HOW WE GOT HERE –REFLECTING ON 175 YEARS AND WHY IT MATTERS

Paul Cherpeau Chief Executive, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce

Liverpool Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1850 “to represent the commercial interests of the businesses within the city” and “to meet and act for a common good.” As we approach our 175th Anniversary year in 2025, it brings about a period of celebration, reflection and anticipation for the future.

Through a series of thoughtpieces in this year’s editions of Well Connected, we consider the Chamber’s power to fulfil the role for which it was founded over the coming years.

It is a great honour to lead a 175-year-old organisation in my home city. The Chamber has become a substantive part of my life in the near-twenty years since I joined as a fresh-faced graduate, before completing an MBA (thesis: business network changes through the history of Chambers of Commerce) and latterly becoming CEO.

The 175th Anniversary has long been on our radar as it represents another landmark in our organisation’s fascinating history and another opportunity to catalyse our next big contribution to the city region. We can and should celebrate the enormous impact the Chamber has had on behalf of members during this period; the businesses we’ve helped to grow, the services and advice we’ve provided, the projects we’ve initiated, the community organisations we’ve supported and the collaboration we’ve enjoyed with government bodies and fellow business organisations in the city region.

We are proud of our achievements and excited for the times that lie ahead before our Bi-Centenary in 2050.

However, it’s also important to reflect upon and question what has gone before. Successful organisations review their performance to identify aspects of strength, areas for improvement and crucially, I think, ask “Why?”

In our case, why have we endured for so long amidst fluctuating social, political and economic landscapes? Why do so many organisations continue to trust us as the authentic voice of business?

Of course, there can be no single answer to such a complex question. For starters, we can’t speak to anyone who attended the first board meeting in 1850, or even the 75th Anniversary in 1925. We’ve an abundance of historical records and correspondence which give us clues, but finding the ‘magic bullet’ takes some determination.

Recognising this, I began thinking about what gives some brands and businesses the power of longevity and I realised that, ultimately, the greatest contributing factor can be captured in one word. Relevance.

In the UK, Lloyds Bank, Boots and Cadbury remain a staple of our everyday lives, despite being founded in the 18th or 19th Century, much like ourselves. Each understands that their heritage is an advantage as it reflects reliability and trust. They also understand their heritage can only be an asset if they remain relevant for their customers – endurance requires adaptation and change.

Other historic brands have slipped away. Sometimes this has been due to circumstances beyond their control, but many have simply failed to stay relevant or ensure audiences still know what they offer. Think of Rover, Kodak or Woolworths.

The marketing director of British Gas once commented that, in an evolving society, older brands must ask themselves how to serve customers on their terms when they have an infrastructure that’s been built over hundreds of years and they must keep challenging their business model. You must constantly adapt to survive and thrive.

Our task therefore is to convene, and act -

I think we have done this well overall, but time doesn’t stand still. There have inevitably been some bumps in the road and difficult times, but we are not alone in that experience. Holding firm alongside our members, we have navigated choppy seas - for them and us - and reached each destination stronger and wiser, ready for the next challenge.

Operating a business is hard. Whether a start-up operating from a bedroom or a multinational with decades of experience, the stresses and strains are plentiful, as are the rewards. The Chamber offers a place for businesses to connect, support and thrive.

Our guiding objective over the coming years is ensuring our - or rather your – 175-yearold Chamber maintains the relevance, trust and value to businesses.

One constant ballast across those times has been the work of our export and trade support team, which has helped to clear an informed pathway to Europe, the Americas and beyond for well over a century. Trading overseas and entering new markets is the lifeblood of many LCR businesses and, as the requirements of cross-border trade constantly shift, we’re proud to continue to offer relevant and vital support to firms on that journey.

Understanding the talent needs of businesses has been consistent throughout our history, whether operating as a training provider or as a policy and representative body. Now, as the employer representative body for the Local Skills Improvement Plan, our commitment to supporting and developing business talent remains undiminished and crucial within this new economy.

Another crucial and evolving constant in the Liverpool Chamber story is our relationship with politicians, policymakers and our anchor institutions. Naturally, we work closely to help them understand the priorities of our members and the wider business community, and find areas of alignment and mutual interest. Equally, when policies or omissions are harmful to the interests of the business community, we are not afraid to hold those senior organisations to account on behalf of those who live, work and invest here. That is the pivotal role of a strong Chamber of Commerce.

As we look ahead to 2025 and the next chapter of our story, a new generation of business leaders naturally emerges and will continue to become preeminent. While their core values will no doubt remain largely consistent with our own at present, we also understand that themes, concerns and ambitions evolve, especially with the advent of new technologies and working practices. Our task therefore is to convene, listen and act - the way we have for 175 years “to meet and act for a common good” - and help our local business community to develop a new narrative and a robust trading environment that equips for them the challenges which lie ahead, not behind.