North West Business Briefs

Bruce Jack wines will become Sale Sharks’ first official wine partner in an initial 12-month deal for the 20/21 season.

Eleven South African players, including brand new signing Jean-Pierre du Preez, are currently named in the Sale Sharks squad for the new season, as well as South African internationals, Faf de Klerk and Lood De Jager who were both part of the 2019 Rugby World Cup winning team.

The partnership will see the club and wine partner team up to host a range of events throughout the season, with plans already in the pipeline to launch a new virtual wine tasting event.

The deal is part of a drive by the club to introduce more international partnerships to its commercial roster.

“It’s great to be able to announce our first partnership deal with a South African-founded brand that’s already so well-loved and established in the UK,” said Mark Cueto, commercial director at Sale Sharks.

The club’s lock and World Cup Winner, Lood De Jager, who was born in the South African town of Alberton, said: “It’s great that the club has been able to team up with a brand from my home country. I’m really proud of my South African heritage and so for the club to be working with a business that was founded there is great to see.”

Bruce Jack said: “Our business, while global in nature, is built on authentic, carefully crafted wine, a responsibility for our environment and trying to be a force for good in society. We’re really looking forward to working with the club players, staff and partners on what promises to be an exciting and rewarding partnership.”

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Chris Bain

A Warrington office building is believed to be the first in the UK to use next generation robotics, called ‘chatbots’, to serve the information needs of tenants.

Occupiers at technology and engineering hub The Base on Dallam Lane can interrogate the building’s bespoke chatbot, nicknamed the BaseBot, to find out information related to their use and occupancy of the building.

“The BaseBot allows occupants to identify basic information such as whether any mail has been logged for them,” said Sylvie Morton of Langtree, which manages the building on behalf of owner Warrington & Co.

“This is proving particularly popular in light of the COVID emergency as people can check information remotely if they have to work from home,” she added.

The system has been developed by Base tenant Chatbot Labs which earlier this year predicted a productivity and jobs revolution in the North West from uptake of new chatbots. Chris Bain, of Chatbot Labs, describes them as the “office equivalent of Alexa or Siri” and predicts that soon all businesses and buildings will have them.

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Mercedez Benz of Macclesfield

LSH Auto, part of LSH International, one of the largest dealer groups for Mercedes-Benz cars worldwide, has been announced as the Official Van & Car Supplier to Macclesfield FC.

From its local dealership, Mercedes-Benz of Macclesfield, it will provide two dedicated Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer Vans to the club, along with a range of vehicles for specific events, from the Mercedes-Benz A-Class to the all-new Mercedes-Benz EQC.

Martyn Webb, managing director LSH Auto, said: “Giving back to the communities that support us is one of our core principles and as we have a dealership a stone’s throw from the Moss Rose we thought this was a great opportunity to provide Macclesfield FC and the local community with our support.”

As a key sponsor of the club, LSH Auto will also have its logo featured on the arm of the new Macclesfield FC kit.

Macclesfield FC’s director of football, Robbie Savage, said: “We are delighted that LSH Auto is becoming part of the commercial family of the newly-formed Macclesfield FC. Not only does the business have local Mercedes-Benz dealerships, it is part of one of the largest dealer groups for Mercedes-Benz cars worldwide.”

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Mike Forsyth

National CDM construction safety specialist, Safer Sphere, has announced on its eighth anniversary of trading that the business has become 49% employee-owned as part of an Employee Benefit Trust.

The St Helens-based business has seen significant growth year-on-year, creating jobs and opening additional offices regional offices. Early this year the construction consultancy surpassed the £1m turnover mark, despite the knock-on effects of COVID-19 and becoming employee-owned is the next step in the journey for the growing business.

Managing director, Mike Forsyth, said: “Safer Sphere has converted 49% of its ownership to an Employee Benefit Trust, meaning all of our superb team now have a stake in the company.

“This provision has been put in place to align with our business growth plan, reward our team for their substantial efforts, and to enable them to share in the future successes that we hope to see in the coming years and beyond.

“Congratulations to the Safer Sphere team and thank you to everyone who supports our business.”

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Factory of the future

Digital training consultancy IN4.0 Group is working in partnership with BAE Systems to support the growth of diverse talent across Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

Seventy graduates from the IN4.0 talent academy, part of IN4.0 Group, are working with BAE Systems on digital technology projects related to areas including artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, the internet of things, robotics and automation.

BAE Systems is supporting the initiative by providing individual mentoring and coaching from a senior leader, guidance and advice on industrial projects from an expert engineer and insight into a career in the advanced manufacturing and technology sector.

With offices at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston and the recently established digital innovation hub IN4.0 with the Landing at MediaCityUK, IN4.0 has been working with BAE Systems for more than two years, having previously collaborated on IN4.0 Access, a disruptive innovation skills accelerator.

The IN4.0 talent academy is a 12-week specialist digital skills training programme funded by the Fast Track Fund, in partnership with the Department for Culture Media & Sport (DCMS), the Lancashire Digital Skills Partnership and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). The course is free to students and offers training and benefits worth more than £6,000, including a guaranteed interview with employers.

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