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WELCOME FROM PAUL CHERPEAU, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF LIVERPOOL CHAMBER
Welcome to the latest edition of our Well Connected magazine.
It has been a period of celebration mixed with trepidation for Liverpool Chamber and our members over recent months.
The celebratory moments naturally centred around our 175th Anniversary, the pinnacle of which was a visit from HRH The Princess Royal, who joined our executive event for Patrons and Strategic Partners at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium alongside local politicians and dignitaries.
Away from our anniversary, we have been able to celebrate moments of excellence and best practice among our membership and across the wider community. Notably, at the time of writing we approach our annual Innovation in Business Awards, the shortlist for which demonstrates the breadth of talent and expertise in our city region, and the potential to drive future economic growth.
A conference reviewing the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), for which we are the employer representative body, highlighted multiple examples of education providers and industry leaders collaborating to help close the skills gap and improve career opportunities for young people, and we look forward to the next phase of consultation with businesses around LSIP 2.0.
Another event, this time held on the red side of the city’s football divide, showcased how global organisations are driving local impact through a focus on social value, community engagement, and ESG commitments. Members also enjoyed a separate session delivered by Liverpool City Council, focussed on social value within procurement.
There have also been numerous good news stories of members securing new contracts, expanding their footprint or enjoying success trading overseas, many of which we have been pleased to share via the Chamber’s digital channels.
However, the trepidation and sense of caution among business owners remains, and is difficult to ignore.
There is no doubt we face a mixed economic picture, and uncertainty is dominating the decisions of business owners. Our role as a Chamber is to continue to help businesses navigate their way through challenges and find the right paths to opportunities.
Paul Cherpeau Chief Executive
Another Labour Party Conference blew in and out of Liverpool, yet the winds of positive economic change were but a brief whisper. The eve of the conference brought news of further delays to northern rail investment, the latest in a series of setbacks led by parties of all colours, and further failure to deliver the predictable investment timeline and improved infrastructure that employers and investors need.
A backdrop of tax raids on businesses and persistently high inflation, plus the anticipation of further negativity in the Budget, continues to sap business confidence that the government can deliver on their behalf, and we must hope for more benevolent policy decisions in the coming weeks and months.
The results of our latest Quarterly Economic Survey bear this out, with many businesses reporting low confidence and taxation, red tape, and employment legislation cited as major burdens. You can read more details of QES responses later in this edition.
There is no doubt we face a mixed economic picture, and uncertainty is dominating the decisions of business owners. Our role as a Chamber is to continue to help businesses navigate their way through challenges and find the right paths to opportunities.
I hope you enjoy reading this edition and I look forward to seeing many of you soon.
Paul
