Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has kicked off The Growth Company’s new Global Scale-up Programme as the inaugural cohort had its kick-off event in central Manchester. Following more than 200 applications from Greater Manchester businesses, the selected 30 SMEs now have the chance to seize this opportunity to scale up by expanding into international markets.

Following the mayor’s opening words, the participants were introduced to each of the programme partners – KPMG, Santander, DWF and Manchester Airport– giving a flavour of the scale and scope of high-profile international support each brings to the initiative.

The programme participants enjoyed hearing Dom McGregor, COO at Social Chain, revealing his experiences of expanding into international markets by talking about the importance of understanding who you are and how you fit in, followed by an opportunity to get to know their peers via a series of roundtable discussions. Finally, Richard Jeffery, director of business growth at The Growth Company, reviewed the afternoon’s discussions and revealed what’s next for the cohort, including an international growth sprint and bootcamp.

This first cohort now has access to unique peer-to-peer opportunities and the GC Business Growth Hub networks, creating a global scale up community for Greater Manchester.

Richard Jeffery, Director of Business Growth, The Growth Company, said:“Having seen such a high calibre of applicants to the programme, it’s been a real pleasure to see our first cohort together for the first time. There was great energy in the room, and I’m excited to see how the businesses respond to the high-level opportunities we’re offering on the programme and take their rightful place on the global stage.”

Nicola Quayle, KPMG Manchester Office Senior Partner, said: “The launch event was all about connecting our team of experts with a group of start-ups and fast growth businesses right at the start of their journey on this programme. We are thrilled to be working with some of the most promising enterprises in the city region and can’t wait to get stuck in, whether that means helping to access funding, creating partnerships, navigating governance in new markets or finding the right talent. Opening up our international network of consultants and contacts will offer a great opportunity for these businesses to fulfil their international growth ambitions.”

GC Business Growth Hub, organisers of the Venturefest North West conference and exhibition, have announced an extension to deadline for the Innovation Showcase Competition.

Growth-hungry SMEs from across Greater Manchester, and from any sector, now have until July 31 to enter the contest which could transform their business.

Open to both start-ups and established businesses, the successful companies which scoop the two top prizes – one for overall winner and one chosen by the Venturefest audience – will each win business support packages worth £15,000.

There are also four additional category awards up for grabs this year: Product Innovation, Service Innovation, Digital Innovation and Most Innovative Established Business.

Beyond the prestige of winning, recognition for their innovation and the high-quality business support prize packages on offer, firms who take part in the contest can also reap bigger rewards.

By pitching their innovative business idea to the wide range of investors and potential customers who attend the annual Venturefest North West event, companies can get funding offers and win contracts which would otherwise be out of their reach.

In the last three years alone, Innovation Showcase entrants have generated £5.2million of investment offers from having taken part in the competition.

Many of these were not actual winners on the day, but made such an impression with angel investors and venture capitalists that they went on to secure funding for their proposition.

Entry is free and the initial application process is quick and easy to complete via an online form on the Venturefest North West website.

Richard Jeffery, director of business growth at The Growth Company, said: “Venturefest North West offers an unrivalled shop window to pitch your business proposition to an audience of serious investors looking for their next big commercial opportunity. It’s therefore been fantastic to see the variety and quality of companies who have already entered this year from across the North West.

“However, we also know many ambitious and hard-working SMEs are very busy running their businesses, so we’ve extended the deadline until the end of July to give even more the chance to get involved.

“It doesn’t take long to complete an entry and it could set you on your way to not only securing £15,000 worth of high-quality business support from the Hub but also getting your company in front of potential new investors, partners and customers.”

Transport company boss Phil Hitchen swapped four wheels for two to cycle from his Greater Manchester home to Blackpool and back in aid of the hospital where he was once treated for cancer.

Phil, managing director of Stockport-based bus and coach hire firm Belle Vue Manchester, raised more than £1,600 for The Christie, where in 2011 he underwent three months of chemotherapy before being given the all-clear.

A close friend of his, Wayne Hindle, was being treated at the same time but sadly died in 2013.

Phil set off from his home in Bredbury, Stockport, and clocked up 140 miles to the seaside resort and back in nine hours of cycling.

The money he has raised will go towards the CT scanning unit at The Christie.

Phil said: “I have always felt blessed to have been treated successfully at The Christie. The doctors there saved my life.

“At the time I was having chemotherapy, my wife was pregnant and I had a business to run. Despite the challenges, we acquired two companies while I was in hospital and I came out with a new zest for life.

“I’ve never forgotten the times that Wayne and I spent together in hospital and I miss him to this day. I rode in Wayne’s memory and, although it was quite a challenge, especially for the last 20 miles, I was determined to complete the ride.

“I have arthritis in my knees and was sore the following day, but it was worth the pain and effort to support the excellent work they do at the hospital and I’m sincerely grateful to all of my sponsors who made the day worthwhile.”

Jo Ahmed, Partner at Deloitte in the North West, has been named one of the top 100 most influential people in UK-India Relations in 2019, in a list published by India Inc.

Now in its third edition, the top 100 recognises the contribution of senior UK figures in driving close relationships between India and the UK. For the first time ever, the list featured exclusively women influencers, with Jo one of only two North West leaders to be named.

As head of Deloitte’s Global Employer Services team in the North West, Jo has over 20 years’ experience in global relations, working with a range of clients, from small to medium entrepreneurial businesses just engaging in overseas expansion, to large multinationals.

She is also a Board member of the Manchester India Partnership (MIP), an initiative set up to strengthen trade, investment, cultural and educational links between Manchester and India. Since its inception, MIP has enjoyed continued success, including the announcement of Indian IT-services firm Tech Mahindra’s new ‘HQ of the North’ at MediaCity, and winning ‘Trade and Investment Promotion Agency of the Year’ at the India Inc awards 2019 for the second consecutive year.

This is the latest recognition of Jo’s contribution to the North West’s global links, following her appointment as Honorary Consul of Japan in Manchester in January 2018. In this role, Jo works with the Japanese Government to boost the relationship of Manchester and Japan.

Jo Ahmed commented: “I am extremely honoured to be recognised as one of the most influential people in India-UK relations and look forward to work in partnership with city stakeholders to further enhance those links. There is a longstanding tradition of co-operation and close ties with India and the North West which we continue to celebrate as a region.

“The importance of the relationship with India cannot be understated. The rapid growth of the Indian economy – predicted to be the fifth largest in the world in 2019 – means that consolidating already strong ties is a priority for North West businesses.”