NW business briefs: Hunter Price; Robert Scott; NWLC; Regenda Group; Octopus Energy; Optimise; Sci-Tech Daresbury
Oldham-based consumer product developer, Hunter Price International, is opening its first Far East HQ, in Ningbo , Zhejiang, China.
It says stakeholder relationships with suppliers and business partners are all set to benefit from the opening, improving efficiencies across its supply chain. An exclusive showroom will feature Hunter Price’s latest new product development. The new space will open up a wealth of opportunities for Hunter Price to host its customers and other stakeholders during their Far East visits.
Allana Holmes, commercial director at Hunter Price International said: “Strengthening our presence in Ningbo is already enhancing our customer and stakeholder experiences across our global operations. We’ve grown exponentially over the past few years and continue to do so. For the trajectory to continue as planned, it was essential for us to make this investment now, to further bolster our fundamentals and foundations.
“We’re investing in our people, our processes and our relationships, creating a central point in our supply chain, to facilitate faster and more efficient routes to market and enhancing further our quality and compliance processes and procedures.
She added: “This latest news fully aligns with Hunter Price’s core values which act as the driving force for the business, our behaviours and decisions.
“Seeing our new office for the first time last week was a hugely proud moment and we can’t wait to host our customers at our new showroom in the coming months and to further improve our customer experience when collaborating with Hunter Price.”
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P-Wave
Robert Scott, the Oldham-based cleaning manufacturer and distributor, has become the sole distributor of P-Wave products in the UK following its acquisition of P-Wave Distributors. The incorporation of the brand will strengthen Robert Scott’s comprehensive washroom offering and extend P-Wave’s market presence through Robert Scott’s extensive distribution network.
P-Wave is the UK market leader in air freshener and urinal products, with its product range, including the highly popular P-Wave Slant6 and Trough Urinal Screens, renowned for their powerful, long-lasting fragrance. Its products are used in various sectors, from hospitality to healthcare, where P-Wave works in partnership with NHS England supporting its vital ‘Blood in your pee?’ cancer awareness campaign via its products.
The brand’s range will complement and strengthen Robert Scott’s existing washroom portfolio, reinforcing the company’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge washroom solutions to its customers.
Alastair Scott, Sales Director at Robert Scott, said: “We’re always looking to add innovative brands that can help us enhance our position in the market and offering to our customers. P-Wave is a brand we have long admired and fits that bill perfectly.”
The purchase of the brand additionally aligns with Robert Scott’s goal to become carbon neutral by 2045. All P-Wave products contain up to 15% recycled materials and many also incorporate the ground-breaking EcoPure additive, which significantly accelerates biodegradation in the event they end up in landfill.
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Anne Greenwood
The North West Legal Consortium (NWLC) has appointed 15 law firms to its new panel. Firms involved in the framework, which covers the period from August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2028, can now be instructed for legal work by consortium members.
Representing more than 40 public organisations – including councils, combined authorities, waste disposal authorities, social housing agencies, emergency services, transport bodies, and police and crime commissioner offices – the consortium facilitates collaboration in the procurement and commissioning of legal services.
Two firms, Browne Jacobson and Capsticks, have also been awarded partner status. These firms will work closely with the consortium’s management team on bespoke requirements such as a training programme, delivery of an annual training event, support to junior lawyers and a range of other value-added activities for consortium members.
Other firms on the framework include Brodies, DAC Beachcroft, DWF Law, Forbes, Freeths, Geldards, Hill Dickinson, Mann Roberts Solicitors, MSB Solicitors, Muckle, Stephensons, TLT and Weightmans.
Chair of the NWLC management board, Anne Greenwood, said: “By welcoming eight new firms and two new partners in Browne Jacobson and Capsticks, we look forward to the injection of fresh ideas and enthusiasm they will bring alongside those firms with which we already have established longstanding and trusted relationships.”
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Catherine Kennedy
The Liverpool-based Regenda Group has reappointed Forbes Solicitors to its legal services framework, further extending a partnership between the two organisations that began in 2006.
Forbes will continue to provide legal services spanning four key areas including: Corporate, governance, financial and securitisation; housing, management, and commercial; property, development and construction; and HR.
The law firm was reappointed after scoring highly for its experience and expertise in the key sectors that housing provider Regenda Group works in. Julie Vincent, Director of Governance at The Regenda Group, said: “Our organisation strives to deliver positive social impact throughout housing and construction, care and support, and education, training and careers. Part of this involves pooling expertise with suppliers and partners who have the capabilities to support us in regenerating places and creating opportunities for people.
“Forbes Solicitors scored highly during tendering for the legal services framework, because they cover a diverse range of specialisms and provide professional advice as a united team. They have an in-depth understanding of our key sectors and can help us to effectively make a difference in these important areas.”
Catherine Kennedy, Head of Housing and Regeneration at Forbes Solicitors, said: “We’re very much looking forward to continuing to work together and supporting their ambitions in fast-paced and evolving markets.”
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RTS meter
More than 5,000 households in Liverpool with outdated Radio Teleswitch (RTS) meters must switch to smart meters in the next year to avoid potential supply disruptions, Octopus Energy has urged.
RTS equipment receives updates through Long Wave radio broadcast, the same radio frequency as the BBC uses for radio programming.
The BBC has announced plans to migrate unique Long Wave content to other broadcasting platforms – effectively ending RTS communication capabilities on June 30, 2025.
Octopus Energy, a supplier of a fifth of affected homes in Liverpool, has launched a campaign to help fast-track its RTS customers’ new meter installations in the area. Its engineers will have added capacity to visit all affected properties in the city across this autumn and winter.
John Szymik, CEO of Octopus Energy Services, said: “Octopus has boosted its service capability to offer fast-tracked assistance and ensure that no-one is left without power. We urge all affected customers, of any supplier, to book their meter exchange now to ensure a smooth transition.”
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Mark Goodwin
Optimise, the insolvency litigation and financing business launched by law firm Provenio Litigation earlier this year, is now funding £10m-worth of live claims. The business has also launched a new solution for claims below £100,000.
It financially supports the work of insolvency practitioners to make the best possible recoveries for the creditor estates. The liquidator or administrator receives an upfront payment and an agreed percentage of the final recovery on the claim.
While the majority of Optimise’s claims against former directors are valued between £100,000 and £1m, founder and managing director, Mark Goodwin, says insolvency practitioners and lawyers have pointed to a lack of funding options for claims below £100,000. To plug this gap, Optimise has launched a specialist product for lower value claims.
Mark said: “With our flexible approach, Optimise can consider high-value insolvency claims as well as those valued at circa £75,000 and above, which may be overlooked or deemed too small by traditional funders. In a market traditionally dominated by one supplier, we believe this area of work has been overlooked.”
He added: “Optimise is being utilised for a wide range of insolvency litigation-related claims including overdrawn directors’ loan accounts, breach of contract, breach of duty, transactions at undervalue, preferences, unlawful dividends, wrongful trading and claims against third parties.”
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Phone tracking device
Two businesses located on the Sci-Tech Daresbury campus, Revector and 4D Products, have collaborated on a bespoke project for a search and rescue operator based in Vietnam.
Revector has a 20-year track record of supplying products and services across a range of telecommunications, security, and intelligence industries. In this case, its expertise with analysis of International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) numbers, which is more typically used to detect and eliminate fraud, was applied to a search and rescue application.
It engineered a phone tracking device that can attract and monitor the signal of a missing person’s mobile device and narrow down the location to a 20-metre radius.
4D Products’ involvement was sparked through a business networking event at Sci-Tech Daresbury. Its team designed a custom cradle that fits inside a standard backpack, ensuring the Revector device is securely protected and still functional. Search and rescue teams can wear the backpack while tracking missing persons, or they can attach the antenna to a specially engineered handle that allows them to aim it toward transmitted phone signals.
Shane Wilson, CEO at Revector, said: “Working on campus with 4D Products has streamlined the design and development process. When we had a question, we would knock on 4D Products’ door and discuss next steps. That’s the benefit of Sci-Tech Daresbury, it brings innovative companies together under one roof.”
