That means significantly and urgently reducing the number of agencies and quango’s that exist in Liverpool. Not only is this plethora of organisations confusing to business, but they have also led to the establishment of an environment dominated by the public sector. Grant Culture rather than enterprise culture! DLiB would recommend that the Northwest Development Agency lead a review of the existing ‘quango’ structures in the city, using the model they adopted in Cumbria, to streamline governance in our city.

The City Council should appoint an elected Member to serve at Cabinet level as the ‘Business Champion’. The role of the Business Champion would include scrutinising council policies to measure how ‘business friendly’ they were; engaging with business across the city and promoting Liverpool to inward investors.

Allow more private sector provision of business support services. Give business a wider choice of who they go to for guidance and advice. Put existing ‘Business Link’ and Learning and Skills Council’s in competition with private sector providers.

Reduce the current ‘obsession’ with ‘start up’s’ and give more encouragement and financial rewards to second phase growth companies. Market VC funds more effectively, and educate the business community about the potential advantages of investment.

For the unemployed, the risk of failing in business is enormous. Introduce a pilot scheme in Liverpool that allows the jobless who set up their own business to retain existing benefits for twelve months.