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Access to expertise proves a big draw

ACCESS to finance and expertise were the twin themes of an event for business leaders and wouldd-be entrepreneurs at Gallery Oldham.

The second year of the Meet the Expert event, jointly hosted by Oldham and Rochdale councils, heard keynote speeches from Graham Niven from Access to Finance at the Business Growth Hub, and Adrian Stores from the Goldman Sachs programme at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Mr Niven suggested several alternative funding sources for businesses: “The

Date published: 17/05/2013

£800,000 Purple patch

COMMUNICATIONS firm So Purple has sold its broadband division in an £800,000 deal.

The Saddleworth company, founded by former Applied Language Solutions boss Gavin Wheeldon, sold the division to London-based business telecoms provider Coms Plc.

Coms chief executive Dave Breith said: “We have been negotiating this transaction for some time.

“We are...

Date published: 10/05/2013

A GREEN RIBBON, NATURALLY: (l-r) Tony Eastewood, Debbie Abrahams MP, Micheal Fay and Keiron Higginson.

MP adds spark to LED launch

OLDHAM East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams officially opened the new £500,000 Greater Manchester headquarters and trade counter of LED Electrical.

Based in Coulton Close,...

Date published: 10/05/2013

Triangle shapes the future of housing

A housing development is set to sell out earlier than planned thanks to its winning combination of quality and affordability.

The Triangle, in Hathershaw, has continued to buck the national property trend with strong sales since it opened 18 months ago.

Peter Vella, regional sales and marketing director for Countryside Properties, said: “The Triangle has become...

Date published: 03/05/2013

Malcolm Dunphy

Tributes paid to company chairman

LEADING Shaw businessman Malcolm Dunphy MBE, who earned five prestigious Queen’s Awards For Industry, has died.

The father of four died on Saturday in Springhill Hospice,...

Date published: 26/04/2013

John Platt, Nicholas Hill and Andrew Hill

Sweet dreams for next generation

Fifth-generation family firm Platt and Hill Ltd has been making luxury mattresses in the heart of Oldham since 1889.

And now the company is launching its first new business in over 120...

Date published: 19/04/2013

Treadmill desks to be all the rage

AN Oldham company has won the UK and Ireland franchise to sell treadmill desks, currently a hot item in America.

Gymworld Ltd in Plane Street is the sole UK supplier of Lifespan desk and treadmill combinations, now attracting a lot of attention at health-conscious US firms such as Google, Microsoft and many other household names — even the WHite House.

Owner Mark...

Date published: 19/04/2013

Shawn Duckett . . . geared up to be productive and constructive

Saving money while saving the planet...

AN Oldham company is setting new standards in the renewable energy industry.

Constructive Renewables Ltd is the sister business of Constructive Contracting Ltd, established in 1989 by...

Date published: 12/04/2013

Working out how to work together

MORE than 60 people attended an Action for Business forum in Oldham which brought together businesses and education providers to discuss ways of working more closely.

Craig Dean, Oldham president of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, hosted the event at the Earl Business Centre, Hathershaw, and expressed delight at the support.

Mr Dean, chief executive of Web...

Date published: 05/04/2013

Businesses boosted by growth study

OLDHAM has come fourth in a list of the top areas for business potential in the UK.

Information services company Experian reviewed accounts for 150,000 businesses between 2008-2011. These figures revealed the towns and cities that saw greatest sales growth.

Oldham businesses recorded an average 10 per cent sales growth between 2008-2011, with a peak of 30 per cent....

Date published: 02/04/2013

Last chance to enter prestige celebration

ENTRIES for the fifth One Oldham Business Awards close on Friday — so this is your last chance to put yourself in line for a prestigious place among Oldham’s elite.

Steve Kilroy, chair of the awards steering group, reports that entries to date are healthy, but said: “We can always do with a few more!”

Online entry forms are available at...

Date published: 29/03/2013

One’s got extra time to get one’s One entry in!

ENTRIES for the One Oldham Business Awards were due to close on Friday but the steering group, as in previous years, has extended the deadline by a week.

“Entries are at a really healthy level,” said Steve Lowe, a consultant at NatWest and treasurer of the steering group since the awards began in 2009.

“We already have a great competition but the...

Date published: 22/03/2013

Toy story looking good so far

TOY developer and supplier Character Group is expecting a more positive year after a encouraging response to its latest ranges at international toy fairs.

The group, which has a distribution base at Leesbrook Mill, Lees, says first half results will be disappointing but predicts a better performance in the second half of the year.

Unveiling Character Group’s new...

Date published: 22/03/2013

CHEF Paul O'Neill cooks up a treat for guests.

Network launch a recipe for company success

A FOOD and networking event marked the launch of a new business venture for the Chadderton-based Safeguard group

The company, a leading supplier of products for the air conditioning,...

Date published: 12/03/2013

MAYOR of Oldham Councillor Olwen Chadderton with Screwfix store manager Paul Molloy

Mayor saws the ribbon!

MAYOR of Oldham Councillor Olwen Chadderton got to grips with DIY when she used a saw to cut a ribbon and officially open Oldham’s new Screwfix store.

The Mayor visited the...

Date published: 01/03/2013

Chatting with Brian was out of this world

HAVING spent an evening with Professor Brian Cox - okay there were 188 other people in the room, but let’s not split particles - I am... absolutely no wiser about the laws of physics.

That said, I am a little happier about the state of the universe and planets - despite an impending collision between the Milky way - our galaxy - and neighbour Andromeda.

I can...

Date published: 01/03/2013

Clough changes hands

ONE of Saddleworth’s iconic dining venues has new owners.

Clough Manor in Denshaw has been taken over by Siobhan Hunter and Mark Dolman - who for the past 13 years have run the Hey Green Hotel in Marsden.

They have taken control of the 25-bedroom hotel from the Tupman family of Uppermill.

The new owners intend turning the Rochdale Road building — which...

Date published: 26/02/2013

Don’t just survive when you can thrive

MANUFACTURERS from Oldham enjoyed a tour of the defence systems facility at Cairo Mill, Waterhead, when Ferranti Technologies hosted a breakfast on behalf of the Business Growth Hub.

Guests were welcomed to the Survive and Thrive-Access to Finance event by Sue Barnard, from the Manchester-based government-funded Hub, and senior directors from Ferranti.

Mark...

Date published: 22/02/2013

Lead the way at networking event

THERE is still time to register for the Asian Business Leaders networking and charity dinner at Blue Tiffin, Royton, tomorrow.

Supporting Mahdlo, the Oldham Youth Zone Project, the event includes a three-course dinner, live entertainment and inspirational speakers, says Kash Ashraf, one of the event organisers who adds that all sections and elements of the borough’s...

Date published: 20/02/2013

Fresh look for awards

NOMINATIONS are starting to arrive for the 2013 One Oldham Business Awards - which this year feature two new categories.

A new-look website is open and the volunteer steering group which runs the awards is gearing up for record entries.

Chairman Steve Kilroy from Chadderton said: “This is our fifth year and each time we have grown the number of nominations. I...

Date published: 15/02/2013

EXPANSION ambition . . . Marta and David (centre) with Paloma staff (left to right) Tony Camusi, Sandra Johnson and Barbara Mlodystach

Paloma driven by growing ambition

AN Oldham manufacturer with his own brand of clothing accessories is keen to expand — with a range made from sustainable materials such as bamboo.

Denshaw’s David Nkengmo,...

Date published: 15/02/2013

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