NW business briefs: IN4 Group; Tandy Health & Fitness; Pride in Liverpool; Mentor Creatives; Gateway Angels; Poundland

MediaCity-based technology skills and innovation provider, IN4 Group, is bringing a pioneering technology educational enrichment and scholarships programme to every secondary school in Blackburn with Darwen.

IN4 is partnering with Blackburn with Darwen Council to establish an impressive new programme that will nurture more than 600 pupils and mentor 50 scholarship students each year across the borough to secure the best digital technology careers. ‘MEGA (motivated, educated generation with ambition) Hub’ builds on the huge success of IN4’s major North West and West Midlands CyberFirst contracts with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ.

With GCHQ’s northern headquarters based in Manchester city centre and the ongoing development of the North West Cyber Corridor, there is an increasing demand for skilled tech jobs to be filled in the region. IN4, which operates innovation hub HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology in MediaCity, has ambitions to establish MEGA Hubs across the North West and Greater Manchester boroughs, including Salford and Oldham.

Blackburn with Darwen Council, IN4 Group and its partners IBM, Northrop Grumman, KPMG UK, QinetiQ, CGI, Roke, and BT are committing more than £300,000 per annum into the MEGA Hub, with a plan to increase the investment in the coming years. IN4 Group CEO, Mo Isap, said: “We grew up not knowing we had started life in the second-class carriage. My aim is to ensure all our young people belong in the first-class carriage of the technology express, which will take them to incredible destinations and, in doing so, make our borough great again in the 4th Industrial Revolution as it was in the 1st one.”

Cllr Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “As a council, we are absolutely committed to the notion that no-one in our borough should be left behind, and this is a shining example of that. We are determined to inspire our young people – we want to show them the opportunities that are available and make sure they have the skills to give them the very best chance to succeed in life.”

Three schools, including Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School and Sixth Form College (TIGHS), Blackburn Central, Pleckgate, and Blackburn College, are already CyberFirst accredited – the MEGA Hub will now work to ensure the same for the remaining secondary schools in the borough.

::

Rob Tandy, founder of Tandy Health and Fitness, a Cheshire-based fitness gym, has secured a £23,000 Start Up Loan from the British Business Bank through its partner, GC Business Finance. The investment catapults the business into a new phase of growth, as it expands its offerings and solidifies its position.

Founded as a personal and small group training studio, Tandy Health and Fitness has rapidly grown since securing a Start Up Loan. It has enabled its founder to purchase new gym equipment, acquire new gym space in Nantwich and create new branded materials such as bottles and T-shirts. The business specialises in strength training, circuit training and personal training, with the funding from the British Business Bank also facilitating the addition of a pilates course and a dedicated instructor to its repertoire, further enriching the fitness experience for its clientele.

Rob Tandy said: “Since starting the gym in 2023 it’s been a rapid journey to get to where I am today. The guidance and financial support from the British Business Bank has been invaluable to growing my business, from getting a new space I can call my own, to purchasing new equipment.”

Beyond a financial boost, Rob found immense value in the mentorship provided by the Post Loan Support Partner, Newable. He worked with a dedicated advisor to identify the tools and resources necessary for long term success in the competitive fitness landscape.

Alex Mearns, Head of Startup Lending at GC Business Finance said: “At GC Business Finance, we are dedicated to supporting sustainable businesses, like Tandy Health and Fitness, that are boosting regional small business growth. Tandy Health and Fitness is a brilliant example of how entrepreneurs can thrive with the right funding and support – after providing Rob with a Start Up Loan, the business is having such a positive impact on its clients and continuing to expand, offering group sessions and work experience placements to students.”

::

Pic: Bryan Fowler

Pride in Liverpool has broken yet another record with more than 60,000 people attending the free festival on the Pier Head last Saturday – the event’s highest attendance ever.

It follows the announcement that this year’s March with Pride was the biggest yet with an estimated 25,000 people marching from St Georges Hall to the Pier Head, up by 5,000 when the charity marched through the city in solidarity with KyivPride in 2023. The event – which annually brings a £5m boost to Liverpool City Region’s economy – was organised by LCR Pride Foundation, the Liverpool City Region’s LGBT+ Charity.

The weekend also kicked off with a Liverpool-first, Pride Classical. The open-air concert welcomed a 32-piece orchestra alongside a host of stars to Liverpool’s iconic waterfront, including Scissor Sisters’ frontman Jake Shears and RuPaul Drag Race UK season four winner, Danny Beard. On Saturday, a number of international and local acts took to Pride in Liverpool’s Main Stage to entertain visitors, with headline act Katrina, formerly of Katrina and the Waves, bringing the day to a close.

This year’s event also saw the return of the ‘Young People and Families Zone’ as well as new introductions to the programme including the ‘Freshen Up Zone’ from Unilever and Superdrug, a partnership with the British Firefighter Challenge and festival-wide accessibility facilities making sure everyone could enjoy the March and events.

LCR Pride Foundation CEO and co-founder, Andi Herring, said: “This year, our theme is ‘Be Heard’ and our call is for LGBT+ voices to be listened to and that no one is left behind. We can safely say this weekend sent that message loud and clear, with more people showing their support than ever before. It is truly inspiring to see how many people came out this weekend to show their support. This not only means a lot to us but also to the wider community, to the voices that aren’t as loud as others. You have made a difference for them and allowed them to feel seen and heard.”

::

From left: Actor, Michael Horsley, new writer and mentee, Anne Carney, Maurice Bessman, writer, board member and mentor

Liverpool’s Royal Court, in partnership with Shakespeare North Playhouse, Curious Minds, Everyman & Playhouse Theatres, is launching its Mentor Creatives programme to help develop and nurture Global Majority creatives working right across the artistic sector.

The programme is designed to support writers, directors, actors or designers within the artistic community to help them take their careers and professional development to the next level. There is no age limit for the mentees who can apply for the programme. Recruitment for mentees and mentors will take place in August with the programme beginning in September and running until July 2025.

The mentees will receive one-on-one mentorship from a mentor working within the industry, providing individualised attention and advice tailored to specific needs, setting realistic and attainable goals and a plan to achieve them, skill development, networking opportunities, ongoing support and encouragement.

Gillian Miller is CEO of Liverpool’s Royal Court, and said: “At Liverpool’s Royal Court we know the value of nurturing new talent. Every show we present is commissioned from a writer with a Liverpool voice.

“We know that working class creatives find it hard to secure a place within the industry, but it is even more challenging for those within the Global Majority. If we want to see a pipeline of talent telling their stories, making a career within theatre and the arts, it is vital we support them to do so. This year-long programme is just the first step.”

::

Katie Nicholson

LCR Angel Network, the prominent angel investment network operating in the Liverpool City Region, has rebranded to Gateway Angels.

The new name and brand identity reflect the organisation’s vision to provide the gateway for angel investors seeking high potential investment opportunities in the region’s start-up ecosystem. Founded in 2017 as the first network of Angel Investors in Liverpool City Region, Gateway Angels will continue to be supported by major regional eco-system player, MSIF, under its new brand, providing operational resources and strategic guidance to drive the network’s growth and success.

Supported by Poke Marketing, a branding and marketing agency based in Liverpool, the Gateway Angels rebrand extends beyond just a new name and logo. It encompasses a revitalised website, refreshed marketing materials, and an invigorated brand narrative that highlights the organisation’s deep roots in the Liverpool entrepreneurial community and its collaborative approach to angel investing.

Since its inception, the network has facilitated millions of pounds in investment across a wide range of sectors, including the healthcare, technology, and environmental sectors. Katie Nicholson, Director of Gateway Angels, said: “Our new name, Gateway Angels, embodies our role as the premier entry point for investors looking to access the Liverpool City Region’s rich pipeline of start-up and scale-up companies. This rebrand signals an exciting new chapter in our evolution, fuelled by our commitment to fostering an environment where angel investors and ambitious entrepreneurs can connect and thrive.”

MSIF Chair, Neil Ashbridge, said: “We are thrilled to continue our support of Gateway Angels as they embrace this new era of growth and opportunity. Their rebrand perfectly captures the spirit of collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation that has been the hallmark of their success and has seen them become the leading Angel Network in Liverpool City Region.”

::

A new Poundland will open at 9am this Saturday (August 3) in Stockport, in another milestone for the council’s £1bn regeneration plans for the vibrant town centre.

Poundland will take its place in the refurbished former BHS store in Merseyway shopping centre and its 9,000 sq ft store will offer chilled and frozen food, a full range of Pepco clothing for women, men and kids plus Poundland’s new Pepco Home general merchandise ranges. Nationwide, the discount retailer has finished a complete overhaul of its general merchandise ranges that has seen it introduce 2,000 new lines across all its UK and Irish stores and those up-to-date ranges will also be available in Stockport.

Replacing its existing store at Warren Street, which closes on Friday, Poundland said it will breathe new life into the former BHS store. Retail director, Alan Smallman, said: “We promised a store the town could be proud of and we’ve worked hard to deliver it. We’re thrilled to be moving into our new Stockport home. We know how hard the local council is working to bring new opportunities and vibrancy to the centre of Stockport and we’re pleased to be able to play a small part with our new location.”

Cllr Colin MacAlister, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said: “With the decline of many of our much loved department stores over the years, town centres across the country are facing the issue of having large vacant units on their hands. The opening of Poundland’s new flagship store in our town centre demonstrates a renewed confidence in Stockport and I wish them every success.”

Victoria Nichol, Centre Manager at Merseyway, said: “We’re excited to welcome Poundland to their new home amongst our vibrant community of retailers. This brand new flagship store brings a brilliant range of products and fantastic value to our shoppers, enhancing the diverse retail experience Merseyway is known for.”