The King’s Seeing is Believing tour politely reminds CEOs that poor people still exist north of Watford
In a stunning act of geographical bravery, senior business leaders have ventured into Rochdale, looked directly at a Greggs queue, and lived to tell the tale, all as part of a royal-endorsed expedition to see what happens when capitalism runs out of snacks.
The visit, organised by Business in the Community under the grand banner of The King’s Seeing is Believing programme, saw executives from United Utilities, Siemens, Sodexo and other big-hitting corporations stare thoughtfully at infrastructure, nod solemnly at stats, and write things like “Community resilience!” in notebooks made from 100% recycled sincerity.
Led by United Utilities’ Louise Beardmore, who reportedly arrived with bottled optimism and a high-visibility jacket, the group heard about Rochdale’s most pressing challenges: food insecurity, youth unemployment, and the fact that half the town centre’s regeneration is currently guarded by scaffolding and two very angry seagulls.
They also marvelled at the borough’s ambitious plans, such as the Atom Valley project, which aims to create a northern hub of industry, sustainability and, ideally, job titles no one understands but sound incredibly innovative.
“We saw both the problems and the potential,” said Beardmore, while being careful not to step in anything that might ruin her shoes. “Rochdale is full of energy, talent and… bricks. Definitely lots of bricks.”
Sue Husband of BITC echoed the sentiment, saying, “Rochdale has been left behind for too long.” She added that business must work with local government to “unlock potential,” a phrase that here means “someone else fix this but make sure we get to announce it at a future awards dinner.”
Among the revelations:
- One in eight Rochdale residents experience food insecurity.
- Youth unemployment sits at a cheerless 16.9%.
- One in five residents reports a disability.
- One in three residents reports “mild existential dread” after a walk down Yorkshire Street.
But hope springs eternal, especially when viewed from the inside of a high-end minibus. Business leaders were shown local initiatives and regeneration projects, then encouraged to reflect deeply on what they personally could do, before heading off to a catered networking lunch somewhere with minimal risk of puddles.
The King’s Seeing is Believing programme, founded in 1990 by the then-Prince Charles, has now introduced more than 25,000 executives to the concept of “places that aren’t London”, a noble pursuit that continues to baffle and inspire in equal measure.
Reporting from down the M62, we at the Rochdale Times salute all corporate visitors who now understand that Rochdale is more than roundabouts and despair, it’s also Wi-Fi, resilience, and very determined people waiting for someone to finally press the “Invest” button.
