A Little Bit About Who We Are

The Council’s Inclusive Economy and Communities Team is responsible for supporting growth across Trafford to benefit residents and businesses while delivering on the Council’s corporate objectives.

The Inclusive Economy and Communities Team acts as a single point of contact for businesses and investors in Trafford and demonstrates a proactive approach to supporting businesses, working closely to assist them in accessing the advice and support needed to start a new venture or to help existing businesses grow. The team offers a range of services as outlined below:

• Access to Financial Assistance and

Support. The Trafford Small Business

Loan Fund and the Trafford Town

Centres Growth Programme provide financial support to new and existing businesses looking to start up and to grow. • Encourage Inward Investment.

Trafford is a powerhouse for growth across Greater Manchester and is the most economically competitive area with the most talented labour pool in Greater Manchester. Working in co-operation with MIDAS, Greater

Manchester’s Inward Investment

Agency, the team offers a number of services including help to find the right location, assistance with recruitment, introductions to networks and support for growth. • Assist businesses in adopting a

Partnership Approach between third party organisations and partners including Manchester

Growth Company and the Growth

Hub. The team is committed to helping businesses in Trafford to grow and prosper and works closely with support agencies across

Trafford and Greater Manchester to facilitate easy access to business support available. • Trafford Council is committed to delivering world class support for

Employment & Skills. Our Employment and Skills team is passionate about supporting our young people. Trafford

Pledge is Trafford Council’s flagship initiative supporting residents of all ages to find employment. The team offers support to employers, looking to recruit local staff with an offer that includes:

• Tailor-made recruitment support including pre-employment training using a sector based work academy / traineeship style model • Local promotion of all job opportunities through a weekly e-bulletin, job fairs and recruitment events • Coordination of bespoke recruitment activity including pre-sifting of candidates and organising interviews (as required) • Trafford Council continues to encourage inward investment and support for our four town centres of Altrincham,

Sale, Stretford and Urmston. Our town centres provide excellent accessibility, successful national and independent companies, a skilled workforce, strong catchment areas and a wealth of investment opportunities which make

Trafford’s Town Centres thriving destinations to live, do business and spend quality time with family and friends. Trafford’s Town Centres have an array of investment opportunities for businesses and developers. • Masterplanning and Regeneration are key priorities for Trafford Council.

Significant plans and proposals are managed relating to our town centres,

Civic Quarter Area Action Plan,

Refreshed Stretford Masterplan, Future

Carrington and other strategic sites in the borough. These sites provide the framework for further work with partners to secure significant development and investment and to provide opportunities to deliver the required employment, housing, social and infrastructure needs to ensure that Place is at the forefront of the Council’s priorities.

If you would like to locate your business in Trafford, start a new business, or grow your existing business, please contact us to speak to a member of the team.

Get in touch

TRAFFORDwww.investintrafford.com 15 Website: www.investintrafford.com Twitter: @traffordbiz Email: business@trafford.gov.uk Contact Number: 0161 912 4176