NW business briefs: Three Wrens Distillery; Wigan Council; GenerationJuice; Napthens; Blackpool Council; Vincents Solicitors
Three Wrens Distillery, based at Combermere, Cheshire, will be working with Hammonds of Knutsford, the county’s largest wine and spirits wholesaler and one that supplies a variety of trade customers across the UK.
Hammonds is now stocking Three Wrens’ full range of gins and other spirits, and the two companies will be working closely together as Three Wrens continues its ambitious plans for expansion.
Hammonds of Knutsford is an independent, family run business that was founded in 1960 by Tony Hammond. Beginning in Wilmslow, the company originally sold Havana cigars. Today, it is managed by Tony’s son, Jonathan and supplies wines and spirits to bars, restaurants, independent retailers, and events companies throughout the North West and further afield.
Master distiller and owner of Three Wrens, Nick Wadeson, said: “We are so pleased to be working with Hammonds, they are true drinks specialists with a reputation for listing innovative and high quality spirits. We really look forward to introducing our range of craft spirits to their customers over the coming months and working closely together regionally, whilst also expanding our reach across the UK.”
Tim Dunlop, brand director at Hammonds of Knutsford, said: “Having known Nick for several years and being a big fan of his products it’s great to be adding the Three Wrens range to our extensive portfolio of wines and spirits. The fact the distillery is also Cheshire-based will no doubt have a real resonance with our customers, not just locally but also across the wider UK market.”
Jonathan Hammond said: “Three Wrens distil fantastic high quality spirits, and we are optimistic that our new alignment will provide the platform for the brand to expand across the entire UK.”
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Wigan town centre plans
Wigan Council has appointed PlaceCo to advise on the transition of Wigan Market as part of the wider Galleries redevelopment in Wigan town centre. Working in partnership with the council, the market management, animation and activation specialists will liaise with current and future traders to help with the move to the town’s new Market Hall that will include markets, retail, food and leisure.
Jackie Casey, managing director of PlaceCo, said: “This game changing development will transform Wigan into an even greater place to visit for local people and visitors from further afield. The current Market Hall is continuing to trade in its current location during the demolition of the wider Galleries shopping complex.
“We recognise the importance of supporting traders and keeping footfall levels as high as possible throughout the redevelopment. This will mean specific marketing, plus a schedule of events and animation that will eventually link into the launch of the new Market Hall space.”
Aidan Thatcher, director – growth and economy at Wigan Council, said: “Wigan Council is committed to investing in and supporting the market and its local traders to thrive, which is why we have appointed PlaceCo to drive footfall and support the existing market traders. We will be working closely with PlaceCo to identify ways to create a vibrant and enticing environment in and around the Market Hall, helping to ensure visitors continue to support their local businesses.”
Work started on the demolition of The Galleries Shopping Centre in July 2022. The new Market Hall is set to be the first building to be delivered as part of the mixed-use redevelopment project and is targeted to be open in 2024.
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A Wirral manufacturer of juice dispensers is using augmented reality to transform its sales process, drive productivity and create jobs.
GenerationJuice, based in Bromborough, makes app-driven drink dispensers, or drink hubs, designed to serve natural juice drinks from concentrate into reusable bottles, as an alternative to single use plastic and aluminium cans. After success in the leisure and hospitality industry the business, which launched in 2019, has started to target emerging markets such as education and healthcare.
It worked with Made Smarter’s Adoption Programme in the North West to develop a digital demo experience using augmented reality to enable customers to visualise the dispenser on their site while tasting samples of the drinks at the same time. The app-based solution eliminates the time-consuming and inefficient face-to-face demonstration process which typically ties up two sales staff for half a day.
GenerationJuice estimates that with new marketing activity to generate demo leads, productivity will increase by 600% and turnover by 50%. The technology investment has also created two jobs. Simon Edwards, co-founder, said: “The pandemic had a significant impact on the business, restricting our access to potential customers. We used the time to rethink the way we approached certain processes. Made Smarter’s support came at a crucial time and its support has helped us to shape our digital roadmap and accelerate our ambitions.”
Director of Made Smarter’s North West Adoption programme, Donna Edwards, said: “GenerationJuice is among hundreds of manufacturers in the region grasping the opportunities offered by Made Smarter which include expert, impartial technology advice, digital transformation workshops to help take that first step to transform a business, and support with technology investment.”
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Shakespeare North Playhouse
North West law firm Napthens has partnered with Shakespeare North Playhouse to provide HR and employment support over the next two years.
Based in Prescot, the 420-seat Shakespearean-era inspired playhouse opened in July 2022 as part of a £38m project to bring heritage and culture to the heart of the North West. The new theatre will serve as a hub for theatre performances, educational learning opportunities for local school children, as well as host visiting theatre companies and cultural events in the region.
Napthens will provide Shakespeare North with a combination of employment law and HR services such as contract drafting, appraisal process development, recruitment and induction process development, as well as assistance in upskilling line managers. Through the partnership, Napthens will also act as Shakespeare North’s outsourced HR partner to support the internal HR function and senior leadership team, ensuring the business’s objectives can be achieved by harnessing the potential of the workforce.
Jenny Heyes, head of People Projects at Napthens, said: “We’re proud to be supporting this exciting cultural project in the historic town of Prescot. As Shakespeare North Playhouse continues to grow, we’ll be providing HR and employment law support and helping Melanie and her team to create an inclusive and rewarding working environment that people are proud to be a part of and eager to join. Building a vibrant workforce can be an organisation’s best asset and we’re looking forward to helping the team achieve this goal.”
Melanie Lewis, chief executive at Shakespeare North Playhouse, said: “Partnering with Napthens has given us the reassurance that our employment and HR functions will be taken care of. As we look to create some of the North West’s most exciting theatre productions, and grow our team significantly in the process, it is crucial that we have rigorous employment processes in place. Having worked together with Jenny and her team in the past, I’m full of confidence that our HR operations are in safe hands.”
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Battery Electric Truck Trial
Blackpool Council’s Illuminations team is currently trialling a fully electrical 19-tonne truck as part of the Battery Electric Truck Trial (BETT).
The team has had use of the vehicle from April this year for the 12 month trial. To date the vehicle has covered 1,309 miles, seeing a reduction in carbon emissions of 1.52 tonnes compared with the regular trucks used by the team. By the end of the trial, it is estimated it will have saved 3.65 tonnes in emissions.
The new DAF Electric LF 19 tonne trucks, manufactured by Lancashire-based Leyland Trucks, can run more than 100 miles daily with zero emissions on a full single charge and can be rapidly charged for quick turnaround. They are the ‘first-to-market’ fully electrical vehicles over six tonnes.
The trial, run by DAF trucks, is funded by InnovateUK and Zero Emission Road Freight programme. It involves 20 trucks on loan throughout the North West of England and will assist in gathering data on the effectiveness of the vehicles and the performance of the trucks to help inform and advise customers interested in electric trucks within relevant industries. The trial will help obtain real-time data which will be used to help promote information on roll-out of the vehicles for purchase.
The use of the vehicle is particularly relevant to Blackpool Council’s declaration on climate emergency and its aim to achieve zero carbon emissions and 100% clean energy use by 2030 – in line with the Government’s targets to end the sale of non-zero emission on heavy goods vehicles for 2035. This, along with the fact that since 2020 the Blackpool Illuminations run on 100% renewable energy, all go towards reaching these targets.
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The Poulton-le-Fylde team
Vincents Solicitors has opened a new branch in Poulton-le-Fylde Lancashire. It is the firm’s seventh office in the county and will service clients across Blackpool, Wyre and north Fylde.
The nine-strong legal team has moved into new premises at Beckett House in Wyrefields on Poulton Industrial Estate. The office is located half way between existing branches in Lytham and Garstang and fills a geographic gap in service provision. Experienced commercial property solicitor Sophie Mercer becomes head of the Poulton branch and has been promoted to director of commercial property. Sophie, who lives in Poulton, will also now sit on the Vincents Solicitors management board.
Her team will comprise six commercial and residential property specialists, three of whom are relocating with her from the Jubilee House office in Lytham, and a three-strong private client team offering wills and probate services, moving to Poulton from the Garstang office.
Vincents Poulton will focus on providing commercial and residential property support to local businesses and individuals – including both landlords and tenants across the area’s industrial estates, business parks and retail premises – alongside the traditional branch services of residential conveyancing and private client work. Sophie said: “Blackpool and Wyre are home to a wealth of industry and entrepreneurial talent and, with future inward investment and regeneration initiatives coming forward, further commercial growth is inevitable. Many of these businesses will want to get the most from their commercial property leases and will benefit from our knowledge and expertise.”
The new Poulton team will be: Director, branch head and commercial property solicitor Sophie Mercer; commercial property apprentice solicitor Yasmine Dragan; commercial property trainee solicitor Tia Grimshaw; commercial property assistant Sophie Wane; residential conveyancing solicitor Sammi Keeley; residential conveyancing paralegal Kieran McGahey; probate specialist Amy Whiteside; private client assistant Virginia Webster; private client trainee Leah Harrison.
