North West business news: EE; TfGM; DefProc Engineering; Electricity North West; Slater Heelis; Claire House
A major upgrade to EE’s network will provide a boost to 5G mobile coverage in Manchester and Liverpool.
Customers in both cities will be among the first in the UK to enjoy the benefits of this upgrade which will result in faster speeds, improved phone battery life and more reliable connectivity, particularly in busy locations.
The upgrade to EE’s network, known as ‘5G standalone’, will see phones connecting directly to a new, pure 5G network, rather than via existing 4G infrastructure. This will result in better 5G performance, meaning improvements to things like video calls, streaming and gaming.
It will also help improve mobile connectivity in busy areas of the cities and during major events such as concerts and sports fixtures.
EE’s 5G standalone (5G SA) network is the first in the UK to offer near uninterrupted outdoor coverage in every city where it launches, it says, delivering more than 95% coverage across all the 15 cities, with seamless fall-back to 5G and 4G in the small areas it’s not available.
Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group – parent company of EE – said: “5G standalone is the next evolution of our mobile network. By making it available across 15 of the UK’s largest cities from day one, we’re able to support more than 18 million people with a more reliable signal, faster mobile internet speeds, and enhanced performance for things like video streaming, content sharing and online gaming, particularly in very busy areas.”
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Andy Burnham
With four months to go until all buses in Greater Manchester come under local control, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has confirmed plans for a new annual bus pass that will cut the cost of travel in the city region.
Available from January – subject to agreement by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority – and costing £800, customers will be able to spread payment, at no extra cost, throughout the year with a Credit Union loan, saving almost £5 a week, almost £20 a month and up to £240 a year compared with the lower fares also being introduced for seven and 28 day Bee Network bus tickets.
TfGM is working with Greater Manchester Credit Unions to enable to people to apply for the new annual pass from December 5, so their bus ticket is available to use from January 5. TfGM is also working with the Credit Unions to offer customers the chance to spread the cost of existing annual Metrolink products or an annual bus and tram pass from March 2025.
And a new ‘hopper fare’ will replace single tickets on Bee Network services, providing passengers with more flexibility by allowing them to ‘hop on’ as many Bee Network buses as they like within one hour.
Andy Burnham said: “With so many people across Greater Manchester struggling with the cost of living, I am really pleased we are able to drive down the cost of using Bee Network buses by reducing the price of weekly, 28-day and annual travel.”
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DefProc co-founders Jen Fenner and Patrick Fenner
Liverpool-based DefProc Engineering has become one of only 10 North West companies to secure a place on this year’s Hydrogen Innovation Challenge.
The Hydrogen Innovation Challenge from Sustainable Ventures – Europe’s leading climate tech hub – brings together groundbreaking innovators and established businesses in the North West to accelerate change towards a low-carbon economy.
Multi-disciplinary design engineers, DefProc submitted its Smart Gas Pressure Sensor for the challenge. Developed for Northern Gas Networks, the Smart Gas Pressure Sensor monitors low-pressure gas supply at NGN’s Low Thornley site near Gateshead, successful testing and trials will see it rolled out to consumers across Yorkshire, the North East and Cumbria.
DefProc Engineering will now receive one-to-one support for the rest of the year and the opportunity to present the Smart Gas Pressure Sensor at an innovation showcase in front of potential partners and regional end users.
Jen Fenner, managing director and co-founder of DefProc Engineering, said: “We’ve worked on some revolutionary projects in recent years and the support from the Hydrogen Innovation Challenge will allow us to present these to a wider network of potential clients and make a tangible difference to the future of sustainability.”
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Electricity North West colleagues
A £700,000 project reinforcing sections of Stockport’s power network is under way.
Engineers from Electricity North West are currently laying ducts across a two km stretch of its underground power network. The work, part of a proactive upgrade programme, will benefit hundreds of customers in Heaton Norris. It is expected to last until mid-September.
Matthew James, who is overseeing the work in Stockport for Electricity North West, said: “Each year, we review the power network and identify sections that need upgrading before regular power cuts could happen.
“The work taking place in Heaton Norris will see two km of new underground electricity cables installed and our significant investment will ensure a safe and reliable supply of electricity is maintained to thousands of properties.”
Work started on Manchester Road and has progressed to Meadows Road. Teams will also work on Highbury Road, Wellington Road North before finishing on Crossley Road. Once the cable duct installation has finished, engineers will return to pull the cable into place and connect it to the power network.
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Mark Heptinstall
Manchester law-firm, Slater Heelis, hailed two of its family law experts who have been unveiled as authors representing England and Wales in the International Comparative Legal Guide’s critically-acclaimed Family Law 2025 guide.
The ICLG guide is a series that brings key cross-border insights to legal practitioners worldwide, covering 58 practice areas and the duo from Slater Heelis were handpicked for the Q and A jurisdiction chapter covering eight critical issues in family law.
Partner and head of family at Slater Heelis, Mark Heptinstall and family solicitor, David Wilkinson, co-authored the England & Wales chapter, detailing country-specific legislation in the key areas of family law including divorce, finance, marital agreements, child maintenance, parental responsibility, custody, cohabitation and international aspects of law relating to children.
Now in its eighth year, the Family Law Guide brings together the best legal experts in the world to cover common legal issues across all areas of family law relating to one of the 15 countries featured.
Mark Heptinstall said: “We were honoured to contribute to this year’s ICLG Family Law guide. It is another proactive opportunity to represent our family team that is punching above its weight in such a competitive sector.”
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Dragon Boat race 2024
The Liverpool Waters Dragon Boat Race 2024, organised by Peel Waters and sponsored by Anchor Group Services, has raised £35,000 for Claire House Children’s Hospice. The popular event, held at Princes Dock, saw teams from across the region compete in high energy races while raising vital funds for the charity.
After being paused in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, the event returned in 2022 and has since raised £105,000 for Claire House Children’s Hospice. This year’s race featured teams representing 22 different businesses, each of which raised a minimum of £850 to enter the competition.
Participants included: Anchor Group Services, Anstey Horne, Avision Young, Brabners, CBRE, Chapman Taylor, Claire House, Colliers, DSG, Enervate, Equans, Fisher German, Griffiths & Armour, If We Ran The Zoo, Krol Corlett, Peel Waters, Savills, Swim Liverpool, Urban Revolution, Vermont, Vital Energi and Walker Sime. The ultimate winning team in 2024 was a joint team of Fisher German and If We Ran The Zoo.
Liza Marco, Senior Asset Manager at Liverpool Waters, said: “It’s fantastic to see such strong support for Claire House from the local business community. Thank you to everyone who took part, and congratulations on raising an incredible £35,000.”
Dan Halliday, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Claire House Children’s Hospice, said: “It’s wonderful to return to Princes Dock once again for this event. The £105,000 raised over the last three years is a tremendous achievement and will make a real difference to the children and families we support.”
