Date: Tue 7th July, 2009
Venue:
Number of Guests Attended: 110
Is Warrington’s success the untold story of North West business? The Centre for Cities report earlier this year that put it as far and away the most successful of North West conurbations came as no great surprise, but there’s a feeling that the wider world is unaware of what’s happening.
That’s one of the challenges Warrington faces and one of the reasons behind insider’s Warrington Futures event.
Panellist Jonathan Walsh, managing director of MEPC Birchwood Park, has joined the board of regeneration partnership Warrington & Co, and said that, with the foundation built on access to labour, great transport links and cross-sectoral strength, Warrington is now playing with the big boys and needs to formulate a joint effort with Cheshire to create a comprehensive inward investment package that could rival Liverpool and Manchester.
He said: “It’s a competitive world and we’re up against The Mersey Partnership and MIDAS, who make it tough. We need to work together to make our voice heard so we don't get blown out of the water with big employers. Manchester’s great at telling the world about its successes – we have a heck of a story to tell, so let’s tell it.”
Warrington’s size and manageability has thus far been a virtue, it was agreed. Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the Northwest Regional Development Agency, said that its success was helped by an uncluttered decision-making process.
“Warrington’s had a unitary authority since 1998 and that means there’s one place to go for housing, planning and transport,” he said.
“The reason Preston hasn’t punched its weight is there’s two tiers of local government. In the Manchester and Liverpool city regions you’ve got ten and six local authorities respectively and getting agreement on common economic themes isn’t easy.”
Carsten Kressel, chief executive of Warrington & Co, added: “We have a varied, knowledge-based economy but need to do more to sell the story. But we’re optimistic here. One of the few sectors that’s showing growth at the moment is nuclear, and we’re right at the heart of that.”
One of the issues – and one not unique to Warrington by any means – is transport.
Nasar Malik, director of transportation and highways at Atkins Global, said: “There are issues with congestion and there’s a need to improve public transport – it’s a town designed for the car really. Putting the centre of Warrington in better touch with its wider catchment area is important.”
