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LIVERPOOL CITY REGION CHESHIRE MANCHESTER
JUNE - JULY 2015
FREE
MOVE COMMERCIAL The north-west’s guide to property and business
Issue 45
A new lease of life Political stability sees activity pick-up
LETTINGS BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO EXCHANGE FLAGS
Post-election debate: Leading industry experts give their views
Paul Crowley & Co’s Derek Dawson on city centre expansion BDP’s Mike Hitchmough on projects that stand the test of time Morgan Sindall’s Barry Roberts on paying it forward
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Issue forty five Move Commercial
Contents
Is stability enough?
News After an uncertain few months it seems the industry has the stability it craved. Regardless of political persuasion, one cannot deny that a majority government offers the sector the type of certainty it needs to push forward with confidence, something a coalition or, as looked possible at one point, a second election could not do. But stability aside, will a Conservative government give the region the means to grow as a region and prosper? Will George Osborne’s Northern Powerhouse plans, which formed a key part of the party’s manifesto, gather pace? Or was Osborne doing little more than paying lip service to a region very much divided when it comes to votes? Indeed, one could argue that the Northern Powerhouse already exists and has done so long before the phrase was coined – that was one of the views of our experts in our first ever live debate (p22). There’s no doubt it will be an interesting few months for the region – watch this space.
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Christine Toner, editor christine@movepublishing.co.uk
06 Lettings success at Exchange Flags 07 Peel Logistics proposes 175,000 sq ft business park unit 08 New tenant signs six-year lease at Meridian Business Village 09 Green light for Royal Exchange plans 10 Preparatory work underway at No.1 Spinningfields 11 Liverpool creative agency expands team with web developer
Features 14 Bitesize Thinking Food for thought 16 Appointments Who’s moving where 19 My Month The Foundry Agency’s Hanna Fowler reflects on recent weeks in the industry 20 Interview BDP’s architect director, Mike Hitchmough 22 Post-election Debate Business leaders discuss what the General Election result means for the North West in a special debate 32 Business Clinic Our panel of experts solves industry problems
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40 Interview Barry Roberts, area director at Morgan Sindall
move publishing ltd Advertising Director Fiona Barnet. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Advertising Manager Catherine McCarthy. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Editor Christine Toner. Tel: 0151 709 3871 Editorial Team Natasha Young, Stephen Hurrell and Eleanor Davies. Tel: 0151 709 3871 post@movepublishing.co.uk Design Mark Iddon. Email: mark@movepublishing.co.uk
36 Interview Derek Dawson, head of commercial litigation at Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors
Published by Move Publishing Ltd Directors David O’Brien, Kim O’Brien, Fiona Barnet. Printed by Precision Colour Printers Ltd Distribution Liaison Manager Barbara Troughton. Tel: 0151 733 5492 Mobile: 077148 14662 Credits: Liam Deveney – BDP interview / Edge Architects event / Paul Crowley & Co interview. Terry McNamara – Morgan Sindall interview.
Copyright Move Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced copied or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in any information storage or retrieval system without the publishers written permission. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published, Move Publishing can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by advertisers.
44 Key Event Edge Architects celebrates its new Liverpool office 45 Event Planner What’s on around the region 47 Ask the Panel How would leaving the EU impact on the North West?
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News Latest
£65m Grosvenor sale ‘shows Chester potential’
Exchange Flags
Increased flexibility attracts new tenants to Exchange Flags The subdivision of Exchange Flags’ seventh and eighth floors is said to be helping the revival of the Liverpool building to gather pace. Together with the already successful subdivision of the site’s sixth floor, the increased flexibility of the floor plates has attracted a number of new tenants in recent months, with the latest being Leonard Curtis and Daily Internet Plc. Both new occupants’ 1,500 sq ft signings have taken the sixth floor close to being fully let, and follow on from previous deals with County Costs to let 2,500 sq ft earlier this year and Jackson Canter to take 16,547 sq ft at the end of 2014. Work is currently underway on the seventh and eighth floors, with deals being finalised
on a number of suites, and Mark Worthington of agent Worthington Owen, says: “The subdivision of the sixth floor, and now the seventh and eighth, has been a real stimulus for change at Exchange Flags. We can now work with companies of all sizes to provide them with a space that fits their needs, whatever the square footage. It’s had a real impact and we’re already seeing a lot of interest in the seventh and eighth floors.” Meanwhile, the site is also welcoming the Vincent Café & Cocktail Bar as its latest food and beverage signing, and will host a schedule of outdoor events throughout the summer. Keppie Massie is joint office agent alongside Worthington Owen, with DTZ acting as retail agent.
Investment firm HIG Capital’s £65 million acquisition of Chester’s Grosvenor Shopping Centre highlights the potential in the city’s leisure offering, according to Marketing Cheshire. Katrina Michel, chief executive at Marketing Cheshire, says the speed of the sale of the 250,000 sq ft leisure and retail destination is testament to the city’s potential in the eyes of investors. According to Michel: "The relatively swift sale indicates that investors see potential in Chester's unique attraction of heritage and contemporary retail and hospitality.” The property, which includes 70 leisure and retail units, was placed for sale by Carlyle Properties and Bride Hall Estates in January and was marketed by Strutt & Parker and Cushman & Wakefield. Michel says the deal is the latest good news for Chester, adding: “The growth of the university and the advent of new businesses in the town centre means that more people are shopping, working and living in the city centre. The addition of four new restaurants on Pepper Street will also increase footfall through the centre.” The four new restaurants will open in a new £8m ‘dining quarter’ in summer 2015, with 25,000 sq ft of space taken up by Las Iguanas, Restaurant Bar and Grill, Coast to Coast and Chimichanga.
Grosvenor Shopping Centre
Albert Dock office space attracts trio of new tenants Dockside is situated in Albert Dock’s Colonnades
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Three new tenants have taken flexible office spaces at Dockside, within Liverpool’s iconic Albert Dock. Listen Creative has agreed to let 1,369 sq ft of floor and Stone Management Group has signed up for a 1,228 sq ft suite, while Think Publicity has relocated from its Liverpool ONE base to an 833 sq ft unit at the waterfront office space, inside the dock’s Grade I listed Colonnades. Dockside, a concept which was launched in 2014 and is owned and operated by Albert Dock Company, features varied office spaces with original features of the building, including
vaulted ceilings, exposed brick walls and cast iron columns. In addition to the latest trio of deals, the site is said to be continuing to attract interest from further potential tenants. David MacDonald, director at Albert Dock Company, says: “The unrivalled location with its prestigious address, lease flexibility and competitive rents has made the Dockside offices become an attractive option to occupiers. We have seen a glut of recent enquiries from more businesses who are deciding to make the Albert Dock their home. This is especially true from businesses within the creative sectors as the recent lettings testify.”
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Latest News
Peel applies for 175,000 sq ft Liverpool scheme The proposed development
Peel Logistics has submitted an application for a 175,000 sq ft unit at Liverpool International Business Park. The 12.5-metre high industrial building and distribution facility is a ‘concept’ development and will not be built until an occupier is identified for the site, which has over 300,000 sq ft of land available across a series of plots with a development value of up to £80 million. Matthew Fitton, development director at Peel Logistics, says: “Peel Logistics is committed to bringing forward development opportunities within the portfolio and the submission of the full planning application for a 175,000 sq ft distribution warehousing facility at Liverpool
International Business Park is an example of us preparing oven ready sites, so when an occupational requirement comes forward we are well positioned to react quickly to the increasingly competitive delivery timescales that the market requires. “Having sites fully serviced with planning consents in place is key to achieving this oven ready concept.” AEW Architects designed the new development and says it is working on other industrial schemes for Peel Logistics and Peel Ports covering over 2m sq ft at Port Cheshire and Knowsley. Cushman & Wakefield and JLL are joint agents at Liverpool International Business Park.
Foster Marlon unveils Liverpool development plans
The Produce Exchange
The developer behind the 25,000 sq ft refurbishment of the Produce Exchange in Liverpool is planning more schemes in the city. Rubaid and Uzair Zaidi of Foster Marlon, which is developing the upper five floors of the building into 54 luxury apartments, says it is seeking other projects in the city alongside the Produce Exchange. Uzair says: “We’re here for the long term and we’re looking for other investment opportunities in Liverpool. It is an amazing city for an investment opportunity. It’s got a very bright future with the developments that are going on such as Liverpool2 Superport.” Rubaid adds: “We are looking at a new build that will be part of the skyline which will be full mixed use, with a hotel, residential, commercial and leisure. We want it to have good views of the River Mersey and we are in discussions to find that opportunity.” The Grade II-listed building on Victoria Street, which overlooks the Cavern Club and Mathew Street, is being converted into apartments alongside a separate scheme to install two restaurants, Turtle Bay and Grillstock, on the ground floor. A planning application has been submitted to Liverpool city council in preparation for work beginning.
New agency launches in Liverpool Former CBRE head of office agency, Mark Worthington and head of business space at Mason Owen, Andrew Owen, have launched a new company. Worthington Owen will be based in Exchange Flags in Liverpool and has secured an extensive client list including Standard Life, Royal London, Hudson Advisors, Downing, Invel Real Estate, Schroders and Arrowcroft, as well as a range of occupier clients. Mark Worthington says: “We believe there is gap in the Liverpool commercial property market for an energetic yet experienced firm to provide innovative and truly independent advice.” Andrew Owen adds: “We are delighted with the level of response we have had since we started a few days ago and are looking forward to working with our existing clients and new contacts over many years to come.” Worthington became head of office agency in the north at CBRE’s Manchester office in 2014 after a stint as head of office agency in Liverpool. His recent deals include 55,000 sq ft at Daresbury Park for Ombudsman headquarters and a 30,000 sq ft letting to Pershing at the Royal Liver Building. Owen has been at Mason Owen since 1997 and was appointed head of business space in 2008. His deals include Liverpool Football Club’s 30,000 sq ft acquisition of 20 Chapel Street and the sale of the Contemporary Urban Centre for £6 million to Liverpool Life Sciences UTC.
Mark Worthington and Andrew Owen
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News Sales & Lettings
Meridian Business Village to accommodate property firm expansion E3 Cube Ltd has signed a six-year lease at Prospect GB’s Meridian Business Village, following a “busy” period of lettings activity for the site. The buildings surveying and property consultancy is relocating from Garston to a larger 1,313 sq ft space at the Hunts Cross site, after success in procuring capital funding on behalf of clients has allowed the firm to expand. E3 Cube director, John Fay, says: “In the last round of funding applications to the government’s Condition Improvement Fund, awarded in March 2015, 94% of E3 Cube’s bids were successful, securing £8m of much needed funding for our clients. “Our success has enabled the planned expansion of our specialist team and relocation from Garston to larger contemporary offices at this excellent strategic base.” E3 Cube’s move into the ground floor suite is expected to be followed by further new occupants at Meridian Business Village as Chris Walker, head of Prospect GB’s commercial division, adds: “Lettings activity has been busy in recent months and we are currently finalising two other deals in addition to E3 Cube’s. With its modern mixed-use surroundings, flexible office space and excellent transport links, Meridian Business Village is ideal for professional services and consultancies like E3 Cube and a high percentage of our tenants operate this type of business.”
E3 Cube is the latest signing for the Hunts Cross site
Leasehold investment among auction’s commercial highlights
The lot on Wood Street in Liverpool
A leasehold ground floor commercial investment in Liverpool city centre will go up for sale at Sutton Kersh’s next auction. The lot is expected to be among the commercial highlights at the 3 June event, when a total of 92 lots will be offered at the city’s Titanic Hotel at Stanley Dock. Occupying a prominent position on the corner of Wood Street and Colquitt Street amongst retail, leisure and residential sites, the property is currently let for 15 years and generates a passing rent of £30,000 per annum. It will be auctioned with a guide price of £300,000to £350,000. Other investment opportunities set to go under the hammer include a mixed-use property on the corner of Liverpool’s Smithdown Road and Rossett Avenue, featuring a tenanted hot food takeaway and two large flats, which currently produces 8
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approximately £45,243 per annum and comes with a guide price of £290,000 plus. Meanwhile a vacant refurbished ground floor retail unit with upper floor space in central St Helens is guided at £100,000 plus, and a three-storey mixed-use property with a ground floor retail space let to a butcher has a guide price of £90,000. Cathy Holy, joint head of auctions at Sutton Kersh, says: “This is an extensive catalogue with lots well represented in all categories and at guide prices to suit all budgets. There should be something for everyone.” The full catalogue for the auction, which starts at noon, is online at www.suttonkersh.co.uk/auctions-property. The auctioneer is also currently inviting instructions for its 16 July sale, and the catalogue closes on 19 June.
New signings continue successful six months for Junction 8 site Around 10,000 sq ft of space has been let at Ellesmere Port’s Junction 8 Trade and Business Park, as two new 10-year leases have been secured. Acro has taken 5,100 sq ft of space and Toolstation has signed for 4,913 sq ft at the warehouse and industrial site, which has recently undergone a comprehensive refurbishment. The industrial agency team at CBRE Liverpool and Hitchcock Wright & Partners acted on behalf of Royal London Asset Management to secure the lettings, which are the latest in a number of recent new signings for the site. Previous deals included 2,914 sq ft being let to Granite Options and 1,993 sq ft being taken by Owen Springs, while existing tenants Ealing Community Transport and J8 Tile and Stone have also expanded their accommodation, bringing total lettings at the business park to 29,000 sq ft within the last six months. Darren Hill, associate director at CBRE’s Liverpool office, says: “The recent succession of lettings at Junction 8 Business Park reflects the increased demand for industrial and trade counter space within established locations Junction 8 Trade and Business Park close to the major cities of Liverpool and Manchester. We anticipate further lettings success throughout 2015, from tenants seeking good quality accommodation in an excellent location."
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Development News The Cotton Quarter’s new facilities
Bardsley Construction wins £1.9m contract Greater Manchester-based Bardsley Construction has won a £1.9 million contract to extend a school in Warrington. Work has begun at St Philip Church of England Primary School in Westbrook after Bardsley Construction was awarded the contract by Warrington Borough Council. The new facilities include a two-storey extension comprising a new school hall, studio work area, a kitchen and catering facilities, while the current 2,500 sq m site will be refurbished with extensions to the playground and infilling of internal courtyards. Ged Rooney, procurement director at Bardsley Construction, says: “Our experience over many years in the provision of new and refurbished facilities for schools throughout the North West and West Yorkshire will be truly invaluable as we manage and progress this project with the school in full occupation. “The winning of this contract is further evidence of Bardsley continuing to benefit from its hard-earned reputation for working effectively with the public sector via partnerships with education bodies, local authorities, housing associations and health authorities.” Work will be complete in April 2016, when a series of phased handovers will take place. Architects for the scheme are Cassidy + Ashton of Preston, while construction consultants Turner & Townsend are acting for Warrington Borough Council.
Bruntwood unveils cycling facilities at city office scheme New dedicated cyclist facilities have been unveiled at Bruntwood’s Cotton Quarter development, as part of a £100,000 investment into the site’s ground floor space. The newly developed area features secure bike storage and shower and changing rooms for customers at Cotton Exchange and Cotton House, within the Liverpool commercial district scheme. According to Bruntwood, the facilities have been introduced as part of the firm’s commitment to encourage healthy working practices among its team and customers. Candice Flanagan, chartered building surveyor at the commercial property firm, says: “Cycling to work is an increasingly popular choice for hundreds of Liverpool commuters, so it’s essential that our buildings offer modern facilities for cyclists when possible. “Not only is it a healthier choice in terms of exercise, but it also reduces the carbon footprint of getting to work, so it’s a great choice all round and one that we as a business wholeheartedly support. "The new facilities at Cotton Quarter increase our overall capacity significantly and will make it much easier for people working in the building to cycle in, store their bike safely and still arrive at their desks feeling refreshed for the day ahead."
The planned St Philip Church of England Primary School
Go ahead for The Royal Exchange refurbishment Major refurbishment plans to help return Manchester’s Grade II listed Royal Exchange to its “former glory” have been given the green light. Trinistar Manchester has secured planning consent to redevelop 120,000 sq ft of office space and create a new roof garden at the city centre site. Following the decision to allow the scheme to go ahead, Richard O’Boyle, executive director at Trinity IM, which asset manages the building, says: “This is the first in a series of planning applications we will be submitting in our bid to bring The Royal Exchange, a stunning Grade II listed building in the heart of the city, back to its former glory. With planning now approved and the project team already appointed, we will commence work on the offices in June, with
completion scheduled in the first quarter of 2016.” Future planning applications include the improvement of the building’s 100,000 sq ft retail accommodation, The Royal Exchange theatre entrances and the ‘Arcade’ linking St Ann’s Square to Cross Street in a bid to attract new retailers. James Dickinson, director at Canning O’Neill which has been appointed the office agent for the scheme, adds: “This is a landmark building and has already had a high level of interest in the office space, thanks to the location, large floor plates and quality of the proposed offer. We are proud to have been retained as agents on the scheme going forward and will be making announcements about new occupiers in the coming weeks.”
The Royal Exchange
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News Development First City Tower refurbishment plans unveiled
No.1 Spinningfields
Work begins at No.1 Spinningfields BAM Construction has confirmed preparatory work is taking place at No.1 Spinningfields, where it will build a new £73 million office development. The company was appointed by Allied London to deliver the 24storey building last month and work is expected to begin in June, with enabling works already taking place on site. Formerly Quay House, demolition work has been taking place throughout May to make way for the 260,000 sq ft Grade A office building. Once complete it will also deliver restaurant and café space including a 6,728 sq ft rooftop restaurant and garden terrace, as well as two floors of basement parking.
BAM Construction, which will deliver a 97-week build programme, has confirmed the development is on track as work begins on site. On appointment to the scheme, Tony Grindrod, construction director at BAM Construction, says: “No.1 Spinningfields is a great project for BAM in Manchester’s premier business district. We are delighted to have been chosen to deliver this high profile building, which follows our other prominent Manchester projects like the Co-Operative Group HQ at 1 Angel Square, Manchester City’s Football Academy and the National Graphene Institute.” No.1 Spinningfields has been designed by Simpson Haugh Partners with technical detailing by Axis.
Initial refurbishment plans for Manchester’s City Tower have been unveiled by Schroders, following the firm’s acquisition of the asset last year. The 9,257 sq ft ground floor atrium and reception area within the Piccadilly Gardens building is set to undergo a 25-week renovation project that will aim to transform the space into a ‘multifunctional environment providing both professional and social facilities’. ID:SR, the design arm of Sheppard Robson, has designed the improvements which will be brought to fruition with ‘significant capital expenditure’ from Schroders. Once complete, the new-look ground floor will feature an improved atrium space, a new business lounge with bookable meeting space and booths, and additional catering and retail units. Tom Newman, investment manager at Schroders, says: “Building on the success of the retail on New York Street, a key part of the scheme is looking at the organisation of the ground floor to enhance this opportunity. “This is an initial step in our long term plan to enhance the offer at City Tower- with further phases of works planned both internally and externally.” Marie Leyland, associate from ID:SR, adds: “We have created a unique space aligning communal and professional areas which will appeal to both the building’s corporate and non-corporate tenants. “We are looking forward to working with Schroders on this project and to work commencing on-site.” Timescales for the refurbishment of the building have yet to be confirmed.
The planned new-look ground floor
Graeme House Flexi-Office refurbishment approaches completion A major refurbishment project to create new flexible office space at Liverpool’s Graeme House is nearing completion. Downing is expanding its ‘Flexi-Office’ portfolio by transforming two vacant wings of the Derby Square building into 15 new office spaces ranging from 170 to 3,600 sq ft. Work on the site is due to be completed in early June, delivering comfort-cooled offices and features including the option of Metronet Superfast Broadband. Occupied office space at the commercial district site is already home to training, skills and recruitment firms including Reed, Blue Arrow and Aspire Achieve Advance Ltd. John Clegg, Downing’s head of property management, says: “It’s great to be nearing completion on this refurbishment which will deliver a host of new Flexi-Offices for tenants in the city. Appetite for our FlexiOffice offering has been strong since we first launched the concept in 2012 and we are very pleased to see that demand is continuing to grow and pick up pace in line with the upturn in the economy. “We look forward to seeing works complete and to welcoming new tenants to the building.” 10 MOVE COMMERCIAL
Graeme House
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Commercial News
Liverpool creative agency expands team with web developer The Foundry Agency, an integrated creative design, PR and events agency based in Liverpool, has appointed a new web developer to meet increased demand for its digital services. Liam Holding started working at the city centre based office at the beginning of May. He comes to The Foundry Agency with a wealth of experience after working for a number of large digital agencies in Liverpool and on websites such as GymCube and Ulster Rugby. Holding says: “Digital agencies are popping up everywhere, especially in Liverpool where there has been a digital boom over the past five years. The Foundry Agency stood out for me as a multi-solution provider offering PR, events management and publishing with a rapidly growing digital portfolio, which I felt compelled to contribute to. “The levels of professionalism demonstrated at the agency are second to none and everyone in the team has something unique to bring to the table. I work closely with the designers to bring their fantastic designs to life in the form of fully functional and responsive websites. “I have only just started working at The Foundry but I already feel at home as part of such a great team and I’m excited at the prospects of where we are heading in the industry and the brilliant ideas we have in the pipeline. " Adrian Lloyd, head of design for The Foundry Agency, says: “We’re really excited to have Liam on board. The Foundry Agency is currently experiencing a period of growth and his experience as a web developer means he is a great addition to the team and will allow us to expand our digital and web services.” For more information on The Foundry Agency contact Adrian Lloyd on 0151 709 1633. Liam Holding
Continued growth for law firm’s commercial department
The PCS Law team
Liverpool’s Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors is continuing to achieve “steady growth” in its commercial department, following its expansion into the city centre earlier this year. The law firm launched its commercial brand PCS Law in February, when it celebrated the opening of a new business district office within No.1 Old Hall Street, and has since appointed a number of new staff members as it develops its broader range of services. Trainee solicitor Daniel Rawcliffe is the latest to join the team and will advise and assist on commercial matters, focusing on contentious issues
in particular. In addition, he is training to become a certified mediator. Following his appointment, Rawcliffe says: “Business owners are often perplexed by employment law so I see it as my duty to decipher it and provide legal guidance and support. “Liverpool’s thriving independent business sector is set to grow and I look forward to advising entrepreneurs in their business ventures.” Paul Crowley, senior partner, adds: “The steady growth of the commercial department confirms our decision to move to a city centre location and expand our services.”
Commercial decorator boosts industry skills A Kirkby-based commercial decorating firm has been helping to enhance industry skills in the region with a successful work-based training scheme. Coult Decorators, which has been trading for 20 years and works on projects at schools, pubs and factories across the North West, has been providing preliminary experience to trainees looking to move on to apprenticeships as they take their next career steps. Having taken on two days of paid work for the firm over the past year to develop his skillset, 17-year-old trainee Spencer Morgan has now secured a place on a Knowsley College apprenticeship from September. Meanwhile 20year-old Scott Feeney, who attended Hugh Baird
College and has also been training at work with Coult Decorators, is now set to expand the firm’s team of six staff on a permanent basis, as he takes on a full-time painter and decorator role in September. Glynn Coult, of Coult Decorators, says helping to prepare young people for the industry has allowed the long-trading company to “put something back into the area” as it focuses on providing local jobs.
Glynn Coult with Spencer Morgan and Scott Feeney
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WORTHINGTON OWEN.
A fresh approach to commercial property consultancy
Andrew Owen T. 0151 230 1130 M. 07798 576 789 E. andrew@worthingtonowen.com
Mark Worthington T. 0151 230 1130 M. 07713 884 784 E. mark@worthingtonowen.com
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Bitesize thinking
Imran Younus commercial and marketing director, PIN Property Consultancy
In my crystal ball... Continued uncertainty over future energy supplies, with the current Middle East crisis showing no sign of ending and a return to Cold War relations with Putin’s Russia, means there is more emphasis than ever on alternatives. I predict there will be major new investment in nuclear technology over the coming years. Birchwood has always been a hub for this sector and companies such as Mace, Atkins, Areva, Jacobs and Sellafield are all seeking to expand operations locally. This translates to high value jobs and subsequently boosts Warrington’s economy but there needs to be further investment in upgrading transport infrastructure and new build office schemes. Halton is an area where we’ve never stopped developing through the recession. The advent of the Mersey Gateway bridge, capable of carrying 80,000 vehicles a day will, in my opinion, bring major investment to surrounding areas. Halton has always been secondary to Warrington but with the current shortage of industrial space many companies, especially in the logistics sector, now see it as a contender for relocation. Halton has received a further boost with Peel Ports’ Manchester Ship Canal, which is expected to handle 100,000 containers by 2030 in a new ‘green highway’.
If only I’d known… Howard George of real estate agents B8RE introduced us to a vacant 100,000 sq ft warehouse in Winsford a couple of years ago. The building was in need of minor refurbishment so in terms of suitability, it was right up our street. What worried us was that it was quite a distance, in terms of journey time from the M6 motorway and the industrial estate it was on had lots of empty sheds. After much soul searching we declined to buy as we were afraid we’d be stuck with a product only suitable for a local occupier thus limiting its appeal. Howard was right though (he’s rarely wrong). As soon as we passed on it another property company, Parabola, snapped it up and let it to Howard Tenens after only a minor refurbishment works. The whole estate has subsequently picked up and there are no big sheds likely to be available for a long time!
My favourite building with... Trevor Conley project director, Edge Architects
I have always been strangely drawn to floodlit sporting arenas – particularly athletics. My earliest Olympic memory was Munich 1972 with Frei Otto’s transparent spider web that spread across the Olympic Park enveloping grandstands, buildings and connecting spaces in an architecture that captured the spirit and celebration of the Games. As the Olympics moved on to other world cities, the stadium became Bayern’s home and the venue for international matches (and was where England beat Germany 1-5 in 2001- all Liverpool scorers!). In preparation for the 2006 World Cup, Munich possibly created an even better stadium. Herzog and de Meuron’s Allianz Arena is a runaway top of the league champion. With its external quilted sporting coat that glows with the colours of whichever local or national team is at home, it is a truly groundbreaking landmark that sets the bar almost impossibly high. Surely, like the World Cup winners, the next future sporting icon cannot be in Germany again? 14 MOVE COMMERCIAL
“With its external quilted sporting coat that glows with the colours of whichever team is at home, it is a truly groundbreaking landmark”
Photo: Maximilian Dorrbecker
Allianz Arena, Munich
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Bitesize thinking
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Helen Brown senior associate, commercial real estate, Brabners LLP
Curriculum VITAE Main duties: Advising clients on a wide variety of property transactions including disposals and acquisitions and landlord and tenant work. In particular, I advise regional and national retailers, developers and renewable energy companies. Education: Greenbank High School and King George V College in Southport, University of Leeds and University of Central Lancashire. First job: My first ‘proper’ job was as a trainee solicitor at Brabners but I had a number of temporary jobs while at college and university. My first was as a silver service waitress at a Portuguese restaurant – the sampling of the food was the best bit! Shortest job: As a shop assistant at a department store. What’s the secret to your success? My ability to adapt - I act for a broad range of clients on transactions which vary widely in terms of value and significance in the market so it is important to be able to adjust the way in which I work so that the needs of the
clients and the demands of the transactions are met. I also find it useful to maintain a relaxed and confident exterior, even when I might not be feeling those things inside! What advice would you give to somebody starting out in the industry? Work hard and don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way. Nobody expects anyone to know everything and people respect you more if you seek help than if you steam ahead and get things wrong. What makes Brabners different? Brabners continues to be a family firm at heart and our people work with that ethos, building lasting relationships with one another and with clients and referrers. Tell us about Brabners’ plans for the next 12 months: To continue to build upon the improving economic climate and, for the real estate team in particular, the strengthening property market. It is equally important to retain our existing relationships with those clients who may or may not have been as active in the market during the recent recession as it is to attract business from new clients.
Tweet all about it
Wirral Waters In 2006 Peel Group revealed plans for a stunning £4.5bn development of Wirral’s waterfront. The mixed-use scheme, which includes offices, homes, leisure and retail, will be built opposite a similar £5.5bn Liverpool Waters development.
AUG
Plans unveiled for Wirral Waters, a £4.5bn waterside redevelopment scheme covering 18m sq ft including 571,000 sq ft retail and leisure quarter, a port employment area, a mixed-use quarter and 11m sq ft of residential.
JAN
A Cammell Laird shipyard in Wirral is sold to Peel Holdings for £100m, reportedly paving the way for development of the area as part of the Wirral Waters scheme.
AUG
After public consultation and over four years of design and planning, Wirral Waters is granted full approval by Wirral Council’s planning committee.
NOV
Full government planning approval for the scheme is granted. It is followed by a visit to the area by Prime Minister David Cameron and Lord Heseltine.
MAR
Mersey Waters Enterprise Zone, including Wirral Waters and Liverpool Waters, is introduced by the UK government.
SEP
The International Trade Centre, a 230,000 sq ft facility made up of 300 companies from China, India, South Korea and other merging economies, is granted approval.
APR
Wirral Metropolitan College announces plans for new £8m campus and Morgan Sindall is named as the constructor for the development.
AUG
Plans for the 60,000 sq ft Tower Wharf office building, the first new build office in the scheme, are approved. Work begins in November.
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Wirral Metropolitan College will open its doors as the first operational new build in Wirral Waters.
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The 5 best commercial tweets
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@20MilesMore: New entrepreneurs flock to Liverpool, office demand from start-ups +41%, fastest growth in UK @RIBANorthWest: Congratulations to all at MUMA and at @WhitworthArt for winning the RIBA North West Building of the Year! #BestinNW @WarringtonCo: Demolition works are preparing to start at Warrington's £107 million Bridge Street Quarter @ tm_davenport: Superport project being promoted by @LiverpoolLEP just 1 example of #LEPs role in helping to rebalancing UK economy. @Midas_MCR: Work has started today on MSP's 'Heart of the Park', a 70,000 sq ft centre for science and technology companies
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Peel’s estimated completion date for the Wirral Waters project.
p01-16_Move Commercial 22/05/2015 11:02 Page 16
Appointments
Walker Sime appoints new director
Duncan Firth
Walker Sime has appointed Duncan Firth as director, where he will lead the firm’s project management service offering in Manchester
and Liverpool. Firth joins from Deloitte Real Estate in Manchester and has 20 years’ experience in the property industry. His previous projects include a number of sporting venues for the London Olympics in 2012, City of Manchester Stadium, MediaCityUK and projects in the Middle East and Europe. Notable North West projects the firm is currently working on include Peel Holdings’ Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters developments. Firth says: “I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and being able to contribute to further strengthening the project management team at Walker Sime.”
Cosgrove promoted to director at McLintocks Katie Cosgrove has been appointed director at McLintocks Fellow director, Paul McGerty Chartered & Katie Cosgrove Accountants & Business Advisors after working at the firm for two years. Now one of seven directors at the company, Cosgrove is an appointed chartered accountant and tax specialist. Her new role includes working with owner managed SMEs who are in need of assistance with their general tax and accounting affairs. Cosgrove says: “I am excited to have been asked to become a director of a firm whose ethos of ‘the client comes first’ mirrors my own. For so many clients we are not only their accountants but also their trusted business advisors, taking them through every possible aspect of their business, from start up to eventual sale. “For this reason I am very proud to be a director of McLintocks and look forward to continuing to grow the business and to look after our clients in the same spirit." 16 MOVE COMMERCIAL
Mort replaces Worthington at CBRE Neil Mort has been appointed head of CBRE’s North West office agency division following the Neil Mort departure of Mark Worthington. Mort has 17 years’ experience in the office market at Knight Frank, Savills and CBRE client, BAM Properties. He will work on schemes including Airport City, MediaCityUK, Stockport Exchange and First Street. John Ogden, managing director of CBRE’s North West business, says: “Neil will be leading the North West agency team and working on both landlord and occupier instructions starting in the next few weeks. These are exciting times for CBRE as we continue to strengthen our offer to clients across the board and to safeguard our leading position within the regional marketplace." Mark Worthington has left CBRE to start a new venture alongside Andrew Owen, formerly of Mason Owen in Liverpool.
Bruntwood expands former BBC site team Alan Burke has joined Bruntwood to oversee the former BBC site on Oxford Road. Burke will coordinate the Alan Burke project at the site, having previously worked on a number of Manchester regeneration initiatives including the rebuilding of the city centre following the 1996 IRA bomb and the Commonwealth Games in 2002. He was previously director at Ask Developments. Chris Roberts, development director at Bruntwood and MSP, says: “We are delighted to bring Alan in to help us create a new district for business, science and innovation. "Alan is well placed to support the team, having specialised over a 30-year period in the identification and delivery of major capital projects as well numerous urban regeneration initiatives.”
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To advertise your job vacancies please call Natalie on 0151 709 3871
Recruitment
Liverpool London Manchester Are you a Property Lawyer looking for career progression? We are here to help make it happen Examples of opportunities we are currently working on: Property Litigation Solicitor up to ÂŁ45,000 basic (dependant on experience) + competitive bonus Our Client is a successful North West based law firm who are currently looking to source a Property Litigation Solicitor to join their expanding team. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of one year post qualification experience and a strong academic profile. They will currently be practising in a recognised property disputes team or in a litigation team that deals with a significant amount of property litigation.
Assistant Team Manager / Qualified Property Lawyer Salary negotiable (dependant on experience) We are assisting in sourcing an experienced Property Solicitor to act as a mentor to junior members of the team and assist the Head of Department in the expansion and support of their rapidly expanding Property Team. Due to increased demand and work sources our client is looking for a qualified Property Lawyer to provide ongoing technical support whilst assisting in running a varied caseload of both residential and commercial property transactions. The successful candidate will need a strong background in both Residential and Commercial Property law and be able to demonstrate both technical knowledge and leadership skills.
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p17-32_Move Commercial 22/05/2015 10:56 Page 18
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Hanna Fowler, account manager, The Foundry Agency My Month As account manager at integrated creative design, PR and events agency The Foundry Agency, Hanna Fowler’s month has been a busy one. She tells Move Commercial about taking on new clients, meeting copious amounts of deadlines and visiting the former Treasurer of Liverpool’s home.
My goal at the start of the month was... To ensure I achieved the very best for our clients. At The Foundry Agency we pride ourselves on the services we offer but also how we communicate this back to our clients in a clear and proactive way. At the start of every month we provide detailed reports which outline our activity, successful outcomes and press coverage, so preparing these is my first point of call! We then schedule a monthly catch up with our clients to deliver the reports, as we believe this face to face time is key to keeping track of our goals and maintaining client relationships.
My biggest achievement was...
My biggest challenge was...
As a company we’ve been celebrating new client wins this month, so it’s been great to be involved in this process and see the agency grow from strength to strength. One new client is the Greater Merseyside Learning Providers’ Federation (GMLPF), a non-profit organisation which supports over 60 work based learning providers. Working on GMLPF’s PR and event planning for its first Summer Ball is an exciting opportunity, and the team are looking forward to seeing the event come together.
Managing deadlines! This has been a particularly busy (but successful) month for us and our clients, securing press coverage in several nationals and property trade publications. Managing the tight press deadlines, which sometimes involves four or five a day can be challenging. However, seeking out great opportunities for our clients and then seeing the outcome; whether it’s a fantastic piece of editorial or media coverage is extremely rewarding and well worth the hard work.
THE NEWS STORY THAT CAUGHT MY EYE... Was an interview with Pret a Manger’s marketing director, Mark Palmer. The interview focused on Pret’s decision to use no traditional advertising spend, which for an international company may seem risky. Instead the brand focuses its budget on engaging the public online, improving the in-store experience and ‘word of mouth buzz’. Although a bold decision, it appears its model seems to be working. I think it shows the importance of how strong branding and an effective communications strategy – for both online and offline – can be very beneficial to raise your brand’s profile.
The Foundry Age ncy look ahead to their ‘Big Busine ss Lunch’
The key meeting I had... Was with client Hitchcock Wright & Partners. The meeting was to discuss a new instruction, as they were recently appointed to market a property on Rodney Street with some historical Liverpool links. Built between 1797 and 1800, the property is believed to be the first inhabited house on Rodney Street and was the Treasurer of Liverpool’s home in the early 1800’s; most recently it appeared in Peaky Blinders and Foyles War. With so many interesting quirks about the property, it offered a great press opportunity and we subsequently secured some great press about its arrival on the market.
2015
My plan for next month... The Foundry Agency is working on an exciting networking event which will launch in June, so preparations are well and truly underway! The Big Lunch is an event by the Eden Project held every year to encourage people to get to know their neighbours. Our ‘Big Business Lunch’ works on this same idea and will invite our nearby business neighbours to lunch with us. From event planning to designing invites, all the team have been involved and we’re excited to see it all come together.
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Natasha Young natasha@movepublishing.co.uk
Whether he’s shaping his own career, nurturing industry talent or creating new buildings for the North West and beyond, sustainability has always been key for Manchester-based architect Mike Hitchmough, as Move Commercial finds out.
Building to last With a career spanning almost 25 years in practice, Mike Hitchmough is well aware of the importance of “longevity and resilience to change”. They’re characteristics he has seemingly applied to the projects he’s worked on but also to the development of his own skills and opportunities. He’s currently settling in to a new role as architect director at the Manchester studio of international interdisciplinary BDP. The firm appointed Hitchmough to help strengthen its design and commercial capabilities, and it’s a position set to draw on his wealth of experience and portfolio of work whilst also providing him with exciting challenges and the opportunity to venture into new territory. Although it’s still early days in the new position, Hitchmough is looking forward to a “nice pipeline of significant projects of variety and scale” that lies ahead for the studio. As well as continuing to make an impact on projects in Manchester and its surroundings, an area where he trained as an architect, has achieved career success and is now also teaching part-time at the University of Manchester by way of “putting a little back” into the place that educated him, Hitchmough is looking forward to working on a 20 MOVE COMMERCIAL
global scale at BDP. “I’m quite interested in having those opportunities to work on a bigger stage than the UK because the world is changing, the world is getting smaller and the things we do in the UK are extremely relevant in other parts of the world,” says Hitchmough. Right here in the region though, where BDP has recently been working on prominent schemes including the refurbishment of Manchester Victoria Station, Hitchmough also has plenty to look forward to. “It’s a bit early for me to be specific but there’s a couple of nice commercial office schemes, both fit out and new build, in the North West region that we’re going to be getting involved with,” he adds. “With my background in offices and the workplace I’m hoping to take a key role in those.” One workplace that particularly stands out among Hitchmough’s past projects is Manchester’s now landmark Co-operative Group headquarters, One Angel Square. In his prior role of jointly heading up the Manchester office of architecture practice 3DReid, one of the first projects he became involved in was pitching for the significant development back in 2008. Hitchmough believes that at the
time, the experience he brought to the table “struck a chord” with the Co-operative Group’s property director David Pringle, as he had “both the sort of design credentials that were required to create the iconic building they were looking for but also a very commercial and savvy mind that made sure this thing would work and could be delivered from a commercial point of view”. It was a range of knowledge borne out of Hitchmough’s decision to vary his CV by working for property developer Dandara earlier in his career, in an attempt to get more of a client’s eye view of the industry. “I just felt that would give me a really useful insight into how your client’s mind operates and what their values are, what’s important to them, what makes them tick; with a view to always go back into practice afterwards to use those skills and bring those to the fore of any design work I do,” explains Hitchmough, having worked in the firm’s development team. “When you make the mark on paper with a pencil you understand what the implication of that means; whether it’s the needs of construction or the way in which you develop each phase to release more money more quickly, and you
understand how the assets are disposed of at the end of the development process. It really was an interesting four-year period that I found invaluable.” Along with Manchester’s wider NOMA masterplan, which is still taking shape in the city centre, Hitchmough regards One Angel Square as the most important project he has worked on so far. “When we were doing that all of our team were aware it was a milestone project for all of us in our careers and, despite the dark clouds and the grip of the recession, we ought to enjoy it and absorb as much of it as we can as there aren’t many of those projects that come around. “That was my message to the team when we were doing it, particularly the younger members of staff; they should really enjoy it and get the most out of it because it will stand everybody in good stead going forward.” Since its completion, One Angel Square, for one, has certainly been a success. The BREEAM ‘oustanding’ development was hailed the world’s most sustainable building and has also attracted awards, and that level of sustainability is something Hitchmough is keen to keep achieving.
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Mike Hitchmough, architect director, BDP Interview
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We can’t read the future but what we can do is design buildings that can accommodate change.
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What interests me is designing buildings that work for the first end user but, should times change or businesses change, that building can be adapted slightly but re-used.
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“Everyone thinks of sustainability as being energy, but sustainability is about designing things that last, and things will last if they can change and evolve over time so they don’t have to be demolished,” says Hitchmough, adding: “All too often we see buildings from the 1980s or even ‘90s that are actually 15, 20, 25 years old but their tenant has moved out and what their landlord is finding is those buildings are actually no longer fit for purpose and there are a couple of buildings I’m aware of that are less than 30 years old that are going to be demolished. That’s just wrong on a number of levels. “What interests me is designing buildings that work for the first end user but, should that end user disappear or times change or businesses or types of businesses change, that building can be adapted slightly but re-used. “That longevity and resilience to change is really interesting because the digital sector didn’t exist 10 years or so ago so in another 10 years there’s going to be another sector that we don’t even know about yet. “We can’t anticipate because we can’t read the future but what we can do is design buildings that can accommodate change.”
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Stephen Hurrell stephen@movepublishing.co.uk
The Move Commercial post-election debate Sponsored by
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2015 General Election Debate
The votes have been cast, and as the UK gets to grips with the results of the 2015 General Election, the focus has fallen on the Northern Powerhouse, devolution and its impact on North West business. Move Commercial has brought four North West business leaders together to discuss what it means for the region.
Colin Sinclair, director of property marketing, Bruntwood
Is the General Election result good for business in the North West? Colin Sinclair: There was huge interest in this election from the business community. I think the general feeling is it will be good for the economy and that’s good for business. It enables business to be aspirational and I think it’s important that whatever we do going forward this government works hard to build on the success there’s been in the economy in the last few years. I think everybody wants to see business prosper but it’s really important that also includes everybody in society. John Jones: The importance of confidence and certainty cannot be underestimated. Successful businesses stand at the heart of a successful, thriving economy. There are concerns, particularly over the next two years. We’ve got £12 billion of cuts promised, the austerity program has to carry on being rolled out but in general I think business is reasonably happy with the result. Max Steinberg: The point John makes is interesting. Nothing we’ve seen seems to indicate austerity is going
John Jones, chair, Pro Manchester
away. Whether you voted for the government or not there’s a clarity about what government is in power and some of the brokering that had to go on in a coalition is not there. Andy Delaney: It gives people confidence. We’ve had 15-18 months of positive news and the fact the administration isn’t changing is building on what’s been happening. A colleague of mine rang me on Friday from London and he was telling me how pleased he was because at least we know we’ve got a property market for the next five years. MS: Do I think it’ll be friendly for business? Yes. We’re going to have to grow a stronger private sector economy to take up the slack from public sector jobs that won’t exist in the next five years. It’s the private sector that’s the wealth creator in this country and I’m hopeful we’ll see a government that is pro business, friendly to business and encourages that agenda. It was this government that set a target of doubling exports by 2020 so it’s those kind of issues that business looks forward to working alongside.
Max Steinberg, chief executive, Liverpool Vision
Much of the pre-election talk has been on devolution. Will we now see the government fulfill its promises? JJ: Both Cameron and Osborne, postelection, have recommitted to devolution for Manchester so I think there’s every reason for that to carry on. In terms of an elected mayor it’s going to take a little time to get the primary legislation in place but I think there’ll be an appointed mayor in the next two years who will start to take over some of the powers that were discussed. MS: I found it interesting that there was almost no political party speaking against devolution. They almost seemed to be outbidding themselves in terms of the devolution they may put forward. I think something else that has happened is the announcement of Greg Clark as secretary of state at the Department for Communities and Local Government. He was very much a standard bearer for devolution to city regions so we seem to be very much on message about that agenda. I think we’ll see more opportunities along the lines that Manchester has developed.
Andy Delaney, director of development consulting and agency, Colliers International
One of the manifesto promises was 100% retention of business rate growth for Manchester and Cheshire East. How should this money be spent if it happens? AD: I suppose in many ways it should be used to oil the wheels of business. There are a lot of infrastructure issues across our regions, whether it’s trains or the capacity. If you’re going between the major cities – from Liverpool to Manchester - and getting on at Warrington you’re not going to get a seat. And it’s not just Warrington, it’s every direction and every road into Manchester. It would be good if it could be used on physical and business infrastructure. MS: On business rates my view is that if we follow the models that have been developed in Manchester, Cambridge and Cheshire East, I’d like to see that retention building up with other retention through other deals cities can do to put together funds cities can use for major infrastructure projects. If you look at what cities want to achieve they take years to get off the ground and years to deliver. There’s a chance here MOVE COMMERCIAL 23
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Stephen Hurrell stephen@movepublishing.co.uk
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In a way it is central government catching up with what is going on in the regions anyway, what cities like Liverpool and Manchester are wanting to do.
for cities to take control of their own destinies to use these powers to enable some of these projects to go ahead to further link them. Can Liverpool’s local authorities work together to bring about devolution to the city region? MS: There’s been a lot of debate about this. Obviously we still need to see exactly what the terms of devolution are in terms of the UK. I think the devolution cat’s out of the bag. It’s going to happen. The view that this city region can’t work together is incorrect. There’s a combined authority here that is working together. There’s an LEP working with its partner authorities. I think it’s good for a headline in a paper now and again that the city can’t work together and clearly there are some issues that need to be worked through but I’m confident the city region will find its way through them and work with the great opportunities the government will bring forward. JJ: None of this happens overnight. The debate in Manchester has been going on for the best part of 10 years. In a way it is central government catching up with what is going on in the regions anyway, what cities like Liverpool and 24 MOVE COMMERCIAL
Manchester are wanting to do anyway. It’s positive but we wait to see what will happen in practice. CS: If you look at Manchester’s success it’s based on the original understanding of the 10 local authorities. A single brand, a strong city region economy, but good evidential base with work gone on in the background to prove the need and then challenge what was already the norm. But if you look at the success of Manchester even under the coalition government it was a Labour-led leader, Sir Richard Leese, working with a Conservative-Liberal coalition and I think that’s been a real strength of Manchester that they’ve got on, done the job and got it done. What we’ve got here has been a really positive start with an elected mayor in Joe Anderson and I think we now need to move forward as a city region and get all of the local authorities behind that international brand of Liverpool. With public sector cuts in spending, how important is the private sector to the economic wellbeing of the North West? MS: There was a pledge in the Conservative manifesto to reduce borrowing over parliament by 5.2%; the
Institute for Fiscal Studies calculates that to be another 7.1% reduction in funding to local government. Local government has been under huge pressure and devolution is clearly a way forward to give local areas powers over matters that they can decide on better than perhaps central government can in Whitehall. But if that is accompanied by severe pressure on budgets then there are issues that will be difficult to manage. CS: If you look at business now it’s city region brands that are the global brands. It’s absolutely critical that we invest in brands like Liverpool and Manchester. MIPIM was a private sector delegation. It was paid for by the private sector but importantly it was facilitated by the public sector. That kind of partnership is absolutely critical. AD: As a company we like the mayoral model almost as a manifestation of the city acting in an entrepreneurial and commercial way, being the single point of contact and delivering leadership from the top level. It’s not necessarily the public sector putting lots of money in it’s just being part of that partnership and helping to facilitate investment and just give confidence that they’re there and in it for the long haul.
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What do we mean by the Northern Powerhouse and will we see measureable benefits? AD: In many ways it’s a great brand. It’s a name that people have embraced. It’s rooted in historic legacy as well because this region was the cradle of the industrial revolution. The population is equal to London if you look at Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Hull and Newcastle. Different cities have got different sectoral strengths and building on those can create a genuine economic mass that can compete on a world scale. MS: There is a lot of work going across the North but I think the Northern Powerhouse existed before the term was coined. Liverpool and Manchester have been Northern Powerhouses for years. You might say, and you’re absolutely right, that they could be stronger powerhouses but actually these are still major cities. For this city economic output has risen since 1997 in terms of GVA by 102%, nationally it was 93% so Liverpool has risen faster with its GVA. JJ: Max is right. Nobody is suggesting we have an amorphous mass, the Greater North that is going to be competing with London. But it’s about a
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2015 General Election Debate
rebalancing and the individual cities within the Northern Powerhouse each have their own strengths and will continue to develop those. What I think it is all about is improved connectivity, infrastructure so that we can have a single labour market who can move between those cities easier. CS: There’s been far too much government investment since time began in London and the South. This has got to be an opportunity to get that transport infrastructure right so that people can export goods, people can move goods around but most importantly, so people can get to work. How beneficial will HS2 and HS3 be to the North West? AD: It is building on the economic strength of the North. It would be great to get high speed travel between northern cities. If you look at the German model or the way you travel between Utrecht and Amsterdam in 20 minutes, why haven’t we got the same thing here? We’re at the same economic advancement as those and, as Colin said, our major investment has gone into London. MS: One of the key recommendations Transport for the North made was to have a northern transport strategy
owned by the northern players. For me that’s crucial. We could own that strategy and argue the case for the investment in that strategy based on the knowledge we have. That recommendation is important and it’s something we should be campaigning for as the new government takes shape. London has its own transport body, why shouldn’t we have it in the Northern Powerhouse? CS: We’ve got to watch that this doesn’t come over as us moaning about the South. We’ve got to say why we need it and we’ve got to have a strong evidential base behind it. I think we need HS2 in Liverpool as close as we can get it into Lime Street and that east-west connectivity should be right across from Liverpool to Hull and Newcastle. But to get those things you’ve got to have the evidential base and I think Manchester did very well when they used Jim O’Neill from Goldman Sachs and getting stats right in the Manchester Independent Economic Review was the start of Manchester proving a business case. This is going to be very important going forward, which is one reason why you can’t cut the public sector back to a point where it can’t perform that kind of work.
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One of the key recommendations made was to have a northern transport strategy owned by the northern players. London has its own transport body, why shouldn’t we have it in the Northern Powerhouse?
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JJ: Part of that evidential base comes from the information we know already. The average commute into London is about 40 miles. If you were to take Manchester as a central point – not that I’m suggesting that Manchester will be the central point – as a catchment area including Liverpool, Cheshire, Leeds and Lancashire – you’ve got 10 million people in that area. That’s a whole host of people you could move around the region a lot better. It’s ludicrous that you can get
from London to Paris quicker than you can get over from Liverpool to Hull. It just doesn’t make sense. MS: You’ve got the evidence, you’ve got the key players buying into it and you’ve got a very strong case for how the £13bn should be spent. CS: There are talks around One North. My understanding is there is a movement underway to get it all joined up. MS: The political phrase is there’s room for optimism!
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The individual cities within the Northern Powerhouse each have their own strengths and will continue to develop those. It is all about improved connectivity, infrastructure so that we can have a single labour market who can move between those cities easier.
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Move Commercial’s post-election debate may be viewed in full via our website: www.movecommercial.com
MOVE COMMERCIAL 25
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Stephen Hurrell stephen@movepublishing.co.uk
NYL Restaurant and Bar No.1 North John Street, L2
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We need to make sure we know what we’re world class about and propagate those messages.
How important is government investment in projects such as the Sir Henry Royce Institute? CS: I don’t know if it was luck, good fortune, whatever but having the chancellor’s constituency covering the area where Alderley Park was when AstraZeneca left was a good thing. Bruntwood is the majority shareholder in (Alderley Park owner) Manchester Science Partnerships but the other shareholders include other key authorities like Manchester but also Cheshire East. So I think that’s a great example of where the government has got behind both local authority and private sector to really truly invest in R&D and there’s an enormous appetite for more investment with things like the Sir Henry Royce Institute and the
26 MOVE COMMERCIAL
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Graphene Institute. I think it’s important that Liverpool puts a strong case forward as well. JJ: We’ve got some great universities in Manchester and Liverpool so we’ve got a great starting point with the science parks and Alderley and the work that is going on there. I think it’s important that we build on that and develop the science and technology and media and digital. We have such a large skilled undergraduate base and it’s important to try to keep them in the region rather than lose them once they’re skilled up. MS: I think one of the issues we’ve got to decide upon is there are certain things in the North that we are world class about. We need to make sure we know what we’re world class about and propagate those messages because
actually I’m not sure we’re getting our message out. We should do that more in concert with each other. There will always be rivalries between cities for investment but if we were clearer about the things we were working on that may help to iron out some of those rivalries. What does the government need to do now to help the North West’s economy and businesses? CS: We’ve talked a lot about inward investment but really economies are built from the start-ups and the SMEs. That’s very important. We’ve got to provide the kind of support that those businesses want. We’ve got to find out what businesses actually need to get started and then to succeed through
those early years and that’s where the public sector still plays an absolutely key role. We can’t cut that. If government cuts that and takes money away from start-ups and SMEs that would be a really bad thing. JJ: One of the key drivers is skills. It’s the single biggest economic driver of the region, the skills of the workforce. That’s something where the private sector and the government need to work together to make sure that the young people coming out of education have the skills that they need for jobs in the middle of the 21st century. Business isn’t done now how it was done 10 years ago. The government has a role focusing on how those things are joined up. AD: With inward investment it’s selling that whole thing. It’s having people with the right level skills, a certain number need to have PHDs and some just need to be able to count. Everybody has to have the opportunity for a job and a lifestyle and that is one of the government’s mantras. In an advanced society like ours we need to make sure everybody is looked after. MS: There’s an important point about major devolution to large cities. The North is not just made of major cities. To some extent as recession took place hinterlands suffered and it falls to us in the North West, that those places are connected into these economies. Some of those areas have been through some very difficult times and are still recovering from some of those difficulties they faced. The cities are very important to us but there is a wider idea that nobody seems to be talking about to bring that connectivity to those places.
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2015 General Election Debate
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Economies are built from the start-ups and the SMEs. We’ve got to find out what businesses actually need to get started and then to succeed through those early years.
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We Build Brands A leading integrated communications agency delivering branding, design and public relations.
0151 709 1633 www.thefoundryagency.co.uk @Foundry _ Agency
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Success at Atlantic Park continues
Liverpool L30 4AB
Alaska House TO LET GRADE ‘A’ OFFICES 16,472 sq ft (1,530 sq m) Suites from 2,930 sq ft (272 sq m) to a single floor of 8,155 sq ft (757.6 sq m)
14,500 sq ft recently let to 4,951 sq ft recently let to
Caspian House TO LET 34,983 sq ft (3,250 sq m) Grade A refurbished offices capable of sub-division
TO LET 90,763 sq ft Warehousing/Manufacturing/ Storage
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Design and Build Opportunities Buildings available from 20,000 sq ft upwards Office enquiries
gva.co.uk 0151 255 1910
gva.co.uk 0151 255 1910 ian.steele@gva.co.uk jonathan.lowe@gva.co.uk
8 49
Industrial enquiries
neil.kirkham@cbre.com andrew.byrne@cbre.com
andrew.pexton@gva.co.uk
Development Managers
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INDUSTRIAL SECURITIES (MANAGEMENT) LTD
jatherton@savills.com
rob.currie@industrialsecurities.com
www.atlanticpark.co.uk
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30 MOVE COMMERCIAL
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Hansteen Hans steen VENTURE POINT
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" "OEZ +POFT UFM FNBJM BOESFX KPOFT!IBOTUFFO DP VL OEZ +POFT UFM FNBJM BOESFX KPOFT!IBOTUFFO DP VL Misrepresentation Misrepresenta tion Act 1967. These details are provided only as a general guide to what wha t is being offered subject to contract and subject to lease being available a vailable and are not intended to be construed as containing any an y representation representa tion of fact upon which any an y interested party is entitled to rely. rely. Other than this general guide neither we nor any an y person in our employ emplo y has any an y authority to make, give or imply any an y representation representa tion or warranty whatsoever wha tsoever relating rela ting to the properties in these details. May 2015
H Hansteen 01925 839 830 www www.hansteen.uk.com .hansteen.uk.com
MOVE COMMERCIAL 31
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Business Clinic
THIS MONTH’S PANEL
Construction firm struggling to find candidates for industry-specific roles
Kris Convery senior consultant, Building Careers UK www.buildingcareersuk.com
Derek Dawson head of commercial litigation Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors www.paulcrowley.co.uk
Mark Saunders planning director, NJL Consulting
??? WE NEED YOUR QUESTIONS Do you have a problem that our experts could help solve? Need advice on a business dilemma? Email your questions to: post@movepublishing.co.uk
32 MOVE COMMERCIAL
Qst. We’re a construction firm that works on specialist projects across the region. Much of our work requires industryspecific skills and experience and we have found traditional recruitment routes have proved unsuccessful. How do we go about identifying and securing appropriate candidates for these niche sectors?
We deal with clients having these problems every day. A considerable amount of our daily schedule focuses on finding and building relationships with great candidates because, put simply, recruitment is a two-way street. The post-recession market is extremely candidate-led, making traditional recruitment routes increasingly ineffective. Your business cannot advertise a role and sit back, waiting for the cream of the crop to apply. The simple truth is that clients need to be aware of the candidates’ control in the process. As a business, you need to portray your opportunity in advertising and in interview as articulately and
© iStock/reach-art
www.njlconsulting.co.uk
effectively as a candidate presents their CV and themselves. What makes your business great and what makes it different? What does this opportunity offer that another role can’t? What is essential and what is negotiable in a candidates’ experience? Considering these questions will create a more accurate and attractive job description for potential candidates. Once you have defined what you need and what you want (because remember, these two are not always the same), create an attractive and competitive role. Then think outside the box when considering applicants. It may be that you have envisaged a candidate who is perfect… and non-existent. While you wait for this candidate to come along, you’re missing other great candidates who could fit the role, or could be developed to fit the role. Consider how you could vary the opportunity to suit the candidate, whether financially, in location or in terms of role and progression. If you’re still having difficulties, I’d strongly advise you to seek some expert advice tailored to your business.
Ans. | Kris Convery
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Business Clinic
© iStock/Pablo631
Each issue our panel of industry experts answers your business questions and solves your commercial dilemmas.
Effectively handling overdue payments from valued clients Qst. I operate a small business which I am hoping to grow, however late payments from clients are making it difficult to progress. I don’t want to lose the clients altogether but I do need them to pay more promptly in order to manage my own cash flow. What are my rights and how can I speed up payment?
Firstly, you need to determine what the contractual position is as to when you are entitled to be paid. At the outset you should seek to agree the date when your invoices will be paid, which will enable you to manage your cash flow. You should also consider preparing terms and conditions for your business, which would deal with any dates for invoices to be paid and interest if the payments are late. You will appreciate the shorter the period the better for you, but you will also recognise that your clients will also have their own cash flow issues and may wish to seek to longer terms. Terms between 14 to 30 days are reasonable.
As part of the terms and conditions you ought to set out which service you agree to provide and highlight any restrictions. If there are no terms or agreed dates for payment then you can rely upon the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) 1998 and it’s supporting regulations. This act and regulations will allow you to seek compensation of between £40, £70 and £100 per invoice, depending on the amount outstanding. Furthermore, you are also entitled to interest on the amount of your unpaid invoices at a rate of 8% above base rate, i.e. 8.5% presently. If the invoices remain unpaid you can enforce your
rights by threatening court proceedings. You should send a letter of claim highlighting the unpaid invoices prior to taking any action. You could then seek to issue a winding up petition or a bankruptcy petition if there is no valid basis for why the invoices were not paid. Alternatively, you can issue a County Court claim for the debt. As part of those proceedings you should include a claim for interest as the court will not grant you interest if you do not ask for it.
Ans. | Derek Dawson
© iStock/Branislav
Refused planning permission: what to do next?
Qst. We are a small logistics firm and we’re looking to create a new depot near our current HQ, however our planning application was refused. Are we able to appeal and if so how do we go about it? What should be out first course of action?
Yes you are able to appeal the refusal of planning permission. Applicants have six months from the date of the refusal notice to submit a planning appeal. There is a variety of methods by which a planning appeal can be decided, including public inquiry, informal hearing and written representations. This process is dictated by, amongst other things, the complexity of the issues of the case, whether an advocate is required and the strength of local opposition. The procedures and costs for each type of appeal process vary greatly and so the first thing to do is to establish which route you, as appellants, wish to take. That will require discussion with the council and it is
necessary to submit documentation to request and justify your preferred route. No matter which route is ultimately agreed with the Planning Inspectorate, it is firstly important when embarking on a planning appeal to fully understand the reasons for refusal provided by the council and the scope of evidence you will be relying upon to present your case. It is this evidence which will determine whether you have a strong chance of success and therefore whether pursuing an appeal would represent a sound business decision. Each individual case warrants a bespoke approach reflecting the particular circumstances but, for example, we often sense check this evidence through consultation with a barrister to then inform our given strategy when we lead on planning appeals for our various clients.
Ans. | Mark Saunders MOVE COMMERCIAL 33
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Strong design ethos underpinned by a realistic commercial approach to projects. Aiming to provide a high quality service by encouraging an open dialogue with clients and user groups to deliver appropriate solutions that hopefully delight.
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Derek Dawson, he
Christine Toner christine@movepublishing.co.uk
With the successful launch of a city centre office and a new commercially-focused brand, the future looks bright for Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors. Derek Dawson, head of the firm’s commercial litigation department, shares his views on what’s next for the business – and the sector.
Commercially minded Given the economic turbulence of the last few years it’s not surprising that many firms have undergone a period of consolidation and restructuring. Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors, the Liverpool law firm established in 1991, is no exception. Where it does buck the trend, however, is that following that period of reflection the firm entered into a phase of growth, opening a new city centre office, the first foray into the central business district in the company’s 24-year history, and launching the commercially-focused brand PCS Law. Solicitor Derek Dawson heads up the commercial litigation department and manages the city centre office. “The idea behind the PCS brand was to differentiate between our existing brand which focuses on residential property, PI, matrimonial and criminal law,” he 36 MOVE COMMERCIAL
explains. “We want to distinguish the commercial element and build brand awareness. Of course, we are building the business in conjunction with the existing firm, Paul Crowley & Co. The two brands stand hand in hand.” It was a bold move, given the uncertainty that still exists in the economy, but Dawson says it has paid off. “It is going really well,” he says. “We have plenty of clients coming in - some existing and some new ones too. We’ve had some PLCs come to us which has been welcome. There have been some very good referrals.” For Dawson, the success is thanks in part to the size of the firm. “We’re well placed because we’re not a huge firm” he says. “There are not many firms of our size in that bracket. We are small enough to offer a personal service but large
enough to service our clients’ needs. When clients telephone they know who they are going to get. There’s not a team of 50 leaving you wondering who you are going to get today.” It’s an approach Dawson is keen to maintain, claiming it is his experience that clients are buying into so his experience they should get. Dawson first entered the legal profession in 1998 after studying law at the University of Liverpool and Chester Law School. He spent seven years working at a prominent city law firm before moving to JST Lawyers for a further eight years. Dawson was then approached by Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors to head up the commercial department in 2014. The main element of his job is litigation or avoiding litigation as not all cases need to be concluded at court, dealing with disputes
including contract, business, partnership and property disputes and debt issues. His role means he gets to work with most of the firm’s departments. “That makes the job interesting,” he says. “Ultimately you are looking after people’s businesses and affairs, one way or another and that means every day is different.” While the variety of his job may be a huge plus, for Dawson the downsides often come from government intervention, with the recent rise in issue fees a case in point. Earlier this year the government announced plans to increase the fees for issuing proceedings for monetary claims to 5% of the value of the claim for all claims over £10,000, with a maximum fee of £10,000. The move came despite stiff opposition from the legal profession with representations made by the Law Society seeking to
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on, head of commercial litigation, Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors Interview
“
There are not many firms of our size in that bracket. When clients telephone they know who they are going to get.
“ avoid the increase and minimise its impact, but the government introduced the increases anyway. With costs for pursuing litigation Dawson says it’s never been more important to ensure the right steps are taken early on. “The majority of problems I encounter occur because people have not fully agreed the contract before they started or they’ve not recorded that in writing,” he explains. “A lot of disputes are about the terms of the contract, in other words, what where they meant to do, how were they meant to do it and what were they meant to get paid for it. If you do not get that right at the start it becomes more awkward to prove whatever those terms were.” That said, Dawson says there will always be a requirement for litigators. “Even with the best of intentions, when you protect yourself as much
as possible, there’s still going to be disputes. That’s inevitable, it’s not going to go away. But you can try and minimise the problems you are going to encounter by agreeing your contract at the start and making sure it’s clear what has been agreed, placing yourself in a better position at the outset.” Looking to the future, Dawson says further expansion could be on the cards for Paul Crowley & Co. “For the rest of this year the plan is to consolidate our position in the market then once we have a full financial year behind us we will take stock and see where we are up to. It has been an incredible few years for us. In the last four years we have seen a 60% increase in the number of staff employed and turnover has trebled. We have some potential big cases on the horizon and we may have to take people on to assist on them. These are exciting times for us.”
“
The majority of problems I encounter occur because people have not fully agreed the contract before they started or they’ve not recorded that in writing. If you do not get that right at the start it becomes more awkward to prove whatever those terms were.
“
MOVE COMMERCIAL 37
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Christine Toner christine@movepublishing.co.uk
As Morgan Sindall’s area director, Wirral-born Barry Roberts leads the construction firm’s projects in the North West but it’s his passion for people that is helping him to make a difference in the region, he tells Christine Toner.
Paying it forward When Barry Roberts was growing up on the Woodchurch Estate in Wirral he admits he had no idea which career path to take. Construction gave him the direction he needed and, subsequently, a successful 30-year career. It’s unsurprising therefore that educating and training young people is something Barry is particularly passionate about. As such his position as area director at Morgan Sindall is a particularly good fit given that approximately 60% of the work the construction group does is within the education sector, including the £8million Wirral Met College (part of the Wirral Waters scheme). “Wirral Waters is a great job,” says Roberts. “The college will be the new construction and trade college for Wirral and we’re doing some fantastic things there. We’re giving practical lectures to the students. We’re bringing them to site to show them construction in practice, doing lectures within the cabins, walking the students around the site and giving them work opportunities as well.” Indeed, students from the college have been offered apprenticeships working on the new build project by both Morgan Sindall and its supply chain partners. 40 MOVE COMMERCIAL
“I really enjoy when we can change lives,” says Roberts. “It’s not just about the building, it’s about changing opportunities for people. I’m passionate about it. I was a young lad once without any sort of direction. The construction industry has given me a good living over the last 30 years and I like putting a bit back.” Other notable projects in Morgan Sindall’s education portfolio include the construction of a £12.5m research and development facility at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and the building of four schools as part of Liverpool City Council’s Schools Improvement Programme – St Hilda’s in Sefton Park, Bellerive in Princes Park, New Park Primary in Kensington, and Northway Primary in Childwall. “We’ve been going into the schools to give them lectures on careers and construction, especially on how women can prosper in construction,” says Roberts. “At St Hilda’s it’s an allgirls school and we’ve got an allfemale team. We’re showing that girls are leading the way.” Roberts says encouraging young people to work in construction is essential in order to sustain the industry. As such Morgan Sindall has joined forces with a number of other
contractors in the city to form an employment partnership. “We share apprenticeships,” explains Roberts. “That way the apprentices get the relevant experience and the longevity. It’s something that is working particularly well at the moment.” Alongside a strong apprenticeship programme Roberts says Morgan Sindall is committed to providing local jobs for local people. “We had some really tough targets on the Liverpool school projects in terms of making sure we’re employing local people and we’re achieving some really good statistics,” says Roberts. “90% of the labour on the job is from Liverpool. It means the local spend stays local.” Through his role as area director Roberts is responsible for delivering all of the company’s North West projects and while education is a key focus, the full roster of projects is varied. “We’ve recently finished the new Matalan headquarters in Knowsley, which is a £20m project,” says Roberts. “We’ve also noticed an increase in residential projects. We’re not doing much residential at the moment but it is an increasing market. We’re also doing quite a lot of work with
“
I was a young lad once without any sort of direction. The construction industry has given me a good living over the last 30 years and I like putting a bit back.
“
developers. St Modwen is a key client of ours, as is Peel. Peel has got some exciting industrial warehousing and manufacturing buildings coming up, there’s quite an increase in that sector and we’re pricing quite a number of interesting schemes in the industrial sector at the minute and infrastructure too”. With such a wide range of projects Roberts says having the right team of staff is essential. “I have a good team around me,” says Roberts. “It’s not just me, I lead the region but having good staff is what it’s all about - making sure we’ve got the right people and the right culture with the right values in the company.” Looking ahead, Roberts says the company plans to continue to grow. “We’re really buoyant nationally and winning some fantastic schemes but more locally the North West region, after many years of austerity, is growing,” he says. “I really want to continue to grow our business whilst making sure we deliver exceptional jobs for our clients and provide great work opportunities for the people that live in the communities we work in. “We want to leave a legacy and build buildings we can be proud of”.
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Barry Roberts, area director, Morgan Sindall Interview
“
We share apprenticeships. That way the apprentices get the relevant experience and the longevity. It’s something that is working particularly well at the moment.
“
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Key event Edge Architects office launch
Edge Architects celebrates new office Edge Architects welcomed guests as it celebrated the official launch of its new Union Court office in Liverpool. The special event coincided with the eighth birthday of the practice, which was previously based on Henry Street in the city centre. The relocation initially took place last summer but renovation and refurbishment work has since taken place to transform the company’s new larger base into the studio. Guests including clients, suppliers and business associates joined Edge Architects staff for drinks and canapés, as well as an opportunity to network and explore the completed new base for the firm. 1
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1. The attendees raise a glass 2. Amy Leighton and Ben Naylor (both Edge Architects) and Anthony Swann (Mouchel) 3. Brian Welsh (Robson Welsh) and Angela Hesketh (Jackson Canter) 4. Karl Riley (Carr Consultants Ltd), Mal Cockbain (RB Architectural) and Michaela Hogan (Edge Architects) 5. Roy Gronow (GCS UK Associates), Gareth Abbott (director, Edge Architects) and Debbie Ryan (GCS UK Associates) 6. Nick Wisken (Deloitte Real Estate), Michaela Hogan, Amila Ranasinghe and Gareth Abbott (all Edge Architects) Debbie Ryan and Roy Gronow (GCS UK Associates) 7. Bob Oldfield (Tag), Angela Rawson (Edge Architects), Lynn Oldfield (Tag) Stuart Clarke (Constructive Thinking) 8. Brendan Kenny (Isle of Man Government), Sarah Watts, Craig Mitchell and Andy Thomson (all BCA Landscape) 9. Gavin Clifford (Icis Design) Trevor Conley (Edge Architects) and Mark Connolly (Core M) 10. Plenty of people attended the new office opening 11. The staff of Edge Architects
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Move Commercial Events Jun-July
EVENT PLANNER
Our pick of the best local events
3 JUN
4 JUN
10-12 JUN
9-10 JULY
Wirral Chamber Corporate Cup 2015, Heswall Golf Club 10am
Open Day at The Women’s Organisation, 54 St James Street, Liverpool 8.30am-6.30pm
BCSC North Conference & Dinner, Carden Park, near Chester
The Big Social Media Conference, The Point, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
A relaxed opportunity to enjoy team building and networking with staff and fellow business participants, followed by an evening presentation and dinner. www.wirralchamber.co.uk
An opportunity to find out more about the organisation’s services for women starting up businesses; from appointments with growth experts to courses on subject areas including digital marketing and bookkeeping, and information on accessing business finance. www.thewomensorganisation.org.uk
The British Council for Shopping Centres (BCSC) brings the region’s retail property industry together to provide insight into the current market position. Experts from across the sector are lined-up to speak at the event, which also features a black-tie dinner. www.bcsc.org.uk
24 JUN
25 JUN
RICS It’s Your APC Conference, Manchester Meeting Place, Sackville Street, Manchester 8.30am-5.30pm
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner 2015, The Point, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester 6.30-11.15pm
An event focusing on the building surveying pathway, offering expert, professional and academic guidance. There will also be an opportunity to meet fellow trainees and network with industry experts. Tickets available to RICS members and non-members. www.rics.org/uk
Hosted by comedian and quiz show host Alexander Armstrong, this event will also feature speakers including Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, as he discusses the future of Greater Manchester with local devolution and an elected mayor. www.gmchamber.co.uk
Bruntwood trio set for charity cycle challenge
PICK OF THE MONTH
16 JUL
Planning law update: Navigating the planning system – Liverpool Grant Thornton, Royal Liver Building, Liverpool
10am-12.30pm An expert look at changes to the planning system and a guide to the planning negotiation process. Architect and town planner, Wendy Shillam of Shillam + Smill will speak at the event, which is open to RIBA members and non-members. www.architecture.com
More than 1,000 marketers and business owners are expected to attend this event which will bring the latest in social media marketing from some of the industry’s leading experts. www.thebigsocialmediaconference .com
24 JULY JLL Property Triathlon MediaCityUK, Salford Quays Jointly sponsored by JLL and The Peel Group, this event calls on property professionals to swim, cycle and run to raise funds for The Christie Charitable Fund and Starlight Children’s Foundation. www.propertytriathlon.com
Gin tasting event for Weightmans team
Three property professionals from Bruntwood’s Liverpool team will pedal from London to Paris in July, as they take on a gruelling cycle challenge. Colin Sinclair, Colin Forshaw and Matt Lee will follow the 300-mile route over four days in a bid to raise £4,000 for Merseyside-based Claire House Children’s Hospice. With the fundraisers aiming to coincide the end of their journey to Paris with the arrival of the Tour De France riders in the city, they’ve also pledged to replace the famous race’s yellow jersey tradition with wearing a chicken costume for a leg of their trip, provided they reach their target total. The extensive bike ride is one of a number of events Bruntwood’s Liverpool team has held to boost funds for Claire House and, if the £4,000 goal is achieved, would bring its contribution to the charity to a total of £14,000. For further information about the London to Paris cycle challenge, visit www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ team/BruntwoodLondontoParis2015
The Weightmans team sampled gins
Thirty team members from law firm Weightmans recently enjoyed an evening of gin tasting in Liverpool city centre, as the company’s social committee organised a special event. The informative evening took place at the Bretta & Co bistro and deli on Heathfield Street, just off Bold Street, and was hosted by Liverpool Gin founder John O’Dowd. The expert guided Weightmans guests through the history of gin distilling and the role of gin in social history, and also introduced each of the taster gins with information about how each one is distilled and ideal garnishes to accompany them. The drinks, which included an orange gin and a gin served with rose petals, were also accompanied by culinary delights by Bretta & Co.
Matt Lee tries on the chicken suit ahead of the challenge
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Expert views Ask the panel When the Conservatives secured a majority government in the General Election and Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to deliver the party’s manifesto in full, attention soon turned to the government’s plans to hold an in-out referendum on EU membership by the end of 2017. The matter is continuing to hold the spotlight, with some calls for it to be brought forward to 2016, so we asked four experts from across the North West’s commercial property and business sectors:
Q: How would leaving the EU impact on the North West? At a time of increasing global competition, what sense is there in restricting relationships with our closest trade partners? Significant foreign investment flows into the region as a direct result of EU membership, and the US, China, India and Japan view the UK as their EU gateway. It’s therefore essential we continue to contribute to the shape of future agreements for the sake of the sectors which prop up the region’s economy, including aerospace, defence, infrastructure, energy and pharmaceuticals. The North West is the
The UK faces a critical decision point, again it seems after the Scottish Referendum, where passionately held beliefs and prejudices could override commercial and economic good sense. That said, I am of a view that commercial and economic good sense should not always be the tail wagging the dog. In the case of the EU, it feels like we are in a reasonably good place at the moment and there are always tweaks to be made to make a situation better. As an inside/outside member of the EU, we have ridden the recession better than our EU partners whilst continuing to maintain trade with our most important partners. We also manage to uphold a ‘special relationship’ with the US and avoid being lumped in with the rest of the EU. I always hold the view that it’s warmer in the tent than outside of it and I think good sense will prevail and we would vote to stay in the EU. John Tatham, fund manager, The Chrysalis Fund
largest manufacturing base in the UK, but this may not be the case should business be drawn away into mainland Europe, where goods can move freely, without import VAT or duties. The Northern Powerhouse project has finally recognised the North West is a genuine rival to London. The European Regional Development Fund alone contributed £92.4 million to the region to support SMEs, creating and safeguarding over 60,000 jobs. Our universities are centers of expertise and engines of growth, with connections to local communities and around the world, so their relationship with Europe also has an effect on UK productivity and global competitiveness. EU investment (€7 billion) is a crucial source of research income and, in turn, sustained growth and innovation within the region. Stephen Morris, managing partner, Cassell Moore
We’ve recently learned that Britain has reclaimed its position from Brazil as the world’s sixth largest economy; therefore within the global market place UK PLC is doing well. I would proffer that this is not simply down to government policy, but more to do with investment, innovation and growth initiatives led by the private sector seizing opportunities within the EU and, of course, worldwide. Over the next few years there may be a shift in our exports towards Africa, China and America, but for many SMEs the next ‘natural step’ is towards exporting to Europe. Indeed, the North West is home to a number of businesses who view this region as their gateway to Europe – we’re investing in road, rail, transport, and port infrastructure to place us at the strategic heart for the North (not just the North West). When asked whether businesses want to leave the EU, many SMEs will express their continuing
frustrations, citing red tape and adding that it’s still not a ‘level playing field’ – either in entering new markets, or simply expanding from one EU country to the next. In the run up to an EU referendum the North West business consensus seems to be some form of robust re-negotiation of the UK's position rather than complete departure. Lesley Martin-Wright, chief executive, Knowsley Chamber of Commerce
There's been a continuation of substantial foreign investment in the UK as a direct result of its EU membership. In the medium term there’s a real possibility that any uncertainty caused in the run-up to a referendum might result in foreign companies postponing or even diverting investment away from the UK. Longer term there’s an inherent danger that new capital investment and production will drift towards competitive EU states such as the Netherlands and Germany. The knock-on implications could be extensive, with less investment into the North West leading to lower technical progress and less innovation. At precisely the point when the Northern Powerhouse is gaining traction, with the appointment of Jim O'Neill to the Treasury amongst a number of major post-election initiatives, the last thing we need in the region is more barriers to investment from international capital. We could launch bi-lateral trade agreements with EU member states, just as Switzerland and Norway have done, but their economies don’t compare easily to the UK's so it’s difficult for us to predict the longer term implications. John Hughes, managing director, Ask Real Estate
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