Hale Independent Issue 192

MAY/JUNE 2026 4 learners have progressed into paid employment through the initiative, with many securing roles within weeks of complet- ing training. Gareth Burrow, director of curriculum for industry part- nerships and skills at Trafford and Stockport College Group, was a key driving force behind the partnership and took to the stage to receive the award. He said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this national recognition alongside our valued partners at MAG and other key strategic employ- ers acrossManchester Airport. “This award reflects years of collaborative working to create meaningful opportunities for local people whilst supporting one of the region’s most impor- tant employment hubs. “The Manchester Airport Skills Hub is transforming the way education and indus- try work together. “By listening directly to employers and responding quickly to workforce needs, we are creating clear path- ways into careers and helping individuals develop long-term opportunities within aviation and related industries.” THE organisers of Altrin- cham’s hit family-run festival The Brit Fest are celebrating after being honoured with another prestigious award. Legendary comedian and actor Sir Lenny Henry pre- sented the ‘Family Fun in a Field’ trophy to found- ers Edward and Anthony Prophet at Blackpool’s iconic Grand Ballroom. The major industry acco- lade was announced at the prestigious Skiddle 25 Years Awards, organised by the ticket outlet and online events guide business. The award recognised The Brit Fest’s outstanding abil- ity to create a joyful, inclusive and unforgettable experience for festivalgoers of all ages. Held at Ashley Hall Show- ground in Altrincham, The Brit Fest has rapidly earned a reputation for combining iconic live music with family friendly entertainment, well- ness experiences, premium hospitality and a uniquely welcoming atmosphere that attracts audiences from across the UK and beyond. The award follows a land- mark 2025 edition of the fes- tival, which welcomed more than 30,000 people across four days of music, entertain- ment and celebration. The Brit Fest 2026 is already shaping up to be the biggest edition yet, with major names including Happy Mon- days, Cast, Holly Johnson, Jason Donovan, Wet Wet Wet and Eternal set to perform this summer. Festival dDirector Edward Prophet said: “Receiving this award from Sir Lenny Henry in such an iconic venue was an incredibly proud moment for us. “The Brit Fest has always been about creating some- thing that feels uplifting, wel- coming and full of connection. To see people of all genera- tions coming together through music and shared experiences is what it’s all about.” He added: “Every year the festival seems to grow in both scale and spirit. What makes us proudest is hearing how much the weekend means to people. Those moments of joy, nostalgia and togetherness are what stay with you long after the music ends.” Anthony Prophet, commer- cial director of Great British Festivals, said: “The support for The Brit Fest has been phenomenal and this latest recognition means a huge amount to the whole team. “We’ve worked incredibly hard to build something that feels special from the moment people arrive on site, and it’s amazing to see that continue to resonate with audiences, artists and the indus- try alike.” The Skiddle success adds to an increasingly impressive list of achievements for The Brit Fest and its founders. Other recent honours include winning Leading Live Event FAMILY homes under con- struction in Sale are now on the market for afforda- ble shared ownership. The eight three-bedroom townhouses form part of a much larger development, The Courts, delivered by Trafford Developments and PIC Homes on the site the former Sale Magistrates Court. They will be offered for sale by not-for-profit housing asso- ciation Irwell Valley Homes, who will take possession of the homes when construction is complete in July. The homes are now being advertised by estate agent Ashworth Holme with full details online. Each energy-efficient home at Brighton Grove will offer around 1,367 square feet of living space, making them a sizeable option for first-time buyers and young families. The homes have a full mar- ket value of £550,000 but buy- ers will be able to purchase an initial share from as little as 10 per cent, starting at £55,000 and pay rent on the remaining share. This means buyers would require a smaller deposit than if buying a house outright, and their combined monthly payments should be lower. Owners will also have the option to increase their share over time, with the potential to eventually own 100 per cent of the property. Trafford Developments, part of Trafford Council, is delivering a total of 84 new homes on the site alongside the Bridgewater Canal. They will include 38 apartments in two blocks, 40 town- houses and six semi-de- tached houses. A total of 21 will be des- ignated as affordable, with 13 apartments for social rent – also available through Irwell Valley Homes – as well as the eight homes for shared ownership. The affordable houses will be delivered in the first phase of the scheme while the affordable apartments will follow in the second phase. All available private units within phase one are now live Homes go up for Sale New build: An artist’s impression of the homes under construction (Photo credit: Trafford Council) ‘Fun in a field’ is a winner Latest accolade: Edward and Anthony with their Skiddle award College award for airport skills partnership Presentation: TRAFFORD and Stockport College Group and Manchester Airports Group receive their award (Photo credit: MAG) THE growing thirst for family brewer Robinsons beers has seen it smash through the £100million sales threshold for the first time in its history. The company, which has pubs in Hale and Hale Barns, has also reported an impres- sive 40 per cent increase in its operating profit in its 2025 figures. Its managed pubs delivered more than 10 per cent like-for- like sales growth, and beer volumes also bucked indus- try trends, with its cask beer volumes five per cent ahead. Total beer sales outperform- ing the market by 1.5 per cent. The sixth-generation fam- ily brewers have continued to move forwards and demon- strated agility in the future- proofing of pubs and brewing, And in a milestone year for the iconic Stockport company, Robinsons completed the bre- whouse relocation to its pack- aging site, having invested £8.1million in the three- year project. The impressive figures were reached against a difficult background for the industry. Operating costs also increased significantly, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget costing the business £1 million more in National Insurance Contri- butions alone. In its results statement managing directors Oliver and WilliamRobinson said: “These factors affecting the industry simply cannot be ignored.” Meanwhile, initiatives across its managed estate have cut carbon emissions by 18 per cent, and further reductions have been achieved in brewing operations by con- solidating production onto one site. Brewing up a storm! Impressive results: Robinsons beer sales continue to grow (Photo credit: Robinsons) on Rightmove and Ashworth Holmes Website. Sasha Deepwell, chief executive of Irwell Valley Homes, said: “These new shared ownership homes at The Courts will help people get a foothold on the housing ladder in high demand areas like Sale. We hugely value our long-standing partner- ship with Trafford Council, which has already delivered real benefits for residents through our work on the regeneration of Sale West, and this latest scheme builds on that success. Importantly, the development will also deliver homes for social rent, helping to meet a wider range of local housing needs and supporting a sustainable and inclusive community.” 2025 at the This is Man- chester Awards, alongside multiple festival award nom- inations and recognition from the High Sheriff of Manches- ter for outstanding commu- nity contribution. Earlier this year, Edward and Anthony were also for- mally recognised as Free- men of Altrincham by the town’s historic Court Leet, celebrating their contribu- tion to the local area through music, events and community focused projects. TRAFFORD and Stock- port College Group and Manchester Airports Group (MAG) are cele- brating after winning a prestigious Educate North Award (ENA). The award recognises the outstanding success of the Manchester Airport Skills Hub partnership. It celebrates the collaboration’s innovative and employer-led approach to developing aviation skills, cre- ating employment opportuni- ties and supporting workforce resilience across Manchester Airport’s operations. The partnership, which has evolved over more than a dec- ade, was recognised for deliv- ering a scalable, place-based model that aligns education, recruitment and workforce planning with real-time employer demand. Since 2012, almost 2,000