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GM BUSINESS connect
August/September 2021
news easyJet announces two new winter routes
easyJet have today announced the launch of two new routes from Manchester Airport, with flights and holidays now available for Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands as well as flights to the Isle of Man this winter. From 2 November, flights and holidays will take off from Manchester Airport to the Spanish island of Fuerteventura and Isle of Man. Flights to Fuerteventura will operate twice a week throughout the winter, and the Isle of Man will operate a daily service throughout the winter season. Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Country
Manager said: “We are delighted to announce that we are adding even more exciting destinations to our Manchester network, with new flights to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands and to the Isle of Man. We know these new routes will prove popular for customers wishing to get away for some winter sun or explore the British Isles, and further strengthens our Manchester international network.” Karen Smart, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said: “We’re thrilled to see easyJet launch routes to Fuerteventura and the Isle of Man - we are sure this news will be warmly received by our passengers.”
Manchester City Council with the British Library rolls out small business support The British Library has announced a major expansion of its highly successful network of library-based Business & IP Centres (BIPCs) to over 100 regional and local libraries across England, including in Greater Manchester, Blackpool and Lancaster. Following last year’s pledge of £13million in Treasury funding towards the expansion, the Business & IP Centre in Manchester Central Library has been allocated £700,000 to equip 9 libraries (Altrincham, Blackpool, Bolton, Bury, Eccles, Lancaster, Oldham, Stockport, Tameside), with Business & IP Centre spaces, resources and services by 2023, building on the proven support already available at BIPC Manchester. Between 2016 - 2019, the BIPC Manchester helped create almost 2,000 new businesses and nearly 900 new FTE jobs.
Business & IP Centres can open up the path to entrepreneurship for anyone with a business idea, regardless of their background. Consistently, over half of those who use a BIPC to set up a business are women and a third are from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds. This diverse user base speaks to the accessibility and community-based ethos of this library-based support. While each Centre including Manchester is equipped with a core set of resources, such as up-to-date market research and business databases provided by the British Library, they are brought to life by a tailored and highly individual programme of events, workshops and one-to-ones, delivered in collaboration with local business leaders, role model entrepreneurs and community partners.
Demand for all-electric vehicles in the EU surges 3x in 2021 European consumers are increasingly turning to electric vehicles as focus turns to the industry. Several initiatives from governments are inspiring the demand from consumers. According to data acquired by Finbold, the demand for new all-electric vehicles across Europe surged 231.58% between Q2 2020 and Q2 2021, from 63,422 to 210,298. The figures reflect a triple growth in demand for all-electric vehicles. Elsewhere, demand for the hybrid
electric vehicle also spiked by 213.54% to 541,162 representing the biggest growth for all new passenger vehicles in Europe. In total, the electric vehicle registration as of Q2 2021 stands at 751,460, a growth of at least three times from the Q2 2020 cumulative figure of 236,015. During the period, plug-in hybrid vehicle demand surged 255.8%, from 66,252 to 235,730. Natural gas vehicles recorded demand of 41.84% from 9,515 to 13,497.
Furthermore, during the first half of 2021, battery electric vehicles recorded a share of 6.7% under new passenger cars by fuel type in the region. Hybrid electric vehicles had a share of 18.9%, while plug-in hybrids stood at 8.3%. Petrol accounted for the highest share at 42%, followed by diesel at 21.7%. Natural gas had a share of 0.5%. The report explains how different government policies contributed to the surge in demand for electric vehicles in Europe, for instance, when
the pandemic hit, most governments across the region focused their stimulus packages on companies fighting climate change. Notably, a big part of the support focused on incentives for consumers to buy EVs, creating a surge in demand. Additionally, the demand emerged at a period where the electric vehicle industry suffered a chip shortage due to supply chain constraints due to the pandemic. However, the full impact of this will manifest later this year.
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