A MAJOR economic conference which will showcase Cheshire’s world-class business credentials has been backed by the Government.

Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, Mark Prisk, said Celebrate Cheshire was a great way of supporting economic development.

He said the event – which takes place at Chester Racecourse on September 16 and 17 – was also a major boost in terms of helping new and existing companies in the area to grow and prosper.

The move comes after representatives from Marketing Cheshire, Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and business leaders travelled to the House of Commons to highlight the event.

Mark Prisk said: “Celebrate Cheshire is a great way of helping firms – small, medium and large – to be able to get together and network and also for the area to be able to showcase its real strengths.”

He added that he was confident that, along with the work of the LEP, it would help to grow new and existing businesses in the sub-region.

He has recorded a video interview backing the event, which can be watched on the Celebrate Cheshire website www.whycheshire.com.

Celebrate Cheshire – a platform that will showcase Cheshire’s world-class business credentials – is being put together by Marketing Cheshire and Cheshire Business Leaders.

It has widespread backing from the county’s business community, local authorities, Cheshire and Warrington’s new Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) as well as the education and voluntary sectors.

Chris Brown, chief executive of Marketing Cheshire, said the minister’s comments highlighted the stature of the event and the support it was receiving from across the UK.

He said: “To have the backing of the Government is a wonderful endorsement for the Celebrate Cheshire event, demonstrating how strategically important this initiative is for helping to drive economic growth across Cheshire.

“The conference is already attracting large-scale interest and we are expecting a strong attendance from delegates. It will help get Celebrate Cheshire off to a fantastic start.”

Christine Gaskell, the LEP’s first chair and a member of the board of Bentley Motors in Crewe, described Celebrate Cheshire as ‘an unprecedented and pioneering initiative’.

Neville Chamberlain, chairman of Cheshire Business Leaders said: “We believe there is a lack of awareness about the type of high-tech companies operating in the Greater Cheshire region today and the scale and quality that exists in sectors, such as manufacturing, logistics, innovation and science.

“We want investors and businesses to take a completely fresh look at the unique proposition Cheshire offers.”

Celebrate Cheshire – a large-scale, two-day ‘business expo’ – is uniting the private, public and voluntary sectors across the sub-region behind a dynamic, new approach.

Among the issues being discussed at the event will be an ‘economic perspective for Cheshire’ and ‘apprentices are for life’.

For details or to register, visit www.celebratecheshire.co.uk.