North West business briefs: Liverpool John Lennon Airport; Anwyl Partnerships; JLL; Fisher German; Foundation 92

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) is off to a flying start following the publication of a report by Aviation analytics company Cirium that shows more flights depart on time from Liverpool than from any other airport in England.

Data collected by Cirium during 2021 highlights that 90.23% of all flights from LJLA departed within 15 minutes of their scheduled time – accepted as being on time within the aviation industry.

Liverpool topped the performance table when compared with other airports in England and only just behind the UK’s best performing airports of Belfast International and George Best Belfast City.

Paul Staples, LJLA’s operations director, said: “Despite the continued challenges due to COVID-19 on our operations over the past 12 months, we have continued to maintain the highest standards of operational performance and are particularly pleased to see that we lead the way in England when it comes to on time performance.

“This is really important both for our airline partners and for our passengers who choose to travel from here and is recognition for all the hard work by staff from the airport, airlines, handling agents and other companies working together to help flights operate on time.

“Passengers from across the city region, the North West and North Wales can continue to benefit from our ‘Faster Easier Friendlier’ approach, knowing that more flights from Liverpool depart on time than from any other airport in England.”

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Mike Nevitt

Anwyl Partnerships, specialists in the provision of residential land and build developments, has revealed plans to expand the business substantially in 2022 and beyond, with a growth of 100% taking turnover to £60m-plus.

The firm has enjoyed a strong performance during the past 12 months, and has remained resilient in the face of a challenging building environment and the extreme difficulties associated with COVID. During 2021, Anwyl Partnerships has strengthened its geographical coverage throughout the North West and North Wales, consolidating existing client relationships while securing new partnerships. As part of the company’s strategy, a further 10-12 staff are expected to be appointed to the growing team during the year ahead.

Mike Nevitt, managing director of Anwyl Partnerships, said: “The success of the past year and our ability to head with such confidence into 2022, is the result of a massive team effort, underpinned by a clear and cohesive strategy. We will continue to drive forward our land-led partnership model whilst still delivering projects under the framework approach.”

He added: “We have developed a great brand as part of a wider, long established group. We have a strong reputation and enjoy repeat business relationships backed by a solid infrastructure and good reserves.

“As part of the expansion programme, not only will we bring new people into the team, but we will explore and formalise new partnerships with consultancies, suppliers and other professional networks.”

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Supported by the region’s burgeoning property sector, real estate services specialist JLL said it is celebrating a year of significant growth having expanded its team in the North West by more than a quarter in 2021.

In a year in which the region’s commercial property market bounced back and residential demand continued to grow amid the pandemic, JLL North West has increased its headcount by 29%. Having recruited a further 36 new employees to its now 170-strong team – including 11 within its graduate and apprenticeship programmes – the firm is looking ahead to further success in 2022.

Much of the business’s growth over the past 12 months has been driven by its residential team, supported by the continued strength of the market in both Manchester and Liverpool city regions. It has also expanded its affordable housing team with the launch of a dedicated team to support the North, led by newly appointed director Richard Houghton.

JLL has also recruited 16 new members across its agency, building consultancy and valuation teams, as well as seeing head of development for the North of England, Tom McWilliams, and associate directors Alex Bright and Heather Turner return to the firm. McWilliam’s role will be to further grow the development team over the coming year.

Steve Hogg, head of North West and residential (UK regions) at JLL, said: “After the challenges presented by 2020, it’s been extremely rewarding to see the speed and manner in which the region’s property market has bounced back over the past 12 months. The North West – its cities in particular – continues to offer an outstanding place for businesses to operate, which is, in turn, supporting a thriving residential market.”

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Mark Gilkes

Property consultancy Fisher German has won a contract to provide land services for a low carbon and hydrogen energy project at the forefront of the UK’s drive to net zero after winning the contract to deliver land and consents services for Cadent’s 85km proposed hydrogen pipeline, a key part of the ground breaking HyNet North West decarbonisation project.

The proposed pipeline project forms part of the overall HyNet scheme, an innovative clean energy project. HyNet North West aims to unlock a low carbon future for the North West and North Wales, producing clean hydrogen to replace the fossil fuels being used in industry, transport and homes as well as capturing and storing carbon dioxide.

The project is made up of several different elements, including upgrades to existing facilities to produce hydrogen on scale, a carbon dioxide pipeline scheme and the development of a new hydrogen pipeline which will transport the alternative fuel between HyNet partners and future customers. The contract will see teams from Fisher German’s Knutsford and Stafford offices advising on matters including acquisitions and access rights and negotiations with affected landowners.

Mark Gilkes, of Fisher German, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be part of this ground breaking project. The proposed HyNet North West Hydrogen Pipeline project is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) which will require a Development Consent Order (DCO), and Fisher German has a vast amount of expertise in this area, with this alone being our third NSIP pipeline scheme.

“It’s, therefore, fantastic that we are able to play a part in an NSIP which is at the cutting edge of carbon reduction and will have such a significant impact on the UK achieving its net zero targets. We anticipate the project will take around three years, with the scheme aiming to help to decarbonise multiple sectors of the economy from 2025 onwards.”

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Foundation 92 has launched its #WordsThatCount campaign to deliver financial training to young people over age 14, alongside Experian and the National Literacy Trust. The financial inclusion programme, which was piloted in the summer, will take participants on a 10-week course teaching them life skills such as money management, budgeting, paying bills, ISA accounts and the implications of debt amongst other important financial topics.

The programme, which is bespoke for Foundation 92, has been crafted to support those young people who may not have had access to some of these lessons aiming to support them as they begin to start managing their finances.

Foundation 92 focuses on supporting people to improve their lives through sport, with an emphasis on positive physical and mental wellbeing. It was founded in 2018 by Manchester United’s Class of 92.

Tom Hutton, head of Foundation 92, said: “Following a hugely successful pilot programme in the summer we are delighted to continue working with Experian on this project. We were able to provide 40 young people with financial literacy skills which are invaluable for their development. Alongside the National Literacy Trust, who helped us deliver this project, we are looking forward to continuing the roll out across the region on a hugely important topic.”

Colin Grieves, managing director of marketing services at Experian, said: “It’s great to work with Foundation 92 and the National Literacy Trust following a successful pilot period. We are committed to improving the lives of young people’s financial health. This age group have been heavily impacted by the effects of COVID-19 so it is essential that we provide the support needed to help them succeed and avoid long term problems associated with financial difficulty, such as poor mental health.”