Voice of The Chamber: The Director’s View

Alison Lobb, managing partner of Morecrofts Solicitors and chair of Liverpool Chamber:

“The new government can stimulate the economy by investing in the one resource that is the engine of the economy - its people. The current apprentice system is confusing and should be reformed.

“We need to build more houses and reform the planning system to speed up the process, combined with action to improve public services, including training and healthcare. Genuine ‘levelling up’readdressing inequalities across the country to make the North an attractive place to live and work - can help to reassure incoming businesses that we have a strong, healthy local workforce.

“A credible government needs to achieve things rather than simply promise them. I would also urge improvements to the justice system, investing in Legal Aid to reduce the amount of ‘advice deserts’ that exist in some areas.”

Chris Waine, director at Hive Projects and deputy chair of Liverpool Chamber:

I would like to see further devolution given to Liverpool City Region, but aligned to UK strategic growth pillars such as Health & Life Sciences, R&D and strengthening ties with our University sector (which seems to be wavering), and professional services backing, especially in Finance and Legal.

“Health and social care is a major problem particularly in our city, where we have huge inequalities and up to 15 years lower life expectancy. Improvements can help to get people back into employment, and the Investment Zones and Health and Life Sciences ecosystem in our city region can be a leader on this, both locally and nationally.

“Housing is a clear issue. Government subsidy will be key to unlocking the issue, while planning reform is also important.”

Mel Cheung-Turner, founder of My Creative Thoughts:

“The next government should prioritise investment for education providers in the city, in particular for schools and colleges. Investment over the years has failed to keep pace with rising costs of providers, which has had a negative impact on learning for pupils and students alike.

“We need to invest in the future leaders of tomorrow and ensure young people in the LCR get the appropriate provision of key curriculum and pastoral support, in schools and colleges to develop their skills and knowledge so we can retain that talent in the city.”

We asked a selection of Chamber directors about what the new government should prioritise in order to galvanise the UK and local economy and bring prosperity to people living, working and investing in the Liverpool City Region.

Sean Keyes, director at Sutcliffe:

“The worsening housing crisis needs to be solved promptly, something I promise to hold the next government to account for as both parties have made promises to build more houses. The country needs to build 300,000 homes a year as promised by both parties. This will be good for the economy and health of the nation and our environment in terms of net zero.

“That said, be it the mismanagement of the NHS or the lack of investment in social housing, these issues directly impact people’s quality of life. so I hope that the new government, rather than seeing these issues as a political hot potato to pass around aimlessly, takes them seriously and prioritises them for the good of the nation.”

Neil Willcox, director at Resman:

“Business people will be concerned to know that their investment plans and growth prospects are safe under Labour, and that they will not be excessively taxed or regulated. A clear message around this early on will be helpful.

“My industry is mostly focused around the US tech giants, so knowing that Starmer et al can develop good trade relations with their US counterparts (whoever that may be) will also be essential. There is a massive skills gap in tech, and any indications on how the government will be addressing this will be interesting.

“Finally, bringing some tangible meaning to ‘levelling up’ would be nice after probably a decade of rhetoric.”

Jessica Parry, partner at BCLP Law:

“Good quality, affordable housing is a key foundation for sustainable economic growth and the Liverpool City Region is being hampered by the acute housing crisis it currently faces. We need to have less reliance on the visitor economy and ensure the region is an attractive place for people to live and work, but we cannot achieve that without more homes.

“Any new planning system must provide greater certainty of outcomes to encourage development. In the meantime, the longawaited Renters Reform Bill should be revived.

“Renters reform must strike a fair balance between landlords and tenants.

In particular, court reforms must be implemented before “no fault evictions” are scrapped, so cases can be dealt with efficiently. Otherwise, the government risks discouraging landlords from the private rented sector, where demand already outstrips supply, driving up rents for the very renters the reforms aim to protect. That would be an own-goal, when we need the equivalent of a “Bellingham bicycle kick” to get the housing market back on target.”

The View from KQ…

Colin Sinclair, Chief Executive at Knowledge Quarter Liverpool and Sciontec:

“It is essential that the new government delivers a robust National Industrial Strategy, as promised, with devolution at its heart. This should focus not only on the areas where as a country we have our greatest strengths, such as health and life sciences, advanced manufacturing technologies, robotics, creative and digital, but also on the vital crosscutting infrastructure that underpins these potentially high-growth sectors and allows them to grow, such as skills, fibre and transport connectivity.

“Devolution must extend beyond simply giving regions greater powers over decision-making. It must include the main funding streams from organisations such as UKRI or Innovate UK, to ensure R&D funding also has a greater element of devolution.

“The government must also give new impetus to supporting scale-ups, as well as fostering startups. If we are to grow the economy we need to give start-ups and small businesses the confidence to take risks, after so much uncertainty.”

Colin Sinclair