BUSINESSES and organisations gathered at Haydock Park Racecourse on Wednesday to learn about becoming a St Helens Ambassador to help spread the word about what the borough has to offer.

The St Helens Ambassadors scheme - which has been introduced as part of a new economic vision for the town - sets out to bring together the knowledge, networks, passion and determination of local businesses, using these to attract investment and jobs in order to boost the local economy.

Ambassadors will act as proactive advocates for the borough, both nationally and internationally, with the power to influence how the area is marketed and portrayed in the media and at events, in order to promote it as the educated choice for the people that matter.

Similar schemes have been established successfully in places like Burnley, Coventry and Warwickshire.

Eamonn McManus, chair of St Helens Rugby Club and Chair of St Helens Economy Board, Jason Fildes, general manager at Haydock Park Racecourse and Mike Palin, chief executive at St Helens Council, joined guests to introduce the St Helens Ambassadors programme.

Jason Fildes said: “Membership of the St Helens Ambassadors will unite the knowledge, networks and desire of businesses, organisations and individuals, from both the public and private sectors, to positively change perceptions of St Helens and raise the profile of the area.

“Ambassadors will be a dynamic force to put St Helens on the map, to attract investors, to spread the word, to show what is special about St Helens and to create a buzz about the place.

"Haydock Park Racecourse is delighted and proud to become a St Helens Ambassador.”

Eamonn McManus said: “Real and substantial investment growth and momentum is already building in St Helens.

"The decade ahead will witness an era of much improved economic growth for the town as it exploits its natural strategic position as the Axis of the Liverpool Manchester Corridor.

“The St Helens Place Ambassador Programme will provide its members with an unparalleled networking environment and will raise their own business profiles regionally, nationally and internationally.

"More importantly, they will together form a natural and effective marketing and sales force to promote the St Helens of the future as a town of choice to invest in, work in and live in.”

Business which have pledged commitment to the scheme include Haydock Park Racecourse, Network Space, Luxor Estates, St Helens RFC, Stapleton Derby and Cultivate.

In less than two months since the launch of the initiative, Pilkington has announced the development of an energy recovery facility at its Greengate site and Knauf Insulation will build a multi-million-pound glass cullet processing facility - the first of its kind  in the UK - in the borough.

In the town centre, Chiquitos has announced the opening of a restaurant alongside Costa Coffee and Aldi and both the Theatre Royal and Darkstar Laser have been shortlisted for the Liverpool Tourism Awards for Entertainment Venue of the Year and Independent Tourism Business of the Year, respectively.

There have also been recent developments within the housing sector, with St Helens Council granting planning permission for over 250 new homes, including 134 homes completing the Vulcan Village development, a new housing site at Lancotts Lane opposite the Moss Nook site, for Gleeson Homes, and a number of new homes at Edward Street, Parr, as part of the housing offer to be delivered by Torus.