Author: Sam Allcock

As property investors look beyond London for better returns, Manchester and Liverpool have emerged as key contenders in the North. With rising demand from businesses, students, and young professionals, both cities have proven to be popular investment hotspots. But which should you choose for your next property investment? Mark Burns, Director of Pure Investor, offers insights into the strengths of each location. Property Prices Despite changes in the UK housing market, both Manchester and Liverpool remain affordable compared to southern cities. Average property prices in Liverpool are around £180,700, less than half the price of homes in the South of…

A Manchester-based recruitment firm has raised an impressive £50,000 for The Christie, a renowned cancer hospital, after hosting a charity rugby event at the Etihad Complex. The City Recruiter, originally aiming to raise £10,000, exceeded their target fourfold by selling nearly 600 tickets for the inaugural event on Sunday, 29th September. The charity rugby day was organised by Nick Ryan, head of The City Recruiter and a former Salford rugby player, along with his long-time friend Chris Bamber. Chris’ wife, Sarah, was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer last year and has been receiving treatment at The Christie, a specialist cancer…

While students have returned to their university campuses for the new academic year, budget-conscious travellers can still find affordable accommodation in university rooms across the UK. Once a well-kept secret, these rooms offer an inexpensive alternative for those seeking to explore popular cities like Oxford, Cambridge, York, and London without breaking the bank. Lily Smith, a travel expert from UniversityRooms.com, explains that despite students being back, several colleges and universities continue to offer accommodation to visitors throughout the year. “It’s not widely known, but many universities still have rooms available, even during term time,” Smith says. “For example, colleges in…

Northern Stage, the largest producing theatre in the North East, has unveiled the cast and creative team for its upcoming reimagining of Charles Dickens’ beloved classic, A Christmas Carol, set to open in Newcastle upon Tyne in November 2024. The production promises a festive experience with a fresh take on the tale of Scrooge, who is described as “meaner and greedier than ever.” Running from 30 November to 4 January, this adaptation, crafted by Karen Louise Hebden and directed by Northern Stage’s artistic director Natalie Ibu, aims to infuse the traditional story with festive magic, music, and merriment. An international…

Stockport County Community Trust has launched a major initiative to provide free PE kits to primary schools across the borough, aiming to help children engage in sports by easing the financial burden on families. The Kits By County project, backed by Stockport County’s owner Mark Stott, aims to supply 12,500 kits to pupils most in need over the next 12 months. The initiative kicked off this term with the distribution of 3,000 PE kits, funded by Stott, to schools across Stockport. The first batch of kits, which includes a polo shirt, shorts, joggers, and a sweatshirt, were delivered by Stockport…

A recent report by Hyve Managed Hosting has revealed that a staggering 81% of UK businesses are struggling due to a shortage of skilled IT and tech professionals. The findings, published in the IT and Tech Skills Gap Report 2024, indicate that this skills deficit is significantly hindering operations across various sectors. The report, conducted in collaboration with Censuswide, surveyed 500 business and IT decision-makers in the UK. It highlights the pressing challenges faced by organisations in sourcing talent capable of navigating today’s complex IT landscape. Alarmingly, 20% of respondents reported experiencing outages and data breaches directly linked to the…

In a groundbreaking collaboration, BWS and Debuchelon have unveiled a stunning new music video titled “Animal Anthem,” which is already garnering international acclaim. The video addresses the urgent theme of climate change, vividly illustrating the challenges faced by various species and resonating deeply with audiences around the globe. BWS, known for its innovative animation, successfully completed this complex project in just 31 days. The video showcases intricate designs and compelling storytelling, using a video clipper to refine each scene, serving as a testament to the collective talent and commitment of the entire production team. Thematically, “Animal Anthem” aligns perfectly with…

Russell Wright-Turner has officially joined the ownership group of Zerum, a leading multi-disciplinary property consultancy, marking a significant development for the firm. Having been a vital part of Zerum for several years, Wright-Turner will continue to lead and expand the consultancy’s cost management business in his new role as partner. Wright-Turner first joined Zerum in 2020 as head of the cost management division. Since then, he has spearheaded a team dedicated to delivering high-quality project services across various sectors, including residential, commercial, purpose-built student accommodation, hotels, and retail. His leadership has seen Zerum’s cost management team contribute to a series…

Toluna, a prominent global insights and research technology provider, has introduced its latest innovation, QProbe, as part of its AI Everywhere strategy. This cutting-edge tool aims to revolutionise both quantitative and qualitative research by providing conversational insights. QProbe’s initial launch focuses on improving the depth and quality of open-ended survey responses, offering more nuanced insights from respondents. The introduction of QProbe has shown impressive results, significantly enhancing the quality of open-ended answers in up to 90% of cases. The tool operates using two layers of artificial intelligence. The first layer interprets the stimulus to give context to the survey prompts,…

A former contestant of Married at First Sight (MAFS) has shared crucial insights for those considering participating in the reality TV phenomenon. The participant emphasised the importance of personal time and self-care, suggesting that contestants should not neglect their mental and physical health amid the pressures of filming. Reflecting on her experience, she stated, “It’s a very testing environment, and you don’t know who you’re going to be with. You need to make sure that you’re on top form.” She highlighted her commitment to self-care practices, including journaling, which she described as a significant part of her journey. “I did…

Inco Contracts’ North West office is celebrating a record-breaking first half of the year, marked by a significant surge in commercial work and its first contract at Manchester Airport. The principal contractors, who specialise in turnkey commercial and industrial refurbishments, have been appointed by Quartz Project Services to carry out extensive external decoration at the World Freight Terminal, valued at £1 million. The project involves a comprehensive renovation of six operational units, including replacing skylights, lining gutters, coating roofs, and refurbishing external elevations. Inco Contracts plans to deploy up to 20 professionals on-site at any given time, with the aim…

A landmark £6 million redevelopment project to convert former offices into luxury apartments on Manchester’s iconic King Street has been successfully completed. The project, located at 58-66 King Street, was managed by RECOM Solutions on behalf of asset manager DTZ Investors. The transformation of the 24,000 sq ft Grade II listed building, now known as Kingsgate House, has resulted in the creation of 24 one- and two-bedroom flats spread across four floors, including ancillary areas at the ground floor and basement levels. This marks the first residential development in the prime retail area of lower King Street. The luxury apartments…