There are partnerships that sit alongside an event, and then there are those that quietly but powerfully shape what that event can become, influencing not just the conversations in the room but the opportunities that emerge from it. It is in that spirit that we welcome the GM Chamber of Commerce as an esteemed partner for RISE 2026, a collaboration that feels both intentional and necessary at this stage of the journey.
Greater Manchester has long been a region defined by enterprise, resilience and reinvention, yet its future, like that of many economic centres, depends on how effectively it brings all voices into its growth story. The Chamber plays a pivotal role in that ecosystem, representing thousands of businesses while influencing policy, supporting trade, strengthening skills development and ensuring that the voice of business is both heard and acted upon. Their continued commitment to inclusive growth and regional impact makes their presence at RISE not only relevant but deeply aligned with why this platform exists.
Last year, Lucy Mulligan brought insight and clarity to the RISE stage, connecting the lived realities of business leaders with the wider regional narrative, and her continued support reflects a relationship that has grown beyond a single keynote into something more meaningful. That continuity matters, because it signals that this is not a one-off collaboration but part of a wider alignment between She Inspires and the organisations shaping the future of the region.
What makes this partnership particularly important is the space it opens for women in business, not just in terms of inspiration but in terms of access. Across our RISE roundtables and community conversations, a consistent theme emerges: women are building, leading and contributing at every level, yet many still feel underconnected to the systems that enable growth, whether that is access to finance, networks, strategic advice or simply the confidence to step into spaces that have not always felt designed for them. The Chamber’s involvement begins to bridge that gap, bringing the infrastructure of business support directly into a room filled with women who are ready to engage with it.
This is where RISE becomes more than a conference. It becomes a point of intersection, where ambition meets infrastructure, where ideas meet opportunity, and where conversations have the potential to move beyond encouragement into action. The Chamber’s work across policy, trade, and enterprise support offers practical pathways for women who are asking important questions about growth, scale and visibility, and their presence ensures that those questions do not remain abstract but are met with real insight and direction.
As Gulnaz Brennan reflects, “Recognition is only the beginning. When women are placed in the right rooms, with the right people, that recognition begins to translate into opportunity, influence and real change. That is what RISE is about, and that is why partnerships like this matter.”
There is also a deeper significance to this moment. Greater Manchester’s ambitions around inclusive growth, productivity and innovation cannot be realised without fully engaging the talent, leadership and entrepreneurial drive of women across the region. When organisations like the Chamber step into spaces like RISE, they are not simply supporting an event, they are signalling that women’s leadership is central to the region’s economic future, not peripheral to it.
For those attending RISE 2026, this partnership offers something tangible. It is an opportunity to better understand how the regional business landscape operates, to explore the support that exists, and to connect directly with an organisation that can open doors, provide guidance and amplify ambition. It is a chance to move from working in isolation to becoming part of a wider ecosystem that is designed to help businesses grow and succeed.
RISE 2026 will take place on 22nd June at The Midland, Manchester, and the room is being curated with intention, bringing together leaders, founders, decision makers and organisations that are actively shaping what comes next. This is an invitation to step into that space, to engage with the Chamber, to ask questions, to build connections and to place yourself within the conversations that matter.
Because the difference is not just in what is said on stage, but in who you meet, what you learn, and what you choose to do with it afterwards.
