Manchester's Economy (updates) - Page 12

jrb · October 6th, 2007, 10:41 PM

ENVIRON opens Manchester city centre office
September 13, 2007

Steve Reed, Principal and Manager of ENVIRON’s Northern Group, is pleased to announce the establishment of the firm’s 12th UK office in central Manchester, to be headed up by Dr Emma Goodchild.

Steve Reed says: “The new Manchester office will build on the strong relationships we have with clients in the North and add further breadth and flexibility to the services already offered from our existing Leeds and Liverpool offices. We will continue to serve our national and international clients, but being on-hand in Manchester allows us to be directly accessible to the dynamic and influential market there.”

Emma Goodchild comes to ENVIRON from the ARCADIS consulting group and brings with her a wealth of local, national and international experience in Environmental Due Diligence, EHS Auditing and Management Systems, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Risk Management and Sustainability Appraisals.

Emma says: “I am delighted to be joining ENVIRON and am keen to establish Manchester as a centre of excellence. We will offer the full spectrum of environmental, health, safety and sustainability services, with a particular focus on partnering with clients, providing technically robust solutions and helping them strengthen their business.”

Emma will be joined in Manchester by existing senior ENVIRON practitioners in the fields of energy and carbon management, due diligence, and health and safety to ensure that ENVIRON is able to deliver these services in Manchester from the outset.

jrb · October 8th, 2007, 08:14 PM

Students' £1bn boost
Louise Kelly
8/10/2007

UNIVERSITY students are bringing £1bn a year to the Manchester economy, according to a new study.

More than 70,000 students have just started the academic year at the four main universities in Greater Manchester.

And a study has shown that students at the two Manchester universities alone provide more than £1bn to support businesses and jobs across the region.

Consultants AD Little were commissioned by the University of Manchester to assess the students' economic impact. The report looked at money spent by students on accommodation, shops, bars, cinemas and other services.

A spokesman for AD Little said it was essential that the city continues to attract outstanding students, teachers, researchers and creative people to enrich the region's workforce and cultural life.

Students at the University of Manchester have the biggest impact, spending £836m a year and supporting more than 15,000 jobs.

Manchester Metropolitan University students spend £185m per year.

The study did not provide figures for Bolton and Salford students but it is estimated that every student spends an average of almost £15,000 during their time studying.

Jon Keighren, of the University of Manchester, said: "We're producing high-quality graduates every year and around 50 per cent stay in Manchester after they graduate which is good for businesses. The amount of money and jobs the university brings is huge and many businesses would be lost without them."

Invaluable contribution

Angie Robinson, of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: "Students make an invaluable contribution to our local economy. They bring increased retail trade, accommodation rentals and they play a part in the jobs market - through part-time working while at university and often taking up careers in Greater Manchester on graduation. Manchester has always been home to a large student community due to the outstanding quality of our universities and colleges and their input is valued very highly."

Around 10,000 overseas students come to Greater Manchester from 180 countries, including China, Malaysia and Nigeria.

Gareth Hollyman, of Manchester Metropolitan University, said: "International students help make Manchester more cosmopolitan and we're creating lasting links with other cultures and economies."

Tom Skinner, of Manchester University's Students Union, said: "It's great for the city that our students spend so much.

"There's many aspects of the city that they play a big role in. Not only do they have an impact on businesses and the economy, many also take part in volunteering and other activities, helping the city no end."

andysimo123 · October 8th, 2007, 08:23 PM

It should say "Its great that our students get in so much Debt!"

jrb · October 10th, 2007, 12:47 AM

London best business city in Europe
08:56 | 09.10.07

London and Paris have emerged as the best cities in Europe to locate a business while Moscow was rated the best city for future expansion in the latest European Cities Monitor report.

By Deirdre Hipwell

Advertisement
The report published this morning by Cushman & Wakefield said the UK capital was the top-rated city increasing its lead over Paris while Germany’s Frankfurt came in third place.

The top three were followed by the closely grouped cities of Barcelona, Amsterdam and Brussels, with Amsterdam just overtaking Brussels this year.

Moscow was singled out as providing the greatest business opportunities out of Europe’s ‘emerging’ eastern cities, followed by Bucharest in Romania and Istanbul in Turkey.

Barcelona, Madrid and Prague are seen as the cities doing the most to improve themselves as business locations, followed by Warsaw, which has overtaken Berlin and Budapest.

The three biggest risers in the report, which is based on interviews with senior managers and board directors in charge of the location of 500 top European companies, were all regional cities – Geneva, Lyon and Manchester.

The categories used to rank the cities included: easy access to markets; telecommunications; external transport links; quality of life; the availability of qualified staff; the costs of staff; climate governments create; value for money of office space; availability of office space; languages spoken; internal transport and freedom from pollution.

jrb · October 10th, 2007, 12:54 AM

Can't find the above report.

Think it's a £ job ATM.

2007 UK Cities Monitor Report.

http://www.cushwake.com/cwglobal/doc...mDesc=document

crazymanc1 · October 10th, 2007, 01:18 AM

WOW

manchester (in terms of regionals) tops nearly all of them lists, its miles ahead in most cases, and it only shows signs of getting stronger!

Comdot · October 12th, 2007, 06:53 PM

EDIT: wrong thread!

flange · October 20th, 2007, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markydeedrop

Touchbase Meetings are now open underneath the Premier Inn GMEX

http://www.letstouchbase.co.uk/finding-us.html#

eccles cake · October 20th, 2007, 07:31 PM

Just been reading "Manchester- a history" by Alan Kidd and thought that I'd share a couple of facts about Manchesters economic strength in the past .
page 106
In 1902 Manchester clearings amounted to eight times those of Bristol, four times those of Birmingham and were 48% larger than Liverpool.
and
page 193
Again relating to Bankers clearings
In 1936 Manchesters clearings were 38% of the total provincial clearings and greater than that of the next three largest centres combined.

Now thats real economic power . Manchester totally dominated the regions and had real clout .

Sir Miles Platting · October 20th, 2007, 09:52 PM

well...that's going to explode a few myths...

markydeedrop · October 21st, 2007, 11:12 PM

Serviced office provider Stonemartin has signed four new office tenants at its Manchester centre.

Environmental and engineering consultancy ENTEC, energy infrastructure fund Viridis, recruitment firm Charles Fellowes and property consultant GKA have taken a total of 1,393 sq ft in the 100,000 sq ft Peter House.

jrb · October 25th, 2007, 02:03 AM

UMBRO will retain its north west roots and head office, despite the £285m takeover by Nike, the US sportswear giant.

The company, which was founded in Wilmslow in 1924 and now has its headquarters nearby in Cheadle, will be run as an separate entity under its existing management team, chief executive Steve Makin revealed.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...._true_to_roots

jrb · October 25th, 2007, 02:21 AM

Cities unite to encourage enterprise
Published Tuesday 9th October 07 in Business news

Manchester and Salford have launched a joint board to promote enterprise in the two cities.

Microsoft, the BBC and Co-operative Financial Services are among the companies represented on the business-led board, which also features the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, key economic agencies, representatives of the voluntary and community sector and senior officers from Manchester and Salford city councils.

The independent private sector-led board, which met for the first time on 8 October, has been set up to make a real difference in the way the public and private sector work together to increase enterprise performance and drive economic success.

While Manchester and Salford are the powerhouses of the North West economy, both underperform in enterprise. Figures from last year show that there are 383 businesses per 10,000 of population across the two cities compared with a national average of 500. Only 8.7 per cent of the population are self-employed compared with a national average of 12.4 per cent. Some 78.4 per cent of new businesses survive after the first 12 months compared with 92 per cent nationally.

The key areas the Board aims to impact on are encouraging enterprising behaviour, raising aspirations and discovering new entrepreneurs, helping people start up new businesses and supporting existing businesses to grow. Key to the Board's success will be its ability to influence and add value to existing enterprise provision.

Mike Palmer, Chair of the Board and a Practice Manager at Microsoft, said: "Microsoft's global vision is all about transforming education, fostering local innovation, and enabling jobs and opportunities; technology today is a key factor for economic, social, and technological progress, and for the sustainability of economies all over the world. For me as someone who works for Microsoft but just as importantly, lives in the North West, it's a very exciting prospect to bring some of this vision and capacity to life through this Board and make a very real difference to local communities and lives.

Councillor Sue Murphy, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Employment and Skills, said: "The board is full of committed people with the energy, passion and expertise to drive this initiative forwards. Manchester and Salford have a strong record of co-operation and I'm confident the board will play an important role in realising the entrepreneurial potential of both cities."

Salford City Council leader Cllr John Merry added: "Our two cities share the fastest growing economy outside London and we have a tradition of business and enterprise we can trace back to the start of the industrial revolution. There has never been a better time for Salford and Manchester to build on their current economic success and ensure the best of our enterprising culture is encouraged for years to come. The Manchester and Salford Enterprise Board will connect people and cities to drive economic success."

The initiative will initially run for two years until October 2009.

Metrolink · October 25th, 2007, 09:55 AM

At the end of Sept I spent a week in Madrid and a week in Barcelona.

During my time over there, whilst looking at how each city was developing it made me think about other cities I've visited in Europe over the last year or so.

It made me realise Manchester is, on the whole, competing with the likes of Lille, Lyon, Munich just as much for new business (if not much more so) than those cities much closer to home that we normally consider to be our competitors.

Just have a look at the companies that have offices in these cities if you don't believe me.

Comdot · October 25th, 2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eccles cake

Just been reading "Manchester- a history" by Alan Kidd and thought that I'd share a couple of facts about Manchesters economic strength in the past .
page 106
In 1902 Manchester clearings amounted to eight times those of Bristol, four times those of Birmingham and were 48% larger than Liverpool.
and
page 193
Again relating to Bankers clearings
In 1936 Manchesters clearings were 38% of the total provincial clearings and greater than that of the next three largest centres combined.

Now thats real economic power . Manchester totally dominated the regions and had real clout .

is that the same as saying that 38% of money sent through the banking system in the uk but not in london was done in manchester in 1936? i would have thought nearly all the money would be deposited in banks based in london. i mean, if i bank with hsbc, strictly speaking that's going to london or is it my local branch?

Irwell · October 25th, 2007, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comdot

is that the same as saying that 38% of money sent through the banking system in the uk but not in london was done in manchester in 1936? i would have thought nearly all the money would be deposited in banks based in london. i mean, if i bank with hsbc, strictly speaking that's going to london or is it my local branch?

Clearing banks act as intermediary between the source bank and the destination bank. If you bank with HSBC it doesn't necessarily go via London. For example back then Halifax most probably used CFS as their clearing bank. Manchester now has the only clearing office outside London, so for 2007 the figure would be 100%, assuming they measure based on where the clearing office is and not where the HQ is.

SteKnight · October 25th, 2007, 10:25 PM

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere. BBC News website today:

Big fall in some apartment prices

Significant price falls in a number of new build apartments in Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds have been uncovered by a BBC series on property.

In one apartment block called Aspect 14, on the edge of Leeds city centre, one owner has lost as much as £85,000 on a flat in 18 months.

Others have seen the value of their apartments fall from £189,000 to £131,000 in two-and-a-half years.

The majority of the last 10 sales in the block have seen significant losses.

'Fine investment'

At City Island, another Leeds development, flats have sold for up to £50,000 less than they were bought for.

One property investment company that promoted the City Island development in the past is called Inside Track.

"City Island was a fantastic scheme," the firm's chief operating officer Anthony McKay told the BBC TV show The Truth About Property.

"City Island itself has won a number of major awards.

"It rents well - the rental coverage is high with respect of the mortgage payment, so in the medium to long term it'll be an absolutely fine investment.

"Do I believe that some people have sold some of their investments?

"Yes, they have and I know that they have sold them at below some of the prices that we market them at."

Yet other apartments in the block have gained value and been resold at a profit.

In Birmingham, apartment blocks that have seen price falls include The Royal Arch Apartments on Wharfside Street and Centenary Plaza on Holliday Street.

There, one owner lost more than £50,000.

Other flats in the blocks have gained value, suggesting it depends very much on which flat you buy in a given block.

In Manchester, Blantyre Street apartments have seen a reduction in some sale prices, by as much as £40,000, as has Deansgate Quay.

SteKnight · October 25th, 2007, 11:57 PM

I was wondering of anyone who has a city centre apartment who's trying to sell up found these reported declining property prices a problem. I was interested in investing in a city centre apartment, but I'm a little put off by these reports.

Sorry, just realised this is covered in another thread in the exchange square.

Comdot · October 29th, 2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteKnight

I was wondering of anyone who has a city centre apartment who's trying to sell up found these reported declining property prices a problem. I was interested in investing in a city centre apartment, but I'm a little put off by these reports.

Sorry, just realised this is covered in another thread in the exchange square.

i don't know anything about aspect 14 but judging by how it looks, i'd say it's a 'landmark development' for leeds. hearing about people paying £350k for a flat in beetham that's now worth £250k makes me think that these landmark properties just suffer from an initial over-valuation. this may be because they are so big and different that nobody knows how much they're worth until peoples' letting plans have matured and tennants have moved in and out, and flats have been sold on after the first buyers, then owners know how much people are prepared to buy and rent them for. they get a benchmark. presumably the pick-up in property prices in london is enough to cushion this impact as prices have risen by maybe 25% by the time they sell and they break even if they paid too much in the first place. perhaps, these landmark buildings in provincial cities generate international interest so buyers have the same mentality as if they were buying a flat in say, chelsea or canary wharf.

jrb · October 29th, 2007, 10:09 PM

Manchester Property developers and agents must be blurting in their tims.

You know that 20 acre site is ripe for redevelopment aswell.

Co-Op Group searches for new Manchester HQ
17:11 | 29.10.07

The Co-operative Group has begun a search for a 200,000 sq ft Manchester headquarters for its 3,000 staff following a six-month property review.

By Deirdre Hipwell

The group said today it was considering a number of options for its staff which are currently housed in six buildings on a 20 acre site which it owns on Corporation Street. The decision has been driven by rising maintenance costs at the site which are expected to amount to more than £100m during the next 10 years.

Co-op options

Its options include building a new headquarters to anchor a mixed-use regeneration of the site or a total relocation within the city centre or Greater Manchester. The move is not expected to take place for at least two years. (only two years)

It said it would work with Manchester City Council to draw up a masterplan for its existing site near Manchester’s Victoria Station which it has occupied for more than 100 years.

Lynda Shillaw, director of property for the group, said: ‘The momentous decision to move has been made and now we must look at whether a relocation elsewhere or a new build on the site is appropriate. Either way a masterplan for the entire site including a mix of uses will create significant value for the group and the city.’

Cost savings driven

She said any move, which would create a yearly £10m saving, would also consider the future occupation requirements of the group’s financial services businesses – Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) – which is headquartered in Balloon Street and Miller Street. However, CFS has also pledged to retain its headquarters in Greater Manchester.

In January the Co-Operative Group plans to sell its 27 remaining department stores through subsidiary CWS as a £100m portfolio.

October 21st, 2007, 11:12 PM	#231
markydeedrop John 3:16 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,934 Likes (Received): 6	Stonemartin Serviced office provider Stonemartin has signed four new office tenants at its Manchester centre. Environmental and engineering consultancy ENTEC, energy infrastructure fund Viridis, recruitment firm Charles Fellowes and property consultant GKA have taken a total of 1,393 sq ft in the 100,000 sq ft Peter House.

October 25th, 2007, 11:57 PM	#238
SteKnight As if by magic.. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Manchester Posts: 473 Likes (Received): 3	I was wondering of anyone who has a city centre apartment who's trying to sell up found these reported declining property prices a problem. I was interested in investing in a city centre apartment, but I'm a little put off by these reports. Sorry, just realised this is covered in another thread in the exchange square. Last edited by SteKnight; October 25th, 2007 at 11:59 PM. Reason: covered in another thread

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October 6th, 2007, 10:41 PM	#221
jrb 10th February 2008 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 26,326 Likes (Received): 251	ENVIRON opens Manchester city centre office September 13, 2007 Steve Reed, Principal and Manager of ENVIRON’s Northern Group, is pleased to announce the establishment of the firm’s 12th UK office in central Manchester, to be headed up by Dr Emma Goodchild. Steve Reed says: “The new Manchester office will build on the strong relationships we have with clients in the North and add further breadth and flexibility to the services already offered from our existing Leeds and Liverpool offices. We will continue to serve our national and international clients, but being on-hand in Manchester allows us to be directly accessible to the dynamic and influential market there.” Emma Goodchild comes to ENVIRON from the ARCADIS consulting group and brings with her a wealth of local, national and international experience in Environmental Due Diligence, EHS Auditing and Management Systems, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Risk Management and Sustainability Appraisals. Emma says: “I am delighted to be joining ENVIRON and am keen to establish Manchester as a centre of excellence. We will offer the full spectrum of environmental, health, safety and sustainability services, with a particular focus on partnering with clients, providing technically robust solutions and helping them strengthen their business.” Emma will be joined in Manchester by existing senior ENVIRON practitioners in the fields of energy and carbon management, due diligence, and health and safety to ensure that ENVIRON is able to deliver these services in Manchester from the outset.

October 8th, 2007, 08:14 PM	#222
jrb 10th February 2008 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 26,326 Likes (Received): 251	Students' £1bn boost Louise Kelly 8/10/2007 UNIVERSITY students are bringing £1bn a year to the Manchester economy, according to a new study. More than 70,000 students have just started the academic year at the four main universities in Greater Manchester. And a study has shown that students at the two Manchester universities alone provide more than £1bn to support businesses and jobs across the region. Consultants AD Little were commissioned by the University of Manchester to assess the students' economic impact. The report looked at money spent by students on accommodation, shops, bars, cinemas and other services. A spokesman for AD Little said it was essential that the city continues to attract outstanding students, teachers, researchers and creative people to enrich the region's workforce and cultural life. Students at the University of Manchester have the biggest impact, spending £836m a year and supporting more than 15,000 jobs. Manchester Metropolitan University students spend £185m per year. The study did not provide figures for Bolton and Salford students but it is estimated that every student spends an average of almost £15,000 during their time studying. Jon Keighren, of the University of Manchester, said: "We're producing high-quality graduates every year and around 50 per cent stay in Manchester after they graduate which is good for businesses. The amount of money and jobs the university brings is huge and many businesses would be lost without them." Invaluable contribution Angie Robinson, of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: "Students make an invaluable contribution to our local economy. They bring increased retail trade, accommodation rentals and they play a part in the jobs market - through part-time working while at university and often taking up careers in Greater Manchester on graduation. Manchester has always been home to a large student community due to the outstanding quality of our universities and colleges and their input is valued very highly." Around 10,000 overseas students come to Greater Manchester from 180 countries, including China, Malaysia and Nigeria. Gareth Hollyman, of Manchester Metropolitan University, said: "International students help make Manchester more cosmopolitan and we're creating lasting links with other cultures and economies." Tom Skinner, of Manchester University's Students Union, said: "It's great for the city that our students spend so much. "There's many aspects of the city that they play a big role in. Not only do they have an impact on businesses and the economy, many also take part in volunteering and other activities, helping the city no end."

October 8th, 2007, 08:23 PM	#223
andysimo123 wind-up merchant Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,877 Likes (Received): 8	It should say "Its great that our students get in so much Debt!"

October 10th, 2007, 12:47 AM	#224
jrb 10th February 2008 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 26,326 Likes (Received): 251	London best business city in Europe 08:56 \| 09.10.07 London and Paris have emerged as the best cities in Europe to locate a business while Moscow was rated the best city for future expansion in the latest European Cities Monitor report. By Deirdre Hipwell Advertisement The report published this morning by Cushman & Wakefield said the UK capital was the top-rated city increasing its lead over Paris while Germany’s Frankfurt came in third place. The top three were followed by the closely grouped cities of Barcelona, Amsterdam and Brussels, with Amsterdam just overtaking Brussels this year. Moscow was singled out as providing the greatest business opportunities out of Europe’s ‘emerging’ eastern cities, followed by Bucharest in Romania and Istanbul in Turkey. Barcelona, Madrid and Prague are seen as the cities doing the most to improve themselves as business locations, followed by Warsaw, which has overtaken Berlin and Budapest. The three biggest risers in the report, which is based on interviews with senior managers and board directors in charge of the location of 500 top European companies, were all regional cities – Geneva, Lyon and Manchester. The categories used to rank the cities included: easy access to markets; telecommunications; external transport links; quality of life; the availability of qualified staff; the costs of staff; climate governments create; value for money of office space; availability of office space; languages spoken; internal transport and freedom from pollution.

October 10th, 2007, 12:54 AM	#225
jrb 10th February 2008 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 26,326 Likes (Received): 251	Can't find the above report. Think it's a £ job ATM. 2007 UK Cities Monitor Report. http://www.cushwake.com/cwglobal/doc...mDesc=document

October 10th, 2007, 01:18 AM	#226
crazymanc1 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Manchester Posts: 306 Likes (Received): 0	WOW manchester (in terms of regionals) tops nearly all of them lists, its miles ahead in most cases, and it only shows signs of getting stronger!

October 12th, 2007, 06:53 PM	#227
Comdot Taikun Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Manchester Posts: 10,199 Likes (Received): 0	EDIT: wrong thread!

October 20th, 2007, 07:31 PM	#229
eccles cake Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: manchester Posts: 203 Likes (Received): 1	Just been reading "Manchester- a history" by Alan Kidd and thought that I'd share a couple of facts about Manchesters economic strength in the past . page 106 In 1902 Manchester clearings amounted to eight times those of Bristol, four times those of Birmingham and were 48% larger than Liverpool. and page 193 Again relating to Bankers clearings In 1936 Manchesters clearings were 38% of the total provincial clearings and greater than that of the next three largest centres combined. Now thats real economic power . Manchester totally dominated the regions and had real clout .

October 20th, 2007, 09:52 PM	#230
Sir Miles Platting Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,909 Likes (Received): 4	well...that's going to explode a few myths...

October 25th, 2007, 02:03 AM	#232
jrb 10th February 2008 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 26,326 Likes (Received): 251	UMBRO will retain its north west roots and head office, despite the £285m takeover by Nike, the US sportswear giant. The company, which was founded in Wilmslow in 1924 and now has its headquarters nearby in Cheadle, will be run as an separate entity under its existing management team, chief executive Steve Makin revealed. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...._true_to_roots

October 25th, 2007, 02:21 AM	#233
jrb 10th February 2008 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 26,326 Likes (Received): 251	Cities unite to encourage enterprise Published Tuesday 9th October 07 in Business news Manchester and Salford have launched a joint board to promote enterprise in the two cities. Microsoft, the BBC and Co-operative Financial Services are among the companies represented on the business-led board, which also features the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, key economic agencies, representatives of the voluntary and community sector and senior officers from Manchester and Salford city councils. The independent private sector-led board, which met for the first time on 8 October, has been set up to make a real difference in the way the public and private sector work together to increase enterprise performance and drive economic success. While Manchester and Salford are the powerhouses of the North West economy, both underperform in enterprise. Figures from last year show that there are 383 businesses per 10,000 of population across the two cities compared with a national average of 500. Only 8.7 per cent of the population are self-employed compared with a national average of 12.4 per cent. Some 78.4 per cent of new businesses survive after the first 12 months compared with 92 per cent nationally. The key areas the Board aims to impact on are encouraging enterprising behaviour, raising aspirations and discovering new entrepreneurs, helping people start up new businesses and supporting existing businesses to grow. Key to the Board's success will be its ability to influence and add value to existing enterprise provision. Mike Palmer, Chair of the Board and a Practice Manager at Microsoft, said: "Microsoft's global vision is all about transforming education, fostering local innovation, and enabling jobs and opportunities; technology today is a key factor for economic, social, and technological progress, and for the sustainability of economies all over the world. For me as someone who works for Microsoft but just as importantly, lives in the North West, it's a very exciting prospect to bring some of this vision and capacity to life through this Board and make a very real difference to local communities and lives. Councillor Sue Murphy, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Employment and Skills, said: "The board is full of committed people with the energy, passion and expertise to drive this initiative forwards. Manchester and Salford have a strong record of co-operation and I'm confident the board will play an important role in realising the entrepreneurial potential of both cities." Salford City Council leader Cllr John Merry added: "Our two cities share the fastest growing economy outside London and we have a tradition of business and enterprise we can trace back to the start of the industrial revolution. There has never been a better time for Salford and Manchester to build on their current economic success and ensure the best of our enterprising culture is encouraged for years to come. The Manchester and Salford Enterprise Board will connect people and cities to drive economic success." The initiative will initially run for two years until October 2009.

October 25th, 2007, 09:55 AM	#234
Metrolink Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,738 Likes (Received): 0	At the end of Sept I spent a week in Madrid and a week in Barcelona. During my time over there, whilst looking at how each city was developing it made me think about other cities I've visited in Europe over the last year or so. It made me realise Manchester is, on the whole, competing with the likes of Lille, Lyon, Munich just as much for new business (if not much more so) than those cities much closer to home that we normally consider to be our competitors. Just have a look at the companies that have offices in these cities if you don't believe me.

October 25th, 2007, 10:25 PM	#237
SteKnight As if by magic.. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Manchester Posts: 473 Likes (Received): 3	Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere. BBC News website today: Big fall in some apartment prices Significant price falls in a number of new build apartments in Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds have been uncovered by a BBC series on property. In one apartment block called Aspect 14, on the edge of Leeds city centre, one owner has lost as much as £85,000 on a flat in 18 months. Others have seen the value of their apartments fall from £189,000 to £131,000 in two-and-a-half years. The majority of the last 10 sales in the block have seen significant losses. 'Fine investment' At City Island, another Leeds development, flats have sold for up to £50,000 less than they were bought for. One property investment company that promoted the City Island development in the past is called Inside Track. "City Island was a fantastic scheme," the firm's chief operating officer Anthony McKay told the BBC TV show The Truth About Property. "City Island itself has won a number of major awards. "It rents well - the rental coverage is high with respect of the mortgage payment, so in the medium to long term it'll be an absolutely fine investment. "Do I believe that some people have sold some of their investments? "Yes, they have and I know that they have sold them at below some of the prices that we market them at." Yet other apartments in the block have gained value and been resold at a profit. In Birmingham, apartment blocks that have seen price falls include The Royal Arch Apartments on Wharfside Street and Centenary Plaza on Holliday Street. There, one owner lost more than £50,000. Other flats in the blocks have gained value, suggesting it depends very much on which flat you buy in a given block. In Manchester, Blantyre Street apartments have seen a reduction in some sale prices, by as much as £40,000, as has Deansgate Quay.

October 29th, 2007, 10:09 PM	#240
jrb 10th February 2008 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester Posts: 26,326 Likes (Received): 251	Manchester Property developers and agents must be blurting in their tims. You know that 20 acre site is ripe for redevelopment aswell. Co-Op Group searches for new Manchester HQ 17:11 \| 29.10.07 The Co-operative Group has begun a search for a 200,000 sq ft Manchester headquarters for its 3,000 staff following a six-month property review. By Deirdre Hipwell The group said today it was considering a number of options for its staff which are currently housed in six buildings on a 20 acre site which it owns on Corporation Street. The decision has been driven by rising maintenance costs at the site which are expected to amount to more than £100m during the next 10 years. Co-op options Its options include building a new headquarters to anchor a mixed-use regeneration of the site or a total relocation within the city centre or Greater Manchester. The move is not expected to take place for at least two years. (only two years) It said it would work with Manchester City Council to draw up a masterplan for its existing site near Manchester’s Victoria Station which it has occupied for more than 100 years. Lynda Shillaw, director of property for the group, said: ‘The momentous decision to move has been made and now we must look at whether a relocation elsewhere or a new build on the site is appropriate. Either way a masterplan for the entire site including a mix of uses will create significant value for the group and the city.’ Cost savings driven She said any move, which would create a yearly £10m saving, would also consider the future occupation requirements of the group’s financial services businesses – Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) – which is headquartered in Balloon Street and Miller Street. However, CFS has also pledged to retain its headquarters in Greater Manchester. In January the Co-Operative Group plans to sell its 27 remaining department stores through subsidiary CWS as a £100m portfolio.