Groundhog Day
22/05/2025
DIB group chair and chief executive Frank McKenna reports on UKREiiF 2025.
Maya Ellis MP champions Lancashire businesses in Westminster meeting with Business Secretary
20/05/2025
Ribble Valley MP Maya Ellis has met with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, to raise the concerns of local business owners and discuss how national policy can better support small and medium-sized firms across the constituency.
A Reflection on U.S.A Hospitality
15/05/2025
Steven shares his experiences on a recent trip to the U.S.A., where he had the exciting opportunity to speak at the Hollywood Big Festoon about all things hospitality with a global audience.
The Downtown Den Politics Podcast | EP.88 | A good week for the Labour government?
12/05/2025
Trade deals with the United States and India. An interest rate cut. And a major announcement on immigration policy. It’s probably been a good week
The Downtown Den Politics Podcast | EP.87 | The future of the UK-EU relationship
12/05/2025
In this episode the pod dives into the future of the European project and UK-EU relations in these challenging times.
Labour’s identity crisis
08/05/2025
Downtown in Business boss Frank McKenna shares his reflections on the government’s pasting in last week’s elections – and offers some advice to the prime minister and his team.
Beyond the bunting
08/05/2025
As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day with bunting and street parties, prayers and speeches, grainy footage and crackly sounds from a lifetime ago it’s almost impossible to imagine what it meant then.
The Downtown Den Politics Podcast | EP.86 | Is the Two-Party system dead?
05/05/2025
Frank, Jim and Jo take a look back at last Thursday’s UK polls, as well as casting their eyes internationally and seeing what’s been happening in Canada, Australia and Romania.
University Vice-Chancellor chosen as one of the latest Deputy Lieutenants
02/05/2025
Professor Graham Baldwin is one of six new Deputy Lieutenants have been appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire, Mrs Amanda Parker JP.
DIB at UKREiiF ’25
01/05/2025
Local government executives and industry professionals will join Downtown in Business when we host host two exclusive events at UKREiiF on Monday 19th May.
From Classroom to Hotel Suite: Educating Educators on Hospitality
01/05/2025
This week Steven explains how the hospitality and education sectors can work together to engage students who might want to look at a career in hospitality.
Don’t derail the North!
01/05/2025
Downtown received influential praise for its work at a high powered Westminster reception. The gathering heard how Manchester intended to build on its already strong economic model, but was being held back by a lack of ambition from the government in its approach to the EU and rail investment.