Member Article

UK economist delivers positive outlook for city businesses at free event

City centre businesses were given an update on the UK economy as part of a new networking group created by the city’s Business Improvement District, Chester BID.

The Professionals in Partnership group includes law firm Aaron and Partners as well as companies such as HSBC, Ellis & Co, Carting Minds Collective and JK Events and is aiming to bring the city’s business community closer together in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The event was the third since the group was formed, with Liz Martins, UK Economist at HSBC, delivering a positive outlook on the UK economy for attendees.

Individuals and businesses based across the city centre have been influential in setting the group up, including Emma McGlinchey, who sits on the Chester BID board and is a commercial property lawyer with a focus on the retail sector for Aaron & Partners.

She said: “Through this group we have hosted a series of informative online events and workshops with key themes focused on helping businesses work through many of the problems presented by COVID-19.

“This latest event followed a similar theme with a fantastic speaker offering all those in attendance valuable information on the health of the economy and what the future might hold for businesses.

“Aaron & Partners has been based in Chester city centre for 37 years and so this city is very much rooted in our heritage.

“We want to see it thrive and that’s why we’re supporting the Professionals in Practice group, helping to ensure professional services firms throughout the city can connect and learn from one another, and to create a stronger local network of like-minded professionals.”

The group has more free events planned for the future and is open to anyone with a vested interest in the growth and development of Chester’s business district.

Nick Hodson, Deputy Chair of Chester BID said: “Chester’s Business Improvement District comprises about 450 businesses and, although many are retail and hospitality, a significant number are professional services companies and we have been working hard to provide support tailored to their needs.

“Chester BID is keen that Chester is seen as a centre of excellence for professional services within the North West and North Wales, and the creation of high-quality events with great speakers with national profiles has been key element of our strategy.

“We’re keen to see as much cooperation and referral within the city as possible and believe the better we know each other and the stronger the relationships are, the more likely that will be.”

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