A team from the new billion-pound Airport City Manchester development is heading to Beijing, where they’re seeking to drive investment from the Far East into the North West.
They’re been marketing the region to industry leaders in the country’s financial, business and manufacturing sectors and promoting a new service called “Connect.”
Connect is a new online business concierge offer, which, it says, is designed to help companies relocating to Manchester grow their business, and for their employees to “get the most out of life in the North West.”
“We’ve had really strong interest in Airport City Manchester since President Xi’s visit and we’re thrilled to be able to build on those relationships and that momentum with this visit and the launch of Connect,” explained Lynda Shillaw, MAG property CEO.
“This is the first major infrastructure project in the UK with the involvement of a Chinese company as an equity partner and is proving to be one of the best examples of how a new wave of Chinese investment is transforming infrastructure and development in the UK.
The online service is being provided through partners Deloitte, Eversheds and Addleshaw Goddard, which will offer business-related advice. Connect Life, which is more tailored towards employees and their families, will offer information about schools, entertainment and how to set up a bank account or apply for a driving licence.
“The Connect business platform is a new and exciting technology offering that enables prospective tenants of Airport City the opportunity to gather knowledge from some of the region’s leading professional services firms to ensure smooth establishment of their business and showcases the rounded support businesses can expect to receive when they choose Airport City as their business destination,” added Jo Ahmed, partner at Deloitte.
Airport City is a unique joint venture development between Manchester Airports Group (MAG), Beijing Construction Engineering Group International (BCEGI), Carillion PLC and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF).
