The Mayor of Greater Manchester made a visit to Upturn’s town centre business hub – and described it as “just the kind of specialist space needed to help in the regeneration of Oldham”.
Bev Craig popped in to see The Hive in the Spindles Shopping mall, to commence a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) conversation on delivering the perfect town centre space where businesses and individuals thrive.
The mayor also took time out to examine an environment where businesses are based; high-level meetings are held, and previously struggling young people prepared for further education and work.
She said: “As Mayor of Greater Manchester, I want to champion Oldham town centre’s revitalisation and help create much-needed jobs. When I speak to people in the borough, I find out there are great things happening here, and as Mayor I want to champion spaces like The Hive which specialise in the regeneration of Oldham.”
Officially opened in September 2023, The Hive has since hosted the launch of the unique Oldham Trading Platform – a fine online resource to connect businesses in the borough.
It also housed the national premiere of Pink Chai, a breast cancer campaign mainly aimed at South Asian women. Big businesses such as Barclay’s and trade groups, including The Chamber of Commerce, have also been hosted at The Hive.
Entrepreneurial network The Crown has been established there, helping to propel female businesswomen through the glass ceiling in commerce. And workshops on everything from artificial intelligence to good management and governance have attracted superb audiences.
Anwar Ali OBE, the CEO of Upturn, said: “The role of Manchester Mayor was created to make sure regional planning, public services and strategic governance are seamless, ensuring we all work together to make our region thrive.
“It also enables all boroughs away from the city centre of Manchester to become joined up and receive full support. I was delighted to hear that Mayor Bev had been tuned into what has been happening here and across the borough. Oldham is a uniquely diverse and yet united community, full of promise and hope, and I am glad she recognises this.”
With meeting rooms large and small, named after Oldham luminaries and with their own unique ambience, The Hive even contains hot-desks – used by companies based as far away as the City of London.
Its latest addition is a room full of podcast and musical equipment for young people to use and forge careers in everything from sound engineering to graphic design.
Mr Ali added: “The Hive already has a rich history and is set for a golden future. Best of all, the people of Oldham have adopted it as their space for enterprise – and are clearly making a name for themselves!”
For more information on Upturn, visit https://upturn.org.uk/
To book your space at The Hive, go to https://scarlet-vibraphone-mbhk.squarespace.com/
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