Drawing inspiration from the past

The latest news is that we should brace ourselves for unemployment levels to break 10% in many UK regions.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research - a firm of economic consultants - predict that unemployment will exceed 10% in most of the UK's regions over the next five years, with the North East, North West, Yorkshire & the Humber, West Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland taking the most of the expected increases. The North West is expected to face one of the biggest reductions in its economic output.

So how did the great North West get wealthy in the first place? And from where can we draw some inspiration? Of course, many know that Manchester was the place where Rolls met Royce and Marks and Spencer got started, and that Bolton is the home town of Lever Brothers (now Unilever).  But here are some lesser known local individuals who created famous brands right here in our region:

Arthur Brooke, opened his first shop at 29 Market Street, Manchester in 1869 to sell his own brands of sugar, tea and coffee. His products were to become universally known by the name "Brooke Bond", still one of the major names in tea manufacture today. Actually, there never was a Mr Bond - Brooke added it to his name just because he thought it sounded elegant and made his company seem more important. He was born in 1845 in the flat above his father's wholesale tea shop in George Street, Ashton-under-Lyne.

Born in Chorley, Lancashire in 1819, Henry Tate was to eventually make his name and fortune as a sugar magnate and multimillionaire, and the donor of the celebrated Tate Gallery London to the nation.

Born in Colne, Lancashire, Sir William Pickles Hartley is probably best remembered as the founder of the Hartley's jam empire.

James Allcock began his business in Audenshaw in 1924 and moved to a new premises in an old converted chapel in West Gorton in 1928. His company was to provide most of the chemicals used in the rubber industry in the Manchester area, most notably for the production of synthetic rubber tyres for bicycles wheels. His business also saw a great boom during the Second World War when the demand for "rubberised" fabrics to make waterproofs for soldiers was in great demand.

There are many more stories like these.  Our sporting heritage is second to none, maybe we should draw some inspiration from our entrepreneurial heritage too.