The Greater Manchester Yes Coalition has formally launched its campaign in favour of congestion charging and the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) bid with a pledge to "destroy the myths" surrounding the £3b investment package. The campaign, which brings together businesses, unions, environmentalists, students and others, was launched at the Rochdale Centre of Diversity this morning. Speaking to Insider, David Russell of Property Alliance Group said: “We will be busy right through to the referenda in December. What we need to do is inform people and make sure they vote. The better informed they are, the more they see this is the right thing to do.” In support of the campaign, Ask chief executive Ken Knott said: “We have had a good 15 years but are deluding ourselves if we think the job is done. This city region is creaking at the seams.”

Business advisory firm Tenon has posted an underlying profit increase of 34 per cent to £17.6m for the year ending 30 June 2008, with turnover up 17 per cent to £160.3m. At a regional level turnover grwq 80 per cent to £28m, buoyed by three acquisitions. Managing director for the North West Martin Kirby told Insider he expects growth to continue in 2009, especially in recovery services, while the firm is also on the look out for more acquisitions. He said: “It’s going to be a hard year there’s no two ways about it, but the hard year just makes you focus. We’ve got a balanced portfolio and we’re still very busy across all areas of the business. We expect to continue growing organically, but we are acquisitive by nature so we are talking to people about future opportunities.”

Tough competition from China has made regional manufacturers leaner and meaner. Klarius, the Blackpool-headquartered manufacturer of exhaust and catalytic converters, has seen productivity and investment continue to rise. Business development director Paul Hannah said: “While the manufacturing industry is undoubtedly going through a difficult period, the demand for high-quality replacement parts is most assuredly in place.” Insider and manufacturers’ organisation EEF are hosting a breakfast summit in Blackburn on 23 October to discuss the future of manufacturing with speakers including: Klarius managing director Andrew Jones; Andrew Brian, managing director of Optare; and Phil Humphreys, director of supply chain strategy for Military Air Solutions, BAE. For further information on the event, please contact our events team on 0161 907 9723 or email helen.rangeley@newsco.com.