North West business briefs: Northern; La Locanda; Salford Youth Zone; Win Win Water; LSH Auto; Goodin & Rose Solicitors

As part of a joint investment between trains operator, Northern, and infrastructure group, Network Rail, a new wheel lathe has been installed at the Allerton TrainCare Centre in South Liverpool that will make train maintenance more efficient.

The machine allows for the reshaping, balancing and repairing of wheels without needing to remove them from trains, minimising disruption to passenger services.

The work to bring the wheel lathe into service began in September 2023, with Network Rail contributing £6.8m as part of the joint investment with Northern. This upgrade continues Allerton Depot’s history of wheel lathe use, dating back to the 1950s.

Clinton Ralphs, Network Rail North West route sponsor for the project, said: “This joint venture with Northern has allowed us to revive a key aspect of Allerton Depot’s history, by installing the new wheel lathe equipment at the depot, giving improved capacity, performance and reliability for Northern. After much anticipation, it’s wonderful to witness its arrival, which will undoubtedly enhance the engineering capabilities at the depot.”

Jack Commandeur, engineering director at Northern, said: “Turning wheels on the lathe extends their life and reduces the costs associated with replacing them. The increase in wheel lathing capacity also means trains will spend less time out of passenger service for maintenance.

“This has been a significant project to deliver requiring perseverance and co-operation on all sides and I am thankful to the team at Network Rail, my colleagues here at Northern and our suppliers for delivering this fabulous new capability.”

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Maurizio and Cinzia Bocchi

La Locanda, a traditional Italian restaurant located in the heart of the Ribble Valley, is pioneering sustainability in the culinary world with its innovative and eco-conscious approach which has led to an 85% food waste reduction, becoming gas free and a £3,000 per year saving in energy bills.

Celebrating more than 20 years of dining, owners Maurizio and Cinzia Bocchi want to inspire other businesses to follow their lead. Maurizio said: “Our ethos revolves around protecting the planet while celebrating the rich culinary traditions of Italy. From sourcing over 80% of our ingredients locally from Lancashire to ensuring that sustainable practices are embedded in all areas of the business, we’re proving that sustainability and traditional cuisine can go hand in hand.”

Located on Gisburn’s Main Street, La Locanda operates a ‘zero miles’ ethos and the restaurant’s location enables the team to locally source free range meats, game, dairy, fresh vegetables and poultry from Lancashire, reducing the carbon footprint associated with food transportation. 

Food waste has been reduced by 85% through smart portioning, repurposing of surplus ingredients, and collaboration with organisations like ReFood to recycle cooking oil and convert food waste into renewable energy. This equates to a reduction of 1088 kg of food waste over two years, and 585.9 kilowatt hours of renewable energy created with one ton of Co2 displaced.

Chef Maurizio and Cinzia have worked with the Making Carbon Work (MaCaW) project at the University of Central Lancashire to reduce the restaurant’s CO2 carbon footprint. This has included the installation of new induction technology in their kitchen, making it one of the few gas-free kitchens in the region. Cllr Shaun Turner, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change at Lancashire County Council, said: “La Locanda is an exceptional example of a business that is fully embracing sustainability.”

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Following the recent announcement of Manchester Building Society’s North West revival, Empower Youth Zones have confirmed the building society as its latest patron donor, supporting the charity’s new site, Salford Youth Zone (SYZ), which is set to open this summer.

As part of its commitment, Manchester Building Society will donate £100,000 over the next four years to support the development of SYZ. It joins the growing Empower patron community, funding vital programmes and services for young people, including sports clubs, music facilities, and art and craft classes.   

Following its merger with Newcastle Building Society, Manchester Building Society has announced it will open a flagship branch on King Street later this year. This will be followed by further branches opening across the Greater Manchester region.  

Representing Manchester Building Society, Andrew Haigh, chief executive of the Newcastle Building Society Group, said: “It’s an exciting time for us as we relaunch in Manchester this year and deepen our roots in the city by committing to initiatives that unlock the potential of individuals, families, and communities in the city region.”

Adam Farricker, CEO of Empower Youth Zones, said: “Every young person deserves access to a youth worker and the support they provide. Patrons like Manchester Building Society play a crucial role in helping us deliver on that vision.”

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Kurt Wilson and Josh Daley

Liverpool-based brand, Win Win Water, has attracted support from a number of unlikely stars to take the water brand to the next level, making it available worldwide.

Dragons’ Den Austria’s Heinrich Prokop and rappers Krept & Konan have come on board after being enamoured with the concept and product.

Win Win Water, created by friends Kurt Wilson, 38, and Josh Daley, 30, says it is the first of its kind and is made up of both a completely biodegradable, earth-friendly and non toxic water bottle that’s made out of plant-based materials, while the water inside is sourced from The National Forest UK & Austrian Mountains, naturally alkaline and high in electrolytes and minerals.

Having recently Crowdfunded to raise money to push the product, Kurt and Josh took to LinkedIn to share their fundraising efforts where Konan of British rap duo Krept & Konan saw the posts and reached out.

After meeting entrepreneur Heinrich at The International Food Expo, he has secured orders into Central Europe and will be supporting Win Win Water with international sales. Kurt Wilson said: “For the last five years, I’ve been researching toxin-free, biodegradable bottles and myself and the team are immensely proud of how far we’ve come with Win Win Water.”

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Harry and Jake

LSH Auto has partnered with Inscape House School, part of the Together Trust Charity, to provide autistic students with valuable work experience opportunities.

Since November 2024, Harry and Jake, two students from Cheadle’s Inscape House School, have been gaining hands-on experience at Mercedes-Benz of Stockport, visiting once a week throughout each school term.

During their placement, the students have been working in the parts department. Their main duties have been to get orders ready and pre-pick parts from stock, using the electronic parts catalogue, so that the LSH Auto technicians have everything they need to use for the next day’s servicing schedule.

Marie Young, Careers Lead and Teacher at Inscape House School, said: “Opportunities like this are incredibly powerful for helping our young learners with autism explore their futures and the diverse career pathways available to them. The students have been thriving in this well planned and supportive work experience.”

Katherine McLoughlin, Head of Aftersales at LSH Auto, said: “The automotive industry has made significant strides in improving inclusion, but there’s still more progress to be made, especially regarding neurodiversity. Removing bias and fostering inclusion is our responsibility.”

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Cecilia Goodwin

Criminal defence solicitor, Cecilia Goodwin, known for her appearance in the BBC documentary Defending Digga D, has launched Goodwin & Rose Solicitors, with offices in Manchester and London.

Goodwin & Rose provides services in criminal defence and immigration law, specialising in high profile and complex cases, as well as recall on licence matters. 

With a focus on serving professionals and individuals in creative industries – including music, film, and fashion – the firm said its ethos centres on equipping clients to navigate their legal challenges through accessible, inclusive, and bespoke approaches. 

“We are committed to understanding our clients’ needs and providing legal solutions designed for their unique situations,” says Cecilia Goodwin. 

Goodwin & Rose said it is developing community-focused initiatives, including the ‘Know Your Rights’ campaign aimed at improving public understanding of legal systems. The firm also collaborates with charities to support legal reform efforts.