North West Business Briefs
Hilton Smythe Group has expanded its business services with the acquisition of a digital marketing specialist, Reward Agency, for an undisclosed sum.
Established in 2014, Reward provides a range of marketing services including branding, website design, social media content and SEO, working with a client base across sectors including property, retail and business-to-business with a focus on helping ethical brands grow.
Following the acquisition, the Manchester-based agency has relocated to Hilton Smythe’s headquarters in Bolton. The new digital marketing division will be led by Reward founder Mitchel White, who joins Hilton Smythe as part of the deal, and will build on the momentum the agency has achieved in recent months.
Reward has secured a number of significant projects including helping bricks and mortar retailer Amaranth Wellbeing update its digital presence and e-commerce capabilities to overcome the loss of footfall in its Manchester and Bramwell stores during the lockdowns and tier restrictions.
Also, in the retail sector, Reward supported the launch of a new wellbeing, sports nutrition brand, Champs Tea. Having developed its brand, e-commerce platform and digital marketing, Reward helped Champs Tea use the run up to Black Friday to secure its first retail orders.
Gareth Smyth, CEO of Hilton Smythe Group, said: “Digital marketing is an integral part of our business sales operation and we were keen to bring as much of this activity in-house and the addition of an agency like Reward with its own client base not only meets this objective, but provides a platform for further growth across the group. We are keen to expand the division quickly and will be recruiting new people in the coming months to create the capacity for additional clients and provide complementary services to the businesses we already work with.”
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From left: Thomas and David Smith, and Martin Long
One of the largest independent equipment hire companies in the region is marking its 50th year in business with a series of expansions.
Smiths Hire, which developed from a family-run coal merchants dating back as long as 150 years ago, currently operates 13 depots in locations including Leeds, Manchester, Preston and Liverpool, as well as its Blackpool headquarters, employing 152 staff.
The business has gone from strength to strength in 2018 and 2019, winning the HAE Awards Hire Company of the Year title, a major industry award, and being shortlisted for the 2020 prize alongside national names like GAP Group and Speedy Hire.
Now Smiths is continuing its growth by announcing plans to open at three new sites – in Morecambe servicing the Lancaster area, Burnley and another Northern city location. The business was advised on the opening of its latest three sites by a team at Napthens solicitors led by commercial property partners Martin Long and Paul Hardy.
David Smith, managing director at Smiths Hire, said: “As every business has done, we’ve faced challenges this year but the lockdown has seen a marked increase in orders via the website from people who now have more time to carry out DIY projects and home or garden improvements. We have a strong brand recognised at a national level, and along with the expansion of our depots we are also looking to build our national managed hire offering, First Call, which offers major opportunities for growth.”
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Usdaw, Salford
Fit-out contractor Workspace Design and Build has had a stream of exciting project wins over the past few months and while the pandemic has halted some projects the company is involved with, others were keen to assign a principal contractor ready to start work as soon as supply chains were back to more normal operation.
Work has now commenced at Usdaw, Salford, on this 40,000 sq ft CAT B fit-out for the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers. This impressive building is split over five floors and is set to be a transformation from the existing interior. Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said: “This design of our new office has been in the making since the beginning of March so we’re really looking forward to seeing it come to life.”
PortSwigger, Knutsford, is an exciting project win for Workspace and one which is set to make heads turn with Sheila Bird Group as the designers for the space. The 60,000 sq ft blank canvas will soon be turned into an employee-focused space. With works commencing in February, the team is working on getting everything ready to go so they can hit the ground running when the time comes.
Additionally, situated in the heart of Manchester at 37 Kings Street, this CAT A project has undertaken full strip out, ready for full modernisation throughout. Split over four floors, this much sought-after office space will be ready for tenants to look round in January with the help of Sixteen Real Estate.
Russell Davis, MD at Workspace Design and Build, said: “These recent project wins are testament to the hard work of our team during the pandemic – we’ve all worked together to continue to service our clients in the best way possible whilst being respectful of the current situation. Construction is, and always will be, a resilient industry, and Workspace are proud to be a part of it.”
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The first phase of a £5m project to restore an historic church in Greater Manchester has concluded, helping to bring a much-loved community hub back to life.
Repairs on the 149-year-old Church of the Ascension in Salford began in October 2018, after the building was destroyed in an arson attack in February 2017, devastating the community which had previously raised £250,000 towards its renovation.
Bolton-based Seddon, which has experience in dealing with historic properties and delivering complex projects of this scale, was appointed to deliver the £2.46m structural works and £2.5m interior works during this first phase. Work was completed on time, despite coronavirus restrictions being in place.
Completed works to date include the reinstatement of the structural elements of the building, such as columns, roof structures and coverings, stone and brick repairs, stained glass window and window guard replacements, and ceiling finishes.
John Shannon, divisional director at Seddon, said: “It’s been an honour to work on this extensive restoration project to save a beautiful building from ruin and future-proof it for many years to come. We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to Canon Wyatt and the community for their support throughout the first phase of the project.”
