Business debate hears rallying call for Liverpool to think big

Published: 5th March 2008

Liverpool business leaders have staged a robust debate on the pivotal role professional services play in attracting greater investment to the city.

The Black Pudding Club debate at Simply Heathcotes was co-sponsored by Mace & Jones and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The debate heard Mace & Jones chairman Roy Morris tell the audience that much of Liverpool's renaissance is being powered by the 179,000 strong professional services work force.

"A critical point, to come out of the debate, is the vital need for the Liverpool city region to focus on both inward investment and indigenous growth," he said. "There are powerful and compelling reasons for Liverpool to feel enormous confidence in its transformation over the last ten years. But there is much work to be done if we are to take the quantum leap to the next level. We need to be bold and ambitious to fire the economic engine room harder. For example we need more AIM listings, we need to attract more top level management and we need to start keeping more of the 70,000 graduates who pass through the city's Universities each year."

Bill Doherty, Commercial Director of RBS said: "This was a passionate debate addressing some of the most important issues the city faces today. It was fascinating to hear frank and honest debate from the business leaders driving Liverpool's future."

The debate's panel included Dougal Paver of Paver Smith and Steve Stuart of The Steve Stuart Partnership.