Latest figures from the economic development agency show it has doubled its target for 2017/18 and has facilitated investment across a number of different business sectors. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool’s economic development agency Liverpool Vision has revealed it has helped generate £79m of private sector investment into the city in the past years – creating more than 1,000 new jobs.
The figure is more than double the target set at the start of the 2017/18 year and investments have come across a number of business sectors, including creative and digital, environmental, financial and legal services and health.
Headline figures for new business include global accountancy firm BDO, which made a strategic decision to establish a shared services centre in the city, bringing 75 jobs – with the aim to enhance the team to more than 200 over the next three years.
Law firm Freeths has opened a city office which could boost job numbers by a further 60 by the end of the year, and health technology firm Blueprint Biobank is hoping to bring up to 30 new jobs to the city following its move to the Liverpool Bio Innovation Hub.
Marketing Liverpool, one of Liverpool Vision’s directorates which focuses on promoting the city region as a place to visit, invest and study, also brought in close to £1m in revenue from the private sector.
These have enabled it to run strategic programmes such as the city region’s attendance at MIPIM, the international property expo in Cannes. Beyond this, it managed accommodation for seven major conferences and events, and generated a wealth of positive media coverage around the world.
Chaired by Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson, Liverpool Vision’s mission statement is to place the city as a global hub for growth and investment and cultivate an environment fit for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Chief executive Max Steinberg said: “The figures underline that this has been another hugely successful year for business growth and development in our city. However, these still only tell part of the story.
“From working with companies of different sectors and sizes every day, we hear that there is a real confidence amongst Liverpool’s business community and this extends itself to companies looking to invest here.”
The news comes as Liverpool Vision prepares to host the International Business Festival, the world’s largest business event. Taking place at Exhibition Centre Liverpool from Tuesday June 12 until Thursday June 28.
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “Once again Liverpool Vision has surpassed its own targets and brought in a set of fantastic results. Liverpool has been hit hard by the government’s austerity measures. That’s why we have taken matters into our own hands and developed imaginative ways of bringing more jobs and investment to the city.”