SUPPORT FOR ELECTED MAYOR IDEA

DLIB’s January online poll asked the question ‘Would an Elected Mayor give the city more focus and dynamism?’ Over 2,000 votes were cast, with 56.4% of participants saying yes.

The government’s plans to hold a referendum in all major English cities, giving people an opportunity to have an elected Mayor, have been confirmed by Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford, and such a referendum is likely to take place in May 2006. Read more

LIVERPOOL ONE CAMPAIGN

DLIB’s ‘Liverpool One campaign’ is receiving widespread support from the city’s business community, and expressions of concern about the plethora of regeneration agencies and quangos have now become a national issue with a report detailing that the UK has 529 bodies that cost billions of pounds of taxpayers cash, many of which duplicate each others efforts. Read more

‘GATES GIRLS’ START AT DOWNTOWN

Two new staff have been added to the Downtown team to help with our growing workload.

Dominique Gates has been appointed as Marketing, Events & PR Manager and Vickie Gates (no relation!) is the new PA to Frank McKenna. Read more

MARO WILL APPEAL

Maro Developments have confirmed that they will appeal against Liverpool City Council’s refusal of their proposed regeneration scheme for Brunswick Quay. DLIB Chairman Frank McKenna joined many other business leaders in expressing his disappointment at the decision to turn down a project that would have seen over £180 Million invested in the city by the private sector. Read more

GROUND SHARE – HAVE YOUR SAY

The debate about Everton and Liverpool sharing a stadium has been re-opened this month, with Blues Director Paul Gregg urging both clubs to rethink their decision to ‘go it alone’ and regeneration agency the Northwest Development Agency warning the Reds that no additional public cash will be found for their Stanley Park development.

VOTE Now, YES or No to Everton and Liverpool sharing a ground. Vote now

DOWNTOWN 100 – ‘VIP PARTY AT SAPPORO’

Award winning Japanese restaurant Sapporo will be launching its new food and wine menus at an exclusive party for Downtown 100 members and specially invited guests in March. The event is STRICTLY INVITATION ONLY and Downtown 100 members and Corporate Sponsors will receive details shortly.

DOWNTOWN PROPERTY FORUM

The first Downtown Liverpool Property Forum of 2005 was a great success. Over 100 delegates attended the event to hear presentations from Paradise Street developers Grosvenor; Liverpool Vision Chief Executive Jim Gill and Simon Jones of Brabners Chaffe Street. Afterwards downtowners enjoyed wine tasting, courtesy of the Liverpool & Biscay Wine Shipping Company read more

WORKPLACE AFFAIRS ARE NOBODY’S BUSINESS

It is said that one in four relationships start at work. But what may be a dream romance for the couple concerned could prove to be a disaster for their employer. Read more

‘Any employee or director getting shares in a company they work for has only 14 days in which to consider how best to avoid an income tax charge and ensure future profits on their sale is at a 10% rate.’
- Grant Thornton

For more useful tax tips and advice, visit our new tax section with content supplied by the leading accountancy firm Grant Thornton Click here

3 – THE MAGIC NUMBER

Each month we ask 3 of Liverpool’s leading and influential figures 3 topical questions. This month Denise Walker (Brabners Chaffe Street), Nicola Jeffries (Andrew Louis) and Frank McKenna (DLIB) provide us with their perceptions of Liverpool’s image, past, present and future and how we compare to other major UK cities.

TM3 aptly sponsor this feature.

View interviews

LIVERPOOL ‘TEA’ ON THE UP

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) has revealed that the UK is beating rivals such as Germany, France and Japan when it comes to entrepreneurial activity. GEM says that although the UK still lags behind the US and Canada, the report shows that the proportion of Britons expecting to start a business over the next three years has increased from 7.8% in 2002 to 9.5% in 2004. The findings also indicate that the North-South enterprise divide is narrowing, with the North East of England, the East Midlands and Yorkshire making the most significant progress. Liverpool however lags behind the North West average of 7.0% of people wanting to start a business. So what exactly is happening to us in Liverpool? Find out more

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH.

Taxi TV launched a unique business in 2004. Over 100 hackney cabs in Liverpool in August 2004 were fitted with a 15” LCD screen secured within it’s own security unit creating a mobile TV channel. Taxi TV creates an accessible platform for local businesses, attractions, and organisations to showcase their services. Taxi TV provides a new medium to target a captive and diverse audience in a mobile environment whilst acting as an ideal vehicle to promote the city twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. Read more

DOWNTOWN MEMBERSHIP

It’s time to get involved! Join the growing list of companies who support Downtown Liverpool. If you want change and to get more out of this city you must do something about it. Influence what is happening in your city, and have a good time while you’re doing it. Read more

DOWNTOWN 100

Downtown 100 is the most exclusive, sophisticated and wealthy entrepreneurs club in Liverpool. Membership is by invitation only and offered exclusively to Liverpool’s leading entrepreneurs, distinguished companies and investors. Read more