- "IT'S GRIM DOWN
SOUTH"
A CHEEKY NORTHWEST welcome awaits CBI delegates
Business leaders visiting Manchester for next week's CBI conference are being told they should stay in the Northwest after the main event because it's a better place to live and work.
An ad campaign under the title of 'Capital Punishment' paints London in an unflattering light compared to the Northwest when it comes to quality of life staples such as time spent travelling to work, house prices, office rents and cost of childcare. The ads are to run in national newspapers and the London Evening Standard during the conference and are sure to get Southerners' backs up.
Defending the latest contribution to the ongoing North-South debate the man behind the campaign, Northwest Development Agency Director of Marketing Peter Mearns, says it's 'Grim Down South' compared to living in the Northwest region:-
"Our ad campaign is intended to be tongue in cheek, but does carry a serious message for businesses and their employees. There's more to life than London, and the South East and there's no better time to promote that message while the CBI is in Manchester".
As well as the ads, delegates to the conference will see the 'Capital Punishment' message on Taxis, their hotel doors and even on a giant inflatable blimp. Two actors will be present at the conference, campaigning for BEN - 'Bring Everyone Northwest'. They will be highlighting the positive points of locating business in the Northwest in a very tongue in cheek, fast show style. The campaign highlights how:
- Office costs in London are nearly 350% higher than in Manchester
- London commuters spend an extra 3 hours travelling per week than in the Northwest
- A first time buyer in London will pay £94,000 more for a house than in the Northwest
- It costs £50 per week more for full-time childcare in London than it does in the Northwest
Peter Mearns believes that there is no sense in being modest about the Northwest region
"The ads may upset some Londoners, but they, and their bosses, should ask themselves the very simple question - is it really necessary to put up with the cost and hassle of living in London, when there are excellent options elsewhere?"
Andrew Stokes, Managing Director of Marketing Manchester added:-
"Over the past decade Manchester has undergone massive regeneration and development. The city's international reputation as a cosmopolitan, vibrant city is well founded and it is clearly an attractive place to do business."
The Northwest Development Agency has opened up the regional portal (www.englandsnorthwest.com) to visitors to post their comments on the campaign.
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JANUARY
to FEBRUARY LISTINGS 2003 for Southport Arts Center.
SATURDAY 4 JANUARY - Doors 7.30pm Tickets: £4 (£3 concessions)
LOCAL BANDS
BAND NIGHT
Monthly showcase of some of the best up and coming talent on the local music scene organised by Southport Musicians Collective in association with Southport Arts Centre and Sefton Youth Service.
SATURDAY 4 JANUARY - 1.30pm Tickets: £3.50 RECITAL Southport Music Festival
MID-DAY RECITAL
MONDAY 6 & TUESDAY 7 JANUARY - 7.45pm Tickets: £3.50 (Film Guild Members Free)
FILM Southport Arts Centre in association with Southport Film Guild present
AMELIE (15) directed by Jean Pierre Jeunet
This breathtaking journey through a sanitised Paris in the company of a winsome do-gooder, was the crossover hit of 2001. (France/Germany 2001, r/t 123 mins)
FRIDAY 10 JANUARY - 8.30pm Tickets: £3
MUSIC
ACOUSTIC NIGHT
An acoustic music night featuring local band Gallimaufry playing Irish, Cajun, Jazz and Folk with League of Friends singing and featuring mainly contemporary songs with the vocal talents of Mandy Harrington, together with well-known local singer/songwriter Derek Boak.
SATURDAY 18 JANUARY - 2pm Tickets: £5 (£4 children & concessions) Family ticket discount
CHILDREN'S THEATRE MATINEE
Pop-Up presents
THE SNOW CHILDREN
A magical adventure for under 8's. The Snow Children is a modern fable of childhood, and celebrates the pure joy of play and friendship. Music, puppetry and visual effects are used in this touching and comic play which will delight and engage the whole family.
MONDAY 20 & TUESDAY 21 JANUARY - 7.45pm Tickets: £3.50 (Film Guild Members Free)
FILM
Southport Arts Centre in association with Southport Film Guild present
IRIS (15) directed by Richard Eyre
Judi Dench and Jim Broadbent portray the story of one of our foremost writers and her husband in this harrowing biopic. (UK/US 2001, r/t 91 mins)
WEDNESDAY 22 JANUARY - 8pm Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions)
IRISH FOLK
MARTIN HAYES & DENNIS CAHILL
Ireland's celebrated fiddler Martin Hayes and American guitarist Dennis Cahill are one of the strongest traditional Irish duos to play on either side of the Atlantic and are making a long-awaited and welcome return to the UK.
Booking office No. 01704 540011
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