Robert Downes

Chancellor considering a freeze on rents within the private sector for a limited period as higher prices caused by the Iran war continue to put household budgets under significant pressure. Who would want to be a landlord right now? #Landlords thisismoney.co.uk/money/buytolet…

High street retailers are on the brink. Why do our decision makers in high office keep pulling all the wrong policy leavers?😒

📢 Small business owners! If you're sales & marketing efforts need a pit-stop...👇 central-Manchester, May 15! #AI events.fsb.org.uk/en/8d2bI2X7/g/…

@Tweeter2025UK @Daily_Express Actually illegal to conceal an object in a retail premises in the UK. He has already committed enough of an offence to be kicked out if anyone was there to enforce it.

@Daily_Express If the reason for suspecting him was he was putting stuff in his bag then thats not enough to physically intervene. There has to be other reasons. Sometimes people use their bags if there are no baskets. In Brazil its apparently normal to use your own bag while shopping.

Brazen shoplifter steals food from M&S before shoving staff out his way 😱 #dailyexpress #news #london

Great news that #Adlington new town housing estate in #Cheshire has been kicked in to touch. #Stockport, #Poynton, #Woodford #Macclesfield collective sighs of relief all around.

@themonk1967 Funny.

Friday innit 😎

I knew it wouldn't be long before we got the 'top driving tips' to save on rocketing fuel costs: the AA has said (seriously) drivers should drive less; while the RAC advices its members to avoid harsh accelerating & braking. Crisis avoided. 😔 🤡

March is a busy month for trade shows in GM, not least the #BuryMeansBusiness annual shebang! We're exhibiting this year! 👇 eventbrite.co.uk/e/bury-means-b… @burymeansbiz

The Spring Statement, which sums up you best? 1) A must watch 2) Nothing to see here 3) Irrelevent after the weekend's black swan event

Fascinating development today with ministers considering slowing down plans to pay adults of all ages the same minimum wage, with the policy being blamed for spiralling unemployment in 18-24 year olds. It goes deeper than that, but it would be a start. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Cheap/no town centre car parking = great footfall/all is good. Expensive parking = the polar opposite. This is just not fair or right in the current economic climate @StockportMBC #Stockport news.google.com/read/CBMiWkFVX… @BBCRadioManc

Congrats to all involved in the #Rochdale in Bloom project, the town making the shortlist for the 2026 finals. A huge community effort to make the town a nicer place to visit - and which means a lot to so many high street businesses there👏🏻 @RochdaleCouncil

@80s_Kidz Love it. Not sure Blockbusters was around in the 80s though.

Growing up in the 80s. I miss them so much🥺 Credit:@British_Brainrot

@SHAccountants @fsb_policy @BBCNews Quite a bit of eye-rolling from people I've spoken to about this, but we should be positive this will happen. I think it will happen - and I'm the most cynical of people!

@fsb_policy @FSBManchester @BBCNews Great news for northern businesses! 🤝 This investment could be a game-changer for growth and connectivity. Fingers crossed for that concrete, long-term commitment to make it a reality! ✨👏

🚆 The Government's plans to invest billions in Northern Powerhouse Rail will help to unlock the growth potential of small businesses across the north of England, FSB's Robert Downes @FSBManchester told @BBCNews . However, this must be a concrete commitment to long-term rail investment 👇

Might we at last be getting some meaningful news on east-west rail connectivity improvements with a revived Norther Powerhouse Rail plan at some point this week? High speed between #Liverpool to #Manchester via Ringway - yes please CX!! @FSBMerseyside

Britain’s high streets are set for a challenging year, no one would dispute that. High streets need some love. At what point will local councils wake up and pull some of their own levers to help? #Tameside & #Rochdale are leading the way!

. @sister_mcr I am trying to make a room hire enquiry on your online booking system , but the system is not working and won't let me submit the form. Could somebody give me a shout please? robert.downes@fsb.org.uk

Very wet and stormy weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow. If the A555 floods again that will be four floodings (and closure) in less than 12 months. 🌊

📢Great news for shoppers but more importantly businesses in this most important trading period, that the planned Metrolink strikes over Dec 5, 6, 7 have been called off as Unite ballot their members on an offer. 🤞🏻