NW business briefs: WellPaws; University of Salford Business School; Settld; Highview Power; Tillymints Nursery; Stockport travel
A former Burnley FC footballer is set to launch a groundbreaking range of pet supplements aimed at delivering medical care, as well as supplements, vitamins and minerals to improve the lives of both cats and dogs.
Neil Yadolahi is behind pet nutrition firm, WellPaws, which can deliver vitamins to pets via tasty syrups and visually appealing chewable treats. He was inspired after trying to persuade his own pet, Alfie, to take medication for chronic joint pain with his normal pet food.
He said: “Pets can be picky and set in their ways, so when they spot something foreign in their food, they’ll shun the dish, or simply eat around it and miss out on key beneficial supplements. It can be exasperating for pet owners who only want the best for their cat or dog.”
This inspired him to develop pioneering supplements tailored specifically for cats and dogs. WellPaws Supplements are infused with tasty fish flavours, containing key ingredients such as collagen and D3 for improved joint health and coat lustre, along with immune-boosting vitamin C. All WellPaws Syrups and Chewables compositions have been vet approved and trial-based ingredients ensure all formulas are clinically approved.
There is also calming magnesium-infused ZinPro Propath to reduce anxiety, and healthy gut bacteria to ensure things are running normally internally. The four different syrups address a pet’s skin and coat, bone and joint, calming care qualities and boost their immune system. Meanwhile, the chewable supplements, which also support coats, joints, and mood, offers additional gut health. The WellPaws range will be available in autumn.
Neil scored two goals in eight games as a young prospect for Burnley, before injury interrupted the defender’s progress. After leaving the Clarets, Neil played for several clubs, including Derby County, Kilmarnock, Bucaspor, and Bohemians FC.
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University of Salford Business School has launched a new research cluster for Housebuilding Innovations in Volume, Environment and Efficiency (HIVEE), aimed at supporting the UK housebuilding sector by aligning research and enterprise activity with industry requirements.
According to Think Tank, Centre for Cities, compared with the average European country, Britain today has a backlog of 4.3 million homes that are missing from the national housing market as they were never built. This housing deficit would take at least half a century to fill even if the Government’s current target to build 300,000 homes a year is reached.
HIVEE’s core objectives are to support SMEs and housebuilders to increase build volume, support capacity management within the supply chain and enhance strategy, improve risk management and continuity planning, support sustainability, circular procurement and ESG governance, improve ability to adopt innovative technologies, such as AI and machine learning, plus drive efficiency through research.
Aaron Robertson, Lecturer in Supply Chain, Logistics and Project management, plus Research Lead for HIVEE, at Salford Business School, said: “The UK housebuilding sector has some incredibly ambitious targets over the next few years to help tackle Britain’s housing crisis. There’s currently a real disconnect between supply and demand, but we believe we have a strong solution to help the sector get to where it needs to be.”
Dr Yiannis Polychronakis, Head of Supply Chains, Procurement and Project Management at Salford Business School, said: “There has been some work to develop modern housing strategies, but all have subsequently fallen through. We believe there are some gaps in knowledge and collaborative engagement, which we can help bridge with insight on innovative supply chain processes within housebuilding and accurate interpretation of the relative advantages of new opportunities in the sector, compared to traditional construction methods. This will ultimately alleviate pressure on the sector and help influence future decision-making.”
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Bill Bullen
Manchester-based nationwide bereavement service, Settld, has signed up national energy group, Utilita, to enhance its bereavement customer care through its innovative platform to streamline account administration for relatives and others dealing with the accounts of a customer who has died.
Those people will now be able to notify more than 1,400 relevant service providers nationwide of a death, through one simple online form – removing the need to spend hours on phone calls to other companies. Utilita customer service agents will also use Settld’s portal, which has been designed to make bereavement customer service more efficient.
Utilita has more than 830,000 UK customers. Bill Bullen, CEO and co-founder at Utilita Energy, said: “We are always looking to incorporate the latest technologies that will improve customer experience, particularly when it comes to efficiencies. Dealing with the effects of grief is incredibly difficult, which is why partnering with Settld was an easy decision for us. Together, we are removing the administrative burden for someone who has potentially lost their closest family member or friend.”
Settld’s secure online form takes under 10 minutes to complete and notifies all service providers of a death, from banks and insurers to energy firms, mobile and phone providers, subscription services, social media platforms and others. In addition to registering the death with service providers, Settld’s free online service helps users close, transfer or amend accounts and obtain date of death balances for probate. A range of other services, from probate and estate admin to asset search and house clearing, are also available through partners.
Vicky Wilson, Senior Executive at The Estate Registry, which owns Settld, said: “It’s great to see Utilita Energy prioritising and investing in making life easier for bereaved individuals and families. By allowing customers and those dealing with a death to use our one-stop shop we can remove a significant amount of stress and anxiety, which allows people to get on with grieving. We are pleased to see more and more companies embracing Settld’s technology.”
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CGI of Highview scheme
Engineering specialist, Spencer Group, has been appointed to deliver a £23m contract to design the site layout and deliver the enabling works and civils for a first-of-its-kind energy storage facility aiming to reshape the future of renewable energy at Trafford Energy Park, in Carrington, which is expected to create more than 700 jobs.
The £300m scheme, which was unveiled four years ago is being developed by Highview Power and will store surplus electricity generated from wind and solar, and be the first commercial-scale plant in the UK to deploy a pioneering new technology known as liquid air energy storage. Developed by Highview Power in the UK over the past 17 years, the technology allows renewable energy to be stored for up to several weeks, longer than battery technologies.
The plant will be one of the world’s largest facilities of its kind and, once complete, will have storage capacity to provide enough clean and green energy to serve the needs of 480,000 homes. Spencer Group Executive Chairman, Charlie Spencer, said: “Highview Power is a leading player in helping the UK achieve its net zero targets and is addressing the key issue of energy storage. We’re delighted to be involved with this exciting and pioneering project, which promises to reshape the future of renewable energy.”
John Goldie, Highview Power, Programme Director, said: “We are looking forward to continuing to build and further our relationship with Spencer Group, which we have developed over the past 24 months during the pre-execute phase of the Carrington project. We selected Spencer Group based on their expertise and experience in delivering similar type projects and providing innovative and value-added solutions in engineering and construction.”
Spencer Group’s Civils Division will begin work on site in late 2024, with the plant expected to be operational in 2026. Highview Power recently secured backing from UK Infrastructure Bank and energy and services company Centrica, alongside a syndicate of investors including Rio Tinto, Goldman Sachs, KIRKBI and Mosaic Capital, to help fund its ambitious plans to accelerate the UK’s transition to net zero.
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Liverpool-based Tillymints Nursery has secured £50,000 through the Start Up Loans programme, delivered by GC Business Finance (GCBF) on behalf of the British Business Bank.
Acquired by Kevin Lancaster in 2022, Tillymints Nursery provides childcare that is tailored to the individual needs of each child. Approaching 30 years of experience in the education sector, Kevin began his career as a teacher and now works as an education consultant, travelling around the world to provide training. He initially had the idea of setting up a nursery around 20 years ago, but it wasn’t until after the Covid-19 pandemic, when his own children had grown up, that he decided it was the perfect time to do it. To generate the finance needed to purchase the nursery and run the business, Liverpool City Region Finance Hub recommended the Start Up Loans programme to Kevin.
Since receiving the loan, the nursery has achieved considerable growth and has started to increase its team headcount, employing three additional members of staff. The funding also helped Kevin improve the building’s facilities and decorate the nursery. He hopes to expand further by adding a temporary building to the current nursery, increasing the number of children that the team can provide care for and creating more jobs in the local economy.
Kevin said: “It is great to now see the growth Tillymints has achieved in just two years. We are already operating at full capacity and are looking to expand even further. GC Business Finance made the loan process quick and simple, meaning I could purchase the nursery and get things moving as fast as possible, helping me turn my vision into a reality. I look forward to continuing to support local families and growing the nursery even further.”
Alex Mearns, Head of Start-up Lending at GC Business Finance, said: “The business has already achieved amazing growth since securing the loan, expanding the team and looking to grow its facilities. Tillymints proves that it’s never too late to make a great idea a reality. It has a bright future ahead of it and I look forward to seeing the continued success Kevin and the team will have in the future.”
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Cllr Grace Baynham
Stockport’s sustainable travel network will receive a boost after five new projects were given the go-ahead to start construction later this summer.
Walkers, cyclists and bus users are to benefit after for Greater Manchester gave the greenlight to the following schemes at its Bee Network Committee meeting: Heatons Link Phase 2; Ladybrook Valley; Romiley to Stockport East; Hempshaw Lane Improvements; and Woodley to Bredbury Parkway Improvements.
The schemes have been funded via the Government’s Active Travel scheme and the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements programme and in some cases will complete routes that have already been built, including a missing section of the Ladybrook Valley route, and in the Heatons where it will be part of the wider route from the Fallowfield Loop to the Trans Pennine Trail.
Cllr Grace Baynham, Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways and Transport Services at Stockport Council, said: “I’m really pleased that TfGM’s Active Travel board has approved five projects that will help to further boost our sustainable travel network in our borough. We want to encourage sustainable methods of travel as a method of getting from A to B for our residents and these new improvements will help them achieve this goal. These new schemes will work alongside existing schemes to create a joined-up network connecting our communities.”
Richard Nickson, Network Director for Active Travel, said: “These new approved schemes in Stockport are part of wider ambition to deliver the Bee Network, a fully-integrated active travel and public transport network. The schemes will provide high quality, safe walking, wheeling and cycling routes and connections for people in Stockport, while also making also making Greater Manchester as a whole an even better place to live, work and visit.”
