NW business briefs: Network Rail; Clear Start Accountants; Tangerine Group; Rothay Manor; Botanico; Lakeside Hotel & Spa; EssenceMediacom
Vital work on the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade is set to resume as improvements to the railway line between Manchester and Sheffield advance. As a result of these developments, train services will not run between Sheffield and New Mills stations on both Sunday 5, and Sunday 12 November.
These station closures are necessary to facilitate essential work along the route, including the installation of a second platform and new footbridge with lifts at Dore & Totley station, while the ongoing construction of a passing loop between Bamford and Hathersage stations continues.
Some rail operators are using diversionary routes between Manchester and Sheffield, so passengers are encouraged to check nationalrail.co.uk for more information about changes to journeys. Passengers should also note that Dore & Totley station car park is currently closed until Tuesday, November 14, to enable the work to take place.
Disabled parking and an alternative drop off point is in place temporarily at Ladies Spring Grove while local businesses Hair Union, Rajdhani restaurant and the Summerhouse restaurant, remain open and accessible throughout the closure. When travelling to the station, passengers are encouraged to walk, cycle or car share where possible. All 97, 98 and 218 buses along Abbeydale Road South stop outside the station.
Phil Montgomery, programme manager from Network Rail, said: “Significant construction work has been in progress along the Hope Valley route since July 2022 and it has been great to see the visible progress that has been made so far. The construction of the new platform at Dore & Totley station is just one example of the project coming to life, with plenty more to come.
“Thank you in advance to the passengers and lineside neighbours for your ongoing patience as we continue to upgrade the Hope Valley railway.”
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Fiaz Ashraf, 2nd from right, Mohammed Abubakar, far right
Manchester-based Clear Start Accountants has donated £20,000 the Gaza Emergency Appeal to provide critical aid to those affected by the ongoing crisis.
The donation was made via Greater Manchester-based humanitarian charity, Smile Aid, which is currently organising medicine and food destined for the innocent Palestinian families so desperate for vital supplies.
Mohammed Abubakar, chairman and trustee of Smile Aid, said: “Clear Start Accountants have been supporting us for a number of years. Their invaluable, ongoing support contributes to helping the less privileged communities both abroad, and here in the UK, especially in the Greater Manchester area where both of our head office locations are based.”
Fiaz Ashraf, founder & CEO of Clear Start Accountants, said: “I have been personally touched with close friends on both sides of the conflict having lost civilian family members due to the atrocities of the unimaginable war, and they are themselves fighting for their lives due to the lack of lifesaving supplies. The intensifying of the blockade in Gaza has meant the cutting off of critical supplies affecting around two million civilians living in Gaza, with up to half of those being children. Whilst we made this sizeable donation via Smile Aid, we are fearful that the aid won’t reach those Palestinians families in urgent need of lifesaving medicine and food.
“A two-state solution needs to be reached, with an immediate ceasefire, so the aid can urgently be transported to those civilians most in need. All parties need to adhere to international humanitarian law, to ensure that civilians and are able to have urgent access to basic necessities via a humanitarian corridor.”
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Tangerine Group staff
Tangerine Group, the Lytham-based animal health and nutrition business, has rewarded employees with an annual profit share bonus that totals £500,000, up from £400,000 the previous year.
The bonus pool has been distributed amongst employees with more than two years’ service in recognition of their continued contribution to the business’s development. The pool is distributed based on length of service, with the group’s longest serving employees receiving substantial payments.
It is the 17th consecutive year Tangerine Group has made such a payment to its employees and follows another year of continued growth. For the financial year ending June 2023. The group recorded a turnover of £40.9m, up from £37.4m the previous year.
A total of 57 employees at the group, which includes animal health and nutrition brands VetPlus, Agri-Lloyd and Farmsense, will receive the bonus, 17 of which, will take home the maximum payment of £10,000. In addition to supporting staff, more than £1.6m of the group’s profits are set to be reinvested back into the business to support product development, further overseas expansion, and significant upgrades in the manufacturing facilities.
Chairman, David Haythornthwaite, said: “Due to the hard work and continued efforts of our fantastic team, and despite rising energy costs and interest rates having a huge impact on our operating costs, we have once again been able to grow the business and maintain our profits at 2022 levels. All our employees make an invaluable contribution to the business and overall success of the group, and this makes it incredibly easy to reward them for the 17th year in a row.”
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Dan McGeorge, Optomen Television
Multi-award-winning chef, Dan McGeorge, has decided to step down as head chef at Ambleside’s three AA rosetted Rothay Manor. Initially, Dan plans to spend some time with his young family, before embarking on new and exciting projects in his home town of Liverpool.
Dan’s culinary journey began when he graduated from Liverpool Community College in 2011, after which he began working in several high profile kitchens, with stints alongside the likes of Simon Rimmer, Sam Moody and Ben Mounsey, before making the move to the Lakes in September 2017 as head chef at the then two AA rosetted Rothay Manor.
Once he settled in and built a solid team he then quietly began to push, successfully fusing modern British cooking with classical French techniques to deliver accomplished dishes for Rothay’s guests, which saw him attain three AA rosettes for culinary excellence for Rothay Manor in January 2019. He has successfully retained this achievement for the past four years.
He personally won a highly acclaimed Acorn award in 2020, joining the likes of Marcus Wareing, Jason Atherton, and Marco Pierre White, then adding a Michelin Plate to his accolades in January 2021, followed by being crowned ‘Champion of Champions’ in BBC Two’s Great British Menu tv programme the same year.
Dan said: “This has been a difficult decision to make, however, the time is right for me to move on and focus on future projects. Over the last six years at Rothay I’ve been fortunate to have had a hard working, focused and dedicated team of chefs at my side. As a result we’ve achieved a lot together, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the suppliers, staff and guests for their support. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds and hope to be in a position to reveal my future plans in the coming months.’’
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Botanico, the new all day eaterie set in the heart of Woolton Village, has opened. Created by the Cillo family, behind Liverpool’s popular Italian Quarter located in the city centre, Botanico is family friendly with a dedicated children’s menu.
Seating 90 people, Botanico will also be home to a 30-person Tea Room Terrace reserved for Afternoon Tea guests in a fully covered and heated space. The eaterie will also have a takeaway bakery option.
Owner, Donato Cillo, who works with his son, Antonio, said: “We’re very excited to be opening Botanico – a venue that is ideal for families, groups of friends or couples. We’ve created an extensive menu that caters for all so that our guests can choose dishes according to how they feel on the day.”
He added: “After enjoying over 14 years of success in the Italian Quarter in Liverpool, myself and Antonio are bringing popular dishes as well as our homemade bakery to Woolton Village where our visitors can purchase loaves of bread, handmade croissants, cakes and doughnuts and or enjoy them in the comfort of Botanico’s beautiful surroundings.”
Antonio Cillo said: “Botanico has been designed to reflect a bright, airy and vibrant space with greenery and leafy features. Creating a beautiful atmosphere, the venue’s interior provides the perfect backdrop for our guests to come and enjoy their surroundings whilst tucking into delicious dishes from across our detailed menu.”
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Runshaw College students attend conference at Lakeside Hotel in March 2023
Lakeside Hotel & Spa, the Classic Lodges hotel situated on the shore of Lake Windermere, is committing to creating hospitality career paths and opportunities for students in the North West through a series of conference days, work experience and practical training sessions alongside education.
Lakeside supports tourism, hospitality, catering and beauty students from Runshaw College, Blackburn College, Lancaster and Morecambe College, Furness College, Kendal College and Huddersfield University. A Management Degree Apprenticeship at the University of Cumbria is also on offer, which allows students to earn a full time wage while studying towards a degree with no student debt.
The Lake District hotel currently has six full-time members of staff who have joined following work experience, placements or visiting for conferences, including a graduate manager from Huddersfield University, a wedding and events coordinator and front of house assistant who both previously did work experience at the hotel through Lancaster and Morecambe College.
A chef’s path is also available, with Jack Kenyon recently completing his Level 3 City & Guilds at Kendal College alongside on-the-job learning in the Lakeside kitchens. Two more students are following suit studying towards Level 3 having completed their Level 2 Qualifications at Runshaw College.
General manager, Ben Mayou, who started working in the hospitality industry as a teenager, said: “Young people bring so much energy and enthusiasm to hospitality settings, which is why it is so positive having them in the hotel whether it’s for permanent employment, placements, or just for the day. Many of the students who visit have never been to the Lakes before and have been massively impacted by the pandemic, so it’s a great chance to show them that exciting opportunities do exist in the hospitality and tourism industry.”
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Kenny Skelton
EssenceMediacom North’s Kenny Skelton is set to smash a world record by rowing 31 marathons in 31 days, in aid of motor neurone disease.
Kenny, who is managing partner and head of UK Google Practice at the agency, is attempting to break the current world record for the most consecutive marathons on an indoor rower, by completing a staggering 31 marathons, or 1.3 million meters, in 31 days.
Commencing on September 30, the challenge is being hosted by both M Club Spa and Fitness, who have kindly allowed Kenny to train for this huge challenge over the past few months, and the brand new WPP Campus in Manchester, where EssenceMediacom North is based. Kenny wants to smash the record, which currently stands at 30 marathons in 30 days, in memory of his wife’s uncle Graham, who sadly died from MND in 2018. The row will also take place in honour of Kenny’s mum, Lynne, who is currently fighting the disease after having recently been diagnosed.
In preparation for the challenge, Kenny has undergone a rigorous training programme, rowing more than 1.5 million metres over a 12 week period, culminating in a mammoth 100K 11 hour row. So far, the challenge has raised £1,800 against a target of £4,000.
Kenny said: “I am always humbled by how much courage those who have been diagnosed with MND have, the bravery to push on so they might cherish every moment with their loved ones. Also, the unbounding love of families and specialists as they fight alongside, trying to make people as comfortable as possible in the face of this devastating illness.”
