Manchester Update

Today it is thriving with 1,425 companies and a highly skilled workforce of around 45,800, reaffirming the area’s reputation for dynamism, enterprise and industrial excellence.

Eleven years ago, however, the picture was quite different with the park in severe decline. In an attempt to halt this regression, the government established Trafford Park Development Corporation (TPDC) in February 1987.

With a brief to “secure the economic and physical regeneration of the Trafford Park Urban Development Area”, the Development Corporation has been responsible for some 1,146 hectares (2,750 acres) stretching from Manchester City Centre out to the M63 motorway as well as the former British Steel site at Northbank, Irlam.

Over an 11-year period the Development Corporation has breathed new life into the world’s oldest industrial park, attracting £1.75 billion of private sector investment and nearly 1,000 companies, leading to the generation of some 28,000 jobs. New infrastructure legacy In 1987, the roads into and around Trafford Park were clearly inadequate for the purposes of the park’s companies, many of which depended on efficient transportation links.

Eleven years on and TPDC has completed its infrastructure programme. Some 47.4km (29.4 miles) of new and upgraded highways have been completed, in addition to another 72.2 km (44.9 miles) of improved footpaths.

One of the most important road schemes is the new Eastern Spine, which will help connect the park with the city centre. This forms the third and final phase of the three-spoke road network, following the enhancement of the southern gateway via Parkway to the M63 and the construction of the new northern gateway in the form of Centenary Way, linking Trafford Park with the M602 thanks to the opening of Centenary Bridge. The bridge is the first low level opening bridge to be built over the Manchester Ship Canal since its construction in 1894.

In addition to the new bridge and upgraded roads, footpaths and cycleways, the Development Corporation has released necessary land required to assist with bringing Metrolink through Trafford Park.

Creating jobs TPDC has exceeded the targets set in 1987, particularly in terms of investment and, more importantly, the number of jobs which have been attracted. While the physical side of regeneration – roads, buildings and environmental improvement schemes – are important, the Development Corporation viewed them as means to an end, putting great store in companies employing people and creating job opportunities. The key aspect was to give local unemployed people the chance to compete for the jobs generated. That link between jobs and the unemployed was central to the Corporation’s approach.

Training packages
In addition to attracting 28,300 new jobs since 1987, the Development Corporation has supported 14,245 training places for local people. It concentrated its efforts on offering both new and existing companies training packages to encourage them to recruit from the pockets of high, long-term unemployment around the borders of the Trafford Park area. Investment success

Figures show that Trafford Park continues to be one of the UK’s most successful business locations. US companies Photronics and Omega Engineering both constructed new European headquarters.

Photronics, the world’s leading manufacturer of photomasks, a key element in the production of semi-conductors, has built a 3,900 sq m hi-tech facility on Wharfside, and at Northbank Industrial Park the first two phases of Connecticut-based Omega Engineering’s complex are also now ready.

A bright future
When Trafford Park Development Corporation winds up in March 1998, key responsibilities will be passed to other organisations such as the local authorities, Manchester TEC and Manchester Investment and Development Agency Service (MIDAS).

Trafford Park now faces the next 100 years better equipped to resume its role as a leading international business location TPDC announced that during 1997: l new/converted development amounted to 84,600 sq m (910,800 sq ft) l more than £369 million of private sector investment was attracted l 100 companies moved into the Trafford Park area

In a move to strengthen trade relations with Malaysia and help Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games preparations, Midland Bank has seconded Mervyn Stephenson to MIDAS (Manchester Investment and Development Agency Service).

The 15-month secondment from the bank in Manchester underlines its commitment to providing support to the local community in the run up to the Commonwealth Games. Stephenson has been appointed director – Malaysia liaison, and works from the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, where the XVI Commonwealth Games are to be held in September next year.

His role is to promote Manchester as a trade and investment partner and develop links with appropriate organisations in Malaysia, in addition to identifying both trading and joint venture opportunities that will benefit the Manchester and North West economy.

“Malaysia-British trade has always been pretty strong,” said Stephenson. “There are pricing difficulties for UK exporters at present because of the currency situation, but for people who want to set up a joint venture, now is a very good time. “It’s a pretty good place to do business, everybody speaks English and it can be used as a base to get into South East Asia.”

Stephenson will also work with SUKOM, the committee organising the Malaysian Games, acting as local liaison for Manchester’s role in the 1998 ceremonies and adopting best practice which will lead to the smooth running of the games in Manchester.

Since joining the Midland in 1974 Stephenson has held senior management positions specialising in trade and corporate business, both in the UK and abroad. In the late 1980s he was seconded to Midland’s New York branch where, as vice president – international corporate team, he was responsible for the financing of US acquisitions by UK corporates. He has lived and worked in the Manchester area for the past four years and was divisional trade and international manager before his secondment to MIDAS.

Before his departure Stephenson said: “It’s hoped that by putting someone on the ground in Malaysia we can strengthen the links already established between the two countries but, most importantly forge new ones which will have a direct benefit both to Manchester 2002 and to the business community in the North West.”

MIDAS is the umbrella organisation which is acting on behalf of a number of public agencies in the Manchester and North West area to maximise the economic benefits from the holding of the Commonwealth Games through trade and similar activities.

Councillor Bill Hinds, leader of Salford City Council and chairman of the board of MIDAS, added: “We and our partners are determined to ensure that we use the period between now and 2002 to build the economic strengthens of the region. “The Games in Kuala Lumpur in September 1998 will be an important milestone, and concentrating attention on it will bring economic benefits to this area.”