Piccadilly Partnership and CityCo have delivered the first in a series of debates focused on the independent business sector in Manchester city centre.

Last night’s inaugural forum was hosted by N4 venue Matt & Phreds, and attended by many business proprietors from the Northern Quarter and Piccadilly areas of the city.

Our invited panel of expert guests were William Fulford (Director, Urban Market Company and Director, Camden Locks), Toby Sproll (Head of Retail, Bruntwood), Kate Day (Director, Manchester Craft and Design Centre) and Nicky Rybka-Goldsmith (Proprietor, Thomas Restaurant, Cord and The Bay Horse).

Opening addresses saw the panelists give an overview of their experiences, and thoughts on current trends, threats and opportunities for the independent trader.

Discussion points from the floor included:

• the Northern Quarter and Piccadilly’s unique identities, allowing for close partnership and community working
• how the current economic climate presents many opportunities for entrepreneurs, as well as challenges
• how to retain the Northern Quarter’s unique 'urban’ identity, whilst addressing antisocial behaviour issues and public realm improvements
• the success – and learnings – of the recent Street Parties in attracting a large number of visitors, and how to better capitalise on future opportunities
• how to attract continuing investment, innovation and access for start-ups
• how to ensure that affordable products and experiences traded by independent businesses are still associated with 'value and quality’
• how to best maximise upon growing trends towards GroupOn and other discounting and offers websites
• how to celebrate 2012 as the year of anniversaries – 20 years since the Northern Quarter was officially named and 30 years since the Manchester Craft and Design Centre opened.

CityCo and the Piccadilly Partnership intend to run a series of similar debates during the course of next year, to provide a relaxed forum for the Northern Quarter and Piccadilly independent trading community to meet, and raise issues that continue to affect business.

CityCo runs our regular Northern Quarter Small Business Forum which all businesses in the area are welcome to attend. To enquire, please contact our Northern Quarter Co-Ordinator Tommy Wolstencroft or call 0161 838 3250.

To talk through the work of the Piccadilly Partnership please contact Alexandra King or call 0161 838 3250. To view a PDF of this year’s achievements and plans for 2012 click here