2017

Manchester Festival worth £40m to local economy

This year’s Manchester International Festival was worth £40.2 million to the local economy, according to Manchester City Council. The Festival had more productions on offer, bigger audiences,…





Sunderland sofa firm ScS revenue up to £333m

Shares of Sunderland-based furniture and floorings retailer ScS Group rose 7% on Tuesday after it said revenue rose 4.9% to £333 million and profit before tax jumped 9.9%…





Aprirose buys Leeds-based QHotels for £525m

Real estate investment company Aprirose said it completed the acquisition of Leeds-based QHotels from Bain Capital Credit and Canyon Partners for £525 million — the…




Grainger on course for £850m investment target

Newcastle-based Grainger plc, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, said in a trading update it expects to report full-year adjusted earnings approaching £70 million, up from £53.1…







Man Utd revenue up 12.8% to record £581.2m

Manchester United announced financial results for the 12 months ended June 30, 2017, with revenue up 12.8% to £581.2 million and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and…



Drax CFO Gardiner succeeds Thompson as CEO

Selby, North Yorkshire-based power company Drax Group said its chief financial officer Will Gardiner will succeed Dorothy Thompson as CEO from January 1, 2018 — just as…


Co-op half-year revenue steady at £4.6bn

Manchester’s Co-op Group said revenue fell slightly to £4.6 billion in the 26 weeks ended July 1 compared to £4.7 billion at the same stage last year…



Co-op Bank CFO leaves after restructuring

Manchester-based Co-operative Bank said its chief financial officer John Worth is leaving the bank following the completion of its restructuring and recapitalisation earlier this month. “John…




Manchester Pension buys £60m Salford Soapworks

The Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF) has bought Salford’s iconic Soapworks development — formerly the Colgate-Palmolive factory — from The Carlyle Group for £60 million….






Morrisons first-half profit up 40% to £200m

Bradford-based supermarket group Morrisons said its first-half profit before tax rose 39.9% to £200 million on turnover up 4.8% to £8.42 billion. But Morrisons’ shares fell…








Shares of Dart Group soar as Jet2 takes off

Shares of Leeds-based leisure and logistics firm Dart Group, owner of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, rose 4% on Thursday after it gave a positive trading update at its annual general meeting….



Boohoo hires Phone House founder as non-exec

Manchester-based online fashion giant Boohoo.com announced Pierre Marie Jean-Louis Cuilleret as a new non-executive director. Cuilleret will join the board and sit on each of…


Lancashire tissue firm Accrol appoints CEO

Lancashire-based tissue maker Accrol Group said it appointed Gareth Jenkins as its new chief executive. Jenkins’ previous experience includes 24 years at DS Smith plc, one…



Global Marine chooses Port of Blyth for expansion

Chelmsford-based Global Marine Group (GMG), an offshore engineering services company for the renewables, telecommunications and oil & gas industries, announced it has expanded its operations base…










New bank backed by Warrington Council opens

The challenger bank backed by Warrington Borough Council has opened for business just more than four months after securing its initial banking licence. Warrington Borough Council…



Co-op in exclusive talks to buy Nisa for £140m

Manchester’s Co-op Group has begun exclusive talks with Scunthorpe-based convenience grocer Nisa to discuss a possible deal to buy the mutually-owned retailer for up to £140 million….



Provident re-hires Gillespie to fix home credit

Shares of troubled sub-prime lender Provident Financial Group rebounded 20% on Friday after it announced it re-hired former executive Chris Gillespie as managing director of its home…


Leeds-based Jet2.com creates 1,700 jobs

Jet2.com — owned by Leeds-based leisure and logistics firm Dart Group — has announced a major recruitment drive with roadshows taking place across the UK to…




TSK to create Kellogg’s HQ at MediaCityUK

Kellogg’s said it appointed workplace specialist TSK to create its new 46,000-square foot UK headquarters in MediaCityUK in Manchester. “The appointment comes as last month…