Agree with all of this, but it's important to look at the urban region as a whole when assessing both population and job numbers. Like most conurbations, perhaps more so, Liverpool spread out, sometimes deliberately (eg Warrington, Runcorn, Northwich, Skem) and sometimes just organically.
So whilst the urban region probably has lost both population and jobs, it's nothing like as dramatic as if you look at the core towns of the conurbation, like Liverpool and Birkenhead.
It would be great if we could choose where we lived and what we did for a living and find the perfect work - life balance but C21 life isn't like that!
For many people living and working in Liverpool is like wanting to **** someone who doesn't want to **** you. It isn't going to happen and if you have any sense you move on.
Moving on doesn't mean that you have to stop living in Liverpool but you may have to cast you net wider for employment - taking in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham and everywhere between. People in SE England think nothing of spending 90 - 120 minutes on a daily commute into London. Tens of thousands do it every day for 40 years. It's a toughie but it's clearly worth it for them at some level otherwise they wouldn't do it.
Ultimately, if Liverpool or somewhere within commuting distance can't provide you with satisfactory work opportunities and you rule yourself out of the entrepreneurial route, then you need to cast your net wider still.
I know someone who teaches at the Sorbonne (Paris IV) and comes home at weekends. It works for her.
It would be great if we could choose where we lived and what we did for a living and find the perfect work - life balance but C21 life isn't like that!
The Centre for Cities - Beyond Boundaries report, suggests that private sector employment fell in the 10 years of the boom up to 2009 whilst public sector employment rose.
we'll get nothing from this government but cuts and unemployment, we need to look abroad for private investment. and develop some kind of industry we can excell in and sell to the world
Peel setting aside one part of Liverpool Waters for conversion for green tech companies and then getting Chinese investment for a large manufacturer would certainly kick start things as you'd get ancilliary companys, often small to mid sized local companys cropping up beside that to supply parts and such....as you get with Camell Lairds, Vauxhalls and Ford/Land Rover.
You'd also have admin and back office staff to service these comanies employing potentially thousands. These would be best based in Clarence and Princes docks.
If you just throw up a load of towers people will be employed temporarily to build them and them sacked off. We need sustainability and jobs for the future.
Why on earth would Chinese investors put money into manufacturing in the west when they have vast numbers of, relatively, skilled people back home who could do the same job for a fraction of the cost?
Who says they have to? They give the capital to do it on Peel's land. The newly created Liverpool LEP (to be made up of a board consisting of the council, Liverpool Vision and various private companys and CEO's of the likes of Ford Halewood) directs the funding, the science community and existing manufacturing base create a company.
Liverpool sets up the plants.
The Chinese have a stake in this and take a profit over a long period of time. They'd also be a prime customer as a country for what is built (turbines/marine tech, etc).
Chinese firm Ansteel is looking to invest in a plant in the US.
China is making another foray into resource-rich Africa with a large investment to help build a 1.65 billion rand ($220.8 million) cement manufacturing plant in South Africa that will be operated by Jidong Development Group.
China is opening a factory in Cameroon to manufacturer buses for West and Central Africa. China is Africa's third largest trading partner with a ten-fold jump in commercial transactions over the last decade.
President of Cameoroon Paul Biya says it's a win-win partnership for China and CameroonThe $500 million factory in Douala is expected to start producing buses by the end of the year.
Cammel Laird are going to bid to supply the on-land nuclear power industry. If a shipbuilder can be converted to this use why can't Liverpool's completely vacant and desolate docks in the north be converted to build the future green tech we desperately need???
If not Liverpool....where else do you guys think in Britain is be suited to create green tech AND then ship it worldwide???
All the other examples are factories where the natural resource is, or in Camerons example, where the contract probably said the buses must be built.
You're living in a dream world if you imagine that Chinese (why Chinese when no other nation is pouring money into anywhere in the UK) are the saviour to the Merseyside economy.
The Chinese are investing all over the world. I see no reason why Liverpool can't win some of that investment.
You're living in a dream world if you imagine that Chinese (why Chinese when no other nation is pouring money into anywhere in the UK) are the saviour to the Merseyside economy.
John Syvret, Cammell Laird chief executive, said the partnership was a landmark for Cammell Laird as the business seeks to “catapult” itself into the emerging engineering markets.
He added: “This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a relationship of towering achievement.
“Nuvia is a market leader in the nuclear sector and has a terrific track record in the industry.
“The nuclear sector, like the off-shore renewables sector, presents huge growth potential for us.
“We can offer experience in heavy fabrication, specialist engineering and project management together with unrivalled facilities, including our 40,000 sq m modular construction hall which is capable of fabricating modules and major components of up to 1000 tonnes.
“The energy sector is the future and through our partnership we can thrust our companies to the forefront of the nuclear sector.
“This could bring massive benefits to the Merseyside and the North West economy.”
We need private investment in Liverpool is all I am saying. We're out in Shanghai trying to get some. We should look all over for any foriegn investment.
Doesn't have to be the Chinese. If the German's want to build green tech plants I can think of no better blank canvas than Liverpool's docks.
Because it would be backed more long term by richer backers and would be set up with consideration to the next 25 years as a minimum and furthermore by the time such investment had been secured and the manufacturing plants set up world governments will be spending billions upon billions of dollars trying to reduce carbon footprints to meet international obligations.
The plant in the Isle of Man was a victim of being one of the first to try it. I am sure the same kind of thing happens with every technological breakthrough, which is why no-one remembers 'Rabbit' mobiles....but everyone uses a cell phone these days and other companies went on to invest in the tech (Vodaphone, etc) and now collectively make billions out of it.
People really need to stop thinking so negatively. This stuff is made on mainland Europe already, why not Liverpool? We have the assets here and the mix is right. You only have to look over Liverpool Bay to see a wind farm producing (I understand) a decent profit for it's danish owners.
We just need investment money.
Can we at the very least accept that theres more sustainability and ecconomic growth to be made out of producing things and being at the forefront of technology....rather than the discredited 1990's/early 2000's property boom of building towers that will remain half empty.
of course there is an economy in new technologies, but there is zero indication whatsoever that Merseyside or anywhere else for that matter, is about to benefit from it.
The reasons you put forward for such developments in Merseyside are frankly irrelevent.
Other places have developed such industries with none of your criteria.
of course there is an economy in new technologies, but there is zero indication whatsoever that Merseyside or anywhere else for that matter, is about to benefit from it.
I just gave you a direct example of Cammel Laird signing a contract with an energy firm to bid for contracts to supply the nuclear energy industry and part build new power stations.
The CEO reckons Merseyside will become a European player in this and other marine/green technologies and that this is, indeed, the future for Merseyside manufacturing.
This argument could go on forever so i'm stepping out and maintaining my belief that Liverpool can become a great creative and manufacturing city once again in new technologies, while respectfully accepting your opinions on the matter.
I will simply re-ask one last set of questions which is this....
What does Liverpool make? What can we sell to the world? How can we attract private investment and jobs and reverse the population decline and diaspora of intelligent scousers to other areas?
Will be really interested to read the answers people give, if you would be so kind.
More the bottom 40% rather than the top 40% of achivers.
Increase their education, give them something to aspire to in life.
Overtime more and more local businesses will susucceed and more and more jobs.
The economy needs a solid foundation and in my opinion won't develop top down.
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