NW business briefs: Merseyrail; CPS; Belle Vue Manchester; Topspeed Couriers; University of Salford; LJMU; AECOM

Train operator, Merseyrail says essential signalling work by Network Rail will affect its services on the Northern line all day on Sunday,  November 17, with further adjustments to early services on Monday, November 18. Replacement bus services will operate on affected routes to help customers complete their journeys.

Service changes on Sunday for the Ormskirk & Hunts Cross line will see trains running between Ormskirk and Walton stations. Rail replacement buses will operate between Aintree and Hunts Cross stations via Moorfields, with both rail and bus services calling at Orrell Park and Walton stations.

Trains on the Headbolt Lane line will operate between Headbolt Lane and Rice Lane stations. Rail replacement buses will run between Rice Lane and Hunts Cross via Moorfields.

Southport line services involve trains running between Southport and Seaforth & Litherland stations, with rail replacement buses in operation between Waterloo and Moorfields, with both rail and bus services calling at Waterloo and Seaforth & Litherland stations.

Due to the expected finish time of the engineering works, first services on Monday, November 18, will be cancelled or replaced by a rail replacement bus, Full detail are available on the Merseyrail website or on station posters.

Stephen Dodd, Chief Operating Officer at Merseyrail, said: “These essential works by Network Rail are crucial in ensuring we can continue to operate a reliable and punctual railway. Whilst we work together to ensure as much maintenance as possible takes place at times where the railway is closed to customers, there are some occasions, such as this, where that simply isn’t possible.”

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Preston-based emergency power specialist, Central Power Services (CPS), has invested more than £750,000 in the acquisition of four cutting-edge Stage V generators and two new generator delivery vehicles, as part of its growth plans.

The two state-of-the-art Scania crane-mounted trucks will enable CPS to continue to maintain full control of delivery and offloading of generators of all sizes nationwide, as the company expands.

The new vehicles also meet current and forthcoming clean air zone requirements in major cities such as London and Manchester.

Stuart Brakewell, Managing Director of CPS, said: “The investment in the new delivery vehicles and Stage V generators forms part of our future-proofing plans as we grow, as well as a reaffirmation of our commitment to delivering the best possible service and level of choice to our customers.

“All our equipment is at the very cutting edge of performance and reliability; these new generators allow us to cater specifically to customers for whom sustainability is a top priority too. At the same time, the trucks will significantly bolster our delivery fleet, ensuring we can continue to quickly and effectively deliver critical backup power to organisations in need, often within hours, when every second counts.”

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Matt Turner

Bus and coach hire company Belle Vue Manchester has launched accredited training courses for drivers employed by other operators as part of its mission to help improve standards throughout the industry.

Matt Turner is spearheading the six-figure initiative after being promoted to become Stockport-based Belle Vue’s training and compliance manager. The company’s driver training courses are accredited by the Road Transport Industry Training Board.

Matt, 42, who has worked in the industry since he was 16, spent many years as a globe-trotting coach driver and then as a supervisor. His career behind the wheel took him to places including South Africa for the 2010 World Cup, and numerous European capital cities

His new role involves running a host of courses for the company’s own drivers, and refreshers for its transport managers, office staff and senior leaders, as well as staff employed by other companies.

Belle Vue managing director, Phil Hitchen, said: “In my opinion, the standard of drivers in the industry has left a lot to be desired since the pandemic, and so we want to improve customer service delivery levels not just within our business but on a wider scale, too.”

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Winsford-based Topspeed Couriers is accelerating its ambitious journey to net zero by leveraging Webfleet, Bridgestone’s fleet management solution, to support its transition to electric vehicles.

With a commitment to achieving net zero by 2040, the same-day courier service, has already electrified 59% of its 210-strong vehicle fleet – comprising Mercedes Vito, Citan and Sprinter vans – and is now targeting a fully electric fleet by 2027.

Managing director, Gillian Lockley, said: “People told us we couldn’t electrify a courier fleet but, against all odds, we’re doing it. Webfleet is proving pivotal in meeting our sustainability objectives, providing real time data insights and dedicated EV solutions that are helping streamline our operations, promote greener driving practices and manage the unique challenges of running electric vehicles.”

The deployment of PRO 8475 driver terminals and the Webfleet Video solution across the fleet has further elevated Topspeed’s connected efficiency, safety and sustainability goals.

The multi-camera system provides enhanced visibility of both road conditions and cargo security during loading and unloading, which is particularly important when transporting high-value goods.

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The University of Salford has completed the construction of more film production sets in its Newton Building as it continue to reshape the former science facility into an industry-leading teaching space.

After installing four sets in the decanted building in summer 2023, the Film Production team has constructed a further four sets in recent months, two of which are open, large spaces that consist of the complete downstairs of a South Manchester home and a traditional café.

The other spaces consist of a 60s-style office and a small laboratory set-up. They add to the formerly constructed pub set and street scene, complete with its own car and phone box, as well as another living room and a separate bedroom set.

In addition to the high quality industry-standard sets, the team has also set up new teaching spaces next to the sets, four production meeting rooms, a large production office that can fit more than 100 students, a new 100-seater screening room with a 4K projector and two new rehearsal rooms.

Debra Prinselaar, Director of Creative Technology, Film and Broadcast Media at The University of Salford said: “To the untrained eye, Newton’s former Aeronautic and Civil Engineering Halls, are just drafty, cold, echoey, empty spaces. But once we packed them with film sets and props, they became hives of industry, reflecting studio-set culture in the world of filmmaking.”

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Vic Taylor teaching students

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) has become one of only five institutions to join an initiative offering students practical, hands-on support from seasoned entrepreneurs to help them establish their own businesses.

Marketing Mavericks, created by entrepreneur Vic Taylor, provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to turn students’ self-employment dreams into reality. The programme, which has already assisted several students in launching businesses alongside their studies or while traveling post-graduation, is designed to help students see that self-employment is an option after graduation.

So, far 136 students have already completed the first stage of the course as part of a pilot project. Coinciding with Global Entrepreneurship Week from November 18-24, which celebrates young talent turning ideas into reality, LJMU is now looking at how it can implement the second stage of the course to help young people to develop their ideas and turn their start-up business dreams in to a reality.

Dr Mathew Analogbei, senior lecturer at LJMU’s Business School, said: “This training programme is such an eye opener for the students who did not know great opportunities like this exist and is achievable at different stages of their student and work life. This is such a valuable training program for all students to experience – excellent content and presentation.”

Vic Taylor, who leads Marketing Mavericks, said she hoped more universities will now follow suit and encourage students to see freelancing as a credible option going forward. She said: “We are thrilled to have Liverpool John Moores University students join our programme.”

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AECOM – credit Wirestock

The Manchester project, programme and cost management (PPC) team at AECOM has boosted its workforce fivefold and advised on projects across the North West totaling more than £1bn in project value over the same period. 

AECOM unveiled a new office in Manchester in July 2023, and, since then the PPC team at 100 Embankment in Salford has grown from 12 to 60 staff as the company continues to invest in the region. This includes specialist hire Richard Fraser as director of the education team, as well as director of cost management, Paul Camac, and project management director, Stephen Kenny. 

The news comes as figures show Manchester is the largest city region economy outside London, with an annual output of £78.7bn in 2020. In the decade to 2020, output soared by 39%, and the Manchester economy is expected to see an annual average growth rate of 2.5% between 2024 and 2026, with only Reading (2.7%) and London (2.6%) expecting faster growth.

Key projects the team have worked on in the past 12 months include plans for a new health building at the University of Salford, which will offer world-class teaching and research facilities to its School of Health and Society students, as well as plans to decarbonise Lancaster University’s estate with large scale air source heat pumps.

Matthew Gerken, director of project, programme and cost management (PPC) in the North at AECOM, said: “The North of England’s economy continues to strengthen and diversify and we’re supporting that growth with projects that are crucial to the economy. It’s the talent that drives this success and our new Manchester hub has been the perfect platform to work with the best in the region and hit the milestone of £1bn in 12 months.”