CityCo manages and markets city centre Manchester
CityCo brings together decision-makers from all major business sectors, driving forward initiatives that improve the city. We work for, and with, our members.
Since joining with the Piccadilly Partnership in 2010, our relationships have strengthened further and we now deliver combined projects under one network.
We have over 90 member businesses, spanning a range of sectors including retail, leisure, property, professional and financial services, hotels, transport, education, utilities, creative industries, hospitality and public sector.
As a member, you will be supporting the full range of CityCo and Piccadilly Partnership activity.
Connecting the city
- Strengthening relationships across the city and between Manchester and Salford by exploring connections between The Sharp Project, MediaCityUK, Irwell River Park, Chapel Street, NOMA, Greengate and the city centre.
Supporting city centre marketing
- We support the city’s seasonal and tactical marketing campaigns, with Marketing Manchester and Manchester City Council, to ensure the city centre is at the heart of our offer to tourists and visitors locally, regionally and around the UK.
- 2011 activity included summer, Christmas and I Love MCR campaigns – which saw CityCo liaise with over 250 businesses to gather in special offers. We’ve just collaborated on the I Love February initiative too; a drive to help boost business during a quiet time of the year.
- We’ll continue to work closely with partners on 2012 campaigns including, of course, the Olympics.
Tackling crime
- We are capitalising on the successful growth of our Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP), the biggest such partnership in the country.
- The recent upgrade of our radio network to digital and launch of the intranet atwww.mbcrp.org.uk means we can now share crime intelligence and tackle security concerns more effectively.
One stop shop
- CityCo’s operational team helps our members to gain access to services swiftly and effectively; we provide assistance around cleansing needs, highway and utilities issues.
Keeping you in the loop
- We provide timely information to members about city centre events, demonstrations, road closures and security-related matters that can affect business operation; this was vital during last August’s riots and in the days afterwards, and we received much praise for the help we provided.
- We continue to solicit feedback from businesses about key strategic projects that affect the city; such as the Metrolink Second City Crossing and High Speed Rail.
- Our website www.cityco.com includes a members’ area with access to our quarterly City Centre Performance Report; with footfall, hotel, retail, property and employment data.
Member Events
- We’ll continue to strengthen our offer by developing our corporate events series to allow members to mix, do business and influence agendas and keep track of city developments.
- Our programme has expanded to include The Manchester Breakfast, CityConversations, Northern Quarter and Piccadilly Business Forums, Security Business Sentinel, City Centre Annual Review and our senior-level Private Dinner series.
- Our PA Network has also grown from strength to strength – we now have over 350 PAs and Executive Assistants signed-up to attend monthly socials, allowing member organisations to promote products and showcase their facilities.
- Our new series CitySessions will put the spotlight on an organisation or business leader and include behind-the-scenes tours.
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Our 2012 key areas of focus
Heart of Manchester BID
Over the next 6 months we will continue to consult with businesses about launching a retail Business Improvement District. We believe this is could be an exciting opportunity for city centre Manchester to build on our successes and deliver more.
Manchester Garden City – Waterways
We will set out a longer-term strategy to reclaim and revitalise the city’s waterways; developing connections between the canals, River Irwell and Salford Quays. Our initial focus will be to tackle some of the environmental issues along the Rochdale Canal and animate the watersides; working with partners, volunteers and local businesses.
Animating the City
During spring and summer, we’ll deliver a series of fun, family-friendly events in Piccadilly Gardens; building on the success of our Manchester Picnic. We’ll also continue to support civic and commercial events that develop the gardens as a welcoming space.
Service Delivery
Our final major focus is to develop new ways of providing members with an opportunity to access economies of scale; as we coordinate services and products to improve the public realm.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR 2012 ANNUAL REPORT
Find out more
To join CityCo’s network and discuss membership benefits in more detail, please contact our Member Relations & Events Manager Nicola Wilkinson or call 0161 838 3256.
We look forward to working with you.
Positive Feedback following August 2011’s civil disturbances in Manchester city centre
Nexus Art Cafe
“Thanks for your updates. They really are appreciated and reassuring.” All at Nexus Art Cafe
Park Inn Manchester-Victoria
“Thank you for the recent information, clear updates and support that you and the Cityco team have given in the last few days. This has all been very useful to our business in light of the current situation. The Night net radio was also a great help to allow us to keep track of the events as they happened.
I would like to think you have many businesses very grateful of your recent support. Once again many thanks from everyone at the Park inn.” Tony Verrall, Regional Chief Engineer
Michaeljohn Training School
“I just wanted to say a big thank you on behalf of our business. Your updates have been exceptionally useful over this difficult time and greatly appreciated.” Leon Duffield, Business Development Manager
Other words of support
British Transport Police
“The support received from the Manchester Business Crime Reduction Partnership has been invaluable in combating retail theft at both Piccadilly and Victoria train stations.
Inclusion within Business Intelligence meetings and support in promoting theft has directly led to the arrest and prosecution of several offenders.
CityCo’s work is clear evidence that a joint approach with all parties working to the same objectives is key to driving down retail crime.” Neil Edwards, Sergeant
Argent Estates Ltd
“CityCo acts as an outstanding example of how a partnership between the public and private sectors can really work. CityCo is the glue which holds Manchester city centre together.” David Partridge, Joint Chief Executive
House of Fraser Kendal’s
“CityCo play a huge role in ensuring Manchester maintains its competitive edge over other cities. With the arrival of new initiatives like the 'Manchester Heart of Fashion’ campaign, it is no coincidence that yet again Manchester’s retail economy has out-performed the rest of the UK.” Gary Slattery, General Manager
GMPTE
“A partnership with CityCo has been invaluable in helping GMPTE revitalise the city centre’s Metrolink network. Not only has CityCo helped shape improvements to the public realm surrounding the tram lines, the team has been key to pulling together all the public and private sector players involved.” David Leather, Chief Executive
Debenhams
“I have been delighted by the support I have received from CityCo this past year. Their marketing and stewardship expertise has added real value to a successful trading year for Debenhams.” Peter Rodgers, Senior Store Manager
Manchester Cathedral
“CityCo plays a vital role in the city by bringing the private and public sectors together in a joint vision for moving the city forward. We see our membership as vital in helping CityCo deliver its objectives to enhance the city.” Anthony O’Connor, Director of Fundraising and Development
Manchester Arndale
“Manchester Arndale works closely with CityCo to deliver successful marketing campaigns to promote Manchester city centre. Also during recent student protests, CityCo has been instrumental in bringing together key parties. A lot of goodwill and energy has gone into making this team-work happen – our partnership is a great example of joined-up thinking.” Glen Barkworth, General Manager
The Triangle Shopping Centre
“CityCo’s Business Crime Reduction Partnership work tirelessly to ensure that city centre retailers, Greater Manchester Police and other agencies work together to reduce retail crime. The team are passionate about helping the retailers and are always willing to assist.” Sarah Dewey, Operations Director
Bank of New York Mellon
“BNY Mellon opened its Piccadilly office in 2005 and since then we’ve seen the area continue to go from strength to strength. The Piccadilly Partnership provides the opportunity and framework to work with other stakeholders to ensure the area continues to be a great place to do business.” Robert Preece, BNY Mellon Asset Servicing
Northern Quarter Street Party
One of CityCo’s main objectives is to support the development of the Northern Quarter.
As part of Manchester’s Royal Wedding celebrations, CityCo worked alongside Edge Street Events and Sparkle Street Creative Adventures to bring a 1940’s themed party to the streets of the Northern Quarter.
CityCo’s Northern Quarter Coordinator, Tommy Wolstencroft, worked closely with Manchester City Council and local service providers to ensure the success of the event, which took place on Friday 29 April 2011.
piccadilly busking stage
Piccadilly Partnership and CityCo are working to animate Manchester city centre and make it a more vibrant, family-friendly destination.
Over the past 18 months, the city has seen a proliferation of street theatre, musicians and buskers. In many areas this has added to the vitality of the city experience, however in some cases performers are of poor quality, leading to numerous complaints.
In response, we are working to encourage street performers to use areas of the city with sufficient space, infrastructure and support from neighbouring businesses. The aim is for these locations to become self-regulated, raising their reputation as known venues for quality free street entertainment.
king street markets
One of CityCo’s key aims is to support the city centre retail economy and encourage the flow of footfall around the shopping areas; connecting routes from Exchange Square through to St Ann’s, King Street and Spinningfield’s new retail destination The Avenue.
To promote pedestrian flow and in response to a recent downturn on King Street, CityCo has worked with Manchester Markets, partners and retailers to develop the street as a successful new specialist markets venue – in turn supporting the on-going revitalisation of the area.
