Wirral's independent local news website said it was “genuinely saddened” by some of the complaints raised According to the new Greasby business’ Facebook page The Little Gem is described as “Greasby’s Hidden Gem,” hosting private events birthdays and celebrations seven days a week The business opened on 27 April and will be taking bookings from June “The Little Gem is a glamorous party venue located in Greasby The Little Gem stands as Greasby’s contemporary event space “With a function room capable of accommodating up to 100 individuals we proudly hold the title of being your premier choice for hosting various events our aim is to be the backdrop of your most cherished moments.” Greasby Road Limited applied to Wirral Council for permission to stay open past midnight Sunday to Thursday and until 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays Music would be played and alcohol sold until midnight Sunday to Thursday and until 1am Fridays and Saturdays The application is due to come before the council’s licensing committee on 8 May following a number of complaints from people in the area The business has now agreed to reduce its hours as it was originally hoping to be allowed to stay open until 1.30am every day of the week A report before the committee outlines the business “will not operate as a bar open to the general public but only as a suite for pre-booked private functions” with all people attending required to sign a booking form Local taxi and private hire firms will be promoted to help people leave in an orderly way and the venue will have a zero-tolerance policy to drugs 16 local residents said they had “concerns that the granting of the application would cause public nuisance and anti-social behaviour within the vicinity of the premises” Greasby councillor Gail Jenkinson said she had “concerns that noise nuisance will be caused at a late hour if this application is granted” No comments have been made by Merseyside Police or environmental health the two authorities that regulate crime and noise issues Greasby had the lowest rate of crime in Wirral out of any council ward based on data between 2023 and 2024 Rates of crime were a third of the Wirral average and nearly a quarter of the crime rate across England there were only 67 cases of anti-social behaviour across the year in the ward at a rate of 4.7 cases per 1,000 population “We’re genuinely saddened by some of the objections raised as our aim has always been to be a positive part of the local community and not a bar trading seven days a week — a point we feel may have been misunderstood “Our application to extend our hours is mainly to accommodate Friday and Saturday evening events which are the most popular times for family celebrations like birthdays It’s also worth noting that there are other licensed premises in the area already operating past midnight “All clients sign a booking form with full terms and conditions and are made aware that we are in a residential area and that the venue must operate with respect for our neighbours at all times “We hope the committee will support our application and we remain fully committed to working with the council and residents to ensure The Little Gem contributes positively to the area.” Image: GOOGLE class=”has-medium-font-size”> Email us at news@birkenhead.news becomes President of the BPF Pipes Group in January 2025 She was previously Vice-President and commented: “I am really looking forward to taking on this role as it’s an exciting time to be in the plastic pipes industry.  I see three key areas of focus in the coming year: sustainability in manufacturing and operation plastic pipes’ key role in the drive for clean energy and encouraging more of our younger members to play an active role in the future of the industry.” Rachel has been at George Fischer for three years and prior to that was in the automotive after-market industry based in the UK but working for a US company as Strategic Marketing Director.  She has spent over 20 years in the automotive sector so brings a fresh approach to the pipes industry and the BPF Pipes Group.  Joining Rachel as Vice-President is Mark Spacie Managing Director at Brett Martin.  Mark also becomes Chair of the BPF Pipes Group’s Strategy Group The BPF Pipes Group is the leading trade association for the UK’s plastic pipes and fittings manufacturers.  It strives to promote best practice in the construction and use of all types of plastic pipes and fittings and its website contains a wide selection of free-to-access technical documents and practical guidance Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals A Building Magazine Leading in the field of building news reporting Building Design & Construction Magazine is one of the most respected and referenced sources of building news enquiries@bdcmagazine.co.uk+44 1484 437312 Subscribe our newsletter to get the best stories into your inbox © 2025 BDC Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society is currently six months into his gruelling fundraising campaign including the snow and ice that hit Wirral in early January Phill has raised over £6,000 for the charity which he holds close to his heart Phill’s grandad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease Phill has witnessed the emotional and physical toll the diagnosis has had on his beloved grandad and everyone around him.  This isn’t the first time Phill has embarked on such an intense fundraising initiative he ran 10 kilometres a day for a year in aid of mental health and suicide prevention in men “It was single-handedly the hardest thing I have ever achieved in my life It took a huge toll on my body physically and mentally Three years on after completing the challenge I have decided to hit the tarmac again and take it even further by doing it in bare feet.” “By the time I have completed this challenge it would be 10 years since my grandad’s diagnosis Alzheimer’s has taken so much from my family “My grandad is housebound with my family by his side He is the bravest and strongest man I know and sadly he has no idea about the immense challenge I’m undertaking Phill shared that the recent frost and ice posed significant challenges “If I had started my challenge in that weather Staff and pupils at Our Lady of Pity Catholic Primary School have been supporting Phill with teachers running with him or children cheering him on “We all think Mr Hayward is absolutely incredible Whenever he runs around the school field and playground after school we make sure to wave and offer him words of encouragement “Phill is a fantastic role model for the whole community What he is doing takes real courage and commitment not only for his family but for so many others affected by Alzheimer’s To support Phill Hayward and donate money for the Alzheimer’s Society, head to his GoFundMe page: www.gofundme.com/Barefoot-10k-a-day-for-a-year. More information about the Alzheimer’s Society can be found here: www.alzheimers.org.uk. Merseyside Police received a report just before 5pm that two boys aged 12 and 13 years were riding their bikes in Coronation Park when three older males approached them and asked where they were from One offender then lifted his top to indicate a weapon was concealed no weapon was seen but it caused fear to the two child victims then stole their bikes and rode off towards the allotments No injuries were reported but the two victims were shaken by the incident Police attended and carried out a search of the area Enquiries are ongoing including CCTV enquiries and detectives are appealing for witnesses to come forward The two stolen bikes were a black Carrera Hellcat in blue writing and a black Scott bike with green writing “This was a frightening incident for the young victims to experience and thankfully they were not injured “I urge anyone who was in the vicinity between 4.30pm and 5pm yesterday and may have noticed three males acting suspicious to please contact us so we can bring the offenders to justice “I would urge residents and motorists to please check your CCTV and dashcam footage to see if it may have captured something which will help the investigation could be vital to the investigation and get them brought to justice “I would also urge anyone who may see the two bikes for sale to please contact us.” Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information can contact the Merseyside Police social media desk on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ with reference 25000075315 You can also contact the independent charity Crime stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 Image: GOOGLE  It is believed this move will help make things easier for families trying to locate buried relatives who have been lost for decades or whose parents may never have known where they were buried it was understood to have been common practice across the UK that when a woman had a miscarriage or a stillbirth hospital staff would quickly take the baby away Families were sometimes told that if they quickly had another child and didn’t see the baby stillborn babies were often taken to cemeteries such as Landican or Frankby and buried in graves sometimes containing up to 60 or more children or at the foot of someone being buried that day awareness has been raised by a campaign by Gina Jacobs from Greasby and others who want an apology from the government for the practice which meant they were never allowed to see their children before they were taken away They have also successfully campaigned for a memorial for those who have never been able to find their children or relatives The issue has picked up the attention of several national publications in recent weeks following the discovery of a mass grave in Royton Cemetery in Oldham where 300 babies were discovered to have been buried Oldham councillors voted in favour of putting cemetery records online It’s not currently known how many babies were buried in this way but the bodies of babies have been located in several cemeteries including Landican and Rake Lane Burial dates previously published by the LDRS showed that burials took place over more than a year at three large graves at Landican Cemetery the first individual burial took place on 2 February 1967 but the final and 85th took place on 17 September the following year the first burial was on 16 September 1968 and the 62nd burial took place on 12 December 1969 the burial of 73 babies took place over the course of 15 months who has called for Wirral to put its records online thinks the move will make things easier for families but will also ease pressures on the staff at Landican They haven’t got the staff to deal with it and I know it would make things much easier for everyone across the cemetery.” “I get more and more angry by the day with what I am hearing It’s too hard for people and it’s got to be made easier It’s got to change because there will be more people coming to the cemetery.” Gina has also been campaigning for an apology from the government which was raised in Parliament by her previous MP Margaret Greenwood “We need acknowledgement and we need an apology and we need all those records put online I am so angry with the way we were treated.” Pointing to the experience of a family she had recently helped locate their child Who with a scrap of humanity would stop a mother seeing her baby Gina said what’s happened in Oldham had also reopened fresh questions for her about the management of the graves at Landican something Wirral Council has previously tried to answer One woman previously told the LDRS how she remembers seeing plywood across one grave but did not see what was underneath Answering these questions has been made difficult by the fact the cases are from many decades ago and took place before Wirral Council was formed in 1974 No references could be found to grave management in decades of Birkenhead County Borough cemetery committee minutes held by the Wirral Archives Service that were reviewed by the LDRS “The council has said a lot that I just do not understand they dug up 10 feet of soil but I just don’t know how they did that.” culture and leisure committee meeting on 19 September Conservative councillor Gary Bennett asked for the council to review its records in relation to the historical burials of stillborn children “I believe that all records relating to stillborn babies need to be properly collated so when requested by concerned parents this information should be easily available.” “The cemetery administration staff do an outstanding job in what can be difficult circumstances with limited resources and staffing levels “If the council moves forward with this work programme and compiles a central register I believe that it would be a huge leap forward for this borough and could set a groundbreaking precedent which any and all boroughs could move forward with The move is expected to get cross-party support as Labour councillor Jerry Williams is also supporting Gina’s campaign “It’s in the early stages but we are very much working to try and move this forward.” “The burial records for all Wirral Council-run cemeteries have been available to view on microfilm for more than 15 years (these are held within Birkenhead Library) so those wishing to find a grave can visit and view our burial records there “We are currently working with our software suppliers to explore options to digitise our burial records.” A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said “Our sympathies are with Mrs Jacobs and all the women and families affected “We expect all hospitals to provide as much information as they have available to any parents who inquire about what happened to their stillborn babies Lead image: The grave where Gina Jacobs’ son is buried along with 62 other babies has celebrated its 60th anniversary with a special school-wide mass and picnic the 60th anniversary celebrations began with a mass held at Our Lady of Pity RC Church The mass invited the whole school community including representatives from the Diocese of Shrewsbury and Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust – the trust of which the school is part of – to join together to honour and celebrate 60 years of Our Lady of Pity children from across each year group headed to the school’s grounds to enjoy a picnic in the sunshine the school used a drone to capture a photograph of all pupils “We all enjoyed a picnic outside in the sun Having a drone take our picture was pretty cool too and it was really good to try and make the letters big!” Our Lady of Pity opened its doors to past colleagues and friends of the school for a special tour and a walk around the school’s stunning grounds while reminiscing on their time and experience at Our Lady of Pity teacher at Our Lady of Pity from 1970-2000 was in attendance at the celebrations and commented on the lovely day “The 60th anniversary at OLOP was a perfect opportunity to catch up with colleagues and friends who are still around chalk blackboards and good old netball and rounders We were made to feel very welcomed and valued and the cake was delicious Head of school at Our Lady of Pity RC Primary School “We have had an incredible day celebrating 60 years of Our Lady of Pity RC Primary School we have been a small part of our children’s educational journey we are committed to our mission to ‘do everything with love’ and this is echoed in events and celebrations like this where the whole school community comes together for a joyous occasion.” the school has been a longstanding pillar of the community and has supported local organisations and individuals through charity work and community partnerships Our Lady of Pity RC Primary School is part of Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust with Dylan Cotgrave registering for Trident Oldershaw FC fought off the challenge from FC Greasby whose scorers were Corey Casey and Keiran Davies to record a 3-2 success to set up a winner-takes-all all contest versus Trident in the final fixture of the group Vineyard continued their unbeaten run when overcoming Wallasey Wanderers 4-0 as Carl Murphy and Harry Murray claimed a goal apiece in a superb team performance Still two points clear are Finnigan FC who ran past North West Harriers when taking the points in a 6-0 verdict that saw Anth Phillips net a treble and Jack Fletcher scored again from the penalty spot In the remaining Group C fixture in the Passey/Triggs Trophy Barnston FC claimed second place to progress to the knock-out stages following their 3-1 success over Park Royal thanks to goals from Nathan Anderson and Ben Ryan with a brace and Joe Wood hit the consolation Dutchman Cup second-round action saw AFC Shore Villa go through to the next round when beating New Brighton Town as Jamie Merrick A double strike from Callum Whiting added to a Riley Jones effort resulted in AFC Bromborough beating Bromborough Athletic 3-2 in a very even affair to see them progress in the competition Hitting the replies for Athletic were Nathan Morton and Gary Hewitt the makeover has seen the pub undergo a complete transformation new soft furnishings and an expanded dining space are some of the latest changes that have been made to provide guests with a relaxed and warm environment to enjoy their visit The Greave Dunning offers an excellent value fixed price menu with three courses available for£12.99 from 12pm – 5pm The pub also has a curry night on Fridays from 5pm where guests can enjoy two courses for £14.29 or two Curry Night starters or sides from £5.99 The pub has updated its menu to include a wide range of new dishes There is also a fixed-price Sunday lunch menu with up to three courses available with guests able to add a three sides bundle of Cauliflower Cheese Stuffing wrapped in Bacon and Yorkshire Puddings for only £6.49 The pub used to be part of Ashmount Farm before being converted to a pub in December 1981 Four-legged friends are also welcome at the Greave Dunning as the bar area is dog-friendly along with water and treats available on request to ensure they are as comfortable as their owners who has been the General Manager at the Greave Dunning for 26 years said whilst keeping the cosy feel of the Greave Dunning,we all know and love.” Leverhulme Estates has withdrawn an appeal against Wirral Council’s decision earlier this year to refuse planning permission for its 240-home scheme in Greasby custodian to thousands of acres of land across Wirral and elsewhere flats and bungalows and 72 affordable homes east of Rigby Drive It was also pursuing seven other appeals over the council’s refusal of planning permission for its Wirral schemes but these were thrown out by the Planning Inspectorate earlier this month The seven applications related to around 110 acres of Green Belt land in Pensby and Heswall as part of plans to deliver 788 homes through the ‘Leverhulme Vision’ The seven appeals would have delivered around 300 affordable homes but it revealed this morning (September 21) that it has decided to withdraw the appeal head of planning and development for Leverhulme said: “Further to last week’s Inspector’s decisions it is clear that addressing the matters relating to Wirral’s absence of a deliverable Local Plan is the immediate priority for Leverhulme in providing much needed new homes “The decision to withdraw Leverhulme’s appeal regarding Wirral Council’s refusal of its Greasby application is in line with this position “While we are disappointed not to be able to pursue this appeal at this stage Leverhulme will continue to work with others to highlight the urgent need for the delivery of housing in Wirral where there has been little sign of a viable deliverable Local Plan for decades.” He added: “Leverhulme will also be reviewing the Inspector’s appeal decisions over the coming weeks “We remain fully committed to playing our part in addressing Wirral’s acute housing shortage – especially family and affordable homes – in a realistic and deliverable manner.” Combining local heritage with contemporary hospitality the beautiful Grade II listed Manor at Greasby has been sensitively transformed to highlight its grandeur and has opened as a stylish and inviting restaurant and luxurious wedding and events space the Wirral venue served as a farmhouse for many years Known to the local community as a bank and then a restaurant in the years to follow the group behind much-loved venues including Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa and The Fishpool Inn The Manor at Greasby restaurant offers warm whilst paying homage to the building’s rich 17th century lineage The Nelson Hotels & Inns team worked with award-winning designers known for developing unique venues with leading hospitality brands The inspiration behind The Manor’s design was to create a premium yet accessible dining concept and the designers were inspired by the historic character of the building when they set out to create a welcoming and vibrant design which would modernise and elevate the grandeur of the original building Adam Tibbatts of Tibbatts Abel commented: “We became involved with the project having worked with the client before The venue had previously been a very popular restaurant and bar and was well known locally With the new design we took the Nelson Hotels & Inns ethos and high standards of food and service into consideration and combined it with the idea of uplifting the venue from what it was previously we wanted to highlight the building’s original features whilst modernising the design to add a stylish The relaxed restaurant interior features rich tones throughout and warm colours to create a cosy and welcoming atmosphere Guests can also choose to relax in the bar area where the stylish back bar perfectly showcases an impressive offering and where ‘opulent luxe’ serves as the key inspiration for the surrounding lounge space the restaurant boasts a beautiful green room with bi-folding doors flooding the space with light and opening out on warmer days The garden-inspired conservatory offers the perfect bathed in natural light and accented with delicate florals Key elements of the overall design include beautiful wooden wall panelling combined with contemporary wallpapers and luxurious materials including leather and velvet Other highlights include the stunning pewter bar top complimented by gorgeous handmade bespoke terracotta and patterned tiles on the bar frontage All the new elements of The Manor perfectly complement the preserved historic elements of the interior The Manor is also home to a new luxury wedding and special events venue: The Barn at The Manor is an elegant and rustic private events space accommodating up to 80 seated guests and available for exclusive hire The Barn’s design succeeds in delivering an impressive space to serve as an idyllic backdrop for celebrations from day to evening Historic character and contemporary sophistication combine to create a romantic antique mirror finishing and an understated colour palette bringing the space to life Framed with impressive timber and illuminated by beautiful the key features will create a bright and spacious venue for intimate gatherings and receptions the picturesque courtyard at the forefront of the venue provides a beautiful backdrop for capturing picture-perfect moments and provides the ideal space for al-fresco drinks receptions and canapés Adam Tibbatts added: “There were a considerable number of structural complications which we had to deal with due to the age of the building which were quite challenging to say the least However we managed to bring it up to the latest standards throughout and our vision has created a really nice relaxing ambience using a combination of lighting and finishes which perfectly compliment the interior.” Chester-based Nelson Hotels & Inns has opened its fifth venue The scheme includes a restaurant and luxury wedding barn that can host up to 80 seated guests The 17 th century Grade II-listed Manor has been brought back to life by the group with its vast history in mind The Inns team has created a multi-use space The restaurant offers an extensive all-day menu with a contemporary take on British classics and gastro-pub influences as well as influences from Asian fusion cuisine fresh pizzas and flatbreads made in the kitchen’s wood stone oven including table nibbles and small plates to a weekday afternoon tea and morning coffee menu A brand-new garden room conservatory has also been added to the original building fit with large bi-folding doors that overlook the venue’s outdoor seating offering a location for al fresco dining in the summer months In The Barn at The Manor impressive timber frames sit alongside beaded chandeliers with bespoke antique décor to create a unique destination for all occasions said: “Our opening weekend has been an absolute success We knew how anticipated our launch was set to be from the local area but we couldn’t be happier with the response we’ve had so far “The Manor is a great addition to the hospitality and events offering on the Wirral and my team and I are now really looking forward to seeing the venue flourish.” The site now joins Nelson Hotels & Inns venues such as the award-winning Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa as well as acclaimed gastropubs The Fishpool Inn said: “We are so proud to have seen The Manor finally open its doors and receive the astounding response it has already It was wonderful to meet locals who have been coming to the venue over the years and who have loved seeing the transformed space yet elevated restaurant with a unique menu that we think will attract a large regional footfall beyond Merseyside We have every faith in our standout restaurant team to make this happen and we’re looking forward to a very special summer on The Wirral.” decided to set up a Facebook page to help people explore Greasby Her inspiration came while walking around the village She knew that during lockdown people couldn’t go very far so wanted to help people enjoy and find out more about the local area. “She started it for her Local History badge in Brownies.”, Ellie-Louise’s mum, Alison, told birkenhead.news There are lots of people who ‘like’ and ‘follow’ Ellie-Louise’s Facebook page and there have been lots of lovely comments on her posts including some from people who have lived in the village all of their lives One former Greasby resident said of the photos that Ellie-Louise has uploaded to her page “I live in Scotland now and it’s great to be able to see a part of my past Even life-long residents are learning something new from Ellie-Louise’s project and she has also been recognised while walking around the village collecting photos for her page and congratulated on how good it is “I love to read your stories about Greasby – you are doing really well keep up the good work.” “I think that made her feel like a bit of a celebrity!” History can be ancient and it can be modern Ellie-Louise was fascinated when she found out the pump from Pump Lane was stolen in 2001 “The Water pump on the roundabout on Pump Lane is really heavy metal It was stolen in 2001 and had to be replaced “The person who looked after the pond and pump says it must have been at least two grown men with a van as it’s so heavy They never found out who took it or where it ended up They got a replacement from a farm in Wales.” Ellie-Louise started the project in order to get her Gold Local History Brownie Badge which serendipitously arrived through the letterbox on the day our reporter wrote this article Ellie-Louise told us, “The most enjoyable thing about doing the page is going out on walks and finding out new facts. Today we went letterbox hunting and found three different types of letterbox in Greasby from different kings and queens. That’s what my next post is about.” “She is going to carry on the page because she’s really enjoying it and has got lots of photos and facts ready to put on She’s thinking when she’s done as much as she can in Greasby she’s going to start looking at the surrounding area; Frankby is next on her list “She also wants to go to the cemetery in West Kirby to see if she can find the grave of the Manor owner who She wants a photo of it to add to the post about the Manor.” Alison said that she was “super proud” of her daughter for the amazing job she’s doing with her page “It’s lovely to see her finding out about where we live and helping other people to learn more about our lovely village “She’s worked so hard on her Brownie badges and this is the final badge she needed to achieve her Gold Award!” You can ‘like’ Ellie-Louise’s Explore Greasby Village Facebook page by clicking or tapping here Developers Leverhulme Estate wanted to build 240 homes on land around Greenhouse Farm near Greasby in Wirral The firm said the decision comes after a separate appeal to build new homes elsewhere in Wirral was refused Leverhulme said it would review future appeal decisions and consider options A Neolithic blade from the Stone Age and the foundations of old settlements which were 6,000 years older than Stonehenge and older than the Egyptian pyramids Roman coins have also been discovered on the land Thousands of people had signed a petition opposing the application saying the plans would put pressure on local services and called for a proper excavation of the site, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said It comes after separate plans for about 800 new homes in Irby Heswall and Raby Mere were rejected by the government earlier this month after seven planning applications were knocked back by Wirral Council head of land and planning at Leverhulme Estate said: "Further to last week's inspector's decisions it is clear that addressing the matters relating to Wirral's absence of a deliverable Local Plan is the immediate priority for Leverhulme in providing much needed new homes "The decision to withdraw Leverhulme's appeal regarding Wirral Council's refusal of its Greasby application is in line with this position "While we are disappointed not to be able to pursue this appeal at this stage "Leverhulme will also be reviewing the inspector's appeal decisions over the coming weeks He added: "We remain fully committed to playing our part in addressing Wirral's acute housing shortage - especially family and affordable homes." Wirral Council has been contacted by the BBC for comment Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk Wirral Council says it is proposing to operate eight libraries going forward, meaning six will close. Dan Davies wants to be able to keep Rockpoint Records open until after midnight on some nights. Oliver Nugent is the third man to be prosecuted in connection with incidents at the LIFE School. The plans mean no areas of green belt, about half of Wirral, will be released for development. The girl pulled out the kitchen knife "during a game" at a school in Moreton on 25 March. Business solutions group Leonard Curtis has enrolled some of its most experienced and respected personnel to a new debt advisory service – bringing decades of financial expertise under a single umbrella Leonard Curtis recently announced the launch of the debt advisory team within a broader offering to support clients requiring advice in an increasingly challenging market The company has now confirmed three debt advisory directors – Simon Carrier Dave Allanson and Shaun Hyland – will head up the department The corporate strategies team becomes part of debt advisory – with Joe Douglas Max Richardson and Joshua Timmis adding expertise in areas including ‘Time to Pay’ arrangements with HMRC and lender reviews Simon Carrier said: “With a strong team and so much experience behind us we know better than anyone how to align facilities and funders with a client’s strategic goals and personalities.” Dave Allanson said: “Our team have a great deal of experience in structuring deals for SMEs and mid-corporates and we have recruited talent from our funding and corporate strategies departments to cover every area.” Leonard Curtis has recently formalised its group into three distinct pillars – restructuring and insolvency Vita Group is investing into operations team with the appointment of Chris Jones as group energy manager A new role for the business to support its future growth and safeguard it from market volatility Jones will manage Vita Group’s energy procurement Jones joins the business with more than 14 years’ experience in the sector Selfridges and Johnson Controls operations and engineering teams Jones worked in a number of areas in the businesses including securing waste water and electrical contracts and rolling out food recycling projects at McColl’s to defining Selfridges’ green building guidelines Jones will help to develop and deliver the company’s continued commitment to a greener and more sustainable future This will include working with Vita Group’s operations team to reduce energy and water consumption in its existing assets as well as managing short and long term energy procurement to deliver savings across the business whilst ensuring supply chief operating officer for Alderley Edge-based Vita Group said: “The need for both strategic and sustainable energy procurement has never been greater to safeguard the business from external risks and deliver against our sustainability goals Now with Chris at the helm we will be able to minimise any external risks whilst adopting greener behaviours both in procurement and usage helping to reduce our impact on the world.” Chris Jones said: “Vita Group has established its reputation as an urban regeneration specialist As the business continues to scale with developments in the UK and abroad it is important to find ways to reduce our consumption and reduce our impact with greener energy helping to create more sustainable communities.” Full-service brand and communications agency which has offices in Manchester and Liverpool has promoted Drew Grant to creative director Both have been fundamental to the agency’s growth in recent years The promotions follow significant success for the agency this year and will allow it to expand its offer for its high profile client roster which includes the Road Haulage Association Nippon Electric Glass and United Utilities Increasing its headcount by more than 15% in 2022 which launched in 2006 with just three members of staff spanning various areas of expertise across its four departments of strategy Daniel Byrne said: “I’m looking forward to continuing our growth at Agent and building on the work we have been doing with our clients making sure there is a golden strategic thread that runs through everything we do.” Drew Grant said: “I’m excited about the opportunity this new role presents in terms of being able to put a real focus on our creative direction as a business we’re in a brilliant position to explore even more growth opening ourselves up to new projects and clients and really making a difference in everything we do.” said: “I’m exceptionally proud of everything we’ve achieved so far as an agency and it’s in no small part thanks to our incredibly committed and experienced team We’ve had some significant client wins this year which have resulted in us further expanding our areas of expertise bringing in the right talent to do just that we’re always looking for ways to invest in our team and bring people on our journey with us “It’s not just about bringing in new talent but developing the talent that we already have which is why it was so important for us to promote Drew and Daniel to these senior positions in recognition of the part they’ve played in our story so far has appointed James McAdam as the site’s general manager James has more than 20 years’ experience in the hospitality industry managing restaurants for one of the UK’s most prominent Michelin star chefs and working at one of Cheshire’s most celebrated four-star hotels and wedding venues The Manor at Greasby is the fifth development from Nelson Hotels & Inns Having previously been part of the Nelson Hotels & Inns group between 2008 to 2012 James is looking forward to returning to the team James’s previous position as a landlord at The Three Greyhounds Inn involved managing a gastro-pub with up to 170 covers and private event suite His role included all aspects of the day-to-day running of the gastropub with the added detail of planning and delivering 100 weddings and functions a year James said: “We want people to be able to visit The Manor for anything from a meal out with friends and family to a special occasion such as their birthday or wedding day Our aim at The Manor is to provide the same great experience to everyone who comes through the door saying: “His years of expertise within the hospitality industry will be invaluable in guiding our staff and kitchen teams to offer exceptional service to our guests and steer The Manor as a leading restaurant on the Wirral We look forward to seeing him elevate our high standards for food and service.” Warrington-based press release distribution service which started in December will bring a fresh focus to PR Fire’s own digital marketing strategy SEO and content creation to work on as the business continues to expand in the UK and US markets As an English Literature graduate and an established blogger Lauren is perfectly positioned to put her knowledge and experience into practice who joined the business in November to bolster the capacity of the PR campaign delivery team young people bring an undeniably valuable perspective Today’s graduates have a unique understanding of online services; they have extensive experience as both consumers and creators on digital platforms that have existed for the majority of their lives.” The business relocated from Hale to Warrington’s vibrant office building which has given PR Fire the space to continue to accommodate key new hires Dawn added: “Having young and motivated team members allows PR Fire to offer a dynamic innovative approach to our clients’ press release campaigns Our new hires have a great opportunity to apply their skills as part of a growing team and contribute to the wider success of the business.” Salford City Council has announced interim leadership arrangements are being agreed for its People services directorate with the upcoming departure of Charlotte Ramsden as strategic director of people in February 2023 Charlotte is taking up a new role to head up Bradford Children and Families Trust said: “To join our highly regarded and well established services we are recruiting interim executive directors for both children’s services and adult social services and health and I can now share Melissa Caslake is joining us as interim director of Children’s Services (DCS) “Melissa brings a wealth of experience in comparable roles as a DCS for a number of local authorities including Devon and the bi-borough arrangements between Kensington and Chelsea and the City of Westminster “She will join our strong leadership team in children’s services and bring much needed capacity as well as stability and an impressive track record of leading organisations through successful Ofsted inspections and other regulatory processes.” said: “I would like to thank Charlotte for all she has done here in Salford and wish her all the best for the future I now look forward to welcoming Melissa to Salford to build on the legacy of Charlotte’s work.” Melissa Caslake said: “I am keen to get started partners and families to get the best outcomes for children I look forward to continuing the great work in place and delivering the ambitions for children and young people.”