Despite co-operating with Manchester at this week’s international property and investment event MIPIM event in London, Liverpool is looking to secure its own separate cultural and economic identity at MIPIM 2015 in Cannes.
Both Liverpool and Manchester are currently standing together at MIPIM UK, located in London’s Olympia. The two cities are working alongside other urban centres from across the North to increase their presence and demonstrate the opportunities offered by a “Northern Powerhouse” that complements London’s offering.
With improvements to east-west transport networks, cities’ economies could be more effectively linked and increase the ability of different cities to collaborate and enhance their skills capacity markets, offering a better platform for business growth in both domestic and international terms.
The joint delegation at MIPIM UK include 26 supporting sponsors and partners, as well as Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson and Howard Bernstein, Chief Exectutive of Manchester City Council. They will put forth the case for this “Northern Powerhouse” at the MIPIM events.
Mayor Anderson said:
“MIPIM UK provides the opportunity for Liverpool and the whole of the North to champion better connectivity and devolution of powers to cities. As Liverpool starts to prepare for the International Festival for Business 2016, the city is now more than ever advancing its credentials as a top class business city.”
Despite this joint show of force at MIPIM UK, Deloitte partner and chair of the steering committee for Liverpool at MIPIM, Sean Beech, reports that while both Liverpool and Manchester will be present at MIPIM Cannes next March, they will be present as two distinct separate identities:
“This week is a little bit of a step into the unknown for all of us as it is the firstever MIPIM UK. We have been building strong links with Manchester so we thought it was right to have a joint stand. Joe and Howard will be looking to promote the wider North West.
“But I think when we return to Cannes next year the focus of the two cities will be to promot themselves globally and that is better done under separate banners. Internationally, people might not get the idea of the North West but they do know Liverpool and Manchester.”
Words: Peter Cribley