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THIS IS ROCHDALE How do businesses benefit by

joining ‘This Is Rochdale’?

An important part of what we do is bring-
ing local businesses together. We are
‘This is Rochdale’ is an independent organisation We have got a huge amount of development going committed to giving value back to them
that promotes Rochdale as a destination for on in the town centre, which will bring a lot of new for the time and effort that they give to us.
business. Its Ambassador programme supports people into Rochdale. The retailers that have already Every quarter or so we organise an event
Rochdale’s strategy to encourage inward signed up for the shopping complex are good for our ambassadors, where we introduce
investment, stimulate local pride and attract household names and very strong businesses, the them to speakers who can add value to
talent, by utilising the national networking likes of which will attract a lot of shoppers. The their business and the way they perceive
activities of well-connected business people leisure facilities will be first rate; it is next to the themselves. At our formal relaunch in
from across the borough. transport interchange, so you can step off the bus March 2018, over 100 local businesses
and tram and go straight into the centre. attended. At each event we will provide
Paul Dixon, chairman of ‘This is Rochdale’, and a an update on developments across the
partner at Molesworths solicitors, spoke to Real We have a project to refurbish the Town Hall, which borough which our ambassadors will hear
Rochdale about his ambitions for ‘This is Rochdale’ is going to take time, but when finished it will be directly from the Chief Executive of
and its network of ambassadors. even more spectacular than it already is. Rochdale Council, Steve Rumbelow.

What is the new project about? Around the borough, we have lots of leisure Why are ambassadors important to
facilities, for example Hollingworth Lake which has ‘This Is Rochdale’?
We want to encourage investment and pride within produced Olympic standard rowers and sailors. We
the borough. The group is a voluntary association have a variety of sports clubs that play to a very As leaders of successful Rochdale
made up of members of the local business high level in both local and national leagues, such businesses, our ambassadors can share
community, and representatives from Rochdale as Rochdale Football Club, the rugby clubs, hockey their experiences and tell others why it is
Development Agency (RDA) . It is those business clubs and cricket clubs. such a great destination for business. ‘This is Rochdale’ chairman Paul Dixon
leaders that join us that are our Rochdale
Ambassadors, this is what our members are called. We also have great restaurants and bars; a lot of By way of example, the government has Why do you think it is important that Rochdale’s
people don’t realise how many good places and provided a fund, available to businesses as identity is developed?
What are your objectives? locations there are in Rochdale. grants to help them improve their manufacturing

processes and in particularly digitalise them as We have a proud history and throughout this history,
Our objectives as a group are simply to promote If it comes to hard commercial decisions for much as possible. This initiative is called Rochdale has had various aspects that have pro-
Rochdale as a destination for business and primarily businesses wanting to relocate, the cost of ‘Made Smarter’. vided a unique identity; the most obvious being the
to promote Rochdale to people and organisations commercial real estate, whether it be offices, cooperative movement starting here at the Pioneers
outside of the borough as a destination for business. factories or warehouses, is more competitive in The UK CEO of Siemens is one of the leaders of it. Museum. Rochdale was also very much a part of the
Rochdale than it is in many places around us. We The project is aimed at the North West and one of industrial revolution when textiles were brought in.
We feel the best people to promote Rochdale are have got great housing developments and a lot our ambassadors, Richard Hagan, of Crystal Doors,
the businesses, as there a huge number already here planned, which is more affordable than other places. spoke at the launch event in Liverpool in November. We are a borough that sits very much on its own in
that are successful. Their role is to be ambassadors There is so much going for Rochdale at the minute Greater Manchester, so we have our own identity
for Rochdale and to communicate to businesses and that is what we intend to prove. This Is Rochdale, with our ambassadors, will be geographically, and it’s important that we maintain
thinking of relocating, to say: “Come and see putting on an event, in conjunction with RDA, to tell that identity moving forward.
Rochdale, it is a great place to do business.” What success has there been encouraging busi- local businesses about the ‘Made Smarter’ initiative
nesses to relocate here? and the funding available to local businesses. This is Developing this identity gives everybody within the
Our location is important – on one side of the an example of how we go outside of the borough and borough an opportunity to identify with the town
borough we have fantastic motorways, we have We work closely with RDA and the Council, who are bring knowledge back to benefit local businesses. and take pride in it.
Metrolink to Manchester, and business parks with a doing a fantastic job with a whole host of new
lot of demand. On the other side of the borough, we businesses that have come into the town. An If our businesses are able to evolve and improve, The amount of pride that most people in Rochdale
have fantastic countryside and it is no more than five example of a high-profile business that has come to then that in itself will attract other similar have for the place they call home, whether it be for
minutes away from the centre. Rochdale is Tetrosyl, which has refurbished a large businesses into the borough. We want to help the their business or the place that they live, should not
office space that was empty for a long time. town develop a positive identity. be underestimated.

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