The coalition government’s first budget was unveiled this week, and TFI has expert analysis from RSM Tenon and business comment from Frank McKenna. There are also details of DMIB’s special breakfast budget event taking place on Tuesday at the Restaurant Bar & Grill. All the usual features too, including JMW Solicitors as our ‘Business of the Week’ and Caroline Shaw as ‘Woman of the Week. Have a great weekend, don’t do anything Frank wouldn’t do and COME ON ENGLAND!

John O’Mahony, Head of Tax at RSM Tenon in the North West, reviews the main announcements from this week’s Emergency Budget:

Topics covered are:

VAT rises to 20% from 4 January 2011
 
CGT rises to 28% from midnight and Entrepreneur’s Relief increased to £5 million

Cut in main rate of Corporation Tax to 24% over four years and Small Companies’ rate to 20%

When you heard the statistic quoted at the Downtown Liverpool Business Week event on Tuesday morning – public sector productivity has dropped 30% during the past decade, compared to productivity growth in the private sector of 10%, it is easy to understand why the government are targeting public expenditure as they prioritise the reduction of the UK budget deficit...

Leading business lights from across the North West came together at the Reebok Stadium to attend Logma Systems Design’s newest product launch.
 
Its latest product, OneFit Software, is the company’s most flexible software solution and is designed to support organisational agility, so that when a business grows or diversifies, further technology and modules of the same product can be deployed to increase functionality.

Guests were shown a series of video case studies from current clients who shared their positive reviews of the product and commended its flexibility and efficiency, demonstrating the cost savings and effectiveness OneFit brought to their organisation. Following the presentation delegates were invited to take part in sector specific workshops and see real time system demonstrations and had the opportunity to meet leading manufacturers of key data capture equipment, mobile computing and specialised printers.

Leading Manchester-based specialist data centre provider, UK Grid, has begun the extension of its Manchester Science Park site, by installing an extra 170 racks of data storage space during the first phase of its fast-track expansion plan.

This first phase of a £2 million project, designed to drastically increase UK Grid’s overall site capacity, is intrinsic to the company reaching its target turnover of £10m by the end of its financial year – 2012/2013. UK Grid designs and builds bespoke data centres for clients across the country from its sites in Manchester and London.

Following the appointment of Bam Construction this week, The Co-operative Group has confirmed that work on its £100m HQ on Miller Street will begin next month.

The iconic 325,000 sq ft office, designed by leading architect 3D Reid, is set to be the first BREEAM outstanding commercial building in Manchester and will be the first step in the regeneration of Co-op’s 20-acre site at the Northern Gateway to the city.  

The new 15 storey premises will include open plan office and support space as well as featuring a large central atrium.

Talking at DMIB’s recent breakfast event – What Next for Manchester – Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, said that the new development will see the Northern boundary of the city centre further extended through the redevelopment of the site, offering the opportunity for more public and private investment.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency and European Regional Development Fund have approved £8.1m of funding to support businesses working in the region’s food and drink industry. The funding will be managed by Food Northwest, the region’s food and drink cluster organisation, which will deliver a support programme focusing on four key themes. The programme will seek to provide specialist technical support, increase market intelligence, offer business continuity planning, and enable companies to take advantage of the organic and ethnic high-growth sectors.

Neil Price has been appointed as head of the North West team at Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets acquisition finance, which provides leveraged finance to support private equity-backed transactions. He moves from the acquisition finance team in London to take the role. Price has a decade of experience at Lloyds Banking Group and will focus on working with private equity houses and intermediaries across the region.

Property Alliance Group has secured two lease renewals and gained a new tenant at its office building Camellia House in Wilmslow. Insurance broker ISIS has agreed a new six-year lease at £16.50 per sq ft, while development consultancy AXIS has agreed a five-year deal at the same rental. New tenant Advanced Rejuvenation Clinic has taken 1,200 sq ft over a ten-year lease, again at £16.50 sq ft.

JMW Solicitors strive to offer the very best in professional legal services. They are committed to delivering the highest quality, cost effective legal advice covering a wide spectrum of corporate and private client work.

Their partners, many of whom are leaders in their field, have a shared desire to provide practical, commercial solutions to clients' legal issues. By adopting a warm, open and friendly manner, JMW aim to foster special working relationships with clients, who range from private individuals in all walks of life through to SME companies and major international corporates managing flagship brands.

Operating from their central Manchester headquarters in Spinningfields, partner-led teams' innovative, communicative and cohesive approach produces timely results delivered economically and enthusiastically.

If you would like to discuss any of JMW’s legal services please contact them either via their online enquiry form or by telephoning on 0845 872 6666.

Caroline Shaw, a former midwife and now chief executive of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, was this week singled out for her success in building the Manchester-based hospital into the largest cancer treatment centre of its kind in Europe, at the First Women Awards 2010.

It takes a web address you provide, tries to find up to 5 pages from inside it, and tests them for a range of criteria. At the end you get a free report scoring the website out of 10 for various tests, and awarding a 'Summary score' for all the tests.

Brandon Thomas' RAUCOUS and ROLLICKING farce

"I'm no ordinary woman..."

Charley's aunt is about to arrive and she holds the key to everything.  Charley's in love with Amy, but if they're to be engaged before she goes away he'll need his aunt's agreement.  Jack's in love with Kitty, but if they're to get together before she goes away with Amy, he'll need Charley's aunt to act as chaperone.
 
So when the aunt's arrival is delayed, Charley's and Jack decide there's only one thing for it.  An emergency aunt is called for, and in their desperation they think the eccentric Babberley just might save the day,  But whilst the-impostor-aunt starts to play fast and loose with his part, the-real-aunt is getting ever closer, and it isn't long before the misunderstandings and misdemeanours are spiralling out of control in Brandon Thomas' RAUCOUS and ROLLICKING farce.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
 
CHARLEY'S AUNT is one of the most successful farces ever staged, playing for years in the West End and on Broadway.
 
THINK...
 
HAY FEVER meets TOOTSIE

Web: http://www.royalexchangetheatre.org.uk/page.aspx
Tel: 0161 833 9833

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!

Stuart Anderson, Editor of EN magazine will chair a significant panel, including John Gillibrand, Corporate Financial Director for RSM Tenon, John O’Mahoney, Tax Expert for RSM Tenon, Scott Fletcher, Chairman for ANS Group and Downtown in Business Chairman, Frank McKenna.

The panel will analyse the new coalition budget and discuss the impact of the budget on the business community.

Date: Tuesday 29th June
Time: 8.30am - 10.0am
Venue: Restaurant Bar & Grill

The perfect antidote to football!

Friday 9th July, with Speaker Karl Kirkpatrick and Comedian Jimmy Bright

The Dewi Morris Curry Club team will be at East Z East for their usual fantastic menu - don't forget to claim your free beer on arrival!

Still just £45 + VAT

Email helen@dewimorriscurryclub.co.uk to book

Name: Andy Goddard

Company: TNT Post North Ltd.

Position: MD

Red or Blue: There is only one colour in Manchester - RED

Labour, Liberal or Tory: No comment

Favourite Bar/Restaurant: Old fashioned pub.

What’s Your Tipple: Alcohol!

Favourite Band: Rod or the Stones.

Top Tune: Dreams – Gabs.

Favourite Book: Don’t read, no time.

Favourite Movie: No time.

Who Would Play You In A Film: Baloo – Jungle Book. Last film I watched.

Favourite TV Programme: Question Time.

Most Visited Website: Wind Guru.

Celebrity Crush: What is a celebrity? Why waste my time?

Interesting Fact About You: Some boys become men, some men remain boys – how can you tell? Boys drive and play in ‘puddles’!

Why Downtown: Its all about ROI – If as promised I gain business from the network, great. If not I’ve blown a few bob.