Over 120 people representing 80 companies attended DMIB’s ‘Sexy Networking' evening at the Radisson Hotel last night. Thanks to all of those who came along and we hope you had an enjoyable night. The last TFI before we take a well earned break for the remainder of the Summer takes a look at the cuts agenda announced by the Northwest Development Agency this week. Paver Smith feature as ‘Business of the Week’, we pay tribute to Alan Gilbert and Jon Haynes of Opus Agency reveals all in ‘Who Are Yer?’ Read on, enjoy, have a great August and we’ll see you all again in September.

A consortium led by 10 Greater Manchester councils has been chosen to manage a £350m regeneration fund to lend to developers in the north-west.

The Evergreen Consortium, which includes the Greater Manchester Pension Fund and CB Richard Ellis, aims to create a fund of up to £350m to invest in the Manchester region.

It will receive £60m of public sector money and is in advanced talks with pension funds and a bank to raise further equity. The EU’s European Regional Development Fund is providing £20m and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is providing £10m.

Other public sector bodies are to match this with a further £30m. Over the next 10 years, the consortium estimates that the fund will have the potential to lend up to £350m overall.

For more information go to: www.PublicPropertyUK.com.

The impact of the £52 million cuts the Northwest Development Agency have been ordered to come up with by the Coalition Government has been revealed with Manchester, inevitably losing a significant chunk of cash for important regeneration schemes...

The final fixtures of the Sellick Partnership Manchester Professionals Cricket League (MPCL) took place on 16th July at Timperley Cricket Club, with Grant Thornton winning the Cup Competition, and Deloitte winning the Plate competition for the second year running.

Jo Sellick established the league last year for professional service businesses across Manchester to promote cricket as a sport, and to create a platform for networking across the city – as well as raising money for both St Ann’s Hospice and the Lord’s Taverners. This year a total of twenty-eight teams participated in the League, four more than last year – which resulted in a total of 98 fixtures taking place since the beginning of May.

ID:SR, the interior design arm of leading architect Sheppard Robson, has completed the interior fit-out for the 86,000 sq ft Peninsula Business Services HQ at The Peninsula, Manchester’s newest landmark building.

ID:SR designed the interior to fulfill the objective of being a desirable place to work and receive clients, while reflecting the Peninsula brand and company ethos.

An open plan layout allows for views across the entire floor plate, facilitating collaboration between different teams and allowing employees to take advantage of the building’s views across the city.

Gavin King, Associate at ID:SR, commented: “We are delighted to have been able to assist Peninsula Business Services in designing an interior workspace that is reflective of the company’s brand and ethos.

“We have designed the interior of the office specifically to reflect the energy and professionalism of the organisation, ensuring that the space provides a pleasant and stimulating working environment for Peninsula’s employees.”

Profits at consumer products group PZ Cussons increased by 21% in the year to May 31 to £101.8m, despite the fact that its revenues dipped slightly to £771.6m.

The business, which makes brands such as Imperial Leather, Original Source and Charles Worthington hair care products, said that European and Asian markets had performed particularly well with profits increasing organically through "consistent execution of brand renovation strategies".

The company described the year as one of "considerable progress", as it included capital expenditure of £44.3m generated from its own cashflow.

This was spent opening its new £26m innovation centre at Agecroft in Salford, a new corporate headquarters near Manchester airport and on the completion of a three-year, £39m project to overhaul the company's manufacturing operations and supply chain in Nigeria.

North West PR agency Paver Smith has announced an increase in first half turnover of 4% compared to 2009.  Revenues grew to £1,191,000 in the six months to the end of June.

Growth in retail and leisure sector work insulated the agency from an expected decline in public sector revenue, which fell from 27% of agency income at the start of 2010 to 19% at the mid-point.

New account wins for clients such as Marine Holiday Park, Sanguine Hospitality Management Company and Liverpool Boat Show saw the leisure sector grow to 27% of agency income.

“Major contracts with Building Schools for the Future and the Learning & Skills Council came to their natural end, so to have replaced them with more besides is a very creditable performance in this market,” said agency director Martyn Best.

The DMIB team was saddened to hear that Professor Alan Gilbert, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Manchester, from October 2004 to June 2010, had passed away on Tuesday.
 
Tributes have been flooding in for the man who ‘transformed’ Manchester University and who only stepped down from his position at the end of June due to ongoing health issues.
 
Gilbert has been credited with masterminding the university’s unprecedented rise up the league tables to the brink of the world’s top 25 during his time in charge.

Norman Askew, Chairman of the board of governors, said: "Alan was responsible for shaping the vision for the new university and delivering the enormous success that it has enjoyed over its first six years. He will be greatly missed by me and all who worked with him."

Prof Gilbert leaves behind his wife Ingrid and daughters Michelle, 41 and Fiona, 38.

Wired.co.uk is the website that accompanies the technology magazine WIRED. The site launched in March 2009 and brings you stories, people, and ideas that are changing the world.

With a daily web operation, producing original news, reviews, photography and video, this is a website definitely worth checking out to keep on top of all the latest technological advances.

Sapporo is the original and still the best teppanyaki restaurant in Manchester. Firmly established in the city centre for almost 5 years now, they are a firm favourite for birthday celebrations, works do’s, entertaining clients, hen and stag parties and more. Expect great food, great service, great hospitality – and most importantly, a great ‘show’ from their talented teppanyaki show chefs.

Join DMIB for our next Member’s Reception event. Fine food, fine drink and fine company are on the menu as usual. To register your attendance at this event, click the button below.

Date: Thursday 2nd September
Time: 6.30pm - 10.00pm
Venue: Sapporo Teppanyaki

Cost: £25 + VAT (inc 3 course meal and half bottle of wine)

Name: Jonathan (Jon) Haynes

Company: Opus Corporate Risk Ltd (Opus Agency)

Position: Managing Director

Red or Blue: Blue – Non-London postal code based.

Labour, Liberal or Tory: Blue.............

Favourite Bar/Restaurant: The Grill on the Alley, Manchester.

What’s Your Tipple: Apple juice cocktail (Strongbow)

Favourite Band: Faithless/Chemical Brothers

Top Tune: Insomnia

Favourite Book: Silmarillion – JRR Tolkein

Favourite Movie: Taxi Driver – Martin Scorsese

Who Would Play You In A Film: The man with no name.

Favourite TV Programme: Anything – Discovery or History Channels

Most Visited Website: Manchester Evening News

Celebrity Crush: Sonja Christina

Interesting Fact About You: I’m still alive..............

Why Downtown: Innovative  - DTIB delivers.