North West business briefs: THG; Tyler Grange; Preston Partnership; Red Run; Everton FC; Manchester Storm
Ahead of last weekend’s 2023 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Williams Racing announced a ground-breaking multi-year partnership with Manchester-based THG, the global proprietary technology platform specialising in taking brands direct to consumers.
The multi-dimensional agreement sees THG come on board with Williams Racing as an official partner across Nutrition, Technology & Ecommerce and Sustainability. Throughout the remainder of the 2023 season and in years to come, THG will support Williams Racing through three of its global brands, bringing world-leading sports nutrition, ecommerce solutions and sustainability expertise.
THG’s Myprotein, the online sports nutrition brand, joins as Williams Racing’s Official Nutrition Partner. This will focus on driving the Williams team and its audiences towards a healthier, more active lifestyle. Ingenuity, THG’s complete digital commerce offering, becomes an Official Technology and Ecommerce Partner of Williams Racing. Ingenuity will integrate its data-driven approach, proprietary software and technology to manage the global fulfilment of Williams Racing merchandise for e-commerce, improving speed to market, customer loyalty and satisfaction, and overall efficiency.
THG Eco, a sustainable solutions advisor specialising in net-zero and climate action services, enters as an Official Sustainability Partner, with the team leveraging this expertise to realise effective measurement of carbon.
THG CEO, Matt Moulding, said: “In a world where nutrition fuels performance, technology drives innovation and sustainable practices protect our environment, THG is perfectly positioned to bring our expertise to Formula 1 – the pinnacle of global motorsport.”
James Vowles, team principal, Williams Racing, said: “Williams Racing has always been known as a disruptor in the racing world, including championing new technologies and challenging the status quo through innovation. We have found an equally future-focused and ambitious partner in THG, a British data-driven tech group and brand builder on the global stage and we’re excited to take on this journey together.”
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Simon Ursell
Manchester-based environmental consultancy Tyler Grange has been appointed to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Advisory Board on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG).
ESG, or corporate sustainability practices, have never been higher on the agenda. Now, as a member of this Group, Tyler Grange leaders meet with parliamentarians, regulators, think tanks, investors and other business heads to drive forward the nation’s ESG policy agenda and provide technical and practical advice to the Government.
To reduce its carbon footprint, and meet its ESG goals, Tyler Grange has made its supply chain and business practices more sustainable, which has also resulted in increased productivity and profitability. In preparation for trialing a four-day work week, the firm significantly reduced its bureaucracy, unnecessary meetings and mileage and other inefficiencies – resulting in such success that it’s been adopted permanently.
Managing director, Simon Ursell, said: “We’re obviously absolutely thrilled to have been invited to become one of the select sponsors for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on ESG. And we’re very proud that the brilliant work we’re doing to operate most sustainably has been recognised by our invitation to join. By joining this APPG, we have yet another opportunity to help create a more sustainable and inclusive economy and the many benefits this will bring.”
Alexander Stafford MP, founder and chair of the APPG on ECG, said: “Tyler Grange has shown they share our passion for ESG and is an innovator in this space. I look forward to working with Tyler Grange to continue to develop, assess and implement ESG reforms, and I am delighted to welcome them to the APPG.”
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Preston Partnership
The leader of a Preston private sector membership body has revealed plans to help Preston realise its potential following a relaunch of the organisation. The message comes from John Chesworth, chair of Preston Partnership, after the organisation secured new funding and unveiled a new board and management team.
Preston Partnership, which has more than 100 members, originally formed in 2018 with Preston City Council and University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). The organisation led the creation of Preston’s Towns Fund board which secured £20.9m in 2021 to kick-start a £200m regeneration of the city’s cultural Harris Quarter. Working with Preston City Council, Preston Partnership has now secured £80,000 of funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
The funding will enable the partnership to create a dedicated team and resource to grow its membership base, better represent the private sector and work together with Preston’s anchor institutions including Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council, UCLan and other partners to shape and implement future regeneration plans and promote the city.
The board will be chaired by John Chesworth, executive chairman of Lancashire and Cumbria law firm, Harrison Drury. Other board members include: Rob Binns, owner Cotton Court and Lancashire chair, Downtown Lancashire in Business; Alban Cassidy, director, Cassidy + Ashton; Karen Hirst, managing director, Maple Grove Developments; Babs Murphy, CEO, North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce; Adrian Phillips, CEO, Preston City Council; Rizwan Seth, founder and managing director, Wrkspace; Simon Turner, CEO, Freshfield; Ginette Unsworth, director of communications and events, University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
Beckie Joyce, founder and CEO of regeneration consultancy, Radics Consulting, has been appointed to lead Preston Partnership’s operations team. Beckie was previously head of strategic development at Lancashire County Council and has held senior development roles at Bolton Council and Manchester City Council, working alongside Sir Howard Bernstein. John Chesworth, said: “We don’t aspire to be another Manchester or Liverpool. We have our own identity and strengths, and an opportunity to be a small giant of a modern city at the heart of Lancashire’s evolution.”
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Women’s active streetwear brand, Red Run, has opened its new flagship store at Liverpool One. The opening is an important milestone in the growth of the popular Liverpool-based fashion-forward brand and represents retail centre Liverpool One’s dedication to supporting the development of local, independent businesses.
The new 1,400 sq ft store on Manesty’s Lane showcases Red Run’s cleverly curated, high quality active streetwear collections and to celebrate the opening, the brand has officially launched its most in demand collection to date – AW23, Parisian Night. To complement Red Run’s direct-to-consumer offering, the brand has partnered with ASICS to retail a select range of sneakers that have been specifically selected by creative director, Megan Kimmance, to be styled with its fashion forward, versatile collections to offer customers a full provision of style.
Designed in-house by creative director and co-founder, Megan Kimmance, the flagship store reflects Red Run’s ethos through the use of sustainable, carefully sourced materials and a contemporary industrial aesthetic. With a loyal customer base across the North West and beyond, Red Run’s Liverpool One flagship will host exclusive in-store VIP events and collaborative activations. Metis and CBRE acted for Liverpool One. Red Run represented themselves.
Rob Deacon, asset management director at Liverpool One owner, Grosvenor, said: “Supporting independents and local businesses has always been a huge part of our strategy at Liverpool One and Red Run is yet another trail-blazing local brand built from the fabric of Liverpool.”
Megan Kimmance said: “Through blood, sweat and tears, with the support of my business partners, Abby Adderley and Joana Barbosa, I have managed to bring my vision to life – the Liverpool One store is something we are all very proud of and truly represents Red Run as a brand and where we are now.”
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Tom and Jack Dowling
A member of Everton FC’s backroom team has vowed to run 26 marathons in 26 weeks to fundraise after his older brother, a Liverpool fan, was diagnosed with cancer. Evertonian and Blues’ first team physical performance coach, Jack Dowling, 30, has set himself the gruelling challenge following sibling Tom’s bowel cancer diagnosis last year, with funds going to Macmillan Cancer Support Charity.
Tom has received vital care from Macmillan during his treatment, including support from specialist nurses. And Jack, from Crosby, will now tackle the ‘Project 26:26’ challenge – the equivalent of running from Liverpool to Berlin – to thank the Macmillan teams who have been there for his brother and other families in similar situations. Jack, who grew up a staunch Evertonian despite his older brother’s Liverpool allegiance, has also set himself the ambitious target of raising £32,250, an amount that would fund a Macmillan nurse for six months. His campaign began at Merchant Taylors’ School, Crosby, on Sunday, October 22, and will end 26 weeks later, at April’s London Marathon.
Jack said: “In 2022, Tom was diagnosed with cancer, and we will continue to be supported by Macmillan Cancer Support teams throughout his treatment. I want to give back in the best way I know how – running. It’s going to be a difficult thing to do, mainly in terms of juggling the marathon schedule and recovery around family, work and other commitments. But I have seen, first hand, the difference that Macmillan and other support teams, particularly at the specialist centres where Tom’s been treated, are making day in and day out.”
Nicole McIlveen, Macmillan’s relationship fundraising manager for Merseyside, said: “We wish Jack the best of luck for his incredible challenge, which will help us support other families affected by cancer. Macmillan is almost entirely funded through donations from our supporters, and we can only be there for people thanks to the fantastic efforts of fundraisers like Jack.”
Jack’s fundraising page is available via JustGiving or you can follow his progress on Instagram via @jdphysicalprep or online at project2626.info.
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The Ratcliffe Property Group box
Cheshire-based property developer, The Ratcliffe Property Group, has partnered with Manchester Storm to design and build a new spectator box at Altrincham Ice Rink.
Managing Director of The Ratcliffe Property Group, Tom, played for Manchester Storm for many years, while his younger brother Charles was also a keen ice hockey player in his teens, playing for Northern England. The Box is at Manchester Storm’s home ground, and it is hoped that it will encourage local businesses to enjoy supporting their local ice hockey team in style.
Both Tom and Charles wanted to give something back to the local community and the intention is that the new box at Altrincham Ice Rink will drive interest in British ice hockey and the successful Altrincham team. The Ratcliffe Property Group will be using the box for networking events with local businesses and residents.
Tom said: “While property runs in our blood, we’ve always had ice under our feet, and the ice rink in Altrincham holds many happy memories for our family. We were in a position where an opportunity transpired for us to help Manchester Storm and we gladly took it. Our hope is that the new spectator box will inspire local businesses and families to visit the ice rink and support their local ice hockey team – watching Manchester Storm is always a great event.”
Ryan Finnerty, from Manchester Storm, said: “Forming a strong partnership with the Ratcliffe family has been great for us and demonstrates the growing interest in ice hockey in the region. We always welcome new spectators and we’d love for Manchester Storm to be supported even more by our local community and to see our fanbase grow.”
