Join networking sessions, seminars, and workshops that drive growth
A day to connect business, leadership, and action for racial equity and inclusive growth
REG Connects is a unique gathering for business and community leaders, investors and ethnic minority business owners (EMBs).
This one-day event is designed to spark fresh thinking and practical action on racial equity and inclusive growth. It brings together a cross-sector network to share ideas, build partnerships, and shape a more equitable and commercially successful future for Manchester and beyond.
This category recognises an outstanding individual who is currently undertaking, or has completed an apprenticeship within the last 12 months. t celebrates those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, enthusiasm, and a strong desire to develop their skills and knowledge within their chosen field.
The nominee will have gone beyond the expectations of their role, showing initiative and a proactive approach, while making a positive contribution to their organisation. Judges will be looking for evidence of impact, personal development, and a strong work ethic.
This category recognises an outstanding business development or sales professional based in the Greater Manchester region, whose role is predominantly focused on new business generation.
The nominee will demonstrate exceptional ability in identifying and securing new opportunities, building strong relationships, and contributing to business growth. Judges will be looking for evidence of a proactive approach, strong commercial awareness, and measurable success in winning new business.
Warm up your November with fresh connections at our late-autumn pure networking event! Join us for a casual, after-work networking event designed for professionals to connect. With no formal agenda, this event offers the perfect opportunity to meet new people, exchange ideas, and expand your network in a relaxed atmosphere.
November’s Pure Networking event will be hosted at the spectacular Fenix, a masterpiece of modern Greek gastronomy and high-end design. With its dramatic, fire-and-stone-inspired interiors and vibrant Mediterranean energy, it’s the ultimate, luxurious sanctuary to beat the November chill.
Don’t miss out on great conversations and valuable connections!
Kick off the new season with fresh connections at our September pure networking event! Join us for a casual, after-work networking event designed for professionals to connect. With no formal agenda, this event offers the perfect opportunity to meet new people, exchange ideas, and expand your network in a relaxed atmosphere.
September’s Pure Networking event will be hosted at the stunning TATTU, renowned for its breathtaking contemporary design and dark, elegant atmosphere. Fusing traditional Chinese flavors with modern flair under a canopy of glowing cherry blossoms, it’s the perfect, sophisticated setting to welcome the autumn energy.
Don’t miss out on great conversations and valuable connections!
This award recognises an exceptional accountant who has demonstrated outstanding professional excellence, technical expertise, integrity, and impact over the past year.
The recipient will have consistently gone above and beyond in their role. Applying strong financial acumen, sound judgement, and a commitment to the highest professional standards. Whether newly qualified or highly experienced, the nominee will have shown exceptional drive, delivered measurable value to their team, clients, or organisation, and used their expertise to support informed decision-making, improve performance, and drive positive business outcomes and contributed more than just number crunching.
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Join Future pro-manchester for an evening of fast-paced, high-impact networking designed for young professionals.
Meet a wide range of new contacts in one night through a structured speed networking format. With just under two minutes per conversation, it’s the perfect opportunity to sharpen your pitch, build confidence, and grow your network quickly.
This popular event regularly sells out, so be sure to book early to avoid missing out.
Your ticket includes:
Future pro-manchester is dedicated to supporting young professionals across Greater Manchester, helping you build connections, develop skills, and grow your career.
SAVE THE DATE!
Health Tech Conference 2026
Our spotlight is firmly on the region’s health tech achievements. Shining a light on the organisations and people who are really making it happen.Full details of the event coming very soon.This event is essential for healthcare professionals, tech innovators, and stakeholders in related fields, offering valuable insights and discussions on the future of health and technology in Greater Manchester.Free to NHS staff, please email jul[email protected] for tickets.
A fantastic way to showcase your brand. As a sponsor of the Health Tech Conference, you will have the opportunity to raise your profile and promote your brand to the industry’s most influential figures. For further information, contact [email protected].
Social Value- what does it mean?
In this lunchtime session we’ll be exploring what Social Value really means and more importantly what it can mean to you and your organisation.
Key Themes:
This category is aimed at an outstanding individual who is currently serving or has completed a graduate or trainee program in the last year and has demonstrated an ability to go above and beyond their job role to have a positive impact on their business. Entries should provide evidence of their hard work and commitment, that has helped them achieve the best possible results in their role and to their further development within the business. Candidates will also be assessed on the positive impact they have had on their employer’s business.
Any queries regarding your entry please contact our MiMA Event Manager – [email protected]
Something might be getting in the way of your culture. You probably already know what it feels like, but you might not be able to name it yet.
It might be the conversations that don’t quite happen. The expectations that shift without warning. The sense that your organisation is growing, but the team isn’t growing with it. The gap between the values on the wall and what happens in the meetings you attend
Most business owners recognise this. Very few have a structured way to understand it or do something about it.
Louisa Scanlan from Collaborate Business Solutions will introduce BREAKING® & STRETCH®, a culture diagnostic methodology built around the fifteen dimensions that determine whether an organisation quietly erodes or genuinely thrives.
This is not a talk about why culture matters. We will be using live experiences and data to enable you to explore what your organisation might be telling you. You will leave with an understanding of some areas where your organisation is strong and where quiet friction could be eroding what you are trying to build.
Whether your organisation is five people or five hundred, the dimensions we explore are universal. You don’t need to have a culture crisis to benefit, you just need to be willing to look honestly at what is happening.
Reset. Grow. Thrive.
Greenwashing is one of the most significant risks facing organisations communicating on sustainability today.
This CPD-accredited, three-hour interactive workshop equips teams with the knowledge and tools to make clear, credible and compliant environmental claims.
Delivered through discussion, real-world case studies and practical exercises, participants explore what greenwashing is and why it happens. It explores UK and EU regulations shaping sustainability marketing, how to apply practical frameworks when reviewing claims and what good practice looks like across sectors.
The most successful security strategies are built on one key assumption. That at some point, some area of your security defences will fail.
If you build with this assumption front of mind, you’ll be prepared for failure and have plans in place to mitigate damage to your business.
For most CIOs and CISOs, security is about where you can tolerate risk, being clear on where to prioritise resource, and having a plan for when things go wrong.
Join Ollie Potts, Head of Product and Pre-sales at LIMA, and leave with a framework to solidify your security capability in the years ahead.
What you’ll learn:
Who should attend: CIO, CISO, Heads of IT, IT Director, Compliance Manager, Head of Compliance, CTO
This event is free of charge and a light lunch will be provided.
Whether you’re an existing member or thinking about joining, this event is the perfect opportunity to discover how pro-manchester can support you and your business.
For members, it’s a chance to refresh your knowledge, reconnect with the team, meet other members and explore how to get even more value from your membership.
For anyone thinking of joining, it’s a friendly introduction to who we are, what we do and how joining pro-manchester can help you build your network, raise your profile and create new opportunities.
Join us for relaxed networking, useful insight and meaningful connections with the pro-manchester team and wider member community.
We’d love to see you there.
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An interactive workshop and tax clinic hosted by Alexander & Co, designed for business owners, professional advisers and individuals navigating the commercial and personal challenges that come with growth, succession planning and long-term wealth protection.
Celebrating its 50th year, Alexander & Co is an independent firm of Chartered Accountants and Tax Advisors, providing trusted advice to owner-managed businesses and entrepreneurs across the North West, throughout the UK and internationally.
Rather than a traditional seminar, the session will be led as an open discussion and practical clinic with Tax Partner and Head of Tax, John McCaffery, allowing attendees to raise real-world tax, succession and estate planning questions in a commercially focused environment.
The discussion will explore the key tax and planning issues that commonly arise throughout the lifecycle of an owner-managed business, from growth and profit extraction through to succession, exit and estate considerations.
Attendees are encouraged to submit questions in advance to: [email protected]
Questions can cover:
· business growth and structuring
· succession planning
· shareholder and family considerations
· extracting wealth tax-efficiently
· preparing for a future sale
· inheritance tax exposure
· trusts and estate planning
· property and investment structures
· retirement and long-term planning
· and current tax developments affecting business owners
The session is intended to be practical, informal and discussion-led, providing attendees with commercially grounded insight rather than technical lecture-style presentations
Please write a brief description here
Many North West businesses reach a point where the ambition is there, the numbers stack up — and traditional finance no longer fits. The question isn’t whether to grow. It’s how to fund it.
Funding Unlocked brings together business owners, founders, and advisors for an honest conversation about growth finance in the North West — what’s available, how it works, and what it actually takes to access it.
Joining us on the panel are John Gray and Chris Carter from River Capital Group, the North West fund manager backing ambitious businesses across the region through a range of debt, mezzanine, and equity products. They’ll be joined by a River Capital portfolio company — a founder who has been through the process — and an advisor who works with growth businesses day to day.
Whether you’re considering your first external funding round, trying to understand where each product fits or working with clients who are at that stage, this is a practical, no-jargon conversation designed to give you a clearer picture of what’s possible.
Join us for a practical discussion on how Carbon Literacy can support hospitality businesses to engage teams, develop leaders and take meaningful low carbon action.
This session will explore what Carbon Literacy is, why it matters for the hospitality sector, and the business benefits of building carbon awareness across your organisation. We’ll also share Vision’s experience of implementing Carbon Literacy and the value of becoming a Carbon Literate Organisation (CLO).
With insights from Carbon Literacy Project and local sector voices, the event will highlight lessons, opportunities and next steps for hospitality businesses across Greater Manchester.
Join us for an informative and open panel discussion designed to improve awareness and understanding of Shared Ownership across Manchester and the wider North West.
While Shared Ownership is well established in London and the South, it remains less understood in northern regions, where it is sometimes misinterpreted or viewed with uncertainty.
This event aims to address those misconceptions head-on by providing clear, transparent, and factual insights into how the scheme works.
Our expert panel will explore how Shared Ownership can offer a realistic and accessible pathway to homeownership for first-time buyers and those currently priced out of the open market.
Hear from industry specialists including:
Together the speakers will share expert perspectives on housing delivery, affordability, mortgages, and consumer guidance within the affordable homeownership sector.
The discussion will cover:
There will also be an opportunity for attendees to speak with our team to get financially qualified.
Our goal is to build trust, improve understanding, and encourage more informed conversations around affordable homeownership opportunities in Manchester and across the North West.
The Employment Rights Act changes are going to place far greater pressure on businesses to make quicker, better-informed decisions about new hires. The days of allowing someone to drift through the first 12 to 18 months of employment without clear objectives, accountability or meaningful performance conversations are rapidly disappearing.
This session is designed for business owners, senior leaders and HR teams who want to understand what good recruitment, onboarding and early-stage performance management should actually look like in practice.
We’ll explore how businesses can create structured onboarding processes, set meaningful objectives from day one and equip managers to identify concerns early, while also ensuring new starters genuinely understand the organisation’s expectations, culture and direction.
The session will provide practical tools, frameworks and guidance to help businesses make confident employment decisions earlier, reduce risk and build more engaged, accountable teams aligned to the wider mission of the organisation.
Join CNS Media for an insightful discussion on how traditional advertising channels are evolving in the age of data-driven marketing. As audience behaviour becomes increasingly fragmented across platforms, brands are under growing pressure to deliver campaigns that are not only impactful, but also measurable and accountable.
Led by senior leaders at CNS Media with extensive experience across the media and advertising industry, this event will explore how channels such as TV, Radio and Out of Home are now capable of delivering the same precision targeting and measurable performance traditionally associated with Paid Digital campaigns. Drawing on real-world campaign data, audience insights and industry case studies, the session will demonstrate how advertisers can reach highly specific audiences while accurately tracking campaign effectiveness and return on investment.
The discussion will also examine how advancements in data and attribution modelling are reshaping the media landscape, enabling brands to combine the brand-building power of traditional media with the accountability and targeting capabilities of digital advertising.
Attendees will gain practical insight into how integrated media strategies can drive stronger business outcomes, improve audience engagement and maximise marketing budgets across multiple channels.
Whether you are a business owner or brand-side marketer, this event will provide valuable insight into the future and opportunities of measurable media.
Spaces are limited, so register now to secure your place.
You’re invited to an unforgettable Showcase Evening at Manchester Hall.
Enjoy two complimentary drinks on arrival, along with delicious canapés served throughout the evening, as you explore one of Manchester’s most iconic venues in style. From stunning architecture and hidden historic charm to beautifully designed spaces, our guided tours will give you an exclusive look inside Manchester Hall.
With the bar open all evening, there’ll be plenty of time to relax, mingle with fellow corporate guests, make new connections, and enjoy a lively atmosphere in spectacular surroundings.
Expect great conversations, beautiful spaces, and a touch of luxury throughout the night. We can’t wait to welcome you for an evening to remember.
This presentation explores the growing importance of responsible exterior lighting design in protecting dark skies, supporting biodiversity and creating sustainable environments without compromising safety, functionality or aesthetics. Drawing on real-world project experience, the talk examines how poorly designed lighting can negatively impact wildlife, human wellbeing and the night-time environment, while demonstrating how thoughtful lighting strategies can achieve planning compliance and exceptional visual results simultaneously.
Topics covered include the principles of dark sky design, minimising obtrusive light, colour temperature selection, beam control, glare reduction, adaptive lighting controls and compliance with current guidance from organisations such as the Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP) and the Bat Conservation Trust. The presentation also highlights the impact of artificial light on protected species, including bats and nocturnal wildlife, alongside practical solutions such as low-level lighting, shielding, dimming strategies and sensitive spectral selection including warm and red-light applications.
Using case studies from hospitality, holiday parks, public realm, heritage and residential developments, the session demonstrates how exterior lighting can successfully balance ecology, planning requirements, safety and visual appeal. Attendees will gain practical insight into integrating sustainable lighting principles into projects from the earliest design stages, helping future developments become both environmentally responsible and commercially successful.
This session will enable your business to embed impact and legacy for you and your local community and bring clarity to what Social Value is, keeping it simple.
It will help grow your business commercially and socially providing commercial gains for your business
Practical coaching tools to make feedback clearer, easier, and part of everyday performance conversations.
Feedback is essential for performance, but it’s often avoided or handled poorly. Not because people don’t care, but because it can feel uncomfortable, personal, and risky.
This session focuses on what’s really getting in the way. We explore how social pressure, fear of judgement, and mindset shape how we give and receive feedback, and why this impacts trust, performance and connection across teams.
Participants will reflect on their own feedback mindset using the Rising Vibrational Scale and consider how their thoughts, emotions and behaviours show up in real conversations.
Part of the Sales Geek x Pro Manchester training series, Objections aren’t roadblocks, they’re stepping stones.
Hearing “no” can feel like the end of the road, but in reality, objections are often a sign of interest. They show that a customer is engaging, testing, and searching for reassurance. The best salespeople know how to lean into objections, uncover what’s really going on, and turn challenges into chances to build trust.
In this dynamic session, you’ll explore the psychology behind objections and learn proven methods to handle them effectively. From practical objection-handling frameworks to simple questioning techniques, you’ll leave with the skills and confidence to navigate even the toughest conversations.
You’ll learn how to:
Who’s it for?
Sales professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who want to become more resilient and persuasive. If you want to stop fearing objections and start using them as fuel for better conversations, this session is for you.
AI has the potential to transform healthcare, from improving diagnostics and streamlining operations to enabling more personalised patient care. Yet despite rapid advances, widespread adoption across the health sector remains complex.
This event will explore both the opportunities AI presents and the barriers that continue to limit its adoption. Bringing together industry leaders and technology experts, the discussion will examine the practical, ethical and operational factors shaping AI implementation across healthcare.
Topics will include the potential for improved patient outcomes, operational efficiency and innovation, alongside challenges such as data quality and accessibility, regulatory and compliance requirements, integration with existing systems, workforce readiness, and concerns around trust, transparency and patient safety. Attendees will gain insight into how organisations are balancing these opportunities and risks, and where meaningful progress is being made.
Celebrate the arrival of summer with fresh connections at our June networking event! Join us at Louis in Spinningfields for a casual, after-work gathering designed for professionals to connect. With no formal agenda, this evening offers the perfect opportunity to meet new people, exchange ideas, and expand your network in a sophisticated, relaxed atmosphere.
This month’s venue, Louis, is a Manchester standout, capturing the glamour of mid-century New York with its plush velvet booths and timeless decor. It’s the ideal backdrop for a vibrant June evening—providing an elegant, high-energy environment that’s sure to inspire great conversation and a real summer mood boost.
Browne Jacobson’s aspiration is to be the most diverse, equitable and inclusive law firm in the UK and Ireland, creating a workplace in which everyone can thrive and succeed. This event will offer an insight into how the firm has embedded that ambition across every level of its organisation and what other businesses can take from that journey.
Browne Jacobson has been ranked number one overall in The Social Mobility Foundation’s Employer Index 2025 for the fourth time in five years, and is the top ranked law firm for social mobility for the fifth consecutive year. This achievement recognises the firm’s sustained leadership in socioeconomic inclusion and its commitment to sharing expertise across the legal sector and beyond. Attendees will hear directly from those driving this agenda at the firm, exploring the practical strategies that have earned Browne Jacobson its position as the UK’s number one employer for social mobility.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are fundamental to Browne Jacobson’s culture, embedded in its core values and fostered throughout the firm at every level through policy, education, advocacy and allyship. The event will cover key pillars of the firm’s DEI approach, including its Sustainable Gender Balance programme, its REACH (Race Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage) community and mentoring programme, and its award-winning FAIRE (Fairer Access Into Real Experience) initiative, which aims to support social mobility by providing equal access to paid work experience for students who may not have direct access to connections, networks, financial support or stronger educational qualifications.
This event will be of particular interest to businesses who are looking to move beyond aspiration and implement meaningful, measurable DEI strategies within their own organisations. Through its Social Mobility Incubator — a first-of-its-kind initiative — Browne Jacobson has been sharing practical insights, tools and real-world examples with clients and organisations across all sectors to help transform their approach to social mobility and inclusion. Attendees can expect to leave with practical takeaways that can be directly applied within their businesses, whatever their size or sector.
Have you ever wanted to give back and offer your expertise to a charity? Not sure what being a Trustee involves, or whether you have the time?
This is your opportunity to find out. It might even be the first step on your journey to becoming a Trustee. If you are at an earlier stage in your career, you may instead want to support a charity through volunteering, fundraising, or raising awareness of a cause close to your heart in an ambassadorial capacity.
Many charities are in need of people with expertise in professional services. In today’s challenging economic environment, there has never been a greater need for people with the energy, enthusiasm, and skills to make a meaningful contribution, whether through legal advice, accountancy expertise, marketing guidance, or leveraging networks to support fundraising.
A charity board typically meets four times a year, and a Trustee’s commitment is usually no more than six hours a month, but your impact can be immeasurable.
Want to find out more? Join us on 7th July to hear insights from people who lead and support charities across Greater Manchester and discover how you could make a difference.
Brought to you by the pro-manchester’s Charity Committee.
Join us for an interactive session that will explore leadership skills and how you can develop them to become the leader you want to be for your future success including:
· Using Lego to build what makes a good leader.
· The evidence behind what good leadership skills are and how to be better at them.
· What your leadership skills are now.
· A tool to take away to gain insights into how others see you.
· How you can develop your leadership skills for your future success.
The pro-women committee warmly invites you to our Summer Social Brunch — a vibrant mid-year gathering to celebrate connection, community, and the joy of coming together.
Join us for a relaxed and feel-good morning filled with delicious food, meaningful conversations, and plenty of new connections. With no formal agenda, this is a space to unwind and enjoy the energy of the pro-manchester community in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
The pro-women committee warmly invites you to our Summer Social Brunch — a vibrant mid-year gathering to celebrate connection, community, and the joy of coming together.
Join us for a relaxed and feel-good morning filled with delicious food, meaningful conversations, and plenty of new connections. With no formal agenda, this is a space to unwind and enjoy the energy of the pro-manchester community in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Change is constant, but uncertainty can drain confidence and focus. In our fireside chat, a regional leader will share how they make decisions with imperfect information, communicate clearly when plans evolve, and keep people aligned. The workshop will provide practical tools for change messaging, decision principles, and responding to resistance so you can lead calmly and credibly.
This session is ideal for anyone leading teams through shifting priorities, transformation programmes, or rapid growth who needs practical ways to keep people aligned.
Great leaders grow people and they don’t avoid the hard conversations. In this session, a regional leader will share how they develop talent, give feedback that lands, and address underperformance early and fairly. The workshop will provide practical coaching questions, a clear feedback structure, and conversation openers you can use straight away in 1:1s.
This session is ideal for people managers who want to develop talent, give better feedback, and handle performance issues earlier and more confidently.
Most organisations are good at talking change. They’re not as good at making it happen.
Research shows that around 70% of change programmes fall short, and only 1 in 4 sustain results over time. The gap isn’t strategy, it’s behaviour.
At the heart of this is something simple: people engage with change when they feel connected to it and resist when they don’t.
In this 90-minute interactive session, we’ll focus on what’s really happening behind the change, for you and for the people you lead.
Using our two simple, practical tools, the Rising Vibrational Scale and the A→B Framework, you’ll leave with clarity on:
This is a highly practical session. No theory overload. Just simple, practical tools you can apply immediately to alleviate your organisational change challenges.
This session explores what good financial reporting looks like, what’s often missing, and how the right information drives clarity, control and performance in growing businesses.
Practical, real-world and immediately applicable. It is being delivered by a highly experience Fractional FD who has worked with c.100 businesses and really knows what good looks like and what is doesn’t.
As Arbuthnot Latham approaches its 10-year anniversary in Manchester, we are delighted to host a special panel discussion to mark the beginning of the celebrations.
Taking place in Autumn 2026, this event will bring together voices from Arbuthnot Latham to reflect on how the financial, investment and regional business landscape has evolved over the past ten years. From shifts in market dynamics and investor behaviour to the changing needs of private clients and business owners, the discussion will explore the key themes that have shaped the last decade.
Looking ahead, the panel will also consider current market focus and outline where we believe the next ten years may lead us – including emerging investment trends, long-term opportunities, and the challenges likely to define the decade ahead.
This event offers an opportunity for guests to gain insight into Arbuthnot Latham’s perspective on the changing economic environment, while celebrating our continued commitment to Manchester and the wider region as we enter a new decade.
Our Six-Month Corporate Finance Review and Industry Social features insights from experts who will review the past six months of deals in the North West, explore notable shifts and transformations within the corporate finance market and an examination of how political factors may affect the corporate finance landscape
We also will delve into the deal-making process, discussing its evolution, key opportunities, challenges, and future predictions.
Following the presentations, enjoy drinks, finger buffet, and a fantastic opportunity to get social with over 200 professionals from corporate finance, private equity, and financial and professional services.
Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable insights and connect with industry leaders. We look forward to seeing you there!
Agenda:
*Costs include tea & coffee on arrival, finger buffet and one drinks voucher per person
Join us for an exclusive keynote with Caroline Simpson, Group Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). In this session, Caroline will provide a comprehensive “state of the region” update, outlining the strategic roadmap for Manchester’s continued growth, innovation, and social reform.
Since stepping into her role leading the GMCA, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), Caroline has been at the heart of the UK’s most ambitious devolution journey. This event offers a unique opportunity to hear firsthand how Greater Manchester is leveraging its new trailblazer powers to build a thriving city-region where everyone can live a good life.
Most business leaders still picture cyber-attacks as loud, technical and obvious. The reality is very different.
Today’s attackers are not always “hacking in”. More often, they are logging in with stolen credentials, exploiting trusted suppliers, and taking advantage of information about your business that is already exposed online without you even knowing it.
Join Aruga Cyber for an in-person event exploring the cyber threats most organisations do not see coming until it is too late. Created for business leaders, senior decision-makers, and IT and cyber professionals, this session will cut through the jargon and focus on what these threats really mean for organisations today: operational disruption, financial loss, regulatory exposure and reputational damage.
The event will open with a keynote from David Taylor, Founder of Aruga Cyber, examining how businesses are being attacked right now and why so many remain vulnerable. A live demo will then bring these risks to life, showcasing the kind of dark web intelligence and exposure monitoring that can uncover issues many organisations are unaware of until after damage has been done.
The session will continue with an expert panel discussion featuring perspectives from cyber, insurance and legal specialists, exploring the wider business implications of a breach. From liability and claims to client trust, due diligence and regulatory scrutiny, the panel will address the questions leadership teams should be asking now.
This is not a technical seminar for IT teams. It is a practical, thought-provoking and highly relevant discussion for anyone responsible for protecting their organisation, their clients and their reputation
Standing out in a crowded market is becoming increasingly difficult, especially as buyers grow more informed, cautious, and selective. This session will help you strengthen your sales approach so it better connects with what today’s customers actually value.
We’ll explore how to communicate your offer with greater clarity, making it easier for prospects to understand why you’re the right choice. You’ll also learn how to manage longer decision-making cycles, maintain momentum in your pipeline, and keep opportunities moving forward.
If you’re looking to improve results without increasing pressure on pricing, you’ll leave with practical techniques you can apply immediately.
Most digital activity looks busy but delivers very little. More content, more channels, more spend, yet results don’t always follow. This session is designed for Greater Manchester businesses that want to move past the noise and focus on what actually drives engagement, leads, and growth.
We’ll break down what’s working right now across content, paid media, and brand, using real examples to show how small changes in messaging, creative, and targeting can significantly improve performance. You’ll learn how to spot where your current activity is underperforming, how to create campaigns that connect with the right audience, and how to measure what really matters.
You’ll leave with practical ideas you can apply immediately, whether that’s refining your proposition, improving campaign performance, or getting more return from your existing budget. If your digital activity feels busy but not effective, this session will help you reset and refocus on what delivers real results.
Join us for our 2026 EDI Lunch, a forward‑thinking gathering designed to spark meaningful action across equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Connect with fellow professionals, gain insights from expert speakers, and leave with new tools and ideas to strengthen your organisation’s EDI ambitions in 2026 and beyond.
Don’t miss the chance to be part of a bold, inclusive conversation.
More details to follow!
Menopause affects people in every type of workplace. Nine in ten say symptoms affect their work and one in ten leave their jobs because of what they are experiencing. Many do not feel supported and many do not recognise their symptoms as menopause at all. The result is silence, fear and a real impact on confidence, attendance and progression.
From April 2027, the Employment Rights Act 2025 will require employers with 250 or more staff to have a Menopause Action Plan. Many organisations still do not know this is coming. Even fewer understand how to make sure support reaches people in real roles and real environments.
The Menopause Charity provides trusted information. We work across communities, workplaces and health settings to improve understanding of menopause and aid the conversation. Our insight shows that people are still scared to speak, psychological symptoms are often misunderstood and those with the least power in a workplace are the least likely to ask for help. These issues are seen across all sectors and all job types.
During the session we explore:
· The reality for employees today, including fear of judgement, lack of awareness, barriers for non-desk workers and the needs of those facing greater health inequalities.
By the end of the session you will understand the challenges people are facing, the gaps that still exist and the practical steps organisations of any size can take now to improve support and strengthen workplace culture.
This practical half-day session helps leaders understand how their emotions, mindset, and behaviour shape team performance – particularly under pressure. It combines emotional intelligence and resilience to support leaders in staying grounded, communicating effectively, and maintaining standards during challenging situations.
Participants will explore how their emotional responses influence others, how pressure impacts decision-making and behaviour, and how to shift from reacting to responding with intention. The session provides practical tools to manage emotional load, build resilience, and create a team environment based on trust, accountability, and psychological safety.
Through real-world scenarios, reflection, and discussion, leaders will develop greater self-awareness and leave with a personalised approach to managing pressure, supporting their team, and leading with consistency and confidence.
Join us for our International Women’s Day Lunch 2027, a dynamic annual celebration dedicated to reflection, solidarity, and collective progress.
Our event will proudly align with the United Nations theme for 2027.
Hosted by the Pro‑Women Committee, the 2027 programme will build on the energy of last year’s incredible event, bringing together an even broader community.
And as always, everyone is welcome. Regardless of gender identity, background, or lived experience, this celebration is a space where all voices are valued and all people are celebrated.
Stay tuned—More details and speaker announcements coming later this year!
Technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace, but for many organisations, the challenge remains the same – how to ensure your IT estate is secure, scalable, and truly enabling business performance.
In this session, we will explore the key IT, Cyber Security, and AI trends, and what they mean for UK businesses today.
We’ll break down the importance of getting the fundamentals right – from robust IT foundations and effective use of Microsoft 365, through to aligning your cyber security posture with frameworks such as Cyber Essentials.
Finally, we’ll look at how organisations can move beyond the basics to unlock real value through AI and automation – improving efficiency, reducing risk, and driving smarter decision-making.
This session is designed for business leaders looking to better understand how to maximise the value of IT, while ensuring their organisation remains secure and future-ready.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces significant changes for employers across all sectors. Join our employment law specialists for a focused update on the key reforms, what they mean in practice, and the steps you should be taking now to manage risk and remain compliant. This session will provide clear, practical insight to help you navigate the evolving legal landscape with confidence
Value to Attendees – Outcomes
In this workshop the attendees will learn and be able to apply the following:
Join us for breakfast!
Bringing together professionals from all industries to focus on performance, balance, and wellbeing.
This special edition event blends valuable networking with practical learning, creating the perfect environment to recharge, connect with like-minded professionals, and gain insights that will help you thrive throughout the year.
Guests will take part in two engaging sessions designed to sharpen both mindset and wellbeing:
Performance Psychology Masterclass: Discover proven techniques used in elite sport to build resilience, perform under pressure, and stay motivated when it matters most.
Health & Wellbeing Masterclass: Gain practical advice from a wellbeing practitioner on maintaining physical and mental balance in demanding, high-performance environments
The creative, digital, and media industries are evolving faster than ever—how do you keep up?
Whether you’re looking to sharpen your marketing strategy, harness the latest tech, build reputation through communication or future-proof your brand, our Creative, Digital & Media Surgery is here to help.
Join us for a dynamic, interactive event where you’ll gain insider knowledge from industry experts in seven focused ‘surgery’ sessions. Each session will cover a key topic, giving you 10 minutes of expert insight, followed by the chance to ask your burning questions. Move from session to session, soaking up invaluable advice and leaving with practical takeaways to elevate your business.
With funding harder to secure and expectations higher than ever, businesses need a sharper approach to finance. This session is built for Greater Manchester businesses looking to move forward with confidence, whether that means stabilising cashflow, funding growth, or preparing for investment.
We’ll explore how the finance landscape has shifted and what that means in practical terms for your business. You’ll gain insight into the funding routes available right now, alongside clear guidance on how to strengthen your financial position and present a compelling case to lenders and investors.
From improving forecasting and managing cash effectively to understanding what drives funding decisions and how to avoid common missteps, this session will give you the tools to act decisively. Walk away with a realistic view of your options and a stronger plan to secure the funding your business needs.
Businesses are under pressure to innovate and stay competitive, and AI can be a gamechanger when used effectively. This session explores how Greater Manchester companies can leverage AI to create value, save time, and improve decision-making across departments.
We’ll examine real-life applications in customer service, marketing, forecasting, and operations, and provide hands-on frameworks for assessing which initiatives are worth pursuing. Attendees will also learn practical ways to address implementation challenges, manage cultural and ethical considerations, and build teams ready to work with AI tools. Walk away with clear, actionable strategies to turn AI from a buzzword into a tangible driver of growth.
As the year draws to a close, this session creates space to step back and reflect on what has worked, what has not, and what needs to change moving forward. Strong leadership is not just about driving performance in the moment, but about learning, adapting and setting a clear direction for what comes next.
We will explore the key leadership lessons from the past year, from managing pressure and navigating uncertainty to keeping teams aligned and motivated when priorities shift. Just as importantly, we will look ahead to the coming year, focusing on how to reset direction, sharpen focus and build momentum early.
This is a practical, forward-looking session designed to help you reflect with purpose and leave with clear priorities. You will gain simple, actionable ways to strengthen communication, improve accountability and create a culture that is ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
In a market where buyers are more selective and decisions take longer, having a clear and consistent sales approach matters more than ever. This session focuses on how to win more of the right opportunities by improving how you position your offer and manage your pipeline.
We will look at ways to build trust earlier in the process, ask better questions, and keep conversations moving without relying on price reductions. You will come away with practical ideas to improve conversion rates and create a more reliable flow of new business.
AI is transforming how businesses operate, offering opportunities to improve productivity, enhance customer experiences, and make smarter decisions. But without careful implementation, it can create risks—from data breaches and compliance issues to reputational damage and unintended errors.
This session explores how businesses can adopt AI responsibly and effectively. We will look at real-world examples of AI delivering measurable value, as well as common pitfalls and risks to avoid. You will gain practical guidance on setting up AI projects, embedding governance, and ensuring your team uses AI in ways that are ethical, safe, and aligned with your business goals.
By the end of the session, you will have a clear understanding of how to prioritise AI initiatives, integrate them into your operations, and move forward confidently, maximising benefits while minimising risk.
The property market continues to shift, with changing demand, rising costs and increased scrutiny on developments. While there is still opportunity, it is not always where people expect it to be.
This session focuses on where real opportunities are emerging across the property landscape, from commercial and residential trends to regeneration and local development activity. We will explore what is moving forward, what is stalling, and how businesses can position themselves to take advantage.
You will also gain insight into the practical challenges affecting deals, including funding, planning and delivery, and how others are navigating them successfully. Whether you are directly in the property sector or connected through supply chains or investment, this session will help you better understand where to focus your time and effort.
As businesses grow and evolve, leadership needs to adapt to new challenges and opportunities. This session focuses on how to lead effectively through change, maintain team engagement, and build a culture that supports performance and accountability.
We will explore practical approaches to communication, performance management, and development, helping you create an environment where your team can perform at their best. Whether you are managing a growing team, navigating change, or looking to strengthen your leadership impact, you will leave with clear, actionable ideas to drive both people and business forward.
With major investment and development planned across the region, including Atom Valley, there is a real opportunity for local businesses to get involved and benefit. This session will break down what these developments mean in practice and where the opportunities are likely to emerge.
We will explore how businesses can position themselves to take advantage, whether through partnerships, supply chains or future growth plans. You will also gain a clearer understanding of the wider economic picture and what it could mean for Rochdale and beyond. A useful session for anyone wanting to stay informed and make confident decisions about the future.
Attention is expensive, algorithms are unpredictable, and audiences are harder to reach, yet brands still need to grow. This event is for Greater Manchester teams who want digital marketing that performs and creativity that cuts through.
We’ll explore what’s working today across paid, organic and owned channels, including content that builds trust, creative that drives response, and measurement that proves impact when budgets are under scrutiny. Expect actionable ideas on sharpening your proposition, building campaigns around real audience insight, and connecting brand activity to revenue outcomes. Ideal for marketing leaders and growth teams who need better results without simply spending more.
In uncertain markets, strategy only works if your people believe in it. This event explores how leaders across Greater Manchester can build resilient, high-performing cultures while managing change, cost pressure, hybrid working expectations, and the ongoing war for talent.
We’ll dig into what strong leadership looks like when the plan keeps shifting: communicating with clarity, maintaining accountability without burning teams out, and creating a culture that retains great people even when budgets are tight. With practical tools and honest conversation, you’ll leave with ideas you can apply immediately, whether you lead a scaling start-up, a professional services team, or a manufacturing operation adapting to new demands.
AI is moving fast, but not every use case is worth the hype or the risk. This session gives Greater Manchester businesses a practical, no-nonsense view of where AI is already delivering ROI—think productivity, customer service, forecasting and smarter decision-making and where it’s creating reputational, legal and operational headaches.
We’ll share real examples, quick-win frameworks, and “red flag” scenarios to avoid, including data privacy pitfalls, hallucinations in customer-facing content, and automation that quietly damages culture and trust. Expect a balanced discussion, clear do’s and don’ts, and a checklist you can take back to your team to prioritise the right projects now.
Cash is king, funding is more selective, and investors want stronger evidence of traction and discipline. This session helps Greater Manchester businesses navigate the current finance landscape, whether you’re planning growth, managing risk, or exploring investment.
We’ll cover the options on the table and what funders are really looking for: improving cashflow and forecasting, preparing for lending conversations, investor-ready storytelling, and choosing the right finance route for your stage. You’ll hear practical guidance on strengthening your numbers, understanding deal expectations, and avoiding common mistakes that slow decisions down. Leave with a clearer view of what “fundable” looks like right now and how to get there.
As the world’s commercial real estate landscape continues its evolution in 2026, the office sector stands at a pivotal moment of transformation, resilience and opportunity. This timely session brings together leading market analysts, occupiers, and industry strategists to explore the defining trends shaping today’s office market and chart the path ahead for the remainder of the decade.
Against a backdrop of economic recalibration and shifting workplace behaviour, the office sector is emerging from a period of adjustment with a renewed focus on quality, flexibility and strategic repositioning. Although office occupancy and leasing patterns were challenged during the post-pandemic era, recent data indicate stabilising fundamentals, increased investor interest in prime assets, and a polarised market where best-in-class space outperforms legacy stock.
Please note that this event is reserved for members only.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact [email protected] for more information.
Many business owners spend years building significant value on paper, but far fewer feel clear or confident about what that value will actually mean for their lifestyle once they step away.
In this practical and engaging session, we will explore the key financial decisions that arise before, during and after the sale of a business.
The focus is on helping founders translate an exit valuation into real-world outcomes: sustainable income, financial security, and a clear plan for what comes next.
We will cover:
Please note that this event is reserved for members only.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact [email protected] for more information.
The Big Squeeze
If you’re running a growing business right now, you already know the feeling, squeezed on headcount, squeezed on costs, squeezed on time, and trying to keep up with a wave of regulatory and tech changes that aren’t slowing down.
This exclusive fireside session brings together four experts across HR, technology, finance and wellbeing to tackle one question every business owner and leader in the room will recognise:
How do I run a lean, growing business without getting caught out by things I didn’t know were coming?
Across a single, honest conversation, our panel will unpack what the next 18 months actually looks like for Manchester businesses, from the Employment Rights Bill reshaping how you manage people, to the cyber threats now targeting mid-sized firms, to the real impact of recent Budget changes on your bottom line, and why getting your retention and wellbeing strategy right has never mattered more.
This isn’t death by PowerPoint. It’s a straight-talking panel discussion with plenty of room for your questions, designed for founders, MDs and senior leaders in businesses with 20–150 employees who’d rather be ahead of what’s coming than scrambling to catch up.
Expect practical insight, good conversation, and a room full of people navigating the same challenges you are.
Spaces are limited.
Register your spot.
Brand is often the last thing founders think about before an exit – but investors often see it first.
This session makes the case for brand as a powerful commercial lever: one that shapes risk perception, builds growth confidence, and ultimately moves the dial on valuation. The central provocation is simple – two businesses with identical EBITDA can command radically different multiples. Why?
Brand strategist James Summerscales of Influential opens with a keynote on what it means to build a brand that is genuinely fit for purpose – authentic, coherent, and far more than a logo.
James is then joined for a moderated discussion with one of the leaders of Manchester’s private equity community for a conversation on the role brand plays as a valuation multiplier, exploring it as a risk reducer, a growth accelerator, an exit narrative tool, and a marker of revenue quality.
The session will also examine why businesses choose to reframe themselves – whether to support a new growth strategy, move from founder-led identity to institutional credibility, consolidate after M&A, professionalise the proposition, or transition from challenger to category leader.
For anyone in the room asking “if our brand disappeared tomorrow, how much would our valuation change?” – this session is where that conversation starts.
Please note that this event is reserved for members only.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact [email protected] for more information.
Our panel of local funders will each give their views on the state of the funding market for M&A and growth capital in the North West.
What impact have the various ‘external shocks to the system’ had in the last 12 months and how will the legacy of these events affect the funding market in the next year and beyond?
We’ll explore whether supply & demand for M&A funding in the North West are, in the panel’s view, in balance. Do the panel feel that the range of available funding fits the specific needs of the market in the north west?
Who are the new entrants to the North West market during the last 12 months? Are there still gaps?
Is the North West self-sufficient or do business owners and advisers in the North West still need to look to London for funding?
Why are transactions taking longer and what can be done about it?
We’ll ask the panel for their predictions for the next 12 months.
Questions from the audience are invited in advance, and on the day.
We expect a lively debate on a subject to which all M&A advisers and funders can relate.
Private company valuations have shifted, and 2026 is proving to be a more selective and complex environment than many expected. The factors influencing value today go beyond traditional methodologies and require a clearer understanding of how the market is actually behaving.
Capital is more cautious, investor expectations have evolved, and execution risk is being more closely scrutinised. As a result, understanding how valuations are being shaped in practice is becoming increasingly important for businesses at all stages.
Hardman & Co will explore the key factors currently affecting private company valuations, and what they mean for companies looking to raise capital, transact or plan ahead.
The session will conclude with a panel discussion featuring perspectives from research, advisory and business leadership, sharing real-world insight into how valuations are being assessed, challenged and delivered in 2026.
Whether you are a founder, adviser or investor, this session will provide a clearer and more practical view of value in today’s mark.
The retail landscape is shifting at an unprecedented pace. Economic pressures, shifting digital landscapes, and unpredictable market forces have created a stark divide in the industry, while some brands have found innovative ways to thrive, others have faced significant issues. This year’s Retail Lunch brings together industry leaders to dissect these realities, offering a comprehensive look back at the lessons learned from recent triumphs and struggles, alongside a strategic roadmap for the year ahead.
Panel 1: Heritage & Community: Balancing the soul of legacy brands with the curation of modern, hyper-local shopping experiences by exploring how historic retailers can maintain their core identity while embedding themselves into the unique cultural fabric of local neighborhoods.
Panel 2: Marketing Efficiency: Moving past the AI hype to leverage predictive tech for hyper-personalization and measurable ROI in an era where budgets are tight and consumers demand absolute relevance, forcing marketers to separate flashy trends from scalable, bottom-line growth.
pro-manchester is having a birthday… and you’re invited!
We’re heading to the Treehouse Hotel, Manchester to celebrate everything that makes pro-manchester what it is today: brilliant people, big ideas, ambitious businesses and a community that’s been creating opportunity across Greater Manchester.
Join Sam Booth, Nicola McCormick and the entire pro-manchester team for an afternoon all about good vibes, great conversations and even better company. We’ll be raising a glass with our outgoing Chair, Alison Loveday, to say a huge thank you for her impact and leadership — and welcoming Nick Rose, our incoming Chair, as we look ahead to the next chapter.
Expect great food, lively entertainment, and plenty of chances to catch up with familiar faces, make new connections, and soak up the energy of pro-manchester’s incredible community and history.
Whether you’ve been part of the journey for years or joined more recently, this is your chance to celebrate being part of something special.
Come for the party. Stay for the people. Celebrate the community.
AI isn’t coming. It’s already here. And most leaders are stuck. Not because they don’t care, but because they don’t know where to start.
How do you move forward without breaking trust?
Without damaging your culture? Without taking risks you can’t see yet? That’s what this session is about. It’s not a technical workshop. It’s not about hype or fear. It’s about leadership responsibility.
We’ll look at how AI changes power, accountability and judgement inside your organisation. What should stay with humans. What machines can support. Where you need to stay involved.
You’ll leave with three things:
This isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about feeling confident enough to lead without feeling rushed, exposed or left behind.
If you’re a leader who cares about fairness, team experience and long-term value, this is for you.
Session designed for board directors, NEDs and Trustees. Also relevant for CEOs, MDs and senior leadership teams.
Please note that this event is reserved for members only.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact [email protected] for more information
Hiring a new team member is one of the biggest investments an employer can make—and managing their probation period well is key to protecting both performance and culture. This practical, hands‑on session equips employers / managers with the confidence and tools to guide new starters through probation in a way that is fair, structured, and aligned with the values that make their organisation unique.
With the upcoming changes to employment legislation, enabling employees with six months’ service to claim unfair dismissal, it’s never been more important to get how you do recruitment and probation right.
Through real‑world examples and easy‑to‑apply frameworks, participants will learn how to set clear expectations from day one, provide meaningful feedback, identify early warning signs, and document the probation process appropriately. The session also highlights how to support new employees so they can integrate smoothly into a team, maintain morale, and contribute positively to the workplace culture.
By the end of the training, attendees will understand how to balance legal responsibilities, good people management, and the realities of employing people and running an organisation —ensuring that probation becomes a powerful tool for growth, not a source of stress.
By the end of this session, employers / managers will be able to:
Join us for an honest, thought-provoking panel conversation with men and women sharing real experiences of allyship, workplace change, and the barriers that still exist. Expect practical insights, candid discussion, and space for your questions – whether you’re sceptical, curious, or ready to act.
Gender equity isn’t a ‘women’s issue’ and it isn’t something for women to tackle alone. When men are involved, progress is accelerated because we often hold the positions and influence to make change happen. For ourselves as well as for others.
Whether you want to work in solidarity alongside your female coworkers to change an unfair system, or you want to take on issues that affect men at work – from paternity leave to career stereotypes – we’re calling on you to get active.
As some 80% of leaders and 60% of line managers, men are brilliantly poised to make change happen in their workplaces. If you’re curious about how to get involved in inclusion as a man, or whether you ‘can’ or ‘should’, this event is for you.
In this session, Crescent Purchasing Consortium’s Procurement Learning & Development Lead, Mark Pearson, will explore the background to public sector tendering from a supplier perspective. He will look at the processes which public sector bodies have to follow, together with the opportunities to seek appointment to frameworks from which public sector bodies call off their contract.
The session will showcase the groundwork you can do ahead of tendering to get your business ready to participate, provide you with hints and tips for improving your tender responses, and illustrate what you can do if successful (or unsuccessful) to improve your chances the next time you submit a tender. Mark will also demonstrate typical feedback that you can expect a public body to provide to you, whether successful or unsuccessful. He will also highlight changes to processes resulting from the Procurement Act 2023 which came into force in 2025 and point you in the direction of resources that are freely available to suppliers on Crescent Learning, the support toolkit for buyers and suppliers to the education sector and beyond.
If you are a supplier to the public sector looking to improve performance at tender submission, or a supplier looking to break into the Greater Manchester public sector marketplace, this event is for you.
You are giving 100%, pouring into your career, passionate about your development – yet find yourself holding back when it comes to communicating your value, advocating for yourself and owning your abilities… Well not anymore!
This session focuses on building confidence in a way that feels genuine, not forced. We’ll explore how to communicate your value, navigate self-doubt, and increase your visibility without feeling uncomfortable or inauthentic. Through reflection and practical strategies, let’s stretch beyond familiar patterns and take confident, sustainable steps to professional growth.
Ready to explore what you are really capable of?
Fireside Chat with Guy Remond, Co-Founder, EHE Venture Studio
EHE Venture Studio sits at the forefront of bringing AI-first businesses to market. In this fireside chat, co-founder Guy Remond draws on his experience, and his role as EHE’s in-house futurist, to explore what digital superintelligence actually means for the world ahead.
Guy will trace how a perfect storm of advances in connectivity, cloud computing, compute power, materials science and energy has made AI not just possible, but commercially inevitable.
He’ll examine how AI is quietly converging across areas including hardware, robotics, and healthcare – and what that convergence means for business today and in the years to come.
This is a talk for anyone who wants clarity on the direction AI is heading: where the genuine opportunities are emerging, and how to approach them sensibly.
You’ll come away with:
Who Should Attend:
Join us on Thursday 8th October at our annual Property & Regeneration Lunch for a fabulous two course lunch and the opportunity to hear from leading industry experts. Our event will feature two panels, each exploring critical issues shaping the future of the property and regeneration sector. Don’t miss the chance to connect with like-minded professionals and gain invaluable insights into the sustainable future of property. Reserve your seat today!
Agenda:
12:00 – 12:30 Registration and drinks reception
12:35 – 13:15 Fireside discussion: Reflection, Resilience, and Renewal: 30 Years On From the 1996 Manchester Bomb
Marking a significant 30-year milestone, this fireside chat offers a gentle space to reflect on a profoundly difficult chapter in our city’s history. While the events of 1996 brought sudden sorrow, the decades since have stood as a testament to the enduring strength, healing, and unity of the people of Manchester moving from a moment of shared adversity to thoughtfully rebuilding a hopeful future together.
13:15 – 14:15 Two course lunch served
14:15 – 15:00 Panel Session: The Next Chapter: Scaling Manchester’s Future
While the first session explored how we fixed the city’s core, this panel discussion focuses on how we are now expanding its reach. Our experts will dive into the strategic projects and massive infrastructure shifts that will define the skyline through 2030 and beyond.
In this interactive investor session, we’ll focus on how to bring those pieces together. From pensions and ISAs to wider investment portfolios, we’ll look at how to take a more joined-up approach to managing your money.
We’ll cover the core building blocks – asset allocation, diversification, and long-term planning – and how they apply across different goals, whether that’s growing your wealth, drawing an income, or planning ahead for the next generation.
We’ll also look at how to make decisions in the context of today’s market, without losing sight of what you’re investing for in the first place.
A straightforward look at how to approach investing with a bit more clarity, structure, and purpose.
Planning for succession is one of the most important decisions a business owner will make. Whether considering a sale, management buyout, private equity investment or employee ownership, understanding the legal, tax and personal wealth implications is critical to protecting value and securing the right outcome.
Join Myerson Solicitors, Rathbones and Claritas Tax for an in-person panel discussion exploring the key routes to succession, strategies for maximising business value, and the steps owners can take to preserve and grow wealth after exit.
Facilitated by Chris Wilson, Head of Business Development at Myerson Solicitors, this session brings together specialist advisers to discuss the practical considerations business owners should be thinking about now both before and after a transaction.
Why attend?
Succession Routes: Legal and Tax Considerations
Exploring the main routes to succession and their practical implications:
• Management Buyouts (MBOs)
• Trade sales
• Private equity investment
• Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs)
Succession Planning and Maximising Value
Preparing for exit and structuring for the best possible outcome:
• Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) and Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
• Preparing your business for sale or succession
• Building the right advisory team
• Corporate reorganisations and demergers
• Trusts and Personal Investment Companies (PICs)
Maintaining and Growing Value After Exit
Protecting and planning wealth for the future:
• Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax planning
• Family Investment Companies (FICs)
• Trusts and Wills
• Investment strategies, including EIS
• Pension planning
• Family and marital considerations
• Offshore planning considerations
This panel will provide practical insight into how to approach succession strategically from selecting the right exit route to planning for long-term wealth preservation.
In today’s investment landscape, technology is a direct driver of value creation and commercial performance, yet it remains one of the greatest sources of risk to long-term success.
Join Codurance, in partnership with pro-manchester, for a commercially focused breakfast briefing exploring how leveraging modern technology is crucial to creating measurable value, maximising business growth and boosting investor confidence.
Drawing on real-world experience with high-growth and investor-backed organisations, our speakers will explore:
How technical due diligence is shaping valuation as investors place greater emphasis on resilience, scalability, technology maturity and risk exposure.
Why the first 100 days post-investment are critical for identifying commercial priorities, unlocking efficiencies, stabilising operations and building investor confidence.
How strengthening operational efficiency, reducing key-person dependence and accelerating go-to-market can create a more scalable and revenue-ready organisation.
How stronger technology foundations improve decision-making, enhance data quality and create the conditions for innovation, including AI, when the commercial case is right.
This session is ideal for business leaders, technology leaders, operating partners and portfolio teams who want a clear, practical understanding of how modernisation directly drives growth, reduces risk and increases enterprise value.
Learning Objectives:
· • Understand the neuroscience of emotions and performance.
· • Learn to manage your ‘inner chimp’ to stay calm and composed under stress.
· • Apply strategies to turn pressure into confidence and clarity in high-stakes moments.
Learning Objectives:
· • Identify and define your personal and professional super strengths.
· • Learn how to harness these strengths as the fuel behind your performance.
· • Explore how strengths create clarity, confidence, and competitive advantage.
As the summer season gets underway, this event is the perfect opportunity to step away from the office, catch up with familiar faces and make new connections in an informal and welcoming setting. Whether you’re new to the future-pro network or a regular attendee, the Summer Social offers a great chance to expand your network while enjoying a laid-back atmosphere.
Expect drinks, food and the opportunity to connect with professionals from across Manchester’s thriving business community. future-pro events are designed to bring together early-career professionals from a wide range of industries, creating space to share ideas, build relationships, and grow your network.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Ticket prices (+ VAT)
Members: £35 per person
Non-Members: £45 per person
Our Summer Party is returning for 2026, and we’re cranking up the heat! After the incredible success of last year, we’re ready to once again bring together the brightest minds and boldest personalities from across the Manchester business community for an evening of sun, style, and high-level networking.
If you thought 2025 was a night to remember, just wait until you see what we have in store for this year. We’re transforming one of the city’s premier spaces into the ultimate summer retreat the perfect backdrop to toast to another year of success with your fellow professionals.
Whether you’re pitching, posting, or answering “so what do you do?”, this session will help you craft messaging that’s clear, confident, and makes people want to know more.
Perfect for business owners and sales leaders who want to:
By the end of the session, you’ll be able to:
Join us for a focused one hour session exploring how organisations can better support leaders while strengthening workplace wellbeing across Greater Manchester.
This event brings together a carefully selected panel of experts to provide a balanced and practical discussion on the realities of leadership today and its impact on workforce health and productivity.
The session will begin with an introduction from a representative of Live Well, who will outline the organisation’s 10-year strategy. Greater Manchester’s Live Well strategy isn’t just a public health ambition; it is also a workforce productivity and retention strategy, with employers acting as critical delivery partners. This introduction will highlight what Live Well offers employers including tools, referral pathways, and community partnerships, and how businesses can use these resources to reduce health related barriers to work, integrate wellbeing strategies, and realise financial and organisational benefits. This will be followed by a chaired panel discussion.
The panel has been intentionally designed to reflect a wide range of professional perspectives. Experts from HR, legal, medical or therapeutic, and wellbeing backgrounds will share insights from their fields, ensuring the conversation is inclusive and multidimensional. Together, they will explore the pressures leaders face, the legal and organisational risks involved, the mental health considerations that cannot be ignored, and practical steps organisations can take to strengthen workplace wellbeing and leadership capability.
Throughout the session, panelists will draw on real world experience of implementing leadership and wellbeing strategies. Attendees can expect honest reflections on challenges, lessons learned, and measurable outcomes. Particular emphasis will be placed on equipping managers with practical tools, training approaches, and structured support that can be applied immediately within their own teams.
The event is designed as a safe and constructive space to acknowledge the demands placed on leaders and to explore meaningful, sustainable solutions. Participants will leave with actionable insights and greater clarity on how to build stronger support systems that promote both effective workplace leadership and long term workforce wellbeing across Greater Manchester.
Part of the Sales Geek x Pro Manchester training series, Negotiation isn’t about winning at all costs, it’s about creating outcomes where everyone leaves the table satisfied.
In this engaging session, we’ll explore both the science and the art of influence. You’ll learn how to use persuasive language to strengthen your pitch, apply proven psychological principles, and confidently move through each stage of the negotiation process.
With practical tools, interactive exercises, and real-world scenarios, this course will help you transform difficult conversations into collaborative agreements and turn obstacles into opportunities.
You’ll learn how to:
Who’s it for?
Sales professionals, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone who needs to influence and negotiate as part of their role. Whether you’re closing deals, managing partnerships, or navigating internal agreements, this session will give you the edge.
Part of the Sales Geek x Pro Manchester training series, Negotiation isn’t about winning at all costs, it’s about creating outcomes where everyone leaves the table satisfied.
In this engaging session, we’ll explore both the science and the art of influence. You’ll learn how to use persuasive language to strengthen your pitch, apply proven psychological principles, and confidently move through each stage of the negotiation process.
With practical tools, interactive exercises, and real-world scenarios, this course will help you transform difficult conversations into collaborative agreements and turn obstacles into opportunities.
You’ll learn how to:
Who’s it for?
Sales professionals, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone who needs to influence and negotiate as part of their role. Whether you’re closing deals, managing partnerships, or navigating internal agreements, this session will give you the edge.
When Teams Go Quiet is a practical, evidence-informed session for managers and leaders who want to build psychologically safe teams—where people can raise concerns early, share ideas, admit mistakes, challenge respectfully, and perform with greater trust and accountability.
This session moves psychological safety beyond buzzwords and into real manager behaviour: what leaders say, what they notice, how they respond, and how they create conditions where people feel safe enough to speak before issues escalate.
This session helps managers understand what silence may be telling them—and what to do before it turns into absence, conflict, complaints, errors, turnover, or reputational risk.
The strategy surgery is a high-impact, ‘surgery-style’ round table event designed for marketing leaders and creative professionals who need more than just theory. Moving beyond the standard presentation format, this session facilitates rapid-fire, expert-led rotations. Attendees will move between three specialist tables to solve their most pressing hurdles in branding, AI-driven search, team scaling, sales integration, and modern PR.
This is an interactive surgery session designed for the modern marketer and creative lead. We’ve stripped away the fluff and replaced the stage with three specialist tables, each hosted by an expert who lives and breathes their discipline.
This isn’t a passive experience. Attendees will rotate through three intensive surgeries, spending 20 minutes at each. Bring your current projects, your biggest roadblocks, and your “how do I even…?” questions.
You’ll need to select your preferred specialist tables prior to the event – please choose your top three.
Employees don’t just attend events – they experience your culture through them. As organisations sharpen their focus on sustainability, HR and internal comms professionals have a unique opportunity to lead by example.
Beyond the Stage will explore how to weave sustainability into the very fabric of employee experiences, from the way events are planned and delivered to how they inspire long-term engagement. This thought leadership session brings together experts in people, comms, and events to share practical strategies, innovative ideas, and inspiring case studies that demonstrate how sustainable practices can elevate both impact and purpose.
Attendees will leave with actionable insights on:
· Embedding sustainability into internal events without compromising creativity or ngagement
· Communicating environmental values in a way that resonates with employees
· Using events as a platform to strengthen culture, boost retention, and drive meaningful change
Because when it comes to employee experiences, sustainability isn’t an add-on – it’s the stage, the story, and the legacy.
The construction industry is at a historic turning point. As our physical world becomes increasingly digital, the way we conceptualise, design, and execute projects must evolve.
Join us for an exploration of how Artificial Intelligence is moving beyond the screen and into the site. We’ll dive into how AI is empowering design teams to create more sustainable, cost-effective, and visionary structures with a level of precision that was previously impossible. From initial sketches to the final brick, discover how technology is turning the blueprints of tomorrow into the reality of today.
ENTER DETAILS HERE.
Ticket prices (+ VAT)
Members
£35 per person
Non-Members
£45 per person
