An evening with Sir Howard Bernstein

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July 31 2017, 10:51 am

Sir Howard Bernstein

The man who changed the face of Manchester, securing an extraordinary series of breakthroughs which transformed the city into the northern powerhouse it is today, will be sharing his insights during an exclusive visit to Aberdeen in August.

Sir Howard Bernstein, former chief executive of Manchester City Council and power broker whose rise from junior clerk to town hall boss has become legendary, is credited with the area’s rebirth following the 1996 IRA bomb.

The event is part of a series of initiatives led by Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce and its partners to create a buoyant and diversified economy for north-east Scotland.

“These are critical moments for our area. There are some emerging signs of an economic upturn but the momentum we have created must be continued if we are to reinvent the future economy of North-east Scotland,” said Chamber chief executive Russell Borthwick.

“There is a cohesive plan in place and progress is underway to ensure we become a renaissance region, not a museum to what was once Europe’s oil and gas capital.

“The Regional Economic Strategy, City Region Deal, City Centre Masterplan, the sector diversification agenda and over £5bn of public and private sector investment projects either planned or already underway in the region represent an exciting and necessary step-change in the region’s infrastructure and have allowed us to begin addressing the most significant constraints to growth.

“All of this means our future will look very different. We can influence the shape that it will take and we must continue to invest our time and energies into making sure that shape is the one that we all want and deserve.

“But in a highly competitive international environment, if the people and businesses based here don’t act as our storytellers, how on earth can we expect to attract the skilled people, investors and entrepreneurs that we need to deliver this vision to choose Aberdeen?

“There is a way and other regions in the UK and across Europe have shown us how: re-inventing themselves, replacing old industry sectors, embracing culture, building stuff, creating exciting modern city centres where people want to be; and talking themselves up. Nowhere has done so more successfully than Manchester.”

As part of the Vanguard Legacy project, Sir Howard will tell the story of what he helped achieve and how it was done at an event open to members and non-members of the Chamber at the International School of Aberdeen on August 31.

Responsible for setting development goals and encouraging investment, Sir Howard championed the Metrolink, brought the 2002 Commonwealth Games to the city and supported the creation of new areas and buildings such as the Bridgewater Hall, the Manchester Velodrome, the Manchester Arena, the City of Manchester Stadium and the Sportcity district in east Manchester, which is still growing.

In 2003, Manchester City Council, under Sir Howard’s civic leadership, won the RIBA Client of the Year for various projects such the City of Manchester Stadium and Urbis – the only time a local government authority has won the award.

“Manchester’s rejuvenation set the bar in terms of creating a modern city centre where people want to be and Sir Howard can provide much in the way of advice for us to consider as we look to shape the future of our region,” added Mr Borthwick.

“Our Vanguard initiative with Shell UK and the wider efforts to develop a new, cohesive regional narrative aims to make good things happen in the North-east that otherwise would not. Sir Howard’s visit provides a unique opportunity to hear what needs to be done to secure success.

“If we are to deliver the legacy we want for future generations, there can be no slipping back into complacency so I would encourage anyone with an interest in creating and delivering a positive future for generations to come to join us in learning from Sir Howard’s example.”