Warrington SMEs get new networking champion

Warrington, which leads the north west in company formation, is to get a new enterprise champion as it pushes its growth agenda.

Sylvie Morton, from Nord in France, has been appointed business development manager at The Base, the recently-opened 50,000 sq ft grade ‘A’ office building in Warrington’s emerging central business district.  The building has been developed specifically to meet demand from ambitious SMEs in the advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors.

Mrs Morton has a long track record in helping technology-led businesses grow, having previously fulfilled this role for Manchester’s inward investment agency, MIDAS.  She had a particular focus on advanced materials and was part of the team responsible for developing the region’s supply chain capabilities for new wonder material, graphene.

Her new role, says Sylvie, is as much about helping tenants through providing networking channels to new business as it is in securing business for the centre itself.
“Our customers’ success is what will drive our own, so it makes sense to focus on helping them access new markets and make useful contacts that can help them grow their companies,” said Sylvie.
Sylvie’s role will involve developing an active networking programme, as well as ensuring The Base is recognised for promoting best practice in areas such as technology transfer, corporate venturing and open-source innovation.

“The Base is about reinforcing Warrington’s leading position as a home for advanced manufacturing and engineering businesses, as well as for wider start-ups, and with Sylvie championing them we can expect the town to maintain its place at the top of the leader board for business growth,” said Jayne Furnival, group property director at Langtree, who provide all aspects of the building’s management for owner Warrington & Co, Warrington’s partnership for growth.

The five story development, just fifteen minutes from both Liverpool and Manchester and a short stroll from Warrington railway station, offers flexible space from a single desk up to a whole floor plate of 10,000 square feet.