About Manchester Enterprises

A Brief History

The Manchester Enterprises Group was established in 1999 following the Government's decision to create Learning and Skills Councils and to abolish the TECs (Training and Enterprise Councils). We were established as a not-for-profit group of specialist companies focussing on the economic development of the Manchester sub-region comprising the local authority areas of Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford.

Between 2000 and 2004, companies joined the Group, new companies were formed, and our geography expanded to all ten local authority areas in Greater Manchester; the additional areas being Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Wigan.

By 2006, the Manchester Enterprises Group comprised Manchester Enterprises - the holding company responsible for strategic economic development matters - and nine operating companies responsible for the delivery of economic development services:

• BEST – provides education business partnership services.
• Better Choices – delivers the connexions service.
• ChamberLink – delivers the Business Link service and provides business support services. ChamberLink is a joint venture company with Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• CIDS – provides business support services to the creative industries sector.
• ERP – works with unemployed people and low skilled employees to find and retain employment.
• MIDAS - provides inward and indigenous investment services for the Greater Manchester sub region.
• Skills Solution – delivers apprenticeship and some adult training.
• The Enterprise Fund – provides finance for social enterprises and small businesses
• 3SE – supports the growth and development of the social enterprise sector.

In 2006 the Manchester Enterprises Group decided to split its strategic and service delivery functions and form separate companies effective from the 1st April. All the operating companies except MIDAS became the Manchester Solutions group of companies. MIDAS joined Manchester Enterprises on the strategic side.

The Board

We have a private sector-led Board, chaired by Peter Heginbotham, and made up of key individuals from across Greater Manchester, comprising:

Board Directors

• Dr Moneeb Awan - Private sector appointment
• Janet Callender - Local Authority Director appointed by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA)
• Cllr Wayne Campbell - Local Authority Director appointed by AGMA
• David Evans - Private sector appointment
• Mike Emmerich - Chief Executive, Manchester Enterprises
• Peter Heginbotham - Private sector Chair appointed by the Board
• Cllr Keith Mann - Local Authority Director appointed by AGMA
• Cllr Brian Millard - Local Authority Director appointed by AGMA
• David Page - Private sector appointment
• Michael Oglesby - Private sector appointment
• Jane Davies - Private sector appointment
• John Early - Private sector appointment
• Cllr Val Stevens - Local Authority Director appointed by AGMA
• Peter Weidenbaum - Private sector appointment

Board Advisors

• Steve Broomhead - North West Development Agency
• Lindsay Harman - Jobcentre Plus
• Gail Porter - Government Office for the North West
• Elaine Bowker - Greater Manchester Learning and Skills Council
• Joyce Redfearn - AGMA
• Prof Michael Harloe - Higher Education Institutions

The Board, which is responsible for the corporate governance of the organisation, meets bi-monthly and deals with policy and strategy formulation; monitors the organisation's performance against agreed objectives, and ensures the legality, financial probity, efficiency and cost effectiveness of our operations.

The Senior Management Team

Overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of the organisation currently lies with Mike Emmerich, our Chief Executive. Mike was the former Director of the Institute for Political and Economic Governance, and Associate Dean for External Affairs at The University of Manchester.

We have also appointed Nick Gerrard as Deputy Chief Executive. He is also responsible for heading up Manchester Enterprises Strategy and Implementation department and for taking forward the sub-regional action plan and developing Manchester Enterprises' work in Greater Manchester.

In addition to the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive, our Senior Management Team comprises of Ian Kerr, Policy Director and Alison French, Head of Commissioning.

The Greater Manchester Forum and Manchester Enterprises

The Greater Manchester Forum members became the company law members of Manchester Enterprises in March 2004, representing the partnership which oversees the delivery of the Regional Economic Strategy in Greater Manchester. The Manchester Enterprises Board is accountable to the Forum for its strategic business plan, delivery and performance.

Members of the Forum include the private sector, local government, the voluntary sector, further education, higher education, trade unions and various regional and other partners such as Government Office for the North West, North West Development Agency, the North West Regional Assembly, Jobcentre Plus, the Learning and Skills Council, Manchester Airport and Manchester Marketing.