Rochdale Business Forum

More than 100 delegates attended the second Rochdale Business Forum on 23 September 2015 at Rochdale RUFC.

The event emphasised the need for a new optimism in Rochdale’s business community and further encouragement and support from local and national government to maximise the local effects of any business upturn.

The event was chaired by Peter Carey of Sedgwick Legal who introduced speakers including Councillor Richard Farnell, Leader of Rochdale Council, Sharon Robson, Director of Procurement at STaR, Andy Turner from the Council Apprenticeships scheme and Wendy Clarke small business contracts expert at YPO before an energetic and amusing presentation by motivational speaker Malcolm Gallagher from The Executive Boardroom outlined how Rochdale’s hidden business gems can beat the competition.

Peter Carey challenged Rochdale’s re-elected MPs to engage with the small business community in Rochdale to promote business success and new opportunity in the Borough saying: “The object of the Forum is to raise the voice of small businesses in the Borough. We are encouraged that the Council have engaged so positively with the Forum but now need our MPs to promote the message nationally that Rochdale is a great place to carry on business. We wish to ensure that wealth and employment opportunities are retained in the Borough and to continue to regenerate the business outlook for the hardworking business and townspeople of Rochdale.”

Club President Steve Helliwell welcomed speakers and guests and thanked RRUFC Business Club for attending the event.

Club Chairman Iain Coates closed the meeting with an entertaining speech about the values that rugby promotes and how those values can be applied to raise business opportunities in Rochdale