Enterprise news in brief

 Source: MEN

 Firms that sponsor soccer club FC United of Manchester are teaming up to offer free mentoring to other companies.

Up to an hour of free consultancy a month will be provided under the scheme by people with expertise in fields such as manufacturing, marketing, finance, international trade, business planning and legal support. Contact info@fc-utd.co.uk for more information.

*Kemper System, based at Winwick Quay, Warrington, has installed a waterproofing membrane on the rooftop terrace of Selfridges' flagship store in Oxford Street, central London, where a boating lake and cocktail bar have been created.

*Construction and maintenance services company Hertel has won a contract at chemicals firm Chemtura in Trafford Park.

Hertel, which has its regional headquarters in Preston Brook, Cheshire, will be responsible for maintenance work including scaffolding, insulation and painting. It won the contract for an initial 12 months in a competitive tendering process.

*Food retail and hospitality firms are being urged to attend an event showcasing north west food and drink producers.

The Source Local Trade Exhibition will take place from 1.30pm to 5pm at the Leyland Hotel, Leyland, on Monday, October 10. It is being hosted by food group Made in Lancashire. Contact 01995 642144 if you are a buyer and wish to register to attend.

*Rising unemployment and higher university tuition fees mean a growing number of young people aspire to be their own boss, according to research by PC World Business.

The study found 45 per cent of 16-24-year-olds in Manchester are aiming to set up their own enterprises. TV programmes such as The Apprentice and Dragons' Den are also a factor, as the report shows they make people more aware of entrepreneurial career options.

*The Barbakan Delicatessen, a bakery in Chorlton, Manchester owned by Stefan Najduch, has won a national industry prize. It won the excellence in artisan baking at the 2011 Baking Industry Awards held in London. Barbakan is a £1.8m-turnover business employing 48 staff. It sells 60 internationally-inspired bakery products, including pistachio breadsticks.

*A private health screening and ultrasound centre is to open in Manchester next week.

The centre on St John Street will be operated by Leeds-based this is my: and will open next Monday (Spet 19).

Group commercial director Jonathan Day said: “We took the decision to open a new centre in Manchester offering screening and ultrasound services as a result of the demand we see from patients contacting our Leeds centre who are willing to travel across the Pennines to see us there.”

September 12, 2011