On the innovation pulse

Dynamic network of business leaders, entrepreneurs and public sector specialists sign up to help city-region prosper

A unique forum tasked with devising both creative and practical solutions to challenges facing Greater Manchester has been established by Manchester: Knowledge Capital (M: KC). The initiative to make Manchester more able to tackle the economic, social and environmental challenges that it will face over the next 20 years.

Called the Innovation Manchester Boardroom, the forum will act as a conduit for problem-solving and the exchange of ideas between participants; utilising its members’ expertise and creativity to generate fresh and original thinking. It will also encourage champions from within the network to drive forward the best concepts and proposals.

The Boardroom is made up of around 200 individuals drawn from Greater Manchester’s business, academic, cultural, public and third sector communities. Two thirds of its constituents are from the private sector, and all share a common desire and commitment help establish Greater Manchester as world-leading city-region.

Managing the roll-out of the Boardroom concept will be M: KC’s recently appointed Innovation Manager, Kate Pickering.

Over the last two years Kate has specialised in developing new and collaborative approaches to help businesses improve commercial performance. During this time she has worked closely with a range of leading international companies and brands including BP, Associated Press, Google, EA Games, Red Bull, easy Jet, Timberland and Unilever. Prior to this Kate spent nearly a decade in television, producing documentaries for the BBC, Channel 4, Five and Discovery.

Commenting on her role, and on the foundation of the Boardroom, Kate said: “Manchester has always inspired an incredible sense of civic ownership amongst its many stakeholders and has a proud tradition of people from all walks of life helping to shape its identity.
“We want to capitalise on the wealth of knowledge and creativity that exists across the conurbation to tackle a range of 21st century challenges.
“I’m a great believer in the exponential growth of what can be achieved through collaboration. I’m thrilled that so many passionate advocates of Manchester have agreed to give up both their time and their talent to help the region prosper, and I believe the Boardroom will act as a dynamic and collaborative platform where they can make a tangible contribution to its future development.”
The Boardroom concept has evolved from M: KC’s Innovation Manchester programme. Launched 18 months ago, Innovation Manchester brought groups of business and civic leaders together and asked them to identify new ways to boost the city’s capacity for innovation – and to take the lead in driving forward the best ideas.
With M: KC’s help this process led to the establishment of a series of groundbreaking pilot programmes to support skills development and retaining talented graduates in the city. These include Manchester Masters, FabLabs, Creative Open Access and Innovate With Confidence.
The Innovation Manchester Boardroom’s inaugural meeting will be held in March.
ENDS
For interviews with Kate Pickering, images and more information please contact Richard Bond at SKV Communications. Telephone or email