Equity has opened a new office in Manchester for the North East and North West regional teams. Equity officially opened the office with a ‘Burns Night do’ on 23 January attended by committee members and councillors from across the region.
The office is based in Sevendale House, Dale Street, in Manchester’s Northern Quarter – an area known for its creative spaces and diverse culture. Originally built as a trade warehouse in 1903, Sevendale House was transformed in 2014 to create accessible, sustainable and modern workspaces behind the Grade II listed exterior. Following a further refurbishment in 2024, Equity moved in to join several tenants in the complex, which boasts a light and airy atrium and flexible space for our union staff and activists.
The office opening celebrations included a training session for members on the union’s democratic structures and branch development. Members of different branches worked together imagining a branch was a festival and what it could achieve. The ideas generated included having inspiring speakers as headliners, buzzing tents representing different groups in the union, and brilliant comms bringing in full houses, among other things.
Branch activists imagining their branch as a festival.
Equity General Secretary, Paul W. Fleming, and President, Lynda Rooke, gave opening speeches which addressed the importance and value of Northern branches. Together with deputy general secretary Louise McMullan and finance and operations lead Beccy Reese – who were both instrumental in finding the new premises – Equity's staff and members toasted the new office in style.
Paul W. Fleming, Equity General Secretary, addressing members.
Commenting Karen Lockney, Equity North West Region Official, said: “The new Manchester office is a fantastic base for the North East and North West regional teams and it was great to welcome committee members and councillors from both those regions to celebrate the official opening. It is an accessible, modern space in the heart of the Northern Quarter which feels in touch with the city's proud radical history and legendary creativity.”
The event celebrated Burns night because Robert Burns’ values and activism resonate with Equity members. David McClelland, an Equity member from South Yorks branch recited a poem he has written about Burns, capturing the spirit of Burns beautifully. An excellent 'build your own burrito bowl' lunch was improved with haggis and vegan haggis to mark the occasion.
