Norden woman appointed to Mayor's Business Advisory Panel

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

Elizabeth Shaw, from Norden, has been appointed to a Business Advisory Panel set up by Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester Mayor.

Elizabeth Shaw, along with the other panel members, will advise the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Business & Economy, Sir Richard Leese, on actions they feel the city-region should be taking on issues affecting business.

The panel has representation from each of Greater Manchester 10 boroughs and membership is evenly split between women and men.

Mayor Burnham said: “In November I asked all businesspeople in Greater Manchester, from sole traders to Corporation CEO’s, to join me as we make Greater Manchester the best place to live, work and invest.

“I have been overwhelmed by the response we have had from the business community. The quality of those who applied to be on Greater Manchester’s first Business Advisory Panel has been very impressive.

“I am proud that we now have a group of business leaders who represent full breadth of opinion, from businesses big and small, businesspeople young and old, men and women.

"The panel has dynamic and innovative representatives from right across Greater Manchester’s diverse communities and business sectors.

“Together we’ll tackle the issues that businesses face and ensure all our companies can grow and succeed here in Greater Manchester.

Sir Richard Leese, Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester and lead on economic strategy, added: "The continuing growth of Greater Manchester's businesses is key to us delivering prosperity for the area and helping ensure that our residents are able to share in that success.

"It is also essential that we capture the opportunities in emerging sectors where Greater Manchester has particular strengths. The Business Advisory Panel will provide important insight, and indeed challenge, as we develop strategies to achieve these ambitions."

To support the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and the Local Enterprise Partnership, the panel will be free to look across all Greater Manchester policy areas, initiate new ideas and provide a challenge function. One of its first tasks will be to advise on the development of the Greater Manchester Employer Charter and how it can get the widest possible take-up amongst the business community.

The panel is an independent, informal and voluntary body with members joining on a personal basis, rather than as representatives of their own companies or organisations. Membership will change over time to ensure that as many business voices as possible can be heard. The founding 18 members have been asked to join for an initial period of 12 months.