Businesses thanked for their commitment to the borough

Mayor, Councillor Peter Rush, and some of the business leaders that attended the event are (middle row, left-right) RDA Chief Executive John Hudson, RDA Chairman Phil Ewbank, Councillor Peter Williams and RDA Board member Chris Gilmartin

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Business leaders from across the borough were thanked for their commitment to Rochdale at a special reception last week.

Around 70 leaders from the private and public sectors gathered at the event along with the Mayor, Councillor Peter Rush, and Mayoress, Monica Rush.

In the last two years more than four million square feet of space has been taken up across the borough and last year more businesses than ever before chose Rochdale as the place to set up their companies.

The event was hosted by Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) at Number One Riverside to celebrate the borough’s success and say ‘thank you’ to major investors that have contributed to Rochdale gaining a reputation as having the property ‘X factor’. The event also marked the twentieth anniversary of RDA.

Councillor Peter Williams, Rochdale Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Planning, said: “Rochdale has been incredibly successful in recent years attracting millions of pounds worth of investment from global companies. It’s important that we recognise and celebrate this success and say ‘thank you’ to them for recognising Rochdale as the best place for their business.”

Representatives of firms including Dunphy Combustion, Yearsley Frozen Foods, Edmund Bell, JD Sports, GNG Foam Convertors, Double R Controls, Lab M, Crystal Doors, Hanson Springs, Salt Separation, Farrel Limited and Camfil Air Pollution Control attended along with representatives from the Council, the Chamber of Commerce and MIDAS, the inward investment agency for the Manchester city region.

Phil Ewbank, chairman of Commercial Contract Engineers and chairman of Rochdale Development Agency, said: “This is the first time we’ve gathered businesses from across the borough together in this way and as a business leader in Rochdale myself, I found it inspiring talking to others who are proud to be here and feel Rochdale is a great place to do business.

“The last 20 years of partnership working between the RDA and the Council to bring investment to the borough is really paying off and I’m delighted we’ve been able to hold this event in this great new building which itself demonstrates how much Rochdale is changing.”

Jim Taylor, Rochdale Borough Council Chief Executive addressed the audience along with Jeremy Miller, Global IT and UK Plant Manager for Camfil Air Pollution Control. Camfil APC has recently opened a new £2.4 million 44,000 square feet manufacturing facility on Heywood’s Birch Business Park and Jeremy commented: “Coming here tonight has made me realise just how much is happening in Rochdale, here in the town centre but also in terms of the businesses that are based in the borough. We are so grateful to Rochdale Development Agency who helped us find our perfect location at Birch Business Park and we are looking forward to a great future here.”