On Tuesday 18th November 2025, Downtown in Business were delighted to welcome guests to the Pullman Hotel in Liverpool for the latest event in our ‘In Conversation With’ series, featuring Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region. The session brought together business leaders, stakeholders and partners for a thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion about the opportunities and challenges facing our region.
Steve shared updates on several of the major priorities currently shaping the city region’s agenda. The conversation opened with a discussion about the introduction of the Hillsborough Law, an issue that continues to carry deep importance for our communities. Steve highlighted the ongoing work to ensure greater transparency, fairness and accountability in public life, and the vital role this legislation could play in preventing future injustices.
The discussion also spotlighted the region’s strong economic momentum, with positive indicators across key sectors. Steve reflected on the progress being made to attract investment, support business growth and build a more resilient local economy. This naturally linked to the region’s skills agenda, where he outlined efforts to prepare residents for the jobs of the future and ensure employers have access to the talent they need.
Innovation remains a central pillar of the Combined Authority’s strategy, and Steve discussed how the region is working to foster new ideas, technologies and partnerships that will drive long-term productivity and competitiveness. Transport was another key theme, with updates on the next steps to improve connectivity, modernise infrastructure and create a more accessible, integrated network for residents and businesses.
Throughout the morning, the conversation touched on a wide range of additional topics, demonstrating both the challenges and the significant opportunities ahead for the Liverpool City Region, and underscoring the importance of continued collaboration across the public, private and community sectors.
We extend a massive thank you to Sutcliffe, Warwick North West and Starship for their support in sponsoring the event. Their commitment helps make possible the valuable discussions that contribute to the region’s ongoing success.
We also express our thanks to everyone who joined us for such an engaging and insightful conversation. Your contributions help shape the direction of future events and the wider dialogue within the city region.
Finally, a special thank you goes to the exceptional team at the Pullman Hotel, including Sarah Kelly, for their warm hospitality and outstanding support in hosting the event.
For more information about our upcoming events, please click here.
