NW business briefs: Grant Thornton; BAE Systems; LCRCA; Queen’s Park; Saturn Visual Solutions; FCHO

Grant Thornton UK, which last week confirmed it is to be owned by private equity investor Cinven, said its Northern Corporate Finance team has completed a record year advising on deals worth more than £620m in 2024.

The team, led by partners Peter Terry, Matt Bryden-Smith and Jim Whittaker, believes the great results are a testament to the firm’s combined regional and sector-led approach, with a significant investment in its people.

A number of new hires have joined during 2024 including life science sector specialist Abi Godfrey, who was previously with Deloitte.

Among the stand-out deals of 2024 were global heating, cooling and ventilation group Daikin’s acquisition of Robert Heath Heating, the sale of Blackpool-based aggregates and earthworks hauler Fox Brothers to Stellex Capital – a complex deal that saw Fox Bros simultaneously acquiring a quarry operator – the sale of Next Energy to Certas Energy and two high profile strategic transactions with listed client, Renew Holdings.

Peter Terry said: “As reflected in many of our deals, demand from private equity (PE) and acquisitive corporates for high quality businesses in the SaaS, healthcare, FM (facilities management), energy transition and business services sectors remained robust during the year. Confidence increased as political uncertainty eased, particularly post-Budget, and inflation and interest rates began to soften.”

Looking forward to 2025, Jim Whittaker said: “The outlook is more positive than it was this time 12 months ago, and we are seeing opportunities across a broadening range of sectors including those you would expect such as health-tech and software, but there are also businesses in certain niche consumer-facing sectors, such as travel seeing renewed interest.”

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Streetwise STEM club

BAE Systems has donated £144,000 to youth wellbeing charity Streetwise, allowing it to extend its opening hours and improve facilities at its community centre in Warton, as well as launch a new programme to inspire young people to take up careers in STEM.

Streetwise Community Centre has been a safe haven for local families since 2017, providing a nurturing environment where they can relax, socialise and learn. The centre has become a lifeline for struggling families, providing food parcels and free nutritious meals over the school holidays to make sure the most vulnerable children in Warton don’t go hungry.

BAE Systems’ funding will enable the charity to welcome a further 5,000 people through its doors every year. Streetwise will also be able to take on more staff so it can open earlier in the day, meaning children can head straight to the centre from school, helping keep them safe and away from anti-social behaviour.

Simon Barnes, BAE Systems’ Group Managing Director, Air, said: “It’s important that we support our communities, including those on the doorstep of our Warton site. Ensuring young people have a safe space where they can meet, make friends, try new things and have a support network is crucial.”

CEO of Streetwise, Elaine Gregoire, said: “This is an absolute game changer. For the last 22 years, Streetwise has operated largely on a voluntary basis, with most of our groups and activities run by volunteers and my family. The significant new funding from BAE Systems will help cover core costs, allowing the centre to flourish and enabling us to support more families than ever before.”

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Vauxhall Law Centre

A vital lifeline for struggling residents in Liverpool City Region has delivered a significant £4m income boost, helping individuals and families to overcome financial hardship.

The Mind and Money programme was funded by the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Liverpool City Region Combined (LCRCA) in 2023 as a three-year initiative to help vulnerable residents facing financial and personal wellbeing challenges during the cost-of-living crisis. Since then, it has supported hundreds of people to reduce and manage their debt, maximise their income and access essential items.

The programme is delivered through a network of trusted partners, carefully selected to ensure the service is delivered across diverse communities. The partners are Pennysmart, Vauxhall Law Centre, and The Women’s Organisation, and Citizens Advice branches in Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. 

So far more than 2,500 families and individuals have accessed services including financial advice, mental health support, practical assistance, such as food vouchers, energy debt advice and support with essential household items.

Ryan Smith, Operational Development Lead Citizens Advice St Helens, said: “Many people don’t realise the help is out there. They don’t know how to navigate the system and are missing out on the income they are entitled to. The Mind and Money programme has removed barriers for many to access the support they need. The feedback from our clients shows that this has transformed their lives for the better.”

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The BMX bike track at Queen’s Park in Heywood is now open following a £100,000 extensive restoration programme that has brought the facility back to life.

The track has been an attraction for many years, providing thousands of bike riders the chance to take on the challenge of purpose-built turns and jumps, which proved extremely popular to the young and young at heart.

However, due to a lack of funding to maintain the loose stone construction and additional help from cycling clubs to assist with the upkeep, the track became unsafe and overgrown and had to be closed for safety reasons in 2022.

Now, thanks to £13,000 community funding raised through Heywood charity, Restoring Hope, plus significant funding by the council, restoration work has taken place through BDB Special Projects, which also provided additional funds required to manage the full works to restore the track as part of their social value commitment to the area to coincide with their ongoing repairs to Queen’s Park Bridge. A fun open event is scheduled to take place at the track on Saturday, 18 January 18, from 12.30pm.

Cllr Tricia Ayrton, deputy leader and portfolio holder for climate change and environment, said: “What a fantastic facility we now have in Heywood and I know how much this track has been missed over the years. A huge thanks to everyone who has made this project achievable and it has been wonderful to see children and adults enjoying getting back on track. It’s a great way to have fun, exercise and get out for fresh air.”

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Manchester-based digital signage consultancy, Saturn Visual Solutions, has raised £10,000 for charity with a 26-mile walk from Merseyside to Manchester.

Eighteen of the company’s staff walked from St Helens Rugby League Club to Old Trafford FC in Manchester to raise money for its charity partner, Better Things, a small charity that helps people with learning disabilities. Some staff and representatives from Better Things also completed the walk.

The Manchester-based charity is run by a handful of part time staff and volunteers and provides free or heavily subsidised activity sessions for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to help them feel less isolated and generally improve their quality of life.

Chris Welsh, CEO at Saturn Visual Solutions, who organised and participated in the walk, said: “Having volunteered with Better Things, I’ve witnessed first hand the transformative impact of the activities they provide. They combat isolation, empower individuals, and foster confidence and skills in a nurturing environment.”

Kate Maggs, CEO of Better Things, said: “We help people with learning disabilities to make friends and develop confidence through the activity sessions we run. We provide mental health support and help those who’ve suffered abuse through talking groups and individual support. The money that Saturn has raised will be a huge boost for us to be able to help more people and we’re all incredibly grateful for their efforts.”

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Naomi Martin

An annual Christmas appeal organised by First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) to help struggling households is bringing festive cheer to 1,500 people this year.

More than £4,000 has been given by local businesses, schools and FCHO employees to ensure there are presents to open in homes across the area for this year’s Winter Giving Appeal.

Vouchers, warm packs, toys, hampers and other gifts have been wrapped up by FCHO customers and students from Oldham College ahead of delivery to those coping with ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

Year 8 students at Brian Clarke Church of England Academy in Oldham town centre have assembled personalised hampers to brighten up the holidays for families in need. And pupils from Holy Cross Primary School in St Mary’s, plus students from Waterhead Academy sent warm wishes through more than 300 handmade Christmas cards for customers who access FCHO’s Live Well services.

Naomi Martin, FCHO’s Learning and Development Co-ordinator, and the appeal organiser, said: “A huge thank you to everyone who has come forward to support this year’s winter giving appeal because together we have shown the power of community and compassion. We know the generosity and time given by our schools, the community, our employees, and customers will make a big difference.”