It has felt like half the city have been in Mipim this week, and the other half has been participating in 'Mipim in Manchester' events. We focus on the juicier announcements and debates that have been going on about the future of property and regeneration in this week's TFI. We also bring you details of the next DMIB event; Architect Ian Simpson is our 'Man of the Week' and Natalie Hill reveals all in 'Who Are Yer?' Read on, enjoy, have a great weekend and don't do anything Frank wouldn't do...

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The chief executive of Manchester City Council believes that the Leeds and Manchester city regions can both grow through working together rather than competing with each other.

Sir Howard Bernstein told an audience of senior figures from the property sector that the creation of pilot city regions in Leeds and Manchester was an opportunity for both to attract investment but the two would still compete when it came to major opportunities such as big inward investment projects.

Speaking at an event called 'Powerhouse of the North', hosted by the Leeds City Region at international property conference, MIPIM, Sir Howard and Jean Dent, Leeds City Council's director of city development, said that the city region approach should not create more layers of bureaucracy but improve opportunities for business.

Frank McKenna chaired a ‘Mipim in Manchester’ roundtable event that was organised by marketing and PR agency MC2 this week, where the invited guests of regeneration experts and property sector representatives discussed how the forthcoming General Election and a potential change of Government may impact on the future of the North West.

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CANNES VIEW

Justine McGuinn from Just PR & Marketing reflects on MIPIM, and Manchester's positioning on the international stage.

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Check out Frank McKenna’s latest blog on the ‘Place North West’ website. The Downtown Chairman will be writing about the hopes and happenings, and the movers and shakers of Liverpool, Manchester and Preston. CLICK HERE to view.

Downtown Manchester's first 'sexy networking' evening will take place on Thursday 29th April at the Living Room. It is the best cross sector business networking environment around, and a great way of meeting new people, whilst also having a good time. We are delighted that IRWIN MITCHELL have agreed to sponsor our 'Sexy Networking' events for 2010, and details of how you can register for this unique occasion can be found in our events section.

WHAT IS 'SEXY NETWORKING? CLICK HERE to find out.

A leading North West business group is demanding that public sector spending cuts are top of the Chancellor’s priorities at the 2010 Budget.

Private Sector Partners (PSP) speaks on behalf of more than 140,000 firms in the Region and 24 business groups. It says the Government must balance the record level of public debt, by 2015-16, two years earlier than planned.

PSP leader Len Collinson said the debt was far too high and he feared the country’s ability to continue to meet the debt repayments if world interest rates go up. He called on Chancellor Alistair Darling to bring an ‘emphatic end’ to the era of overspending and waste.

Hill Dickinson have promoted partner Jeff Middleton to head the firm's employment and pensions practice. He is replacing Michael Morrison, who is stepping down from the partnership.

Morrison joined Hill Dickinson as a partner following the merger with Gorna & Co in 2002 and has led its employment and pensions practice since.

Databax are a managed IT services provider specialising in proactive network support, data storage (for backup/retrieval, archiving etc.), email & website hosting and Dell hardware (PCs, Laptops, Servers, Printers, Monitors etc).

Based in the North West, we provide technical support to all types of companies including financial services, solicitors, architects and web design houses amongst others in a friendly and professional manner.

CLICK HERE for further information on Databax

Architect Ian Simpson took to the stage in Mipim this week as Manchester presented its vision for a reworked civic quarter. The area including the Manchester Central conference centre, St Peter’s Square and the Town Hall will see major changes to public space. That is why Ian is our Man of the Week!

Be curious. We were!

http://www.nerdfilms.tv/

Epernay played host to DMIB’s aftershow party last Thursday and the warm and approachable staff did a fantastic job in making it a night to remember.

Fusing open contemporary architecture and intimate interior, the design blends a dynamic combination of glass, wood and open brickwork, creating a great atmosphere that kept many of us out far later than we had planned!

With the summer creeping in, Epernay has a stunning balcony and green surrounds of the Great North Square, making it the perfect place to relax and enjoy one of the 70 cocktails on offer.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing glass of wine in the early evening, or pursuing the pleasure into the early hours, Epernay is more than equipped to oblige.

For more information visit www.epernaychampagnebars.com

Our first SEXY NETWORKING is a Members Only event

Thursday 29th April

6.30pm – to be decided on the night!

The Living Room – Deansgate

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Name: Natalie Hill

Company: Thorpe Whyman & Briggs Architects

Position: Business Development Manager

Red or Blue: City Blue

Brown or Cameron: God, neither know what they are doing!

Favourite Bar/Restaurant: wherever my friends happen to be at the time/anywhere that serves tapas

What’s your Tipple: Tequila!

Favourite Band: Angels & Airwaves

Top Tune: Lifeline - Angels & Airwaves

Favourite Book: Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho

Favourite Movie: That’s a toughie – so many categories!  I guess maybe The Usual Suspects or The Bourne Trilogy

Who would play you in a film: Rachel Weisz

Favourite TV Programme: Greys Anatomy

Most visited website: BBC or iTunes

Celebrity Crush: Jeremy Clarkson – he’s a dude!

Interesting Fact about you: I’m writing a novel so watch this space.....