Hyde based full service creative agency Fluid Creativity have cemented yet another great working relationship with a national client in the form of the NHS National Screening Committee.

Fluid Creativity were approached off the back of a string of award wins and recognition for their output in web design and animation to be involved in the production of digital material and learning aids for the Newborn Screening Program, covering a wide range of disciplines from design and usability consultancy through to motion graphics production and design of graphics for their series of websites.

"This is an exciting project for the whole team at Fluid, and is a great opportunity to show off what we can do across a number of our service areas," says managing director Lee Turner.

"This is set to be a fantastic year for us and this great new relationship gives us all something to really get stuck into and produce more award winning work."

Going into 2009 Fluid Creativity will be involved in a number of exciting projects for the NSC in a number of media across the whole range of digital services. Be sure to keep an eye on the website at www.fluidcreativity.co.uk to see what the creative team come up with!

The famous Ashton Market bell, which used to chime the time from the clock tower in the Market Hall,

The bell was salvaged from the devastating fire, which engulfed the Market on May 24 th 2004.

It was unveiled in a special ceremony by Councillor Alan Whitehead at the end of January and is positioned on a wooden plinth in the recess next to the time capsule.

The bell is still in very good condition after crashing from the tower to the floor of the Market Hall as the fire spread and burnt the joists underneath it. There is a large crack in it now which all visitors can see.

More than 17 full and part time jobs have been created at Ashton’s new Subway sandwich store.

Just a short walk from Ashton Bus Station on Ashton Retail Park, the famous food outlet opened its doors to the public on Wednesday January 14 th.

The multi-national company currently has 25,000 outlets in over 80 countries. It is the third Subway to open in Tameside, the other two being on Market Street in Hyde and the BP petrol garage in Stalybridge.

Local residents have taken several of the jobs created and the store is open from 8.00am until 10.00pm 7 days a week.

According to new research by MIDAS, Manchester Inward Investment agency, the Foreign owned Company (FOC) sector is still robust in Greater Manchester despite the current economic climate.

The Greater Manchester Property Analysis report, commissioned to Savills by MIDAS, to analyse office supply and demand in Greater Manchester found that demand for office space from the FOC sector will remain strong over the next three years and beyond. The report also included a survey of 500 FOCs in Greater Manchester which found that:

There are 1200 Foreign Owned Companies in Greater Manchester, of which MIDAS account manages 500. Foreign Owned Companies contribute 47% to the UK economy and are regarded as being more capital intensive than UK firms.

Another successful year for the annual Tameside jobsfair – this year bigger than ever with record numbers of visitors, smashing not only Tameside’s records but the regional records, with an astonishing 2,200 attendees.

The event, held at Hyde Town Hall 29 th January attracted 34 exhibitors, including SkyBlue Solutions with opportunities on the forthcoming Building Schools for the Future project. Other employers included British Gas, GM Police, J D Williams and First Bus; support agencies included Tameside College, Routes to Work, Volunteer Centre and Connexions.

As ever, there were hundreds of live vacancies as well as information, advice and guidance on a range of employment related topics, including training volunteering and business start-up.

Tameside Radio broadcast their mid morning show live from the event and Tameside TV captured the atmosphere and interviewed event team members and visitors.

The Steps 2 Work sessions and CV Workshops were well-attended and feedback from visitors and exhibitors extremely positive.

TAMESIDE Council has selected ‘inspiredspaces’ as its partner to deliver design, construction, facilities management and information communications technology services in all secondary schools for the next 10 years. ‘inspiredspaces’ is looking for a wide range of skills, services
and suppliers, including:

• Construction skills ~ including, brickwork, painting/decorating, carpentry and joinery, scaffolding, electrical and mechanical services, fencing, landscaping, groundworks, concreting, roofing, plastering/partitioning/ dry lining, surveying, etc
• Business Management
• Facilities Management
• IT skills
• Supply of materials and fittings

Burrows Business Guide To Manchester

For an online copy of the Burrows Guide to the Manchester City Region – a useful marketing tool when attracting investors to the area please click here.

Tameside is featured on pages 86 and 87

Healthy changes

A new acute building complete with theatres, outpatients, a day case suit and a new main entrance will be part of a £112 million project at Tameside Hospital. Other buildings include a new Older Persons Mental Health unit, Pathology Laboratories, Multi Disciplinary Education and Training centre and replacement car parking.

Consort Healthcare is the Private Sector Company selected to work in collaboration on developing and constructing the new hospital buildings. Construction is being carried out by a joint venture between Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd and Haden Building Management.

In the zone

TAMESIDE Economic Development Zone, funded by the European Regional Development Fund drew to a close in December. Around £400m has been invested in Tameside and1,760 additional jobs have been created thanks

The Tameside Economic Development Zone which draws to a close this month. The programme has stimulated development at Droylsden with The Wharf; at Ashton Moss and St Petersfield in Ashton-u-Lyne and has made a significant contribution to the re-building of the Ashton Market Hall.

Metrolink expansion

METROLINK extension Phase 3a began in October 2008. It will include a new line to Droylsden, Oldham, Rochdale, and Chorlton in South Manchester.

The new lines will nearly double the size of the Metrolink network. It is anticipated that trams will start running to Droylsden by spring 2012. Companies interested in working on the project shouldemail mpactprocurement@mpactthales.co.uk

For information on job opportunities please see: www.careersinconstruction.com

Friday 28 November – A day to remember!

ASHTON’S historic market hall finally opened its doors to the public at the end of November for the first time in more than four years. It was the culmination of a great deal of hard work to bring the Grade II listed building back to life following the blaze that destroyed it in May 2004. Whilst t he inside of the building has been completely renovated the character of the building has been retained.

Executive member for economic services, Cllr Kieran Quinn, said: “It makes me so proud that we are now in a position to once again deliver a first class market hall for the borough’s residents. It has taken more than four years and plenty of hard work by the council and its partners to produce the impressive structure we can all now see. Ashton’s market hall is not just one of Tameside’s most iconic structures, it is also the life and soul of the town centre, so I’m not surprised at the level of public interest in its return. ”

Wendy of Wendy and Mandy’s café said “We never thought we would ever get here. That terrible morning in 2004 the fire seemed to be the end of our family’s business dream. Our parents (traders before us) helped get us established and now we have helped one of our children set up across the road from us.”

Sheila Hooton of the cheese Shop, who has been trading for 25 years, said “It is a very emotional morning today” and Warren and Peter from Sea King remarked “It’s great to be back”. Another trader, Wesley from the Phone Corner spoke for everyone when he said: “It’s like coming home.”

Click here for details of the stall layout and traders

Mayor hails new production records at Fast-Pak

Fast-Pak Packaging has set new production speeds and output records resulting from a major programme of capital investment.

The Tameside-based manufacturer of corrugated cartons was established 15 years ago as a two-person operation in Ashton-under-Lyne Since then It has expanded rapidly, following a policy of constant re-investment in sophisticated manufacturing technology and high-performance equipment. Now, with more around 40 employees, Fast-Pak remains an independent and privately-owned business.

To mark this milestone the Civic Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr Jack Davies and Mrs Carole Davies, together with Economic Initiatives Manager, Frank Travis,paid an official visit, during October, to Fast-Pak’s 40,000 sq ft premises on the Kayley Industrial Estate. They were welcomed by Fast-Pak directors, David Leighton and Mrs Mary Luby Leighton.

During the visit the Mayor unveiled a commemorative plaque in the reception area to celebrate the company’s attainment of new production performance records .

Cllr Davis specially commended the sustained growth and development of the company in the manufacturing sector of the local economy. As a multi-million pound business, Fast-Pak Packaging continues to draw most of its employees from the borough.

The rapid pace of economic regeneration in Tameside has been an important factor in influencing Fast-Pak founder and owner, David Leighton, to invest so strongly in the company’s hi-tech equipment.

He said: “All businesses need an encouraging environment in which to grow, and confidence to invest in their development. What we see all around us in Tameside today is a massive and ongoing transformation from the place as we knew it just a few years ago. The whole area is brighter, more exciting, and more upbeat.”

“The sophisticated machines we have now installed make us extremely competitive in the packaging industry.

“The opening up of the Ashton Northern Bypass has been a great boost for us - giving us fast and easy access onto the M60 orbital motorway, with obvious advantages for rapid distribution to customers across the region.

All these factors, and the supportive interest I have always received from the council, convince me that, for Fast-Pak, Tameside makes an excellent base for business.”

Planning permission granted for Crown Point East Retail Park in Denton

Langtree Group plc has secured detailed planning permission for its 135,000 sq ft Crown Point East Retail Park in Denton, Tameside. The mixed-use planning permission for the development also includes provision for a 32,000 sq ft industrial/trade park as well as two residential plots, creating 88 apartments. The development, at junction 1A of the M67 motorway close to Junction 24 of the M60, will be divided into 15 individual units ranging in size from 3,600 to a 25,000 sq ft anchor store. The development willcreate a new link road around the Town Centre. It will also provide access to the retail park with 500 car parking spaces. Including mezzanine level floor space, the development will offer 165,000 sq ft of retail floor space and 9,000 sq ft of A3 restaurant space. Kieran Grealis, Regional Development Director at Langtree said: “Langtree is very excited about the detailed planning permission for the mixed-use scheme which will regenerate a prominent site in Denton Town Centre. The scheme draws on the principles to transform the former Oldham Batteries site into a retail park which will complement the existing Crown Point North, making Denton a vibrant location for both shoppers and retailers.” Mark Thompson at Colliers CRE said: “This is already an established area for retail with Crown Point North already operating on the opposite side of the M67.

Click Here for further Information

DECADE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS TOPS £400M

INVESTMENT IN TAMESIDE

One of Tameside’s latest major inward investments provided the venue for an event celebrating the imminent end of the successful Tameside Economic Development Zone (EDZ) which has fuelled £400M of investment overall and created over 1,768 new jobs for the area.

The new £20M Village Hotel at Ashton Moss, one of Tameside’s key strategic sites, opened for business on April 21 st and set the scene for the event which celebrated a decade of success for the Borough and its EDZ and drew an audience from the business, property and public sectors.

Cllr Kieran Quinn, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Economic Services, said:

“Tameside’s Economic Development Zone has been hugely successful and this is borne out by all the data and statistics. Anyone visiting Tameside can see this for themselves by the metal coming out of the ground and the great economic vibrancy and new life that the EDZ has helped to create.

“The EDZ is part of a ten year vision for regeneration which began with that key piece of connectivity – the M60 link – and that concept will be the basis for going forward and the framework for the second phase. Recent independent research tells us that 95 per cent of the market surveyed said that Tameside is a viable location for office based businesses and we are now looking at the sites we want to bring forward into the next ten years to satisfy that demand as well as many others.

“Just like any athlete,Tameside started with a few light press ups, then we got into serious training which helped us secure the EDZ and put us on the map in Greater Manchester and the North West. Now we are a serious competitor nationally and internationally and determined to win.”

Retail Development lunch – Tameside Towns under the spotlight.

With Tameside’s town centres high on the agenda as part of a future planning and economic development strategy - an incisive lunch-time discussion was held at the Village, Ashton Moss on Thursday 19 th June – to consider the future of retail in Tameside.

Cllr Kieran Quinn, Cabinet Deputy for Economic Services, senior managers from Tameside Council’s investment team (as above) and invited expert guests from the retail property sector, Hark Developments, Cushman and Wakefield, Savills/British Land , Stuart Burdon-Bailey - Jones Lang LaSalle and DTZ Debenham Tie Leung offered their views on the key issues to note in the development of Tameside’s future economic and planning strategies for Tameside towns. Notwithstanding the cautious approach of the retailers at the present time, there was a positive and encouraging message for the future of Ashton town centre in particular following the re-opening of the Market Hall which was regarded as the town’s great attraction. The impact of Ikea as a destination and the prospect of the arrival of Metrolink were also felt to be important drivers for the economy of the town in future as well as a focus on a clean, safe and attractive environment, as delivered by our ongoing successes in Britain in Bloom.

“We find the insight of the experts invaluable in adding to what we know about the town centres of Tameside and their economic potential, said Cllr Quinn, its always useful to get a view from those whose ‘day job’ involves attracting high street names to key locations. What we learnt from these events will be fed into our future strategies”.

M60 INVEST KEEPS UP THE MOMENTUM

The de Vere Village at Ashton Moss was also the venue for two high profile events for property agents, investors and developers recently. On Tuesday 17 th June, Insider magazine held one of their reknowned ‘Insider Round Tables’ at the venue. Cabinet Deputy for Economic Services, Cllr Kieran Quinn and senior managers from Tameside MBC’s investment team, Pat Rattigan and Lisa Hoyland, along with key executives from Brother UK, MIDAS, Manchester Enterprises plus property experts, from Ask Developments; Newmark Developments (for Watkin Jones); Cushman and Wakefield and Roger Hannah – held a stimulating discussion on the topic of “Where next for Tameside? looking at the ideas that will sustain the borough’s growth over the next decade and beyond, and examine the drivers for changing local economies like Tameside within the context of a growing city region. “With the Tameside Economic Development Zone programme nearing its end, the questions discussed included :

How have perceptions of Tameside changed and which negatives remain?
The council intends to promote its town centres by developing each one’s distinctiveness and individual character – what factors should be considered in relation to exploiting their development potential ?
What sort of sectors can Tameside realistically target as it looks to establish itself as a location for knowledge based sectors including the commercial office market ?
Does Tameside have a strategic locational advantage within the city – region / region. How can this be developed further? What strategic advantages can Tameside offer to business owners?

The results were published in the July 08 edition of Insider.

IT’S HERE!

The New Village Hotel & Leisure Club Ashton Moss

After months of anticipation and whetted appetites, the Village Hotel & Leisure Club Ashton Moss has now opened its doors to the public.

The Village group have brought their ‘Welcome to more’ philosophy to Ashton-under- Lyne and invested in a new kind of hotel, where cutting-edge style and vibrant energy will meet everyday affordability, so whether it’s a nights’ stay, experiencing a different kind of dinning option, or just to keep fit – everything you’ll need to be entertained is under one roof!

The facilities that are available include:

120 contemporary style bedrooms
A variety of dining options including full service restaurant, a traditional pub and a café
State of the art Health & Fitness Club
The Hub - hi-tech conference and meetings facilities

The availability of The Hub will bring state of the art meeting and conference facilities to Ashton-Under-Lyne. There are 7 conference rooms of differing sizes, all of which are fully equipped with the latest tools helping local businesses run their meetings and training sessions smoothly. Facilities in each conference room include flat screen TVs, projectors and white boards, as well as free high speed Wi-Fi internet access and in-room hot drinks facilities.

Mark Williams, General Manager, commented ‘I am delighted to be involved with something that is going to create such buzz within the area. Village, Ashton Moss is a new concept and design for Village Hotels and we are going to set the bench mark for further openings to come – we hope to become the one stop establishment and cater for everyone within the area’

Longlands mill transformation is complete

Award winning property developer Urban Splash has completed its £10 million transformation of the historic Longlands Mill, Stalybridge.

Following a high level of anticipation from Tameside and beyond, Urban Splash opened up the Mill on Saturday 26 th July from 11 to 6pm to showcase the new development.

Urban Splash development director Simon Humphreys said: “The completion of the Mill has been much anticipated not only by our first residents, but also by people from across Tameside who have a real affinity with the building.

“We are extremely proud at what has been achieved and the outcome of the redevelopment. We’ve picked up where the Mill left off when it closed in 1961 and have delivered a truly thriving community for Stalybridge.”

Working with architect Space Craft, Urban Splash have retained the Mill’s stunning original features such as original beams which have been incorporated into each apartment. One of the Mill’s most famous workers Jethro Tinker has also made a permanent mark on the building and samples of his works have been subtley used within the apartments. Modern design elements have also been implemented and are reflected across the building.

Tameside MBC welcomes new Facilities Manager

Helen Smith has joined Tameside MBC’s Property Services team and has come to us from Wigan MBC where she has been in a similar role.

As Service Unit Manager for the Facilities Management team she will be responsible for:

Administrative buildings (including the Council Offices in Ashton-under-Lyne, Union St, Hyde, the Concord Suite, Droylsden, Stalybridge Resource Centre , Town Halls and Community buildings)
Cleaning service (excl school cleaners)
Catering service (excl schools)
Maintenance of Adult Services buildings

Tameside M60 Invest DVD Launch

With the end of the funding period drawing closer for the M60 Invest project, it was decided it would be a good idea to formally end the project with a legacy DVD to show the progress in the area over the life of the project to date. A promotional DVD has also been produce in order to ensure that people know even though the funding had finished the drive and purpose was still going on and that Tameside Council are in this for the long haul.

To launch these new DVD’s what better place to hold an event than the new De Vere Village Hotel Ashton Moss? It is new, stylish had just brought £20M investment into the EDZ and had only opened its doors 2 weeks previous. This was a chance to thank both existing contacts that we have been working closely with over the last 10 years and drive home the message to both existing and potential investors that this is not the end, as well as giving the opportunity to showcase the new hotel.

The launch took place on Friday 9 th May, the first leg of the launch was the coach tour which started in Manchester and toured through main sites in the EDZ, finishing at the Village Ashton Moss for a viewing of both DVD’s and a spot of lunch, whilst giving various investors, developers and agents a chance to network and take on board the investment that has taken place within the EDZ area of Tameside.

We had various speakers for this launch which included Cabinet Deputy for Economic Services Councillor Quinn, who stated that the work doesn’t stop here, Business Initiatives Manager Lisa Hoyland who thanked the many people involved in the development and success of the project, and MUSE Developments, Development Director Darran Lawless commented on the great partnership that he has built with Tameside MBC over the past 10 years.

Historic event in development of marina

A FLOOD in Tameside at the end of last month left onlookers delighted. It marked an historic occasion as the basin at Droylsden Marina was filled with water.

A bund separating the Ashton Canal from the marina basin was breached on 27 May, and water began to flow into the basin. The event was attended by local and regional media, developers and Councillor Kieran Quinn, the council’s Cabinet Deputy for Economic Services.

The filling of the basin was a major milestone in the £100M regeneration of Droylsden Marina with a target completion date of early 2013 which, when completed, will offer significant commercial opportunities in the heart of Manchester’s rapidly developing East corridor.

The scheme is an extension of the Ashton Canal, itself built along the arm of the Hollinwood Canal that was closed and filled in, in 1961. The canal originally continued northwards beyond Manchester Road (an indication of this is the hump-backed bridge on Manchester road).

The marina is in one of Greater Manchester’s most up-and-coming areas. With a complete revitalisation of the area and excellent transport links through the Ashton canal, proposed Metrolink and public transport, this area will be home to a thriving and sustainable community.

Developers, the Watkin Jones Group, have worked on site since March last year and building for the first two residential blocks is progressing well.

Councillor Kieran Quinn, Executive Member for Economic Services said: “The vital component in creating this exciting new waterside development is the construction of the canal marina. We’re delighted that the Council has reached this milestone.”

GMPTE NEWS RELEASE

25 April 2008

Metrolink expansion on the way as ‘preferred bidder’ selected Transport bosses today named the consortium they would like to build Greater Manchester’s three new Metrolink lines.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) has selected the M-Pact Thales consortium as preferred bidder for the ‘design, construct and maintain’ contract for the major expansion. The consortium is made up of Thales UK, Laing O’Rourke and GrantRail.

The new lines will run to Oldham and Rochdale, Droylsden in Tameside, and Chorlton in South Manchester – nearly doubling the size of the network.

The new lines are expected to take five million car journeys off local roads every year, and to increase the number of trips passengers make on the network each day from 55,000 to more than 90,000.

More lines into Oldham and Rochdale town centres, as well as to Ashton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury, Manchester Airport and the Trafford Centre, could also be built if Greater Manchester’s bid to the government’s Transport Innovation Fund is successful.

Ashton-under-Lyne Civic Society Building of the Year 2007

Ashton-under-Lyne Civic Society has named Oddfellows Hall, Stamford Street as its Building of the Year 2007.

The Grade II listed building has been restored by Rockpark (Ashton) Limited in a £2.5 million project to provide 16 luxury apartments and retail space.

The hall, built in 1855 as a showpiece meeting place for the then thriving Oddfellows movement in Ashton, fell into disrepair and partially collapsed in 1998. However, in 2004 Rockpark purchased the site and worked with Hyde-based architectural consultants and interior designers Philip Millson Architecture (PMA) to redesign and reconstruct the building within its existing outer shell.

Susan Knight, Chairman of the Ashton-under-Lyne Civic Society, giving reasons for the award, said “Oddfellows Hall is a good example of how a derelict building can be saved when private and public sectors work together. This building has been restored to its former glory with high quality workmanship and care and an imaginative interior has been created to ensure its future in the 21 st century. We hope this will set the standard for other regeneration schemes within the conservation area.”

The award plaque was donated by Mockridge Labels, Ashton-under-Lyne

For further information contact Geoffrey Entwistle

Tel: 0161 406 7877 e-mail:geoffrey@entwistle8037.freeserve.co.uk

Green Light for Major Town-Centre Regeneration

Following the highly-acclaimed restoration of Ashton’s historic Oddfellows Hall (a Grade II listed building on Stamford Street in the heart of the “Old Town”) the green light has now been given for a further major redevelopment involving adjacent properties on Stamford Street to bring new vitality to this long-neglected area.

The Stamford Street project is the latest and largest development in Ashton to result from close collaboration over many years between the site’s owner and developer, Rockpark (Ashton) Limited, and Philip Millson Architecture (PMA) - both of whom were centrally responsible for reviving the fortunes of the Oddfellows Hall.

The multi-million pound scheme, including nine new retail units and more than one hundred new, town-centre apartments with underground parking facilities, will substantially advance the regeneration of one of Ashton’s best-known and most ancient thoroughfares by creating a vibrant, new living, retailing and working environment.

PMA director, Philip Millson, said of the new Stamford Street project: “Our basic aim with schemes like this one is to create a new environment which people will find interesting and exciting. We want to conserve all the best architectural features from the past, yet at the same time to give them a new and active role within practical design concepts for the future. It always gives us special satisfaction when we are able to bring genuine new life and purpose to areas and buildings that for too long have seemed forgotten - and it is a great help to have so much support from the relevant MBC.”

New life for the old heart of Stalybridge – and a haven for canal enthusiasts!

Construction work is rapidly advancing right in the heart of Stalybridge to bring new life and 26 upmarket waterside apartments to an area which over the years had become overgrown and neglected.

The new Lockside development, which occupies land known locally for many years as Buckley’s Yard, is located quite literally on the canal bank in one of the oldest and most picturesque parts of the town, where much of the charm and character of a bygone age has managed to survive.

Despite its tranquil, almost rural setting, the Lockside development lies within genuinely easy walking distance of all the shopping and social amenities of Stalybridge town centre, with the bus station and major supermarkets only minutes away on foot, and the nearby railway station offering a fast and frequent service into central Manchester. For drivers, the M60 Greater Manchester orbital motorway is less than 5 miles to the west.

Ashley Ladson, Director of Cheshire-based builders and developers Ladson Homes, commented: “Despite the run-down state of the site when we first saw it, we could see there was exciting scope for a waterside location, with views of the town and hills beyond. So our intention from the start was to build a visually exciting development to enhance the canal-side landscape”.

For further information, please contact: David May, Tel: 0161 941-1024

Double Whammy of Lettings for St Petersfield

Ask Developments has announced two new lettings for the New Year at its St Petersfield urban business quarter in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside. Two companies – Shaw Trust and TNG - have both signed to take more than 8,000 sq ft between them within the first phase, of which 22,000 sq ft is home to Pennine Care NHS Trust’s headquarters.

Shaw Trust, a national charity that provides training and work opportunities for disadvantaged and disabled people, has taken 4,598 sq ft of space on the ground floor of the building whilst TNG, a national company that offers recruitment, bespoke training, consultancy, mentoring and business support services to people returning to work and workforce development will take 3,770 sq ft of space over three floors within the rotunda at the front of the building.

John Hughes, Development Director at Ask Developments said: “We are delighted that both companies have selected St Petersfield for their centres. The scheme’s sheer quality and excellent location is proving to be a premier choice for companies looking to relocate or expand.”

Tameside companies help to build a network of opportunities for young people

Tameside M.B.C’s Economic Development Unit has again been asked to find work experience for students from Denton’s twin town (Montigny le Bretonneux in France). This year, nine students are hoping to find placements with local companies.

The students, all aged between 19 and 22, are currently undertaking the equivalent of a two-year post A level course at two high schools in Montigny. Six of the students are seeking 4 weeks work experience in an administrative, financial or managerial environment, the other three are looking for a 6-week placement in Microtechnology.

In previous years, students have taken up placements with a number of Tameside companies including Brother UK Ltd, P-n-P Motion Controls, Monopumps and Gericke Ltd and some of these companies continue to provide valuable work experience. By doing so they have helped, and continue to help, to build a network of opportunities for young people not only in France but also in Tameside. A s a result of working with our French colleagues, 10 students from Ashton 6th Form College will be taking up similar placements in Montigny in 2009.

Companies interested in offering a work placement should contact Alan Marrow

tel: 0161 342 3980 email: alan.marrow@tameside.gov.uk

Tameside council has been given top marks by government inspectors - for the second time in a row

Tameside Council has done it again. The authority has been given four stars and "improving strongly" rating by inspectors for the second time in a row - placing it in the top five per cent of best performing councils in the country.

Government spending watchdog the Audit Commission praised Tameside's performance for being "consistently high" and "even further improved in areas that local people say are important."

Improvements have been made in a number of key areas: educational attainment is improving faster than the national average; unemployment is lower than the Greater Manchester average; inward investment is high; crime levels are low; and life expectancy is increasing.

Yet this has been achieved on a low cost base - last year Tameside's Council Tax increase was set as just 2.73 percent - the third lowest increase for all metropolitan boroughs.

GMP and MUSE Developments Join Forces to Mark New Headquarters

Representatives from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) joined MUSE Developments at Ashton Moss last week to mark the start on site of a new building.

The 100,000 sq ft building to be developed by MUSE /Stayley Developments will be completed in November 2008.The new location will bring together around 600 staff from several other buildings throughout the GMP area, providing a further boost to Ashton Moss as a an attractive environment to locate such a significant number of staff. To date Ashton Moss has attracted many notable occupiers all keen to be part of Ashton’s exciting regeneration. Companies that have already located to the site include, Office Depot , Car People and Norbain and Selco. In addition the retail and leisure aspect of the scheme has surpassed all expectations with further facilities under construction in the form of DeVere Hotels Village brand. The Police cited the development’s excellent facilities and plans for further improved transport links as a key factor in their decision to relocate to the scheme.

“This is another significant milestone for this constantly evolving mixed-use development”, explains Darran Lawless, Director of Muse Developments. “GMP’s decision to locate to Ashton Moss is testament to the site’s fantastic location adjacent Junction 23 of the M60 Motorway and our ability to provide a tailored solution of the highest quality. The whole team has worked extremely hard to provide a bespoke building that fully supports the needs of the Police both now and for the future”

Tameside Council Wins Top Award

Tameside Council has been officially named the best in the country.

The borough scooped the coveted Best Achieving Council award at the prestigious Municipal Journal (MJ) Awards on Thursday June 28th.

Judges were impressed by Tameside's track record as an "excellent" council - in this year's Comprehensive Performance Assessment it was the only local authority in the north west to receive the top rating of four stars with a judgement of "improving strongly".

They also recognised how Tameside listens to the priorities of local people and continues to deliver high rates of improvement such as in educational attainment and streetscene, and at a faster rate than other councils. Last year the borough attracted record levels of inward investment into the local economy, saw a sharp fall in crime and a ten per cent increase in resident satisfaction as well as above-average employee satisfaction.

The award follows the council recently becoming the first metropolitan borough in the country to achieve a Charter Mark - the Government's standard for customer service. National recognition of Tameside's success can be attributed to many areas of work across the council including:

Fairfield Golf and Sailing Club at Audenshaw is ready to begin an exciting new future.

Landowner United Utilities and the club are about to submit joint plans for an extension to the golf course and a new mixed use development.

The club is also working with former European Open Champion and PGA professional Andrew Murray to bring further improvements to the course. Andrew, who is also a summariser on Radio Five Live, has worked with the golf club to redesign the course which will create a number of new holes and will extend the par from 68 to 71.

The proposals would bring back into good use an area of vacant former reservoir land which has been attracting anti-social behaviour. If the plans get the go ahead, the development could attract 400 to 500 jobs.

It forms the climax to five years of negotiation between the partners and follows United Utilities’ announcement in March 2005 to extend the club’s lease for a further 50 years.

The proposals include redeveloping the site of the existing club house for residential use. United Utilities will add an additional 17 acres (around half) of the vacant land to the golf club for the extension to the course and for a new club house – and, if the plans are approved, Tameside Council would be approached to consider designating the land as protected urban green space.

The remaining area of vacant land would be developed to include a hotel and conference centre, office and business use and a small retail element.

As asset owner, United Utilities will fund the reconfiguration of the golf course.

Paula Steer, property director of United Utilities Property Solutions, said: “This is great news for Fairfield Golf and Sailing Club and the wider community. As a responsible landowner we want to play a major role in the future of the club and the local economy.”

Golf club president Dave Leonard said “The new proposals for the golf club fill us with confidence for the future. Working with United Utilities and Andrew Murray we will not only have one of the best set ups in Tameside, but one of the best in the region.

“We’re very excited – we see this as a new era for the club and it will regenerate the area for the benefit of the whole community.”
Cllr Kieran Quinn, the council’s executive member for economic services, said: “This is another exciting moment for Tameside. The high quality of this development matches the quality Tameside MBC is looking for in all its developments. I hope the wider community will be able to enjoy this sporting attraction that will also bring new jobs to the area.”

The plans will be formally submitted at the end of July and will put on display at the Tameside Council offices on Wellington Rd, Ashton-Under-Lyne.

Over 90 creative sector companies attended an exclusive networking event in London to discover how Manchester has become a hub for creative, new media and digital industries.

Hosted by MIDAS, Manchester's Inward Investment Agency and sponsered by leading property developers, Argent, the 'Make it in Manchester' event took place at Manchester Square in London and showcased the Manchester city region and what it has to offer businesses in the creative sector.

The event also gave London-based businesses the chance to network with some of Manchester's top creative sector companies to find out first-hand about their experiences of working in the city region.

MIDAS has seen a record number of top international digital and new media companies locating to, or reinvesting in the city region over the past two years including Google, Hat Trick North, Cisco, Microsoft and Yahoo! and sees the creative sector as one of the fastest growing sectors in the region.

Colin Siclair, Chief Executive at MIDAS, Manchester's Inward Investment Agency said: "The city region has fast become an innovative creative hub for the global new media and digital industries which is why we were keen to hold an event in London to showcase the exciting opportunities available in Manchester."

Since the beginning of the year, a number of Tameside companies have provided French students from Denton's twin town of Montigny le Bretonneux with valuable work experience as part of the French Student Exchange Programme. Recently, two companies, Brother UK and P-n-P Motion Controls Ltd, kindly provided work experience for French student Hadrien Lausson (pictured top right).

The French Student Exchange Programme provides students with an opportunity to experience work in another country and helps them develop their language skills. In addition, it helps to cultivate friendships and develops cultural links between the two countries.

Tameside M.B.C., in partnership with Ashton 6 th Form College, has recently submitted a bid for funding to allow 10 Tameside students to take up similar work experience placements in France. By providing a French student with a placement, Tameside companies are helping the process of building a network of opportunities for young people, not only in France, but also across the EU.

Formed in June 2000, P-n-P Motion Controls Ltd is a small but very successful company specializing in motion controls. They repair (down to component level), commission, service and test Inverters, DC Drives and Soft Start units. They also have a department which specialises in Industrial PCB Repairs, including Monitors, PLC, UPS and various one off Circuit Boards. Furthermore, they offer training courses on a wide range of applications from basic Drives training through to Application Commissioning Training on fieldbus, Sync-Pos Programming, PID Closed Loop Applications etc which can be at the customer's site or at the P-n-P Workshop Facility.

Recently, P-n-P provided 3 weeks work experience for a French student from Denton's twin town of Montigny le Bretonneux as part of the French Student Exchange Programme. This programme provides students with an opportunity to experience work in another country and helps them develop their language skills. In addition, it helps to cultivate friendships and develops cultural links between the two countries.

On the 11th April 2007, after two years of planning and still £5 within budget the restoration of Victoria Park Bandstand was finally completed. After months of research, a microscopic sample of paint from almost a century ago ensured a perfect match for the newly restored bandstand. TMBC’s Conservation Building Surveyor Peter Stafford lead the project and Dorothea Restorations completed the building work using the original methods of construction and materials (where possible). Elizabeth Read was the Conservation Officer.

Records show that the local authority purchased the grounds to Victoria Park, Denton, in 1886 for the sum of £6750.00. Improvements were made during 1907 – 1913. During this period of improvement the bandstand was erected in the position we find it in today. On the 16th June 2007 to celebrate the re-opening of the

bandstand a family fun day was organised.

Town manager Stuart Mollison said, “Victoria Park Bandstand is a landmark building both in Denton and the Tameside wide scene. It represents part of a strong local heritage and cultural tradition of the area; the building is not only attractive but is a symbol of civic pride in the town. The successful bid to carry out the restoration, especially the re-roofing, means that the Bandstand has been safeguarded for future generations to enjoy.”

Funding for this was provided by a series of grants including Tameside’s Preservation of Historic Buildings Fund and The Heritage Lottery Fund. The District Assembly also funded some of the costs.

Ashton’s historic Oddfellows Hall is back in business, restored to its original splendour. Built in 1855 in the grand, neo-classical style of the period, this Grade II listed building stood empty for many years.

Now restored to all its original splendour, the imposing building has risen from its ruins to begin an entirely new life and purpose.

The spacious interior of the structure has been redesigned to meet today’s commercial requirements, providing both retail premises and up-market residential accommodation.

At ground level, an elegant, self-contained retail/commercial unit provides around 80 sq. metres of floor space whilst on the ground and upper floors 16 highly individual town-centre apartments have been created.

The £2.5 million project was financed principally by the Bank of Scotland and supported by both English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund, whilst Tameside MBC made available a substantial grant to secure the future of the Hall. The building was acquired by Rockpark (Ashton) Limited and the conversion planned by Philip Millson Architecture (pma). Also involved in the work were Peter Stafford (Building Surveyor), Elizabeth Read (Conservation officer), Helen Charlesworth (Design & Regeneration officer) and Neil Rogers (Head of Strategic Planning) - all from Tameside MBC.

The Hall was officially re-opened on Thursday, 5th April 2007 by Councillor S.R. Oldham, CBE Executive Leader, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.

A BRAND new purpose-built business centre has opened in Hyde for new and growing businesses, financed through the European Regional development fund and Tameside Council.

Situated adjacent to Hyde Town Hall the facility comprises of nine offices ranging from 7 to 17 sq metres (96 to 251 sq ft) that are available on easy in and easy out terms for new or fledgling businesses.

The centre offers affordable managed workspace for new start businesses. It gives a unique opportunity for those people wishing to start a business in Tameside to do so within a supported exciting and modern business environment.

The new accommodation, which was opened by Executive Council Leader, Cllr Roy Oldham, on Thursday (May 24) boasts a number of impressive features, designed to provide a high quality environment.

Cllr Oldham said: “The opening of this facility is yet another example of how the council is supporting the local economy ”

Tameside MBC won the Public Sector Team Award at the prestigious 2007 Insider Property Awards in Manchester.

This category was for public sector companies who have facilitated major property projects in the North West over the last 12 months.

Pictured left are Pat Rattigan (centre - Assistant Executive Director of Economy & Environment) and Sue Hobbiss (left - Economic Development Officer) picking up the award at the ceremony at the GMex Centre in Manchester on the evening of the 17th May 2007.

SIR Geoffrey Hurst MBE was Guest of Honour at the official launch of Ask Developments’ St Petersfield scheme in his home town of Ashton-Under-Lyne on 26th April.

He was joined by the Civic Mayor of Tameside, Councillor Margaret Sidebottom and her consort Mr Colin Sidebottom and other dignitaries, as well as around 150 guests.

The scheme, which is being developed by Ask in partnership with Tameside MBC, NorthWest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and English Partnerships, has witnessed a great deal of activity in recent months, with the completion of the first phase and the multi-million pound public realm, including a stunning water feature and sculpture.

Sir Geoff was welcomed back to the town he was born in by Chief Executive of Ask Developments, Ken Knott, who also hails from Tameside. He will be given a guided tour of the £42m development, which includes the restoration of Hugh Mason House, on Henry Square, known to locals as Ashton Swimming Baths.

The first phase of the scheme is already home to Pennine Care NHS Trust Regional Headquarters, who have taken 26,000 sq ft within the 55,000 sq ft building - bringing together key functions such as human resources, finance, estates and risk management departments.

The building, which was designed by Aeadas Architects was purchased by Prestigic Holdings last year for around £9.3m

Work will also be starting soon on the £11m 40,000 sq ft primary care centre for Tameside and Glossop PCT, which will provide a vast range of services including screening, diagnostics such as ECG and ultrasounds as well as district nursing and other services.

Earlier this month, plans were also submitted by developer Ask Life, the residential arm of Ask Developments, for 72 city-style apartments which will form an integral part of the new quarter. Plans for a further 150 apartments in a separate block will be submitted at a later date.

John Hughes, Development Director at Ask Developments said: “We are delighted to welcome Sir Geoff and our distinguished guests to the scheme to highlight the enormous progress that has been made at St Petersfield.

“This is part of the continuing regeneration of Ashton town centre and Tameside, attracting new businesses to the area. St Petersfield has already proved to be a popular choice for occupiers selecting a town centre location ahead of out-of-town business parks and we are confident that it will be a catalyst for further investment.

The St Petersfield development will provide 280,000 sq ft of high quality office space and retail and leisure amenity facilities, totalling 400,000 sq ft and once complete, will have the capacity to sustain almost 2,000 jobs.

The scheme is being delivered through a public/private partnership, with £14.5m of Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), English Partnerships and EDRF money already committed to the 5.2-hectare (13-acre) site.

GREATER Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) has selected AMEC/Stayley Developments’ mixed-use scheme Ashton Moss as preferred location for a new 100,000 sq ft (9,290sq m) department headquarters.

A reserved matters planning application has been submitted for the proposed building, which will house the headquarters of the Crime Operations Department of the GMPA and around 600 staff.

The GMPA's decision to appoint AMEC as preferred bidder is a significant boost to its plans for Ashton Moss and gives a huge seal of approval to AMEC/Stayley’s fervent regeneration efforts.

The GMPA has selected the development over a number of other high profile sites in the north west. Key factors in the decision to locate the Crime Operations Department to Ashton Moss is the site’s close proximity to the motorway network and AMEC’s proven track record in delivering facilities on time and within budget.

The range of amenities already available on site such as the variety of retail, restaurant and leisure facilities, as well as the proposed Village Hotel, also impressed the GMPA.

“The police decision to select Ashton Moss as preferred site is a massive coup for AMEC/Stayley,” said Darran Lawless, director of AMEC Developments.

“The whole team has worked extremely hard to provide the Greater Manchester Police Authority with a specific solution tailored to suit their individual needs.”

Councillor Kieran Quinn, Executive Member for Economic Services, said: “Ashton Moss is proving to be an attractive sub-regional location for investment.

“This significant success provides another piece of the jigsaw at Ashton Moss which is helping to transform Ashton and Tameside into a major sub regional centre in the east of the Greater Manchester City Region.”

LATE last year, MVA Consultancy with Meredith Thomas PR conducted a telephone survey and workshop for property agents and investors.

The survey was commissioned to monitor the progress of the ERDF funded M60 Invest marketing awareness project and to inform future priorities for marketing and for the investment section of the forthcoming new Tameside Economic Development Plan.

Respondents felt that the main benefits for businesses located in Tameside were:

For investment marketing purposes, the respondents felt it was very important/important to associate Tameside with Manchester (87.7% - of which 44.2% felt it was very important and 43.5% important).

Over half of respondents felt that it was very important (57.3%) and an additional 30.4% believed it was important to continue promoting Ashton-under- Lyne as a key retail and investment destination.

With the exception of developing international links (73.4%) and promoting local tourism (66.9%), the majority of respondents either strongly agreed or agreed with Tameside’s proposed objectives for attracting investment, talent and visitors to the area.

DURING almost over half a century in business, Plastic Formers Ltd have become renowned as one of the country’s leading suppliers of fabricated, moulded and precision engineered plastic components to a diverse range of industries and business
sectors.

For most of that time they have operated from their premises in Denton, but they have now moved to a purpose-built, specially designed factory and office facility virtually next door to their old factory.

They felt it was important to stay in the Denton area, employing local people and contributing to the development of Denton and the surrounding area.

The new 42, 000 sq ft (3,901 sq m) site, almost adjacent to their old premises, on Crown Point South Industrial Park, off King Street, Denton, includes an all new High Tech factory to cater for their needs now and in the future. The new premises also
include a brand new office suite, the new home of the sales and customer service team.

For years Plastic Formers have been at the forefront of specialist production techniques for plastics and have become synonymous with high quality craftsmanship.

“We had been operating from our old factory for over 30 years and although it has served us well, we needed more space accommodate the work from our existing, new and growing business base. The extra space means that we can really focus on
our in house services, in particular the laser cutting, CNC machining, printing and specialist fabrication services we offer.”

The new 15,000 sq ft (1,393 sq m) store has created 52 new jobs for the area and brings the number of Marks & Spencer Outlet stores to 30.

“We are delighted to be opening a new outlet store in Denton,” said Mark Ashman, head of outlet stores at Marks & Spencer. The new store will offer local people an extensive range of M&S products at great prices.”

The new Marks & Spencer Outlet store, which will also feature an espresso bar, offers customers a great range of Marks & Spencer products including womenswear menswear, childrenswear, home, lingerie, footwear and beauty.

THE Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Ruth Kelly MP, recently acknowledged the innovative work going on in Hattersley.

She announced the formation of a new, national housing and regeneration organisation – Communities England – that will combine the functions of the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships.

Explaining that the new organisation will be responsible for decent homes, housing growth and urban regeneration, Mrs Kelly, said:

“Communities England will be tasked with embedding new and innovative approaches to regenerating strategic sites. In Hattersley, for example, an integrated approach to estate transformation is delivering decent homes, new private housing, new commercial and community centres and local jobs.

"An integrated approach to housing and regeneration is restoring confidence and creating the basis for long-term sustainability.”

THE development of Droylsden Marina has moved a step closer, following an announcement from Government Office North West.

The Secretary of State has given the go ahead for the compulsory purchase of Droylsden canalside, paving the way for the new marina development.

The £100m mixed-use, waterside development comprising 92 three and four bedroom executive homes, 291 one and two bedroom
apartments and 45,000 sq ft (4,180sq m) of office and retail space, has further commercial opportunities for a hotel, café, children’s
nursery and fitness club.

The Council’s partner developers, the Watkin Jones Group, will now start the first phase of development, which will include infrastructure works, an apartment block fronting the canal, and work on the canal arm and marina basin.

A TRIO of chartered surveyors has launched a new company in Tameside dedicated to helping commercial property developers.

Bill Jennings, Alex Barton and Rob Henderson have created Jennings Barton Henderson – Chartered Surveyors to meet the demands of a growing commercial property sector in the borough.

The new business will complement the trio’s sister company – Jennings Design Associates – Architects.

“This is an exciting time for commercial property in Tameside”, said Alex Barton: “I am passionate to see the growth of the commercial property sector in Tameside continue.

"I believe the arrival of schemes such as Crown Point North, IKEA, Ashton Moss and Urban Splash to the area is merely the start of things to come.”

Jennings Barton Henderson can give advice on buying or selling commercial properties, advice on landlord or tenant on leases – including rent reviews and lease renewals – guidance on business disposal and management of individual buildings or property portfolios.

Said Rob Henderson: “We are delighted with the amount of clients who have come on board. With several thousand feet
of space on our books, together with a large waiting list of potential end users, this truly is the time to capitalise upon the strong economic climate for commercial buildings.”

12 winners from 12 categories stepped forward to receive trophies at the prestigious e-tameside awards ceremony on Saturday 24th February 2007

Selco Trade Centres Ltd, operating as Selco Builders Warehouse, is one of a number of UK merchant brands within the portfolio of the c£1.5bn Irish buildings materials group Grafton PLC.

Based in Kings Norton, Birmingham, Selco currently operates out of 15 branches located across London, the Midlands, Bristol and South Wales. The company has plans to grow to a 30 branch network and to treble turnover to £200m by 2010 via the greenfield development of its unique trade only format, the nature of which positions it between the traditional builder’s merchants, such as Travis Perkins and Jewson, and retail sheds such as B&Q and Wickes. Selco’s modern warehouse developments, which now boast a total covered selling area in excess of 500,00 sqft, offer the RMI focused “white van man”, - attracted by simple pricing, stock depth and width, speed and excellence of service and aggressive special offers - a choice of over 15,000 stocked SKU’s covering their everyday building material needs.

The opening of Selco’s 16th branch in Ashton-under-Lyne represents the further strengthening of Selco’s presence in the Manchester area following the earlier launch of its Baguley branch in August this year. It also represents another significant step in establishing the brand in the North West region as a whole where, with the combined openings of both Ashton and Baguley, the company has created an additional 100 jobs for the local community across a wide spectrum of retail skills and disciplines.

Property developers, agents, local businesses and key decision-makers from across the North West are now being asked to share their views on Tameside’s success as an investment location.

A seminar – Driving Economic Development Forward in Tameside – will be held on Wednesday 29 November at Dukinfield Town Hall which will invite views from the business and property community to help Tameside Council to formulate its future economic development plans and to analyse the results of recent initiatives and their contribution to a greater awareness and understanding of the area in national, regional and local terms in line with the objectives of the Greater Manchester Economic Development Plan.

In tandem, telephone research is being undertaken with over 250 additional contacts and these results, together with seminar feedback, will be analysed and used to shape future economic development plans.

Speakers at the seminar will include representatives of AMEC Developments, Ask Developments, MIDAS and Tameside Council. An audience of over 80 is expected. The research results are anticipated towards the end of the year.

The contract has just been signed for the management of a new incubator facility in Hyde Town Hall. Workspace Centres Ltd will shortly be recruiting new tenants.

The Hyde Town Hall incubator will offer nine managed business units, aimed at office based businesses. The 10 m sq offices, will be fully serviced, and rents will be set to encourage new start and fledging businesses with growth potential. The occupiers will be expected to grow ‘out’ of the units in time, vacating the units for more new businesses.

The conversion of a redundant part of this listed building into a new commercial use, was funded by ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) and Tameside MBC.

MCR Property Group, formerly known as Classic Homes acquired the 155,000 sq ft (14,415 sq m) Hyde Clarendon Shopping Centre earlier this year.

A commercial improvement scheme (grant) is to be introduced shortly, and will initially be focused on Hyde – this will offer, subject to eligibility, a 50% grant up to a maximum value of £15,000 for a limited number of improvement schemes, targeted at small retailers (employing 1-10 people) in visible Hyde town centre locations.

The M60 Invest project arranged a preview of the new Ikea store as part of a tour of Ashton Town Centre for retail and leisure property agents, which took place on Tuesday 17th. The tour also took in the leisure part of Ashton Moss, St Petersfield, the Arcades and Ladysmith shopping centres and the Market Hall.

Getting straight to the point was the order of the evening, when a number of Tameside business got together for a unique networking event.

More than 40 Tameside businesses, from a variety of sectors, met at Curzon Ashton FC, for the evening, which was organised by the e-tameside business team.

To break the ice, a ‘speed dating’ session was organised where each business had one minute to tell the other who they were and what they did. E-tameside business team advisor Roy Haslam, used an old police whistle to indicate when time was up and everyone moved round to ‘chat up’ another local business. Then it was a free for all, with people seeking out those businesses they particularly wanted to speak with again.

Rajeev Arora from Davora who make ethnic minority greetings cards said: "How successful can an evening be? I've managed to raise the awareness of my product and even walked away with an order!"

Colin Foster of Universal Solutions 4 Business (IT training) said: “It's been a brilliant networking event because these are real businesses looking for real contacts. I've got phone calls to make to follow up enquiries."

E-tameside business team advisor Jane Michael said; “I’m very pleased with the turn out and the enthusiasm of everyone taking part. This is the first such event and we are planning another one for December”. To take part in the next evening, businesses need to be registered members of Tameside Business, the council’s online directory.

On July 12th ONE Manchester was selected as one of ten finalists in the Digital Challenge. The MDDA submitted the Digital Challenge bid for the Manchester city-region. Led by Manchester City Council and Tameside MBC and supported by dozens of partners from across the public, private and voluntary sectors the bid aims to develop Manchester as the UK’s leading digital city-region by winning up to £7m from the Government’s Digital Challenge.

Digital Challenge is an opportunity to secure new resources to support digital development across the city and develop more innovative ways to use these technologies to regenerate the city and tackle the digital divide.

MDDA coordinated the bid on behalf of The Manchester Partnership and the Tameside Strategic Partnership with support from Salford City Council.

Over the next six months we will be working on a Business Plan for the national challenge which will need to be submitted by December 2006 with the national winner announced in January 2007.

Other planning cases that the council have won recently are on the grounds of design of the Aldi store on a site opposite New Charter and the demolition of a large bungalow on Stalybridge Road for redevelopment to flats this was won on various grounds.

NWF Group plc (“NWF”), the diversified sales and distribution group, announces that its Garden Centre division has acquired the share capital of Arthur A Gent & Sons Ltd (“Gent”), a garden centre company located in Ashton under Lyne, near Manchester. The consideration amounts to £903,000, which includes £664,000 in respect of cash balances retained within the company, and is being financed by NWF’s existing bank facilities.

Gent’s activities were originally situated near Ashton under Lyne. However, due to the construction of the M60 motorway, the business was relocated in 2002 to a new seven-acre site in Ashton with the benefit of planning permission for a new garden centre, held on a 50-year lease. Following the acquisition, NWF will develop the new garden centre, which it is anticipated will take up to six months, and once completed it will comprise 30,000 square foot of heated retail space with ample car parking.

Graham Scott, Chief Executive of NWF, commented: “Ashton presents us with a very exciting opportunity. By acquiring this excellent site within a rapidly developing retail area, we have the chance to develop an entirely new and comprehensive garden centre facility in close proximity to Ashton and the wider Manchester area.”

“We are delighted to be expanding the Garden Centre division of the Group in the North West furthering our current growth strategy. We look forward to opening the new centre towards the end of our financial year.”

Taken from the NFW website. For more information, please contact Sue Hobbiss on 0161 342 2865 or email sue.hobbiss@tameside.gov.uk

More on NWF Group: CHESHIRE-based NWF Group, which operates garden centres and distributes food, fuel and animal feeds, announced a leap in annual profits and plans to create 350 jobs in the north west.

The company is spending £16m on warehouses at its hub in Wardle, Nantwich, which will generate 250 posts by the end of next year.
It is also developing a garden centre in Tameside, which will create 100 jobs.

Chief executive Graham Scott gave details of the double employment boost as he unveiled a 33 per cent rise in profits from £4.5m to £6m for the year to May 31, ahead of market expectations.

Turnover at the AIM-listed business increased 24 per cent, from £236m to £293m.

The final dividend is 13.4p, making a total of 18p for the year, a rise of 7.8 per cent. Shares in NWF ticked up 2.5p, or 0.28 per cent, to 885p after the update.

The fuels division accounts for the biggest proportion of group sales and posted a 22 per cent rise from £145.5m to £178.2m last year. NWF supplies petrol and diesel to garages, and oil for central heating in rural homes and businesses.
Sales in its business supplying feeds for dairy cows rose 35 per cent, from £53.1m to £72m, following a period of strong organic growth and the acquisition of Winsford-based Nutrition Express.

The group operates warehouses from where food is distributed to supermarkets, and here turnover rose from £22m to £27.2m.

NWF has five garden centres, which saw combined sales of £16m and turned losses of £300,000 into profits of £300,000.

Written by Kevin Feddy for the MEN. For more information, please contact Sue Hobbiss on 0161 342 2865 or email sue.hobbiss@tameside.gov.uk

New figures from the DTI today [WEDS] show the value of North West firms who have enjoyed support from the manufacturing advisory service over the past year has been boosted by more than £14m.

MAS gives businesses independent straightforward practical advice from manufacturing experts who themselves have years of hands on experience. The service is subsidised, and for smaller firms much of the help is free. Companies who have used MAS have found it increases the value of their business through a combination of increased turnover and reduced costs. The value of the firms who have used MAS North West has gone up by £14.4m.

In its first four years, MAS North West has handled 14,719 enquiries, made 2,507 advisory visits, and helped the region’s firms with 1,037 in-depth projects.

BOSSES of Hyde-based Christy, which makes towels for the Wimbledon tennis championships, have sold the business to an Indian textiles group for around £15m.

It is the second time in six years that ownership of Christy has changed hands. It was the subject of a management buyout from Courtaulds in June 2000.

Christy chiefs have sold an 85 per cent stake to Welspun but will retain a 15 per cent holding and will continue to run it. In a statement, Christy said all 464 employees would transfer with their same terms and conditions.

Rajesh Mandawewala, the chief executive of Welspun's textile division, will become Christy's chairman.

Joel Rosenblatt, Christy's managing director, said the deal represented an `enormous opportunity'. "We believe it is in the long-term interests of the business," he insisted. "It will give Christy the greatest scope for future development, with access to Welspun's research and development capabilities and international presence "Welspun sees Christy as a strong business with opportunity for development and investment."

Founded in the mid-1800s, Christy has supplied towels to Wimbledon for more than 35 years. It sells towels to a range of retailers in the UK and overseas, and operates more than 100 concessions. In addition to towels, the company produces robes, bedlinen and accessories.

A team at the Manchester office of investment bank Altium advised Christy on the Welspun deal.

The IKEA jobsfair (11-17 June) was attended by more than 6500 jobseekers. The next assessment stage is currently underway and IKEA expect to employ 500+ people at the new store, due to open on 19th October 2006. The pre-employment training courses, focusing on 4 of the priority neighbourhoods and people with a disability or learning difficulty, are proving very successful in moving people through the recruitment process with around 70% success rate so far.

IKEA have rented town centre premises for their administrative base and are continuing to use Oxford Park Community Sports Centre as their assessment venue.

Senior politicians from Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority have welcomed today’s announcement by the government that the Metrolink expansion will go ahead and revealed further details about the plans.

The decision by the Secretary of State for Transport, Douglas Alexander, to grant conditional approval for the scheme means the process of selecting contractors can now get underway.

The funding released by the government today will go towards Phase 3a of the expansion which will take Metrolink to Oldham and Rochdale, Droylsden in Tameside and Chorlton in South Manchester. Up to 30 new trams will be introduced to the network bringing the total number operating on the system to nearly 70.

A bid for the additional funding required to extend Metrolink into Oldham and Rochdale town centres, as well as to Ashton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury and Manchester Airport (Phase 3b), will be submitted to the government’s Transport Innovation Fund next year as part of plans to significantly improve public transport across Greater Manchester. A successful bid will allow both phases to be delivered simultaneously.

Councillor Roger Jones, the Chair of the Authority, said: “This is fantastic news for Greater Manchester and I’d like to thank everyone who has given their support to the ‘Get Our Metrolink Back On Track’ initiative over the past two years.

“Metrolink has been massively popular since it began operating in 1992 and nearly 20 million journeys are made by passengers using the service every year. We must now forge ahead to secure the rest of Phase 3 and I am confident we will get further funding next year from the government’s Transport Innovation Fund.”

Councillor Andrew Fender, the Manchester spokesperson for the Authority, said: “Metrolink has already given Manchester a huge social and economic boost and the expansion of the network will play a vital role in the continued regeneration of the region.”

Councillor Jeremy Sutcliffe, the Oldham spokesperson for the Authority, said: “This announcement will lead to major economic improvements across the borough. We remain committed to extending Metrolink into Oldham town centre and I’m pleased that the bid to the Transport Innovation Fund next year will include this as a priority.”

Councillor Allen Brett, Vice Chair and Rochdale spokesperson for the Authority, said: “The Metrolink expansion will make it much easier to get to Oldham and Manchester and for people from outside the borough to reach Rochdale. ...

I’m sure it will lead to regeneration across the borough and bring a particular boost to the Kingsway Business Park. I look forward to seeing Metrolink come to Rochdale town centre.”

Councillor Alan Whitehead, the Tameside spokesperson for the Authority, added: “It’s important we make a start on all three lines and the government’s decision to release this funding is just the start of major improvements to public transport in Tameside over the next ten years. I’m sure Metrolink trams will soon become a familiar sight in Ashton-under-Lyne as well as elsewhere in Tameside.”

The decision to grant conditional approval for the Phase 3a expansion means work on the three new lines could start in just two years’ time as long as the cost remains within the budget set by the Department for Transport.

The 13.7 mile (22 km) extension to Rochdale train station will replace the existing railway line which links Manchester with Rochdale via Oldham; the 4 mile (6.4 km) extension to Droylsden will serve New East Manchester, the City of Manchester Stadium and the Velodrome; and the 1.8 mile (2.9 km) extension to Chorlton will replace a section of disused railway line between Trafford Bar and St Werburgh’s Road.

Proposals for Greater Manchester’s bid for funding from the Transport Innovation Fund are currently being developed and further details about them will be released later this year.

Greater Manchester has already been awarded an initial grant of £1.25 million from the fund to investigate new ways of improving public transport and tackling congestion, which would include the Phase 3b plans.

The Transport Innovation Fund bid will be submitted to the government in July 2007 and a decision is expected to be announced in December 2007.

For more information, please contact David Harris or Becky Marr on 0161-242 6245, or by email at communications@gmpte.gov.uk

400 parking spaces will be available for passengers at six Metrolink stops on the Oldham & Rochdale line. 120 spaces will be provided at Hollinwood, 15 at Freehold, 50 at Oldham Mumps, 160 at Derker, 40 at Shaw & Crompton and 15 at Milnrow.

September 2006 Companies invited to submit ‘expressions of interest’ in constructing the new Metrolink lines

July 2007 Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) bid submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) for Phase 3b of the Metrolink expansion

December 2007 TIF bid announcement made by DfT Successful bidder appointed to carry out Metrolink expansion

New age discrimination laws will come into force in October, leaving many working practices past their sell-by date.

Firms will no longer be able to advertise for "young", "dynamic" or even "mature" candidates for fear of falling foul of the regulations.

Employers will also have to watch the language in the workplace - no referring to old-timers - as well as keeping a check on how they award pensions and perks. Also, they will no longer be able to force workers to retire at 65.

"I don't think the magnitude of the change will be understood for a good few months or years," says Michael Farrier of employment lawyers Boyes Turner.

With such a seismic shift on the horizon, a big question mark is hanging over UK companies and how ready they are for the change?

Some companies are not burying their heads in the sand, and courses, events and seminars on how to deal with ageism are becoming big business.

Boyes Turner, along with recruitment specialists FSS and Crone Corkill, has been providing a number of away-days for firms hoping to bone up on the changes.

At a mock tribunal in London's financial district, human resources personnel and other workers get to witness an ageism claim alongside other discrimination allegations.

During a break in the "case", the visitors discuss what the changes could mean for their working practices.

"Even just calling someone oldie in a birthday card could be enough to bring a claim," says one.

Another observer has been on a round of seminars and discussions, and explains she's been briefed not just to concentrate on older workers.

"At a recent course one speaker warned that the changing demographics in society mean more young people could take action - they're seen as the 'Me Me Me Generation' and so just want to grab what they can," she says.

Even though this type of event is seen as helpful in getting staff ready for the new laws, employment experts believe employers could be in for a shock.

They point to research carried out before the last big legal changes in the workplace - sex and race discrimination laws which came in to force in the mid-1970s.

Before those rules were brought in, most firms believed they would make little difference - but many high-profile and high-stakes cases have since been brought before tribunals.

One study by legal firm Simons & Simons showed 93% of companies believe that new regulations will have little effect, even though age is consistently shown to be a factor in company employment decisions.

Another survey by Legal Week Benchmarker, carried out in July last year, found that 75% of corporate lawyers questioned had not reviewed their firm's employment policy.

"There's increasing awareness of ageism as a bad thing, the laws put a stake in the ground and say its as bad as racism or sexism," Sam Mercer, director of the Employers' Forum on Age (EFA) says.

A number of employers have been contacting the EFA about the changes - raising "about six issues a day", Ms Mercer says.

Among the most common concerns raised is compliance, or how companies can stick to the rules.

"Big or small, companies still need to decide age and recruitment policies, graduate training schemes and policies on long-term benefits," Ms Mercer says.

But policies and practices aren't the only issues that need checking, says Paul Marsh head of HR and recruitment at FSS and Crone Corkill.

"We need to break down prejudices and change mindsets, as age to a lot of people would not feel as taboo as sexism or racism," he says

As a result, companies will have to look at the culture of their workplace - for example in the IT world staffing tends to be more youth oriented.

Firms will have to check whether their adverts and policies are promoting inherent age discrimination and ways to rebalance the situation so they are not at odds with the law.

But Mr Marsh does not believe the new laws will trigger an upsurge in age-positive employment.

"Companies still need to take the best person for the job," he explains. "But we would actively try to widen the pool of recruits.

"It could be, say, how you attract over 50s - for example, where you advertise. If your ads are web-based that lessens the pool as younger people are more likely to use them," he adds.

Some commentators predict the changes could in fact lead to fewer people working past the age of 65 as firms enforce a "blanket ban" on older workers to prevent claims in the future.

Anecdotal evidence from Age Concern suggests that companies are currently clearing out older workers as a pre-emptive measure to avoid such cases

After October, workers will be able to work past the age of 65 if granted leave to do so by their employer. Should they be refused then it must be for "objectively justified" reasons.

"There's a lot of uncertainty about the changes - usually it's black and white - for example when sexual orientation came in you could understand precisely what was expected," says Mr Farrier.

"Each case will be treated on its merits, if a worker is kept on at 65 then that requires you to have valid evidence for why that didn't go on at 68 and what's changed."

Looking ahead the experts believe there will be more cases claiming age discrimination, but it will take the first awards against companies to give any guidance as to how the changes will take effect.

The experience of companies in the US may give some hints as to how the future will develop as anti-ageism legislation has been in force there since 1967.

Between 1992 and 2002 17,000 age-related discrimination cases were launched and 10,000 of those were successful in getting compensation.

However, most cases were on a class-action basis and dealt with redundancies and job cuts.

Closer to home, the Republic of Ireland brought in the new legislation two years ago and by July last year ageism accounted for 19% of discrimination cases

So even while no-one is sure exactly how the changes will manifest themselves, it seems certain that the effects will start to be seen pretty quickly and companies would be well advised to prepare themselves as soon as possible.

De Vere Group Plc have exchanged contracts with AMEC developments and Stayley developments to build a Village Hotel & Leisure Club at the Ashton Moss Leisure Park. The announcement demonstrates a significant boost to the growth of Ashton Moss and continues De Vere's ambitious expansion plans for the Village brand.

The proposals will transform the 3.5 acre site into a 122 bed hotel with high quality conference and banqueting facilities, pub, café, restaurant plus a state of the art leisure club. Village Ashton is expected to create up to 225 employment opportunities in the area, contributing to the local economy and providing excellent facilities to both on-site workers and the surrounding area.

Ashton Moss occupies a prominent position fronting the M60 Manchester orbital motorway at junction 23 and the A635 dual carriageway, which provides direct access between Central Manchester and Ashton-Under-Lyne. Richard Kiersey, Property Director for De Vere says:

"The Ashton Moss proposal signals another great opportunity for the Village brand. We are excited to be working with AMEC and we look forward to being part of the Ashton Moss development"

"We are delighted to welcome the Village hotel and Leisure club to Ashton Moss" says Darran Lawless of AMEC developments "Having De Vere onsite represents a prestigious addition to the development. De Vere embodies what we are aiming to achieve at Ashton Moss, providing high quality accommodation, business and leisure facilities for the surrounding area and local residents".

IKEA have been overwhelmed by the enormous response that it has had to its recruitment drive for over 500 new jobs at the new IKEA store in
Ashton-under-lyne.

"We supplied over 10,000 application forms to the local job centres and they are now asking for more, its amazing." says Project Manager HR Linda Johnson; " We have already received back over 2,000 applications and the standard of those who have applied is very high".

We are working with closely with Tameside Employment Partnership to ensure that as many vacancies as possible are filled by applicants from the local community.

Positions available include sales jobs, skilled chefs, administrators, designers, carpenters and customer service co-workers.

We are looking to recruit people from all walks of life in order to build a truly diverse work force. Since the store is open seven days a week, a variety of part- time, as well as full-time shift patterns are available, including evening and weekend work.

IKEA are running a job fair open to everyone at Oxford Park Community Sports Centre from 12th - 17th June. All those who have applied already will be invited to attend.

It may have been a sad day yesterday, as the Economic Development Unit waved goodbye to one of its Resource Procurement Officers but, before his departure, Justin Bentham triumphed in securing a magnificent £50,000 for the renovation of the Denton bandstand.

As Justin moves on to new challenges in Salford, his legacy of secured funding ensures that he will not be quickly forgotten.

Denton Town Centre Manager Stuart Mollison is now taking over the management of this particular project, with a launch for the newly renovated bandstand chalked for later this year – featuring, of course, a full brass band.

For more information on the bandstand and the plans surrounding it, please contact Stuart Mollison on 0161 342 2704.

The former Civic Mayor of Tameside, Cllr J E A Lane, hosted a visit to the Mayor’s parlour for Office Depot International staff based on Ashton Moss.

The visit followed a Mayoral tour of Office Depot’s state of the art facility on Ashton Moss in January and was designed to welcome employees to Ashton-under-Lyne Town Centre.

Prior to the reception in the Parlour, the group tasted the delights of Ashton’s Continental Market, held on March 24th - on a tour hosted by Ashton’s Town Centre Marketing Manager, Peter Hawley, Head of Markets Ian Kelly and Alan Hartwell, Continental Market Organiser.

All agreed that Ashton Market was well worth a return visit whether to the Continental, Farmers’ or daily markets.

LEGI is a joint initiative between the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, HM Treasury and the Department for Trade and Industry. The initiative has already provided £126million to ten bidders covering 15 local authority areas to support locally-developed strategies to boost local economic activity.

Launching the second round in April, ODPM Neighbourhood Renewal Minister, Phil Woolas said:

"The best proposals in LEGI’s first round showed a genuinely deep understanding of local issues and demonstrated the role of strong local partnerships in delivering change. …”

“If we are to compete effectively in the global economy we have to develop a "can do" attitude in every section of the community - including women, young people and ethnic minorities. LEGI can be a vital element in achieving this, and I encourage all local authorities who are thinking of bidding to learn from successful bids and consider how best they can use LEGI funding to encourage enterprise in some of their most disadvantaged areas.”

§ an increase in business start-ups by helping to increase the entrepreneurial activity among the local population;
§ support the growth and reduce the failure of locally owned existing businesses and
§ create jobs for local residents by attracting appropriate inward investors.

The involvement of local business in developing a strategy for LEGI is seen to be a key success factor in the successful Round One bids. Though Round 2 will be even more competitive than Round 1, where only one North West bid from St Helen’s achieved final approval, Tameside are keen to proceed.

A workshop was held for local businesses in June to get ideas and support for the next bid. Extracts from the successful bids included the following:

§ Croydon: three Enterprise and Opportunity Centres offering a focal point for entrepreneurship and enterprise in key target areas. Facilities will include business advice services, workshop/meeting rooms, incubation space and training rooms.
§ St Helens: Streetwalkers - a team of advisers will be out on the streets offering low level advice and guidance to small businesses on working effectively with official bodies (eg councils, police, etc.) and helping them to deal with bureaucracy.
§ Bradford: Festival of Enterprise in Bradford - part of a broader programme of developing an enterprise culture in the area, bringing together enterprise events into a high profile festival.
§ South Tyneside: In partnership with Durham Business School, the Business Growth Programme for small and medium businesses will equip owner-managers with the necessary skills, tools and knowledge to determine appropriate growth and change strategies.
§ Hastings: Community banking - a one stop shop, providing access to affordable loans particularly for sole traders and micro-entrepreneurs. Also Film and Digital Media Powerhouse - providing support and access to resources to create a dynamic digital media sector.
§ Coalfields (Bolsover, Mansfield and Ashfield): A Virtual Enterprise Academy will bring the educational and business sectors closer together to encourage enterprise in schools eg by providing courses and information for young people on setting up a business. Outreach business advisors will provide grassroots advice to existing and prospective new businesses within the deprived areas.

Businesses who would like to support the bid in any way should contact Lisa Hoyland Business Initiatives Manager at Tameside MBC on 0161 342 3544 email: lisa.hoyland@tameside.gov.uk

Tameside schools recently took part in a competition organised by Young Enterprise.

“It is noticeable that there has been an increasing emphasis on Enterprise in Education, and there are a number of schemes and initiatives taking place, including through the Tameside Education Business Partnership. Our research for the Round 1 LEGI bid, undertaken by Manchester Metropolitan University’s Centre for Enterprise, survey of a sample of businesses indicated that a significant percentage were keen to get involved in working with young people to develop their entrepreneurial skills.”

“Some businesses, however, have indicated that they find it difficult to find a single point of contact to express their interest and are confused by the range of initiatives available. We aim to address this in our developing Enterprise Strategy and if we were successful in gaining additional funding from LEGI, or other sources to improve this working with the education sector and our partners in Manchester Enterprises.” Said Lisa Hoyland, Business Initiatives Manager.

Former Civic Mayor, Cllr J E A Lane and party visited successful local company Tibard Ltd in April this year before handing over her chain of office to new Mayor, Cllr Sean-Parker Perry.

Tibard are manufacturers and suppliers of workwear that can be found in some of the most dynamic workplaces, from kitchens to factories, offices to hotels, construction sites to car showrooms.

Tibard's business also includes garment rental and a laundry service. Tibard provides weekly laundry services nationally on rental items. The whole system is controlled by sophisticated procedures at Tibard House. Tibard exports to a number of countries including Europe, the Middle East and the Mediterranean islands.

Tibard has gained British Standards and ISO accreditation and continues to produce very high quality garments for industry. The two core areas are hotel and catering. Tibard is renowned in the market place for it’s' consistently high quality of both products and services. Many well known brands regard Tibard as a reliable supplier.

Several years ago John Shonfeld, Managing Director, saw great opportunities for exporting not only garments, but also fabrics. Tibard now has dealers in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Malta, Barbados and Germany and agents that virtually span the globe.

Despite growing pressure to re-rationalise manufacturing off-shore, Tibard Workwear Limited decided to keep manufacturing in the UK:

“British manufactured goods gives us more control over the supply chain. That means we can guarantee supply to our customers and maintain better quality control. We plan to continue to do so for the foreseeable future”. (Said Commercial Director Rick Shonfeld - source: Tibard website).

Managing Director, John Shonfeld is the Tameside Executive Chair of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Tameside Strategic Partnership, Tameside Economic and Learning Partnership and on the advisory panel of the Dukinfield District Assembly, and to add to his responsibilities has been appointed president of the Textile Services Association. John took on his new appointment at a meeting in London in April.

Cllr Kieran Quinn said “we need more local business leaders like John, who put such a lot back into the community, which in turn ensures a thriving local economy, capable of supporting successful local enterprises.”

Each year, the Civic Mayor manages to visit as many local firms as possible to demonstrate the importance of these and similar employers to the local economy, and enable the companies to find out in one visit, the range of support they may receive via the Council.

The Mayoral party usually consists of between 5 to 8 people including the current Mayor and Mayoress.

If you are interested in a visit please contact John Lowden, Economic Development Unit, 0161 342 2795 or email: john.lowden@tameside.gov.uk and see http://www.tameside.gov.uk/business/mayorvisit.htm)

"The attraction to sites in Merseyside and north of Manchester came from developers looking at other areas away from the more expensive prime sites such as Warrington and Trafford Park, demonstrating that the market is more price sensitive. Occupiers are also realising this and prepared to consider other locations, such as Merseyside or north Manchester to keep costs down."

The east side of Manchester has really been opened up by the M60 and potentially there will be more development opportunities in the east as the west and south of Manchester become built out. According to Mr Middleton: "The east certainly offers good value for money with typical rents around 25p to 50p lower then the west. For example, a 20,000 sq ft unit with 10 per cent office content would be around £5.50 per sq ft at Trafford Park but would be nearer £5.00 to £5.25 on the east side.

"The recent, and highly visible 250,000 sq ft letting to Office World in Tameside has been the most significant deal of late in this sector of the M60. It freed up 150,000 sq ft at the company's previous location at Oldham Broadway, which will soon be on the market.

"Demand remains high from local distribution companies but there is a shortage of freehold properties and the appetite remains strong for these."
The scarcity of available development land was demonstrated by the recent case of the Walls site in Hyde. The eight-acre site with 40,000 sq ft of accommodation went to best bids and was put under offer to a London investor. It is likely to be speculatively developed.

According to Pexton: "Land values are rising but it is almost at two distinct rates - larger sites for larger sheds offer economies of scale in build cost and developer can afford to pay more for the site.”

Extracted from www.logisticsmanager.com. For more information, please contact Lisa Hoyland on 0161 342 3544

For the first quarter of 2006 (1/1//06 to 31/3/06), TMBC (economic development unit) recorded 98 property related enquiries.

During this quarter there have been 5 inward investment successes creating approximately 115 new jobs for Tameside and 7 local investment successes, safeguarding approximately 34 jobs for the local workforce. This represents approximate investment totalling £766,000.

Over the last 8 years TMBC has recorded 157 inward investments creating 5,694 new jobs & 372 local business relocations safeguarding 7,188 jobs.

For further information, please contact Sue Hobbiss on 0161 342 2865 or Martin Wain on 0161 342 2058.

TAMESIDE businessman, John Shonfeld, has been appointed president of the Textile Services Association.

John, who owns and manages Dukinfield based workwear and laundry company, Tibard Ltd, took on his new appointment at a meeting in London at which the guest speaker was Rt Hon Michael Howard.

John said: “I am delighted to be president of the TSA, which is the trade organisation for the laundry, cleaning and textile rental industry.”

“I have been involved in the laundry business for many years and am looking forward to meeting people and attending events on behalf of the organisation over the next 12 months.”

John is well known in the Tameside business community as chairman of the Tameside local chamber council for Greater Manchester Chamber and as business representative on the Dukinfield Assembly and the Tameside Economic and Learning Partnership.

In April, this year the former Civic Mayor, Cllr J E A Lane visited the company’s premises, in recognition of the work that John does engaging business with the community and employing local people.

For more details ring Diane Inglis, Press and PR Officer, Greater Manchester Chamber, on 0161 474 3782 or 07793 877141.

The Crown Point North development in Denton is continuing to prove its popularity. The site consists of 200,000 square metres of quality retailing. There are 800 free car-parking spaces with Park Mark® Safer Parking award. Current tenants include BHS, Birthdays, Clarks, New Look, River Island, Mothercare, Boots, Virgin Megastore, Evans, Wallis, Burtons, Dorothy Perkins, Sports World, TK Max, Tesco Home Plus, Au Naturale, Internacionale, O2, Jessops, Carphone and Warehouse.

The next three months will see the arrival of Bank Fashions, the Works and The Entertainer.

The site is now virtually fully let, although one large unit is still available.

For more information, please contact Sue Hobbiss or Martin Wain on 0161 342 2856 or 0161 342 2058.

Regional Transport Manager, responsible for 6 transport operations with an operating budget of 16 million.

Started as a driver 9 years ago at the Stockport site, became transport team leader & then transport supervisor. After 2 years I was made Transport Manager & over the next few years managed the Stockport site & set up & supported other transport operations in the UK. In 2002 I was asked to manage our print facility in Erith, I worked there for 2 years before returning to the north to take up my present role as Regional Transport Manager North.

Over the 9 years I have been with the company I been through all types of training to make sure I was able to do my role in the various positions I have held. More recently the company has put me on an 18 months course in Supply Chain Management which has a qualification of Cilt Level 5 Professional Diploma.

The site is fantastic place to work & in a few short words Office Depot gives you the support to achieve anything you set your mind on. For me this isn't an office supplies company it's a talent finding company.

Regional DC Manager North, responsible for the three Northern based sites Ashton Leeds Glasgow.

Previously employed by ACCO for 15 years (manufacturing back ground), joined Office Depot November 7th 2000 as a shift manager 2002 promoted to Assistant DC Manager 2003 promoted to DC Manager 2004 promoted to Regional DC Manager responsible for Ashton Leeds Glasgow.

Working for Office Depot is fantastic the culture is great and the opportunities within the business have been excellent.

Tameside make an impression at MIPIM ‘06

The borough’s profile was greatly enhanced following participation in the international property event this March.

Attending the event and networking with developers and other councils has helped to raise the profile of Tameside at both a local and national level

Promotional materials, including a specially commissioned DVD were well received, and much attention was lavished on the Tameside stand (located alongside Manchester in Cannes’ prestigious Palais des Festivals et des Congrès), resulting in a good deal of popularity for the one-to-one sessions hosted in the hospitality suite throughout Thursday.

Feedback indicates that those who want to work with Tameside wish to do so because they see the authority as ‘forward thinking, easy to work with and a good business partner’.

It has been reported that many of the schemes currently being run by the council were well known and well regarded by many developers. These were also aware of the IKEA project.

Tameside was one of the few non-city local authorities to attend MIPIM in its own right.

For more information, please contact Anne Heath on 0161 342 3499

Manchester-based Rok Development has acquired a key site within the strategically-located Parkway industrial, retail and leisure park at Denton.

Rok recently bought the 2.3-acre site from United Utilities and has submitted a planning application for an industrial scheme capable of accommodating units from 3,000 to 35,000 sq ft.

Parkway is superbly located in an established commercial area 4.5 miles east of Manchester City Centre, at the junction of the M60 orbital motorway and the M67, and just 20 minutes drive from Manchester Airport.

Existing occupiers on the park include an Esporta Health and Fitness Centre, a My Pet Stop petcare centre and a Saint-Gobain Tile Centre. Among the neighbours are Sainsburys supermarket; the Stable Gate pub and restaurant; a Premier Travel Inn and a Toyota dealership.

Jonathan Conway, of Rok Development’s Manchester office said: “This is a fantastic development opportunity on what is a superb site, serviced by first class infrastructure links.

“Not surprisingly, we have had considerable interest already given the limited availability in the area.”

Units are expected to be available in Autumn 2006. Agents on the scheme are NAI Fuller Pelser (0161 214 5000) and PD O’Herlihy Chartered Surveyors (0161 427 5500).

Living Landmarks One Step Closer

Tameside MBC has recently been informed that its application for Living Landmarks lottery funding has proceeded to the next assessment phase.

The bid will now be subjected to a rigorous assessment process, and the Council should be informed by mid April if it proceeds to the next stage.

The bid proposes to reinstate Ashton’s historic market hall and surrounding civic area and create a cultural, educational and enterprise hub. One key theme is to link the Borough’s success in food manufacturing to the market and to the Borough’s future, its young people, through innovative healthy eating projects working with schools and the community.

If successful, the bid will secure around £13 million from the Big Lottery Fund for Ashton Market.

For further information, please contact Justin Bentham on X2860

Down But Not Out

The national winners of round 1 of the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative competition have now been announced, with only one successful authority coming from the entire North West region, St Helens.

All the bids submitted by local authorities from across the whole of Greater Manchester, including Tameside, unfortunately failed to win funding for their areas.

But with only 10 out of 88 authorities invited to apply for the LEGI from up and down the country winning funding, the Council was well aware throughout the process that with a only a slim 10% chance of funding then no matter how strong its bid was, it was going to be exceptionally difficult.

The Council was always prepared for the possibility of having to bid again and to re-double its efforts, and upon receiving feedback from the assessors, the Council will work with its partners to analyse the bidding process, learn lessons and develop a strategy to improve the Borough’s chances of success.

Tameside has been invited to bid again in Round 2 of the competition and this provides a fantastic opportunity for Tameside to develop an even better and stronger bid that will secure the much needed funding to help grow and sustain local businesses, and help create the entrepreneurs of the future that the Borough needs if it to maintain and build upon the success of its booming local economy.

For further information on Tameside’s LEGI bid, please contact Lisa Hoyland on X3544.

Tameside Community Radio Event Gets Large Turnout

Over 50 interested and motivated individuals attended the Tameside Community Radio volunteer event on 21st February, hosted at New Charter House.

There was also a presentation about the radio station, describing hopes and goals and how the allotted frequency – 103.6fm falls just between Manchester’s popular Key103 and the local BBC station, GMR – boosting the potential listenership of the station.

It was also announced that Tameside Community Radio has been provided with extra power, so as to reach even the depths of Mossley. This also means that people as far in the opposite direction as Warrington and Liverpool may also be able to hear the station, as the contours there are generally flat.

During the course of the event, there were many suggestions from the motivated gathering surrounding program ideas, marketing strategies and publicity for the station, which ahas now received over the required amount of volunteer interest.

For further information, please contact Yvonne Cartey on X3549.

A man in his 50s has died following an explosion and fire at a workshop in Greater Manchester.

The local man was working at the premises on Lumb Lane, Droylsden, on Wednesday afternoon.

The blast at the firm, Tomkow Special Effects, which has carried out work for Coronation Street and other north west productions, tore the roof off the one-storey building in Droylsden

The Health and Safety Executive has been informed and enquiries into the cause of the fire are continuing.

The owners of the Arcades Shopping Centre have submitted ambitious plans to deliver a £40 million expansion programme at the Arcades in Ashton-under-Lyne. The plans will create up to 500 new jobs and deliver the town’s first major department store along with a modern transport interchange.

The exciting proposals from Apollo Ashton LP will more than double the retail space at the centre by adding a further 16,722 m² (180,000 ft²). In conjunction with the expansion plans, Apollo Ashton LP has worked closely with the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) and Tameside MBC to incorporate a modern bus station to improve transport links for visitors arriving by bus and ultimately Metrolink.

The expansion will enhance the economic vitality of Ashton by allowing it to compete with other neighbouring towns. By improving the retail facilities in Ashton, Tameside residents will be encouraged to shop locally rather than visiting other shopping destinations.

The centre, which was recently boosted by the arrival of HMV and news that Footlocker is to open a 200 m² (2,151 ft²) unit in March, has received early interest in the development plans from major retailers. The expansion programme would potentially put the Arcades in the UK’s top 100 shopping venues.*

Councillor Kieran Quinn, (Executive Member – Economic Services) commented: “The Arcades proposal is an exciting project that demonstrates the growing confidence in Ashton as a place in which to invest. It adds another valuable ingredient to the emergence of Ashton as the most important town centre in the east of Greater Manchester. It will bring jobs and investment and act as a catalyst for further regeneration of Ashton alongside the recent IKEA success and the rebuilding of Ashton Market Hall.”

Councillor Alan Whitehead (Executive Member – Technical Services) added: “A key element in this important development will be the remodelling of the bus station into a 21st Century public transport interchange. This is a major opportunity to design a purpose built interchange that will accommodate buses and the proposed Metrolink station for Ashton Town Centre. We look forward to developing the scheme with Apollo and GMPTE.”

GMPTE Projects Director, Michael Renshaw, continued: “These proposals present us with an exciting opportunity to provide Ashton with a modern bus station and, in due course, tram interchange, reflecting the very highest level of passenger facilities – similar to those recently opened at Shudehill in Manchester and in Middleton and Hyde town centres.

“Subject to the proposals being approved, we will continue to work closely with Tameside MBC and Apollo Ashton LP to develop the scheme in detail, during which we will consult widely with users and potential users.”

Rob Cossey, of Apollo Ashton LP, is confident that the plans will be a real boost for Ashton and concluded: “The proposed development will not only play a key role in the future prosperity of the town by creating jobs and new opportunities for local people, it will also provide improved choice for shoppers who may otherwise simply visit other towns in the area.

“We are currently in talks with a number of big name retailers who are attracted to the plans we have presented and I am encouraged by the positive response and support that we have so far received. The provision of a major anchor store will play a key role in Ashton’s ability to attract and retain retailers in the long term by increasing footfall throughout the town.”

The outline planning application is based upon extensive discussions with Tameside MBC and GMPTE and the extension is scheduled to open in 2009.

WBA and IBF light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton has been summoned to appear in court in New York, reports BBC Radio Five Live.

French fighter Souleyman M'Baye is suing the World Boxing Association, asserting he was entitled to fight Carlos Maussa before Hatton.

Britain's Hatton beat Maussa to win the WBA belt last November, but M'Baye believes he should have been entitled to the fight.

M'Baye is promoted by Hatton's former manager Frank Warren, from whom he split last year.

Further evidence that inward investment in Tameside is reaching new heights is the recent award by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) of £1,428,488 of LABGI (Local Authority Business Growth Incentive). Representing 1.18% of the year end total rateable value, one of the highest, this is no doubt testament to the success of new developments in the Borough such as Ashton Moss and Crown Point North.

Campaigns, such as the M60 Invest marketing programme within Tameside’s ERDF funded Economic Development Zone, seem to have made their mark.

The award is second only to that made to Manchester City, in Greater Manchester – once again confirming that Tameside is Greater Manchester’s success story for investment.

“This may be a spectacular year and may not be repeated year on year as the key sites are completed ,however it does reflect the fact that our timing of the EDZ was right and the hard work of our Economic Development team is attracting and sustaining new investment”

Woolas Rewards Local Authorities for Business Growth with Over £105 Million
ODPM News Release 2006/0016
08 February 2006

Over 250 local authorities in England will be awarded in excess of £105 million for 2005/06 under an incentive scheme aimed at encouraging business growth, Local Government Minister Phil Woolas has announced. Including this initial award, the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives (LABGI) scheme will see funding to local authorities increase to almost £1 billion over the next three years, to 2007/08.

Currently revenue from business rates received by local authorities is paid to central government, and then redistributed to local authorities by formula within the local government finance settlement. LABGI provides an incentive for local authorities to promote economic growth in their area by allowing them to be rewarded for an increase in rateable value, above a certain level.

It is for local authorities to decide how their reward is spent - whether to provide even better public services for their communities, invest in further business growth or to reduce council tax increases.

"I am delighted to announce the grant payments for the first year of this scheme, which provides substantial rewards for local authorities. Government is committed to devolving powers and to encouraging new business. This grant is a huge boost to both goals. "

"LABGI underlines the Government's commitment to generating greater economic growth and raising productivity at the local level. Every Local Authority now has a direct financial incentive to promote enterprise, employment and the growth of small and medium sized businesses in the local community and the freedom to influence local outcomes".

Details of the grant payments to individual authorities, and of the LABGI scheme, can be found on the ODPM website at www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/labgi.htm

From 14th –17th March, Assistant Executive Director, Pat Rattigan will represent the Economic Development Zone’s M60 Invest project at MIPIM. This will be Tameside’s third visit to the Marché International des Professionnels d'Immobilier which is recognised as the world's largest and most influential property showcase, attracting senior executives from the property sector and related industries.

The only other Greater Manchester Local Authority to attend, Tameside’s M60 Invest project will join Manchester City Council, and other key sponsors as part of the Manchester stand organised by Marketing Manchester.

This may well be Tameside’s most significant visit to the event, working alongside key developers including Amec, Ask, Hark and others to present a partnership approach to investment in Tameside. The work is supported by the European Regional Development Fund, Economic Development Zone, funding for which ends in December of this year.

For more information, contact Anne Heath, Martin Wain or Lisa Hoyland on 0161 342 3544 or see http://www.manchesteratmipim.com/

A GREATER Manchester engineering firm has secured a £12m contract with Airbus that will create 75 jobs.

Hyde Group, based at Dukinfield, Tameside, company has spent £2m on a new factory to service the 15-year contract to design and manufacture parts for the latest military Airbus plane, the A400M.

Stalybridge and Hyde MP James Purnell opened the plant at a ceremony on Friday 3rd February.

More than 50 engineers have worked on the project so far, and Hyde is planning to recruit a further 75 to work on the scheme.

The Airbus A400M is a four-engine, long-range aircraft designed for transporting cargo and troops, as well as aerial refuelling and electronic surveillance operations. It has a top speed of 350mph and costs around £70m.

Hyde Group chief executive David Cooper said: "The contract was secured as a result of a long-term successful partnership between Hyde Group and Airbus UK.
"Underlying all this is the financial success and prudence of Hyde Group that has created an attractive balance sheet able to underpin long-term contracts of this nature.

"Hyde has been successfully providing major manufacturing solutions for aerospace manufacturers for almost four decades."

The deal forms part of Hyde's ongoing relationship with Airbus - the firm has previously worked on components for the A380 and A340 commercial planes.
Hyde was originally selected to work with Airbus to make undercarriage landing gear components, which are vital safety elements.

The group is believed to be the world's largest privately-owned aerospace design and manufacturing organisation, with a workforce of more than 1,400.
It turns over £107m and made pre-tax profits of more than £8m in the last financial year.

Clients include Boeing, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and civil aircraft manufacturer Bombardier.

The Manchester Enterprises Board has approved changes to their organisational structure which have the effect of splitting ME into its strategic and delivery components. The Board has decided to place the ME strategic functions together with MIDAS and the part of ChamberLink which is "Information Diagnosis and Brokerage" (IDB) into one grouping (see diagrams below of the current ME structure and the new one on slides 2 and 3 of the attachment). This will retain the current ME Board and the name "Manchester Enterprises" but will involve a new company with the same constitution as ME has now and accountable as now to the GM Forum.

On the delivery side the existing ME company will continue and will contain the corporate services, and all of the other operating companies. The name of the delivery side will be decided in the next few weeks. The delivery side will be closely linked to the Chamber of Commerce and to AGMA and there will, therefore, be a Commissioning Agreement put in place which will set out what is expected in terms of delivery.

These changes have been supported by the LSC, the Government Office for the North West and the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) as well as our Board.

The split of Manchester Enterprises will occur on 31st March/1st April 2006. ChamberLink staff will be organised into two divisions (one Business Link IDB and the other non IDB programmes and commercial services) from 31st March/1st April but the company will be split later if this becomes necessary. This is because we are not yet clear on the NWDA's intentions regarding the future structure of Business Link IDB services within the North West Region and this may affect this part of the structure.

The ME Board are convinced that these changes will result in new and additional opportunities for both the strategic and delivery sides of ME and that is why our reaction to the review was so positive. The strategy side will now much more easily develop its relationship with the NWDA, the LSC, Jobcentreplus and AGMA. The delivery side will be freed of restrictions on it and will be able to develop more commercial relationships with funding organisations.

Peter Heginbotham, Chair, Manchester Enterprises Group

Leading sports fashion retailer Footlocker has signed a new lease on a 200 m² (2,151 ft²) unit at the Arcades Shopping Centre in Ashton under Lyne.

The deal follows the recent letting to HMV, which helped to attract over 260,000 shoppers per week over the Christmas period.

Footlocker’s property director Richard Wicks said: “We are delighted to bring Footlocker to Ashton and the store will complement the centre’s wide choice of retailers whilst offering further choice for shoppers. Ashton’s sub-regional location, strong footfall figures and the arrival of HMV were important factors in our decision to locate in the town and we’re looking forward to creating a strong presence in the centre when the store launches in March.”

David Henderson Williams, of Hark Group added: “We welcome Footlocker to Ashton and the store will enhance the strong mix of retailers within the Arcades whilst providing customers with even more choice.

“Clearly the arrival of high street brand names such as Footlocker and HMV will improve the existing retail offer for customers and significantly increase footfall at the centre. Plans to increase floorspace and improve facilities at the centre are in line with our aims to attract major anchor stores to the centre and ultimately boost the retail offer in the town.”

The event proved so popular that the queue to get into Ashton Town Hall stretched across the market.

“We were delighted by the response,” said Tameside Council’s Economic Development Officer Jackie Owens. “Nearly twice as many people turned up than expected. One of the main attractions was that we had real jobs on offer. The 23 employers involved had almost 1,000 vacancies and some carried out interviews during the day.”

The event was organised by Tameside Employment Partnership. As well as employers, advisers were on hand to give advice on everything from filling in a job application form to applying for working tax credit. A series of ‘Get That Job’ seminars ran during the day and visitors could take away free CD Roms with hints and tips to help people secure jobs.

Employers were impressed with the event. One commented: “It was very professionally organised. There was a fantastic number of attendees and lots of good quality candidates.”

Visitors polled also thought the event had been useful, especially the information available, having a lot of companies in one location and being able to apply for jobs at the event.

Tameside MBC has recently submitted a major bid for LEGI funding that if successful will benefit Tameside to the value of just under £12 million over the next three years.

The bid was coordinated by the Council’s Resource Procurement Team, based in the Economic Development Unit, and was put together in partnership with a wide range of organisations from Tameside and Greater Manchester.

The £12 million extra resource will be used to inspire and engender a flourishing enterprise culture across the Borough. It will fund innovative and tailored projects to support businesses and generate enterprise activity, particularly in Tameside’s most deprived neighbourhoods and communities, helping create quality new jobs and economic growth in the area.

The bid is underpinned by research undertaken by Manchester Metropolitan University into the extent of enterprise activity in the Borough and the barriers to it. In addition, consultants Tribal HCH were appointed to develop an enterprise strategy for Tameside on the basis of the research to inform the Tameside bid.

The Tameside bid will be up against other local authority bids from across the North West. If initially approved by a North West Regional Assessment Panel, the bid will go forward to represent the region and compete with local authority areas from up and down the country in a national competition for the funding.

For further information, please contact the Resource Procurement Team on 0161 342 2860.

The Resource Procurement Team has recently submitted yet another major bid, this time for National Lottery ‘Living Landmarks’ funding for over almost £14 million to support the restoration and transformation of Ashton’s Market into a state-of-the-art 21st Century Community Market.

The competition will be fierce and Tameside will up against bids from across the Country. If successful, the bid will fund a full reinstatement of the historic market hall and surrounding civic square.

Not simply a market, in addition to featuring the traditional market stalls, the market will be fitted out with modern fit-for-purpose enterprise units to house new businesses and will feature a Community Learning Centre where the whole community will be able to benefit from education and training and other initiatives in healthy living and eating, arts, and local heritage.

For further information, please contact the Resource Procurement Team on 0161 342 2860.

Recent data from Office of National Statistics provides confirmation of what many of us have suspected - in the period 1999 to 2004, the Borough saw an increase of 6,500 jobs which have been brought to or created in the area – half of which came in the last two years.

This is equivalent to an increase of 9.4% compared with just 6.3% in Greater Manchester as a whole. There are now some 75,428 jobs in Tameside, not counting around 11,000 people in self-employment.

Over the 12 months to December 2004, the number of jobs increased by 3,200 or 4.5% , more than twice the increase experienced in Greater Manchester as a whole.

Several employment sectors have witnessed substantial increases in the number of jobs, most notably construction and health & social work (increases of 37% and 26.9% respectively).

Manufacturing continues to be the single largest provider of jobs in the area, with almost a quarter of all jobs in being in this sector. Tameside also continues to have the highest proportion of jobs in manufacturing with more than twice as many workers in manufacturing as in Greater Manchester as a whole.,

FLAT-PACK furniture giant Ikea has been given the go-ahead to open a high street store in Tameside which will create 500 jobs.

The four-floor outlet that will provide a huge boost for the local economy is expected to open in October after being granted planning permission by the council.

Outline planning permission was granted a year ago after being approved by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

It will be only the second Ikea store in the north west - there is already one in Warrington.

Work is due to start shortly at the former United Utilities depot on the corner of Wellington Road and Oldham Road, Ashton under Lyne.

The Swedish furniture giant, which normally favours out-of-town locations, has revealed plans to take on the high street with 10 new town centre stores.

The announcement follows a High Court ruling in March last year, backing a decision by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to refuse planning permission for a 300,000 square foot Ikea superstore in Tiviot Way, Stockport.

Planning laws have frustrated the company, which felt the only way it could expand was to create city centre stores.

Cllr. Kieran Quinn said: "The news that Ikea are coming to Ashton takes Tameside on to a new level economically.

"Attracting a company like Ikea might be seen as a mission impossible but it's a mission we've accomplished.

"Ikea looked at Tameside and liked what they saw. Now everybody at Tameside council is determined to ensure that other companies look at the borough and feel the same. It's an endorsement of all the hard work the council has done in the past to attract significant inward investment."

Scott Cordrey, of Ikea, said: "We're happy to have obtained such a good site in Ashton and glad that the plans have been approved. It's fantastic news for Ikea and all our customers in Greater Manchester."

The news will come as a blow to Stockport just months after Ikea said it was still on the hunt for a site in the town.

Cllr. Dave Goddard, who spearheads regeneration in Stockport, said: "The store in Tameside is not the same as the one planned for Stockport - it is a smaller one. Ikea told us that they would not reduce it on a matter of principle.

"I think it's a disappointment for everybody. I think Prescott now will get an Ikea that is acceptable to him but not one that the public needed."

Stockport council granted planning permission for the giant store in 2001 before it was referred to Mr Prescott, who blocked the plans.

Written by Brian Lashley for the Manchester Evening News 12/01/06. For more information, please contact Sue Hobbiss on X2865

Companies searching for the perfect premises to relocate their businesses in Tameside can now access a comprehensive property database on-line for the entire area.

The property database provides details of more than 500 commercial premises available throughout Tameside, giving browsers the opportunity to search by specific location or size or type of property required.

The database provides information on industrial, office and retail as well as land or development opportunities and gives agent contact details should enquirers want to find out more information.

The on-line search facility is available free of charge on the Tameside MBC website www.tameside.gov.uk. Commercial property owners and developers are also encouraged to provide details of premises available for inclusion on the property database.

Tameside Economic Development Unit’s Sue Hobbiss, comments: “The database is the perfect way for businesses to find out quickly and easily what property is available. We will also be creating a link to the database from our popular www.tamesidem60.com website.

“Making a strong match between what companies require and the premises that best meet their needs is vital if Tameside is to experience its continued growth as a commercial property hotspot.”

The new database can be found at www.tameside.gov.uk/quick links/businesses in Tameside/search box.

Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction and services group, announced today that its specialist healthcare concession company, Consort Healthcare, has been appointed preferred bidder for the £190 million Northern Batched Hospitals project in Greater Manchester.

The project comprises two hospital development schemes. In Salford, Consort will redevelop and provide new buildings for Hope Hospital under a 34-year PFI concession contract with a capital value of £130 million. In Tameside, Consort will design and build a new acute and mental health facility at Tameside General Hospital under a concession contract worth £60 million. It is anticipated that financial close for the schemes will be achieved in early 2007.

Commenting on the award today, Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to create first class healthcare facilities for the people of Salford and Tameside and for the staff in the facilities which serve them. These will be our seventh and eighth major PFI hospital schemes. We have proven skills and a first-class track record in this specialist area and are now a clear leader in the field.”

In Salford, a number of new buildings will be constructed, including an education centre, an emergency department extension, an assessment unit, a critical care unit, a heart care unit, an intestinal failure unit, new renal and urology units and residential accommodation for hospital staff.

In Tameside, a number of new buildings will be constructed, including a new mental health unit for the elderly, a ward block, a day surgery and an endoscopy unit and extensions to theatres, radiology, diagnostic and treatment centres.

Balfour Beatty now has eight major PFI hospital schemes. New hospitals in Edinburgh, Durham and at University College London (UCLH) are now operational. UCLH Phase I was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen on Thursday 20 October. The new Blackburn Hospital is due to open in the summer of 2006. Financial close on the new £521 million Birmingham Hospital is expected in the near future. A revised plan for the £250 million scheme at Pinderfields in Yorkshire was recently approved, with financial close anticipated during 2006.

In total, the eight schemes represent Balfour Beatty equity investment of some £90 million. Earlier this year, Balfour Beatty Construction was appointed preferred bidder, through concession company, Canmore, for the construction work on the £160 million project to create two new Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Centres at Stobhill Hospital and Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow.

Extracted from the Balfor Beatty Construction Website, 17/11/2005. For further information, please contact Lisa Hoyland on X3544.

The Economic Development Unit has successfully secured £450,000 of ERDF funding from the Greater Manchester Priority 1 Action Plan. This is a major achievement for TMBC as the available ERDF was much reduced compared with previous years. Only one other Local Authority in Greater Manchester has secured ERDF from the Plan.

The ERDF will fund two business support projects, one focused on business start up, and the other on enhancing the performance of existing business. The two schemes will be run in partnership with Chamber Link.

The project will facilitate the creation of an Incubation Team to provide start up support to SMEs located in the new Hyde Town Hall managed workspace and across the Borough at a variety of venues. In addition it will support Youth Enterprise and BME Start Up through specialist support including grants and award schemes. There will also be continued support for Social Enterprise creation. The amount of ERDF available for this project is £112,000 over two years, representing a total package of activity worth £280,000.

The project will provide business outreach to SMEs particularly those in priority sectors. The project will focus on developing further the food sector network in Tameside. It will also continue to stimulate and enhance business competitiveness through the promotion of ICT focused business support to SMEs by the e-business team in Tameside. In addition, the project will facilitate the widening of the Tameside business portal across Greater Manchester in partnership with Manchester University. Grants will also be available to SMEs to take up e-commerce. The amount of ERDF available for this project is £338,000 over two years, representing a total package of activity worth £845,000.

For more information please contact Russell Yates (russell.yates@tameside.gov.uk)

Plans for around 350 new apartments, shops and a hotel and restaurant have been submitted this week for the development of the listed Longlands Mill in the heart of Stalybridge, Tameside.

On behalf of Tameside Council, award-winning developers Urban Splash have submitted a detailed planning application for the Mill and one new building, to provide around 100 apartments and 14,000 square feet of retail or leisure space. The application includes surface and underground car parking.

At the same time Urban Splash have submitted an outline planning application for a further 250 apartments and covered parking on the site next to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. This development will house the new hotel, restaurant and other leisure uses.

"We believe the designs are dynamic and imaginative and will provide further quality to the heart of the town centre," said Cllr Kieran Quinn, Executive Member for Economic Services.

"This is the next phase in the process and we're remaining on schedule for what has been a very challenging project."

Longlands Mill is flanked by the Huddersfield Narrow Canal on one side with the River Tame on the other.

The proposal allows views through the site from the river to the canal, and beyond. It will also generate new routes to link together and help revitalise the town centre.

Longlands Mill was originally known as Castle Street Mill and began work in1805 by the firm George Cheetham. A number of other buildings were erected on the site throughout the 19th century when the mills and factories were initially used for cotton production. The buildings are Grade II Listed and are a reminder of the town’s industrial past.

Cllr Kevin Welsh, chair of Stalybridge District Assembly, has been involved in the discussions: “Although the mill buildings need quite a lot of structural repairs, we wanted to keep as many original features as possible and restore some of the most interesting aspects of the buildings.

"There's already been a lot of interest from people about the apartments. We need to make sure people see the plans, voice their views and keep the development on track."

The plans will be on display in Stalybridge early in the New Year for residents to see.

If approved, building work should start on site towards the end of 2006, with the first apartments available to buy during the summer.

For further information, please contact Marketing and Communications on X3061.

The Arcades Shopping Centre, Ashton-under-Lyne, is under new ownership by Apollo Ashton LP - a joint venture between Hark Group and Apollo Real Estate. Hark have over 40 years of experience of owning, running and expanding shopping centres in the UK, Europe and the USA and the partnership is bringing extensive market knowledge to Ashton and with it, exciting plans to double the centre’s floor space and improve the retail offering.

The company has already been successful in attracting new high profile tenants to Ashton-under-Lyne following a recent deal with leading music retailer HMV to take out a lease on a 4,000 sq ft double unit, making it the largest music store in Ashton. The store will be a welcome addition to the Arcades Shopping Centre offering further choice for customers when it opens later this year.

Tameside MBC has recently granted permission to extend an existing unit at the centre next to the HMV store, enabling another new store to come into the scheme.

As well as plans to improve facilities and the current retail offer at the Arcades, the owners are currently in talks with Tameside MBC regarding a significant extension program, which could attract a major department store to Ashton-under-Lyne.

Rob Cossey, of Hark said: "Our ambition is not only to improve the existing offer at the Arcades but also to significantly add extra floor space and attract new retailers to the centre, thereby supporting Ashton's position as a major shopping centre in East Manchester.”

The Arcades Shopping Centre is a thriving development in the town centre, providing 13,935 sq m (150,000 sq ft) of retail space over two floors. The centre opened its doors in October 1995 and is the home of 46 well known retail stores including Next, Woolworths, Allsports, Superdrug, WHSmith, New Look, Game, Barratts and Clinton Cards.

Businesses can now conduct their own commercial property search on the Tameside website. There are over 500 industrial, office, retail, land and development opportunities in Tameside listed on our live database. To access, go to www.tameside.gov.uk and click “Businesses in Tameside” (box at top of business page).

FAMILY-OWNED Cheshire manufacturing company Coleherne is celebrating its centenary with record sales.

The company began life as the Glyco Metal Company of Droylsden, making a patented bearing used mainly in heavy engineering, especially the power generation industry on rotation equipment such as turbines.

That original design has stood the test of time. One hundred years later it is still being used by prestigious names in the industry, and the company is one of the leading plain bearing manufacturers in the UK.

But in a tough sector, the company, which has a 50-strong workforce, has had to diversify over the years. In the late 80s, the present managing director, Peter Fahey joined the company, bringing with him his expertise of laser technology gained in the motor industry.

Now more than 40 per cent of the company's core business is laser cutting of sheet materials including stainless steel, plastic and wood, for a wealth of industries from agricultural to the retail trade.

"When I joined the company, this was a new area of technology. I was with British Leyland, then one of only two centres, both in the motor industry, using it. When I came here we were the first company in the north west to use it," said Peter.

Since then this area of the business has grown substantially, with customers from Cornwall to Aberdeen, and last year the firm, splashed out £400,000 on a new five-kilowatt laser.

Coleherne also works in partnership with Philadelphia-based bearings manufacturer Kingsbury Inc. Coleherne represents the US company in the UK and across Europe, manufacturing the award- winning KingCole bearing for power giants including Siemens and Alstom, and providing technical support.

"The company was originally incorporated in 1905, and has recently received certification from Companies House that it has been registered for 100 years, which is the equivalent of a telegram from the Queen!" says Mr Fahey.

"This year's turnover of £2.5m will be our highest ever, and we are continuing to grow. Our aim is to build on this success, particular in the laser field," he said.

(Manchester Evening News, 15/12/05). For further information, please contact Sue Hobbiss X2865

A SUNBED manufacturer headed into Europe to put its towel on the German market recently.

Sunquest Tanning Systems, of Denton, Tameside, showcased its new, automated UV-free spray-tanning booth at Solaria 2005, an industry exhibition staged in Cologne.

The company showed the booth, which is the first of its kind in the industry, plus two of its top-selling vertical tanning units in an attempt to continue the recent progress it has made around the world.

Managing director Tony Webster, who headed a £4m takeover in July, said: "Solaria Cologne was our first overseas show and was integral to our drive to develop export markets.

"We have already put in place distribution networks in Norway, Sweden, Italy, Turkey and the USA and are exporting part-exchange models across Eastern Europe. We anticipate major growth in export sales over the coming year", he added.

Sunquest, which employs 70 people, is the UK's biggest manufacturer of sun beds and automatic spray-tanning booths, and supplies accessories such as lotions, goggles and UV tubes. It turned over £6m last year

(Manchester Evening News, 14/11/05). For further information, please contact Sue Hobbiss X2865

OUR increasingly erratic climate could signal the wind of change for air conditioning and refrigeration specialists Direct Cooling of Stalybridge.

The family-run business, which has tended to service the commercial market, including offices, restaurants, schools, pubs and hospitals, since it was founded by Dennis Hewitt 30 years ago, now aims to target the domestic arena.

Dramatic changes in our weather mean there is a growing call for climate control in homes as well as business premises.

Instead of plumping for a heating or an air-conditioning system, there is a growing trend for systems that provide both.

"Warmer summers and freak weather mean there is need for both. And at the touch of a button they are available," said Dennis's son Nick, who has now approached major building companies.

"Putting a system into a new building is obviously easier than trying to convert an old building. Such an extra in a house could be a great selling point," he says.

The company, which has a staff of four, focuses on customer services and job satisfaction.

And Nick is keen to bang the drum about the types of energy-saving equipment that is available today.

He said: "Air conditioning is now environmentally-friendly and so high tech that units can be used for central heating as well. New systems double up for cooling and heating, and are so sophisticated that you can even have `zone control' with heat in one area, and cold in another."

And he points out that there are tax benefits for installing energy-saving systems.

Domestic users only have to pay five per cent VAT on innovative heat/air conditioning systems, and tax relief is available for companies who install them.

(Manchester Evening News, 15/12/05). For further information, please contact Sue Hobbiss X2865

The newly published prospectus for the area has attracted over 100 enquirers from potential developers and feedback has confirmed that the 64-acre site is regarded as one of the hottest development opportunities in the North West.

The Hattersley Partnership Board has invited expressions of interest from potential development partners who have until December 23 to show their hand.

A short-list of six potential bidders will then be drawn up and they will be issued with a bid pack in January. The closing date will be March and a partner is likely to be selected in summer 2006.

For further information, please contact Marketing and Communications on X3061.

On behalf of Tameside Strategic Partnership, Tameside MBC submitted Tameside’s bid for the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) on 9th December.

Following research conducted by Manchester Metropolitan University in Tameside’s Neighbourhood Renewal areas, consulting a number of existing businesses and reviewing evidence, it was concluded that there was a significant enterprise gap in Tameside.

If we are to underpin the major investments planned for the Borough over the next few years, we must effectively make a transition to an enterprise culture, particularly amongst those groups identified in the research as being most under-represented in terms of self-employment.

TMBC also commissioned Tribal HCH to undertake a review of our joint approach to supporting enterprise and their report highlighted many areas where we can further improve our partnership working.

Competition for LEGI funding over three years is extremely fierce, with only 10-12 likely to be approved nationally in this round.

We feel we have presented a substantive body of evidence to support our case. The regional bids will now be assessed by the GONW and NWDA and successful bids submitted to a national panel, at which point, if progressed, further support may be required.

A summary of our bid and the accompanying emerging ten-year Enterprise Strategy is available. We aim to continue to develop the strategy under the auspices of an Enterprise Sub Group of the Tameside Economic and Learning Partnership to be in place by April.

For more information on the LEGI bid, please contact the Resource Procurement team on 0161 342 2860 (email: justin.bentham@tameside.gov.uk).

If you require information on the progress of the Enterprise Strategy, contact Pat Rattigan, Assistant Executive Director (0161 342 4070) or Lisa Hoyland, Business Initiatives Manager (0161 342 3544; email: lisa.hoyland@tameside.gov.uk).

ASHTON MARKET BELL UNVEILING

ASHTON’S SUBWAY OPENS!

Foreign Owned Companies Still Predicting Growth in Greater Manchester

Jobs Fair 2009

Building futures

Burrows Business Guide To Manchester

Mayor hails new production records at Fast-Pak

Planning permission granted for Crown Point East Retail Park in Denton

DECADE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS TOPS £400M

Retail Development lunch – Tameside Towns under the spotlight.

M60 INVEST KEEPS UP THE MOMENTUM

IT’S HERE!

Longlands mill transformation is complete

Tameside MBC welcomes new Facilities Manager

Tameside M60 Invest DVD Launch

Historic event in development of marina

GMPTE NEWS RELEASE

Ashton-under-Lyne Civic Society Building of the Year 2007

Green Light for Major Town-Centre Regeneration

New life for the old heart of Stalybridge – and a haven for canal enthusiasts!

Double Whammy of Lettings for St Petersfield

Burrows Business Guide To Manchester

M60 INVEST KEEPS UP THE MOMENTUM

Double Whammy of Lettings for St Petersfield

Tameside companies help to build a network of opportunities for young people

Tameside council has been given top marks by government inspectors - for the second time in a row