An audience of more than 100 entrepreneurs gathered at Liverpool’s Central Library to hear a panel of media experts talk about how they can best publicise their businesses. Neil Hodgson reports

More than 100 entrepreneurs in Liverpool quizzed a panel of media experts on how to get the best exposure for their businesses.

The event, at Liverpool’s Central Library, was organised by Enterprise Hub, a gateway service for business start-up support, to celebrate the creation of 500 new businesses over the past 18 months.

The latest entrepreneurs in the Liverpool city region were invited to the ‘Meet the Media’ evening, by Maggie O’Carroll, co-founder and chief executive of Liverpool-based social enterprise, The Women’s Organisation.

Panelists from the world of TV, radio, print and online news featured Tony McDonough, of Liverpool-based business website YB News, TV and print journalist Brigid Benson, Copy Media, an agency created last September by former Liverpool ECHO journalists Dawn Collinson and Janet Tansley, and BBC Radio Merseyside reporter, producer and presenter, Jimmy McCracken.

Research and partnership development officer and co-founder of the Women’s Equality Party Liverpool, Pamela Ball, chaired the discussion.

Pamela had also received support through Enterprise Hub to set up her own consultancy business and said: “Without Enterprise Hub and the advice and guidance I received through the programme, I would have been afraid to take the leap.

“Even though I had been previously employed at a senior level, taking control of every aspect of your own business is a different story, and Enterprise Hub gives you the skills and support to do so.”

Maggie O’Carroll added: “The Meet the Media event has been a fantastic success.

“It’s has been a great opportunity for some of the individuals who have started their own businesses after accessing support through Enterprise Hub to gain expert and insider knowledge from a panel of our city’s media professionals.

“Enterprise Hub is celebrating having supported 500 businesses to start since its inception and we are now looking forward to the future of helping more individuals across Liverpool city region through our extensive programme of enterprise advice and support.”

To qualify for Enterprise Hub you have to live in Knowsley, Sefton, Wirral, Liverpool, St Helens or Halton, and not yet have registered as self-employed.

The City of Liverpool College is the accountable body for the Enterprise Hub, and it is delivered by a range of start-up agencies across Liverpool city region.