An Open Letter on behalf of Liverpool’s Chamber of Commerce, BID Company, Professional Liverpool, Downtown in Business and Liverpool @ MIPIM
The business representative groups listed above collectively represent more than 2,000 businesses in Liverpool and have been deeply concerned about the findings of Max Caller’s report into certain functions of our Local Authority.
Acknowledging the seriousness of the report, we are grateful that the sanctions imposed by the Secretary of State for Local Government were proportionate and we are confident that under the leadership of the current Chief Executive of the Council, Tony Reeves, the required corrective actions will be successfully delivered.
There is now an opportunity for the partnership between the public and private sectors in Liverpool to be changed and improved for the betterment of our city and its people.
Whilst Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on many of our city’s businesses and citizens, aspiring to achieve the city’s collective economic recovery ambitions will enable us to harness the collective power of a ‘Team Liverpool’ approach to overcoming the barriers to economic growth and prosperity.
The city’s challenges are plentiful, but so are its opportunities.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have worked to mitigate the damage being done to the local economy by working with Liverpool City Council to ensure that the needs of businesses are understood and that those needs are prioritised in the form of support measures, information, advice and guidance.
Initiatives like Liverpool Without Walls and the mass testing pilot were made possible thanks to the collaborative efforts of our private, public and voluntary sectors.
We believe that Liverpool retains its attractiveness as a place of business and one with immense growth potential in the years ahead. Catalysing the future potential of Liverpool will require yet further collaboration between businesses and local government and we have absolute confidence that it will be businesses at the forefront of growth and leading this relationship.
The creation of Paddington Village at Knowledge Quarter Liverpool is an exemplar of good investment. Building upon our existing talent and expertise in health & life sciences, aligned to a rich cultural heritage, Liverpool has created a place of agglomerated assets and infrastructure to provide our city with a globally outstanding proposition that will stimulate jobs, attract investment and create a purposeful contribution to our city’s outcomes.
Beyond the Knowledge Quarter, the approval of Everton Football Club’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock further exemplifies how the city’s private and public sector can stimulate economic growth and have a huge impact by collectively identifying and supporting the key initiatives and innovations.
Liverpool is a place where private-sector investment works aligned with the wider objectives of our city. The creation of Sciontec within the Knowledge Quarter, the attraction of Sony to Old Hall Street in Liverpool City Centre, the investment by Queensberry in the Metquarter and Augur in Lewis’s/Central Station together with over a decade of successful transformative investment by Grosvenor in Liverpool ONE are all indicative of a positive and progressive investment proposition in the city.
Our message to Liverpool-based businesses who are already here and those looking at Liverpool from afar is that the future of our city is exciting, world leading, ground-breaking and presents a strong opportunity for growth and investment. An ambitious economic recovery plan will be achieved by the contribution of our business community in the city, for whom our organisations collectively exist.
Liverpool’s City Plan will drive aspirations for economic growth, job creation, educational improvement and socio-economic development. Innovative, responsible and aspirational businesses will drive our future growth and should be inspired that our city’s areas of weakness are being addressed and will become genuine strengths.
Liverpool is open for business and it is primed for recovery and growth. Let us all play our part.
