The second-largest ride hailing taxi app Bolt is set to launch in Manchester and Salford later this week.
With more than four million passengers riding with over 65,000 drivers since its launch, which has seen it spread to 17 different UK cities.
It’s launching with a big discount too, offering new users £10 off their first ride until the end of May.
Bolt says its lower commissions, attractive pricing and high customer service levels have allowed it to expand so quickly.
Bolt will launch in Manchester and Salford. Credit: Supplied
It’s now the fastest-growing mobility platform in the world, offering everything from taxis to courier services to scooters in various locations.
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Bolt was founded in 2013 and runs its ride-hailing service in the UK, with more products earmarked for launch later in the year.
Josh Ryan, country manager, UK rides at Bolt said: “Launching in Manchester and Salford is a huge landmark for Bolt as we look to roll out more affordable services amid a wider mobility offering.
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Bolt has launched in 17 different UK cities.
“The city is renowned for its fantastic culture and sport, great nightlife and atmosphere and we’re on a mission to help local residents, students and more make the most out of it by connecting them with the people and places they love.
“Bolt offers residents an affordable and responsible way to get around and we can’t wait to welcome the first set of passengers on board.”
Manchester will be the first city where Bolt will activate its long-term partnership with The Bike Project, which refurbishes and gives out bicycles to local refugees to support in both social and physical mobility.
Mancs can donate bikes to the initiative at pop-up hubs, and will be encouraged to make small donations to the Bike Project through the Bolt app
New drivers who sign up as a Bolt driver won’t pay any commission for the first two months.
Bolt launches here on 14 April. You can take £10 off your first ride with the code ROLLWITHBOLT until 31 May.
Featured image: Supplied
Business
Manchester Airport releases statement after customer data stolen in ‘targeted’ cyber security attack
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Airport has released a formal statement after data was stolen from 8.7 million customers in a ‘targeted’ cyber security attack yesterday.
Manchester Airport Group (MAG) – which operates Manchester Airport, Stansted, and East Midlands Airport – said the cyber security incident happened at around 1pm yesterday (Thursday 27 August), and that the data seized from 8.7 million customers included email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registrations, and postcodes.
The data that was stolen related to car park, lounge and Fast Track bookings, and in-airport WiFi sign-ups, MAG stated.
It was initially confirmed that the system the hackers accessed did not hold customers’ bank or payment details, however, and that all other regular airport operations and customer parking continued uninterrupted.
Manchester Airport has now released a formal statement to reassure customers that they are taking the matter ‘extremely seriously’.
The statement reads: “Manchester Airport Group has been subject to a cyber security incident by an unauthorised third party.
“A quantity of customer data has been obtained that relates to car park, lounge and Fast Track bookings and in-airport WIFI sign-ups at Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports.
“We immediately contained the risk and have been working with specialist advisors and taking appropriate steps to protect our customers and systems. We have informed and are working with the relevant authorities, and at no point has passenger safety or aviation security been compromised.”
MAG insisted that the incident had not resulted in any ‘operational disruption’, adding: “Airport operations remain unaffected and customer parking services continue to operate normally.
“Neither MAG nor the system accessed hold customers’ bank or payment details. The data that has been accessed includes customers’ email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registrations and postcodes.
“We would like to reassure customers that Manchester Airport Group takes the security of customer information extremely seriously, and we apologise for any inconvenience or concern caused.”
Featured Image – MAG
Business
Workers at major Manchester city centre hotel to strike this bank holiday weekend
Emily Sergeant
Workers at one of the most prominent hotels in Manchester city centre are set to strike this bank holiday weekend.
Workers at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and its bar venue The Refuge, who are members of the union Unite, will take 24 hours of strike action on Saturday (29 August) in what is said to be a ‘long-running dispute’ over union busting.
The strike day chosen by the workers is the second day of this year’s Manchester Village Pride, and is historically the most lucrative day of the year for their employer.
This is because Kimpton Clocktower is located very close to the Pride Parade route, and for several years has been a very popular location for people attending the festival, and even runs a number of Pride events itself.
Unite says that for months now, workers at the Kimpton Clocktower – which is owned by InterContinental Hotels Group UK (IHG) – have been asking for formal union recognition to improve conditions after raising several issues with management, but IHG UK has refused this and instead ‘targeted’ the union for its actions.
Workers at a major Manchester city centre hotel are set to strike this bank holiday weekend / Credit: Rebecca Hope Photography (Supplied)
Previous strikes have already taken place this summer, apparently causing ‘financial hits’ to the business in the process – with the bar being forced to close early at several events as there were not enough staff to cover them.
“A strike on Kimpton’s most profitable day is entirely of its own making,” commented Unite regional officer, Alison Treacher. “Throughout this dispute, Kimpton Clocktower management have treated its loyal workforce with contempt and our members have shown they will not stand for it.
“There is still time to avoid this highly disruptive strike action, but that relies on IHG changing tack by listening to its members and giving them the union recognition they have long been calling for.”
This dispute is said to be the first ever hospitality strike in the North West.
Unite is currently running a petition demanding that IHG UK stop targeting union activists, recognise the Kimpton workers rights to have their grievance heard collectively, and support their union recognition campaign.
Daisy Jackson -
12th April 2022 
