Business in Liverpool

[Pablo Diablo]

I've just fired off an email to all the Liverpool area MPs and council leaders expressing my concern, as someone involved in the internet industry, at Liverpool's omission from this.

Auto-responses from Luciana Berger, John Pugh, Joe Benton, Angela Eagle and Shaun Woodward. (And Nick Clegg, who I CC'd).

"Address not found" bounce backs from Alison McGovern and Jeff Green

EDIT - and a bounceback from leaderofthecouncil@sthelens.gov.uk ... St Helens MBC need to ensure correct information on their website!

[tomo90]

Liverpool is bigger than the majority of those 10 cities its ridiculous.

[Pablo Diablo]

Originally Posted by Pablo Diablo

I've just fired off an email to all the Liverpool area MPs and council leaders expressing my concern, as someone involved in the internet industry, at Liverpool's omission from this.

Got a reply from Steve Rotheram (Walton) today...

Thank you for your email expressing your personal concerns at the budget, I have received many such concerns from people in my constituency on a whole host of changes. However, I think you touch on a very important point – Liverpool’s ability to reinvent itself as a City open for business which can compete nationally and internationally. Whilst I am certain Liverpool MPs will fight to be a super connected City to ensure we are not left in the slow lane of recovery, it is right that concerned businessmen and women should also express their apprehension at what could potentially be the outcome of the Government ignoring Liverpool’s very strong claims to be at the heart of the digital economy and I would encourage you to personally write to the Chancellor.

Derek Twigg (Halton) also replied saying he'll do all he can to help his Liverpool colleagues. George Howarth (Knowsley) asked for my address (not sure why). My home MP is Stephen Twigg who's normally pretty good at replying to constituent concerns, so I'm awaiting his response.

[MR KITE]

Liverpool Budget reaction: City to fight £100m broadband scheme exclusion plus the effect on families, single parents & pensioners


CITY leaders today vowed to fight Chancellor George Osborne’s decision to exclude Liverpool from a £100m superfast broadband scheme.

To the puzzlement and dismay of the city’s business and political leaders, Osborne named 10 cities in his Budget that would benefit from the project – but rejected Liverpool’s bid.

Max Steinberg , Liverpool Vision boss, told the ECHO: "Naturally we are very disappointed not to have been included in the first wave – we submitted what we thought was a very compelling bid and will be interested in understanding why this wasn’t successful.

"We believe superfast broadband is key to unlocking the city’s economic potential and will continue to work with the private sector and central government to ensure the city is included in the second wave."

In all 13 cities submitted bids and the successful applicants were Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and London.

Osborne excluded Liverpool despite the city having already successfully pioneered the £1m Fibrenet project which has seen key business locations around the city linked by a superfast broadband "ring road".

* Read more: George Osborne delivers £1 billion Budget tax hit to pensioners

Riverside Labour MP, Louise Ellman, said: "I deplore that the Chancellor has left out Liverpool from the list of 10 cities due to get funding for ultra-fast broadband."

And Professor Dennis Kehoe from AIMES Grid Services, the firm implementing Fibrenet in Liverpool, said: "This is obviously not good news for the city – to finish out of the top 10 from 13 bids is not good.

"However, many of these other projects won’t be up and running for about a year so that gives us the opportunity to accelerate the Fibrenet project."

Damian Waters, North West director of the CBI, also said: "It is very surprising to say the least that Liverpool appears to have missed out on superfast broadband to 10 other cities. We hope this can be changed as a matter of urgency. Liverpool is one of the most important hubs of UK trade with very bright ambitions with its plans for Superport and Ocean Gateway.

"It is a key growth driver for our region and must get superfast broadband as a matter of priority to help drive wealth and job creation."

http://www.crosbyherald.co.uk/news/c...0252-30597325/

[bluesnapper]

Originally Posted by Pablo Diablo

George Howarth (Knowsley) asked for my address (not sure why).

Because if you dont live in his patch, he wont fight for the cause and he will not fight the good fight even if it benefits his people.

[Gutterfighter]

Another £50m to fund the roll-out to another 10 cities. I would be amazed if Liverpool is not on this list:

http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/8931.aspx

[tomo90]

Originally Posted by Gutterfighter

Another £50m to fund the roll-out to another 10 cities. I would be amazed if Liverpool is not on this list:

http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/8931.aspx

So all the non-capital cities except Manchester get less than the maximum amount they could have had?

[superla]

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/...9623-30645523/ with this news,does anyone know who,if anyone,is still in the building? What are future plans for it,I seem to recall a post recently?

[buggedboy]

LEP receives additional Growing Places cash
29 Mar 2012, 18:21
Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership has been handed £6.3m from additional cash released in the Budget for the Growing Places Fund. Liverpool had already received £12.9m.
The fund enables Local Enterprise Partnerships to grant loans for immediate construction of access roads, services, ground works and other infrastructure, enabling stalled projects to go ahead without further delay.
Robert Hough, chairman of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "We welcome this additional support from Government. The LEP has already approved a number of projects that will benefit from the Growing Places Fund - this additional money means more stalled projects can be kick-started which will help generate jobs and homes in the city region."

Does this mean pure infrastructure, or infrastructure elements of building projects? If the latter, that could make building projects significantly cheaper and possibly more likely to get off the ground.

[blahblahv2]

Sorry to intrude into the Liverpool forum with this, but as JLR has a factory at Halewood, this will be good for Liverpool just as much as it will be good for Brum. Whichever factory ends up building it.

Turn up your speakers... This has just been announced

[Gutterfighter]

Castle Bromich plant will build this one. Looks good and more positive news for JLR and UK manufacturing. Keep it coming.

[blahblahv2]

Cheers. Not seen that it was Castle Brom. It will share bits with the XK so that does make sense.

I reckon they've got their hands full at Halewood keeping up with that stunning Evoque!

Like you say, keep it coming!

[MR KITE]

Liverpool breaks into elite top 25 cities for foreign direct investment – FDI Magazine

• International investment strategy judged in top 10 in Europe

Liverpool has broken into a prestigious city attractiveness ranking for the first time.

The city features in several lists for the top cities for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the fDi Magazine’s European Cities of the Future 2012-13.

Liverpool has been ranked 24th in the overall Top 25 European Cities of the Future which was topped by London, with Paris and Vienna taking second and third places. Liverpool was just two places behind Barcelona in the ranking.

The only other English cities that made the top 25 were Reading, Cambridge and Bristol.

fDi Magazine is a Financial Times company which provides FDI news and the through their portfolio of FDI intelligence products, also tracks data for all sectors and global regions.

Liverpool also appeared in 7th place in the highly significant FDI Strategy Small Cities list topped by Antwerp; joint 5th with Manchester in the Small European Cities of the Future, behind Bristol, Antwerp, Zurich and Lyon; and joint 10th with Cork in FDI Strategy – Northern Europe, topped by Edinburgh.

Liverpool also came third for infrastructure, significantly influenced by the size and activity of the Port of Liverpool. This category was headed by Duisburg in Germany followed by Utrecht in Holland.

The shortlist was compiled using independently collected data from FDI Intelligence for 253 cities across Europe and this shortlist was judged against six categories - economic potential, cost effectiveness, human resources, quality of life, infrastructure and business friendliness.

A seventh category was added – FDI promotion strategy. Against this category, 73 cities submitted applications, with Liverpool Vision submitting for Liverpool, about their promotion strategy and this was judged and scored by an independent international panel.

Apart from the Top 25 overall ranking, cities were divided into categories based on their population. Liverpool along with all the other UK core cities fell into the Small Cities categories apart from Birmingham, which appeared in the ‘Large’ category.

Max Steinberg, chief executive, Liverpool Vision, said: “FDI is a regularly quoted and referenced source when making investment decisions and Liverpool’s presence in this list alone is a positive reinforcement of the progress the city is making.

“Judges were also particularly impressed with our FDI strategy, which we can be very pleased about. It also adds weight to our belief that we should be included in other key attractiveness rankings, most notably the Cushman and Wakefield European Cities Monitor.

“We know what a vibrant and ambitious city, Liverpool is with the second fastest growing economy in the UK, but we can learn from this report. We want to stay in this list and move up.

“The report indicates the way. It shows that it is now incumbent on us to develop the right relationships with the right opinion formers to ensure they understand fully our assets and strengths and that we need to develop our growing relationship with London as the largest recipient of FDI in Europe – for both our Liverpool in London office will play an important role.”

Cllr Joe Anderson, leader of Liverpool City Council, added: “It is our long-running ambition to establish Liverpool as a top national and international investment location with dynamic, trade, investment, knowledge and tourism relationships.

“We are developing these in a variety of ways through our London office and our representatives in other countries, most notably the US and China as well as the hosting of high profile events of international significance like the GEC and Sea Odyssey.

“Opening up the city’s opportunities for innovation, investment and wealth creation to more potential economic partners across the world is high on the city council’s priorities as we move forward to create the conditions for sustainable prosperity."

http://www.liverpoolvision.co.uk/New..._magazine.aspx

[Rollingstone Gather]

Originally Posted by MR KITE

Liverpool breaks into elite top 25 cities for foreign direct investment – FDI Magazine

• International investment strategy judged in top 10 in Europe

Liverpool has broken into a prestigious city attractiveness ranking for the first time.

The city features in several lists for the top cities for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the fDi Magazine’s European Cities of the Future 2012-13.

Liverpool has been ranked 24th in the overall Top 25 European Cities of the Future which was topped by London, with Paris and Vienna taking second and third places. Liverpool was just two places behind Barcelona in the ranking.

The only other English cities that made the top 25 were Reading, Cambridge and Bristol.

fDi Magazine is a Financial Times company which provides FDI news and the through their portfolio of FDI intelligence products, also tracks data for all sectors and global regions.

Liverpool also appeared in 7th place in the highly significant FDI Strategy Small Cities list topped by Antwerp; joint 5th with Manchester in the Small European Cities of the Future, behind Bristol, Antwerp, Zurich and Lyon; and joint 10th with Cork in FDI Strategy – Northern Europe, topped by Edinburgh.

Liverpool also came third for infrastructure, significantly influenced by the size and activity of the Port of Liverpool. This category was headed by Duisburg in Germany followed by Utrecht in Holland.

The shortlist was compiled using independently collected data from FDI Intelligence for 253 cities across Europe and this shortlist was judged against six categories - economic potential, cost effectiveness, human resources, quality of life, infrastructure and business friendliness.

A seventh category was added – FDI promotion strategy. Against this category, 73 cities submitted applications, with Liverpool Vision submitting for Liverpool, about their promotion strategy and this was judged and scored by an independent international panel.

Apart from the Top 25 overall ranking, cities were divided into categories based on their population. Liverpool along with all the other UK core cities fell into the Small Cities categories apart from Birmingham, which appeared in the ‘Large’ category.

Max Steinberg, chief executive, Liverpool Vision, said: “FDI is a regularly quoted and referenced source when making investment decisions and Liverpool’s presence in this list alone is a positive reinforcement of the progress the city is making.

“Judges were also particularly impressed with our FDI strategy, which we can be very pleased about. It also adds weight to our belief that we should be included in other key attractiveness rankings, most notably the Cushman and Wakefield European Cities Monitor.

“We know what a vibrant and ambitious city, Liverpool is with the second fastest growing economy in the UK, but we can learn from this report. We want to stay in this list and move up.

“The report indicates the way. It shows that it is now incumbent on us to develop the right relationships with the right opinion formers to ensure they understand fully our assets and strengths and that we need to develop our growing relationship with London as the largest recipient of FDI in Europe – for both our Liverpool in London office will play an important role.”

Cllr Joe Anderson, leader of Liverpool City Council, added: “It is our long-running ambition to establish Liverpool as a top national and international investment location with dynamic, trade, investment, knowledge and tourism relationships.

“We are developing these in a variety of ways through our London office and our representatives in other countries, most notably the US and China as well as the hosting of high profile events of international significance like the GEC and Sea Odyssey.

“Opening up the city’s opportunities for innovation, investment and wealth creation to more potential economic partners across the world is high on the city council’s priorities as we move forward to create the conditions for sustainable prosperity."

http://www.liverpoolvision.co.uk/New..._magazine.aspx

Great stuff. What gets measured gets done!

[Paul D]

JLR sells out of Evoques

5th April 2012.
JAGUAR Land Rover has announced it has sold out of its award-winning Range Rover Evoque such has been the worldwide demand for the new model.

Marking its presence at the New York Motor Show, the company said it would be working on backorders for the remainder of 2012.

The company is recruiting extra workers at the Halewood plant where the Evoque is made to increase production to try and meet demand, but with the model winning more awards and gaining plaudits for its convertible concept vehicle, customers ordering now may not receive their vehicles until next year.

In the final sentence of a statement commemorating the 25th anniversary of the firm’s entry into the US market, it said: “The award winning Range Rover Evoque is currently sold out and expected to remain on backorder for the remainder of 2012.”

JLR, which has recently announced it is to enter into a joint venture with Chery in China for a new production facility and R&D centre, has used the New York show to highlight some of its other 4x4 products.

Special edition versions of the Discovery and Range Rover Sport have been unveiled, while an updated version of the DC100 concept, the proposed replacement of the iconic Defender, have also been on display.

The much talked about Evoque convertible concept, which made such a stir at last month's Geneva Motor Show, is also taking part. A positive reaction could go a long way towards a decision on whether the concept is put into production.

Despite the massive potential of the Chinese, Indian and Russian markets, the United States remains the firm’s biggest single market, with New York is its biggest city market.

The new £57,000 Discovery 4 HSE Luxury Special Edition is one of the stars of the firm's New York stage and its presence follows a glitzy ceremony last month in which the one millionth Discovery rolled off the production line at Solihull.

That vehicle is currently taking part in a gruelling 8,000-mile journey between Birmingham and Beijing to raise money for water projects in Africa.

Land Rover UK Managing Director, Jeremy Hicks said: "Retaining the Discovery 4's go anywhere, do anything capability, the HSE Luxury edition takes comfort and luxury to the next level.

"Extended personalisation, superior equipment levels, striking exterior finish, combined with great efficiency and performance make the Discovery 4 HSE Luxury a truly desirable purchase."

The Sport HSE 'Red' and ‘Luxury’ models are also designed to appeal to buyers in the US’s premium SUV market.

Laura Schwab, Marketing Director, Land Rover UK said: "The Range Rover Sport HSE Red and Luxury editions add more choice and personalisation to one of the most dynamic SUV offerings in the market.

"Striking yet contemporary, for those who wish to set themselves apart from the norm, these two new models add an extra dimension of comfort, style and luxury."

[design_man]

Is there room for a new Jaguar factory in Liverpool? Or a major expansion? I hope that nonsensical leisure scheme I saw recently isn't getting in the way of real industrial expansion and jobs. Why is one factory enough? Can't we have two or three Jaguar factories, have 10,000 jobs? How are we capitalising on our success? Where is the ambition? Why aren't we making their engines, and their new sports car?

[blahblahv2]

Originally Posted by design_man

Is there room for a new Jaguar factory in Liverpool? Or a major expansion? I hope that nonsensical leisure scheme I saw recently isn't getting in the way of real industrial expansion and jobs. Why is one factory enough? Can't we have two or three Jaguar factories, have 10,000 jobs? How are we capitalising on our success? Where is the ambition? Why aren't we making their engines, and their new sports car?

3 UK factories for JLR. Soon to be 4. Halewood (Evoque, Freelander), Lode Lane (Discovery, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Defender), Castle Bromwich (XF, XJ, XK & F-Type) and the new Engine Plant which just started this week at i54 on the outskirts of Wolverhampton. Plus design and technical centres in Coventry and Gaydon.

Quite a remarkable turnaround from 3 years ago when one of the Brummie factories was threatened with closure!

Great news on the Evoque! Hopefully it'll lead to some more jobs coming Liverpool's way!

[MR KITE]

Liverpool’s legacy strengthens cotton trade

Source: Financial Times

It is exactly a century since Liverpool’s cotton imports hit a record and its role at the centre of the world trade began to diminish.

Yet although no raw cotton is handled today by its docks, Lancashire’s textile industry having collapsed, the city remains an important hub and is home to the body that sets the “Liverpool rules” under which much of the commodity is traded.

“Liverpool has a huge legacy and expertise in the international cotton trade, built over two centuries,” says Nick Earlam, chairman of Plexus, the last independently owned broker in the city.

“It basically had a large part to play in developing cotton industries in countries where the UK had colonies, such as Uganda, Tanzania, India and Nigeria. It has built a global marketplace and, if you are from Liverpool and in the cotton business, you are serious.”

Weil Brothers & Stern, the Anglo-US broker formed by merger in 1991, has invested in a new headquarters, Cotton Wharf, on the banks of the Mersey in Birkenhead. Its US arm sources American and Chinese cotton, while Birkenhead is the centre for trade elsewhere.

Cargill, the US commodities trader, operates a similar model. It has a significant operation in Liverpool after buying Ralli Brothers & Coney in 1981. Ralli buys cotton from Africa, Europe and Asia, while Hohenberg Brothers, a big brand bought by Cargill in Memphis, deals with the Americas. The two were renamed Cargill Cotton in 2002.

Paul Kinney, director of Cargill Cotton in Liverpool, says: “Due to timezone differences, it is almost impossible to manage a truly global cotton trading company from one head office. It is essential to have two management and trading centres, and Liverpool is near perfect for all origins outside of the Americas.”

Even though consumption of cotton is shifting from a declining European market to growing markets in Asia, Europe remains a convenient base for the trade, says Mr Kinney, especially given that the price is determined on the New York futures market.

According to Mr Kinney, Liverpool has retained its place thanks to its international outlook.

When the cotton spinning industry in Lancashire collapsed rapidly in the 1970s as mills in Asia undercut prices, the traders adapted. Mr Kinney points to the 2004 decision to rename the Liverpool Cotton Association the International Cotton Association and to elect non-British presidents.

Kai Hughes, secretary-general of the association, founded in 1841, says about 70 per cent of the world’s raw cotton is traded under ICA rules, and it has more than 400 members, including some of the world’s largest companies.

It is based in Exchange Flags, overlooking “Cotton Corner” where traders first gathered in the early 1800s.

The ICA was busier than ever in 2011, with a record number of arbitrations, because of price volatility. Many mills and farmers reneged on contracts.

Mr Hughes says Liverpool is likely to remain the association’s home because it is “neutral ground”. The UK has no significant stake in the industry and the UK courts are seen as among the most reliable.

Nevertheless, the ICA board is looking at measures to build confidence in the market. It could turn to credit insurers or even introduce credit ratings, obliging mills and agents to employ agencies such as Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s to rate their likelihood of default.

Mr Earlam, whose broker survived the 2008 crisis – when speculation drove prices to record highs before they collapsed – says such a move would be unnecessary and hard to implement.

“A lot of these guys need to look carefully at how they have been selling to people. They have not looked at the risks of the customer. Selling on New York futures to Bangladesh is like subprime,” he says.

The failure of many businesses in 2008 has helped Plexus, which has amalgamated some historic Liverpool family businesses. Mr Earlam started in the trade in 1977 and founded Plexus in 2000. He and his wife own the majority of it.

“From a market point of view there is less competition, and from a business point of view it forced us to focus on costs and restructuring,” he says.

The business employs 40 people in Liverpool and about 3,000 in the African countries where it grows cotton. It sells seed to farmers, buys and processes their product, and sells it.

In the 2010 calendar year, Plexus made pre-tax profits of $8.1m on turnover of $400.3m, up from $180,000 and $266.6m the year before. For 2011, pre-tax profits should be $9.1m on $500m of revenue, according to Mr Earlam.

He forecasts that cotton will become a luxury item as the amount grown is restricted by land use. Plexus aims to have its entire supply sustainably sourced and traceable by 2025, so it can command higher prices.

“There is a big future in it,” Mr Earlam says.

http://www.liverpoolvision.co.uk/New...ton_trade.aspx

[Paul D]

Pair weigh anchor at Port of Liverpool building.

PROPERTY group Downing has secured two new lettings at its Grade II-listed Port of Liverpool Building.

Simeon Consultancy has taken The Neptune Suite on the first floor of the building, while existing tenants Wellwork have has moved into the 1,000 sq ft Baltic Suite. Both firms have taken flexible five-year leases.

Simeon Consultancy provides a range of consultancy services to training providers, employers and mangers on deaf and disabled issues, including employment and apprenticeship advice and British Sign Language (BSL) consultancy.

Director Simeon Hart said: “The location, flexibility and character of the Port of Liverpool building are excellent but we also hope that the building’s international reputation will raise our profile and build an awareness of what we’re trying to achieve.

“It’s a big challenge as the vast majority of deaf people in the North West are unemployed and London is around 10 to 15 years ahead of us in terms of having systems in place to help deaf people into work.”

Robin Ellis, senior agency surveyor at Downing, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Simeon Consultancy to the Port of Liverpool building. The recent refurbishment of the building has produced high quality, flexible office space and the Neptune Suite is perfect for both consultancy and delivering training."

::

[Support the Doka's]

Sorry if this has been posted before, but just noticed that Estates Gazette are reporting that Standard Chartered are thinking of moving their back office function to the UK, with Liverpool being the most likely destination, taking 60,000 sqft, potentially rising to 200,000!!!

It also mentions that Direct Line are looking to take 65,000 sqft and Barclaycard 80,000 sqft.