We made a brilliant case demonstrating how Cotton Works will deliver around 650 jobs, commercial space, leisure, food and drink, as well as more than 800 high quality homes – all huge boosts for the local economy and delivering on GM objectives, too. Hive is deliberately set up to deliver exactly this type of project. Large-scale, complex, transformational schemes where success depends on collaboration between public and private sector partners. We bring strategic coordination alongside technical case building, which made all the difference here.

Through our contacts at GMCA and Wigan Council, we were able to put that case to the right people, presenting a clear narrative for the scheme’s local importance and articulating its benefits.

In tandem with these high-level discussions, we coordinated Heaton Group’s funding submission. We compiled technical documents justifying the need for funding due to market failure and setting out its socio-economic impact and regeneration benefits. We drew on the high quality of the Phase One delivery, and Heaton Group’s commitment to the project – it currently occupies some of the coworking office space alongside other local businesses – to articulate what could be achieved if the whole site was delivered.

Competing for a finite pot of money, Wigan Council couldn’t back every horse. But through our work, Cotton Works secured its backing as its favoured regeneration priority for Good Growth funding.

Then, through the formal bidding process, and after having held valuable conversations with GMCA, our bid submission was successful, and Cotton Works was awarded £24m of Good Growth funding.

“The team at Hive knew what was needed to build a successful funding bid. It was more than preparing the technical supporting documentation and evidence, they understood that sites are more than a line on a plan, but part of a bigger story for a place.  “Their public sector experience and insight meant they were able to get the right people in the room and have valuable conversations that helped us to showcase the genuine potential of Cotton Works and the fantastic benefits that could be realised with funding support.”

John Heaton, Heaton Group