A new business conference organised by the founding director of the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards is coming to Liverpool in April. Tony McDonough reports
Founding director of the Merseyside Women of the Year (MWOTY) Awards, Ellen Kerr, is bringing a new event to the city in April.
On Wednesday, April 2, Blackburne House in Liverpool city centre will host the first Do Business Better Conference 2025. Ellen is keen to build on the success of the MWOTY awards which were established 15 years ago.
Taking place from 9.30am to 4pm, the Do Business Better event aims to provide practical guidance on how anyone can do life and business better with substance, value and purpose.
It will address four essential pillars for success: Network, Information, Money and Self-belief. Unlike the MWOTY awards, the conference is not solely intended for women.
Ellen said: “I was speaking at our annual MWOTY Business Leaders’ Lunch, an event we hold with FPC for our alumni, late last year. I said that we should do a business conference based on what I’ve observed over the years to the four pillars for success.
“To be honest it just came out. After that, there was no going back. It had to happen.”
Carpenters Group, a provider of insurance and legal services in the UK, with sites in Liverpool, Birkenhead, Leeds, Haywards Heath, Manchester and Glasgow, is supporting the conference as headline sponsor.
Joint owner of Carpenters, Donna Scully, was named overall Merseyside Woman of the Year at the MWOTY Awards in 2024.
Ellen added: “It had been in my mind for some time. MWOTY has grown to be a movement, rather than one moment each year in June. There was an appetite for more touch points, more opportunities to work together.
“Other businesses outside of the MWOTY alumni wanted to be a part of what we’ve created for successful business and to share how we can ‘do business better’, which is where the conference name came from.”
“I have always said that it can’t all be pink and it can’t all be blue. It needs to be a more purpley colour to achieve equity within the business structure.
“We have some amazing men in our network who understand the value of women in leadership positions, who advocate for us and who work alongside us to push for greater diversity.
“We’ll get nowhere if we completely segregate, we need to collaborate. So, it makes sense to construct a conference that is inclusive. This way we all benefit from the experience that comes from different voices at the table.
Ellen’s vision for the conference comes from her observations over years working with hundreds of business owners.
She explained: “When a business owner or leader is lacking in one of the four foundation pillars – Network, Information, Money and Self-belief – it reflects in the business and themselves, and it can hold them back from taking their next bold move, which will have a direct impact on their bottom line.
“We want to open up discussions about these pillars, how we can develop them, how we can support one another, and how that can translate directly into economic success in Liverpool city region.”
Speakers will include Donna Scully, Elaine Bowker, principal and chief executive of the City of Liverpool College; AI for good advocate, Alex Keyter from Generative Minds; ethical passive income coach and founder of Home Property Solutions, Shirleyann Haig; high performance consultant, Claire Morton, and business and mindset coach and founder of “The Audacious Mind” approach, Debbie Edwards.
In the afternoon delegates will also hear from Moira O’Shaughnessy, managing partner of FPC, Sue Chambers from River Capital, Angie Staunton from Vanguard Asset Management and Sue Potts, chief executive of The Venus Centre.
“Our fantastic speakers are drawn directly from our great city region’s business network, showcasing expertise, sustainability, business impact and growth, as well as innovation and next generation leaders,” said Ellen.
“As well as support from our headline sponsor Carpenters Group, we are drawing expertise from ‘money’ pillar sponsor, FPC and ‘information’ pillar sponsor the City of Liverpool College, along with the skills of our event partner Honey & Morgan.
“There will also be an exhibitor space with representatives from LCR Finance Hub, The Girls Network, The Venus Centre and River Capital.
“It is shaping up to be a really exciting event that will engage and inspire delegates and leave them with key take-home actions and valuable steps to help them build their business better, add substance and robust, sustainable growth.”
Tickets are £75 inc. VAT (plus booking fee) and numbers are limited. For the full speaker line-up and to buy tickets, click here.