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The north west's guide to property and business
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MOVECOMMERCIAL
SEPTEMBER 2014
The north-west’s guide to property and business Issue 40
FREE
LIVERPOOL CITY REGION CHESHIRE MANCHESTER
DevelopingEducationWhy school and universitybuilds attract developers
Sim CitiesThe rise of virtual
technology inconstruction
RethinkingRegenerationAtlantic Gateway’s Kate Willardtalks passion and progress
www.movecommercial.com
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MOVE COMMERCIAL 3
p01-18_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 11:47 Page 3
T: 0151 707 2666 E: [email protected] www.downing.com/flexi-offices
OUR LIVERPOOL FLEXI-OFFICE REVOLUTION IS GATHERING PACE...
Our Flexi-Offices are letting as quickly as we can create them.A range of new suites are ready for occupation at No.1 Old Hall Street – from 140sqft upwards – with further Flexi-Offices ontheir way in the next few weeks at Graeme House. So, if you have an office requirement for one person or more – just tell us what you’re looking for. WE’RE READY WHEN YOU ARE.
MORE AND MORE BUSINESSES ARE ENJOYING THE FLEXIBILITY OF A SERVICED OFFICE WITH NONE OF THE ADD-ON COSTS.
CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THIS SPACE?
p01-18_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 11:06 Page 4
Issue forty Move Commercial
Welcome to Move Commercial
Contents
24 34
The summer months have brought some exciting developmentsfor Move Commercial, from the successful launch of our website,www.movecommercial.com back in July, to a host of fresh newfeatures in this latest issue.
We’ve got some vibrant new additions, jam-packed with expertinsight from some of the biggest and brightest names in thecommercial property and business sectors. Don’t miss our problem
solving Business Clinic filled with expert advice, and we caught upwith Seddon’s managing director, Jonathan Seddon, to find outwhat’s caught his eye in the industry during the past month.
Plus, September’s Lunch Debate takes a timely look at investingin new buildings for the region’s schools and universities, and ourmover and shaker, Kate Willard, talks about her role in the region’sAtlantic Gateway.
News06 The region’s news in brief07 State of the City report reveals
‘positive’ outlook08 Liverpool ONE bucks
national trend09 Sony Building sold10 New tenant for Graeme House11 Manchester mixed-use
development revealed12 Clarke Energy receives Queen’s
Award for business
Features14 My Month
Seddon’s managing director, Jonathan Seddon, looks backat his month
16 Bitesize Thinking
Food for thought18 Appointments
The industry’s movers20 Sim Cities
3D technology in construction24 Entreprenuer
Sweet Mandarin’s globaltrade success
27 Opinion
Is it time for developersto look up?
28 Lunch Debate
Investing in education34 Mover & Shaker
The Atlantic Gateway’sKate Willard
38 Lunch Date
Lunch with Andrew Kingsley, director of Kingsley Associates
39 Secrets to Success
Kirwans Solicitors reveals all41 Event Planner
What’s on around the region42 BID for Progress
The impact of the North West’s Business Improvement Districts
44 Business Clinic
Advice from industry experts47 Ask the Panel
What should be at the topof the agenda for the new business minister?
28
20
Copyright Move Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced copied or transmitted in any form orby any means or stored in any information storage or retrieval system without the publishers written permission.Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published, Move Publishing can accept no responsibility forthe veracity of the claims made by advertisers.
Advertising DirectorFiona Barnet. Tel: 0151 709 3871Advertising ManagerCatherine McCarthy. Tel: 0151 709 3871EditorChristine Toner. Tel: 0151 709 3871Editorial TeamNatasha Young and Stephen Hurrell. Tel: 0151 709 [email protected]
DesignMark Iddon. Email: [email protected] by Move Publishing LtdDirectorsDavid O’Brien, Kim O’Brien, Fiona BarnetPrinted by Precision Colour Printers LtdDistribution Liaison ManagerBarbara TroughtonTel: 0151 733 5492 Mobile: 077148 14662Credits: Hufton and Crow – cover.Peter Kelly – Lunch Debate, Lunch Date,Mover & Shaker.
move publishing ltd
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MANCHESTER
OLDHAM
STOCKPORT
MACCLESFIELD
CHESTER
ALTRINCHAM
LIVERPOOL
ST HELENSKNOWSLEY
SKELMERSDALEORMSKIRK
SOUTHPORT
WIGAN
PRESTON
BLACKBURN
ROCHDALE
BLACKPOOL
BOLTON
ELLESMERE PORT
BIRKENHEAD WARRINGTON
News in brief Around the region
> MANCHESTER
Bollywood studioinvests inManchester
A £13m investment includes post-production facilities.
>> Read More on Page 11
> KNOWSLEY
Queen’s Award forClarke Energy
A Knowsley firm is recognised forits trade achievements.
>> Read More on Page 12
> WIRRAL
Rise in bridgingloans
Wirral-based company reveals risein short-term finance use.
>> Read More on Page 8
> LIVERPOOL
Sony Buildingsold
The Sony Building in Wavertreehas changed hands in a £4.4mdeal.
>> Read More on Page 9
In the new issue of MoveCommercial we have the latestcommercial property andbusiness news from acrossthe North West. From thelatest sales and lettings dealsto insights into the region’snewest developments, wecover the biggest stories fromMerseyside, GreaterManchester, Cheshire andLancashire.
p01-18_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 16:46 Page 6
MOVE COMMERCIAL 7
A FORMER Victorian MemorialHospital being marketed as aredevelopment opportunity is attractinginterest in Cheshire, according tocommercial property agent MasonOwen.
Victoria House in Runcorn was builtin 1909 and has since been used asoffices by the NHS, as it providesaccommodation over three floors.
The site, with traditional features tothe front and a modern 1960s linkbuilding to the rear providing furtheroffice space, is now being sold by NHSProperty Services.
According to Paul Thorne from Mason
Owen, which has been instructed byNHS Property Services to find a buyerfor the period property, the building’slocation is already making it anattractive offering for potential buyers.
He says: “We are delighted to be actingon behalf of NHS Property Services onthe disposal of this former NHS site.
“Located within close proximity toRuncorn station, the area benefits fromexcellent communication links whichwill be further enhanced by the newMersey Gateway Project. Notsurprisingly we have received a numberof enquiries for what represents aunique development opportunity.”
ASSESSMENTS OF Manchester’seconomy have shown “increasedoptimism” during the last 12 months,according to the city council’s2013/2014 State of the City report.
The annual study of growth, peopleand place, which looks at the city’sprogress in terms of goals set by itsCommunity Strategy and incomparison with the nationaloutlook, suggests continued recoveryand a “positive” forecast for thefuture.
According to the report:“Assessments of the city’s economyhave demonstrated increased
optimism over the past year.Manchester’s economy has continuedto recover from the impacts of therecession and businesses arereporting increased levels ofconfidence.”
It adds: “Forecasts for the futureeconomic growth are positive, withthe Greater Manchester ForcecastingModel anticipating that the cityregion will generate an additional£17 billion GVA (Gross Value Added)per year over the next 10 years.
The report goes on to highlightAirport City, the Etihad Campus andSharp Futures as projects which will
“underpin continued economic andemployment growth,” along withcurrent major projects such as NOMA,First Street, Citylabs, the NationalGraphene Institute, and the MMUBirley Fields campus.
Meanwhile, effective transportinfrastructure is said to be a keydriver of the city’s growth as it“enables business connectivity,” withlarge scale projects such as theNorthern Hub and High Speed Railstations at Piccadilly and the Airportexpected to “become catalysts forregeneration as well as key transportconnections”.
Former hospital attracts interestfor potential development
PEEL HAS completed a fourth-flooroffice refurbishment at Liverpool’sNo 12 Princes Dock.
The 6,100 sq ft column –freespace at the waterfront site hasbeen fitted with features includingnew lighting, ceiling, carpeting andredecoration, as well as glazed doorswhich open up to a fully landscapedterrace overlooking Liverpool Bay.
Liza Marco, asset manager for Peel,says: “This refurbishmentdemonstrates Peel’s vision to createimpressive office space in Liverpool.”
The Princes Dock site, which is setwithin Peel’s major £7 billionLiverpool Waters redevelopmentscheme, also benefits from on-sitecar parking, 24-hour securityservices, an on-site maintenanceteam, an on-site member health andleisure club, nursery, newsagents,ATM, Cruise Terminal coffee shop,bars and restaurants and numerouson-site events.
Meanwhile Peel’s wider LiverpoolWaters vision, which received centralgovernment approval for theplanning permission back in March2013, involves the regeneration of60 hectares of historic dockland tocreate a “world-class, high-quality,mixed use waterfront quarter” in thecentre of the city.
Peel completesPrinces Dockrefurbishment
Victoria House
Latest News
City report forecasts‘positive’outlook oneconomic growth
Manchester City Council has delivered the report
p01-18_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 16:46 Page 7
MOVE COMMERCIAL8
News Latest
Liverpool ONE is bucking the national trend
of declining high street footfall, after an
increase of one million visitors in 2014 to
date compared to the same period in 2013.
The complex recorded a 6.5% increase on
visitors compared to 2013, despite new
British Retail Consortium (BRC) statistics
showing a 0.6% decline in city centre
shopping visitors across the UK as a whole.
The BRC figures also show retail sales in
July fell nationally by 0.8% but Liverpool
ONE recorded an increase of 6.7% during
the same month.
The success has been attributed to events
such as the International Festival for
Business 2014 and the Giant Spectacular, as
well as new store openings including Argos’
first digital concept store, audio specialist
Bose and restaurant chain Bill’s.
Chris Bliss, estate director at Liverpool
ONE, says: “We’ve had a tremendously
strong year so far and it is with great
pleasure that we announce these incredible
results.
“These figures demonstrate that, while the
spotlight has been on the city, our retailers
have been at the forefront in welcoming the
thousands of guests we’ve seen. It’s fantastic
to see that Liverpool’s retail offering is, once
again, leading the way across the country.
We should all take a huge amount of pride
in this achievement.”
Visitor success at Liverpool ONEbucks national trends
TOWERGATE INSURANCE has opened thedoors of its new office at 3 HardmanSquare in the Spinningfields area ofManchester, after an extensiveredevelopment of its interior.The insurance intermediary business
invited Manchester City Council leaderSir Richard Leese to join Towergate GroupCEO Mark Hodges in officially opening thenew office, which has undergone a‘cutting edge’ refurbishment. The new36,000 sq ft office will be home to thecompany’s customer service teams and itplans to create up to 400 new jobs at thesite. Hodges says: “This new centre has been
fitted out to a high standard in a shortamount of time and I have been veryimpressed with the calibre of people we
have attracted from across the region.We made the right decision to come toManchester and this new developmentshows the ambition and drive that willshape a very successful future forTowergate.”Sir Richard Leese adds: “We welcome
the faith and commitment largeorganisations have when they chooseManchester as a base for their operations.”The move came as a result of talks with
Manchester’s inward investment companyMIDAS, which provided advice onrelocating to Manchester and theSpinningfields area. Trilogie CRE advised Towergate on the
deal while CBRE advised the owner of3 Hardman Square, Credit Suisse AssetManagement.
Liverpool ONE
3 Hardman Squareoffice opens after refurb
3 Hardman Square
LENDING TO Merseyside
customers has increased by nearly
a third during the past six months,
according to Wirral-based lender
Bridging Finance Solutions.
Developers and individuals
involved in commercial schemes
are benefiting from bridging
finance when traditional forms of
credit are not available, according
to the firm, which has recorded a
28% increase in lending to its
customers since the beginning of
the year.
Steve Barber, managing director
of Bridging Finance Solutions,
says: “Whilst UK-wide we’ve seen
more movement within the
property market during the past
12 months, we’ve experienced
more enquiries and lending in
Merseyside than ever before. Our
figures speak for themselves –
traditionally, we have worked with
customers across the UK yet and
continue to do so, however, the
local market is particular buoyant.
“There is a lot of activity across
Merseyside at the moment for
both residential and commercial
schemes. Many of the projects
that have been on hold for several
years are being picked up again
and considered viable, yet bank
lending can still be difficult to
secure.”
Barber says bridging is now
becoming a more ‘mainstream
finance options’ and there is less
scepticism around the form of
financing. He says: “There are
increasing numbers of
professional advisors keen to
partner with us and recommend
BFS to their own clients.”
Short-term lendingboost for commercialschemes
Steve Barber
MOVE COMMERCIAL 9
Sales & Lettings News
TWO NEW TENANTS have taken space at The HeathBusiness and Technical Park in Cheshire.
Rail industry services provider, PPS Rail and creative firmRed Website Design have both become the latest occupantsat the Runcorn site, which offers serviced office andlaboratory space within the region accommodating largeand small businesses.
The signings come after the recent news that two existingoccupants at the park have experienced rapid growth.
IT company d3t says it has seen its export contracts growfrom 5% to 25% of its business over the past three years,having welcomed a number of new European customersduring 2013 and the first half of 2014.
Meanwhile, digital marketing agency Aqueous Digital hasdoubled its office space within The Heath Business andTechnical Park after it doubled its turnover in 12 monthsattracting more than 30 new online marketing clients.
Having expanded into a larger office, with plans to alsoincrease the company’s team of six full-time staff in theautumn, managing director Jonathan Guy says: “The newspace will allow us to grow the team and hold meetingswith customers with minimum disruption to colleagues.”
Cheshire businesspark welcomesnew tenants
Sony Buildingsold for £4.4m
INVESTMENT FIRM Karlin Real Estatehas completed a deal to buy the SonyBuilding in Liverpool for £4.4 millionfrom previous owner Telereal Trillium.
The building, which has been occupiedby gaming giant Sony since it was builtin 1997, represents a net initial yield of10.75% for Karlin Real Estate and has apassing rent of £500,000 per annum,which equates to £9.97 per sq ft. TheSony Building has 50,655 sq ft of spaceacross 3.07 acres of land and is locatedin Wavertree Business Park.
After closing its games studio arm ofthe business at the site in 2012, Sonyhas retained its other business arms and
this year signed a ten-year deal to stay atthe three-storey office, with a rentreview scheduled for 2019.
Mark Kelly, director of disposals anddevelopment at Telereal Trillium, says:"This deal shows the value of acommitted tenant. The recent leaserenewal we negotiated with Sony meantwe could offer the Sony Building as astrong investment in a buoyantmarket."
The building was originally marketedat £4.1 million, reflecting an initial yieldof 11.5%. Finn and Company acted onbehalf of Telereal Trillium during thedeal.
Sony Building
The Heath Business and Technical Park
p01-18_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 16:46 Page 9
MOVE COMMERCIAL10
News Sales & Lettings
SALES AND LETTINGS at ProspectGB’s offices have ‘surged’ since thebeginning of the year, theLiverpool-based developer hasannounced.
The firm’s commercial division,Prospect Commercial, has secured16,741 sq ft in sales and 13,737sq ft of lettings at propertiesacross the North after strongdemand in Merseyside andCheshire, it has revealed.
The lettings figure was securedafter the company’s most recentletting in the Meridian BusinessVillage development in HuntsCross, which means just threespaces are left at the site.
Chris Walker, head of ProspectCommercial, says: “We have seen amajor reduction in total void spaceacross commercial properties in theNorth West, Yorkshire and NorthWales. We have just completed thesale of a building in Poynton andanother letting at one of our mostin-demand locations MeridianBusiness Village in Hunts Cross,South Liverpool, where sustainedactivity has left just three unitsavailable.”
The remaining units in MeridianBusiness Village are between1,313 sq ft and 8,085 sq ft andcan be part or fully let. KeppieMassie and Hitchcock Wright &Partners are acting as joint agentsfor Prospect GB. For moreinformation visitwww.prospectgb.com
SUTTON KERSH is “optimistic”about its forthcoming propertyauction, as a number of commercialopportunities get set to go underthe hammer.
Concorde House in Blackpool issaid to be among the highlights ofthe 107 lots at the 11 Septembersale, taking place at Liverpool CityCentre Marriott Hotel, as it comeswith a guide price of £175,000 plus.
The former retail warehousebenefits from planning permissionfor three ground floor retail unitsand 15 self contained flats to theupper floors.
Meanwhile, a detached Wiganproperty which had previously beenused as a health clinic with officeaccommodation provides adevelopment opportunity at theauction, subject to planning, andhas a guide price of £110,000 plus.
Mixed use properties inLiverpool’s Walton Village,
including a vacant retail unit withfirst floor ancillary accommodation,and a middle terraced propertywith a ground floor retail unit and athree-bedroom flat will also beavailable to potential buyers.
Auction manageress Cathy Holtsays: “This is a strong catalogue tostart the second half of our auctionyear, with a host of buying
opportunities at a range of guideprices.
“Proceeds from our first four salesof 2014 already stand at over £21million so we have every reason tobe optimistic.”
The full catalogue for theSeptember auction is online atwww.suttonkersh.co.uk/auctions-property
ProspectGB hailssales surge
Concorde House, Blackpool
Training firm moves inat Graeme House
Graeme House
A TRAINING and apprenticeship provider has let 4,555 sq ft ofoffice space at Graeme House in Liverpool, after a bespoke fit-out by owner Downing took place at the site.
Aspire Achieve Advance Ltd (3aaa) has taken a five-yearlease at the office in Derby Square, which is near to LiverpoolONE and the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts. Downing hasfitted out the office to 3aaa’s specification in preparation forthe move as part of its Flexi-Office scheme, which offers moreflexible leases for smaller businesses.
Robin Ellis, senior agency surveyor at Downing, says: “We’revery pleased to welcome 3aaa to Graeme House. They’re a
great team and provide a really valuable service to youngpeople. Graeme House is in an unbeatable, central location –which makes it perfect for a company like 3aaa.
“We’ve created a bespoke tailored space for the businesswhich perfectly matches its requirements for a staff area,communal space, interview and training rooms – all ready to gothe day they move in. We’re confident that their new suite willprovide the company with a brilliant base from which to runtheir operations.”
Downing offers over 80 flexible offices in the Port ofLiverpool Building and at No.1 Old Hall Street.
Commercial opportunities setto go under the hammer
Chris Walker
p01-18_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 16:47 Page 10
MOVE COMMERCIAL 11
Developments News
Creative firms drawn to commercialdistrict schemes, says Bruntwood
MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL is in discussions with thePolice Commissioner to buy the former police offices atBootle Street and create a major mixed-used development inthe city’s Civic Quarter.
As this issue of Move Commercial was going to press, areport was due to go before the city’s executive and wasbeing recommended for approval. If accepted, a masterplanfor a “comprehensive” mixed-use development will bedeveloped and go before public consultation.
The report says the council plans to create an Agreementfor Lease with Jackson’s Row Development Company(JRDC) to redevelop the building and nearby sites includingthe United Reform Synagogue and the Abercrombie, as wellas the open land, known as ‘Rackind Land’, adjacent to thebuildings.
JRDC, which is owned by former Manchester Unitedfootballers Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, is in finalnegotiations to buy the third party land to enable theredevelopment and has entered into a contract with a majorinternational four or five-star hotel operator for the site.
The report says: “The relocation of GMP (GreaterManchester Police) from Bootle Street Police Stationprovides a major opportunity to provide a major new mixeduse development, in a strategic location in the heart of theCivic Quarter. The development has significant potential toadd to the growth of the Civic Quarter and the regionalcentre.”
BOLLYWOOD PRODUCER Vistaar has revealedplans to create a new post-production facility inManchester as part of a £13 million investmentin the UK.
The firm made the announcement during avisit by UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg toa film set in Mumbai at the Taj Mahal PalaceHotel. He launched an Indian interpretation ofShakespeare’s Hamlet named Veda, which willinclude £3.9 million investment in the UKportion of filming and will be released in 2015.
Vistaar managing director Sheetal Talwarsays: “We are working with entertainmentspecialist chartered accountants Nyman LibsonPaul and Goldfinch to explore and invest in
further projects in the UK. We feel that ourBritish investments shall give us theopportunity to grow the business and help usachieve market leadership in our sector ofsocially responsible cinema.”
Vistaar will invest £7.2m in a second moviethat will be part-filmed in the UK called GuruDutt. To support the filming production facilitieswill be created in Manchester to edit thefootage.
Nick Clegg says: “Indian producers will followtheir counterparts in the US and takeadvantage of the UK’s facilities, expertise andglorious locations to create the next Indian StarWars or Game of Thrones.”
LIVERPOOL’S COMMERCIAL district isfast becoming a magnet for the city’screative business community, according toproperty firm Bruntwood.
The commercial property owner, whichincludes the area’s Cotton Exchange, OrielChambers, The Plaza and Queen InsuranceBuilding within its portfolio, says it haswitnessed an influx of digital agencies,design consultancies and technology firmstaking space in the district.
Colin Sinclair, director of propertymarketing at Bruntwood, says: “Thecommercial district has gone from strengthto strength in recent months and one ofthe most notable things in its growth hasbeen the number of innovative creativebusinesses that have been moving in.”
According to Sinclair, the area’s public
transport links, amenities, increase innetworking events and activities of theCommercial BID team are provingattractive to such tenants, along with the“significant creative community” that isalready based there.
His comments come after Bruntwood’sown creative office schemes, The Loft andTrading Rooms are said to have sold outwithin weeks of completion, attractingfirms such as architects, web developersand digital media agencies.
Sinclair adds: “With continuedinvestment into the commercial districtunderway, this trend of creative movementlooks to be a feature of the coming monthsand years, which can only be good newsfor the area and the city’s overall economicgrowth.”
The Loft
Deputy PrimeMinister, Nick Clegg
BOLLYWOOD STUDIO PLANSMANCHESTER FACILITY
Major mixed-usedevelopmentin Manchesterrevealed
p01-18_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 16:47 Page 11
MOVE COMMERCIAL12
News Commercial
A KNOWSLEY-BASED energy firmhas been awarded the UK’s highestaccolade for business success inrecognition of its tradeachievements.
Clarke Energy, a gas enginespecialist in the gas to powergeneration industry, received theQueen’s Award for Enterprise:International Trade, and twoemployees attended a celebratoryevening reception at BuckinghamPalace.
The firm’s chief financial officer,Peter Holiday and managing directorfor the UK, Ireland and sub-SaharanAfrica; Haydn Rees met with HRHQueen Elizabeth II and PrincePhillip at the event, which wasfollowed by an official visit to ClarkeEnergy’s Knowsley Industrial Parkhead office by Lord Lieutenant ofMerseyside, Dame Lorna Muirhead.
The Queen’s representative for thecounty was joined by other highprofile guests from the North West,including representatives fromUKTI, Knowsley Council, KnowsleyChamber of Commerce and
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.The visitors were given a
presentation outlining ClarkeEnergy’s business and a tour aroundthe facilities followed by thepresentation of internal companyawards and finally the Queen’sAward for Enterprise, signified by anengraved crystal bowl and certificatesigned by the Queen and Prime
Minister David Cameron. Peter Holliday says: “We are
delighted to have received thisrecognition for our performance ininternational trade from the Queen.This success is due to our focus ondelivering high quality gas-fuelledcombined heat and power plants,supported by local dedicated serviceteams.”
Energy firm receives Queen’sAward for international trade
LIVERPOOL-BASED Parry & Company Solicitors ismarking its 10th anniversary year by relocating to a newwaterfront premises.
The firm has relocated from its Stanley Grange BusinessVillage site in Knowsley to an office space at Albert Dock’sEdward Pavilion.
Managing partner Kate Parry says: “Our new premiseswill enable further growth and will place us at the heart ofLiverpool’s business community. Our work is quite variedand not all within the region, which is why our newpremises will be ideal, with easy access to main roadnetworks, rail links - direct trains from Liverpool to
London within two hours - and of course Liverpool JohnLennon Airport, through which 5 million passengers traveleach year.”
Parry & Company, which provides legal services forcommercial sectors, has also “invested heavily” in newtechnology and IT systems as it aims to improve itsservices and stay ahead of competition.
Parry adds: “We are delighted to reach this milestone andare proud that the business has grown to be such a success,providing essential legal expertise to our extremely diverseclient base ranging from individuals, SMEs through to BlueChip and FTSE 100 and international clients”.
A NORTH WEST specialist recruitmentcompany plans to take on six morestaff after recording a 300% increasein sales.
Kingsley Associates, a companyspecialising in property, engineering,legal and business supportrecruitment, says sales for the firsthalf of 2014 were three times higherthan the same period in 2013, leadingto ambitious expansion plans at itsLiverpool office.
The company has already appointedtwo new members to the team, asMichael Lucas joins from Bromak as aconstruction recruitment consultant,while graduate Liz Ellis joins as aresearch and administrationconsultant within the Legal andBusiness Support teams.
Andrew Kingsley, director, says:“Kingsley Associates has a growingreputation within the North Westrecruitment industry and I have nodoubt that our latest appointmentswill help to further serve both our newand existing clients, whilst continuingour remarkable growth.”
“We have worked hard in recentyears to grow the business in somedifficult times but I am glad to seethat our efforts are now beingrealised through increased client-baseand vastly improved sales.”
The company currently employs 14staff at its office in St Paul’s Square,having been set up by husband andwife team Andrew and CarolineKingsley in 2007. The firm recentlywon ‘Recruitment Business of theYear’ at the City of Liverpool BusinessAwards.
Expansion
for Liverpool
recruiter
Michael Lucas and Liz Ellis
Edward Pavilion
Clarke Energy employeesreceive the Queen’s Award
Law firm marks 10th year withmove to Edward Pavilion
p01-18_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 16:47 Page 12
p01-18_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 14:40 Page 13
The goal at the start of every month is to continue to grow the business in the keymarkets that we have identified.
Seddon is currently enjoying an expansion to our commercial arm, winning newand bigger projects that have quickly established us as a leading player in the region.
In the past month we have completed work transforming two major cardealerships, with the Hyundai showroom in Stockport and Williams BMW’s Liverpooldealership both re-opening their doors after £1.5 million refurbishments.
We’ve also handed over the keys to a three-storey office facility in Leigh forAdactus Housing Group following a new-build and expansion project, and we arestarting on-site on a number of landmark projects in Chester - including the flagshipCity Place scheme with Muse Developments which will signal the start of a newcentral business quarter in the city.
The growth in our commercial activity along with the continued success of ourhousing and care home teams mean that these are exciting times for Seddon.
The Telegraph featured an interesting article on apprenticeships following the releaseof this year’s A Level results.
The article focused on the fact that government figures suggest that 1.8 millionapprentices have started training since 2010. A recent study suggested that over athird of students have considered taking an apprenticeship instead of the universityroute.
The article resonated with Seddon, as we regularly receive 600 applications for ourapprenticeship programmes, and are committed to helping change perceptions of thesector to attract more talented youngsters into construction.
We have made significant progress in bringing forward our landmark BroadwayGreen development in Oldham following a number of high level meetings.
The project, which is a joint venture with Seddon Developments, GrasscroftProperty and Oldham Council, will transform the 120-acre site with 700,000 sq ftof commercial space, 500 homes, 22 acres of parkland and a link road.
The scheme is predicted to create between 1,000 and 2,000 jobs for the area. Broadway Green represents the type of large-scale regeneration schemes that
Seddon is capable of delivering for our partners.
When I first started work at Seddon I was an apprentice bricklayer learning mytrade, and there is nothing I enjoy more that getting back on site and seeing thenext generation of talented youngsters delivering on some of the remarkableprojects we are involved in.
With so many projects getting underway across the North West I’m planning tospend some time this month getting back to the floor working with the teams onthe ground. This is what I love about the industry we work in, and it is good totake stock and remind ourselves of the significant impact the construction sectorhas across the country.
My goal at the start of the month was...
THE NEWS STORY THAT CAUGHT MY EYE...
The key meeting I had...
My biggest challenge was...
After years of recession we arefinally starting to see signs of life inthe economy and a recovery, even ifit is a fragile one, is on the way.
However, recent figures from theOffice of National Statistics haveshown that the construction sectoris still lagging behind in terms ofgrowth, and that we are strugglingto keep pace with the revival beingenjoyed in other areas.
At Seddon, we are already reapingthe rewards of the renewedoptimism in the market, with newcommercial projects coming onlineand continued success in ourhousing and care home division.
The challenge for the sector ismaking sure that we are armed forfuture growth in terms of personneland materials.
Seddon retained a dedicated skillsand apprenticeship programthroughout the recession, and wehave the right people to deliver forour clients, however, shortage ofsupply and increasing costs ofmaterials (such as bricks), will pauseprogress and hold up the recovery.
My plan for next month...
My biggest achievement was...
At Seddon, we have a proud historyin delivering training andapprenticeships for our staff.
We have employed apprentices for80 consecutive years and haveschemes such as our Grow Your Owncampaign, which are helping to changeperceptions and attract more talentedpeople into the business and theconstruction industry as a whole.
That’s why I was proud to hearSeddon staff speaking sopassionately about the work we do aspart of the BBC’s coverage of A Levelresults day.
One of our apprentices was joinedby Roy Cavanagh, our training and
education executive, to talk about thealternatives to university education.
Knowing that Seddon is leadingthe debate in this area, and that wehave a team that is ready to stand upand champion our industry sopassionately is a huge achievement.
We have always believed in trainingfor the industry - not just ourselves -as the construction sector is grippedby a crippling skills gap. Last yearalone we took on 50 apprentices andare one of the few large builders tohave retained a dedicatedapprenticeship and trainingprogramme throughout the recession.
With a diverse range of construction and development projects across the region,from office and retail space to large-scale regeneration, as well as a hugelysuccessful apprenticeship scheme, it’s a busy time for North West-based firmSeddon. Managing director Jonathan Seddon has taken time out to reflect onhis past month in the industry and plans for the month ahead.
Jonathan Seddon, managing director, Seddon My month
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If only I’d known…I followed my father’s footsteps into a career in commercial property and it is an industrythat I love because it is constantly changing. This does mean, however, that it is easy tolook back and spot opportunities to have done things differently.
With the gift of hindsight I wish I had been able to foresee that the strength in demandfor smaller units and flexible workspaces would have remained strong throughout therecession. By having a network of smaller spaces in place from 2005 onwards, this couldhave enabled more start-ups to get their business up and running sooner, or allowed agreater number of businesses which were struggling to move into less expensiveaccommodation and continue operating.
Since moving into my role with Bizspace earlier this year I have seen the intense demandfor industrial units under 5,000 sq ft and offices under 1,000 sq ft within our businesscentres, with more than 40 new customers moving into our North West portfolio everymonth. It really makes you think!
David Guestproperty director, Bizspace Ltd
In my crystal ball...I very much believe that the future success of commercial property will be closely linkedwith the greater integration of technology. Better use of technology can lead to flexibilityfor the property offering as a whole, from the type, style and quality of product, to the placeof work, price and legal framework.
I also think we will see that the use of co-working space will spread into more traditionaleconomic sectors, aside from digital, creative and technology.
Looming as well is a major challenge for the government to balance environmentaltargets with supporting the SME and starter community. Its proposals to ban the letting ofproperties with energy ratings F and G in 2018 will affect a gulf of start-up businesses andSMEs, risking their massive contribution to GDP, as well as jobs and the prospects for majorfuture economic growth.
Bitesize thinking
Whilst there’s a series of strong contenders, ‘the favourite’ requires one to stand abovethe rest. I’ve looked to the heart of Manchester, where I work and the buildings areperhaps most familiar to me. It would be possible to offer the Town Hall, but I prefer TheJohn Rylands Library, located on Deansgate.
This architectural gem from the Victorian city fathers challenges casual glance by itssymmetry, appearing asymmetric from the usual angles of approach, whilst offeringincreasing layers of complexity the closer the observer looks. The once grand entrance toDeansgate has been relegated by the modern extension that now invites the visitor tomove through a clean, white, modern transition space to a world that might most easily besummarised as ‘Harry Potter-esque’. The ceiling vaults, carefully carved detailing andtricks of light lead you to step into another world where time ceases to have meaning.
The building, for me, represents Manchester’s journey, from its industrial past,investment in knowledge and public access that continues to be relevant today. It offersinsight into the importance of adaptability and embracing the modern, signalling thepotential of the future and the rejuvenation of the city centre.
My favourite building with...Paul Gagandirector of commercial propertymanagement, Eddisons
The John Rylands Library,Manchester
“The building, for me, representsManchester’s journey, from its
industrial past”
Image: Robert Cutts
MOVE COMMERCIAL16
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Bitesize thinking Commercial
STATS
CurriculumVITAE
Main duties:
As a small business my role encapsulateseverything from marketing to accounts, thewebsite and computer hardware, planning andbudgeting, business generation and, of course,the actual job of surveying.
Education:
My formative years were at The King’s School inChester and sixth form at Helsby High School,before Sheffield City Polytechnic (now HallamUniversity) where I obtained a 2:1 honoursdegree in Urban Land Economics.
First job:
A range of summer jobs, from car washing toprinting out gaskets in a factory, but my first jobin the property profession was with Littlewoodsin Liverpool.
Shortest job:
I spent six months working as a consultant for achain of accountants before joining DTZ inManchester. I will always be grateful to DTZ forgetting me out of there!
What’s the secret to your success?
Hard work. Nothing beats grafting in this market.
What’s the best piece of business advice
you’ve ever received?
Clients always appreciate advice that is clear,unequivocal and to the point.
What advice would you give to somebody
starting out in the industry?
Move jobs every two years and experience awide range of employers and roles. Nothingbeats being able to call upon those experiencesfurther downstream.
What makes Cottrell Commercial different?
I’m not sure we are different, but we’re entirelyfocused on providing clients with the bestservice and advice possible.
Tell us about Cottrell Commercial's plans
for the next 12 months?
It’s clear that the next 12 months offersopportunities to small businesses to go out andgrasp a far greater share of the market. I hopeto resurrect plans to employ additionalpersonnel so long as the right personnel areavailable.
Edward Cottrellmanaging director, Cottrell Commercial
Tweet all about it
@WirralChamber
Peel Ports to create 500 jobs at the Port of Liverpool after signing£100m Chinese cranes deal
@philipjamesmcr
The Manchester office market is back on track with 800,000 sq ft ofoffice space let in the first half of 2014
@20MilesMore
Liverpool is the UK's fastest growing tourist destination. A dedicated#HS2 link is essential #IFB2014
@JeremyBrowneMP
The 'One North' report is a good example of the big thinking Britainneeds to be more prosperous and globally competitive
@PJsJewellers
We’re all fired up about the new town centre redevelopment. Can only be good for Warrington businesses and shoppers.
The 5 best commercial tweets
12345
500,000 sq ftThe potential size of a development in Manchester
that could include offices, hotel, residential, leisure
and retail on Oxford Road and Whitworth Street
West. Network Rail and Manchester City Council have
appointed DTZ to find a developer for the scheme.
3The number of new build industrial units over
50,000 sq ft that are available for occupation in
the North West. Matrix Court in Chester (102,028
sq ft) and two units at Lancashire Business Park
totalling 166,000 sq ft are currently available,
according to Knight Frank’s H1 2014 Review.
2015Work on a major mixed-use development at the
former ITV Granada site on Quay Street, Manchester,
could begin as early as 2015 if planning is given
consent. Ian Simpson Architects won the Allied
London brief to design the 13-acre site.
15Warrington Borough Council is one of the first
areas in the country to bring a new document
outlining its development plan for the next 15
years. The Local Plan Core Strategy will guide
regeneration until 2027 and support the town’s
growth framework, Warrington Means Business.
13%Manchester retail properties are undervalued by
an average of 13%, according to the DTZ Fair
Value Index. It predicts Manchester will be the
only market rated at as ‘hot’ for investors in the
country by Q3 2014, down from 15 in Q3 2013.
1,128The number of businesses to have benefited from
brokerage and meet the buyer meetings during
the International Festival for Business 2014,
according to organisers. A report on the economic
impact of the festival will be presented to
government in autumn.
p01-18_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 11:17 Page 17
MOVE COMMERCIAL18
Appointments
New associate surveyor at
Powell Williams
DavidHollingsworth hasjoined nationalbuildingconsultancyPowell Williams asan associatesurveyor in its
Chester office.Hollingsworth will specialise in
party wall disputes, insuranceassessment and reinstatement, andcontract administration at the firm andwill also provide support to clients inLondon and Birmingham. He qualifiedas a RICS chartered surveyor in 2003and is a member of the RICS ExpertWitness Accreditation Service.
Andy Williams, Powell Williamsfounding partner, says: “[David’s]experience of working with lossadjusters and solicitors with regard toproviding insurance and expertwitness services will be a vital part ofthe firm’s expansion and we’re lookingforward to introducing him to ourprofessional colleagues in theseindustries.”
The appointment comes as the firmlooks to recruit another threesurveyors in the next 18 months.
Cassell Moore expands
employment team
Law firm CassellMoore hasappointedMelanieHockenhull to itsLiverpool-basedemploymentteam.
Hockenhull joins the firm fromniche employment law practiceBramhalls and has previouslyworked at the British DentalAssociation and Eversheds sincegraduating from Oxford Universityin 2009. She will work with theemployment team coveringemployment law issues andcontracts, advising on disciplinaryand grievance issues andsettlement agreements.
Liz Cotton, Cassell Moore headof employment, says: “Melanie isan experienced solicitor with anexcellent track record in dealingwith employment law issues. I’veno doubt she will make a fantasticaddition to the team and make asignificant contribution to itsfuture growth.”
Appointment at Seddon
Liz Everett hasjoined Seddonas clientdevelopmentmanagerfocusing on thenorth ofEngland, the
company has announced.Everett previously worked at fit-
out contractor Morris andSpottiswood and ADT Workplace.She has also previously worked atTaylor Woodrow with Seddoncolleague Phil Burgess. SinceNovember 2013, Burgess has beenhead of business development andmarketing at Seddon.
Managing director, JonathanSeddon, says: “Liz has some greatconnections in the commercialmarket, an area the business islooking to strengthen and grow.
“The group has many strings toits bow and with a strong pre-conteam we can drive value for clientsin key sectors such as industrialand offices. We look forward toworking alongside Liz to welcomenew clients and improve ourmarket share.”
Two in at Lambert Smith
Hampton
LSH hasappointed StuartMcGill and JoeJohnson to itsproperty andassetmanagement andbuilding
consultancy teams respectively.The surveyors will be responsible for
a number of projects in theManchester area as part of their newroles. McGill will head up over 500,000sq ft of commercial property for thefirm’s clients, while Johnson will focuson commercial and industrial buildingsincluding building surveys,dilapidations, condition surveys andproject management.
Abid Jaffry, head of LSH’s Manchesteroffice, says: “As the city’s commercialproperty sector enjoys continuedgrowth, we’re pleased to be welcomingsuch talented new members to ourbuilding consultancy and property andasset management teams.”
McGill joins the firm from Lee Barronand Johnson was previously a buildingsurveyor at Deloitte Real Estate.
David Hollingsworth
Melanie HockenhullStuart McGill& Joe Johnson
Liz Everett& Phil Burgess
p01-18_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 11:17 Page 18
Excellent redevelopment opportunity.Former NHS facility. 10,467 sqft (972 sqm). Site area 1.1 acres (0.44ha).Contact: [email protected] or DD: 0151 242 3152
FOR SALE Victoria House, Runcorn, WA7 4TH Property Services
On Behalf of NHS Property Services
MOVE COMMERCIAL 19
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MOVE COMMERCIAL20
Business Improvement Districts (BID) have been in place in the North West sincethe mid 2000s, affording groups of businesses the opportunity to invest their ownfunds into the wider area and work together to steer their own campaigns. As theformula continues to be adopted by areas across the region, each setting their ownremits, Move Commercial takes a closer look at the impact BIDs are having.
BID forProgressIn the late 1960s, the launch of a new subway andthe rise of out-of-town shopping centres boasting‘everything under one roof’ and free parking facilitieswere held responsible for steering footfall away from Toronto’s Bloor Street retail destination.
Determined not to let Bloor Street dwindle andsuccumb to the threat of an increase in vacant units,businesses formed their own association tocontribute their own funds towards improvementsand promotion for the area. It was then, in 1970,that the Bloor West Village Business ImprovementArea – the first example of what is now known in the UK as a Business Improvement District (BID) – was born.
This BID concept continues to be adopted bygroups of businesses looking to tackle such problemshead on, or boost footfall and opportunities throughmarketing and improvements to their area.
Across the UK and Northern Ireland there are more than 180 formal BIDs in place in town and citycentres and commercial districts to industrial areas,all of which have been approved following aconsultation and ballot, and are generating fundsfrom participating businesses via a BID levy which is usually 1% of their rateable value.
The North West alone is home to a number of established and emerging BIDs across its citiesand town centres, each with their own aims,
agendas and funding pots that their collectives of businesses have paid in to.
One of the latest in the region to form is the CH1 ChesterBID which, according to board member Tim Kenney, was necessary as “Chester, in retailingterms at least, was missing the plot”.
Kenney, who is also a partner at Chester-basedproperty consultants Kenney Moore and becameinvolved in the BID team through Chester BusinessClub, suggests Chester’s retail offering in particular has struggled during the last 20 years due to largescale out-of-town retail developments and theemergence of the likes of new shopping centres in neighbouring cities, many of which bring extraconvenience for shoppers such as free parking and later opening hours.
He says the option to adopt BID status wasrecommended to Chester after a report wascommissioned to highlight what was needed for the city.
“One of the things it said is that the businesses in Chester need to start talking to each other, there’sgot to be a mechanism for everyone to join hands to start working as a city. Out of the report camethe only proven recommendation that was abusiness improvement district,” says Kenney.
The BID began its five-year term on 1 Septemberand is expected to generate around half a million
pounds each year from members.Boosting communication between local
businesses and event organisers and attractions so that the city centre as a whole can benefit when extra footfall is being brought in to Chester is among the plans for the new BID, along with“improving Chester’s welcome”, cutting costs andmaking services more convenient for businesses and providing a “more effective means ofcommunication when things are starting to gowrong, have gone wrong and need to be improved” in the area.
Elsewhere in the North West, BIDs have provenattractive to areas for their ability to be tailored to a destination’s needs and to provide businesseswith the power to be pro-active when it comes to maintaining their success.
For instance, the city centre-based Heart of Manchester BID was not installed to rescue an area in decline, but instead to keep it ahead of competition whilst fellow cities including Leeds and Liverpool have upped their retail game in recent years.
“Manchester is the second most popular shoppingdestination outside of London in the country andthere was a general feeling that we needed topreserve that, build on that success and keep thecity centre moving forward; and in a difficult retail
Natasha [email protected]
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MOVE COMMERCIAL 21
Business Improvement Districts
environment not get to the stage where things were broken and you had to fix them but rather build on something that was already really strong. To do that it would be better if all the retailersworked together to have a single voice to speak to the rest of the city with,” says the BID’s manager,Simon Binns.
Since the BID was launched in April 2013 with a focus on daytime retail use, covering around 380 businesses in the city’s retail core and bringingaround £1m of investment each year, Binns says it has united retailers as they realise the benefit of working as a partnership rather than in isolation.
The Manchester BID, which has introducedsuccessful city events and also a team of ‘city hosts’ to improve visitors’ experience, has alsosucceeded in recruiting many of the area’s nationallybig retail names as members, a move which can be difficult for some BIDs.
“Some perhaps don’t know as much about [BIDs] as they could or should and I think thatprocess of education is ongoing, retail aside, but a lot of the bigger ones do pay in to developBIDs that are more popular across more cities. More bigger retailers find themselves paying into BIDs across multiple locations so hopefully we’re giving them a better understanding of what BIDs do for them,” adds Binns.
Meanwhile Liverpool’s city centre is home to two BIDs; the City Central BID whichstarted out as one of the UK’s pilot BIDs back in2005 and, with continued support from businesses,has been renewed twice; and the Commercial District BID, which was introduced in May 2011.
Having a BID in place in an area “shows businessesare working together to provide originality toenhance businesses,” according to Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID Companywhich manages both of the city’s associations.
Addy says a BID also “assists the perception” of place for companies looking to invest, and inLiverpool’s case shows the commercial district isbeing managed and undergoing ‘place-making’.
Like in other areas of the region, the key aim of Liverpool’s BIDs is to promote the city with improved marketing and host events toincrease footfall. So far, the BID has funded projectsincluding mystery shopping and training schemes for businesses, public realm improvements and a crime alert scheme for retailers.
“In terms of retail, Liverpool is now a major retail destination and we’re in the top five in the UK,” says Addy. “A lot of that is obviously because we had a big neighbour [Liverpool ONE] which came in 2008 but it’s also because of the work that a BID does.”
Having a BID in placein an area showsbusinesses areworking together toprovide originality toenhance businesses.
“
”
Areas introduce BIDs to help boost footfall
p19-32_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 14:42 Page 21
Online. Offline. Anytime.
Get the north-west’s latest business and property news wherever you are.
www.movecommercial.com @MoveCommercial
p19-32_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 16:37 Page 22
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p19-32_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 11:20 Page 23
MOVE COMMERCIAL24
Sisters Janet, Helen and Lisa Tsegave up their jobs as an engineer,lawyer and financier respectivelywhen they decided to carve outtheir own culinary businessventure and launch theirManchester Chinese restaurant,Sweet Mandarin.
But the Northern Quarter basedeatery was far from a departurefrom all they knew, as the sistersbecame the third generation offemale restaurateurs in the family,following in the footsteps of theirmother and their grandmother.They began serving up recipes thathad been in their family forgenerations, setting the Tse sisterson the path to producingsomething that stood out andtherefore giving them a strongfoundation for business success.
“We’re very passionate aboutfood, people and business and webelieved that this would be morethan a restaurant; it was going tobe a destination point for peoplewho want to try somethingdifferent,” explains Helen Tse. “All the dishes that we offer you
can only get from us, it’s not astandard Chinese dish you can getfrom anywhere else.”
But it’s not only the dishesthemselves that have helped SweetMandarin find its niche, it’s theingredients used to make them.The restaurateurs’ ability to createand cook with sauces that arekosher, vegetarian, vegan, alcoholfree and suitable for coeliacs hasallowed them to fill a gap in themarket and gather strongcustomer support to expand theirbusiness further.
In December 2012, the Tsesisters branched out into bottlingtheir sauces for the shelves ofretailers and supermarket chains.It was a bold move given that, tostart with, they were equipped withjust their restaurant kitchen, but itwas one that their regular dinersconvinced them to go ahead with.
“It was really thanks to ourcustomers in the restaurant whokept urging us and egging us on toget this done,” explains Tse. “Somuch so that a guy called Jim whocomes in on a Friday said I’ll make
you some labels in exchange fortakeaways, and so the label yousee today was made by him. It’squite amazing that it’s reallycustomer driven and customer led,and the reason for that is thesauces have no gluten, no MSG, no artificial colours, no nuts and no dairy.
“Jim’s family were coeliac andhe had a great passion to get thisdone and to take it to his familyhome in Cambridge, so that’s howit was born.”
Right from the start of theirbottled sauce venture, the sistersaimed high and targeted majorsupermarket retailers.
“We approached Sainsbury’sand the buyers responded asking if we could supply to 500 stores.At that point we had just a smallkitchen in the restaurant so weknew there was no way we weregoing to be able to do that. We’vebought a factory in Manchesternow that produces all of thesauces and we want to keep allproduction in Britain and keep all the jobs in Britain.”
With the business nowproducing 20,000 bottles of sauceeach week, and also catering forfurther big name clients includingTesco, Ocado and Amazon in theUK, the Sweet Mandarin team hasspent the past year or so selling itsproduct overseas, and Tse suggeststheir ‘made in Britain’ philosophyhas proven beneficial along the way.
“That really has been one of ourUSPs in terms of exporting thesauces abroad. The British flagstands for an awful lot and that’sone thing we want to maintain.”
So far the Sweet Mandarin saucerange has been welcomed into 20countries and according to Tse, issaid to be particularly popular withthe United Arab Emirates as it hasbeen established as “the only saucein the whole wide world” with its‘free from’ credentials.
The government body UKTI (UKTrade & Investment) has beenpivotal to the sisters’ tradingachievements around the world.They signed up to UKTI’s ‘Passportto Export’ scheme last year, which
When sisters Helen, Lisa and Janet Tse set up SweetMandarin in 2004, they believed it would become “more thana restaurant”. Now 10 years on the businesswomen havecertainly justified such confidence in their creation, winningover world leaders with their recipes and becoming a shiningexample of UK export success after branching out to provideproducts for the international retail market. Helen Tse speaksto Move Commercial about the company’s global growth.
Natasha Young
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MOVE COMMERCIAL 25
Helen Tse, co-founder, Sweet Mandarin Entrepreneur
Tse says has helped provide SweetMandarin with funding to attendtrade shows and therefore gaindirect access with the rightbusiness contacts.
“They give you a face-to-facemeeting with the buyer who willsay there and then how manybottles they want, when they wantit and what price they’re going totake it at,” she explains. “It’s somuch easier to do business like that.
“We went on a trade show,exhibited our sauces and metbuyers from across the world. Theywere extremely interested andthat’s how we got the deals thatwe’ve done. What you realise isthat everybody around the worldloves flavour and good food andno matter what language youspeak, the tongue does not liewhen it comes to food.”
Meanwhile on UK soil, thesauces have attracted the mostesteemed customers, boostingSweet Mandarin’s reputation andpublic profile but also its businesslinks once again.
Sending their sauces to theQueen in the hope of a responsesaw Helen and Lisa Tse beinginvited to receive an MBE forservices to food and drink monthslater; whilst Prime Minister DavidCameron had previouslypurchased the sauce, and Lisa Tsereceived compliments for theproduct when she was invited totea at 10 Downing Street bySamantha Cameron.
A business relationship wasformed between the PrimeMinister and the Sweet Mandarinentrepreneurs, with Lisa Tse takingan opportunity to accompany himon a visit to China. It was then thatshe met two buyers and helpedsecure a £6m deal in December totrade the sauces in China for five years.
“China has got 1.4 billion people,of which the number that wouldpotentially buy our sauces wouldbe 700m, which is 10 times the sizeof the UK market.
“We’ve now paired up withanother company down south thatis going to help us make the sauces
so that we can meet the capacity.Once again we want to keep themanufacturing process in the UK.”
The Sweet Mandarin sisterswere also invited to cook for thePrime Minister and Premier Li ofChina at 10 Downing Street andsuch high profile engagements,along with their own attempts toboost their brand withappearances on TV showsincluding ‘Dragon’s Den’, cookerydemonstrations and successaround the world with their recipebooks, are helping the business tocontinue to grow its reputationand attract more contacts forpotential business deals.
Tse says they are now looking atlaunching a franchise as a possibleventure for the future and,reflecting on their “whirlwind”Sweet Mandarin experience so far,adds: “We can’t even make up ourlife at the moment. It’s the mostbizarre experience ever but we’revery grateful for it.”
“
“
China has got
1.4 billion people,
of which the
number that
would potentially
buy our sauces
would be 700m
Lisa Tse (left) and Helen Tse (right)
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MOVE COMMERCIAL 27
Opinion
Let’s startlooking up
The North West’s two largest urban conurbations, Liverpooland Manchester, have a history with tall buildings. OrielChambers in Liverpool may stand at only five storeys but itwas the first building to introduce the architecturally-important metal framed glass curtain wall method that led tothe race to the sky in the US and cumulated in the likes ofthe Empire State Building in New York. In a more modernsetting, Ian Simpson Architects designed Manchester’s 47-storey Beetham Tower, which is the tallest building in theNorth West and has dominated the skyline since its inception.
But the North West remains largely resistant to talltowers. In 2005 Liverpool City Council rejected plans fromIan Simpson for a 51-storey tower at Brunswick Quay thatincluded apartments, hotels, shops and work units.
Meanwhile, in Manchester the ceiling seems to be setrelatively low, as is the case with the 60-metre One StPeter’s Square and the 72-metre One Angel Square.
The reasons for the stunted visions are compelling. AlliedLondon, a firm whose knowledge of the Manchester marketis extensive, decided demand for space was not sufficientto build any higher than 20 storeys at the prestigious No. 1Spinningfields address.
It’s a story replicated across the North West. Duringplanning for One St Peter’s Square, GVA says there was amoment when the developers were forced to sit down, lookeach other in the eye and decide whether to build One StPeter’s Square as a speculative development. The recoveringeconomy meant it was built – and the developers wererewarded with a new tenant in the shape of KPMG, whichtook over 70,000 sq ft as the anchor tenant in the scheme.
It is clear the industry is stirring and commercial agentsare warning demand will recover much more quickly thandevelopers can build, with a number of major letting events
set to take place between now and 2018. This leaves asupply problem for Grade A office space in the comingyears unless somebody is brave enough to build – andwhen they do, why not look up?
In Manchester, sites such as the former Granada site, theNOMA scheme, Airport City and Spinningfields provideenough space to negate the need for a taller build.However, these areas are exactly where tall buildings couldthrive. They are close enough to transport, leisure and retailhubs without falling under restrictive rules managing views.For example – the hotel at the Liverpool Exhibition Centreposed planners a problem because it restricted views of thecity’s famous cathedral from across the river, meaning planshad to be redrawn – but this is less of a problem on thecity’s fringe.
Fortunately, there are signs we are entering a new era oftower building; Peel’s proposed Shanghai Tower in Liverpoolcould set the ball rolling on the Liverpool Waters scheme,while planned residential towers include No1 Greengate inSalford, the 27-storey Axis Tower in Manchester and theproposed 42-storey residential tower by Ian Simpson, whoplans to match the success of his Beetham Tower design.
What we need now are developers brave enough todeliver mixed-use towers that can provide for futuredemand for Grade A office space in key city locations and,like the towers transforming Shanghai and Dubai, showcasethe ambition and growth of the North West. The challengesto building tall are numerous but the rewards will beastronomical. Who will have the nerve to move first?
Large mixed-use towers offer some of the mostenduring symbols of a city’s growth and prosperity.Cities such as Shanghai and Dubai have builttowering spires of offices, homes, leisure and retail inrecent years, including the 830-metre Burj Khalifa,the tallest building in the world. Meanwhile the likesof the Shard and the Gherkin in London have becomeinternationally-acclaimed developments. So isn’t itabout time the North West started to look up?
“
“
Stephen [email protected]
Follow us on Twitter and join the debate@MoveCommercial
p19-32_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 14:44 Page 27
Kerrie Normandirector,Flinders Chase
Investing in Education Lunch debate
What makes education projects
attractive to developers?
RE: The partnership gives you accessto the sort of opportunities you don'tnormally get. If you take the workwe’re doing with Manchester BusinessSchool at the moment, there's acommercial opportunity in building afour star hotel but the hotel issupported by the fact that theuniversity is there beside it. It has itsexecutive education premisesadjoining the hotel. The fact that thetwo buildings are next to each other,designed by the same architect, thatcreates an opportunity and makes thathotel work better on a site thatwouldn't necessarily be seen as a keyhotel site as it's on the periphery ofthe city centre.
As a developer we want to make acommercial return out of buying andselling property and just working withthe university doesn't give you thatopportunity, there may be someincome in refurbishment work but partof the benefit to us is it makes sitesavailable that you wouldn't necessarily
be able to buy on the market. JT: What you've got to remember inthe higher and further education(HEFE) market is the clients you'redealing with generally have someprime big land banks in city centres.One of the clients I'm working with atthe moment is Leeds University. It isone of the biggest landowners inLeeds so for a developer to harnessinto that land bank is a good way forward.
Moving slightly away from theHEFE market and into the statutoryeducation market, what we're seeingis a boom in the housing market andthat's driving a need for schools. As adeveloper you have to provide aprimary school in that area. We'retrying to be that ‘off the shelf’solution for developers.KN: There are a couple of points there.The interesting thing aboutuniversities is they’re starting torealise they do have a lot ofcommercial assets and they don'trealise how to get the value outof them.
What challenges are involved in
such projects?
JJ: The hardest thing is getting adecision from the people involved.Even when you think you've got a finaldecision there's always another personwho has to have a say.KN: That's my biggest frustration, thedecision making. Who is going to bemaking the decision? Who is consultingwith the academics? Too often peopledon't do that upfront and it wastes alot of time, money and energy.JT: What we find is it’s the ability ofthe organisation to manage changeand that's where a lot of the wastehappens. A stakeholder will come inand make a fundamental decision andyou end up having to go backwards ina project to go forwards again, bywhich time you're already payingconsultants and everyone else. That iswhere a considerable amount of delayand waste happens within a project,where you've got a complex set ofstakeholders to take into consideration. KN: It's hard to be able to questionsome of the input that's being made.
Sometimes we'll turn up and theremight be 25 people sat around a tableand actually half don't want to bethere and half don't need to be, but toactually raise that with anyone is adifficult discussion to have. Sometimesthe project needs more thought beforeit's packaged.RE: Yes, a greater clarity of brief at thestart. If you invest time in that at thestart then there's less difficultyJT: I think the pace the commercialsector and private sector work at isdifferent than that of localgovernment and educationestablishments and that can causefrustrations. Decision making can bequite split. I can see with some of myteams that that creates frustration. Itcan slow projects down. RE: There are conflicting priorities. Inthe commercial sector it's all about howquickly and cheaply a project can bedelivered but in the public sectoryou've got all these stakeholders toengage with who are not focused onthat because it's more important thatit's right for the institution.
With a number of the region’s universities investing in their campuses and several projects underway in the statutory education market, MoveCommercial gathered together four experts in the field of building foreducation to find out how the sector has developed, what issues educationprojects present and how the scrapping of one of the sector’s biggest funding initiatives was actually a blessing in disguise.
Jon Taylorpreconstruction director,Willmott Dixon
Rob Elsomdevelopment surveyor,Bruntwood
James Jonesassociate partner,Sheppard Robson
MOVE COMMERCIAL 29
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MOVE COMMERCIAL30
JT: On the flip side, I think one of thethings that has changed the dynamicsof a lot of the HEFE establishments istuition fees. When I went to universityyou tended to accept the facilities thatwere there. Now people are having topay to go, either through loans orthrough the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’,they're starting to look at what they'regetting in return for that £9,000. Andthat's changed the dynamic ofuniversities because they're nowhaving to polish their shop windows.Because of that the estatesdepartments are starting to be a lotmore open, doing things that probably10 years ago they wouldn't havedreamt of doing.
How have university builds
adapted to meet changing
patterns of study?
JJ: There are two separate answers tothis: One is how has study changed -through secondary education rightthrough to universities, we are looking
at more collaborative ways of workingand more flexible use of space. The other way to look at it is that theway in which institutions worktogether is changing. There’s morecollaboration between institutions,such as universities working withschools. That's having a massive impacton estates. You're not just building aphysics department now. You may bebuilding a science campus that's gotresearchers in one side and students inanother side.RE: It comes back to that point of howcommercially savvy universities needto be, partly with the introduction offees. On a building level, what we'reseeing, much like the commercial officeenvironment, is it's all about informalworking with a higher technologyfocus, break out spaces and open planworking. There's lots of battles withacademics who still want their ownindividual offices yet the studentsalready appreciate having more formalworking but still being open plan and
having break out spaces associatedwith it. It's a much more efficient andenjoyable way to work, it's a moreefficient way to build a building too.There's lots of ways in which thebuilding itself can support the learningenvironment.JT: To add to that, if I walk around acompleted commercial development, arelatively new academy we've workedon or an HEFE that we've completed,
unless you saw the sign on the door, incertain parts of the building youcouldn't tell them apart. That's reallywhere the sea change has been. In the commercial sector and theeducation sector, we're all moving toflexible professional spaces thatpeople want to learn in or work in.What they're building on theircampuses could have multi capacityuses. I've heard of examples where
What you’ve got to remember in the HEFEmarket is the clients you’re dealing withgenerally have some prime big land banksin city centres.
“”
The way in which institutions worktogether is changing. There’s morecollaboration between institutions, such asuniversities working with schools. That’shaving a massive impact on estates.
“
”
With its restaurants in Leeds, Alderley Edge and Chesteralready proving popular, the Botanist made it’s Manchesterdebut in August this year with a £1m venue onDeansgate.
The eccentric interior with its distressed wood finishand antique-style décor offers a comfortable and relaxedenvironment in which to sample the culinary delights ofthe extensive menu.
The nibbles menu features the restaurant’s new take ontraditional classics –such as the Welsh rarebit fondue orthe pork crackling served with chilli, spring onion andsweet apple sauce. Meanwhile the mains menu offers ahost of home comforts from chicken and mushroom piewith gravy and chips to Cumberland bangers and mash –with a couple of more exotic dishes such as lamb taginethrown in for good measure.
There are also barbecue dishes, a selection of deliboards and a relatively small but no less delicious dessert menu.
The Botanist’s location makes it a perfect spot for abusiness lunch as well as after work drinks whilst it’sdelicious menu will surely see it become a popular choicefor the non-work crowd at weekends.
The Botanist78 Deansgate, Manchester, M3
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MOVE COMMERCIAL 31
universities are actually encouragingbusinesses to be established oncampus. What we're developing issimilar spaces. KN: Statutory education is aninteresting one because we wentthrough 10 years of lots of "lets haveeverything open plan, it will all betransformational if we just take thewalls out". Will it really? If we just takethe walls out will that make ittransformational? No it won’t. If you'redoing A Level chemistry and trying tolearn a really difficult theory, are youbetter off learning in an openenvironment or not? JJ: You need two sorts of spaces, thespace where you don’t mind listeningto other people and the space whereyou can’t listen to other people.JT: Yes, a combination of open planspace, cellular space, good technology,good AV, exactly what you need for acommercial building.
Moving away from the HEFE
market, what impact did the
scrapping of the Building Schools
for the Future scheme have?
JJ: I think it gave us pause for thought.It made us have to consider what’simportant and what isn’t.KN: I think a correction in the marketwas needed, to take a step back andsay ‘Actually what do we need out ofthese buildings? What do we need interms of functionality? What are thedrivers here? Is it a £50,000 receptiondesk or is it a £3,000 reception deskwith that money put into somethingelse?’ The most innovative design ineducation buildings has happened in
the last three years.JJ: Everyone has to know from thestart what the aim is. The failures arewhen people think there’s more money,and then you have to claw it back.I think what helps here is when youhave a relationship that goes overmore than just one project -theneveryone finds out what the goals areand lessons get learned. You refinewhat you’re delivering. It is gettingaway from that situation of every timethere’s a new relationship and everytime you’re starting from page one.
I wanted to move on to university
technical colleges, how they work
and why they’re becoming popular
KN: UTCs are a fascinating concept.They all have to have at least oneuniversity sponsor, although they canhave more than one and they have tohave employers. The employers andthe universities have to form themajority of the governing body.
The biggest frustration I’ve seenwith the development of UTCs isthey’re not reaching their potential.Some of them are but there are a fairfew who aren’t. And the reason forthat is this. They all must have at leastone technical specialism. Now, I’m anengineer. I know engineering is much,much more than learning how to makesomething on a machine. For example,
when you develop something aroundlow carbon engineering, that’s not justabout wind turbines, but we do seethat some sponsors involved in UTCshave a fairly narrow view of what thespecialism is all about because that’swhat their business does.RE: If a business is supporting a UTCthey’re going to want to support theirbusiness.KN: Exactly and if that businessinvolves making wind turbines theiridea of engineering is relativelynarrow. So what we’re seeing is thefirst UTC closing this year and there’sprobably going to be another one ortwo to follow.
The other area of untapped potentialis the universities – some are a silentpartner, they’ll lend their names andthey might come to a couple of projectsteering groups but they’re not reallyinvolved in shaping that institution.RE: There’s a danger then of lots beingopened and not being successful –more time and money being wasted onones that are never going to hit themark? Presumably you can tell thatpretty early on in terms of how theirgovernance is set up, whether they’regoing to succeed or not?KN: Exactly. It’s quite difficult when I’minvolved in these – each time you learnvery early on whether it’s going to besuccessful or not.
Finally I’d like to look at funding.
How does private investment
work in the education market?
KN: There is very little privateinvestment in statutory educationnow. There was in the very early daysof the academies programme back in2002-2003. Lots of academies wererequired to contribute £2m in capitaland that created havoc, because ifyou’re a business and you’recontributing £2m of cash to anacademy you want a fountain, youwant all sorts of bells and whistlesbecause you paid for it – even thoughin reality you only paid for 5% of thatbuilding. Some of these buildings cost£40m! So I think the experiment withdirect investment in statutoryeducation perhaps didn’t work out.Government policy doesn’t really allowfor private investors to get involved instatutory education, politically it’s atoxic issue. It’s more at the HE level.RE: I think it’s always difficult to workout how to get private investment intoeducation, without going back toconflicting opinions. To take theUniversity of Manchester as anexample, it has recently returned to thebond market. That’s a clever way ofgetting private money in.
Investing in Education Lunch debate
When you have arelationship thatgoes over more thanjust one project -then everyone findsout what the goalsare and lessons getlearned.
“
”
p19-32_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 11:21 Page 31
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MOVE COMMERCIAL 33
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Commercial Property is a journey.Make Kirwans your destination.
p33-48_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 14:48 Page 33
From running the UK’s first rural regeneration agency to her role as corporate affairsdirector and company secretary at North West superbrand the Stobart Group, Kate Willard is passionate about regeneration. Currently on the board of theAtlantic Gateway project, she talks to Move Commercial about balancing privatesector concerns with public sector projects.
RethinkingRegeneration
Stephen [email protected]
The Atlantic Gateway has beendescribed by Tory peer LordHestletine as the most significantcurrent growth opportunity in theUK to attract investment. It aims to create 250,000 new jobs in theAtlantic Gateway area and bring £14 billion of new investmentthrough a board made up of some of the region’s biggest private sectormovers and shakers.
For board member Kate Willard,the role of private companies inattracting investment to the areastretching from Liverpool’s docksand the ambitious Superport projectto Manchester, Port Salford andbeyond, is essential.
“Regeneration is led by theprivate sector”, she says. “Certainlythere aren’t vast swathes of cashsitting around in the public sector to invest. It is the responsibility ofthe private sector to work closelywith public sector partners torebalance the economy in terms of that north-south axis.”
The Atlantic Gateway board aimsto identify the opportunities acrossthe area and help Local EnterprisePartnerships from the public sectorwork with private investors to
increase investment and growth.“The best chance we’ve got of
success is if we get the public andprivate sector partnership working.Critically, it needs to work and weneed to be walking down this roadshoulder to shoulder and it’s notalways easy. We have differentimperatives, expectations and timeframes and different wants.”
Willard is no stranger to seeingpublic and private stakeholderswork together, having worked forregeneration agencies in Hungary,Belgium and France, establishingthe first UK Hungarian culturalpartnership trust in the process. It was this experience that led to a role as CEO at the UK’s firstrural regeneration company, RuralRegeneration Cumbria, which wasset up after the foot and mouthoutbreak hit the region.
During the role in Cumbria,Willard got to know the chiefexecutive of the Stobart Group,Andrew Tinkler. After taking a job atthe company, Willard completed thejourney to bringing the creativity ofthe public sector together with thefinancial clout of the private sector.
“I came here about six or seven
years ago and it’s been a reallyinteresting journey. Working at theStobart Group brings everythingtogether, the ability to work withregeneration partners, public sectorpartners, local authorities,regeneration agencies and that wasa really nice opportunity to bring thetwo sides of my career together.
“There’s a number of colleagues in the group who have therelationship with the public sector.It’s certainly a big focus of the workwe do.”
Willard not only represents thegroup on the board of the AtlanticGateway but also has a place on the board of Liverpool LEP and the Superport sub-committee. It is in this role where Stobart’sinvestment in the North West, the Atlantic Gateway project andpublic sector interests intersect.
“With the LEPs you’ve got thepublic sector facing view of howwe’re going to shape our economybut you’ve got it led by privatesector boards. It needs really strong,open, transparent, dialogue betweenpublic and private sectors and theLEPs are absolutely critical in that.I’m incredibly proud to be on the
LEP board and the Superportsub-committee.”
One thing the public sector canlearn from the private sector is tointroduce KPIs (Key PerformanceIndicator) to projects, even whenthey are as broad as AtlanticGateway. Willard says: “If a body is there and it’s taking time andenergy and space then it needs to be able to articulate what it hasdone in a very concrete way todeliver success. We need to be ableto say Atlantic Gateway delivers X this year and will deliver Y nextyear. It’s difficult to quantify thosebut I’m interested in knowing howwe go about that.”
According to Willard, majorinfrastructure projects within theNorth West are proof thepartnership is working. The likes of Peel’s Liverpool2 Superport will be able to handle all but thelargest container ships in the world,while schemes such as WirralWaters and Port Salford havebrought jobs and investment to the Atlantic Gateway.
“[These projects] are absolutelyon the radar with the LEPs. They’llhave played a key role in making
MOVE COMMERCIAL34
p33-48_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 11:42 Page 34
sure those big construction projectsget off the ground. They’re shiningexamples of LEPs working withprivate sector partners to get bigprojects off the ground. I sit aroundthat board table with a good balanceof public and private sector partnersand it’s really working.”
Willard’s daily work takes herfrom Stobart Group’s investmentsin the energy sector in Cumbria toLondon Southend Airport, whichwent from zero to 1.1 millionpassengers in a year and is one ofthe fastest growing airports inLondon. Combining that with theAtlantic Gateway project and workwith LEP can be challenging, butthe key is being passionate aboutthe role regeneration has in theNorth West and beyond.
“I have a passion about what Ido,” she explains. “I care passionatelyabout the success of the group andthe people who work in it. I have apassion for making a good differencein terms of that regenerationagenda. I am very passionate abouttrying to encourage the right thing to happen and about us playing ourright role within that as a privatesector group.”
It is the responsibility ofthe private sector to workclosely with public sectorpartners to rebalance theeconomy in terms of thatnorth-south axis.
“
“
Kate Willard, board member, Atlantic Gateway Mover & Shaker
MOVE COMMERCIAL 35
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MOVE COMMERCIAL38
The construction and developmentindustry has been battered andbruised by several years ofrecession, causing projects to stalland firms to shed staff. With manypredicting a more optimisticoutlook across the region, asurveyor who now specialises inrecruitment believes the landscapehas changed dramatically as theindustry adapts.
Andrew Kingsley, director atKingsley Associates, took a riskthree years ago when he left a roleas a surveyor at CTP inManchester, having carved out acareer at Neptune Developmentsand GVA previously, to take on abusiness development role atKingsley Associates. The specialistrecruitment firm, which coverssurveying, engineering, legal,business support and other nicheareas, was set up by his wifeCaroline, herself an ex-surveyor, in2007. From its humble beginnings
as a home business it has sincemoved to an office in Liverpool’sprestigious Plaza for its 14-strong team.
Kingsley is now at the forefrontof an industry finding its feet onceagain and he believes movement inthe employment market is a signthings are getting better.
“We saw it in the last quarter oflast year and since Januaryeverybody is suddenly chasingcandidates and candidates arestarting to look for newopportunities. That’s where thedifference is,” he says.
“If it was 12-18 months agocertain candidates would say ‘betterthe devil you know’ and stay put. Now the market isimproving they are more thanhappy to consider their careerprogression if they’re not gettingwhat they want with their currentemployer. The two are marrying uptogether in terms of supply anddemand.”
In that time, the landscape of the construction and developmentindustries has changed. WhileKingsley decided to leave his role at a larger developer for a role inrecruitment and a chance tooversee his own firm, others alsodecided smaller companies andself-employment was the best routeto take.
“The industry is a lot different tohow it was 10 years ago. There area lot of smaller companies. Thereare individuals who were part oflarger companies who were maderedundant and then set up bythemselves. They’ve stayed selfemployed and not necessarilywaited for the market to get betterand go back into big organisations;instead they’ve said ‘well actuallyI’m making a decent living’ andthey’ve now become clientsthemselves because they’ve startedto take people on.
Lunch Date
The industry is a lot
different to how it
was 10 years ago.
There are a lot of
smaller companies.
“
“
Andrew Kingsleydirector, Kingsley Associates
LUNCH WITH
Stephen [email protected]
Hard Day’sNight Hotel41 North John Street, L2
The Hard Day’s Night is a four-star
hotel centred around the city’s most
famous export – The Beatles – and
has its own fine dining restaurant,
Blakes, situated within the historic
Grade II-listed building.
For those who do not want to dine in aformal setting, the bar and lounge areaoffers the same menu options in a morerelaxed area. With comfortable leathercouches, booth-style seating areas andarty Beatles-themed décor, it offers anupmarket venue for lunch away from thebustle of Mathew Street, Liverpool ONEand the city’s business district.
Offering everything from highafternoon tea to a la carte and set menudining options, as well as coffee, tea andalcoholic drinks, the hotel also offers hi-speed wifi, making it ideal for businessmeetings.
To book, visit
www.harddaysnighthotel.com
p33-48_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 10:50 Page 38
MOVE COMMERCIAL 39
SUCCESSIn recent years Kirwans Solicitors has not only expanded its presence
across Merseyside, with offices now based in Liverpool, Southport and
Wirral; but the firm has also been expanding and strengthening its team
with the help of its own in-house training schemes.
As it provides services across the commercial property and business
sectors, Kirwans has also hosted its own networking and advice events
and took the opportunity to play a part in the recent International
Festival for Business 2014.
We asked senior partner David Kirwan to reveal some of the firm’s
secrets to success.
How has the firm kept up with changing legislation?
It’s no secret that the legal sector is in the midst of reforms, innovations and cuts -all combining to jolt a profession notoriously averse to change. You simply have toadapt. Change in the legal sector is inevitable. Successful businesses embracechange, treating it as an opportunity to grow. The secret is to remain attractive tothe client by putting them at the centre of everything we do, while remainingcompetitive as a business. We are continuously striving to match what we canoffer with what our clients need.
How has providing in-house training and development schemes helped the firm to succeed and grow?
Our staff are integral to our success and ambition. In-house training has allowedall staff to build on existing skills and develop new skills such as handling socialmedia, PR, communications, brand awareness and business development. We wantall staff to have a broad knowledge of the business and to know how they eachcan play a key role in its success. Having effective in-house training schemes hasallowed us to create a more transparent and efficient business.
How has the company benefitted from having a number of offices across Merseyside?
In 2012 we expanded to open offices in the heart of Liverpool and Southport’scommercial districts, to complement existing branches in Prenton and Moreton,Wirral. This has provided us with greater exposure across a wider geographic areawhile providing our clients with added convenience. Technology has broughtcommunication benefits in the legal sector but we believe clients appreciate thepersonal touch which includes the option of face-to-face meetings. We also playan active role in the business communities of these areas, organising events thatnot only benefit our firm but other complementary businesses too. We representclients across the UK and beyond, but our heritage and the roots of our successare firmly in the North West.
DavidKirwan
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
In 2006 Peel Group revealed the stunning £4.5
billion Wirral Waters scheme; a sprawling metropolis
of office, leisure, retail and residential developments
that will transform the skyline. Planned alongside
the equally ambitious Liverpool Waters scheme,
Wirral Waters will become one of the world’s
most iconic waterfronts.
MOVE COMMERCIAL
Wirral Waters
Peel reveals plans for the £4.5bn Wirral Watersscheme, comprising 18m sq ft of regenerationincluding retail, leisure, 11m sq ft of residentialdevelopment and over 5m sq ft of offices andcommercial. The plans also include public realmwork, landscaping and a new marina.
A phase one application is submitted for homes,shops and offices. It will create 800 jobs onNorthbank East and represents the first stageof the 500-acre scheme. The plans are approvedin August.
The largest planning application in the UK issubmitted. It comprises15m sq ft of mixed usedevelopment across the Wirral docklands andwill create 20,000 jobs and 13,000 homes. The scale of the scheme is larger than London’sOlympics applications.
After a lengthy process Wirral Council’s planningcommittee approves the Wirral Waters project.
The final hurdle for the ambitious scheme isremoved after it receives full government approval.
An application for the £200 million InternationalTrade Centre is approved. The scheme at WestFloat, North Birkenhead, will be the first ITC inWestern Europe and could create 3,000 jobs.
Wirral Metropolitan College announces plans fora new £8m campus as part of the Wirral Watersproject. Meanwhile, plans are submitted for a60,000 sq ft Tower Wharf office building.
senior partner, Kirwans Solicitors
2009FEB
2009DEC
2010AUG
2010NOV
2011SEP
2014APR
Approval is given for the first two Wirral Watersdevelopments. The office block will becompleted by October 2015 and the college will open in September 2015.
2014AUG
Wirral Waters is due to be completed.
2031
2006SEP
p33-48_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 10:50 Page 39
BEST COMMERCIAL SCHEME
BEST COMMERCIAL AGENCY
REGENERATION AWARD
BEST PROPERTY LAW FIRM
YOUR MOVE APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR(PROPERTY OR CONSTRUCTION)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE YOUR MOVE PROPERTY AWARDS PLEASE CALL
KIM O'BRIEN ON 0151 709 3871
@YMPA2014 YMPROPERTYAWARDS
CATEGORIESANNOUNCED
THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2014LUTYENS CRYPT, LIVERPOOL METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL
CLOSING DATE FOR ALL ENTRIES: 5PM, MONDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER
p33-48_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 14:57 Page 40
MOVE COMMERCIAL 41
Move Commercial Events
EVENT PLANNEROur pick of the best local events
11 SEP
Break Rights & DilapidationsAaron & Partners LLP, Grosvenor Court, Chester6pm – 7pmExperts give guidance on thepotential liabilities that can comeas a result of break causesbringing a lease to an early endwhilst there are still questions ofoutstanding repairs ordilapidations to deal with.Open to RICS members, non-members and students.www.rics.org/uk
17 SEP
Great BritishBuildings: EverymanTheatreHope Street, Liverpool5.30pm – 8pm
The 2014 RIBA Stirlingshortlisted building hosts adrinks reception, alongwith an illustrated talkand tour by SteveTompkins of HaworthTompkins.Tickets £7.50 (inc. VAT).www.archtecture.com
Sep
Major manufacturers from aroundthe world will share their secrets tosuccess at an event to celebrate the20th anniversary of TheManufacturing Institute.
The Manchester-based charity willwelcome delegates and speakers to theEnterprise Excellence Conference at MereGolf Resort and Spa in Cheshire between 30September and 3 October, withmanufacturers from 16 sites across the UK,Ireland the USA.
North West-based manufacturers such asJaguar Land Rover and Unilever will putforward speakers for the event. Keynotespeakers will represent Abbot Vascular,DePuy, Rexam, Leyland Trucks and LakeRegion Medical, all of whom have beennamed winners of the prestigious Shingo
Prize, one of the biggest awards inmanufacturing.
Other speakers include Professor NeilGershenfeld, director at the world-famousMassachusetts Institute of Technology’s(MIT) Centre of Bits and Atoms.
Dr Julie Madigan, chief executive of The Manufacturing Institute, says: “TheManufacturing Institute is the UK’s longestestablished charity focused on themanufacturing sector. We'll be sharing ourrich experiences and knowledge from thepast two decades, alongside some of thoseelite businesses, which we have supportedin reaching the highest standards of globaloperational and enterprise excellence.Together we will capture the ingredientsrequired for future success in a volatileglobal economy."
The conference will take place at Mere Golf Resort and Spa
Nominations open forproperty awardsThe categories for the prestigious 2014 Your Move
Property Awards have been revealed, with a number of
awards open to commercial agencies, developers and
industry bodies.
Nominations are now open for the 11th annual awards,which will be announced during a glitzy ceremony attended bysome of the biggest names in property. The ceremony will takeplace in Thursday 6 November at the spectacular Lutyens Cryptat Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and nominations are openuntil 5pm on 8 September.
Top commercial awards up for grabs include Best CommercialScheme, which rates projects in the region based on thecommercial viability, design, aesthetics and use of space andmaterials. The category is open to offices, industrial, leisure,hotel, student homes and educational schemes.
Other awards will be handed out for Best CommercialAgency, Best Property Law Firm, Your Move Apprentice of theYear and a Regeneration Award for a project that has beencompleted within the past two years. The Regeneration Awardis presented to the most innovative use of brownfield sites aswell as the design and consideration for green issues.
For more information on the Your Move Property Awards
call 0151 709 3871.
Tell Move Commercial about yourcommercial property and business events.Email [email protected]
PICK OF THE MONTH
17 SEP
Asbestos and Other NastySurprisesOxford Road, Manchester1.30pm – 4pmA seminar providing advice onavoiding disruption to buildingprojects, staying safe, andmanaging liabilities and minimisingcosts should it all goes wrong.Tickets £15-£89 + VAT.www.architecture.com
19 SEP
Property & ConstructionSection SeminarManchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester7.30am – 9.30amA seminar for companies in theproperty and construction sector,bringing together key speakersfrom across the industry to focusthemes including how the industrycan address skills and the futuresupply of talent. Standard £30 +VAT, members £20 + VAT.www.gmchamber.co.uk
23 SEP
Growing Pains? Economic Growth& the Development SectorBridgewater Hall, Lower MosleyStreet, Manchester8am – 9.45amThis British Property Federationevent takes a look at how wellgovernment schemes to stimulateeconomic growth are working.Breakfast will be followed by ahost of speakers and a panelsession Q&A. www.bpf.org.uk
24 SEP
Wirral & Chester Business Fair2014New Brighton Floral Pavilion10.30am – 3.30pmReturning for a 10th year, theevent offers advice, information,clinics, networking opportunitiesand a host of exhibitors forbusinesses large and small.www.businessfairsuk.com
25 SEP
Property & ConstructionExchange LunchSir Thomas Hotel, Sir ThomasStreet, Liverpool12.30pm – 2.30pmAn informal buffet lunch featuringa guest speaker, along with theopportunity to network, socialiseand discuss the industry.www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk
26 SEP
Business BreakfastNetworking eventThe Innovation Centre, Sci-Tech Daresbury8am – 9.30amMore than 100 hi-techentrepreneurs, corporate,universities, support organisationsand funding and professionalcommunities meet at this monthlyevent, sponsored by Marks & Clerkand KPMG. Booking is necessary.www.sci-techdaresbury.com
30 SEP
September Meet and EatRoyal Court Theatre, Roe Street, Liverpool12.15pm – 2.15pmNetworking booths and structuredsessions will provide a chance tomake new business contacts, whilstLiverpool & Sefton Chambers ofCommerce welcome a taste of theLiverpool Comedy Festival courtesyof sponsors The Comedy Trust.Tickets £15 + VAT.www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk
World manufacturers togather in Cheshire
p33-48_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 10:50 Page 41
From architect drawings to fully interactive 3D models of buildings, thedevelopment and construction industry is increasingly embracing virtualtechnology to improve the design and construction of the North West’s newestbuilding projects. How can technology help us to build better cities and avoidcostly and embarrassing mistakes?
Sim Cities
When the skyscraper dubbed the ‘Walkie Talkie’ inLondon hit the headlines last year, it was for all the wrong reasons. The design that gave the towerits moniker was seemingly responsible for reflectingand magnifying the sun’s rays onto a patch ofLondon that was hot enough to melt a car and fryan egg.
From the swaying London bridge to New York’sinfamous wind canyons between its tall buildings,designing a landmark structure can be a tricky task– and architects, developers and construction firmsare increasingly turning to computer generatedtechnology to avoid costly mistakes in the design of their buildings.
Architects at Falconer Chester Hall, the practicebehind a host of North West buildings and proposedurban regeneration schemes at Liverpool’s CainsBrewery and Warrington’s Stadium Quarter, says the use of CAD – computer aided design – waspreviously only used to sell a project to the peoplewith the money to fund it.
Mark Doohan, director at Falconer Chester Hall,says: “Once you’ve developed a concept, a buildingor an internal space, up to a point where you needto sell it to the client and convince them it’s a goodidea, then CAD is a good thing to do. Often theimages are prepared for PR or marketing and there’sa whole host of independent visualisers who we
use, but there is a cost associated with that.”However, modern buildings are not simply boxes
placed on a patch of land. Increasingly complexstructures and materials means computer-aideddesign and 3D modelling are becoming essential to understand the structures involved in a buildingand avoiding potential design pitfalls.
“We’re doing a project in Malaysia where it’s quite a complex collection of buildings, which arejoined together by a glass canopy. That has acurved geometry to it and there are lots ofjunctions to design. It’s not the sort of thing youcan just imagine and draw in two dimensions,”Doohan adds.
Stephen [email protected]
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Embracing BIMOnce a building is planned with sketches, 3D modelsand designs, a developer has to plan the constructiontimeline. It is here where the greatest recent advancesin 3D technology have arrived.
Building Information Modelling, or BIM, is the termgiven to creating digital representations of physicalprojects. It is becoming important enough for the
government to create a BIM Task Group to increasethe use of BIM in public sector projects because of theperceived efficiencies in using the technology to mapout projects.
The use of BIM can save time, costs and avoiderrors in building design – and it’s about to take off.The government has mandated use of BIM forpublicly-funded projects by 2016 and according to theNational BIM Report 2014 by NBS, 54% of firms arenow using BIM in construction projects compared to13% in 2010, when a total of 43% of respondents
had not even heard of BIM technology.Richard Waterhouse, chief executive officer of NBS
and RIBA Enterprises, says: “The UK is in an enviableposition of being among the world leaders in BIMadoption and implementation. The industry backs thegovernment’s BIM direction. Through BIM, we nowhave the tools to create, use and share informationeffectively and these tools are necessary if we are torealise the government’s construction strategy.”
Building in 3DThere is also evidence BIM is reaping rewards in the North West. One Angel Square is a £100million office complex offering 500,000 sq ft of Grade A office space in the heart of the NOMAdevelopment zone. Since it’s inauguration the Co-operative’s headquarters, which was designedby architect 3D Reid, has won numerous awardsincluding the title of greenest building in theworld after receiving the highest ever eco ratingby industry assessor BREEAM.
BuroHappold delivered the project a number
of weeks early by mapping out the constructionprocess of the building before a spade hadtouched the ground. By creating a virtual model of the building site and adding time to a 3Dmodel, it was able to map the constructionprocess from start to finish. This enabled thecompany to check the construction timeline andensure the building was stable and secure at alldesign stages.
Describing how it used technology to build One Angel Square, BuroHappold says: “Byadopting off-site manufacturing, we were able toprototype the construction of the building using acommon BIM model between frame, precast andfacade contractors. In addition, physical prototype
mock-ups were built for the frame and facade totest construction sequencing, interfaces, tolerancesand deflections. As a result, the on-site workswere delivered two weeks ahead of programme.”
Meanwhile, Carillion is rolling out support for the implementation of BIM mobile computingtechnology for use in the field on projects such as One St Peter’s Square in Manchester and the£335 million Royal Liverpool Hospital.
As technology improves and construction firmsbecome more aware of the technology available to them, more buildings will be designed and builtwith the aid of 3D models and imaging technologyand days of swaying bridges and melting cars could be over.
One Angel Square
3D technology in construction
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Tie in periods for apprentices are not the norm but
employers can (and some do) put tie-in clauses
into apprentice contracts of employment in order
to retain them for a stated period after the
apprenticeship is complete - as a return on
investment for the company.
Apprentices are employees, so a contract of
employment should be in place from the outset of
the apprenticeship period, just as there would be
with any other employee. The contract of
employment protects the rights of both the
apprentice and the employer.
In response to the question around the
employer terminating the apprentice contract at
the end of their training, the majority of
construction companies are keen to retain the
person they have trained, along with the skills and
expertise they have helped them to develop.
However if there are issues such as a reduction
in contracts, or any perceived performance issues
with the apprentice then the employer’s usual HR
policies and procedures would come into force as
per the contract of employment.
It is useful to put the above comments into
perspective by noting that 96% of employers that
take on apprentices report benefits to their
business, including, increased productivity, improved
staff motivation and morale. Apprenticeships
provide a real opportunity for employers to benefit
from new skills and enthusiasm whilst giving young
people and adults a chance to develop skills and
earn while they learn. Apprentices help businesses
to grow their own talent and plan their future
development and growth.
Handling apprenticeships effectively
?? ?
Ans. | Steve Housden
Qst.We’re a construction company lookingto expand our workforce in order tocontinue moving the business forward,and we’re considering taking onapprentices to help strengthen the teamwith fresh talent.
As the employer of the apprentices,what would be the next steps once theactual course of training has beencompleted? Would there be a way ofensuring that an apprentice continuesto remain working with the companyfor a time after we have invested moneyand training resources into theirqualification? And alternatively, are weunder any obligation to continue theiremployment with the company oncetheir apprenticeship is complete?
www.citb.co.uk
www.fdrlaw.co.uk
www.johnkerraccountants.co.uk
Business Clinic�
Steve Housdensector strategy managerfor the North West,Construction IndustryTraining Board
Parveen Bunglawalasolicitor,FDR Law, Warrington
Julia Casimopartner,John Kerr
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There is no legal requirement to issue a written
employment contract to an employee. It is very much
horses for courses. For more senior permanent roles,
it would be folly not to but where an employee is
more junior or temporary, there is probably no need
for such a formal written agreement.
The only requirement on employers laid down by
law is the ‘Section One Statement’. This comes from
Section One of the Employment Right Act
1996 and says employers must specify
certain terms and conditions within two
months of the worker’s start date. In practice
this can simply be a record of what has
already been agreed verbally or in writing.
Where an employment contract is issued,
again there is no legal requirement for it to
be signed. However it is good practice for
employers to obtain their employee’s signature as a
clear acceptance of their terms and conditions. If an
employee fails to sign and return the contract, they
may be deemed to have accepted the terms unless
they raise any dissatisfaction. To avoid future
misunderstandings, both employer and employee
should keep copies of the signed contract.
Employment contracts can take many forms
depending on the seniority and role of the
employee and, where appropriate, could include
restrictive covenants. Employers naturally want
tighter controls where intellectual property rights
are at stake or employees are engaged in influential
positions with clients. Employment contracts should
also be tailored to reflect any fixed term or part-
time status.
Both employers and employees benefit from
having a clear understanding of what is expected of
each of them in the workplace. Although not a legal
requirement, formal employment contracts give
certainty to employers, clarify expectations on both
sides and help to avoid costly disputes.
You are right to be concerned. A recent independent
CEBR report reveals that on average small
businesses are facing set up costs of £8,900 to get
ready for the new auto enrolment legislation. This
figure rises to £12,600 for small to medium
businesses with 100 employees and £15,600 for
companies employing 250 people.
The report finds getting ready for auto enrolment
could take each business up to 103 working days,
with the recurring administration burden taking over
three days each month for some firms.
Having now helped several local businesses withthe auto enrolment process, the lessons learnedare as follows:- Start early. Work out your staging date, and count
back 12 months, that is your project start date
- The costs of the employer pension contributions
themselves are (at least initially) the least of the
problems. The real initial costs are in training/
professional support/software and support.
- Don’t assume that just because you have an existing
staff pension scheme that this will cope with the
demands of auto enrolment – it is unlikely to.
- Auto enrolment and payroll processes are
inextricably linked. Do not treat auto enrolment
as a standalone ‘pension’ issue.
- Take the opportunity to re-engineer your payroll
processes. An obvious example would be moving
from weekly to four weekly or monthly payroll
routines. This can cut down the ongoing demand
on your staff’s time. If your payroll is outsourced
think about bringing it in house, as savings can
be made
- Salary sacrifice can save costs, but the additional
time to implement can be significant.
- Don’t expect that many of your staff will opt out,
and the whole thing will die a convenient death
(like stakeholder pensions did) – the reality is that
the great majority of employees stay with their
new pension and may even opt to make additional
contributions.
Business Clinic
Each issue our panel of industry experts answers your
business questions and solves your commercial dilemmas.
The effect of
pensions on SMEs
Employment
contracts for a
small business
Ans. | Julia Casimo
Ans. | Parveen Bunglawala
Qst.I have recently set up a small business. I havefour members of staff. Do I need to issueemployment contracts to my employees?
Qst.What effect will the pensions auto enrolmenthave on SMEs? I am concerned about costs interms of compliance.
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Donal Bannon
0843 504 4806 [email protected]
p33-48_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 14:52 Page 46
Expert views Ask the panel
What issue would you like new business ministerMatthew Hancock to address first in order to helpbusinesses like yours in the North West?
Improving access to affordablefinance remains crucial and should beone of Hancock’s main priorities forstimulating growth for SMEs. Puttingthe right financial solutions in place isimperative as being starved of capitalcan result in the failure of otherwisefantastic businesses with greatprospects. Despite there being amyriad of options on the market manybusinesses still aren’t sure who to goto for what. Also, for the youngestcompanies, who are often most inneed of working capital, options arestill limited. Without access toreasonable and affordable forms ofgrant or debt funding, founders areoften pushed at an early stage toangels or other early stage equityfunders who will understandablydemand a large proportion of equityin exchange for the risk capital. Ofcourse professional advisors have animportant part to play in signpostingbusinesses but greater coordinationof government services includingensuring the Local EnterprisePartnerships deliver will certainly help.Overall, to ensure long term
prosperity, any measures that willmake the UK a better place to start,finance and grow a business will bewelcomed and help the North Westeconomy participate more in therecovery.
Peter Allen, head of corporate,
Cassell Moore
During the cabinet reshuffle which took place earlier in the summer a new business minister wasappointed as the government continues to push on with its ‘Britain open for business’ strategy -but what policies should the minister be making a priority?
The minister needs to help smallbusiness find effective funding routesto allow them to grow. Our experience
of obtaining funding for growth of thebusiness has been a frustrating one. It seems that mainstream banks andother lenders are reluctant to providefunding to small businesses and this isvital if these businesses are to prosper.Almost all businesses in the UK havegrown from humble roots and we feelit is vital to provide financial support tosmall businesses so that they canflourish and hopefully becomeinstitutions that their localcommunities can be proud of.
Thomas Danesh, head of the
commercial debt and insolvency
expert department, Parry & Co
One of the single biggest issuesholding businesses back is accessto skills. We’ve seen some reformsrecently with the EmployerOwnership of Skills programmedelivering greater spending powerdirectly to employers but morecan, and needs to, be done.Training providers need to betteralign their provision to the needsof employers and not just to thedesires of potential students.
Not just in colleges but inschools too, greater businessengagement is vital. It is madnessthat teachers are expected toadvise pupils on future careerpaths, as their focus is, quiterightly, on educating our youngpeople. Businesses themselvesmust be actively supported,through an appropriate quality-assured process, to participate incareers advice and bring alive thewealth of opportunities in themodern world directly to pupils.Only when business is at theheart of education will we be trulyready to face the modern,globalised economy and succeed.
Christian Spence, head of
business intelligence at
Greater Manchester Chamber
of Commerce
Across both the residential andcommercial property sectors,planning policy is a vital issue –locally and nationally. This isespecially the case regarding therelease of land for house-buildingand in regenerating emptycommercial properties.
Governments keep saying weneed more housing but action isneeded to let builders get on anddo it. The planning process needsto be made easier instead ofharder. Local authorities andcouncilors run the rule overapplications but follow nationalpolicy set by government.
There are challenges andopportunities surroundingcommercial properties. Given thenumber of homeless people andthe lack of residential properties,more should be done toregenerate empty shops andoffices. Some have stood emptyfor years while acres of newoffices are being approvedelsewhere. Planning policy couldbe better-linked to policiesencouraging new businesses.
Phil Taylor, general manager,
MPE Interiors
p33-48_Move Commercial 01/09/2014 11:44 Page 47
01925 851 536 / www.birchwoodpark.co.uk
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