North West business briefs: Baltic Ventures; Castore; Direct Heating Group; Dept for Transport; Bowker Ribble Valley

Applications for a new Northern-based accelerator, Baltic Ventures, have officially opened for early-stage tech companies to apply for their first programme, ‘Accelerator 2023’. Each successful applicant will receive equity backing and access to unrivalled expert mentoring. Applications close in June 2023, with Accelerator 2023 starting in September.

Made possible by a £4.1m investment from Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, over the next five years, Baltic Ventures aims to create a platform and community to support tech companies to access angel and VC investment without needing to relocate to London. The programme is open to highly scalable companies with an early product or prototype and the potential to make positive changes in the world. Each successful company joining the programme will receive an initial £50,000 in equity backing, alongside a tailored four-month programme that includes mentoring, masterclasses and networking with investors who have the potential to provide follow-on funding.

Claire Lewis, CEO said: “On each programme, we will be working with a maximum of 10 companies, to offer each founding team a tailored programme to optimise their success. As a platform, our ambition is to break patterns of bias by creating an inclusive space where the best founders can succeed, and anyone has the opportunity to realise their company’s potential.”

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Baltic Ventures will help us identify and unlock the potential of early-stage companies and back them with the equity and mentoring they need to succeed. There’s no reason our area shouldn’t one day be able to stake its claim as a Silicon Valley of the North – and attract the many thousands of jobs and training opportunities it will create in a key industry of the future. If anywhere is capable of it, it’s the Liverpool City Region.”

Mo Aldalou, programme director, said: “Having engaged with and supported hundreds of founders over the last five years, I’ve seen first hand that great founders can come from anywhere and be anyone. We operate from the Liverpool City Region, but we are looking for ambitious founders from across the UK and the world while playing our part in establishing LCR as a global tech destination.

“Being a founder can be lonely and challenging and the scaling journey is not without its pitfalls – but having access to a network of peers, coaches, mentors, investors and later-stage founders can be transformational to a company’s growth trajectory. We’re incredibly excited to launch applications to Accelerator 2023 and I look forward to working closely with our first cohort.”

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Joe Joyce

Premium performance sportswear brand, Manchester-based Castore, has introduced World Boxing Organisation Interim Heavyweight Champion, Joe Joyce, as the newest brand ambassador for 2023. The athlete, who currently holds 15 wins with 14 knockouts under his belt, is the first tier one boxing ambassador to join the Castore family.

Joyce, who won the WBO Interim Heavyweight title in September after KOing Joseph Parker, is now on the way to becoming the world’s number one with an unbeaten record and the highest KO percentage in the heavyweight division. Not only is his record impressive, but he is also an advocate for determination and hard work when it comes to training to be the best, meaning that even though he came into the boxing ring and spotlight later in his career he has gone on to become an undefeated heavyweight champion.

The announcement, which is Castore’s first foray into the main boxing arena, comes ahead of the Joyce vs Zhang fight at the Copper Box Arena, London on Saturday, April 15. Joyce will be striving to defend his WBO Interim Heavyweight title in the 12-round bout against Zhang, who currently has a 24-1-1 record.

Joyce said: “I’m very excited that I can now announce that I’m Castore’s newest brand ambassador, and the first tier one boxer to join the brand’s roster of athlete ambassadors. I’m determined to become a best heavyweight in the world, and I’m always striving to improve and develop my skills, and I’m confident that Castore’s high performance, technical garments will help me to achieve these goals.”

Sam Lucas, chief partnership officer at Castore, said: “With the upcoming Joyce vs Zhang fight just days away, now is the perfect time to announce this undefeated athlete as our latest brand ambassador. Joyce is determined to reach the next level of his career, which requires a persistence and commitment that we admire, and we’re confident that Castore will help him unlock this potential.”

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Fireplace Superstore

Direct Heating Group has acquired Fireplace Superstore, the 5,000 sq ft fireplace showroom in the North West, based in Cheadle Hulme, for an undisclosed sum. This purchase is a strategic move as Cheadle-based Direct Heating Group seeks to further build its brand by increasing awareness and reach with an omni-channel offering across the UK.

Adam Leah, CEO, said: “The purchase of Fireplace Superstore allows Direct Heating Group to further strengthen its portfolio. Fireplace Superstore offers a level of choice that amplifies our current offering and allows us to reach even more customers across the country.

“We believe this to be the best showroom within the region, and in a prime location to reach and engage our customer base. It’s another exciting move for the business as we strive towards becoming the UK’s leading multi-channel stoves and fireplaces retailer.”

The acquisition of Fireplace Superstore follows a £3m investment from Arete Capital Partners and TDC Impact Fund in early 2022 when the business also acquired Fairways Fireplaces in the Midlands.

The deal was led by Mike Bound from Arete, with Terry Moore and Olivia Sturgess and Charlotte Hook of Myerson advising on legals. The investment, acquisition and organic growth has generated an impressive 47% increase in group turnover in fiscal year 2023.

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Mark Harper MP

Road users across the North West will benefit from a £3.6m boost to enhance the safety of some of the most high-risk roads in the region, the Department for Transport has revealed.

The five road schemes benefitting from this latest injection of funding around the North West include: A586 in Blackpool between A584 and A587; A5105 between the A6 and the A589 in Morecambe; A5038 in Liverpool between A59, A562 and A5047; A6042 in Salford between A6 and A665; A625 between the A61 in Sheffield; and the B6375 near Whirlow.

Through the Safer Roads Fund, these five roads form part of 27 new schemes across England will be delivered, benefiting road users around the country by driving forward safety improvements such as re-designing junctions and improving signage and road markings. The programme will reduce the risk of collisions, in turn reducing congestion, journey times and emissions.

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said:  “Britain’s roads are some of the safest in the world, but we are always looking at ways to help keep motorists and all road users safer.

“That’s why this £3.6m injection for cities across the North West is the first crucial step to ensuring local councils have the support they need to keep everyone safe, while also reducing congestion and emissions.”

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Bowker Ribble Valley service controller Anthony Friend, left, and technician Andy Armstrong

Bowker Ribble Valley car dealership, in Osbaldeston, Lancashire, has installed its first defibrillator after an employee who suffered from chest pains required an ambulance.

Andy Armstrong, a technician at the dealership, fell unwell on June 17, last year. After a short stay in Blackburn Royal Hospital, he has recovered. But, the experience prompted discussions about installing a defibrillator on site. More than 20 Bowker Ribble Valley staff are now getting to grips with the new defibrillator. St. John Ambulance provided on-site first aid training for employees.

Andy said: “I was lucky. The ambulance service responded quickly. And their prompt care made all the difference. It was an anxious time, and the experience made me think of others who may also need help. We started talking about having a defibrillator on-site. It’s great news that we’ve installed one. Better still, it will be available to anyone in the local area who may need it.”

Since their introduction in the early 2000s, The UK Resuscitation Council say that defibrillators have saved more than 30,000 lives in the UK. Many private UK companies and organisations now have defibrillators in case of a cardiac emergency. Bowker Motor Group now has six defibrillators across sites in Preston and Blackburn.

Director, Chris Eccles, said: “We are grateful that Andy is fit and well. His experience was a timely reminder to us all. Our investment in another defibrillator will make a positive impact on our community. Health, wellbeing, and safety are top priorities. It is another small way we can help make a difference.”