Closure will see the 37 staff employed within the Marketing Liverpool and Invest Liverpool move to the Cunard Building and the departure of Vision chief executive Max Steinberg. Tony McDonough reports
Economic development agency Liverpool Vision is to be shut down after 20 years with its functions being transferred in-house to the city council.
It closure will see the 37 staff employed within the Marketing Liverpool and Invest Liverpool move to the Cunard Building from their current home in the Capital in Old Hall Street.
The move will also see the Vision chief executive Max Steinberg, one of the most high-profile figures in Liverpool’s business community, step down after eight years at the helm. He was a instrumental in bringing the Liverpool’s award-winning participation at the 2010 World Expo and securing the first hosting in Europe of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress.
He was also chair of the International Business Festivals which were successfully delivered in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Formal transfer
On March 31, 2019, the functions and staff will formally transfer to the city council to align more closely with the Regeneration and Culture departments.
Marketing Liverpool will continue to promote Liverpool on a national and international basis as well as working closely with the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership to deliver destination marketing for the city region – notably via the Visit Liverpool platform.
Set up in 1999, Liverpool Vision was the UK’s first Urban Regeneration Company and was tasked with leading the physical transformation of the city into the new millennium with schemes such as the new Arena at the Kings Dock and Liverpool One.
In 2008, a re-organisation of Liverpool Vision saw its operations merged with both the Liverpool Land Development Company and Business Liverpool to form a single economic development company.
Huge privilege
Mr Steinberg said: “As a born and bred Liverpudlian it’s been a huge privilege to have been part of the success of Liverpool Vision creating jobs, generating investment and marketing the city to investors and visitors.
“There are significant opportunities and challenges ahead and I am confident that the new arrangements will enable us to combine and amalgamate to strengthen and enhance the delivery of some of the most important priorities in the Inclusive Growth Plan.
“On a personal note I’m honoured the Mayor has asked me to continue to play a role in delivering the inclusive growth agenda and look forward to continue to making a contribution.”
Key player
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson added: “Liverpool Vision has been a key player behind the city’s transformation and the city’s appeal to tourists and investors has boomed since its creation.
“I now want to build on these successes and the time has come to integrate the capabilities and expertise of the Vision staff with teams in the city council. I believe that this will create a really strong foundation, to ensure that we meet the challenges ahead, to maintain momentum, and ensure that growth is shared around all of our communities.”