Regional property developer Bruntwood and tenants at its Valo building, a Manchester education facility in Old Trafford, have hosted His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh as part of a wider visit to the region.
The Duke met with young people in higher education at University Academy 92, as well as those studying in the performing arts at Shockout, while at Valo, a circa 156,000-square-foot property at the mixed-use Lumina Village scheme south of the city centre.
It was part of a visit by the royal promoting the importance of young people, the arts and his support for the sector. The Valo building site previously hosted the former Kellogg's factory site and also hosts computing giant Microsoft, which has a circa 18,000-square-foot lease at the Talbot Road property.
The tech firms works closely with UA92, co-founded by Lancaster University and English football team Manchester United’s Class of ’92, a group of former players, aiming to make higher education accessible to all. Shockout, accredited by the University of Bolton, also works towards making arts and culture accessible to all, while providing opportunities for vocational and educational growth.
According to Bruntwood, supporting the arts, cultural and creative industries is a key part of its proposition of "creating thriving towns and cities". Its partnerships with groups, such as the Royal Exchange Theatre, and those made via its connection to the Oglesby Charitable Trust, "remain crucial to creating an inspiring culture and instilling collaboration amongst the city’s residents, businesses and visitors".
Chris Oglesby, chief executive of Bruntwood and recently appointed chief executive of life sciences joint venture partnership Bruntwood SciTech, said that helping to upskill and provide opportunities for the next generation of northwest talent "is crucial to removing barriers for underserved groups to thrive".
He added: "Bruntwood remains a champion for the growth of performing arts and creative industries, which is a key pillar in our efforts to create a vibrant culture across Greater Manchester. We’re committed to providing a platform for people to display their creativity which helps our cities develop a dynamic arts scene."
