Welcome to the weekly Wrap from How-Do - media news for the North West.

The Wrap's guest editor this week is Tris Brown

“Worst of recession over” says the CBI is how we started the week.  We even saw news of the housing market picking up again – but I’m not sure leighpropertyguide.co.uk can take all the credit.

It meant a good start to the week for Alistair Darling, until two days later when he had to tell the country how knackered our finances are.  
The country will borrow more over the next two years than the rest of history combined and the economy will shrink by 3.5%.  Even with the optimistic projection of 1.5% growth in 2010, there are still difficult months ahead. Thankfully we have the MEN to remind us how bad things are with a new daily bulletin.

However, companies in trouble can get cash flow support from the Tax man.  Capital Tax allowances for business have doubled to 40%, and there is £750m to invest in new emerging technologies.  

£10bn for digital industries means even the most distant house will soon be guaranteed 2Mbps broadband access – useful for farmers in Cumbria who want to pop the Cristal, and plough the latest “beats” from Hed Kandi, courtesy of Code.

Guaranteeing payments to suppliers has been a huge issue, with many companies losing credit insurance.  So the Government has stepped forward with new guarantees for this and export credit, which should help Whitney Woods.  On the flipside, an exemption on taxes from foreign dividends should help Amaze open a new office in Brussels.

So what next – would Corrie risk another investigation from Ofcom, by placing a rant from Kevin Webster against the £2,000 car scrapping charge?

Maybe Market Creative’s report on shopping trends will persuade us to spend the money from our cheaper mortgages?

Or maybe we’ll be persuaded by all the extra sex.

Thank God, however, a North West agency is in charge.  Cheetham Bell will be producing ads for both the Treasury and Chicago Town Pizza.  Pray they don’t get confused and the Chancellor ends up selling us pizza during X Factor – “Money, Money, Money, It’s a rich man’s world” - Not with a 50% income tax it ain’t.

Ironically, CBJWT’s ads for the Treasury are for moneymadeclear …… It’s all too much; I’m going to lie down.
 
Tris Brown is head of public affairs at Tangerine

Other stories on How-Do this week: 

• Speeding up in the Slowdown – a How-Do half day conference – Thurs 4 June
• More sex please, we’re British
• Nine Lives production for Channel Five series is a ratings winner
• MEN Christie's appeal enjoys substantial support
• Celebs expected at Clapperboard awards ceremony tonight
• Staniforth to help launch Polish children's website in UK
• 999 creates bi-lingual comms campaign for baby brand Cosatto
• New property mag and website expands into Leigh and takes on the Journal
• Key 103 launches media training sessions led by John Pickford
• Pete Lewtas appointed exec creative director TBWA\Manchester
• Another Hollyoaks spin off set for autumn
• Salmon joins Bectu to debate BBC North
• Diversity Pledge launches as indies encouraged to sign
• Amaze opens Brussels office
• Spires, flowers and interiors for Concept PR
• McCanns hires Moffitt as managing partner
• Buxton Festival takes on Glorious new look
• Two new staff go Cuckoo
• Code to revamp Hed Kandi website
• BetFred settles Turf TV dispute and goes large at the WSC
• Candis magazine celebrates £5 million charity milestone
• Excel title stages second annual Business Means Innovation event
• Pendragon PR wins Drax Power comms contract
• Scottish retailer M&Co appoints Peppermint PR
• Hasgrove plc posts record profits
• Salt launches Black Cherry Recruitment from Blue Skies
• Tangerine shortlisted at CIPR Excellence Awards
• Corporation Pop invites you to its virtual world
• Groundwork appoints Reading Room
• New Zealand viral mocks London agencies
• Swedish educator gets Vision and Media cash for digital leadership
• Radio City founder Smith retires
• Squires steps in as Anderson steps down from ITV
• MEN relaunches business newsletter
• Brand Addition sales drop by a quarter
• Economic Solutions gives Fudge technical brief
• Open Mike takes Michael McIntyre on tour
• Salmon won't force staff to MediaCity
• A year old and Lifestyle Monthly bucks publishing trends
• Origin go full throttle with Rally of Scotland branding
• Cumberland News named best weekly

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Comments (1)

1  By Kim , on 24-04-2009 16:03 I don't believe that spending our way out of a recession is the answer. I hope it is, especially if this is the route we seem to have opted for, but very much doubt we'll see recovery with 1.5% growth by 2010. Report