Manchester’s Commission for Economic Development, Employment and Skills has today announced the appointment of Capital MS&L to provide communications support for the Manchester Independent Economic Review (MIER), the first ever independent economic study of a city region in Europe.

The landmark Review aims to provide strategic understanding of the Manchester city region’s economy to enable its policymakers to act in a strong and distinctive way to bring long-term sustainable economic growth. Findings from the Review will be released over the first four months of 2009.

The Review is based on seven studies, which focus on agglomeration, inward investment, the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, clustering and innovation, labour and skills, economic connectivity and trade and sustainable communities. 

The Manchester city region has enjoyed sustained growth over the last ten years, and companies based there include: the Cooperative Bank, Warburtons, Kellogg’s, Brother and the Bank of New York Mellon.

The Commission’s Director of Economic Strategy, Baron Frankal said: “The MIER shows the maturity and ambition of the city region in challenging itself to really take a look at what we need to do to attract and grow talent, investment, growth and prosperity. We need a similarly professional and top notch team to communicate that to the large variety of partners that make up and have an impact on the city region and we are delighted that Capital are ready to step up to that challenge.”

Capital MS&L’s Joint Managing Director, Steffan Williams said: “MIER is a unique study that shows how Manchester is positioning itself as a truly global city with a commitment to continue its impressive growth and regeneration over the next ten years."

About Manchester Independent Economic Review
The Manchester Independent Economic Review is supported by the Northwest Development Agency (www.nwda.co.uk); The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (www.nesta.org.uk); The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (www.agma.gov.uk); along with the support of the Commission for Economic Development, Employment and Skills (www.manchester-enterprises.com) and the Manchester: Knowledge Capital initiative (www.manchesterknowledge.com). The Commission for Economic Development, Employment and Skills (incorporating Manchester Enterprises) was established 2 October 2008 and delivers the remit set by the Executive Board of Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA). The Greater Manchester area encompasses: Manchester; Salford; Bury; Bolton; Rochdale; Oldham; Tameside; Stockport; Trafford and Wigan. The Commission has a strategic remit to deliver economic growth and to improve the prosperity of local people. It is responsible for economic analysis, economic development strategy formulation and implementation, and programme management. Its vision for Greater Manchester is: "A world-class city region at the heart of a thriving North." Information about the Review is available at: www.manchester-review.org.uk.
 
About Capital MS&L
Capital MS&L is a London, New York and Dubai based international financial communications consultancy. The firm offers corporate and financial public relations, investor relations and capital markets transaction support to a range of ambitious, international clients. The company is part owned by global communications firm MS&L, which is in turn owned by Publicis Groupe, the world’s fourth largest marketing services group.