Leader Leese celebrating with Mace

Consultancy and construction firm Mace is holding a summer reception tonight at music venue Band on the Wall within the Northern Quarter, Manchester city centre.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, will be giving a speech and will be introduced by Rob Ewen, Mace director of UK regions.

Leese said: "Manchester City Council is proud to support the city's construction industry. Projects Mace have been involved in such as creating new schools and improving cultural attractions, including the reborn Band On The Wall, are making a positive difference to this city and of course have provided welcome jobs. I wish them continuing success in the future."

Ewen added: "We are very proud of our track record in Manchester and the North West. We've worked on some amazing projects like the Commonwealth Games in 2002, and we look forward to continuing our work in this region. The party is our chance to thank our clients and consultant colleagues."

Mace's North West team is based on Castle Street, Castlefield, and provides programme and project management, construction delivery, cost consultancy and facilities management services across all sectors of property from schools and hospitals to rail projects and residential schemes.

Mace is currently working with Manchester City Council providing programme management for the Building Schools for the Future and City Academies programme. Mace is also providing project management on the refurbishment of the Manchester Town Hall extension and is working with Corridor Manchester to select a development partner for the former Manchester Royal Eye Hospital site on Oxford Road.

Members of the Mace team and their clients will also be in attendance.

Highlights of projects Mace has carried out in Manchester includes:

• Project managed the 2002 Commonwealth Games, working with over 200 functional groups involved in every aspects of preparation for the games from construction to catering
• Following the 1996 IRA bomb, Mace worked with Manchester City Council on the restoration of the Royal Exchange Theatre
• Working with Crosby Homes, Mace construction managed the £16m transformation of the former Hacienda Club on Whitworth Street into 156 apartments, the Number 1 Deansgate Project and the Green Quarter
• Working with ISIS, Mace project managed the Islington Wharf Project
• Working with ING, Mace worked on the transformation of the Royal Mills into apartments
• Work with New East Manchester, Mace managed the transformation of the Sharp Building into space for media companies

The evening reception takes place from 6.30pm and runs until 9pm tonight, 17 June. More than 230 people are expected to attend tonight.