A unique initiative that harnesses the power of Greater Manchester’s best and brightest minds is targeting the creative, media and marketing sector to help the region prepare for the challenges of the future.
Mike Perls (MC2), Gez O’Brien (Stardotstar), Grant Windridge (Hemsiphere), Martin Carr (True North), Mike Ryan (Idaho), Sandy Lindsay (Tangerine), digital consultant Tony Tickle (tickle.co.uk), Steve Connor (Creative Concern) and Andrew Spinoza (SKV), are just some of the senior industry figures who have signed up to the Innovation Manchester Boardroom – an “ideas and action” cross-sector forum designed to tackle major issues facing Greater Manchester.
These issues include an ageing workforce, developing a sustainable low carbon economy, the future infrastructure of the city-region and other key social and economic priorities.
Around 200 Boardroom participants – two thirds of whom are in the private sector – are asked to apply their expertise and creativity to bring fresh and original thinking to the table through regular face to face workshop sessions and online collaboration.
Martin Carr, founder and managing director of design agency True North, said: “The creative and marketing industry in Manchester is obviously very competitive but many of us who work in the sector also share a common aspiration to create a positive and progressive place to live and work.
“High quality design, a culture of creativity and successful commercial growth all go hand in hand; and I’m happy to contribute whatever I can to help the region prosper via the Innovation Boardroom network.”
In addition to contributing ideas, insights and opinion, some participants with particular skills are encouraged to become ‘issue champions’; developing and driving forward the best ideas emanating from Boardroom sessions and turning them into tangible projects.
A pilot version of the Boardroom concept, that ran last year as part of M:KC’s Innovation Manchester programme, saw this aspect of the initiative spur a range of projects – including the Manchester Masters scheme (www.manchestermasters.com) aimed at tackling the challenge of graduate retention.
Behind the Boardroom concept is Manchester: Knowledge Capital (M:KC) a not-for-profit company which aims to make Greater Manchester a global leader in knowledge and innovation by bringing together businesses, policy-shapers and universities in new ways.
Commenting on the marketing sector’s support for the Boardroom, Kate said: “Getting some of the region’s most respected and influential media and marketing figures to commit both their time and their talent to help Greater Manchester prosper is a genuine coup and their participation is greatly valued.”
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For interviews with Kate Pickering, images and more information please contact Richard Bond at SKV Communications. Telephone 0161 838 7770 or email richard.bond@skvcommunications.co.uk
Notes to Editors
- Launched 18 months ago, Innovation Manchester brought groups of business and civic leaders together and asked them to identify new ways to boost the city’s capacity for innovation – and to take the lead in driving forward the best ideas.
- With M:KC’s help this process led to the establishment of a series of groundbreaking pilot programmes to support skills development and retaining talented graduates in the city, including Manchester Masters, Manchester Fab Lab, Creative Open Access and Innovate With Confidence.
- Manchester: Knowledge Capital aims to make Greater Manchester a global leader in knowledge and innovation. M: KC is a not-for-profit company that brings together businesses, policy-shapers and universities in new ways: connecting people and ideas, identifying strategic opportunities and radical solutions to city-wide challenges, catalysing new initiatives, and providing expert advice on innovation and the knowledge economy.
- For information on the work of Manchester: Knowledge Capital please visit: www.manchesterknowledge.com
