Liverpool plans return to MIPIM

LIVERPOOL is returning to the international property convention MIPIM after a two-year absence.

The city’s economic development arm Liverpool Vision said it has focused its promotional efforts in recent years on business conferences and its Liverpool in London HQ.

Now it is heading back to MIPIM, which is held in Cannes in March, following pressure from business.

Sean Beech, partner at the Liverpool office of accountants Deloitte, who has galvanised support for a Liverpool presence at MIPIM, said: “Attending MIPIM is about expanding our business network and showing that our great city, with all it has to offer, is open to business.

“MIPIM is about networking on a massive scale, meeting the world’s biggest property developers and financiers face-to-face and promoting the city as a compelling destination for business and as a big international player.

“Many other UK cities attend MIPIM and for Liverpool not to attend is inconceivable. There is already firm support to be part of ‘Team Liverpool’ next year, ahead of the city hosting the International Festival for Business in June and July.

“I hope many more businesses will join us and take this opportunity to articulate the city’s ambitions and vision for the future. As the city’s transformation in recent times has shown we can achieve much if we work together effectively to change developer and investor confidence.”

In addition to Deloitte, the MIPIM delegation includes property group Bruntwood, law firm Brabners, landlord Grosvenor, Harcourt Developments, and Countryside Properties.

Chris Brown, director of Marketing Liverpool, said: “Liverpool returns to MIPIM on the back of becoming the first European host of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in 2012, successfully holding the UK’s first festival for high-growth businesses with Accelerate 2013 and having become the only UK city to have an office in London where we host regular events for potential investors.

“The next couple of years are very important for Liverpool, as we continue to face robustly the economic challenges and there is much to give us confidence in the future. In 2014 the world will come to Liverpool for the International Festival for Business and in 2015 the £40m Exhibition Centre will open on the Waterfront.
“Further, during the course of the next decade, Liverpool City Region will also be the location of what is set to be the UK’s largest regeneration scheme with Liverpool and Wirral Waters; the development of Superport and the continuation of large scale retail, office and residential development through the Liverpool City Centre Strategic Investment Framework.”