Greater Manchester Chamber received the award for Most Effective Campaigning at the Chamber Awards 2005 Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony.

Campaign leader
With 7000 members, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is the largest Chamber of Commerce in the UK, and it is also the largest representative of business in its area. This put the Chamber in perfect stead to lead the Get Our Metrolink Back on Track campaign.

Manchester is home to Britain’s first on-street light rapid transit system – Metrolink - which connects Manchester’s two principal city railway stations, Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria. The Metrolink project started in 1982 and phases one and two were completed by December 1999, carrying over 15 million passengers a year. Disaster hit in July 2004 when the Government cancelled all funding for phase three extensions. It was then that Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, along with the Manchester Evening News, launched the Get Our Metrolink Back On Track campaign to overturn the decision.

Proactive leader of a multi-party campaign
The award for Most Effective Campaigning was given to the Chamber that the judges thought had run the most effective campaign in their area. It was felt that Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce was the clear winner, because of its proactive approach in the Metrolink campaign.

Once news of the funding cancellation was made public, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce was not only quick to set up the Get Our Metrolink Back On Track campaign, but it also chaired and hosted a steering group attended by people such as local MPs, councillors from across the area, transport unions and key businesses.

The outcome of the campaign and its resulting activity was the success of overturning the Secretary of State for Transport’s decision - £520 million was committed to Manchester’s transport network.

Huge positive impact on local community
Phases one and two of the Metrolink have helped to save at least 3.8 million car journeys per year, carrying up to 50,000 passengers each day. The benefits of the completion of phase three take this further – estimates suggest that a further 5.5 million care journeys will be saved with up to 50 million passenger journeys being made each year. Completion of the network will increase Manchester’s GDP by over £1billion per year and it could create up to 26,000 new jobs.

What the awards mean to Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
Angie Robinson, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “This award is a terrific boost to the chamber and Greater Manchester in general. It is for all those who worked so hard to make the Get Back on Track Campaign such a success.” Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce also hopes to utilise relationships formed through the campaign to work on forthcoming issues.

Future Ambitions after the Chamber Awards
Angie Robinson added: “Winning the award has helped us to consolidate the newly-formed Chamber's position as the voice of business in Greater Manchester. The resulting media coverage also helped to further raise our profile with local businesses. To win this award in our first year of operation is a real achievement. In addition, it has given us the extra momentum to push forward on our other plans to make Greater Manchester Chamber one of the most forward-thinking business organisations in the North West.”

Why Enter the Chamber Awards
Great Manchester Chamber feels that the Chamber Awards provide Chambers and their members with an excellent opportunity to share their successes with the wider business community and receive national recognition for their hard work and achievements.