NW business briefs: Morson Group; Sound Pound Consortium; Emmaus Department Store; Armistead Wind Farm; eBay; AJ Bell
Salford-based global recruitment and design consultancy business, Morson Group, has celebrated another milestone in delivering the company’s vision for developing future generations of STEM talent (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths), with the official opening of a new learning centre in Salford.
The facility, located in The Beacon Centre, is a collaboration between the University of Salford, The University of Manchester, and national education charity IntoUniversity. It aims to provide long term educational support to young people facing disadvantage, who are typically underrepresented in higher education.
Morson’s sponsorship of the new learning centre, as one of a number of donors, builds on the company’s commitment to STEM skills and social mobility. The company has already established the Morson STEM Foundation in partnership with the University of Salford, which offers undergraduate scholarships, and is the main financial backer for the Morson Maker Space at the University of Salford.
Located in the university’s new £65m Science, Engineering & Environment Building, the Maker Space is a STEM centre designed to provide students with opportunities to innovate and gain hands-on experience of the types of equipment used in the workplace. CEO of Morson Group, Ged Mason, said: “Our involvement with the new learning centre, through IntoUniversity and the University of Salford, closes the loop when it comes to inspiring and supporting future talent in STEM.
“As a global talent business working with some of the world’s most progressive companies, we know that the workplace of the future will rely on the next generation of STEM talent. All too often, potential is lost early in the education journey, perhaps because children weren’t switched on to the excitement and variety of STEM subjects, or due to socio economic factors.”
Working closely with local schools, businesses and universities, the centre offers long term support to young people aged 7-18, helping them to discover their focus, build their capabilities and, ultimately, have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Support offered at the centre includes after-school academic support, mentoring with local university students and professionals, in-school aspiration-raising workshops and enrichment and work experience opportunities. Once established, the centre will support more than 1,000 students per year.
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Andy Burnham with the GM credit unions
All eight credit unions across Greater Manchester have united in response to the ongoing affordability crisis caused by rising household costs, through the Sound Pound consortium which has unveiled a new loan, backed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
The Sound Pound loan provides a safe solution for local people who are experiencing squeezed finances due to rising household costs. The city region is unique as it is currently the only consortium of credit unions in the UK which has launched a loan product in response to the cost-of-living crisis.
Any money made by a credit union is invested back into the running of the credit union and the local area allowing them to offer fair rates to all their customers. The new Sound Pound loan is available for any amount between £200 and £1,000 and is open to anyone with squeezed finances that are new to credit unions.
Sheenagh Young, chair of Sound Pound and CEO of South Manchester Credit Union, said: “With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, we know there are many people living in our communities who usually get by ok but are now experiencing a real squeeze and are unsure where to turn for help. As credit unions, we can help and our new Sound Pound loan is our response to help local people get back on track and avoid any long term impacts of inflation and rising household costs.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Credit Unions have a key role to play in the financial crisis that we all now face. I’m delighted to see them come together across Greater Manchester to provide a local and ethical alternative to the highinterest payday loan companies and loan sharks. Credit unions represent a positive, safe solution to short term credit pressures. Sound Pound is a fantastic initiative that shows Greater Manchester is doing things differently and coming together to support each other.”
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Beneficiary Nick after his haircut
Emmaus Department Store in Rochdale is calling for local businesses to support people working their way out of homelessness, after linking up with volunteer hairdressing team Haircuts 4 Homeless.
Six beneficiaries of the Emmaus charity department store at Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre received free hair makeovers from volunteer Hannah Yates, signalling the start of a new volunteering relationship. Haircuts 4 Homeless plan to continue its visits permanently, supporting the homelessness charity’s drive to restore lost confidence and boost self esteem among people in need.
Nick, before his cut
Emmaus Burnley helps adults with experience of homelessness in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, providing a home, personalised support, and meaningful work and training for adults. Funding comes from the sale of second hand and new goods at Emmaus Department Store in Rochdale Exchange on Market Way.
Hannah Yates said: “I personally like working with Emmaus because people there want to help themselves and each other towards better outcomes. People helped by Emmaus are very well supported and I feel that when I visit Emmaus communities. I’m so grateful that I’m able to use my skills as a hairdresser to make people feel better.”
Director of Emmaus Burnley, Stephen Buchanan, said: “Emmaus Burnley is on the look out for businesses and organisations who would like to help and would like to open up a voluntary skills library to help people receiving support here with health and wellbeing opportunities as well as work experience and training. Taking care of yourself can be a low priority, or all but impossible, for people struggling to find food, somewhere to live or someone to turn to. It’s wonderful to see stylists and barbers volunteering their time. We would love more local organisations to come on board to help Emmaus support people to start feeling more human again.”
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Armistead Wind Farm
Armistead Wind Farm, in Cumbria, has been granted permission to operate for up to an additional 15 years. Banks Renewables was originally given permission to construct and operate the farm, which sits to the east of the M6 between junctions 36 and 37, for a maximum of 25 years, and began generating green electricity on the site in 2013.
In May last year, Banks Renewables, working with development consultancy Pegasus Group, submitted a planning application to South Lakeland District Council for permission to run the six-turbine scheme for an additional 15 years, taking its expected lifetime to a maximum of 40 years.
No aspects of the wind farm’s day-to-day operation will change, no new turbines are being planned and all the original planning conditions, including those which protect the residential amenity of local residents, remain unaltered.
The farm produces enough clean electricity to meet the annual needs of more than 8,000 homes and, by doing so, it displaces more than 5,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the electricity supply network. It also generates almost £14,000 every year for the Armistead Wind Farm Community Fund, which supports local community and environmental projects put forward by local voluntary groups and charities. The fund will also be extended for a further 15 years.
Richard Dunkley, managing director of Banks Renewables, said: “Our aim is to maximise the environmental, energy security and social benefits that can be delivered through the Armistead Wind Farm, a process which extending its permitted lifespan by a further 15 years will now allow us to do.”
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Vicky Dean
Online market place, eBay has awarded almost £30,000 to 17 businesses across the North West, made up of cash grants of up to £5,000 and support packages worth £1,200 each.
The eBay Business Roadshow invites small businesses across the country to apply for grants and packages to support with growing their online shops. In addition to the grants, winning small businesses benefit from a full year of 1-2-1 mentoring with an eBay ambassador to support their unique growth journey.
The Roadshow visited the North West to offer guidance and training on starting a business with eBay, sustainable basics for small businesses as well as access to the regional support available in the area. Successful applicants in the North West sell a range of pre-loved items including vintage clothing, jewellery, high quality packaging, wallpaper and DIY products, as well as clutches for cars.
A panel of expert judges with representatives from the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Britain attended the roadshow event in Salford. They considered the entrepreneurs’ need for funds, how they plan to use the money, and whether the funds would have a positive social impact through sustainable business practices or support for the local community.
Oldham-based Hirst Footwear was one of the recipients of a grant worth £2,000. Its large brick-and-mortar Footwear and Workwear store is 40 years old, owned and run by Vicky Dean and her family, and is well known in its local area of Royton. The heritage brand’s online journey began on eBay 12 years ago, and since then Vicky has helped to scale the business, which has launched two of its own websites. The judges recognised her entrepreneurial vision and passion for making the customer service as smooth as possible. Vicky said: “With the continued support and funding from eBay, we’ll be able to broaden our online offering and drive our vision for development over the coming months.”
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Manchester-based investment platform AJ Bell, is to be the title sponsor of the British leg of the 2023 World Triathlon Championship Series, this year hosted in Sunderland by British Triathlon and Sunderland City Council.
Having supported the World Triathlon Championship Series events in Leeds since 2018, AJ Bell has once again partnered with Britain’s showpiece swim, bike, run event. Hosted at Sunderland’s Roker Beach for the first time on July 29-30, the weekend will bring together elite athletes seeking qualification points for the Paris Olympic Games, first-time participants in swim, bike, run, and triathletes seeking to become British champion.
Andy Salmon, British Triathlon CEO, said: “Bringing the World Triathlon Championship Series to Sunderland is a fantastic opportunity to grow participation in swim, bike, run, and we’re delighted to carry on working with AJ Bell to help make this happen.”
Charlie Musson, brand and PR director at AJ Bell, said: “Triathlon is such an inclusive sport and we are thrilled to be helping bring this elite and mass participation event to Sunderland for the first time in its history. Roker beach will be a fantastic setting for the transition zones of the triathlon and the races will kick off in spectacular fashion with a beach start as competitors head into the North Sea for the swim leg.”
Cllr Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Together with British Triathlon, we are creating some really exciting new opportunities for our residents to take part in swim bike run and to be part of the World Series weekend in many ways, whether that’s taking part in the BIG Swim Bike Run or Swim Bike Run Mini for families, helping out as a volunteer or coming along to see the action-packed event unfold along our stunning seafront.”
