“The days of suits are over”: The disruptive Manchester startup doubling its headcount with young talent
Dotted is partnering with University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Salford for a major recruitment day - giving youngsters the best possible chance of acquiring a fulfilling first role (coinciding with the government’s scheme to create jobs for young people).
When you picture a workspace for a company that outsources sales to software vendors, what comes into your head?
It’s probably not a trendy open-plan environment with glossy oak-style furnishings tinged in a distinctive purple hue, is it?
But that’s exactly what the Dotted offices look like.
Then again, everything here is different – from the aesthetic right down to the way they do business.
“It’s a Wolf of Wall Street atmosphere in here, sometimes,” laughs co-founder Azmat Sherwani, gazing out through the glass window at people punching numbers into phones.
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“We’ve got a very different kind of culture.”
It’s true that both businesses and graduates have had it tough over the past few months. UK employment figures have suffered a big dip – and 18-24 year-olds are being hit hardest.
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But Dotted is keeping its faith in youth. And it’s seeing huge success as a result.
At a time when organisations across the world are making redundancies, Dotted – a startup that sits at the hub of the city’s corporate scene in Spring Gardens – is doubling its headcount.
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“We’ve got a lot to offer young people in their first real role,” Azmat says.
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“This is a stimulating and fun work environment. It’s a place that gets results but we also have a great time doing it.”
Dotted has provided an outsourced sales function for software vendors since 2019, working with firms from Ireland to India.
Now, the company is partnering with University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Salford for a major recruitment day – giving youngsters the best possible chance of acquiring a fulfilling first role (coinciding with the government’s scheme to create jobs for young people).
According to the founders, the secret to Dotted’s success lies in this non-traditional ‘youth over experience’ approach to sales.
During a turbulent time, the brand is boldly diversifying by expanding their service offering to accelerate the growth of their customers – and it’s doing so with youth at its core.
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By creating a stimulating environment packed with happy staff, Dotted has found a way to give brands a faster, more effective way to push their products; reducing sales costs by 70% in the process.
“The average age here is 25. We embrace youth,” says Azmat.
“We take on hungry, young people and graduates who want to make an impression and get their foot on the ladder.
“We don’t believe in the old way of working. The days of suits are over.”
This fresh attitude has transformed Dotted into one of Manchester’s most exciting, sought-after and most successful startups.
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Team members also enjoy a number of benefits – including flexible hours, unlimited holidays, a personal trainer for gym sessions downstairs, and a rooftop garden.
As hundreds of companies across Manchester scale back and exercise caution, Dotted is behaving very differently to many of their competitors.
The brand is being disruptive. And it’s doing it with the power of young people.
“I do love the culture we’ve created here,” Azmat says.
“Work hard, play hard.”
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The Dotted Recruitment Day is Friday 4 September. Visit their website to learn more about enrolling.
You can also learn more about the services Dotted offer here.
Business
Viral luxury activewear brand Alo Yoga to open new Manchester city centre store
Emily Sergeant
A premium fashion and lifestyle brand renowned for its luxury activewear is set to open its first UK store outside of London.
Founded in Los Angeles back in 2007, and making a splash on social media and growing in popularity ever since, Alo is a favourite among wellness enthusiasts and celebrities alike thanks to offering a curated collection of elevated performance and lifestyle apparel for all genders, aiming to blend the best of technical excellence with contemporary fashion.
Designed to inspire ‘mindful movement’ and ‘modern living’, the brand has a strong commitment to mind-body wellness, and even likes to call its stores sanctuaries.
Alo already has a selection of stores in London, but its move to Manchester marks the first time the brand has ventured outside of the capital to elsewhere in the UK, and has chosen to open doors at the Manchester Arndale complex, on the ever-popular New Cathedral Street.
Alo Yoga is opening its first UK store outside of London here in Manchester / Credit: Alo Yoga (Publicity Picture)
Recognised as the home of luxury brands in Manchester – with retailers such as Harvey Nichols, Hugo Boss, and Ralph Lauren already stationed there – Alo is the latest retailer to select New Cathedral Street for its first location in the city.
Alo joins the recently-announced arrivals of Arc’teryx and Represent – the latter of which opened to huge success last October – after signing a 10-year lease.
Asset managers also say Alo’s arrival showcases just how much Manchester has become a ‘magnet’ for fast-growing brands that are keen to access a premium shopper audience.
The luxury activewear and lifestyle brand is moving into New Cathedral Street / Credit: Alo Yoga (Publicity Picture)
“Alo Yoga is a fantastic addition to our retail mix,” commented Scott Linard, who is the Portfolio Director for joint asset managers M&G Real Estate.
“We’re proud to support the growth of innovative brands like Alo Yoga who are seeking high-quality, well-located space to connect with new audiences, and their arrival highlights the strength and diversity of Manchester’s retail offer.”
Steve Gray, who is the Head of European Retail Asset Management at Global Mutual, added: “Welcoming Alo Yoga to New Cathedral Street underlines its reputation as one of the UK’s premium retail destinations.”
No opening date for Alo Yoga in Manchester has been announced yet, so interested shoppers will need to keep their eyes peeled.
Featured Image – Alo Yoga (Press Pictures)
Business
The local property developers helping Mancs buy a home without the large deposit
Emily Sergeant
A North West developer that specialises in creating Shared Ownership homes currently has eight new developments under construction across Manchester.
Getting your foot on theproperty ladder or taking the next step to owning a bigger home can be one of the most challenging things to do and is often not financially viable for a lot of people – and this is whereGecko Homes‘ unique Shared Ownership scheme comes in.
The developer is enabling first time buyers and other qualifying homebuyers to purchase shares in its homes instead.
With deposits from as little as £2,438, the scheme means residents can buy shares ranging from 10% all the way up to 75% instead and then pay rent on the rest, with the option to increase the share percentage at later dates, all the way up to outright ownership.
Gecko Homes is helping Mancs get on the property ladder / Credit: Supplied
As mentioned, the company is currently working on eight new developments across Manchester in some of the city’s most sought-after suburbs, and prospective buyers can now register their interest.
One of the most popular developments currently underway is ‘Tatton Place’ in Sale – which is a redevelopment of a historic Masonic Hall and police station into 31 homes, including two and three-bedroom houses, one and two-bedroom apartments, and several stunning duplexes, all with access to both private and communal gardens.
Another key development is ‘Emerald Way’ over in the popular Manchester suburban town of Chorlton, where prices start from £60,625 for a 25% share, meaning a buyer would only need a deposit of £3,031.
Over in West Didsbury is one of largest ongoing developments called ‘Two Didsbury Point’, which is a £20 million scheme of 76 affordable homes across two connected eight and five-storey blocks – 46 of those being for shared ownership – on the site of the former Withington Hospital, with an outdoor communal terrace and green spaces for residents to enjoy.
Another one of the developments currently in the works that prospective buyers can now register their interest for is ‘Boundary View’, which lies in the thriving Manchester community of Old Trafford.
“Our Shared Ownership model has transformed people’s lives by giving them a way onto the property ladder in a modern, stylish, and high-quality home that they can afford to live in,” explained Christina Tattersall, who is the Head of Sales at Gecko Homes.
Eight developments are currently underway across Manchester / Credit: Supplied
“All of our latest developments are already generating high levels of interest from local people who want to live in some of Manchester’s most popular and vibrant suburbs that all benefit from great amenities and regular transport links.
“Each development will be finished to a very high specification, with contemporary kitchens and bathrooms, as well as luxury floorings and quality fixtures and fittings throughout.”
Residents interested in any of these developments are asked to visit Gecko Homes’ website here to find out more and register their details now.
Prices shown are based on 25% Shared Ownership and a 95% LTV mortgage. All properties are bought as leasehold, with full terms applying, and prices shown may be subject to change and are a guide only.