Gill joins refocused Professional Liverpool
PROFESSIONAL Liverpool, the organisation which was last year forced to make cuts after it lost 80% of its funding after losing public grants, is to move forward as a fully-privately funded body.
The organisation has appointed former Liverpool Vision chief Jim Gill to its board and crucially reported a surge of support from professional services firms. It has also forged a bridge with academia with a new partnership with the University of Liverpool.
Membership is currently 80 and the group hopes to hit 100 over the next year.
Chairman Stephen Burrows said: “Self-sufficiency from membership fees has always been the long term objective for PL and we are confident that we have a strong and stable platform from which to continue to grow and expand.
“We count some of the city’s largest professional firms and notable individuals amongst our members.
“The fact that these organisations are putting their money towards the continued growth and success of the city region’s professional services offering is a tangible marker of the belief in the sustainability and long-term goals of PL.
“The appointment of Jim Gill is a real coup and we are set to gain a great deal of insight and strategic direction through his involvement.”
The group has also revealed that it has established a new partnership with the University of Liverpool, and will continue to be based in the existing office at the University’s Foresight Centre.
Pro-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, Professor James Keaton, said: “The University of Liverpool is committed to further cementing its relationship with the city of Liverpool and particularly the financial services and legal sector allied to the knowledge economy.
“To this end the University, particularly through its Management School, is keen to cooperate with Professional Liverpool in a variety of ways including joint cooperation on high-level presentations and research partnerships.”
Jim Gill added: “The professional services sector is key to the continued success of
the city region and I’m delighted to be able to have an input to help drive the achievement of Professional Liverpool’s goals.”
PL, which was set up 10 years ago, supports the region’s professional services through inviting visiting speakers, providing networking opportunities, arranging conferences, and raising the profile of the financial and professional services sector in the Liverpool city region.
Plans for the coming year include the continued focus on corporate finance, property and wealth management.
Next month it will publsih a Commercial Office Market Review and in March host the ‘No Cannes’ Do lunch coinciding with MIPIM – a networking opportunity for those not attending the property event in Cannes this year.
The PL board will be presenting its detailed plans to its strengthened membership next month.
