2. Literally hundreds of people have worked together to
create Make It York and I am honoured to serve as its
first Chair. Myself and the Board of Directors pledge to
work hard on your behalf to deliver on the potential for
the city and the surrounding area.
York plays a crucial role in the economic and cultural
life of the North and can claim strategically significant
connections North, South, East and West, back in
time and into the future. But places cannot function
effectively without true respect for a wide range of
perspectives.
One of our roles at Make It York is to understand the
complex economic and cultural geography which
makes a city tick, and to use our networks to problem
solve and to spot opportunities. As I write, 200,000
people live in York, we have 8,000 businesses,
22,500 students study with us every year and
we welcome 6.7 million visitors, just to the city.
That is a lot of people to serve, and if you add in
our neighbours and partners, it is clear that no one
organisation can achieve anything by working alone.
Maintaining effective partnerships is key to the success
of our part of the world and Make It York was created by
you and your organisation because you share that ethos.
As we mature we will be judged on whether we helped
York and the surrounding area to grow and develop,
or did we just add another layer of duplication? Every
May we will gather together with you, and new
partners and friends, to ask how we did. We will be
judged on results and be held to account by you, as
your success is our goal.
Jane Lady Gibson
Chair | Make It York
York is a fabulous city with unique heritage and a
contemporary outlook that makes it a great place to
live, to visit, to study and do business. But, as a city we
compete with other cities around the UK and the world
to attract the visitors, the students and the businesses
that are needed to sustain a high value, buoyant
economy. York cannot afford to rest on its laurels.
That is where Make It York comes in. Our job is
to market and promote York and to play a part in
developing the economic well-being of the city.
The remit for this covers Visit York, Science City York,
city centre management, festivals and events, business
support and inward investment. By bringing these
6 activities together, there can be one co-ordinated
‘voice’ with an emphasis on joining things up and
making sure we get the best out of the tremendous
advantages we have as a city.
Although Make It York is a new company, there is
already lots of momentum. The UNESCO City of
Media Arts designation, the Business Improvement
District venture and the recent city centre market
refurbishment are just three of many examples of real
opportunity for York to progress and prosper. The role
of Make It York is to support all these opportunities and
to look for more.
Make It York is committed to four core values that will
underpin the company and we hope will serve the city
well. It is our aim to be: entrepreneurial, collaborative,
respectful and ambitious. We look forward to working
with you.
Steve Brown
Managing Director | Make It York
Introduction
3. • Refresh and re-tell York’s inward investment story
• Launch a new annual Cultural Awards event
• Fill and develop York’s newly refurbished Shambles market
• Revitalise the Science City York agenda
• Work with festival and event organisers to enhance every offer
• Ensure UNESCO accreditation becomes a self-sustaining, long-term opportunity
• Support the Business Improvement District (BID) initiative
• Become the one-stop ‘shop window’ for business support
• Develop York’s Christmas experience for residents and visitors
• Concentrate activity on key, high growth business sectors
• Enhance the value for Visit York members
• Work with our universities and colleges on student recruitment
• Seek out funding opportunities for new development projects
And above all... collaborate ambitiously for the benefit of York.
Early plans and priorities
Tourism | Culture, Festivals & Events | Inward Investment | Science City York | Business Support | City Centre Management
YORK’S DESTINATION MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION
4. Introducingsomeofourteam
Michelle Brown
Marketing Manager
michelle.brown@makeityork.com
Laura Freer
Business Tourism Marketing Manager
laura.freer@makeityork.com
Chris Price
City Centre & Markets Manager
chris.price@makeityork.com
Rebecca Francis
Commercial Manager
rebecca.francis@makeityork.com
Kay Hyde
Head of Communications
kay.hyde@makeityork.com
Charles Storr
Economy and Enterprise Manager
charles.storr@makeityork.com
Heather Niven
Head of Science City York
heather.niven@makeityork.com
Nick Greatrex
Sponsorship Manager
nick.greatrex@makeityork.com
Kate McMullen
Head of Consumer Products & Marketing
kate.mcmullen@makeityork.com
Andrew Sharp
Head of Business
andrew.sharp@makeityork.com
5. Introducingourboard
Professor Chris Bailey
Cultural Policy Consultant
Kersten England
Chief Executive
City of York Council
Paul Kirkman
Director
National Railway
Museum
Peter Clinker
Head of Property and Facilities
Management, Nestlé
Mark Fordyce
Managing Director
York Data Services
Philip Thake
Chief Executive
York Conservation Trust
Joan Concannon
Director of External Relations
University of York
Sally Joynson
Chief Executive
Screen Yorkshire
Cllr Dafydd Williams
Leader City of York Council
Jane Lady Gibson
Chair
Make It York
Steve Brown
Managing Director
Make It York
Board Advisors
James Farrar
Chief Operating Officer
YNYER LEP
Louise Stewart
Director of Strategy & Deputy Chief Executive
VisitEngland
6. 1 Museum Street
York
YO1 7DT
Tel 01904 554455
Email info@makeityork.com
Web makeityork.com
Tweet #MakeItYork
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