Time for North West business to make its voice heard

North West business must step up to the plate and fight its corner in these times of political and economic uncertainty.

That was the call yesterday from Emma Degg, chief executive of the North West Business Leadership Team, who was speaking at an executive lunch organised by TheBusinessDesk.com at The French, within Manchester’s Midland Hotel.

Emma said her organisation was formed 30 years ago by a group of leaders who recognised the need for business to step up to make a difference by harnessing their collective influence.

She told guests: “It is indeed true that history does not repeat itself – but it does rhyme.”

She said: “Whether you believe the post-Brexit world presents us with sun-lit uplands of opportunity – or an act of economic vandalism – the answer remains long term investment in the development of strong British regions.

“We need to be helping to write the script now for the next chapter. Government simply does not have the capacity to do that for us – even if that could deliver the policies we need as the North.”

Ms Degg listed four areas the region can focus on to ensure its future.

First, to make the most of our assets, including our scientific and industrial heritage.

“Secondly, we simply must continue to focus upon driving up our productivity – a challenge not just for us, but for the whole of the UK,” she added.

Education and skills must exploit the Government’s Apprenticeship Levy, she urged, despite a continued failure to meet apprenticeship targets: “Government has the right goal – we all want to see more apprenticeships, our economy desperately needs them – but that goal will only be achieved if we work together in a sustainable way to get there.”

And, finally, she insisted more powers of devolution must be handed to our metro mayors to direct local economic development to a greater extent than ever before.

She said: “It is the tendency of all governments, regardless of political hue, to begin by devolving power, only to take fright and seek to claw it back.

“The best safeguard against this, and the most powerful argument for more powers, is to demonstrate now how effective this new model can be.”

The North West Business Leadership Team is an independent group of business leaders who work together to promote the sustainable economic development and long-term well-being of the North West of England.

It was launched by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1989 and operates as an independent business voice for the whole of the North West.

Following a career in regional development and local government, Emma became chief executive of the North West Business Leadership Team in March, 2017.

Adam Reid

Guests at the executive lunch enjoyed a seasonal three-course meal courtesy of chef Adam Reid.

Adam Reid at the French recently came 13th in a list of the top 50 restaurants in the UK.

The French was the last restaurant in Manchester to have a coveted Michelin star back in 1974 and Adam is determined to restore past glories.

He has been cooking since childhood and is now recognised as one of the best chefs in the country.

Yesterday he served a three-course lunch, starting with malt bread and beef and onion butter and spiced San Marzano tomatoes with crispy sweetbreads, followed by organic chicken leg from the Rhug Estate in North Wales, with barley sweetcorn and turnip, finishing with white chocolate cream and strawberry sorbet milk crumble.

The 33-year-old father of two said: “We are a restaurant in a hotel, but we are not a hotel restaurant.

“We have a unique style – I’d like to say it’s my style, my personality on a number of plates.”