"Legacy isn't about monuments or headlines. It's about impact."

Join Lisa Morton in a reflective episode of "We Built This City" as she delves into the themes of values and legacy.

This special episode revisits conversations with some of the guests who have joined Lisa on  “We Built This City” over the past year, including Gethen Jones and Julie Hesmondhalgh. Learn how Manchester's unique character shapes their sense of purpose and legacy. You’ll hear stories of community support, creativity and collaboration and Lisa speaks to the importance of leaving a lasting impact.

As 2024 comes to a close let’s celebrate the resilience, creativity, and collective spirit that defines Greater Manchester.

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Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.

To celebrate the 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.

Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: 

Via our website

On Instagram

On X FKA Twitter

Gethin Jones shares his morning with the nation right from Manchester City centre. 

In this episode, you’ll hear how Gethin’s Welsh roots have been entwined with Manchester since the late 90’s first coming here as a student.

You’ll learn how Gethin has been immersing himself in the community here for the past few years through his work both on-screen and off, as he’s settled in Greater Manchester.

Lisa and Gethin discuss his unplanned foray into TV presenting, starting his career in double denim and how he’s always aiming to make his Dad proud. 

And Gethin reflects on the impact he wants to make and shares the unique tool he used to figure out the legacy he wants to leave. 

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Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.

To celebrate the 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.

Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: 

Via our website

On Instagram

On X FKA Twitter

Connect with Gethin 

On Instagram

“Everything we do is all about relationships”

We Built This City host Lisa Morton isn't the one asking the questions this week, she shares with you her conversation on the  3:00AM Conversations podcast from international Law firm Hill Dickinson.

Hosts Peter Jackson and Anjon Mallik hear how Lisa made her way as a young female entrepreneur in the 1990’s, to become a leader in communications in Manchester.  They uncover how, inspired by James Kerr’s “Legacy”, Lisa and her team developed a business that’s committed to its values, purpose and legacy. They learn about Lisa’s resilience, her fight against perfectionism, and the values she and her team live by that drive business success.’

Click here to follow and listen to more 3:00AM Conversations

Remembering the legacy left by Sir Howard Bernstein

This week Lisa attended the memorial for Sir Howard Bernstein, impacted by the emotions, tributes shared and lasting values. She wanted to re-share with you their conversation on the podcast. 

As the Chief Executive of Manchester City Council for nearly 20 years, Sir Howard was instrumental in getting the city back on its feet after the IRA bomb in 1996. He then carried on his regeneration mission for almost two decades, galvanising public and private partnerships, changing the skyline and creating new communities in addition to bringing The Commonwealth Games to Manchester.

In their conversation recorded in the 2020 lockdown, Lisa Morton found out how you rebuild a city and the values that drove Sir Howard to grow the community. Sir Howard also shared some warm words of advice and support for Greater Manchester as the city region was rebuilt after the pandemic.

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Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.

To celebrate the 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.

Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: 

Via our website

On Instagram

On X FKA Twitter

"Manchester is just a place of opportunity, whatever it is that you do."

Nicola Marsh is a born and bred Salfordian and Managing Director of Essence Mediacom North.

Nicola created a career for herself in digital advertising in the early days of the internet, you’ll hear about how she continues to navigate this constantly evolving media landscape, and her commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion at Essence Mediacom.

In this episode, host Lisa Morton hears how Nicola went from driving around Salford selling newspaper adverts and drinking brews with her clients, to creating a place for local talent to thrive, whilst shaking up the digital advertising world.

Nicola reflects on what Manchester's vibrant nightlife has meant to her over the years, Manchester's unique sense of community, and opportunities and she speaks to how businesses can contribute to Greater Manchester’s growth.

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Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.

To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.

Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: 

Via our website

On Instagram

On X FKA Twitter

Connect with Nicola and Essence Media Com North

On LinkedIn

On Instagram

"The whole point about building a city is it isn’t one person’s project.”

Colin Shenton is the founder and CEO of Shenton Group, a property company he started in Manchester in the late 1980s, when the city looked and worked very differently. 

You’ll hear about the deal Colin made the very beginning of his career, and how he handled the restoration of a heritage building aged just 21.

Colin shares with Lisa his passion for revitalising some of Manchester’s oldest buildings, blending the old with the new adding to Manchester's unique architectural charm.

This episode delivers captivating stories, about buildings that are instantly recognisable parts of Manchester’s skyline and streets, as well as parts of the city you may have never known were there. 

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Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.

To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.

Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: 

Via our website

On Instagram

On X FKA Twitter

On Spotify

Connect with Colin

On Instagram

On LinkedIn

“This is my city now till I die. I absolutely love it."

You will probably know Julie Hesmondhalgh as the legendary actor who took on the much-loved role of trans character Hayley Cropper on ITV’s Coronation Street. 

Julie and host Lisa Morton discuss everything from Julie’s beginnings in Accrington; how she became one of the UK's most cherished performers and how Manchester has now become ‘her city’. You’ll hear about Julie’s deep involvement in local theatre in Greater Manchester, including her key role in the efforts to save Oldham Coliseum theatre from closing forever.

This is a heartwarming conversation about the transformative power of the arts, the importance of activism, and the strength of community.

Julie speaks about the 500 Acts of Kindness project she set up for Greater Mancunians who need them. Click the link above to join the Facebook page and learn how you can help.

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Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.

To celebrate the 26 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.

Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: 

Via our website

On Instagram

On X FKA Twitter

Connect with Julie 

On X

On Instagram

"There's a culture of creativity in our city”

Dave Moutrey has been an integral part of Manchester’s arts and cultural scene since the 1980’s. He sits down with host Lisa Morton to discuss his journey to becoming a cornerstone of creativity in the city.  

Lisa hears about Dave’s formative years, where the sparks of his passion for the arts were ignited during memorable trips to London. It was punk that inspired Dave to move to Manchester, a city that would become his canvas for creativity.

In this episode, you’ll hear how he played a pivotal role in establishing the cooperative ‘Arts About Manchester’; how he ran the iconic ‘Corner House’, and led the £25 million move to Manchester’s arts centre HOME. 

Dave tells Lisa about his current work in shaping Manchester's new cultural strategy and together they delve into the significance of creativity, community, and collaboration in making Manchester a cultural hotspot for years to come.

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Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.

To celebrate the nearly 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.

Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: 

Via our website

On Instagram

On X FKA Twitter

Connect with Dave 

Via Instagram

Via LinkedIn

"What ​I ​love ​about ​Manchester, is ​it's ​constantly ​evolving”

Seema Malhotra combines glitz, glamour and proper manc graft.

On this episode of ‘We Built This City’ host Lisa Morton is joined by the co-founder of fashion brand ‘Forever Unique’ and star of the reality show ‘The Real Housewives of Cheshire’. 

Seema candidly shares her experiences of juggling cultural and family expectations whilst trying to find her own identity in Manchester in the 90’s.

 You’ll hear what it was like to establish a clothing brand in the textile quarter of the City and how Seema and her husband worked tirelessly to take it to the heights of the Fashion industry, and ultimately what it was like closing the doors on that brand after 30 years.

They also touch on her unwavering passion for Manchester United and why Roy Keane holds a special place in Seema’s heart.

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Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.

To celebrate the nearly 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.

Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: 

Via our website

On Instagram

On X FKA Twitter

Connect with Seema

On Instagram

On X

‘Girls ​like ​me, ​​they ​just ​don't ​do ​history.’

Dr Michala Hulme is a genealogist and broadcaster connecting people with their family history. In this episode, you’ll learn about the real people from Greater Manchester’s past and how they lived their lives.

Michala has an incredible talent for uncovering family trees, and her mission is to make history accessible and engaging for everyone. 

Host Lisa Morton chats to Michala about her particular interest in the Victorian era of Manchester, her early interest in family history and the obstacles she faced and overcame in her educational pursuits and early career. 

You’ll also learn about the unique experiences she had working on the doors of Manchester nightclubs in the 1990s whilst studying history.

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Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre.  From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.

To celebrate the nearly 28 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.

Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: 

Via our website

On Instagram

On X FKA Twitter

Connect with Michala 

Via her website

On LinkedIn