Well, the people have spoken - and they can't make their mind up! Inevitably this week's TFI reflects on the General Election. We also focus on Jaguar's exciting Manchester campaign; Baines & Ernst are 'Business of the Week; and Angie Robinson is 'Woman of the Week'. Read on, enjoy, have a great weekend and don't do anything Frank wouldn't do...

Despite a month long campaign, three live leaders debates on television and as much media hype as a Simon Cowell production, the 2010 General Election has failed to come up with a definite winner. The smart money is on Cameron doing a deal with the Ulster Unionists to become Prime Minister, but Gordon won't be in any hurry to hire the removal van just yet.

After a month long campaign it will be a disappointment, indeed an anti climax to many, who awoke this morning to the news that we have no clear winner of the 2010 General Election...

Manchester Jaguar are offering the first 10 respondents tickets to attend their exclusive VIP Networking Reception at Rosso Restaurant, 43 Spring Gardens, Manchester, as part of “Manchester Celebrates Jaguar”, a month long Jaguar campaign taking place across the city.

To join The Manchester Celebrates Jaguar Team and Geoff Cousins, Managing Director of Jaguar UK for drinks and canapés from 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm on Monday, 10th May.

Simply RSVP to manchestercelebratesjaguar@journey9.com or call 0161 831 0260 and quote DOWNTOWN.

After seventeen acquisitions and nine years of good-old hard graft, CBG Group decided it was time to rebrand themselves into the business they HAVE become. When they got back from the Christmas break, they were energised, 10 Ib’s heavier and just about sober enough to start developing their new beginning...

Two of the North West’s leading internet entrepreneurs have launched an innovative e-commerce business, aimed at opening up the gold bullion market to a wide range of investors by demystifying the process of investing in the metal.

Bite Digital’s Jason Cozens and Declan Cosgrove have launched Gold Made Simple from offices in Manchester and London. Supported by its website, goldmadesimple.com, Gold Made Simple takes a fresh approach to gold investment and allows investors to purchase a range of gold bullion bars, from 2.5 grams to 12.5 kilograms, at prices relative to the real-time spot price.

Manchester has been confirmed as one of the leading places to do business in Britain according to the 2010 UK Competitiveness Index. The new study, released this week, rates Manchester in the top three most competitive large cites in the UK alongside Edinburgh and Bristol.

Produced by the Centre for International Competitiveness at the University of Wales Institute and first introduced in 2000, the index is designed as an integrated measure of competitiveness focusing on both the development and sustainability of businesses and the economic welfare of individuals.

The research also puts our fair city top of the ‘happiness index’ which ranks UK cities by factors such as confidence, stress and the extent to which people enjoy life.

Whether your company is in financial trouble or just needs some expert business advice, Baines & Ernst Corporate can help. The team at Baines & Ernst Corporate have the expertise and experience to provide solutions that will help ensure you secure the best options available in a timely, efficient and effective manner.

Web: www.bainesandernstcorporate.co.uk

Angie Robinson was this week named as the new boss of Manchester inward investment agency, MIDAS.

She will replace Colin Sinclair as CEO of MIDAS, who is leaving after nearly five years to become Special Projects Director at commercial property giant, Bruntwood.

Tim Newns, currently Director of Business Development at MIDAS, will become Deputy Chief Executive at the agency.

It is expected that Angie will begin her new position at MIDAS in the late summer.

If you visited last week’s nomination ‘website of the week’ The Onion, you will be pleased to know that this week we have followed suit and present to you the UK version.

Now it’s not actually called The Onion UK, but it serves the same purpose. And with the General Election yesterday, some cracking stories should be on it today.

Manchester members packed the study at the Living Room on Deansgate last night for Downtowns first Sexy Networking event in the city. This election night event was rife with speculation, hung, left or right, the uncertainty was tangible. Congratulations to those who got it right!

Excellent hospitality was provided by Living Room staff and management who did a superb job in looking after Downtowns guests. Live music from rat pack singer, Alan Cross contributed to a great night of top class networking.

Don't forget to register for our "What does the election result mean for Manchester" next Wednesday morning at the Royal Exchange Theatre.

Big thanks go to Journey9 and the Royal Exchange Theatre for their fantastic prize draw.

THE LIVING ROOM MANCHESTER

What does the election result mean for Manchester?

The votes have been counted, AND WE HAVE A BLANK GOVERNMENT. 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, 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

As part of “Manchester Celebrates Jaguar”, a month long Jaguar campaign taking place across our city, they are delighted to invite you to drive the latest vehicles including the XF, XK and the all new XJ.

Ride and drives will be taking place from Spinningfields throughout the month and they would like to offer you the opportunity to experience one of the cars for yourself.

To book, call 0161 831 0260 or email manchestercelebratesjaguar@journey9.com. They look forward to welcoming you to Spinningfields during May.

Everyone who takes a drive from Spinningfields during May will have the chance to win a Jaguar for a month or a place on a money can’t buy Jaguar Track Day.

The Manchester Celebrates Jaguar Team.

For details of the Manchester Celebrates Jaguar events in May, please visit www.jaguar.co.uk/manchester

Name: Stuart Anderson.

Company: EN the magazine for entrepreneurs.

Position: Editor.

Red or Blue: Red (Liverpool), for what it’s worth.

Brown or Cameron: It’s a bit late for all that now...

Favourite Bar/Restaurant: San Carlo – a bit obvious but it’s the only place in town where I’ve never been disappointed.

What’s your Tipple: Lagavulin, if you’re buying.

Favourite Band: Frank Zappa and the Mothers.

Top Tune: Motorhead’s “The Ace of Spades”.

Favourite Book: Anna Karenina.

Favourite Movie: Sex and the City... only joking – Dirty Harry.

Who would play you in a film: Vic Reeves.

Favourite TV Programme: Wallander (the Swedish version on BBC 4, not the dismal English one with Ken crybaby Branagh).

Most visited website: That’s between me and my network administrator....

Celebrity Crush: Uma Thurman.

Interesting Fact about you: One of my ancestors was hanged for piracy.