Your city's Economic/Office News

[VoldemortBlack]

Pretty good for a "dying airport"

West Coast Could Follow United Airlines Washington Route

May 03, 2012

Direct flights to the west coast of America could be brought to Manchester if a new service to Washington DC proves successful. United Airlines yesterday celebrated its inaugural flight to the US capital, which complements its existing daily service to Newark.

Bob Schumacher, the airline's managing director for UK sales, said it would consider adding extra frequency to both services if they are a hit with passengers. He added United was talking to Manchester Airport bosses about the possibility of launching flights to one or both of its west coast destinations, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Securing a regular direct service to the west coast is one of the airport's key priorities, along with connecting with China.

Mr Schumacher said: “Whatever we do will depend on the performance of the economies on both sides of the Atlantic but clearly we have the opportunity to connect Manchester with our other hubs in the United States and the logical next step would be the west coast.”

United has flown from Manchester to Newark for 17 years. The daily services to Washington's Dulles airport will depart Manchester shortly after 3pm and will carry around 100,000 travellers a year.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven...120503%20(1201)

[Ecological]

Birmingham beats Paris and Berlin in investment ranking

Birmingham has been ranked as one of the best places for businesses to invest in Europe – above Paris and Berlin.

Corporate real estate and economic development magazine Site Selection, ranks nations and city regions according to their appeal to investors in its Best to Invest listing, and ranked Birmingham fourth in Western Europe.

The second city was the only English city in the top ten and come above Vienna, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Zurich and Brussels.

The Best to Invest list considers factors including infrastructure, accessibility, business risks, foreign direct investment levels and any new or expanded facilities announced in the area during 2011.


Wouter Schuitemaker, investment director at Business Birmingham, said: “This list is produced by industry experts who analyse and compare global cities’ business offer.

“That Birmingham has come fourth – above such stalwarts as Paris, Vienna, Zurich and Brussels – is incredibly positive.

“The ranking really demonstrates how the city’s work to boost its profile as a business location with international investors, and their influencers, is beginning to show through.

“Birmingham attracted more inward investment than any other UK regional city in 2011 – and with our partners, we are working to build on this and push the city to the top of companies’ European relocation lists.”

Site Selection is based in the US and is read by a specialist audience of more than 45,000 senior executives and locations experts across the world.

[VoldemortBlack]

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven...-to-devolution

City region is setting out on the road to devolution

Deborah Linton

May 08, 2012

There is a shift going on in the way our lives are run, or more specifically who has the power to run them. Greater Manchester has long argued to central government that this region, with its record of innovation, radical thinking and investment, should have more control over its destiny. And now, it seems, ministers are coming round to our way of thinking.

To most people, the word devolution conjures images of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where national assemblies were given a whole range of powers and freedoms to decide their fate.

Now something similar is happening in our own city region. In his Budget, Chancellor George Osborne confirmed a long-awaited City Deal with Greater Manchester’s Combined Authority (GMCA) – the ‘super council’ comprising the region’s ten town halls. It paves the way for the biggest-ever devolution of powers, and funding, from Westminster to the region, and so begins the cutting of ties from Westminster.

“I think we’ve set the pace,” says Sir Howard Bernstein, Manchester council’s chief executive who has been lobbying ministers to loosen the reins for years.

Greater Manchester’s annual public sector spend is £800m-900m, yet the level of influence exercised by local government is estimated at less than 15 per cent. The coalition made clear last year that it was in the business of striking bespoke agreements with key English cities that would change that.

“It was welcomed in Greater Manchester for two reasons,” says Sir Howard. “One, places like this are vital to regional and economic growth, and it was a clear expression of the fact that not every city and region was in the same place.”

At the core of the deal is an ‘earn back model’ which pledges £30m-a-year of government cash to Greater Manchester, until 2045, in return for the promise of jobs and economic growth.

The unique model allows the area to borrow money to fund big infrastructure schemes and pay it back through the taxes they generate. The cash is then ours to reinvest in future projects such as the Metrolink expansion to Trafford Park or SEMMMS relief road to Manchester Airport which would otherwise be facing funding shortfalls but become a ‘real prospect’ thanks to the new freedom. These transport links not only benefit residents but have the potential to draw in thousands more workers to the region.

Greater Manchester’s side of the bargain – already well under way – is the investment of its £1.2bn Transport Innovation Fund. “The idea is simple,” says Sir Howard. “If we are creating tax revenue for the government by growing our economy ourselves, we want a bigger share in the benefits.”

Franchising for the region’s railways could also be passed to the Combined Authority, under the deal, as well as funding decisions for our biggest local transport schemes and greater influence over maintenance work carried out by the Highways Agency, so roadworks are better coordinated. On top of this is the clearest sign yet that the government will commit to the remainder of Network Rail’s £560m Northern Hub over the next year, dramatically improving rail links and reducing journey times.

It is not just the town halls patting themselves on the back. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was full of praise for Manchester’s ‘excellence and innovation’ in breaking new ground.

“I am pleased that the government can cut Whitehall ties and devolve power to Manchester,” he exalted. So, what else is in the deal? There will be more freedom to improve the skills of residents, so they are more employable – one of the region’s biggest demands – including 6,000 extra places for apprentices.

Housing shortages will be tackled through the investment of public land and greater flexibility to recycle house-building receipts into future developments on a ‘build now, pay later’ basis.

There will be more focus from government on attracting foreign trade to the region with civil servants seconded to a project that will explore ways to garner money from economies like China, Brazil and India. The deal also places Greater Manchester at the forefront of policy-making and investment in Britain’s green economy and could set up the area as a test bed for lucrative new energy-saving initiatives.

“Over a period of some time we have argued strongly against a one-size-fits-all approach to the relationships between cities and government,” says Sir Howard. “For us, here was an opportunity to create a very distinctive role for Manchester and Greater Manchester about its economic significance in the UK. Our main requirement was how do we increase our capacity to influence growth in Greater Manchester and working with business leaders we all recognised we needed to extend the tool kit, the range of interventions that were available to us.”

A precursor to the deal has been Greater Manchester’s designation as a pilot for a major public services reform that allows local organisations, including councils, police and the NHS, to pool more limited funds in a ‘community budget’ and determine for themselves how and when money is best spent. In Greater Manchester, it is getting troubled families off benefits and into work.

Of course, the background to all this is the economic crash and the public spending cuts that followed. Deprived urban areas in the north have typically been hit hardest, but there is confidence here that we know best how to solve our own problems.

Sir Howard says: “We always thought there was going to have to be changes in the way in which public sector funding operated. Instead of looking at it as a grant as historically it has been, we’ve wanted to look at it as an investment proposition. (Over the next few years) there will be a requirement on everyone to deliver more for less.”

Town halls will be arguing for greater devolution in the next round of negotiations this autumn. But Manchester has changed the pace. It is no longer just looking to neighbours like Liverpool and Leeds but to the other world class cities it puts itself against.

Sir Howard is resolute about that: “Just because everyone in England is not capable of doing what we’re doing, don’t hold us back.”

[jrb]

Originally posted by Flange.

St Modwen to create 150,000 sq ft Think Money campus

8 May 2012, 10:46

Financial products group Think Money has agreed a 150,000 sq ft pre-let with St Modwen to move into a new purpose-built office campus on Mosley Road, Trafford Park.

Initially three buildings will be constructed on the 10-acre site for occupation totalling 125,000 sq ft.

Simon Kay, finance director from Think Money, said: "Think Money is currently split over a number of buildings in the Salford Quays area. This new development will enable us to bring all our staff together on one purpose built site. It will also give us room to accommodate our future growth plans."

Marshall has been appointed as the contractor to design and build the scheme on behalf of Think Money. Construction has started and the Think Money business expects to start to move in during late 2013.

Chris Mulcahy and Richard Pearse from Jones Lang LaSalle's Manchester office represented Think Money.

[Brum X]

University of Birmingham secures £75m loan to transform Edgbaston campus
by Kat Keogh, Birmingham Mail May 8 2012

THE University of Birmingham has taken out a £75 million loan as it bids to become one of the best universities in the world.

The institution announced it had secured the cash to give its Edgbaston campus a facelift.

The 23-year loan was granted by the European Investment Bank, which in recent years has provided the backing for major projects including the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the M6 Toll route.

University bosses said the cash would help bring the campus closer to the vision of its founder, former Birmingham mayor Joseph Chamberlain.


Plans include new centres for teaching and research, a new sports centre – complete with Olympic-sized swimming pool – and re-developing the main library.

Agreement papers for the investment programme were signed on campus last Friday by vice chancellor Prof David Eastwood and bank vice president Simon Brooks.

Prof Eastwood said: “The University of Birmingham is a leading global university which offers an inspirational student experience.

“Although we are very proud of the Edgbaston campus we want to undertake significant and exciting projects to develop our estate that will benefit students, staff and the area.

“The university was founded to be an asset for the city and this investment will help ensure we can continue to build one of the world’s finest universities on one of the UK’s most distinguished university campuses.”

Plans were submitted last month for the proposed sports centre, which will house Birmingham’s only 50-metre swimming pool and will be open to the public.

The £75 million will also be used to make the Edgbaston site more energy efficient.

Birmingham is the latest university to secure funding from the European Investment Bank, which has stumped up £1.9 billon to fund UK education projects in the past five years.

Mr Brooks said: “Campus development at the University of Birmingham will ensure that future students can continue to benefit from world class education and research facilities.”


Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/news/t...#ixzz1uIat1kN1

[Aaronj09]

Originally Posted by Ecological

Birmingham beats Paris and Berlin in investment ranking

Birmingham has been ranked as one of the best places for businesses to invest in Europe – above Paris and Berlin.

Corporate real estate and economic development magazine Site Selection, ranks nations and city regions according to their appeal to investors in its Best to Invest listing, and ranked Birmingham fourth in Western Europe.

The second city was the only English city in the top ten and come above Vienna, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Zurich and Brussels.

The Best to Invest list considers factors including infrastructure, accessibility, business risks, foreign direct investment levels and any new or expanded facilities announced in the area during 2011.


Wouter Schuitemaker, investment director at Business Birmingham, said: “This list is produced by industry experts who analyse and compare global cities’ business offer.

“That Birmingham has come fourth – above such stalwarts as Paris, Vienna, Zurich and Brussels – is incredibly positive.

“The ranking really demonstrates how the city’s work to boost its profile as a business location with international investors, and their influencers, is beginning to show through.

“Birmingham attracted more inward investment than any other UK regional city in 2011 – and with our partners, we are working to build on this and push the city to the top of companies’ European relocation lists.”

Site Selection is based in the US and is read by a specialist audience of more than 45,000 senior executives and locations experts across the world.

Very good

[Paul D]

First phase of £130m Stanley Dock redevelopment finished within a year

THE first phase of the £130m redevelopment of Liverpool’s Stanley Dock should be complete within a year.

A four-star hotel is set to be created in the derelict north warehouse.

It will involve renovating the five floors of the building at a cost of £25m.

The 150-bed apart-hotel is the first phase of a £130m project to breathe new life into the Stanley Dock complex, off Regent Road, Vauxhall.

The next phases of the project, being led by Irish developer Harcourt, include renovating the huge Grade II-listed tobacco warehouse and the southern building.

The scheme involves creating apartments, bars, shops and a hotel – similar to the scheme which led to the revival of Albert Dock more than 20 years ago.

Architect Tim Darmody said: “Work should start in the not-too- distant future. The four-star hotel will be very swanky.

“This is the first phase of the entire project and is very positive.”

The north warehouse, which was originally built in 1846, already has planning permission to be converted into a hotel.

The identity of its eventual operator has not yet been revealed.

Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz1uNVee5vr

[Brum X]

Originally Posted by Ecological

Birmingham beats Paris and Berlin in investment ranking

Birmingham has been ranked as one of the best places for businesses to invest in Europe – above Paris and Berlin.

Corporate real estate and economic development magazine Site Selection, ranks nations and city regions according to their appeal to investors in its Best to Invest listing, and ranked Birmingham fourth in Western Europe.

The second city was the only English city in the top ten and come above Vienna, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Zurich and Brussels.

The Best to Invest list considers factors including infrastructure, accessibility, business risks, foreign direct investment levels and any new or expanded facilities announced in the area during 2011.


Wouter Schuitemaker, investment director at Business Birmingham, said: “This list is produced by industry experts who analyse and compare global cities’ business offer.

“That Birmingham has come fourth – above such stalwarts as Paris, Vienna, Zurich and Brussels – is incredibly positive.

“The ranking really demonstrates how the city’s work to boost its profile as a business location with international investors, and their influencers, is beginning to show through.

“Birmingham attracted more inward investment than any other UK regional city in 2011 – and with our partners, we are working to build on this and push the city to the top of companies’ European relocation lists.”

Site Selection is based in the US and is read by a specialist audience of more than 45,000 senior executives and locations experts across the world.

http://www.siteselection.com/issues/2012/may/cover.cfm

[Brum X]

Western Europe
1. Dublin, Ireland
2. Frankfurt, Germany
3. Edinburgh, Scotland
4. Birmingham, England
T5. Belfast, Northern Ireland
T5. Paris, France
7. Vienna, Austria
8. Erfurt, Germany
9. Turin, Italy
10. Berlin, Germany
10. Barcelona, Spain

[Brum X]

This is the first images we have seen about the proposal for the Paradise Circus area of Birmingham City Centre which currently has our existing Central Library.

[VoldemortBlack]

That hallway looks so much like my school's Chemistry department!


Last day of school tomorrow

[Chogmook]

The u/c 1 St Peter's Square in Manc will get a twin!

[Paul D]

Liberal Democrats to bring party conference back to Liverpool’s ECHO Arena

LIVERPOOL will host a Liberal Democrat party conference for a third time.

The annual autumn get-together will be held at the ECHO Arena and BT convention centre.

The event is expected to attract more than 7,500 people.

It will be the second time the Lib Dems have chosen to hold their main party conference in the city when they return in September 2014.


Their September 2010 gathering was the first major party political event held at the waterfront venue.

Two years earlier the Lib Dems brought their smaller spring conference to Liverpool.

Lib Dem leader and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg was joined at the 2010 event by 6,000 delegates and 1,600 journalists from around the world.

More than 200 fringe meetings were hosted at the arena complex, with another 300 elsewhere in the city, generating £10m for the economy.

Arena chief executive Bob Prattey said the Lib Dems’ return was the result of the venue’s track record and years of building up a relationship with the party conference organiser.

He said: “It is further confirmation that Liverpool is stronger than ever as a conference destination.

“The party came to us in our inaugural year in 2008, then again in 2010, so organisers know we can deliver a first-class conference.

“Each time the economic impact on the city was terrific and we received positive feedback from delegates about the venue and city.

“We want to build on the success of our hosting of last year’s Labour party conference by attracting even more political events.”

Lucy Billingsley, head of the Lib Dems’ conference office, said: “We are confident that 2014 will be just as positive and look forward to returning to such a vibrant and dynamic city.”

In September last year, 11,000 Labour delegates descended on the arena complex, bringing £15m into the city.

Organisers say the venue is ideally located for high-security events because it is effectively surrounded by water on three sides, and can be “locked down” quickly.

City mayor Joe Anderson said: “Large-scale conferences are extremely positive because they give us an opportunity to show what Liverpool can offer as a conference and business destination.

“The fact the Lib Dems are returning for a third time is proof of their confidence in the arena and the city. It shows we are a national player when it comes to UK party politics.”

Max Steinberg, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, added: “We recently held the hugely-successful Global Entrepreneurship Congress at the arena and the unanimous response from visitors was that Liverpool is a city like no other.”

Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz1uTDqKOdw

[Paul D]

Matalan set to move from Skelmersdale to Knowsley

DISCOUNT retailer Matalan is planning to move its headquarters from Skelmersdale to Knowsley as it gears up for growth.

The company has submitted a planning application to move from its base in Gillibrands Road, Skelmersdale, to a new site in Knowsley Industrial Park, Kirkby.

The company says the move is “in line with growth plans over the next few years and our ongoing strategy”.

The company’s 1,200 staff in Skelmersdale have been informed and discussions are now underway on how the move could affect them.

Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz1uTG9dLnr

[Conor]

Originally Posted by Brum X

Western Europe
1. Dublin, Ireland
2. Frankfurt, Germany
3. Edinburgh, Scotland
4. Birmingham, England
T5. Belfast, Northern Ireland
T5. Paris, France
7. Vienna, Austria
8. Erfurt, Germany
9. Turin, Italy
10. Berlin, Germany
10. Barcelona, Spain

How the fuck is Belfast on that list??!!

[Paul D]

Jaguar Land Rover's £1bn supply boost creates 300 Wirral jobs

JAGUAR Land Rover (JLR) is spending an extra £1bn with suppliers to meet global demand for its Range Rover Evoque – which will need a new parts facility in Wirral creating 300 jobs.

The logistics centre will be based in Phoenix, in Ellesmere Port, next to Vauxhall’s car plant.

It had been used to supply the Vauxhall site by Syncreon Logistics but the 400,000 sq ft warehouse is currently empty.

JLR says its new Wirral facility will open this summer and will be managed by DHL, which already employs more than 600 staff at JLR’s Halewood car plant supplying the Evoque and New Freelander 2 production line.

DHL will handle the recruitment of the 300 jobs for the new parts warehouse.

Last year JLR said the Evoque would be worth £2bn to suppliers, including almost £1bn for Merseyside firms.

Its global success has seen orders soar and the extra £1bn of supplier contracts is needed to keep pace with demand as more than 60,000 have already been sold worldwide in less than a year since the first model rolled off Halewood’s lines last July.

JLR chief executive Dr Ralf Speth said: "Today’s announcement demonstrates JLR’s clear ambition for continued growth.

"The demand we have seen across the globe for the Range Rover Evoque means we are able to significantly increase what we spend with our suppliers, which is great news for the UK economy and the thousands of jobs JLR supports in its supply chain.

"Our commitment to the North West will also be enhanced with the new logistics facility and this will support the future success of both our Freelander 2 and Range Rover Evoque models."

DHL spokesman Paul Dyer added: "We are delighted to continue our support for JLR’s ever-growing expansion plans.

"As the UK’s North West region is fast becoming a major supply chain hub for the automotive industry, this new facility will greatly enhance the next stage of the company’s development and future success."

Last month the Liverpool Post revealed that JLR was searching the region for a site for its huge parts operation and that it was looking at Phoenix, as well as the former Knowsley headquarters of retailer Ethel Austin.

Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/...#ixzz1uZ6rCOuf

[Brum X]

West Mids private sector output "strong"

Last updated: 14th May 2012 at 08:11am

The West Midlands continues to post the fastest rise in private-sector activity in the UK, according to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI).

The Lloyds TSB West Midlands PMI report showed that the region's private sector economy continued to expand at a "substantial" rate in April.

The headline Lloyds TSB West Midlands Business Activity Index – which tracks the combined output of the region's manufacturing and service sectors – posted 56.3, down from 60 in March. The latest reading was the lowest in four months, but still signalled a marked rate of growth that was the sharpest of all UK regions.

Andy Youngman, area director for Lloyds TSB Commercial in Birmingham, said: "Business activity growth in the West Midlands private sector remained strong in April, although at a slightly lower rate than seen in the first quarter of the year.

"The sustained rise in workloads continued to support employment growth during the latest month, albeit at a slower pace. Weakness in the Eurozone economy is an obvious concern for the region's exporters, but overall the latest data continued to paint an encouraging picture for West Midlands businesses."

Job creation in the West Midlands private sector was maintained for a fifth successive month in April, although the latest rise was only slight and the weakest out of those five months.

[VoldemortBlack]

And now with two world famous football teams, it's up up up!

Manchester City Win Brings City £4m Bonanza

May 15, 2012

Manchester will benefit from a £4m boost after tens of thousands of fans and visitors swamped the city to watch Manchester City's clash with Queens Park Rangers and the Premier League trophy parade.

The much-needed economic uplift has come from fans spending in pubs and restaurants and on transport and hotels. Paul Simpson, managing director of Visit Manchester, said: “The victory parade is yet another opportunity for Manchester to showcase its passion for football and celebrate the city’s success in the 2011-12 Premier League season.

“The economic impact for the city centre is expected to be just over £4m, as thousands of football fans descend on the city centre and spend money in the shops, bars and restaurants.”

CityCo, Manchester's city centre management company, said Sunday night's dramatic finale to the season saw footfall to Manchester increase by 11.6 per cent compared to the same time last year and it was expecting a similar, if not higher, increase in visitor numbers last night.

Phil Burke, spokesman for the Manchester Pub and Club Network, said: "Sunday night's victory saw Manchester's food, pub and bar sector in particular at its busiest this year. “Monday night's parade was exactly what the city needed to give the trade a much-needed uplift on a weekday.

“May is going to be a strong month for the pub sector. We started the month off with the football derby, followed by the bank holiday weekend and now the parade."

Overall City's league win could net Manchester £1bn a year by elevating the club to the elite top tier of world football according to think tank New Economy. Experts say the Blues' success will provide a huge boost to the club's revenues while also promoting the city on the global map.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven...120515%20(1227)

[yoshef]

Originally Posted by VoldemortBlack

And now with two world famous football teams, it's up up up!

according to an organisation whose

purpose is to create economic growth and prosperity for Manchester

http://neweconomymanchester.com/stor...is_new_economy










Who'da thunk it?

[Aaronj09]

Yorkshire leads surprise trend as jobless total falls by 45,000



Yorkshire leads surprise trend as jobless total falls by 45,000

Published on Wednesday 16 May 2012 11:22

THE Government was given some welcome good news on the jobs front today when unemployment fell by 45,000 and the number of dole claimants dipped for the second month in a row.

Yorkshire saw the UK’s biggest drop at nine per cent or 24,000 - leaving the total out of work in the region at 241,000.