GIB would bring up to 70 jobs, says Liverpool LEP

BRINGING the Green Investment Bank to Liverpool could create between 50-70 jobs in the city centre and establish it as a £3bn centre of expertise, according to the city’s Local Enterprise Partnership.

Liverpool was one of four North West areas to bid for the Green Investment Bank, alongside Warrington, Chester and Manchester. In total, some 32 towns and cities across the UK applied to be the new home of the £3bn bank, which will fund green infrastructure projects.

The chairman-designate of the city-region’s LEP, former North West Development Agency chair Robert Hough, said: “After three decades of accelerating regeneration and renewal, Liverpool is a city of opportunity, energy and vitality. Liverpool is a special place, with a wealth of experience in financial services and the best location for the world’s first Green Investment Bank.”

Liverpool’s bid highlights the city’s existing strength in green business, with over £20bn of low carbon projects already in development including a huge offshore windfarm  off the Mersey coast, a talent pool of more than 30,000 banking and finance personnel, and the cost-effectiveness of the city as a location, with costs typically 30% cheaper in the city than in comparable cities.

Chair of Liverpool city-region’s cabinet, Cllr Joe Anderson, said: “We have put forward what we believe to be a powerful and compelling case for Liverpool to become home to the Green Investment Bank.

“We are already home to wealth management and high-level investment funds management as well as key civil service departments, and this is a fantastic opportunity to capitalise on the development of the green economy.”