Document

Liverpool Arena I Hotels I Business of football I Finance I Capital of Culture

Issue nineSummer

2007

The award winning

BUSINESS IN THE CAPITAL

Docks rebornA NEW CHAPTER BEGINS

Docks rebornA NEW CHAPTER BEGINS

covers(r) 20/7/07 15:57

Liverpool magazine editorJim Pendrill

Contributors Neil Tague, David Casey

David Chadwick, Jo Birtwistle

Design & ProductionDarren Gillibrand and Lindsey Nolan

CoverMaddie Digital Photography

Production directorBob Stoney

Publishing directorDavid Smalley

[email protected]

M53

is a magazine for those with an

interest in the economic resurgence of the

Liverpool City Region: investors, property

players, retailers, professionals and business.

Liverpool is a rapidly improving business

location that offers companies a strong

combination of business benefits. The area

is attracting growing levels of inward

investment and is creating jobs at a faster

rate than anywhere else in the UK.

The effects of economic regeneration

are everywhere to see.

This publication highlights Liverpool’s

renaissance and its business and

investment potential, with that dynamism

and self-belief reflected in the magazine’s

confident and modern approach.

is published by newsco-insider

and supported by Business Liverpool,

Liverpool Land Development Company,

Liverpool Vision, The Mersey Partnership and

the Northwest Regional Development

Agency.

contents 20/7/07 15:58

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Foreword Steve Morgan, chairman, Bridgemere Group,

Harrow Estates, Salamanca Finance

Up front

•Culture impact

•Dock revival

•Waterfront regeneration

•Mersey Gateway

•Economic indicators

•Q&A with George Downing

Investment

•Compact Astra

•Matchworks

•Liverpool moves up league

•Cybertill

Talking business with…

•Bob Prattey, chief executive, Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool

Property

•Excitement grows at Liverpool One

•Towering ambition

•Private investment

•Floating plans

On the move

•Latest transport news

Countdown to Culture

•All aboard

•BT spread message

•Passport to city

•Culture champions

Sector focus – Football

•Economic benefit

•New stadia

Knowledge

•New degree

•Blair chair

•Blood bank

Professional Liverpool

•High-profile deals

•Burning issue: Economic revival

Lifestyle

•Sporting feast

•Turner prize

•Tall ships

•Hotels: Three of the best

ContactsWhere to go for information, funding or advice in

Liverpool

3

contents 20/7/07 15:59

Foreword

Welcome to the ninth issue of


I make no apologies in this introduction about the

excessive use of the word unique. For me it sums up every

aspect of the city where I was born and grew up.

Liverpool is a proud city with a unique past, some of it

great, some of it not so great. All very interesting you might

say, but what has the past got to do with the Liverpool of

today? I would argue everything.

The Port of Liverpool was founded by King John in 1207

for the purpose of sending men and supplies across the Irish

Sea to the recently conquered Ireland. However, it wasn’t

until the late 17th Century that Liverpool started to grow

rapidly on the back of trade with the English colonies.

Ironically, Liverpool’s real wealth resulted from what

must be the darkest period in its history, the slave trade,

and during the 19th century the city boomed with the

population increasing from about 77,000 to 685,000.

A huge influx of Celts and migrants, combined with

thousands of merchant seamen landing on our shores,

produced the unique people that we call ‘Scousers’,

who occupy this unique city with a unique outlook on life.

Scousers are warm, friendly people, with a unique sense

of humour, who are quick to welcome outsiders and

adopt them into their midst. Yet we Scousers always look

after our own, ‘kick one and we all limp’. During the

1970s and 1980s, this stick together attitude had its

negative side as the constant strikes and militancy of the

period led to unprecedented economic decline. Yet even

during this time my company, Redrow, employed many

hundreds of Scousers whose skills and craftsmanship were

not matched anywhere in the country. Whenever we had

problems with quality or just trying to get the job done,

it was the Scousers we used to send in to sort the job out.

Liverpool never does things by halves. As a city whatever

we manage to do we seem to excel at, good or bad.

On the plus side we have some of the finest architecture

anywhere in the world; two of the UK’s largest and most

impressive cathedrals; St George’s Hall, often described

as the finest neo classical building in Europe; world-class

museums; art galleries; and the ‘Three Graces’ which

proudly stand as sentinels to our famous waterside.

We also boast some of the finest and busiest docks in

Europe; the Grand National and Liverpool FC (with more

silverware in its history than any other English team).

Exciting developments at all three of these we touch upon

in this issue of the magazine. Then, of course, there’s The

Beatles and also our history of great business and political

giants past and present such as Sir William Gladstone, Lord

Leverhulme, Sir William Vestey, Sir John Moores, Sir Terry

Leahy and John Hargreaves.

As we approach 2008, the European Capital of Culture

Year, Liverpool once again has reason to be proud.

Tower cranes dominate the city’s skyline as new buildings,

nestling in with the old, are rapidly changing the landscape.

The rejuvenation is there for all to see. For anyone who

is looking to invest in the city what you will find is,

put simply, something unique. A unique and exciting

environment populated by a unique people with a unique

sense of humour.

Steve Morgan OBE

Chairman, Bridgemere Group of Companies,

Harrow Estates plc,

Salamanca Finance plc.

4

p4-9 Up front 20/7/07 15:59

collaboration between the University

of Liverpool and Liverpool John

Moores University, was set up as a

means of establishing a benchmark

model to evaluate the effects of

major events such as the Olympics

on cities and their surrounding areas.

Dr Beatriz Garcia, director of the

Impacts 08 programme, says:

“The research model we have

developed allows us to effectively

map the city’s progress since

Liverpool won the bid for European

Capital of Culture status. This

report demonstrates how the city is

prospering in all areas and we will

continue to monitor 2008-related

activities so we can identify key

areas of impact.”

The report also highlighted a

growth in positive national newspaper

coverage relating to the city since

the Capital of Culture bid was

successful.

62 Castle Street Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34ACAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Agility Logistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Aintree Racecourse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Allied Irish Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19ACC Liverpool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,20Beetham Organisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Brabners Chaffe Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Broadway Maylan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9BT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Business Liverpool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Cains Brewery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Cesar Pelli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Chieftain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Costa Coffee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Countryside Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Coutts Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Crowne Plaza. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Cushman & Wakefield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Debenhams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Deloitte. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26DLA Piper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Downing Developments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10DWF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.31English Cities Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Ernst & Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Everton FC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Falconer Chester Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Four Soft UK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Grant Thornton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Grosvenor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Hawtin Developments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Hill Dickinson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,31Hilton Hotels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Iliad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21John Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17KKA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18KPMG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Langtree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Liverpool Culture Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Liverpool FC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Liverpool Hope University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Liverpool John Lennon Airport . . . . . . . . . . 23Liverpool John Moores University . . . . . . 4,29LLDC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,22Liverpool Primary Care Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Liverpool Science Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Liverpool Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Livesmart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Malmaison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,34Maritime Housing Association. . . . . . . . . . . 12Mersey Gateway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Mersey Maritime. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Mersey Waterfront . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Merseycare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Merseytravel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,25Mitchell Charlesworth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Neptune Developments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Network Rail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23NWDA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7PalindromX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Parr Street Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Paver Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Peel Holdings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,21Peel Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,8Premier Travel Inn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13PricewaterhouseCoopers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18RBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,21Riverside Home Ownership . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Smart Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Spencer Holdings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30St Helens Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13St Modwen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Staybridge Suites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Sure Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Tate Liverpool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33TGI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22The Mersey Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,13University of Liverpool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,28Urban Splash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,18Vertex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Virgin Trains. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Your Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Companies in this issue

A report assessing the impact of Liverpool's European

Capital of Culture status has shown widespread benefits

already to the city's economy, against the backdrop of

rising employment in the city.

According to a University of Liverpool report, since

the city was awarded Capital of Culture status, visitor

expenditure in the city has totaled £400m, while the

city is attracting a high percentage of new visitors.

Of those visitors, 41 per cent have never visited

Liverpool before, compared with an average of 26 per

cent for other destinations.

On top of this, employment in Liverpool grew well

in excess of the national growth rate between 2000

and 2005, with capital developments and construction

activity instigating a 138 per cent increase in jobs in

architectural and engineering sectors. In addition, jobs

in the city’s service sector, such as hotels and bars, have

risen by 29 per cent, and jobs in the creative industries

by 50 per cent over the same period. The total value of

economic activity in Liverpool has grown from £5.5bn

to almost £7bn between 2000 and 2004.

The report forms part of the Impacts 08 research

programme, which was commissioned by Liverpool City

Council to evaluate the influence of Liverpool becoming

European Capital of Culture. The programme itself, a

5

5Up front

Culture impact already felt

Magazine awardLiverpool Business In The Capital has been

honoured for its strong journalism and design.

Designer Damien Wiehl (pictured collecting his

award from Ken Dodd) was designer of the year at

the Merseyside Media

Network Awards, while

Neil Tague was named

business journalist.

Both work for magazine

publisher Insider and

were praised for their

work on this title and

on North West

Business Insider.

p4-9 Up front 20/7/07 15:59

Up front

Plans for the first “post-Panamax” container terminal on

the UK’s West Coast have been given the go-ahead by the

Department of Transport.

The £90m development on the River Mersey will almost

double container capacity at the Port of Liverpool, Britain’s

third ranking deep sea container port and the leading

gateway for container trade with North America.

The river berths will accommodate modern post-Panamax

vessels, namely those above the maximum size capable of

navigating the Panama Canal. Such vessels are increasingly

used in international container trades, which are too

large to gain access through the lock gates to the existing

Seaforth container terminal in Liverpool.

The decision follows Port of Liverpool owner Peel Ports

Group’s application to create the first facility capable of

accommodating the new generation of larger container

ships on the UK west coast and in the north of the country.

In 2006 the Port of Liverpool handled 630,000 teus (20ft

“This project is a response to the

growing recognition of the Port of

Liverpool’s strategic position as the

gateway to the richest cargo generating

region of the United Kingdom outside

London,” he said. “It is also a project

which we are convinced will have

major long-term economic

and strategic benefits for the region,

generating significant additional work

and wealth.”

The new terminal will be created by

building a river wall from the corner

of Royal Seaforth Dock to Gladstone

Lock, close to the mouth of the

Mersey. The triangle will then be filled

in to create a 17-hectare terminal with

annual capacity for more than

equivalent container units) and

attracted three new North Atlantic

container services in the first half of

that year. It now serves more than

100 non-European locations across the

globe from the Americas, to the Indian

sub-continent, the Far East and China.

Its established in-dock Royal Seaforth

container terminal, which over the last

five years has undergone more than

£30m worth of investment,

can handle up to 800,000 teus a year.

Tom Allison, chief executive of Peel

Ports, welcomed the decision, which

he described as the most significant

development for the Port of Liverpool

since the construction of Royal

Seaforth Dock in the late 1960s.

6

Post

-Pan

amax

vis

ion

These are exciting days for Liverpool’s waterfront as new cruise, container and landmark dockside schemes come to fruition. LIVERPOOL takes a look atall the latest news and developments.

Terminal go-ahead

p4-9 Up front 20/7/07 15:59

Up front

500,000 teus and capable of simultaneously accommodating

two post-Panamax ships.

To date, post-Panamax vessels have only had the option

to berth in UK south coast ports. Once the new terminal

is opened, companies throughout the North and Midlands

will be able to respond to the demands of international

logistics through Liverpool, bringing considerable

economies of scale.

With a second container terminal, Liverpool is set to

consolidate established trades and expand into new sectors,

building on its ranking as the leading UK container port for

trade with the US and Canada, and enlarging the range of

more than 100 global destinations it already serves.

The new facility will also enhance the port’s role as the

premier transhipment hub for Ireland, currently handling

more than 40 per cent of unitised freight crossing between

Britain and Ireland.

Peel is now working on the detailed planning process for

the new terminal. No date has yet been set for the terminal

to become operational although a spokesman for the

company said this would not be until after 2010.

7

Liverpool’s new cruise liner terminal – which will

bring the world’s biggest liners back to the Mersey

- is taking shape.

Pontoons for the terminal are being towed over

the next few weeks from Canada Dock, where they

have been constructed, to Princes Dock. There they

will be attached to piles which have been sunk into

the riverbed.

The new terminal involves creating an extension

connected to the existing landing stage at Princes

Dock, allowing cruise ships of up to 350 metres in

length to berth.

This means that the biggest liners in the world

will be able to visit the Mersey on a regular basis.

The landing stage will be owned and managed

by the city council for at least 25 years and the

terminal will be officially opened in the autumn

to coincide with a visit to Liverpool by the QE2.

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the

Northwest Regional Development Agency, which

helped fund the project, said: “More than 25 cruises

are expected to be tying up in Liverpool each year

by 2009, and that will bring a new influx of tourists

for the region’s outstanding tourist attractions,

while providing a boost to the economy.”

Cruise Liner Terminal

A major consultation exercise to

gather views on the £390m Mersey

Gateway project to build a landmark

new bridge over the River Mersey has

been launched.

The long-awaited scheme, linking

Runcorn and Widnes, will bring

significant journey time savings for

thousands of local people, commuters

and businesses. It is forecast that it

could be worth £40m a year to the

regional economy.

The project will specifically redirect

through traffic away from the

existing Silver Jubilee Bridge towards

the new crossing. The bridge will

run from the Central Expressway

in Runcorn to the Eastern Bypass in

Widnes and ultimately connect with

Speke Road heading towards Liverpool.

Steve Nicholson, project director of

Mersey Gateway, says: "Doing nothing

is simply not an option. The Silver

Jubilee Bridge is struggling to cope

with the 30 million vehicles that use

it every year, and traffic levels are

continuing to grow.”

However, Nicholson conceded

that given that the new bridge would

have to be tolled to pay for itself, the

only way for the new project to work

would be to toll both the new and

existing bridge.

Subject to certain conditions, the

government is funding £86m of

the £390m cost of the project, with

the remainder being raised through

a Private Finance Initiative.

There is now likely to be a public

inquiry into the new crossing before

the Secretary of State for Transport can

give final approval. Construction work

on the project is due to start in 2011

and it is scheduled to open in 2014.

Mersey Gateway

Mer

sey

Gat

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p4-9 Up front 20/7/07 15:59

8

Up front

Mersey Waterfront

Mersey Waterfront has unveiled details of new investment

in key waterfront projects along the 135km (84 mile)

Merseyside and Cheshire coastline.

The agency has secured up to £18m from various

public and private sector sources, which will bring the

total managed through Mersey Waterfront's programme

to £91m. The injection will allow Mersey Waterfront to

support a number of flagship projects.

These include a recreation centre at Crosby Marina

(pictured above); a new urban park on the former

International Garden Festival site;

a redevelopment of New Brighton's

seafront; the redevelopment of the

Mersey Ferry Terminal at Liverpool's

Pier Head; and lighting displays to

showcase Liverpool's world-famous

waterfront.

Louise Goodman, director of Mersey

Waterfront, says: "Since 2003 we've

already been involved in more than 60

waterside regeneration projects

and this second phase of our

programme, spanning the next

three years, moves up a gear. It's an

exciting time and there's no doubt

we're increasing the scale and

impact of the projects we support,

as we aim to reinforce the image

and identity of our coastal assets

nationally and internationally."

A lobbying campaign to raise the

profile of Merseyside’s growing

maritime sector is reaching high

places.

The House of Commons recently

saw an adjournment debate on the

city’s maritime sector following a

request by Liverpool Riverside MP

Louise Ellman. The aim of the session

was to highlight the significance of

Merseyside’s maritime sector as one

of national strategic importance and

secure the support of ministers in

several key areas of development.

Mersey Maritime

These included the wide-ranging plans of Port of

Liverpool owner Peel Ports, as well as the £19m new cruise

facility. Said Ellman: “Liverpool has the highest gross

value-added income of any port in the UK and it’s important

to raise its profile, which we successfully did.”

Efforts elsewhere are also continuing to raise the sector’s

profile, most notably via Mersey Maritime, the private

sector-led umbrella organisation set up in 2003 to represent

the interests of the Greater Merseyside region’s maritime

sector. The group was borne out of a vision by leading

private sector companies who recognised that they could

develop key initiatives and speed the growth of the sector

on Merseyside in a way that would benefit them all. As of

today the sector on Merseyside consists of 820 companies

employing over 19,000 people, with

a combined turnover in excess of

£1.8bn per annum.

Eric Leatherbarrow, spokesman for

Peel Ports, added: “Our own plans for

a post-Panamax terminal are only a

further development in what is a real

renaissance of the Port of Liverpool.

Liverpool is handling more trade than

ever in its history and on its way to

becoming the largest regional

generator of cargo outside London.

Liverpool is probably also the most

diverse port in the country.”

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p4-9 Up front 20/7/07 15:59

9

Up front

Source: Maritime & Port Statistics

Source: Transport Statistics

Source: Annual Business Inquiry

MERSEYSIDE SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

Industry 2005 2004 % change

Public Services 208,398 205,330 1.5

Banking, Finance & Insurance 100,756 92,352 9.1

Wholesale and Retail Trade 97,132 106,707 -9

Manufacturing 59,513 63,808 -6.7

Hotels and Restaurants 36,330 35,346 2.8

Transport & Communications 34,834 34,681 0.4

Construction 23,949 21,922 9.2

UK PORT TRAFFIC2005 2004 Change 2004-05 %

Million tonnes Million tonnes

Grimsby & Immingham 60.7 57.6 5.3

Tees & Hartlepool 55.8 53.8 3.7

London 53.8 53.3 1

Southampton 39.9 38.4 4

Milford Haven 37.6 38.4 -2.3

Forth Ports 34.2 34.9 -1.9

Liverpool 33.8 32.2 4.8

GB 536.9 561.6 2.2

LIVERPOOL PORT TRAFFIC (MILLION TONNES)

2005 % of UK total 2002 Growth %

Oil and gas 12,570 5 11,795 6.6

Goods vehicles/trailers 454 6.7 415 9.4

Container Traffic 383 8.1 309 23.9

Other freight 21,205 6.6 18,617 13.9

LIVERPOOL STATISTICSDemolition work has begun

at the £120m Mann Island

development. The scheme, by

Neptune Developments and

Countryside Properties, will

create a new waterfront

destination at the Pier Head

with public areas, cafes and

restaurants, shops, exhibition

space, 376 apartments and

140,000 sq. ft of high quality

commercial office space.

The first apartments will be

completed in Spring 2009,

with the whole development

due for completion in Spring

2010.

Designed by award-winning

architect Broadway Maylan, the

striking black granite triangular

apartment buildings will rest

alongside a commercial

building. The site is also

next to the new Museum of

Liverpool and extended Leeds

Liverpool Canal.

John Grealis, Countryside

Properties’ regional director for

major projects, said: “Starting

works on site is a major milestone

for all involved in the project.

It provides physical evidence

that our aspirations for the

redevelopment of Mann Island

will be delivered.”

Mann Island

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ann

Isla

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p4-9 Up front 20/7/07 15:59

How do you view Liverpool today?

From the property perspective we’ve got

real momentum now and we have a very

good product to offer. If you look purely at

the office market there is now some great

office space that we can offer to the

market, lots of new space being developed.

If you were to sum it up, the city has a very

affordable product; a great location;

shopping facilities which are getting better

all the time and lots of apartments. There is

also a great workforce to be tapped into at

sensible rates. The overall package should

really encourage inward investors. You also

see now a much more positive attitude

from Liverpudlians themselves. A small

minority used to give the city a negative

perception. That has well and truly gone

and those days are behind us. Perceptions

are changing fast.

How does the rest of the country

view Liverpool?

It is important that we get other developers

coming into the city because Liverpool is

unique, it has its very own personality.

The city has a soul which will always be

there, whatever is built around it. In London

there is maybe still some slight apprehension

but that is getting watered down fast.

The proper decision-makers can see a

change and there is a lot more positive spin

all around the city. People are starting to

take note. The smart money sees Liverpool

as a safe place to invest.

What developments excite you in

the city?

I’m particularly excited about the Arena

and Convention Centre and the great work

of architect Wilkinson Eyre. This really

catches the eye and the scheme will bring a

lot of business to the city. The Grosvenor

development is also fantastic too. Both are

very important drivers for inward

investment going forward, and I would pick

these two out of the multitude of schemes

going on at the moment.

How is your development of the Port

of Liverpool building coming along?

We’re on site and adding a new floor as we

speak. We are going to completely renovate

the buildings, including repairing the

dome, and it will all be finished in a couple

of years. Given the building’s importance

we have naturally had to ensure the

refurbishment is sympathetic. We want to

try and make the buildings sustainable for

the next 100 years. With listed buildings

you really have to create that wow factor

and that is certainly our plan.

What can Liverpool do better?

I think the new stadium just for Liverpool

Football Club is a real missed opportunity.

Everton and Liverpool should definitely be

sharing this new stadium. Although I am an

Evertonian I am talking here as a passionate

Liverpudlian. The city should have a stadium

that reflects the city and that means it

should reflect both clubs and the great

football heritage we have. The broad-minded

view should be that they share the stadium

as I don’t think we are a big enough city for

two new stadiums. Everton would have to

fund their share if there was one stadium

which would be a tall order, but it should

be looked at again. I don’t know if it’s too

late now to resurrect the ground-share and

I know it is hard for the city to broker a deal.

But I say put it back on the agenda.

George Downing is one

of Liverpool’s largest

commercial landlords

with the restoration of

the city’s historic Port

of Liverpool building one

of his present projects.

He was recently voted the

city’s Business Person of

the Year.

Q&A

10

Q&A

p10 Q&A 20/7/07 16:00

Merseyside has received a

huge boost to its automotive

industry after General

Motors (GM) confirmed that the new

compact Astra will be manufactured

at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port site.

The Astra is GM's best-selling car

in Europe, selling almost 500,000

vehicles a year. The move safeguards

the future of the site, which employs

2,200 people, and will lead to a shift

being reinstated at the plant too.

Ellesmere Port will share production

of the new car, which will replace

the existing Astra range in early

2010, with plants in Poland, Germany

and Sweden. The total investment

from GM amounts to €3.1bn.

GM has been struggling against

mounting losses and rising

competition. Business and political

leaders lobbied GM for the new

compact to be built at Ellesmere,

highlighting the skilled workforce

and strong local automotive supply

chain that already existed across

Merseyside. Alice Powell, head of

investment at The Mersey Partnership,

said: “This is excellent news.

The region really pulled together to

show the strengths of Ellesmere Port

and it gives out a really strong, wider

message about the overall strength of

this region’s automotive industry.”

11

Ellesmere boost

11Investment

MAJOR RECENT INWARD INVESTMENTS

Sector Project Company Country

Automotive Land Rover Freelander Assembly Ford US

Food New production line Bakemark Netherlands

Life Science Acquisition and plant investment Novartis Switzerland

Advanced manufacturing New print facility Prinovis Germany

Maritime Customer service/technical centre Maersk Denmark

Retail Home shopping facility QVC US

LIVERPOOL STATISTICS

City in favourThe increasing attractiveness of Liverpool as an

inward investment location has been borne out by

independent research.

Commissioned by The Mersey Partnership (TMP),

the study surveyed 150 companies across the country,

including 100 large corporates (firms employing

more than 200 people) and 50 intermediaries (such

as investor brokers, property specialists and financial

houses). Half the firms were based in London and

the South-East.

The survey tracked the perceptions of Liverpool in

comparison to six other major metropolitan areas:

Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham

and Sheffield. The review also assessed the cities

against a range of investment criteria, such as the

availability of sites and premises, competitive

operating costs, and how the region was embracing

new technologies. Overall Liverpool rose to third in

the league compared to its position of fifth the last

time similar research was carried out.

Liverpool also came top when firms were asked for

their views on ‘investment likelihood’, which assesses

whether businesses are considering a particular

region as a potential location for investment over

the next 12 months.

Among a wider group of potential investors,

Liverpool saw an 11 per cent improvement in its overall

rating, with 40 per cent of all the companies asked

saying they would consider investing in the city.

Source: NWDA

Gre

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Elle

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p11-13 Investment 20/7/07 16:01

Investment

Fit for the queen

12

With a concierge, private lounge, barrel-vaulted ceilings

and mahogany-panelled meeting rooms, the latest

addition to Liverpool’s office market doesn’t lack character.

Il Palazzo is the result of a £1m conversion of the former

Victorian banking hall at 7 Water Street. It has been

created by Your Space, the developer which specialises

in converting listed buildings.

Il Palazzo, which translates as “The Palace” in Italian, is

aiming at leading professionals, private business people

and international companies requiring a satellite office in

Liverpool’s business district. Key features include nine

VIP suites on the ground floor, plus a 3,000 sq ft central

lobby, lined with marble columns.

The Individual Restaurant Company

(IRC) has opened a Restaurant Bar

and Grill eaterie in the city. IRC is

behind the hugely successful

Piccolino and Restaurant Bar and

Grill brands, which can already be

found in Manchester city centre,

Alderley Edge in Cheshire, Marlow

in Buckinghamshire and Leeds city

centre.

IRC chief executive Steven Walker

said the company had invested in

the city because Liverpool had now

become a major lifestyle destination

and there was strong demand

for high quality restaurant dining

in the city.

The Restaurant Bar and Grill

Liverpool is situated in a former

banking hall in Halifax House on

Brunswick Street, in the heart of

the busy commercial district.

Meanwhile the owners of one of Liverpool’s most

popular bars, The Tea Factory, are investing £300,000 in

transforming the venue, situated in the city’s Ropewalks

area, into an upmarket venue named Chaya, based on the

New York cocktail scene.

Urban Splash has welcomed

new tenants Maritime Housing

Association to their Matchworks II

development in Garston, Liverpool.

Maritime Housing Association

(MHA), part of the Regenda Group,

has moved into 7,178 sq ft of space

for its neighbourhood management

team. They have moved to

Matchworks from central Liverpool.

Maritime Housing Association joins

fellow housing sector company

Riverside Home Ownership at

Matchworks II. Other tenants

include Four Soft UK, the world’s

largest transport and logistics

software provider.

On the same site is Matchbox,

the first new build by Urban

Splash in Liverpool, which provides

19,000 sq ft of grade A office

accommodation. The landmark

building will be ready to occupy

from Autumn 2007.

Built as a speculative scheme

and completed in 2001, the

original 86,000 sq ft listed

Matchworks I has been fully let since

its conversion. Current occupiers

include ACAS, Liverpool Primary

Care Trust, Vertex, Agility Logistics

and Sure Maintenance.

Expansion continues at Matchbox

Fine dining

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p11-13 Investment 20/7/07 16:01

Investment

Sleeping at the docksLiverpool’s hotel boom continues apace with new

development and expansion.

Staybridge Suites, part of the InterContinental Hotels

Group, is now well underway with its first 132-room

hotel in the city which will open in early 2008 at Kings

Waterfront, in the shadow of the new Arena and

Convention Centre Liverpool.

Staybridge is a well-known name in the US with

long-stay business visitors, and the Liverpool hotel will

be its first in the UK.

Meanwhile work has also begun nearby at Premier

Travel Inn which is expanding its existing premises at

Liverpool’s historic Albert Dock to create an extra 56

new bedrooms and three new meeting rooms.

The hotel will occupy an extra 30,000 sq ft of space

Retail software business Cybertill

Group has moved to larger premises

in Knowsley on the back of continued

expansion.

The firm, which produces specialist

EPoS (Electronic Point of Sale) software

for the retail sector, has taken

3,000 sq ft at Dovecote Court within

the grounds of Knowsley Park.

The company, which presently employs

40, is growing fast and hopes to

boost its turnover 60 per cent this

year to nearly £4m.

Cybertill technology is used by

retailers who access their systems

and data via a virtual private network

rather than have them installed

in-house. The technology is used in more than 3,000 retail

outlets, both independent and multiple retailers.

Some use Cybertill for store activity only, others to drive

an online or a mail order business. Clients include Virgin

Media, Farrow & Ball and St Paul’s Cathedral.

Increased interest in Cybertill software and the

expansion of its user base has driven the company’s

relocation. Said founder and managing director Ian

Tomlinson: “The software is proving particularly attractive

because more retailers are looking for software that

manages store sales activity as well as e-commerce sites

and mail order operations. We actually have a unique

product. There are very, very few rivals who provide

systems that control all the elements of a retail operation.”

Tomlinson said some of his customers already trade

overseas and he foresaw the technology also being

increasingly used overseas too.

within Albert Dock’s Britannia

Building, taking the total number of

bedrooms up to 186.

Research conducted by The Mersey

Partnership has indicated that the

market for attractions, eating, drinking

and hotel accommodation at Albert

Dock is set to rise significantly.

It is predicted that an additional

1.5 million people will visit the

waterfront once other developments

are finished and the Albert Dock

and its tenants are developing their

leisure and tourism offer to benefit

from this dramatic growth.

Booming Helens

Ringing the till

Dov

eco

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yber

till

Business is booming in St Helens,

according to latest figures.

In the last year 31 companies

have relocated to the borough,

creating more than 300 new jobs,

while 20 local companies have

moved to new premises within the

area, safeguarding a further 164

jobs. Official figures report that a

total of 323 new businesses have

also been created in the borough

during the same period.

Councillor Neil Taylor, executive

member for urban regeneration

at St Helens Council says: "Business

has never been better in St.Helens.

Investors increasingly recognise

that the borough has plenty to

offer as a business location.”

Paul Needham of Lancashire Tea,

a growing company that invested

in St Helens in 2006, adds: "St

Helens is the ideal location. At the

same time we were also attracted

to the rural nature of the area.”

A MERSEYSIDE self-storage company has unveiled plans for

a £6m expansion across the North West.

Smart Storage is expanding its existing units in Wirral and

Liverpool and opening new ones in Widnes and Warrington.

Further operations are planned in other parts of the North

West and also in Yorkshire, with a target of 10 being up and

running by the end of 2008.

Bridges Community Ventures is providing £3.6m of finance

to support the expansion, on top of £1.3m already invested in

the business, while Royal Bank of Scotland is committing

£2.3m of funding too.

Smart move

Smart Managing Director Jon Wyles

13

p11-13 Investment 20/7/07 16:02

The £146m Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool is a defining symbol of the city’s new confidence and will bring untold economicbenefits. met Bob Prattey, the man heading the charge.

The future’s here

14

There can be no debate. Bob Prattey has, quite

simply, a dream job. Selling a stunning new

waterfront conference, business and entertain-

ment venue to the UK and world beyond is a marketing

man’s dream.

Selling the said venue when your city is about to

become Europe’s cultural epicentre for a year only adds

to the potent mix.

“The synergy of Capital of Culture

is fantastic for us,” concedes

52-year-old Prattey, chief executive

of Arena and Convention Centre

(ACC) Liverpool and a conference

industry veteran with more than 20

years under his belt at Birmingham’s

National Exhibition Centre (NEC).

“In some respects the timing issue

between us opening and Culture

was coincidental. Development of

Kings Dock had, of course, been

a long-held aspiration for Liverpool,

and as Capital of Culture grew so

the synergies became evident and

the projects began to merge.”

14 Talking business

p14-16 Interview 20/7/07 16:02

Talking business

Many observers are waiting with bated breath for

the arrival of some big name music concerts. However

Prattey says it is still a little too early for promoters to

be thinking about 2008.

“Between now and the Autumn they will begin to

think about 2008 and obviously we will be ensuring

everyone knows about us.” Prattey is also stretching his

wings across the Atlantic. “I want to create demand pull.

I want bands across the world saying we want to play

in Liverpool. For instance we’ll be putting adverts in US

magazines for starters.”

However, Prattey stresses that as well as conferences

and concerts, for the Arena to work it must attract

regional businesses too. “Yes we are a big arena, but

we are also the perfect venue for small businesses with

our break-out rooms. If we are going to be as

successful as we want to be, we need to tap into the

local market too.”

How the Arena’s success will be judged is an interesting

question. “We will be judged in different ways by

different people,” believes Prattey. “Some will want us

to get lots of high-profile events, others will look at

our financial performance, others still will look at the

economic impact.”

Talking of economic impact, the multiplier effect of

the Arena via the thousands of extra visitors it will bring

to the city cannot be underplayed. “We would be

disappointed if we were not contributing in excess

of £40m to the city’s economy in 2008,” asserts Prattey.

“If you look at it in terms of straight numbers, most

conference centres actually don’t in their own right

make a profit, but it is the wider contribution they

make to cities which is as important.”

However, Prattey is confident that the Arena can

make a profit on its own right, not least because it isn’t

laboured down with debt. Funding for the venue itself

came courtesy of English Partnerships, Government

office Northwest, Liverpool City Council and the

Northwest Regional Development Agency.

“That money is in the bank, we don’t have debts.

We just have to concern ourselves with operating costs.

By the end of our five-year business plan we will be a net

contributor to Liverpool City Council, who are our

owners and who hold the long term lease. However we

may look at reinvesting the profits we make back into

the building as there will be a need for upgrading it and

Until now the biggest single

impact of 2008 on ACC Liverpool is

that it has created the impetus for

construction of the project to be

completed on time, ready for

the grand 2008 opening ceremony

which the Arena hosts in January.

As the building nears completion,

so the sell to prospective clients

has got that bit easier too. “We are

getting national and international

media interest in this venue now.

If 2008 was not happening it would

admittedly have been more

challenging to get people here,”

admits Prattey.

That said, he says interest in the

Arena has already been phenomenal.

“There is a pre-disposition of

people wanting to come here.

Conference organisers come to

us because they have simply never

been able to before. There is a

pent-up demand.

“Closer to home the response

from the city has been amazing.

The public want this building to

succeed, from the company boss to

the taxi driver to the cleaner on the

street. They are all up for this and

they love the shape of the building.”

Such confidence and expectation

is so far being matched by the

effusive Prattey, who already

has more than 100 conferences

lined up for 2008. The vast majority

of bookings have so far have come

from the association conference

market, but major national associations,

“big signings” as Prattey calls them,

are also coming on board such as

the National Headteachers Union,

the Royal College of Nursing, the

Association of Chief Police Officers

and the Bristish Chambers of

Commerce.

The public wantsthis building to succeed, from thecompany boss, to the taxi driver, to the cleaner onthe street.”

Photography by Ray Farley

“

15

p14-16 Interview 20/7/07 16:02

16

Talking business

keeping up with technological

changes.”

Meanwhile Prattey sees the wider

dynamics of the city changing as a

result of the development. “Liverpool

has historically underplayed itself.

This will bring the centre of the city

more down to the waterfront and

only complement the massive

development we are now seeing

with schemes such as Liverpool One

and Mann Island.”

Prattey shrugs off concerns that

transport problems could pose a

major headache for the venue.

“We have simply got to work hard

to ensure everything works,” he says.

Meanwhile Prattey believes he has

a unique proposition to sell.

“Both the Arena and Convention Centre are under one

roof. You haven’t even got that in Manchester. This is an

absolutely fundamental part of our package and also

reflects the very nature of the market these days. For

instance if you are hosting a medical conference, for the

finances to work you need a hall next door full of med-

ical suppliers, pharmaceutical companies and other busi-

nesses related to the sector.”

As for Prattey himself he is here for the duration.

He says part of the attraction of coming to Liverpool

in the first place was the opportunity to build up

something from scratch and put together his own team.

“At the NEC I had personally got as far as I could go.

Here in Liverpool I am not just relishing putting my own

team together, but I’m also really excited about how this

business will grow. I want to be around to see it fulfil its

growth potential. It’s a fantastic opportunity.”

ACC Liverpool was designed by

Wilkinson Eyre and is being built

by Bovis Lend Lease.

The concert and sports arena will

seat 10,600 while the adjoining

convention centre will hold up

to 1,350 people. The design also

includes a public piazza to

accommodate outdoor events.

There will be 18 conference and

break-out rooms and 22 hospitality

suites, plus 7,000 sq.m of

exhibition space.

Visitor forecasts for the venue

in 2008 are 400,000 to the Arena

and 50,000 to the convention

centre.

Two hotels are being built

beside the Arena by Jurys and

Staybridge. The Arena is also a

stone’s throw from the new

Hilton at Liverpool One.

JJUUSSTT TTHHEE FFAACCTTSS

The Arena willbring the centreof the city moredown to thewaterfront andcomplement the massive development we are seeingthere.”

“

p14-16 Interview 20/7/07 16:02

17

Towering vision: One Park West

All eyes onnumber oneInvestors sign up as the eagerly-awaited Liverpool One scheme rapidly takes shape.

2008. It will offer 216 rooms spread over

eight floors, ten meeting rooms, a

restaurant and a LivingWell Express gym.

The early parts of Liverpool One

have hit the ground running, with Q

L iverpool’s largest property development for many years,

Grosvenor’s Liverpool One, is rapidly taking shape, with

a raft of developments over the first half of 2007.

All eyes for the moment are on the completion of One Park

West, the residential scheme that will tower over the newly

landscaped Chavasse Park and the city’s historic waterfront.

One Park West has been designed by US architect and

masterplanner Cesar Pelli, ably supported by local architect

Brock Carmichael. It is built from three core areas, with the

centrepiece rising to 17 storeys.

In total the scheme will offer 326 one, two and three-

bedroom apartments, secure car parking and a 24-hour

concierge service. The lower levels of the building will

feature offices and restaurants.

Grosvenor’s project director Rod Holmes says: “One Park

West will be a beacon and people will want to live there.

We hope to encourage families and couples, not just

professionals.”

One Park West will have a fitting neighbour across

Chavasse Park. Hilton Hotels will be opening their first hotel

in Liverpool in time for the Capital of Culture celebrations in

Park’s £9.6m, Wilkinson Eyre-designed

car park winning a prestigious design

award.

Meanwhile Joanne Jennings, who as

chief executive of Belfast City Centre

Management Company has been

instrumental in transforming

perceptions and the vitality of

the Northern Ireland capital, has

been recruited as chief executive of

Liverpool One, adding further

momentum to the project.

“With my background in public

and private sector partnership working

I will be seeking to work fully with

Liverpool City Council and other

stakeholders to ensure that Liverpool

One realises its potential to regenerate

this great city,” said Jennings.

Around half of the 1.4 million sq ft

retail-led scheme is now let, with

anchor stores John Lewis and

Debenhams about to take possession

of their space.

Fashion retailer Top Shop has also

recently signed up for a 65,000 sq ft

store.

LIVERPOOL ONE FACTS

Total development 234,000 sq.m

Retail 154,000 sq.m

Leisure 21,500 sq.m

John Lewis 22,300 sq.m

Debenhams 17,200 sq.m

Residential 630 units

Hotels 370 rooms

Permanent jobs 4,400

Construction jobs 3,300

Launch date 2008

17Property

p17-22 Property 20/7/07 16:03

Peel Holdings has announced

plans for a revolutionary

floating housing development

at Liverpool’s Princes Dock.

Plans have been submitted to

Liverpool City Council for Flotilla,

a scheme of 26 floating homes.

Designed by Liverpool architect

KKA with a nautical theme associated

with the marina environment,

the style reflects naval architecture

and will resemble a row of top

quality super-yachts.

Each home will be arranged on

three decks, providing a total internal

living space of 1,850 sq ft. The homes

will feature an outside deck area that

sits immediately above the water, and

master bedrooms with an external

balcony. The top deck will feature a

sun deck with a large area for owners

to entertain guests.

More than £200m has been invested

in Princes Dock, which is home to

blue-chip corporate occupiers KPMG, Coutts Bank, RBS

and PricewaterhouseCoopers, together with the Crowne

Plaza and Malmaison hotels.

Martyn Green of agent King Sturge says: “It is fantastic

that the first development of this kind in the country

is to be based here in Liverpool. The level of demand for

these special luxurious homes is expected to be great.

A new precedent will be set in luxury living offering

unrivalled location, the highest quality interiors and

views that are second to none.”

Peel is also behind the giant £4.5bn Liverpool Waters

project where it continues to work on a masterplan.

Property

Float on

The Department of Communities and Local Government

has approved plans by St Modwen to develop the £150m

Project Jennifer scheme around Great Homer Street, north

Liverpool, one of the city’s biggest regeneration projects.

The developer, which has been working on the scheme

since being named as the council’s partner in 2004, is now

working with Liverpool City Council on negotiations with

landowners and is fully prepared to use Compulsory

Purchase Orders to get the scheme underway.

St Modwen, a regeneration specialist, plans to bring

together a scheme that will be anchored by a 115,000 sq

ft supermarket. It will also comprise a market hall, 80,000

sq ft of non-food retail, a Primary Care Trust centre, a

library, a leisure centre, 80,000 sq ft of light industrial

units, a public transport interchange and 480 homes.

Regular meetings about the scheme are being held

with local community representatives under the banner

of the Project Jennifer Community Forum.

Urban Splash, the pioneering

developer with Liverpool successes

like Concert Square and the Vanilla

Factory under its belt, is eager to

make its next mark on the city

by turning one of its most iconic

buildings into a landmark for the

city once more.

Since being selected in late 2005

as preferred developer for the

former Littlewoods Pools building

on the city’s Edge Lane approach,

Splash has been working towards

a planning application to redevelop

the 200,000 sq ft art-deco,

1930s-built building.

The developer plans to bring

the scheme forward in three phases.

The first of these will see the

building’s west wing refurbished to

provide 257 apartments, 15,000 sq

ft of speciality retail on the ground

floor and 14,600 sq ft of business

start-up units.

The first phase will also include

46,000 sq ft of landscaped decking

and underground car parking for

284 cars.

Phase two will involve demolition

of the whole of the eastern wing,

excluding the Edge Lane frontage.

Behind this will be constructed a new

100-bedroom hotel, 24,000 sq ft of

ground floor retail, 54 apartments and

parking.

Phase three includes 25,600 sq ft

of commercial space, 38 apartments

and 125 parking slots.

Splash lives on the EdgeJennifer she said

18

p17-22 Property 20/7/07 16:03

Property

Buildings reaching the skies is always

a good sign of economic prosperity

and ambition. When developers are

lodging applications to build tall, it’s

a sure sign of developer confidence,

and that they feel the site they have

acquired is valuable.

The boom in Liverpool property is

evidenced by two new towers reaching

the market. Beetham’s West tower

(pictured right) is the Liverpool

developer’s second in the city, while

it has also shown Manchester the way

to go by completing a 47-storey

Beetham Tower in that city.

Meanwhile, Irish property group

Chieftain has also won planning per-

mission for a tower near Lime Street

station, another key site in Liverpool.

Beetham’s West Tower celebrated

its topping-out in April. At 40 storeys,

it stands an impressive 450 feet high

and is set to play a big part in

Liverpool’s European Capital of

Culture celebrations in 2008.

In particular Beetham has thrown

open the doors of the £1m penthouse

apartment on the building’s top floor

to civic dignitaries for hosting

receptions, meetings or offering

accommodation to visiting dignitaries.

Beetham is already well underway

with selling the rest of the scheme.

A third of the 127 apartments were

sold in an initial marketing push, while

the rest were held back as the developer

is keen to ensure a mix of buy-to-let

investors and owner occupiers.

The 34th floor of the tower will

be given over to a restaurant while

the first five floors will become the

new headquarters of Beetham itself.

Hugh Frost, chairman of Beetham,

says: “Tall buildings add a vibrancy to

a city and I am sure our West Tower

will be most popular. I am expecting

half to be bought as investments and

the rest by people wanting to reside

here. The location and the height of

the building are good attractions for

our building.”

While Chieftain has had to scale

back its plans for a 32-storey landmark,

the approval of its plans for a 13-storey

building including a 151-bedroom

four-star hotel and apartments will

bring a touch of class to an important

gateway site, alongside Lime Street

railway station.

Liverpool architect Falconer Chester

Hall advised the developer on the

scheme.

TOWERING AMBITION

19

It’s been moving on an upward

curve for a few years, but

Liverpool’s city centre office market

solidified to such an extent in 2006

that it could be called mature.

There were encouraging signs

right across the board. Total city

centre take-up was 405,284 sq ft, in line with the

medium-term trend. Liverpool also bucked its

undeserved reputation as being over-reliant on public

sector occupiers with 79 per cent of all take-up coming

from the private sector. Financial services was one of

the key movers, accounting for 14 per cent of take-up.

With stock at a premium, Liverpool was also able to

finally break through the £20 per sq ft barrier.

According to urban regeneration company Liverpool

Vision’s office market review of 2006, overall take-up

reaches a peak in years when the supply of new space

is high. In 2005, with 233,000 sq ft coming on stream,

take-up reached 498,000 sq ft. In 2002, with only

64,000 sq ft, it was 420,000 sq ft.

It is estimated that in both 2008 and 2009 around

200,000 sq ft will reach the market,

rising to 400,000 sq ft in 2010.

Just over 130,000 sq ft of the 2008

space is at the second phase of

St Paul’s Square (pictured left),

a scheme that has already become

a beacon for professional services

firms, attracting law firms Hill

Dickinson and DWF along with

Allied Irish Bank.

Standard Life Investments has

also agreed to forward fund the

development of 5 St Paul’s Square,

the £50m second phase of the

scheme.

Offi

ce ta

lk

p17-22 Property 20/7/07 16:03

Ahead of its merger with Business Liverpool and

Liverpool Land Development Company, urban regeneration

company (URC) Liverpool Vision has declared the

city’s reputation as being dependent on the public purse

as outdated.

Figures from the agency’s annual review show that

total public sector funding for the 20 largest city centre

regeneration projects stands at £342.8m out of

£2.7bn - only 12.7 per cent of the total investment in

those projects. Clear evidence, says chief executive Jim

Gill, that things have changed.

“The years 2006 and 2007 mark the height of

Liverpool Vision’s programme for the city centre and the

shift from public sector dependency to private sector

led growth,” says Gill. “The signs are that the city centre

economy is well down that path.

However Gill stressed there was no room for complacency.

“The job is not yet complete. We need to maintain a clear

focus on completion of the current programme, and to

ensure that new programmes support the attraction and

growth of professional and financial services, knowledge

and creative industries.”

A million sq ft of new grade A office space has either

reached completion or started on site since Vision was

established as the UK’s first URC in 1999. Rental levels

have grown from £14.25 per sq ft in 2000 to £22 per sq

ft today - an increase of 35 per cent.

The retail and leisure sector has also seen growth, with

Property

A private matter

20

WORK IN PROGRESS…

LLiivveerrppooooll OOnnee 1.6 million sq ft

retail-led scheme covering a

42.5-acre site. Phase one open

from April 2008.

SStt PPaauull’’ss SSqquuaarree by English Cities

Fund fronting Old Hall Street.

Phase one, 130,000 sq ft of offices,

50 apartments and car park due to

complete in 2007. Phase two, a

single building of 133,000 sq ft

now on site, due to complete in

April 2008.

WWeesstt TToowweerr Beetham

Organization’s second Liverpool

tower. Topped out in early 2007.

Forty storeys high, it is due for

completion in late 2007.

EEllyyssiiaann FFiieellddss Colquitt Street.

Mixed-use development with 101

apartments due to complete 2007.

KKiinnggss WWaatteerrffrroonntt 15-hectare

mixed-use scheme to provide

waterfront concert, conference

and hotel facilities. Arena to open

January 2008.

MMaattcchhbbooxx a 19,000 sq ft office

building fronting Urban Splash’s

Matchworks site in south

Liverpool. Completes autumn

2007.

SScchhooooll ooff TTrrooppiiccaall MMeeddiicciinnee

Pembroke Street. £26m research

building and link bridge.

Completes December 2007.

WWeelllliinnggttoonn EEmmppllooyymmeenntt PPaarrkk

SSoouutthh Office and light industrial

units. Completes January 2008.

CRANE WATCH

almost 900,000 sq ft of space being

delivered in the city centre over

the past seven years, while almost

2 million sq ft of new space is under

construction or in

the pipeline. Major projects close to

completion include the new cruise

liner facility and the Arena and

Convention Centre Liverpool.

As investors come into the city,

funding is being withdrawn. Following

the forward sale of 5 St Paul’s Square

for around £50m, developer English

Cities Fund was able to hand

back £3.8m to central government

and Europe that had been granted to

stimulate development.

Vision chairman Sir Joe Dwyer

added: “We have moved a long way.

Our Strategic Regeneration

Framework for the city centre was

published in 2000 and envisaged a

15-year programme with an estimated

development value of £1.5bn to

£2bn. Yet as we stand today, we

will have completed or have work in

progress on a programme with an

estimated value of around £3bn.”

p17-22 Property 20/7/07 16:03

Property

Source: DTZ

With 157 acres of development

land with planning consent for

2.9 million sq ft of mixed-use

development, it’s not unreasonable

to say that Liverpool International

Business Park (LIBP) has got some-

thing for everyone.

Not only that, it’s got one of the

UK’s fastest growing airports right

on its doorstep, in the shape of

Liverpool John Lennon Airport, as

well as a range of retail and small

business facilities that have sprung

up since Speke Garston

Development Company trans-

formed south Liverpool in the late

1990s.

Landholder Peel Holdings has

divided up the land into plots and

sold them on to other developers

to bring forward. Gladman

Developments built The Vault, a

610,000 sq ft warehouse, whereas

Business Homes, a specialist in

providing space for small businesses,

completed its plot in May 2007.

Business Homes Liverpool

includes nine self-contained

two-storey office units ranging from

2,648 sq ft to 6,168 sq ft. Units have

the potential to be split to provide

smaller floorplates from 1,324 sq ft.

Jason Print, partner at LIBP

letting agent Cushman & Wakefield,

says: “In 2004, when I was first

instructed on the site, land values

were around £100,000 an acre.

We’re now doing disposals in

excess of £400,000 so they’ve

quadrupled.”

Juggling priorities International recognition

HIGHEST RENTS IN LIVERPOOL COMMERCIAL PROPERTY (£ PER SQUARE FEET)

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Office £16 £16 £18 £20 £22

Retail (Zone A) £250 £300 £330 £330 £330

Industrial £4.00 £4.00 £4.50 £4.60 £5.50

RETAIL RENTAL VALUES(£ PER SQ.M PRIME POSITION SHOPPING CENTRE)

Liverpool £3,200

Manchester £3,000

Leeds £3,250

OFFICE RENTAL VALUES (£ PER SQ.M) 2006 BASED ON CITY CENTRE SCHEMES 1,000M SQ.M+

Liverpool £180

Manchester £300

Leeds £220

21


Source: Valuation Office Agency

Liverpool developer Iliad is at it again.

The developer responsible for eye-catching

Liverpool schemes like the £50m East Village has

started work on Juggler’s Yard, following receipt

of a £15m funding package from the Royal Bank

of Scotland (RBS).

The 35,000 sq ft scheme is located in Vauxhall

Street, just to the north of the Old Hall Street

central business district, but also close to the

city’s universities. It comprises 57 one, two and

three bedroom apartments, plus ground level

commercial space.

It has been named after Juggler Street,

a Liverpool thoroughfare dating back to the

11th century, which was named for the jugglers

and strolling players that used to gather there.

Juggler Street was later renamed High Street.

Bill Addy, business development director at

Iliad, says: “This area is at the heart of the city’s

regeneration, with several major projects under

way.” Lisa Cattell, director of property finance

at RBS, added: “Iliad has created a scheme that

has already created a lot of interest and once

complete this project will contribute to the

regeneration of Liverpool city centre.”

p17-22 Property 20/7/07 16:03

22

Property

•The installation of a new pedestrian

bridge across Dukes Dock, which

links Arena and Convention Centre

Liverpool on Kings Waterfront to the

Albert Dock, has been lifted into

place. The bridge is part of the

‘Waterfront Connections’ programme,

a series of projects designed to

improve access and infrastructure

along Liverpool’s waterfront.

Contractor AAllffrreedd MMccAAllppiinnee is on

target to complete the bridge by

September 2007 and open it by the

start of 2008, when the first events

at ACC Liverpool take place.

•Developer LLaannggttrreeee has completed

the first phase of its Alchemy business

park scheme in Knowsley, and

immediately started work on phase

two. The scheme is funded by a

£32.1m grant from the Objective

One programme, with a further £1.3m

contribution coming from the

Northwest Regional Development

Agency. When complete, Alchemy

will offer 93,000 sq ft of industrial

accommodation across a 25-acre site.

•LLiivveerrppooooll SScciieennccee PPaarrkk ((LLSSPP))

has been awarded a £3m grant by

Merseyside’s Objective One

programme to build its second

phase. This £8m project will comprise

a new 40,000 sq ft facility, offering

specialist accommodation and

services for young businesses with

new ideas and intellectual property

in science and technology. Since

opening in 2006 the LSP

Innovation Centre, adjacent to the

Metropolitan Cathedral, has

welcomed 22 companies.

•Fashionable Liverpool bar restaurant AAllmmaa ddee CCuubbaa has been sold by Rob Gutmann’s Korova

Corporation to TGI, a new business led by Chris Wainwright, ex-Iceland director Stuart Ross and

Rob Preston, former operations director at the city’s Living Room. Guttman, who built up the Albert

Dock bars Pan American and Blue before selling them, has continued to open new venues across

Liverpool. TGI plans to roll out the Alma brand across the region.

•Coffee chain CCoossttaa CCooffffeeee has taken nearly 2,000 sq ft

for a brand new retail unit in the listed Britannia Pavilion

on Liverpool’s Albert Dock. The new store opened in July

2007 and sits adjacent to the famous Beatles Story

Museum. Boasting a 500 sq ft outside seating area, the

new store will be unlike any other Costa Coffee store as it

will have a bespoke design to ensure that it is sympathetic

with the historic surroundings of the Albert Dock.

•LLiivveerrppooooll LLaanndd DDeevveellooppmmeenntt CCoommppaannyy ((LLLLDDCC)), the

organisation spearheading the regeneration of the four

key gateway routes into Liverpool, has

announced three senior management

appointments as new chief executive

Ian Hassall looks to make his mark.

LLDC has promoted Rob Monaghan

to development director. Monaghan

joined as development manager in

2005 from a similar position with

the Northwest Regional Development

Agency. LLDC has also promoted John

Barrow to project director and hired

Sue Ashton as a project manager.

•MMeerrsseeyyccaarree aanndd NNHHSS EEssttaatteess is to

move into Switch House, the grade A

21,000 sq ft office scheme by Maghull

Developments on Sefton’s

Dunningsbridge Road. It will occupy

more than 7,000 sq ft of space at the

scheme and will pay £13.50 per sq ft

in a deal that hints at north Liverpool’s

progress as an office market.

• HHaawwttiinn DDeevveellooppmmeennttss has

appointed King Sturge and DTZ to

market 360,000 sq ft of industrial

space at the former Champion spark

plugs site in Upton on the Wirral.

News in brief

p17-22 Property 20/7/07 16:03

FASTEST GROWING AIRPORTS UK: TERMINAL AND TRANSIT PASSENGERS 2006

2006 2005 % Change

NOTTINGHAM EAST MIDLANDS 4,727,996 4,184,319 11.5

LIVERPOOL 4,963,776 4,411,243 11.1

ABERDEEN 3,164,042 2,853,741 9.8

BRISTOL 5,757,963 5,253,752 8.8

NEWCASTLE 5,431,976 5,200,806 4.3

BELFAST INTERNATIONAL 5,038,692 4,824,271 4.2


Source: Civil Aviation Authority

23

Record numbersfor JLALiverpool John Lennon Airport

(JLA) has celebrated the busiest

month in its history after

welcoming almost 520,000

passengers in May 2007.

It is the first time that the

airport has handled more than

500,000 passengers in a single

month, representing a 12 per

cent increase in business

compared to the same period in

2006. Throughput was boosted

by more than 12,000 Liverpool

football fans travelling to Athens

for the Champions League Final.

The record month came shortly

after JLA was identified as one

of the fastest growing regional

airports in the country by the

Civil Aviation Authority. It handled

more than 550,000 more

passengers in 2006 compared to

2005, an increase of 11 per cent.

This puts it just behind

Nottingham East Midlands

Airport in terms of percentage

increase, although JLA handled

more passengers in total.

Neil Pakey, chief executive of

Peel Airports, said: “JLA has been

the fastest-growing airport for

three out of the last six years

and recently passed through

the five million annual passenger

mark for the first time.

When Peel took over the Airport

in 1997 we were handling just

600,000 in a year. We can't

afford to stand still though,

particularly in the run up to

Capital of Culture year.”

23On the move

By the time Liverpool’s European Capital of

Culture year arrives in 2008, there could

be an extra 7,000 rail seats a day

between Liverpool and London, with a travel

time of just two hours and 30 minutes. Virgin

Trains has confirmed it is investing more than

£400,000 to increase its services between the

two cities on the West Coast main line, taking

the number of return services to 16 per day

during weekdays.

Business travellers will also benefit from the

ongoing improvement to facilities at Liverpool’s

Lime Street station, which includes refurbishment

of the main concourse and transfer of the taxi

pick-up point to the Skelhorn Street side of the

station next to the platforms used by Virgin's

London trains.

“This is a clear sign that rail is making a major

difference on these key routes,” says Virgin

West Coast managing director Charles Belcher.

“More and more people are taking advantage of

reduced journey times, value for money tickets

and more frequent services.”

Meanwhile Merseytravel and Northern Rail

are to boost services on the busy City Line route

from Liverpool to Manchester. The operators

are to replace ageing trains with higher quality

'sprinter' trains which are more reliable and

provide more seats. Around seven million

passengers use the City Line every year.

The improved services, funded by Merseytravel,

will help ease the pressures of rising peak-time

passenger numbers on the line and the expected

influx of visitors for European Capital of Culture

and beyond. The extra trains will equate to

more than 250,000 additional seats on the line

every year.

Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel,

pictured above with Northern Rail area director

Jamie Ross, said: "The City Line is one of our

real success stories but we need to make this

investment if we are to deal with the growing

level of demand on this line. This is our

commitment to the people who use this

service regularly and we hope they will see

the difference this investment will make."

The new trains have been secured following

a complex deal between Merseytravel, Northern

Rail and Angel Trains, the leasing company

which owns them.

Extra seats on track

p23 On the move 20/7/07 16:04

L iverpool's proud maritime history

will enjoy centre stage in

the 2008 European Capital

of Culture celebrations as the city's

docks welcome some of the world's

most impressive vessels.

September 16 this year will see

the start of the Clipper 07-08 Round

the World Yacht Race. Competitors in

the world's longest circum-navigation

race will set off from Liverpool's

Albert Dock on their gruelling

35,000 mile route before returning

in summer 2008, in the middle of

Liverpool's year as European Capital

of Culture.

The international event attracts

racing yachts sponsored by cities

24

High street fashion king George Davies,

the man who launched Next and

George at Asda, has become the latest

08 Ambassador, taking the number of

supporters past the 5,000 mark.

The Crosby-born retailer joins a long

list of high-profile ambassadors for

the city, including Yoko Ono, Steven

Gerrard, Cherie Booth and John

Conteh. He said: “There's nowhere in

the world quite like Liverpool. The people, the passion,

the fun, the fighting spirit and, of course, the football,

make it a fantastic place that will always have the most

special place in my heart.”

The aim is that the ambassadors will spread the word

about the strides the city is making and what can be

expected during 2008. The Liverpool Culture Company

aims to have 10,000 ambassadors and has already

attracted people from all walks of life, across 50

different countries from Australia to Venezuela.

Culture champion

24 Countdown to Culture

All aboard

ten 68-foot yachts are manned by amateur crews guided

by a professional skipper.

Liverpool also launched a competition to give three

amateur sailors the chance to join the Liverpool 08 yacht

for one of its legs. They will now act as ambassadors for

Liverpool during the epic journey.

Councillor Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City

Council, said: “Liverpool has been proud to host the

Clipper race on two previous occasions, attracting

thousands of spectators to our historic waterfront, so

the city has a real connection with the event."

Jason Harborow, chief executive of the Liverpool

Culture Company, added: “The Liverpool 08 yacht will

sail around the world with the Clipper fleet, presenting

a fantastic opportunity to promote Liverpool to new

audiences."

across the world. Visiting ports such

as New York, South Africa, Hawaii

and Singapore, the race is split into

seven legs. The 07-08 race will be

the sixth in the event's history since

the format was introduced in

1996 by Clipper Ventures' founder Sir

Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person

to sail solo around the world.

Around 1,400 people have sailed

in the first five Clipper races, many

of whom had no previous experience

on the sea.

Following the founder's unique

philosophy of opening up the event

to sailing novices, each of Clipper's

Yoko

On

o:Sp

read

ing

th

e m

essa

ge

p24-25 Culture 20/7/07 16:20

As Liverpool continues its 800th

birthday celebrations, the people

of Merseyside have been gifted

a unique membership card that

will grant them special privileges

as the city gears up for 2008.

The free 08 Card entitles

residents to benefits including

free travel, special offers on theatre

tickets and free children’s entry

to attractions. Organisers say

the card is the first of its kind in

the UK, enabling local people to

share the wider cultural experience

of the city. Distribution of the

card has already begun and it’s

expected that more than 500,000

people will have signed up for

one by the end of 2008.

“This is part of the city’s gift

to residents as we gear up for

2008,” said Councillor Warren

Bradley, leader of Liverpool City

Council. “We will ensure that

card-holders find out about

events quickly and that a

proportion of tickets for really

major events are held back for

locals who have a 08 Card.”

One of the key benefits

card-holders will enjoy is to

receive regular updates, including

a monthly email, quarterly

newsletter and regular text

messages about events in the city

and special card-holder offers.

There will also be the chance to

win a host of special prizes,

including a VIP lunch on board

the QE2.

The 08 Card has been launched

by a partnership involving

Liverpool Culture Company,

transport authority Merseytravel

and Liverpool lifestyle smartcard

specialist Livesmart. They can be

collected from locations including

Merseytravel Travel Centres,

tourist information centres,

libraries and hospitals.

With a little helpfrom our friends

Countdown to culture

25

Passport to the city

With Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture now

only months away, two new supporters have joined the list

of sponsors and ambassadors helping to promote the city's

worldwide showcase.

Communications firm BT has become an official partner

for the year and will have a key role in promoting and

spreading the word about events happening throughout

the year. The deal follows a five-year extension to the joint

venture partnership with Liverpool City Council, Liverpool

Direct Ltd (LDL), signed in December 2006.

The extension will save the city around £48m, and £8m

of that is being ploughed back into supporting activities

such as Capital of Culture, the Arena and Convention

Centre Liverpool, and the 2007 birthday celebrations.

Since 2001 BT has invested £53m in new technology

to improve and modernise council services.

Chris Sayers, director, local government, at BT, added:

“2008 will be a fantastic opportunity for Liverpool to

showcase itself to the world. Our partnership with the

council over the past few years has achieved some

tremendous success and this is an opportunity to widen

our involvement to involve the community and the people

of the North West.”

Meanwhile financial services firm Royal Liver Assurance

has also signed up to the 08 Friends Programme run by

the Liverpool Culture Company. The business has pledged

£20,000 to the programme, which is aiming to raise

£500,000 to support 08 events.

There will be thechance to win ahost of prizesincluding a VIPlunch on the QE2

Ash

ley

Tayl

or D

awso

n a

nd

Car

ley

Sten

son

fro

m H

olly

oaks

hel

p p

rom

ote

the

card

Sayers with Liverpool City Council leader Cllr Warren Bradley

p24-25 Culture 20/7/07 16:20

26

Upping their game

Ask any foreign tourist what they most associate

with Liverpool and the answer will probably

be the same – the Beatles and football.

Indeed, Merseyside is as synonymous with the sport

as much as it is with the Fab Four, having a long and

illustrious tradition that is renowned the world over.

A short walk across Stanley Park is all that separates

the city’s two most famous teams, Liverpool and

Everton. However while the clubs have achieved

considerable on-field success in recent years, both are

also doing the business off the field. The latest annual

review of football finance, carried out by accountancy

firm Deloitte, paints something

of a rosy picture for the two clubs.

Turnover for the year end 2006

remained steady for both teams,

with Liverpool recording figures of

£121.7m and Everton £58.1m.

Dan Jones, partner in the sports

business group at Deloitte, says that

revenues are set to rise significantly

in years to come too. “The new

broadcasting rights deals, providing

an additional £300m of revenue to

the Premier League clubs in 2007/08,

plus other revenue increases, will

drive overall turnover up to almost

£1.8bn in the league. The wave of

new owners will contribute towards

more restraint by clubs, compared to

the past, in terms of their spending

too.”

Both Liverpool and Everton

have witnessed major investment

in recent times. Liverpool saw the

takeover in February 2007 by

Americans George Gillett Jr and Tom

Hicks, while in October 2006 Robert

Earl, through his vehicle BCR Sports,

bought 23 per cent of Everton from

Paul Gregg.

Talking of America, Everton chief

executive Keith Wyness says Earl has

26 Sector focus: Football

Recent investment in both Liverpool and Everton stressesthe importance of football to the city’s wider economy.

p26-27 Sector focus 20/7/07 16:15

Sector focus: Football

27

The move of Liverpool FC from its Anfield home

to a new stadium has been on and off for several

years. With a capacity of 44,000 and the team

regularly competing in the Champions League,

the club felt it needed a stadium with more

capacity and one with more room for lucrative

corporate hospitality too.

Finally, in September 2006, it seemed the way

was clear when the club reached an agreement

with Liverpool City Council that the scheme

should receive £9m of European funding, with

the proviso being that planning permission be

obtained before the end of 2006 and work

completed before the end of 2008.

Early in 2007, parts of Stanley Park, just a few

hundred yards from Anfield, were fenced off for

preparatory work on the 60,000-seat stadium

to begin. However, when US tycoons George

Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks bought control of LFC

in February 2007, they quickly announced that

they intended to make the stadium yet larger.

In April the pair entered talks with Liverpool

City Council leader Warren Bradley and

regeneration director John Kelly. Construction

of the stadium will start imminently.

Meanwhile Everton also has major plans for a

new stadium in Knowsley which are now out to

consultation among fans. Says chief executive

Keith Wyness: “The stadium is the major focus for

the club at the moment. The Premiership is a very

different place to what it was as recently as a

year ago, and to be able to continue competing

we need to maximise revenue streams every way

we can.”

A NEW START

major plans for the US. “Robert has

a great contact list and influence in

many areas. We have serious

long-term strategies to market

Everton in the US and he can help

us achieve that. We believe we can

create more tangible, long-term

benefits than merely selling shirts.”

Meanwhile Jones says investment

in both Liverpool clubs can only be

a positive for the city, even that from

abroad. “I think foreign investment is

a good thing as it helps to have fresh

perspectives on running the

business. As long as those investors

are there for the long term and are

interested in making those businesses

more successful,

I think that’s got to be good for the

fans and good for the Premiership.”

With profits set to soar among

Premier League clubs, this can only

be good for the region too, adds

Dr Geoff Pearson, MBA programme

director (Football Industries) at the

University of Liverpool’s Football

Industry Group. “Any growing

medium-sized business is obviously

great news for the economy as it

generates much employment and

encourages investment,” he says.

But Pearson adds that football is

also a massive draw for tourists to

the region. “People flock to the city

for home games, especially those for

Liverpool. Often for a game on

Saturday, visitors will arrive on Friday

night, attend the match and then

go home on the Sunday. This clearly

is great for the economy. The tourists

will be spending money in local

businesses such as hotels, shops,

pubs and restaurants.”

Leisure and tourism is actually

worth an estimated £1.1bn to

Merseyside’s economy, with football

accounting for a large chunk of that.

The last major study carried out into

the impact of football on the economy

in Merseyside found that 3,000

full-time jobs were dependent on the

local football industry, plus another

1,400 on match days. The Football

Industry Group’s research also

highlighted that 34p of every £1 spent

is retained in the Merseyside economy,

while 78 per cent of businesses

questioned noticed a significant

increase in takings on match days.

“People have to realise that

football is no longer just kicking

a ball about, it’s big business,” says

Councillor Flo Clucas, executive

member for economic development

at Liverpool City Council. “Football

firstly creates jobs and brings people

into the city which is great for the

economy. Secondly, when the

region’s teams do well, it brings

fantastic media attention across

the whole of the world. Liverpool’s

European achievement in recent

years has ensured that the city

remains in the public eye and when

football fans visit they can see what

a vibrant and growing city it is.”

Clucas also points to the proposed

new stadium to be built on Stanley

Park by Liverpool FC (see box above)

as being a major boost for the city.

“It’s worth noting that the amount

of football tourists visiting the city

will increase in the coming years

once Liverpool’s new stadium is

built. It has encouraged investment

into the area,” she says.

The amount of football tourists visitingthe city will increase once Liverpool’s new stadium is built.”

“

p26-27 Sector focus 20/7/07 16:15

Ireland, and has worked closely with

British and Irish governments during the

peace process. The funding will enable

several postgraduate studentships and

a new undergraduate programme in

British and Irish politics.

Institute researchers and students

will also develop outreach work both

in Ireland and elsewhere on various

peace-building programmes within

communities experiencing conflict.

Director of the Institute, Professor

Marianne Elliott, was herself

honoured with an OBE in 2000 for

services to Irish Studies and the

Northern Ireland peace process.

She says: “The Blair Chair is a dual

testament to the contributions

of both the Prime Minister and the

Institute in promoting greater

understanding between the people

of Britain and Ireland.

A £5m Tony Blair Chair in Irish Studies is to be established

at the University of Liverpool.

Created by the Irish government, the Blair Chair was

awarded to the university on the eve of Tony Blair’s

retirement as Prime Minister to reflect his instrumental

role in helping to end the troubles in Northern Ireland.

The Chair was also awarded in recognition of the

research, teaching and promotion of Irish affairs carried

out by the university’s Institute of Irish Studies.

The Institute, founded in 1988, has played a key role in

developing and informing peace programmes in Northern

Blair Chair

Technology hope

28

sees the course, says its development

was a direct response to the

dominance of Microsoft in the world

of commerce and business.

Undergraduates on the course are

prepared for a career in any area

of information technology, but are

given additional depth of expertise

in Microsoft.NET technology.

Fleet says: “Microsoft technologies

continue to reshape the landscape of

information technology across the world with innovations

that will dictate the future of business and other

management systems in this fast-developing sector.

“We believe graduates with skills in Microsoft.NET will

have a distinct advantage in terms of their employment

prospects and their readiness for work.

“Students will gain skills in advanced web development,

e-commerce and mobile technology, as well as in

business application tools. We know that such skills are

invaluable and directly applicable to the world of work

and business.”

Liverpool Hope University is

launching the UK’s first degree

in Microsoft technologies.

The BSc Honours degree in

Microsoft.NET Technologies, which

will take its first intake of about

25 students in September 2008,

will give students skills in desktop,

server and mobile technologies.

Tony Fleet, head of computing

science at the university, who over-

28 Knowledge economy

p28-29 Knowledge 20/7/07 16:05

29

Knowledge economy

Source: Higher Education Statistics Authority

Source: Department for Education & Skills

LIVERPOOL STATISTICS2STUDENTS AT LIVERPOOL, LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES AND LIVERPOOL HOPE UNIVERSITIES 2004/2005

Undergraduates Full Time 32,110

Undergraduates Part Time 9,705

Postgraduates Full Time 3,960

Postgraduates Part Time 6,055

BBLLOOOODD BBAANNKK

A new technology that could

potentially save lives through the

early detection of fatal diseases has

received backing from Merseyside

Special Investment Fund’s Liverpool

Seed Fund.

PalindromX, a University of

Liverpool spin-out company, has

developed a patented technology

that increases the sensitivity of

blood testing, giving a quicker and

more accurate diagnosis.

It also significantly reduces costs

by allowing doctors to run tests for

several different substances at once

rather than separately.

The company has secured an initial

package of £100,000 from Liverpool

Seed Fund to complete the proof of

concept phase, where the viability of

the technology and potential market

demand are assessed.

Phil Goodwin, chairman of the

company, says that traditional

methods are often constrained by a

high limit of detection whereas this

method dramatically lowers that

limit, which increases the test's range

substantially.

“Currently we are using the test

for the early detection of thyroid

and heart disease, but it could also

be used to test for cancer and many

other conditions,” he says.

“We can now develop the technology

further through a more rigorous

and relevant validation process.

Once proven, we can begin the

commercialisation process.”

TTRRIIPPLLEE WWHHAAMMMMYY

A Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) Knowledge

Transfer Partnership (KTP) associate has won a

Department of Trade and Industry national Business

Leader of Tomorrow competition, making it the third

year in a row that LJMU associates have won the

award. KTP enables a company and a university

to work together on a specific project, bringing the

knowledge and expertise of the university into the

company.

The 2007 winner, Gareth Black, is a postgraduate

engineering student at LJMU. Black - pictured above

with previous winners, twins Ben and Mark Chadwick,

- is working on a knowledge transfer partnership

involving LJMU’s School of Engineering and St Helens-

based Delta Fluid Products, a specialist company in

the field of controls, valves and fittings for fluids and

gases.

Professor Michael Brown, LJMU’s vice chancellor,

says: “Three years ago we only had three KTPs. Now

we have 22 and these partnerships extend beyond

traditional business and engineering disciplines to

embrace art and design, pharmacy and chemistry.”

% PUPILS ATTAINING LEVEL 4+ AT KEY STAGE 2, 2006English Maths Science

Liverpool 77 74 85

Manchester 72 73 83

North West 80 78 87

England 79 76 87

% OF 15-YEAR-OLD PUPILS ACHIEVING 5+ A*-C GCSE 2006

Merseyside 55.7

Manchester 46.7

North West 56.1

England (all schools) 58.1

p28-29 Knowledge 20/7/07 16:05

Among the most celebrated deals of recent times in

Liverpool was the flotation of the city’s Cains Brewery

business via a £37m reverse takeover of AIM-listed

Honeycombe Leisure.

Andrew Noon, head of banking at law firm DLA Piper in

Liverpool, who advised on the flotation, explains its significance:

“Before the Cains deal, Liverpool had been strangely becalmed

on AIM – of the 50 or so North West flotations over the last

couple of years, not one had come from this city. We don’t have

a crystal ball but the city’s economy is changing and growing for

the better. We feel the corporate finance market is healthy and

that others may well follow Cains’ example.”

Chris Hughes, director of Spencer Holdings, one of Liverpool’s

major quoted companies, agrees that there is scope in the city

for a broader plc base. “The quality and depth of advisers in

the North West is such that the corporate finance market is well

fuelled to support further flotations following that of Cains,” says

Hughes. “And, with the more established operators increasingly

focusing on the larger transactions, there is arguably a gap at

the lower end of the market for new entrants.”

Another headline deal was the £174m sale of Liverpool FC to

US billionaires George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks. Colin Gillespie,

regional head of corporate finance at accountancy firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers, who advised Liverpool shareholders,

is convinced the area’s deals market has much more to offer.

“We have a number of other mandates relating to a variety of

different types of transactions including cash-out deals, debt and

equity fundraisings, and a cross border acquisition,” says

Gillespie. “We also expect there

to be further IPOs, particularly on

the AIM market in the remainder

of 2007.”

Corporate law firm Brabners

Chaffe Street reports a huge

growth in the amount of deals

involving private equity (PE)

with the turnover of its corporate

finance department more than

doubling during the last year –

and 80 per cent of its work

involving PE.

David Houghton, the firm’s

head of corporate finance,

comments: “We have been

working on a number of sizeable

deals involving some form of PE

so all the indications are that

this is an area that will continue

to develop during the rest of this

year.”

Gareth McIntegart, head of

the corporate team in Liverpool at

law firm DWF, agrees that the

city’s corporate finance market

is in rude health, citing his firm’s

involvement in the £370m

refinancing of Iceland Foods

Group and Burton’s Foods’

institutional buyout by Duke

Street Capital.

However, McIntegart is more

guarded about the strength of

PE in the city. “With a scarcity

of PE houses on the ground in

Liverpool, you question whether

this impacts on the deals scene,”

he says. “Obviously deals get done

without the physical presence of

PE firms, but Liverpool would

benefit from a more well-rounded

infrastructure of funders to go

with the wealth of advisers we

have.”

No rain onLiverpool’sparade

A procession of high profile deals,combined with reports of an upsurge in private equity activity, has stimulatedfresh optimism in Liverpool’s corporatefinance community.

30

1 Andrew Noon, DLA Piper

2 David Houghton, Brabners

3 Gareth McIntegart, DWF

2

3

30 Professional Liverpool

1

p30-31_prof liv_burning issue 20/7/07 16:05

Professional Liverpool

IS LIVERPOOL’S ECONOMIC REVIVAL STARTING TO

BE REFLECTED IN MORE CORPORATE DEALS?Much has been made of Liverpool’s economic renaissance. Liverpool asked a group of

business leaders and professional advisers whether this was feeding through into the

corporate finance market.

31

Liverpool has always been active, but few

£10m-plus deals take place in Merseyside

and therefore the smaller ones that do

occur often fall under the radar. Having said

this, there has been a particular increase in

activity in the property scene. Interestingly,

many of these property deals have been done using bank debt

instead of venture capital and, as a result, there has been a

noticeable influx of banks into Liverpool.

HOWARD HACKNEY, partner at accountancy Grant Thornton

By Liverpool’s historic standards the deals

market is fizzing along nicely. In terms of

where you’d expect England’s fourth largest

city to be, we’ve still got some ground to

make up. Above average levels of company

formation and the wider success of the

regional economy suggests plenty more to come. It’s helpful

that there’s now a cohort of advisers acting as rainmakers,

encouraging firms to do deals.

DOUGAL PAVER, managing director at PR agency Paver Smith

Liverpool has stepped up a gear in recent

years in terms of the number and quality of

deals done. Peel Ports’ acquisition of Mersey

Docks and Harbour Company is a direct

reflection of the market's confidence in

Liverpool's economic regeneration. Beyond

that there have been a number of top-notch public and private

transactions such as the recent AIM listing of ULive, Speedy Hire’s

acquisition of Hewden, and the sale of Liverpool FC.

JOHN PHYTHIAN, markets director at accountancy Ernst & Young

In the last 18 months there have been

some tremendous corporate and trade deals

brokered by the Liverpool professional

community. We are certainly experiencing

an increase in instructions and the rate of

increase is greater in our Liverpool office

than in our Manchester or London offices. I think a lot hinges on

the success of some of the larger high-profile investments in the

city. If successful then the local economy is likely to follow.

MIKE JONES, corporate partner at law firm Hill Dickinson

There has definitely been an increase in

corporate deals on the back of Liverpool’s

resurgent economy. Growth in confidence is

mirrored by an increasing entrepreneurial

spirit. More businesses are looking to

acquire companies in the area and more

management teams are looking to buy out the companies where

they work as they predict a positive future.

PAUL MCGERTY of accountancy Mitchell Charlesworth

It is safe to say that the entrepreneurial

spirit is more evident than ever before in

the city. There is an increasing level of

confidence about the future of Liverpool

and this is starting to filter through to local

owner-managed businesses which are now

making steps to develop and grow, either organically with local

financial backing, support or through acquisition.

CLAIRE JACKSON, managing partner at accountancy Hurst

p30-31_prof liv_burning issue 20/7/07 16:06

32

L iverpool is enjoying a feast of sport in 2007 as a string

of major events grow in popularity and stature.

Top of the list remains the Grand National horse race

meeting at Aintree, which in 2007 drew almost 150,000

punters, with some 68,000 race-goers going through the

turnstiles on National day itself. More than 50,000 attended

Ladies Day on the Friday.

Punters were also able to enjoy the course’s spectacular new

facilities following a £35m redevelopment. The new Earl of

Derby and Lord Sefton stands can hold an extra 3,000 guests

along with 900 restaurant seats and luxury corporate boxes.

The course also has a new weighing room, winner’s enclosure

complex and equestrian centre.

Aintree spokeswoman Sarah Driscoll said everyone at the

course was delighted with the response this year. “We had

record attendance on some days and felt this year’s meeting

was a huge success, with crowd figures continuing to grow

year on year.”

Meanwhile, in June more than 17,000 people flocked to

Calderstones Park to enjoy the Liverpool International Tennis

Tournament which is now in its sixth year and has become

established as the largest exhibition event in Europe, attracting

leading players from across the world.

Highlights of the six-day tournament were also broadcast to

a global television audience on Sky Sports. "The combination

of a beautiful public park, first-class grass court tennis and much

sought after box seats make the tournament a great product,”

says tournament director Anders Borg. "To boast an international

tennis tournament of this calibre is a massive pull for Liverpool

and provides the perfect opportunity to promote the city to the

rest of the world." Spaniard David Ferrer won the men’s title,

while American Ashley Harkleroad won a thrilling ladies title on

a tie-break.

2008 is sure to be an even bigger sporting year for the city,

as Merseyside also welcomes back the Open Golf championship

at Royal Birkdale.

Liverpool serves up a sporting feast

20

07

Gra

nd

Nat

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al w

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ilver

Bir

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32 Lifestyle

p31-33_lifestyle 20/7/07 16:06

33

Lifestyle

PRIZE DRAW FOR CAPITAL OF CULTUREThe excitement is mounting as Liverpool gears up to host

one of Europe's most prestigious arts awards. Tate

Liverpool has been selected as the venue for the Turner

Prize 2007, an event set to provide a high-profile curtain-

raiser for the city's 2008 Capital of Culture celebrations.

It will be the first time the celebration of

contemporary British art has been hosted outside

London in its 23-year history, and will allow Liverpool to

display its cultural credentials to art-lovers everywhere.

The Turner Prize was established in 1984 to promote

public discussion of new developments in contemporary

British art, and has since become established as one of

the highlights of Europe's cultural calendar. Previous

winners include Richard Deacon, Damien Hirst, Howard

Hodgkin, Steve McQueen, Malcolm Morley, Gillian

Wearing and Rachel Whiteread.

Liverpool has earnt the honour of hosting the

high-profile awards ceremony at Tate Liverpool on 3

December 2007 during a live broadcast on Channel Four.

The winner will receive £25,000, with £5,000 awarded

to each of the other shortlisted artists. The finalists are

Zarina Bhimji, Nathan Coley, Mike Nelson and Mark

Wallinger. An exhibition of their work opens to the public

on October 19 and continues until January 13 2008.

Christoph Grunenberg, director of Tate Liverpool,

said: “The Turner Prize is an integral part of Tate, and

by presenting the Turner Prize in Liverpool in 2007 Tate

is showing its commitment and support for Liverpool

European Capital of Culture 2008. We believe the Turner

Prize will bring a welcome focus to the city and generate

thought-provoking discussion around contemporary art.”

Spoilt for choice. Above: The new-look Aintree shows

off its new stands to crowds at the National meeting.

Below: Calderstones Park hosted the city’s

International Tennis Tournament.

p31-33_lifestyle 20/7/07 16:06

34

Lifestyle

Liverpool's Central Docks attracted 20,000 spectators

as the city played host to a fleet of some of the

world's tallest ships. The All Aboard event which took

place in June showcased some of the most majestic

giants of the sea.

All ships were available for the public to board

and admire for free. The main attraction was the

Dar Modziezy, a 360-foot A Class colossus. The three-

masted vessel moored at Sandon Half-Tide dock

carrying 152 Polish trainee sailors.

The Dar was joined by 200-foot long UK vessel,

Kaskelot, together with The Stravros S Niarchos.

The crowd was also able to admire the 180-foot long

Tenacious, the largest wooden tall ship of her kind in

the world.

Councillor Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool

City Council, said: "The All Aboard event was a great

chance for people to celebrate Liverpool's rich

maritime history and see some of the world's most

impressive tall ships. Thousands of spectators turned

out over the weekend, creating a fantastic family

atmosphere down at the waterfront."

The event was staged as part of the build-up to

Liverpool's 800th anniversary celebrations on 28

August and provided a flavour of the quality which

will be on show at the Tall Ships Races in July 2008.

The races are predicted to attract crowds of around

one million people and will be a highlight of the

European Capital of Culture calendar.

Free

att

ract

ion

:Tal

l sh

ips

do

ck in

Liv

erp

oo

l

ALL ABOARD

AACCCCEESSSS AALLLL AARREEAASSLiverpool boasts a vast array of quality hotels to suit every taste.

•Malmaison, Princes Dock

Newly opened in January 2007, the

Malmaison is located in the city's

historic Princes Dock. The £14m

venue incorporates 130 rooms and

two suites, dedicated to the city's

favourite football teams. The Kop

and The Toffee Shop suites include

plasma screen TVs and football

memorabilia.

The exterior has been designed

with a New York Gotham City feel,

while the triple height lobby

features a large open fireplace and

steel feature staircase leading to the

champagne bar.

Facilities include the all-waiter

service purple Plum Bar, 80-cover

classic French brasserie and gym.

The hotel also provides four

dedicated meeting rooms and

can accommodate conferences.

www.malmaison-liverpool.com

•Parr Street Hotel, Liverpool

Situated in Liverpool's cultural

quarter, the 12-room boutique

hotel sits above the famous Parr

Street Studios, the largest recording

studios in the UK outside London

used by musicians such as Coldplay,

Pulp and New Order. The four-star

hotel has undergone a major

refurbishment with rooms now

boasting features including power

showers and NASA-inspired memory

mattresses.

Gary Millar has designed Parr’s

sound-proofed rooms and there are

iPod connections in rooms. On the

first floor, bar and restaurant 3345

was recently voted one of the top

three coolest places to eat and drink

in the UK. It is available for lunch,

dinner and also has a boardroom.

www.parrstreet.co.uk

•62 Castle Street, Liverpool

Following a £2.5m renovation, 62

Castle Street reopened in July 2006.

Situated on the site of the former

Trials hotel in Liverpool's business

district, the Victorian Grade II listed

building houses 20 individually

designed bedroom suites, each with

their own lounge area and en suite

facilities.

The hotel's ground floor Room

Restaurant seats up to 110 people

and serves up retro dishes inspired

by British pub menus from

the 1970s. Alternatively, guests

can choose to use 62 Castle Street's

private dining room for more

intimate dinners.

There are two purpose-built

conference rooms kitted out with

the latest technology. Meanwhile

for those who don't want to be

bothered by other guests, "82

Exclusive" gives you exclusive use

of the facilities.

www.62castlest.com

p31-33_lifestyle 20/7/07 16:06

35

MERSEY MARITIME

T 0151 231 6160

www.merseymaritime.co.uk

FOOD NORTHWEST

T 01928 511011

www.nwfoodalliance.co.uk

CONSTRUCTION FOR

MERSEYSIDE LTD

T 0151 237 4280

www.cfm-ltd.uk.com

MERSEYSIDE ICT

T 0151 221 3529

www.merseysideict.org.uk

VENTURE CAPITAL

LDC

T 0151 227 5024

www.ldc.co.uk

MERSEYSIDE SPECIAL

INVESTMENT FUND

T 0151 236 4040

www.msif.co.uk

INCUBATORS

INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR

DIGITAL CONTENT

T 0151 231 5129

www.icdc.org.uk

MERSEYBIO

T 0151 794 4429

www.merseybio.com

TRANSPORT

MERSEYTRAVEL

T 0151 227 5181

www.merseytravel.gov.uk

MERSEY FERRIES

T 0151 630 1030

www.merseyferries.co.uk

LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL

T 0151 233 3000

www.liverpool.gov.uk

REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS

BUSINESS IN THE

COMMUNITY NORTH WEST

T 0161 233 7750

www.bitc.org.uk

BUSINESS LINK

NORTHWEST

T 0845 330 0151

www.businesslinknw.co.uk

CONFEDERATION OF

BRITISH INDUSTRY NW

T 0161 707 2190

www.cbi.org.uk

LIVERPOOL CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE

T 0151 227 1234

www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk

LEARNING & SKILLS

COUNCILS

GREATER MERSEYSIDE LSC

T 0845 019 4150

www.lsc.gov.uk/Regions/North

West

SECTOR DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES

ENVIROLINK NORTHWEST

T 01942 491294

www.envirolinknorthwest.co.uk

MERSEYSIDE CREATIVE

INDUSTRIES

T 0151 708 4509

www.merseysideacme.com

MERSEYSIDE

AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

T 0151 288 2110

www.magroup.org.uk

Business Liverpool

T: 0151-288-6677

W: www.businessliverpool.co.uk

Liverpool Land

Development Company

T: 0151-494-2555

W: www.liverpooldev.co.uk

Liverpool Vision

T: 0151-707-8007

W: www.liverpoolvision.co.uk

The Mersey Partnership

T: 0151-227-2727

W: www.investmerseyside.org.uk

Northwest Regional

Development Agency

T: 01925 400100

W: www.nwda.co.uk

CCOO

NNTT

AACC

TTSS Other key contacts

contacts 20/7/07 16:07


[email protected]

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