Sponsors, members and staff joined together at the Chamber’s Elliot House headquarters in the heart of the city centre to mark some of the key milestones of the Chamber and the region. The Chamber can trace its history back to the founding of the Manchester Commercial Society in 1794 and today is the largest Chamber of Commerce in the country, representing all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester, and businesses further a field.
The Chamber’s Chief Executive, Clive Memmott OBE, spoke and thanked members for their ongoing support, reminding us of the deep and rich history of Greater Manchester Chamber and our city region. The Chamber was also joined by past Presidents and Chairs who have supported, facilitated and driven the business forward in more recent years.
Lucy Mulligan, Head of Marketing at Greater Manchester Chamber, said: “This was a wonderful celebration of over two centuries of representing local businesses. I’d like to thank all our Birthday Partners who helped to make this event such a success. We were not just celebrating our own birthday but also the achievements of the entire business community.
“Although the area we now call Greater Manchester has changed beyond recognition over the past 230 years, we continue to act as the voice of business, highlighting the key issues affecting our members. This event was not just about acknowledging our long history, but also looking forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead.
“The Chamber looks ahead to the significant development of Greater Manchester as a region, with the new trailblazer devolution deal, a potential new government leading the UK, and of course, our Mayor re-elected for a third term. It’s never been a better time to do business in Greater Manchester – and the Chamber is a key part of the eco-system to deliver this.”
About Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is the largest Chamber of Commerce in the UK, providing business support to approximately 4,500 members who collectively employ 446,000 people, around one-third of Greater Manchester’s workforce. Recognised as a leader in its field, Greater Manchester Chamber’s reputation in government circles has grown locally and nationally. At the heart of the area of greatest economic intensity outside London and the South East, the Chamber is the primary body for business support, policy, representation and networking.
The Chamber is an independent, not-for-profit private company and its aim is to support businesses and help create the best climate for the region to prosper. This is achieved by ensuring that those taking decisions on key issues such as transport, taxation and business regulation hear the voice of our members. The representation of our members’ views is central to the work of the policy team at the Chamber; these views are gathered in a range of ways including our local councils, policy committees, sector councils, the main Chamber council, focus groups, meetings with politicians and consultations.
The Chamber also offers a range of networking forums across Greater Manchester, free as part of membership, plus a variety of other events and services designed to benefit specific sectors or individuals and help businesses to grow.
