Liverpool Embassy set to encourage investors
The Liverpool Embassy in London promotes the city’s commercial and business offer to UK and overseas investors.
Guy Wallis, co-founder of law firm DWF and the man credited for coming up with the idea, told Insider the presence would help to change perceptions and encourage more people to think of Liverpool as a serious investment destination.
He said: "Back in May, one of the first things David Cameron said as prime minister was: 'Can we rebalance economic power across our regions?' His answer was an unequivocal, emphatic yes and our answer to that is also an unequivocal, emphatic yes.
"Liverpool's presence in London shows that the city is very much up for playing its part. The city has undergone such a transformation in recent years and we have to narrate our story to investors and decision makers.
"I don't think many people in London have a clue about what is happening in the region and that needs to change. Rightly or wrongly, I believe that perceptions are still stuck in the 1980s. We've got to get the great and the good into those premises on 35 Broad Street and tell the story of Liverpool.
"The Liverpool Embassy is based at New Broad Street House, located close to Liverpool Street and the city’s financial district. It's one of the first major initiatives of the city’s ‘One Plan’ project announced in December.
The premises will incorporate some of the most successful elements of Liverpool’s pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai, including audio-visual films and interactive technology. There will also be business meeting rooms, exhibition space and video-conferencing facilities.
It has been designed to highlight the city’s economic strengths; its property investment opportunities; its infrastructure; and its digital, creative and research offer.
Sir Terry Leahy, the outgoing chief executive of Tesco and a member of the Liverpool city region's shadow local enterprise partnership board, echoed Wallis' comments. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "Liverpool has a great story to tell. It has been transformed over the past ten years.
"There's been more than £4bn of public and private investment in the complete physical regeneration of the city centre. People need to see it and see what a fantastic city it is to invest and do business in.
"The public sector is going to continue to be important in the Liverpool city region, but the private sector is also important and it has to do more. There has to be a slight rebalancing. But best of all is that they work in partnership and there's a clear strategy for growth, investment and social progress.
"The ‘embassy’ will be open for three months, with a view to extending its term in London. There will also be two ‘investment open days’ to be held in Liverpool on 3 and 4 May.Earlier this week, Liverpool City Council leader Joe Anderson called on more small businesses to take advantage of the London presence to help woo potential investors.
“Our smaller businesses are vital to the Merseyside economy and we want to make sure they reap the rewards of our new vision for the city region – including the Liverpool Embassy," he said.
“This is a fantastic demonstration of the public sector responding to the needs of private enterprise and I want companies of all sizes to benefit from the opportunities which will be created as a result.
"Businesses which have pledged support so far include the ACC Liverpool, Grosvenor, The Flanagan Group, Enterprise, Downing and Sony. The 'embassy' project is being delivered by Liverpool City Council, working in partnership with Liverpool Vision and Downtown Liverpool in Business.
For more information on the Liverpool Embassy download the pdf below or visit www.liverpoolinlondon.co.uk
[Image: Shot of a promotional print from within the Liverpool Embassy]
He said: "Back in May, one of the first things David Cameron said as prime minister was: 'Can we rebalance economic power across our regions?' His answer was an unequivocal, emphatic yes and our answer to that is also an unequivocal, emphatic yes.
"Liverpool's presence in London shows that the city is very much up for playing its part. The city has undergone such a transformation in recent years and we have to narrate our story to investors and decision makers.
"I don't think many people in London have a clue about what is happening in the region and that needs to change. Rightly or wrongly, I believe that perceptions are still stuck in the 1980s. We've got to get the great and the good into those premises on 35 Broad Street and tell the story of Liverpool."
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