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. Included in this month’s bulletin, details of the first Lancashire Property Forum, The North West Society of Chartered Accountants features as our ‘Business of the Month’ and Frank McKenna looks at Preston’s creaking road systems Read on and enjoy...

As most people will have noticed, large swathes of Preston have been beset by roadworks during recent months. I am told this is due to a rolling project by United Utilities to lay 12km of new electricity cables. READ MORE

You can read Frank’s weekly Blog at http://www.prestoncitizen.co.uk/blogs/frankmckenna/

The winners of Preston's newest awards ceremony have been announced at a glittering ceremony. VIEW MORE

City leaders have welcomed plans to install a bronze statue of Wallace and Gromit in Preston, the home of animator Nick Park. DPIB Chairman Frank McKenna commented: “ Public art is a fabulous way of livening up places and I think to have internationally recognised figures like Wallace and Gromit featured in such a way would be terrific.”

An Eastern European millionaire has set up the HQ of his new mobile phone business on Preston docklands. Roman Karkosik, ranked the 557th richest man in the world, is part of new mobile operator Extreme Mobile, which will launch across the UK later this year.

DPIB sponsors Freshfield PR was the only Lancashire Company to feature in a regional list recognising the fastest growing ‘spin doctors’. The agency has been revealed as the sixth fastest growing in the North West, expanding its turnover by almost 54% in the last twelve months to £580,000.

Business start-up support from the University of Central Lancashire available now! Through the new business start-up programme from the University of Central Lancashire, starting and growing your new business may not be as daunting and as lonely as you may think. VIEW MORE

DWF is a leading northern law firm with proven strength and depth in Real Estate, Corporate, Banking & Finance and Litigation.

Following our merger with Ricksons in January 2007, we employ over 800 people, including 120 Partners across the North of England. With over 500 fee-earners, DWF is ranked as the largest in the North West by number of fee earners by independent legal directory Legal 500.

We are able to serve clients across the UK from our offices in Preston, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester and through our network of relationships with law firms around the world, we are able to extend this service internationally.

To find out more please visit our website at www.dwf.co.uk or contact us on 01722 556677

NEW guidance has been issued by HM Revenue & Customs to advise company directors on whether they will receive corporation tax relief on their pension contributions. VIEW MORE

THE North West Society of Chartered Accountants provides support and advice for hundreds of chartered accountants across the Lancashire & Cumbria area.
The Society, founded in 1965, was previously the North Lancashire Branch of the Manchester Society of Chartered Accountants. It now has over 1,650 members working in Lancashire, Cumbria and South Lakeland.
The President of the Society is Anthony Cox, who qualified as an accountant in 2000 and is currently based at Preston-based KPMG as Senior Tax Manager.
The organisation operates closely with the Liverpool and Manchester societies as the North West Region of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Its aim is to provide support and meet the needs of all members, encourage good communication between members and other professionals and to raise the profile of the profession.
Another important role of the society is to promote accountancy as a qualification locally. It also holds a respected business and accountancy awards ceremony each year, with the 2007 awards taking place on November 22 at Ribby Hall in Wrea Green. VIEW MORE

Preston City Council introduced a ‘car free day’ in the city recently. Do you think this is a good idea? CLICK HERE to vote.

The first Lancashire Property Forum will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday 10th October, with regeneration expert David Taylor featuring as the keynote speaker. Sponsored by the Northwest Development Agency, DWF Solicitors and Moore & Smalley, the purpose of the forum is to bring together public sector regeneration agencies and companies involved in the economic development of the county. CLICK HERE to register for this event.

DPIB is proud to be associated with the North West Society of Chartered Accountants (NWSCA) annual accountancy and business awards, which take place on 22nd November at Ribby Hall Village in Wrea Green, located between Preston and Blackpool. For further information and nomination forms, please contact Melanie Christie on 01772 641163 or email: melanie.christie@icaew.com

Be one of the first Companies to join Preston’s ‘business club with attitude’. CLICK HERE for details.

Lead developers of the Tithebarn project, Grosvenor, will be presenting to DPIB’s second Lancashire Property Forum in November.