NORTH WEST BUSINESS LEADERSHIP FORUM
Notes of meeting which took place on Wednesday 15 January 2014
at The Hub, No 1 Mann Island, Liverpool
Attendees including:-
Geoffrey Piper NWBLT (Chair)
Max Steinberg Liverpool Vision
Alan Torevell Dewhurst Torevell
Heather Akehurst Open Awards
Paul Bargery Interpreter
Steve Bennett Wickland Westcott
Katie Bray NWBLT
David Briggs Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire
Neil Calder Engineering Capabilities
Paul Christian PWC
Neil Cumberlidge Neil Cumberlidge Associates
Liz Curran National Apprenticeship Service
Bill Doherty Hill Dickinson
Mark Donnelly National Apprenticeship Service
Nick Donovan First TransPennine Express
Peter Fell University of Manchester
Barry Flynn Ernst & Young
Julie Gaskell Liverpool Vision
Joann Hartley VISION Creative & Communications Consultants#
Mike Houghton Siemens
Ray Howard Hillyer McKeown
Rose Hart Interpreter
Simeon Hart S4H Limited
Eric Hudson RegionPlus
Tracy Lynn Liverpool Vision
Claire Marsland Meta People & Organisation Development
Paul Mayers Contact
Stewart McCombe Contact
Dan McGrail Siemens
Ken Medlock
Andrea Nixon Tate Liverpool
Alice Owen Merseyrail
Liz Pearce Ernst & Young
Sheldon Phillips Sheldon Phillips Associates
Val Price Proud of Liverpool
Victoria Price Ernst & Young
Peter Radcliffe Institute of Directors
Komrska Russon BitC
Kieran Seymour Contact
Neil Sheppard NSure Consulting
Oliver Shimell Eden District Council
Rachel Smith Institute of Directors
Ann Sollars NWBLT
Phil Southward Liverpool Vision
Gerry Swift Liverpool Vision
Richard Taylor Rollinsontaylor
Geoff Wellsteed
1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
Geoffrey Piper welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked Liverpool Vision for hosting the meeting. He explained that the role of the Business Leadership Forum created a two-way communication with the Business Leadership Team, which consists of senior executives from major organisations in the North West representing a cross section of businesses including manufacturing, utilities, universities and professional services.
2. NWBLT’S CURRENT WORK FOR THE NORTH WEST
Established Roles of NWBLT
· Vision - Promoting a clear vision for the North West’s future. Ensuring that we are not just looking at the short-term. If we don’t have a clear vision the big decisions don’t get made on the right basis.
· Voice - Identifying /addressing the big issues and speaking for North West business in the corridors of power eg the BLT are giving business briefings for North West MPs at the House of Commons.
· Values - Demonstrating and promoting responsible business leadership.
· Promoting pan-regional collaboration – working for the whole North West. This is the USP for the BLT, with close collaboration with the North West Local Enterprise Partnerships.
Geoffrey then referred to the Shaping the Future event which took place at Lancaster University which brought business leaders and members of the North West LEPs together to look at the strategic issues for the North West. The agenda was based on the final document produced by the RDA on the key priorities for the region.
2013 Leadership Programme –
During the last twelve months the BLT have been working on a thought leadership programme on big issues in the North West and cumulating with a report on each of the issues:-
- Skills for industry – ‘Bridging the Divide’ was the first report which focused on Skills for Businesses and how we can bridge the skills gap with industry. The report was warmly welcomed in Westminster and by other organisations. The findings have now been taken forward and a pilot programme is underway in Greater Manchester and there are also plans for a pilot in the Liverpool City Region. Copies of the report can be obtained at the BLT office.
- Transport infrastructure - The second report focused on transport investment in the North West and was launched in October by Patrick McLoughlin during the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. The report acknowledges that we have to prioritise on the issues and have identified short, medium and long-term priorities. Copies of the report can be obtained at the BLT office.
- Science and innovation – The Science & Innovation report is nearly complete and identifies the great strengths of the North West and the resources of leading Universities in the North West and research facilities such as Unilever and the Science and Innovation Park at Daresbury. Science and innovation is not fully exploited in the North West. Next week Andrew Miller MP, Chair of the Science & Innovation Select Committee will host a lunch at the House of Commons for North West MPs to discuss the recommendations of the report
Schools Science Competition – Initiative to encourage youngsters in years 7/8 to consider science subjects as a career. Entering a 500 word email on why they would like to be a scientist. The final for the 2013 competition took place in December.
Lever Prize – This is an arts and business collaboration initiative, In 2013 the winner was the Halle St Peter’s. This year’s winner has recently been announced as Contact Manchester a theatre organisations that works with disadvantaged young people who are empowered by creativity to become leaders in both the arts and their communities.
The ambassadorial role that the NWBLT members have is vital for the North West.
Geoffrey then showed a video of one of the winners of the Schools Science Competition.
Programme for 2014:-
· Complete the Science, Technology & Innovation report and promote prospectus for additional investment.
· Implementation of earlier report’ and their recommendations.
· Active involvement at the International Festival for Business
· Continuation of the Schools Science and Lever Prize Competitions
· Starting to work on a fourth report focusing on resources – energy, water and food– what is the future? The plan is to have it completed so that it can be launched at the International Business Festival in June.
Geoffrey asked for members to send in their views and observations on the work of the BLT. He also encouraged members to follow BLT on Twitter @nwblt
3. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FESTIVAL 2014
Geoffrey introduced Max Steinberg, Chef Executive of Liverpool Vision who were mounting the UK’s International Business Festival 2014. Max explained that the idea for the festival came from a recommendation from Sir Terry Leahy and Lord Michael Heseltine following Liverpool’s participation in the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai which was very successful. The IBF will be the largest global concentration of business events during 2014. Current sponsors are BT, CNN, The FT and are hoping to include 8 or 10 major corporate. There are also different levels of sponsorship. Ambassadors for the festival include the Prime Minister (Government have given their full backing and will be attending events), Joe Anderson (Mayor of Liverpool), Sir Howard Bernstein (Chief Executive of Manchester City Council – co-operation between the two cities is important), Sir Terry Leahy (Former CEO of Tesco) and Juergen Maier (MD Industry UK of Siemens and Chair of the NWBLT). There will be at least 175 events over 50 days. Mayors from 155 cities from around the world will be attending with a business delegation – key drivers of the economy. Throughout the festival there will be a cultural programme of round 30-35 events ending with the return of the huge puppets to close the festival and also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Great War. 1,5 million visitors are expected in the North West during June/July.
Festival Highlights:-
5-6 June British Business Embassy
10-12 June Undersea defence technology
10-12 June UK warehousing conference
18 June Global leaders summit
20 June Accelerate 2014
22-23 June Global India business meeting (HORASIS)
26-29 June World corporate games
2-3 July UK property forum
15-17 July Sound city digital
16-17 July Business of sport
21 July Made in the UK
June – July Cultural programme throughout – encourages business men to come with their families and see what the North West has to offer.
There will be a different theme for each week of the festival:-
w/c 9 June - Maritime, Logistics & Energy
w/c 16 June –Cities, Enterprise & Urban Business
w/c 16 June – Higher/Further Education & Research
w/c 23 June – Manufacturing, Science & Technology
w/c 30 June – Knowledge: Professional & Financial Services
w/c 14 July – Low Carbon & Renewables
w/c 14 July – Knowledge: Creative & Digital
Two floors of The Hub will be used as a Business Club where UK delegates can be matched with their counterparts from around the world. The key functions – exhibition space, welcome and transport, business to business space, media centre - CNN, BBC and the FT will be based there and will be broadcasting to the world.
Global Brokerage:-
- Meet the buyer events
- B2B slots with senior buyers
- Global trade delegations in IFB hub
- Intros to investors, suppliers and buyers
- Smart technology – delegate info exchange
How to get involved:-
- Register for regular updates.
- Feed ideas and requests to the IFB team
- Follow @IFB2014
- Support via #IFB2014
- Thematic groups
The size, complexity and scale is exciting and the promised three challenges will be met:-
1. Diverse programme from British industry
2. Participation of British industry
3. Bring 10,000 delegates who want to do business in the UK.
4. QUESTIONS
Val Price referred to customer service for the festival and asked if people had been made aware of it and if there would be city guides. Max said that at the end of February there will be articles in the press that will get the message across. Phil Southward said that guides are being recruited and will train through the world host certification process. Taxi drivers, rail staff etc will also go through the programme. Bill Doherty asked if other areas of the UK were involved in the events. Max said that events were taking place throughout the North West - Cheshire, Lancashire and also Sheffield, Rotherham and London First have a link on their website. Simeon Hart asked account access for disabled and deaf people. There did not seem to be anything on the website about access needs. Phil Southward said they have a diversity group which is looking at accessibility to all events which have to be DDA compliant and does transport. Simeon asked if they would be providing interpreters. Phil said all events are ticketed so it is up to the delegates to request signers if needed. Joanna Hartley asked if there was a test programme in place? Phil said there was a programme including engaging with hotels, transport providers etc to explain the peaks and troughs of the delegates. The venues are being stress tested from April to the end of May which includes putting on dummy events. Max referred to budget issues and the high profile visitors to the festival which could cause challenges so has to be allowed for. Steve Bennett asked if there were any opportunities for SMEs? Max said the British Chambers of Commerce, CBI and the IOD were involved. He referred to a written guide on how small businesses can get involved. Phil said there would be opportunities for buyers and suppliers. Sheldon Phillips asked about numbers of overseas delegates. Max said it was difficult to put a figure to it but mayor/leaders from over 100 cities have been invited and asked to bring with them business delegates. Eric Hudson said the final programme will be available at the end of February but should they be spreading the word now? Max said they have had events already to promote the festival and there will be a press campaign from now to the end of May. Ambassadors for the festival are also putting articles in newspapers. The BBC – one of the sponsors – have agreed in principle to run a programme.
Geoffrey thanked Max and Phil for their input.
5. ENERGY MODEL
Geoffrey introduced Alan Torevell, Chairman of Dewhurst Torevell and member of the NWBLT. Alan said he had come up with the idea for a model of energy resources in the North West. The model is being funded by the NWBLT and being constructed by Arup. The model will be 8 metres x 2 metres. The purpose is not to say do this but provide a backdrop to raise questions. We have got to do something about energy and the model shows sources and potential sources of energy in the North West. The model will be interactive and is called North West Energy Squared. It will show tidal energy and where barrages in estuaries could connect up. It will raise questions of the environment and growth – the balance will slightly wrong – it will promote discussion. This model is in line with the work of the BLT. There will be a section on transport – what will be the impact on journey times – what will be the impact on growth? The model will be physical relief white model but will be computer run. We need to discuss how to improve education and promote and look at the social structure. How to generate more employment and promote skills. The model is underway, it will be provocative and promote discussions and opportunities for the North West. Geoffrey said the model would be unveiled at the festival and remain there during the event. He said it is about raising the level and informing the debate. The measure will be the feedback and ideas. Val Price asked if there was a way of capturing the discussion. Alan said there was. Geoffrey added that they had received offers of personnel to man the model and this was an opportunity to get involved. Alan added that extra bits can be added on at a later date. Geoffrey encouraged members to spread the word about the model.
NEXT MEETING OF THE NWBLT FORUM
The next meeting of the Business Leadership Forum will be held on Tuesday 18 March 2014, at PZ Cussons.
Geoffrey thanked members for attending.
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