Williams Group Strengthens Commitment to Arts and Young Talent

Williams Group has reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to supporting arts, culture and young people across the Northwest through its sponsorship of Lowry’s Creative Writing Challenge for a third consecutive year.

The family-owned business, which has served communities across the region for more than 110 years and retails BMW, MINI, Jaguar, Land Rover and Geely, has developed a partnership with Lowry as part of its wider commitment to investing in creativity, education and community initiatives.

Chris Woods, Head of Marketing at Williams Group, said:
“For more than a century, Williams has grown alongside the communities we serve across the Northwest, and supporting the next generation remains central to our values.
“We are proud to support Lowry’s Creative Writing Challenge for the third consecutive year as initiatives like this give young people the confidence to express themselves creatively, develop important communication skills and discover the value of their own voice.
“Arts and culture play a hugely important role in building stronger communities, opening doors for young people and inspiring future generations.”

Williams’ support for the Creative Writing Challenge sits alongside a broader programme of charitable partnerships and community engagement activity across the Northwest. The business has maintained a long-standing relationship with Maggie’s Cancer Centres for more than six years, supporting centres in Manchester, Oldham and Liverpool that provide vital information, advice and wellbeing services for people affected by cancer.

The 2026 Creative Writing Challenge culminated in a special live celebration event at Lowry, hosted by popular CBeebies presenter Evie Pickerill, where shortlisted children performed their original poetry, stories and playscripts on stage in front of families, teachers and peers.

The initiative attracted more than 1,100 entries from children aged 7 to 11 across the Northwest, highlighting the growing impact of the programme since its launch. Delivered through workshops in more than 30 schools by professional poets, playwrights and storytellers, the Creative Writing Challenge is designed to nurture creativity, improve literacy skills and build confidence in young people — particularly those who may previously have lacked confidence in writing or public speaking.

Entries were judged by an expert panel including author and illustrator Curtis Jobling, actor and author Samantha Giles, writer and broadcaster Nick Ahad, and actor, comedian and screenwriter Ben Bailey Smith. All shortlisted children received certificates and book tokens, while winners were awarded theatre tickets for themselves and their families.
As one of the North West’s longest-established family businesses, Williams, which has retail centres in Manchester, Stockport, Bolton, Rochdale and Liverpool, shows support for programmes such as the Creative Writing Challenge reflecting a belief that investment in such initiatives creates a more connected region for future generations.