Sportstown Oldham: When Business, Community and Regeneration Come Together

Once every month on a Tuesday morning, come rain or shine, Oldham Athletic host a meeting of local businesspeople who come together in a board room overlooking the stadium, to network, learn from each other and raise funds.

Each member’s subscription fee is donated to Oldham Athletic Community Trust (OACT).

A goal of the business club is "to champion local businesses and partnerships and provide a wide range of support to our business partners. Ultimately contributing to the wider economic growth of the town and helping to ‘keep the pound in Oldham’”.

The community trust recently organised a sleepover at the stadium to raise funds for homeless people, and members of the business club were informed by Adrian Stores (Fundraising and Commercial Manager), that at the “sleep out” held at the stadium, around £6,500 had been raised to help homeless people.

Stores said: "This is the second year we did the #OACTsleepout. Roughly half of last year's 110 generous Oldhamers tested themselves. This time, camaraderie and team spirit won - with charitable giving being the real winner as both Oldham Athletic Community Trust and the Royal Oldham Hospital 'Subshine Appeal' received the benefits".

The format of the business club meeting is simple, informal and comprises of an agenda that includes a VIP speaker, a spotlight on a member business, and an opportunity for guests to pitch to a group of friendly local entrepreneurs looking to grow Oldham’s economy.

The most recent meetings have included VIP speakers, including Frank Rothwell who discussed the inspirational journey of his business life and his plans for the future of Oldham.

Darren Royle, Chief Executive Officer of Oldham Athletic Football Club, described plans for the development of 'Sportstown', a major regeneration project to be built in and around the Latics’ stadium at a cost of tens of millions of pounds.

Through Darren’s presentation, the business network learned how Latics were forming a partnership that included Oldham Council, the combined Greater Manchester Authority, Astra Zeneca, the NHS, academic bodies including universities and more.

The business club learned that the development of 'Sportstown' would provide further and higher educational opportunities, apprenticeships, research programmes, sporting facilities and community engagement.

Already, the initiative has raised over £10 million from a target of £70 million, and Oldham is well on its way to establishing a world class facility within a mile of town centre.

This combination of private, public and not for profit sectors demonstrates how partnership working can produce results of great and lasting benefits to the communities of Oldham and its economy.

For more information on Oldham Athletic Business Club contact adrian.stores@oact.org.uk or 07831 713003