Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of Thank Frank Its Friday. This week, The Red Knights have shelved plans to make a bid for Manchester United and Sutcliffes, celebrating their 25th year in business are worthy winners of ‘Business of the Week’. On a lighter note, we take a look at the Italian restaurant, Rosso and James Alder from CBG reveals all in ‘Who are Yer?’ All of this plus the usual from your weekly dose of TFI. Read on, enjoy, have a great weekend and don't do anything Frank wouldn't do...

The Red Knights consortium this week announced it is too shelve plans to submit a bid for Manchester United but will think again if prices return to "sensible" levels.

The Red Knights said they "remain committed" to buying the club from the Glazer family, making it supporter-owned and cutting its debt pile.

The Red Knights are headed by Keith Harris, Chief Executive of investment firm Seymour Pierce, Mark Rawlinson of London law firm Freshfields and Jim O'Neill, Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs. They signed up Japanese merchant bank Nomura as advisors.

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!

Chorley-based software solutions company, Logma Systems Design Ltd, is holding a free event to help companies find the key to releasing their business potential through the latest technology and to improve business productivity and efficiency whilst saving money.

The event will enable businesses to understand how the right software could help them control every aspect of their business through the integration of IT systems.

Presentations, sector-specific workshops and exhibitions from remote and mobile data capture hardware exhibitors such as Zebra and Psion, will demonstrate how innovative and cost effective IT solutions can allow businesses to diversify their offer and provide support to allow changes of operations.

From the service industry and wholesalers to manufacturing and retailing companies, scalable software can improve organisational agility enabling small businesses right through to larger corporations to grow and expand.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided. To register please click here.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell is mulling fund-raising options including a possible stock market float as it gears up to compete with new entrants to the sector when the Legal Services Act comes into force next year.

The Act will from the autumn of 2011 liberalise the market for legal services, allowing supermarkets, banks and other companies to enter the fray.

Irwin Mitchell has appointed advisers to look at its options, including attracting private equity investment and a flotation, as the firm considers ways of securing funding to continue its ambitious growth plans in the face of increased competition.

The firm has seen its Manchester operation expand rapidly since it established an office in the city with 55 people in 2007. Its team has grown to 175 and regional managing partner Grahame Codd said he expects the number to reach 200 over the next 12 years, mainly through expansion of its debt recoveries subsidiary Ascent.

Manchester developer Northerngroup is topping out on a £12m scheme to renovate the Ice Plant warehouse in Ancoats, so called because of the ice making factory that used to be next door.

The site was once home to Ancoats’ ice cream trade and was later practice space to Manchester bands the Happy Mondays and Inspiral Carpets.

Overlooking the new Cutting Room Square and the former St Peter’s Church, the mixed use scheme will house 82 high specification apartments, featuring designer kitchens and bathrooms.

Due for completion in March 2011, there will be five state of the art penthouses, including one with a sauna, as well as space for five ground level retail/ commercial units.

Bolton-based IT solutions provider, Imerja, has been named Public Sector Reseller of the Year at the annual MicroScope ACEs awards.

Imerja has a strong portfolio of public sector clients including Lancashire County Council, Business Link North West and North West Learning Grid and was recognised for delivering excellent service in the sector despite the recession.

The award was, in part, based on the number of votes cast by customers which demonstrates both the strength of Imerja’s relationships with its customers and its respect within the sector.

John Sutcliffe, managing director of civil and structural engineering company Sutcliffe, is extremely pleased to be celebrating 25 years in business this year.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating 25 years in the business, especially in the current economic climate, it’s a real achievement,” Says John. “We have a great team at Sutcliffe and we have managed to ride the storm so far, by working closely together and diversifying into new sectors. Our clients and suppliers are also extremely important to us, we couldn’t have reached this milestone without them.”

Michael Luger, dean of Manchester Business School (MBS), has been appointed as the new chairman of Greater Manchester Chamber’s economic, finance and taxation committee, a position left vacant by MBS’s John Arnold. The committee meets quarterly to discuss current economic concerns, drive the Chamber's economic policy response and examine results from the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Surveys.

If you have never visited this site before, then we must warn you now, it requires lots of will power and/or a healthy bank balance.

It is essentially an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ of really, really, really cool stuff. Well, we think it’s cool anyway.

As its slogan say’s ‘stuff you don’t need... but really, really want'.

Rosso is the home of good food, set in a magnificent setting, with outstanding service and a welcoming atmosphere. They offer diners in Manchester the ultimate in Italian cuisine – sumptuous, stylish and simple.

Rosso Restaurant is housed in a 114-year-old; Grade II listed building, conveniently located at the top of Manchester’s prestigious King Street. The venue is steeped in history and adorned with beautiful stained glass windows and decadent marble domes. It is an unrivalled venue in Manchester’s dining scene.

At Rosso they offer you an exceptional choice of wines that have been hand-picked from some of the oldest vineyards in the world! As a result, they have an impressive selection set to suit even the most discerning palette.

For more information visit: http://www.rossorestaurants.com/

Tel: 0161 832 1400

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!

This is a perfect start to any day. DMIB will host an exclusive Chairman’s Breakfast in the sleek and sophisticated Tom’s Champagne Bar located on the 3rd Floor, House of Fraser. We will be joined by a keynote speaker from Bruntwood.

Places are limited, so please register now.

Date: Tuesday 8th June
Time: 8.00am - 10.00am
Venue: Tom's Champagne Bar

Guest Speaker: Sir Howard Bernstein

DMIB will hold its second breakfast event at the Town Hall. Chairman, Frank McKenna will discuss the future of Manchester with Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, Sir Howard Bernstein.

Date: Tuesday 15th June
Time: 8.00am - 10.00am
Venue: Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square

Name: James Adler

Company: CBG Insurance Brokers

Position: Account Executive, Science & Technology Dept

Red or Blue: Blue ...................... and white stripes, as in Terrier.

Labour, Liberal or Tory: Yes

Favourite Bar/Restaurant: Rose & Crown, Thurstonland (what can I say, I spend enough time there, I've got to like it!)

What’s Your Tipple: Usually Lager - English, French, German, Belgium Danish, Australian, Canadian, I’m really not fussy, with either a lemonade top, or a dash of lime if I’m feeling adventurous.

Favourite Band: Belle & Sebastian

Top Tune: Today, F.E.A.R. by Ian Brown, tomorrow who knows!  

Favourite Book: Mr Nice, Howard Marx

Favourite Movie: Toy Story

Who Would Play You In A Film: Harry Connick Jnr (although it’s safe to say it won’t be a singing role!)

Favourite TV Programme: Family Guy

Most Visited Website: BBC Sports

Celebrity Crush: Megan Fox  

Interesting Fact About You: I broke my elbow falling off a rug..... and no it wasn’t flying.

Why Downtown: It’s a really good platform to meet likeminded professionals in and around the Manchester area, exploring opportunities, but in a relaxed and unpressured environment.