The Big Black Book 2017

DQ THE

BIG BLACK BOOK 2017

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CONTENTS

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THE CONTENTS

THE BIG BLACK BOOK 2017 10 - 20 FUTURE TALENT 23 - 35 PROPERTY MATTERS 37 SIX IN THE CITY 38 - 47 LIVERPOOL

48 - 55 MANCHESTER

56 - 61 LANCASHIRE

62 - 69 LEEDS 70- 74 BIRMINGHAM 77 - 86 CHECK INS

89 - 102 THE INFLUENCERS 105 - 113 THE PROFESSIONALS 115 - 131 THE WINNERS 132 - 143 DOWNTOWN LIVE 144 - 145 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION CONTRIBUTORS Karen Wright photography, Marmalade Toast, Adam Kenrick photogrpahy, Jas Sansi photography, Max Steinberg, Tom Riordan, Neil Rami, Ruth Connor Graphic Design: Jack Hunter

CONTENTS

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FOREWORD

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FOREWORD WELCOME 2017 LET’S MAKE IT A GREAT ONE.

BY FRANK MCKENNA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE & GROUP CHAIRMAN OF DOWNTOWN IN BUSINESS

I’m sure, like me, you have often been asked the question ‘If you knew then what you know now, would you do anything differently?’ My answer to that question has always been an emphatic ‘No’. In my view, even when you get things wrong, or they don’t quite work out how you planned, some good will come from your experience.

Even the heroics of our Olympians, that saw Great Britain bring home more medals from a Games than ever before, was counter-balanced by an even more humiliating set of performances than usual from England’s national football team in the European Championship, which culminated in defeat to the mighty Iceland!

However, I must admit that, given the opportunity, I’d ‘do over’ 2016.

Closer to home, and the selection of MP Steve Rotheram as Labour’s candidate for regional mayor in Liverpool has caused some unfortunate fallout.

Up the road in Manchester the decision of the iconic local government figure Sir Howard Bernstein to stand down this year will give the place that is the heart of the Northern Powerhouse new challenges.

Leeds, once seen as Manchester’s powerhouse partner, has been unable to progress anything on governance arrangements, slipping behind Liverpool in terms of the devolution agenda.

Indeed, even Lancashire has leap-frogged the West Yorkshire region in terms of devolved powers, the red rose county agreeing to establish an elected mayor by 2019.

The vote to leave the European Union; the re-election of Jeremy Corbyn as the leader of the Labour Party; the American Presidential result and the general shift to the nationalist Right in Europe means that the last twelve months have been depressing for anyone who happens to believe in a modern, progressive, consensus approach to politics.

The passing of so many greats from the world of entertainment has also been unprecedented.

Andrew Sachs, Leonard Cohen, Pete Burns, Jean Alexander, Gene Wilder, Caroline Aherne, Muhammad Ali, Carla Lane, Prince, Victoria Wood, David Gest, Ronnie Corbett, Paul Daniels, Terry Wogan, Alan Rickman, George Michael, Carrie Fisher and the incredibly talented David Bowie were all taken from us last year.

The Downtown family lost two much loved legends too, in Liverpool’s celebrity hairdresser Herbert Howe and the man that is behind the phenomenon that is the Living Ventures brand, Tim Bacon.

In the West Midlands, the changes at the top of central government have probably given the area a boost. Teresa May and her team, particularly her business minister Sajid Javid, have been as keen to talk up the ‘Midlands’ Engine’ as former chancellor George Osborne was to wax lyrical about the Northern Powerhouse.

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Even in these most unpredictable of times, Rotheram, and his Labour colleague and mate Andy Burnham, will be a shoo-in as the elected mayors for Liverpool and Manchester respectively. It is the race for that same job in Birmingham that is likely to be the most interesting. Tory-Lite Andy Street, the former John Lewis boss, will certainly give Labour’s Sion Simon a run for his money in the West Midlands contest.

As always, Downtown in Business will be following these events carefully over the course of the next twelve months, and looking to secure the businesses we work with the inside track on what is hot and happening in our regions. We will also be doing our considerable bit to shape agendas that maximise opportunity for economic growth and the private sector.

As the political and economic landscape inevitably shifts in 2017, what will those opportunities be?

Investment in transport and infrastructure looks set to be the focus of public sector spend, and for the North and Midlands this is not before time. A creaking railway network and increasingly chock-a-block roads are issues that have been ignored by central government for far too long.

The Westminster bubble, supported by a London-centric media, will continue to winge about the cost of High Speed 2 (HS2). The cheeky bastards. For years London and the South East have enjoyed far more generous infrastructure investment. This London bias has resulted in an annual average spend of £45 billion in the capital, or £5,305 for each member of London’s population. This compares to £1,946 per head in the Northwest and a paltry £414 per head in the North East. So, for all of those who argue for investment for greater connectivity across the regions than the delivery of HS2 – PLEASE STOP. We need, and deserve both.

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What else? Supporting high growth companies in our regions needs to become a priority. I am fed up hearing about initiative after initiative around the start-up agenda. Of course, we all encourage and support new business. We were all new businesses once. But this obsession with grant, subsidy and ‘mentoring’ for the new business owner is tiresome.

The results speak for themselves. Despite all this ‘support’, depressing start-up failure rates have been virtually static. What could a similarly aggressive supportive approach across the UK have brought to the ambitious, high growth company who have expansion plans? They are frustrated largely by two things: access to finance and challenges around recruitment.

Regional business investment banks, and a better mapping of where business can get cash is a policy that a business friendly elected mayor will surely pursue. The plethora of VCs, crowd funders and business angels are a welcome addition to the business-finance landscape. However, business knowledge and understanding of these various options is often poor.

Equally, winning more powers and responsibilities to deliver much better-quality education and training to improve skills must be a big devolution ‘ask’ as the mayors get their feet under the table. Again, despite huge investment in this area over the past twenty years, little improvement has been delivered, with Whitehall diktat having to be adopted by our schools and colleges.

Finally, in a world where connections and networks are increasingly important, you are guaranteed that Downtown in Business will provide you with the best chance of expanding your little black book.

2016 may not have been the best. But together, let’s make 2017 a really positive year for you, your business, and the places where we do business.

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FUTURE TALENTS

The people to look out for in 2017 – and beyond.

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THE LIST: FUTURE TALENTS

MICHAEL BRAITHWAITE CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER AT KITSUNE STUDIO Minimalist at heart who appreciates the quality in details. Michael is a designer, strategist and user experience (UX) specialist. He is driven to find clarity in complex problems.

Michael believes in the power of critical design thinking and collaboration. Leading a team to solve real world problems and bring value to peoples’ lives, he does this as Creative Director of Kitsune Studio, crafting brands and bespoke websites.

A graduate of the University of Portsmouth School of Art & Design, Michael has since gained 10 years experience. He met his cofounder of Kitsune Studio, both consulting for Bank of America.

Other highlights of his career include developing Arsenal.com, designing for the O2 in Dublin and advising William Hill on UX. Kitsune (pronounced keet·soo·nai) are mythical foxes in Japanese culture. They take human form to offer wisdom or trickery. In some ways this is how Michael sees himself. He adopts the role of his clients to understand their world, offers his knowledge and support, crafts an experience for their customers, and then transforms once again to help others.

It's not all brands and foxes. Michael is a fan of clean architecture, minimal fashion and outdoor pursuits. Bouldering is a particular passion. He enjoys finding clarity and balance in solving the climbing problem in front of him in order to reach the top and achieve success.

He embraces naiveté with curious endeavour, always learning. He accepts doing something you love is a privilege not a right. It keeps him motivated, determined and he lives by the mantra 'attitude is everything'.

CLAIRE WELCH MANAGING DIRECTOR AT DOBSON WELCH Dobson Welch is a recruitment company which offers a wide range of recruitment services to the private sector. This includes permanent and fixed term contracts, head hunting, executive search/senior level recruitment, direct hire and high volume recruitment i.e. sales, customer service and call centres.

We have particular expertise in the IT/telecoms, financial services, accounting and finance, professional service, fashion and retail industries. Dobson Welch’s Managing Director, Claire Welch has over 10 years’ experience in the business and has worked in Liverpool, Manchester and London. Since launching the company in 2015, she has rapidly expanded the business and in addition to its head office in Liverpool Dobson Welch now has a presence in London. Dobson Welch has access to some of the best candidates in the market and can turn vacancies round within 24 hours. We are passionate about the recruitment business and provide a first class service to our many clients who come from all over the UK many of who we have longstanding relationships with.

We pride ourselves on taking the time to get to know our clients well and have an impressive track record of sourcing quality candidates that not only have the right qualifications for the role but are also the right fit for the business and its existing personnel. Because of this, the majority of our placements fulfil their potential and stay in the role long term.

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CHRIS XAVIER MANAGING DIRECTOR AT BEEHIVE TELECOM/ PROJECT MANAGEMENT An economics graduate, Chris Xavier moved into telecoms and IT over 8 years ago working at network level as head of sales and marketing for a Tier 1 carrier.

After selling his stake in the company, he went on to set-up Beehive Telecom in 2012.

In early 2016, the telecoms company introduced project management to their services expanding their offering to full commercial fit-outs as well as telecoms infrastructure. Specialising in hospitality, the company have worked alongside several of the North West’s most high profile restaurant groups.

As the founder of the company, Chris is responsible for guiding all areas of Beehive, from sales and marketing to project management. This also includes oversight and management of Beehive’s proprietary software company Korubu. Korubu Social WiFi was built and developed by an in-house team which Chris continues to manage as the software evolves.

LUISA BOERO-ROL ACCOUNT DIRECTOR AT KRPR Luisa Boero-Rol is a promising junior account director at KRPR, an award-winning public relations agency based in Chorley, Lancashire.

KRPR has gone from strength-to-strength over recent years and in 2016, the business underwent a rebrand which saw a move to new offices plus the appointment of new staff.

A thriving agency, Luisa has played a key role in attracting new business, using her knowledge of both the industry and sectors she has worked in. She has worked on all aspects of media including marketing, advertising, events and public relations for a wide variety of clients and organised high profile campaigns for internationally renowned brands the agency is fiercely proud to have on its roster.

Following a career with a national retailer as HR and operations manager, Luisa started at Southport-based agency Concept PR in 2012, as an account executive.

Luisa’s passion was evident from the start and after just one year, she moved to city centre agency Kenyon Fraser, a business

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which is one of the biggest in the city as well as being a full service agency.

After an enjoyable time in Liverpool that consolidated her passion for the PR industry Luisa made the decision to take up the opportunity to become account manager at KRPR. This was a successful move which saw Luisa promoted to junior account director in the summer of 2016. Now considered an integral lynchpin to the agency, Luisa is working with the MD to continue to deliver award-winning campaigns that have ensured the agency's high-calibre reputation within the region and industry itself.

Her time in PR has seen her work across a number of sectors including education, professional services, health, construction, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), local authority, retail, care, Leisure and Tourism and FMCG. Boasting a number of strengths, Luisa’s ability to man-manage, nurture talent, work under pressure and event manage whilst continually having her finger on the pulse of PR are just some of the attributes that has seen her own progression and that of her team.

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LUKE GRIMES CO-FOUNDER AT WEBANTIC Luke is the Co-Founder of Manchester-based development studio, Webantic. The agency has carved out a niche in a crowded marketplace by bridging the gap between business types: highly visual creative agencies and software companies that focus on large-scale web projects.

As Commercial Director, Luke has played a pivotal role in establishing Webantic as a harmonious hybrid of these two disciplines: a cloud agency – one that’s perfectly positioned to deliver high-performance modern software that’s functional, engaging and always ready for the challenges of tomorrow.

Striking this balance relies on an intimate understanding of the client’s business and their customers, something that comes naturally to Luke. He makes time to get to know every client, building a rapport that allows him to empathise with their needs and objectives. As a result, you’ll usually find him out and about with clients when he’s not in the Spinningfields office.

He and co-founder Calvin believe in the value of a collaborative, problem-solving approach to software development. By developing a close working relationship with every client, Luke can assume a role similar to that of a Non-Exec Director when overseeing the team. Throughout the engagement he remains the client’s advocate, representing their needs internally. Ultimately, he ensures their vision and priorities are always at the fore.

Having recently celebrated 5 years in business with co-founder Calvin, Luke is optimistic for the year ahead, as Webantic continues to consolidate recent client wins such as Allied London. Building on the success of the agency, Luke has his eye on several promising ventures for 2017, living by the Webantic ethos – Start Something NewTM.

DEAN CURRALL DIRECTOR AT VERB MARKETING LTD Dean at the age of 28 has completed a degree in Media and Communications and also has a masters in Marketing and communications. Before establishing Verb he worked for Porsche as the head of marketing for their tuning department. When establishing Verb, Dean saw the gap in the market from businesses hiring internal staff to manage and maintain a broad spectrum of marketing. Verb provides specialists in every area for similar costs on a 30 day rolling contract.

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JOE SCHUPPLER FOUNDER OF INDEPENDENT BIRMINGHAM Independent Birmingham is dedicated to unearthing Birmingham’s hidden gems and best-kept secrets and shining a light on the unique and the inspiring. Members receive a card that gets them exclusive discounts across the city retailers, cafes, bars and restaurants.

To date, 26-year-old Joe has grown membership to over 11,500, with more than 80 venues on board. This comes in addition to a social media following of over 35,000.

ROSIE GINDAY FOUNDER OF MISS MACAROON GARTH DEW FOUNDER OF SUN DRY Garth Dew is the founder of Sun Dry, a Preston based creative agency specialising in video marketing.

Garth developed his video production skills during his time with international sportswear brand Kukri Sports, before leaving the company in 2014 to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions.

Witnessing the rise in popularity of online video, Garth set out to start an agency that would help businesses communicate with their audience, tell their stories and influence sales, using the video platform.

Over the past 2½ years online video has continued to evolve, and more and more businesses are experiencing the benefits of creating quality video content across various platforms.

During this time, Sun Dry has strived to develop a USP of being a company that will not just produce creative videos, but also combine them with an online distribution and marketing strategy that drives tangible results for their clients.

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More recently, Sun Dry has expanded it’s offering to include other services such as photography, web design and social media, and Garth aims to continue the evolution of the business into a full service agency with a focus on providing results driven creative content.

With a client list that includes the University of Cumbria, Keepmoat, Ainscough Training, Bowker and Harrison Drury, Sun Dry has experienced substantial year on year growth and Garth is excited about the future of digital marketing and his business.

As well as running Sun Dry, Garth is also head coach of Preston Grasshoppers 1st XV, having been a professional rugby player at Sale Sharks in his younger days before a knee injury ended his career. This unfortunate event led to a return to education, and Garth completed a music production degree before pursuing a future in videography and marketing.

Miss Macaroon is a Community Interest Company helping exoffenders to gain training and employment through baking and selling French macaroons.

Founder and Managing Director Rosie Ginday has won numerous awards for her work in social enterprise, including EY Entrepreneur of the Year.

Miss Macaroon recently opened its first retail unit in Birmingham’s Great Western Arcade and has plans for future expansion, while maintaining its ethos of supporting exoffenders through training and mentoring.

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DAN REILLY CO-FOUNDER OF EPIC NEW MEDIA Daniel co-founded internet marketing agency Epic New Media in January 2010 after returning to the UK following completion of his University Degree in Business Management at the University of Central Arkansas in the United states.

Epic New Media grew significantly whilst moving it’s HQ to The Royal Liver Building, Liverpool in 2013 and managing SEO, PPC and Social Media advertising for clients such as TATA Steel, Morecrofts Solicitors, LABC Warranty, Halo Living, Iliad Group and Paul Crowley Solicitors to name just a few.

The most significant achievement of Epic New Media to date, and testament to the innovation and entrepreneurship of Daniel and his co-founder Ian was the creation of the

innovative and unique website analytics software, Ruler Analytics. Ruler Analytics was built and designed by Daniel and the team at Epic New Media to solve the problems that existed in digital marketing around measurement of results: problems such as how to attribute and track inbound website enquiries; inbound telephone enquiries; and closed business and revenue in a client’s CRM. The Ruler Analytics idea was so successful that it separated from Epic New Media in late 2015 and secured £500k of Venture Capital investment via the European Investment Bank/North-West Fund. The Ruler Analytics business is now used by over 100 digital marketing agencies in the UK and has been sold to businesses in over 11 different countries to track the results of their clients inbound marketing activity.

JASON MCEWAN FOUNDER OF OPTIMISE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

Established in 2015 by Jason McEwen, Optimise Management Solutions Ltd offers public and private businesses a reliable, high quality alternative to in-house resources for managing the delivery of capital investment projects. For more than 18 years, our directors have been synonymous with pioneering programme consultancy and delivery practices in London and the North West for large complex end user organisations.

At Optimise we continue that tradition helping our clients maximise their return on capital employed in major property, infrastructure and business projects.

Our clients benefit from a broad spectrum of services, because we see things from an overall perspective as well as examine them in detail. At all times, we keep our clients’ business interests, customers and direction in mind.

We don’t just theorise. We offer innovative practical solutions that can be implemented, and deliver outcome based results.

Pioneers of innovative and delivering purpose-driven practical solutions, we believe in working with integrity, responding to challenges with creativity, and always seeking the best outcomes for our clients.

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ALY GRIMES PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR JAVELIN BLOCK Javelin Block is a regeneration company like no other, reimagining derelict or disused industrial buildings into spectacular loft apartments and creative spaces.

As project co-ordinator, 26-year-old Aly helps lead these schemes and uses her passion for the arts to help drive Javelin Block’s creativity, by working with international artists and craftsmen.

Javelin Block is based at The Compound; a 12,000 sq ft former textile factory that was converted in 2012 into a multi-functional creative space. The building has been used by Ed Sheeran and, most recently, Steven Spielberg while he was in Birmingham filming sci-fi blockbuster Ready Player One.

ROSANNA MOSELEY SOUS CHEF AT ADAM’S RESTAURANT Birmingham loves its food. And with five Michelin-starred restaurants, it has every reason to do so.

The latest culinary star to emerge is sous chef Rosanna Moseley of multi-award-winning Adam’s Restaurant.

The 21-year-old from Staffordshire made it through to the semifinals of BBC’s Masterchef: The Professionals. Her outstanding food instantly won over judges Marcus Wareing and Monica Galetti.

Rosanna is clearly going places and a star in the making. On behalf of Birmingham food fans, however, let’s hope she sticks around for a short while longer.

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NATALIE SMITH DIRECTOR AT CENTRAL RECRUITMENT Natalie started in recruitment 10 years ago, spending her first 5 years with a large international recruitment company and then moving to an independent recruitment company for the remaining 5 years. Here she worked her way up from Recruitment Consultant to Branch Manager.

In July 2015 she took a leap of faith and made the decision to start her own recruitment company.

With the help of a government new start up loan, secured with help from Hyndburn Enterprise Trust and Enterprise for All, Natalie opened Central Recruitment.

Central Recruitment is based at Daisyfield Mill in

Blackburn and specialises in temporary recruitment within the industrial sector, offering clients affordable recruitment solutions in the North West area.

The team at Central Recruitment has grown from 2-4 people, with Klaudia and Laura both having their one year anniversary with the company in November 2016.

Natalie strongly believes they all share the same vision and this is the driving force behind their success over the past eighteen months.

Central Recruitments’ annual turnover in the first year was £1.5M, exceeding their £1M forecast.

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REBECKAH VAUGHAN FOUNDER OF NO MORE KENNELS Rebeckah is the founder of No More Kennels.

She is the proud mummy of Pucci the chihuahua who is her inspiration and reason for making NMK such a fantastic place to stay.

She set up Help a Homeless Dog which is a charity that collects food, sleeping bags and medication for dogs living on the streets with their homeless humans. She then distributes these vital items herself or via a homeless shelter. Her love of dogs goes beyond the realm of puppy cuddles and slobbery kisses.

Rebeckah created No More Kennels becuase she was heartbroken at the thought of leaving Pucci in a concrete jail.

Back in 2008 there was nowhere other than kennels to leave your dog so she opened her home to small dogs. The response was fantastic and after a few weeks she was booked up months in advance.

The move to a larger hotel was essential for NMK as Rebeckah was turning dogs away daily.

She can now care for more furbabies and offer them the same home environment they are used to.

SARAH WOODWARD UK SALES & CREATIVE MANAGER AT THE PRINTED CUP COMPANY Sarah Woodward joined the company in 2009 at the age of 18, working her way from warehouse to managing the Sales and Creative department at the Printed Cup Company.

With hard work and a flair for leadership, Sarah has served a key role in transforming the Printed Cup Company to a high profitable business. She has been a huge asset to the company with her experience in sales and management as she continually invest in people by providing training to move forward.

She is known for her visionary commitment and passion in investing in people whilst fostering a sense of community in the workplace.

Sarah was awarded the Downtown in Business Employee of the year 2016 as well as the Printed Cup Company won the award for Company of the year 2016.

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Signature Bespoke, 2-4 Holts Parade, India Buildings, Water Street, Liverpool, L2 ORR

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0151 236 2122 07805093836 enquiries@signaturebespoke.co.uk

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KYLE DISLEY CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT COPELAND GROUP SERVICES Kyle Disley, CEO of Copeland Group Services, has overseen unprecedented growth within his company in recent years, leading to his crowning as Downtown’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2016.

Since beginning life 12 years ago, diversification and innovation have been key to the success of Copeland, with a move into cutting-edge technology away from traditional methods driving up profits whilst driving down costs for customers.

Under Disley’s stewardship, Copeland have grown to provide a multitude of services, specialising in all aspects of security, CCTV monitoring and facilities management solutions to a rapidly growing base of customers, all of whom have realised the benefits of outsourcing the servicing of their properties to Copeland.

The company is built on a commitment to continuous improvement through innovation and a deep understanding of their customer’s needs, allowing them to roll out value initiatives which, when brought together, form radical step changes in professionalism and consistency.

Copeland customers are continually provided with real data about their performance, further building partnerships and trust, whilst providing external assessors with evidence to satisfy the strict industry standards to which they are bound.

With such a diverse range of services available, it is no wonder that Copeland have been able to build, develop and maintain such a loyal customer base, and the resultant growth in profits show no signs of slowing.

MO ADASS FOUNDER OF SIGNATURE BESPOKE It has been a year since my first visit to gentleman’s tailors Signature Bespoke, during which time the firm have secured the title of Luxury Brand of the Year Award 2016 at the Work Hard Play Hard Awards, beating off fierce competition from global brands including Rolex and Reiss, writes Tom Woolley Head of Business Support for Downtown Liverpool in Business.

I’ve returned to the bespoke clothier’s India Building office in Liverpool, a place where founder Mo Adass’ passion for luxury fashion is evident down to the finest detail.

Mo is no stranger to such brands of course, having trained under exclusive haute couture designers such as Giorgio Armani, Dolce and Gabbana and Louis Vuitton during a glittering fashion career; and so, a year on from my first trip, I was understandably keen to revisit Signature Bespoke and discuss the progress made in an incredible 2016 for the firm.

The past year has seen a rapid expansion to six members of staff since launching three years ago, and they are now responsibile for dressing individuals ranging from the Prime Minister of Angola to the Saudi Royal family.

For a firm that operate out of Liverpool, Signature Bespoke’s reach is anything but local, but when I ask Mo whether Signature Bespoke would ever consider relocating, the answer is a resounding no.

The city is very much home, and a source of pride, to Mo, with every garment supplied stamped “Signature Bespoke Liverpool”, a homage to the city he moved to for the love of his wife Nicola. A loyal base of local customers, including

world champion boxer Tony Bellew, and the status as official tailor of Chester Races underlines this local commitment.

The firm has ambitious expansion plans for 2017, including the launch of a womenswear brand, and expansion into a wide range of accessories including watches, cufflinks and umbrellas. Quality is an aspect Mo refuses to compromise on, so any growth will be very carefully managed.

This quality control has led to Signature Bespoke receiving the licensing rights for some exclusive materials. This has taken three years of hard work to achieve and has secured their role as the sole North West supplier for many premium fabrics. This, coupled with a collaboration deal with a footwear workshop regarded as the best in the world (supplying Prada since 1935) means that Signature Bespoke’s loyal client base will be receiving nothing but the best in 2017.

Mo is keeping his feet very firmly on the ground however, and even though Signature Bespoke cater for international clients who would regularly order from the highest end of the market, a suit tailored with the same care and attention is available to local customers without being prohibitively expensive or much more expensive than buying a designer off-the-peg suit. Prices start from £1150 for a semibespoke suit and £2900 for a fully bespoke outfit, with a generous 10% discount afforded to Downtown members.

If you haven’t already visited Mo and the team you’re in for a treat, and I know my latest journey into Signature Bespoke’s sartorial heaven certainly won’t be my last!

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BARRY LOWE FOUNDER OF SAN-IT San-iT Ltd was founded in 2008 by Barry Lowe, an IT Support and Services company based in Greater Manchester supporting SMEs from wide range of industry sectors in the North West and around the UK.

Now with over one hundred customers and entering its ninth year of trading, San-iT are continuing to grow and offer a range of IT services, including IT security, backup and disaster recovery, VoIP telephony and hosted solutions.

Initially based in Leeds, the business was relocated to Cheadle Hulme in Stockport during 2012 and the team has now grown to sixteen. Barry worked as an IT Manager in several companies with his last employed position being a multi-million-pound group of office furniture companies. From here Barry was keen to set up his own IT support company as he is passionate about helping small and medium sized business make the very best use of IT and the technologies available to them.

Barry has recently completed the Goldman Sachs 10k Small Business Programme which has helped accelerate the growth of the business, along with the recent appointment of Gary Lumby MBE acting as Non Executive Director. San-iT have big growth plans for 2017 / 2018.

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We are health@work, a registered independent charity; the experts in health, safety and wellbeing, with over 26 years of experience improving health in the workplace. We are committed to making workplaces safer, healthier and happier because it’s important and has significant benefits for businesses and employees.

We do work with organisations of all sizes and sectors across the country, delivering health, safety and wellbeing services including a wide range of training, audits, events, health checks, consultancy, a wellbeing app and the Workplace Wellbeing Charter. We work directly with businesses and deliver public sector contracts.

We can help your organisation create safe and supportive workplace cultures with healthy, happy staff who perform at their best, reducing absence, staff turnover and the costs of ill-health to improve productivity, engagement and company image.

Workplace wellbeing makes commercial sense and complying with health and safety legislation is essential for any organisation. We can advise on what your business needs and deliver bespoke support to make things easy.

We are award winners and have been at the forefront of the workplace health agenda playing a key role in numerous projects including the development of the smoke-free workplaces initiative and the Workplace Wellbeing Charter National Award for England.

Within our team of experienced consultants we have specialists in a range of workplace health, safety and wellbeing areas and together they have supported thousands of businesses across the UK.

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“I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE TRAINING PACKAGES ON OFFER FROM HEALTH AT WORK. AS AN ORGANISER AND ATTENDEE OF THESE SESSIONS, I CAN GUARANTEE THEY ARE INFORMATIVE AND EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL. IT IS ALSO PRESENTED IN A WAY THAT IS LIVELY AND ENGAGING.” - BRABNERS LLP, 2016

SPONSOR FEATURE: HEALTH@WORK

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“WE HAVE RELIED ON HEALTH@WORK TO PREPARE ALL OUR HEALTH & SAFETY POLICIES, RISK ASSESSMENTS, METHOD STATEMENTS AND SAFE SYSTEMS OF WORK. THEY HAVE ALSO PREPARED ALL THE PAPERWORK WE USE FOR MONITORING, AUDITING AND REVIEWING FOR BOTH ON‐SITE AND WITHIN OUR WORKPLACE. THEIR CONSULTANTS ARE HIGHLY SKILLED AND REALLY GO THE EXTRA MILE!” - RIGO SPA, 2016 Our services: The Workplace Wellbeing Charter The Charter is an evidence-based award scheme which is widely regarded as the standard for workplace health, offering a comprehensive benchmarking tool and assessment to audit your business against eight key areas with advice and guidance on how to make improvements.

Wellbeing Training Courses We offer a range of courses from two hours up to a full day, either for leaders or all staff, covering stress management, mental health awareness, alcohol awareness, healthy lifestyle topics and emotional resilience. We consistently receive excellent feedback and numerous repeat bookings.

Staff health checks, a wellbeing app, awareness campaigns, events, consultancy and packages of support are also available.

Health and Safety Audits and Inspections We provide everything you need to keep your business safe and comply with legislation including audits, risk assessments, safe systems of work, fire risk assessments, COSHH assessments and support to achieve CHAS accreditation.

Health and Safety Training Courses on offer include first aid, CPR, health and safety at work, fire marshal training, risk assessments, COSHH, DSE assessor and Qualsafe accredited courses.

SPONSOR FEATURE: HEALTH@WORK

THE BIG BLACK BOOK

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PROPERTY MATTERS

The key personalities from the sector that drives regeneration in our cities.

PROPERTY MATTERS

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THE BIG BLACK BOOK

AN INTERVIEW WITH: TOM BLOXHAM FOUNDER OF URBANSPLASH

The founder of award-winning regeneration giants Urban Splash has revealed he hopes to bring the company’s cutting-edge modular hoUSe scheme to Birmingham city centre.

Tom Bloxham MBE set-up Urban Splash in 1993 after selling records and music posters before venturing into ‘loft living’ warehouse conversions.

Since then Urban Splash has expanded around the country, undertaking more than 60 regeneration projects nationwide and in In Birmingham it is involved in the vast Fort Dunlop tyre warehouse conversion into offices and retail spaces.

Urban Splash has invested over a billion pounds in regeneration and created over 5,000 new homes and 2 million sq foot of work space – and thousands of jobs.

The hoUSe scheme puts suburban-style terraced housing in the heart of city centres with 25 per cent more space than a typical new build.

PROPERTY MATTERS

Each modular hoUSe has a front door, back door, garden, parking space and ‘all the stuff you expect from a house, but this isn’t your normal new build house… it’s an architectdesigned, super flexible, Urban Splash built hoUSe,’ according to the Urban Splash website.

The project was launched in the New Islington area of Manchester with bars and boutiques of the city’s Northern Quarter in walking distance.

Urban Splash has established itself in Birmingham through its successful regeneration projects at Rotunda and Fort Dunlop, and now, working with its joint venture partner Places for People, will take on the vast Icknield Port Loop masterplan on the outskirts of Birmingham city centre, one of the biggest brown-field regeneration schemes in the UK.

THE BIG BLACK BOOK

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The ambitious 43-acre canalside scheme will include more than 3,000 homes plus a new school, shopping, leisure and commercial facilities.

smart branding and identity for each project.

How does this translate to branding and identity for regions, such as the often-debated West Midlands Combined Authority?

Mr Bloxham explained how city centres are only just seeing the start of urban living for all ages and backgrounds.

“Branding is only a promise. It isn’t that important, but what you do is important,” said Mr Bloxham.

“When I came to Manchester 30 years ago just 200 people lived in the city centre,” he said.

“You have to get the product right first and then tell people about it rather than concentrate on the branding.

“When we started developing you couldn’t even buy a pint of milk or loaf of bread in the city centre, but now you’ve got 20,000 or 30,000 people living centrally – but even this is much less developed than other city centres.

“You go to most places in Europe or across the world and the closer you are to the city centre, the higher the values. It’s not the case in the West Midlands or Manchester, where there are still much higher values in the suburbs.

“A Ferrari is a sexy red racing machine, while a Mercedes is a safe, reliable limousine that doesn’t break down. Keeping those promises; that’s more important than the name of the brand.

“We work a lot on brand, on our names and in many of our projects we change the name of the building, particularly if we’re creating new areas.

“I think we’ll see more and more people moving into the city centre. We’ll see more variety for younger people with kids or older people.

“But in other buildings, like Fort Dunlop, which is already pretty significant we will work with the existing brand.”

“In Manchester we helped the successful bid to open a free school at New Islington. This appeals to people right in the city centre and some of the more challenging districts east of the city centre. That’s worked remarkably well.

Through his work in Birmingham and Manchester, Mr Bloxham has a firm view of the devolution agenda, as city regions take control of billion-pound budgets and decision making.

“We try to stay one step ahead of the game and now we’re very much into modular housing.

We’ve got our new hoUSe project we’re hoping to bring to Birmingham.

“We want to take that all over the country.”

Urban Splash has built a reputation for cuttingedge, contemporary regeneration schemes with

“By and large devolution is a good thing, but it then depends on what decisions you’re making.

Some decisions are best made nationally, some regionally. It’s a case of working out what those decisions are.

“Most decisions affecting Birmingham are best made in Birmingham by those who know the city, rather than by anyone in Whitehall.”

PROPERTY MATTERS

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THE BIG BLACK BOOK

THE LIST: PROPERTY MATTERS

RUTH MCCARTHY PARTNER/HEAD OF REAL ESTATE AT BERG Ruth McCarthy is Partner and Head of Real Estate at Berg. The Real Estate team offers a full range of legal services to diverse client base including experienced investors, developers, landlords and property managers. With a proven track record, key sector knowledge and excellent technical ability our property experts have a reputation for providing commercially driven advice complemented by exceptional client service.

Based in Manchester Berg is the go to partner for modern businesses providing innovative solutions and real-world advice. Incisive, courageous and enterprising, the firm is a local business partner with a national reputation offering more than just lawyers, but advisors who understand business and can give incisive, direct and effective advice.

KAREN HIRST DIRECTOR AT MAPLE GROVE DEVELOPMENTS Karen is a Chartered Surveyor with 26 years property and regeneration experience in both the public and private sector.

Karen joined Maple Grove Developments part of the Eric Wright Group as a Director in June 2016. Her role is to develop the public/ private partnerships across the Eric Wright Group and progress development opportunities.

Karen spent the last 10 years in Salford as Development Director at Salford City Council and Central Salford Regeneration Company. At Salford City Council Karen led the Regeneration, Property, Housing, Planning, Transport and Business and Funding Teams. The Team delivered a number of major mixed use physical development projects working in partnership with both the public and private sector.

PROPERTY MATTERS

RICHARD NORGROVE PROPERTY DIRECTOR AT HORTONS’ ESTATE Richard is Property Director of the historic Hortons’ Estate Limited and looks after a portfolio that comprises a mix of retail, offices and industrial units throughout the Midlands, including property held by the Estate for more than 100 years.

One of Birmingham’s most influential land and property owning companies, Hortons’ are currently redeveloping the much-loved and heritage-listed Grand hotel building on Colmore Row to house new restaurants, bars and retail units.

Prior to joining Hortons, Richard spent 12 years at Black Countrybased Mountcity.

THE BIG BLACK BOOK

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JESSICA BOWLES DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY AT BRUNTWOOD Jessica is the Director of Strategy at Bruntwood having joined the business in April 2016, a new role to support the company’s ambitions for long term growth. Previously Jessica worked at Manchester City Council as head of City Policy. Most recently she developed the 10 year Manchester Strategy ‘Our Manchester’ with partners across the city, led work on the Northern Powerhouse with Sir Richard Leese and other city leaders across the North and took a central role in the devolution agenda. Before coming to Manchester Jessica spent 15 years in Whitehall in a diverse range of roles related to transport and local government.

GLENN HOWELLS FOUNDER OF GLENN HOWELLS ARCHITECTS

Stourbridge-born Glenn Howells founded his architecture practice in Birmingham more than 25 years ago and it now employs more than 120 people.

His practice, Glenn Howells Architects (GHA), now has offices in Birmingham and London and works across the UK in many sectors including residential, offices, education, retail, health, hotel and leisure.

GHA has won numerous industry awards for its work and has been tasked with helping to transform the £500 million Central Library site into the mixed-use Paradise scheme. Several other Midlandsbased projects include the 25-storey BLOC Grand Central hotel; a development that is helping to change city planning policy.

PROPERTY MATTERS

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THE BIG BLACK BOOK

PAUL FAIRHURST DIRECTOR & HEAD OF SAVILLS LEEDS Paul Fairhurst is a Director and Head of the Leeds office. His principal expertise is Office Agency and Development.

Paul has over 25 years’ experience of many high-profile office schemes in Yorkshire and the North East.

His experience has involved the full development process from site purchase through scheme design to marketing and letting.

He has advised numerous firms in the region on successful relocations including Ernst & Young and DWF to

Bridgewater Place, Shulmans and Ward Hadaway to Wellington Place and DAC Beachcroft to St Paul's House. In Newcastle he has relocated Coaxis, Royal British Legion and advised Royal Mail on their Doxford HQ. Paul joined Savills when he set up the Leeds office in February 2005. He was previously a Partner at Knight Frank, Leeds, responsible for Office Agency and Development from 1988 to 2005.

He is a member of the Savills National Offices Board and Leeds Chamber Property Forum.

DAVID COX DIRECTOR OF DAVID COX ARCHITECTS After completing his academic studies at Manchester School of Architecture, David worked in both London and Manchester before moving to Berlin, where he co-owned a multi-disciplinary practice.

David returned to England in 2001, when he was asked to join the oldest surviving firm of architects in Preston (then known as Wood Associates). He became the managing director in 2009, and the practice relaunched as David Cox Architects in 2013.

The past year has been a very successful one for the company, which has seen a rapid increase in turnover. Their work encompasses a wide range of sectors, including commercial, religious, educational and private residential.

Although comparatively small, the practice prides itself on its ability to handle larger projects, and construction values currently range from £100k to £50m With a wide skill-set, it has over 10 years’ Building Information Modelling experience, and its in-house visualisation service produces accurate PROPERTY MATTERS

and impressive 3D images, which are excellent for communicating proposals to project stakeholders.

Always keen to explore the latest advances in the construction industry, one of the practice’s current projects - a six storey student accommodation development in Loughborough - utilises a cross laminated timber frame, manufactured in a factory in Austria prior to assembly on site. This technology has only recently become available for taller structures and allows more rapid progress on projects where deadlines are tight, as well as providing a sustainable alternative to traditional construction methods.

Other projects currently in the office include several large student accommodation developments in Preston and the Midlands, community buildings, and bespoke houses for private clients.

David is a member of the Preston Open City Group (Formerly the Vision Board), and Chair of Governors at a local primary school. He is also an external consultant at both Liverpool and Manchester Schools of Architecture, and an accredited Expert Witness for the built environment.

THE BIG BLACK BOOK

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HELEN GRIFFIN-BOOTH DIRECTOR OF BLUEROW HOMES Director and founder of Bluerow Homes, Helen has been at the forefront of Liverpool’s residential property market for the last eight years. Established in 2008, Bluerow Homes was born out of the need for a quality property service for working professionals in Liverpool, and has since gone on to become one of Liverpool’s leading sales and lettings agencies under Helen’s guidance.

Based in Liverpool city centre, Bluerow Homes specialises in the sale and rental of quality residential properties across the North West and beyond.

Unlike other agencies, Helen has developed a proactive and efficient service which directly caters to a professional

audience, who need an agency which fits in with their busy schedule. Bluerow Homes is open seven days a week and into the evenings to cater for this need.

2016 has been a memorable and successful year for the fast growing agency. This year, Helen led the expansion of the agency to become Bluerow Homes in support of its new sales division, adding residential sales and valuations to its lettings, investment and property management offering.

2016 has also seen the opening of a new office on Duke Street, in the city’s Ropewalks area, with a special ‘paint the town blue’ themed launch event and social media campaign.

BEN HALL REGIONAL SENIOR DIRECTOR AT GVA LEEDS

Ben heads up the Leeds office of GVA, and is responsible for promoting and driving the office forward, with a keen focus on supporting the Leeds City Region. In addition, he is a Senior Director in the National investment team and is involved in investment transactions, dealing with all aspects from the acquisition and disposal of investment properties/ portfolios, to providing strategic advice to developer clients at all stages of the development process including complex fundings. He is able to apply his geographical knowledge of the Yorkshire and North East region in providing investment advice, and has transacted over £250m of commercial property deals since joining GVA.

PROPERTY MATTERS

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THE BIG BLACK BOOK

SARA LAWTON DIRECTOR OF CIF FRAMEWORK Sara is an experienced Executive who has worked successfully across public, private & charitable sectors. Sara credits her success to working hard whilst holding a core set of values which won the respect of her peers across Merseyside when She was awarded Merseyside Woman of the Year 2014/2015.

Identified as a Mazda 2015 'Real Challenger' her work was showcased globally. The short film demonstrates Sara's ability to integrate business acumen with social values to support the communities in which we live and work.

Sara's experience working within communities spans over 25 years. She has operated at senior levels within respected organisations working her way to Managing Director of Liverpool's first Super Youth Zone. Driven by a passion to help others and support organisations that offer services to the most vulnerable in our communities Sara started on a journey that has led to the development of a social procurement business that plans to invest ÂŁ1,000,000 into communities across the north west over the next 4 years.

The Construction Impact Framework (CIF) is an OJEU compliant framework that provides a range of Construction

PROPERTY MATTERS

and Building services. Although in its infancy at just 12 weeks old the company has procured over ÂŁ5,000,000 worth of works.

Aware of the financial challenges faced within the charitable sector, Sara took the decision to build a private company which has a strong emphasis on philanthropy. The framework is unique in that it is largely composed of North West SMEs which means as the contractors secure work their growth will create long term sustainable jobs and support the north west economy. The framework also supports the SMEs by delivering CSR on their behalf via its community re-investment.

The community re-investment is in itself unique as in addition to offering added value to public sector partners it has the ability to pool its investment pot and support collaborative working across multiple organisations. This was important to Sara who has sat on numerous Strategic Groups and has first hand experience of joint agency working and collaboration.

Sara has a strong belief that in times of austerity business Leaders have the opportunity to come into their own and make things better for those who need a helping hand.

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MICHAEL INGALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF ALLIED LONDON

Featured in the Sunday Times Debretts top 500 most influential people, Allied London’s CEO Michael Ingall plays a fundamental role in the nation’s property market and in particular, city centre redevelopment.

Michael Ingall has over 30 years corporate and real estate development experience, and is one of the founders and principal owners of the new Allied London, taking the business private in 2000. With the help of a dedicated and experienced team, Michael has created one of the UK’s most successful private real estate companies.

Michael’s ability to blend vision with technical and financial skills has established Allied London as a leader and authority in the area of complex city centre redevelopment.

Michael is a qualified chartered surveyor and is a Fellow of Royal Institute of British Architects. He has over 60 industry awards and was given the accolade of Developer of the Decade in 2000 by Property Week.

BARBARA SPICER CBE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF PLUS DANE Barbara Spicer CBE is Chief Executive of Plus Dane - a housing association working across Merseyside and Cheshire which owns and manages more than 18,000 homes.

Barbara worked previously in Westminster as interim Chief Executive of the Skills Funding Agency from November 2013 to July 2014 and, before that, Chief Executive of Salford City Council for eight years. At Salford Council she led key developments in the city, including the bid to relocate the BBC to Salford Quays at MediaCity UK, creating a development of international significance.

Her strong belief is that there are two things that are vitally important to the well-being of any individual: a real job with prospects and a decent home; Barbara has spent the vast majority of her career focused on trying to deliver those things for, and with, people who sometimes find it hard to deliver them for themselves, and using those two levers successfully to create sustainable communities

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THE BIG BLACK BOOK

DR MICHAEL R. BIRKETT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF REGENDA GROUP

MICHAEL CONLON CONLON CONSTRUCTION

Michael joined Regenda as Group Chief Executive and member of the Board in March 2014. Prior to this he spent 8 years as Chief Executive of The Calico Group and earlier in his career held senior roles at The Aspire Group and Liverpool Housing Action Trust. He has also been Chairman of Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction Ltd and held numerous Non-Executive Director roles at a number of organisations. Michael has a Doctorate from the University of Bristol and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Michael Conlon likes to build for the future, but rarely takes his eyes off the past.

Michael oversees the Regenda Group, which comprises 5 companies providing a range of services across the North West and includes; Regenda Homes, Redwing Living, Petrus Community, M&Y Maintenance & Construction and McDonald Property Rentals.

Michael works with the Regenda Board to develop the Group’s Strategy and thereafter is responsible for the attainment of the agreed strategic objectives, day to day Group performance, leadership of the staff and the development of external partnerships.

PROPERTY MATTERS

The 55 year old chairman of the company that bears the family name is very aware of the history of the business and the legacy it continues to build.

Conlon Construction opened for business 55 years ago when his father and four other brothers arrived in Lancashire, attracted by a large haulage contract that was part of the Preston bypass building work.

Over those 55 years, the business has evolved from a small haulage and civil engineering firm, through to the large scale construction and property development group we see today.

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THE BIG BLACK BOOK

BRUNTWOOD’S PLANS FOR 2017 WE SPOKE TO JESSICA ABOUT BRUNTWOOD’S PLANS FOR 2017, AS IT CONTINUES ITS FOCUS ON “MAKING GREAT CITIES GREATER.”

Commercial property company, Bruntwood has been working across the North and the Midlands for over its 40 year history, playing an integral part in the revival of its cities.

New to the business this year is Jessica Bowles who joined Bruntwood as director of strategy in early 2016, after working at the forefront of shaping Manchester’s Devolution deal through her previous role at Manchester City Council.

“I worked with Howard Bernstein and Richard Leese on devolution and the Northern Powerhouse, making cities in the North and the Midlands great places,” explains Jessica.

“Moving to Bruntwood was an opportunity for me to work in a really values driven business that is trying to achieve the same things.”

We spoke to Jessica about Bruntwood’s plans for 2017, as it continues its focus on “making great cities greater.”

Today, Bruntwood has the largest pipeline of development in its history. While the company started life by refurbishing, letting and managing older buildings, the company has adapted its business model to also focus on developing new buildings and communities.

Currently, the company is working on a range of projects across the North, notably the remodelling of Alderley Park as a new life science centre of national and international significance; Circle Square and Neo in the heart of Manchester city centre; Platform, a major redevelopment above Leeds Station; as well as Cornerblock in Birmingham’s financial district. “It’s these important investments in our portfolio that have been designed to improve services to our customers and communities,” says Jessica.

“We’ve grown rapidly over the last few years and these are really exciting projects that

will help to transform cities, but I think the key thing is that we continue to grow in the cities where we operate.”

Bruntwood is highly committed to helping its cities grow and central to this is its approach to partnerships. “Bruntwood has always tried to be an active partner in its cities, helping to shape the agenda, take risks that make sense for the cities but also invest back into them through supporting the communities.” While the most obvious examples stem from its sponsorship of arts and culture initiatives and medical charities, the need for partnerships has also been translated into how Bruntwood do business.

Bruntwood played a major role in the work around Corridor Manchester, working with the universities, the city council and other institutions within the innovation district.

“We’ve taken the Corridor from a place full of great learning and opportunity, into something that really makes the most of the investment by individual institutions,” says Jessica. “It’s a really vibrant place, with a massive platform for job growth and the potential to get a huge international profile.

These partnerships are not isolated to property, some focus more heavily on what happens within the building. “We’ve been working with Cisco over a long period of time, and through this partnership we were able to land the National Demonstrator for the Internet of Things which is a huge opportunity for Manchester” explains Jessica. CityVerve, as the project is known, is led by Cisco and Manchester Science Partnerships (which Bruntwood holds majority share) provides a real focus on Manchester and is an opportunity for businesses to use Manchester as test bed for delivering new products.

is an accelerator for start ups at No.1 MSP. “Bringing together businesses from across the city and beyond, the project will provide them with the expertise to grow and thrive,” explains Jessica “This is the first one outside of London and such a great opportunity for the city.”

Outside of Manchester, Bruntwood has also been heavily involved with shaping a new district in Leeds through its development work at 3 Sovereign Square together with Kier “We have now managed to let most of the building and it has been bought by Leeds City Council as an investment, however we will continue to manage the building and maintain our stake.”

Sovereign Square will be vitally connected to the rest of the city and will benefit from its close proximity to a terminus for the HS2 eastern route. “It’s projects like this and the development of City House at Leeds station which have been difficult which really add something important to the cities. It’s a really important part of Leeds’ growth story.”

It’s clear that Bruntwood’s main focus for 2017 is to continue improving its products so that they are exactly what their customers need. “As we look ahead, I think the main thing is that we’re not standing still and we continue to focus on our real core principles,” says Jessica. “We’ll be concentrating on making sure that our customers have a great experience, as well as continuing to shape the market.”

This partnership with Cisco is set to grow even further, as they create ‘Mi-IDEA’ which PROPERTY MATTERS

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THE BIG BLACK BOOK

LIVERPOOL, LANCASHIRE, MANCHESTER & SIMON COWELL! WORDS BY FRANK MCKENNA

Downtown boss Frank McKenna spent an interesting few days in London back in October, as he took himself off to property conference MIPIM UK to host three events with the delegations from Liverpool, Lancashire and Manchester.

Post Brexit and you may have expected that there might be less of a swagger among property professionals and investors than was witnessed at MIPIM UK 2015. However, though there were the inevitable grumblings and concerns around the challenges exiting the EU brings, the overall mood was one of cautious optimism and confidence.

This was no more apparent than in the three sessions McKenna chaired for the team of Northwest ‘powerhouse’ regions that attended the event in force.

First up was the chief executive of Liverpool City Council Ged Fitzgerald, ably supported by the head honcho of the city’s Knowledge Quarter Colin Sinclair.

A whistle-stop tour of the continued regeneration that Liverpool is continuing to deliver, with plans confirmed for a super port, the transformation of the north end of the waterfront, the potential of a new football stadium and a Commonwealth Games bid among the impressive list of schemes presented. All of this gave the Liverpool

PROPERTY MATTERS

city regions private sector partners a spring in their step for the rest of the conference, and a positive, consistent narrative appears to be emerging from Liverpool’s leading players – which hasn’t always been the case.

Next up was Lancashire, debutants at MIPIM UK. Rightly, Marketing Lancashire and its chief executive Ruth Connor, will take a good deal of credit for persuading the county’s local authorities to put their differences aside to offer a united, collaborative approach to promoting the region.

With a more nuanced commentary around the Northern Powerhouse from the ‘new’ government, Lancashire feels that it is being shown a little more love than maybe was the case in the recent past, when Manchester, Liverpool and the cities appeared to be the be all and end all of devolution.

The Lancashire panel, which included regeneration expert and UCLAN chairman David Taylor and the County Council’s Director for Economic Development Martin Kelly, had a very good story to tell.

Four eminently investable Enterprise Zones, a burgeoning advanced manufacturing base and a start – up survival rate among the best in the country, the county is positioning itself well as the glue that can hold the regions powerhouse together.

THE BIG BLACK BOOK

Last, but certainly not least, was the Downtown CEO’s audience with local government’s Elvis, Sir Howard Bernstein. His city has been at the forefront of the regeneration agenda for over twenty years. He spoke passionately about the importance of partnership in delivering the success story that is Manchester.

Partnership between the public and private sectors.

Co-operation among local authorities. Collaboration now with other cities, Liverpool (whom Manchester shared a conference stand with), Leeds and others, are all important if the Northern Powerhouse is to deliver its potential.

Did he think the Northern Powerhouse agenda was being diluted by Teresa May and her new cabinet?

It wasn’t theirs to dilute, he argued. People like Joe Anderson and Richard Leese had been promoting devolution for years, the genie was now out of the bottle, momentum for the powerhouse is a powerful force.

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city; the redevelopment of the old Granada studios; Factory; Bruntwood’s work in the science, knowledge and technology space.

So, as much as we read and hear doom and gloom from many in the media and from economic commentators, the message from this conference was incredibly upbeat – backed up with evidence of genuine activity and opportunity.

And what about Simon Cowell? Well, we bumped into him as we entered the restaurant for the Liverpool delegates dinner on Wednesday evening, and he asked if he could have his photograph taken with Frank. Of course, Frank was happy to oblige!

He was also able to point to the next wave of Manchester projects that seem likely to maintain his city’s place at the heart of that powerhouse. Airport

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THE BIG BLACK BOOK

HOST A UNIQUE SPORTING GOLF EXPERIENCE AT THE 146TH OPEN AN OPEN INVITATION TO ENJOY OFFICIAL HOSPITALITY AT ROYAL BIRKDALE Witness history in the making, in comfort, style and the very best of company. In July 2017, the eyes of the world will be watching the sport’s greatest golfers and rising stars compete at The 146th Open at Royal Birkdale. You and your valued guests can share in the excitement and drama of this unrelenting links challenge. Be at the heart of the action, enjoy fast-track access, experience wonderful on-course locations and the finest sporting hospitality from the moment you arrive.

From the exclusivity of The Claret Jug Pavilion on Royal Birkdale's 1st tee to the fun and festival atmosphere of The Champions Club, your guests will experience hospitality that complements the world-class action out on course and exceeds their expectations of attending golf's most prestigious championship.

An introduction to our enhanced experience at Royal Birkdale: The Champions Club The ideal introduction to sporting hospitality, guests have the opportunity to soak up all the action in a fun, festival atmosphere.

Located in the Spectator Village close to the 18th hole, The Champions Club features a large private garden area and an outdoor LED screen

Tel: +44 (0)844 371 0883 Email: Hospitality@TheOpen.com

SPONSOR FEATURE: THE OPEN HOSPITALITY

The 1860 Club Overlooking Royal Birkdale’s 15th hole, this relaxing, air-conditioned restaurant is the perfect location to enjoy your day at The 146th Open. Be inspired by the heritage and tradition of The Open as you connect with your party at your own private table seating 10 or 12 guests.

The Hillside Club The Open Hospitality is delighted to present you with this unique opportunity to join us at The Hillside Clubhouse situated at the iconic Hillside Golf Club next to Royal Birkdale. This exclusive extension of The Open Hospitality’s facilities will provide a welcoming and contemporary atmosphere in which to relax and entertain your guests.

The Claret Jug Pavilion Stylishly designed to commemorate one of the most historic and coveted trophies in world sport, The Claret Jug Pavilion offers guests the ultimate experience at The Open.

With dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the 1st tee, this prestigious à la carte restaurant is a stunning setting to take in the action at Royal Birkdale.

The Claret Jug Suites Located close to Royal Birkdale’s 1st tee, you and your guests will have superb views of the players as they begin and finish play.

From the moment you arrive, your guests will enjoy fivestar treatment throughout their visit to The 146th Open, including delicious British cuisine created by our award-winning chefs, full complimentary bar and exclusive access to a decked balcony overlooking the 1st hole at Royal Birkdale.

The Birkdale Suites The Watson Suite; The Trevino Suite; The Palmer Suite; The Harrington Suite – named in honour of some of the past Champions at Royal Birkdale and located in prime positions around the course, The Birkdale Suites offer elevated, stand-alone private spaces with stunning views.

To speak with a member of our hospitality team about any of these enhanced experiences at Royal Birkdale in 2017, or to register your interest for Carnoustie in 2018 and Royal Portrush in 2019 please give us a call or enquire below.

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Six business leaders from each Downtown location who will make things happen in 2017.

SIX IN THE CITY

SIX IN THE CITY

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THE BIG BLACK BOOK

THE LIST: SIX IN THE CITY

LIVERPOOL

SIX IN THE CITY: LIVERPOOL

THE BIG BLACK BOOK

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FROM COURT BARRISTER TO CURRY QUEEN WORDS BY CRAIG SERGEANT

A

s the crowd’s applause fades, a lone figure shields her eyes from the spotlight’s piercing glare.

the Mowgli menu’s ‘(v)’ “is not an apologetic second best.”

It’s just the diet favoured back in her parents’ homeland.

Nisha Katona, mastermind of the Mowgli eateries in Liverpool and Manchester, is the keynote speaker holding court at Downtown’s Women in Business Awards 2016. She’s confident, animated and effervescent. And equally, she admits, she’s terrified. There’s a room full of five hundred seasoned business pros watching and listening. They ironed out their naivety many years ago. And here addressing them, is a still-wet-behind-the-ears entrepreneur. But she’s no reason to worry.

The food is simple healthy fare, and uses only the highestquality ingredients. One of Mowgli’s trademarks is the tiffin tin; tiered containers stashed with secret-till-served meals.

Meanwhile, there are ‘street meat’ dishes with names like ‘Angry Bird’ (tikka-spiced chicken thighs) and the tasteexplosion-titled Gunpowder Chicken. There are unfamiliar dishes like Fenugreek-kissed Fries, Calcutta Cabbage Tangle… and not a lamb jalfrezi in sight.

It takes just over two minutes of her speech to find out why.

Katona reveals she’s been in business for a mere two years.

Yet she predicts a company “turnover of £5 million by August 2016, creating 140 jobs in the process.” The crowd erupts in approval. These movers and shakers present need to know her story.

And it’s a story of talent, dedication, and a labour of love.

Most of all, it’s one of an outstanding product: Mowgli.

IN WITH THE OLD The chances are you’ve been for an Indian before. So you think you know what Mowgli’s like, right? Well, what’s in your mind may be way off the mark. A mere westernised fantasy of what Indian cuisine actually is. As Katona says, it’s a myth that “every dish starts with garlic and onions” and “comes cloaked in a thick homogenised sauce.”

Let’s face it; you were thinking it. And Nisha Katona is out to change that.

Despite its short lifespan so far, Mowgli is already famous for its cosy atmosphere, rustic décor and, above all, its authentic Indian street food. The menu is stocked with Katona family specialities and some of her favourite dishes.

But it might also come as a surprise that the majority of Mowgli’s meals are vegetarian-based. Katona asserts that

So how did Mowgli come into being? We have Katona’s mother to thank for that.

BACK TO THE ROOTS You may find the surname Katona striking and with a somewhat familiar ring to it. So if you’re thinking it, let’s make it clear now that there are no family ties to that Ms Katona.

Around fifty years ago, Katona’s parents—both GPs— emigrated from India to Skelmersdale, with Nisha later born and raised in Ormskirk. Katona admits with understatement that growing up in an insular and white British-dominated area of the North West during the ‘70s wasn’t easy as the “only Asians in the village”.

Spat at in the street; firebombed whilst in nursery; bricks flung at the family home’s windows… this was their everyday life. Recent shocking events in our so-called multicultural country only highlight how tough those years must have been.

Despite this, Katona somehow remains “fond of Skelmersdale [and Ormskirk].” Much like many of the second-generation immigrants of the era, she attributes the turbulent climate as the inspiration she needed to develop the grit and determination to succeed.

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RAISING THE BAR Katona’s mother (or ‘maa’) Meena, worked full time and raised the whole family, so the young Nisha inherited both her parents’ work ethic as she later entered the cutthroat legal industry. At the time, just being female was a big enough hurdle in gaining admission to the bar. Being female and of Indian descent was as easy and common as crossing the Atlantic in a canoe. Yet Katona was relentless, passed the bar, and began working as a child protection barrister.

At the same time, Katona lectured in forensic psychology and was the Ambassador for Diversity in Public Appointments. This in turn led to a similar advisory role for the Guardian newspaper.

Unbeknownst to her back then, this tireless energy would prepare her for entrepreneurship.

But one passion inherited from ‘maa’ stayed with her throughout her legal career: cooking authentic Indian food. Her hectic work schedule demanded quick-yet-healthy meals for her family (Katona is married with two children), and her personal forte was—and is—20-minute meals using a three-spice formula. Not just for her family though, because she somehow found the time to hold Curry Confidence Classes on the Wirral—the place she then called home.

A legal career brings many benefits. Some of you won’t be happy to hear it, but we’ll always need lawyers, so it’s a job-for-life. It’s well paid; gets a certain respect from society, and offers the chance to give loved ones a better life. But what do you do when your one true passion isn’t law? Is it madness to walk away from such a strong career to follow a dream? And how on earth does one become a success at it? Nisha Katona has the answers. Because it’s exactly what she did.

MODERN MEDIA MASTERY The Internet is a wonder of the modern age. Since the baby boomer dream died and left the present and future generations’ social mobility a near-impossibility, it’s the one place where everyone has a fair and equal chance of ‘making it’—in any field.

You just have to figure out your niche and find out if there’s an audience for it. And with access to so many people, you can be sure that there’s one out there. It sounds absurd, but it’s made ordinary people into millionaires without them having to leave their bedroom.

Most Facebook and Instagram users will already know the appeal of food on social media. People like and share photos of beautiful delicacies like wildfire (and irritate some others in equal measure).

That’s the power of the Internet.

The trick is to give away knowledge (or content) free to people who feel it will make their life better. And that’s where Katona excelled.

Her YouTube videos (co-starring her mother) generated thousands of views and helped her find online fame. Whether starting ‘content marketing’ was a conscious move or just a natural step remains unclear, but it’s a textbook example of a digital marketing case study.

Boasting over 23k Twitter followers, Katona’s social presence helped her land a variety of mainstream media spots on radio, in print and online with titans like the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, the Telegraph and the Guardian. It’s remarkable to think that she once worked in law—an industry that guards its secrets at all (expensive) costs.

EVER-EXPANDING EMPIRE There were further frontiers to conquer, and the audacity Katona showed to prevail is somewhat astounding. Holding an arsenal of delectable dishes, she decided to write a cookbook. With no idea of where to start, Katona kept things as simple as her recipes.

She scoured every acknowledgement in a Jamie Oliver cookbook, hunted down their contact details, and pitched her book to them

one-by-one. Like something out of a movie, Oliver’s literary agent responded.

Signed to Nourish Books in 2012, Katona’s first book, Pimp My Rice was later published in 2015 and received stunning top-mark reviews. People commented on its “beautifully written” prose and how it had them “chuckling along” as they read. In it, Katona lays her amiable personality bare on the page, all in the name of great food.

Not your average cookbook.

That would be enough for most people, but an indefatigable Katona set her sights on her next project: The restaurant world.

Mowgli opened on Bold Street, Liverpool in October 2014. The restaurant’s moniker means ‘feral child’, a pet name Katona uses for her children. Quite the compliment. Its success soon snowballed.

The food’s quality surpassed customer expectations of what Indian food could be, and Katona was finally able to leave law behind to concentrate on business full-time. Not content to rest, she opened the second Mowgli a year later in Manchester’s Corn Exchange, near her former legal stomping ground.

Which, after a whirlwind 24 months (and more), leads us back to Downtown’s Women in Business Awards.

DOWNTOWN DOMINANCE Katona remains centre stage bathed in spotlight. She reveals her grand plan. She wants to venture into new areas like London and Leeds. She wants to go national. She wants to go international.

Her openness welcomes the crowd into her dreams; shows them how anyone can soon learn the basics and become a success in business. In a world filled with posturing, ego-driven know-it-alls, Katona’s honesty and self-deprecation is refreshing. But you can’t be a success based on personality alone. It takes work. She put in the hours. And you can’t help but support her journey.

This ambitious woman’s desire to give real Indian cuisine to the world beams from the stage. Her speech ends. The crowd rises. The raucous applause is deafening. These pillars of the business world present are now her peers.

And tonight, just two years into her venture, Nisha Katona has taught them something about business.

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MATTHEW FARRELL & JOHN ENNIS FOUNDERS OF GRAFFITI SPIRITS

Matt began his career in the leisure industry and quickly became a face on the Liverpool hospitality circuit after enjoying a high profile stint as brasserie manager of the MalMaison hotel in Liverpool starting in 2007 following its launch. He said he cut his teeth in the industry during this period but after two years moved on with a view to growing his own licensed & leisure empire with school friend John Ennis.

They launched Santa Chupitos together in 2009 using a very small loan from the family. Within 6 months following

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its success, they devised a strategy to launch four further venues over 7 years, culminating in bars El Bandito, Salt Dog Slims, 81 Ltd and restaurant Slims Pork Chop Express with Santa Maluco Rodizio Pizzeria opening in April.

John Ennis, 34, honed his bar skills via The Living Room and Tim Bacon’s family of businesses. From his work as an award winning mixologist then manager, John eventually left to run cool independent Chameleon bar for 18 months in Liverpool before meeting up with Matthew and agreeing that Graffiti

Spirits was their future. “People always commented in our hospitality careers that we were really creative... I’m the slightly louder one with Matthew’s quiet demeanour underpinned by very loud voices in his head that there is so much we can create and do together! So we did!”

Graffiti Spirits is turning over £3million at the moment, projected to go up to £4m

by December 2016. Projections are £7m within 2 years from April 2016.

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STEVEN HESKETH MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE KNOW COLLECTION Boasting nearly 25 years in the Hospitality Industry, Steven began at the age of 15 working in a beach resort in Australia, before moving to the UK in 1998 to continue his career.

Steven’s career saw him start as a Window Cleaner in Housekeeping, working his way up to become the youngest General Manager within the Ramada Jarvis Group, in 2008 and in the same year win the coveted Acorn Award, a prestigious nationwide award via the Caterer Magazine that recognises the brightest prospects in the hospitality industry.

Continuing his career has seen him cover Derbyshire, Cheshire, and in the past 8 years Merseyside, whilst including a UK wide Training role as well. Steven now sits at the helm of the Know Collection.

The Know Collection is a fast-paced growing collection of limited companies, with a mixture of managed and owned businesses. The Richmond and ApartHotel within the City are part of the

growing management side of the business, whilst the hottest new Bold Street Venue, Love Thy Neighbour, along with Nourish, Ameriesko, Know Property Services and Know Hospitality and its Academy are the owned operations within the group.

2017 looks set for further expansion and the group’s current operations continue to break records year on year. Within the region, Steven also plays an active part on many boards, and is active in being a key player in promoting the City as one of the UK’s Best Leisure destinations.

His work with Know Hospitality Academy see’s Steven inspiring young people through a pre-apprenticeship programme, working alongside national training providers.

The academy delivers internships in his operations, aiming to grow and develop skills in young people and giving them opportunity to find work in hospitality.

Steven recently won DLIB Livercool’s Hospitality Personality of Year Award.

TRACEY BELL FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF THE TRACEY BELL CLINICS Tracey Bell runs a chain of thriving cosmetic dentistry and aesthetics clinics, with one of her flagship clinics residing in the heart of Liverpool on Hanover Street.

Tracey opened her first dental practice in 1995 in a tiny building with a roof that leaked and needed rebuilding, having worked for her parents’ taxi firm to pay her way through university to train as a dentist.

It was a modest start, but the formidable work ethic that Tracey developed early in life has stood her in good stead as her business has grown.

She said: “I simply started with a good upbringing. Not a privileged upbringing, but a kind one. I remembered my manners and however glamorous and successful life looks, it’s always through sheer grit and determined effort that you achieve.”

In 2017, the Tracey Bell clinic on Hanover Street will celebrate its 10th year offering cosmetic dentistry, dental care and a wide

range of aesthetic treatments. Tracey also has clinics in the Isle of Man and in Southport. She has made her reputation on the basis of offering high quality, results driven treatments, often being amongst the first to introduce new technologies into the UK. Tracey commented: “I love complex problems, but most of all, I love people!

I have six children and would have had another 10 if I’d had the time. Now I’m older, all I wish for is more time, kindness and goodness. The markets are changing in dentistry and aesthetics, and technology has arrived, but I’m never going to be replaced by a computer, as in my job you need a creative mind but above all creative hands.”

She concluded: “I want the best for people, patients and from life in general – that’s how my career has grown!”

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DANIEL DAVIES FOUNDER/CEO OF CPL TRAINING GROUP Daniel Davies is the founder and CEO of CPL Training Group, the largest provider of face-to-face training and software technologies in the licensed retail and hospitality sectors.

As a Merseyside-based entrepreneur, Davies ventured into the world of business at the age of 18, where he developed hands-on experience managing nightclubs across Liverpool and the Wirral.

In 1991, Davies established CPL Training Group as a weekend training provider for new licensees. Over the past 25 years, he has successfully grown CPL into one of the most recognisable brands in the market. Comprised of two companies – CPL Training and CPL Online – the company works with a wide range of customers to deliver classroom based training,

IAN ALLMARK MANAGING DIRECTOR AT LLOYDS IP Ian Allmark is Managing Director of Lloyds IP, which has become one of the North West’s leading technology companies.

Ian studied Economics at Northumbria University before embarking in a career in Technology.

He has over 20 years of experience in IT and Communications and has seen the market dramatically evolve in recent years with the emergence of Cloud Services. Managing the business from St Helens, Ian has overseen excellent growth of Lloyds IP which now serves over 1000 local businesses and has 60 staff with a turnover in excess of £8m.

Ian is involved in local and regional thinktanks and is a regular contributor to Downtown in Business Power Panel discussions. He was also very proud to win the coveted “Digital & IT Personality of the Year” for 2016.

Ian lives in Blundellsands, Liverpool with his wife and two young sons. He is a life-long LFC fan (season ticket holder for 25 years) and enjoys playing golf at West Lancs Golf Club where he has a single figure handicap. Ian loves to unplug in Liverpool’s City Centre at places such as Fazenda, The Vincent and Bar & Grill.

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licensing, e-Learning and software services.

Today, Davies is heavily involved in running company operations.

Davies still plays a fundamental role in maintaining and developing relationships with major corporate clients and key partners. As Chief Executive, he is also responsible for implementing the board's strategy.

In February 2015, Davies was appointed Chairman of the Institute of Licensing (IoL), the professional body for licensing practitioners across the UK. In addition, he is also Chair of the National Licensing Forum (NLF), and sits on the Council and House Committee of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR).

In his professional career, Davies has received multiple awards and recognitions.

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INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL FOR BUSINESS 2016 MAX STEINBERG CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF LIVERPOOL VISION

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The International Festival for Business is the global marketplace for smart, ambitious and enterprising go-getters who want to grow their international business by building relevant and profitable networks.

When Liverpool first hosted the International Festival for Business back in 2014, we hoped it would be the first of many, rather than a one-off event. However, we knew this would only happen if it delivered significant benefits for businesses and participants.

After a hugely successful 2014 event, Liverpool was tasked with running a second festival in June 2016. Following on from the feedback we received in 2014, we ran a shorter and more concentrated festival programme with an emphasis on key growth sectors.

Now the dust has settled on the festival, independent research shows some very encouraging results and positive outcomes.

Ultimately, its success is measured against these key performance indicators and, as such, it’s expected the festival will deliver around £250m worth of sales for UK businesses and create over 2,000 jobs, a massive economic boost.

Overall, the festival welcomed 103 international delegations made up of 800 companies from across the globe totalling 14,000 delegates 1,700 from 98 countries overseas and 12,700 from the UK. As a direct result, more than 500 UK businesses secured or expect to secure £87m in export sales arising from their involvement in the festival.

Domestic trade was also strong, with over 850 UK businesses reporting that they had secured or expect to secure £145m of UK sales.

Attending the festival boosted engagement and interest in exporting, with 30% of participating companies either actively exploring exporting, or exploring new markets for the first time.

The research also shows that 250 UK businesses expect to attract about £10m of overseas investment as a result of taking part in 2016, and 300 UK businesses expect to secure some £12m of investment from within the UK.

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But it’s not just about the numbers. For IFB2016, eighty per cent of participants said they had a positive experience overall, seventyeight per cent said they were interested in attending in 2018 and almost 60 per cent said their expectations for business benefit were actually exceeded.

The beneficial long term impact of IFB2016 is only part of the good news. Having so many people coming to Liverpool for business means that there is an immediate uplift for businesses in the visitor economy too – they need hotels to stay in, restaurants and bars to visit and quite often want to see music, sport or events outside of their business hours.

In total, it is calculated that there was more than £3m of spending in the Liverpool City Region visitor economy, generating 60 jobs. On top of this, there is the positive impression of Liverpool and the city region that many IFB visitors will take away with them and share with their families and friends, helping to further boost the region’s image as a global business and leisure destination.

The research proves that IFB has a strong impact on the UK economy in terms of sales delivered and investment secured, but also as a platform for UK businesses to connect with global partners, create valuable connections and develop new international networks.

Removing barriers to international trade and enabling collaboration is at the heart of the IFB vision and we’re delighted to be planning for another festival in 2018.

Our ambitions for IFB2018 are even greater and we’re looking forward to delivering a rich, vibrant festival that brings the global business community together to innovate, connect and collaborate, all within our fantastic city region.

In 2018, and after further feedback from participants and partners, we are planning to deliver an even more focused festival. The event will be hosted once again at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool from 12 to 28 June, with a sharp emphasis on growth sectors and the global issues and opportunities affecting these.

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Visitors to the 2018 festival can expect to see world class speakers, innovators and business leaders. Inspiring seminars, thought provoking topics and interactive sessions with the best experts from the world of business.

As a truly global platform for trade and innovation, we will be working with partners in growth markets to ensure we help bring the best prospects for investment, trade and innovation to our Liverpool shores.

Networking will once again take centre stage, with improved facilities to deliver opportunities to engage with international and UK buyers, meet the best suppliers and facilitate the development of meaningful partnerships.

But of course, as a festival we are not just about doing deals. We are working with the best creative curators and programmers to ensure we deliver a truly enjoyable experience and a celebration of the culture of business for all participants.

As we start to shape our programme for 2018, we are keen to hear from ambitious and enterprising businesses and welcome ideas on how we can create a festival which delivers even better results for all participants. Register at www.ifb2018.com/sign-up to keep updated on our news, opportunities and the exciting new festival features.

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NIALL INNES PARTNER AT MILLS & REEVE Partner Niall Innes, head of the Manchester office is a professional indemnity lawyer dealing with claims against professionals ranging from solicitors and barristers to IT professionals, financial advisers and estate agents. Niall also gives policy advice to insurers and deals with challenges to decisions to decline indemnity.

Niall has particular experience dealing with claims involving dishonesty.

2016 has been an exceptionally exciting year for the firm and the office. The technology team has been heavily involved in discussions around driverless cars. In September the team brought the discussion to Manchester. Joined by the Transport Research Laboratory, Centre for Connected Autonomous Vehicles and Tesla, the team addressed delegates from across the country. There was also involvement around the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) which came to Manchester.

The Sports teams’ Mark Hovell who advises players associations, individual sportspeople and agents was 1 of 12 Arbitrators selected for the Olympic games in Rio. Mark presided over 6 of the 28 panels which involved issues such as doping, match fixing, eligibility and selection many involving Russian athletes.

Across the office there have been notable and publicised work and deals.

The end of 2016 brings a refurbishment of the meeting and conference suite to set the office off nicely for 2017.

SAM JONES MANAGING DIRECTOR AT TUNAFISH MEDIA Sam Jones is the twenty-eight-yearold Managing Director of Manchester based social media and video marketing agency Tunafish Media. Founding the business in 2011- alongside Richard Brooks and James McDonald- Jones has led Tunafish into one of the Northwest’s leading creative agencies working for a wide range of clients including The Royal Society of the Arts, CarFinance247, Neighbourhood, The National Football Museum and Manchester City Council.

In this time, Tunafish have won an array of awards for their work including four awards at 2014 PR Moment Awards including the Grand Prix prize for Best Campaign, Best Start 2014 and Best Digital Agency 2015 at the City of Manchester Business Awards and Insider Business Magazine’s Team of the Year 2015.

Jones is also an ambassador of the charity Forever Manchester and the current Chairman of Future Pro Manchester- a support network for the city’s young professionals.

In 2015, he co-founded a weekly soup kitchen called Not Just Soup, which see’s local restaurants cook for the homeless.

Over 40 restaurants have been involved including Australasia, Hawksmoor and Neighbourhood and over 10,000 meals have been provided so far. The kitchen has just been extended to two days a week and there are plans in place to begin introducing further services and support in the near future.

On a personal level, Sam has been named Made in Manchester Business Development Professional of the Year 2014, PR Moment’s Young Communication’s Professional of the Year 2014, Downtown in Businesses’ Communications Professional of the Year 2014, JCI’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2014, Insider Magazine’s Young Marketing Professional of the Year 2015 and EN Magazine’s Media Entrepreneur of the Year 2015. He was also named in Insider Magazine’s 42 under 42 in 2015.

Sam supports Man United and wishes he was Indiana Jones.

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SUE CRIMES CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT GUSTO

It was here waiting tables one Saturday night that my ‘talents’ were spotted by Dave Hinds who, alongside Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts owned a concept called Via Vita and were just about to open their new site in Chester – next door to the restaurant I was working in. Dave asked me to come and work for this exciting new venture in town so I went along to check it out.

It was here I met Tim Bacon – at the time known as General Operations Director (or GOD for short…) Jeremy Roberts and John Branagan. I was instantly inspired by their passion and drive for the industry and accepted a junior management training position there and then. Within a week, I realised that this was it – this was the company I had been waiting for, this is what I wanted to do. When, a couple of days later, Tim offered me a more senior management position in their Bristol site I packed my bags, said goodbye to friends and family and never looked back….

Upon arriving in Bristol I went through an intense management training program which strengthened my belief in the company. After a year as assistant general manager Tim, Jez and Dave sold the business to open their new concept in Liverpool – Life Café. I was lucky enough to be offered a management position in this new venture, especially as Tim, Jeremey and John were the unit management team – and me!

Not surprisingly Life Café became a massive success and changed the drinking and dining culture of Liverpool. Working here alongside Tim, Jeremy and John I learnt a hell of a lot very quickly! Yes, there were fights, tears and tantrums from time to time (there still are to be fair) but it was a truly fantastic experience that certainly set me up for my future success with the company.

It was here that I also began my close working relationship with Tony Griffin – at the time Life Café bar tender extraordinaire. He quickly rose through the ranks to become my deputy and has continued to be by my side

ever since – easing the pressures working life and still making me laugh today.

After Life Café, I continued on the journey with Tim and Jez and in 2003 became Concept Manager for The Living Room.

Overseeing operations in all 13 Living Room sites and heavily involved in opening new sites. With the acquisition of Est Est Est in 2005 I was approached with a new challenge and given the role of Director of Training and Development and responsible for rebranding the Est estate into Gusto. With the implementation of Living Ventures product quality and service we saw an increase in sales of 68% in the first year post re-brand.

In 2009, following the success of the Gusto rebrand, I took the role of Operations Director where I developed and opened other Living Ventures brands including; The Oast House, Botanist, The Alchemist and Artisan.

After joining forces with Palatine Private Equity in 2012 to roll out the Gusto concept I was offered the role of Managing Director of Gusto. At this point it was time for me to say goodbye to multiple concept operations with LV and focus purely on Gusto and this great opportunity to take it from an already successful brand to a nationally recognised concept with my amazing team – Tony, Vanessa, Graham, Simone, Charlotte, Morgan, Tom and James, without whom Gusto would not be where it is today.

Now, 17 years on, I’m living back in Chester where my LV story began. Truthfully, this is more out of necessity than choice as what can I say – I’m a full time working mother to a 4 year old son and the retired grandparents come in very handy! I’m now enjoying living in the Cheshire countryside with my other half Lee and our beautiful boy Oscar.

My passion for my job and Gusto is all consuming although I do still manage to fit in some other passions (apart my wonderful son of course) which are shopping, fashion, more shopping and lazy days in the sun with a chilled sauvignon and a beautiful sunset…

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PETER BRIDGE-COLLYNS MANAGING DIRECTOR AT CLEANING VENTURES Pete Bridge-Collyns moved to the North West to study at UCLAN in Preston for a BA Hons management degree before moving to Manchester starting his career on the graduate area manager programme with Aldi Supermarkets. After a number of years Pete went to work in the commercial cleaning industry and four years ago launched Cleaning Ventures.

Cleaning Ventures is a commercial cleaning company that deals in many aspects of cleaning, such as contract cleaning, carpet, window cleaning and recycling.

The company is founded on strong ethical values.

They ensure thier staff are fully trained, well paid (in a traditionally low-paid industry) and the products used are eco-friendly.

Currently Pete employs over 40 staff and operates in over 90 sites across Greater Manchester.

Cleaning Ventures also work across the country for Aldi supermarkets on their construction cleaning programme and has recently secured a two year contract to jet wash all their car parks across two regions.

The aim is to grow Cleaning Ventures to become a leading commercial cleaning company in the North West.

LISA MORTON MANAGING DIRECTOR AT ROLAND DRANSFIELD PR

KELLY WHITE MANAGING DIRECTOR AT RED COW MEDIA Kelly started Red Cow Media based on her vision of what a search agency should be like. Tired of working in agencies where clients are an afterthought, and where campaigns are generic instead of aligned with business objectives, she set out to revolutionize the way search marketing is thought of and highlight it as a genuine marketing channel capable of generating an impressive ROI (Return on Investment). Kelly comes from a search marketing background SIX IN THE CITY: MANCHESTER

working in senior positions both agency-side and in-house for global companies. She has worked on international campaigns in various countries and languages across the full remit of search marketing services, including organic search (SEO), paid search, display advertising, social media and retargeting. Red Cow Media were winners in the Creative and Digital category at the City of Manchester Business Awards.

Downtown Manchester’s Best PR Company 2016, Roland Dransfield has just celebrated its 20th anniversary. Founded in 1996

by Managing Director, Lisa Morton, Roland Dransfield started as a traditional PR company. It now helps businesses to ‘out market their rivals’ by supporting their business growth with campaigns which directly impact sales performance, significantly improve vital working relationships and are all completely measurable.

Roland Dransfield represents

a wide range of clients within the North West and UK across sectors including professional services, real estate, retail and leisure, sport, technology and SME. The 13-strong team is made up of award-winning former journalists - with traditional media as well as digital skills - digital creatives and social media executives including Associate Director, Caroline Aspinall, ex MEN reporter, Head of Media Relations, Alex Bell and Head of Digital, Sam Hughes.

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ELVIS IS LEAVING THE BUILDING INTERVIEWED BY FRANK MCKENNA

Manchester City Council has announced that chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein will retire from his role with the organisation in Spring 2017.

Sir Howard, who joined the council as a junior clerk in 1971, has been in the top job since 1998.

He has played a central role in the regeneration and economic growth of the city, including serving from 1996-99 as the chief executive of Manchester Millennium Ltd which oversaw the transformation of the city centre in the aftermath of the 1996 IRA bombing. Since then the city has experienced unprecedented growth and investment including flagship developments such as Spinningfields, NOMA, First Street, Corridor Manchester and forthcoming investments in St John’s, Airport City, the Northern Gateway and HS2.

Sir Howard was also instrumental in securing Manchester’s hosting of the 2002 Commonwealth Games – then the largest multi-sports event ever hosted in the UK – and the catalyst to the regeneration of East Manchester and the unparalleled investment in sport and leisure facilities focused around the Etihad Campus.

As clerk to Transport for Greater Manchester Committee -and its predecessor bodies - he has played a leading role in the introduction and expansion of the Metrolink tram network. He was also involved in the establishment of Manchester Airport as a plc in the mid 1980s and the group’s ongoing expansion.

Sir Howard has been a key player in developing collaborative working relationships between the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities.

He oversaw the establishment of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) in 2011 and the development of the Northern Powerhouse initiative and a series of historic devolution agreements - transferring significant powers and resources from central government to the city region and giving local leaders more scope to shape the economic success of the region and reform public services to better address Greater Manchester’s needs and priorities.

Building on these groundbreaking agreements, he also led on the development of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Greater Manchester local authorities, NHS England and the Greater Manchester Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) which secured the devolution of all health and social care funding to Greater Manchester. The agreement puts in place new partnership arrangements which will help make services more financially viable while improving outcomes for residents.

Sir Howard, who was knighted in 2003 for his services to the city, has become a revered local government figure nationally, has been a huge supporter of Downtown in Business since the organisation was established in Manchester in 2009.

Frank McKenna caught up with the man he has labelled ‘The Elvis of local government’ at his Town Hall office just before Christmas to grab a quick chat over a cup of tea.

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You have announced that you will be standing down as the chief executive of the council sometime this year. You have driven an exciting and dynamic programme that has transformed the city during your tenure. What have been the highlights?

After almost 45 years with the Council, and having been chief exec since 1998, you'll forgive me if I fudge picking out an individual highlight - it's all been part of the same journey during which Manchester has gone from a declining industrial city to a growing post industrial city with a confident swagger. Whether it was the regeneration of the city centre, the transformation of East Manchester in the wake of the Commonwealth Games, the creation and expansion of Metrolink or the collaborative working across Greater Manchester culminating in the groundbreaking devo agreement such as the devolution of health and social care, it's all been about making Manchester a premier league world city where people and businesses want to be.

Physical regeneration has played a huge part in the city’s renaissance. How did Manchester win a reputation as a developer friendly, business friendly place?

We always recognised that the Council couldn't do everything on its own and wanted to work with developers who understood our ambitious vision for the city to help facilitate growth and investment. We're lucky to have built up mature and constructive relationships with many developers and I think it's our can-do attitude, our understanding of how we can help make things happen, which has earned us a 'business friendly' reputation. That doesn't mean that we don't challenge would-be developers but they understand that this is about getting the best scheme for both them and Manchester- it's not about putting hurdles in their way. Our planning process has evolved to become a positive tool for growth rather than a bureaucratic break on it, with a clear vision of how different areas and sectors relate to and complement each other.

What have you found were the biggest challenges during your time in charge?

It might be a cliche, but the biggest challenge is always the latest one. The minute you start sitting back and basking in what you think you've achieved is the minute you start going backwards. Over the years, the biggest challenges have also been the biggest opportunities -whether it was making the Commonwealth Games and its legacy work for the city, reinvigorating the city centre after the shock of the 1996 IRA bomb or persuading the government of the case for devolution. It's hard to pick out a single challenge because they keep coming.

Do you think the city region made a mistake in rejecting the idea of a congestion charge?

Yes. I think the intellectual case for the charge, and the improvements it would have unlocked, was compelling. In fact, we are now seeing the sort of levels of congestion which modelling had predicted would start happening in 2012, although this was delayed by the economic downturn. But it was always going to be difficult to persuade the public and it was effectively doomed once a political decision was taken to put it to a referendum.

But it wasn’t a failure because the hard work which was done to prepare the improvement plans has enabled the Metrolink expansion and an agreed set of transport priorities across Greater Manchester and helped us unlock further funding.

As one of the key architects of the Northern Powerhouse agenda, are you concerned that the changes at the top of central government that have taken place will have a negative impact on this initiative?

No. There was some initial uncertainty about the messages coming out of Number 10 in the wake of the referendum and change of Prime Minister but the government has now clearly reaffirmed its commitment to the Northern Powerhouse. If, as Theresa May says, we are going to have an economy which works for everyone then clearly realising the economic potential of the North is critical.

Of course, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating but all the evidence so far is that the government recognise the logic of investment in infrastructure and the North’s industrial strengths.

What are the most important aspects of the powerhouse deal that will deliver the objective of rebalancing the UK economy?

Radically improved North-South and EastWest rail links, both through HS2 and the Northern Powerhouse rail scheme -sometimes known as HS3-are fundamental both to boost capacity and to link people and jobs. But rebalancing the economy will need concerted, targeted investment in the North in areas including science and innovation, culture and the creative and digital industries to address years of underinvestment.

How much achieved?

more

devolution

can

be

The more we can demonstrate that taking a place-based approach to doing things works, the more the case for further devolution becomes irresistible. One area where we have made some progress is in skills provision but it is still too fragmented a system and if we are to equip all our residents with the capacity to access jobs and progress in works we need a skills system to match. National skills strategies have failed because they are in large measure blind

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to place. We are showing what is possible through some work in this area including in health and social care. But we need a comprehensive approach to transforming the system to ensure no one is left behind.

Moving the conversation on, most people reasonably, talk about your work on the city’s regeneration agenda. However, I know you are a keen supporter of culture and the arts. How important to the success of a city is a strong cultural offer?

There’s a very strong economic argument for culture -the visitors, investment and jobs it attracts -we see this as intrinsic to the city’s dynamic mix, not as a luxury. For instance, The Factory will be internationally significant and create or help support 2,500 jobs within a decade, adding £138m to the city’s economy. But of course it is also important in its own right and makes a key contribution to making Manchester a city where people want to live.

Liverpool and Leeds -friends or foes?

Absolutely friends. The idea that we are local rivals is mired in the parochialism of the past.

We are competing for investment and jobs on a world stage, not with each other. The whole concept of the Northern Powerhouse is that through closer links - both transport and relationship-wise, the great cities of the North can be more than the sum of their parts, boosting productivity and enabling us to act as an economic counterbalance to London. But this isn’t about us all blending into one supercity, it’s about recognising and investing in the distinctive strengths of each - in Manchester everything from advanced materials and life sciences to digital and creative industries -as well as our collective potential.

I can’t quiz you without asking about football and your beloved Manchester City.

Will your team win the Premier League this season?

I think making football predictions from one game to the next let alone for a whole season is a risky business. But in Pep Guardiola we have a world class manager and I’m confident we’ll be there or thereabouts.

There are bound to be wobbles during the course of any season but these are exciting times.

Other than continuing to support the Blues, what next for Sir Howard Bernstein?

Time will tell. While I am still very much here as chief executive of Manchester City Council and focused on the tasks in hand I am genuinely not giving it too much thought. But I think it’s fair to say that while I’m retiring from the council I will not be retiring full stop. Sitting at home twiddling my thumbs wouldn’t be my style.

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THE LIST: SIX IN THE COUNTY

LANCASHIRE

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ROBERT BINNS OWNER OF COTTON COURT BUSINESS CENTRE Robert is a highly driven entrepreneur with a proven track record, successfully creating and operating a number of companies within the technology, leisure and property sectors.

Robert began his career in the aerospace industry at the very beginning of what some would call the modern technology revolution, working in the infancy of computerised manufacturing. In the late 80’s and early 90’s Robert worked on the design and implementation of systems used in the production of components made from advanced materials such as carbon fibre and specialist alloys in the largest computerised manufacturing centre in the world.

After a varied corporate career as an IT business analyst, Robert took voluntary redundancy and created a tech company providing consultants/engineers and procurement services in aviation, defence, manufacturing, finance, education, health and the third sector. He also went on to create a leisure company, which operated a number of bars and nightclubs in the Preston area, boasting DJ and live appearances from international artists; the venues becoming regular celebrity haunts.

In 2010 Robert converted a Victorian mill building, built in 1851, into Cotton Court - a multi functional business centre. This new development in the heart of Preston city centre has 7 floors which still have the original exposed brick work and vaulted ceilings. There are a host of services featuring conferencing, fully serviced office suites, hot desks, virtual offices services, a photography studio and much more. A number of successful start-ups spun out of Cotton Court progressing from a hot desk to employing teams of People, and the centre has established itself as a key player in the Lancashire business community.

Over the last 3 years Robert has been working as a co-founder on two game changing new tech startups, which will launch in 2017 - so look out for SignMeAlready.com and 123friday.com.

CRAIG BANCROFT MANAGING DIRECTOR AT NORTHCOTE From humble beginnings as a kitchen porter in London’s Kensington Close Hotel, Craig went on to join the Trusthouse Forte International Management training programme, where he spent six months as chef of Grosvenor House Hotel, followed by another six months in the two Michelin-star Plaza Athénée in Paris. Deciding he wanted to be on the managerial side of things, Craig continued to work at renowned hotels like The Westbury and The Strand Palace, both in London, before landing the position of General Manager at Northcote in 1983, making him the youngest general manager of a hotel at just 23-years-old. As winner of The Caterer and Hotelkeeper Acorn Award in 1987, Craig worked tirelessly to transform Northcote into the prestigious property it is today. It won the title Hotel of the Year England 2016 in the AA Hospitality Awards.

It was at Northcote that Craig developed his passion for pairing interesting wines with Nigel Howarth’s honest, seasonal British cuisine. The duo was awarded a Michelin

star in 1996, making them the only manager and chef to collect the award together.

Parallel to the success of Northcote, Craig entered The Academy of Food and Wine Hall of Fame in 2010.

But accolades for Craig’s accomplishments didn’t stop there. In 2013, he also won the Association of Portuguese Wine Importers (APWI) Special Award, which had only been presented three times over the past 25 years, the AA England Wine Award 20132014, Imbibe Hotel Personality of The Year 2014. Most recently, Craig was The Caterer's Hotelier of the Year at the 2016 Cateys, which celebrates the UK’s most exceptional hotelkeepers and winning it represents the pinnacle of a career in hotelkeeping.

Together with Nigel, Craig’s recent projects have been opening up the luxurious Louis Roederer Rooms for private dining and launching the Northcote Cookery School where students can learn to prepare meals within the Michelin-starred kitchen.

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DR LIS SMITH PRINICPAL/CHIEF EXECUTIVE AT PRESTON’S COLLEGE Dr Lis Smith joined Preston’s College in January 2011 as Principal and Chief Executive following a career in skills and employment with the Northwest Development Agency and Higher Education. Her early career as a research and development chemist, provided the grounding for engaging with industry and public sector to understand their needs and deliver to this, something that is fundamental to the College and its demand-led agenda through being responsive to learners’ and businesses’ needs.

With experience and focus on learning, enterprise and innovation, Lis is committed

NIGEL HAWORTH CHEF PATRON AT NORTHCOTE Nigel Haworth is chef patron at Northcote and Ribble Valley Inns and was one of the first to bring honest, seasonal British cuisine to the table. As guardian of the hotel’s restaurant and its Michelin star, retained for 20 years, Nigel not only showcases his own gastronomic brilliance but also sets the benchmark for fine-dining across the UK. Following intensive training at Rossendale Catering College in Lancashire, Nigel embarked on a journey that would take him from Schweizerhof Hotel in Switzerland to Gleneagles in Scotland before landing a highly-covetable job at the Grosvenor Hotel in London.

Then, in 1984, Nigel was offered the role of head chef at Northcote: It was here he’d find his home, building an enduring career and working relationship with business partner Craig Bancroft and earning a Michelin star in 1996, gaining recognition as Egon Ronay Chef Of The Year, amongst a slew of other awards, and finally launching Obsession – the restaurant’s annual guest cheffing series which is celebrating its 17th anniversary this year.

There’s more to Nigel than Northcote, however: together with Craig, Nigel also launched and developed Ribble Valley Inns – a premium group of pubs delivering on award-winning gastro-pub fare, regional cask ales and charming surroundings. Most recently, Nigel has opened the Northcote Cookery School in the restaurant’s kitchen, where pupils discover how ingredients are selected and transformed into the works of art that are famously served up at Northcote.

Since winning Great British Menu in 2009 with his now-legendary Lancashire Hot Pot, Nigel continues to make regular appearances on television. Nigel is also an active supporter of a number of charities and regularly entertains fundraisers at the restaurant, including Hospitality Action, which helps those who have worked in the hospitality industry and find themselves in crisis.

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to providing real opportunities and outcomes for learners, enhancing employability and enterprising behaviours as a whole.

The main focus of Preston’s College is to make our learners THE most employable, and as a consequence, our delivery model reflect more project based learning with the learning taking place in Real Work Environments, designed and supported by employers. This helps to expose learners to work practises and professional standards and our new iSTEM Centre and the Eric Wright Construction Centre are excellent examples of this.

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LAURA HARTLEY DIRECTOR OF LAURA HARTLEY RECRUITMENT LTD JEREMY COATES CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MAGMA DIGITAL Introducing Jeremy Coates, Magma Digital’s driven, charismatic and immensely talented Chief Executive Officer.

Magma Digital is one of the UK’s leading web application and software development consultancies.

diverse industries across both the private and public sector.

These include manufacturing, accountancy, professional services, entertainment & leisure, retail, healthcare, legal, education & training, insurance, travel, marketing, e-commerce, advertising and logistics.

Based in the North West, Magma’s award-winning approach is focused on developing technology and software solutions for new business critical systems, adapting inefficient legacy software and code to ensure their clients improve business processes, maximise efficiencies and improve their bottom line.

Jeremy is incredibly passionate about digital technology in Lancashire and is one of the founding Directors of Digital Lancashire CIC, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company dedicated to meeting many of the common challenges in the digital sector such as accessing training, events, apprenticeships and skill retention.

Established in 1999 Magma specialise in bespoke software development based on a thorough understanding of their clients’ business needs.

Armed with this profound understanding they build and engineer business critical systems that sit within the core of an organisation, delivering efficiency, sustainability and improved technological processes. For example, payroll, KPI management systems, risk management, enterprise resource planning (ERP), e-learning, booking systems, e-commerce and much more.

And if that isn’t enough workload for one person Jeremy is also the founder and organiser of PHPNW, a community of web developers, web designers and anyone interested in PHP from around the North West.

The company has a wide range of experience working within

Prior to establishing Magma Jeremy worked in the NHS as a Senior Occupational Therapist within the mental health sector and cites much of his ability to understand exactly what clients require from the work he did in this role, as he became an expert at listening and empathising with people from all walks of life.

Director Laura Hartley started Laura Hartley Recruitment Ltd back in 2009 after 8 years in the recruitment industry.

In June 2016, LH Recruitment won Lancashire Downtown in Business “Best Recruitment Agency” in addition to Laura being shortlisted for the Women in Business Awards in November.

Starting the business in the recession was a brave thing to do and Laura believed that staying true to her values as well as the knowledge and relationships she had built up, would be the answered call that Lancashire businesses were crying out for when it came to recruitment partner.

Building strong relationships over 16 years, often Laura acts as a confidant to her clients as well as someone to bounce ideas off when looking at their recruitment strategy. Laura is an ambassador for the North West Employee Engagement group as well as the 2017 sponsor for the Lancashire CIPD Conference, both promoting HR best practice and employee engagement.

Fast forward 7 years, LH Recruitment now have their head office in Blackburn and a second branch in Wigan servicing businesses across Lancashire and Greater Manchester, to find and secure the best talent. LH Recruitment pride themselves on their personal and professional approach to recruiting. Laura’s vision to provide the highest level of service and guidance to both candidate and clients,

remains central to the ongoing success and values of the business.

LH Recruitment specialise in office support, professional, managerial and executive recruitment. Laura remains central to the business, leading the team, developing new relationships and can still jump on a desk and give her consultants a run for their money! LH Recruitment provides various recruitment solutions to several wellknown household names like the Together Housing Group, Sofology, Bensons for Beds, GAP UK in addition to local authorities.

Laura’s passion extends beyond recruitment and over the years she has worked on several community projects involving young people. Her chosen charity for the last 6 years is SAMS based in Blackburn and collect around 100 Christmas gifts and 350 Easter eggs for less fortunate people in East Lancashire each year. Laura also mentors on the Girls Out Loud “Little Sister” programme as well as supporting Blackburn and Wigan Youth Zone. Laura is an ambassador for encouraging young people to strive for success, “Our future generation need to see what opportunities are out there for them and be inspired!” Laura did just this when she was invited to guest lecture at Liverpool John Moores University in November to present to first year psychology students, speaking about “psychology in the workplace”.

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LANCASHIRE’S MESSAGE TO IT’S POWERHOUSE PARTNERS RUTH CONNOR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MARKETING LANCASHIRE

We know there is massive untapped potential in the North of England and every area of the North, whether as a town, city or county has a part to play in the developing ‘Northern Powerhouse’. Lancashire is a county of rich contrasts; a county with a proud history and incredible opportunity, quietly resplendent with success and progress in abundance.

Lancashire is a dynamic economic region within the North West and the wider North of England. It offers the Northern Powerhouse something unique, leading nationally and internationally in relation to aerospace, advanced engineering and manufacturing, energy, higher education institution excellence and visitor economy; making Lancashire pivotal to the long term economic growth of the North.

The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has made significant progress in recent years in establishing Lancashire’s most comprehensive growth strategy, investment framework and delivery programme. The Lancashire LEP was the first LEP in the country to be confirmed as a Northern Powerhouse official partner which is testament to its commitment to the initiative.

A key priority of the LEP has been to address the area’s long term under performance in positioning and marketing of the Lancashire offer to potential new investors, occupiers and businesses, whilst supporting the effective marketing of Lancashire as one of the UK’s leading visitor destinations offering an excellent quality of life.

So, if this county has been rather modest about its achievements and assets – it won’t be any more as the LEP commissioned the development of a place marketing and communications strategy, led

by Marketing Lancashire.

The commission, which is not about the LEP, but about Lancashire the place, will greatly improve communications with local stakeholders helping to promote Lancashire collectively and more ambitiously than ever before.

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Collaboration has been key and Marketing Lancashire brought together a large range of local and regional partners and businesses, from both the public and private sector to hear their views on how to grow the economy, to leverage and build relationships and to create interest, leads and enquiries. Listening to their ambitions for the place and how they can play an active role in articulating Lancashire’s strengths to attract inward investment, to retain the best talent and unlock the area’s potential has been invaluable feedback.

This has informed a set of strong and consistent messages about Lancashire that will give national policy-makers a better understanding of the economic potential and assets of Lancashire.

Our strengths, once articulated confidently, are unashamedly impressive and certainly unforgettable; Lancashire is number 1 in the UK for advanced manufacturing; Lancashire is the world’s 4th largest and the UK’s number 1 aerospace cluster with over 500 aerospace supply companies. Just a couple of examples that illustrate how the county leads the way, not just in the North but globally. Ask the delegates who visited Lancashire’s largest ever presence at the Farnborough Air Show, I’m certain they noticed how the county leads in this particular sector, as they will again next year at the Paris Air Show.

The new narrative will also help unlock the market opportunities available to Lancashire’s key sectors and sites in national and international market places. With Lancashire’s first participation in MIPIM London already under our belts, the county’s first appearance at MIPIM Cannes will be in February 2017. There we’ll provide compelling reasons for investors to choose Lancashire, especially with our four enterprise zones, creating the Lancashire Advanced Manufacturing and Energy Cluster.

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Based on these key messages and stakeholder feedback, a new Lancashire “narrative” is in development that will articulate Lancashire’s strengths and assets, its attractiveness as a place to live, visit and do business; a story that defines where the place has come from and where it is going in the future; a story that boldly and proudly states ‘We Are Lancashire’.

This new marketing campaign launched in autumn 2016 has already injected confidence into “brand Lancashire”. It builds on improved communication activities already in place with key stakeholders, through the weekly Lancashire Business Brief, a much greater LEP presence in social, regional and national media and increased event activity.

In the spring we’ll also launch a new Lancashire Ambassadors programme, garnering the energy and enthusiasm of our many leaders and innovators; giving them a key role in Lancashire’s future successes, utilising their unified and collective negotiation and partnership skills, to leverage assets and opportunities. This will amplify Lancashire’s voice; achieve new levels of recognition and show the true weight behind the words ‘We Are Lancashire’.

Lancashire has a global track record of innovation and industrial excellence. With a new unified and coherent message, alongside a strong identity and a clear sense of economic purpose Lancashire won’t easily be overlooked and will be the partner of choice for the Northern Powerhouse programme.

We have manufacturing in our DNA; we’re a highly skilled workforce, universities and colleges that produce the UK’s largest source of STEM graduates, we’re easily accessible by rail, road and air, have some of the country’s best pubs, attractions, hotels, spas, as well as countryside and coastline that makes for an enviable quality of life – we are innovative, influential, inspiring and international - We Are Lancashire and proud of it.

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THE LIST: SIX IN THE CITY

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WHAT’S NEXT FOR LEEDS? WORDS BY TOM RIORDAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF LEEDS CITY COUNCIL

As we begin the new year, the Leeds economic outlook is positive but there is an undeniable sense that testing times lie ahead with the unpredictability of Brexit.

John Lewis store in October, acting as a further attraction for the 26 million visitors now coming to Leeds annually adding over £1.5billion to the local economy.

Despite the likely challenges, the key indicators are good in the city with job numbers in Leeds now being higher than at pre-recession levels with over 400,000 people working in the city, and unemployment falling and the latest EY economic forecast report showing GVA growth in Leeds is higher than the national average.

These figures have been enhanced by Leeds hosting more world-class events, from major performances at the first direct arena to the Tour de Yorkshire and the ITU World Triathlon Series Leeds which will be repeated in June. As well as the major events, the independent sector continues to thrive with events such as Big Disco, and festivals such as Transform, Thought Bubble, Live at Leeds, Juncture and Compass adding to Leeds’ growing reputation as home for the next generation of artists and makers.

The city is creating private sector jobs at a higher rate than any other in the UK, while Leeds is now the second most attractive core city for foreign direct investment and is only behind London in the number of new businesses being created.

Despite that success we know there is much more to be done to drive growth for all to benefit from, tackling inequality and poverty to make Leeds the best city to live in the UK. This is part of our commitment to being compassionate and inclusive with a strong economy.

New jobs and training opportunities will continue to be created in 2017, with innovation and entrepreneurship being encouraged as part of the regional Strategic Economic Plan to deliver good growth, up to 35,000 new jobs and an additional £3.7billion of economic output by 2036.

The retail offer in Leeds was given a big boost with the opening of the stunning £165million Victoria Gate and

Another welcome return this autumn will see Leeds Art Gallery, internationally renowned for its modern and contemporary collections, reopening after undergoing significant renovations. All of these elements form part of our exciting bid to be European Capital of Culture which we hope to formally submit this year, while in addition the plans for the exciting cycling road world championships coming to Yorkshire in 2019 will be progressed further.

Leeds is also now becoming renowned as a tech city, with the digital, creative and innovation sector being among the fastest-growing. Home to around 3,500 digital and tech companies with an estimated workforce of 45,000 which accounts for one in 10 jobs in Leeds, the city has developed an expertise in a range of areas from financial technology, cyber security, telecommunications and data storage, to in-company tech, digital media and computer games.

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This will continue in 2017 as innovation projects will be supported by funding from the £3.7m Leeds Tech Hub Fund, along with a range of initiatives being undertaken by the council working with businesses, the city’s universities and education providers. This is part of the Leeds Digital Skills Action Plan to support growth in the digital economy and meet the rising demand for skilled employees in the sector. A proposal for a creative digital University Technology College is being submitted by a strong private/public partnership.

Education and training is the key to providing the skilled workforce we need to drive growth, and a fantastic new asset for Leeds in this area is the new educational ‘hub’ found in the South Bank. The potential of the South Bank to double the size of the city centre is incredible, and we are committed to having learning at the heart of it. There are more than 10,000 students now going there every day to attend the Leeds College of Building, Leeds City College, University Technology College and the Ruth Gorse Academy.

Plans for the South Bank will continue to progress this year, in keeping with the ambition for it to be an attractive, modern and welcoming destination for

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people to live, learn, work, and visit. It has already received more than £500m worth of investment in the last year alone through leading companies like Vastint, Burberry, Citu and CEG, with the ultimate aim for it to provide more than 35,000 jobs in sectors such as construction, manufacturing and digital innovation, along with 4,000 homes and leading leisure attractions.

The gateway to the South Bank and the city centre is Leeds Station, and plans for its bold remodelling will be revealed this year when the team featuring Hiro Aso, the lead architect for the acclaimed redevelopment of King’s Cross, unveil their blueprint for the station masterplan.

This masterplan will show how high-speed HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail (formerly known as HS3) will come together with national, regional and local transport services to create a single integrated hub, serving as a key landmark and welcoming visitor attraction in its own right.

Maximising the opportunities surrounding the station will also be key elements of the project which is expected to provide approximately 13,000 new jobs.

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Broader improvements in rail services in Leeds should start to be seen this year, as through our discussions with Rail North and rail operators we are to see increases in capacity with longer trains and more frequent services, especially at peak times.

Other major transport improvements in 2017 will be the opening of a 1,000-space new park and ride service at Temple Green which will continue the growing momentum of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone, and junction improvements will begin on the Outer Ring Road as part of the East Leeds Orbital Road and broader East Leeds Extension plans.

Work on the next phase of the City Connect cycle superhighway will get underway in the city centre, while proposals for how best to invest the ÂŁ173.5m of funding from the New Generation Transport scheme to improve our connectivity as part of the citywide transport conversation to help link people with places and jobs will also be progressed.

Housing growth is another key priority for the city with ongoing demand for high quality and affordable homes with the regeneration of key areas in the city supporting economic development.

The city has granted planning permissions for over 5000 new homes in the last year, while we are seeing major interest from new investors in private rented schemes in and around the city centre as well as family homes being built at Otter Island and Low Fold. Away from the city centre we are working with

private sector developers across the whole city, including key strategic developments at Kirkstall Forge and the East Leeds Extension.

Another major milestone this year will be the completion of the first phase of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme, with groundbreaking moveable weirs meaning we can control the flow of the River Aire and protect residents and businesses in the city centre and downsteam from a repeat of the damage caused by Storm Eva just over a year ago. Proposals for the next phase to protect the Kirkstall corridor and upstream will also be developed.

The final aspect I know readers will be interested in is devolution. I am hopeful that an agreement can be reached this year but part of the reason why progress has been slow is that given its size, geography and varied economy, Yorkshire has a unique set of complexities which need to be factored in to the discussions. It is important to say we were already in a good place as a region with the biggest City Deal and the ÂŁ1billion Transport Plus Fund, but I hope we will have more positive news on this as we are all agreed on the importance of getting any deal right for the people of Leeds and Yorkshire to achieve maximum benefit.

I'd like to thank Downtown in Business Leeds and our private sector partners who continue to drive great improvements in the economy and make Leeds the place to be in 2017.

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TOMAS MAUNIER SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR OF FAZENDA GROUP Tomas Maunier, Sales & Marketing Director of Fazenda Group began his career in the hospitality industry in 2010 after meeting his business partner, Robert Melman.

recently headed up the launch of two new brands under the City District Group with a three year roll out plan for each of the brands including the premium casual concept, Fazenda.

The pair set out on their first venture to bring a flavour of the high-end rodizios found in São Paolo, Brazil to the people of Leeds with great passion and a desire to deliver excellence in exquisite food and drink.

Driving the business through strategic and relationship marketing, Tomas has well established himself in Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds as a leader and influencer in the North West.

Lawyer turned marketer and businessman, Tomas has

JO SWANN PR DIRECTOR AT CHOCOLATE PR TIM DOWNES CO-FOUNDER OF ABERFIELD COMMUNICATIONS Tim is a director and one of the founders of Aberfield Communications, an award-winning PR and social media agency based in Leeds that works with brands and organisations nationally. It’s currently the CIPR's Outstanding PR Consultancy of the year and Outstanding Small PR Consultancy of the year for Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Originally a journalist based in Manchester before moving into PR, Tim was previously the head of PR for a large integrated agency.

Aberfield was started because of a belief that PR has to work harder than just generating coverage and awareness. It’s a PR, social media and marketing business driven by insight and a passionate belief in starting with the audience not the product or service. The goal is to influence how they feel, think and act. Aberfield call it the power of 'Positive Influence'.

This approach has gained Aberfield an enviable client list, including QHotels, Deloitte, First Direct, Kier Group, and Harrogate Spring Water.

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Award winning PR Director of Leeds and London based Chocolate PR Jo has worked within the Media, Marketing & Communication Industries for over 20 years, across Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester and London covering journalism, copywriting, radio, digital, social media as well as PR. She played key roles in helping businesses of all sizes grow, win awards, and differentiate from their competitors, through creative, strategic PR & Marketing activities.

Jo told DQ: “PR has changed so much over the years. However what stands true is what I’ve always believed - it’s about communication. We just now have more channels at our disposal. Online, content marketing, social media, brand partnerships - none of this is new fundamentally - it’s

all existed in previous forms for centuries. PR is about building relationships, and this is something I’m passionate about. I enjoy speaking on this topic, running workshops for clients and offering consultancy to clients as they build their communications campaigns.

“I particularly love working with brands who are committed to CSR, or are passionate about winning awards because both require innovation and commitment to true brand values. My favourite clients embrace strategy and creativity, and never sit still!

“Growing up in Leeds in Yorkshire brings with it a straight talking approach that our clients appreciate. We are valued at a management and board level by many of our longstanding clients.”

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ARIF AHMED MANAGING PARTNER OF PWC LEEDS After 3 years studying Economics at Newcastle University, Arif joined PwC in Leeds in 1996. Since that time, he has worked in PwC's offices in Leeds, London, and Chicago/Cleveland (US).

Arif is now PwC's Leeds Office Senior Partner, leading the over 700 people and is responsible for audit and financial due diligence services to a range of clients across different sectors, and working with companies from FTSE 100, through AiM, private equity and privately owned. This involves working with businesses on a range of issues - audit services, advising on entering new markets (domestic or overseas), raising additional capital, exit strategies, enhancing the management team to name just a few.

A specialist in listings transactions, having worked as the Reporting Accountant on numerous recent IPOs including Bonmarche (AiM float and move to Main Market), On The Beach, ScS and PTSG. he also performed this role on Acadia's acquisition of Priory Group, Premier Farnell's disposal of Akron Brass, Connect Group's acquisition of Tuffnells and Assura plc's £300m fund raise.

Cricket is a huge passion for Arif who serves on the Board of Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, the community and education arm of Yorkshire County Cricket Club. He also chaired Richard Pyrah's benefit at Yorkshire in 2015, and Andrew Gale's benefit in 2016.

ADINA WATT NIOR MARKETING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AT GRANT THORNTON A dynamic Business Development and Marketing professional whose experience has focused on driving new business acquisition and client retention programmes, achieving ambitions growth targets.

“My experience includes Key Account and project management, using engagement strategies to influence and uplift existing clients fees, ultimately securing sustainable growth and profitability.”

Adina says:

Her specialties are: Business Development Strategy, Marketing, PR, Key Account Management, Lead Generation, Marketing Strategy, Event Management, Project Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Corporate Social Responsibility

“I enjoy developing an in depth understanding of a target or client's corporate objectives and use this insight to open up relationships, develop a bespoke, targeted offering and to convert prospects.

DAVID CAPPER COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR OF WESTFIELD HEALTH David is the Commercial Director at Westfield Health – one of the UK’s leading providers of corporate health and wellbeing solutions.

Perhaps unknown to some, David actually started out as a professional footballer with Sheffield United FC before his career was prematurely cut short by injury.

So at the age of 21, he turned his hand to business and has subsequently enjoyed a successful career in service led industries spanning nearly two decades.

David spent several years as European Sales Director at global language solution provider thebigword Group.

Among other clients, he worked with the Ministry of Defence to provide skilled language support for military operations overseas in the

form of highly trained linguists and interpreters.

With almost a decade of experience in the healthcare industry, David joined the Board of Directors in March 2015 to lead the health and wellbeing strategy at Westfield Health, working closely with the public and private sectors to drive innovation and technology to improve health outcomes for the wider population with emphasis on prevention rather than cure.

In October 2015, David secured a pioneering partnership with the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, based at Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park, which is acknowledged as the most advanced wellbeing and physical activity research centre in the world.

David says his 2016 resolution is to fall in love with a new sport!

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PJ ELLIS SALES DIRECTOR FOR RICEMEDIA Ex-solicitor, PJ Ellis is the Sales Director at St Paul's Square-based search marketing agency, Ricemedia, which employs over 20 people.

An advocate of all things Birmingham, PJ also co-founded the charity LoveBrum in 2014, which shines a light on the 'hidden gem' projects of Birmingham and has funded over 25 schemes so far. It now has over 1,200 members.

PJ has helped raise over ÂŁ500,000 for local charities and projects in the last three years and often mentors students and start-up businesses, helping over 10 of the latter raise (in total) over ÂŁ1 million in funding.

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ADIL RAY OBE BRITISH ACTOR, COMEDIAN AND RADIO AND TELEVISION PRESENTER Birmingham-born Adil Ray OBE is the creator and star of BBC sitcom Citizen Khan, among many other TV presenting roles.

Although widely known for his comedy roles, Adil has been recognised for hard-hitting documentaries, with recent work including the highly-acclaimed BBC3 documentary Exposed: Groomed For Sex. The 42-year-old received an OBE for services to broadcasting in November 2016. He dedicated the award to his parents for their support, which enabled him to follow his dreams

He recently received a Points of Light award from the Prime Minister, which recognises outstanding UK volunteers - those that are making a real change in their community.

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JAMES WONG DIRECTOR OF CHUNG YING RESTAURANTS Birmingham-born James Wong is director of the Chung Ying restaurant group, established more than 30 years ago by his father Siu Chung Wong.

The city’s Chinatown didn't exist in 1981, but Siu Chung's success in persuading Brummies to sample and enjoy the delights of Cantonese food was a critical catalyst in the area's later expansion.

Six years later, as the demand for Chinese food grew rapidly, Siu Chung set up a sister restaurant, Chung Ying Garden.

Siu Yung dies in 2011 James took over the business and has since modernised both restaurants and launched Chung Ying Central on Colmore Row, in the heart of the city’s business district.

JUDITH ARMSTRONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MILLENNIUM POINT As CEO, Judith heads up Millennium Point Property Limited and Millennium Point Trust – a position she has held since autumn 2015.

Home to the Thinktank museum and a Birmingham City University campus, Millennium Point is described as ‘a destination where science, technology and learning come to life’.

Judith has over 20 years of experience in operations and finance, starting her career in 1996 when she was

appointed as finance assistant at international logistics firm, TNT before moving to a senior financial role at DHL. While there, Judith was part of the Women in Leadership board, helping to support and promote women into senior positions.

Judith is also Chair of Eastside Forum – a platform for public, private, not-for-profit and other stakeholders, supporting the growth and development of the region.

ED JAMES BROADCASTER FOR HEART FM For the past 14 years Ed James has been waking up Birmingham and the Midlands on the region’s biggest commercial breakfast show.

Heart Breakfast is on air every weekday morning, providing a slice of real life from what Ed calls ‘the best city in the UK’.

Ed also represents HDY Media, working with clients to help grow their businesses, raise awareness and increase sales.

He is active in the business community in Birmingham hosting many of the corporate events in the city, and is also a keen charity supporter, regularly working with causes like Marie Curie, Cure Leukaemia, Rospa, Water Aid and an ambassador for Help Harry Help Others.

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IAN STRINGER REGIONAL SENIOR DIRECTOR AT BILFINGER GVA With a career spanning more than 30 years in commercial property, Ian Stringer is one of the most respected figures in Midlands business.

The regional senior director of property consultancy Bilfinger GVA also acts as the company's advisory board chairman.

Bilfinger GVA is advising on many of the Midlands' biggest regeneration schemes, including Paradise, Eastside Locks, Arena Central and Curzon in Birmingham and Friargate in Coventry.

Ian is based at the agency's offices in Brindleyplace in Birmingham.

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WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN BIRMINGHAM’S RENAISSANCE IS UNDERWAY WORDS BY NEIL RAMI CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MARKETING BIRMINGHAM The Greater Birmingham region is experiencing one of the most exciting periods of regeneration and development in recent times, with a plethora of further investment opportunities ahead. World-class schemes, projects and masterplans are set to cement the region’s reputation as the engine of the UK economy.

Landmark schemes underway include two high-speed rail stations at Birmingham Curzon and UK Central - placing the region at the heart of the UK’s HS2 rail network and Europe’s largest infrastructure project. The next stage in Birmingham city centre's regeneration is now underway with the start of the £500 million Paradise Birmingham development.

With a large talented workforce and world-class universities producing widely sought-after graduates, this region is turning ambition into reality. Home to a thriving business community, Greater Birmingham is a leading UK destination for firms ranging from cutting-edge start-ups to international brands.

Greater Birmingham offers more than a business case – its quality of life is attracting highly skilled workers and renowned employers from all over the UK and internationally.

We welcomed 90 million visitors to the region in 2015 to experience our varied cultural offer, world-famous food scene and headline events.

This will contribute to the 1 million sq ft of office space now under construction across the city centre. In Solihull, a £300 million investment in Junction 6 off the M42 and plans for new Metro connections will further enhance the UK Central Hub. In the Black Country, Wolverhampton is planning to deliver significant investment into its city centre, including £120 million for its Interchange network and a new rail station.

Almost £1 billion of major developments in Greater Birmingham are now complete and powering the region to compete on a global scale. From the £750 million redevelopment of Birmingham New Street Station and its surrounding Grand Central complex, to the £150 million Resorts World Birmingham and the £40 million runway extension at Birmingham airport, the region is more connected than ever before, linking directly to key markets including China and the USA.

Despite the pre-EU referendum unease of investors over the last quarter, the Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP (GBSLEP) attracted 81 new FDI projects and created and safeguarded 5,176 jobs in 2015/16, an increase of 86 % from 2011/12. In the wider West Midlands region 11,119 new jobs were created, more than any other region outside London.

Investors included global brands such as Americanowned software provider Advanced, Chinese automotive manufacturer Changan and American civil engineering firm Jacobs Engineering.

But our work has hardly started.

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Arden Cross – View of Central Boulevard

Foreign investment into the GBSLEP area was predominately driven by the advanced manufacturing sector which represented 31% of all projects. This was closely followed by the IT, creative and digital sector representing 23% and business, professional and financial services (BPFS) at 15%. All three sectors have been heavily targeted as part of the region’s strategy to diversify its economy and create the greatest employment opportunities for the local workforce.

Another leading brand, Advanced, one of the largest UK business software providers, also chose Greater Birmingham as its key location. This was in part due to the region’s status as having one of the UK’s best performing digital economies, with more than 6,000 firms, including a range of innovative SMEs, delivering £1.6 billion to the local economy.

LOOKING AHEAD The past year has seen significant progress in getting the foundations in place to maximise the opportunities presented by the Midlands Engine. This collaboration brings together the public, private and educational sectors in the region to work collectively to achieve greater economic growth for the Midlands. By working together, the Midlands Engine will promote the region to investors and trade partners delivering more growth, exports, jobs, and a better quality of life for those living in the region.

Our aim is to work with Government, positioning the Midlands as a major UK and European gateway to unlock the region’s potential and support growth across every sector.

The Government believes that the Midlands economy could grow by £34 billion by 2030. The Midlands Engine will work with the Government to deliver on that aspiration. We will improve the economy of the Midlands and the UK, deliver an enhanced quality of life for our citizens and communities and become a globally recognised driver of the UK economy.

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HOTEL GOTHAM MANCHESTER Hotel Gotham is an awardwinning luxury property in central Manchester, which opened in April 2015 under the management of Bespoke Hotels and has been met with both public and critical acclaim.

Located at 100 King Street, within the site of the former Midlands Bank, it now stands as a famed art deco fortress at the heart of Manchester’s designer shopping district, occupying a grade II listed Lutyens building surrounded on all sides by a vibrant sea of commuters and shoppers.

The architecture of the ‘King of King Street’ provided natural inspiration for the nostalgic yet decadent design direction. The layout of the bedrooms feature wonderful travel trunk-style

cocktail cabinets and wardrobes.

Burnished metals, teamed with dark polished woods and luxurious leathers, are coupled with feminine notes of plum and raspberry; while soft velvet and faux fur are used liberally.

Subtle references are made to the building’s banking past with moneybag style laundry bags and ingot toiletry displays.

Gotham spreads over seven floors and features 55 bedrooms alongside 5 decadent innersanctum suites. The property also features ‘Honey’, an atmospheric Two AA Rosette Awarded restaurant, as well as ‘Club Brass’, a spectacular private rooftop bar and member’s club overlooking Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

BANK BRINDLEYPLACE BIRMINGHAM Bank Brindleyplace could be considered something of a veteran in Birmingham’s fast-changing food and drink scene, but its contemporary selection continues to succeed.

This is a venue that was a front-runner in the city’s late-1990s food renaissance and still wins people over to this day.

A sophisticated atmosphere, outdoor spaces and private dining rooms ensure Bank is a long-standing favourite of workers and visitors to buzzing Brindleyplace.

Food menus feature sharing dishes and a wide selection from the charcoal burning grill and oven, while mixologists can rustle up any drinks combo imaginable.

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ZIFERBLAT LIVERPOOL Ziferblat is a new kind of social work space where guests are charged 8 pence per person per minute and everything else is free. This includes newspapers, boardgames and the self serve Zifer-kitchen with unlimited coffees, teas, soft drinks, cakes, biscuits, fruits, cereals, breads and snacks.

Guests are welcome to kick their shoes off and treat the place like home. There are plug sockets and super strength Wi-Fi throughout the space with a variety of soft and hard furnishings, ideal for informal meetings or catching up on some work. There is no minimum spend or membership.

For those who wish to use Ziferblat as a coworking space there is a 4-hour day cap, which allows guests to stay all day and only pay for 4 hours.

Ziferblat has private themed meeting rooms available that include projection, flip charts and 100mb Wi-Fi. They welcome board meetings, training days, away days, conferences, private dinners, parties, weddings and more. Ziferblat has locations in central Manchester, Media City and Liverpool. Their Liverpool locations include branches in St Paul’s Square and The Albert Dock

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DUNKENHALGH LANCASHIRE The Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa is one of the North Wests finest 4 star hotels, renowned for quality service whether for business or pleasure, supplying first class accommodation, leisure, conference and banqueting facilities to all markets.

The Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa is a beautiful 700 year old country manor house retaining many of its original features including turrets, porticoes and wood-panelled rooms, evoking memories of a bygone age, yet its modern facilities make it one of Lancashire’s most unique venues.

The hotel is set in the Lancashire countryside within 19 acres of parkland but surprisingly close to the main motorway networks.

With a purpose-built state-ofthe-art conference centre with six air conditioned and flexible meeting rooms, plus a further eight conference suites in the main building, the hotel can cater for all types of meetings and events for

up to 400 delegates. Weddings, Banquets and Charity Balls are a speciality at the hotel with the main function room comfortably holding 320 people for a dinner and dance. All rooms feature modern technology, complimentary wifi and benefit from natural light while others boast garden or terrace access, bars and private facilities. The extensive grounds are also the perfect setting for team building activities.

Guests to the hotel can enjoy comfortable accommodation in one of the hotel’s 175 bedrooms while also taking advantage of the hotel’s extensive facilities which include the Cameo Restaurant and bar plus on-site spa and leisure facilities. The Spa offers a full range of treatments, an indoor pool, thermal suite and modern fitness centre.

With 380 car parking spaces and easy access to the major motorway network this really is the perfect venue in Lancashire.

MALMAISON BIRMINGHAM Birmingham’s chic Malmaison hotel is based at the new-look Mailbox, which has undergone extensive redevelopment and is home to a host of new stores and restaurants, all in keeping with the premium vibe.

Mal has also been given a spring clean, with new work Pods that are perfect for fleet-footed businesses or entrepreneurs keen for a quick catch up with clients or colleagues.

Fitted with smart technology, super-fast wifi, unlimited tea, coffee and water, the soundproof glass pods contain everything you need for a group brainstorm, oneon-one meeting or a small presentation.

And we haven’t even mentioned the hotel’s smart bar and brasserie, stylish rooms and sumptuous spa.

It’s got the lot, quite frankly.

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RESTAURANT BAR & GRILL LEEDS Located in the landmark Old Post Office building in the heart of City Square , The Restaurant Bar & Grill provides an impressive setting to enjoy brunch, lunch, dinner or a private party.

We’re about classic and inspired seasonal cooking, amazing steaks and brilliant cocktails to match. We only serve the very best British beef naturally reared on farms selected by us. We pride ourselves on

the philosophy of ingredient provenance and are committed to ensuring that you visit us, you will have fantastic food and service.

After a few years of great success with our terrace in Leeds Restaurant Bar & Grill, we decided you can never have too much of a good thing, so we just got a little bigger! It’s definitely the place to be during the warmer summer months.

FAZENDA MANCHESTER Gaúchos pierced large pieces of meat and slowly grilled them over open flamed pits. At Fazenda, they want to keep this tradition alive. Fazenda’s gaúcho chefs roast succulent cuts of meat in the way it has been done for centuries, preserving the individual taste of each tender cut.

Fazenda want to share this tradition and all the history behind their gaúcho heritage with Fazenda customers.

Their Fazenda Journey starts at the salad bar, where they can find traditional Brazilian dishes, fresh vegetables, cured meats, hot dishes, condiments and several other options to accompany their meal.

When they get back to

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their table and are ready for their meat, they simply flip their card from red to green and that signals to Fazenda’s Passadores (Meat Chefs) they would like some of the freshlygrilled meat that has to be carved directly on their plates.

Their meats leave the grill as soon as they are ready and they rotate randomly throughout the restaurant.

Customers have some small meat menus at their table to make sure they can request any meat they have not tried or that they would like to have again.

Their Fazenda meal is also accompanied by some traditional Brazilian nibbles (pão de queijo and beef empanadas) and freshly-made chips.

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THE ALCHEMIST LIVERPOOL Back in 1907 Walter Dixon Scott wrote of Liverpool, “This strange territory seems, indeed, to form a kind of fifth element, a place charged with daemonic issues and daemonic silences”. A fitting location, therefore, for an alchemist who has set up shop in a beautiful grade II listed building on Brunswick Street in the heart of the Financial District. Exposed ancient brickwork, reinstated wonderful wooden floors and a touch of their own alchemy with a stunning commissioned mural sets the tone for a decidedly unconventional bar and restaurant.

THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN LEEDS

BAR OPUS BIRMINGHAM

The Man Behind The Curtain opened by chef Michael O'Hare pulls away from trends and runs the risks that come with that. On offer a multicourse tasting menu in an environment intended for your enjoyment.

The Opus venues are among Birmingham’s finest, serving fine-dining, quality drinks and fresh, local and seasonal produce; an ethos in which Managing Director Ann Tonks takes enormous pride.

The Man Behind The Curtain cooks an expression that is pleasing to the eye and mouth, taking techniques from peers and inspiration from the arts, music and contemporary culture.

It was awarded a Michelin star in October 2015 and three AA Rosettes in 2016. It is currently the only restaurant in Leeds which holds a Michelin star and the second restaurant in the city to have been awarded one.

The duo consists of Opus restaurant on Cornwall Street and Bar Opus at One Snowhill; both in the city’s booming Business District.

Opus, which started 11 years ago, is fiercely independent, ‘fuelled by a passion for market fresh’.

Opus Restaurant has been recognised as Most Sustainable Restaurant in the Midlands, while Bar Opus has Peaky Blinder Gold on draught – the first bar in the UK to serve it.

Winners of multiple menu, produce and service awards,

THE REFUGE MANCHESTER The Refuge is curated by DJs-turnedrestaurateurs, Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford aka The Unabombers, of the award-winning Volta. They have joined forces with The Principal Manchester to curate The Refuge Dining Room & Public Bar. Head Chef Alex Worrall has created a menu inspired by The Unabombers global DJing trips with a range of small and large plates perfect for sharing.

Public Bar - stay all day: bring your laptop and grab a coffee, drop in for a pre-dinner drink or prop up the bar all night long.

Dining Room - globally inspired small plates and sharing dishes. The Refuge also hosts a beautiful Winter Garden – where you can sip on elegant evening cocktails with afternoon tea coming soon.

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HUDSON HOUSE LIVERPOOL Hudson House is a restaurant and bar, that specialises in high end seafood dishes paired with exquisite wines. Our head chef has worked with some of the best chefs and has personally been awarded two rosettes. He will be using his vast knowledge to create stunning dishes, only using the highest quality and freshest produce.

The experience of the restaurant will also extend to our outdoor terrace area. Diners will be able to relax with blankets in the heated

BARTLE HALL LANCASHIRE Bartle Hall Hotel is ideally situated between both its neighbouring towns of Preston and Blackpool.

With just a short drive into the Lake District it is located within easy access off the M6 motorway.

This charming Country Hotel set amidst the beautiful Lancashire countryside offers, without doubt, the most attractive presentation of dining, banqueting, hotel and conference facilities. Set in 16 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, the Luxury Hotel near Preston is full of charm and character.

Enjoy fresh relaxed dining in our Bar at Bartle and Nest Restaurant. The new look lounge has a mouth watering new menu offering classical food and we also specialize in Afternoon Teas and private banquets.

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The hotel has 15 bedrooms which overlook the beautifully landscaped gardens or surrounding woodland where the tranquil atmosphere takes you away from the pressures of everyday life.

Celebrating 25 years of experience, Bartle Hall Hotel is locally renowned as one of the Northwest’s premiere Luxury Hotel and Event Venues. Family owned and run, Bartle Hall Hotel welcomes its guests warmly and you cannot fail to feel the immediate comforts of the elegantly furnished surrounding.

Conferences and seminars are also a speciality. Our management has a high level of expertise in conference organisation and is at your disposal to ensure that your event runs smoothly. We can host a banquet up to a maximum of 160 delegates or a meeting from 10 people to 180 people.

area and take in the amazing view of Liverpools iconic architecture, whilst enjoying a more casual style of dining.

We're excited to be located within one of Liverpools prime locations and with the current developments happening in the surrounding Castle Street area it's a great opportunity for us to be part of. We're looking forward to welcoming tourists, local businesses and the local community into our restaurant once it launches.

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THE REFINERY MANCHESTER

BRASSERIE FORTY 4 LEEDS

Drake and Morgan’s The Refinery, which currently operates across two London sites, will open in Spinningfields at the end of November. The Refinery is characterised by sophisticated aesthetic, seasonal British food and creative cocktails, and will be the operator’s first venue outside of London.

Situated on the Calls waterfront just a 10 minute walk from Leeds City Square, Brasserie Forty 4 is family owned and run, offering fine British cooking with excellent quality, locally sourced produce and an extensive, well chosen wine list.

The 5,800 sq.ft restaurant will have a bespoke fit-out, offering handcrafted cocktails, a beautiful beer and wine list and distinctly different dining menus.

They have a private dining room which seats up to 34 guests and a balcony over the River Aire for outdoor eating.

Also on offer is a complimentary lunchtime chauffeur service around the city in partnership with Farnell Jaguar Leeds.

THE PALAZZO LANCASHIRE A little over a year ago we opened our Italian Restaurant and Bar The Palazzo, Set in the heart of Burnley town centre, in what was originally the Manchester & County Bank, (though latterly the NatWest), this fabulous building, although in need of some ‘TLC’ proved to be the perfect setting for our new venture. Built in 1876 by prominent local architect William Waddington travelled to Italy to take his inspiration from the Palazzo Medici before creating this majestic Italianate style building.

Retaining the original marble, ornate ceilings, marble columns and original oak panelling in the bar lounge, we introduced glistening chandeliers and a wood fired pizza oven where you can now watch our pizza chef from Napoli create a masterpiece then taste the difference. The dining room boasts a mezzanine overlooking the restaurant, where from noon daily we offer high quality authentic Italian & Mediterranean cuisine - freshly prepared using locally sourced ingredients fused with traditional Italian produce and practices.

As the seasons change, our menus reflect the wealth and diversity of produce on offer for our ‘Specialita del Giorno’.

Celebrated ‘ricette’ from regions such as Campania, Tuscany and Sardinia then are delivered with an artisan twist. Such is our passion for good food. Our superb Italian, Classic & New World wines are especially chosen to complement our dishes; By working closely with our award winning vintners, we are able to bring exclusive labels to tempt your palate. From a typical Pinot Grigio with notes of golden apple, ripe pear and peach to the juicy cherry tones delivered with a glass of Valpolicella.

Whether it’s a business lunch, a brief shopping respite, a celebratory dinner or just drinks with friends, from Arancini to Zucchini, from Cappucino to Cocktails, our talented and dedicated team are looking forward welcoming you to The Palazzo, Burnley.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD LIVERPOOL A corporate social hangout throughout the week and a go to destination for a night out Thursday to Sunday, the first-class venues in both Manchester and Liverpool offer vibrant all-day dining destinations specialising in steaks, seafood and sushi.

Neighbourhood was central to the boom in bars and restaurants in Spinningfields back in 2013 and as a brand continues to evolve following the opening of its second venue in Liverpool November 2016. With a real focus on live music, Neighbourhood has a unique roster of acts that perform at both venues each week Thursday through to Sunday.

SKY BAR LEEDS GUSTO BIRMINGHAM The new Gusto Restaurant and Bar in Birmingham boasts a sparkly vibe with its fashionable dĂŠcor, stylish cocktails and carefully selected ingredients to offer a wide choice of European dishes.

Housed in the stunning Grand Hotel building on Colmore Row, the 130-cover restaurant has made the most of the hotel's beautiful Victorian features with the grandiose exterior ringing true to its history and inside there is plenty of character with exposed brickwork and the original pillars of the Grade ll listed building.

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Offering first-class cocktails with superb views, The Sky Bar is one of the most sophisticated watering holes in Birmingham.

Make your way to the top floor of the city's Resorts World and immerse yourself in a quaint drinking den, characterised by its clean, contemporary design and breathtaking views that look out over Pendigo Lake.

included. The theatrical cocktail list is inspired by Wu Xing - the five elements of Asian philosophy - and there are regular live musical performances over the weekend. There's more to The Sky Bar than just great drinks as well, with renowned chefs creating delicious pan-Asian fare best enjoyed on the terrace or in one of the plush leather booths.

The Sky Bar is influenced by some of the best cocktail bars from across the globe, with plenty of Asian accents as well as touches of a Manhattan rooftop bar all

There's no lack of great bars to visit at Resorts World, but The Sky Bar is arguably the most decadent and stylish of the bunch.

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ECLECTIC HOTEL COLLECTION MANCHESTER Eclectic Hotel Collection boasts four luxury townhouse hotels; two beautiful Victorian villas in the leafy suburb of Didsbury, Eleven Didsbury Park and Didsbury House. In the heart of Manchester city we have the old school house Great John Street with 30 duplex bedrooms and suites and our newest addition King Street Townhouse, a baby grand hotel that includes 40 bedrooms, King Street Tavern restaurant, afternoon tea room, conferencing and event space and a rooftop infinity spa pool. Alongside a fifth venue in MediaCityUK; On The 7th is a sleek and exclusive private members lounge and event space. Each property is individually styled with interiors that both reflect and celebrate the building’s history

HOLIDAY INN PRESTON LANCASHIRE Holiday Inn Preston stands in a prime location in the City Centre. A short stroll from shops, bars, restaurants and Preston Guild Hall.

Although the external building hasn’t changed much in 40 years, the inside certainly has!

Refurbished last year the Nineteen75 restaurant serves classic British dishes with a modern twist, whilst the Ringway Bar is a relaxed spot for a light meal and a drink. Private booths and a large coffee menu means the bar also makes a great choice for an impromptu meeting.

Holiday Inn Preston is the ‘best spot to meet in Preston’. The state of the art meeting centre is located on the ground floor and houses 5 of the 7 hotel conference rooms. Alongside the modern conference rooms there is a large breakout centre, offering speciality coffees. The hotel also offers bespoke catering options to suit any function.

and its surroundings with each room having a personality of its own, giving the guest a unique experience every visit.

All venues provide several areas for private hire for meetings and events. All of your corporate and leisure requirements, from boardroom style or theatre style to informal receptions of up to 200 guests. Our most popular spaces are the Rooftop Lounge & Playground at Great John Street and the South Terrace at King Street Townhouse, both providing outdoor south-facing terraces both heated and covered which offer spectacular views across Manchester’s city scape.

PARK REGIS HOTEL BIRMINGHAM The former 1960s office building Auchinleck House at Five Ways was transformed into the four-star Park Regis Hotel, opening in the spring of 2016.

Named after Second World War Hero Field Marshall Claude Auchinleck, the building was converted under permitted development rights from an unused and tired site to the modern hotel, with the addition of a spectacular all-glass sky bar onto the building’s roof, giving some of the finest views of the city centre and beyond.

Park Regis Birmingham is the hotel group’s first in Europe and features more than 250 rooms, spa and gym, and conference facilities.

Its Rofuto Japanese concept restaurant is the highest restaurant in the Birmingham region with a 360 degree panoramic views and a sevenmetre long central dining bar featuring open kitchens and theatre Yakitori grill counter.

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ROSSO MANCHESTER Take a seat in Rosso’s 116-year-old grade II listed dining room and enjoy a delicious dish from their a la carte menu.

Select from favourites such as pizzas, pastas, steaks and freshly prepared fish dishes. Rosso’s kitchen is awaiting your arrival. To accompany your food, or to complement an enjoyable night at the bar are a wide range of specially chosen wines, spirits and cocktails to keep you refreshed.

They have highly skilled bar staff that are on hand to create your perfect drink. Rosso nights & celebrities, our delicious food and drink teamed with a classy, atmospheric setting has led to Rosso being a Manchester celebrity haunt.

Stars of film, television, music and sport enjoy the Rosso experience and so can you.

NORTHCOTE LANCASHIRE Northcote is a luxury, independent 26 bedroomed country house hotel located in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire with an award winning restaurant that has held a Michelin star for 20 consecutive years since 1995. Founded by Chef Patron and Managing Director, Nigel Haworth and Managing Director, Craig Bancroft in 1983, Northcote is an oasis of gastronomic excellence that alongside its restaurant, also boasts a truly interactive cookery school and chef’s table, a kitchen garden and a carefully curated wine cellar filled with award-winning and unique wines. In September 2016, Northcote was awarded Hotel of the Year: England in the AA Hospitality Awards.

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SAMLESBURY LANCASHIRE Samlesbury Hotel Opened in 2014. 80 contemporary bedrooms feature all the very latest extras - from 40-inch Smart LED TVs to power showers and luxury beds, and our new Merchants Bar & Grill offers the very best in local dining. Enjoy seasonal dishes with a surprising twist or pop in for a coffee break, meeting or morning tea.

Located just one mile from the M6 we are easy to reach and ideally situated for large events for personal or corporate use.

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Sport is deep in the Northern DNA, says VSI chairman Andy McIntyre

“A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IS LOST BECAUSE THERE IS NO CAREER ROADMAP”

SPORTING MASTERS’ BOARDROOM GOAL MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY AND COMMERCIAL PARTNER VSI CREATE A NEW SPORT DIRECTORSHIP DEGREE

Education has long been recognised as a critical driver for economic and social change, but professional sport has been slow to recognise the value of formal learning, or indeed to accept anything more than the most limited social responsibilities.

son of former England star and Premier League manager, Joe Royle, identified the need for experienced sportspeople to be embraced at the highest level of governance and decision-making, but also recognised that a life spent playing or coaching often left little time for education.

Times are changing, however. Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and its commercial partner VSI have persuaded an elite band of professionals from football, cricket, rugby, netball, tennis and hockey to study for a Master’s degree in sporting directorship.

VSI believes that a host of great sport-speople are either overlooked for key executive positions or perform badly in those positions because of a lack of formal education. “In so many sports a wealth of knowledge and experience is lost because beyond coaching there is no career roadmap,” Mr Royle says. “The boardroom was seen as the domain of businessmen and accountants.

Manchester boasts perhaps the finest sport facilities of any city in the world never to have hosted the Olympic Games, and the university and VSI is committed to delivering 100 highly qualified leaders equipped with the skill sets needed to mastermind blue chip global sport franchises, but also with an eye to delivering a lasting legacy.

The wealthy owners of Manchester City FC have used their resources to build a winning team while working with Sir Howard Bernstein, the chief executive of Manchester City Council, to regenerate the east side of the city. “They have worked closely with the community and been at the heart of a stunning regeneration project,” says VSI director Tony Faulkner, “while at the same time enjoying more success on the pitch than at any time in their history. But it is fair to say that examples such as City are few and far between.”

Mr Faulkner and fellow director, Darren Royle,

“VSI identified a desperate need for key executive positions in sport to be filled by people who have not only performed at the highest level but who also enjoyed a passion for sport. We believe that great leaders will be the medium and long-term custodians of sport’s best interests, with their eyes not just focused on the most recent on-field result.”

The views of Darren Royle and Tony Faulkner were confirmed by multiple owners and leaders of governing bodies who wanted elite performers moving from the playing field to the boardroom but found only a limited talent pool. Galvanised by such widespread support for their beliefs, VSI approached the business school at MMU with a view to creating an academic qualification for sporting directors.

SPONSOR FEATURE: VSI

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Ashley Giles: Ex-England Test cricketer

Steve Round: National Assistant Manager

On the continent, it is commonplace for sports franchises to engage an individual as a statutory director with responsibility for the sporting operations. That individual would work with owners and fellow directors to create the vision and philosophy of the club, being instrumental in appointing the first-team coach and ultimately responsible for all sporting operations at the club.

MMU embraced the idea enthusiasti-cally and worked to create an exclusive, invitation-only Master’s qualification. “It is a leadership programme, underpinned by neuroscience,” Tony Faulkner says.

“Understanding how the brain drives perfor-mance and behaviour is the glue that holds it all together.

“The university worked closely with VSI to produce a Master’s degree that was appropriate for individuals who have significant work and life experience. It is a part-time course because most of the two cohorts currently in place have high-profile full-time jobs.”

Among the first cohort is former England Test cricket star and oneday coach Ashley Giles, who is now in charge of Lancashire County Cricket Club where he has led a remarkable transformation in its fortunes, taking them from Division Two of the County Championship to the top of Division One, and with the T20 trophy proudly on display at their spectacularly modernised Old Trafford ground.

Mr Giles is scheduled to graduate in a few weeks’ time and admits that going back to the classroom has been a challenging experience.

Malcolm Press: University vice-chancellor

“You are taken out of your comfort zone,” he says, “but I feel I have really benefited from the experience. The academic side opens your mind to new ideas, but as much as anything else it has been working alongside the rest of the group that has been really important.

“I have been able to hear and see how other sports deal with issues, and you can’t help but learn so much from their experience.”

Others currently studying include former Manchester United and England assistant manager Steve Round and Oxford United manager Michael Appleton. Both were among the attendees at second global summit of sporting directors which was held in April at the Mayfair Hotel in London.

“We are trying to create a movement of sport leaders,” Darren Royle says, “and 160 of the most influential sportspeople attended the summit.

“The knowledge exchange was invaluable with the likes of Andrew Strauss, director of cricket at the ECB, Andy Harrison, interim head of British Cycling, Rob Andrew, former professional rugby director of the RFU and Dan Ashworth, the Football Association technical director all enjoying a lively debate.”

VSI is convinced that change in sport can only come about through high-quality leadership and it is working with business leaders to fund that process – but always with one eye on how those leaders will ultimately deliver positive economic and social welfare change at grassroots level.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? VSI CHAIRMAN ANDY MCINTYRE EXPLAINS...

What impact has this Master’s degree in sporting directorship had on the profile of Manchester Metropolitan University?

AM: Extensive cross-media coverage over the last three years has cemented the university’s position as the global leader in executive sport education, with high-profile individuals travelling from as far afield as Africa, North America and the United Arab Emirates to study on the two-year, parttime programme. Senior figures from the Football Association, the Professional Footballers’ Association, the Rugby Football League, the Rugby Football Union, the England and Wales Cricket Board, British Cycling and sports coach UK have thrown their weight behind what they acknowledge to be a groundbreaking qualification.

Can you describe the profile of the existing cohort?

SPONSOR FEATURE: VSI

AM: An eclectic mix of high-profile individuals including former England cricket star and one-day coach Ashley Giles and former Manchester United FC and England assistant manager Steve Round are among those invited to study on the inaugural year of the programme. All those studying share the ambition to be strategic leaders in elite sport organisations.

How do I secure a place on the programme?

AM: As this is an exclusive programme, entry has thus far been on a strict invitationonly basis and individuals have typically presented themselves to their governing body or union which has, if appropriate, represented the candidate’s case to MMU’s commercial partner VSI. It is their decision as to whether a candidate should be offered an interview by the academic team.

To what extent can these leaders impact on the economy and social welfare of the Northern power-house?

AM: Sport runs deep through the DNA of the Northern powerhouse cities, delivering a multi-million-pound cash windfall. Great leaders will drive these economic returns even further while also exercising the sort of social responsibility that will finance grassroots sport and support campaigns to radically improve physical literacy across the age ranges.

Government research suggests this will improve the health of the region, with an increase in skills among people and communities leading to greater hope and achievement.

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The decision makers, entrepreneurs and business leaders who make a difference in a city near you.

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THE LIST: THE INFLUENCERS EDWIN BOOTH CHAIRMAN OF BOOTHS Edwin Booth is the Chairman of Booths, a family owned and operated independent supermarket with 29 stores across Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria, Cheshire and Greater Manchester.

Edwin represents the fifth generation of the family that has operated the business since 1847. He entered the business immediately after school and quickly discovered a hunger for retailing. The purchase of wine became his speciality for many years, enabling him to gain Booths national recognition for this important area of the

business. Edwin was an HRH The Prince Of Wales Business Ambassador for the North West in 2005. He has also been awarded the Institute of Directors Director of the Year for Lancashire and the North West and he has been recognised for his business pursuits by the North West Society of Chartered Accounts and as the Lancastrian of the Year in the Be Inspired Business Awards 2009.

In 2010 Edwin became a trustee of the Prince’s Countryside Fund and serves as Chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.

SHEONA SOUTHERN MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MARKETING MANCHESTER

COLIN SINCLAIR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF LIVERPOOL KNOWLEDGE QUARTER & CHAIRMAN OF BRUNTWOOD LIVERPOOL Colin is the Chief Executive of Liverpool Knowledge Quarter - one of worlds leading Innovation Districts and one of the city regions first Mayoral Development Zones.

Colin started his career in the music business, managing bands and owning clubs and bars in Manchester, including the legendary Boardwalk Club, before moving onto to produce a number of major televised events.

In 2005 he became Chief Executive of Manchester's Investment and Development Agency (MIDAS), attracting substantial inward investment to the city, before joining property developers Bruntwood in 2010.

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Sheona is the Managing Director of Marketing Manchester the agency charged with promoting Greater Manchester on a national and international stage to key sectors including: media, digital and tech; science; advanced manufacturing; financial and professional services; and tourism, culture, and sport. As part of the Manchester Growth Company, Marketing Manchester undertakes marketing and communications on behalf of the group in support of the Greater Manchester Strategy.

Previously Sheona was Director of Cairn, an independent marketing consultancy; Marketing Director at Cumbria Tourism, Marketing Manager for England's Northern Regions at the BBC, based in Manchester and Marketing & Communications Director for Teamtalk Plc.

Working on the diversification of their core office property business into science, biomedical and tech spaces, Colin’s projects as a Director at Bruntwood included the acquisition of Manchester Science Park, the redevelopment of Manchester Business School and the Citylabs development. Lately Colin led Bruntwood's property marketing, evolved workspace and Liverpool teams.

Colin has retained his links with the family-owned property company as their Chairman for Liverpool – a role that he combines with his new full-time post in the Knowledge Quarter.

Colin is a twice Ironman and keen runner/cyclist.

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SIR GARY VERITY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF WELCOME TO YORKSHIRE Sir Gary led the winning bid to bring the Grand Départ of the Tour de France to Yorkshire in 2014 and was instrumental in the entire process from start to finish. It has since been hailed as the grandest ever Grand Départ.

He led the county’s public and private sectors to back the successful bid to bring the Tour – the world’s largest annual sporting event – to Yorkshire ahead of other bidders such as Florence, Barcelona, Utrecht, Berlin and Scotland.

The county’s successful hosting of the Grand Départ of the Tour de France, which generated £102million in economic benefit, has now been followed up with Yorkshire’s very own international stage race, the Tour de Yorkshire, which enjoyed significant success in its inaugural year.

Sir Gary has been recognised for his contribution to the county he loves including being knighted in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to Tourism and the Tour De France Grand Départ 2014. He has also been named Yorkshire’s Man of the Year in 2014, Yorkshire and Humber IoD Director of the Year 2014 and received Yorkshire and Humber IoD’s Lifetime Achievement award.

Sir Gary has also been presented with honorary doctorates from the University of York and Sheffield Hallam University as well as being given

an honorary degree from York St John University alongside Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme.

Since his appointment as Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire in October 2008 he has successfully raised the profile of Yorkshire at a regional, national and international level. Welcome to Yorkshire has won various national and international awards for its marketing campaigns.

A dynamic and motivational leader, Sir Gary has an excellent track record in brand building and managing complex businesses. After 18 years with Royal Insurance, he built a reputation for turning around failing businesses. At Bradford and Bingley’s retail property services arm he quickly turned around four years of losses into profit. He also rebranded Prontaprint and Kall Kwik and is the former managing director of Johnsons Cleaners UK. Sir Gary has also chaired the Olympics for Yorkshire Committee.

His love of sport extends into his work: he is president of the world’s oldest cricket festival at Scarborough and also on the Board of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

A passionate Yorkshireman, in his spare time Sir Gary is also an award-winning Dales sheep farmer and lives on a working farm near Leyburn.

SIÔN SIMON LABOUR CANDIDATE FOR WEST MIDLANDS MAYOR Siôn Simon is Labour candidate for West Midlands Mayor and Labour MEP for the West Midlands.

Born into a Welsh-speaking family, Siôn grew up in Birmingham and attended Handsworth Grammar School.

Before entering frontline politics he worked as an MP’s research assistant, worked as a manager for Diageo/Guinness

and then as a freelance speech writer.

Siôn resigned from Parliament and his safe Erdington seat ahead of the 2010 election to chase his dream of becoming an elected Mayor for his home city.

That dream could become reality in May 2017 should he win the public vote to become Mayor for the West Midlands.

ANDY STREET CBE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR OF THE WEST MIDLANDS High-profile businessman Andy Street CBE is the Conservative candidate for the new role of Mayor for the West Midlands.

For almost a decade Mr Street led retail giant John Lewis before giving up the role to challenge for one of the most intriguing jobs in regional politics as the West Midlands region pushes for further devolution from Whitehall and the powers of the new Mayor become clearer.

More recently Mr Street has chaired the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, which brings together business and political leaders to channel Government investment in business, infrastructure and transport projects in the region.

Away from work he is vice-chairman of Performances Birmingham Limited, which runs the City’s Symphony and Town Halls.

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ASIF HAMID CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF CONTACT COMPANY Asif Hamid is an award-winning entrepreneur and pioneer of new approaches to customer contact, having redefined standards of service for cross-sector businesses since establishing The Contact Company in 2006.

His industry knowledge has led his input to be sought by local and national commercial organisations as well as members of parliament, and his crowning as Business Person of the Year 2014 indicates the impact Asif has had on the local and wider Business Community.

Having started his business with 15 staff, the company has grown to over 1,000 employees across two sites and supports well-known brands such as Superdrug, River Island, Home Retail Group, Sainsbury’s, GAME and The Health Lottery. Through his continued hard work and belief in the region and its people, Asif has worked to bring major national and international brands to the area and created 470 jobs in the region in the last 12 months.

RUTH CONNOR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MARKETING LANCASHIRE Ruth was appointed Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire in August 2012. Marketing Lancashire is the agency charged with promoting the county on a national and international stage as a leading leisure and business destination, enhancing its global reputation and profile and driving awareness of economic development and growth opportunities. Ruth had worked previously at Board level across a range of renowned travel brands including the Rank Group, Bourne Leisure, Gold Medal Travel Group, Thomas Cook and Shearings Holidays predominantly improving the profitability of a business, or preparing and selling the business to new owners.

With a commercially astute and collaborative approach Ruth has driven the strategic development of Marketing Lancashire in its role as the key driver of place marketing activity for Lancashire.

Since her appointment Ruth has led an impassioned call for a new, economic narrative for the county and working on behalf of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, was responsible for the consultation process with hundreds of Lancashire businesses to develop a compelling narrative which saw the WeareLancashire campaign launched at an event in November 2016 attended by the Northern Powerhouse Minister, Andrew Percy MP. This campaign gives Lancashire a cohesive identity and story to attract occupiers, investors and developers whilst reaffirming the county’s position as one of the UK’s top visitor destinations with an excellent quality of life. It is also a way of businesses being involved in talking up the place to attract more business growth. Marketing Lancashire is an official partner of the Northern Powerhouse programme and Ruth continues to acknowledge and advocate the significance of Lancashire and the role it plays in the developing Northern Powerhouse initiative.

Ruth plays a key role in leading the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s communications particularly in taking Lancashire to market which in 2016 has seen Lancashire actively engaged in key events to showcase key sector strengths with its largest ever presence at the Farnborough Air Show and its first ever attendance at the UK’s largest property show at MIPIM UK in London. In 2017 Ruth will be focused on a new City Deal inward investment showcase, the Northern Powerhouse Conference, the new Lancashire Ambassadors Programme, MIPIM in Cannes as well as the Paris Air Show plus much more as Lancashire continues to make this step change in proactively marketing and positioning itself.

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Asif commits time and support to the region through his work as Interim Chair of the LEP as well as Chairman of the Wirral Chamber of Commerce, and is also Non-Executive Director of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

His commitment to growth was demonstrated earlier this year with the opening of a second business site, an investment of over £15 million pounds that was recognised recently at the Regional Business awards as Investment of the Year.

AJAZ AHMED FOUNDER OF FREESERVE Ajaz is known for being the Founder of Freeserve, which at the time was the UK’s largest Internet Company.

His eureka moment came when he bought a computer at PC World Leeds and nobody there could tell him how to get onto the Internet.

After much persuasion by Ajaz, Dixons launched Freeserve in 1998. It became the UK's largest ISP in 3 short months, floated nine months later with a market cap of £1.5bn, entered the FTSE 100 soon after peaking with a market cap of £9bn. Freeserve was sold by Dixons to France Telecom for £1.6bn in 2001. Ajaz left soon after the sale.

Since leaving, Ajaz has sat on a few boards, made a few investments.

He currently enjoys public speaking, and his 'Cut The Cr*p' talk has became very popular. Ajaz also writes a column for trade magazine 'Retail Week' and sits on the Advisory Board at the University of Huddersfield Business School and UK Northern Powerhouse.

As well as being President of YABA, Yorkshire Asian Business Association.

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ANDY BURNHAM MP LABOUR CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR OF GREATER MANCHESTER

Having been in parliament since 2001, Burnham, who served as a minister in both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s led governments, has made the smart decision that he will have more influence and power as the metro mayor for Greater Manchester than as a shadow minister in a Corbynled Labour Party. The Leigh MP will be the best known ‘face’ among the mayors who will be elected in May; and his ability to engage with politicians from across the political spectrum will help Manchester maintain a positive relationship with the Conservative government, despite the fact that much of the city region is, politically, red. His work

as Shadow Home Office minister also enabled him to strike up a healthy rapport with then Home Secretary, now Prime Minister, Teresa May. Happily avoiding the pain of having to go head-tohead with any of the Manchester family’s existing Labour council leaders, Burnham will be spared the rocky relationship road that is likely going to face his big mate, Steve Rotheram, down the East Lancashire Road in Liverpool. He will take his seat on the Combined Authority knowing that he has a strong, mature infrastructure to work with at a local level; and a network of contacts in Westminster that should help him get at least some of what he wants.

LAURA SHOAF MANAGING DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORT FOR THE WEST MIDLANDS

Laura Shoaf is managing director of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) – part of the West Midlands Combined Authority. She has more than 20 years’ international experience in delivering integrated economic and spatial regeneration.

After leaving her native USA, Laura became Head of Strategic Planning and Implementation at the Black Country Consortium and was instrumental in the creation of the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

As Black Country Director of Transport, Laura championed and led the area’s transport agenda, directly advising Chief Executives, Leaders and the LEP. In 2015, Laura became Strategic Director for Transport at the West Midlands Integrated Transport

Authority and then in June 2016 took up her current position where she is responsible for key initiatives across the metropolitan area.

These include Midlands Connect, the HS2 Connectivity Package and the region’s Strategic Transport Plan, liaising with Government departments and regional agencies for the benefit of the West Midlands. She is also responsible for delivering a £4billion transport package over the next 10 years underpinning economic regeneration in the region.

Laura is a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and a committee member of both UITP and EMTA, highly-respected international and European organisations dedicated to promoting public transport and the dissemination of best practice.

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JOANNE RONEY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL If you thought David Moyes had a hard job following Sir Alex Ferguson, spare a thought for Joanne Roney the soon-to-be chief executive of Manchester City Council. She has possibly the hardest job in local government this year as she succeeds the most impressive of local government leaders Sir Howard Bernstein.

Joanne is currently chief executive of Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council, where she has held the top post since 2008. She started her career in local government as an apprentice with Birmingham City Council at 16 and has a strong track record in transforming public services and delivering major regeneration initiatives such as the Hepworth Gallery.

Joanne has also previously worked as director of housing at Kirklees Council and executive director with responsibility for housing, communities and adult care services at Sheffield City Council. She was awarded the OBE for services to local government in 2009.

On announcing her appointment Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “We were hugely impressed at interview

by Joanne’s drive, strategic vision and determination to ensure that all Manchester

residents can be part of the city’s success story.

“This an exciting time for Manchester City Council. We have a clear, shared vision for the future direction of the city – set out in the Our Manchester Strategy for the next decade – and a strong platform from which to move forwards. This includes a high quality team, strong relationships with partner organisations and an established culture of ambition.

“We don’t shy away from the fact that there are still significant challenges ahead to connect all of Manchester’s communities with the opportunities being created here and I have no doubt that this will be right at the top of the new chief executive’s agenda.”

Joanne said: “Manchester is a confident and dynamic city and this in an exciting time for anyone to be joining Manchester City Council.

I’m honoured to be in line for this prestigious role and looking forward to building on the legacy created by Sir Howard and playing my part, alongside Sir Richard and the wider team, in shaping the next phase of Manchester and Greater Manchester’s journey.”

JENNIFER MEIN LEADER OF LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL County Councillor Jennifer Mein was elected Leader of Lancashire County Council in May 2013. Jennifer's political career started in 2005 when she was first elected to represent the Preston South East Division, and she subsequently served as the county council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.

As leader of the council, Jennifer also has specific responsibility for economic development.

She represents the council and the wider county on a number of significant partnership boards including Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, the shadow Combined Authority for Lancashire, and Transport for the North.

Jennifer is dedicated to helping create a prosperous Lancashire for residents and businesses, generate more jobs, grow the economy and increase the THE INFLUENCERS

number of apprenticeships across the county.

Supporting the most vulnerable in Lancashire is also one of her main missions and ensuring that against a backdrop of cuts in public spending some of our most needy residents in Lancashire continue to receive, as far as possible, the valued support they need.

She is passionate about making a difference to the lives of people in Lancashire and plays an influential role in working in partnership with other organisations across the county to help deliver more joined up public services.

Originally from the North East, Jennifer has lived in Lancashire with her family for more than 30 years. Before becoming a councillor she enjoyed a career working for BT and the Probation Service.

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RICHARD GREGORY DIRECTOR OF TECH NORTH Richard is perhaps best known for the 12 years he spent building up Latitude Digital Marketing where he served as their COO for 10 years and two years as the MD. He also co-founded the Search, Analytics & Social Conference (SAScon) that recently held its seventh annual event at Manchester Metropolitan University. This year’s event attracted futurist Robert Scoble to Manchester for his first ever visit to North West England. Richard was elected to the Manchester Digital Council in 2015 and is Chairman of Liverpool-based tech startup Ruler Analytics. The road to Tech North for Richard was a long one. He met with more than a dozen people spread out over nine meetings. We really wanted to get this appointment right and I think it’s safe to say Richard has been “vetted”.

DAVID BROWN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF TRANSPORT FOR THE NORTH David Brown, Chief Executive of Transport for the North (TfN), is a prominent leader in northern transport, with over 25 years’ experience in both the public and private sectors covering all modes of public transport.

As Chief Executive of TfN, David is responsible for transforming regional connectivity and driving economic growth in the region. He oversees the development of TfN, bringing together the northern transport authorities to allow the North to speak with a single voice on the big transport decisions which will benefit the region as a whole, driving growth and successfully securing its position as a true Northern Powerhouse.

David joined TfN from his post as Chief Executive/Director General at Merseytravel and Head of Paid Service of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA.) Prior to this David was Director General of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, where he led the development and delivery of a modern and economical integrated public transport system within the South Yorkshire City Region.

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TIM NEWNS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MIDAS Tim has been Chief Executive of MIDAS, Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency, since 2011, having originally joined MIDAS as Business Development Manager in 2005.

Over the 10 years Tim has been at MIDAS, Manchester has become the most invested in city in the UK outside London, with record results over the last 2 years.

Before joining MIDAS Tim worked in business development in the UK and then as a journalist with the Cape Argus newspaper in Cape Town and the Daily Times in Lahore, Pakistan before going on to work for the Commercial Department of the Foreign Office in India.

Tim studied Engineering and Business at the University of Newcastle, is a huge sports fan and has two children.

SAJID JAVID SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Sajid Javid joined the Conservative Party in 1988 and is the Member of Parliament for Bromsgrove and the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government.

Sajid was first elected Member of Parliament for Bromsgrove in May 2010, and was appointed a Privy Councillor by HM The Queen in 2014.

He attended state schools before winning a place at Exeter University to study Economics and Politics.

Before public service, he was a senior Managing Director with Deutsche Bank.

He is a Vice President of Bromsgrove Rugby Football Club.

TONY ATTARD FOUNDER & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF PANAZ LIMITED Tony is the founder and Group Chief Executive of Lancashire-based Panaz Limited, where he has spearheaded the design and technical advancement of flame retardant fabrics for the worldwide hospitality, leisure, cruise ship and healthcare sectors. Formed in 1986, the company today exports to 46 countries, operating worldwide through subsidiary companies in Europe and the USA and a global network of agents.

Under Tony Attard’s direction, Panaz has been presented with two Queen’s Awards, marking the company’s success in both Export Achievement and Enterprise.

However, Tony’s activities and interests extend far beyond the Burnley boardroom: he is currently a member of the Court of the Furniture Makers’ Guild and Charity, a member of the Manchester University Department of Material Science Industrial Advisory Group, he is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Fellow of the Institute of Directors, an Associate of the THE INFLUENCERS

Institute of Textiles and a Member of the Institute of Management. Tony has also received an Outstanding Alumnus award from Manchester University, where he began his career by winning a Courtaulds Scholarship to read for a BSc in Design Management. Other accolades have come from the Design Council and the DTI in recognition of his contribution to the contract furnishing industry worldwide.

A Freeman of the City of London, Tony Attard sits on the Board of Creative Lancashire, NWTexnet, the British Contract Furnishings Association. Tony is a past IoD Lancashire Director of the Year and former Chair for IoD North West region and is current Chair of a new start up called Alusid and Chair of Marketing Lancashire. Tony was made an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen in the 2010 New Year’s honours and has recently been appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire.

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ANDREW CORNISH CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF LIVERPOOL JOHN LENNON AIRPORT Andrew Cornish was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Liverpool John Lennon Airport on 15 September 2014, and is responsible for the overall performance, management and strategic development of the airport company.

Prior to his current role, Mr Cornish held the position of Chief Customer and Brand Officer at

Aer Lingus, responsible for all customer facing activity and a member of the Group Executive Board.

Mr Cornish previously held the position of Chief Executive at MDL, Europe's largest owner and operator of marinas, based in Southampton.

TOM RIORDAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF LEEDS CITY COUNCIL Tom took up the position of Chief Executive of Leeds City Council in August 2010. He is the youngest Chief Executive in the history of the council.

In Riordan’s first year Leeds set a new ambition to be the Best Council in the Best City in the UK and achieved over £50m of efficiency savings without reductions in front-line services.

They secured good quality assessments across adult social care, fostering, adoption and youth offending services and started building a state of the art Arena. An initiative to improve the insulation of thousands of households through the Wrap Up Leeds project in turn doubled the number of apprentices in the city. The Council also delivered a £60m independent living accommodation scheme for people with learning disabilities and have taken children’s services out of special measures.

Tom was born and educated in North Yorkshire and graduated from Trinity College, Oxford in 1989. He joined the Whitehall fast stream in 1990 and progressed quickly, specialising in environmental policy and representing the UK in international negotiations on climate change and endangered species.

Tom gained a first class Masters in Business Administration at Imperial College in 1997.

After setting up the Regional Development Agency Yorkshire Forward, he became its Chief Executive in 2006, supporting 10,000 businesses during the recession, completing award-winning regeneration developments and pioneering low carbon initiatives.

Tom has recently been involved in leading the Commission on the Future of Local Government and in helping to develop Leeds’ City Deal.

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STEVE T. JACKSON OBE FOUNDER OF RECYCLING LIVES

Steve was born in the city of Preston. Educated at Hutton Grammar, he left school at just 16 to take up his first full-time position within his father’s scrap metal company, where he gained a solid grounding in business sense and an ability to communicate well with a broad range of people. In 1995, Steve left his father’s business and launched his own Internet Service Provider and the first commercial UK domain name broker. His passion for personal vehicle registrations led him to incorporate New Reg Limited in 1996 and launch NewReg.com, which was the first online personalised registration company and one of the very first eCommerce sites in the UK. By the end of 1999, Steve was back in business with his Father, together forming Preston Recycling Limited.

For the next two years he took advantage of the dot-com boom and in 2002, he acquired a major share in Preston North End FC. He was instrumental in the reorganisation and streamlining of the club and was appointed CEO by the board. During his tenure, the club reached the championship play-off finals. However, in late 2005, Steve had been introduced to Terry Waite CBE, a meeting that was to change the course of his thinking forever. He quickly became involved in helping the homeless and in 2006 he was determined to use his skills and experience to help vulnerable people to change their lives. Steve resigned his position as CEO of Preston North End PLC. Steve began to work on a new kind of social impact project called Recycling Lives, which he describes as a “forth-sector model” that combines business acumen with social objectives to help disadvantaged people. Recycling Lives provides rehabilitation, temporary accommodation, training, education and work experience opportunities, and supports people to find permanent work and a home of their own. in 2016, Recycling Lives group turns over in excess of £35million, employs over 240 people, operates eight prison academies and a charity food redistribution facility, which feeds thousands of people every week. Steve insists that Recycling Lives always generates social value equal to or greater than the company’s EBITDA (Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization).

He has been recognised for his ability to devise and deliver, commercially viable enterprises with social and environmental benefits, including Honorary Fellow of UCLAN for his commitment to entrepreneurialism, twice winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development and in the 2013 New Year Honours List, Steve was awarded an OBE and more recently, in 2016 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Lancashire.

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RICHARD SLATER MANAGING DIRECTOR NORTHPOINT MEDIA GROUP

NEIL SNOWBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF WARWICKSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB Neil Snowball is the chief executive of Warwickshire County Cricket Club who provide world-class sports and conference facilities at Edgbaston Stadium.

Neil has had success leading the organisation of the 2015 Rugby World Cup and was also head of sport operations at the 2012 London Olympics with a key role on the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

Before joining LOCOG, he spent eight years as an executive director at global investment bank Goldman Sachs. He is a lifelong cricket fan and has been involved with Guildford Cricket Club for many years as a player, coach and administrator. In 2012, he was invited to be a member of the Surrey County Cricket Club Business Advisory Group and also served on the Surrey Championship committee.

AIDAN KEHOE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF ROYAL LIVERPOOL BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS

Richard has worked in the media since 1989 and now leads the Northpoint Media Group of businesses.

of campaigns for clients. The agency was shortlisted at the Northern Marketing Awards for a health campaign.

These include Northpoint Publishing, Fettle Events and Limitless PR & Marketing.

In addition, Richard is a regular event speaker, chair and host; and contributor in the media, mainly on issues relating to business in Lancashire.

The publishing arm’s flagship title is Lancashire Business View which was founded in 2005. With a circulation of 9,000, the magazine blends features, advice, opinion and news. Its online counterpart has a focus on news and events.

Fettle Events delivers around 40 corporate events annually, operating as an in-house team for Lancashire Business View and as an outsourced team for external clients.

Events range from intimate discussions and debates to seminars, conferences, exhibitions, dinners and awards including the national awardwinning Red Rose Awards which has attracted more than 1,100 guests in each of the last three years.

Limitless PR & Marketing is a full-service marketing agency which draws on the expertise of associates and partner agencies to deliver a variety

Aidan joined the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust as chief executive in November 2012 from his position as chief executive at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.

He then gained a number of management positions at Rampton Hospital Trust, University Hospitals Birmingham Foundation Trust and Salford Royal Foundation Trust.

Since joining the Trust, Aidan has been involved in a number of projects including the exciting new Royal Liverpool University Hospital development and the Life Sciences Accelerator which forms part of the city’s evolving Health Campus in the Knowledge Quarter.

In 2004, he joined Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and was later appointed chief executive in 2009.

Aidan has also contributed towards a number of fundraising challenges as part of R Charity’s £10m Appeal, including serving up Scouse at R House to staff and patients, a dip in the Irish Sea on New Year’s Day. More recently he completed a personal test of endurance alongside some of his colleagues by trekking through the Borneo rainforest.

Aidan has worked in the NHS for over 20 years and began his NHS career as a management trainee at Salisbury District Hospital.

Away from his own businesses, Richard is an experienced non-executive director. He was appointed to the board of East Lancashire NHS Health Trust in 2015 and chairs the serious incidents sub-committee and the complaints review panel.

He previously served on the boards of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and charity Curious Minds.

In his earlier career, Richard worked as a journalist for the Lancashire Telegraph and as a sports correspondent for the Independent and the Independent on Sunday. He has also had stints in the education sector and the music industry.

Richard has a passion for music and plays guitar for community band Blowjangles and anyone else who will let him join in!

Aidan is a qualified as a Chartered Accountant and spent six years working for KPMG. He is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

Originally from Liverpool he is a dedicated Liverpool football club supporter, and has been since getting his first season ticket 40 years ago.

If your business is interested in getting involved in supporting this incredible new development, please contact Lauren Davies at RCharity. email lauren.davies2@rlbuht.nhs.uk or telephone 0151 357 3153.

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STEVE ROTHERAM MP LABOUR CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR OF LIVERPOOL

The Walton MP is best known for his work on the Hillsborough campaign. Now, the former Liverpool City Councillor, ex- Lord Mayor and the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, wants to be the main man on Merseyside. Having defeated Liverpool’s elected mayor Joe Anderson in a closely fought Labour selection contest back in the summer, Rotheram is odds-on favourite to become the

city regions first ‘metro mayor’ in May. His challenges will include overcoming an unfair perception among some that he is a Corbynista; building bridges with mayor Anderson and some other local council leaders across the Mersey region; and quickly establishing a distinctive agenda that marks him out from what has gone before, and indeed is being progressed, by the existing Combined Authority chaired by – Joe Anderson.

ROGER MARSH CHAIR OF LEEDS LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP BOARD Roger is the former senior partner of PWC. He chairs the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and sits as a member on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. As chair of the LEP he secured the country’s largest growth deal settlement and brought £1 billion investment into the region. A strong and respected private sector voice within the corridors of power regionally and nationally, Marsh could be a key figure as Leeds continues to negotiate its devolution deal with George Osborne and co. His accountancy background aside, Roger has a keen interest in transport strategy – another crucial policy plank if the ambitions of the Northern Powerhouse are to be achieved.

GEORGE OSBORNE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR TATTON The former chancellor may have been dispatched to the backbenchers of the House of Commons by new Prime Minister Teresa May; but don’t write off George Osborne just yet. The EU referendum interrupted his career and that of next-door neighbour and mate Dave back in June. However, his establishment of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership think tank, which involves a host of big businesses and Lord Jim O’ Neil, has demonstrated very clearly to anyone who may have been in doubt that George Osborne sees himself on extended leave from high political office, rather than in permanent exile. Watch his new vehicle make much noise in 2017 – Tatton MP Mr Osborne will not be out of the spotlight for long.

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DAVID TAYLOR CBE CHAIRMAN FOR ROCKPOOLS PEOPLE AND PERFORMANCE LTD, ENERGY 10 LTD, ALLIED LIGHTING LTD, AND DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF PRESTON NORTH END FC.

David has built a reputation as a national expert in urban regeneration and more recently in green technologies.

He studied and qualified in architecture and urban planning.

David has lived and worked in Lancashire for over thirty years.

He helped to establish, and became Managing Director of Lancashire Enterprises Limited (now Enterprise plc). He then had a period as Managing Director of Amec Developments Limited working on projects worldwide.

He was head hunted in 1992 to become the first Chief Executive of English Partnerships (now The Homes and Communities Agency).

MARK ROGERS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE, WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY

Mark’s feet have probably not touched the ground since he joined Birmingham City Council in the spring of 2014. Along with the key strategic issues you would expect Chief Executives to deal with on a daily basis, Mark is driving through huge improvement programmes for children’s safeguarding, education and how the council governs itself as a whole, as set out by the Kerslake Review and the Birmingham Independent Improvement Panel (BIIP). All three of these require high levels of engagement with partners and central Government as does the forming of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), where Mark has also played an instrumental role leading on deal negotiations.

A former special school head teacher, Mark has specialised in children’s services in local government and joined Birmingham from Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, where he had held the joint roles of Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services since 2007. Mark is also the current president of the Solace Group, which represents Chief Executives and senior managers working in the public sector in the UK.

In joint venture with British Land plc and a number of other major partners David was the developer of a range of schemes in London which delivered residential, commercial, leisure and retail facilities with an end value of £2 billion. Over the last fifteen years he has built up a portfolio of companies which include Parking Eye Limited, Allied Lighting (LED), Carbon Numbers (Carbon Analysis), Endo Enterprises (Green Water Treatment systems), iHandover

(Senior Executive Knowledge Transfer) and Standard Gas Ltd (Waste to Green Energy).

He acted as Special Advisor to The Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott for eighteen months from 1997 with specific responsibility for the Regional White Paper and the setting up of Regional Development Agencies. He also chaired a major regeneration trust for The Prince Of Wales from 1997 until 2003 spending three years on the Princes Foundation.

In terms of David’s pro bono work he was a director of Manchester’s hugely successful Commonwealth games, a director of the London 2012 Olympics and he has recently become the Chairman of The University of Central Lancashire. In addition, over the last twenty years he has served as a director of Preston North End for most of that time as Deputy Chairman.

David was awarded a CBE in 2007 for his services to the community of Lancashire and, became a Deputy Lieutenant in 2015.

NEIL RAMI, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, MARKETING BIRMINGHAM Supported by some 400 local companies, local universities, Birmingham City Council and the EU, Marketing Birmingham has responsibility for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and growing the city’s visitor economy. In the past seven years, Birmingham has created more jobs from FDI than any UK regional city.

Having held similar senior management roles in Newcastle and Liverpool, Neil

has presented nationally and internationally on the themes of city marketing and inward investment.

Neil is a Board member of Birmingham Science City and the British Industry Tourism Group. He is also a member of the University of Birmingham Court and a Governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company and a member of its Nominations Committee.

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SIR RICHARD LEESE LEADER OF MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL

Richard was born, brought up and went to school in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. After graduating from the University of Warwick, he worked as a teacher in Coventry and as an exchange teacher in the USA before moving to Manchester to take up a post as a youth worker which included educational research.

He was elected to the City Council in 1984 and became Deputy Leader from 1990 to 1996 having previously chaired the Education Committee (1986-90) and Finance Committee (1990-95).

Political interests include the links between economic development and social policy, developing open democracy and the community leadership role of local authorities; and the role of cities in creating a sustainable future.

Richard is heavily involved in regeneration activity including being on the board of the Central Salford Urban Regeneration Company.

He is chair of Manchester Airport Group Shareholders Committee, Deputy Leader of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Chair of the Regional Leaders’ Board (RLB).

BEVERLEY NIELSEN LIB DEM CANDIDATE FOR WEST MIDLANDS MAYOR Beverley Nielsen is the Liberal Democrat candidate for the new role of West Midlands Mayor, with a public vote for the powerful position in May 2017.

Beverley, a former director of CBI West Midlands and chief executive at the Heart of England Tourist Board, was most recently Executive Director and Associate Professor at Birmingham City University.

She has also acted as ‘sector champion’ for GBSLEP (Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership) in the ‘New Maker Economy’ and the driving force for the ‘Birmingham Made Me’ expos and debates, which celebrate the city’s rich design and manufacturing heritage.

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THE BIG BLACK BOOK

AN INTERVIEW WITH OTHMAN MOQBEL

Human Appeal are a humanitarian aid NGO based in Cheadle, Stockport. Human Appeal work in 25 countries across the globe, including the UK, giving emergency aid, sustainable development, income generation and water, sanitation and hygiene projects to the world’s poorest people.

Human Appeal was set up in 1991 by a group of Manchester University students who saw the drought ravaging East Africa and made the decision to go over to Sudan with emergency aid for those in need and set up an ambitious programme to sponsor 20 orphans. From there Human Appeal was born (to celebrate Human Appeal’s 25th anniversary this year, they caught up with four of the original 20 orphans, one of whom has gone on to become a leading doctor in Sudan). Originally established in a one bedroom student flat in Manchester, the charity today recieves annual donations of over £30million has grown.

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Human Appeal is one of the leading providers of food to displaced people in Syria and is used by international organisations such as the UN and the World Food Programme to deliver aid to areas of the war-torn country which other NGOs cannot access. As well as working across the globe, they also provide aid to people here in the UK. This winter, in a pledge to get the public to donate unwanted coats for people on the streets of Greater Manchester, they collected over 1,500 items of clothing and last Christmas they helped flood victims in Cumbria to fix their homes. Prince Charles’s charity Mosaic have also chosen them to help mentor future generations.

Downtown In Business took time out to chat about the charity’s amazing success with Othman Moqbel who, since becoming Human Appeal’s CEO five years ago, has overseen them becoming one of the fastest growing charities in the UK – with their annual donations growing by 600% since he took over.

SPONSOR FEATURE: HUMAN APPEAL

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You are known as one of the leading providers of international aid, is all of your work done overseas?

No. We work in 25 countries across the world, tackling humanitarian crises wherever we find them, one of which is right here on our doorstep. We are based in Greater Manchester and anyone who works here will tell you that homelessness is visibly on the rise. What sort of humanitarian aid organisation would we be if we were to ignore the plight of people sleeping on our streets?

Do you just provide food to people in need?

Not at all, we provide food and non-food items in emergency situations for those in desperate circumstances, but outside of conflict and disaster zones we also provide income generation projects. A good example of this are projects where we provide people in places like Pakistan, Bangladesh or Palestine with the equipment and training to farm chickens, to keep bees and sell their honey or to start their own business. We believe in not just helping people in poverty, but helping people out of poverty. We also implement projects that improve the access to clean water in places where it is in short supply and we help ensure areas susceptible to drought are more drought-resistant.

Human Appeal has been praised for being able to access areas of Syria to distribute aid that most other charities cannot get to, how are you able to achieve this?

Unfortunately the conflict in Syria has made it much too dangerous for people who aren’t Syrian to be there. Human Appeal believes in utilising local partners and networks, so that aid gets to exactly where it is needed most – because of this we have a great network within Syria so we can get food and other aid to crucial areas. It speaks volumes about our effectiveness that major international organisations like UNOCHA and The World Food Programme entrust us to deliver their aid in Syria. It’s also because of our great network of contacts in Syria that we were able to be one of the first NGOs on the ground when the conflict erupted five years ago.

Do you ever lose hope?

Never. Not only do I believe that it’s a hope of a better tomorrow that drives my work, but it’s essential that I make sure everyone at Human Appeal shares and truly believes that a better future is achievable and, most importantly, we makes sure that everyone we help can hope for a life liberated from poverty and disaster.

SPONSOR FEATURE: HUMAN APPEAL

What are the biggest challenges facing humanitarian aid organisations today?

I believe our biggest challenge is currently the entire world’s biggest challenge. We are moving into a world where less-andless people are cooperating or working with people different to them. I believe that in all sectors, especially ours, the best results are achieved by working with others. That is why I am so honoured for Human Appeal to have partnered with organisations like UNOCHA, Unicef, The World Health Organisation, The World Food Programme and Red Cross.

What are you most proud of?

How much I have been able to help Human Appeal grow. When I first took over we were only receiving £5million a year in donations. Five years later and we are now receiving £30million. We are one of the fastest growing charities in the UK and are able to help millions more in need every year.

How does Human Appeal’s supporter base grow day-after-day when, throughout the rest of the third sector, reports show public trust in charities is lower than ever?

Transparency. At Human Appeal we are keen to make sure all of our work is as open as possible and that we keep all admin costs to an absolute minimum. We don’t just fight against poverty, we fight against wasteful decision making.

With Human Appeal doing work that changes lives so dramatically, do you get any political support?

Human Appeal is a politically neutral organisation and, despite this, we are blessed to have support from all of the UK’s main political parties. Our work has been endorsed by the former Conservative International Development Minister, Andrew Mitchell, Labour’s Greater Manchester Mayoral Candidate, Andy Burnham, the SNP Deputy Leader, Angus Robertson and the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Mark Williams.

What message would you give others trying to follow in your footsteps and make a better world?

Never forget who you are doing this for and never allow barriers to come between you and those you are helping.

What is the long term goal of Human Appeal?

I hope that Human Appeal goes out of business. That may not be the answer you were expecting, but I want to live in a world where there is no need for humanitarian aid, where sustainability reigns and poverty has become extinct.

Carrs Rd, Manchester SK8 2BL donate.humanappeal.org.uk 0161 225 0225

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THE PROFESSIONALS The women and men who stand out from the crowd in the professional service sectors.

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THE LIST: THE PROFESSIONALS

HILENE HENRY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF WILSON HENRY LLP Hilene Henry is a Chartered Accountant and CEO of awardwinning Liverpool-based Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors, Wilson Henry LLP. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1983 with a national firm she joined the local office of a Big 4 firm to help establish their small business department and during this time she developed her advisory skills with particular emphasis on helping owner managed businesses. Hilene then moved to London and joined a 10 partner firm. After a five year stint away from her home town, the lure of a resurgent Liverpool saw her return to her roots to join the family firm, which her father founded.

Hilene has been responsible for development of the firm’s strategy for growth and development of the business. Over the past 25 years Hilene has been instrumental in taking the firm from less than 10 people to its current 30 with a fivefold increase in fee income – all achieved from organic growth.

The accounting industry has gone through rapid change and is set to continue with technology playing a key part. Recognising the

AMARDEEP GILL PARTNER AT TROWERS & HAMLINS LLP Amardeep Gill is a Partner and Head of the Birmingham office at international law firm Trowers & Hamlins. With a career spanning 15 years, Amardeep is nationally recognised as a specialist in advising clients on commercial joint ventures, outsourcings, strategic partnerships and large scale public sector infrastructure and service contracts. Amardeep is involved in a number of initiatives shaping the business landscape in Birmingham and across the Midlands. He is currently a board member of the Colmore Business District, a governor at an all-

THE PROFESSIONALS

through school and Birmingham Metropolitan College.

Amardeep has advised on complex large scale projects across a range of sectors including education, regeneration, outsourcing, leisure, aviation and housing. He is also actively involved in the Smart Cities agenda and assisting clients on the impact of the devolution agreements currently being agreed.

fundamental importance of people development in driving through change, she has been instrumental in The Wilson Henry obtaining Gold Standard IIP accreditation – unique to the region for such a firm. Hilene is also a qualified trained trainer with Dale Carnegie. She has excellent motivational, presentational and communication skills.

As an SME business advisor Hilene brings with her an empathy toward the smaller business and over 30 years’ experience of this sector. She is a passionate champion of SME businesses. The firm’s strapline Beyond the Numbers - illustrates the firm’s passion for exceeding expectations; focusing on the tomorrow rather than the yesterday and helping clients develop so they focus on the strategic non-financial as well as the financial metrics in the business.

Hilene is married and lives in Merseyside. Outside of work she is a recent addition to the Liverpool City Community College board and her interests include Liverpool FC, skiing, world travel and reading management development books.

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MARTIN JENKINS PRACTICE SENIOR PARTNER AT DELOITTE YORKSHIRE & NORTH EAST

PAULINE RIGBY PARTNER AT FORBES SOLICITORS

Pauline heads up the Corporate & Restructuring team at Forbes Solicitors based in their Central Lancashire Office and handles a wide range of corporate and commercial work right from business start ups through to acting for businesses that are expanding, organically or acquisitively, or selling up. More specifically those areas include formation, banking, joint ventures, contractual matters, equity fundraisings and investments, re-organisations and restructurings, disposals and mergers and acquisitions. Pauline acts for a wide range of clients including public companies, owner managed businesses, banks and financial institutions, shareholders, investors and management teams and is often requested by clients to become actively involved in strategic decisions concerning their growth and exit plans.

Pauline has also developed and is known for her experience in assisting clients and Insolvency Practitioners in insolvency matters.

In particular she specialises in acting on behalf of businesses and Insolvency Practitioners when buying or selling businesses in distress and/or restructuring.

Pauline also assists a number of Lending Institutions on a broad range of matters including drafting and negotiating banking documentation and carrying out and reviewing legal due diligence and structure documents on mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructures.

The specific sectors that Pauline has experience within include high street health, manufacturing and engineering, the leisure sector and the pharmaceutical industry.

Pauline has won numerous awards for her contribution to the Lancashire corporate market and has been noted as ‘first rate’ within the Legal 500 2016.

Martin is the Practice Senior Partner for Deloitte in Yorkshire & the North East leading a business of 39 partners and 670 people. He has 26 years’ experience with the firm and has specialised in corporate finance for the past 23 years. During that time he has worked with a wide range of businesses large and small across the private and the public markets providing advice on both domestic and international M&A, fundraising and business and financial strategy.

Martin has advised many leading companies from the FTSE 100 through to privately owned and private equity backed businesses.

He has also worked with many private equity and other financial institutions managing funds from £250 million to in excess of £5 billion. Martin remains one of the most active M&A advisors in the regional market and has a track record of supporting the development of businesses over the long term.

GARETH MATTHEWS ASSOCIATE SOLICITOR AT MLP LAW Gareth is MLP Law’s Associate Solicitor specialising in Employment Law. He primarily advises businesses in relation to employment law and HR issues affecting their business.

Gareth provides his clients with advice which takes into account the commercial realities of their business and the industries in which they operate and work closely with them to identify practical solutions to the employment issues they face. This includes high level strategic advice, such as business restructures or takeovers, as well as resolving absence and performance concerns, disciplinary matters or grievances concerning their employees. He advises clients

across a range of industries but has specific sector expertise in relation to the retail, hospitality, construction and manufacturing industries.

Gareth also has considerable experience advising individuals in relation to workplace issues they may have with their employers and advises and represents businesses and individuals at all stages of the employment tribunal process.

Gareth provides training to clients and organisations on a variety of key employment areas, such as absence management, conducting disciplinary or grievance processes and employment law updates.

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SARAH NOLAN HEAD OF COMMERCIAL & EMPLOYMENT LAW AT JACKSON CANTER During her 14 years in private practice, Sarah has advised in a variety of cases ranging from complex and high-value commercial and employment disputes to the longest running, and arguably the most high profile inquests in British history – the Hillsborough Disaster inquests in which the team represented 20 of the bereaved families.

The Commercial & Employment Team has grown steadily since Sarah took over in October 2015. Whilst Sarah’s personal expertise lies mainly in contentious commercial matters, the team now boasts a number of talented lawyers who between them can advise in all areas of commercial and employment law to include commercial property.

Through organic growth and the recent acquisition of Lees Solicitors, The Jackson Canter Group is now one of the fastest growing law firms in the region.

PAUL BASSI CBE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF REAL ESTATE INVESTORS Paul Bassi started his business career in 1983, initially in financial services, branching out into estate agency in 1987 and property investment in 1989.

Paul is Chief Executive of Real Estate Investors plc, the AIM-listed property investment company with interests in commercial and residential properties throughout the Midlands and UK. He is the non-executive chairman of commercial property businesses Bond Wolfe and CPBigwood and was the former Regional Chairman of Coutts Bank in the West Midlands.

PAULINE MCNAMARA HEAD OF PRACTICE AT PMC FAMILY LAW Pauline McNamara is Head of Practice at PMC Family, having previously headed up DWF’s Family team, with over 30 years’ experience dealing with the most complex aspects of law. This includes multimillion pound financial settlements, cohabitation disputes and issues relating to children upon the breakdown of a relationship.

Pauline is acknowledged as having a particularly tenacious and forensic approach with an analytical attention for detail. She has built a strong rapport with clients and her approachability never fails to

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bring recommendations and referrals on a weekly basis.

More importantly she loves the work that she does and her compassion has meant that she continues to be one of the most highly recognised solicitors in the legal profession. Pauline is attracting an increasingly global client base.

Pauline is a member of the Family Law Specialist Panel and an accredited member of the Law Society. She also supports the Melanie Beattie Appeal fund fundraising for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity and Jospice.

A past President of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, he is also a former director of Birmingham Hippodrome.

In 2003 he was named Entrepreneur of the Year in the Asian Jewel Awards, and was awarded the Lloyds TSB Lifetime Achievement in 2005.

Paul was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for the County of West Midlands in 2008, and his contribution to business in the Midlands region was recognised with his appointment

by Buckingham Palace, as High Sheriff for the County of West Midlands for 2009.

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JOHN CHESWORTH MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HARRISON DRURY John Chesworth has been managing director of Harrison Drury solicitors since 2007, during which time he has overseen the firm’s impressive transformation from a small traditional law firm to a forward thinking regional player with clients across the UK. In the last six years, the firm has grown from one office and 16 staff, to five North West offices and 87 employees, becoming one of the leading firms in Lancashire and Cumbria.

Central to Harrison Drury’s growth has been its determination to grow its commercial offering, particularly its property & construction and corporate expertise, and its ability to attract some of the best lawyers in the region to its ranks.

The firm has also focused on becoming genuine experts in a range of business sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, energy, leisure and banking and financial services. The firm represents the full spectrum of businesses, from owner managed firms and SMEs, to blue-chip companies operating internationally.

engagement.

As well as overseeing the strategic growth of Harrison Drury, John also heads up the firm’s dispute resolution team and is a member of the Property Litigation Association.

He is branch secretary of the Forum for the Built Environment (FBE) and also a cofounder of the Winckley Square Community Interest Company which has overseen the £1.2m restoration of the Georgian gardens in the heart of Preston. His philanthropic interests also see him sit as a trustee of St Catherine’s Hospice in Lancashire.

John plays an active part in the running of Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Football Club following his retirement from rugby after 13 seasons playing for the First XV. In order to stave off the effects of middle age, he has also completed a number of triathlons including the gruelling Ironman UK challenge.

KEVIN O’CONNOR REGIONAL MANAGING PARTNER AT RSM Kevin is the regional managing partner for the Yorkshire and North East region and oversees a £35m business in the region covering Leeds, Hull and Newcastle. He sits on the national management team of the firm. He also has been advising businesses on their tax affairs for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience in all aspects of business tax. He has particular expertise in advising on the tax aspects of corporate restructuring.

John heads up Harrison Drury’s membership of The Alliott Group, a global alliance of professional firms, which sees John share best practice with other legal firms from around the world.

Under John’s stewardship, the firm has also instilled a ‘people first’ culture, aiming to have excellent levels of employee engagement and attract some of the best legal talent in the region. The company was named in the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work For in 2016 as a result of its approach to employee

MARTIN BLOOR SOLICITOR AT BRABNERS LLP Martin’s work ranges from dealing with lettings of a wide range of premises on both long and short term-leases as well as acquisitions and disposals of both individual premises and larger property portfolios. His experience also includes working on property development projects and real estate due diligence relating to corporate acquisitions for both publicly and privately listed companies. Martin is a real estate solicitor based in our Manchester office. Martin works with investors, off-shore companies and domestically-based real estate specialist corporates. He has also worked with a number of public-sector bodies, public and private limited companies and high net worth individuals with particular real estate interests.

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MARK TAYLOR MANAGING PARTNER OF RSM BIRMINGHAM Mark is Managing Partner of RSM’s Birmingham office and also has wider responsibility for the Central region (which includes RSM’s offices in the East Midlands, Milton Keynes and East Anglia). Mark’s background is as a Consulting partner focused on helping clients to improve performance in their business processes and manage organisational change. Mark works with a wide spectrum of organisations – ranging from SMEs to large, listed multinationals but with a particular focus on the middle market.

Mark began his career in supply chain management with Sainsbury’s Supermarkets and has worked previously with EY. He joined the firm in 2003 and became a partner in 2007.

Between 2011 and 2016, Mark was at the forefront of building our Consulting business from a London base. Mark took on his current role in spring 2016.

Mark holds an MBA from Warwick Business School (WBS) and is currently the Lead Ambassador of WBS’s Strategy and Consulting Professional Network.

CAROLINE JAMES MANAGING DIRECTOR OF TREVOR DAWSON LIMITED Caroline’s career started in private practice in Manchester in 1983, qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor in 1985. In 1988 she was appointed as a Development Surveyor at the construction giant AMEC. This was a great experience which led her to specialise in development and managing a project team.

Since joining Trevor Dawson as a partner in 1990 the firm has acted for a range of developers and individuals in bringing forward development in all sectors from site appraisal, acquisition, planning, development, sales, lettings and management.

As Managing Director business generation and retention is her priority. She specialises in identifying opportunities for development, agency, rent review and lease renewal.

JACQUI TIMMINS PARTNER AT PINSENT MASONS Jacqui is a partner based at Pinsent Masons Leeds office and specialising in pensions law. She leads national multi-discipline teams to deliver top quality service on big ticket pensions projects.

SIMON TAYLOR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF REICH INSURANCE Simon joined Reich Insurance in May 2002. Just after 9/11, this was a particularly difficult time for insurance brokers as they were in the midst of the hardest insurance market for decades and busy preparing for authorisation to trade by Reich Insurance’s new regulator, the Financial Services Authority. Simon, a qualified Chartered Loss Adjuster, was formerly a Board Director of McLarens, at the time the UK's leading firm of Chartered Loss Adjusters. He brought to the Partnership superb relationships at a high level with the UK's leading insurers, coupled with substantial expertise in the claims arena and a specialism in building client programmes

THE PROFESSIONALS

Jacqui advises UK and multinational listed companies and private businesses in relation to UK occupational pension schemes. Her expertise spans corporate transactional work including corporate takeovers, scheme liability management exercises, scheme funding and scheme mergers. Jacqui also advises trustees of UK occupational pension schemes in relation to their legal powers, duties and obligations. Jacqui acts for a long-standing portfolio of some of the region’s biggest schemes and employers.

Jacqui is recognised by legal directories as a leading individual and is recognised more generally by the market for her experience and expertise in pensions law. Chambers UK 2015 commends her ability to think “strategically how to solve issues and is very good tactically."

Pinsent Masons is a global 100 law firm, specialising particularly in the energy, infrastructure, financial services, real estate and advanced manufacturing and technology sectors.

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LAURA JONES CHARTERED FINANCIAL PLANNER AT ASTUTE WEALTH MANAGEMENT Laura Jones has worked in Financial Services for twelve years and, prior to becoming a Financial Adviser, she worked for a large corporate organisation promoting products to other financial advisory firms. This gave her a strong knowledge of the different types of advisory business across the country from banks to one person bands. In an industry that has traditionally been driven by sales Laura had a strong desire to provide a truly exceptional, highly technical, professional service that would be driven by the desire to help and enhance the life of the client through effective planning.

Laura holds Chartered Financial Planning Status, which is the level of qualification seen as the ultimate symbol of professionalism and knowledge

within the Financial Planning industry. She also holds advanced qualifications that allow her to act as the Pension Specialist within Astute Wealth Management Ltd. Astute as a firm have been listed as one of the Top 100 Financial Planning Businesses in the country by New Model Advisor for four years running.

Since joining Astute Laura has taken great delight in being able to help people to achieve their dreams and support clients through some of the hardest times they will experience in life - particularly the death of loved ones. She describes her motivation to be a financial planner is driven purely by her “desire to help people have the best life they can have”.

PAUL BIBBY MANAGING PARTNER OF MSB SOLICITORS Paul Bibby is managing partner of North West law firm MSB Solicitors, who have three offices based in Liverpool – including newly relocated city centre headquarters at no4 St. Paul’s Square in the heart of the city’s commercial district.

MSB is a full service practice offering services and advice on a range of matters from Residential and Commercial property, Commercial litigation, Family, Wills and Probate, Personal injury and Serious Fraud. This year, the firm ranked top in the city region for crime in the Legal 500 and were praised for their ‘bright and hardworking lawyers’ and ‘razor-sharp’ leadership from partner Sean Sexton, who co-founded MSB with Paul in 1988.

Paul Bibby’s approach to effective leadership is to value your team and make them a part of your vision for the future, saying: “By bringing your staff into the picture, encouraging their personal and professional development and making them feel valued you can build and army of your keenest ambassadors.

“Earlier this year we took on our 100th employee having never in our history made a member of staff redundant and our recruitment plans show no sign of slowing down.

“This extends to our clients too. Keeping good relationships and being great at what we do has helped us to forge a network of loyal clients and strategic partners who have supported us as we have grown. Of that, I am immensely proud.”

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ROB GROVES REGIONAL DIRECTOR AT ARGENT

As the driving force behind a scheme considered to be the most important city centre development outside London, Rob Groves is at the heart of Birmingham’s renaissance.

On behalf of the joint venture, Rob is responsible for leading the planning, land acquisition, design, construction and commercial negotiations for Paradise.

Rob, Regional Director with award-winning developer Argent, leads the Birmingham office and heads up the £500 million Paradise redevelopment in the cultural and civic centre of Birmingham.

Rob has over 30 years of planning, design and construction experience. Prior to joining Argent in 2007 he was an Equity Partner at a large multi-disciplinary consulting engineer practice and his experience includes mixed use residential, commercial, industrial schemes as well as major public sector infrastructure.

The Paradise scheme is being delivered through a public/private sector partnership with Argent working as Development Manager. It is a complex city centre scheme, creating a vibrant, office-led development of high quality commercial, civic, retail, leisure and hotel space, providing major improvements to pedestrian access across the city and offering greatly enhanced public realm befitting its exemplary historic setting.

The first phase has seen major changes to the city’s inner ring road and extensive demolition to clear the site for ten new buildings and open up the connectivity across the city. The buildings will provide high quality new offices with ground floor restaurants, shops, cafes and bars, all set within new pedestrianised streets and squares including a completely refurbished Chamberlain Square at the heart of the development.

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Rob has led major development schemes from feasibility through to planning, compulsory purchase, including expert witness work, detailed design, construction and commercials and has considerable experience in delivering public/private sector schemes.

Construction of the first two Paradise buildings One and Two Chamberlain Square, will complete in 2018 and 2019 respectively, with PwC set to relocate its 1,400 strong Birmingham team to One Chamberlain Square in early 2019.

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CRAIG FISHWICK DIRECTOR OF MAYES BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP LTD JULIE MOGAN REGIONAL DIRECTOR AT EXCELLO LAW Julie is a corporate lawyer with 25 plus years’ experience in her field .She is also Regional Director of National law firm, Excello Law with responsibility for growing the firm in the North West and raising regional awareness of this National brand .Due to its vibrant and flexible business model, Excello is attracting highly respected lawyers from commercial law firms all over the North West.

Julie was born and educated in Liverpool and is passionate about retaining and increasing skills sets and investment in the Liverpool City Region. Her legal career started in corporate finance at Chaffe Street in Manchester which firm subsequently merged with Brabners. Julie went on from there to build a successful commercial practice at an large Cheshire Law firm where she became the first female equity partner in 150 years of that firm’s trading . In 2008 she was one of the founders of Chester law firm DTM legal , leaving that firm in 2104 to pursue her vision of delivering commercial law in a less traditional manner.

Excello Law is described by Julie as a “disruptive” business model – challenging the established law firm structure by freeing senior lawyers from the restrictions of partner politics, financial targets and rigid management structures thus allowing them flexibility in their own working lives and in their approach to delivery of client service.

Craig Fishwick is the newly appointed Director of Mayes Business Partnership Limited, a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants based in Accrington who have been around since the 1970’s.

2016 has seen a massive change for Craig as he has taken the decision to move practices after 16 years. The culture and way of working is tremendously different and forward thinking which is exactly what he needed to be part of.

In the months since the move, many retained clients have experienced growth within their own businesses and taken advantage of services Craig can now offer. New client wins and new networking opportunities have expanded both the practice’s client portfolio and the opportunity to win new business in the months and years ahead. Growing the reputation of Mayes and being out there in the business community is key to their plans for the next year and beyond.

A unique tool of theirs helps clients achieve their growth plans called Business One Page Plan (or BOPP). This is a goals based, single page business plan that includes the owners’ personal goals as well as business objectives. Working through specific Key Predictive Indicators of a business, they deliver 1-2-1 coaching alongside it to structure a plan and achieve those goals in a timely manner.

PAUL CHEETHAM-KARCZ MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SEDULO GROUP Paul started Sedulo with a business partner in 2005 before going it alone in 2009 with the launch of Sedulo Group.

Although he is a qualified accountant, his skills are more than just number crunching. His experience in building, buying and selling companies means he looks at businesses through the eyes of an entrepreneur and sees the potential growth of a business throughout their entire lifetime.

He was also on the management team of Just Search Limited, before advising on its disposal in a deal worth £14m and was a board member of Online Group AB, a company listed on the NASDAQ OMX First North in Stockholm, which had a market cap of circa £70m at the point of Paul’s exit. He is also the proud Chair of children’s respite charity, Once Upon A Smile.

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EVERTON HOSPITALITY WORDS BY TOM WOOLLEY

In the last issue of DQ I posed the question of how a business ensures it is receiving a strong ROI in allocating an entertaining budget, given that corporate hospitality can pose a significant cost for businesses.

To answer this question, I attended one of the top corporate hospitality offerings available, the 1878 suite at Goodison Park, home to Everton Football Club for the final game of the season and met with Head of Hospitality, Oliver Wright.

At the time Everton were in the middle of a push to sell hospitality memberships, so I was keen to see whether uptake had matched the expected level, and whether the city still had a strong appetite for corporate entertaining?

In short: yes!

Improvements to the packages on offer, along with a price freeze and renewed confidence due to a new manager and owner at the Club, has led to higher than average renewals and new customers, taking last year’s 1200 executive members up to a 1349 capacity. The success has led to the Club selling external hospitality packages with city centre partners.

A significant waiting list has already been compiled for the 2017/18 season.

This clearly creates a problem nice problem to have) with match hospitality only available via sponsorship packages, big ticket Oliver and his team to sell.

(albeit a by match premium items for

The last time we met, Oliver told me that the greatest benefit to customers is so often the time they are able to spend with clients outside

SPONSOR FEATURE: EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB

of the office to allow companies and individuals time with their key customers to build valuable business relationships.

Sponsorships packages have been developed to allow an organisation to take a group of 6-16 clients to experience the award-winning hospitality on offer, whilst advertising before an average 38,000 crowd and TV audience running into the millions. Sponsors can even hand deliver the match ball to the match referee on the pitch, guaranteeing an unforgettable experience for guests.

With a range of corporate hospitality offerings available throughout the region, my meeting with Oliver confirms what the research Downtown have carried out had suggested: corporate entertaining will always be of great value in building and maintaining strong relationships with new and existing customers, and the resultant sales will always provide a sound return on investment.

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THE WINNERS ABERFIELD THE AWARD WINNING LEEDS PR AGENCY // JAS SANSI AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER ON WHY HIS CITY IS GOING PLACES // FINEST IN BUSINESS, DOWNTOWN WINS CORPORATE VISION ACCOLADE // WOMEN IN BUSINESS LIVERPOOL // CITY OF LIVERPOOL BUSINESS AWARDS // WORK HARD PLAY HARD AWARDS // CITY OF MANCHESTER BUSINESS AWARDS // LANCASHIRE BUSINESS AWARDS // WOMEN IN BUSINESS LANCASHIRE // LIVERCOOL // AWARD WINNING START-UP ONEHR

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ABERFIELD SCOOPS FIVE AWARDS AND IS NAMED CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR Aberfield Communications has scooped five awards and been named Outstanding Consultancy of the Year at the 2016 Yorkshire and Lincolnshire CIPR PRide Awards.

More than 200 practitioners gathered at The Queens hotel in Leeds for the region’s annual celebration of outstanding PR practice on 17th November.

Aberfield swept the board, receiving four Gold awards, including Outstanding Consultancy and Outstanding Small Consultancy – the first time both accolades have been awarded to one consultancy.

In naming Aberfield the best agency in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, the judges commented: “Aberfield Communications is a relatively young company that has embedded good habits into its DNA, including a commitment to CPD, robust measurement and excellent client servicing.”

media campaign. It also saw the development of the ‘Reindeer Cam’ video, a unique view of the city from the perspective of Rudolph.

The judges also commended the impressive results generated from Aberfield’s World Triathlon Series Leeds project for British Triathlon, Leeds City Council and UK Sport. They praised the multilevel engagement and how the agency got the city involved, resulting in Grandstand tickets selling out in less than a week, all race spaces being filled and over 80,000 spectators lining the route over the race weekend.

Phil Reed, managing director of Aberfield Communications, said: “Four years ago we set out to build an agency focused on audience insight to deliver better PR and marketing communications.

We were tired of big ideas that were small on delivering real-world results and just happy to generate coverage.

They also highlighted the agency’s “strong client retention and drive to use PR to change attitudes and behaviours.”

“One of the goals we set ourselves was to win ‘Best Agency’ within five years, so it’s remarkable that we have achieved that six months ahead of the target.

Two of the awards recognised campaigns working alongside Leeds City Council. Together with LeedsBID and Visit Leeds, the Magical Leeds integrated tourism project boosted the city’s visitor economy across winter 2015, with an innovative geotargeted advertising, PR and social

“It’s also the first time an agency has won both PRide Consultancy of the Year accolades in the same year, and to be recognised for three individual client campaigns too makes it a very special achievement. It’s down to the hard work of our team, who continue to spread the Positive Influence message across all our work.”

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On the night Aberfield won: Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy (Gold) Outstanding Small Public Relations Consultancy (Gold) Best Business and Corporate Communications Campaign (Gold) – influencing conference and event bookers for QHotels Best Arts, Culture or Sport Campaign (Gold) – World Triathlon Series Leeds Best Integrated Campaign (Silver) – Magical Leeds

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GREATER BIRMINGHAM AND THE MIDLANDS IS A VERY EXCITING PLACE TO BE. WORDS BY JAS SANSI

In my 44 years, I’ve never known the city region to be buzzing as it is now. We have the Prime Minister’s attention, key allies in cabinet and strategic ambassadors in Whitehall.

Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham Airport speaking last week at a Downtown in Business event here in Brum nailed it when he said ‘the region has strong leadership and with strong leadership, you can move mountains.’

As a freelance photographer, specialising in business and political events, I’m privileged to get a front row seat to witness the heady progress we are making; from the unveiling of Andy Street as Conservative Midlands Mayor candidate to Theresa May’s first Party Conference as leader. From capturing Anita Bhalla receive The President’s Award at Asian Chamber to shooting Solihull BID celebrate local businesses in their elegant neck of the woods, my Nikons take me places I never dreamed possible.

Seven years after launching, I still struggle to think of myself as a photography business. The photographs are a vehicle for conveying what is happening in the Midlands Engine but my objective for the company goes beyond capturing the images, its getting them out there and getting them seen. The syndication process of releasing and sharing images, thereby raising the profile of clients is key in corporate photography.

In a 24 hour news streaming digital world, speed matters. I’ve calculated from analysing viewing figures, an event has a three day window in which images are viewed. The first 24 hours after an event ends attracts 50% of the total views, day 2 gets 33% and day 3 the remaining 17%. Note, that’s three days after the event has ended, not three days after the images have been posted. What does this mean?

Simply, its vital images are posted as quickly as possible following an event in order to exploit the interest in that event.

Imagine the scenario, work colleagues attend an event on Thursday

evening, next morning, they return to work and the conversation is inevitably going to focus on the night before. If the images are on their desktops and across their social media platforms, the event continues online. Network contacts made the night before can be cemented; Twitter follows, Linkedin Connections and Facebook friends confirmed. The age of Business Cards is over.

Imagine what happens if the images are not posted on Friday morning, well the conversation will still be about the night before but other than a few selfies to illustrate the event, by mid morning, everyone will have moved on. The countdown to the weekend begins after lunch and Thursday evening’s memories are consigned to history. If the images are posted on Monday morning, there will be little interest. The weekend’s activities will have overtaken them, additionally Monday represents a low impact point for online views, people are preparing for the week ahead not thinking about what they did four days ago.

This is the arena in which I operate, its the immediate syndication of images with social media engagement that sells the service. I use Nikon cameras, they are kept in protective storage, maintained regularly and replaced annually. The lenses are all f2.8 professional pieces of equipment. The lighting is state of the art. Post production is carried out on a Apple Mac with licensed Photoshop software.

However, this is all technical and of little interest to clients who assume the equipment will do the job. What clients purchase and receive is the assurance their event images will be seen. My own social media footprint across Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook is 10,000 of the region’s Business Community. Having grown up in a Family Business, and a Business School graduate, I take pride in having a bridge with this body of people. I have learned to understand what the Business Community needs, above and beyond the instructions they provide. Its an evolving relationship and one I’ll always strive to improve.

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TAKING CORPORATE NETWORKING DOWNTOWN Downtown in Business (DIB) is a dedicated business club designed to provide leadership to the private sector, by articulating the views of its members to the public sector agencies that govern individual cities, and to create networking environments that would attract entrepreneurs, high growth companies and the regions big hitters.

Created in Liverpool, the club has now extended its reach across the UK to cities including Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. We invited CEO Frank McKenna to tell us more.

Established in 2003, DIB has since earned a strong reputation as one of the most influential, effective business organisations in the North of England and the West Midlands. Brokering connections and deals, shaping public sector agendas, organising the best attended events in the region, hosting high profile gala dinners and attracting prominent speakers from the worlds of commerce and politics, DIB is the fastest growing business club outside of London.

Over the last decade, the group has facilitated B2B introductions that have directly led to over £1Billion worth of deals being done. The Downtown connections service is provided by experienced, locally based, relationship managers who work with its members to draw up a bespoke action plan that helps them meet their potential future customers and grow their business.

DIB’s membership is from a diverse range of sectors, with all industries represented among the 900 companies that are signed up to this exclusive network, although it would be fair to say that the property, digital and creative and professional services sectors are prominent within the Downtown group.

Companies that boast DIB membership include commercial property giant Bruntwood; Liverpool John Lennon Airport; the Manchester Airport Group; Peel; Deloitte; Recycling Lives; Westfield Health; training provider Geason; law firm Brabners; Urban Splash and Hollywood Monster. Frank talks us through the diverse range of services, connections and support that his firm offers to this varied array of clients.

“Downtown in Business is a champion for the private sector.

An influential, independent business membership organisation that has a diverse, dynamic, entrepreneurial, and growing membership – with excellent connections across public sector agencies too, our mantra is: It’s not what you know, it’s who we know.

“With its members, DIB meets and briefs senior international, national, regional, and local politicians and decisionmakers, influencing public sector agendas to promote business-friendly policies. As a firm we promote healthy privatepublic sector partnerships and work with the various levels of government to create an environment of co-operation and cohesion.

“In order to ensure that they remain at the forefront of the business market DIB shares intelligence and research with our members through events, briefings, reports, and bulletins.

We help members raise the profile and awareness of their business through regular bulletins that are circulated to a database of over 26,000, and our quarterly business magazine Downtown Quarterly (DQ).”]

Former politician Frank, who founded the company and acts as Group Chairman and CEO, brings his wealth of public sector experience to the firm in order to ensure that members work collaboratively with both each other and public sector organisations to achieve what is best for the city they operate in. His role is increasingly to identify the right team members who can continue to support the growth of the business, which has been on an upward trajectory since the firm launched fourteen years ago.

He discusses the importance of people overall and how both his team and his members are of the utmost importance and how he works to ensure that through his leadership they are all thoroughly supported.

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“Here at DIB we are an awardwinning team because we provide a very distinctive approach to the market we operate within. Yes, we do networking; but we are recognised as a strong lobbying group too. The quality of the events that we host and the communications that we create, on-line and off-line, make DIB and its range of products unique.

People are vital to the success of our company, and therefore we work to always ensure that we offer the very best services to our members, and as a leader I always aim to support my team and ensure that they are able to meet our users’ needs.

“As such, my advice to anyone looking to emulate my success is to remember your people.

When your business grows, you need to take people with you.

Not just your internal team, but your customers too. It is important not to forget where you started from and who helped to get you there. Importantly, it is also essential that you identify team members who are up for and comfortable with the next stage of growth; and those who, for whatever reason, simply cannot meet those new challenges. Other than learning that you need to employ and work with the best people you possibly can, I have also learnt that sometimes you should let people go.”

Operating in such a competitive market, which contains many corporate networks, differentiation is also crucial to the success of DIB, and as such Frank has worked hard to ensure that the firm offers a truly all-encompassing solution which is both diverse and inclusive, supporting leaders no matter what their business or requirements.

“What truly sets DIB apart from other corporate networks is that we provide a fully serviced business support agency that can offer a range of products to suit individual clients’ needs.

Connecting at a B2B level; meeting decision makers; influencing policy; a platform for communication; and business support more generally are all included in the suite of DIB offers, as well as hosting events which are both engaging and interesting. We support a wide

range of members across the corporate landscape, and as an inclusive organisation we have attracted many women business owners over the years, which is testimony to our dedication to offering an open platform and bespoke solutions.

“Additionally, the fact that we are entirely funded by our private sector membership and sponsorship subscriptions has also allowed us to maintain our independence and say some things that others around public policy may not be comfortable to say. We have developed a powerful narrative around issues such as planning policy, elected mayors, devolution, and the female enterprise agenda that have been an integral part of our campaigning messages for many years now.”

Looking to the future, Frank has some exciting plans for DIB as he seeks to build upon the firm’s current success thanks to new funding.

“Recently we attracted a crowd funding investment through Funding Circle of £250,000, which we will use to expand the DIB brand across the UK. Cash flow has always been a challenge for our firm, as it is with every new start-up company, and we have been fortunate to be able to work with such consummate professionals as Funding Circle.

be heard. I do believe that the view that prevails in policy, not just in terms of business, but in terms of the general approach to governance in this country, is very London-centric. This is one of the reasons why DIB has been a consistent advocate of elected mayors and devolved powers for our city-regions. If Westminster politicians are serious about re-balancing our economy and about giving people equal lifechances, then they need to realise that means them letting go of some of the power that they hold. In my experience, political institutions and politicians are not good at letting go of power, and as such our goal will be a challenging one, but we are looking forward to overcoming this challenge and achieving it.”

“ULTIMATELY, OUR GOAL IS TO BE A POWERFUL BUSINESS VOICE ACROSS THE UK, THAT OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VIEWS OF OUR STRONG REGIONAL BUSINESSES TO BE HEARD.”

“This investment will be put to good use expanding the business and growing our network. Having now got a firm grip in the north of England, and enjoyed a great first twelve months in Birmingham, we are looking to expand to other parts of the country, including Glasgow, Sheffield, Nottingham, and Leicester. We will be also exploring opportunities further south in order to reach a wider national clientele. Up to this point, our growth has been steady and organic; now we want to accelerate our growth plans significantly, with a target of 20 DIB clubs by 2020. This means looking at other ways of expanding our reach, including the possibility of franchising.

“Ultimately, our goal is to be a powerful business voice across the UK, that offers an opportunity for the views of our strong regional businesses to

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS 2016 LIVERPOOL

Guests at the fourth annual Liverpool Women in Business Awards were on their feet well before the gongs were handed out back in March. Keynote speaker Nisha Katona, and her remarkable journey from Barrister to restaurant owner was an inspiring tale that rightly received a standing ovation from 400 of the city’s business leaders. Jayne Moore, having missed out on three Downtown awards previously; Alison Lobb; Sharon Hillditch and Sue Weir were included in an impressive list of winners from the Merseyside’s female business fraternity.

BEST NEWCOMER 2016 LAUREN GREENE, CHIC PR & EVENTS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR 2016 ALISON LOBB, MORECROFTS BEST MARKETER OF THE YEAR 2016 JAYNE MOORE, MOORE MEDIA BUSINESS ENABLER OF THE YEAR 2016 ANNIE O'TOOLE, JUXDIT YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2016 AMY CLUTTERBUCK, VINTAGE STYLER DECADE OF EXCELLENCE 2016 TRACY GORE, STEVE BIKO HOUSING FEMALE LEADER OF THE YEAR 2016 GILL KELLY, M&Y MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION FEMALE LEADER IN THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT 2016 SUE WEIR, MEDICASH BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2016 VICKY ANDERSON, LIVERPOOL CHEESE COMPANY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2016 IZZY MELODY- ALISSA KOOPAL SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR 2016 ANGIE WALKER AND ROSIE WILKINSON, IMPROPRIETY CIC EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR 2016 WILSON HENRY RECRUITER OF THE YEAR 2016 CHRISTINE GILFOYLE, PIP LEGAL INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR SHARON HILLDITCH, CRYSTAL CLEAR FINANCIAL ADVISOR OF THE YEAR 2016 YVONNE HALLIDAY, BDO LLP CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S AWARD LESLEY DIXON, PERSON

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CITY OF LIVERPOOL BUSINESS AWARDS 2016 LIVERPOOL

Downtown’s very own ‘Party in the Park’ sold out in record time in 2016. The Sefton Park Palm House experience has become a ‘must attend’ business awards ceremony in the Liverpool events calendar, and a sizzling night of entertainment and celebration saw property developer Iliad, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, insurance giant Marsh and top legal firm Hill Dickinson featured among a diverse range of award winners on the evening.

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR MSB SOLICITORS BEST CUSTOMER FOCUSSED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR BWMACFARLANE BEST NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR VINCENT CAFÉ & COCKTAIL BAR BEST PR & MARKETING AGENCY OF THE YEAR JAYNE MOORE MEDIA BEST DIGITAL & CREATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AMBOS DIGITAL BEST LEGAL FIRM OF THE YEAR EAD SOLICITORS BEST RECRUITMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR ARC RECRUITMENT BEST BUSINESS BANK OF THE YEAR NATWEST BEST ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR WILSON HENRY BUSINESS ENABLER OF THE YEAR LIVERPOOL BID COMPANY BEST SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE OF THE YEAR LIVERPOOL JOHN LENNON AIRPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR MARSH PROPERTY COMPANY OF THE YEAR REVIVE PROPERTY SERVICES CHIEF EXECUTIVE AWARD ILIAD BEST HOSPITALITY VENUE OF THE YEAR FAZENDA SPONSORS AWARD HILL DICKINSON

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WORK HARD PLAY HARD 2016 LIVERPOOL

The awards evening that acknowledges the increasingly important impact the hospitality and tourism sector adds to the Liverpool city region is what the second annual Work Hard Play Hard awards was about as the tourism industry gathered in strength to applaud their peers in a glittering show at the Hilton Hotel. The Liverpool Food & Drink Festival, Everton Football Club, the Echo Arena and Conference centre and celebrity chef Paul Askew were the proud recipients of Downtown’s now infamous ‘acrylic bricks’ on an evening that may be best remembered for a cheeky little disco dance from Marketing Liverpool boss Chris Brown – he made Ed Balls look like Fred Astaire!

COFFEE SHOP OF THE YEAR MOOSE COFFEE COSMETIC/AESTHETICS PRACTICE OF THE YEAR ESK FITNESS & BEAUTY PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR ECHO ARENA LIVERPOOL BEST SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE OF THE YEAR DELIVEROO EXCELLENCE IN TALENT DEVELOPMENT CITY OF LIVERPOOL COLLEGE EVENT OF THE YEAR LIVERPOOL FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THE YEAR THE CLUBHOUSE LIFESTYLE PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR GOOD NEWS LIVERPOOL SPORTS HOSPITLITY VENUE OF THE YEAR EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB LUXURY BRAND OF THE YEAR SIGNATURE BESPOKE MOST IMPROVED VENUE OF THE YEAR BIERKELLER RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR CHAOPHRAYA BAR OF THE YEAR RED DOOR HOTEL OF THE YEAR MALMAISON CHEF OF THE YEAR PAUL ASKEW CULTURAL DESTINATION OF THE YEAR THE ALBERT DOCK CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S AWARD YACHT CLUB LIVERPOOL

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CITY OF MANCHESTER BUSINESS AWARDS 2016 MANCHESTER

The spectacular Manchester Cathedral was the setting for Downtown’s ‘Game of Thrones’ themed City of Manchester Business Awards in 2016. Hosts Jim Hancock, and BBCs Jacey Normand, along with keynote speaker Sir Howard Bernstein, welcomed almost 400 of the city’s business leaders to a wonderfully lavish occasion. Winners, nominees and guests were also treated to an after show party to remember at the iconic Living Ventures venue Manchester House. Business of the Year The LADbible, winners of the chief executive’s award Sedulo and Property Personality of the Year Tom Bloxham had more to celebrate than most. The Tony award, presented annually at COMBA in memory of the late, great Tony Wilson, was presented to Bruntwood founder Michael Oglesby.

MALE SEXY NETWORKER 2016 COLM FEELEY FEMALE SEXY NETWORKER 2016 SARA BRYAN BEST EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR 2016 EXCHANGE UTILITY BEST CUSTOMER FOCUSSED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2016 CLEANING VENTURES BEST NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 2016 SOCIAL CHAIN BEST PR & MARKETING AGENCY OF THE YEAR 2016 ROLAND DRANSFIELD PR BEST DIGITAL & CREATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2016 RED COW MEDIA BEST LEGAL FIRM OF THE YEAR 2016 GORVINS BEST RECRUITMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR 2016 ADAM BEST BUSINESS BANK OF THE YEAR 2016 HSBC BEST ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR 2016 RSM BUSINESS ENABLER OF THE YEAR 2016 ENTREPRENEURIAL SPARK PROPERTY PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2016 TOM BLOXHAM BEST HOSPITALITY VENUE OF THE YEAR 2016 FAZENDA BEST HOTEL OF THE YEAR 2016 HOTEL GOTHAM BEST SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE OF THE YEAR 2016 CHRIS LONGBOTTOM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2016 THELADBIBLE CHAIRMAN’S AWARD 2016 LIVING VENTURES CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S AWARD 2016 SEDULO THE TONY AWARD 2016 MICHAEL OGLESBY THE WINNERS

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LANCASHIRE BUSINESS AWARDS 2016 LANCASHIRE A spectacular summer evening of celebration at the fabulous Dunkenhalgh Hotel witnessed some of Lancashire’s finest businesses and individuals being recognised for their contribution to the economic growth of the red rose county. Burnley Football Club, Magma Digital and Michael Conlon picked up Lancashire Business Awards; whilst Tony Attard was a deserved and popular winner of the Contribution to Lancashire award.

MALE NETWORKER OF THE YEAR DANIEL RICH, BARTON GRANGE FEMALE NETWORKER OF THE YEAR KATIE BECKHAM, THE WRITE ANGLE BEST EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR DENWA BEST EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR REBECCA KAY BEST NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR EAT MY LOGO BEST PR & MARKETING AGENCY OF THE YEAR THE WRITE ANGLE BEST DIGITAL AGENCY OF THE YEAR BLUSH DIGITAL BEST SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE OF THE YEAR MARKETING LANCASHIRE BEST LEGAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR FORBES BEST ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR BEEVER AND STRUTHERS BEST BUSINESS BANK OF THE YEAR NATWEST BEST PROPERTY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR BARNFIELD CONSTRUCTION BEST RECRUITMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR LAURA HARTLEY RECRUITMENT BEST CUSTOMER FOCUSSED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR BURNLEY FC BEST HOSPITALITY VENUE OF THE YEAR THE EMPORIUM BEST HOTEL OF THE YEAR TICKLED TROUT BEST BUSINESS ENABLER CHOOSE CHORLEY BEST BUSINESS OF THE YEAR MAGMA DIGITAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE AWARD MARMALADE TOAST BUSINESS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR MICHAEL CONLON CONTRIBUTION TO LANCASHIRE TONY ATTARD OBE

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS 2016 LANCASHIRE

The final Downtown gala awards dinner of the season was held at the impressive Park Hall Hotel, as Lancashire’s female entrepreneurs and business leaders took centre stage for an afternoon of some incredible personal and business stories. BBC presenter Jacey Normand co-hosted the ceremony with our very own Frank McKenna. Among the worthy award winners were The Printed Cup Company, who were named as Business of the Year; Kara Rose of KRPR who won the chief executive’s award; and Yvonne Grimes from social enterprise Recycling Lives who received a heartwarming standing ovation from the 300 -strong audience as she collected her special commendation.

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR MSB SOLICITORS BEST CUSTOMER FOCUSSED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR BWMACFARLANE BEST NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR VINCENT CAFÉ & COCKTAIL BAR BEST PR & MARKETING AGENCY OF THE YEAR JAYNE MOORE MEDIA BEST DIGITAL & CREATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AMBOS DIGITAL BEST LEGAL FIRM OF THE YEAR EAD SOLICITORS BEST RECRUITMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR ARC RECRUITMENT BEST BUSINESS BANK OF THE YEAR NATWEST BEST ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR WILSON HENRY BUSINESS ENABLER OF THE YEAR LIVERPOOL BID COMPANY BEST SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE OF THE YEAR LIVERPOOL JOHN LENNON AIRPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR MARSH PROPERTY COMPANY OF THE YEAR REVIVE PROPERTY SERVICES CHIEF EXECUTIVE AWARD ILIAD BEST HOSPITALITY VENUE OF THE YEAR FAZENDA SPONSORS AWARD HILL DICKINSON

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LIVERCOOL 2016 LIVERPOOL

Leading personalities from across the Liverpool business community were rewarded for their efforts at November’s ‘Livercool’ awards gala dinner, hosted by Downtown in Business, in association with headline sponsor PMC Family Law. Winners of the fourteenth annual ‘Livercool’ event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel were decided by a public vote; and over 13,500 votes were cast across the sixteen categories.

Both city’s football clubs picked up awards, with Liverpool’s Vicky Jaycock claiming the Business Development Manager of the Year prize and Everton’s Carl Bradshaw named as Male ‘Sexy Networker’ of 2016.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s Ashley Morgan picked up the Female ‘Sexy Networker’ gong, whilst her colleague Robin Tudor walked away with the Communications Personality of the Year award.

In the professional services categories Julie Mogan of Excello Law won Legal Entrepreneur of the Year, Deloitte’s Sean Beach was the Financial Services Personality of the Year, Mark Armario won the Banking personality award for Barclays, and Butterworth Spengler’s Alan Tune was the Insurance professional of the Year. Michael Gavin of Arc Recruitment won the closest contest of ‘Livercool’ 2016, beating the runner-up for the recruiter award by just two votes!

Full service marketing agency Kitsune Studios boss Michael Braithwaite was Newcomer of the Year; Kyle Disley was a very well deserved winner of the Young Entrepreneur prize.

Managing Director of a range of city centre venues including District House and the Richmond Hotel Stephen Hesketh is the Hospitality Personality of 2016; the property personality of the Year was Peter Grieve of Laing O’Rourke and Matt Liggins from Health@Work was the Employee of the Year.

Special awards were presented to Victoria Brown, oneHR (chairman’s award), Paul Corcoran, Agent Marketing (chief executive’s award) and Nicola Matthews, Barclays (the Paul Rice award).

The big winner of the evening was restaurateur entrepreneur Nisha Katona of Mowgli.

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SEXY NETWORKER MALE CARL BRADSHAW, EVERTON FC SEXY NETWORKER FEMALE ASHLEY MORGAN, LIVERPOOL JOHN LENNON AIRPORT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR MATT LIGGINS, HEALTH@WORK BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER OF THE YEAR VICKY JAYCOCK, LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB LEGAL ENTREPRENUER OF THE YEAR JUIE MOGAN, EXCELLO LAW FINANCIAL SERVICES PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR SEAN BEECH, DELOITTE BANKING PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR MARK ARMARIO, BARCLAYS NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: MICHAEL BRAITHWAITE KITSUNE INSURANCE PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR ALAN TUNE, BUTTERWORTH SPENGLER PROPERTY PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR PETER GRIEVE, LAING O’ROURKE COMMUNICATIONS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR ROBIN TUDOR, LIVERPOOL JOHN LENNON AIRPORT YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR KYLE DYSLEY, COPELAND SECURITY HOSPITALITY PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR STEVEN HESKETH, THE KNOW COLLECTION RECRUITMENT PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR MICHAEL GAVIN – ARC RECRUITMENT DIGITAL AND IT PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR IAN ALLMARK – LLOYDS IP BUSINESS PERSONAILTY OF THE YEAR NISHA KATONA, MOWGLI THE PAUL RICE AWARD NICOLA MATTHEWS, BARCLAYS CHAIRMAN’S AWARD VICTORIA BROWN, HIGH PERFORMANCE CONSULTANCY & ONEHR CHIEF EXECS AWARD PAUL CORCORAN, AGENT MARKETING

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ONEHR SOFTWARE oneHR software has gone from strength to strength during the course of 2016, from award nominations, to innovative development, new packages, a rebrand, our first birthday and expansion of the oneHR Team. But here’s what oneHR is, where you can get it and why you should invest…

There’s also the smaller package we offer, oneHR Lite that is totally complementary and includes an Employee Directory and Self-Service Annual Leave Management. This is ideal for small businesses who are just getting started and looking for a safe and secure database to store their Employees’ details on.

What is oneHR? oneHR is a cloud-based HR management system that can be used by Employers and their Employees.

It’s a self-service solution that provides a low cost, value for money way to streamline the process of HR administration – not to mention it’s much easier to keep track of than paper based holiday request slips and wall planners!

Why should you get oneHR? It simplifies the HR function, improving employee productivity and performance therefore ensuring management can remain most efficient. Nothing slips under the radar… performance, absence, lateness and holidays are visible to management at a couple of clicks. With the bespoke interface, you can set up your account to be as specific to your business as necessary with your team names, job titles and even profile pictures (now you’ll know what John from accounts looks like!). Jokes aside though, security is of paramount importance to oneHR, and this is why the system has both an archive and remote backup - all backup data is encrypted – nothing is ever totally lost.

Where can you get oneHR? Online. All you need to do is visit the website and enter your company details onto the sign up form – with no obligation to purchase. You can decide between two of our packages; oneHR and oneHR Lite. oneHR is the full HR management system with key features such as Absence and Lateness Manager, Report Section and Recruitment Tools (plus plenty more) we have a 30 day FREE trial for anyone who may be interested in looking through the system. We will provide unlimited customer support and training throughout the on boarding process and once a client signs up permanently this remains.

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For further details on any of the above and to set up your account today, visit www.onehrsoftware. com

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DOWNTOW Downtown’s 2016 in pictures.

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Downtown in Business prides itself on hosting an eclectic mix of quality events that suit ambitious entrepreneurs and business leaders. Breakfast gatherings over coffee; lunches with top speakers; premier gala awards and exclusive, intimate ‘invitation only’ dinners are among the range of networking opportunities we offer to our members. The very best hotels, restaurants and conference spaces are where this exciting programme of activities is presented; some of the regions very best politicians and business leaders are among our speakers; ambitious, modern, high growth business owners and decision makers make up our audiences. Downtown organises events in commercial arenas that give our member companies the very best platform to showcase their business.

In 2016 we added the popular ‘Power Panels’ to our wellestablished events programme. We also organised our inaugural annual Birmingham business conference, entitled ‘Keys to the Engine’, with a focus on the West Midlands devolution agenda. The new ‘Inbetweeners’ evenings attracted new, up and coming, talent.

Downtown hosted more events than ever before last year, nearly three hundred in the last twelve months, with the emphasis on creating environments for quality B2B connections; forums to navigate members through an ever-changing public affairs agenda; gala awards occasions that celebrate the best in the business.

Among a list of stellar contributors at Downtown events were the former Marketing Director of Disney; ex-Commercial Director at Manchester United FC, and now President of sportswear retail giant Fanatics Andy Anson; Manchester’s Labour mayoral candidate Andy Burnham MP; Allied London boss Mike Ingall; former FA chief executive David Davies; super business coach Michael Finnigan; sales guru extraordinaire Andy Bounds; restauranteur Nisha Katona; West Midlands head of transport Laura Shoaf; Liverpool’s elected mayor Joe Anderson; female enterprise champion Penny Haslam; Lancashire entrepreneur Tony Attard; Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese; Urban Splash head honcho Tom Bloxham; and the chief executive of Leeds City Council Tom Riordan.

On the proviso that a picture says a thousand words, we thought that a collection of photographs from Downtown’s events programme would give you a flavour of what you experienced in 2016 – or maybe what you missed!

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WE DON’T NETWORK...

WE CONNECT.

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WE DON’T LOBBY...

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WE INFLUENCE.

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WE DON’T HOLD EVENTS FOR THE SAKE OF IT...

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THEY ALL HAVE A PURPOSE.

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MOST IMPORTANTLY, ALL DOWNTOWN MEMBERS GET A RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

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2017

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION Wish List.

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WHAT SHOULD THE DECISION MAKERS & POLITICAL LEADERS IN PLANET DOWNTOWN BE COMMITTING TO IN 2017?

Most of us make resolutions for the new year. Maybe it’s something our cities and city leaders should be doing too. So, what should those resolutions be for 2017? Here are a few helpful, constructive suggestions to the decision makers and powers that be from Downtown in Business head honcho Frank McKenna.

LIVERPOOL: KISS & MAKE UP Many people were surprised, and disappointed, when Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson was defeated by Walton MP Steve Rotheram in the battle to be Labour’s candidate for the position of City Region mayor, which will be contested in May. There is a snowballs chance in hell that Rotheram will lose that election in an area in which his party holds every parliamentary seat; and controls all six local councils.

Nevertheless, his task in office will be more challenging if Anderson’s supporters continue to sulk, as the regional mayor will need the collaboration and support of other leading politicians from Liverpool to implement a positive, progressive programme. Let’s hope that a city region that has been held back through internal warfare for long periods in the past, can see a reconciliation of Rotheram and his soon-to-be Combined Authority colleagues. The last thing we need is civil war getting in the way of continued growth and regeneration for the Liverpool city region.

LANCASHIRE: KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK A sleeping giant for too long, Lancashire was finally reawakened in 2016; a combination of the work and initiative of Ruth Connor and her team at Marketing Lancashire and a political settlement between the 999 council’s that govern the county to agree a Combined Authority and an elected mayor for the red rose county by 2019, offers Lancashire a tremendous chance to fulfil its huge potential over the next few years. It is a significant step for a place that has been plagued by parochial politics for a decade or more. But now, with a group of council leaders who appear to be seeing the opportunities of working together rather than the challenges, the future is looking distinctly rosier!

MANCHESTER: DEAL WITH THE ‘FERGIE’ MOMENT Manchester City Council have appointed a new chief executive.

Joanne Roney will come to the city with the very best wishes of the business community, and with a track- record that suggests that she will be a good fit for the job. However, Sir Howard Bernstein is much more than a local authority chief executive. He is a powerful ambassador for his city. He has a diverse and influential network.

He has a commercial nous that few in the public sector can match.

Unlike Manchester United post- Sir Alex Ferguson, at least a strong team of those who worked alongside Bernstein remains in place, not least the council leader Sir Richard Leese. Speaking at a recent Downtown forum he said: “We are not looking for someone to fill Howard’s boots. We are looking for someone to bring their own boots.” Perhaps what he needs to consider, and maybe he is, is that to maintain its position as the premier provincial city, Manchester needs to fill Howard’s shirt, shorts and socks too; following a legend without a collection of great people around you is no easy task. David Moyes will testify to that.

LEEDS: RE-ESTABLISH POWERHOUSE CREDENTIALS When then chancellor George Osborne launched the Northern Powerhouse three years ago, the talk was of a strong alliance between Manchester and Leeds acting as the major catalyst for this brave new initiative to take hold. It was assumed that the ‘Devo Manc’ deal would be quickly followed by a ‘Devo Leeds’ package. However, political shenanigans, not only at a local level, but from some of Yorkshire’s Tory MP’s, has led to the city missing the devolution boat. Indeed, its failure to agree to the establishment of an elected mayor for the city region, as Bradford and Wakefield have appeared less than keen on the notion, has led to Liverpool, and more recently Lancashire, leapfrogging Leeds as far as the devolution agenda is concerned. Leeds may point to a city growth deal that delivered a £50 million plus investment; but the additional powers and responsibilities that are now enjoyed by Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and others has not been forthcoming. The fact is, they won’t be coming anytime soon unless Leeds can persuade its West Yorkshire neighbours to get their act together and accept that only with an elected mayor can Leeds join its other powerhouse partners at the top table. The loss of the unfortunately named Trolley Bus scheme was also a blow to the city’s strategic transport aspirations; and a piecemeal use of the money ringfenced for transport improvements isn’t as transformational as many in business would like. Agree to a mayor; get a more ambitious transport plan for the city in place; and get Leeds United back in the Premier League where they belong. Not much Tom Riordan, Judith Blake, Roger Marsh & co can do about the last one – but the first two would be nice.

BIRMINGHAM – CHANGE THE NAME; AND DROP THE OBSESSION WITH MANCHESTER Birmingham has enjoyed a spectacular year. The continued growth of the city centre, its regeneration anchored by the fabulous Grand Central station, alongside a fast-track approach to devolution is rightly seen as Birmingham’s opportunity to re-establish itself as a major international power. As brands go, the ‘Midlands Engine’ is as good as any to rival George Osborne’s ‘Northern Powerhouse’ baby; and council leaders from across the region are to be applauded for quickly establishing a Combined Authority, and agreeing to an elected mayor. However, I’m afraid that the West Midlands Combined Authority, or the WMCA, simply doesn’t cut it. The sooner everyone acknowledges that Birmingham is the attack brand, regionally, nationally, and most importantly internationally, the better. I would also plead with our business and political leaders to drop a seeming obsession with Manchester. In the dozens of speeches, I have heard Manchester leaders Sir Richard Leese and Sir Howard Bernstein deliver, I have never heard them mention Birmingham once. Whenever asked if they are the ‘second city’ they both say with absolute conviction ‘who wants to be second at anything.’ So, please accept that Manchester is to be admired; it can be learnt from too; but it is not the competition. In 2017 it’s a global market guys and gals.

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W W W. D O W N TO W N I N B U S I N E S S . C O M

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