BRITAIN’s major banks have joined together to back the inaugural Business and Professional Services Conference.

The pro.manchester-organised Conference, which comes to Manchester next month, is the first of its kind in the UK and is now being backed in a sponsorship first by eight UK banks.

In an unprecedented move of co-operation, Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and RBS NatWest, together with the Co-operative Bank, Santander, Yorkshire Bank and Handelsbanken are to sponsor the event as the pro.manchester Banking Group.
 
This comes fresh off the back of a British Banking Association report which outlined 17 initiatives to support UK businesses, including a £1.4 billion fund.

pro.manchester chief executive John Ashcroft said sponsoring the Conference is a valuable way of demonstrating support for business in Manchester and the North West.

He added: “Each bank is contributing £1,000 to ensure we fulfill the conference agenda and create a landmark event for Manchester. This is excellent PR for the banking sector and allows them to benefit from the marketing programme in the run-up to the Conference.

“Angela Knight, the BBA chief executive, will be with us on March 17 and Kirsty Wark and Gavin Esler will anchor the topical news-based conference. It will be a great, positive event.

“Our bankers recognise the importance of the Business and Professional Services conference and the essential role the banks will play in supporting the recovery in the UK in 2011.

“This is a great opportunity to bring the ideas and plans of the British Banking Association' Supporting UK Business’s report into Manchester and the North West.”

The Conference, organised by pro.manchester, will offer delegates the chance to hear from influential players through keynote speeches, panel debates and interactive forums.

Visit www.bpsconference.co.uk for further details or call Nicola Mortimer at pro.manchester on 0161 817 3481.