week: cybersecurity specialist shares his top tips to help stay one step ahead of the hackers.

A leading cybersecurity specialist has shared his tips on how to avoid falling victim to hackers following reports of a big upswing in the number of attacks on financial services firms.

Research by law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain showed the number of data breaches reported by financial firms increased threefold from 187 in 2022 to 640 last year.

According to an analysis of data gathered by the Information Commissioner’s Office, the pensions sector saw the biggest increase with a 4,000% increase in reported data breaches.

It is thought criminals are targeting the pensions sector because of the vast amount of valuable and sensitive information that are held by schemes.

The need for firms to pay pensioners without disruption also makes them attractive targets for ransomware gangs.

Greg Buchanan, Technical Director of the Connectus Group, has now issued three tips that can help firms stay a step ahead of the hackers:

Speaking during Learning At Work Week, and outlining his tips, Greg said: “There is no such thing as a totally bulletproof solution to cyberhackers. But by following these three tips you will hugely boost your chances of not falling victim.”

Here are Greg’s three tips:

Password Management: In today’s UK cyber security threat landscape, organisations face various challenges such as phishing, ransomware, data breaches, and identity theft. These threats can compromise the security and privacy of organisations and their customers, as well as cause financial and reputational damage. One of the most common and effective ways to prevent these threats is to use a password manager, such as Keeper for Enterprise, that can help organisations create and manage strong and unique passwords for all their accounts and applications. Central Password Management is a secure and easy-to-use solution that helps organisations protect their data and improve their productivity by allowing numerous assigned people multi factor authentication for shared services. An example being remote connections to customer/supplier environments. It enables organisations to create, store, and share strong passwords, encryption keys, and other sensitive information across devices and platforms.

Media Intelligence: Forewarned is forearmed – I recommend keeping abreast of what threats are live in the world which would form a great method of keeping your staff aware of the landscape in front of them. There  are several areas that can provide you with current and ongoing threat information, here are just a few that I personally use:

>Wired is a magazine and website that covers technology, culture, business, and politics with a focus on innovation and impact. It  features in-depth reporting, analysis, and commentary on the most important stories and developments in cyber security, as well as interviews, reviews, and podcasts.

>The Hacker News: This is a website and newsletter that provides the latest news and insights on hacking, cyber attacks, malware, vulnerabilities, and cyber security. The Hacker News covers both technical and non-technical aspects of cyber security, and features expert opinions, tips, and resources.

>Krebs on Security: This is a blog and podcast that is run by Brian Krebs, a former >Washington Post reporter and one of the most respected and influential journalists in the cyber security field. It is known for its investigative reporting, scoops, and exposés, and often collaborates with law enforcement and security researchers to track down and expose cyber criminals.

Sleight of Hand: One of the ways to improve your productivity and efficiency on Windows is to use keyboard shortcuts. These are combinations of keys that perform certain actions without using the mouse. Keyboard shortcuts can save you time, reduce hand strain, and make your work more accurate and consistent, it will also make you look like a tech wiz to your friends and colleagues. Some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts to use in Windows 11:

Windows key + L: Lock your PC or switch accounts, important when in a shared space to prevent people accessing your data when absent from your screen.

Windows key + M: Minimise all open windows and show the desktop.

Windows key + S: Open Search, where you can find apps, files, settings, web results, and more.

Windows key + Tab: Open Task View, where you can see and switch between your open windows and virtual desktops, especially useful when working on single monitors/laptops and having to reference multiple programmes.

Family Law, Law, Leeds

Family law firm expands team

Specialist family law firm Lake Legal is supporting its growth plans with the appointment of Isabella O’Donoghue as a litigation executive.

Isabella joins the firm from Barnes Clark Family Law. She will complete her chartered legal executive status at Lake Legal.

Commenting on her new role, Isabella said: “Lake Legal has a fantastic reputation in the region, and the firm has a great track record at developing young lawyers. I look forward to working with the team and supporting clients.”

The Leeds-based firm recently marked 15 years in business with a record turnover and an increase in the number of divorce cases it managed for high-net-worth individuals.

Lake Legal supports clients in a wide range of family law, from advising on pre-nuptial agreements to advising on issues arising from separation and divorce. It also has a fast-growing arbitration practice, headed by Lyn Ayrton, the founder of Lake Legal. Arbitration allows couples who are going through a separation or divorce to have their differences settled in a more flexible and usually quicker way than in a courtroom.

Claire Glaister, managing partner of Lake Legal, said: “Isabella is a talented lawyer, and we’re pleased to welcome her to Lake Legal. The firm continues to go from strength to strength thanks to our team’s commitment and hard work.”

In the industry bibles, Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, Lake Legal has consistently been ranked in the top tier, while Lyn and Claire are singled out for their expertise in family law. Lyn is one of only a handful of solicitors in the region qualified to arbitrate cases.

Ends
Pictured: (left to right) Claire Glaister and Isabella O’Donoghue.

News, North Wales, Recruitment, Social Housing

North Wales Housing Association Invests £1million To Create 40 New Jobs Following Significant Business Growth

Leading North Wales housing association, ClwydAlyn, has experienced significant business growth and has committed to investing over £1million to recruit 40 new job roles which will include vacancies in the housing, finance, maintenance, IT, and procurement teams, as well as Pathway positions which will be new trainee opportunities to help people in the community with limited work experience, such as school and college leavers to kickstart their careers.

As part of ClwydAlyn’s commitment to investing in the growth and development of a diverse range of talent, the paid Pathway roles will build skills and experience in a working environment with tailored progression plans.

Clwyd Alyn St Asaph HQ . Picture Mandy Jones

The number of homes currently managed by ClwydAlyn sits at 6,300 across Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Conwy, Wrexham, Powys and Isle of Anglesey, and there are plans for a further 1,000 new homes to be built over the next three years. To ensure a consistently high level of service for residents and support for staff members continues, the organisation has identified the need to strengthen its workforce significantly.

The new recruits will work with the existing teams to help build more affordable housing across North Wales, while expanding the service offer in support of its core mission to end poverty. Once the 40 new roles are successfully filled, the workforce headcount will increase to a total of 810.

Clare Budden, Group CEO at ClwydAlyn Housing Association said:

“As we continue to grow and expand our services to meet the needs of our communities, we know that it’s only through investing in our teams that we can continue to deliver the highest standard of support and care to our customers.

“This recruitment campaign is a fantastic opportunity for individuals to join us in our mission to beat poverty and make a real difference in North Wales.

“We’re looking for passionate and dedicated individuals who share our values of trust, kindness, and hope and who ultimately want to create a positive, lasting impact on communities.”

For the full list of vacancies, job descriptions, and application process, please visit https://www.clwydalyn.co.uk/work-for-us/

News, Swansea

Swansea local bags £10,000 cash prize in SPAR Spinner Winner Easter event

A Swansea local has won an incredible £10,000 in a ‘Spinner Winner’ competition run by the food convenience store SPAR.

The competition, known for its focus on money-saving opportunities, was launched this Easter following the success of the ‘Yule Spinner winner’ back in February.

Karen from Swansea who discovered the competition at her local SPAR store on Mount Cresent, Swansea said: “I am ecstatic to have won SPAR’s Spin & Win Grand prize. I’ve never won anything like this, it feels amazing. When I received the phone call from SPAR, I thought it was a prank I was totally shocked. It feels amazing to win.”

 

The Easter competition ran from 14th March until 3rd of April and saw 247,444 spins of the digital wheel leading to over 43,106 entries in the grand prize draw.

The Easter Spinner Winner not only offered customers the chance to win £10,000 cash, but it also gave away 367,999 instant prizes including cupboard food items and vouchers.

When asked how she’d spend her new fortune, Karen added: “I plan to pay off some bills, do some DIY around my home and spoil my dog and cat.”

 

Sharon Thomas, store manager at SPAR Mount Cresent said: “It’s great to see a regular SPAR customer win such a large cash prize. The Spinner Winner draws are a fantastic opportunity to create a buzz in the local community and give back to those who always support our store.”

 

News

ILS students bag permanent jobs with leading supermarket following placement programme

STUDENTS with learning difficulties bagged permanent roles at a leading supermarket chain.

Following a successful internship and work experience programme over the last year, Asda announced they have offered learners permanent positions at the store in Queensferry.

Coleg Cambria and Asda’s Supported Internship Programme launched last summer and has been a huge success to date.

In partnership with charity DFN Project Search, the retailer’s Queensferry store took on a group of Cambria’s ILS (Independent Living Skills) learners, providing full-time work experience on the shop floor and in the warehouse.

Following a successful placement, Asda have offered paid roles to Leah Aldridge, Cai Jones, Laura Woodward, Daniel Hodson and Courtney McGarry.

Leah, from Connah’s Quay, said: “It is good to have been offered the job, I work hard and have learnt how to do tasks and work with my colleagues.

“I feel part of the team and I am really enjoying my role. Now I have a paid job I can buy things I like out of my wages and have a lot less stress over money as I did before.”

DFN Project Search aims to support 10,000 young adults with a learning disability, or autism spectrum condition (or both) into paid employment by 2030 and has already helped more than 2,000 people to date.

From September, Asda Queensferry will take on a group of eight learners annually to support the programme and further strengthen its position as a diverse and inclusive employer.

Store manager Adele Quinn said: “We have seen a big change in all our interns since they joined in October last year, they have rotated around a range of departments working with their colleagues on the shop floor to gain the hands-on skills they need, they are trained to use our equipment and can do this with ease and confidence.

“They complete all different tasks from scanning, creating home shopping orders, helping with getting products on the shop floor, to serving customers on the tills.

“We are delighted the programme has been so successful, and our interns have gained employment.

“This demonstrates that programmes like this really do make a difference to people within our communities and we look forward to welcoming eight more learners to the Asda Queensferry family this September.”

Cambria’s Employability Mentor Becs Hitchen-Rielly added: “We are so proud of the learners for their dedication and commitment to the programme.

“They are now reaping the rewards and on the way to successful careers in retail.

“We are thankful to Asda and DFN Project Search for this opportunity and future opportunities for our ILS students.

“This has shown them there are so many possibilities out there, that with confidence and support they can go on and have happy, successful lives.

“Importantly, they have loved every minute of working and gaining experience in such a warm, welcoming environment, making new friends and colleagues – it’s been an amazing experience for them, and we look forward to more learners joining them in the future.”

Asda’s Supported Internship programme is recruiting now for September and is designed to support learners locally with additional needs and disabilities to gain hands-on skills to move into employment. If you are aged 16-25, hold an EHCP (Education Health and Care Plan) or LSP (Learning Support Plan) and want to know more contact ILS@cambria.ac.uk or watch this video: 16-9 – Internship Queensferry on Vimeo.

For more news and information from Coleg Cambria, visit www.cambria.ac.uk.

Visit www.dfnprojectsearch.org for more from DFN Project Search.