Manchester is a city that’s evolved so much, and is still changing to this day.
Sure, it might be a city with “so much to answer for”, as the famous quote goes, but with a history that’s as rich, vibrant, and culturally-diverse as Manchester’s is, it’s no wonder Mancunians are happy to answer for it.
From iconic music and sporting achievements, to groundbreaking inventions, political movements, world firsts, and so much more, there’s no end to list of things that Manchester has gifted the world over the years.
We should have no shame in shouting that from the rooftops with pride.
And one company that’s had its hand is shaping the way this proud city has evolved in recent years, and has a clear vision for the change it’d like to help come to be in the future, is Armstrong Projects.
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Armstrong Projects is a construction specialist with industry expertise in a wide variety of sectors.
When co-founders Chris Hamlett and Paul Armstrong discovered a shared ambition to create a construction company that provides a tailored, comprehensive, and turn-key solution for a range of clients, they joined forces to found Armstrong Projects back in 2018.
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Offering a number of different services that can be individually-tailored to meet clients’ specific requirements, alongside a collection of partnered design teams, a healthy database of approved supply chain partners, and effective project management, Armstrong Projects ensures that all client expectations of quality, programme, and budgets are met.
The team has experience in various building projects, with values ranging up to £10 million across sectors such as commercial, retail, education, industrial, residential, and more.
Armstrong Projects is a construction specialist with industry expertise in a wide variety of sectors / Credit: Armstrong Projects
“After suffering from a failed business in 2017 and the subsequent difficult times that I faced,” co-founder Chris Hamlett explains on the beginnings of the thriving company, “Paul [Armstrong], came to me to offer his support, which was integral in the formation of the business.”
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With Chris’ background in main contracting, having spent several years working for a family-run blue chip construction company to gain the experience needed to create his own vision, combined with Paul’s success as a subcontractor in the ceilings and partition trades, the duo came together to ensure that they delivered a series of varied schemes which were both within their capabilities, and importantly, exciting to be a part of.
“Those we would be proud to showcase, and that we enjoyed coming to work and being involved with,” Chris added.
Following the company’s inception, in late 2018, Chris Greenall joined the business as Operations Manager – bringing with him experience to broaden the businesses’ strengths and provide further process and procedures that were important to delivering successful schemes as seamlessly as possible.
And the company has been steadily growing ever since.
“Our staff are trained and qualified to the latest health and safety standards, and relevant management qualifications,” Chris continues.
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“But we are not a typical corporate business – we employ people, not numbers, and our clients have visibility of our directors right from the start and through to completion of works to give them peace of mind, should they ever need to talk to us.
“Our service to them is at a personal level.
“We engage with our clients on a one-to-one level to better understand their objectives, any constraints, and any special requirements, and our honesty and openness guides them through the construction process to ensure that we always deliver to our promises and commitments.”
Armstrong Projects ensures that all client expectations of quality, programme, and budgets are met / Credit: Armstrong Projects
It’s that honesty and openness that has lead to a series of recent successes for the ambitious company, most-notably including the delivery of an office-to-residential conversion scheme in the centre of Manchester, Barclay House, which allowed the team to build some worthy relationships – “both in terms of client and suppliers” – and become a project Chris says they will “always be proud to have been a part of.”
Then, in early 2021, when the company’s workbook was heavily-weighted towards a series of residential projects, the team took the decision to expand their network and focus on winning schemes from other sectors, and within three months, they had been successful in clinching two high-profile projects – the first being the delivery of a new Masjid and Community Centre in Cheadle, and the second being the redevelopment of a town centre in Sale.
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“Both very different schemes, however the experience within the business gave us the confidence to present ourselves,” Chris admits.
These two schemes are expected to be completed by the end of next year.
“More recently, we have secured relationships with several Housing Associations and retail partners to help grow and move our business forward into 2022.”
“We are not a typical corporate business – we employ people, not numbers,” / Credit: Armstrong Projects
So it’s safe to say that the future is looking bright for Armstrong Projects – and Manchester too.
You can find out more about Armstrong Projects here, and follow the company on its social media pages – Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Featured Image – Armstrong Projects
Business
Government to begin giving millions of UK workers ‘significant’ pay rises from this week
Emily Sergeant
The Government is to begin giving more than three million workers across the UK a ‘significant pay boost’ from this week.
Announced as part of last year’s Budget, and in a bid to ‘put thousands of pounds back in the pockets of working people every year’, the Government confirmed back at the beginning of February that a new National Living Wage of £12.21 per hour, and a new National Minimum Wage of £10 per hour would take effect from April onwards.
Ministers said the 6.7% increase to the National Living Wage – which is now worth £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker – is a ‘significant step’ towards delivering the manifesto commitment to deliver a ‘genuine’ living wage.
Today, millions of working people will get a pay rise as the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage increase.
New rates:
🔹 from £11.44 to £12.21 if you’re 21 and over 🔹 from £8.60 to £10.00 if you’re 18-20 🔹 from £6.40 to £7.55 if you’re under 18 or an apprentice
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) April 1, 2025
On top of this, the National Minimum Wage for 18-20-year-olds is also set to go up by a record increase of £1.40 an hour, which means full-time younger workers eligible for the rate will see their pay boosted by £2,500 a year.
The minimum wage pay boot has also been called the first step towards removing the ‘unfair’ age-bands that see a 21-year-old getting paid more than a 20-year-old for doing the same job.
According to the Government, this is also the first time the National Living Wage has taken into account the cost of living and inflation.
Three million UK workers will be getting a ‘significant’ pay rise from this week / Credit: Pexels
“In the last Parliament, living standards were the worst on record and sky-high inflation was crushing working people’s finances,” commented Chancellor Rachel Reeves, explaining why the pay boosts are being introduced.
“Making work pay is good for workers, will strengthen businesses’ workforces, and will grow our economy for years to come.
“It’s a key milestone on my number one mission to get more money in people’s pockets as we deliver our Plan for Change.”
Not only that, but the minimum hourly wage for an apprentice is also set to be boosted later this year too, with an 18-year-old apprentice seeing their minimum hourly pay increase by 18% to £7.55 an hour.
As a result of these particular changes, a further four million workers also could benefit from the positive spill-over impacts of the rate increases.
Featured Image –
Business
A huge free careers festival geared towards young creatives is coming to Manchester this week
Daisy Jackson
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International are hosting a careers festival in Manchester this week, designed to empower young creatives.
The huge free event on Thursday 3 April will take over Aviva Studios, offering everything from speed mentoring to CV clinics to expert talks.
Attendees will be able to have a free headshot taken, meet employers and like-minded creatives, and generally get a feel for how to build a career in the creative industry.
The Career Festival will boost Manchester’s creative future by supporting the next generation of creators, investing in their skills and confidence.
It’s all geared towards young people aged between 16 and 24 who face challenges in finding sustainable careers within the creative industries.
On the day, attendees will be able to receive one-on-one career advice from top industry professionals in speed mentoring sessions, learning from experts in marketing, media, production and more.
They’ll also be able to network with organisations, training providers and employers including Crew gal, Walk the Plank, and Gate Films.
Expert talks will give advice on how to break into the industry, while a CV clinic will help to hone CVs into a stand-out that’ll get a foot straight in the door, along with free headshot portraits.
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International careers festival. Credit: Mark Crayden Photography
And the whole time attendees will be surrounded by other creatives, building a network that could launch them towards their next big opportunity.
The TikTok Creative Academy, delivered by Catch22 and funded by TikTok, is a free employment program designed to provide vital support to young people aged 16-24 seeking to enter the creative industries.
It’s been specifically targeted towards young people who experience barriers to employment, whether that’s because of challenges like mental health and limited educational attainment, or involvement with the criminal justice system.
The programme itself has a free employment course, offers targeted supports, and opens the door to the industry, fostering networking and career development.
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International careers festival. Credit: Supplied
It also offers practical skills development and emphasises creative abilities to help young people thrive.
Quote from TikTok Creative Academy Senior Service Manager, Hilda Dotsey: “At Catch22, we are acutely aware of the challenges that young creatives face when it comes to finding sustainable employment in the creative industries and we are about to mark the 1000th person supported into work, training or further education through TikTok Creative Academy.
“With lack of industry insight and experience cited as one of the key barriers to quality creative careers, it is fantastic to be partnering with Factory International once more.
“This event, which celebrates our third year of delivering the programme, will open up pathways for Manchester youth, linking up the next generation of creative talent with industry experts and Manchester’s top creative voices.”
The Catch22 TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International: Career Festival will take place at Aviva Studios from 1pm to 4pm on Thursday 3 April.
You can find out more about Catch22 and the services available HERE.