Liverpool targets ‘super-growth’ with new incubator

LIVERPOOL council is backing a plan to set up a £3m high-growth business incubator in the city.

It wants to attract 15 “super-growth” companies to “projectEV:Liverpool” – EV standing for Enterprise Village.

Tenants at the centre would benefit from the services of a series of partners including lawyers, accountants and business development experts.

The scheme is being led by Manchester-based business networking firm Rejuvenate Your Business.

It hopes to attract £2m in cash and kind from private sector partners and is preparing a £1m funding bid from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

To be considered for the incubator – whose location has not yet been disclosed – companies must have the potential to hit £1m turnover and employ 10 people within three years.

Shazan Qureshi, co-founder at Rejuvenate, said: “We are urging businesses to get involved in this exciting project and to help shape the new economic landscape of Liverpool. Companies with the ability to become super-growth and achieve ambitious targets will be considered for this groundbreaking scheme.

“A number of suitable premises for the project are being looked at and we’re confident of securing not only the most appropriate location but also an iconic one.”

Cllr Nick Small, cabinet member for employment, enterprise and skills, said: “This is exactly the sort of initiative which builds the legacy following the Global Entrepreneurship Congress earlier this year.

“The GEC, Liverpool Embassy in London and our presence at the World Expo in Shanghai prove that Liverpool is a place where people, in the UK and across the world, want to do business.

“This will be another Liverpool first which will help grow the businesses of the future.”