pro-manchester’s 39th Anniversary Celebration!

Sam has been at pro-manchester for 17 years and has been an integral part of its growth from a small, effective membership network to a sophisticated business development organisation. A firm part of the Manchester business community, Sam is a familiar face to most, constantly and efficiently working to bring businesses together in the city region.

As chief executive, Sam is responsible for the organisation’s corporate engagement as well managing all existing key partnerships and member relationships. Sam manages the day-to-day running and strategic direction of the business alongside Nicola McCormick – COO. They run the organisation together as equal partners with shared responsibility.

Sam also sits on the board of trustees for Forever Manchester, a charity that supports community activity across Greater Manchester. As well as this, Sam also sits on the Greater Manchester Economic Resilience Board, the Greater Manchester Organisational Representatives Group, the Manchester Business Sounding Board, the Bee Net Zero Advisory Board and the Manchester tech hub Board.

In 2019 Sam also became the Regional Deputy Chair of TheCityUK, where she helps to engage the national body on a regional level on behalf of individuals in the financial and professional services industries. In 2022 Sam was featured in the inaugural Top 50 North West tech Transformers list complied by BusinessCloud

Alison is based in the City Centre where she is a consultant with the commercial legal practise Lockett Loveday McMahon Solicitors and she also has her own business advisory company.

Alison is a champion of equality in the workplace, recognising the importance of diversity, inclusion and the promotion of health and well-being at work ( both mental and physical). This is not in response to ‘ the latest trend’ but is something she has done throughout her thirty plus year career. In addition, she is keen to support the future generation – promoting links between the workplace and schools /colleges/ and our Universities and working with various mentoring programs.

Alison is a keen supporter of North West Business Community, being a Director and the current Chair  of pro-manchester, and of its Skills Committee. She is also an Ambassador for the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity (which raises money for and promotes awareness of the experience of homelessness). Her chosen charity in her role as Chair of pro-manchester is the Pankhurst Trust, incorporating  Manchester Women’s Aid which is celebrating its 50^th year providing domestic abuse services across Greater Manchester. Its particular focus this year is in  on raising funds for children who are the victims of domestic abuse and who make up the greatest number of those living temporarily in MWA refuges.

Alison is a member of the Northern Power Woman Power List, and the Women of the Year Awards. She regularly provides comment to the media- National press, radio and television.

As COO, Nicola runs the business on a day to day basis, looks after the team and plays a key role in the creation of commercial strategy alongside Sam Booth.   Nicola & Sam run the organisation together as equal partners with shared responsibility.  She’s a strong believer that their differing skillsets and experiences complement each other’s strengths and perspectives, thus building a culture of creativity and innovation.

Nicola is passionate about the development of the organisation, helping evolve marketing, sponsorship, product development and customer service.

Nicola oversees the delivery of pro-manchester’s extensive events and conference programme.  This includes over 150 events per year from business lunches and breakfasts to the Trailblazing Tech conference and Made in Manchester Awards.

Nicola has worked in the events industry for  over 20 years.  She joined pro-manchester with a wealth of knowledge in 2010 as Events & Conference Manager and was made a Director in 2017.

Prior to working for pro-manchester, Nicola was the International Event Manager for Travel Counsellors. Before this, she worked her way up from Events Assistant to Head of Events at Manchester agency, Gilds Events, with regular clients including N Brown Group, Bupa and Siemens to name but a few.