Big name panellists including former Manchester United Assistant Manager Mike Phelan, will speak at the inaugural Sports Influencers event.
The Northern Powerhouse focused panel discussion at the National Football Museum will also include thoughts from Burnley Football Club Director and entrepreneur Brendan Flood, who is Chairman of UCFB (University Degrees in the Football, Sport and Events Industries).
Other panellists confirmed include Chris Brindley, Chairman of Greater Sport and NED, current BBC Radio Manchester Head of Sport Sarah Collins, Ed Cox, the Director of north of England think tank IPPR North and Marcello Fabiano, who is Head of Sport at Manchester-based Social Chain and Director of SPORF which has a Twitter following of 999,000.
Sports journalist Jonathan Legard, a former F1 commentator and sports presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, will host the gathering which so far has more than 100 guests registered.
Not-for-profit outfit Sports Influencers (SP.IN), has been developed by former Manchester United relationship director Luisa d’Aprano, who now runs her own sports consultancy and Piers Martin, MD of Podium Group who also lectures at Manchester Metropolitan University and is a former chief executive of British Fencing.
The organisation, which has support from Manchester City Council, Manchester Metropolitan University and public relations agency Roland Dransfield, aims to define and drive sport and policy in the north of England.
Key themes to be discussed by sport and business leaders at the inaugural event include; how we can collectively best influence the Northern Powerhouse philosophy and agenda to ensure that sport continues to thrive in the north; how sport industry leaders in the north west can/should capitalise on investment; and exploring issues surrounding talent recruitment and the need for innovative infrastructure.
Organiser Luisa d’Aprano said: “The sports agenda drives and contributes significantly to today’s trends, and with so much sport based in the north west it is time for the sporting associations based in the north of England to come together as a team, unite and amplify the combined impact on the economy, locally and internationally.”
She added: “We are delighted that Mike Phelan, Chris Brindley, Brendan Flood, Sarah Collins, Ed Cox and Marcello Fabiano will be sharing their unique insights during the event. We expect it to be both an engaging and meaningful discussion.
“According to our key partner Manchester City Council, sport brought an estimated economic impact of £92m to Manchester alone between 2002 and 2013. Having our panellists share their thoughts will help sport to become a credible and meaningful element to the Northern Powerhouse debate.”
Panellist Chris Brindley said: “I was delighted to be approached as a panellist. This is a fantastic opportunity for the sports community to get together, talk about the great work we are already doing in sport at all levels and share ideas to how we take this forward. There is so much going on in sport across the whole of the north west and as a truly proud Mancunian, I, for one, am very glad to see Sports Influencers happening and to be a part of it.”
Piers Martin of SP.IN said: “For the first time we have come together as a collective to create ‘one voice’ that shouts about sport’s importance from grassroots through to elite level.
“With that in mind, we know more can be done to influence the impact of sport, not just in Manchester and the north, but in Whitehall and Westminster and internationally.”
The first SP.IN event, debating the value of the Northern Powerhouse for Sport, will be taking place on Monday, April 24 at the National Football Museum between 6pm and 8pm.
For more information and tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spin-sports-influencers-tickets-32015225401
