move commercial 22

MOVECOMMERCIAL

Mar-Apr 2011

The north-west’s guide to property and business Issue 22

Public sector cuts

NO CANNES DOExclusive pics inside

INTERVIEWNICHOLAS HAIChief ExecutiveArrowcroft SHANGHAI-LIVERPOOL

The key players

TOOMUCH, TOOSOON?

LIVERPOOL CITY REGION CHESTER MANCHESTER

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“Unique waterfront

dining”

Restaurant, bar and retail opportunities

www.albertdock.comEAT.DRINK.PLAY.SHOP.SEE.SLEEP

Paul Dale

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MOVE COMMERCIAL 5

Issue twenty-two Move Commercial

Welcome to Move Commercial

Contents

42 20

A few short months ago, Liverpool was the centre ofattention in Shanghai - with the promise of majorinvestment on the horizon Move Commercial looks at thekey players behind the Liverpool Shanghai partnership andupcoming projects. Liverpool’s waterfront was also thetopic of conversation with Arrowcroft Chief Executive

Nicholas Hai, developer of Albert Dock, whose influence onLiverpool’s regeneration is paramount. Entrepreneur TimBacon’s mark on Liverpool and the North West whetted ourappetite at the launch of new and exciting restaurants, andJohn Downes unveiled the long-awaited festival gardens inOtterspool, closed to the public for nearly three decades.

move publishing ltdAdvertising DirectorFiona Barnet Tel 0151 709 3871Account ManagerJo Tait Tel 0151 709 3871Editorial TeamDina Karim. Email: [email protected]: 0151 709 3871Emma Pinch. Email: [email protected]: 0151 709 3871

DesignerRob Whyte. Email: [email protected] by Move Publishing LtdDirectorsDavid O’Brien, Kim O’Brien, Fiona BarnetPrinted by Precision Colour Printers LtdDistribution Liaison ManagerBarbara TroughtonTel: 0151 733 5492 Mobile: 077148 14662

Copyright Move Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced copied or transmitted in any form orby any means or stored in any information storage or retrieval system without the publishers written permission.Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published, Move Publishing can accept no responsibility forthe veracity of the claims made by advertisers.

News06 Peel’s International

Trade Centre unveiled07 Liverpool City Council puts land

and buildings on the market08 New Brighton’s seafront

development09 Skelmersdale College

takes shape10 Pastures new for Venmore11 Grade A site for tenants14 Businesses get ready16 Nobles on target to grow17 Manchester’s new culture hub18 Supermarkets flock to

Haldane shopping centre19 No more Netto

Features13 Bitesize Thinking

Food for thought24 Entrepreneur

Tim Bacon of Living Ventures28 Rising Star

Paul Rodgers of RMJM Architects30 Mover and Shaker

John Downes of Langtree34 Lunch Debate

Council’s budget cuts40 Focus

Beyond Liverpool - Shanghai 42 Founding Father

Nicholas Hai of Arrowcroft46 Ask the panel

Attracting investment tothe North West

Key Events20 No Cannes Do exclusive pics

Professional Liverpool26 Breakfast at Chapel Street

Room with a view33 Knowsley Chamber

of CommerceProperty & construction networking

38 The property gamesThe elites network

Careers44 Appointments

Property movers and shakers

11

09

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News Move Commercial

A £130M Northwest internationaltrade centre proposal has been putforward by the Peel Group. The new business concept derivesfrom the business links and progressthat the Peel Group made through theLiverpool Pavilion at the 2010Shanghai Expo. This facility would bethe first of its kind in the UnitedKingdom and the largest and mostsustainable wholesale Trade Centre inEurope. The sites currently identifiedare on West Float in Birkenhead andnear Ellesmere Port on the site of theformer Bridgewater Paper Mill, nowdisused.

Wirral Council Leader, Cllr Jeff Greenwelcomed the news that Peel arelooking at West Float as one of twolocations. He said: “The constructionof the Peel International Trade Centrewill act as a catalyst for otherinvestors and fits perfectly intoWirral’s and the Coalition Government’sambition for growth and creating theprivate sector jobs that will re-balanceour local economy. This investmenthas the potential to run into hundredsof millions of pounds and would createthousands of jobs for local people.”The building would be a two levelfacility with a ground floor building

footprint of 1 million sq ft. This wouldenable over 1,000 companies fromcountries such as China, India, Koreaand other emerging economies, toexhibit, sell, assemble and distributetheir goods into the UK, Irish andEuropean markets.Peel ITC would showcase an unlimitedvariety of high quality goods to thewholesale market that have beenmanufactured overseas. This wouldserve not just as a trading ‘Gateway’into the domestic market but to thewhole of Europe. Goods would includebut not be restricted to: electricalitems, textiles and clothing,kitchenware, furniture, fixtures,fittings, building materials and more.Peel ITC would include showroom andpromotion spaces,warehousing/storage and assemblyfacilities, and would benefit fromexcellent transport connectivity via

road, rail, water and air.The decision on which location toprogress is clearly for a later date butPeel is presently pursuing both sitesby seeking the necessary consentsfrom the separate Local Authoritieswho are generally supportive inprinciple. It is hoped these will be inplace by Autumn 2011.

£150 million ProjectJennifer moves forwardLIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL hasofficially made the CompulsoryPurchase Order (CPO) needed toprogress the £150 millionregeneration of Great Homer Street,signalling another major step forwardfor the project.

The CPO will enable the council andits development partner St. Modwento move ahead with the acquisition ofland needed to deliver the community-led regeneration project. The schemewill transform the 45-acre site inNorth Liverpool, creating retail and

employment floor space, new homes,improved public spaces and newcommunity and leisure facilities. Thescheme, known as Project Jennifer, willalso feature a 110,000 sq ftSainsbury’s supermarket - the largestfood store to be built in Liverpool to

date and will act as a catalyst for thewider redevelopment of NorthLiverpool.

Michelle Taylor, regional director atSt. Modwen, said: “This decision isanother major milestone for thecommunity-led regeneration of GreatHomer Street. There is still a greatdeal of work to be done but, with theCPO process officially underway andproviding there are no majorobjections received, the scheme couldstart on site as early as 2012.”

Liverpool City Council’s CabinetMember for Regeneration, CouncillorMalcolm Kennedy said: “Thecommunity has needed something likethis for a long time, so it’s fantasticthat we are now a significant stepcloser to it becoming a reality. It willhelp transform North Liverpool,provide vital new facilities and createmore than 1,000 jobs. I am optimisticthat we will now see this schemeprogressing very quickly.”

Once completed, Project Jennifer willdeliver a new food store, 80,000 sq ftof additional retail units, 80,000 sq ftof light industrial units, 480 newhomes, and 40,000 sq ft ofcommunity facilities, including a newmarket and community health centre.

Great Homer Street regeneration

PEEL INTERNATIONALTRADE CENTRE

Cllr Jeff Green

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Move Commercial News

THE FORMER Scandinavian Hotel is setto be redeveloped after plans were giventhe green light by Liverpool City Council.

The site in the heart of Liverpool’sChinatown will be converted into a180-bedroom hotel, bar andrestaurant, expected to be a MarriotCourtyard Hotel.

Paul Houghton, development directorat Downing, commented: “We arepleased to receive planning approvalfrom Liverpool City Council for ourproposals to redevelopment theScandinavian Hotel. Downing hasalways believed in the potential for thissite to offer something unique in thispart of the city centre and we’re lookingforward to progressing the developmentin due course.”

English Heritage welcomed theproposals to bring the buildings backinto use. From a historic environmentpoint of view, they are pleased to seethe safeguarding of the existingbuildings and their incorporation into thehotel scheme.

Liverpool City Councillor MalcolmKennedy, Cabinet Member forRegeneration and Transport,commented: “The hotel proposal is verymuch welcomed as important andmuch-needed investment in the area.This key ‘gateway’ building has beenvacant since c.1980, with thecompulsory acquisition commenced bythe Ropewalks Partnership in 1999failing to deliver the regeneration ofthe site.

“The building’s re-use was envisagedas a catalyst for wider arearegeneration, which has progressedalbeit on a small scale through theheritage-led ‘Creative Ropewalks’ grantand enforcement programme. Deliveryof this scheme will boost this on-goinginvestment activity in the area,contributing to the economic andphysical regeneration of the city centre.”

Scandinavianhotelredevelopment

LIVERPOOL City Council plansto sell off 20 major sites toencourage investment fromdevelopers.

The properties it plans to sellincludes Former ToxtethCommunity College, FalknerStreet, Calderstones MansionHouse, Coach House and StableYard, Former Rodney YouthCentre, Mulberry Street andmany more. The council havedecided to sell the sitesfollowing the withdrawal ofCentral Government capitalgrants for supportingdevelopment - it is now hopingthe sites will be turned intohousing, business and leisuredevelopments. The full-colourprospectus of key developmentsites are currently beingadvertised at the Liverpool inLondon embassy, in London.

Councillor leader JoeAnderson commented: “Thebottom line is the council,irrespective of the tough timeswe are in, has to get on with themarketing and selling the cityto encourage people to comeand invest. We have bigopportunities here in Liverpooland big ambitions for the city.Doing nothing is not anoption.”

The prospectus was launchedas part of the opening of theembassy in London and will beused as a key marketing tool byembassy staff. It will also formpart of the Council's widerpackage to help attract newinvestment into the City and aproactive marketing strategywill underpin the prospectus inorder to drive up awarenessand interest from developers.

ScandinavianHotel

Calderstones Mansion House

Dale Street site

Liverpool councilsites on the market

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News Development

New Brighton’s latest developmentLIVERPOOL-BASED developersNeptune have entered a new phase ofthe New Brighton seafrontredevelopment with the originalplans of an apartment retail blockredrawn to become an entirelyresidential development.

Danny Hynde from NeptuneEsplanade commented: “Therevised application follows a reviewof the scheme aimed at improvingthe design and quality of theresidential element. We haveincreased the size of the units, andthe new scheme enables us toensure that every apartment has anexternal balcony, sea view and adedicated parking space.

“There was evidence that a singleuse residential building would bemore attractive to prospective buyersand it’s important that we aresensitive to market conditions andamend plans accordingly. There wasalso an increasingly strong viewemerging locally that any new retailelement in New Brighton shouldpreferably be accommodated in themain part of our development or inVictoria Road. Our evidence is that

neighbouring residents prefer aresidential building that has been re-designed to conserve views ratherthan the original mixed-useproposal.”

The apartments at VictoriaGardens, off Marine Promenade,were part of the £18m phase one ofNeptune’s plans for New Brightonand included a new town square with

cafés and 37 new apartments.Although now in the second phase ofthe project, the Victoria Gardensapartments have not been built yet.

The new plans are for 24substantial apartments, each with acar parking space plus 13 parkingspaces reserved for the theatre nextdoor. Instead of one and two-bedroom homes, the new scheme

will include larger apartments withup to four bedrooms, potentiallymaking them more attractive tofamilies.

The planning application is due forconsideration soon and if approvedwork will begin following thecompletion of the second stage of theregeneration, expected to becompleted in August 2011.

PEEL LAND and Property has unveiledits new vision for the future ofEllesmere Port’s waterfront.

The Ellesmere Quays scheme willinclude a mix of quality homes alongsideleisure and tourism related development,local community facilities, an ecologypark and a promenade alongside theManchester Ship Canal – all benefittingfrom sweeping views across the ShipCanal and the Mersey Estuary. The firstphases are proposed adjacent to LowerMersey Street. Improvements will also bemade to the existing historic DocksConservation Area, aimed at making thearea into a more popular and vibrantdestination for existing residents,visitors and the wider community.

Peel Land and Property, TheWaterways Trust and Cheshire West andChester Council are working inpartnership with the Ellesmere PortDevelopment Board to help to transformEllesmere Port’s waterfront and promotethe area as a destination for residents,tourists and visitors alike.

There are also a number of potentialnew development sites adjacent to theConservation Area, including the existingEllesmere Port Docks site, to the northof Lower Mersey Street.

Additionally, Merseytravel’sManchester Ship Canal cruises, leavingLiverpool for Salford in Manchester, willstop at Ellesmere Port’s waterfront fromthis summer.

Ellesmere Quay plans unveiled REGENERATING WIDNESWIDNES regeneration is set tocontinue with a new business parkplanned.

Widnes Regeneration, a jointventure between St. ModwenProperties and Halton BoroughCouncil, is bringing a 12-acredevelopment site in Widnes tomarket. The site, known as HarrierBusiness Park, will offer bespokedesign and build opportunities withunits available from 20,000 sq ft to80,000 sq ft.

Located on Gorsey Lane, HarrierBusiness Park plans to provide theideal relocation opportunity forbusinesses affected by the MerseyGateway crossing - the proposed six-lane toll bridge connecting Widnesand Runcorn. Situated within theWidnes Waterfront EconomicDevelopment Zone, the site hasexcellent transport links to both theM62 and A557.

Leader of Halton Borough Council,Councillor Rob Polhill, commented:“This is another positive move in theregeneration of the WidnesWaterfront. With its great location

and excellent accommodation it isset to be a very attractive propositionfor businesses.”

In the last decade, WidnesRegeneration has completelytransformed and revitalised thetown centre, acting as a catalyst forsubstantial new investment inadjoining areas. Ongoingdevelopment at Heron and HarrierBusiness Parks and Venture FieldsLeisure Park is now building onthis success, revitalising the WidnesWaterfront.

Dixon Webb and GVA Grimley arejoint agents for the scheme.

New Brighton seafront CGI

Ellesmere Port’s waterfront

Heron Business Park

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Development News

SKELMERSDALECOLLEGE TAKES SHAPETHIS IS the stunning new shapeof the £42 million Skelmersdale &Ormskirk College.

Due for completion this August,the building represents the firstphase in the regeneration ofSkelmersdale town centre.

The college, which will providea state of the art campus for4,000 students, boasts facilitiesincluding professional real lifeworking environments like a

hairdressing salon and digitalrecording studios, which will beavailable for public use.

A team from UK-basedinternational architects firmRMJM designed the building, ledby Principal Paul Rodgers.

Paul Rodgers said the newcampus will contrast the oldwith the new, bring the“beautiful Tawd Valley”landscape closer to the town and

provide a strong identity for thecollege within the new town.

Sustainability, both social andenvironmental lay at the heart ofthe design.

The building is designed toachieve the highest level ofenvironmental rating forbuildings, which is known asBREAMM, and the new campushas already secured an excellentrating. The idea behind achieving

the green status is to minimise theuse of energy through a number ofmeasures. One of these ideas willbe to collect rainfall from thebuildings to flush the toiletsinstead of using fresh water.

Paul Rodgers said: “Ourproposals for Skelmersdale &Ormskirk College will provide awholly sustainable campus at anenvironmental, social andeconomic level. The college willform a major component of thetown’s renaissance and as well asits education function it will serveas a much needed social hub thatcan be enjoyed by students, staffand the local community.”

RMJM has recently completededucation projects for schools,colleges and universities allaround the UK such as the Facultyof Life Health and Social Sciencefor Edinburgh Napier University,University Campus Suffolk,University of Hertfordshire theForum, and the BuckinghamshireNew University Gatewaybuilding.

• Turn to page 28 for a fullinterview with Paul Rodgers.

DRIVERS JONAS DELOITTE hasadvised on a master plan toregenerate Manchester’s WaterStreet area with the creation of amixed-use scheme, which couldcreate up to 2,000 jobs.

The framework outlines plans forthe development following ITV’srelocation to Media City and theCoronation Street set to TraffordWharf. It proposes to include a rangeof residential and business propertiesas well as a hotel, retail and highquality public realm space. Themaster plan is designed to connectthe site with Castlefield,Spinningfields and the remainder ofthe city centre together with StGeorge’s Island and Central Salford.

The vision is for a new city centre,mixed-use destination with highquality public realm, which respondsto the areas features of listedviaducts, canal basins and rivers.

Drivers Jonas Deloitte has beenworking closely with landowners selfstorage company Big Yellow, ITV,developers Crosby Lend Lease andManchester City Council to design aframework that supports the area’swider regeneration objectives.

John Cooper, Director of Planning atDrivers Jonas Deloitte Manchester,said: “The Water Street regenerationframework shows how the area canbe transformed in a way that willprovide significant benefits to thelocal communities and willcomplement wider regenerationobjectives for the city centre.

“Given its location, we expect thatthe scheme will offer the opportunityfor competitively priced commercialaccommodation to be made availableon terms designed to attract smalland medium sized enterprises, andgenerate entrepreneurial activity. Itwill provide an affordable ‘close to

centre’ offer, for which there is anidentifiable demand and will generatea market in the city for occupierswho would otherwise look to out oftown locations.”

Manchester Water Street master plan published

A POTENTIAL future residentialdevelopment has been identifiedfor Barratt Strategic in Formby,Liverpool.The land and planning team from GLHearn have identified 30-acres ofland north of Liverpool Road. Actingon behalf of Barratt the teamsubsequently negotiated terms forthe option to buy the site fromcurrent landowner, TR Silcock.

The Barratt Strategic departmentactively seeks new strategic landleads for a wide variety of schemes,which include greenfield extensionsto existing settlements, stand alonenew settlement proposals and longterm brownfield redevelopments.

Following securing the site, theteam plan to continue workingwith GL Hearn.

DEVELOPMENTPLANS FOR FORMBY

Skelmersdale andOrmskirk College CGI

Coronation Street

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From London to Liverpool

News Lettings

Princes Dock

Pastures new for Venmore

Century House Fills UpDEAN PROPERTY GROUPLimited has secured tenantsfor more than half of the officesuites in its newly createdBusiness Centre in CenturyHouse in St Helens.

Around 65 per cent of therefurbished office suites in theheart of the town centrebuilding are now let.

Modern facilities includecomfort cooling and heating,suspended ceilings, carpeting,fully self-contained units,occupancy sensors and energyefficient design.

Jonathan Beaver, director ofthe Cheshire-based DeanProperty Group, said:“Century House is an exciting,modern office space which willmeet the demands of a host oforganisations, large or small.

“The fact that 65 per cent of

the space in the BusinessCentre is occupied and thegrowing number of enquiriesmeans we are considering ouroptions to repeat this model inthe building and providesmaller units for businessesoffering greater flexibility inline with their budgetrequirements as well as roomfor expansion in a high qualityenvironment.”

A VICTORIAN warehouse inDuke Street, Liverpool, isavailable for rent.

Grade II listed Humyak Housewas built in 1864 and is a typicalexample of a warehouse from themid-Victorian era.

The five-storey property, near theCasartelli building, expands over18,515 sq ft and still has originalfeatures such as a jigger loft, whichcomes with winder gear and cast-iron window shutters. Made of brick,it has a pitched slate roof andsuspended timber flooring.

Mark Coulthurst, of agent MasonOwen, said: “This quirky propertyhas a number of ideal uses. Theowners would consider a sale andwe would urge interested partiesto get in touch.”

GRADE IIWarehouse For Let

LEADING Liverpool auctioneer,estate and commercial propertyagent, Venmore, has expanded into5,600 sq ft of brand new officespace on Dale Street.

The firm, which used to be

situated on Stanley Street in the citycentre, has moved into a large officein Imperial Buildings, formerlyhome to the Allied Irish Bank.

A total of 32 employees are nowhoused at the new city centre office,

where they provide all estate agentservices including property auction,sales, lettings and professional services.

Rob Farnham, chief executive atVenmore, said: “In a short space oftime we have already noticed an

increase in footfall compared toour previous office, proving thatthe move to a prime location willimprove our profile in the city, andhelp us to continue to grow in achallenging economy.

Venmore offices

Humyak House

Century House

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Lettings News

LIVERPOOL PROPERTY GROUPDowning has welcomed thelatest retail addition to its citycentre portfolio.

Sandwich shop Out toLunch is relocating to a 1,690sq ft unit in No 1 Old HallStreet, moving from itsexisting Tithebarn Street siteon a 10-year lease. The newpremises will allow the shopto offer seating for the firsttime.

Downing has also put threenew 4,800 sq ft suites on themarket at the city buildingthat are currently undergoingrefurbishment.

It is Liverpool’s largestprivate commercial landlordwith 1m sq ft of commercialspace under its ownershipand management. Itsportfolio includes The Capitaland Grade II listed Port ofLiverpool Building.

TASTYTENTANTFORDOWNING

Grade A SiteScores New TenantsRUMFORD Investments arepushing to have their 20 ChapelStreet property filled up by the endof the year.

The address is one of the fewGrade A office spaces available inthe city centre – and more is neededif Liverpool is to attract blue chipbusinesses in the next five years,according to the group.

The total floorspace of the 15-storybuilding is 155,000 sq ft and 52,000sq ft remains.

Liverpool City Football Club hastaken 30,000 sq ft and Plexus

Cotton Ltd – one of the oldestbusinesses in Liverpool – has alsomoved in.

“We have some very high calibretenants, attracted by the location, highquality facilities and beautiful views,”said William Coleman, sales andmarketing manager at RumfordInvestments. “The front elevation ofthe property has floor to ceiling glassand stunning views across the Mersey,so the building is filling up top down.”

He said Grade A office space isa valuable commodity not justfor Rumford, but the city’s offer

as a whole. The only other significant amount

of Grade A office space inLiverpool’s central business districtis at the final phase of St Paul’sSquare.

That is scheduled to be completedin the spring and will bring 109,000sq ft of office space onto the market.

“In the next five to 10 yearsLiverpool will fall behind if it hasn’tgot enough Grade A office space tooffer,” said Mr Coleman. “It isneeded order to attract newbusinesses to the North West.”

Out to Lunchcomes to OldHall Street

20 Chapel Street

No. 1 Old Hall Street

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Professional serviced offi ces, that are located in a local community with excellent access to all major road networks.

Business centre with offi ces for 2 to 12 persons

Secure environment On site car parking Air conditioning Close to the A580, M62 and M6 motorways Conference and meeting room facilities

Book a viewing today:

01925 273000or visit: www.langtreegroupplc.co.uk/centrixatnewton

You really should take a look @ our offi ce space atcentrix@newton

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Move Commercial Bitesize thinking

If only I’d known….

LISA GREEN

‘Virtuous Circle’BuzzwordDefinition:Complex of profitable events thatreinforces itself through a feedbackloop. Much loved in managementtheory; often spotted next tosimilarly annoying terms like“incentivise”.

Example:“A corporate culture whereemployees are empowered willresult in superior service delivery

that in turn will create customerloyalty and higher profit margins.Reinvestment in employeedevelopment will result in avirtuous circle.

Not to be confused with:Vicious circle.

Odds of actual existence awayfrom a Powerpoint presentation:Low.

The Carbon Trust found decision makers in the North Westare more optimistic about the opportunities representedby green growth than in any other region in the UK.

It found that a robust 79 per cent of business leaders inthe North West think the percentage of UK jobs accountedfor by the green economy will increase.

79 percentVitalstatistics

That the skills I developed working in the public sector for 20 years wouldbe so transferable to running my own business. OK, so I was in a corporatemanagement role responsible for marketing, customer service, efficiencyand partnership development (the public sector equivalent of networking)but if you listen to the popular press you’d think the two sectors werepoles apart. Over the years I’ve seen good and bad on both sides and weneed to build on the strengths of both to ensure continued economicsuccess for our region.

I see the private rentalsector continuing to need toexpand to meet the needsof people either strugglingto get mortgage finance orsimply not wanting to tiethemselves down to oneplace for too long. With theaverage age of first-timebuyers now at 37, many willcontinue to choose theflexibility of renting inpreference to the traditionalaspiration of homeownership. However manylandlords still need torecognise that they need toraise their standards to makesure renting doesn’t remaina second class option.

In mycrystal ball…

Director of The County Homesearch Company

Jonathon Prichard, architect at LAGPrichard Architects, had a hard taskpicking his favourite two buildings. "Itis really hard for me as an architect to

have to choose only two buildings. Itis a little like Desert Island Discs. Isuppose my choices are taken fromthose buildings that reflect my work

and my life and havebeen inspirational inmore ways than one.

“My home choice isthe Oratory Chapel atBoarbank Hall, a small,perfectly proportionedoratory in Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, whichis where I live. Thesimplicity of thisbuilding emphasisesthat whatever you do,do it well and let itspeak of who you are.

“My away building isthe hardest to choose,and is Le CorbusierRonchamp. Thisbuilding has had themost effect on myworking life. I take onething from this, it is thewondrous effect lighthas on a building. Thethick glass that refractsthe light – it’s sodramatic. I’ve used thateffect in my own work.”

&HomeAway

Oratory Chapel at Boarbank Hall

Le Corbusier Ronchamp

Jonathon Prichard, architectat LAG Prichard Architects

FAVOURITEBUILDINGS

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News Liverpool

Baftaawardwinners inLiverpool

Businesses get readyLIVERPOOL City Council is callingon businesses to review their keyservices or activities and putprecautionary measures in place,just in case of an emergency orbusiness interruption.

The City Council EmergencyPlanning Unit which has a statutoryresponsibility under the CivilContingencies Act 2004, have justreleased a Business ContinuityManagement (BCM) Booklet‘Building Business Resilience’,which gives simple advice on how tointroduce business continuity intoyour organisation by following thesix simple stages of the BCMLifecycle.

In June 2010, the EPU launchedthe Liverpool Business ContinuityManagement Forum (LBCMF) thatis free to join and free to attend.The forum meets quarterly,providing information andpresentations on various businesscontinuity related topics. Thebenefits of membership includeaccess to Liverpool focussed BCMresources, and to forge businesslinks with a wide range oforganisations.

The LBCMF recently launched afree training programme for SMEsand the voluntary sector to train

local businesses in BusinessContinuity Management andprepare them for the unexpectedsuch as a fire, flood, loss of ITsystems or even evacuation.

Steve Lambert, EmergencyPlanning Officer and Lead BusinessContinuity Officer, commented: “Weare helping local businesses puttogether business continuity plansand train staff, so they are betterprepared and can respondaccordingly. Having a robustbusiness continuity plan in placewhich organisations can refer toduring emergencies, reduces thechances of people running around orpanicking and increases thelikelihood of a successful incidentresponse and recovery. Organisationsneed to assess the impacts on theirbusiness, such as loss of staff,premises, IT, information or loss ofkey supplier would have on theiractivities and put arrangements inplace, should the worst happen.”

A Business Continuity Plan is adocumented collection of proceduresand information that is developedand maintained in readiness for use,in the event of a businessinterruption or incident.

The EPU are also raisingawareness on city centre evacuation

(see page 15). They work withmulti-agency responders such asthe police and the fire service to getthe message to people of where toevacuate to and what to put in youremergency grab bag.

For more information on theforum, [email protected].

Information on BusinessContinuity, including the booklet,is available on the LCC websitehttp://liverpool.gov.uk/Business/business-continuity.

FORMER MEMBERS of BAFTAaward-winning developer BizarreCreations have announced thecreation of a new gamedevelopment studio, Lucid Games.And they have announced asearch for the best creative mindsto join them in the venture whichcould create more than 50 newjobs. Formed by seniormanagement and experiencedindustry professionals, the Lucidteam has been responsible forcreating pioneering products overthe last 10 years across action,arcade and racing genres. Titlesinclude Geometry Wars, theProject Gotham Racing series, andmost recently Blur and JamesBond 007: Blood Stone. PeteWallace, managing director of thestudio said: "With the greathistory of Bizarre behind us, weare proud to be part of Lucid andare committed to the UK gamedevelopment community. We planto build a studio whichencourages open communicationwith its partners, customers andother developers." The studio iscurrently talking to severalpublishers regarding potentialprojects, and beginning theprocess of building a world classteam of artists, designers andprogrammers to build innovativeproducts. Steve Smith, DigitalIndustry Director at LiverpoolVision, the city’s economicdevelopment company, said:“Liverpool Vision has been keento keep what is some of the bestgames talent in the global gamesmarket in Liverpool and from dayone we have been verysupportive of this initiative. Thisworld class talent combined witha very credible and experiencedmanagement team, we believeoffers the best future for asustainable and viable businesswithin the significant Liverpoolgaming sector.” Liverpool City Council

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KNOW YOUR ZONEHOW TO PREPARE YOUR BUSINESS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION

Liverpool City Council’s Emergency Planning Unit and other partner agencies haveprepared a City Centre Zoning Map for use in an emergency situation. The city is divided

into numbered zones which can be used for a full or partial evacuation of the city if needed.

When an emergency strikes your workplace,having some basic items can make all thedifference to you and your colleagues if you haveto evacuate the premises.

Here are just a few suggestions of things you could putin your bag.• Copy of your Business Continuity Plan & building plans.• Useful telephone numbers (e.g. suplliers,

stakeholders/partners utilities etc).• Cash, debit/credit cards.• Mobile phone and charger.• First Aid Kit• Foil Blankets• High visibility vests (indentification of fire wardens etc)• Wind up or battery powered radio and spare batteries• Torch and spare batteries• Notebook & pen• Staffing list• Megaphone or whistle• Salvage inventory• Laminated action cards

DISPLAY THE MAP IN A PROMINENT SPACE IN THE

BUSINESSEMERGENCY GRAB BAG

3

MARK UP YOUR ZONE ON THE MAP IN THE SPACE PROVIDED3

MAKE STAFF AWARE OF WHERE THEIR ZONE IS3

Additional copies of this zoning leaflet can be downloaded from the Liverpool City Council’s website underCity Centre Emergencies at:- www.liverpool.gov.uk or obtained in hard copy from: Liverpool City Council,Emergency Planning Unit, Municipal Buildings, Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2DH Telephone: 0151 225 8400

Email: [email protected]

North West Ambulance Service let’sgetreadyliverpool

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MOVE COMMERCIAL16

News Commercial

LIVERPOOL-based NoblesConstruction is on targetto grow turnover aftersecuring £8 million of newbusiness in the early partof the year.

Nobles, in Everton, hassecured eight newcontracts across thehealth and educationsectors, including a £2.1million contract with StMargaret’s Church ofEngland Primary School inWarrington.

Work at St Margaret’swill involve constructingtwo new extensions tothe existing school andrefurbishment throughoutto allow the school toamalgamate the infantsand junior schools, which

are currently separate.Nobles has also won a

£1.8 million contract withAintree Hospital torefurbish wards four, 18and part of 19 to improvestaff and patientfacilities.

The deal comes in thewake of the £1.5 millionredevelopment of AintreeHospital NHS Trust’soutpatient department,which was completed byNobles last year.

Director Peter Linfordsaid the company wascontinuing to performwell despite the economicslump. “Our ethos is todeliver quality work, ontime and within budget."

Nobles on Target to Grow

BUILDER Willmott Dixon hassigned a £10.3 millioncontract to revitaliseindependent girls school,Birkenhead High SchoolAcademy.

The contractor, which has anorthern office employing110 people in Oldham, willremodel and refurbish theexisting buildings as well asadding new accommodation.

Academy principal ChrisMann said the plan was toconserve the originalbuildings but remodel themto add 21st centuryfacilities.

Working with the Girls DaySchool Trust as sponsor,Wirral Council and MottMacDonald as technicaladvisors, Willmott Dixon willstart on the site immediatelywith completion by 2012.The architects are Liverpoolbased Aedas, the structuralengineers Capita Symondsand mechanical andelectrical consultants, TACE.

The project will see thenursery, infant and juniorschool modernised andlinked together by a newthree storey building, whichserves a new library, ICTfacilities, an assembly halland additional classrooms.

The adjacent secondaryschool’s 1960s hall will bereplaced by a multi-functional central spacewhich will offer a theatre,dining room, study areas anda café alongside a new hall.

CONSTRUCTION on a new £45million hall of residence forLiverpool University has begun,with completion projected forJune 2012.

Manchester-based OconConstruction won the contract tobuild the new hall, called VineCourt, which will add 710 en-suitebedrooms and a 250-seatrestaurant to the universityísestate.

It will take the number ofstudent rooms offered by theuniversity to above the 4,000mark for the first time.

The scheme, on Chatham Streetin the south-west corner of thecampus, was designed byarchitects Stride Treglown and willbe made up of a mix of studio

apartments, two-bedroomapartments and two bedroomduplex ‘loft’ apartments.

The development will varybetween five and nine storeys andis on the site of a former car park.

Revamp forBirkenheadGirls School

Peter Linford

Ocon win contract

Work starts onStudent Hall

Birkenhead High School CGI

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MOVE COMMERCIAL 17

THE VISION for Manchester’s FirstStreet, the single largestundeveloped site in ManchesterCity Centre, has been launched at aproperty convention in France.

Manchester City Council ChiefExecutive Sir Howard Bernsteinand Ask Developments’ chiefexecutive Ken Knott unveiled theplans at the MIPIM propertyconvention in Cannes.

The £100 million 20-acre gatewaysite will provide destination retailand leisure facilities, a new culturallandmark and up to 1.25 million sqft of office space, in what will formthe city’s newest cultural quarter.

It is hoped the project willgenerate 10,000 jobs.

The cultural focus will be astriking new home for local culturalinstitutions the Cornerhouse ArtCentre and Library Theatre on FirstStreet, which Manchester CityCouncil has pledged to create.

The new 50,000 sq ft iconicbuilding is currently the subject ofan international designcompetition, with outdoorperformance space and new publicsquare being added.

Once in place it is expected todraw in up to one million visitorsper year.

First Streetís cultural hub willopen in summer 2014, anchoringthe northern end of First Street andconnecting to Oxford Road railstation, the Conference Quarter andDeansgate Locks.

The first phase, Number One FirstStreet, already frames the southernhalf of the site, providing Grade Afloor space. First Street will alsoboast the first major newpedestrianised thoroughfare in thecity for many decades connectingthe community of Hulme throughthe Mancunian Way to theHacienda site on Whitworth StreetWest. Manchester City Council

Chief Executive Sir HowardBernstein said: “These plansrepresent the kind of imaginativeand innovative thinking thatManchester is rightly renowned forthe world over. ìAs well assupporting existing jobs, thisdevelopment will help attract othersto what is an important gateway siteinto the city. In the aftermath of therecession and facing unprecedentedpublic sector cuts this is exactly thesort of scheme we need to getpeople into work, get our economymoving even faster, and show theworld that Manchester is still anambitious city on the up.”

Commercial News

First glimpse of Manchester’s new Culture Hub

CONSTRUCTION giant BalfourBeatty has agreed the financialterms for the £48 million NorthWest Fire & Rescue Services publicprivate partnership project.

The 25-year concession willinvolve the design, construction,funding and provision of facilitiesmanagement for 16 community firestations. There will be seven inMerseyside, five in Cumbria andfour in Lancashire.

The stations will be built on a mixof new and existing sites in a rangeof locations from rural stationswith retained crews to busy innercity stations with full-time officers.

Construction of the fire stationswill begin in February 2011, withall construction work to becompleted by 2013.

Balfour Beatty will invest £5.5million of equity into the whollyowned concession.

Peel in ShipbuilderTakeoverPROPERTY giant Peel and seniordirectors of Birkenhead shipyardCammell Laird have taken overshipbuilder A&P Group.

The move sees Cammell Lairdboss John Syvret becomemanaging director of A&P Group’snew owners, Atlantic & PeninsulaMarine Services.

The takeover comes after MrSyvret’s Northwest Shiprepairers’bid to buy Cammell Laird wasbeaten by A&P Group a decadeago.

The new owners see huge

potential in expanding A&P Groupinto the offshore renewable andcivil nuclear energy markets.

The move gives them a primefoothold for these energyopportunities on the south andeast coasts.

Peel Ports Holdings owns 50 percent of Atlantic & PeninsulaMarine Services, with theremaining 50 per cent owned by agroup of investors includingexisting investors and directors ofCammell Laird Shiprepairers andShipbuilders.

Balfour SignsFire Station Deal

Manchester’s new culture hub CGI

p13-26:p03-12 17/3/11 17:44

MOVE COMMERCIAL18

News Retail

PLANS to complete the £16mregeneration of Halewood’sRaven Court site have moveda major step forward.Neptune Developments hassigned a legal agreementwith Knowsley Council tobuild a new supermarket onthe site along with a rangeof individual shopping unitsand a hairdressing salon.

The 48,000 sq ft schemewill accommodate a number ofwell known retailers including

Aldi, Tesco, Home Bargains,frozen food store Cooltraderand bookmakers, William Hill. Anewsagent and a fish and chiptakeaway are also relocatingto the new development fromthe old centre.

The plans, which wereapproved by the council inNovember, include a new businterchange facility, carparking and possibly a newpub restaurant. The retaildevelopment completes the

major regeneration of the site,which also saw the openingof the groundbreakingHalewood Centre in January2009. The Halewood Centrebrings together a range ofKnowsley Council, NHSKnowsley and communityservices in one building.

Cllr Dave Lonergan, KnowsleyCouncil’s Cabinet Member forRegeneration, Economy andSkills, said: “This is anothersignificant step forward in the

plans to completely transformthe Raven Court site and isbeing achieved at a challengingeconomic time.

Rob Mason, developmentdirector at Neptune,commented: “We are lookingforward to getting on site andstarting work on thedevelopment as soon aspossible. It is greatopportunity to improve theshopping and retail offer forthe community of Halewood.”

Supermarkets flock to newHalewood shopping centre

THE EDGE LANE retail parkdevelopment has been giventhe green light to go aheadwith the project and will notbe subject of a call-in inquiry,following confirmation by theGovernment Office for theNorth West.

The £200m Edge LaneProject is an ambitiousprogramme of commercial,residential and infrastructureimprovements. It willrejuvenate an area that wasonce an economically thrivingpart of the city and, at thesame time, transform one ofthe most important routesinto Liverpool city centre.

Independent planningconsultancy DPP partner JohnFrancis said: "This is a verysignificant step towardssecuring the futureregeneration of an importantarea in Liverpool. The decisionrepresents the culmination ofmany months of close workingand liaison with LiverpoolVision and the officers andmembers of the City Council,and intense negotiation withthe key stakeholders."

Following GONW’s decision,it is hoped that work on thescheme will begin in mid2011. The project teamcomprises architects AEW,KFM as quantity surveyors,Roc Consulting as engineeringand flood risk work, andSanderson Associates forhighways work.

LIVERPOOL’S boutiqueHotel Indigo has securedhundreds of thousandsof pounds worth ofbookings ahead ofopening. The hotel,owned and operated bySanguine HospitalityLtd, has secured£300,000 of businessbefore its June launch.Located on ChapelStreet, the 151-bedroomhotel has benefitted fromthe city attracting majorevents, such as TheLabour Party Conferencein September.

David Hughes, general

manager at Hotel IndigoLiverpool, said: “Majorevents in the city arehelping to drive mid-week bookings, forexample high profileconcerts such as KatyPerry at the arena.These, coupled with ourconfidence in the level ofservice and product onoffer, mean thatoccupancy is alreadylooking buoyant, fourmonths before we haveeven opened.”

Sanguine HospitalityLtd has entered into alicensed agreement with

Intercontinental HotelGroup (IHG) to own and

operate Hotel IndigoLiverpool.

Bookings soar at Indigo ahead of opening

Green lightfor EdgeLanedevelopment

Halewood’s Raven Court

Hotel Indigo

Edge Lane Retail Park CGI

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MOVE COMMERCIAL 19

Retail News

MAGHULL TOWNCENTRE REVITALISEDMAGHULL TOWN centre is set fora revamp following plans forimproving the centre getting thego-ahead. Planners at SeftonBorough Council approved theproposal which include a completeoverhaul of Central Square plusthe redevelopment of nine existingretail units to create 26,400 sq ftof new modern retail space and theaddition of a further 70 carparking spaces.

Maghull Investments, part of theMaghull Group, submitted theplans, with the first phase of theworks commencing summer 2011.This will include the reconfigurationof the existing Central Square carpark to provide an additional 30spaces, the creation of a new 40space overflow car park and publicrealm improvement works to thefabric of the centre. Plans alsoinclude the introduction of a payand display car park managementsystem after a two hour stay.

Michael Hanlon, chief executiveof the Maghull Group, said:“Central Square’s previous ownershad not invested in the fabric ofthe town centre for more than 20years, so there’s a very clear need

to upgrade the centre and improvethe facilities for both the tenantsand their customers.

“We intend to revitalise CentralSquare by providing new largerretail units which will satisfy theneeds of national retailers who wishto be represented in Maghull. Wewill also work closely with thoseindependent retailers such as

Callaghan’s butchers, who provide afirst class local offer, to ensure theycan continue to trade in the squarefor the next 20 years.”

The second phase of work, whichinvolves redevelopment of theretail units, will begin in summer2012 when current tenants’ leasesexpire - the programme of workswill last for 12 months.

LIVERPOOL is getting its firstMiller & Carter in April,creating around 20 new jobsfor local people. The newsteakhouse at Albert Dock isdue to officially open onFriday, April 8, creating anumber of positions for bar,waiting and kitchen staff.Miller & Carter’s MarketingManager, Tessa Crow, said:“We are delighted to havesecured such a fantastic sitefor our new Miller & Cartersteakhouse at Albert Dock.The area has great potentialand we’re confident thatMiller & Carter’s uniqueoffering of premium steakswill prove very popular here.Our new steakhouse has astylish yet informal setting,perfect for experiencing theexpertise of the restaurant’stalented chefs. Our steaks aredirectly sourced from a selectnumber of hand-picked WestCountry farms and preparedto exacting standards bymaster butchers. Few dishesdemand such excellent rawmaterial as steak, which iswhy we place suchimportance in knowing ourfarmers and butchers.”

Awardwinningsteaks

THE HALDANE Retail Grouphave announced therebranding of the LiverpoolNetto store to ‘UGO’,following the acquisition ofthis and 19 other Netto

stores across the country.The new mid-sized grocerystores will build on thediscount retailing strengthsof Netto but will also havestronger and broader core

grocery range togetherwith a much wider healthand beauty offer.

Entrepreneur and soleshareholder of The HaldaneRetail Group, Arthur Harris,commented: “UGO will be aflexible, friendly andapproachable company withold fashioned ideas andethics reconstructed wherenecessary to encompass amodern trading format.There is an opportunity inthe mid-size discountsupermarket sector to dosomething special and Ithink UGO, with itsestablished store teams, isthe brand that can do it.”

The 20 new UGO stores,currently still trading asNetto, stretch fromNorthumberland toWarwickshire, withbranches in Ashington,Hartlepool, Burnley,Bradford, Hull, Blackburn,Barnsley, Bury, Doncaster,Rotherham, Liverpool andNuneaton.

In addition to the Nettoacquisitions, Haldanes arealso in advanceddiscussions to acquire eightconvenience stores andhave already acquired onepetrol forecourt plus aconvenience store with apost office.

No more Netto

New stores to rebrand as UGO

Maghull town centre revamp CGI

Miller & Carter

p13-26:p03-12 17/3/11 17:45

By Dina [email protected]

No Cannes DoIt was a beautiful afternoon and property professionals mingled at the No Cannes Do,organised by Professional Liverpool, having lunch and enjoying the comedic stylings of ChrisConnor and Sean Styles. The hottest property ticket in town and Liverpool’s answer toMIPIM, brought a record 400 guests together at Standard Life’s 5 St Paul’s Square. ChrisConnor, of Mason Owen, acted as compère for the lunch as he has done since 2006, andannounced he would be stepping down this year and handing the microphone to Tony Reed,of Keppie Massie. The event supported Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services, by raisingmoney for Edge Hill and District Credit Union and Moving on with Life and Learning. Whoneeds the sunshine on the Cannes Riviera.

1.Martin Lloyd and Andy Wallace (Liverpool Vision). 2. John Brown (Knight Frank). 3. Helen Johnston (DWF), James Szerdy (DWF) and Dave Tait (Lloyds).

4. Sean Styles raises a laugh. 5. The room is set. 6. Jonathon Prichard (LAGP Architects) and Ellis Hill (Skyline Property Solutions). 7. Neil Kirkham

(Hitchcock Wright) and guest. 8. Fiona Barnet (Move Commercial) and Nigel Cooper (Barclays). 9. Sean Styles (comedian), Stuart Keppie (Keppie Massie) and

Chris Connor (Mason Owen). 10. Stuart Keppie speaks.

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Professional Liverpool Key events

11. Nick Rice (CBRE) shares a smile. 12. Robin Ellis (Downing) and guests. 13. Rob Farnham (Venmore) and Helen Jones (The Design Foundry). 14. David Al-Hadithi

(The Design Foundry), Sue Taylor (Keppie Massie), William Coleman (Rumford Investments) and Heather Summers (JST). 15. Andrew Lovelady (Ethel Austin Properties).

16. Sean Styles. 17. Tony Bostock (King Sturge) and Kevin Lee (Hill Dickinson). 18. Guests enjoy the afternoon. 19. Clive Bleasdale (Weightmans), Merriel Johnson

(Spencer Group) and Ian Steele (GVA). 20. Chris Connor does his thing. 21. Fiona Barnet (Move Commercial) and Kevin Lee (Hill Dickinson). 22. Falconer Chester Hall

table. 23. Stephen Burrows (Professional Liverpool).

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OPENup to business success.Talk to our local business experts

Whether you are opening a business or are already up and running,talk to Barclays about how we can help make your business a success.

For more information please contact Nigel Cooper, Area Manager forBarclays Business in Merseyside, on 07917 200668, or visitwww.barclays.co.uk/business

Barclays Business is a trading name of Barclays Bank PLC. Barclays Bank PLC is registered in England and authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered No.1026167. Registered Office: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP. Barclays Bank PLC subscribes to the Lending Code which is monitored and enforced by the Lending Standards Board.

MOVE COMMERCIAL22

p13-26:p03-12 17/3/11 16:02

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MOVE COMMERCIAL24

We meet at his companyheadquarters in Knutsford, a smallvillage curiously more reminiscentof quaint England than the brightlights of celebrity-endorsed eateries- but the face behind the company islarger than life. Diving straight in,Tim explains: “Restaurants are atthe heart of any community; I’m abig believer of the ‘third place’.You’ve got your work and you’ve gotyour home and you need somewhereelse where you socialise - andrestaurants are the best forms to dothat in.” It is through this conceptthat Tim, as co-owner of restaurantoperator Living Ventures, hasexpanded the group from itsincredibly popular Living Roombrand, which sold for over £28million, to an expansive portfolio ofrestaurants across the country. Apretty good job for an Australianactor who had never meant to gointo the restaurant business.

After a brief stint on the Australiansoap opera Sons and Daughters, Timmigrated to England to pursue hiscareer. Between acting work, Tim gota job as a bartender, and his skilllanded him on the Terry Woganshow. Displaying his remarkablebartending skills on the show led to

starting the consultancy business BarBiz, in 1989, which trained staff atother bars and restaurants. It wasduring this period that he bought hisfirst establishment, JW Johnson's, inManchester in 1993.

“We spent three months workingday and night and within threemonths it had turned the corner andsales went up. As a consultant for

four years, I had opened up manybars and restaurants for other peopleso learned from their mistakes.When it came around to opening upmy own place, operationally wise, wewere bombproof.”

From that point, it was a skip and ahop to expanding his portfolio of

restaurants with new businesspartner Jeremy Roberts. Thepartnership created the very popularLife Café, with two sites in Liverpooland Manchester, which weredeveloped before the fledgling brandsold to hotel and restaurant operatorWhitbread in 1999. “Liverpool’s LifeCafé was very powerful, in the recenthistory of bars and restaurants in

Liverpool Life Café will be quiteprominent because it brought foodinto the city and it was a dynamicattack on the market place.” However, it was the Living Roomthat shook up the bar and restaurantscene across the country andlaunched their new company Living

Ventures. “The Living Room was agame-changer for us because it was abrand that went national and peoplebought into it throughout thecountry. It was very up-tempo casualdining with a very strong baremphasis. This is very Australian-American in its conceptualisation,bar with restaurant. The UK prior to1999 was very much bars with barsand restaurants with restaurants andanything else was a ‘stylised bar’. Itwas the exact same formula asJohnsons and Life Café, it was justthe market was ready for the LivingRoom and a wave happened. TheLiving Room really changed thescene and because of the celebrityendorsement it attracted as well ittook a life of its own. We’ve had 13under that brand and it sold for a lotof money.”

A lot of money equals £28million,with Ultimate Leisure buying outthe Living Room estate. The cherryon the cake was being featured inthe Sunday Times Top 100 as thefastest-growing company inhospitality - turnover grew from£2.47million in 2001 to£19.55million in 2004. Fullyimmersed in the business Tim hasseized opportunity at every turn,

“You can tell a lot about the city from the quality and the depth of itsrestaurants.” In the words of Living Room founder Tim Bacon, at the end of theday a prosperous city has a thriving dining experience - an idea he has workedhard at establishing in the North West.

Raising the bar

The Living Room was a game-changerfor us because it was a brand thatwent national and people bought intoit throughout the country.

““


p13-26:p03-12 17/3/11 17:48

MOVE COMMERCIAL 25

Tim Bacon Entrepreneur

but what is the secret to hissuccess? “I get bored if I am notdoing anything, I’m in love with thenewest thing that we’re doing andmoving onto the next thing andthat’s what motivates me.”

Following the company’sphenomenal growth, they acquired

the Est Est Est chain of restaurantsin 2005 which had began to flag inpopularity, and rebranded the chainunder the Gusto and BlackhouseGrill name. “I bought 19 of them butit was a brand that wasn’t really wellloved anymore. Over the course of acouple of years we have converted

them and the love affair with thosebrands has grown and grown to anextent that they now dominate thesituations they are in and people usethem on a regular basis as part oftheir lives.”

It is this transformation ofrestaurant brands that is now

Tim’s main focus, and is nowconcentrated on their newacquisition, the Heathcotes estate.They include three Olive Presssites in Manchester, Liverpool andCheadle Hulme as well as Grado inManchester and London Road inAlderley Edge. “The Olive Press isa brand that’s known but it doesn’tmake any money. In Liverpool, it’sa great location, you’ve got a goodteam of people in there and it’s anOK business but the Olive Press isnot something we’re going to keepas a brand so it will probably goover to a grill. We’re also going tobuy the building above, expandand be a dominant restaurant inthat location.” However, the rebranding of the five

restaurants is not his only projectthis year, his latest concept about tobe unleashed on the culinary world isAustralasia, opening in May inManchester. “This is based on PacificRim Pan Asian casual fine diningand hopefully I’ve got my timingright on that and we should be ableto ride a wave of top quality food in acasual environment. We also haveThe Alchemist, which is our newestbar and is a modern take on theLiving Room and that’s flying, thereaction has been fantastic. Weopened in Manchester lastNovember and we are openinganother one this year. The next pushwe do will be in London and that willbe taking the brands of Gusto andothers down there because they arestrong enough to hold their ownagainst national chains.”

Bacon fileHQ:Living Ventures, 4/6 PrincessStreet, Knutsford, Cheshire

Annual Turnover:£24.4m

Profits in last quarter:£1.5m (EBITDA)

Projects:Gusto, Blackhouse Bar and Grill,The Alchemist, The Grill , Red Door,Suburbia, Australasia, Marmalade,Grado, The Olive Press.

p13-26:p03-12 17/3/11 17:49

1. Jon Swain (Mason Partners) and Tony Reed (Keppie Massie). 2. Neil Kirkham (Hitchcock Wright & Partners) and Graham Wood (Stratos). 3. Stuart Keppie (Keppie

Massie) and William Coleman (Rumford Investments). 4.Mitch Poole (Paver Smith), Mike Stares, (Rumford Investments) and David Al-Hadithi (The Design Foundry).

5. Chris Lloyd (DTZ) William Coleman (Rumford Investments) and Neil Kirkham, (Hitchcock Wright & Partners). 6. Jonathan Lowe and Chris Lloyd (DTZ). 7. Richard

Peters (Dixon Webb), Jonathan Baucher (Cushman & Wakefield) and Andrew Owen (Mason Owen). 8. Helen Moss & Louise May (King Sturge). 9. Sue Taylor (Keppie

Massie) and William Coleman (Rumford Investments).

20 Chapel Street Key eventsBy Dina [email protected]

Agents’ breakfastwith a viewOn 24 February, the region’s commercial agents gathered for breakfast forthe opportunity to look around Liverpool’s most successful Grade A officebuilding of 2010 - 20 Chapel Street.

With current tenants including Liverpool FC, Barclays and Ernst & Young, theoffice space boasts great views surrounding the Central Business District ofLiverpool city centre.

Mike Stares, Director of Rumford Investments, and owners of the building,commented, “it was a great chance for people to see the four remainingfloors we have on offer as we expect it to be fully let by the end of this year.”

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You’ll bein great company in Liverpool’s No1, ‘Grade A’ business address.

Ernst Young Panmure Gordon Bank of Ireland Broadway Malyan Qire Barclays Wealth Barclays Corporate Liverpool Football Club Plexus Cotton Fujitsu Charles Stanley CS Financial Solutions Finch BoConcept

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p27-38:p03-12 17/3/11 15:34

MOVE COMMERCIAL28

“Get on your bike" was the adviceNorman Tebbit gave to millions ofunemployed people in the 80s.He believed they should movefrom areas experiencing severeeconomic decline to places wherework could be found.

Not easy for an architect in 1994,when recession reared its headagain and construction found itselfroughly in the same place it is now.

Newly qualified Paul Rodgershad to think on a grander scale.

So instead of his bike, hehopped on a plane, to try his luckin the Far East.

Within months he foundhimself leading teams designingthe stations and soaringskyscrapers that came to embodythe booming economies of China,Taiwan and Singapore.

Not bad for a young man whoseprior professional experience wasdesigning house extensions in thecentral belt of Scotland.

“I moved to where the workwas,” he explains simply in hismeasured Scottish accent.“Coming from a culture which wasdownbeat and static, and inwardlooking and soul searching, andgoing to a culture where it was‘can do’ and ‘how quickly can youdo it’ – was hugely exhilarating.

“I just didn’t have time to benervous about the fact I’d neverdone it before. Now, there’s notmuch that fazes me.”

Something which no doubthelped when, as Principal atRMJM, the UK’s largest architect

group, he was challenged to designthe £42million new Skelmersdaleand Ormskirk College.

The college is the first new buildon the campus in 25 years andrepresents the first brick inSkelmersdale town centre’sregeneration.

“The challenge was designing fora masterplan that didn’t exist yet,and building something that couldthen be a catalyst forregeneration,” explains Paul.

“In addition, as a centre of lifelonglearning, it was going to be used by abroad spectrum of people fromteenagers to people of retired age, allstudying a huge range of subjects. Soit was quite a complex brief.”

The masterplan’s vision is tobreathe new life into a centre builtwhen overspill towns or ‘newtowns’were all the rage.

His idea was to create a building

more in keeping with the principlesbehind the old idea of a town. Notso much old fashioned, Paul isquick to point out, as classical: “areal place where people can live andgo and do things in.”

“The newtown was an experimentin the second half of the 20thcentury and it wasn’t a very

successful design,” he explains. “Butthe traditional ‘old fashioned’ towndesign has worked since the days ofclassical Greece.

“Newtowns presupposedeveryone would have a car and itcreated a lot of dead space. Theshopping area was miles awayfrom houses. We wanted toredesign a proper town shape withspaces people could use andstreets, squares, terraces andavenues, and a town square andfacilities the public could use. Withthis in mind we included a theatrespace, a café space, a library spaceand wi-fi bar. This way there’sactivity on the edges of the square;it’s not just a big dead space.

Their wedge-shaped design seesthe entrance of the college formthe north side of a public square,literally connecting it to lifeoutside the college. Social

connectivity seems to be thecommon thread in all Paul’s work.

“Ultimately,” he explains, “designis about what the building cancontribute to a better level of socialinteraction. This way, in time, abuilding can help the sustainabilityof a community.”

Paul was born and brought up in

West Lothian, Scotland. His fatherwas a manager at a car plant and thetwo shared a passion for discoveringhow things fitted together. Meccanoand Lego were favourite toys.

From an early age Paul loveddrawing. “I drew anything,landscapes, trees, people,buildings. I just wanted a careerwhere I could draw. My parentsdidn’t want me to go to art schoolso I studied architecture. I lovecreating. I’ve written music since Iwas 10-years-old. I’m just not verygood at sitting still.”

He saw out the recession in Asia,honing his design and projectmanagement skills there until 2002.

Work there left him with astrong focus on cost and – 70hour weeks being the norm – asturdy work ethic.

No bad thing in the currentclimate. But isn’t it dispiriting,

having to have his creative wingsclipped at the altar of cost?

“The environment’s changing butdispiriting is not in my vocabulary,”he says. “I’m a cup half full person.

“The reality of the world is thatyou have to reconcile architecturalambition with cost. It’s always beenthat way for creative people.

Award-winning architect Paul Rodgers has designed the new Skelmersdale andOrmskirk College, due for completion in August. He tells Move Commercial aboutthe classical vision that inspired it.

From Singaporeto Skelmersdale

I really feel privileged tocontribute to place making“

“

By Emma [email protected]

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He’s always been interested inperiod property and he himself livesin a Georgian flat – he’s a fan of itsairy proportions – and his idealproject, he says, would be acommission for a bespoke house.

Edifices like the Liver Buildinginspire him.

“I dislike buildings which are lazy,which probably cost a lot but didn’tembrace opportunity to realisetheir potential, especially whichhaven’t tried to hard enough tocontribute to connectivity.

“I’m an admirer of Frank Gehry’swork, who designed theGuggenheim Museum in Bilbao –and I was lucky enough tocollaborate with his firm recently inCalifornia. What he achieves fulfilsthe client’s brief, but at the sametime it is personal and sculpturaland pushes on design technologies.

“I like buildings with character,”he concludes, adding: “that’s harderand harder to create when cost getstighter and tighter.”

Paul is keenly aware of the uniqueresponsibility putting his own stampon the landscape creates.

“I feel really privileged tocontribute to place making,” he says.“I have quite a humble attitude to it.Buildings are the product of manyminds, and I enjoy collaborating.That’s why I work in a practice.”

What’s the best compliment hecould get about Skelmersdalecollege, when it opens its doorsthis summer?

“I’d like to come back and see aqueue outside the box office of thetheatre, the college full and peoplewanting to buy the franchise to thecafé. That would feel great.”

Rodgers FileCurrent HQ:RMJM, 10 Bells Brae, Edinburgh.

Education:BSc (Hons) Architecure and BarchArchitecture at University ofStrathclyde.

Achievements:Faculty of Health, Life andSocial Sciences at NapierUniversity in Scotland. -Ecospace SustainableDevelopment Centre at CarnegieCollege, which won the ScottishDesign Award 2008 for BestSustainable Design.-Director for RMJM GlobalTransportation Studio in Europe.

Paul Rodgers, RMJM Architects Rising Star

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The festival was the first one ofmany held in the UK and while itwas meant to spur on regenerationof the site in Otterspool at a timeof great unemployment inLiverpool, as it did with allsubsequent cities, the site soon fellinto disrepair. Almost threedecades on, and the currentdeveloper – property investmentand development companyLangtree – is ready to hand thekeys over to The Land Trust.

Meeting with Langtree managingdirector John Downes we discussedthe massive project of restoring thesite. “The gardens have been satthere derelict, which is tragic it wasthe first garden festival and theyhad huge investment going in fromthe government. The idea was thatyou had this garden festival and itprovided a springboard toredevelop the site, but it neverhappened. The creation of the parkand the new residential communitywill finally deliver a long termsustainable scheme for thisstrategic site on a major gateway into the city.”

Phase One of the project, whichbegan last year, includes renovationof 90-acres of parkland, opening upthe view of the river, restoring thelake and keeping the features of thefestival site put in place in 1984.Two pagodas in the orientalgardens are part of the festivalfeatures restored, as well as theMoon Wall.

“We haven’t just recreated whatwas there in the 80s,” he said.“Visitors will get a feel for what wasthere and it will be quite a uniqueexperience. I knew the rawmaterials we were working with interms of the Chinese and Japanesegardens but it surprised me how

well it came together and howintact it all was. The site was soovergrown and hidden that itpreserved some of the key features,so it is a modern design butmaintaining the best elements ofwhat was there in the 80s. It willattract people to the garden, not as

a sole destination but as a widerLiverpool attraction - it will formpart of the Liverpool toolkit toattract visitors to the city.”

John Downes joined Langtree 15years ago as a developmentmanager working his way up to runthe firm, he is credited as steeringthe company to diversify fromproperty investment towardsdevelopment. He has taken thebusiness in a regenerationdirection, before regenerationbecame an important business forproperty companies, establishing anenviable reputation in the field.During his time at Langtree thecompany has grown impressively,managing the portfolio of theNorth-East’s Regional DevelopmentAgency and the West Midland’sRegional Development Agency’sland and assets, as well asbecoming an expert in developingbrownfield sites. Langtree nowowns and manages approaching 4msq ft of commercial property.

Part of the plans for therestoration of the gardens is theinclusion of residential unitsoverlooking the parkland. However,due to the state of the market Phase2 of the redevelopment of theOtterspool site is now theresidential phase.

“We never planned it that way;the redevelopment of the groundsand building of residential wasmeant to be all one continuousphase - however it has worked out

better this way from a city point ofview. The plan was we were goingto part regenerate the site and thatwould generate the cash that wouldfund part of the works. This way wehave the gardens up and running soresidential developments that nowcome along, if you’re a prospectivepurchaser, you know exactly whatyou’re next door to - and you’renext door to something fantastic,you’ve effectively got a 90-acre parkon your doorstep. The planningpermission we got is now two/threeyears old. It had a lot of apartmentsas part of the plans which we willhave to rethink because theapartment market has changed, butI would like to think within the next12-18 months we will start workingon the residential phase.”

Langtree will now be bringing in anumber of residential developers. Ifthey go with just one residentialdeveloper they will sell the site, butmore likely if it’s a number ofdevelopers it will involve themputting some infrastructure in sothey will be subdividing theresidential area into smallerdeveloper areas. As the city councildidn’t want to create any kind ofdistrict centre because of trafficissues around the site, the plansinclude a local centre and localfacilities.

Langtree’s vested interest in thesite is apparent - “Although we havea number of strategicdevelopments, we have a

The £3.7m restoration of Liverpool’s International Garden Festivalsite is finally coming to an end almost 26 years after the eventfirst opened to the public.

Liverpool's festivalgardens are back

It will attractpeople to thegarden, not as asole destinationbut as a widerLiverpool attraction- it will form part ofthe Liverpooltoolkit to attractvisitors to the city.

“

“


30 MOVE COMMERCIAL

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Mover & Shaker

substantial amount of moneyinvested in the site so it’s animportant strategic developmentfor Langtree.” The otherdevelopments the company iscurrently working on include ascheme on Duke Street, Liverpool.John emphasises that for now, aspart of its short-term sagaciousstrategy, the company will be doingproprietary work rather thanbuilding. They are also partneredwith the North West DevelopmentAgency, and whomever their assetsare passed on to, for theredevelopment of the site on thecorner of St James Street railstation, on The Strand. They have aplanning application going inshortly for an office scheme of100,000 sq ft there.

John Downes may have had toslow down his full steam ahead ofthe company but that does notmean he is still not celebrating -and what a celebration he is goingto have this year. First with the bigevent planned for when they handover the responsibility formanagement of gardens to TheLand Trust in May and then the bigParty in the Park planned for July.

Downes FileHQ:Centrix House, Crow Lane East,Newton-le-Willows, WA12 9UY.

Property Portfolio(highlights):St Helens Rugby League FootballClub; Liverpool’s InternationalGarden Festival site; Albaportfolio of properties, totalling430,000 sq ft across the NorthWest and Yorkshire; DaresburyScience & Innovation in Halton.Three joint venture partnerships:Network Space (with the Homesand Communities Agency), PxPWest Midlands (with AdvantageWest Midlands) and Onsite NorthEast (with One North East),where Langtree manages 1.5million sq ft of property and 75development sites.

Company Turnover:£15m

Company Pre-tax profit:£1.5m

John Downes

MOVE COMMERCIAL 31

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MOVE COMMERCIAL32

58 Hope Street, Liverpool L1 9BZ SELF-CONTAINED OFFICES TO LET2,120 SQFT (197 SQM)

Hope Street is acknowledged for its commercial, educational and cultural diversity whilst nearby Rodney Street is home to many of the city’s professionals. Excellent restaurants and cafe bars are just a couple of minutes’ walk away.

ANDREW OWEN

0151 242 [email protected]

PAUL THORNE

0151 242 3152 [email protected]

Contact us for an initial discussion on +44(0)1829 [email protected] • www.county-homesearch.com

Areaorientation

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MOVE COMMERCIAL 33

1. Dale Milburn (Director Economy & Skills, KMBC) delivers a talk to the group. 2. Mark Eaton (Supply Chain Manager, Balfour Beatty), Lesley Martin-Wright (Chief

Executive, Knowsley Chamber), Dale Milburn (Director Economy & Skills, KMBC), Sheila Toft (Business Support Officer, Knowsley Chamber) and Paul Munro (Project

Director, Balfour Beatty). 3. Angela Penn (Weightmans) and Karen English (Weightmans). 4. Dale Milburn (Director Economy & Skills, KMBC). 5.Mark Eaton (Supply

Chain Manager, Balfour Beatty) and Paul Munro (Project Director, Balfour Beatty). 6. Guests networking. 7.Mark Eaton (Balfour Beatty), Michael Carr (NSG UK Ltd) and

Jim Williams (Tender Management Ltd). 8. Mark Hardie (Hardie Brack), Cristina Chandler (David Roberts & Partners Ltd) and Freddy Peacock (Ensign Contractors).

9. Paul Blennerhassett (Sterling Services) and Joe Taylor (Sterling Services). 10. The guests listen to guest speakers.

Knowsley Chamber of Commerce Key events

Property andConstruction in Knowsley

Knowsley Chamber of Commerce held itsinaugural Property & Construction event on24 February 2011. Lesley Martin-Wright,Chief Executive, welcomed delegates fromthe sector, and introduced guest speakersDale Milburn (Director of Economy & Skills,

Knowsley MBC), Paul Munro (Project Director Balfour Beatty) and MarkEaton (Supply Chain Manager Balfour Beatty). Delegates learned moreabout the current and future projects that Knowsley will be implementing,including the regeneration of the Knowsley Industrial Park; developments inPrescot and Halewood, and Stockbridge Village.

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Council cuts – economic necessityor tool for political restructuring?Cllr Nick Small: I think there’s acombination of factors at play,most of which are political. You’vegot the downturn and the deficitand you have to address that, butthe cuts are being done too fastand extra deep. There’s a newGovernment that for ideologicalreasons wants to radically scaleback the state. The level of savingswe have to make over two yearswill very radically change theservices we offer to the residentsof Liverpool.Professor Peter Stoney: I thinkthe emphasis since the newGovernment came in has been onpace of change. They are frontloading it to get 40 per cent of thejob done in the first year. There’s

got to be a question mark over theneed for that. Is it economicnecessity? The short answer is no.In macro-economic terms there wasno chance the UK was going todefault. The UK and US have neverdefaulted. The need for this pacehas been slightly bogus to put itmildly. It is economic illiteracy tocompare it, as George Osborne did,to maxing out on credit cards. Thisis debt which on average has to bepaid back over 11-13 years. Wedon’t have to pay this back overfour years – it’s simply untrue. Myreading would be the coalitionregards it as a political necessity toget all the badness as it were, overin the short term.Stuart Keppie: The rate at whichthese cuts have been implementedhas been too radical. Certainly from

the point of view of the propertyside in terms of the regenerationprojects and the damaging effecton potential infrastructure. Thereare a number of projects, whichhad been going on and had theybeen kept ticking over,economically it would have mademuch more sense. Liverpool wasjust getting up to what I’d call a‘normal level’ when compared withother cities. The temptation is tothink that an awful lot of the goodwork done over the past five yearsis just going to get completelywashed away.Cllr Nick Small: Liverpool has beenparticularly unfairly hit. If you lookat the pots of money Liverpool hasreceived we’ve lost money thatwas linked to deprivation. We’velost Housing Market Renewal

funding, Area Based Grant, we’velost Supporting People. All of theseare dependent on the levels ofdeprivation you’ve got in your localauthority area and they’ve beencompletely decimated. If we onlyhad the budget cut affecting mostlocal authorities we would have areduction of £26 million, which ismuch easier to manage. SK: I would ask the question, is itnecessarily right that Liverpool hastaken the stand against the cuts inthe way that they have in beingconfrontational with theGovernment. Outside Liverpoolthere is a perception about the citythat goes back to the 1980s. Whilewe should encourage companies tocome here with ambitious projectslike Peel have, it isn’t going tohappen if there’s this adverse

As Liverpool City Council tackles a £91millionbudget cut, can the private sector kick starteconomic growth?

David Al-HadithiThe Design Foundry

Council cuts Lunch debateBy Emma [email protected]

Stuart Keppie, director of leading city surveyors Keppie Massie, senior economistProfessor Peter Stoney, Labour Liverpool City Councillor Nick Small and DesignFoundry director David Al-Hadithi sat down over lunch to discuss swingeing councilbudget cuts and how the private sector can help.

Stuart KeppieKeppie Massie

Professor Peter StoneySenior economist

Nick SmallLabour Liverpool City

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[email protected]

FROM 200-100,000 SQFTWHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING FOR THE FLEXIBILITY OF EASY-IN-EASY-OUT MONTHLY TERMS OR A LONGER LEASE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

FIND OUT WHY WE’RE BETTER, CONTACT ROBIN ELLIS ON

LIVERPOOLCITY OFFICES

p27-38:p03-12 17/3/11 13:11

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perception of Liverpool. I know fullwell we’re a million miles from theHatton days - but I fear there isthat perception.Can Council cuts bring anybenefits?SK: There was a need for somestreamlining to take place. Weneeded to look at the number ofquangos and public bodies. Theproblem is now that an awful lot ofthe expertise contained in theCouncil is going to be lost. It’s how,and who, is now going to drivethings through.NS: We accept we have to haveprivate sector-led growth inLiverpool, we accept we need morebusinesses in Liverpool and privatesector jobs. Some of the workwe’ve done with The MerseyPartnership and Liverpool Vision issimply not going to be able to bedone any more. We’ve got fundingof £1.75m for Liverpool BusinessProgramme works and I’m reallyproud we’ve been able to do that –it shows our commitment to targetprivate led growth. PS: In purely academic macro-economic terms, which can soundrather brutal, you’ve got to say thatif the public sector cuts back andthe private sector comes in,productivity’s going to go up. Where are the new opportunities,if any, for private sector growthin Liverpool?SK: I think we are already beingcreative. The take up of officespace last year was pretty muchhalved in terms of the amount ofsquare footage, but the number oftransactions by comparison to theprevious year actually increased.

That tells you there was a lot moreactivity on the smaller side. Itendorses the fact that we reallyhave got to encourage the SMEmarket. In Liverpool it’s alwaysbeen the case that you start small,grow a firm and hopefully keep thefirm in Liverpool.

David Al-Hadithi: A lot of our publicsector clients have come back andsaid ‘because we didn’t spend anymoney we’ve got to get rid of thisnow’. That’s been our experiencesince time immemorial. As far asextra work coming across we’veseen very little so far but we’ve hadgood noises in that direction.NS: Where I think there’s moreopportunity for business, and whatthe council needs to do moreabout, is around procurement. Thepublic sector will continue to spendhuge amounts of money aroundprocurement. We need to have a

procurementservice whichallows Liverpoolbusinesses tohave a fairercrack of thewhip to getsome of thatwork keep thatprosperity andgrowth inLiverpool. It’snot just aboutwhat servicesthe councilcurrently do thatcan beoutsourced it’smore about howLiverpoolcompanies canget more workthrough thepublicprocurement

process. If you take ascheme likeEdge Lane,significantamounts ofpublic moneyare pretty muchgoing to privatesector througha maincontractor andthrough theirsupply chain;it’s how do weget Liverpoolfirms to accessthat supplychain in a muchbetter way.SK: There is anissue about thisand it’s horsesfor courses - it’seither bestvalue or linkedto expertise, irrespective ofwhether a company is based inLiverpool or not. And I think youdon’t want to compromise that.DA: We’re talking to another councilat the moment about outsourcingpart of a function and if theyprotected their work in that way wewouldn’t have that opportunity.Is there any historical precedentto indicate what will happen next?SK: There was a growth in privatesector in business in Liverpoolfollowing cuts that took place inthe public sector in the 80s, butpart of that was fuelled by the factthere were grant guarantees onbuildings which enabled rentals tobe subsidised; there was pump andprime. Liverpool has relied heavilyon that because it meant the citywas a cheaper and moreeconomical place to come to, and Ithought it was very successful. PS: Buildings relied heavily on that.In a situation that is potentiallystagnant pump priming enables acompany to locate in Liverpool. TheAlbert Dock would not havehappened if there were no pumppriming vehicle. How do we attract business tolocate Liverpool?SK: Since I’ve been working inLiverpool - 30 years now - it hasnot been good at attracting inwardinvestment from companiesoutside. If you look at thecompanies that have come in,which haven’t necessarily grownup in Liverpool, it doesn’t comparewell. The question is whether weplay to our strengths. And ofcourse the port is a big strength

and I think nobody could notapplaud Peel for what they’redoing. It almost seems like they’redoing the job of the council, interms of regeneration.NS: We should be looking at havingan enterprise zone (recentlyrelaunched by David Cameron) innorth Liverpool so you’ve got taxincentives, reduced red tape andbureaucracy to encourage companiesto locate in North Liverpool. That’s apriority of this administration. PS: Unfortunately the lastexperience of enterprise zoneswas not very favourable. Whathappened at Speke was quite anumber of businesses moved inwhich were already in existence, sothe net impact was actually notvery great. NS: It can’t just be about existingbusiness relocating, it’s got to beabout new business coming toLiverpool first time, the question ishow you set that up. PS: You could also argue you arecreating iniquity if you are going tocreate special exemptions fromcosts on new businesses in respectof existing businesses trying togrow outside the so called zone. SK: At the other end of the scale ifthe Government was going tomake a real difference then someof the back office services that arein London should be shipped outinto the regions. Liverpool hastraditionally been very good onproviding public sector back up. Youcould almost cut London off andfloat it off and it would still surviveon the private sector side.Now there are fewer grants to go

“The Albert Dockwould not havehappened if therewere no pumppriming vehicle

”

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MOVE COMMERCIAL 37

round, how can new businessesbe supported?NS: It can’t just be about grantsany more. Over the next few yearsit’s going to be about identifyingsome of those companies with highgrowth potential and ambition tosucceed and grow and they’re thecompanies that need to besupported. I believe quite stronglyin this. I don’t think you can teachentrepreneurship. Some of thismight be around saying; this mightnot be for you.If you are going to plough moneyinto a business forever, put £5 into get £4 out – that isn’t going towork! It’s experience, aboutsomeone putting their arm roundyou and saying, ‘don’t make allthese mistakes’.DA: My experience is, it’s becomingmore and more difficult to employpeople. I heard Vince Cabledescribe the economy as a patientwho had had a heart attack andsomeone asked the question, howare you going to make it easier toemploy people? His onlycommitment was ‘we are going todo something’. I haven’t seenanything yet and as a smallbusiness it is more and moredifficult to employ someone. I liketo employ people. I like to thinkwe’re creating jobs. What needs to happen in thelong term?PS: I think we need to give theCoalition credit for having identifiedinfrastructure for being relevant tosupporting private sector industryand that’s why it’s good that theyare going to build the MerseyGateway. But I think by the sametoken there should be focus onimproving road access to the docks,which has been on the cards for a

few decades. There was a proposalto improve the access which gotturned down fairly recently by theplanning commission.NS: And that has to be done. If youlook at the Port of Liverpool weknow that that’s going to expand,because of the Panama Canal(being widened to allow largercontainer ships to use the trade

route to the Far East) and for thatto happen we need to build theinfrastructure to deal with theadditional freight that’s going tocome there, part of it road and partof it rail. We need to be pressingGovernment for funds and alsoneed to be looking to working withLiverpool Waters.SK: My concern is Liverpool Watersis being used to promote Liverpoolfrom a business and economicpoint of view and Peel are doing a

very good job.They have donea superb wooingjob on China andin getting theChinese overhere, and doingsomethingdifferent that therest of thecountry isn’tnecessarilydoing. My hugeconcern is one ofcredibility aboutthe scheme. It’saspirational butit’s somethingthat is going tobe 30 yearsgoing forward.The only way of

actually justifying it is to have areally concerted marketingcampaign on an international basis.But that’s got to be sustained overa long period of time.What’s the biggest single factor,which determines Liverpool’seconomic future?NS: Everything we do has to beabout keeping population inLiverpool. Graduate retention isgoing to be a massive issue. Wehave about 25,000 studentscoming in from outside Liverpool –retaining them is the easiest wayof growing population in the city.DA: As someone who has come infrom somewhere else, Liverpool isa place where people give you achance. I don’t know many citieslike that. It’s got that going for it. NS: The universities in the pasthave focused on ‘come to Liverpoolhave a great student experience,it’s quite cheap’. What theuniversities haven’t done enoughof is working with the city counciland other partners to encouragemore students to stay. They have aresponsibility to the city ofLiverpool and they need to takethat seriously. They are beginningto do that now with the civicengagement strategy. This is thebiggest single thing theuniversities can do.SK: The offer that the city hasnow, for graduates and youngpeople, should be absolutelyjumped on to try and encouragethem to stay here, and that’s in away why you need the financialservices and a bigger mix ofcompanies, large as well as small. What needs to change aboutcouncil culture? SK: I think also there’s anexpectation by the private sectorwhere it wants to see a strongcouncil and a well-organisedcouncil. And because the council isnow being streamlined the need tohave a proper, almost private sectorworking regime is more importantnow than it’s ever been. And also tohave quality of individuals whohave leadership skills. I think thatcertain high-ranking individuals inthe past have hidden – andbasically haven’t engaged properlywith the private sector.

Liverpool is constantly comparedto Manchester in terms of itsregime. Howard Bernstein (chiefexecutive of Manchester CityCouncil) is often flagged up assomeone who opens his doors andwill engage on a personal basis.NS: This is one of the things we’vetried to do as a Cabinet – be more

accessible, go out to meet thecommunity, and be enablers to theprivate sector. Jobs are going to becreated by companies and not bythe council. Ultimately all we cando is provide the infrastructure andtalk up Liverpool.

Council cuts Lunch debate

“because the councilis now beingstreamlined theneed to have aproper, almostprivate sectorworking regime ismore important nowthan it’s ever been

”Our panel enjoyed lunch from

the a la carte menu at Blake’srestaurant at the Beatlesthemed Hard Days Night Hotel– where a certain Justin Beiberhad just booked in.

Named top city restaurant inthe 2010 Good Food guide,the restaurant is renownedfor quality ingredients andfine dining.

Starters include hand madesweet potato blini, freshorganic salmon gradvilax andpickled beetroot (£6.95).

Mains included citrus braisedpork belly, sage-infused confitshoulder roast fillet andpancetta, sautéed potato andthyme jus (£21.95).

Vegetarian options includebalsamic roasted shallot tatinwith celeriac puree and yellisongoat’s cheese fritter (£15.95)

To reserve a table telephone0151 243 2121.

BLAKES RESTAURANTHard Days Night Hotel, CentralBuildings, North John Street,Liverpool, L2 6RR

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1. Fitness equipment by John Lewis. 2. Kim O’Brien, Fiona Barnet (Move Publishing) and Darleen Lee. 3. Julia Casimo (John Kerr Chartered Accoutants) limbers up.

4. Ian Murray (C & D Properties), David Dunne (Acorn Property Services), Andrew Owen (Mason Owen), Alan Bevan (City Residential). 5. Ian Murray (C & D Properties),

Paul Lea (Venmore), Wesley Preston (Acorn Property Services), Alan Bevan (City Residential), Andrew Owen (Mason Owen), Rob Farnham (Venmore) appear to have backed

a winner. 6. Paul Lea (Venmore), Alan Bevan (City Residential) and Rob Farnham (Venmore). 7.Wesley Preston (Acorn Property Group) and Andrew Owen (Mason Owen).

8. Liverpool Harriers coach Mike Dooling. 9. Sue and Ian Taylor (Keppie Massie) admire Stuart Keppie’s putting skills.

The Property Networking Games Key eventsBy Dina [email protected]

The property elites networkProperty professionals were put through their paces when they came togetherfor an Olympics-themed party at the Move Publishing offices on Henry Street.

Attendees showed off their sporting prowess on Wii athletics games, had a goon a practice putting green and tried out cutting edge gym equipment suppliedby John Lewis.

Those seeking something less strenuous were offered hand massages byKiehl’s, plus the chance to try out muscle-toning FitFlops and state of the artrunning clothes by Ronhill.

Liverpool Harriers coach Michael Dooling gave tips on how his running squadstay at the top of their game and guests got the chance to stretch their mindswith a sporting quiz.

Best of British canapes were served by catering experts, Pickled Walnut, andKiehl’s skincare provided guests with a goodie bag to take home.

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On the Instructions of William Hill

For Sale / To Let

For further information please contact our Agency Team:Robert Diggle, Paul Parker, Mike Fitzpatrick or Richard Kirk

For Sale11 Seymour Terrace, Liverpool L3• Self contained office building• 3 secure parking spaces• 143 sq m (1,540 sq ft) approx.• Freehold

For Sale68 Bidston Road, Prenton, Wirral CH43 Substantial Former Nursing Home 617 sq m (6,645 sq ft) approx. Freehold Suitable for alternative use to include single dwelling or for commercial purposes

To Let (Due to Relocation)Upper Ground Floor, City Buildings, 21/23 Old Street, Liverpool City Centre 97 sq m (1,046 sq ft) approx A2 planning permission Unit suitable for use as retail/offices

Ref: MF

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From 1,000 sq ft to 17,000 sq ft available Excellent opportunity for bar/restaurant/gym/office Flexible terms

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Ref: RGD or Joint Agent Tushingham Moore, 0161 833 1197

p39-48:p03-12 17/3/11 13:15

Following the incredibly successful Liverpool pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, NorthWest business and city council leaders came back optimistic of this new

relationship and the future ahead. However maintaining the interest generated atthe Expo is the new challenge faced. Move Commercial identifies the key players

involved in keeping this link alive and planned projects.


“Our reason for becoming leadsponsors of the Liverpool pavilionat the Shanghai Expo last yearwas to help the Merseysideregion raise their profile on theinternational stage.”

• Wirral Waters and Liverpool Watersare 30-year schemes. To date onlyWW has full permission from theSecretary of State, whilst LW is likelyto go to local committee thissummer. Investors will be securedonce permission is approved.

• The Peel International TradeCenter proposes to construct onland within its ownership - either atWest Float in Wirral Waters orEllesmere Port. This would be thefirst of its kind in the UnitedKingdom and the largest and mostsustainable Trade Centre in Europe.The facility will sell an unlimitedvariety of types of goods to thewholesale market. It would serve asa trading ‘Gateway’ into the UK andthe whole of Europe.

“As the city’s EconomicDevelopment Company,Liverpool Vision is tasked tofocus on where growth islikely to come from in thefuture and we believe it willincreasingly come fromoverseas.”

• The Liverpool in London embassy,Liverpool Street in London, activelypromotes Liverpool as aninvestment location showing keyassets of the city and areas werewe as a city are world class.

• The embassy is also workingclosely with colleagues fromShanghai who have forged linkswith through the LiverpoolShanghai Partnership.

• Liverpool Vision is currentlypromoting Liverpool’s links with theUSA, Finland, Indonesia to name buta few.

“We were the only UK city tohave a presence and weinvested a lot of money in it, soit is vital we keep up themomentum. It is not just aboutmaking links with China, butalso making sure we areequipped with the skills to dobusiness with them.”

• Cllr Small is involved in increasing thenumber of pupils who are learningMandarin in Merseyside schools, sothey are able to take advantage ofemployment opportunities.

• Promoting the Liverpool city regionand working with the UK trade andinvestments.

• The council is also looking forbusinesses to sponsor people in Chinaand facilitating special permits inChina especially in the CreativeIndustry sector.

“China is becoming an increasinglyimportant outward investor, withover 1 billion pounds invested inthe UK now. This is only likely toincrease as Chinese companies goabroad, looking for opportunitiesto extend their sales network, buybrand and technology andinternationalise.”

In the Liverpool Shanghai strategydocument he wrote before leaving asdirector, he suggested the following:• Liverpool must become morecompetitive in attracting Chinese tocome to look at the knowledge assetsof the city, its creative economy, andits logistic and commercial advantages.

• Companies like the Bank of China andtelecoms providers like Huawei shouldbe made more aware of the real assetsthat Liverpool and the city region have.

• It is realistic that in 5-10 years timeChina might become one of the majorsources of investment from abroadinto Liverpool.

NAOMI PECKPR and MarketingProject Manager at PeelLand and Development

CHRIS HEYESHead of Liverpool Vision’sLiverpool in Londonembassy

CLLR. NICK SMALLCabinet member forEmployment and Skills atLiverpool City Council

DR KERRY BROWNformer Liverpool ShanghaiPartnership director, currentlyhead of Asia Programme atChatham House

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Liverpool-Shanghai Focus

Beyond Shanghai Expo

“We aim to give both Liverpooland XJTLU students theopportunity to become globalcitizens, benefiting from aninternational curriculum andexperience, as well asenhanced employability.”

• The University of Liverpool ispartnered with Xi'an JiaotongUniversity, one of China’s top 10institutions, establishing the Xi’anJiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU),an independent Chinese university.

• XJTLU, which is located in theprestigious Suzhou Industrial Park, whichis home to 76 Fortune 500 companies.

• It has 4,000 students studying 19programmes with more than 650 XJTLUstudents studying for ‘dual affinity’awards, completing up to half of theirprogramme in Liverpool, and will receiveboth a Chinese and UK degree.

• Liverpool postgraduate students canstudy part of their course in China.

“I think the revival ofLiverpool China Town wouldbe an enormous boost toLiverpool’s tourism offer aswell as providing a focus forthe cultural and commerciallife of a growing Chinesecommunity.”

• Dr Lee is working closely withLiverpool Vision and Liverpool Cityto put together a group of privatesector sponsors to enable Liverpoolto have a dedicated presence at allof UKTI’s trade missions in majorChinese cities.

• He is also involved in a number ofspecific development projectsincluding plans for a potentialChinese retail scheme in SouthLiverpool and is also working with anumber of prospective partners toprogress plans for the regenerationof Liverpool China Town.

“Doing business in China requireslong term commitment,persistence, strategic planningand solid implementation.”

• CBBC team is supporting itscorporate member Peel Holding andLiverpool Vision to attract investmentfrom China.

• It also works hand in hand withother regional partners e.g. LiverpoolChamber of Commerce, ProfessionalLiverpool and Mersey Partnership.

• CBBC is hosting and organizing aBusiness Dinner in honour of Mr YuZhengsheng, Secretary of theShanghai Party Committee in April.

• Corporate members also benefitfrom reciprocal membership of theBeijing based British Chamber ofCommerce in China (Britcham),including access to more than 100events per year in Beijing and astronger membership network.

UK Trade & Investmentsupports companies in theNorth West that want totrade and invest overseas.Clive has particularexperience in Asia.

• Passport to Export Programme,UKTI’s flagship scheme for new andinexperienced exporters, providesadvice, training and supporttowards market visits to helpcompanies achieve their exportpotential.

• UKTI also provides a free serviceto help more experienced exportersto increase overseas sales, Gatewayto Global Growth (G3), which is a 12month programme of strategicsupport tailored to individual needs.

• Its Overseas Market IntroductionService can also put businessesdirectly in touch with UKTI staffbased at its 100 Embassies andConsulates worldwide.

PROFESSOR SIRHOWARD NEWBYVice-Chancellor of theUniversity of Liverpool

DR LEE KA HUNGChairs the North WestChinese Council and LCCappointed ChineseBusiness Champion

JESSICA ZHANGNW China BritainBusiness Council

CLIVE DRINKWATERUKTI Regional Directorfor the North West

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As the largest cluster of Grade I listedbuildings in the UK, the Albert Dockwas the biggest project of its kindwhen it was built even if its fortunewaned after WWII - demolishing thisarchitecturally impressive site wouldhave been a crime. Finally,Arrowcroft stepped in to regeneratethe site, waving the flag of commonsense regeneration and changing thefortunes of the city forever.

Following the Toxteth Riots in 1981the plight of Liverpool’s failingeconomy was in the spotlight, whathad been the UK’s second city whenthe Albert Dock was built in 1846was now the poster child of post-warunemployment. In an effort toregenerate the area, EnvironmentMinister Michael Heseltine wasappointed Minister for Merseysideand the question of what to do withthe derelict Albert Dock site had tobe settled. However, all theambitious plans put forwardrequired government grants and noone could justify knocking down thebuildings and warehouses.At this point in stepped Arrowcroft

with a regeneration and restorationproposal that struck a chord. Theman behind the 30-years ofinvestment, development andmanaging of the Albert Dock is ChiefExecutive of Arrowcroft, NicholasHai. Arrowcroft is one of the largestprivately owned property companiesin the UK and a market leader in therestoration and refurbishment ofbuildings of an architectural, historicand national importance.

Guiding me through his officeadorned with framed photographsof Liverpool from three decades ago,

the stark contrast between thedecrepit look of the cityscape thenand the shining skyline of today istestament to this company’sinfluence on Liverpool’s fortunes.

“In 1982-3 the dock gates hadfallen into disrepair and all the siltcame in from the river and that leftus with five acres of silt 16 feet deep.We replaced the dock gates to stopany more silt coming in and we thenpumped water in from the river andpumped out the silt. The buildingshad bomb damage as it had beenneglected since WWII, which wealso repaired. We started work

quickly on the infrastructure and thefirst thing we opened there was afood court, just something to bring abit of life and activity to it.”

Collaborating with the governmentmeant they secured major tenantssuch as Tate Liverpool (the first oneoutside of London at the time) andthe Merseyside Maritime Museum.Although interest was piqued in thecontinuing restoration of the Albert

Dock, the area was still not desirableto national retail names due to itbeing on the wrong side of town.The company instead invited inmom-and-pop businesses, and overthe years as the project becamemore recognised they attracted anew type of sophisticatedrestaurateur and bar operator.

“It’s a bit like the Forth Bridge, youfinish painting one end and startwork again at the beginning - wehave developed and redevelopedsome of those buildings many timesover to reflect the demand at thetime. The Albert Dock is a leisure

centre for Liverpool, in connectingthe Echo Arena with the restaurantsback to the Liverpool One shoppingarea it forms an entertainment hub.”

The success of Arrowcroft’s projectimplementation on the Albert Dockhas absolutely reconfigured theLiverpool City Centre. Havingestablished itself, everything cameafterwards; the bringing in ofLiverpool One effectively connected

the docks with the heart of the city. “We were involved in helping to

master plan the Liverpool One areaand had conversations withGrosvenor, who were concerned withhaving the Albert Dock included aspart of the design and not shut off bythe scheme. We were asked to helpmaster plan a strategy for the areawhere the Echo Arena and BTConvention Centre is now, whichhad to always work in harmony withthe Albert Dock and not fight it.” It is interesting to note that all of

this development is in the very recenthistory of Liverpool and althoughnow a serious rival to surroundingcity centres it is only throughcontinuous work that it can continuebeing a top tourist attraction. WithLiverpool being selected to host theNational Boat Show, the first time ithad travelled outside of London, itwas a huge blow when it wascancelled just a few short monthsbefore its planned date.

“There’s always been a lot ofboating activities and events aroundcruise ships and the tall ships andthe Boat Show was a natural forLiverpool - it got an awful lot ofsupport. I think it was just a badyear to do it but having said that, Ithink in the next year or two theywill reinstate the Boat Show.They’ve built the infrastructure, thepontoons are there, so a lot of theupfront costs has gone into it and itwill be just that much easier nexttime round.”

Although the Albert Dock isarguably Arrowcroft’s biggestaccount to date, the company isinvolved with countless projects

It’s hard to image Liverpool without the Albert Dock but it so easily couldhave been erased from recent memory and replaced with a giganticaquarium, Europe’s tallest building or even a landfill.

Founding Fatherof modern Liverpool

The Albert Dock is a leisure centrefor Liverpool, in connecting the EchoArena with the restaurants back tothe Liverpool One shopping area itforms an entertainment hub.

““


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throughout the country. Untilrecently they had a 12-year jointventure with United Utilities, wherethey managed their surplus landbetween Liverpool and Manchester,which had development potential.

“If you drive out on the A580 yousee a Home Bargains store whichwe developed and an enormous carshowroom bigger than anythingelse that had been done in the UK.We also built a private pet hospitaloutside of Manchester, with 200dog and 120 cat apartments, forMars Corporation who own MarsBar and Pedigree Chum.”

In today’s poor economic climate,Arrowcroft’s development projectshave had to take a back seat as theylook to keep the company’s balancesheet healthy. Alwaysentrepreneurial in spirit their newproperty contract is takingadvantage of the marketplace.“We’ve become very active inpartnering with banks with some oftheir problem portfolios they haveacquired by default and helpingthem to recapture the value. Theyneeded people who are used tobeing hands on. We’ve always beenactive throughout the country andthis new contract will lead us backinto development.”

Liverpool is a city of monumentalhighs and gloomy lows, from one ofthe most important cities in theworld to one of the most deprivedin the country - it is a badge ofhonour for Arrowcroft to call itself afounding father of Liverpool andmean it in every sense of the word.

Nicholas Hai, Chief Executive of Arrowcroft Founding Father

Hai FileHQ:110 Park Street, London

Education:Christ’s College Finchley.Qualified as a Chartered Surveyorat College of EstateManagement. Elected a Fellow ofthe RICS in 1984.

Property Projects (highlights):Albert Dock (Liverpool), LowerPrecinct (Coventry), Matalan(Stockport), The Clarendon Centre& Westgate (Oxford), Jointventure with United Utilities’surplus land (Northwest), EsportaLeisure (Denton, EastManchester), joint venture withAmey plc and CB Richard Ellis.

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Appointments

Leading woman chairs KHT

A leading figure in women’senterprise has been appointedchair of KHT Services, thetrading subsidiary and socialenterprise of Knowsley HousingTrust, which is now part of theFirst Ark group of companies.Maggie O’Carroll will help to takethe business forward and alsohopes to foster entrepreneurshipwithin social housing and KHT’ssocial enterprise activitiesthrough her new role. She is aleader in women’s enterprise andis the founder and ChiefExecutive of the award-winning,Liverpool-based social enterpriseThe Women’s Organisation,which is now the largest women’seconomic development agency inthe UK.

Savills promotes fourSavills' Manchester office haspromoted four people. Hazel Butlerwas promoted to director levelwithin the UK investmentdepartment, while Caroline Sullivanwas made associate director withinthe property management team.Megan Brady and Robert Hall werealso promoted to associate levelwithin the property managementteam. Savills has over 150 staff inthe Manchester office working in itsresidential and commercial propertydepartments

McGurren & Hanlon Join MaghullGroupTwo of Liverpool’s best known

professional heavy-weights havejoined Maghull Group’s seniormanagement team. SeanMcGurren, formerly theLiverpool branch manager ofcorporate and private bankHandelsbanken for six years,assumes the role of managingdirector of MaghullDevelopments. Paula Hanlon,former equity partner at HillDickinson, joins as director tooversee the group’s hotel andleisure operations which includeFormby Hall Golf Resort & Spa.Maghull Group is a north westcommercial and residentialproperty development andinvestment company.

Four senior directors elected at DTZGlobal real estate services firm DTZhas elected four members of itsManchester team to the position ofSenior Director. Mike Mitchell,Regional Managing Director, KenBishop, Office Agency Director, JohnDownes, Director of Portfolio AssetManagement and Bruce Poizer,Director of the Investment team, all

based in DTZ’s Manchester office,have been promoted to SeniorDirector. The newly created graderecognises significant contributionand consistently high performancerelating to either revenuegeneration and/or management.Appointments to this position aredetermined according to rigorouscriteria and endorsed by DTZ’sGroup Executive Committee.

Mike Mitchell

Maggie O Carroll

The Hub is a new business supportfacility based at the University ofLiverpool. The Hub at Foresight deliversa new concept in meeting andnetworking space complementing theexisting award winning facilities.

Key to the success of the Hub is the technology that allows it tobe used as a multi-purpose space for informal meetings,networking and virtual meetings.Full business support facilities provide an 'office-from-office'environment and a gateway to the expertise of the University of Liverpool.

For details of membership, contact the Foresight Centreon 0151 794 8060 or [email protected]

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Expert views Ask the panel

How do we attract high-fliers to the region?

“In Knowsley we try ourhardest to ensure that thereis absolutely no resistanceto encouraging businessesand business people toflourish in our borough. Ifyou want to retain andattract key people it’s aboutcreating and developing apowerful businesscommunity and a readysupply chain of talent.”

Lesley Martin-Wright,Chief Executive,Knowsley Chamber ofCommerce

As the economy starts to show green shoots how do we attract and retain keytalent to create a pipeline of high worth jobs in the high tech sectors. Is it grade Aspace? technology infrastructure? funding and finance? Five well known facesshare their thoughts on how the region now needs to position itself to attract thebest entrepreneurs and innovators.

“For me it’s a combination of factors;we’ve worked with developers toprovide a range of suitable attractivebuildings allowing for flexibility of use,and to enable growth to ensure weretain those companies. A positiveattitude to commerce and theavailability of business support, alongwith useful networks and contacts isa must. The ease of access to theworkplace complemented by a strongresidential, leisure and cultural offeralso provides Merseyside with itscompetitive advantage.”

Mark Dickens, Head ofRegeneration, St Helens Council

"Liverpool’s future economicsuccess is dependent upondrawing high-flyingbusinesses and individualsinto the City. Theseindividuals are attracted toareas that demonstrate acommitment to investmentin supportive infrastructure.Proactive landlords anddevelopers who invest inLiverpool’s commercialknowledge economy, likeLiverpool Innovation Park,have a critical role increating the business-friendly environmentneeded. Liverpool hasseveral such property offersfor knowledge industryoccupiers includingLiverpool Innovation Park,Liverpool Science Park, andMerseyBio, where high-flierscan easily access resourcessuch as talent, ideas,business support andfinance needed to grow abusiness."

Wayne Locke, director of AshtenneSpace Northwestdeveloping LiverpoolInnovation Park,

“Attracting high flying companies is something that most regions of the world are nowdoing. The bar has been raised and now nice premises and a low cost and availablework force won’t cut it. You need competitive Broadband plumbing, real supportnetworks and active links to relevant markets.

If that wasn’t demanding enough you also need proximity of active investment sourcesfrom Seed Funds to Venture Capital firms to Business Angel networks. The investmentmoney is crucial as most companies active in the “fast growth” space, namely Bio Medand Med Tech, Digital and Creative and Cleantech sectors require the full cycle of servicesthat would supply and fuel entrepreneurial based companies through their entire processof startup to exit. There are no exceptions anymore – skills, investment, marketopportunity combine and to create the “holy grail” of economic growth.”

Steve Smith, Digital Industry Director, Liverpool Vision

“A clear and consistent articulation of the cityregion’s key knowledge assets, researchcapabilities and leading associated companiesis an essential prerequisite. We should encourage individuals from outsidethe region to test drive what we have tooffer. A physical base is important, butsupportive professional and sector networksare essential. Once established, companies need access tofinance to grow, professional advice on theirterms when required and a flexible officeenvironment where like minded companiescan collide together and innovate constantly. First class IT infrastructure, transport links andquality of life are a given.”

Chris Musson, CEO, of Liverpool Science Park

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Documents

launch of new

publishing limited

page 3p01

page 1p01

business issue

kim obrien

andjohn downes

centre ofattention