The Innovation Manchester Boardroom... in action!
Dynamic network of business leaders, entrepreneurs and public sector specialists sign up to help city-region prosper
What will life in Manchester be like 20 years from now? Will the city realise its full potential as a centre of innovation? Will it take the smart route in responding to the big challenges and opportunities presented by siesmic shifts in the global economy, the climate, and society? Far-sighted business and city leaders are joining forces to shape Manchester’s future, in the Innovation Manchester Boardroom.
The Boardroom is unique forum tasked with devising both creative and practical solutions to challenges facing Greater Manchester has been established by Manchester: Knowledge Capital (M:KC).
It will utilise its members’ expertise and creativity to generate fresh and original thinking and 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.
MKC’s: Kate Pickering, commented,
“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 first Boardroom group met in March 2010, when the issues tackled included the ageing workforce, the future infrastructure of the city region, and emerging business sectors. A full programme that will tackle wide reaching city challenges is planned over the next 12 months.
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.