Welcome to the latest issue of TFI. This week we focus on the news that business organisations across the region are urging the new coalition government to continue to support the Northwest Development Agency. We also highlight two great events that Downtown is hosting in June - be sure to register early to secure your place. Innov8 Safety Solutions enjoy a moment in the sun as 'Business of the Week', whilst the legend that is Mike Perls features as 'Man of the Week' for his outstanding efforts on behalf of the NSPCC. Read on, enjoy, have a great weekend and don't do anything Frank wouldn't do...

DOWNTOWN MEMBERS - LOOK OUT FOR DOWNTOWN'S NEW QUARTERLY MAGAZINE 'IN BUSINESS', FEATURING AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SIR HOWARD BERNSTEIN.

Private Sector Partners which claims to represent 140,000 firms in the region has urged the new government not to abolish the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

With many pundits expecting an announcement about regional development agencies in the Queen’s speech, PSP has written to new business secretary Vince Cable reiterating its support for region-wide decision making.

The letter has been sent just as the agency releases a report suggesting the support it has given exporting companies in the region represents value for money that compares favourably to national benchmarks.

PSP’s leader Len Collinson said: “The north west performs better working together rather than as talented individual areas.

“There is talk of allowing councils to take over the job of economic development. This might be a grave error of narrowness and risks creating suspicion and rivalry in place of co-operation for mutual interests.”

The Downtown Chairman tells us why he is backing Andy Burnham to be the Labour Party's next Leader...

Chorley-based software solutions company, Logma Systems Design Ltd, is holding a free event to help companies find the key to releasing their business potential through the latest technology, and to improve business productivity and efficiency whilst saving money.

The event will enable businesses to understand how the right software could help them control every aspect of their business through the integration of IT systems.

Presentations, sector-specific workshops and exhibitions from remote and mobile data capture hardware exhibitors such as Zebra and Psion, will demonstrate how innovative and cost effective IT solutions can allow businesses to diversify their offer and provide support to allow changes of operations.

From the service industry and wholesalers to manufacturing and retailing companies, scalable software can improve organisational agility enabling small businesses right through to larger corporations to grow and expand.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided. To register please click here.

Andy Booth, head of company commercial and creative industries at Turner Parkinson LLP, has been appointed a director of Inner City Music Limited, the operating company of legendary music venue, Band on the Wall.
 
Andy, a specialist music lawyer since 1994, entered the legal profession after an earlier career as one of the founding members of the band The Cassandra Complex.  The band reformed in 2007 and has since played across the world in the UK, Germany, Brazil and Holland.  They also headlined the Bodybeats Festival in Antwerp, Belgium on 1 May 2010.
 
Band on the Wall, based on Swan Street in the Northern Quarter, is a not-for-profit venue and had a £3.2m refurbishment between 2006 – 2009.  It has been part of the history of Manchester for 200 years and has staged music events since the 1930s.

Celebrate the start of summer at The Crystal Ball, the fundraising event of the season with wonderful food, fantastic music and an opportunity to support two important charities.

The NSPCC and the Hallé both undertake valuable work with children and young people across Manchester, Cheshire and throughout the North West of England and the aim of The Crystal Ball is to raise as much money as possible to support these projects.

FRIDAY 11 JUNE 2010
THE MARQUEE, BRAMHALL,
CHESHIRE

Tickets £80 / Table of 10 for £800

The hard work of the Innov8 Safety Solutions team continues to pay off with a string of projects awarded for new and repeat clients. With two high profile projects nearing completion at The Peninsula fit out and the theatre refurbishment at Manchester Grammar School. The new project wins include a refurbishment and extension to St. Josephs Hospice in Thornton, a ward refurbishment at the Countess of Chester Hospital and a facilities improvement scheme at Brockhole Visitors Centre in Cumbria for the Lake District National Park Authority.

Including new projects secured for the service delivery team Innov8 have also been developing a new website, marketing material and a corporate video to reflect the expanding project portfolio. Innov8’s Managing Director commented on their recent success by saying “the projects secured have been the result of working with clients and design teams to demonstrate our capability on how we can support clients’ projects. The team have been working collectively on new opportunities and we are hoping to continue the recent success by confirming two further high profile schemes which we have been shortlisted for by the client”

This week’s Man of the Week is MC2 CEO, Mike Perls, who, along with a team of Manchester’s top entrepreneurs has completed a gruelling 100K Challenge across Europe this week to raise money for the NSPCC Hear Our Cry appeal. The mad marketeer and chums ran ten – yes ten – 10k races in ten countries over five days in a bid to raise £100k to help improve the NSPCC’s helpline services in Manchester. Ash clouds, stomach bugs and the odd hill couldn’t deter the businessman who crossed the finish line in Barcelona last night tired, hungry but elated. The team are just £10k away from their fundraising target so if you can support them with a donation please go to www.justgiving.com/100kchallenge

"Language is the source of misunderstandings."
— Antoine de Saunt-Exupéry in The Little Prince

And this week’s website is one of the greatest examples of showing just how true that statement is. So what happens when an English phrase is translated (by computer) back and forth among five different languages?

Why not try it for yourself! And why not read the translation of Downtown's about page here. And the original here.

Journey9 get Downtown’s praise for their superb Jaguar PR campaign in Manchester. Laura Wolfe and her team have worked relentlessly to maximise Jaguars exposure during May. It seems that no stone has been left unturned regarding this fantastic high profile Jaguar campaign that has successfully consumed Manchester over recent weeks.

Next week, Downtown will be reviewing the latest Jaguar Coupe, on loan to a reluctant Roger Jonas from our events team who would rather have borrowed a Fiat Panda for the weekend…..not!

http://www.journey9.com

http://www.jaguar.com

Join Downtown for our first DMIB Member’s Reception. Good food, good wine and good company are on the menu for this event.

COST: £25.00 + VAT inc 3 course meal and half a bottle of wine

Date: Tuesday 25th May
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Venue: The Grill On The Alley

This is a perfect start to any day. DMIB will host an Exclusive Chairman’s Breakfast in the sleek and sophisticated Tom’s Champagne Bar located on the 3rd Floor, House of Fraser. We will be joined by a keynote speaker from Bruntwood.

Places are limited, so please register online now.

Date: Tuesday 8th June
Time: 8.00am - 10.00am
Venue: Tom's Champagne Bar

Guest Speaker: Sir Howard Bernstein

DMIB will hold its second breakfast event at the Town Hall. Chairman, Frank McKenna will discuss the future of Manchester with Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, Sir Howard Bernstein

Date: Tuesday 15th June
Time: 8.00am - 10.0am
Venue: Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square

Name: Darren Long

Company: Centric Wealth Management Ltd

Position: Director

Red or Blue: White –Leeds Utd

Labour, Liberal or Tory: Tory

Favourite Bar/Restaurant: San Carlo’s

What’s your Tipple: Single Malt

Favourite Band: Simon & Garfunkel

Top Tune: The Boxer (S&G)

Favourite Book: The Aquitaine Progression (Robert Ludlum)

Favourite Movie: Top Gun

Who would play you in a film: Tom Cruise

Favourite TV Programme: Only Fools and Horses

Most visited website: Moneysupermarket.com

Celebrity Crush: Kelly Brook

Interesting Fact about you: I worked in bomb disposal after the 1st Gulf war in 1991

Why Downtown: It’s happening, new and its local