Author: Danielle Trigg

Making friends as an adult can feel like a difficult task. You leave school or university and suddenly the opportunities to meet new people disappear. Manchester is known for being a friendly city. You just need to know where to look to find your crowd. The key to forming meaningful connections is finding a shared interest. It is much easier to bond over a specific activity than to make small talk in a bar. When you focus on a hobby, the conversation flows naturally. The Social Aspect of Gaming One often overlooked avenue for meeting people is the gaming scene.…

Manchester’s Fiera Dance has been awarded Dance Group of the Year at the prestigious A-List Asiana Awards, held at the Grand Venue Banqueting Hall. The awards recognise outstanding British Asian creatives, businesses, and performers across the UK. Founded in 2023 by Chandni Patel, Fiera Dance has quickly become one of Manchester’s most dynamic cultural enterprises. Operating from Fiera Studios in M16, the company teaches Bollywood, Bachata, and Reggaeton to over 100 students weekly. It also offers performance teams, wedding choreography, and studio hire, making it a vibrant hub for dance enthusiasts in the city. The award recognises both the quality…

Food tech leader OSY Group is expanding its international presence through a new partnership that will bring its technology to fruit packaging across South Africa and Namibia. The collaboration with Mpact Operations will see OSY Group’s technology integrated into corrugated board-based packaging for grapes, stone fruits, and berries. The goal is to extend shelf life, improve freshness, and reduce food waste across the supply chain. OSY Group’s antimicrobial coating enables food to stay fresh for longer by leaving microscopic pins on packaging surfaces which puncture and kill microbes, slowing the natural spoiling process that affects the produce within. Mpact Operations…

UK and US dining cultures are converging at an unprecedented pace, and hospitality operators risk falling behind if they fail to adapt. Modern diners increasingly seek experiences that feel authentic, narrative-driven, and aligned with their values, marking a major shift in global hospitality expectations. Harrison, specialists in crafting memorable hospitality experiences, have leveraged their international expertise to produce the whitepaper “Redefining Global Hospitality: The Cultural Crossroads of the US & UK.” The report explores how evolving cultural forces are reshaping consumer expectations and offers actionable insights for operators to future-proof their brands on both sides of the Atlantic. The insights…

Blackmont Legal, a Manchester-based law firm that began as a fully virtual practice, has opened its first city centre office in response to increasing demand for physical workspace. Founded last year, the firm specialises in corporate law, intellectual property, and emerging sectors. The move marks a new chapter for Blackmont Legal as it balances the benefits of remote work with the advantages of a physical presence. Founder and CEO Zohaib Hashim said: “When we started Blackmont Legal, operating fully remotely allowed us to scale quickly and serve clients nationwide.” “As the firm has grown, we realised the value of having…

Manchester has long been known for its music, football, and nightlife but in recent years, it’s also become a hub for gaming enthusiasts. From immersive VR arenas to retro arcade bars, the city offers a diverse range of venues that cater to casual players, competitive gamers, and social groups alike. Whether you’re looking to challenge friends in person or enjoy the thrill of a live casino from home, Manchester’s gaming scene has something for everyone. Here are the most popular gaming venues in Manchester that fans should explore in 2025. Immersive Gamebox – Arndale, Manchester Located in the heart of Manchester Arndale, Immersive Gamebox offers…

In recent weeks, the sports and music worlds have been buzzing almost non-stop about one unexpected pairing: NBA rising star Cam Whitmore and Hollywood rapper BIA. What began as background whispers quickly became front-page chatter after a steamy Instagram story showed the 21-year-old forward kissing the 34-year-old artist, sending timelines swarming like digital bees converging on a single drop of honey. By choosing a simple video rather than an official press statement, the couple offered a remarkably effective soft launch of their relationship, allowing fans to draw their own conclusions while still making their bond exceptionally clear. The age gap,…

A Manchester-based solicitors’ firm has strongly criticised would-be fraudsters after discovering that a fake business had been using its name and regulatory details. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) issued a scam alert on Wednesday (26 November) regarding a fraudulent website promoting housing disrepair claims. The site unlawfully used information belonging to Veritas Solicitors, including its SRA ID and the name of its Managing Partner, Faraz Fazal. Mr Fazal said: “This was a deliberate, calculated attempt to mislead potentially vulnerable consumers by posing as a regulated law firm. Veritas Solicitors will defend its name vigorously. “Protecting our clients and colleagues is…

easyJet has continued its strong growth trajectory in Manchester, operating its largest-ever flying programme from the airport in FY25 — adding more than 300,000 seats year-on-year and carrying over 7 million passengers. The announcement comes as the airline reports 9% earnings growth for FY25, delivering a headline profit before tax of £665 million. easyJet holidays saw particularly strong demand from Manchester travellers, with beach packages to mainland Spain — especially Costa Blanca — and trips to Tenerife and Dalaman topping the list of favourites. For city breaks, Amsterdam, Paris and Prague proved most popular. The airline has now confirmed further…

In recent months, the global travel scene has felt like a restless organism—constantly shifting, occasionally stumbling, yet steadily regaining its strength. Industry analysts, who have spent years watching demand rise and fall like unpredictable tides, are now quietly suggesting that this year might deliver the most turbulent peak rush in over a decade. The idea sounds dramatic, but when you look closely at the forces swirling beneath the surface, the picture becomes exceptionally clear. During the past year, travellers have been returning to the skies with an enthusiasm that feels almost defiant, fueled by revived wanderlust and expanding access to…

Employers across Greater Manchester are being called upon to play an active role in shaping the region’s future talent pipeline as the Greater Manchester Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is relaunched. Jointly delivered by Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the LSIP strengthens the voice of business in addressing skills shortages and developing clear pathways into good-quality employment. The plan also underpins inclusive growth across the city region’s six designated growth locations, identified as priority areas for investment and job creation. As part of Greater Manchester’s broader ambition to create a prosperous region where…

Onlayer has secured $8.2 million through a Series A round, giving the company the means to push ahead with ambitious plans for rapid international growth. The funding will support expansion throughout the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific, while allowing continued refinement of its AI-powered risk management platform. Operating from Türkiye, Onlayer serves banks, PSPs and enterprises with an end-to-end merchant management system. The newly obtained investment will help the company widen its global operations and strengthen its AI technologies that underpin risk evaluation, compliance frameworks and merchant performance management. New and existing investors The round was led by Oleka Capital,…