NW business briefs: Padel; DWF; Sodexo; Northern Gateway; Built for Athletes; Totally Stockport; GM Business Growth Hub
One of the fastest growing sports in the UK will soon find a new home in Sefton as the council looks to capitalise on the success of padel tennis. The local authority is to offer under-used public tennis courts in Southport, Formby and Crosby, respectively, to interested parties who could transform them into brand new padel facilities.
The aim would be for some of the tennis courts at each site to be repurposed for padel, and some of the tennis courts to be enhanced for continued and increased use.
The opportunity is being put forward by Sefton Council which will now seek to identify a responsible and experienced development and operating partner to help breathe new life into sites in Victoria Park (Southport) Coronation Park (Crosby) and Duke Street Park (Formby).
Cllr Paulette Lappin, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economy and Skills, said: “This isn’t any old racket – it’s the fastest growing sport in the UK and we want to make sure we’re serving our sport loving communities in the best way possible.
“We have identified three sites within the grounds of Victoria Park, Coronation Park and Duke Street Park that are tennis courts but are perhaps not as well used as they once were. By putting out these sites to tender to find a responsible and community-focused operator, we can ensure our communities will get fully refurbished tennis court spaces as well as brand new padel courts.”
The move is supported by a number of volunteer groups, including the Friends of Coronation Park (FoCP). Hannah Duffy, from the FoCP group, said: “This development is a perfect fit with our efforts to transform Coronation Park into a vibrant community hub that will benefit local residents for years to come. The introduction of padel will attract a diverse range of park users, support the surrounding area, and boost local businesses, enhancing the park’s appeal as a dynamic destination for everyone.”
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Rachel Jones
Manchester-based law firm, DWF, a global provider of integrated legal and business services, has been reappointed by Serco to provide legal services to its UK and European business for another three years.
Serco is a global service provider to governments that operates in various sectors including justice, defence, space, health, transport and migration.
The reappointment secures DWF’s place as one of four law firms on Serco’s UK and Europe legal panel for a minimum of three years, with the potential for a one-year extension.
Rachel Jones, partner at DWF, said: “We truly value the trust Serco has placed in us once again. We look forward to continuing this partnership, working closely with Serco over the coming years and supporting their initiatives across the UK and Europe.”
Heather Key, Chief Legal Counsel for Serco’s UK & Europe business, said: “We are pleased to continue working with DWF and value their expertise and ongoing commitment to supporting our legal needs. Their collaborative approach and understanding of our business make them a trusted partner, and we look forward to the continued success of our relationship over the coming years.”
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Sodexo and Bruntwood SciTech, a client of Sodexo’s Corporate Services division, have hosted a celebration day to mark the success of its Change Please Academy at Manchester Science Park.
Change Please is an award-winning social enterprise that aims to end homelessness through the power of employment and great tasting coffee. By reinvesting 100% of its profits into training individuals as baristas, providing them with housing, therapy and onward employment opportunities, Change Please has demonstrated a tangible impact on communities.
In April 2023, Sodexo and Bruntwood SciTech launched the Change Please Academy at Manchester Science Park. Seven individuals from the local community, experiencing homelessness, are presently on placement, or have completed their training as baristas through the academy. The success of the Manchester academy has inspired Bruntwood SciTech and Change Please to explore opportunities to replicate the model at other sites.
Bethany Adam, Head of Purpose and Impact for Bruntwood SciTech, said: “It’s been fantastic to see the Change Please Academy going from strength to strength at Manchester Science Park. The programme now supports local people into employment, perfectly aligning Bruntwood SciTech’s commitment to supporting local communities, socially and economically.”
Angela Halliday, Director of Social Impact, Sodexo UK & Ireland, said: “As a purpose-led business, we are proud to work with Change Please and support it in its mission to tackle homelessness through providing meaningful employment opportunities and positively contributing to society and improving the communities in which we live andwork.”
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Northern Gateway illustrative sketch
Local people are being invited to have their say on plans for Greater Manchester’s biggest and most significant proposed employment development.
Set within the Atom Valley Mayoral Development Zone, Northern Gateway will create a dynamic and nationally significant employment destination, driving jobs and investment in the northern boroughs and supporting a rebalancing of the city region’s economy.
The Northern Gateway Development Vehicle (NGDV), a 50/50 partnership between Russell LDP and Harworth Group is bringing forward a planning application for an early phase of the Northern Gateway employment site which covers around half of the overall proposed floorspace.
The first phase could see around 9,990 high quality jobs created – with the wider employment site set to deliver around 20,000 jobs – a £570m GVA boost to Greater Manchester’s economy each year and annual business rates of around £20m to support council services.
The consultation runs until February 17, 2025, and the NGDV team will be hosting two drop-in events on January 29, 3-7pm at The Old Police Station Business Centre, Heywood, and February 4, 3-7pm at Pike Fold Golf Club, Hills Lane, Unsworth, Bury. An online Q&A will be held on February 3, 6-7pm. People can sign up on the website www.northerngatewayconsultation.co.uk where they can also find out more and fill in a questionnaire about the plans.
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Cheshire-based fitness brand, Built For Athletes, has forged a partnership with INEOS Grenadiers, Britain’s only UCI World Tour team, marking the British brand’s first move into the sport of cycling.
Specialising in high quality bags, luggage and accessories, Built For Athletes has partnered with the cycling team to launch a limited edition drop of BFA bags with the INEOS Grenadiers logo patch. Also set to launch in the coming weeks are the INEOS Monument patches in a hexagonal shape as a collectors’ item, followed by bespoke Grand Tour patches later this year.
The range will soon be expanded to include other products from the brand, followed by an entirely bespoke collection in 2026 – all specifically built for performance and catering to the needs of elite and everyday cycling athletes.
Built For Athletes has already established strategic, industry-leading partnerships across several sports, including HYROX and F1. Founder, Nick Costello, said: “We are thrilled to be expanding our roster of partnerships into the world of cycling, which is new and exciting territory for us.”
John Allert, CEO at INEOS Grenadiers, said: “Cycling is an incredibly tough sport – our stadium is the mountains, forests and deserts of the world. Our INEOS Grenadiers riders are real warriors – brave, gritty and determined – and our amazing support staff are critical to keeping them performing at their best. That’s why our equipment partners need to be world class, with products that meet demands rarely seen in sport.”
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Totally Stockport, Stockport’s Business Improvement District (BID), is calling for placemaking professionals to submit their ideas for an innovative Greening Masterplan across Stockport town centre.
Currently undergoing a £1bn programme of regeneration and named the best place to live in the North West by the Sunday Times in 2024, Stockport is a town in transformation. Now in its second term, Totally Stockport is prioritising greening initiatives as part of its strategy to enhance the town centre’s vibrancy and appeal.
The new Greening Masterplan will establish a consistent and coherent greening strategy for key areas within the Stockport BID boundary which includes Market Place, Underbanks, Merseyway, St Peter’s Square, Mersey Square, and Stockport Retail Park.
Totally Stockport is seeking responses to its tender which provide a strategic and creative plan, offering immediate, medium and long term impact across multiple sites across the town centre. This includes identifying key sites, sketched proposals and estimated costs. The BID has already identified four viable sites for immediate action with further details available upon request.
The budget for the development of the Greening Masterplan is £20,000. Additionally, the guide budget for implementing immediate projects ranges between £150,000 and £400,000. Shaun Freeman-Jones, Totally Stockport BID Manager, said: “Through this masterplan, we aim to create spaces that not only add to the town aesthetically but also offer real health, wellbeing, and community benefits. We’re calling on placemaking experts to bring bold and creative ideas to the table to help us transform Stockport into a greener and even more vibrant town.”
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Yvonne Sampson
GM Business Growth Hub’s EnterprisingYou and the African Business Chamber (AfBC) are joining forces to help aspiring entrepreneurs start their dream businesses at their “Start Your Business” and “Unlocking Success” workshops on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
Starting a business can be both exciting and daunting for any first-time entrepreneurs, but previous research by the Growth Company found that Black entrepreneurs in the city-region found it particularly difficult to access support and funding. One of the reports suggestions was customised support that met the needs of the Black business community.
These unique events are hosted by successful entrepreneurs Cody Gapare, founder of innovative beauty company C-Lash and Raphael Ogunrinde, founder and CEO of beverage company Calyx Drinks.
They’ll be supported by Enterprise Specialists Caroline Jones and Paul Norris from GM Business Growth Hub. The sessions will equip participants with the essentials needed to start and grow their new ventures with confidence.
Yvonne Sampson, Head of Enterprise who oversees the programme, is excited about what the new partnership with AfBC will bring, saying: “The more you know and experience, the more knowledge you have to draw from when making decisions as a business owner. And that’s invaluable, especially as an entrepreneur. This session isn’t just about support British African entrepreneurs in Greater Manchester, it’s about creating a network where we all want each other to succeed.” More information can be found on GM Business Growth Hub’s website.
