PR agency helps boost attendance

and stakeholder engagement campaign from Pelican PR.

The Uppermill-based agency helped increase attendance at the Futuresource 2009 exhibition by 30 per cent on the 2008 figure.

Many exhibitors said they were impressed with the new event and more than a third have already signed up for the 2010 show.

Organised by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management and the Environmental Services Association, the exhibition succeeded a long-established show in Torbay and was held at London’s ExCeL exhibition centre.

Michael Bennett, managing director of Pelican PR, said: “This was a challenging campaign. We needed to convince people in the waste and recycling industry that the new event was really worth attending.”


Loan fund is way forward

OLDHAM companies may be interested to hear that the North-West Regional Development Agency (NWDA), with support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), has announced a £15m transitional venture capital loan fund for the region.
The new fund has been created to remove a gap in public finance support for businesses in the North-West, while details on a new, long-term North-West Venture Capital Loan Fund are completed.

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, revealed the details.

He said: “We know a lot of people are waiting to hear about this multi-million-pound fund.

“It is taking longer than anticipated but we have now agreed, with Government, a way forward in which to progress the structure of this fund.

“This new money will allow businesses access to funding during this challenging economic period.”

The transitional support is to help improve the finance options available to new and existing businesses in the North-West, improving the lending available from commercial banks.

Funding will continue to be available to businesses with a viable business plan which demonstrate an ability to service the borrowing required, but which have been unable to obtain such funding from conventional, commercial sources and in the absence of such funding is exposing the business to the risk of significant, short-term contraction or endangering its existence altogether.


Appeal for women with success stories

A unique awards scheme which celebrates inspirational businesswomen who have achieved significant success is seeking entries from Oldham.

The organisers of the NatWest Everywoman Awards particularly want to hear from those who have had to overcome adversities such as financial constraints, social disadvantages or skills gaps.

Open to any female business owner, whether they operate as a limited company, sole trader or in partnership with others, the awards showcase the achievements of female entrepreneurs at different stages of their lives and careers.

The closing date for entries is July 31. A shortlist of finalists will be agreed in early October and all finalists will need to attend an interview on October 15.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony held on December 2 in luxurious surroundings of The Dorchester Hotel, London.

For further information on how to enter visit www.everywoman.com and for table bookings contact Everywoman directly on 0870-746 1800.


Foresight to succeed

SUPPORT, procurement and services company Foresight Technical is offering to remove the worry and hassle from IT problems, while allowing Oldham businesses to cut costs by at least 10 per cent.

Originally working solely as the internal IT team supporting Yearsley Group’s £160m-turnover frozen food sales and logistics business, Foresight Technical had a mass of clients and differing requirements to satisfy. Set up in 2006, the firm has seen its client base double year-on-year.