The Downtown Den Podcast

Downtown CEO Frank McKenna has a 'Totally Frank' conversation with Make events CEO, Holly Moore.

Holly discusses how and why she started up Make Events, how she is staying positive in the current climate and how she has ensured her staff and their partners feel a part of the 'Make Events' family.

Tony Reeves joined us on Wednesday 6th May 2020 and the Liverpool City Council chief executive was in a positive and upbeat mood, despite the many difficulties he and his council colleagues have been dealing with in the past few weeks. In a rallying call to the city’s business leaders he said “Scousers are a resilient bunch. If we can’t come out of this crisis stronger then no one can.”

The chief executive of Manchester City Council Joanne Roney addressed DIB members and reflected on the challenges COVID-19 had brought to the local authority and to the wider Greater Manchester area, whilst also looking ahead to the Economic Recovery plan once lockdown is lifted.

City region metro mayors Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram spoke passionately about their ‘Build Back Better’ campaign, their briefings with prime minister Boris Johnson and their ambitious plans for the future, despite the tough environment in which we are currently operating.

Liam Byrne MP the West Midlands Mayoral Candidate for Labour joined Downtown Birmingham Chair Paul Cadman in the #DowntownDen recently.

In an open discussion, Liam shared a brief story of his backstory and how he got involved in politics, talks about how he thinks the government has handled the COVID-19 crisis and how the global economy will be impacted, along with a variety of other topics.

Keith Tully, Managing Partner at the Liverpool Office for Begbies Traynor was in the #DowntownDen to discuss how businesses in the region have been performing amidst the current Coronavirus pandemic.

Keith also explains how Begbies Traynor can offer advice to business owners on how they can help to safeguard their businesses for the future.

For more information on Begbies Traynor visit https://www.begbies-traynorgroup.com/

The Directors of Project Four Construction Safety, Alan Robson & Max Meadows, joined Downtown CEO Frank McKenna in the #DowntownDen to discuss how they and their clients have been dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.

Alan & Max share their knowledge and advice of what they have learned so far and what the future may look like for the construction sector in the next 6 months and beyond.

To find out more about Project Four Construction Safety visit http://www.projectfoursafety.com/

Birmingham City and Everton legend Bob Latchford joined DIB boss Frank McKenna in the Downtown Den to talk about his glittering football career in the 1970’s and 80’s when he was one of the greatest goalscorers in the country.

Bob reflects on Birmingham City’s promotion in 1972, his time at Everton FC where he came close to winning leagues and cups, but never quite got there, and his relatively short England career.

He also remembers the season he scored 30 goals to win a £10,000 prize, tells us why Trevor Francis was the best player he ever played with and suggests that had Everton been managed by Gordon Lee rather than Billy Bingham in the 1974-75 season, they would have won the title. Fascinating stuff from the man who Evertonians say ‘Walks on Water’.   

Downtown Birmingham Chair, Paul Cadman spent some time in the Downtown Den with Adam Whitehouse, Studio Manager at Nettl Birmingham.

Downtown boss Frank McKenna was in conversation with the CEO of Liverpool John Lennon Airport John Irving, the Managing Director of Merseyrail Andy Heath and Managing Director for Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire, Matt Davies, to discuss the challenges and opportunities the transport sector faces once we get through the Coronavirus crisis.