North West business briefs: Edit Suits; R&B Switchgear; PaintWell; Hydrogen Experience Centre; Alcedo Care; Canada Goose
Business-focused Edit Suits Co. has opened new stores, in Manchester’s King Street, and Victoria Gate, Leeds.
The two new outlets add to the original showroom in London’s Bow Lane, as well as bases in Bond Street and Birmingham, and a further site in Singapore.
The brainchild of Swiss-born Patrick Jungo and Reto Peter, Edit Suits Co. was created after the duo found that off-the-rack clothing didn’t quite fit and bespoke tailoring was too expensive. Relying on their insights into the industry they worked to dramatically reduce supply chain costs. As a result, they can now offer custom suits from £399 and shirts from £69.
Reto said: “Over the last few years we have been delighted with the growth of the business, even during the pandemic, and our two new UK stores are a testament to this success. Manchester and Leeds are the perfect next steps for us – we have a number of clients from both cities who either shop online with us or travel to London, so it seemed right that we came to them instead.
“We were instantly impressed with King Street and Victoria Gate – they are steeped in history and have long been renowned as the premium retail destinations in the North of England.”
The Manchester store is due to open on October 31. Offering an appointment service, customers meet with a personal stylist who runs them through the extensive array of customisations and fabrics. Each custom-made suit takes around three to six weeks to create, depending on fabric choice, and if any alterations are required they will be carried out locally.
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Philippines Light Rail Transit Authority
Manchester-based specialist engineering firm, R&B Switchgear Group is celebrating a prestigious electrical restoration project with the Philippines Light Rail Transit Authority in Manila (LRTA).
The power distribution expert has been appointed by the government’s rail authority to repair 52 original Whipp & Bourne MM74 circuit breakers and 14 switchgear panels following a flash-over incident which resulted in significant fire damage. The company underwent a rigorous tendering process in partnership with Brownsteel Prime Parts & Services Corporation and was awarded the bid as a result of the unrivalled experience of Whipp & Bourne and heritage equipment.
It is anticipated that the project will take 12 months to complete and will help to improve the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the capital’s leading transport network. This is the second landmark contract the company has been awarded by the LRTA and follows a move to create an Asia-Pacific hub with the launch of a Singapore office in 2018.
R&B Switchgear Group director, Mark Beswick, said: “R&B already has a proven track record of working with global transport providers such as London Underground, UK Power Networks, Melbourne Metro and Baltimore Light Rail Link (USA). In fact, many of our engineers were involved in the original design and commissioning of these Whipp & Bourne products, meaning we can apply a breath of experience and skills to deliver the best results for our client.”
As part of this extensive project, R&B will undertake restoration work at both its head office manufacturing facility in Manchester, and on site in Manila.
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PaintWell Northwich store
Wirral-based PaintWell, an independent paint distributor and decorators merchant, has acquired Promain UK, for an undisclosed sum.
Following its strategic partnership with Cairngorm Capital Partners in March 2021, PaintWell’s initial focus was on expanding its network of branches geographically and developing its e-commerce platform, resulting in eight new branches across the North West, Midlands and Yorkshire. The acquisition of Promain broadens PaintWell’s growth strategy further and extends the platform for PaintWell’s new industrial paints division.
Promain is the UK’s largest distributor of industrial paints and surface coatings. Headquartered in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, Promain is the preferred UK distributor for many of the world’s leading paint and surface coatings manufacturers. Due to its expert technical knowledge of the technologies and materials available across the industry, and the quality of support provided by its technical team, Promain has built a reputation for outstanding service among its trade and retail customers.
The acquisition facilitates Promain’s owners, Mark French and Carol Barry, retirement from the business and accelerates PaintWell’s industrial paint strategy. Promain will form the cornerstone of PaintWell’s new industrial paints division. The strength of its supply chain and technical expertise pairs well with PaintWell’s existing industrial paints offering and external sales expertise, creating a platform for further development and growth.
Stuart Slocombe, PaintWell’s managing director, said: “The Promain team is highly respected across the industry for their formidable technical and product knowledge, and great service. Culturally we share the same independent approach and service ethic so this partnership provides an important springboard for our new industrial paint division and will broaden the range of products that we are able to offer our trade customers.”
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Hydrogen Experience Centre
The North West’s first hydrogen demonstration facility open to the public is now welcoming local residents of Ellesmere Port – a major milestone in the UK journey to ‘net zero’.
It is hoped that around 2,000 homes in the Whitby area of the town will be the UK’s first Hydrogen Village. They will use 100% hydrogen for heating, cooking and hot water, instead of the natural gas they use now. Everything is on track for this to happen in 2025. Cadent, British Gas and Cheshire West and Chester Council, the partners in this project, have now opened the Hydrogen Experience Centre, off McGarva Way, Whitby.
The facility is open for anyone to come and ask questions, as well as see two boilers, fires, a hob and other common household appliances all fuelled by 100% hydrogen. Customers within the area proposed for the Hydrogen Village can also book here an in-home assessment, which includes a free gas safety check of their existing appliances.
Climate Minister, Graham Stuart, said: ”Great that we’re all invited to Cadent’s hydrogen demonstration centre in Whitby – to see how hydrogen could be an energy source for homes. We want to know what the public think – so the UK decarbonises better and faster. We’re setting up lots of trials to find out hydrogen’s potential to provide heating – and get the public’s input.”
Marc Clarke, head of hydrogen consumer at Cadent, said to local residents: “Come and talk to us. We want to tell you all about the project, show you the hydrogen gas appliances and answer your questions. Why not have a go at cooking a pancake or get cosy in front of the 100% hydrogen gas fire? If you have any questions about hydrogen, the Hydrogen Village project, or in-home assessments, come in and have a chat. We are more than happy to answer your questions.”
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Latest Alcedo Care opening
North West independently owned and family run home care provider, Alcedo Care Group, has opened a new office on Market Place in Kendal.
Representing a £225,000 investment for the fast growing home care provider, Kendal is the company’s first branch on a traditional high street, and also its first in Cumbria creating approximately 80 local jobs.
Covering all areas of South Lakes and beyond, the new team in Kendal will deliver Alcedo Care Group’s portfolio of home care services including personal care, nursing, nurse-led complex care and support and companionship to those wishing to remain independent in their own homes. The company will also offer live-in care, a service which has seen a huge increase in demand from rural and semi-rural areas since the COVID pandemic.
Managing director of Alcedo Care Group, Andy Boardman, said: “We are thrilled to open our first office in Cumbria and look forward to becoming part of the wonderful community in Kendal. Already well established across the North of England, we had received many enquiries from people in Cumbria looking for high quality home care services and delighted to respond with the opening of this dedicated new branch to serve South Lakes.
“The Kendal opening is a milestone for us as it is our first branch on a high street. Care is so very personal, and our ethos is all about quality delivered by our team of amazing carers. Historically under-served for top quality home care, we are already making plans to expand further across Cumbria.”
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Global clothing retailer Canada Goose is opening a permanent store in Manchester’s New Cathedral Street, bringing its unique Canadian warmth to the city that was recently voted one of the friendliest in the world.
The newly refurbished location enables fans of the brand in and around the North West to explore its collection of performance luxury apparel, while highlighting its purpose to keep the planet cold and the people on it warm.
Carrie Baker, Canada Goose president, said: “We are proud to officially call Manchester home, following the success of our recent pop-up which was well received by local shoppers and international visitors alike.
“This permanent store gives guests the opportunity to learn what our promise to inspire and enable all people to thrive in the world outside truly means. We look forward to telling our brand story directly and providing an unfiltered and elevated experience to our loyal community in Manchester.”
Located at the heart of the city’s thriving central retail district, the space is designed to combine the essence of Canada Goose with the cultural and creative prowess of modern Manchester. It draws on high quality materials inspired by nature and showcases artwork from the Canada Goose Northern Art Collection, including four pencil and ink works by Meelia Kelly and a stone sculpture by Kellipllik Ashoona.
