ISSUE:
Generate awareness and support of Greater Manchester's devolution commitment to transfer rail stations to local ownership and management. This was against a significant industry stakeholder back lash.
SOLUTION:
Use the media to set the tone and raise awareness but recognise that business and political support was required to influence the full business case with the Department for Transport.
Stakeholders were identified and mapped on a power and influence matrix and then aligned with key elements of the proposal around community involvement, local regeneration, transport integration and economic growth.
To enable the best possible partnership working, communication plans and strategies were shared in advance with key industry stakeholders and strong relationships maintained even where different organisations had opposing viewpoints.
IMPACT:
Significant local, regional and trade coverage achieved detailing the proposal and its benefits. Political engagement delivered through party conferences, MP briefings and production of information documents and brochures. Additionally over 50 letters of support were sent to Government from business and community leaders.