Deloitte: IFB highlights importance of international growth
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Sean Beech Head of Deloitte Liverpool
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I remember saying to Max Steinberg a year ago that the most important ingredient for a successful IFB would be the weather, as every world city looks infinitely better when the sun is shining. Well, we were certainly blessed, apart from one rainy Saturday during the Open at Hoylake. Since it was launched by the Prime Minister David Cameron in 2013, IFB 2014 has been a central part of the UK Government’s plans to drive growth and rebalance the economy. The 50 day programme has come to an end and it is too early to measure the legacy, but did we make the most of this opportunity? With more than 150 business focused events, seminars and conferences in Liverpool and across the North of England, delegates have been addressed by many influential and key global business speakers. Much of the focus was to strengthen our regional business presence and demonstrate how we continue to compete in a global marketplace.
One of IFB’s prime objectives was to foster new business relationships and opportunities that may in time lead to direct trade and investment outcomes for UK companies of all sizes, across all sectors. With an estimated 75,000 business delegates attending from 88 different countries, we can definitely say the opportunity was there, and the City’s address book now overflows with new contacts. It could be five years before we know if the IFB has helped to contribute to doubling British exports or we see the region generate the targeted £100 million of new foreign investment. In the meantime, Liverpool has new opportunities to showcase itself – the Cunard celebrations next May, MIPIM 2015 in Cannes (which Deloitte shall be leading), and of course IFB 2016. One of the key legacies that IFB delegates will be able to take away with them is that Liverpool, the City Region and the wider North West is more clearly recognised as an excellent place in which to invest. And that is also a great place to live and play, especially when the sun is shining! Personally, I would like offer my thanks to everybody involved in making IFB 2014 great. We had a number of successful events during the past seven weeks – I look forward to the next five years and hearing about the legacies that the festival has brought to the region and our businesses.
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