Ikea out, devolution in Lancs?
07/06/2018
Was it the shock of IKEA pulling out of a major investment in the Cuerden Retail Park near Preston, that has banged Lancashire heads together?
Why Mayors need More Powers
31/05/2018
If you live in the north of England and you rely on the train to get from A to B, then the past few weeks
Liverpool outpacing Manchester growth?
31/05/2018
After my last two blogs on the Greater Manchester economy which took a bullish view of the conurbation’s growth; it is time to look at
Manchester safe from retail turmoil?
24/05/2018
If anyone was in any doubt that our town and suburban retail areas face a massive challenge, the decision of Marks and Spencer to close
What I have Learned in Fifteen Years in Business
24/05/2018
Last week we had a fantastic celebration of Downtown’s fifteenth year in business. Apart from enjoying a fabulous party at the amazing DoubleTree by Hilton
Football – A Business that has no Customer Care policy
18/05/2018
We are increasingly told by the ‘experts’ who report on the beautiful game of football that it is, in modern times, more of a business
Manchester, a young city
17/05/2018
First, congratulations to all my colleagues, past and present, who have contributed to 15 years of success for Downtown in Business. In the run up
The International Business Festival: Come and Join In
10/05/2018
On the 12th June, a three-week Business jamboree will kick-off at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool. It is the biggest business event that will take
Political Stalemate
10/05/2018
After years of political turbulence, the local election results seem to tell us that deadlock has been reached in the nation’s politics. The Conservatives are
Osborne: I was right about Brexit impact
03/05/2018
Brexit I first met George Osborne on Knutsford Heath 20 years ago when he had just been selected as the Tory candidate for Tatton. Who
The PM is a goner
03/05/2018
Any political commentator with an ounce of sense will be reluctant to give a categoric assurance as to how the local election results are going
It’s only a game – or is it?
26/04/2018
Accrington Stanley, who are they? Well, the well-established East Lancashire football club have just won promotion to the third tier of English football for the