The Downtown Den Podcast

We caught up with Mark Williams from Western Union Business Solutions to talk the economy, cyber security and what post #Covid19 might look like for business.

Have a listen and for a more in-depth analysis listen to WUBS webinar HERE.

​London Labour MP Wes Streeting visited the #DowntownDen on Tuesday 7th April to give his reaction to the party's leadership election and to offer his thoughts on how Labour can start to become a credible electoral force once again following its crushing defeat at the General Election in December.

Downtown CEO Frank McKenna chats with Executive Director of Growth, Environment, Transport & Community Services at Lancashire County Council, Stephen Young.

To discuss business continuity and customer relations during these difficult times, Downtown in London's chairman, Simon Danczuk, was joined by Peter Ryan, an expert in BPO, call centres and customer engagement. He works across the world with those that both commission and deliver customer engagement, which means he provided us with an insight into the impact the current pandemic is having on the global economy, how enterprise's continuity strategies have been tested, what solutions and innovations are taking place within this sector and how his own annual CxOutsourcers event is delayed in the US this year, but coming to the UK next year.

One of the UKs leading business coaches ANDY BOUNDS visited the Downtown Den to advise businesses how they can continue to ‘sell more stuff’ during the lockdown. As always, some straightforward, common sense and essential points from Andy that all businesses will find useful during these unusual times.

Sir Richard Leese was DIBs guest in the very first ‘Downtown Den’ Live event. The leader of Manchester City Council was joined by twenty business leaders and discussed a whole range of issues with DIB CEO Frank McKenna, including the city’s response to the crisis, planning for the future, the Northern Powerhouse and devolution, the climate emergency and much more.

Leading business group Downtown in Business and prominent civil and structural firm Sutcliffe have announced a new partnership. The unique collaboration will see Sutcliffe, who celebrate its landmark 35th anniversary year in 2020, become the latest high profile organisation to become a corporate sponsor of Downtown in Business.

 

The collaboration will allow Sutcliffe to access some of the leading business and public sector personalities in the region and continue its incredible success. Downtown CEO Frank McKenna, chats with Sutcliffe Managing Director Sean Keyes, in the #DowntownDen.

Downtown Member and DJ Dave Seed has compiled a fantastic playlist to help you get through the next few weeks or months working from home.

Thanks to Dave for taking the time to put this together, we hope you enjoy.

#StaySafeStayHome

Downtown London hosted a high street experts panel to discuss the impact of the coronavirus and much more. Joining Simon Danczuk, London chairman, in the #DowntownDen were: Professor Kim Cassidy, a retail marketing and behavioural expert from Edge Hill University and member of the Grimsey High Street Review; Joe Barrett, member of the Government's High Streets Task Force, co-founder of The Teenage Market, and Chairman of Stockport's Portas Pilot Delivery Group; and Matt Baker, also a member of the Grimsey High Street Review, and someone who has developed and delivered the Local Government Association's High Street Leadership course, and is helping with York City Council's high street strategy.

Downtown in Business invited four of Birmingham's leading property personalities into the #DowntownDen for a discussion on how the current COVID-19 crisis is affecting the regions property sector.

Thanks to Rob Day from Blueprint Interiors, Alex Tross from Lambert Smith Hampton and Deborah Ritchie from Knights PLC for joining us and James Forrester from Barrows & Forrester for chairing this discussion.