Founder & Publisher
Sam Allcock
Digital media entrepreneur and founder of Manchester Business Daily
Verified contributor United Kingdom
Sam Allcock is a digital media and public relations entrepreneur and the founder and publisher of Manchester Business Daily. He has built and runs a portfolio of independent online news and media brands, and oversees the title’s coverage of the companies, deals, people and ideas shaping business in Manchester: from finance and professional services to commercial property, technology, startups, hospitality and people moves.
Analysis by Sam Allcock
- Tech
FourNet acquires Glasgow's SVL in deal creating £65m revenue group
The Manchester-founded customer experience and AI transformation partner announced the purchase of the contact centre specialist on 15 October 2026, its fifth acquisition since 2020.
- People
Two SAS Daniels solicitors take regional roles with LegalRunner
The Greater Manchester and Cheshire law firm's two solicitors will be the running network's contacts in Chester and Macclesfield.
- Tech
Manchester dating app SoberLove drops subscription fees and becomes free to use
Founder Nicky Wake's app for sober and sober-curious singles has had about 4,000 registrations, and its parent company reached break-even in July 2026.
- Property
Atom Valley manufacturing centre in Rochdale completes base build
The 30,000 sq ft centre at Kingsway Business Park is due to open in 2027, Rochdale Development Agency announced on 12 October 2026.
- Property
Landwood monitoring £10m Bosden Building at Stockport's Stopford Park
The six-storey building will provide 62 homes on the former Stockport College campus and is expected to complete in November.
- Property
Chris Cheap named managing director of Atom Valley Northern Gateway MDC
The former Avison Young executive will lead the mayoral development corporation behind the Northern Gateway regeneration programme across Bury and Rochdale.
- People
Olliers Solicitors makes three serious crime and pre-charge appointments
The Manchester criminal defence firm has hired Anna Ford from Shearman Bowen & Co, Justyna Blazewicz and former Crown prosecutor Olivia Saul.
- Finance
Manchester diesel prices: 15.0p a litre separates the cheapest and dearest forecourts
Official Fuel Finder figures to 22 October 2026 put diesel at 188.9p a litre at the cheapest forecourt open to all drivers in Manchester and 203.9p at the dearest, against a Manchester average of 197.4p and a UK average of 198.8p.
- Hospitality
Manchester Airport to expand Terminal 3 departure lounge by a third
The multimillion-pound project adds about 2,000 square metres of departure lounge space and room for new shops, with a tender for retailers to follow and completion due in 2028.
- Tech
Greater Manchester launches 2035 Innovation Plan
The plan, launched by Mayor Bev Craig at the Greater Manchester Innovation Expo on 21 October 2026, sets a goal of becoming a globally recognised innovation hub by 2035.
- Companies
Hexaware to create 420 Manchester jobs after India trade mission
Invest Manchester says the week-long mission led by Mayor Bev Craig secured more than 600 jobs, with Hexaware opening a £9m design and innovation centre at Sister.
- Property
Trafford earmarks Altrincham car park site for more than 100 homes
Trafford Council's Executive Committee has agreed to prioritise the 4.5 acre brownfield site off Oakfield Road and Moss Lane for housing rather than retail.
- Finance
AJ Bell customer numbers rise 24% to 796,000 in record year
The Manchester-headquartered investment platform reported record assets under administration of £126.0bn for the year to 30 September 2026.
- People
Grant Thornton adds two Manchester partners from KPMG and PwC
Richard Stark and Kate Finn take the firm's Manchester partner appointments to five since July 2026.