Messenger December 2017

Interview 21
City Profile: Andrew Toolan of MIDAS
Andrew Toolan is the Acting Head of Business Development:
Financial, Professional and Business Service at
MIDAS, which is Greater Manchester’s inward investment
agency.
The aim of MIDAS is to secure significant levels of new investment
and employment for the city region. This is
achieved through the global business marketing of Manchester,
targeting key markets and sectors, and the provision
of an extensive, free and confidential package of advice
and assistance for potential investors.
Born and raised in a pub in London, Andrew came to Manchester
University to study geology and fell in love with
Manchester. After graduation he returned to London and
worked as a recruitment consultant specialising in property
and finance roles. He joined MIDAS in 2011.
The main focus of Andrew’s role is to encourage business,
from both the UK and abroad to invest in Greater Manchester,
which is made up of ten local authorities. Andrew talks
to businesses who may be expanding or re-locating with
the aim of bringing business into the Greater Manchester
region. Andrew says this can be involve helping build the
business case on why to invest to offering advice on a more
practical level such as sourcing office space, PR and marketing
advice and making links with the universities for recruitment
of new talent.
The Greater Manchester Financial, Professional and Business
sector, the largest outside of London, is made up of around
324,000 people and is responsible for generating twenty
percent of the local economy, which equates to approximately
£57 billion. Over the last 10 years, Manchester’s FPBS
sector has doubled in size and new business districts such
as Spinningfields has contributed to this growth.
Andrew says that Manchester has been successful in attracting
a number of US and London-based law firms to the city,
as well as a number of banks, and has become the most successful
city for attracting foreign direct investment outside
London.
Over the past few years, a number of law firms have moved
to Greater Manchester, attracted by the deep talent pool
and strong business environment. These include Freshfields,
Latham & Watkins, Berwin, Leighton Paisner and TLT.
MIDAS is part of the Growth Company, which supports the
growth and prosperity of Greater Manchester. They run a
number of events and round table events thoughout the
year for the various sectors and have a Law Firm forum,
which is open to all. Details of the events can be found at:
investinmanchester.com
Andrew says that Greater Manchester’s devolution deal
gives the region unparalleled control over key facilitators of
business growth such as skills, transport and business support,
uniquely enabling us to create a very strong business
environment which is at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse.
Andrew says that his job allows him to continually learn
more about the city he loves and in his spare time occasionally
joins the Blue Plaque walking tours. He also enjoys cycling
and reading and also goes to the gym a couple of
times a week, occasionally returning to London to meet up
with family and friends.
Julia Baskerville
Andrew Toolan
Andrew can be contacted via email
Andrew.Toolan@Midas.org.uk