GM mayor names key advisors
GREATER Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has announced the latest business advisory panel for the city region.
The panel’s members will advise the mayor and deputy mayor for business and economy, Sir Richard Leese, on actions they feel the region should be taking on that are affecting business.
With representation from each of the 10 boroughs, the members were selected by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and more than 130 individuals applied.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “In November I asked all business people in Greater Manchester, from sole traders to corporation CEOs, to join me as we make Greater Manchester the best place to live, work and invest.
“I have been overwhelmed by the response we’ve had from the business community. The quality of those who applied to be on Greater Manchester’s first Business Advisory Panel has been very impressive.
“I’m proud that we now have a group of business leaders who represent full breadth of opinion, from businesses big and small, business people young and old, men and women. The panel has dynamic and innovative representatives from right across Greater Manchester’s diverse communities and business sectors. Together we will tackle the issues that businesses face and ensure all our companies can grow and succeed here in Greater Manchester.”
Members of the new panel include Kids Allowed chief executive, and M.E.N. Business of the Year winner, Jennie Johnson and Ann Steer of online fashion retailer N Brown Group.
Sir Richard Leese, deputy mayor of Greater Manchester and lead on economic strategy, added: “The continuing growth of Greater Manchester’s businesses is key to us delivering prosperity for the area and helping ensure that our residents are able to share in that success.
“It’s also essential that we capture the opportunities in emerging sectors where Greater Manchester has particular strengths. The Business Advisory Panel will provide important insight, and indeed challenge, as we develop strategies to achieve these ambitions.”
The Mayor has asked the panel to not only draw on their own personal experience in the private sector, but also look beyond it to consider what actions and polices can make Greater Manchester as a whole the best place to do business.
The panel will be free to look across all Greater Manchester policy areas, initiate new ideas and provide a challenge function.
It will work alongside Greater Manchester’s well-established Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).