Commerce chamber holds annual dinner

'Slow transport links are holding back' David Brown at the GM Chamber dinner

NORTHERN infrastructure needs, devolution, skills and exports were high on the agenda at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner.

Newly-elected Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and David Brown, the chief executive of Transport for the North, joined 640 business leaders for the dinner at Victoria Warehouse in Old Trafford.

Recently-elected Mr Burnham spoke about his aspirations for his role and English regional devolution, while Mr Brown said almost one million new jobs could be created in the north, with the right support.

The evening was hosted by Red Dwarf star Craig Charles, who was also the DJ for the after-dinner party.

Transport for the North has offices and Manchester and Leeds, and is designed to fit in with the English devolution agenda. Its powers are devolved down from central government rather than upward from local government. Its purpose is to ensure that transport funding and strategy is fully-informed by northern knowledge and requirements. It includes business and political representatives from across the north.

Mr Brown said: "The economy of the north of England is being held back by slow and unreliable transport links, which make it difficult to move people and goods around the region and inhibit business growth. However independent research shows that, with the right support, the north's economy could be transformed by 2050, creating 850,000 new jobs and nearly £100 billion additional GVA.

"Transport for the North is developing ambitious prioritised plans for a multi-modal transport system which will link the region's key economic assets, enabling transformational economic growth and supporting an excellent quality of life.

"I'm calling on Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce to share their strategic transport priorities with us as we develop our plans, and also to help to make the case to decision makers for the investment the north needs."

Other speakers included Wayne Jones, chief sales office of MAN Diesel & Turbo SE and president of Greater Manchester Chamber; Jane Boardman, a partner at Deloittes and vice-president of the chamber. Mr Jones is now in his second year as chamber president and spoke about the fast-changing economic and political events of recent years which raised major questions about UK, European and global trade. Events had included the Scottish independence referendum, the EU referendum and the current UK general election.

He said: "Despite the uncertainty and the barrage of politics and comment that we face virtually 24/7, we should never forget that this city-region and this chamber are built on collaboration and working together to make things better and to make a difference.

"We live in changing and challenging times but, in a strange way, I'm really pleased that all this happened whilst I've been president. I've been able to get involved with a lot of valuable work in helping to steer the right course for the chamber and its members. My themes around the manufacturing and engineering sector, young people and skills, and international trade are well-advanced and these will continue after my term ends in October of this year.

He added: "From day-one in my role at the chamber, I have wanted to be much more than just a ceremonial figurehead. I am one of the fortunate 100 individuals who have been president of the chamber over the last 223 years, which is very humbling. I'm sure that we all have, in our own way, tried to make a difference by standing-up for the chamber's members and also the wider business community."

During the dinner, Oldham-based artist, Helen Davies, was announced as the winner of the 2017 GM Arts Prize. The chamber launched its second annual Arts Prize in January. It received 220 entries in total.