INTRODUCTION  
The Summer Pops, Liverpool Airport, an exciting proposal to redevelop the Irish Centre, the first five-star boutique hotel in the city centre, quango mergers, a council deficit and the buyout of Liverpool Football Club. Just another month in the life of our wonderfully vibrant city! Read all about these stories, and much, much more in the latest business bulletin brought to you by ‘the business club with attitude’.  
     

   
WE’RE MOVING  
Downtown Liverpool In Business is moving to new premises, right in the heart of the city’s commercial and business district. From Monday 12th March (B.T. permitting!) DLIB will be based at the Rear of the Second Floor, New Zealand House, Water Street, L2. Our telephone number will remain 0151 227 1633, and a little soirée to celebrate the move will be held once we have settled in. Apologies for any inconvenience to our members whilst the move is taking place.  
     


   
TOTALLY FRANK  

Liverpool City Council’s decision to merge three of the eighty-two agencies that govern the city may be a step in the right direction. But the ‘bonfire of the quangos’ we were promised has turned out to be more like a barbeque…READ MORE

You can hear Frank on Linda McDermott’s ‘Drive Time’ programme on BBC Radio Merseyside, every other Tuesday at approximately 5.35 p.m. His next appearance is 13th March.

 
     


   
NOT SO POPTASTIC!  
The city’s leaders hardly covered themselves in glory with the fiasco that surrounded this years Summer Pops. After a consistent proclamation that the scrapping of the Pops would be the equivalent of Everton changing their colours to red, they did indeed announce that in Liverpool’s 800th anniversary, one of the most popular occasions in the city’s events calendar would not take place. Following the inevitable public outcry, more headlines about Liverpool’s lack of ability to deliver, and the intervention of the Echo, the Pops were saved – in a fashion. They will go ahead, outside of the city boundary, organised by the company that were involved in the now defunct Pops at the docks!  
     

   
ABSOLUTELY POPTASTIC!  
Meanwhile Cream, the Liverpool based company who have established a global music brand, and host major music festivals all over the world, got over the disappointment of being told they were not an appropriate company to organise an event in a big top in their own city, by announcing the Knowsley Hall Music fest in the summer. A sure to be sell out, further details of this, and Creamfields (now held in Daresbury!), in the next Downtown Update.  
     

   
ALL SMILES ON RED HALF OF THE CITY  
Liverpool Football Club announced a takeover deal by George Gillett and Tom Hicks, that will see the long awaited new state of the art stadium developed, and no doubt additional investment both on and off the field. Expect to see more aggressive marketing of a club that, given its history and success, ought to be well able to punch its weight alongside the Manchester United’s and Real Madrid’s of this world. Oh, and in the Champions League, Barcelona were comfortably despatched 2-1.  
     

   
AIRPORT PASSENGER FIGURES FLYING HIGH  
By hitting the 5million a year passenger mark, Liverpool John Lennon Airport has reached another significant milestone in its rapid expansion. From its days in the doldrums, the former Speke Airport has been a phenomenal success since being taken over by Peel Holdings. The next ambition is to have a runway extension to encourage long haul flights to destinations as far as Shanghai.  
     

   
NOT ONE, BUT TWO TOP HOTELS FOR DOWNTOWN LIVERPOOL  
Work has started on what is expected to be the first five-star boutique hotel in Liverpool city centre. Located at the top of Sir Thomas Street, the hotel is being developed by local company Iliad, and will see the transformation of the derelict council annexe into a state of the art leisure offering. Plans for an equally ambitious hotel development on the site of the Irish Centre have been submitted, with Liverpool company, New Dimensions, proposing a scheme that will provide investment, jobs, and save the grade ll listed building from extinction. READ MORE  
     

   
PAY BACK TIME FOR GESTURE POLITICS?  
News that Liverpool City Council is facing a £19 million plus budget deficit that will see cuts in services and some of the city family silver sold off or re-mortgaged reminded some of us of a previous Town Hall regime. However, the council tax freeze over a two year period, followed by a 3% reduction in rates, was always likely to catch up with the current administration. It is to be hoped that the business community, via hikes in city centre parking charges, the introduction of new taxes on empty property, and other such initiatives, does not pay the price.  
     

   
LEGAL  
BREAKFAST WITH BRABNERS CHAFFE STREET
On Thursday 22nd March, Downtown Liverpool In Business, in conjunction with leading law firm Brabners Chaffe Street, is holding an exclusive, invitation only, breakfast at The Sir Thomas Hotel. A full English breakfast, accompanied by teas and coffees,will be closely followed by a seminar on up and coming issues on Employment Law, from our corporate sponsors Brabners Chaffe Street.		  
     

   
MEDIA  
Mason Media are the ‘spin doctors’ used by Downtown Liverpool In Business and a host of other leading Liverpool company’s. Here, Managing Director Nick Mason outlines how Mason Media has established itself as one of the leading PR agencies in the city. READ MORE  
     


   
THE BIG DEBATE RESULTS  
A GREAT BIG NO TO TALL BUILDINGS POLICY
Despite the heritage lobby continuing to express the view that Liverpool should adopt a ‘tall buildings’ policy, almost 80% of you think it would be a bad idea for our city.
CLICK HERE to view results.		  
     

   
THE BIG DEBATE  
Global warming and traffic congestion are near the top of many a politician’s agenda at the moment. Do you think a congestion charge in Liverpool city centre would be a good thing?
CLICK HERE TO VOTE		  
     


   
Brock Carmichael  
Brock Carmichael is one of Liverpool’s leading architectural firms and has been established in Liverpool since 1974. Involved in literally dozens of local, regional and national projects, they are one of the company’s involved in the Grosvenor Liverpool One development. READ MORE  
     


   
‘LIVERPOOL MEANS BUSINESS’ CONFERENCE  
As Liverpool celebrates its 800th anniversary, DLIB, in association with the Northwest Development Agency will contribute to the birthday celebrations by hosting a conference promoting the city’s recent renaissance as a business-friendly location.

Focussing on business success stories from our past and present, this event will remind people of Liverpool’s entrepreneurial culture, and map out a vision for an equally illustrious future.

Featuring successful entrepreneurs, leading Liverpool companies, business service providers and leading academics, the event will take place on Thursday 21st June 2007, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The event will include keynote addresses from leading personalities from across the region, Q&A sessions, workshops for delegates to enjoy and networking opportunities. Contact hazel.walker@downtownliverpool.com for further details. 		 
     

   
THE OSCARS 2007  

This years Liverpool Business Oscars will be held on Thursday 19TH July 2007, at the Sefton Park Palm House. This black tie occasion is brought to you by DLIB in association with the Northwest Development Agency, No Name Kitchens and Brabners Chaffe Street. To register your interest in booking a table for the evening, contact hazel.waker@downtownliverpool.com. To nominate a Liverpool company for an Oscar CLICK HERE

  
     

   
DLIB EVENTS TIMETABLE  

CLICK HERE for full details of our timetable of events for 2007.

  
     


   
THE RUMOUR MILL  
A new section for 2007, where we, very carefully, repeat some of the outrageous things that have been whispered to us in the corridors of power and beyond about life in our wonderful city…
We hear that a new Business Improvement District is being planned for a big chunk of Liverpool City Centre, with the experienced and dynamic Paul Rice working hard to ensure that the private sector is given a genuine leadership role in the new organisation that could be up and running by October. Meanwhile, expect more questions to be asked about the whole ‘summer pops’ debacle (see news section), one of which will presumably be ‘Why didn’t other companies who bid to stage the event get the same public subsidy offer on the Aintree deal as CMP?’ A revealing e-mail about this whole, sorry episode appears on a website that makes the former evil cabal site look council-friendly!

If you have any gossip that you are dying to share, please tell us – and we’ll tell 9,000 people! Contact rumours@downtownliverpool.com		  
     


   
JOIN DLIB  
If you want to grow your company in 2007, and help to make Liverpool a more business-friendly city, then you should join the fastest growing business club in the region. CLICK HERE for more information.