Liverpool business developments - work in the city.....leisure is different!

[Pietari]

Please post positive business developments here (not leisure developments).

[Pietari]

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/b...name_page.html

2,000 jobs in the park Oct 6 2005

By Neil Hodgson, Liverpool Echo

PROPERTY group Peel Holdings is in talks with a developer to build an office scheme capable of creating 1,000 new jobs in south Liverpool.

The deal for the Liverpool International Business Park is one of several which would guarantee at least 2,000 new jobs for the Speke area.

Peel, which also owns Liverpool John Lennon airport and Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, began work on the site of the former Liverpool airport a year ago.

Story continues

Senior development surveyor Roger Wheel-don said the scheme ' s success has astounded Peel bosses and predicted that the "park full" signs will go up within two years..

"It's absolutely staggering. We thought it could have taken 10 years when we got planning permission 18 months ago," he admitted..

High-profile tenants include Liverpool-based Littlewoods, which is relocating its HQ from the city early next year after fit-out problems delayed the planned September move.

German media giant Bertelsmann is building a state-of-the-art printing plant which will create at least 400 new jobs when it opens next summer, possibly increasing to 1,000 jobs.

A speculative "shed" scheme dubbed The Vault by developer Gladman is also progressing, with talks under way with several major retailers which is expected to lead to 650 new jobs.

Mr Wheeldon said developments on 100 acres are now in place or in the hands of solicitors and he said 1,000 white collar jobs could be Speke-bound on part of the remaining 70 acres.

Talks are also taking place with developers for the biggest plot on the remaining land.

neilhodgson@liverpoolecho.co.uk

[Pietari]

http://www.visitliverpool.com/displaypage.asp?page=5

Conferences

Did you know that Merseyside has the Uk's largest number of conference venues accredited with the Meeting IndustryAssociation's Hospitality Assured Meetings standard kitemark?

The city at the heart of Merseyside offers unique opportunities to organisers of conferences and major events.

"find out more about what makes Merseyside a unique conference location"

The Mersey Partnership (TMP) Conference Bureau experts will provide professional assistance and guidance to ensure the success of your event.

TMP Conference Bureau provides a full range of services for Conference Organisers ensuring they can concentrate on the success of their event

Call TMP's Conference Bureau to:

Obtain a complimentary booking service
Find the perfect venue for any event - free of charge
Arrange guided tours, transport and familiarisation visits
Manage all accommodation bookings - free of charge
Arrange Study Tours
Provide Travel Options
Assist with bid preparation

All venues carrying the Meeting Industry Association logo are quality assured

The Meeting Industry Association is the UK meeting industry's principle trade association existing entirely for the benefit of their members and customers. Their objective is to is to encourage and support excellence. The MIA's standard,'Hospitality Assured Meeting', gives customers the opportunity to choose a meeting venue where service excellence is guranteed.
Use the options below to search for a particular Venue in Merseyside.

Number of Delegates

Location
-- Any -- Inner Liverpool Liverpool Knowsley Merseyside Southport St Helens Wirral

Tick here to show MIA accredited venues first.
MIA is the only standard to specifically focus on the customer experience within the meetings environment and provides the conference organiser/delegate with an assurance that their needs and expectations will be met by the venue.

Need to Book a Conference?
If you need to book a conference in the Merseyside Region, The Mersey Partnership Conference Bureau offer a complimentary venue finding service. Simply call the number below or email us.

0845 601 1125

Need help with your conference?
If you need help organising your conference, then one of our partners will be able to assist you.

[Pietari]

http://www.merseyside.org/displaypage.asp?page=40

TOP TEN INVESTMENT FACTS

Liverpool was named IT and Telecommunications Capital of Europe in Foreign Direct Investment magazine's European City of the Future awards 2004/05.

Liverpool is the UK's fastest growing Metropolitan City. Latest figures show Liverpool's economic output (GVA per head) grew by 7.2% 2001-2002, 4.9 points greater than the 2.3% growth recorded over the previous 12 months.

Business start-ups have grown by 12.0% (up to 3,050 newly registered businesses by the end of 2003). This is considerably faster than the UK rate of 10.6 % and the North West rate of 11.1%.

Over £3 billion of construction and infrastructure projects are planned throughout Merseyside up to 2008.

Jaguar has invested £400m to produce the new Jaguar X-Type at the Halewood plant in Merseyside and is the leanest plant in the global Ford empire.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is one the fastest growing airports in Europe, with almost 4 million people now passing through the airport each year.

Liverpool is Europe's leading location for bio-manufacturing, with a dedicated agency MerseyBIO created to support life sciences businesses in the region.

Arvato has announced a £115 million pound investment in Liverpool. The state of the art printing facility - expected to be one of the most advanced in Europe when completed - will create more than 400 jobs.

There are multi-million pound plans to turn Liverpool's Lime Street Railway Station into a world-class gateway to the city by 2008 - with a new landmark building, new public space and improvements to the station itself.

Jobs growth is double the national average. More than 50,000 jobs have been created in Merseyside between 1998 and 2002 - representing 9.2% growth in employment levels - twice the national rate (4.9%)

[Blabbernsmoke]

Good thread Pietari. It is still too early to judge for Liverpool. The current developments that are taking place should see the city massively improved within the next 3-4 years.

The important thing for the city's future is to make it as business friendly as possible. This is the only way substantial long-term investment will be achieved. If the council aren't a complete waste of time and space they should be aiming to make Liverpool one of the top 10 business European business locations by 2010. It is absolutely possible if the right attitude and policies are adopted!!!


London 'still the best place for business'

Planning Resource - 07 October 2005

London has been crowned the best place in Europe to do business for the 16th year running in a prestigious survey of the continent’s 500 leading firms.


The capital was voted best in five out of the 12 categories used by Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker's European Cities Monitor 2005. London's good access to markets, high levels of qualified staff, good external transport links, quality telecommunications and the wealth of languages spoken helped the city retain the accolade it has held since 1990.

London has extended its lead over its traditional rival Paris. Both the English and the French capitals were well ahead of any other city.

The German financial center Frankfurt took third place. Only one other English city made the top 20 – Manchester grabbed the 15th place slot, slipping from 14th last year.

Scotland's highest finisher was its largest city Glasgow, in 22nd place – a slight revival on last year when it was place 24th, but still way below the heady days of 1990 when it finished 10th. Edinburgh failed to place in the league of 30.

London, among the top five most expensive cities in the world, was unsurprisingly well down the survey asking firms which city was best for staff costs, falling 22nd – suggesting that skills levels rather than labour costs are a more important consideration for those deciding where to locate their firms.

[Pietari]

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/b...name_page.html

Health firm in £10m HQ move Oct 7 2005

By Neil Hodgson, Liverpool Echo

INTERNATIONAL healthcare company Fresenius Kabi is to invest £10m in a new UK headquarters on Runcorn's Manor Park.

The three-storey purpose-built development will accommodate 350 staff who are relocating.

The company says the scheme will provide warehousing and 30,000 sq ft of offices on the three-acre site.

About 300 staff will move from Fresenius offices in Melbury Park, Warrington, and Hampton Court and Christleton Court in Runcorn.

In a second phase about 50 staff at Fresenius subsidiary Calea Manufacturing will move to the new site from Runcorn.

Fresenius Kabi is a £100m turnover company formed in 1998 by the merger of the pharma division of Fresenius Ltd with Pharmacia and Upjohn.

The German-owned business specialises in nutritional feed products for intensive care patients. The Cheshire office includes a 70-strong nursing team providing a vital life-line for critically ill patients at home by delivering and supervising the feed.

Work will begin on the new headquarters this month and completion is scheduled for mid-2006.

Managing director Chris Harrison said: "As a leading global health care company Fresenius Kabi is delighted to be making such a strong commitment to the north west and to Runcorn.

"As the UK business has grown we have added sites in Cheshire. For reasons of efficiency and communication it now makes good sense to integrate the entire operation on to one site as we plan for further growth.

"We are confident that our increased investment in the region will bring significant mutual benefits to both the company and our workforce."

[Pietari]

Originally Posted by Blabbernsmoke

Good thread Pietari. It is still too early to judge for Liverpool. The current developments that are taking place should see the city massively improved within the next 3-4 years.

The important thing for the city's future is to make it as business friendly as possible. This is the only way substantial long-term investment will be achieved. If the council aren't a complete waste of time and space they should be aiming to make Liverpool one of the top 10 business European business locations by 2010. It is absolutely possible if the right attitude and policies are adopted!!!


London 'still the best place for business'

Planning Resource - 07 October 2005

London has been crowned the best place in Europe to do business for the 16th year running in a prestigious survey of the continent’s 500 leading firms.


The capital was voted best in five out of the 12 categories used by Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker's European Cities Monitor 2005. London's good access to markets, high levels of qualified staff, good external transport links, quality telecommunications and the wealth of languages spoken helped the city retain the accolade it has held since 1990.

London has extended its lead over its traditional rival Paris. Both the English and the French capitals were well ahead of any other city.

The German financial center Frankfurt took third place. Only one other English city made the top 20 – Manchester grabbed the 15th place slot, slipping from 14th last year.

Scotland's highest finisher was its largest city Glasgow, in 22nd place – a slight revival on last year when it was place 24th, but still way below the heady days of 1990 when it finished 10th. Edinburgh failed to place in the league of 30.

London, among the top five most expensive cities in the world, was unsurprisingly well down the survey asking firms which city was best for staff costs, falling 22nd – suggesting that skills levels rather than labour costs are a more important consideration for those deciding where to locate their firms.

Thanks Blabs,

I think the really important thing is that now the planned developments for Liverpool etc will make a difference.

[Pietari]

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/b...name_page.html

1,000 new firms set up Oct 19 2005

By Larry Neild, Daily Post

LIVERPOOL experienced one of the fastest growth rates for business start-ups in the country last year.

Around 1,000 new businesses were launched in Liverpool in the past year.

The figures were contained in a report from the UK Government's Small Business Service. Figures, based on the number of new firms registering for VAT, show the number of businesses in Merseyside has grown for the eighth successive year.

Across Merseyside there were 26,070 VAT registered firms at the start of this year, an increase of 0.8% since 2004, and up by 12.2% since 1997.

This increase beats the UK and North West growth rates of 0.1% and 0.4% respectively.

In terms of new businesses, Merseyside saw a start-up growth rate of 10.9%, just behind Greater Manchester's 11.1%, but ahead of regions such as the West Midlands (10.5%) West Yorkshire (10.7%) and Tyneside (10.3%).

Liverpool was responsible for one third of start-ups in Merseyside during 2004, with 950 new businesses registered in

2004. In 2003 there were 7,970 VAT registered businesses in Liverpool and 12 months later it was 8,040.

Robert Crawford, chief executive of The Mersey Partnership, said: "There's no doubt the Liverpool city region is an economy on the move. Business growth is fundamental to future economic success, and we are continuing to prove Merseyside is fertile ground for businesses to invest, innovate and grow.

"With figures earlier this week showing a continued upward trend in the number of millionaires in Merseyside, our growing sense of confidence and entrepreneurship is clear."

The survey also shows that Knowsley is Merseyside's star performer, making it to seventh in the national league table. Business growth in Knowsley stands at 3.1%.

Meanwhile, Knowsley's business start-up rates stands at 12.2%, again outpacing the UK rate.

The level of business start-ups in the region has traditionally trailed behind the UK average. Last week the CBI called on government to address the low level of start-ups around the regions.

larryneild@dailypost.co.uk

[Red scouser]

Liverpool secures first city BID in the North
(Liverpool City Council website, October 21, 2005)

Businesses in Liverpool City Centre have put themselves at the National forefront of a new scheme with a 62% majority strongly backing the vote to implement the City Central Business Improvement District [BID] in the retail heart of the City Centre. It is the first BID in a city in the North and the BID will see over £3m of additional investment in the area over the next three years, delivering a better experience right now and also helping to prepare the area for the 2008 European Capital of Culture.

The successful vote means that customers and visitors can now expect to see new improvements, particularly in the areas of BID branded street cleaning teams, a greater reassuring uniform presence and numerous high quality events and promotions. This will be delivered by the Liverpool BID Company, a not for profit company set up specifically to deliver BIDs. The aim is for the new services to begin during November and December, following the BID Board meeting set-up for Tuesday 25th October.

The BID has been secured through the backing of a number of major companies such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Boots and Land Securities, in partnership with Liverpool City Council, but it is the local business vote which has really made the difference. More than 8 in 10 of businesses which voted with a Liverpool based vote have supported the BID. In addition, Liverpool Vision, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and the Northwest Regional Development Agency [NWDA] have all supported the BID. The turnout of 56% was 12% higher than the average for BID votes, demonstrating the interest of businesses.

The City Central BID area broadly covers: Church and Lord Street; Cavern Quarter; Queen Square; Clayton Square; Great Charlotte Street; Ranelagh Street.

Christopher Glenn, MD of John Lewis Liverpool and Chair of the BID said "We have really listened to businesses in developing our programme and believe that the delivery of these activities will increase customer satisfaction, leading to new customers, repeat visits and improved business performance. I think this is demonstrated by the excellent local support we have received. We are excited about the high standards that we are aiming to achieve in the area. Businesses have told us that the City Council and its partners are delivering much better services now than a few years ago, but that the extra activities identified will enable the area to reach new levels of excellence.

It is also important that we have a voice in the decisions to minimise the disruption caused by the roadworks and developments so that our customers continue to visit. We are pleased that Liverpool city centre is currently very much holding its own with customers continuing to come in and we aim to provide a real experience during the busy festive period coming up."

Councillor Mike Storey, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said "This is another important success for our city and city centre. It will mean that through the business levy, more money will be spent on providing a friendly, safe, vibrant and attractive city centre."

The NWDA has supported the BID development and Helen France, NWDA Executive Director of Development and Partnerships, said: "Business Improvement Districts have the potential to make a huge difference to the region's towns and cities, encouraging local authorities and businesses to work together to deliver a wide range of improvements in their areas. I am delighted that Liverpool businesses have voted in favour of the initiative, which now represents a valuable opportunity for them to play a key role in regeneration and create real and lasting benefits for the local community."

[Pietari]

http://www.businessliverpool.co.uk/n...p?recordid=130

Speculative schemes can be self-supporting .....

Daily Post

LIVERPOOL'S office market is close to being self-supporting, according to Liverpool Vision chief executive Jim Gill.

Mr Gill made his comments as it was revealed that in the six months to July, 228,000 sq ft of office space was let in the city centre - up from 163,000 sq ft in the same period last year. That figure does not include the 130,000 sq ft letting by law firm Hill Dickinson at the St Paul's Square development in Old Hall Street, announced in August.

That letting was at a record headline rate of £18 per sq ft - up from the previous highest of £16.50 per sq ft.

Mr Gill believes that once the city breaks through the £20 per sq ft barrier then it is likely major speculative office developments will go ahead without the need for gap funding.

He told the Daily Post: ”Already this year we are looking at around 400,000 sq ft and there has been a recent trend in the city for bigger lettings, and as we have seen with the Hill Dickinson deal, rents are being pushed up.

”This is very good because we are now moving towards a situation where speculative office schemes can be self-supporting. I think that will happen when headline rents go up to around £20-21 per sq ft.”

Next year the Unity Development in Chapel Street will bring 150,000 sq ft of new office space to the market and developer Rumford Investments has stated its intention to achieve headline rents of up to £22 per sq ft.

The £60m scheme, which also comprises a significant residential element, received £5m in gap funding.

Mr Gill added: ”They are marketing the office space quite heavily across the UK and I would be optimistic that they can achieve these rents. There definitely seems to be a market for the big requirements.”

This week Atlantic Container Line (ACL), currently based at Princes Dock, announced plans to acquire 40,000 to 100,000 sq ft of freehold office space in Liverpool city centre by 2008.

Chris Connor of The Merseyside Property Forum commented: ”The latest figures are clear and strong evidence of the confidence that is building in Liverpool.”

He added: ”It is pleasing to see such a solid performance during the first half of 2005, together with a healthy level of enquiries.”

In August this year Liverpool Vision submitted an outline planning application for a new Commercial Quarter on a site to the rear of Mercury Court (bounded by Leeds Street, Pall Mall, Tithebarn Street and Old Hall Street). A planning decision on the masterplan is expected this month.

Alastair Newman, a commercial agent at King Sturge in Liverpool, said the latest figures were good news but said it was important the supply was maintained if the city wanted to attract big lettings.

He added: ”At the moment we are waiting for St Paul's Square phase two and in the meantime we are relying on quality refurbished places at schemes like Bruntwood. There is a shortage of sites suitable for big office developments.”

[Pietari]

http://www.businessliverpool.co.uk/n...p?recordid=126

Merseyside has the Creative Advantage .....

Merseyside ACME

Merseyside ACME, the Music Development Agency (MDA), Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council and Creative Partnerships Merseyside have collectively secured a package of funding and resources worth nearly £3m, to deliver a programme of support for creative businesses based across Merseyside called Creative Bias Creative Advantage.

This unique pan-Merseyside partnership brings together the best elements of existing business support services and expertise through a programme of investment specially designed to engender growth and it is anticipated that the initiative will generate over £25 million turnover and create 240 jobs. Creative Industries is one of the nine sectors targeted for support through the Merseyside Sector Development Programme, managed by the Mersey Partnership.

Specifically, Creative Bias Creative Advantage will bring together the following elements of business support; business health checks, training needs analysis, skills development, physical and virtual incubation services, industry mentoring, knowledge transfer, seminars and networking events.

Creative Bias Creative Advantage will also support the development of a local creative industries resources centre in Knowsley (Knowsley Business Resource Centre), as well as a Continued Professional Development initiative to enable free-lance businesses to take advantage of growing markets in education and community development.

Creative Bias Creative Advantage is actively supported by Business Liverpool and Business Link for Greater Merseyside and will work to maximise referrals into their existing mainstream support programmes. It builds on best practice pilot programmes and aims to deliver a broader base of new businesses in a growth environment leading to Capital of Culture 2008

Geoff White, Sector Director for Creative Industries on Merseyside said:

“This is great news for creative businesses on Merseyside. All these partners have come together to ensure that existing and new creative businesses in the music, design, performing arts and media industries get the right kind of support and assistance to ensure they survive and grow on Merseyside.’

‘Once again, the Merseyside Objective One Programme has enabled Merseyside ACME to cement a partnership between the public and private sectors that will generate significant new jobs and investment in our economy.”

Director of the Merseyside Objective One Programme, Richard Nutter said:

“The creative industries are an increasingly important driver for the Merseyside economy and it is vital that high quality support is available to new and expanding firms in the sector. We invested £1.15million in this project because we believe it will make a real difference to dozens of dynamic companies, helping them to grow, and reinforcing the area’s worldwide reputation as a hot-spot for creative talent.”
Funding and support partners; the Merseyside Objective One Programme, Arts Council England, the Higher Education Innovation Fund, Phoenix Development Fund, Youth Music, Liverpool City Council, Metropolitan Borough Councils of St Helens and Sefton.

[Pietari]

BusinessLiverpool is a key gateway to a range of high quality business support services for new and existing investors. Contemporary Liverpool is undergoing a remarkable renaissance and substantial investment in recent years has transformed the city, creating an environment where business can thrive. Developer interest in the city is at its highest for over a century and significant growth is anticipated in several key sectors.

Introduction

In the following pages we map out the key location drivers for each sector and provide a synopsis of the sector in Liverpool. For each sector we have a named BusinessLiverpool sector co-ordinator to provide further information and support as required.

Liverpool has become an investment location of choice for many national and international companies in recent years and significant growth is anticipated in these important sectors over the coming years. Our commitment is to provide any business, whether an established company or a new investor with an excellent co-ordinated service to support their business activity in Liverpool.

http://www.businessliverpool.co.uk/sector/sector.asp

Life Sciences

ICT

Ports, Distribution & Maritime

Automotive

Contact Liverpool

Professional & Financial

Creative Industries

Retail

Food & Drink

[Pietari]

http://www.businessliverpool.co.uk/s...sp?recordid=13

An Outstanding Location .....

Part of international media group Bertelsmann.

Bertelsmann produces, serves and markets media. Their content is contributed by RTL Group, the No. 1 European broadcaster; Random House, the world's largest book-publishing group; Gruner + Jahr, Europe's biggest magazine publisher; and BMG, a leading company in the global music market. Arvato provides media services, while DirectGroup Bertelsmann is the global market leader in media distribution through clubs and on the Internet.
Arvato Services opened its contact centre in Merseyside in 2000 with 90 employees. The organisation found that availability of skilled labour in the Liverpool City Region meant that recruitment was not a problem.

Specialising in a range of support functions such as:
- call centre management,
- e-commerce,
- distribution,
- financial services
for firms including Microsoft, Tchibo and Express Gifts.

With the current workforce numbering 500, and plans to create another 400 new jobs in the next 12 months as part of its expansion plans for its wide range of UK operations, Arvato Services have found the Liverpool City Region to be an outstanding location for investment.

Company Arvato Services
Website Arvato Services Website http://www.arvatoservices.co.uk/
Email info@arvatoservices.co.uk

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Testimonial

Merseyside is the ideal place for us to grow, thanks to an excellent pool of available skilled labour. The North West also boasts one of the highest concentrations of language skills in the UK, which is crucial to a business like ours where agents could be talking to customers anywhere in the world.
Asif Hamid, Chief Executive, Arvato Services

[Pietari]

08/08/2005 - Vivienne Westwood Opens in Liverpool

Thursday, October 23 2003 saw the doyenne of British fashion bring her inimitable style to Liverpool's Cavern Designer Shopping Centre, when she opened her third boutique outside London.

http://www.businessliverpool.co.uk/s...asp?recordid=9

Richard Duncalf, co-owner of Hervia, says his decision to open up the company's third Vivienne Westwood store in the UK in Liverpool was a natural choice from a commercial and personal point of view.

"The success of our Manchester store has given us the opportunity to open a second venue in the UK. We have many customers who come over from Liverpool and we have been very impressed by how people dress up in expensive designer merchandise every weekend. And for me it is a delight to come back home - I was born in Chester, educated in Wirral and went to the former Liverpool Polytechnic. My father was also the chief executive of the former Maritime Housing Association," he said.

Westwood is one of three upmarket designer fashion boutiques including Drome and Cricket.

Company Vivienne Westwood
Website Vivienne Westwood
Email info@hervia.com


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Testimonial

It's great that designers like Vivienne Westwood feel that Liverpool is a happening place and they choose to invest here. The people of this city have always had a great deal of style about them and now that is being recognised.

Steve McManaman Man City & Ex Liverpool FC

=========================================================
http://www.cavernshopping.com/shop.asp?shop_id=19

Vivienne Westwood began designing in 1971, using the shop at 430 Kings Road, London as a showcase for her ideas. With her changing ideas of fashion came the change of not only the name of shop, but the entire decor as well. In 1971, 430 Kings Road was known as "Let it Rock"... 1950's Rock n Roll clothing sold at a time when "hippies" were still in fashion. In 1972, the name was changed to "Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die". The shop had clothing for "Rockers" with zips and chains, and Zoot suits. By the mid 70's, "Sex" was the shop's new name. With 1976 came punk, followed by "World's End" and the Pirate Collection.

The Pirate Collection was shown in March 1981, her first catwalk show at Olympia in London. The following year, in March 1983, Westwood began to show in Paris, the first British Designer to do so since Mary Quant.

In Autumn 1984, Westwood was invited to show her collection in Tokyo with Hanae Mori, Calvin Klein, Claude Montana and Gianfranco Ferre at the "Best of Five".

In 1989 Mr John Fairchild, President of Fairchild Publications and Editor of the fashion bible "Women's Wear Daily", rated Westwood one of the best six designers in the world, and the only woman amongst them, in his book "Chic Savages".

In July 1990, she showed her first complete menswear collection in conjunction with Pitti Uomo in Florence.

In January 1991, Vivienne Westwood was chosen to show in Tokyo once again, this time with Christian Lacroix, Isaac Mizrahi and Franco Moschino at The Fashion Summit.

Vivienne Westwood has an OBE for her services to the British Fashion Industry and has just been awarded the Queen's Award for Export.

The Vivienne Westwood store in the Cavern Designer Shopping Centre has been attracting fans of one Britain’s most exciting designers since October 2003.

For more information about the current collections and the online store please follow the link below to Hervia.com

Mathew Street
Liverpool
Tel: 0151 236 9082
publicity@cavernshopping.com

Website : www.hervia.com/home.html
Phone : 0151 227 2700

[Pietari]

http://www.merseyside.org.uk/displaypage.asp?page=31

Liverpool business performance outpaces the UK for the second year running!

Latest data from the Government's Small Business Service shows the number of businesses in Merseyside has grown for the eighth successive year.


Across Merseyside there were 26,070 VAT registered firms at the start of this year, an increase of 0.8% since 2004, and up by 12.2% since 1997. This increase beats the UK and NW growth rates of 0.1% and 0.4% respectively.

In terms of new businesses,
Merseyside saw a start-up rate[1] of 10.9%,
just behind Greater Manchester (11.1%),
but ahead of regions such as the West Midlands (10.5%)
West Yorkshire (10.7%)
and Tyneside (10.3%).

Liverpool was responsible for one third of start-ups in Merseyside, with 950 new businesses registered in 2004.

Robert Crawford, Chief Executive of The Mersey Partnership, said; "There's no doubt the Liverpool City Region is an economy on the move. Business growth is fundamental to future economic success, and we are continuing to prove Merseyside is fertile ground for businesses to invest, innovate and grow.

With figures earlier this week showing an continued upward trend in the number of millionaires in Merseyside, our growing sense of confidence and entrepreneurship is clear."

Area
No. of Businesses 2003
No. of Businesses 2004
% Change in Business Nos
New Business Start-up rate

Halton 2,165 2,185 0.9 10.9
Knowsley 1,765 1,820 3.1 12.2
Liverpool 7,970 8,040 0.9 11.9
Sefton 5,475 5,455 -0.4 9.8
St Helens 3,040 3,105 2.1 10.0
Wirral 5,445 5,465 0.4 10.8
Merseyside (inc. Halton) 25,860 26,070 0.8 10.9

North West 172,080 172,825 0.4 10.3
United Kingdom 1,817,825 1,819,870 0.1 10.0


Area
No. of Businesses 2003
No. of Businesses 2004
% Change in Business Nos
New Business Start-up rate

Greater Manchester 62,925 63,025 0.2 11.1
S Yorks 25,965 26,195 0.9 10.7
Tyneside 17,605 17,695 0.5 10.3
West Midlands 59,530 58,935 -1.0 10.5
West Yorkshire 52,040 52,205 0.3 10.7

Knowsley is Merseyside's star performer, making it to seventh in the national league table. Business growth in Knowsley stands at 3.1%. Meanwhile Knowsley's business start-up rates stands at 12.2% - again outpacing the UK rate.


Top 10 Local Authorities : Business Stock Growth

Local Authority
% change in business numbers
new business start-up rate
rank

Merthyr Tydfil 5.1 14.7 1
Cannock Chase 3.7 12.6 2
West Lothian 3.6 13.1 3
Barking and Dagenham 3.4 14.0 4
Wansbeck 3.3 11.2 5
Lambeth 3.3 14.8 6
Knowsley 3.1 12.2 7
Wandsworth 2.9 14.1 8
Blaenau Gwent 2.8 11.9 9
Tamworth 2.8 12.5 10

[Pietari]

http://www.merseyside.org.uk/displaypage.asp?page=55

Knowsley Hall .....

Press Release 1st September 2005

Knowsley Hall has joined forces with five of the finest castles & stately homes in the UK to offer some of the most exceptional conference & banqueting facilities in the country.

The operation, which is headed up by Andrea Fowkes of Andrea Fowkes Associates, who is the former Director of Sales for Castle Ashby, will see the portfolio of properties being promoted to the UK corporate market as well as European and American agents.

Properties include: Ackergill Tower, Scotland Knowsley Hall, Merseyside Weston Park, Shropshire Althorp, Northampton Leeds Castle, Kent and Sommerley House, Hampshire

Shirley Cors, Sales & Marketing Manager at Knowsley Hall added ‘this is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Knowsley Hall and what we have to offer to a very diverse audience and we are delighted to have teamed up with Andrea Fowkes Associates and such an exclusive group of outstanding venues to do this’

Knowsley Hall Conference & Events department can be contacted on 0151 489 4827

www.andreafowkesassociates.co.uk <http://www.andreafowkesassociates.co.uk>

[Tony Sebo]

Bloody hell... this is a well kept up thread!
I hope thatyou are all going to contribute to the downtown site when we make it more bloggy soon?
http://www.downtownliverpool.org

[Scarecrow]

Sounds good Sebo. You sticking around then?

[Tony Sebo]

Hi bunnyman...all of you others too.
I am sticking around. I hope to be able to regularly visit this site now too, once again.

We have been going through another distilation phase as the success of the downtown site has caused its own problems. I have taken a back seat with regards to it lately as I have just had too much on and the site takes so much time...keeping it up as the super relevant site an' all that is!

But we are making the site more user friendly, as far as putting up events and news items, as well as longer, more considered 'comment' pieces. The techie side is mind blowing and way beyond me...but we're getting there. We don't want to just move entirely over to a blog type format so finding something that combines both aspects of the old site and the new functions has been hard.

We also have to sort out the business structure, something that we haven't settled since taking a lobbying organisation forward was removed as an option ...we have lots of interesting ideas ...let's see if we pull any of them off?

Keep a regular eye out on the site ..and if there are any of you scousophiles who haven't yet signed up for the forum and e-digest, then please do so?

I am going to spend some time now reading through some of the stuff that I have missed since I last visited here ..in MAY!

[Scarecrow]

Good luck. It'll keep you busy til next May, though most of it is Kung Fuzi on his crusade.

How about making the downtown forum easier to access? I know I'd rather frequent there than have to contend with the outsider (Manc) mechants on here, but it's a pain in the arse to access. (I'm on as Dixie Dean BTW. Fine name. )