North West business briefs: Salford Lads Club; Bentley Motors; Catalyst; Simmons Bar; Kinaxia; Stone Superstore; Cara Group

Salford City Council has confirmed an agreement to provide significant funding to help support Salford Lads Club. The decision will see £100,000 committed to the club with immediate effect to help it keep its doors open, remain operating and providing essential support to local children and young people.

The funding package will consist of a £20,000 match funding contribution from the city’s Crowdfunder programme. The additional funding, up to £80,000 will be provided in the form of a grant from the City Council Revenue Budget.

The council has acknowledged not only the significance of Salford Lads Club as an iconic cultural venue for the city – it was immortalised by publicity shots of legenday Manchester band The Smiths – but also its important role in supporting and shaping the lives of children and young people in the city. The decision to act fast and activate this package of support is a reflection of the vital work done by the club and its volunteers and the need to secure its future.

The support provided by the council will not just be financial. A further commitment has been agreed for council officers from across different departments to work more closely with the club to help ensure its survival. Salford City Council will also work closely with partners from across the city to garner further long term support for the club.

Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, said: “Having worked closely with the club for many years, we are acutely aware of the current financial difficulties and the challenging operating times it faces. So, I’m pleased we have been able to act swiftly and provide this funding support now.”

He added: There will be people around the world who are only aware of Salford, because of the Lads Club, via the lens of the famous Smiths photograph. So it is only right that the council provides this much need funding now and a commitment to support in the future.”

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Bentley Motors has created 150 career opportunities for its early careers 2025 intake. Applications across the company are now open for Graduates and Industrial Placements at careers.bentleymotors.com, with Apprentice positions open from February next year.

More than a quarter of positions are focused on Bentley’s product development as the marque transitions its future model direction to become a leader in sustainable luxury mobility. As Bentley looks for the industry’s brightest talents, additional vacancies include positions in Manufacturing, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, Finance and Communications, all with a starting date of Autumn next year.

While recruitment has begun for 2025, Bentley has welcomed the 2024 cohort to the factory in Crewe to begin their journey on the early careers programme.

Dr Karen Lange, Member of the Board for Human Resources at Bentley Motors, said: “As we embrace the exciting shift to electrification and redefine luxury in the automotive industry, we are seeking an exceptional talent pool that we can promise will be fully supported, trained and inspired to shape their future career path, and that of Bentley Motors.”

Of the 150 2025 roles, 26 are for three or four-year Apprenticeship positions, 20 are two-year Graduate roles, and 104 are for 12-month Industrial Placements.

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Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Museum in Widnes, Cheshire, has been given £1m by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help it educate and excite an even wider audience about the relevance of chemistry, the town’s chemical heritage and how this has shaped modern life today.

A charity launched in 1987, Catalyst celebrates the local chemical industry heritage and its influence at home and around the world with unique initiatives, hands-on experiences and rich industrial heritage archives. It welcomes visitors from the local area and beyond, with special events for schools, families, and SEN groups all year round.

The £1,009,930 Heritage Fund grant will be used to create eight jobs in the area, help refurbish parts of the museum and fund an extensive activity plan that will ensure an enhanced experience for the local community and visitors.

Nikki Mallott, CEO at Catalyst said: “Widnes is proud of its chemical heritage. The industry that developed here has had a significant impact on the chemical industry worldwide and on the products we use every day. It has shaped the town, the wider North West region and the rest of the world and we’ll be using this funding to help more people understand not only its inception, but its relevance to the modern world.”

Catalyst is one of the 15 life-changing, diverse projects to be given a total of more than £30m by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to mark the organisation’s 30th anniversary. Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “These wonderful projects demonstrate the astonishing breadth of heritage that people value and want to pass onto future generations.”

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Simmons Bar Manchester will open on October 24. Notorious for its Happy Hour, Simmons says it is home to packed dance floors, banging cocktails, and the best feel-good vibes the industry has to offer.

Taking residence in the 400-capacity, former Botanist site on Deansgate, the team at Simmons is bringing the popular concept to central Manchester, kicking off with a series of FREE BAR launch parties.

Owner, Nick Campbell, said: “Manchester leads the way when it comes to nightlife, and we’re excited to be able to be a part of it.”

Simmons Bars is a chain of cocktail bars spread across London.

It says it is known for its eclectic decor, fun atmosphere, and signature affordable drinks deals. With a playful vibe, retro gaming consoles, and neon-lit interiors, it offers a blend of nostalgic charm and lively nightlife, making it a favourite among partygoers and after-work crowds.

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Robin Balderstone, Eurocell, left, and Simon Nelson from Kinaxia

Kinaxia Logistics has sealed a two-year extension to its multimillion-pound contract with Eurocell, the UK’s largest manufacturer, recycler and distributor of PVC-U products for the construction industry.

The initial five-year agreement covering the whole of the UK and Ireland will now run until September 2026.

Macclesfield-based Kinaxia deploys a dedicated core fleet of more than 40 vehicles to provide a 24/7 service to Eurocell and has consistently achieved an on-time, in-full performance level of 99.96% it said. Kinaxia is now trialling night fulfilment to ensure optimum stock levels are maintained at key Eurocell branches.

Kinaxia shunts stock from Eurocell’s manufacturing facilities in Derbyshire to its national distribution centre in Alfreton. From there, Kinaxia undertakes daily deliveries to more than 200 Eurocell branches and fabricators.

Simon Nelson, chief operating officer at Kinaxia Logistics, said: “The extension to our contract is testament to the excellent service and great teamwork with Eurocell.”

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Showroom assistant, James, Managing Director Daniel Shamim and showroom assistant Simone

Online retailer of natural stone and porcelain tiles, Stone Superstore, is opening its first physical showroom in Wilmslow.

Having achieved a consistent annual turnover of more than £10m, the showroom’s opening marks a major milestone in the company’s growth after 14 years of successful online operations. 

Located at 55 Alderley Road, the three-story showroom is designed to inspire. From natural stone slabs to decorative porcelain tiles, the new gallery-style space offers customers a first-hand look at Stone Superstore’s premium collection. 

Wilmslow was specifically chosen as the location for the new showroom, driven by Managing Director, Daniel Shamim’s personal connection to the area. He said: “As a family-run business with roots in the North West and headquarters near Manchester, Wilmslow offers the ideal setting for expansion. Its vibrant high street is a hotspot for homeowners, families, designers, and architects, making it the perfect location to launch the brand’s first physical space.” 

Molly Woodward-Moor, Creative Director, describes the showroom’s design as a reflection of the brand’s core values, saying: “The design of the showroom reflects who we are as a brand. The bright yet calming nature of the space encourages our customers to experience the beauty and quality of our products in a stunning environment that takes the stress out of tile buying.”
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Cara Group Future Skills Apprenticeship Programme

North West construction firm, Cara Group, has announced the launch of its new Future Skills Apprenticeship Programme, an initiative designed to equip the next generation of construction professionals with essential skills, hands-on experience and mentorship.

The programme, which will initially run as part of the company’s brickwork division, aims to meet the evolving demands of the industry while elevating its apprenticeship offerings. 

The Future Skills Programme is a key component of Cara’s commitment to developing a skilled and innovative team, with operations based in Manchester, Yorkshire and Liverpool. 

Neil Allen, Managing Director of Cara Brickwork, said: “This programme builds on our three decades of experience, offering apprentices the practical training, mentorship, and technical development needed to meet the challenges of the modern construction industry. We’re providing them with the tools, both physical and educational, to excel.” 

A defining feature of Future Skills is its collaboration with Keystone Group and its subsidiary, Keyfix, which specialises in non-combustible cavity solutions for external masonry facades in buildings. This partnership takes Cara Brickwork’s Apprenticeship Scheme beyond the traditional training model, offering a more holistic development experience, it said.