On 14th July, EMPOWER Youth Zones partnered with iNVEST MANCHESTER to host an event at HideOut Youth Zone in Gorton, bringing together senior business leaders from across Greater Manchester to explore one of the most important questions facing the city right now: how do global businesses truly embed themselves in the communities they operate in, and what role do young people play in that story?
The evening opened with a powerful framing from Angela Harrington, Director of Inclusive Economy at Manchester City Council, who reminded the room that despite Manchester’s remarkable growth story, the city remains the fourth poorest local authority in England. The distribution of opportunity is unequal, and the city’s recent Child Friendly City status, while a proud achievement, only deepens the responsibility to make that recognition mean something in practice.
The message was clear: in the backdrop of success, there is still a great deal of work to do.
The centrepiece of the evening was a roundtable facilitated by Victoria Braddock of Marketing Manchester, with Sean Turner, BNY’s Manchester Site Executive and newly appointed Chair of EMPOWER’s Board of Trustees at the heart of it. Sean shared BNY’s 20-year journey of embedding in Greater Manchester, not just as an employer but as a genuine stakeholder in the city’s future. His own story, from growing up in Leigh to leading one of the city’s most significant financial institutions, was a powerful illustration of what becomes possible when talent is nurtured early and businesses commit to the communities around them.
Joe Manning of Invest Manchester challenged the room to think beyond one-off interventions. T Levels and work experience placements are valuable, but they are single mechanics in a much more complex system. What Greater Manchester needs is deeper, longer-term commitment, one that runs through supply chains, shapes cultures, and creates genuine legacy.
Adam Farricker, CEO of EMPOWER, reinforced this with clarity: “If you wait until a young person is 16 to start investing in them, you have already missed the moment that matters most. EMPOWER works with young people from the age of 8, building confidence, curiosity, and connection with trusted adults during the years that shape everything that follows.”
The timing, the group agreed, has never felt more significant. With Andy Burnham now Prime Minister and championing Good Growth in every postcode nationally, Greater Manchester has a unique opportunity to lead by example. As Sean put it, the city is in the “sweet spot“, a moment of national attention and genuine political will that must be seized together.
The evening closed with a tour of HideOut Youth Zone, where guests joined young people on session to experience the impact of youth work themselves
What Comes Next
The evening generated genuine appetite for continued collaboration.
A further event is planned later in the year, expanding the conversation to other organisations doing vital work across the city.
If you are a business leader interested in understanding how your organisation can create a meaningful local legacy, and a genuine competitive advantage, we would love to hear from you.
Get in touch with the fundraising team through Amanda Coverdale (amanda.coverdale@empoweryouthzones.org) for partnership opportunities.
