Cities unite to encourage enterprise

Manchester and Salford have launched a joint board to promote enterprise in the two cities.

Microsoft, the BBC and Co-operative Financial Services are among the companies represented on the business-led board, which also features the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, key economic agencies, representatives of the voluntary and community sector and senior officers from Manchester and Salford city councils.

The independent private sector-led board, which met for the first time on 8 October, has been set up to make a real difference in the way the public and private sector work together to increase enterprise performance and drive economic success.

While Manchester and Salford are the powerhouses of the North West economy, both underperform in enterprise. Figures from last year show that there are 383 businesses per 10,000 of population across the two cities compared with a national average of 500. Only 8.7 per cent of the population are self-employed compared with a national average of 12.4 per cent. Some 78.4 per cent of new businesses survive after the first 12 months compared with 92 per cent nationally.

The key areas the Board aims to impact on are encouraging enterprising behaviour, raising aspirations and discovering new entrepreneurs, helping people start up new businesses and supporting existing businesses to grow. Key to the Board's success will be its ability to influence and add value to existing enterprise provision.

Mike Palmer, Chair of the Board and a Practice Manager at Microsoft, said: "Microsoft's global vision is all about transforming education, fostering local innovation, and enabling jobs and opportunities; technology today is a key factor for economic, social, and technological progress, and for the sustainability of economies all over the world. For me as someone who works for Microsoft but just as importantly, lives in the North West, it's a very exciting prospect to bring some of this vision and capacity to life through this Board and make a very real difference to local communities and lives.

Councillor Sue Murphy, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Employment and Skills, said: "The board is full of committed people with the energy, passion and expertise to drive this initiative forwards. Manchester and Salford have a strong record of co-operation and I'm confident the board will play an important role in realising the entrepreneurial potential of both cities."

Salford City Council leader Cllr John Merry added: "Our two cities share the fastest growing economy outside London and we have a tradition of business and enterprise we can trace back to the start of the industrial revolution. There has never been a better time for Salford and Manchester to build on their current economic success and ensure the best of our enterprising culture is encouraged for years to come. The Manchester and Salford Enterprise Board will connect people and cities to drive economic success."

The initiative will initially run for two years until October 2009.

Media contact:

Roger Williams, tel: 0161 234 3275