The ‘best of the best’ leaders are wanted

OLDHAM’S best and brightest businessmen and women are in demand — to form a high-calibre business strategy group to help shape and drive the town’s economy over the next decade.

Uppermill-based consultancy Outside Management has been commissioned by the Local Strategic Partnership to recruit the cream of Oldham’s business talent for a new Oldham Business Leadership Group (BLG).

Outside Management’s Ed Stacey said: “From now to the end of April I will be meeting people from all sizes and sectors in the business community to explain the role and purpose of Oldham’s BLG.

“The banking crisis has dramatically changed the business landscape and a fresh approach to fully involve the business community in economic planning is required.

“The Greater Manchester Business Leadership Council was set up last year to shape policy at city region level and Oldham is the first of the 10 Greater Manchester districts to establish a boroughwide leadership group in response.

“The search is on for exceptional business people drawn from the breadth of the local business community, though the qualities being sought are more about having a strategic overview and understanding of the economic challenges than trying to slavishly construct a group exactly mirroring the borough’s current business composition.

“This will be a very influential group of about a dozen people that are the best of the best Oldham businesses.”

Mr Stacey has actively worked with local businesses for more than 20 years, including a spell as chief executive of the former Oldham Chamber of Commerce, credentials which will help draw up an appointment list.

He added: “I be delighted to receive suggestions and nominations for potential business group members.

“I plan to complete my interviews by the end of April, as the first meeting of the group is scheduled for early June.”

The Greater Manchester Business Leadership Council was established in July last year with three of the 15 business people coming from Oldham. The Oldham members are Peter Greenhalgh, managing director of DCT Civil Engineering, William Lees-Jones, chief executive of brewer JW Lees, and Ken Collett, manufacturing director of Money Controls.

To contact Mr Stacey, e-mail edstacey@outsidemanagement.co.uk