September Growth Hub Lunch Presentation

September Business Growth Hub Lunch - Bolton

Friday, 25th September 2015Octagon Theatre11.30am – 2.00pm

Welcome and IntroductionJonathan CrabtreeGrowth AdvisorBusiness Growth Hub

• 12:05pm – Welcome from Elizabeth Newman, Arts Director, Octagon Theatre

• 12:10pm – Update from Phil Green, Head of Economic Strategy, Bolton Council

• 12:20pm – Guest Speaker: Lesley Sharrock, Commercial Director, James

Robertshaw & Sons

• 12:45pm – Questions & Answers

• 12:55pm – Closing Remarks: Jonathan Crabtree, Business Growth Advisor,

Business Growth Hub

• 1:00pm – Lunch & Networking (in the Bar on 1st floor)

• 2:00pm – Event Close

Welcome to Octagon TheatreElizabeth NewmanArts DirectorOctagon Theatre

Bolton Council UpdatePhil GreenHead of Economic StrategyBolton Council

Bolton Business Growth Hub

Bolton: Our Economic Strategy 25 September 2015

Phil GreenHead of Economic Strategy

This Presentation

• Growth, Reform and Devolution• Update on Bolton’s Economy• Local Economic Assessment

– Headline messages– Opportunities and Challenges

• Strategy - Your thoughts and contributions

Greater Manchester Context

• Our Ambition• Creating the Conditions for Growth• Increasing Skills and driving business growth• Reform - helping residents to be independent and

increasing the number of those in work• A Place Based Approach - the Northern Powerhouse

• Fiscal Challenges • Opportunities - Devolution

– New directly elected mayor and powers to the combined authority - we are seeking more!

Economic Strategy in Bolton

• A decade of Economic Strategy in Bolton:• Focused on image, investment, town centre,

strategic sites, skills and direct intervention.• Achieved £900m development pipeline; strategic

sites are underway; GM powers and economic recovery are aiding sustained jobs growth

• What next? What should the emphasis of our Economic Strategy be for the next 5 years and beyond?

The largest manufacturing and distribution site in the NW

M61 Corridor - Logistics North

www.businessbolton.org

www.businessbolton.org

M61 Corridor – Rivington ChaseHousing led regeneration of Horwich Loco Works

Bolton Town Centre

Bolton town centre is changing - there's evolution in the air...• With improvements to our transport links, our cultural offer and our public and open

spaces the town centre is evolving into a vibrant, welcoming place to live, work or visit.

• As the developments continue, stop by and watch us evolve in to a town for the 21st century…

http://www.bolton.gov.uk/evolveh

https://youtu.be/3tt_qkpb7ZQ?list=PLsCRqbpQur_hadw-3lOztdGlxtmoqWNiL ttps://youtu.be/3tt_qkpb7ZQ

Bolton Town Centre

Bolton’s Economic Assessment

• Business Base; People and Skills; Place; Forecasts:• Bolton’s scale, location and town centre = key

strengths• Strong jobs and key sector growth – more forecast• Skills base improving all levels

• Unique strengths and challenges to address…

Bolton’s Economic Assessment

Opportunities ChallengesClear signs of recovery in Bolton, with employment at pre-recession

levels

Pace of skills improvements – especially to higher level

Almost 11,000 new jobs could be created across the borough by 2025

Linking residents to opportunities in Bolton and across Greater

Manchester

Logistics North, Rivington Chase (Loco Works) and Bolton Town

Centre have the potential to drive this growth

Providing an appropriate housing offer, meeting the needs of a

demographically changing population and challenging house-building

requirements

Ensuring the University of Bolton lives up to its economic potential

Aligning housing growth and economic policies with infrastructure

and transport investment

Economic Strategy Scope

• Changing economic and demographic landscape requires a fresh look at the Economic Strategy

• A shared strategy will be needed that maximises the benefits to Bolton from developments across GM

• New Economy appointed to develop a Strategy that:− Articulates a clear vision for economic growth in Bolton, built on

Bolton’s unique strengths.− Is grounded in an understanding of Bolton and the wider GM Context.− Is outcome focussed with decisions based upon quantifiable evidence.− Reflects budget pressures and the need to reduce demand on public

services.− Is monitored on an going basis.

Key components

• Less emphasis on development led strategy– Town Centre remains a priority; Logistics North will take

care of itself• Needs to be much more about maximising the

opportunities of growth – in Bolton and GM• Major programme of housing development and

infrastructure• Skills improving but need to go harder and faster• “Town and Gown” University at the heart with

masterplan and Academic Village linked to fortunes of Bolton and town centre, helping drive regeneration

Next Steps

• Ongoing consultation with partners and businesses

• Draft interim report: October 2015• Draft strategy and action plan: November• Vision Conference: 7 Dec 2015

Do you have any views?• What are Bolton’s most significant challenges and opportunities?• How might we deliver appropriate housing to support economic growth

and maximise the potential of Bolton’s distinctive local offer?– Capitalising on the economic potential of Bolton Town Centre– Maximising the local economic impact of the University of Bolton

– How might we link Bolton residents and businesses to opportunities across Greater Manchester and the North, with consideration of the Northern Powerhouse?

– What challenges and opportunities does Bolton face in improving the productivity of local residents and businesses?

– How might we consider the impact of social, demographic and environmental factors (e.g. health, housing, inequality, skills, ethnicity) within our strategy?

– How might our Economic Strategy take account of the risks of a downturn in the national and local economy?

Bolton: Our Economic Strategy Contacts:

Phil.Green@bolton.gov.uk (Head of Economic Strategy)Simon.Godley@bolton.gov.uk (Unit Manager Economic Strategy)

Katrina Hann (Head of Research)Christopher Pope (Senior Analyst)

Guest SpeakerLesley SharrockCommercial DirectorJames Robertshaw & Sons

Lesley SharrockCommercial DirectorJames Robertshaw

Presentation to Bolton Business Growth Hub

• About me

• Introduction to James Robertshaw

• Challenges faced and lessons learnt

• My tips

Challenges and lessons learnt

• Adapting to survive• Customer Service• Training• Innovate• Invest• Links and relationships• Recruit effectively

Top Tips

• Network, network, network• Have a plan• Marketing and PR• Trust your gut and get advice

Questions & Answers from the Audience

Closing RemarksJonathan CrabtreeGrowth AdvisorBusiness Growth Hub

Lee FraterDigital Growth ManagerBusiness Growth Hub

Upcoming Events6th October: Big Bolton Expo, The Bridge Conference and Exhibition Centre

9th October: Wigan Business Expo, Robin Park Sports and Tennis Centre

30th October: October Business Growth Hub Breakfast, Rochdale

3rd November: Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Action for Business Breakfast, Market Place, Bolton

7th, 14th, 21st October and 3rd, 10th , 17th November: ‘Building Your Creative Business’, Bolton Octagon Theatre

30th November:  ’From Start-Up to Scale-Up’, University of Bolton

Business Growth Hub:Phone: 0161 359 3050

Email: info@businessgrowthhub.com

www.businessgrowthhub.com

@bizgrowthhub

Business Growth Hub

+Businessgrowthhub

Business Bolton:

Phone: 01204 336 222

Email: businessbolton@bolton.gov.uk

www.businessbolton.org 

@businessbolton