North West business briefs: Kinaxia Logistics; TES Communication Solutions; Liverpool Chamber; Kendal BID; BDO
Kinaxia Logistics has renewed its sponsorship deal with Betfred Super League Champions St Helens for the 2022 season.
The Macclesfield-based group has signed up to be a platinum partner which will once again see its logo feature on the Saints’ home and away kits and replica jerseys. In addition, Kinaxia has two pitch-side signs at the Saints’ Totally Wicked Stadium and will have a full page advertisement in the digital programme for every home game.
The new season gets under way this week as Saints bid for a record-breaking fourth successive Super League title. They kick off the campaign with a home match against Catalans Dragons on Thursday, in a repeat of the 2021 Grand Final.
Kinaxia employs more than 1,600 staff across its businesses and has a fleet of more than 800 vehicles which transport goods for supermarkets and other retailers as well as the leisure, food and drink and manufacturing sectors.
One of its companies is Mark Thompson Transport, based in Warrington. Mark’s son, Luke, is a former Saints player who is now with Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs in Australia. Mark said: “We have a strong bond with the club – the most successful in Super League history – and we wish them well for the forthcoming campaign.”
Saints’ general manager, Dave Hutchinson, said: “Our partnership with Kinaxia continues to go from strength to strength. They once again feature on our playing shirts. We value their continued support and we are looking forward to working with the team at Kinaxia again in 2022 and beyond.”
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Go North West
A Greater Manchester bus operator will move into the digital age with a new radio communications system developed to provide a range of benefits to the travelling public.
The new digital radio system, designed and deployed by Leyland-based TES Communication Solutions, will be capable of enhanced voice, data and fleet management functionality for the fleet of bus operator Go North West.
Serving regions across Greater Manchester, including Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford and Warrington, the upgrade will make the buses some of the best equipped in the UK to manage bus movements, enjoy reliable real time communications, and enhance passenger safety.
Connor Lomas, of Go North West, said: “This upgrade to the latest technology will revolutionise the way we are able to manage our services with increased ability to communicate between drivers, inspectors and central control. The travelling public of Greater Manchester will see the benefits and we will be working with TES to ensure this happens as efficiently and as quickly as possible.”
Steve Smith, managing director of TES, said: “This agreement brings a new level of service for the operator, people and communities using these buses across Greater Manchester. We have a long history of providing radio communications to a significant proportion of the Greater Manchester transport network and this next step will upgrade the Go North West fleet and infrastructure to a technology fit for the future.”
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Paul Cherpeau, centre, with members of the Morecrofts Solicitors team
Liverpool Chamber has launched a new legal team for its members, in conjunction with Morecrofts Solicitors in a joint project that will give chamber members immediate access to a range of Morecrofts’ legal services, including commercial, property and employment law as they bid to plot their recovery from the pandemic.
The Liverpool Chamber Legal Team will be operated on a ‘triage’ basis, whereby a dedicated team of Morecrofts lawyers will be on hand to receive enquiries from chamber members and respond to them in accordance with their urgency and complexity through an initial free consultation.
Morecrofts is a strategic partner of Liverpool Chamber which said this new relationship reaffirms the growing connection between the two organisations, which are both headquartered in the Cotton Exchange building.
Alison Lobb, managing partner at Morecrofts, said: “We are pleased to embark on our new Liverpool Chamber Legal Team and we look forward to supporting members across a range of matters. As organisations begin to look ahead and plan for the future, they will undoubtedly face challenges and questions that require the support of qualified legal expertise and we are delighted to put our team at their disposal.”
Paul Cherpeau, chief executive of Liverpool Chamber, said: “We speak to businesses in the Liverpool City Region every day who are facing a myriad of challenges around the effective recruitment of people, complicated tenancy and property issues or accessing funding for their recovery or growth projects. Having dedicated legal support on hand, referred by the chamber and handled expertly by Morecrofts, will give them an extra layer of certainty and reassurance as they explore new markets or expand their footprint.”
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Two initiatives to increase footfall and boost business in the town centre have been launched by Kendal Business Improvement District (BID).
For the first time Kendal BID is offering businesses grants of up to £300 to help fund the cost of training and upskilling their staff. And it has also launched a second round of shop front grants worth up to £500 each to help businesses decorate or generally improve their frontages. This scheme is being run in conjunction with South Lakeland District Council, which will match the £500 sum.
The BID has developed the initiatives to help the local economy in the wake of all the disruption caused by the COVID pandemic. Denise Thompson, one of its directors, said any business within the BID’s area could apply for a training and development grant, which could also cover the costs of any travelling needed to carry out the training.
“The main criterion is that the training will improve the business,” she said. “For example, a beauty salon might use it to pay for a junior beauty therapist to go on a shellac course, or a business could, perhaps, pay for a member of staff to do some spreadsheet or social media training. If staff learn new skills the business might be able to offer a new service which will improve its financial position.
“As for the shop front grants, if a frontage looks in need of improvement people will walk past. But if it looks fresh and has ‘kerb appeal’, that will encourage people to come inside and spend money.”
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Nigel Britton
Accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO has partnered with social mobility charity LTSB (Leadership Through Sport & Business) to launch a new initiative supporting young people in Liverpool kick-start their careers linked to this week’s National Apprenticeship Week.
The new four-week long programme includes employability workshops, coaching for job applications and support with interview techniques. The course also includes insight into a career in professional services, as well as a sports leadership qualification delivered in partnership with Liverpool FC Foundation. Once candidates have completed the programme there will also be opportunities to apply for several permanent Liverpool-based positions within the firm.
LTSB was set up as a charity in 2012 to help prepare and support bright young people from disadvantaged backgrounds throughout the country. This involves helping them to build their professional skills and find suitable employment opportunities within firms like BDO and other large employers.
Nigel Britton, partner and head of BDO’s Liverpool offices, said: “BDO has worked with LTSB for a number of years. We now employ more than 10 people in permanent positions across our Liverpool offices as a direct result of our work with this fantastic charity.”
Joe Eaves is an associate in BDO’s Liverpool office who joined the firm through LTSB two years ago. He said: “I would strongly recommend this type of course for anyone wanting to learn more about the world of business and work, or who wants to increase their confidence and explore different career paths in industries they may not know much about.”
