Going Live in Manchester: Becci Thomson - Drawn Here Not Born Here

How do you sell a groundbreaking new venue in a city you’ve only just moved to?We Built This City celebrates people who contribute to Greater Manchester in a meaningful way, and Mancs can be “born, bred or adopted”. But what about the people who don’t quite fit those labels? Like in Tony Walsh's poem, they’ve been drawn here, not born here. In this series, you’ll hear from some of those people.People like Becci Thomson, the Chief Commercial Officer for Co-op Live. She joined the project right at the beginning and took a leap of faith when she moved to Manchester in late 2020. Since then, she’s seen the venue grow from the ground up, and you’ll hear what it’s really been like helping to shape a world-class arena while settling into a new city at the same time.Becci tells Lisa about the moments when everything finally came together, and when all the hard work paid off, from welcoming Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish to hosting the MTV EMAs.She also reflects on how the city’s energy and people have shaped her both professionally and personally, what she’s learned about herself along the way, and the parts of the city region that now feel like home.------Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester; across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.To celebrate the 29 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.Connect with TomVia LinkedInConnect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our websiteOn InstagramOn X FKA TwitterOn this episode, We Built This City has partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University. Wherever your business wants to be, Manchester Met is there to help you go further. Visit mmu.ac.uk/business or follow Business at Manchester Met on LinkedIn, to find out more.

How do you make your way in business in Manchester as a Scouser?There are many people making big contributions to Greater Manchester who don’t quite fit the born, bred or adopted Manc label. And We Built This City is celebrating some of those people with ‘Drawn Here Not Born Here’. Peter Jackson is the former CEO and Managing Partner of the Law firm Hill Dickinson. Back in the late 90s, he came from Liverpool to head up the firm’s Manchester Office. In this conversation with Lisa, he reflects on the welcome he got from the city administration at the time and the things he learned by paying attention to how the city sees itself. You’ll hear what anyone coming to do business in Manchester or Liverpool should understand to get it right. After a 40-year career, Peter learnt many lessons about setting up in a new city, connecting with people, and becoming part of the local community. And after stepping down as CEO in 2024, Peter now uses his experience to support the firm’s ongoing growth and stability. Together, they explore the little quirks of city identity, the differences that have made the fabric of Manchester and how they shape the way people work, lead, and build relationships across the North West.------Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.To celebrate the 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.Connect with  Erinma Via her websiteVia LinkedInConnect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our websiteOn InstagramOn X FKA TwitterOn this episode, We Built This City has partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University. Wherever your business wants to be, Manchester Met is there to help you go further. Visit mmu.ac.uk/business or follow Business at Manchester Met on LinkedIn, to find out more.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for Manchester United and the region” Collette Roche is the Chief Operating Officer of Manchester United, the first woman ever to hold that role at the club. Along the way, she’s had to navigate male-dominated environments; hold tough conversations, and lead with clarity and empathy since she was 21 years old.Collette’s story isn’t just about football. She’s played key roles in some of Manchester’s most important institutions; from Manchester Airport Group and Manchester Metropolitan University to JW Lees,  The Northern Powerhouse Partnership, UA92 and The Manchester United Foundation.Host Lisa Morton hears about Collette’s journey from working-class roots in Haydock, to leading one of the most renowned football clubs in the world.  Collette’s been a steady hand through years of change, during which she’s seen five managers come and go.  She’s now at the heart of one of the most ambitious projects in the club’s history: a planned new stadium for the club and an ambitious regeneration programme for Old Trafford which will leave a lasting impact on Greater Manchester as well as its fans.From working-class roots in Haydock to leading one of the most renowned football clubs in the world, Collette’s story is one leading with purpose and integrity.Part of this conversation was recorded live at Business Desk’s The Business of Greater Manchester Conference, and it captures how Collette is helping to build not just a new stadium, but a stronger Manchester for generations to come.------Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.To celebrate the 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our websiteOn InstagramOn this episode, We Built This City has partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University. Wherever your business wants to be, Manchester Met is there to help you go further. Visit mmu.ac.uk/business or follow Business at Manchester Met on LinkedIn, to find out more.

How has the ‘Cream of Manchester’ been “pulled” back to the city?Will Lees-Jones is the Managing Director of JW Lees, a seventh-generation family brewery and pub business with pubs all across the North West.Will caught up with Lisa Morton to share the news about the exciting return of Boddingtons to Manchester and other pubs near you. They discuss what it means to bring back an icon to the city; Will’s hopes for the future of brewing in Manchester, and whether or not he’s had a call from iconic “Boddies Girl” Melanie Sykes.You also get a chance to hear Will’s conversation with Will from 2022, when they reflected on leading a business through the Covid pandemic, and the values that help keep JW Lees pubs resilient.In that conversation, Will talked about championing local communities through initiatives like Mahdlo Youth Zone in Oldham and Forever Manchester, and why he believed pubs remain at the heart of social life.From steering a historic family business through challenging times to shaping Manchester’s next chapter with a truly iconic beer, Will’s commitment to tradition, community, and to championing the culture that surrounds the local remains unparalleled.------Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester; across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.To celebrate the 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.Connect with TomVia LinkedInConnect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our websiteOn InstagramOn X FKA TwitterOn this episode, We Built This City has partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University. Wherever your business wants to be, Manchester Met is there to help you go further. Visit mmu.ac.uk/business or follow Business at Manchester Met on LinkedIn, to find out more.

"It's all about connecting people and place to opportunity."Tom Stannard is the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council. A proud public servant, he began his career in London, but his journey in the North West has been a tale of two cities. Tom left Salford four months ago to start his new role in Manchester.Find out how Tom leads with a community first mindset; humility, purpose and humour, including a commitment to staying grounded, even if that means posing for a photo next to some fly-tipping!In this episode, Lisa Morton explores what it means to lead a global city with local people at its heart. Tom shares how his experiences in Salford have shaped his approach to inclusive regeneration, why he believes that listening to community voices is key to effective policymaking, and how his family values have influenced his leadership journey. From site visits in Miles Platting to gigs in Co-op Live, Tom proves that civic leadership can have both steel and soul.You’ll hear how regeneration can serve every part of a city, not just its centre and what Tom and his team have planned for Greater Manchester in the next 10 years. This is a conversation about building a fairer Manchester, one that’s ambitious, inclusive, and connected to the people who call it home.------Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester; across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.To celebrate the 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.Connect with TomVia LinkedInConnect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our websiteOn InstagramOn X FKA TwitterOn this episode, We Built This City has partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University. Wherever your business wants to be, Manchester Met is there to help you go further. Visit mmu.ac.uk/business or follow Business at Manchester Met on LinkedIn, to find out more.

What does it take to power a greener future for Manchester?Amer Gaffar is the Director of the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre at Manchester Metropolitan University,  a research hub developing hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, which will support Greater Manchester's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2038.Lisa and Amer discuss exactly what a ‘fuel cell’ is and how hydrogen can power Manchester's next revolution; a green revolution. You’ll hear Lisa uncover Amer’s vision for a cleaner, fairer city and how leading Manchester institutions are fueling that transition faster than any other city. Amer talks about why he believes collaboration is key to tackling the climate crisis and how Manchester Met along with Manchester’s combined authority are helping to get the city region to the goal of Net Zero together.Amer reflects on the need to make sustainability accessible to all and this conversation is a great reminder of how local action can drive global change, he’s keen on bringing people with him and powering Greater Manchester’s green revolution through knowledge, people and their skills. From working with businesses on green innovation to helping shape Manchester’s net zero ambitions, Amer is determined to ensure the city doesn't just adapt to the future—it leads it.------Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.To celebrate the 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.Connect with  AmerVia LinkedInVia Manchester MetConnect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our websiteOn InstagramOn X FKA TwitterOn this episode, We Built This City has partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University. Wherever your business wants to be, Manchester Met is there to help you go further. Visit mmu.ac.uk/business or follow Business at Manchester Met on LinkedIn, to find out more.

In this special episode, Lisa Morton revisits one of the most powerful conversations from the podcast to date — her 2022 interview with Figen Murray OBE.Figen practises kindness and teaches resilience in an effort to build a safer, more united society — one rooted in trust, respect, and compassion. After losing her son Martyn Hett in the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017, she gave up her career as a therapist to study counter-terrorism and speak to young people about the dangers of online radicalisation.Originally recorded ahead of the fifth anniversary of the attack, Figen shares a deeply personal account of that harrowing night and the difficult months that followed. She reflects on the power of forgiveness, the need to understand those who’ve been led astray, and how small, everyday acts of kindness can have a monumental impact on our communities.Now, in 2025 Figen has had a very busy 3 years and she tells Lisa about the journey she’s made since that first conversation — including the landmark achievement of Martyn’s Law receiving Royal Assent, you’ll hear what that means for everyone going to live events in the future and how the legislation will keep the public safe.She speaks powerfully about the need for improved security at public venues, what it’s really like to work with government, raise public awareness, and ensure that no other family has to endure the same pain. This episode is a moving reminder of the enduring legacy of Martyn Hett and how the spirit of Manchester continues to drive unity, resilience, and change.------Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.To celebrate the 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our websiteOn InstagramOn X FKA TwitterOn this episode, We Built This City has partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University. Wherever your business wants to be, Manchester Met is there to help you go further. Visit mmu.ac.uk/business or follow Business at Manchester Met on LinkedIn, to find out more.

"Peace is an ongoing journey; it never ends."What motivates somebody to tackle Manchester’s biggest problems?Professor Erinma Bell MBE joins host Lisa Morton to share what drove her to create change at a time when the city region was being called ‘Gunchester’ and the values that have kept her on that mission for the past 25 years.Erinma is a peace activist, community leader, and councillor for Manchester City Council.In the late 1990s, Erinma was part of a community group in Moss Side that was intent on making a change. But when her friend was shot in front of her, she knew that change needed to happen faster.From grassroots activism to national recognition, Erinma went on to help set up Carisma, a conflict resolution and community cohesion charity leading initiatives that courageously tackle the pressing issues of gun and gang crime. Erinma shares her personal reflections on the significance of family values, the strength of community support, and the essential need for young people to feel a genuine sense of belonging in their environments. Her story is one of resilience, compassion, and unwavering determination, reminding us all of the power of activism in the face of adversity.You’ll hear Lisa delve into Erinma’s commitment to creating a safer environment for the next generation, the ongoing pursuit of peace in Manchester’s communities and the vital role you can play in creating a brighter future for the next generation.------Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.To celebrate the 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.Connect with  Erinma Via her websiteVia LinkedInConnect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our websiteOn InstagramOn X FKA TwitterOn this episode, We Built This City has partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University. Wherever your business wants to be, Manchester Met is there to help you go further. Visit mmu.ac.uk/business or follow Business at Manchester Met on LinkedIn, to find out more.

"If you want something, you can't sit there and wait for someone to put it in your hand for you."In this episode, Lisa sat down with Victoria Braddock, the Managing Director of Marketing Manchester, Lisa heard how she and her team are putting Manchester’s brand on the global stage. Victoria shares what it was like growing up in Manchester, offering ‘backies’ into town on her brother's bike as a kid, her career journey from Wimpy burger as a teenager to joining ‘Marketing Manchester’ over 20 years ago, find out what has made her ambitious to stay!From major international campaigns to the power of local stories, Victoria reveals what she’s learnt from positioning Manchester as a must-visit destination for tourists, businesses, and investors alike. Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or a proud Mancunian, this episode will give you an insider’s look at how strategic storytelling fuels the city’s growth. ------Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.To celebrate the 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.Connect with Victoria:On LinkedInOn Marketing Manchester's LinkedInVia Marketing Mancheter's WebsiteConnect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our websiteOn InstagramOn X FKA TwitterOn this episode, We Built This City has partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University. Wherever your business wants to be, Manchester Met is there to help you go further. Visit mmu.ac.uk/business or follow Business at Manchester Met on LinkedIn, to find out more.

"We always look out for each other in Manchester,  no matter what."Five years ago Lisa Morton launched the ‘We Built This City’ podcast in an aim to connect with born, bred and adopted Mancunians who have helped to shape this city region, not just with bricks and mortar but with their impact too. It’s impossible to reflect back on that time without acknowledging the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on Greater Manchester and the world, so in this episode, you’ll hear Lisa reconnect with early guests to explore the lasting effects on the community, business and hospitality sector. From innovative adaptations in the restaurant industry to the resilience of local businesses, how did Mancunians support each other at the time, and how has the city region recovered, grown and adapted? This episode captures the spirit of Manchester and its people during challenging times. Join Lisa as she celebrates five years of the podcast and shares the stories and values that emerged from adversity.------Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.To celebrate the 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via our websiteOn InstagramOn X FKA TwitterMentioned in this episode: We Built This City's partnership with Manchester Metropolitan UniversityOn this episode, We Built This City has partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University. Wherever your business wants to be, Manchester Met is there to help you go further. Visit https://www.mmu.ac.uk/business or follow Business at Manchester Met on LinkedIn, to find out more.Manchester Met