The final programme for the inaugural Liverpool Loves Business event has been revealed, with The North West Fund announced as the headline sponsor.

The event takes place on Thursday 6 August in a bespoke Business Big Top at Liverpool’s Pier Head, part of the city’s iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Liverpool Loves Business forms part of a wider three-day festival, which also includes Liverpool Loves Ireland on Friday 7 August, and Liverpool Loves on Saturday 8 August.

Liverpool Loves will shine the spotlight on all that is special about the city region, through four core themes – business, culture, food and well-being. It is being supported by the city’s Mayor Joe Anderson.

The business programme includes creative talent, developing grass roots business, and entrepreneurship.

Organisers Orb CIC are delighted to announce The North West Fund as headline sponsor of Liverpool Loves Business. They join Campanile Hotels UK, part of Louvre Hotels Europe, who are also supporting the event.

Cliff Maylor, Chief Executive of The North West Fund, commented:

“We’re really pleased to be supporting the inaugural Liverpool Loves festival. The whole concept perfectly encapsulates the bold, enterprising spirit of the city and demonstrates how proud the people are of its deep and varied roots.

“Liverpool is the lifeblood of the North West, with heart and guts in equal measure. If being part of this festival means that we too can celebrate all that is great and good in the city, whilst bringing us closer to the businesses who operate there, why wouldn’t we be part of it?

“It’s been hugely rewarding to have helped so many businesses in Liverpool already, and we’d like to continue in the same vein. Our involvement with festivals and events like Liverpool Loves is an important part of that strategy. We look forward to meeting many of the hundreds expected on launch day, and we can’t thank the team at Orb Events enough for letting us be part of what looks set to be an incredible weekend.”

The festival has a number of key commitments, which are at the forefront of every stage of planning. These include employing locally; contracting local businesses to deliver the event; generating a significant economic impact for Liverpool City Region’s visitor economy; and that all profits will be reinvested into an entrepreneur fund to support aspiring local business people to set up in business.

Speakers for the morning seminar sessions are now confirmed and include:

Make Sure Your Shop Window Is Shining with Darren McLeod, Head of Strategy and Planning at Agent Marketing

Streamline Your Business With Digital & Tech with Matt Flanagan, Managing Director of Blue Hub

Get The Right Mix Of Marketing & Media with Paul Corcoran, Managing Director of Agent Marketing

Adapt And Evolve – Grow Around Your Local Environment with business mentor and Cabinet Member for Business, Enterprise and Investment, Councillor Gary Millar

Pitch Perfect with Nicholas Oulton, Chief Executive Officer of m62

What’s The Right HQ For You? with Jonathan Owen, Commercial Director for Sutton Kersh

These sessions will run between 10am and 12pm, with the official launch ceremony for Liverpool Loves Business taking place in the Business Big Top from 8.45am.

Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Tony Concepcion, and Professor David Gibson from Liverpool John Moores University Centre for Entrepreneurship will officially welcome delegates to Liverpool Loves Business with opening speeches, followed by a breakfast networking opportunity with catering provided by Hardy’s Kitchen. The seminar programme starts at 10am and will continue throughout the day until 5.30pm.

The day will serve as a platform to showcase new and up-and-coming businesses; provide opportunities for business owners and professionals to develop skills and connect; and aims to encourage entrepreneurs with the next big idea to take the plunge – all through a series of themed workshops, seminars and discussion panels.

Business Clinics will run from 12pm to 2pm, hosted by local business news organisation YB News, members of the Growth Accelerator programme, and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). MSB Solicitors will be on-hand along with other professional services organisations to offer 15 minutes free advice to those who need a helping hand starting out or growing their business. Delegates can register in advance to ensure they are allocated an advice time-slot.

The theme of the FSB session is Making Business Cost Effective – Benefits Of A Membership Organisation, and will be hosted by Karen Bellion, Chairman of FSB Liverpool and Knowsley. Keynote speakers include John Allan, FSB National Chairman and Vice Chairman of FSB Merseyside, West Cheshire and Wigan; and Steve Venables from FSB Independent Financial Services.

Phil McCabe, Development Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses in Merseyside, West Cheshire and Wigan, said:

“The FSB is supporting Liverpool Loves Business, which promises to be a truly inspiring celebration of Liverpool entrepreneurialism, innovation and creativity. The festival will be a milestone in helping us ensure that supporting businesses to start and grow remains a key priority for this city, and it will be a platform from which they can reach out to the world.”

Between 2pm and 4.30pm, there will be a number of guest speakers and panel sessions including export advice at The First Port Of Call hosted by UKTI and Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce; and Rosie Jolly, Chief Executive Officer of SEN Together (Social Enterprise Network), will present an introduction to the 10% More Social Value Charter for Liverpool City Region.

The afternoon programme will also see four key members of the Liverpool City Region business community form a panel to discuss the Four Ps – People, Pioneering, Partnerships and Progress.

Panellists are Rosie Jolly, Chief Executive Officer of SEN Together (Social Enterprise Network) whose topic is People; Maggie O’Carroll, Chief Executive Officer of The Women’s Organisation will focus on Pioneering; Jenny Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce will talk about Partnerships; and Frank McKenna, Chief Executive of Downtown in Business will focus on Progress.

The panellists will then come together to discuss Growth – A Future For SMEs In Liverpool City Region, a conversation all business owners and entrepreneurs are sure to want to be a part of.

Networking opportunities will be available throughout the day, with a specific area of the Business Big Top reserved for delegates to meet and conduct business. This includes Let’s Connect between 1.30pm and 3pm, hosted by The Women’s Organisation. It will focus on funding, media and connecting, and the event is open to all.

Liverpool Loves Business will close with the festival launch party from 5.30pm to 9pm, as the final networking opportunity of the day with live entertainment. Food and drink will also be available.

All seminars are free to attend. Register for a complimentary Liverpool Loves Business delegate pass at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/liverpool-loves-business-tickets-15797767548

Keep up to date with the latest announcements at www.liverpoolloves.co.uk

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