It's been a big week for the Downtown team with our official Manchester launch taking place at Cloud 23 last night. Thanks to all of you who turned up to support what was a cracking event. We look forward to working with you in the future. Of course, the launch is featured in today's TFI, along with news from across the city. Peter Mandelson is our 'Man of the Week'; Innov8 Safety Solutions are 'Business of the Week' and Charles Tweed of Strategic Team Group, who kindly sponsored last night's bash, tells us more than he should in 'Who Are Yer?' Read on, enjoy, have a great weekend, and don't do anything Frank wouldn't do...

Well over 100 people packed into Cloud 23 at the Hilton Hotel last night for the official launch of Downtown Manchester in Business. Guest speaker Sir Howard Bernstein was full of praise for the initiative, and urged the Manchester business community to get involved. "I look forward to constructive debate and challenge from Downtown" he said. DMIB Chairman Frank McKenna pledged to bring "new ideas" to Manchester and promised to support entrepreneurs and offer quality and diverse networking events to the city. CLICK HERE to see press coverage of the event.

Well, at last downtown comes to Manchester. After establishing our brand in Liverpool six years ago, and Preston three years back, I’m absolutely delighted that we have been able to bring downtown to the premier city in the north.

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Manchester Airport is to host the world's first Airport Food & Beverage Conference & Awards.

The event, run in conjunction with The Moodie Report, a publication for the travel industry, will take place in the Concorde Conference Centre on September 5 to 7 this year.

The Moodie Report described the venue, home to a British Airways Concorde, as "the most iconic airport conference facility in the world".

The conference is designed to encourage excellence in the burgeoning airport food & beverage sector.

Manchester will be part of the UK's proposed High Speed Rail network, it was announced today.

Lord Adonis, Secretary of State for Transport, told the House of Lords that the initial network, for trains capable of speeds of 250mph, would connect London, Birmingham, Manchester, the West Midlands, Sheffield and Leeds. It could more than triple the capacity of the existing mainline network, he said.

Adonis said the journey time to London to Manchester would take less than 75 minutes. Upgrades on the transpennine route between Manchester and Leeds are also expected as part of the new network.

Innov8 Safety Solutions now in their third year celebrated the early part of 2010 with a succession of new projects working with new clients, in new sectors and continue to secure repeat business with existing clients across the North West.  Innov8 have successfully secured several new contracts with Peel Ports, Spencer Holdings and the Manchester Grammar School which will all start on site during early Spring.

Innov8 have also appointed an Operations Director who will be joining the team in April 2010, just in time for the Grand National Festival!  Jeremy Meredith who joins the business to work alongside the Managing Director will coordinate the service delivery team on a day-to-day basis to continue the growth of the business whilst maintaining the quality of the service.  Alan Robson the Managing Director of Innov8 said “we interviewed over 20 people for the Operations Director role and Jeremy was miles ahead of the other candidates.  Jeremy will be a great asset to the business and will support future growth and the ambitious plans for 2010 and beyond”

Peter Mandelson, secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, is to talk about government investment plans in Manchester tomorrow.

Mandelson will be opening a new welding school at Wilkinson Star in Salford and is also visiting Peel Group's MediaCity.

Lewis Carroll himself would be proud of this.

Follow the white rabbit just like Alice.

http://www.lidu.fr/followthewhiterabbit/en/

It was almost a bitter sweet moment when the representative from Crain’s won a Porsche for the weekend at last night’s Downtown Manchester in Business launch event at Cloud 23. Let’s hope they have nice things to say about the calibre and quality of the guests who attended. We bear no grudge, but hope he gets a parking ticket!

A fantastic night was had by all. Our thanks go to Jim Hancock for his spontaneous and expert hosting as always, event sponsors, Strategic Team Group and Urban Retreat at Harvey Nichols for the superb goody bags.

When the sun set’s, there is no better view than from the west lounge at Cloud 23. Downtown are grateful to the Hilton for their support during our inaugural event.

Thanks too, to the Royal Exchange Theatre and Grill on the Alley for their great prize donations, and of course to Adrian Kermode from Porsche Chester.

Our final credit has to go to Sir Howard Bernstein. This man’s passion for Manchester has no equal. The silence during his speech was audible and his endorsement of Downtown Manchester has already started the jungle drums beating. Many thanks to Sir Howard

If you are keen to learn more about how you and your business can become a part of the Business Club with Attitude, please drop DMIB BDM Alan Townley an email. alan.townley@downtowninbusiness.com

Name: Charles Tweed

Company: Strategic Team Group

Position: Business Development Director

Red or Blue: Support them both… rugby’s more my game!!

Brown or Cameron: Cameron

Favourite Bar/Restaurant: Mytilus – near my holiday home in Spain

What’s your Tipple: Jack Daniels

Favourite Band: Coldplay

Top Tune: Dancing in the Dark – Bruce Springsteen

Favourite Book: Any travel by Bill Bryson

Favourite Movie: Shawshank Redemption

Who would play you in a film: Bruce Willis

Favourite TV Programme: QI & Have I Got News for You

Most visited website: www.strategicteamgroup.com

Celebrity Crush: Cheryl Cole and so does my little boy

Interesting fact about you: Always done well on the sport field, played rugby to high standard and low handicap of golf. Sport and keeping fit is big part of my life. Ironically I’ve had a hair transplant but am now completely bald.