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Manchester United and England international footballer Marcus Rashford received his honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester last week (October 7th) at a special ceremony at Old Trafford.

The award ceremony was first announced in July last year, but an official personal ceremony and celebration has not yet been held due to the pandemic. The prestigious award is for his ongoing charity work and high profile campaign against child poverty off the field, as well as for his outstanding athletic performance on the pitch.

The award is the highest honor the university can bestow, and at just 23 years old, Marcus is the youngest recipient of an honorary doctorate in the history of the University of Manchester. He joins Manchester United club legends Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton, who have also been honored by the university in the past. Sir Alex Ferguson joined Marcus’ friends and family to watch the England international receive his award from the University of Manchester President and Vice Chancellor Prof. Dame Nancy Rothwell.

Marcus said: “To be here in the presence of a great man like Sir Alex and those who have played a big part in my journey to where I am today is something special. I am here to receive my honorary doctorate for my work against child poverty. Yesterday, millions of families across the UK lost a lifeline and a means of staying afloat. A step that could result in child poverty rising to one in three children. Because of this, today is bittersweet. It is time for representatives to step into communities like mine. It is time they saw firsthand the true measure of the struggle. COVID-19 can no longer be used as an excuse. “

Prof. Rothwell said, “Marcus is an exceptional young man who continues to show a sense of community and generosity that extends well beyond his years. Our university also has social responsibility at its core, and we are very proud to share these values ​​with Marcus. It is really an honor for us to finally be able to present him with this well-deserved award on behalf of our institution.

“His ongoing charity work and high profile campaigns not only help millions of people across the country, but also inspire many more to make a difference. May it go on like this for a long time. “

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Phil Dolan

The Cheshire and North Wales area of ​​Anwyl Homes has reported a record number of new home completions for 2021 and is set to grow for the next year. The Flintshire-based home builder completed 487 homes in the fiscal year ended September 30, an increase of 22% year over year.

Despite the challenges facing the industry, the company is now aiming for another record year and is forecasting a further increase in residential construction figures of just over 10% for the current financial year.

The numbers show steady growth in the Cheshire and North Wales area from Anwyl Homes, which acquired three new lots in the past year, including the 138 homes in Victoria Mills in Holmes Chapel, one lot for 142 homes in Clifton Drive, Chester and Glyn Farm , Colwyn Bay, which has 39 properties planning permission. The developer also began work on 130 new homes on Rossbank Road in Ellesmere Port.

Phil Dolan, General Manager of Anwyl Homes Cheshire and North Wales said: “We have had another successful year. Home buyer demand remains strong and we have exceeded our completion targets. Given the supply problems and material shortages the construction industry continues to face, this is a great achievement.

“We have a sizeable backlog of orders across the region and a strong pipeline of future developments, with several new locations acquired subject to planning. These include The Airfields in Deeside, where we are proposing 183 homes as part of the Summers Bridge development, 109 homes as a further development phase in Parc Aberkinsey in Rhyl, 49 new homes on Nant-Y-Gamer Road in Llandudno and 85 new homes Newcastle Road in Shavington, Cheshire. “

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A group of apprentices in the construction industry have the skills they learned at the St.

St Helens Mind operates a community allocation where service users can come and take time out, work on the allocation or just enjoy the quiet. The trainees at St. Helens Chamber have created a terrace on which visitors can sit and socialize.

Neil Rigby, Team Leader for Young Talent Development: “We think it is very important that the trainees also put their skills into practice outside the building center. We look forward to working closely with St Helens Mind to make improvements and additions to their allocation and I am really proud of the work the trainees have done on the terrace. “

The St. Helens Mind allotment is located in Cabbage Hall Allotments and can be accessed by any of their service users. The allocation is designed to help people with mental health problems reconnect with nature and take time out in a peaceful space. Visitors can work on the allotment garden, carry out maintenance and planting or simply relax and socialize with others during their time in the gardens.

Gill Ellison of St Helens Mind said, “Thank you to the trainees for their hard work on the allotment, you don’t know how much this means to everyone at St Helens Mind. The trainees did a great job and the allocation is really ‘A Place to Grow’ – thank you. “

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Just a year after it opened, a Bury café is being completely renovated and reopened as a high-end café-bar.

In September 2020, Cosalea launched on Walshaw Road as a new place to eat, meet and create. Its aim was to provide quality food and drink in a fresh, welcoming social space for the local community, and it quickly gained a reputation as one of the best restaurants in the area. Based on customer feedback following a brief renovation, Cosalea will reopen this week with a new look as a fully licensed café-bar – the first licensed space on Walshaw Road.

Owner Lisa Moore says: “Our customers have repeatedly told us that there is a need in the area for a place open in the evening that is not a pub or restaurant and is not in the city center. In response, we are creating a relaxed café atmosphere in a new, modern setting with a large selection of beers, wines, spirits and cocktails as well as live music. We will be introducing an evening menu with small plates and platters to share, which is great to share with friends and family. “

Despite a turbulent year in which Cosalea had to close its doors shortly after opening due to a lockdown, the business has grown stronger. Lisa Moore added, “The local community is at the heart of everything we do – being there for our customers is what we love and do best. We have built up a loyal base of regular customers who love nothing more than stopping by for a coffee, something to eat and talking to our friendly team and each other.

“We want to assure our customers that the day café will stay the same with our latest developments. They can keep on serving the same great menu, warm atmosphere and team they know so well. It is Cosalea that you know and love – only better. “

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Paul Eatock

Manchester-based Eatock Design and Build has had a successful first year of business securing the appointment of CarFinance247 for the office renovation of its Manchester headquarters.

Founded last fall by Paul Eatock, the company now operates nationwide and serves the office and commercial sector and supports projects of all sizes, including complete reconfigurations and extensive renovations. With much of 2020 and early 2021 being workplace counseling amid changing COVID-19 regulations and guidelines, the company had sales of £ 550,000 in its first year. Boosted by the appointment of several new customers including CarFinance247, it is expected to hit £ 2m this year.

Paul said, “We worked with CarFinance247 on an advisory basis at the beginning of the lockdown to ensure they were compliant. We have now been tasked with redesigning their office space to meet the changing needs of their large workforce after the lockdown.

“It is crucial that you, as a customer, understand the value of your corporate culture and what this means for employee loyalty. This results in the trust that is placed in us to create something really unique and special. Your team is now given a number of quiet and collaborative spaces that give them the flexibility to work the way they want. If people don’t have to be in the office all day, let alone chained to a desk, it is the importance attached to corporate culture that keeps them coming back. “

Much of Eatock Design and Build’s work in 2021 was helping clients remodel their offices to welcome employees who have become accustomed to working from home. The challenge was to transform traditional spaces into workplaces that promote the health and wellbeing of employees, increase productivity, and retain and attract talent. Paul said, “These days offices can’t simply resemble the same rooms that workforce left before the pandemic. Resimmercial is the current buzzword. We’re talking about offices with a more homely atmosphere, including more home furnishings and rooms that feel more like cafés. “