North West Business Briefs: Jaguar Land Rover; RAM Services; Brock Carmichael; UnitedCity; Gymnova

Luxury car maker Jaguar Land Rover says its future in-car air purification technology has been shown in laboratory tests to inhibit viruses and airborne bacteria, including COVID-19, by as much as 97%.

The prototype heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system uses Panasonic’s nanoe X technology to inhibit harmful bacteria and viruses, and will help the cabins of future Jaguar and Land Rover models to deliver a unique customer experience. Jaguar Land Rover employs around 4,000 staff at its Halewood manufacturing site in South Liverpool.

The group partnered with Perfectus Biomed, a microbiology and virology lab which has a base on Sci-Tech Daresbury, to perform the world leading laboratory based sealed chamber test designed to simulate a vehicle ventilation system in recirculation mode over a 30-minute cycle.

The independent research showed that viruses and bacteria were inhibited by as much as 97%.

Panasonic’s technology has also been tested on novel coronavirus by Texcell, a global research organisation that specialises in viral testing and immunoprofiling, and is one of the laboratories in the world with permission to test against novel coronavirus. It found more than 99.995% of the virus was inhibited during the two hour laboratory test.

The technology will be available in models, including the Halewood-built Range Rover, and allows customers to enable the system before getting into the vehicle.

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Jim Akrill

The corporate finance team at PM+M has acted for the shareholders of Burnley-based RAM Services on the sale of the business to the firm’s senior management team. The value of the deal has not been disclosed.

RAM Services was established in 1980 and is a specialist structural repair and refurbishment contractor. It provides a range of services to the power and water supply and distribution sector, the wider civil engineering industry, and to a range of public sector organisations.

The MBO deal will see the shareholders retire and exit the business with Paul Howarth, contracts director, and James Best, business development manager, taking full control.

Majority shareholder, Richard Kayser said: “Selling a business that you have worked so hard to build up is always going to be a big decision. The last 40-plus years has been a fantastic journey, and we are happy to know that RAM Services is in great hands under Paul and James’ ownership.

Jim Akrill, corporate finance partner at PM+M, said: “We are pleased to have advised the shareholders of RAM on the sale of their business to the management team during such a challenging time. RAM is a robust business and is well positioned for future growth.”

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Phil Malthouse

Liverpool architect Brock Carmichael is working closely with Watkin Jones to deliver a large scale build-to-rent scheme in Lewisham, South East London.

The 365-apartments are set to be split between three buildings – the tower, which is 35 storeys, building 2, which is four-13 storeys, and building 3, which is seven storeys.

The site, a former surface car park for the adjacent Tesco store, received approval in 2020, Watkin Jones completed on the purchase in January 2021. The site is also adjacent to Lewisham DLR station, meaning that most central London locations are within a 30 minute commute.

Phil Malthouse, the partner leading the project at Brock Carmichael, said this is one of the biggest schemes the firm has had through its doors: “The scheme is set to make a striking and positive addition to the skyline of Lewisham, offering breathtaking views of the city to future tenants.”

Brock Carmichael is currently working on a number of other major projects across the UK, including a 1.5 hectare mixed use development and landscaping scheme in Bath within the World Heritage Site boundary, as well as various large scale housing schemes across the country.

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Alan Price

UnitedCity, the campaigning and research group of Manchester business leaders with plans to drive forward the economic recovery of Greater Manchester, has launched a free Back to Work helpline to get businesses COVID-secure and to support employers and employees who are not reasonably able to work effectively from home.

The helpline is provided by BrightSafe, the health & safety arm of Manchester-based HR software and employment law advice firm BrightHR, and will give UnitedCity members exclusive access to health & safety experts, who will advise on all the actions and procedures that businesses need to put in place to make their workplaces COVID-safe.

Transport for Greater Manchester is supporting the helpline and is working with United City to offer travel advice as part of the returning to work safely campaign. Businesses will be able to arrange a bespoke travel planning session with a TfGM travel advisers or book onto a free online surgery to ask questions about how staff can get to and from work, how customers visit businesses and how you receive or make deliveries, as well as much more.

Alan Price, CEO of BrightHR, said: “While the past year has shown that working from home can be done, it has also become clear that it is not sustainable as a full time solution for all businesses. Remote working has taken its toll on people’s mental wellbeing and has, at times, stifled in-person collaboration and career development. We all know of individuals with wellbeing or technical challenges at home, and the Back to Work helpline, provided by BrightSafe, will support employers in responding to these challenges.”

A spokesperson for UnitedCity said: “BrightSafe and BrightHR’s work will be absolutely pivotal in helping us to get Manchester back on its feet, and we’re very grateful to the team for providing this brilliant platform in support of UnitedCity.

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Photo credit FIG

Accrington-based Gymnova, a manufacturers of gymnastics equipment, has been appointed as the first World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 sponsor.

The company will provide equipment and technical support for the competition, which takes place from October 29, until November 6, next year.

More than 500 gymnasts from 75 countries are expected to compete at the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool, making it one of the largest international sporting events ever to be held in the city.

Kate Jones, managing director of Gymnova, said: “Our aim is to support gymnastics at every level, from grassroots through to major global events such as the World Gymnastics Championships. I practiced gymnastics from a young age, and I am passionate about sport, so to be appointed as a sponsor of the World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022 is a real honour for me, personally, and for our entire team. We are proud that this is the third time that Gymnova has been chosen as the preferred equipment supplier for this event.”

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) awarded the Championships to Liverpool following a combined bid between British Gymnastics, Liverpool City Council and UK Sport. Gemma Williams Fox, event director, said: “The appointment of Gymnova as our first sponsor marks a significant step in the planning of next year’s event and we are looking forward to welcoming and working with a range of different sponsors.”