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
IKEA announces decision to close popular Greater Manchester site
Emily Sergeant
It’s the end of the road for one of IKEA’s popular Greater Manchester sites.
The Swedish furniture giant has announced its decision to close its ‘Plan and Order Point’ over in Stockport in a couple of weeks time.
The store – which is located in Stockport town centre’s Merseyway Shopping Centre – launched to huge success back in March 2023, and at the time, was the second of this ‘test and trial’ format to open in the UK, becoming a smaller space dedicated to kitchen and home planning, as well as ordering items.
IKEA says the closure comes as a result of ‘valuable learnings’ which plan to take this conceptual format in a direction to ‘better suit the needs of UK customers’.
IKEA is closing its close popular Stockport site this month / Credit: Jon Super (via IKEA)
Since the opening of the Stockport Plan and Order Point, IKEA claims it has seen an increased demand for Click and Collect services, a desire by customers to shop a smaller selection of home furnishing accessories, as well as the ability to return goods to physical IKEA units, and this is all something which the current location is unable to offer.
Learning from this change in consumer habits, the company says its future Plan and Order Point openings – including in those in other northern cities like Hull and York – will offer these services.
IKEA says it also remains ‘committed’ to trialling new formats, such as its upcoming small stores, one of which will open in nearby Chester later this year.
Luckily for IKEA fans, the retailer has confirmed that its major Greater Manchester store in Ashton-under-Lyne, as well as the neighbouring store in Warrington, will remain open as normal, offering all the services available at Stockport and more.
The Swedish furniture says the closure comes as a result of ‘valuable learnings’ about customer needs / Credit: Jon Super (via IKEA)
In addition to the upcoming opening of a smaller store in Chester, IKEA has revealed that the North West continues to be an area of interest for future expansion.
“After careful evaluation, we’ve made the difficult decision to close the IKEA Plan and Order Point at Merseyway Shopping Centre,” explained Salma Azad, who is one of IKEA’s Area Managers.
“In the two years since opening, we’ve taken valuable learnings, including how our customers prefer to meet IKEA, and we’ll take these insights into future openings, to serve shoppers in a more impactful way.”
Thanks to last year’s Click and Collect expansion, Stockport residents can now pick up purchases from Tesco Extra Stockport and Tesco Extra Stretford, as well as the Manchester store and the upcoming small store in Chester.
Stockport Plan and Order Point’s final day of trading will be on 16 June.
Guide Dogs desperately needs people in Greater Manchester to ‘foster’ its dogs while they’re in training
Emily Sergeant
Guide Dogs desperately needs Greater Manchester residents to take on the volunteering role of Fosterers.
The charity – which has been providing mobility support, and raising awareness of and campaigning for the blind and partially sighted since 1934 – relies on the help of its network of its more than 14,000 volunteers across the UK to help it make a difference and improve the lives of those with visual impairments.
And Fosterers are a vital part of the journey for the hundreds of dogs trained each year.
As a Training Dog Fosterer, you’ll be giving a dog in training a loving home whilst they embark on their journey to become a guide dog.
You’ll get to see the progress your furry companion is making in their training and be a vital part of their journey, all without the commitment of looking after a dog full time.
Guide Dogs North West – which is based at the state-of-the-art training school in Atherton – has taken to social media this week to issue a desperate plea for new Fosterers to join its volunteer network in our region, and is calling on dog lovers who can commit to the important role to get in touch.
“Calling dog lovers around Atherton,” the post on Instagram reads.
“We desperately need volunteer Fosterers to look after our trainee guide dogs during the evenings and weekends. We take care of the training and costs, such as food and vet bills, and you take care of the play time and cuddles.”
One of the most crucial parts of the Fosterer role is being able to drop the dog off between 8-9am and pick them up between 5-6pm at a Guide Dogs site or a site near a trainers’ home each weekday – which means you will likely need to live nearby to the Atherton training centre or be fully-committed to travelling.
Guide Dogs desperately needs people in Greater Manchester to ‘foster’ its dogs while they’re in training / Credit: Guide Dogs
What will you get in return? Well, volunteering is a two-way street, so in return for your time, you’ll get a dedicated volunteer manager / key contact who will help you settle in and support you during your time with the charity.
And of course, you’ll get lots of cuddles from the new four-legged friend you’ve welcomed into your home.
This could be a chance to play your part in changing lives.
Emily Sergeant -
5th November 2021 
