Community spirit shines through at the Rochdale Together – Enterprise Festival

Even the rain couldn’t stop the energy at the Rochdale Together – Enterprise Festival. EnterprisingYou and GM Business Growth Hub teamed up with Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency to host a day full of learning, inspiration, and shared purpose for Rochdale’s entrepreneurs.

The festival was part of our ongoing commitment to ensure business support is accessible across all Greater Manchester boroughs, not just in the city centre. As Matt Simmons from Sales Geek put it,

“It’s really important that events like this are happening in places like Rochdale. It means people can access support without having to travel far.”

Celebrating local regeneration and opportunity

Local leader Mark Robinson, Director of Economy and Place at Rochdale Borough Council, kicked off the event with an update on Rochdale’s regeneration and development plans, highlighting many new opportunities across the borough. Holding the festival at Rochdale AFC added a special local touch. With children enjoying half-term football activities around the stadium, the day felt truly community-driven. The lively mix of families, young people, and festival-goers created a buzz that captured the spirit of connection at the heart of Rochdale’s business scene.

Events like today give us the opportunity to showcase things that will make those businesses more efficient, very much enabling those businesses to come together.

Mark Robinson, Director of Economy and Place, Rochdale Borough Council

Workshops that sparked new thinking

Attendees took part in three practical, high-impact workshops on customer loyalty, AI for small businesses, and how startups can build focus and momentum in 2026.

Entrepreneurs at every stage, from pre-start to growth, said they left with ideas they could put into action right away.

Pitching with confidence

There were facilitated pitching sessions helping founders gain the confidence to share their business stories. Even those who were hesitant at first quickly found their rhythm, delivering pitches full of creativity, sustainability, and a strong local focus.

Edwin Cooke from AI Perspectives reflected on the energy in the room, saying:

“Events like this get people in front of people, sharing ideas and talking about what you’re doing.”

Strengthening Rochdale’s business identity

Throughout the day, it was clear how proud Rochdale’s entrepreneurial community is. Bringing advisers, workshops, and support programmes together helped attendees make valuable connections and gain a clearer understanding of the support available across the borough.

When you bring people together in the right environment, ideas start to flow. That’s what events like this are all about — sparking confidence, curiosity and connection.

Yvonne Sampson, Head of Enterprise and Growth. GM Business Growth Hub

Fire Up Co-working space in Rochdale also plays a key role in this support network. As a flexible workspace and business hub space for freelancers and small businesses, it gives entrepreneurs direct access to the Hub’s Rochdale‑based Enterprise Specialist, Aise Ndiele, as well as other business support professionals who regularly work from Fire Up. It’s a practical, accessible base where businesses can get guidance, develop ideas, and connect with others on the same journey.

Above all, the festival showed that Rochdale’s entrepreneurs aren’t working alone. They are part of a thriving, supportive, and ambitious community.

“I’m based in Rochdale, and I think these events are crucial because they help promote what we do here and strengthen Rochdale’s position within Greater Manchester.” — Aise Ndiele.