Partner Article

Cheshire Central Launches as New Business Partnership For Key Economic Area

A new business partnership has formally launched to improve visibility, representation and a collective voice for a significant part of Cheshire.

Covering Northwich, Winsford, Middlewich and the surrounding area, Cheshire Central represents an economy that supports more than 50,000 jobs and sits between the Liverpool and Manchester city regions, with direct connections via the M6, M56 and the West Coast Main Line.

It is often described as having a ‘fuzzy’ geography, with activity spread across town centres, villages, countryside and business clusters rather than concentrated in a single location. As a result, its contribution and priorities are not always considered as part of wider regional discussions.

Jane Hough, Chair of Cheshire Central and Deputy Director of Business Improvement Districts and Business Services at Groundwork Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside, said: “Despite its scale, this part of Cheshire has not always been easy to define or represent. Businesses are spread across market towns, rural locations and industrial sites, which can mean their overall role is overlooked unless it is actively brought together.

“There was a real sense that if this was going to be done, it needed to be done in the right way. That meant taking time to shape the purpose, developing a clear action plan and creating a governance structure that people could genuinely stand behind.”

The partnership has grown out of several years of activity focused on understanding how Cheshire Central functions, how the economy is experienced by businesses and communities, and how its interests can be more clearly articulated.

This included action planning with economic development and regeneration consultancy Mickledore, followed by work on identity and positioning with strategy and place branding consultancy Thinking Place, which helped to define both the need for the partnership and the principles it should be built on.

Jane added: “While the foundations for this were laid before devolution became a central issue locally, the launch comes at a point when decisions about future governance and investment are starting to be made.

“It is more important than ever that areas like this are understood as those conversations happen. Cheshire Central exists to make sure this part of Cheshire has a voice while decisions are being developed, not after they have been.”

Formed through an open process, the Cheshire Central Board operates on a voluntary basis. Members live and work across the area and bring experience from business, infrastructure, housing, regeneration, skills and the public sector, alongside extensive local knowledge. Many already operate in regional and national forums, helping to ensure local priorities are fed into wider policy discussions.

The next stage for the partnership is the launch of Cheshire Central Champions, marked by an event taking place on Wednesday 12th February, from 9am to 11am, at Junctions, Meridian House, Winsford. It is aimed at businesses and leaders who live or work across Cheshire Central and want to understand what is changing and the role they can play.

Jane said: “The Champions event is about widening the conversation at the right time. This is not about creating another talking shop, but about opening the door, sharing what’s happening and bringing people into the conversation early enough for their experience and insight to help influence what comes next.”

To find out more about Cheshire Central, visit www.cheshirecentral.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Oliver Thomas .