Organisers of Cheshire’s big showcase event, ‘Celebrate Cheshire’ taking place on the 16th-17th September at Chester Racecourse, have secured a number of high profile business leaders to head up the conference programme taking place on Celebrate Cheshire “Business Friday”.
John Timpson, owner of high-street cobbler and key-cutter Timpson, will address the Celebrate Cheshire business conference with an upbeat and entertaining talk on his unique business style of ‘upside down management’.
The Timpson family business was taken over in 1973, but 10 years later John led a £42m management buyout. In 1987 he sold the shoe shops and concentrated on building the shoe repairing and key cutting business, which has diversified into engraving, watch repairs, dry cleaning and photo processing.
Timpson now has over 850 branches nationwide with a turnover of £150m and profits of over £10m. It is a private business wholly owned by John Timpson and his family with headquarters in Wythenshawe, Manchester. As a Cheshire resident, he will have great insight into what Cheshire has to offer for residents and businesses alike.
Mr Timpson’s open business approach includes being ‘Business agony uncle’ for the Telegraph in a weekly column.
On being asked to speak at the event, Mr Timpson said “I am delighted to be asked to speak at the Celebrate Cheshire Business Conference. Timpson is one of the many successful businesses that operate out of this part of the North West and the whole event will showcase Cheshire’s business excellence, which we are proud to be part of!”
Mr Timpson will be supported by three additional speakers, including Dr Teresa Anderson, Director of the University of Manchester’s Discovery centre at Jodrell Bank, who will be explaining how Cheshire beat off competition across the world to be chosen to locate the management of the World’s biggest telescope, a 1.5 billion Euro multi-national project. Also speaking will be Simon Waugh of the National Apprenticeship Service and Andrew McClaughlin, Chairman of the NW Regional Economic Forecasting Panel, and Chief Economist at RBS, who will be examining the economic prospects for the Cheshire Sub Region.
The conference is taking place on Friday 16th September from 11am – 1pm at a price of just £25 per delegate, and will be supported by a full day FREE exhibition village featuring the private sector businesses behind the event. Celebrate Cheshire “Business Friday” will conclude with the Trinity Mirror Cheshire Business Awards, showcasing more of the business excellence within Cheshire.
Celebrate Cheshire “Opportunity Saturday” will focus more on the career, training, voluntary work and leisure opportunities that Cheshire has to offer.
To register for the event and to be the first to receive details regarding booking your place at the conference visit the website www.celebratecheshire.co.uk
‘Celebrate Cheshire’ is being managed by Marketing Cheshire and Cheshire Business Leaders, 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.
This Private sector led initiative has the backing of a number of Cheshire-based blue chip companies, including most recently Frank Roberts and Son, EA Technology and MEPC Birchwood Park.
Jonathan Walsh, Managing Director of MEPC Birchwood Park said “We are delighted to invest in this inaugural event which will showcase the best of Cheshire and Warrington which we hope will be the start of putting Cheshire and Warrington on the map for business growth and success”
Representatives of Marketing Cheshire, Cheshire Business leaders and Cheshire and Warrington Enterprise Commission briefed MP’s and Lords in London about Celebrate Cheshire as part of a visit to the House of Commons on the 6th July and obtained their support for the event.
Issued on behalf of Celebrate Cheshire, for further information, please contact:
Rebecca Wainwright of Marketing Cheshire
01244 405 600
r.wainwright@marketingcheshire.co.uk
