Capital show

Reporter: Martyn Torr
Date published: 18 October 2012


Oldham tells London: We're open for business

OLDHAMERS went to London yesterday to sell the town’s attractions to the city’s big developers and money men.

Political leaders and executive officers and private sector supporters were out in force at the National Theatre to sell Oldham to investors and decision makers who can make a difference to the town’s future.

Department of Culture Media and Sport Minister Hugh Robertson was joined by Sir Howard Bernstein, the chief executive of Manchester City Council, and Tim Newns, the chief executive of MIDAS, the region’s inward investment agency, as Oldham plc unashamedly put itself on the map.

Executive leader Councillor Jim McMahon, speaking in the shadow of the London Eye, said: “The people who were here today can help to make Oldham the place we all want it to be.

“They would not come to Oldham so we have to come to tell them that Oldham is open for business and that we are prepared to work with them to remove barriers.”

His message was echoed by Oldham council chief exective Charlie Parker, who added: “Sometimes there is a problem about perception and the north and today is all about challenging those perceptions about Oldham.

“We believe Oldham has a real story and offers a real opportunity and is a hidden gem.”

He added that the day was all about creating relationships “with people who want to come and work with us” and help us the realise the ambition the local authority has put into its “Invest in Oldham” programme.

Mr Parker pointed out the event was part of a series designed to work with institutions, investors and developers — people who, in the chief executive’s words “want to do something for Oldham”.

Defending the council’s decision to take the message to London, he said had spoken to an investor who had received the invitation to the Southbank event and took the trouble to visit Oldham to see the borough for himself before listening to what the civic leaders had to say.

“He was gobsmacked,” said Mr Parker, adding: “He genuinely didn’t realise how good an opportunity investing in Oldham actually is.”

Jeremy Broadbent, from Delph-based construction company the Johnson Group and a member of the Oldham business leadership group, said: “We can’t wait for people to come to Oldham; we have to get ourselves out there and attract them.”


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