Plans for a major event to showcase the county’s business credentials have got off to a flying start at a recent launch event at Chester Racecourse.

Celebrate Cheshire is tipped to be a large-scale, two-day ‘business expo’ on September 16 and 17, with aims to unite the private, public and voluntary sectors.

Representatives from a range of Cheshire-based businesses, major organisations and local authorities attended the launch in the racecourse’s Long Room.

Andrew Donaldson, founder of BiG Storage and chairman of the event’s organising committee, said: “We are delighted with the response we have received and the enthusiasm that exists to make Celebrate Cheshire a great success.

“Celebrate Cheshire will be an unprecedented two-day event that we are confident will act as a catalyst for investment and growth, regeneration, enterprise and development.

“The event has been made possible by a genuine and effective partnership approach, by everyone working collectively towards a common objective, which is very heartening for the sub-region’s future economic wellbeing.

“We have brought together many of the major companies in Cheshire, alongside its innovative and hard-working SMEs, to fully support us in all ways – including backing the event financially.”

The event’s aim is to highlight the ‘Cheshire factors’ which have contributed to the sub-region’s successful economy and will set out Cheshire and Warrington’s compelling proposition for economic investment and business relocation.

Celebrate Cheshire is being put together by Marketing Cheshire (the organisation charged with promoting the county) and Cheshire Business Leaders (an organisation set up to stimulate the county’s economic development), with widespread backing from the county’s business community, local authorities, Cheshire and Warrington’s new Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) as well as the education and voluntary sectors.
Private-sector-led, the initiative has the backing of Cheshire-based blue chip companies including M&S Money, Bank of America, Bentley Motors and Grosvenor, as well as prominent figures such as David Briggs, the Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire, and Neville Chamberlain, chairman of Cheshire Business Leaders.
Mr Chamberlain said: “Cheshire and Warrington’s private sector felt a major event like this was needed to showcase all Cheshire has to offer and to promote the area to a wider audience.

“We believe there is currently a lack of awareness about the type of high-tech companies operating here today and the scale and quality that exists in sectors, such as manufacturing, logistics, innovation and science.

“We want investors and businesses to take a completely fresh look at the unique proposition Cheshire offers.”

He explained ‘Celebrate Cheshire’ will promote the county’s successful businesses, skilled workforce, training and educational facilities, as well as property and development opportunities.

It will also mark one of the first key projects backed by the new LEP.

Its chair, Christine Gaskell said: “Here in Cheshire we have all the right ingredients to drive economic growth; the aim is to get that message across loudly and clearly to a diverse audience.”

Below: (L-R) Neville Chamberlain, Andrew Donaldson, Anne Ibrahim, David Briggs, Edward Pysden, Chris Brown