Lord Mayor visits Manchester to strengthen ties

Lord Mayor of the City of London, Nick Anstee, is in Manchester today on a visit to strengthen business and economic ties across the UK-based financial services industry.

While in Manchester the Lord Mayor is scheduled to meet the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Alison Firth, and prominent business figures across the city from pro.manchester, MIDAS and the NWDA.

As part of the itinerary for the visit, pro.manchester is hosting an exclusive discussion group with members of the ‘Manchester family’ of organisations, including the Chamber of Commerce, MIDAS, the Commission for the New Economy and Marketing Manchester.

Anchoring a debate with regional bodies, pro.manchester is also chairing a regional roundtable with the Financial Service Sector Advisory Board Regional Forum (FSSAB), the NWDA, Bank of England, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the London Stock Exchange and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). This reiterates the strength of the region and Manchester’s pivotal role within this.

As the first city on the Lord Mayor’s agenda for 2010, Manchester is recognised both nationally and internationally as the UK’s largest financial and professional services centre outside London. It is also establishing its reputation as the European capital for lower to mid-market private equity.

The Lord Mayor, Alderman Nick Anstee, said: “Manchester today is not just an engine for growth in the North but also a critically important part of the UK-based financial and professional services offer.

“TheCityUK, a new organisation to promote all UK-based financial services, will complement my work in highlighting how important Manchester is to a broader audience across the world.”

pro.manchester chief executive John Ashcroft added: “Manchester’s business community competes on an international scale and our reputation will continue to attract investment to our city.

“Our business leaders are a strong and dynamic force and the Lord Mayor selecting the city as his first stop is testament to our prowess as a leading business and economic concern.”  

For more information visit www.pro-manchester.co.uk