NW briefs: Sandywood Property; Duckhams; Plus Dane; KQ Liverpool; Be.EV; Sterling Plastering Change Academy; Praetura
Salford-based property developer, Sandywood Property, run by Paul Sweeney, is the latest donor to Empower’s Salford Youth Zone and as part of the donation it will be providing £100,000 across four years, which will contribute towards the development and maintenance of the site.
This will include funding the activities and services that young people rely on, such as sports clubs, music facilities, and art and craft classes.
The developer company was set up by Paul Sweeney in 2021 and has been behind significant renovation projects across Salford including the renovation of the 200-year-old-building being run as a café in Worsley Village. Sandywood was also behind the £600,000 transformation of the former Worsley Methodist chapel tenanted to Worsley Coffee Co in 2022 and is currently working on renovating another 200-year old building in Swinton which will open in 2025.
Sandywood will also facilitate training for young people in the Youth Zone that are interested in exploring careers in the hospitality sector. It will do this by leveraging its renovation projects to provide training opportunities and experiences.
Salford Youth Zone is on track to open next summer and Adam Farricker, CEO of Empower Youth Zones, said: “Paul’s experience both in his career and personal life means that he has a first-hand understanding of the importance of the work that we do and the difference it makes. As we come to the end of 2024, we want to express our gratitude to all of our donors that we have partnered with in the last year.”
Paul Sweeney said: “Having worked closely with youth zones throughout my career, it’s a real privilege to be working with Salford Youth Zone as its latest donor. I’m a proud Salfordian and passionate about ensuring that young people in the community have access to opportunities that will help them develop essential skills and discover their interests and hobbies.”
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AI-generated image of Alexander Duckham
Duckhams, the original British motor oil since 1899 and based in Bolton, has employed some of the latest techniques in AI animation to bring founder, Alexander Duckhams, to life to celebrate its 125th anniversary.
Working with a specialist animation studio in the US, AI allows Alexander Duckham to tell the story of Duckhams’ British motor oil legacy, from his pioneering roots to its enduring excellence, as the company enters the next growth phase with its new leadership team.
In a specially commissioned video to celebrate this remarkable milestone, senior leadership team members, key global distributors and winning motorsport drivers Adam Smalley and Dan Cammish share their stories of the Duckhams legacy.
Duckhams chairman, Jabir Sheth, said: “The legacy of the Duckhams brand stands for victory and triumph, As we mark an incredible milestone of 125 years, from developing industry-leading motor oils to sponsoring Formula 1 motorsport champions, Duckhams has been at the forefront of innovation, quality and technological advancement.”
Duckhams Chief Marketing Officer, Rajat Moitra, said, “It’s an exciting time to be leading the marketing duties for this 125-year-old juggernaut called Duckhams. We are building the brand through investments in motorsport and digital communications.”
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Plus Dane team
A team of housing association colleagues has taken part in a daring charity abseil from an iconic football stadium. The group of 12 from Liverpool-based Plus Dane Housing, were fundraising for Cash for Kids with a 100ft challenge at Liverpool FC’s main stand in Anfield.
Going by the team name ‘the Plus Dane Defiers’, they smashed their original target, raising just under £4,500 by the time the event ended. Plus Dane donated an additional £500 towards the group’s total.
Plus Dane supports Cash for Kids Mission Christmas each year, as part of its winter campaign to support customers over the festive season and colder months. The charity provides gifts for the housing association to wrap and deliver to families in need in the communities it serves.
Jade Morris, strategic partnerships manager at Plus Dane said: “Many of the families we work with struggle to afford essentials like food or heating, so the idea of buying gifts for their children can feel impossible. Imagine, as a parent or child, facing Christmas without even the simplest of gifts?”
Laura Charlton, Regional Charity Manager, said: “Thank you to the team from Plus Dane who took on this epic challenge in aid of our Mission Christmas appeal. Their fundraising efforts will help to bring the magic of Christmas to children across our city.”
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Primary schools across the Liverpool City Region have begun to receive copies of a new book which aims to inspire the next generation of local innovators.
The Animates : Learning in Liverpool, tells the story of six animal friends who crash land from space in the Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool) innovation district and must use science and technology to help them repair their ship and return home.
Written by local author, Natalie Reeves-Billing, it has been specially commissioned by KQ Liverpool in partnership with Connected Places Catapult and is part of a major focus on inspiring and training the next generation of innovators by helping young people to understand the many innovation careers that exist in their home city.
More than 5,000 books will be delivered to schools over the coming weeks, accompanied by bespoke, localised lesson plans which are connected to the curriculum and aim to help teachers expand on the material in classrooms. Colin Sinclair, CEO of KQ Liverpool, said: “As we work to build a stronger city region economy, based on our strengths in health and life sciences, materials chemistry, advanced manufacturing and digital and creative industries, it’s essential that we engage local young people and help them to understand the various careers that are right on their doorstep.”
Mayor Steve Rotheram was on hand to deliver the first copy of the book to Neil Verdin, headteacher at Pleasant Street Primary School. He said: “Inspiring the next generation is crucial. That’s why, through our Careers Hub, we’ve helped provide Natalie’s brilliant new book to primary schools across the region. This fantastic story will spark children’s imaginations and encourage them to dream big – seeing themselves as future innovators in science, technology, and beyond.”
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Tyne Valley Charging Hub
Northumberland is set to benefit from three ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) Charging Hubs, installed by Manchester-based national charging network, Be.EV in a bid to drive sustainable tourism.
The chargers mark the beginning of Be.EV’s partnership with development company Advance Northumberland, providing both residents and visitors to the region with convenient access to ultra-easy, ultra-rapid charging with added amenities.
The new charging hubs are to be located at Tyne Valley Retail Park in Hexham, Ramparts Business Park in Berwick, and Manor Walks Shopping Centre in Cramlington. All of these hubs are strategically positioned near major transport routes, making them ideal for both ‘on-the-go’ charging for travelers passing through and convenient ‘dwell’ charging for those visiting nearby retail parks and attractions.
Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV. said: “These new hubs mark a milestone in Northumberland’s journey toward a sustainable future. Our mission is to make EV charging simple, accessible, and integral to the travel experience.”
Lee Farrier, Head of Commercial and Workspace at Advance Northumberland, said: “This partnership is about much more than EV chargers. It’s about preparing Northumberland for the future while delivering tangible benefits for our communities.”
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Jason Newton, left, and Jeff Murphy
A real-world training scenario for apprentices has been created as a training centre in Kirkby.
Four training bays and a bespoke timber frame plot have been installed at Sterling Plastering Change Academy and will be used by Level 2 plastering apprentices from Hugh Baird College, to create a hands-on ‘classroom’.
A number of partners have supported the project including Redrow, which has been working in partnership with Sterling Plastering for the past five years. The homebuilder provided ceiling joists and labour for the training bays.
Jason Newton, Redrow NW managing director, said: “This new project is great news for the construction industry in the North West, helping to address the skills shortage in a really practical way. To be able to offer plastering apprentices first hand experience and get them prepared for a job onsite is invaluable.”
Jeff Murphy, co-founder of Sterling Plastering, along with Chris Cox, said: “We are committed to delivering opportunities for everyone, young and old, who may not have had the chance to pursue a career in construction. This real life ‘timber frame house’ will allow us to train the students in the exact same environment as on a new build construction site. This will enable students to become immediately employable post end point assessment with college.”
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Jen Bellamy with her son, husband and daughter
Manchester-based Praetura Group is celebrating raising £45,720 for the Bone Cancer Research Trust in 2024. The group of financial services companies nominated the Bone Cancer Research Trust as its chosen charity after a member of the team was diagnosed with primary bone cancer at the beginning of the year, with a target set to raise £15,000.
Senior Marketing Manager of Praetura Lending, Jen Bellamy, has worked at Praetura for eight years, having started life at Praetura in the role of Marketing Manager for Praetura Asset Finance, based in Blackburn. Towards the end of 2023, an injury that was initially thought to be ligament damage was found to be a tumour growing in Jen’s femur. This was formally diagnosed as being spindle-cell sarcoma at the beginning of January.
A range of events and activities were organised by Praetura to raise funds and Jen, herself, organised an event in September, where friends, family and colleagues from Praetura joined her for The Great Inflatables Walk which saw more than 50 people in a range of inflatable costumes walking from Blackpool Pleasure Beach to Blackpool Tower, raising in excess of £15,000.
Jen said: “This has been an overwhelming year, for many reasons. However, the support I’ve had from every single person I know at Praetura has helped more than I will ever be able to properly put into words.”
Xanthe Hopkinson, Regional Relationship Manager at the Bone Cancer Research Trust, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Praetura team for their commitment to improving the lives of bone cancer patients. It is a true reflection of their company values, together with how valued Jen is at the organisation.”
