Business leaders in push to promote Liverpool
Liverpool’s attempt to brand itself one of the world’s most enterprising cities is to receive help from Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin boss, and possibly John W. Henry, the hedge fund tycoon who owns Liverpool FC and the Boston Red Sox.
Sir Richard has been named as the keynote speaker at the city’s Global Entrepreneurship Congress in March, which aims to showcase the northern port’s burgeoning business community.
Mr Henry, whose New England Sports Ventures bought Liverpool for £300m in October 2010, is also expected to give a rare public address.
Lord Heseltine, the Conservative peer, Sir Terry Leahy, the former Tesco boss, and Martha Lane Fox, the government’s digital champion, will also feature.
The event is staged by the Kauffman Foundation, which encourages entrepreneurship around the globe. Liverpool was chosen above cities in the United Arab Emirates, Chile and Denmark.
Documents released last month reveal that some Conservative ministers advocated “managed decline” for Liverpool 30 years ago and the city’s authorities are anxious to underline the transformation since then.
Sir Richard said: “A strong economy needs to encourage entrepreneurs to create and grow their businesses. It is great to see the Kauffman Foundation backing Britain by bringing the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, a showcase of entrepreneurial talent, to Liverpool this March.”
Max Steinberg, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, the council’s economic development arm, said it would be a “landmark event”.
“The Congress forms a key part of our ambition to encourage and celebrate entrepreneurship in Liverpool and create a meaningful legacy for the city.”
The five-day event, sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group, combines practical advice with speakers and is expected to attract 3,000 people from 120 countries.
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