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Insider Breakfast - Invest in Bolton
Bolton is still a key centre for
manufacturing skills in the North West, according to Tim Entwistle, managing
director at industrial turntable maker MoveTech UK.
Speaking at this morning's Insider breakfast at 120 Bark Street, he said: "We were going to move to Devon, but we didn't. The skills base we have in Bolton is great and I can also jump in the car and be with most of my suppliers within an hour." His comments were echoed by MIDAS director Paul Horrocks, who said Bolton should play to its strengths: "One of the great attractions of this town has got to be its education and skills base."
Bolton, close enough to Manchester to compete, but far enough away to have a distinct identity to millions, is at a crossroads. Traditional industry flies the flag with big businesses such as breadmaker Warburtons, the knowledge economy is receiving strong support from the local authorities, but the town centre is still receiving criticism.
This morning's breakfast, which was held at the grade A office of 120 Bark Street, was a chance for local business people and public sector agencies to debate how the city can move forward. It was a lively exchange, with local passion for real issues coming right to the fore. As one audience member said: "Bolton backs itself; there is strong loyalty here."
Keith Davies, director of development and regeneration for Bolton Council, opened up the debate painting a picture of where Bolton sat, in his eyes. "We think we've got a good story to tell. There has been 15 years of economic growth, jobs created, and there is a Premier League football club," he said. "We have identified challenges, and the town centre is one of those, but our strategy has been one of repositioning and providing a clean and consistent message for the brand, particularly among business people."
Davies drew challenges from the audience about the commercial heart of Bolton moving north to Middlebrook. The loss of town centres is a problem not unique to this region of course, and has been going on for decades across the UK. But entrepreneur Roy Parker, one of a number of audience members to raise the subject, questioned how far the town had come. "I don't see the Bolton you see," he said. "I see for let signs everywhere." Unless Bolton can be involved in attracting seed corn investors, how will it be able to be attractive and create jobs?"
Davies said: "At every meeting of the economic partnership the subject of access to finance is raised. While we don't have seed corn money, our role is to guide people towards where that money may be available. We can't say we can be all things to all people, but out USP is around the knowledge industries and the development of the university at the moment."
Chris Fletcher from the Greater Manchester Chamber continued the debate around town centres, citing an example of how the Trafford Centre in Manchester was a concern for retailers in the surrounding boroughs of Urmston, Stretford and Trafford. He said: "Small retail does need looking at. Through more local focus on enterprise and development [expected through the government's Local Enterprise Partnerships] then these issues can be looked at."
Comments? Email Rupert Cornford, deputy editor, North West Business Insider
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