North West business briefs: OnPath Energy; MediaCity; Care at Home Group; MeetBlackpool; Morecrofts Solicitors; Growth Coaching Collective
The two North West wind farms, owned and operated by renewable energy firm OnPath Energy (formerly Banks Renewables), generated enough electricity in the company’s last financial year to meet the annual electricity needs of more 19,400 homes – or a city around the size of Lancaster.
The Armistead Wind Farm, which sits to the east of the M6 between junctions 36 and 37 in south Cumbria, and the Heysham South Wind Farm generated almost 52,500 MWh of electricity between them during the 12 months to the end of September 2023. And by doing so, they displaced the equivalent annual carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity supply network of more than 5,270 petrol cars.
The six-turbine Armistead Wind Farm led the way by generating more than 28,800 MWh of green electricity over the 12 months in question, with the three-turbine Heysham South site producing more than 23,600 MWh during the same period.
The two wind farms also delivered combined revenues of more than £29,500 during the year for their respective community benefits funds, which provide financial support for local projects being undertaken by groups and good causes in the communities surrounding them.
OnPath Energy currently has 11 operational onshore wind farms across Scotland and northern England, and is also working towards deploying further renewable energy technologies at a number of new sites. The company rebranded as OnPath Energy after its acquisition last year by Brookfield Asset Management, and continues to be led by the existing management team.
Richard Dunkley, CEO at OnPath Energy, said: “Our Heysham South and Armistead Wind Farms have been operating successfully and efficiently for many years and are continuing to generate considerable amounts of renewable electricity for use in our homes, school, hospitals and businesses.”
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Emily Winders
MediaCity has launched a new social hub as new research reveals early career starters in the creative industries feel they missed out on valuable mentoring opportunities.
The research, commissioned by MediaCity, reveals just under four in five (79%) of young professionals in the creative and media industries in the North feel they would have progressed quicker if they had more mentoring and peer-to-peer opportunities. The number is even higher amongst female respondents, at a staggering 85%.
The survey of 500 young professionals also found more than seven in 10 people (72%) believe they would benefit from having access to an easily accessible creative hub, which would open up opportunities to collaborate and mix with like minded peers.
In response to the findings, MediaCity – home to more than 250 creative, tech and media businesses – has revealed a brand new space designed to nurture collaboration and mentorship in the industry, Hot House, which is offering an exciting calendar of free-to-attend talks and mentorship events where young career starters, as well as those established working within the creative, tech and digital sectors, can share skills, knowledge and ideas.
Emily Winders, who graduated three years ago and works within the MediaCity Place Team, has been instrumental in delivering the Hot House concept and will curate its events programme. She said: “By creating an accessible space for the creative community to meet, make connections and collaborate it will support not only those starting out but also those more established in their careers. We look forward to welcoming our occupiers as well as creatives from across the city.”
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CAHG team
North West-based Care at Home Group (CAHG), a specialist care and support service provider, has secured a £550,000 invoice discounting facility from asset-based lending (ABL) specialists, Cynergy Business Finance (CBF).
Established nearly 30 years ago, CAHG provides a variety of home support services to both adults and children with complex care requirements. The business was acquired by entrepreneur Karl Jacobie in 2018, who was inspired to enter the care industry after he saw the difference care providers made to his mother’s wellbeing during a period of illness.
With ambitions to transform the care industry and set a new standard of quality care, in recent years CAHG have expanded its services across the North West region, with branches in Cheshire, Wirral and Warrington. CAHG has also expanded its team to 30 core staff, with 350 carers providing essential services for private and public sector customers.
After being introduced to CBF by Summed Up Accountancy Services Limited, CBF worked closely with CAHG to understand the business and its future plans. Anthony Mee, Group Finance Manager, Care at Home Group, said: “At Care at Home Group, we are committed to providing the best possible home support services and it is our ambition to become a market leader in the standards that we set. We’ve seen significant growth in recent years, and it is crucial that we have the necessary working capital to sustain this growth.”
Sarah Harrison, Corporate Sales Manager at Cynergy Business Finance, said: “CAHG has demonstrated impressive growth in the past few years, driven by the team’s collective expertise and dedication, and their ambitions for their growth and future is incredibly compelling.”
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Louise Beardmore
MeetBlackpool, the town’s conference and exhibition arm, has launched its new ambassador network, which aims to enhance the destination’s status for world class conferences, conventions, and events.
Designed to harness the expertise, passion, and local knowledge of key influencers from across Blackpool, the programme will bring together a diverse community of professionals. The first four ambassadors to be named reflect the town’s varied sector strengths including energy, infrastructure construction, and the creative industries.
The first MeetBlackpool ambassadors to be announced include: Louise Beardmore, CEO, United Utilities; Nick Gerrard, Growth and Prosperity Programme Director, Blackpool Council; Spencer Phillips, Chairman, Showtown Blackpool and Executive Committee Member of the Royal Variety Charity; Tony Doyle, Head of ICT Services, Blackpool Council.
Julie Vincent, Head of MeetBlackpool, said: “The meetings and events industry in Blackpool has a positive impact on the local economy. It stimulates businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and retailers, and creates employment opportunities. The economic and social benefits of this industry extend beyond the events themselves. By enlisting the support of ambassadors who share our vision for elevating Blackpool as a dynamic hub for events, we are poised to unlock new opportunities, activate economic growth, and raise the standards for success as the town continues to grow from strength to strength.”
Louise Beardmore said: “Having held a number of events here in recent years, I have always been delighted by the warm welcome, first class corporate hospitality, state of the art facilities and excellent customer service. Blackpool is right at the heart of the North West region we serve, and we are proud to continue to invest in the town and the local environment while supporting local businesses.”
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Breaking new ground in community sports sponsorship, Liverpool-based Morecrofts Solicitors has committed to inclusivity in sports by equipping a netball club with innovative new kits and equipment, introducing a game-changing option for players to choose shorts over the traditional netball dress.
The firm has supported the eponymous Morecrofts Netball Club for the past six years, helping it to evolve its membership to more than 60 players aged between 16 and 60. It now has seven teams taking part in both midweek leagues and Liverpool’s Sunday Netball League. New players are welcome to attend training sessions at Archbishop Blanch School every Wednesday 7.30pm-9pm.
This latest investment has allowed the club to purchase new high quality kits for all of its players and includes an option to wear branded club shorts and T-shirt as an alternative to the more traditional netball dress. Morecrofts Netball Club captain Rachael Lomax said: “In the past six years, we’ve seen our team grow and diversify, bringing the joy of netball to players of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds.
“The support from Morecrofts Solicitors has been critical to our sustained success, and we deeply appreciate their latest contribution to our playing kits. To our knowledge, we stand alone in the league in offering an alternative to the traditional netball dress, providing shorts and T-shirts for those who prefer them. This important step towards inclusivity ensures everyone can play in comfort, helping to eliminate barriers to participation in the sport we love.”
Alison Lobb, managing partner at Morecrofts Solicitors, said: “We originally began supporting the club due to links between our staff and some of its players and the relationship has since gone from strength to strength. Netball plays a really important part in our communities, and we understand the health and social benefits it can offer to players. This latest idea to offer shorts instead of dresses will undoubtedly appeal to some potential players.”
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Kerry Boland
Manchester-based The Growth Coaching Collective said its business network ambassadorship has spread internationally with Marbella, Spain launching in April and a partner announced in Tipperary, Ireland that join a list of a total of 12 networks throughout the UK and beyond.
The Growth Coaching Collective, founded by entrepreneur and sales strategist Kerry Boland, operates networking brunches that are both supportive and inclusive bringing a brand new vibe to the networking scene that is collaborative rather than competitive.
Kerry said: “Growing up as a child I experienced bullying and felt as though I never really fit in anywhere, as a result I found networking difficult to navigate. The Growth Collective was a pipe dream that is now a reality – I have created inclusive spaces that promote connection, collaboration and community where there are no cliques and no ick. The mantra of The GCC is that together we succeed.”
So far the GCC Business Network has announced the following ambassadors: Keara Nash – Tipperary, Ireland; Tamzin Hall – Chichester; Gemma Clifton – Southampton; Andrew Johnson – Bedfordshire; Joey Dawber – St Helens; Helen Cornaby – South Staffordshire; Claire Marie Quant – Llangollen, North Wales; Yolanda Brooks – Hampshire; Joanne McGee – Portsmouth; Beckie Melvin – Bedford.
With 18 years of sales experience, Kerry spent more than a decade in the corporate world, training senior sales teams and C-suite executives on monthly recurring revenue and client retention strategies.
