Welcome to the latest DPIB bulletin, bringing you a smattering of news and views from the North West’s newest business club about the North West’s newest city. There is plenty to digest in this month’s newsletter including the latest on the Tithebarn developments in Totally Frank. We also catch up on the latest stories making the news. Moore & Smalley give tips to property developers on VAT and CIS. DWF tell us to keep the credit crunch in context. And Lancashire Business View profile a true Lancashire entrepreneur, Dennis Mendoros. Conlon Construction are the featured as the DPIB Business of the Month for May. Please read on and enjoy....

After nearly a decade of protracted periods of no information interspersed with sporadic announcements and snippets it appears details about the next stage of the Tithebarn saga is more freely flowing. It appears these are the opening salvos in the life of Tithebarn as we shape up towards actual action on the ground.

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PLEA TO TITHEBARN FOR GREEN GUILD

Downtown Preston In Business have called for Preston be a green oasis to mark 2012. Business leader, Frank McKenna, believes the first phase of Tithebarn, which includes grassed areas for the public, could be completed for the start of the Guild in four years. Frank said developers Grosvenor had managed to bring forward phase one of its flagship Liverpool One scheme to coincide with its Capital of Culture celebrations this year.

Preston Council leader Ken Hudson said the Preston Tithebarn Partnership (PTP) – made up of Grosvenor and construction firm Lend Lease – said they were hopeful parts of the scheme would be ready for the 2012 celebrations.

Mr McKenna said: "What I would say is why could we not have at least part of Tithebarn developed in time for the Guild? That could be the public spaces, which we know people are very keen to see coming to Preston. Grosvenor bent over backwards to accommodate Liverpool in its Capital of Culture celebrations and I am sure they will recognise the importance of the Guild to Preston.

DPIB members, Conlon Construction, have won the SME of the Year award 2008 at the North West Regional Construction Awards. This award recognises the achievements of small to medium sized businesses who have made a significant impact on the industry and who show strong prospects for the future, strong commitment to health and safety and improvements in the way they work. Congratulations to Conlon Construction on their well deserved success and for being a beacon of excellence in the region.

‘Blackpool International Airport has secured a new route later this year. Jet2 will fly a weekly departure from Blackpool to Swiss city, Geneva. This is the first major new route to be secured by the airport since its £14 million take over by Balfour Beatty in addition to the 20 European destinations on offer. This is just part of the company’s plans to stabilise and grow the airport. A new rail to Preston is on the priorities list in an effort to utilise the proximity of the Squire’s Gate station to the airport.

Owners of the Fishergate shopping centre are not taking the Tithebarn threat lying down. They have released plans for a £24 million extension to the centre. It is hoped that the architects plans will eventually transform Fishergate into the west side of Preston’s answer to Tithebarn. The development proposal is for a four-storey department storem 12 new shops a new entrance and up to 200 car parking spaces. The architects believe the ‘proposals will greatly improve the impression given to visitors when they arrive by rail and, as many of these will choose to walk through the centre, the revitalised Fishergate Centre will form an important gateway to the city’.

It seems the plans for the redesign of Winckley Square are stirring up some controversy. Retired Preston architect Keith Scott, the man who helped design Preston's landmark bus station, claimed the plans had ‘missed the point’ and do not meet the key aim set for the competition by failing to connect the city centre with the riverside Avenham and Miller Parks. The design which includes a 64-jet fountain and installing fibre optic lighting around the Victorian square has been dismissed as "silly and childish" and "self-indulgent" by members of the Preston and South Ribble Civic Trust. Catherine Mitchell, of the Cooper Partnership, said it had researched the history of the park and designed "something breath-taking" which was in keeping with the 19th century square. Catherine said: "We think we have got a good balance of new and existing character in the scheme and the feedback we have receieved has been great."

Unemployment has fallen faster across Lancashire than across the rest of the country, according to recent figures released by the Office of National Statistics. The new data reveals the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the county dropped by 2.2% over the last month. This compares to the national figures which show a fall of 0.7%. This reflects the underlying strength of the economy in Lancashire against a unstable economic backdrop.

Preston College have turned the former NWDA office on Winckley Street into a top draw business facility offering meeting and conference space for businesses within Preston. Philippa Ward, business development manager, of the centre “this is an opportunity to provide business-focused training and facilities within the hear of the business community.

DPIB recently held a Lancashire Property Forum event at the business centre. We had very positive and encouraging feedback on the venue from our delegates. For more information on the new facility then please visit the City Business Centre website at www.cbcpreston.com. We are sure that Philippa Ward and her team will prove to be very helpful if you are looking for a team away day or similar events.

Almost two hundred leading businessmen and woman attended the inaugural Lancashire Business Oscars, hosted by DPIB in association with the Northwest Development Agency, DWF LLP and Moore & Smalley. The big winner of the night was Steve Jackson, who walked away with the ‘entrepreneur of the year’ award, whilst Michael Conlon of Conlon Construction picked up the ‘property entrepreneur’ Oscar. To view all the winners, please CLICK HERE. To view the gallery from the evening, CLICK HERE

Keep the credit crunch in context

The situation is not as bad as you might think, says Keith Melling, head of corporate law at DWF in Preston

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VAT/CIS pointers for house and flat developers

A NEW £10 million accountancy firm has been created following the merger between Blackpool based firm, Moore and Smalley, and Lonsdale & Partners. Moore and Smalley, which has offices in Preston, Blackpool and Castle Donington, has joined forces with Lancaster, Kendal and Kirkby Lonsdale-based, Lonsdale & Partners.

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As champions of Lancashire industry go, there is none more unlikely than Dennis Mendoros. Born in The Sudan, of Greek parents, he is fiercely proud of his adopted homeland and has spent much of the past 20 years supporting business in the county. His efforts were rewarded at Lancashire’s largest business awards ceremonies when he was named Lancastrian of the Year. Editor Andrew Calvert went to meet the unorthodox Greek.

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Based in Bamber Bridge, Preston, Conlon undertakes construction projects, design & build, new build and refurbishment for public sector and private clients. Our ability to work as a team with clients is demonstrated by high levels of repeat business - many client relationships stretch back over 25 years.

Our reputation for workmanship and service is demonstrated by a dedicated team of staff and directly-employed skilled craftsmen who have an average length of service of over 14 years. We also aim to maintain our reputation via our apprenticeship scheme with apprentices now making up 10% of our workforce. We have an in-house joinery manufacturing facility employing time-served, skilled craftsmen. This supports construction operations internally and we also work on bespoke projects for other clients.

As property developers, we undertake speculative residential, commercial and industrial projects throughout the North West as well as South and West Yorkshire.

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Lancashire Means Business offers a spectacular start to the inaugural Lancashire Business Week. We open proceedings with The Rt. Hon James Purnell MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions giving the keynote address. DPIB in association with Moore & Smalley and NWDA will launch the results of the most comprehensive business survey that will shape an agenda to help influence the public sector to make Lancashire more business-friendly.

Visit the registration page by CLICKING HERE

Lancashire Business Week ends as spectacularly as it began. With a line up of high profile and high achieving local entrepreneurs we will hear first hand about the day to day experience of being an entrepreneur. This ‘In Conversation ..' style event will be hosted by a former leading BBC TV journalist, Jim Hancock. This is a must see for those who want to know more about what makes a successful entrepreneur and the fine line between success and failure.

Visit the registration page by CLICKING HERE

Amazing food, amazing company, amazing entertainment and of course "Sexy Networking."

Visit the registration page by CLICKING HERE

Improve your business by joining the business club with ATTITUDE. CLICK HERE for more information.