NW business briefs: A&K Community Hub; Mersey Tunnels; Sale Sharks; Green Bean Studios; Staci; Trafford Centre; SAS Daniels
Former footballer, Tony Grant, and his business partners have kicked off a new venture after launching a community hub to host social activities and provide advice on issues such as fuel poverty, debt and benefits.
The A&K Community Hub has opened at the former Our Lady’s Parish Centre on Park Road North, Birkenhead. The two-storey building is already welcoming around 500 local people each week for a wide range of activities after undergoing an extensive refurbishment. Farrington Law, part of the Jackson Lees Group of NW solicitors’ practices, provided legal advice to A&K Football & Education on the takeover of the building from the Diocese of Shrewsbury.
Activities include clubs for mums and toddlers and people with autism and Alzheimer’s, quiz evenings, knit-and-natter and bingo sessions, a job club and courses in English for speakers of other languages, as well as the advice sessions. The building has a function hall with a capacity of 150, a community room and an IT suite to help local people improve their computer skills so they can better navigate the internet for online banking, making medical appointments and performing other tasks. The hub is the latest initiative by Tony and his business partners, Kevin Kirby and Laura Newcombe, following the launch of their A&K Football & Education venture in 2023.
Tony played for clubs including Everton, Manchester City, Burnley, Crewe Alexandra and Accrington Stanley during his career as a midfielder before retiring in 2008, then went on to work as a coach at Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Forest Green Rovers and in Australia, India and Saudi Arabia.
He said: “There’s a big need for a facility of this kind in the area, which is evident by the number of people who are already coming along during the daytime and in the evenings to take advantage of the variety of clubs, activities and sessions on offer. I’ve been in football all my life and it’s what I understand best, but I’m always keen to support vulnerable people and families. We are living in a time of fuel poverty, a cost-of-living crisis, and issues around loneliness and inclusion in general.”
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Kingsway Tunnel jet fans
New £1.5m jet fans have been installed to improve ventilation and safety in Liverpool’s Kingsway Tunnel, under the River Mersey, as part of a new approach to commissioning an ongoing investment programme.
The 36 new fans have been sourced by a specialist external supplier and installed by the tunnels’ own maintenance teams and are quieter and more efficient than the previous 32-fan system that had come to the end of their operational life.
Located along the roof of the tunnel, the fans provide a critical function by keeping fresh air flowing through the tunnel and are reversible to help clear smoke and fumes in the event of an emergency. They also feature heat and vibration early detection sensors, linked to Mersey Tunnel’s maintenance systems to allow remote monitoring as an additional safety and efficiency improvement.
Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee, said: “We are constantly striving to make sure that the Mersey Tunnels remain some of the safest tunnels of their kind in Europe for their age, and this latest investment is another commitment towards this.”
The installation of the new fans follows on from the recently completed £11m LED lighting upgrade in the Queensway (Birkenhead) Tunnel. Over the past 18 months, 1,058 new LED lights, 100,000 metres of power cabling and 230 new electricity distribution boards have been installed in the Queensway.
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Premiership Rugby Union side, Sale Sharks, has signed a long term deal with LANX which will see the Ribble Valley ‘Proper Shoes’ brand become the club’s official footwear partner.
Under the three-year agreement, LANX will supply the club’s men’s first team players and matchday staff with shoes and activate its sponsorship with pop-up shops at two Sharks home games, including the upcoming fixture against Bath on January 26.
Last week the LANX team visited Sharks’ Carrington training centre to give first team stars including George Ford, Tom Curry and Luke Cowan-Dickie an individual fitting for their chosen shoes.
Sharks’ Commercial Director, Luisa d’Aprano, said: “Like Sale Sharks, LANX is a brand that’s incredibly proud to be northern and that shared passion for our roots and our community means this is the perfect partnership. I’m really excited to see what we can achieve together.”
LANX founder, Marco Vaghetti, said: “LANX is very proud to be working with Sale Sharks again. Our roots and heritage are very much in the North West of England and many of our staff support the club. Sale’s motto of ‘Respect All, Fear None’ very much resonates with our own business practices.”
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Manchester-based Green Bean Studios has secured Green Bean IP in the USA.
After spending two years pursuing the IP registration with four solicitor firms, the final acquisition of this marks an important milestone in the business’s journey.
After pivoting different legal firms, solicitors Lewis Silkin, Laura Nend, and Nick Bowie successfully took Green Bean Studios over the completion line in the USA.
Despite the lengthy registration process, one of the key highlights for the brand was achieving repeat organic sales in the USA, while welcoming new customers who share the brand’s core values of Earth, Community, and Kids.
Green Bean Studios says it is excited to be officially launching the brand in the USA and welcomes introductions to leading professionals and impact investors from the entertainment and retail industries.
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Staci apprentices
Staci, the UK and Europe’s leading specialist fulfilment provider which has four sites in Blackburn, has launched a new degree apprenticeship scheme aimed at nurturing the next generation of supply chain professionals in the UK.
As part of the scheme, the Lancashire-based business will invest more than £100,000 in degree-level training, designed to encourage young people to explore careers in logistics.
Interest in logistics careers among young people has declined in recent years. Research shows that fewer than 13% of the industry’s workforce in most areas is under the age of 25, highlighting a significant challenge in attracting and recruiting younger talent into the sector.
Recognising this trend, Staci is taking decisive steps to address it by investing in the future of the UK’s logistics sector, while also supporting wider efforts to boost ethnic diversity and representation across the industry. Following the inaugural roll-out this year, Staci plans to expand in subsequent years, with similar traineeship schemes operated globally by parent company bpostgroup.
Amanda Harvey, HR Director at Staci, said: “We are thrilled to launch this apprenticeship scheme. Our goal is to provide young people with valuable opportunities in the logistics field, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to excel. This initiative reflects our commitment to both their personal development and the future of the logistics industry.”
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Retail and leisure destination, Trafford Centre, has confirmed that Flying Tiger Copenhagen, the Danish variety store, is set to open its doors at the centre on Friday, February 14.
The new 1,500 sq ft store, located on Upper Peel Avenue, will feature the brand’s core ranges, alongside its seasonal love-themed product range in celebration of Valentine’s Day. This marks the brand’s 81st in the UK, amongst a global footprint of more than 1,000 stores in 36 different countries. This store opening will also create 16 permanent jobs for 2025.
Michael Burke, Managing Director for Flying Tiger Copenhagen UK & Ireland, said: “Flying Tiger Copenhagen aims to inspire and make every day extraordinary through affordable, design-led products.
“The opening of our Trafford Centre store marks our first opening in 2025 and expansion of our presence in the UK, bringing our unique shopping experience to even more customers.”
Kate Pearson, Director of Asset Management, Pradera Lateral – Trafford Centre’s Asset Managers, said: “Flying Tiger Copenhagen has an excellent reputation, bringing Scandinavian design and affordability to an enthusiastic customer base. We are sure Trafford Centre visitors will enthusiastically welcome this fantastic variety store to the centre.”
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Greek marathon runner Matthew Ottley
Cheshire-based law firm, SAS Daniels, has supported local charity, Stockport and District Mind, an independent mental health charity by donating more than £5,000 following a year of dedicated fundraising efforts.
Employees from the firm took on a range of physical challenges to raise funds, including a team of four who attempted the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in adverse weather conditions, with one member completing the exceptionally tough feat in 11 hours and 46 minutes. Meanwhile, Matthew Ottley, a solicitor, participated in the demanding Athens Marathon, which features a demanding ascent of 21km.
Alongside their impressive physical challenges, colleagues at the firm raised additional funds through various creative activities. Fundraising events included bake sales, sunflower growing competitions, raffles, quizzes, table tennis tournaments, and a festive Christmas quiz, all with the shared goal of supporting Stockport and District Mind.
SAS Daniels CEO, Jeremy Orrell, said: “To be able to give back to the local community is something we hold dear at SAS Daniels, and Stockport and District Mind is a remarkable charity that makes a real difference in the lives of so many. Raising such a significant amount of money is an outstanding achievement – the credit goes to the team who dedicated so much time and effort throughout the year to make this possible.”
Louise Gresty, Fundraising and Communications Manager at Stockport and District Mind said: “We would like to thank the team at SAS Daniels for their dedication in raising so much money for us in order to continue to support mental health within the Stockport and Cheshire East community.”
