Why we love Rochdale: local companies join forces to promote borough

Local businesses have joined together to outline why Rochdale is special to them in a new video released by the Rochdale Development Agency.

The video, which celebrates RDA’s 30th anniversary, features testimonials from Mid Communications, Northern Employment, H Bell & Sons, Mysonpages, PDS, Creative Network, and Dunsters Farm.

Iconic landmarks – such as Hollingworth Lake, the town hall, and Kingsway Business Park – are interspersed throughout the promotional video, as well as shots of the town centre, Number One Riverside and the public transport links.

Louise Scott, of H Bell and Sons, said they were asked to take part as the company was also celebrating a milestone anniversary (111 years).

She said: “We enjoyed taking part and pleased to see Rochdale being promoted.

“The RDA has always been a point of contact for support however during COVID they were instrumental in sharing information and keeping businesses informed of current legislation.

“The weekly zoom meetings ensured local businesses had a means of collaborative working.”

 

The RDA is 30! from Rochdale Development Agency on Vimeo.

 

Kirsty Wilkinson, of Northern Employment, which also celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, said working on the promotional video was “a great experience.”

“We’ve worked closely with RDA for a number of years now. It was a great experience, lovely to be part of businesses coming together sharing how great a place Rochdale is, both personally and for businesses. There are so many opportunities in Rochdale now for businesses, and for new businesses coming into the area,” she explained.

“RDA has helped us by bringing businesses together, for example, the Rochdale Ambassadors, RDA bring together key Rochdale businesses together and it allows us then to share ideas, support one another and even collaborate on projects together.

“RDA is also a great source of resources and share so much information with us. The work they do with the Business Growth Hub, for example, has opened opportunities for us to access funding around marketing and other areas.”

David Brereton, of Mysonpages, said: “We know the folks at RDA really well, and they’re a great team.

“RDA has helped us get to services we wouldn’t have known about and linked us with other businesses that could need our skills. But the key thing they do is bring people together in the business community in Rochdale. They’ve created a sense of togetherness, starting with their excellent leadership through the pandemic and how they kept us all working and talking.”

Of the filming experience, he added: “If you say the first thing that comes to you and forget about the cameras, then it’s real, meaningful and honest. What we all say in the video is true, and maybe it needs saying a little louder.

“We don’t really do direct sales and marketing ourselves as the bulk of our business is through referral, so being seen to be a company that is involved is always a good thing to do.”

The RDA’s 30th anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on how far the borough has come but also look forward to some very significant projects and plans for a bright future.

Created in 1993, the RDA was the idea of Barrie Bernstein, a prominent manufacturer in the area who through lack of support from the council at the time had been forced to move his business, a kitchen manufacturer employing more than 1,300 people, from Middleton to Bolton.

Being a Rochdalian however, Mr Bernstein wasn’t prepared to let this go, he knew Rochdale could do better and he wanted to support the town. He had worked with John Hudson, then the Head of Planning at Bolton, on his relocation and knew that if they could work together to create an agency that would support businesses moving to the borough of Rochdale, the area would benefit greatly.

Following lengthy discussions and negotiations with Rochdale Borough Council, Rochdale Development Agency was established. Barrie was its first chair and was in the role for 13 years with John Hudson as its first Chief Executive.

Barrie was instrumental in establishing collaborative working between the public and private sector a model which continues to this day bringing with it many benefits to Rochdale’s residents and businesses alike.

Over the past 30 years, the RDA in partnership with the council has secured and safeguarded thousands of jobs.

It has been responsible for helping local companies grow and has worked tirelessly with multiple agencies to attract companies such as Danish Crown, which according to the Financial Times, is the UK’s biggest foreign inward investment post Brexit.

Work will also begin on The Advanced Machinery and Productivity Innovation Centre building at Kingsway.

Atom Valley, the Greater Manchester Mayoral Development Zone, will also begin development which will realise the many job and development opportunities.