eStar Mercedes-Benz is the new sponsors of one of The Manc’s original video series Mancs on Tour.
And we’ve been kitted out with a brand-new ride to celebrate it.
With sustainability being a huge focus for many businesses in Manchester right now, and following the latest Green Summit with Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, this city is set to become the first in the country to adopt an accelerated carbon reduction plan – with an ambitious view to becoming carbon neutral by 2038 – and is also aiming to become the first city-region to deliver a carbon neutral transport network.
Just like The Manc Group, eStar Mercedes-Benz is keen to further “bolster the importance of sustainability” in Greater Manchester, which is why we’ve joined forces to spread the word and also raise awareness about the company’s electric vehicle range.
eStar is a Mercedes-Benz Van retailer specialising in electric mobility and operating throughout the North West England and North Wales, with a mission to work in partnership with the retail businesses to provide a consultative approach to ensure sustainable growth for now and for the future.
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The company provides customers with anything from a small panel van, up to large, fully-electric people-carriers and HGVs.
eStar Mercedes-Benz has kitted The Manc out with a new branded fully-electric tourer van / Credit: The Manc Group
eStar says its unique position in the industry enables it to serve both the business and lifestyle community, but its services are not just limited to the supply of vehicles, as it’s also dedicated to keeping people moving and operating 24-hour servicing that’s delivered by highly-skilled Mercedes-Benz Technicians.
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eStar has kitted The Manc out with a fully-electric Mercedes-Benz eVito Tourer van to inform and inspire the people of Manchester, raise awareness about the importance of sustainability, and most-importantly, to support emission-free travel for our video series that’s fondly-named ‘Mancs On Tour’.
The Mercedes-Benz eVito Tourer is an exceptional vehicle that offers “advanced safety, exceptional driver comfort, and unrivalled aftercare” to give drivers that extra peace of mind, and on top of that, the vehicle also produces zero emissions.
This means the vehicle is exempt from congestion and Clean Air Zone charges.
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eStar Mercedes-Benz is keen to further “bolster the importance of sustainability” in Greater Manchester / Credit: The Manc Group
Mancs on Tour is one of our newest original video series, which sees our very-own presenter Joe McGrath and videographer Tim Hoyle take to the road to visit all sorts of sights in and around Greater Manchester, with recent adventures having included a trip to the iconic Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and most-recently, a Halloween-themed immersive tour around a haunted abandoned mill, and plenty of other exciting adventures in the works.
You can also see the van featured in recent and upcoming episodes of our most-popular video series Takeaway Champions, as well as other videos posted across The Manc’s social media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
Keep your eyes peeled for more Mancs on Tour content, and of course, be on the look-out for our branded van on the roads around Greater Manchester and beyond.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Business
Club de Padel to close current Manchester location to make way for more Deansgate Square skyscrapers
Daisy Jackson
Club de Padel, the first padel club to open in Manchester, will be relocating from its Deansgate Square home.
The wildly popular sports club will close next week, as landowners Renaker begin the next phase of development of the skyscraper district.
Club de Padel is keeping its new location under wraps for now – but will be going out from its current Manchester home with a bang.
The club, which welcomed more than 100,000 people in the first year alone, will be offering free padel for all before it closes at Deansgate Square.
Club de Padel launched back in 2023, with four competition-grade courts, and has since added a Finnish sauna experience with Good Sauna, launched a best-selling clothing range with UN:IK, plus become the home for Manchester’s most popular run club with MADE Running.
As well as that, the club has been donating free courts and coaching during the school holidays to local children’s charity Wood Street Mission, and hosting events with the likes of adidas, REFY and Blank Street Coffee.
It’s been one of the city’s top sporting success stories, attracting attention from the likes of The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Hypebae and the BBC.
But now Club de Padel will be leaving its current home ahead of Renaker’s expansion of its luxury skyscraper district.
Club de Padel ManchesterClub de Padel is at the foot of the Deansgate Square towers
As for that new top-secret location opening later this year – they’re promising an ‘indoor and outdoor space in an incredible location, featuring an expanded padel experience, high-end wellness and social spaces, and a year-round programme of events’.
Club de Padel founders said in a statement today: “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built here in Manchester — bringing padel to the city centre for the first time and introducing tens of thousands of people to the sport during our time on Deansgate.
“But this site was never meant to be permanent, and we’ve been limited in what we can build here, so the time is right to move on, grow and improve.
“We’ve learned a huge amount from our time in Manchester and from opening our second club in Sheffield last year, and we’re excited to reveal the locations of our new sites — including the new Manchester club — and begin the next phase.
“In the meantime, we want to thank everyone who has made this club so special, and invite them to enjoy a free game of padel on us.”
Club de Padel will close to begin its Manchester relocation on 14 January.
You can book a free hour of padel between 9 and 14 January, through the usual Playtomic system – you’ll be refunded for your booking in full on arrival.
A remote uninhabited Scottish island is looking for a new ranger to patrol it
Emily Sergeant
Looking for a change of career in 2026? A fan of solitude? Well, this might be just what you’re after.
A new year often brings fresh perspectives, and with 2026 being right round the corner now, many may be exploring the idea of a job or change of career, and for those who consider themselves to be independent workers and are keen on their own company, the Scottish Wildlife Trust is currently hiring for a new Ranger.
The Ranger will work on Handa Island – which is a small, remote, and publicly uninhabited island in Eddrachillis Bay, just off the west coast of Sutherland in Scotland.
The role is described as being an ‘outstanding opportunity’ for a passionate and highly motivated individual.
They will be tasked with effectively managing this remote and beautiful island, along with all its incredible wildlife, and 8,000-plus annual visitors.
Handa Island needs a new ranger / Credit: Donald Macauley (via Flickr) | Wikimedia Commons
The successful applicant will boast excellent organisational skills, coupled with a high degree of flexibility, and will be responsible for organising work programs for themselves and a team of volunteers – with the ability to constantly adapt their plans according to changing conditions.
This role is described as being ‘physically demanding’ at times, yet hugely rewarding for anyone with the desire to work outdoors in a remote location.
Familiarity with Handa Island would be an advantage however not essential.
Accommodation for the post is provided free of charge in the purpose-built Ranger’s bothy, but weekly trips the nearest village are ‘necessary’ to do laundry, banking, shopping, and exchange gas bottles, therefore a current driving licence and access to a vehicle are both ‘essential’ for the role.
Fancy it then? To find out more about the specials skills and interests required for the roles, as well as benefits and also salary, you can head to the Scottish Wildlife Trust website.
Apply for the role of Ranger – Handa Island before the deadline on 7 January 2026 here.
Emily Sergeant -
10th November 2021 
