NW business briefs: Carbonit Technologies; Stone Tyres; Momentum Group; RLB; Hydes; Ivy Liverpool; Alcedo Care; Nugent Gala
Lytham-based Carbonbit Technologies has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Azerbaijan Investment Company at Cop29.
The signing is an agreement to work together on further development of Carbonbit Technologies’ Direct Air Capture and Point Source Capture technology – a low-cost application designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and from flue gas, helping reach the target of net zero by 2050.
Currently at the prototype stage and with a patent pending, there are plans for ongoing development and investment to bring this exciting new technology to market.
Dylan Jordan, Chief Innovation Officer at Carbbonit Technologies, co-founder and nuclear scientist, said: “We are very pleased to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Azerbaijan Investment Company at the UN Climate Change Conference.
“It is a significant step forward in collaborative efforts to bring our technology to market and have a positive impact on climate change, whilst also aiming to develop highly skilled jobs in manufacturing, robotics and artificial intelligence.”
The UN Climate Change Conference took place in Baku in Azerbaijan and included representatives from the UK government, Carbonbit Technologies and the British Chamber of Commerce.
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John Stone
Bury-based Black & White Bridging, the specialist bridging lender, has facilitated the ambitious expansion of Saint Helens-based Stone Tyres with a £555,000 commercial bridging loan.
The funding has enabled Stone Tyres to purchase a new commercial premises in St Helens, where the company will open a MOT and servicing centre to complement its existing tyre repair and replacement services, creating 10 jobs.
John Stone, Director of Stone Tyres, said: “Black & White Bridging has been fantastic in helping us bring our vision to life.
“We’re excited to add MOT and servicing to our offerings and grow our impact in the local community. With St Helens undergoing regeneration, this investment allows us to expand our business and create new skilled job opportunities right here in the local area.”
David McCarthy, Relationship Director at Black & White Bridging, said: “We’re pleased to support John Stone and his business in achieving their growth ambitions. Stone Tyres is a stand out example of a local business with a strong reputation and a deep-rooted commitment to its community.”
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Chris Bliss, left, and Chris Renshaw
North West property services company, The Momentum Group, is celebrating achieving coveted B Corporation Certification, joining a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact.
Administered by B Lab and measuring five impact areas, B Corp assesses Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers, with The Momentum Group scoring particularly highly in the Community category.
The company was also noted for its ‘Designed to Give – Impact Business Model’, due to the group’s philanthropic arm, the Momentum Foundation, which supports a number of local charities.
Comprising four distinct business offerings – Advise, Build, Manage and Maintain – and serving property clients throughout the UK, including Grosvenor, Sovereign Centros from CBRE, Redevco and Glenbrook, The Momentum Group is one of just 3,124 UK businesses, equating to 0.06% of all companies, to have B Corp Certification, with fewer than 20 in the Liverpool City Region.
Chris Bliss and Chris Renshaw, co-founders and Directors of The Momentum Group, said: “Becoming a B Corp Certified business is one of our most significant achievements. It has only been possible, though, because everyone in The Momentum Group shares our commitment to the company being socially and environmentally responsible in everything it does.”
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Andrew Reynolds and Salford University Chancellor, Lucy Meacock
Andrew Reynolds, Chief Executive of construction and property management consultancy, RLB UK, has received a prestigious Alumni Excellence Award: Changemaker in Environmental Sustainability, from the University of Salford in recognition of his contribution to sustainability in the built environment.
Andrew, who completed a BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying, Property and Construction in the Built Environment at the university from 1992 to1996, attended the award ceremony in Salford, which celebrates alumni who have demonstrated excellence in their careers, community service, or other areas of achievement.
RLB’s clients in the North West include the University of Manchester, Cole Waterhouse, Stockport Council and Manchester Met University and the University of Salford itself.
Andrew said: “What an honour. I feel very privileged to have had the educational foundations from the University of Salford that have set me on this path in the built environment, allowing me to support a more sustainable, net zero future.”
University of Salford’s Health of Philanthropy, Alumni and Supporter Engagement, Sophie Thorp said: “We’re extremely proud to count Andrew as a prominent member of our vibrant community of alumni, and absolutely delighted to be celebrating his achievements with him here today, where it all started. Andrew is an exemplary role model for all those considering a career in the built environment sector, especially our current students and recent graduates.”
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Hornsmill team with Sam Self (centre)
Salford-based Hydes Brewery has re-opened the doors of its popular Chester pub, The Hornsmill, following a £500,000 refurbishment and modernisation.
The refurbishment of the premium dining pub in Helsby, acquired by Hydes in 2015, includes a full interior overhaul including redecoration, new furniture and fixtures plus a reconfigured bar layout to provide more opened-up, spacious dining and seating areas. A refresh of the exterior has also been completed with new lighting and signage, further enhancing the establishment’s outside appeal.
This latest refurbishment forms part of an ongoing multimillion-pound investment programme across the Hydes estate over the next few years. Over the past two years, Hydes has committed more than £10m to refurbishments of pubs across its estate and plans to continue supporting and investing in its pubs throughout 2025.
Sam Self, general manager of The Hornsmill, said: “It’s great to see the Hornsmill looking so magnificent in the run up to the busy festive period. The last refurbishment was nine years ago when Hydes first acquired the pub so it’s great to have this latest £0.5m investment which will be a huge hit with all our guests.”
Managing director of Hydes Brewery, Adam Mayers, said: “The Hornsmill is a superb pub in an ideal location and continues to go from strength to strength.”
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Private dining
The Ivy Liverpool Brasserie has officially opened its doors on Castle Street in the former Bank of England building.
The opening has been highly anticipated ahead of the festive season with thousands of bookings being made for guests to celebrate throughout the Christmas period and beyond.
The Ivy has carefully restored the Grade I-listed building to reveal its opulent interior, stunning bar, as well as a beautiful 16-person private dining room for those seeking an intimate setting for special events, festive parties and more.
Kate Keyes, General Manager at The Ivy Liverpool Brasserie, which has a 180-diner capacity, said: “The Ivy team has been working so hard behind the scenes to create an iconic venue for Liverpool to enjoy and we’re so excited to open the doors and share our dining experience with this special city.
“From beautiful interiors to our signature dishes, we’re delighted to welcome our first guests to enjoy what we have to offer in this fantastic city.”
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Alcedo Care team, Victoria, Becky, Katie and Calum
Alcedo Care Group is continuing to expand across Cumbria with the opening of two new branches, one on Gray Street in Workington and the other on Parkhouse Road in Carlisle.
The new offices signal a combined investment of nearly £450,000 for the specialist home care provider and will create approximately 200 local jobs. The group is on track to meet its target of owning and operating 30 branches across the North of England by the end of 2025.
Both Workington and Carlisle will be headed up by their own dedicated branch managers who will be supported by experienced Alcedo Care operations manager Victoria Leecy and area manager Katie McKenzie.
With its combination of complex clinical care plus day-to-day personal and social care, Alcedo and its skilled team of nurses and carers will deliver up to 4,000 hours of care per week to residents across the region looking to remain in their own homes rather than move into hospital or permanent residential care.
Managing director at Alcedo Care Group, Andy Boardman, said: “With demand for high quality homecare continuing to increase, we are pleased to open two new branches and offer our services more widely across Cumbria.”
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Liverpool City Region social care charity, Nugent, has raised nearly £100,000 at its annual Gala, which will go towards ‘Making Memories’ for the most vulnerable children and young people in the North West.
The annual Nugent Gala was held at the Titanic Hotel, Liverpool, earlier this month and with support from headline sponsors, Krol Corlett and Butterworth Spengler Insurance Brokers, raised £92,320.
‘Our Future Now’ is a community service and wholly charitable arm of Nugent’s operations, which is focused on alleviating inequalities and opportunities through four key themes: Accommodation; Poverty Alleviation; Memorable Experiences; and Employability.
Nugent CEO, Jo Henney, said: “Tonight was about more than just raising funds, it was about raising awareness for those who don’t have the same opportunities to create life’s joyful memories. Thanks to our supporters, sponsors, and guests, we’re able to ensure that many more people will be able to make memories they’ll cherish forever. The generosity of the Liverpool community is unmatched.”
Simon Krol, Director of Krol Corlett, said: “The goodwill in the room always blows me away at this event, much different to anything else I attend throughout the year,” while James Jaycock, Director of Butterworth Spengler, said: “This evening’s success speaks to the power of collective action.”
