Welcome to the latest TFI. This week, Jaguar are revving up their sales drive (pun intended). We bring you news from some of our leading members, including ANS Group, and Psycuity are 'Business of the Week'. Frank McKenna reviews the last of the leaders debates, whilst Stephen Hadlow of JMW Solicitors reveals all in 'Who Are Yer?' Read on, enjoy, have a great Bank Holiday weekend and don't do anything Frank wouldn't do.

The Spinningfields business community is to get the full whack of Jaguars high profile marketing campaign throughout the month of May.

This is a drive to showcase their amazing new range of models. The Spinningfields elite will be invited to book a test drive and moves are afoot to push for the £1bn business district to be re-named Jaguarfields
Managing director of Jaguar UK Geoff Cousins, said: "By making Jaguarfields the hub for all of this activity, we will get our latest models – the XF, XK and brand new XJ – noticed”.

"Over the past two years the Jaguar brand has undergone a huge transformation.

We have had great sales success with our XF model and our new XJ, which arrives in showrooms during May, has been critically acclaimed.
"It's a genuinely exciting time for the business and we want to get our new cars out and about in an innovative way.

Hollywood director Derrick Borte has arrived in Manchester to shoot a short film to celebrate Jaguar's 75-year history.

The film, to be shown on the big screen daily in Spinningfields, will complement banners, flags and a fleet of branded taxis.

A youthful Mr Cousins, who says Jaguar has to get away from the 'old man's image' added:

"There is no doubt that the best way to change perceptions of a brand is to get people to experience it firsthand."

The best thing about this third televised debate between the three main party leaders is that there won't be a fourth...

Manchester’s ANS Group has won a contract with Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to install converged IT infrastructure at the site. The project is part of the hospital’s ‘Health Investment in Tameside’ scheme, which will comprise the largest-ever investment and site improvement of the trust. Tameside Hospital will be the first English NHS site to embrace the new Cisco Unified Computing System and Cisco Nexus technology. Staff will be able to achieve streamlined access to network data such as patient records in a secure, fast and reliable manner. Paul Sweeney, Managing Director of ANS Group, commented: “This is a fantastic opportunity for ANS Group to work with such a forward thinking Trust that is investing in all areas of its future development. It’s great to see that Tameside Hospital is leading the way in public sector by deploying a high density efficient infrastructure to enable environmentally friendly, cost effective technology.

Executive search consultancy, RMG, has continued its strong growth with the appointment of three senior consultants: Catherine Doolan, Iain Flinn and Phil True.

Doolan and Flinn will put to use 20 years’ combined experience in RMG’s thriving technology and consulting practice.  Both have particular strengths in the IT sector, with Doolan moving from Manchester-based Spring IT and Flinn having built his career at James Caan’s Alexander Mann.

True has worked for organisations including RK Group, Hudson and Austin Benn, developing specialist expertise in the supply chain and procurement markets.  At RMG, he will use his experience of selling retained solutions to establish a new offering to clients in the consumer sector.

Mark Wilding, head of technology and consulting at RMG, said: “The appointment of consultants of this calibre reflects the investment in talent we are making to drive our short and long-term goals.”

The MPA, Manchester’s organisation for the creative, digital, film and media sector, has this week launched the search for its first paid employee in its 90-year history; a Managing Director to spearhead its exiting new strategy.

The role will involve acting as the MPA’s ambassador with key organisations in the North West, including North West Vision and Media, the NWDA, Manchester City Council, the IoD and Pro Manchester, as well as key infrastructure projects such as the Sharp Project, Media City and The Hive.

Mike Perls, Chairman of the MPA, said: “We are looking for an extremely dynamic, high caliber individual with the mind of an entrepreneur, the ambassadorial skills of a diplomat and the motivation of an Olympian.
 
“It is an exciting time to be joining the organisation – there is an opportunity for both candidates to really make their mark on the region’s creative sector.”

For more information about either role, contact Kate Harris at kate@harristalent.com / 01282 449372.

Psycuity is a business psychology consultancy. Psycuity came into being from the frustration of trying to pick good people consistently while growing a business and the desire to get the best out of the team in different business situations.

Psycuity is a business psychology consultancy that helps you make informed people decisions. We provide an unbiased and objective basis to better understand people’s behaviour and motivations through the latest personality assessment and ability testing - all tailored to your specific business requirements.
 
Psycuity is run by business people, for business people, so we know you’ll need to see proof. That’s why we offer to test the one person you know really well before you make any further decisions – that person is you.

T: 01925 294 790
F: 01925 294 791
E: info@psycuity.com

Stan Neild, a costs draftsman at Cobbetts LLP in Manchester, celebrated 50 years at the firm this week.

Stan joined Cobbetts (then known as Cobbett Wheeler and Cobbett) in 1960, working with only four partners at 49 Spring Gardens. Since then, he has seen the business carry out numerous acquisitions, move from biros and typewriters to smartphones and PCs, and grow from a small and intimate firm to a global practice with more than 80 partners and 625 employees.

An oldie but a goody, The Onion is still going strong and remains one of the hippest places to hang out on the web. Known for satirical news and irreverent treatment of popular issues, The Onion might just be the funniest destination on the web.

DMIB hosted a Chairman’s Dinner last night at EastZEast and it was a very enjoyable evening for all who attended. EastZEast can certainly spice up your life! This family owned restaurant is rapidly turning into a North West chain, boasting three venues in Manchester and Preston...

Downtown Manchester, in association with Irwin Mitchell, will be hosting an 'election night' networking evening at the fabulous Living Room. A great opportunity to mix and mingle with some of the city's movers & shakers, and prepare yourself for a night in front of the tele, watching the old swingometer. Labour supporters, Tories, Lib Dems and Raving Loonies all welcome. NO BNP!

Date: Thursday 6th May
Time: 6.00pm - 9.00pm
Venue: The Living Room - Deansgate

The votes will have been counted, the dust settled, and a new administration will be in place. But what will the election result mean to our city? To discuss this and more, we are delighted to be joined by the editor of North West Insider magazine, Michael Taylor, the former political editor of BBC North West and EN columnist Jim Hancock and Rob McLoughlin, the host of Granada's popular political magazine programme 'Party People.'
 
To read more about our panelists please CLICK HERE

Date: Wednesday 12th May
Time: 8.30am - 10.0am
Venue: The Royal Exchange Theatre

Downtown Manchester in Business proudly brings you, our very first Members Reception. Good food, good wine and good company, make this an event you will NOT want to miss!

COST: £25.00 + VAT inc 3 course meal and half a bottle of wine

Date: Tuesday 25th May
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Venue: The Grill On The Alley

Name: Stephen Hadlow 

Company: JMW Solicitors LLP

Position: Head of Corporate

Red or Blue: Red (Liverpool)

Brown or Cameron: pass

Favourite Bar/Restaurant: Tom’s Chop House

What’s your Tipple: Black Sheep

Favourite Band: The Verve

Top Tune: With or Without You

Favourite Book: Midnight’s Children

Favourite Movie: The Madness of King George

Who would play you in a film: Anthony Edwards (ER’s Dr Green and “Goose” in Top Gun) because he looks a bit like me.

Favourite TV Programme: Newswipe on BBC4 - unmissable!

Most visited website: bbc.co.uk/news

Celebrity Crush: Myleene Klass

Interesting Fact about you: Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro (whilst on honeymoon)