Economic and business leaders deliver upbeat message about local prospects at the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership annual dinner. Tony McDonough reports.
Collaboration between the public and private sector across the Liverpool city region is at an “all-time high”.
That was the message delivered to a 100-strong audience of business people and key decision makers at the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) annual dinner.
And that message was backed up by a trio of inspirational business leaders from Alstom, Unilever and Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust who shared their investment plans.
The evening was opened by Mark Basnett, managing director of the LEP, who told the audience at the World Museum Liverpool: “The public and private sectors are working together to drive growth more urgently, passionately and collectively than ever before.
“We have a raft of extraordinary investment and growth opportunities right now and a clear strategy to realise that growth.”
‘Outstanding prospects’
The LEP’s new chair, call centre entrepreneur Asif Hamid, also spoke at the event, which was sponsored by Alstom and Lloyds Bank. Mr Hamid recently replaced former chair, Robert Hough.
He said: “The prospects for our city region are outstanding.
“We need to capitalise on our assets and opportunities and we will do that by working together with a shared ambition and clear focus.
“The LEP has a vital role to play in facilitating that collaboration and ensuring that business informs and drives the city region’s growth and we invite all of our members, partners and the whole business community in all of its rich diversity to work with us to inform and develop an action plan to realise those prospects.”
‘Brighter future’
Mike Hulme, Alstom managing director, talked about how his firm’s £20m technology centre development in Halton will create jobs and growth for generations to come, providing train refurbishment and maintenance facilities.
Mr Hamid added: “We in this room, by working together, can help to change the lives of the people who live and work in this amazing and exciting city region and build a brighter future for our whole community. Let’s do it.”