Cheshire Day was celebrated in style with a gathering of businesses, partners and community leaders from across the county to mark the official launch of Cheshare, Cheshire’s place‑based sharing platform and part of the national GB Shared network.

Held at the stunning Crabwall Manor Hotel & Spa in Chester, guests were welcomed to a day focused on collaboration, sustainability and the power of sharing local opportunity. The historic venue provided a fitting backdrop for the launch of a platform designed to reconnect business, community and place.

Attendees joined from across Cheshire and beyond to learn more about how sharing can strengthen local economies, support responsible business growth, and open up new opportunities for organisations of all sizes.

The event featured guest speakers and contributors from across the GB Shared ecosystem, including representatives from Sivada Nexus, GB Shared’s Growth Partner, who spoke about the importance of building ethical, connected supply chains and supporting businesses to grow sustainably.

Also joining the day were NCRC at Trafford Hall, founding members of Cheshare and part of The Regenda Group, who shared their perspective on community impact, social value and the importance of place‑based collaboration.

Guests also heard from David Brayne of Innovate UK Business Connect, who highlighted the value of innovation‑led platforms that support businesses to adapt, collaborate and thrive, and Josh Harris from Manchester Metropolitan University, who spoke about the role of education, skills and partnerships in strengthening local economies.

Throughout the event, attendees were introduced to the concept of sharing as economic infrastructure, with testimonials from businesses already part of GB Shared in other counties. These real‑world examples demonstrated how sharing jobs, news, events, funding, tenders and opportunities centrally can increase visibility, create meaningful connections and generate measurable returns.

For many in the room, these stories brought the model to life – showing what is possible when businesses work together rather than in isolation.

The day also included an address from GB Shared Founder Lisa Edge, who shared the story behind the platform’s creation and growth. From its beginnings in Lancashire to becoming the UK’s first sustainable marketplace and supply chain register, Lisa spoke candidly about the challenges of building place‑based digital infrastructure and the importance of perseverance, values and community‑led growth.

Her award‑winning journey, backed by Innovate UK and recognised nationally, reinforced the credibility and ambition behind GB Shared – and the opportunity now opening up for Cheshire through Cheshare.

For those reading who were unable to attend, Cheshire Day offered a clear message:

GB Shared is not just another platform – it is infrastructure for sharing opportunity locally, designed to help good businesses be seen, connect ethically, and grow with purpose.

Cheshare now offers Cheshire businesses:

As more counties connect through GB Shared, the question for many businesses is no longer why share? – but can you afford not to?

Cheshare marks the beginning of a more connected, collaborative future for Cheshire – and an open invitation for businesses to be part of it.