future-pro – the committee bringing together ambitious young professionals across Greater Manchester

Herbie Hursthouse, Chair of the future-pro committee, recently spoke to us about the opportunities that future-pro creates for young professionals and why getting involved is so rewarding.

Q: Can you explain what future-pro is and its purpose?

A: Future-pro is pro-manchester’s committee dedicated to supporting, connecting and developing the next generation of business talent across Greater Manchester. Made up of ambitious young professionals from a variety of sectors, the committee meets once a month to help shape an engaging programme of networking, learning and developing events throughout the year.

As part of the wider pro-manchester growth network, our goal is to help connect, develop and shape the future of the city region by creating opportunities for ambitious people and businesses. Through our events and initiatives, we bring people together and encourage collaboration to help young professionals build the skills, confidence and connections that can help them progress their careers.

Q: Who sits on the pro-manchester committee?

A: Our committee is made up of young professionals from businesses of all sizes and from a wide range of sectors. What unites us is a shared passion for supporting Greater Manchester’s young professional community and creating engaging events that help people learn and connect.

As a group, we represent sectors including hospitality, law, professional services, marketing and wealth management – to name just a few. Having such a diverse range of perspectives helps us create a programme that appeals to people from across the business community. We have a lot of fun in our meetings, and they’re often followed by a drink and catch-up afterwards.

Q: Can you tell us about some of the events that future-pro has lined up over the next few months?

A: We have a packed schedule of events coming up over the next few months, including Speed Networking which encourages attendees to make new connections.

One of our current key focuses is expanding our reach beyond Manchester city centre to better reflect the towns and boroughs that make up Greater Manchester. Recently, we partnered with Future Stockport, a network focused on connecting ambitious professionals within in the town’s growing business community, for a collaborative event at Loft Social.

It’s been great to see the appetite for events outside the city centre, and I’m very excited about continuing to bring future-pro events to different parts of the region. Not only does it help people expand their networks, but it also supports them with their development, helping them contribute to the region’s future.

We’re also already looking ahead to the 2027 Made in Manchester Awards, taking place next February, which is always the highlight of the future-pro calendar.

Q: Tell us a bit more about the MiMAs and what the committee does to help organise them?

A: The Made in Manchester Awards (MiMAs) is the biggest event that our committee organises each year. The awards are a celebration of the exceptional talent among young professionals across Greater Manchester and they provide an opportunity to recognise the achievements, innovation and hard work of individuals from lots of different sectors.

The award night itself is being held at Old Trafford on Thursday 11th February. We’ve grown the event to be one of the region’s biggest awards, and every year we welcome hundreds of guests to celebrate Manchester’s thriving ecosystem of talent. Having been one of those guests at last year’s brilliant evening, one of my highlights was the Oasis tribute band.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about joining the future-pro committee?

My advice is simple – go for it! I’ve gained so much from being part of the committee since joining in 2023, and even more since becoming Chair. It’s helped me grow in confidence, develop my leadership skills and build relationships with people I may never have met otherwise.

As Chair, I regularly speak at events and lead committee discussions. These experiences have helped develop my public speaking and communication skills, which have strengthened my day-to-day activities in and out of my career. I’ve also learnt a lot about leading a team and bringing people together, to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard.

But beyond the professional development, the friendships and connections I’ve made have been a highlight for me. If you’re looking to build your network, develop new skills and challenge yourself, the future-pro committee is a brilliant place to start.