Frank McKenna, CEO of the Liverpool-founded lobby and membership organisation, says the new space will enable it to organise events with ‘key national decision-makers’. Tony McDonough reports.

Liverpool-based lobby and membership organisation Downtown in Business is to open an office in London – its sixth UK location.

Downtown was established in Liverpool in 2004 as a business club that would “provide leadership to the private sector”.

It has since expanded into Manchester, Leeds, Lancashire, Birmingham, and now the capital.

However, Downtown chief executive Frank McKenna says the latest expansion differs from the previous openings as it does not signal the establishment of a Downtown London network.

He explained: “The new space will enable us to organise events in the capital with some of the key national decision-makers and inspirational entrepreneurs who are London-based.

“This new programme of events will be open to our members from the region – and, of course, we will be reaching out to the London business community to connect them with our membership too.

“It is an exciting move for us, and one that has been made possible through our strong partnership with Liverpool Vision.

“We will be taking advantage of the facilities they have secured at Finsbury Square, and I am sure that this will provide us with the opportunity of enhancing our service to existing and future Downtown members.”