North West business briefs: Apadmi; TAC Accountants; PureGym; Palatine; AI Global Robotics; Applied Nutrition
Technology consultancy, Apadmi, is forecasting a 66% growth in turnover for its current financial year following the expansion of its group across Europe.
Headquartered in Manchester, and with further offices across the UK and the Netherlands, Apadmi is the digital product partner for some of the world’s leading organisations including Domino’s, Co-op, NHS, BBC, Chelsea Football Club, and Argos Financial Services.
Following a turnover of £11.8m for the 12 months to March 2022, Apadmi is expecting a further 66% growth for year ending March 2023, attributed to the continued execution of its strategic expansion strategy, as well as a strong performance within its digital product offerings.
Former Google and Facebook lead, Stuart Lunn, who was appointed as UK managing director for Apadmi in June, said: “We are currently in a very challenging economic period, however the strength of Apadmi’s bottom line and the company’s decisive action surrounding its expansion is testament to our strategy, agility and the expertise of the team who have worked impressively hard to deliver growth. The last 12 months have seen us accelerate our expansion across the EMEA region, while also ensuring our offering diversifies beyond the mobile technology products which we are renowned for and into wider digital remits such as systems integration and product strategy.
“I am particularly pleased with the forecast for the next 12 months. The wider market is facing significant economic challenges but I am confident that as a business we are in a strong position to successfully navigate the environment and maintain our growth forecasts as we become an integral part of the UK’s technology landscape.”
Founded in 2009, Apadmi’s continued success has enabled it to become one of the foremost names in the technology sector, with its strong strategic direction, longevity and sales growth. Employing more than 200 staff, the company recently opened offices in Edinburgh and Utrecht, in addition to its Manchester and London facilities.
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Ben Thexton
Birkenhead-based TAC Accountants has been acquired by Leeds-headquartered Northern Accountants, for an undisclosed sum.
TAC was established in 2019 by founder Ben Thexton, and with a three-year plan to grow and sell the business, the move is perfectly “on schedule” he said.
Currently turning over £250,000 per annum and with 167 clients primarily in the property and construction sectors, TAC will retain all of its team, with Ben becoming director of the new look firm. But now forming part of the Northern Accountants business – a brand which already has bases in central Leeds, Ilkley, Doncaster and Hull – TAC will have access to a wider infrastructure and back office resource to drive further growth in the city of Liverpool.
Ben Thexton said: “In essence, it’s business as usual for TAC Accountants’ colleagues and customers, but we now have the support of an award-winning firm that has been nationally recognised for its ability to drive transformational financial change within its clients’ organisations. They’re extremely passionate about ensuring customers’ finance functions operate as efficiently as possible, and it’s my job to ensure more companies in Liverpool benefit from this level of service.”
Northern Accountants’ managing director and founder, Phil Ellerby, said: “We don’t currently have any clients in Liverpool, but as a business we have a personal affinity to the area, and we perform well in TAC’s key sectors. So, when Ben started talking to us about the sale of his company, conversations quickly gathered pace. We’re delighted to bring them into the Northern Accountants family.”
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An example of PureGym facilities
Gyms group, PureGym, is opening a new site in Tyldesley, its 20th in Manchester, creating 12 jobs.
PureGym opened its doors in Manchester in 2009 with the Manchester Spinningfields gym and since then its offer has proved hugely popular amongst residents and the sizeable student community, leading to the latest opening by the Leeds-based group.
PureGym Tyldesley is located on Castle Street, near to the Pelican Centre and the Union Arms. The large box gym is spread over 12,733 sq ft and will be open 24/7.
A spokesperson for PureGym, said: “Ever since we opened our first gym in Manchester Spinningfields in 2009, our flexible, affordable fitness proposition has remained incredibly popular as more and more people have come to recognise the benefits of exercise for both their physical and mental health.
“PureGym Tyldesley will be open 24/7. We look forward to welcoming new members.”
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From left: Olllie Devine (CTS), Darren Ward, Phil Coles
Manchester-based private equity firm Palatine has backed investee company CTS Group in its acquisition of geo-technical and geo-environmental specialist In Situ Site Investigation, for an undisclosed sum.
It is the latest of nine acquisitions that have given the Leicester-based technical consulting firm a leading position in testing infrastructure materials, surveying and monitoring services. Financial due diligence was provided by Grant Thornton, and legal advice by Browne Jacobson.
With headquarters in St Leonards-on-sea, East Sussex, In Situ Site Investigation employs 37 staff and operates internationally across many locations. The company is a well-established ground investigation services business founded in 2008 by managing director Darren Ward.
Phil Coles, chief executive at CTS Group, said: “With this latest acquisition, we are creating a premier infrastructure testing, consulting, inspection and compliance company. In Situ Site Investigation is an extraordinary company with a fantastic service offering and team, an incredible reputation and we are thrilled that they are joining the CTS Group.
Tom Hustler, investment director at Palatine, said: “Since we invested in CTS in 2018 we have successfully supported the management team in implementing a buy and build strategy to accelerate growth and amplify the many and varied qualities within the business. This transaction, CTS’s second acquisition within a week, represents our continued commitment to broadening CTS’s geographical coverage, as well as diversifying the group’s infrastructure services offering, in a bid to align a fragmented marketplace.”
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Gareth Jones
An entrepreneur is among the first in the country to introduce revolutionary new robots to the hard-hit hospitality sector, which is battling with staff shortages and a recruitment crisis post-pandemic.
To help meet demand, Gareth Jones launched AI Global Robotics, based in Deeside, Mochdre and St Asaph, in partnership with Pudu Robotics, a leader in manufacturing robots for a range of sectors and solutions. The Autonomous Indoor Delivery (AID) ‘Bellabots’ can carry up to 40kg on four trays, have human interaction capabilities and feature an innovative bionic design language, plus other state-of-the-art functions, and personalised modelling.
Gareth says the robots are not designed to replace workers but to support services in hospitality and other arenas including medical, cleaning, and industrial: “As the hospitality sector is in dire straits from a recruitment perspective due to the challenges of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic, this is an innovative way of alleviating some of that pressure.”
He added: “The last thing anyone wants is for robots to take people’s jobs and I want to make that very clear, but for the simpler, time-consuming tasks they can support table service while employees take care of more skilled tasks and deal with customers and focus on customer service. It’s a win-win for them at a time when more than 10% of vacancies in hospitality remain unfilled.”
Gareth, who also owns Carbon Zero and UK Leisure Living, has held exploratory talks with business owners in the region and further afield, and says interest is growing in hi-tech alternatives: “We’ve received very positive responses already and feedback from those who have purchased the robots – there are less than 200 of them in the country at present – points to a rise in footfall and customer satisfaction. The most exciting thing is that we are in the infancy of this, they’re only going to get better and better and later this year we will be introducing a new cleaning robot, which we’re very excited about as the technology is astounding.”
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Molly McCann
Liverpool-based sports nutrition business, Applied Nutrition, has signed up UFC superstar, Molly McCann, as its latest athlete to join its growing family of brand ambassadors.
Fresh from last month’s heroics at the O2 where McCann won her second Performance of the Night in a row for her first round victory over American Hannah Goldy, she is on an exciting winning streak from her last three fights and in the best form of her impressive career.
Applied Nutrition will support Molly through a tailored nutritional plan and products to optimise strength, conditioning and recovery during training and post-fight. Molly said: “I couldn’t be happier to have Applied Nutrition in my corner, I know the brand well and have used their products as part of my training programme for a long time.
“I work in the toughest sport in the world, so the fuel I use to get me through it is vital, so I’m made up to have a brand I love and trust supporting me.”
Thomas Ryder, Applied Nutrition’s managing director, said: “Molly’s shaken up the flyweight division with her incredible personality and epic performances and we are absolutely delighted she’s now part of the Applied Nutrition family.”
