Manchester Central in local business partnership
City centre events venue, Manchester Central, has struck up a significant partnership with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce to bolster the region’s business opportunities.
Chamber members will have the chance to get involved with a myriad of events hosted at Manchester Central, while event organisers will also be able to list events on the Chamber’s website, promoting them across the region, and get complimentary access to members’ lounges and workspaces at the Chamber’s shared workspace in the city centre.
The partnership is part of a drive by Manchester Central’s chief executive Shaun Hinds to make businesses in Manchester appreciate that the venue brings in international exhibitions and conferences, but is there to be used locally too.
At the fifth Destination for Business event starting today (Thursday, 9th February) a local panel will discuss sustainable growth, including Melanie Yeomans, partner at Ward Hadaway, Patrick Molyneux, co-founding partner at Acceleris Capital and Sharon Amesu, co-founder of She Leads for Legacy.
Hinds, said: “We know clients across a broad spectrum of sectors are increasingly keen to engage with local businesses and communities when they bring an event to Greater Manchester. They see the significance and importance of attracting regional audiences to their events and making a positive impact on the region they are visiting. We’re really pleased to partner with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, which will no doubt help to bolster the region’s business community.”
Visitor numbers between October and December 2022 reached 92,000, a 77 per cent increase on the previous quarter. Secondary spend on hotels, hospitality and travel in the city region contributed to an overall addition of £21.1m to the Greater Manchester economy over the three months to December, aiding the continued recovery of the region.
Event organiser Thom Hetherington held the successful Manchester Art Fair in November with a 58% increase in visitors and 60% more art sales than last year as the North’s art lovers flocked to the venue in record-breaking numbers.
Overall, Manchester Central, which is the largest of its kind in the region, added over £73.2m to the regional economy from April to December 2022. With over 23,000m² of space and a capacity of over 10,000, the results signal Manchester Central’s continued recovery, despite continued economic pressures and inflation spiking energy bills and day-to-day running costs.
Over 4,500 visitors attended the venue’s hosting of the spectacular Wheelchair Rugby World Cup Final, while other events including the International Congress of the European Hernia society and the Manchester Art Fair also drew strong crowds.
The most lucrative event for the city has been Conservative Party conference, while they have been in government. It returns to Manchester in October 2023. Hinds said he is working on persuading Labour to return for the first time since 2014.
The events sector is recovering after Covid, said Hinds, but margins have been squeezed by rising energy prices. “We have managed to sustain strong booking figures and delegate numbers. We are forecasting up to half a million delegates in 2023.
“We can’t pass on all our cost increases as it will make some events unviable, the clever bit is working with organisers at smart ways to reduce energy usage and costs.
“There is no substitute for convening people in person and Manchester has a lot to offer, there’s a real buzz about the place.”
