North West business briefs: Maguire Family Law; Whitecroft Lighting; Key Fund; Maison 49; Hunter Price; EmployGM
Maguire Family Law, a divorce and family law firm with specialisms in high net worth, international, and child abduction cases, has strengthened its presence in the North West with the opening of a fourth office, located on Brown Street in Manchester city centre.
With existing offices in Altrincham, Knutsford, and Wilmslow, the firm has experienced strong and sustained growth since it was established in 2010.
James Maguire, founding director, believes that a combination of increasing awareness around the traits of narcissists and corresponding legislation relating to coercive control, coupled with the relentless volume of content posted by influencers on social media depicting aspirational ideas of marriage, has contributed to a flood of people deciding to leave their marriages.
He said: “We’ve been growing organically since our launch in 2010, but the past 18 months have seen a notable surge in demand from both UK and overseas clients. What we initially thought might be an isolated spike in enquiries has become a sustained trend. Social media has undoubtedly played a part, churning out content which purports a ‘have it all’ paradox – people see the apparently perfect lives of influencers and believe married life will be just like that. When they realise this is an unrealistic and unattainable vision, disappointment and pressure set in.
“I also believe that greater awareness about both narcissism and coercive control, has legitimised peoples’ motives for ending a marriage. In short, the days of putting up and shutting up are long gone.”
Although divorce has driven the decision to open the latest office, Maguire says demand for the firms’ other services are also hitting record levels and doesn’t rule out the possibility of opening further offices in the region and beyond.
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LEDs being developed in Whitegate testing facility
Greater Manchester commercial lighting manufacturer, Whitecroft Lighting, has secured a landmark contract to supply 40,000 low-energy LED lights to the nation’s latest nuclear power station, Hinkley Point C, in Somerset
The unique custom-designed and manufactured LED lights also mark an innovation first for the UK nuclear industry. The major contract win, a culmination of six years of research, collaboration, and customised testing, has resulted in the Ashton-under-Lyne-based company delivering LED lighting that is approved for a variety of zones in UK nuclear power stations, which to date, had mainly used traditional fluorescent lighting.
Following extensive work undertaken by a specialist Whitecroft development team, LEDs can now be specified for Hinkley Point C and future nuclear projects. Tony Male, Whitecroft Lighting’s Regional Sales Manager, said: “This is a landmark moment for Whitecroft UK lighting. Whitecroft embraced this as an opportunity to be part of one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects, break new ground for lighting, and set new standards for the UK nuclear energy industry for years to come.
“No credible testing or research existed for LED lighting in these environments, so Whitecroft led an accelerated testing regime that simulated years of constant exposure to radiation at varying levels in each zone.”
Whitecroft Lighting is part of the Fagerhult Group, has 343 employees and turns over £55m. Last November, the company secured the contract to supply the internal lighting to Everton Football Club for its new Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium in Liverpool’s docklands.
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Afi Dometi
Social investor, Key Fund, which operates across the North West, is actively seeking to support social entrepreneurs from ethnic minorities by offering investment (loans and grants) between £5,000-£300,000 to social enterprises in some of the most deprived communities.
The move is in response to ongoing research from the Black United Representation Network (BURN) that shows only a fraction of ethnic minority businesses in Manchester are accessing and securing investment. The groundbreaking study concluded productivity could be boosted by almost £4bn in the Manchester region alone, if steps were taken to dismantle the barriers Black and Asian business leaders face.
One million of the six million businesses in the UK are minority owned, yet people from minority groups face greater exclusion from the financial system, according to the Minority Businesses Matter Report.
CEO, Matt Smith, said: “Key Fund has a long history of reaching the most disadvantaged places, but we’re aware the most marginalised groups in these places have traditionally been unable to access finance. Our mission to create successful communities can’t work if there are people still left behind. There is a profound need, and we have to step up to meet it.”
Key Fund’s commitment to inclusivity will feature a series of workshops aimed at ethnic minority social entrepreneurs, offering translation services as required. It is actively championing its existing BAME clients in the hope to inspire others. Recent investments include into Africawad, founded by asylum seeker Afi Dometi, which supports women into education or employment in the UK and saves 300,000 kilos of unwanted clothes from landfill.
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Maison 49
Artistry House Interiors and Wash Studio have jointly delivered branding, interior design and art curation for a new luxury retail store on Wilmslow High Street, backed by property developer and entrepreneur Andy Bell, the founder of Manchester investment platform, AJ Bell.
Situated in the renowned ‘golden triangle’ between Handforth and the affluent suburbs of Alderley Edge, Knutsford and Prestbury, Maison 49 offers luxury brand clothing and accessories along with a dedicated VIP dressing, bar and entertainment area. The interiors were designed by Artistry House Interiors, an award-winning interiors design company. Store branding was delivered by the design firm’s sister company Wash Studio.
Maison 49 managing director ,Tim Bower, said: “Here at Maison 49 we are passionate about providing a professional service which aligns with the luxury brands we showcase in our store. Our space is more than just a retail front, at Maison 49 we have curated a store which holds a sense of belonging. We believe, that with our combined vision, we have cultivated a shopping experience which is like no other.”
Speaking alongside Tim at the store’s launch in January, Andy Bell said: “With over 27 years’ buying experience and knowledge of luxury clothing and services, Tim and his handpicked team’s vision is to deliver a best in class luxury in-store shopping experience, supported by a seamless online proposition that will become a key fixture on the Wilmslow High Street.”
Artistry House Interior designer, Rose Peploe, said: “Our goal was to craft a retail experience that is both impactful and understated, embodying the essence of the brand while serving as a seamless backdrop to highlight the products. Intricate details, such as avant-garde curtains, the use of travertine, brass, marble, chalky limewash walls, and playful slab-like forms, come together to create unique moments within the design scheme.”
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PAW Patrol
Hunter Price International, the Oldham-based product developer and supplier of consumer products to the UK’s top retailers, is working with US-based Paramount Consumer Products and mental health brand, Calm to develop a range of homeware and accessories in an exclusive collection of Sleep Stories and meditations to aid a relaxing bedtime routine for youngsters.
PAW Patrol’s much-loved pups are featured throughout the range of products, from bedding, blankets and fleeces, to cushions, plush and mindfulness activities, including colouring and activity books, to encourage a calming and delightful evening wind-down and a restful night’s sleep.
The debut collection was unveiled publicly for the first time at the London Toy Fair this month and its first retail range will arrive in retailers nationwide this summer.
Hunter Price commercial director, Allana Holmes, said: “This is a partnership with real purpose and it feels great to be able to bring this global collaboration to life through meaningful consumer products. We really believe this range will connect with its target audience through the empowering content created on Calm for PAW Patrol. Mindfulness, mental health and sensory awareness is so much more than a trend, it’s a movement and we’re proud to be playing our part.”
Rebecca Jenkins, Paramount VP Consumer Products UK, Ireland, ANZ and Israel, said: “After working with Hunter Price for a number of years, we were fully confident that the team would be the perfect partner for the PAW Patrol and Calm collaboration”, while Greg Justice, Calm Chief Content Officer, said: “Hunter Price has perfectly infused the magic and delight of Calm into this product line. This collaboration brings our content and the heroic PAW Patrol pups to life in a whole new way, inspiring kids to both take on the day and get a great night’s rest.”
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Andy Burnham
A revamped platform offering a one-stop-shop for people looking for jobs, training or employment support across Greater Manchester has launched.
EmployGM is being delivered by The Growth Company on behalf of GMCA and will signpost people to a host of local support across the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester. Available through the site will be information on local training and skills courses, employment support programmes, vacancies in the city region, help with job applications and CV writing, money and health support and much more.
Though EmployGM has been available since 2020, the launch – also a Mayoral commitment – marks a complete overhaul of the platform, which further benefits residents by bringing resources together in one place and making navigating careers much easier. Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “Greater Manchester is a thriving and vibrant city region offering a plethora of opportunity for people living and working here and beyond. It’s important we make finding these opportunities as easy as possible so that people are in no doubt about how they can progress in their careers or find new ones.
“EmployGM has evolved significantly, mirroring the pace at which our city region’s economy is also growing. It’s about more than finding jobs, the site also supports our efforts to ensure people’s skills match our labour market need by providing information about tailored training opportunities and careers guidance.”
Michelle Leeson, managing director for GC Employment, said: “EmployGM will help people to unlock their potential and understand the breadth of opportunity that we have in Greater Manchester. There will be local support for people living in every Greater Manchester borough as well as helping people that might want to move to the city region understand what the local economy is looking for and how to find the right role in a new place.”
