We launched ASCEND this year, our bespoke scale-up programme for high growth businesses. And as part of this we all headed to Web Summit in Lisbon, where we took 25 founders with us as part of our partnership with KPMG. It was incredible to see them really make the most of the experience – and I look forward to enabling more leaders to get the same opportunities next year.  

I also accompanied five GM business leaders as part of the GM Mayoral Trade Mission to the Ruhr area of Germany in October - an insightful couple of days of collaboration between our two regions, to drive investment and share innovative solutions. International events like this are extremely timely, as we celebrate the launch of our enhanced partnership with the Department for Business and Trade, aimed at getting more GM businesses exporting – more on this below.   

Looking ahead, we have some exciting events in the pipeline, including our next Festival of Enterprise, and next year’s SXSW conference in Texas, giving five creative industry businesses from our Create Growth programme the opportunity to join us as part of the wider GM delegation.    

I’m also looking forward to shaping our Innovation showcase event, which will celebrate GM’s fast evolving innovation eco-system and how we are better connecting businesses and entrepreneurs to accelerate innovations to market.  

I’d like to, once again, thank all of the businesses, mentors, partners and associates alongside my wonderful colleagues that have worked with us this year to make Greater Manchester the most prosperous place in the country – and I look forward to seeing the amazing things we can achieve again next year.  

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.  

Janine Smith  
Director, GM Business Growth Hub