Category Archives: North of England

FInance, News, North of England, Technology

WeDo Business Services continues expansion with takeover of Lucid Networks

Fast-growing WeDo Business Services has expanded with the acquisition of Manchester-based IT services consultancy Lucid Networks.

Lucid is being integrated into the group’s WeDo Digital business, which has a team of more than 50 specialists providing digital innovation, design, development and support services.

The acquisition of Lucid brings to the group a range of IT services, from complex infrastructure projects and cyber security through to back-up hosting solutions and day-to-day IT strategy delivery.

Lucid, which was founded in 2010, was owned by James Balderstone and was based at Manchester Science Park. The business has built a long-standing customer base across the UK. Its workforce has transferred to WeDo Digital’s offices at MediaCityUK in Salford.

WeDo Digital is led by tech entrepreneurs Luke Pilfold-Thomas and Lee Turver, who have more than 25 years’ industry experience between them.

Luke said the acquisition of Lucid further expands the capabilities of WeDo Digital and bolsters the offering of the wider group. Further recruitment for the division is under way in the digital business.

Luke said: “Lee and I recently joined the group to spearhead the development of WeDo Digital, and we are thrilled to bring in the team from Lucid Networks and managed IT services expertise as the next stage in our growth.

“We were looking to increase our digital offering to include more traditional IT managed services and wanted to acquire a north west business with a strong record of customer retention. Lucid has developed and maintained an excellent business and client base over the years, with many of its customer relationships spanning more than a decade, so it fitted the bill perfectly.

“We will continue to offer the highest level of service and technology innovation across applications and infrastructure to its customers to help them build and grow their own businesses, as well as being able to offer this expertise to clients of the wider WeDo group.”

Andrew Livesey and Matthew Catterall, of north west law firm Taylors Solicitors, advised WeDo on its acquisition of Lucid Networks.

Andrew said: “We were very pleased to be asked to continue to provide legal support and advice to WeDo as it continues its expansion with the acquisition of the Lucid Networks business.

“WeDo is continuing to make headlines with its innovative approach to business and it is a great to be trusted advisers to the group. We look forward to working with the team in the future as the business continues to expand.”

Founded in 2019 by Mark Lindsay and Chris Robinson with just four staff, WeDo Business Services has grown organically and through acquisitions.

It now employs almost 100 people across its headquarters in Oldham and offices in Colchester, Sheffield, Swindon and Salford.

The group provides a range of services to small and medium-sized companies, including invoice and trade finance, start-up funding, HR, back office and payroll support, as well as IT and digital services.

Appointments, Construction, Construction News, News, North of England

Changing of the guard at Downing Construction

Andy Thomas has been promoted from Technical Director to Operations Director at Downing Construction, following the retirement of Director and Head of Construction Ian Orton, as the developer continues to progress at pace with its £1bn pipeline.
After 24 years with the company, Ian has decided to take a step back, however he will continue to work with Downing as a Non-Executive Director.
Sally O’Brien, Joint Chief Executive at Downing, said: “We are really pleased that Ian will still be involved with Downing. He is responsible for the great team we have established at Downing; each member being guided through his experience. The whole team are immensely grateful for his loyalty and dedication, that has led to the delivery of many high-profile projects for us.
“Andy has been a rising star since joining us and is someone who was earmarked very early on as a future leader. It’s very fitting that having been mentored by Ian from the start of his career, he is now taking over the helm. He has a wealth of experience and has played a pivotal role in some of our largest regeneration projects and will continue to do so in the years ahead.”
Over the years, Ian and Andy have worked together on some of Downing’s landmark schemes including Broadcasting Place in Leeds [Best Tall Building in the World 2010 from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH)], Downing Plaza – Newcastle, and £80m School of Arts at Leeds Beckett University.
Andy said: “It is no secret that the construction industry has had some challenging times the last few years with changes in legislation, insurance market challenges, supply chain issues, energy costs, Brexit, Net Zero to name a few. Downing has met every one of these challenges with motivation and enthusiasm and this is something we will continue to carry into this next chapter.
“I am extremely honoured to take on this role within Downing and proud to follow in Ian’s footsteps. We are lucky to have a great team which has been built and guided by Ian since it was first founded.”
Downing is currently on site at one of its biggest developments to date, First Street, a £400m mixed-use co-living scheme in Manchester city centre.
Last year, Downing took over the former Children’s Hospital site in Edinburgh as part of its £150m mixed-use scheme to deliver a five-storey 323 student accommodation building, 95 private residential properties, as well as affordable housing.
Law, News, North of England, Property

Taylors Solicitors advises CapitalStackers as development funding deals pass £150m

A team at north west law firm Taylors Solicitors has advised real estate lending platform CapitalStackers on its latest deal, taking it past a £150m funding milestone.

Stockport-based CapitalStackers has raised £540,000 for a development of nine detached executive homes in North Yorkshire, taking the total raised by the peer-to-peer crowd-funding specialist to £152m.

CapitalStackers provides funding for commercial and residential property building projects to borrowers who are a mix of investors and developers. Bank finance has accounted for £124m of the total raised, with CapitalStackers’ investors contributing the remaining £28m.

The latest deal sees CapitalStackers provide funding for a Glam Living scheme in Church Fenton. Glam Living specialises in developing in popular, rural Yorkshire locations where there is a shortage of elegant, bespoke houses in the £500,000 to £1m price range.

Steve Robson, managing director of CapitalStackers, said: “This milestone is particularly pleasing given it’s been achieved through very strong relationships with our senior funding partners and especially our investors, to whom I would like to pass on our sincere thanks.

“Our model comprises a blend of peer-to-peer and bank finance that allows small investors to get involved in the kind of property development funding that used to be the exclusive province of the banks, and enables banks to fund projects that would otherwise be beyond their scope.

“The latest deal for Glam Living is characteristic of our borrower profile – a company run by experienced developers who produce well-designed, well thought-out housing schemes that withstand rigorous risk modelling.

“We have always adhered to our key principle of never allowing a trowel to be lifted or a penny to be drawn down until all the funding is in place. Our model forms a robust and invaluable pillar to support the UK house-building industry. Many others have fallen by the wayside because they were unable to find fresh investment in times of crisis.”

Taylors Solicitors has advised CapitalStackers on every deal since the platform’s inception eight years ago.

Matthew Catterall, a corporate partner at Taylors, said: “Having worked with Steve and the team at CapitalStackers since 2014, we have built a fantastic working relationship that is based on a deep understanding of the business, allowing us to anticipate their needs and deliver streamlined, effective advice.

“Huge congratulations to Steve and the rest of the team on reaching this milestone, which demonstrates just how great the CapitalStackers product and team are.”

Of the £152m total now raised by CapitalStackers, nearly £43m has already been repaid to banks and over £15.7m to small investors at an average return of 12.91 per cent.

The remaining £12m is still earning for investors in construction projects across the UK. The lowest return received by CapitalStackers investors has been 6.9 per cent and the highest 24.97 per cent – with zero losses. The platform has 190 active investors and around 300 waiting in the wings.

Charity & CSR, News, North of England

Charity hero rowing the Atlantic set to tell story at Liverpool ONE

Inspirational fundraiser Bernie Hollywood OBE JP, who will row solo across the Atlantic in aid of children’s mental health later this year, will be sharing his story and bringing his Boat of Hope to Liverpool ONE this week.

The 63-year-old ‘charity guru’ has joined forces with local author Natalie Reeves Billing to help raise awareness of the impact of the recent pandemic on young children’s mental health and wellbeing.

He will take on the 3,000-mile challenge solo in December, rowing for 18 hours a day for up to 90 days alone at sea from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean as part of the renowned Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

Bernie was given special permission from Liverpool Council and its three Mayors to have the boat named ‘City of Liverpool’ in honour of his late father and grandfather who spent their working lives within the Port of Liverpool.

 Bernie’s campaign – Boat of Hope – inspired author Natalie to create a special book, ‘Bernie and Boatie’, to help youngsters improve their mental health, focusing on feelings of isolation, anxiety and resilience.

The boat, which measures just seven metres long (21ft) and features a special sleeping cabin for Bernie, is emblazoned with a specially commissioned 42ft mural artwork by renowned artist Justin Eagleton.

The content was created by children and high school students across Liverpool City Region and throughout the UK. Bernie, who is a keen ukulele player, will be playing music throughout his journey, plus opening a sealed letter of ‘Hope’ each day on the ocean, penned by from students.

As part of the preparations for the challenge kicking off, Bernie has completed a 370-mile, 30-Day Boat Pull at Ministry of Defence Base Lynham in May representing the 370 young lives lost to suicide in the UK last year. He has also recently completed a series of ‘opening up’ conversations with the  schoolchildren on their mental health and wellbeing.

Liverpool ONE will welcome Bernie and his boat on Thursday 4 August, giving visitors the chance to meet him and find out more about his upcoming challenge.

Bernie, originally from Speke, who will be raising funds for Samaritans and LOVE Rowing, said: “I have been rowing for three years, but have never taken on such a challenge as this.

“While I’ll be part of a wider group also doing the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, I will be completely alone in my boat for almost three months.

“It’s incredibly important to me that we give our young people a voice when it comes to mental health and recognise the impact the last few years has had on their wellbeing.

“I’m in no doubt that the challenge will push me to extremes, both physically and mentally, but if it encourages more young people to speak up about their worries and seek support, then it’s 100% worth it.”

As part of their visit to Liverpool ONE, Bernie and Natalie will also be reading aloud excerpts from Bernie and Boatie, encouraging families to prioritise their little ones’ mental health.

The book, which is Natalie’s fifth independent offering, follows the magical journey of seven-year-old Bernie and his faithful vessel, Boatie, as they set sail on their adventure across the Atlantic.

All proceeds from the new book will go to the national Boat of Hope campaign.

Natalie said: “Since the pandemic, we have seen a lot of focus on mental health, particularly that of young people or teenagers. However, I felt that there was less awareness of the impact on younger children.

“Creating this book based on Bernie’s real-life journey and incorporating the importance of talking openly and honestly to one another was extremely special for me.

“It includes messages about the feelings we can overcome and the storms that life throws at us. In this story, the sea represents our emotions, our ups and downs, as we try to find the light beyond adversity.

“Bernie’s challenge across the Atlantic is certainly a gruelling one but he is helping to raise awareness of such a vital topic and I’m honoured to have been involved in his preparations.”

As part of the boat’s tour, it will return to Liverpool ONE later in August, too.

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE, said: “At Liverpool ONE, we are incredibly passionate about mental health, with our charitable arm, the Liverpool ONE Foundation, focusing on helping local organisations that support youth mental health.

“The Boat of Hope sends out a clear message to children and young people, encouraging them to speak up, embrace the ups and downs and seek support when you need it.

“We feel incredibly privileged to have Bernie drop in to Liverpool ONE with the boat that will take him across the Atlantic and we’d invite our visitors to go and along and find out more about how they can support.”

Marketing, PR and SEO, News, North of England

Forme Bikes partners with The SEO Works to take their search visibility to the next level.

The multi-award-winning digital agency The SEO Works have been chosen to lead the SEO strategy for specialist UK bike manufacturer Forme Bikes.

The Derbyshire-based brand has a broad multi-category range from children’s bikes through to full-suspension electric mountain bikes, all designed with the vision to encourage everyone to get out and ride more.

Forme sells its bikes through a carefully selected network of independent bike dealers and is investing in a range of new support initiatives to assist their dealers, including driving web traffic to their dealer locator to direct consumers into stores.

Following the investment from Forme Bikes into a brand new website, they approached The SEO Works to assist them in making this brand new platform even more visible to the online community. The award-winning team carried out an extensive audit and identified that although the website had a fantastic user experience and a slick design, there were crucial areas of SEO technical compliance that needed improvement.

Following the detailed audit and competitive pitch process, it was clear that the agency was the right choice to ensure the website’s full compliance, and take its search visibility to the next level. Encouraged by the technical expertise and proven track record of The SEO Works, Forme bikes appointed the Sheffield-based agency as their chosen SEO partner. 

On the decision to appoint, Lee Flanaghan (Head of Brand and Communications) added: “The team at The SEO Works felt like the obvious choice, not only local to us but with a real pedigree in delivering commercially successful eCommerce SEO campaigns for many sports and equipment bands. They met our brief perfectly and showed a real desire to work with us.”

As well as focusing on the technical SEO compliance of the website, the award-winning team will refocus and optimise the content on the site constantly keeping in mind the need to ensure that lucrative keywords are targeted – all helping to contribute towards the end goal of improving search visibility for Forme Bikes.

“The opportunity to lead a strategy for a company like Forme Bikes is incredibly exciting for us here at The SEO Works. As cycling is a passion of mine and many colleagues, it’s great to work with a company that creates such amazing bikes and also helps to support the local cycling community at the same time. We believe that by appointing us and allowing our award-winning SEO team to lead this strategy, we can deliver exceptional results that Forme Bikes expect from us.” said Alex Hill, Sales Director of The SEO Works.

The SEO Works specialises in SEO, PPC, Digital PR, Web and Paid Social advertising and has many clients within the sporting and outdoors sector, including Rideminded, Rab, Lowe Alpine, All Rounder Cricket and Towsure.

 

News, North of England, Property

House Price Trends in Stockport

The city of Stockport is a great place to call home. With its proximity to Manchester, the heart of England’s financial district, it’s not surprising that Stockport is home to some of the country’s most prominent business leaders.

These business leaders have chosen to live in Stockport because of its affordability, accessibility, and location relative to other major cities. The area is also well known for being green and environmentally conscious, which makes it an attractive place to live for those who want to support their local communities and environment. Here are the latest house price trends in the city.

Current house prices in Stockport

The house you’ve always wanted is finally within your grasp!

If you’re looking to buy a property in Stockport, the good news is that plenty of houses are for sale in the city. Many of them are relatively cheap. For example, one-bedroom homes cost £151,515; two bedrooms cost £234,702, and three bedrooms cost £303,923.

However, if you’re willing to put in some hard work and have deep pockets, there are plenty of houses on offer that will allow you to live in style. For instance:

  • Four bedrooms – £484,876
  • Five bedrooms – £622,484
  • Flat – £207,742
  • Terraced – £247,786
  • Semi-detached – £331,496
  • Detached – £553,102

With a median house price of £275,000, Stockport is one of the most affordable cities to live in in the UK. The average house price in Stockport is £322,697, meaning there is a lot of space for first-time buyers and those looking to downsize or upgrade. 

House price trends in Stockport

The house price trends in Stockport are a hot topic with the residents. The city has been on the rise for the past few years, and now it’s considered the hottest city in northern England.

Research done by Post Office Money in 2020 revealed that the city is the hottest in north England. The city is trendy among buyers and investors.

Post Office Money’s research also revealed that house prices in this city rarely fall. Even in the 2019 Covid-19 pandemic, when many other cities saw their house prices plummet, Stockport’s remained stable.

People choose Stockport as their home base because of its proximity to Manchester, a big city with many technology companies and other businesses.

This leads to high property prices, which have been rising since 2016 and have not dropped even after the Covid-19 pandemic or Brexit (which caused people to rethink their spending habits).

Should I buy a house in Stockport?

This is a tricky question to answer. On the one hand, if you’re looking for a place to live, you’ll want to make sure that you can afford the cost of living in the area. On the other hand, if you want to invest in property and get returns on your investment over time, then Stockport is an excellent place to look.

The simple answer is yes: Stockport properties are a good investment; they never depreciate. That’s why people buy them and hold them for long periods—they know they’ll be worth something at the end of their lives.

Furthermore, Stockport is also a great place to live! The people here are friendly and welcoming, and it’s easy to get around on foot or by bike. There is plenty of green space around the area so that you can go for walks or play sports if you like—and with our beautiful parks and gardens, there’s no shortage of things for children to do.

If you’re looking to buy or sell a property, it’s essential to know its value. If you’re buying, you want to know that the seller is not trying to take advantage of you. If you’re selling, you want to ensure that your home doesn’t sell at a loss.

Stockport housing lawyers and property conveyancing solicitors can help with all of this and more! They are experts at assessing property value and provide an impartial opinion about the worth of your home so that you can be confident in its price.

Conclusion

The best way to know if a property will be a good investment is to get in on it before it’s too late. That’s why we urge you to buy property in the city and hire conveyancers—you’ll be able to go from empty-handed to fully furnished in no time!

Job Opportunities, Jobs, News, North of England

£1.2M to support youth employment in Durham

Youth Futures Foundation has announced a new partnership with Durham County Council to boost youth employment. Set to support over 200 young people over two years, Youth Futures has awarded a £1.2m grant to Durham County Council, and its programme partner DurhamWorks.

This financial boost comes at a vital time as the cost of living crisis takes hold and one in 10 young people in the UK are out of employment (NEET), education or work. According to research by PwC and Youth Futures, UK GDP could benefit by £38billion by lowering levels of young workers classed as NEETs to German levels.

This cash injection will fund the DurhamWorks Futures programme that will support 16-24-year-olds furthest from the labour market. Young people will benefit from support to gain locally relevant skills and links to employers to secure good jobs. The programme will provide one-to-one support to develop motivation, confidence and work-readiness – alongside creating a range of employment opportunities to help young people overcome barriers to move into the world of work.

Youth Futures funding (from dormant assets) will also support the evaluation, undertaken by King’s College London, of this place-based model to tackling youth unemployment. The findings will be shared across the youth sector and with national and local policymakers to help inform and scale up effective practice and policy. This builds on Youth Futures’ recently announced £16m Connected Futures Fund, aimed at reducing the fragmentation of youth employment and skills delivery in seven places in England with high levels of youth unemployment.

The government launched a consultation on the future use of dormant assets in England, the source of Youth Futures’ funding, this month. The expanded scheme could release more than £738m additional funds. Youth Futures hopes to secure further funding to support more marginalised young people into good jobs through place-based initiatives, by working with employers, focusing on prevention and continuing to scale up effective practice by building its evidence base of what works.

Cllr Ted Henderson, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said:

“It is fantastic that this funding has been secured to assist those young people in our county who are currently out of work and in need of support.

“We know how important it is that this type of help is offered so that the younger generation of job seekers can achieve their full potential. Our hope is that this programme provides a significant boost to the employment prospects of those it will work with.”

Matthew Poole, Director of Grants and Investment at Youth Futures Foundation, said:

“Young people tell us they want joined-up, consistent support that helps them gain control of their lives and get a good job. That’s why we are investing £1.2m in DurhamWorks Futures to test the most effective approaches to helping young people who face multiple challenges to secure employment.

“We will use evidence from DurhamWorks to inform youth employment policy at a national and local level. This demonstrates the vital importance of using dormant assets funding to tackle youth unemployment, through funding and learning from place-based initiatives like this in Durham.”

Jessica says DurhamWorks Futures has:

“Supported with my CV and built my self-esteem and confidence to get out and look for employment, as I don’t want education anymore. I would like something in care work.”

The project launches just months after ‘Youth Under Lockdown’ was published, a report undertaken by the Universities of Durham and Huddersfield, in partnership with Youth Futures. The report, which presented young peoples’ varied experiences of the Covid-19 lockdown, identified f the future implications of the pandemic and pressures to come for young people, particularly in respect of the labour market.

To find out more information about Youth Futures Foundation, visit: youthfuturesfoundation.org.

News, North of England, Travel

Study Reveals over 50% of Brits Prefer Staycations to International Travel in 2022

A new study has revealed that over half of Brits are more likely to holiday in the UK rather than travel abroad in 2022. Commissioned by 5* hotel, BLVD in Blackpool, 52% of those surveyed were in favour of booking a domestic trip amidst the ongoing international travel chaos and post-pandemic staycation boom.

 Polling 2,000 Brits, research carried out by OnePoll on behalf of the hotel, saw almost half of respondents (40%) citing a beach as the most important factor when choosing a destination, with a further 50% stating that local attractions play a big part in their decision-making.

The research was commissioned by BLVD, a boutique hotel based in Blackpool, which opened in 2019 just a few short months before the first Covid-19 lockdown. With the aim of providing a more luxurious experience in the seaside destination, BLVD is the latest offering from fourth-generation family-run Blackpool Pleasure Beach, which runs both the famous theme park and The Big Blue Hotel.

Commenting on the findings, Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO, said:

“With the ongoing issues around international flights and staffing shortages causing travel chaos for holiday-makers, it’s no surprise that so many people are choosing to stay within the UK to avoid the uncertainty of travelling further afield. This research from OnePoll shows that 2022 is the start of a true renaissance for the nation’s staycations; not just as we’ve seen during the previous lockdowns, but with people actively choosing to discover areas closer to home.

 “We’re a destination that has long been associated with nostalgic family holidays, but we have a big opportunity to really help people discover the often-untapped beauty of the North West. For all of our guests, from those who are re-visiting to first timers, we’re so proud to be able to offer them a luxury experience here in Blackpool.”

 The OnePoll research also revealed that proximity to other locations, such as the countryside, was crucial to 47% of respondents. Blackpool is one of the UK’s best-loved seaside towns, with direct links to neighbouring regions such as the Lake District and the Forest of Bowland, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just a short 45-minute drive away.

The results also showed the importance of luxury accommodation as part of staycation planning, with 42% of people opting for higher standards of accommodation as their main motivation when booking a holiday. A further 57% of respondents also said that they’d be more inclined to consider a destination like Blackpool if impressive hotels and memorable dining experiences were nearby.

Located on the promenade, BLVD is already making a name for itself as a must-visit North West Hotel, recently being named in the top 10% of all hotels worldwide in the 2021 TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Awards. The award-winning location boasts 120 stylish rooms, including eight junior suites, two park view suites, eight coastal suites and family rooms with a mixture of coastal and park-facing rooms.

Entertainment, News, North of England

Young piano star joins 88-year-old veteran pianist at Tickle the Ivories

A talented, aspiring pianist entertained crowds at Liverpool ONE’s Tickle the Ivories alongside one of the annual festival’s regulars, ‘Billy the Hat’.

Eight-year-old Joanna Moore, from Toxteth, joined 88-year-old Billy, from Wavertree, on the keys, showcasing their phenomenal skills together.

Joanna, who begins a scholarship at Manchester’s prestigious Chetham’s School of Music in September, performed a series of classical favourites, including Debussy’s Children’s Corner and Sonata in D major by Haydn, before Billy took his seat to play straight after.

The pair performed a duet by Diabelli together on Saturday, ahead of Billy launching into his repertoire of jazz tunes, such as Summertime and Ain’t Misbehaving.

Joanna was also joined by her younger brother, Harvey, six, for a series of tunes, drawing in crowds to watch the siblings showcase their skills.

A 10 week-long event, Tickle the Ivories is now in its 12th year and runs until 11th September.

The much-loved festival encourages local talent to get involved and fill the streets of Liverpool city centre with symphonies of every genre, from classical through to dance music.

Billy the Hat, Joanna and Harvey will join forces again on Saturday 6th August, taking residence at College Lane’s piano.

Joanna’s dad, Stephen Moore, said: “Joanna’s been playing the piano since she was about five years old – I taught her up until the age of around seven and then she started professional lessons.

“It’s something that just comes naturally to her – I listen to her play and I can’t believe that someone so young is creating such amazing sounds. Her younger brother, Harvey, is following in her footsteps too and has picked it up extremely quickly.

“They both absolutely love performing, so taking them along to Tickle the Ivories is a great way for them to do what they love and build their confidence in front of audiences.

“They were really excited to perform with Billy and it was fantastic to see two generations come together with a common passion.”

With more than 5,700 performances under its belt since 2011, Tickle the Ivories is set to bring more than 100 performers this year, ranging from solo pianists, duo pianists, choirs and dance groups.

The free-to-use pianos are located at the bottom of Sugar House Steps by John Lewis & Partners; South John Street, Peter’s Square, College Lane and the Galleria by the entrance of ODEON.

Billy the Hat said: “I just love coming to play at Tickle the Ivories each year – there’s a real community spirit among the regulars and it’s great to see each other every year, as well as meeting new faces and watching fresh talent.

“Joanna and Harvey were incredible to watch – they have such amazing talent at such a young age and it’s clear they are going to have a bright future ahead of them. I’m already looking forward to seeing them again in a couple of weeks’ time!”

This year, performers have the opportunity to play on the newly revamped pianos, with all of them having been redesigned with iconic imagery by local artists including Sean Webster, Jess Hanko, Jessica Slack, Sophie Green, Laura Kate, Leo Soph Welton and Toucan Tango.

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE, said: “Every year, we’re astounded by the level of talent we get to see at Tickle the Ivories, with people of all ages, abilities and musical preferences coming forward to show off what they can do.

“Tickle the Ivories is about bringing the community together, making culture and music accessible and creating a platform for both established and up-and-coming performers, so it’s lovely to see them performing back-to-back, demonstrating the breadth of talent that’s right here in Liverpool City Region.

“There’s still plenty of time before we pack the pianos away, so we’d encourage anyone considering joining in to get signed up and come have a go!”

International News, Law, News, North of England

Taylors Solicitors advises iconic sailing brand Henri-Lloyd on its sale to ODLO

A Switzerland-based performance brand is to acquire iconic UK sailing and lifestyle brand Henri-Lloyd Group.

A team at north west law firm Taylors Solicitors has advised the owners of Henri-Lloyd on the sale to ODLO, a specialist sport and outdoor clothing brand which is owned by Monta Rosa Capital.

The acquisition, for a substantial undisclosed sum, is expected to be completed shortly.

Taylors’ team of advisers was led by corporate partners Andrew Livesey and Matthew Catterall and the firm’s head of commercial property, partner John Lomax.

Andrew said: “Henri-Lloyd is an iconic British brand, and we are delighted to have been able to work with the business over the past few years, culminating in the current deal with ODLO.

“It is a pleasure and a privilege to be associated with such a dynamic business and team of individuals, and a brand that is instantly recognised worldwide. This was a particularly pressurised deal, with a substantial amount of detail to be dealt with in a short timescale.

“There were plenty of early starts and late finishes, with all of the professional team fully focused on the task in hand.”

Taylors advised Henri-Lloyd when it last changed hands in 2018, when the brand and valuable assets were acquired out of administration by a group of investors led by Hans Eckerström with the aim of re-establishing the company as the premier brand for yachtsmen and sailors around the world.

Henri-Lloyd was established in Manchester in 1963 and has 85 staff in its UK retail business.

Hans Eckerström, chairman of Henri-Lloyd, said: “The acquisition of Henri-Lloyd by ODLO opens up tremendous opportunities for the brand to reach its true potential to the benefit of all shareholders, both current and future.

“Joining a family of successful companies that share values and goals will accelerate our growth. Most importantly that journey will be based on quality, innovation and striving for sustainability – principles that the Henri-Lloyd team hold dearly.”

Henri-Lloyd was founded by Henri Strzelecki, who set out to create the world’s best and most durable waterproof clothing. He created several world-firsts within technical clothing that have today become industry standards, including seam taping garments for waterproofing and the invention of the nylon non-corrosive zip.

The Henri-Lloyd team will continue to be located in Manchester, and will collaborate with the ODLO group in the development of the brand and a new generation of innovative products.

ODLO chairman Hugo Maurstad said: “We are excited about including Henri-Lloyd into our family of brands. It is an iconic brand with a proud history. Together we aspire to further expand its product range and geographic footprint.

“Henri-Lloyd and ODLO are both companies that originated from technical innovations in outdoor sport apparel and they will complement each other going forward.”

ODLO chief executive Knut Are Høgberg said: “By leveraging ODLO’s comprehensive infrastructure, we can concentrate investments towards the Henri-Lloyd brand and its customers while progressing on the ambitious sustainability agenda of all brands within ODLO International.

“We warmly welcome the Henri-Lloyd team to the ODLO family and look forward to working together going forward.”