MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Hear about what the membership team have been up to throughout the past quarter.

Head of Commercial Services, Lizzie Johnson, reflects on her first few months at the Chamber

Lizzie Johnson Head of Commercial Services

What a whirlwind the last few months have been! My first week started with a bang when we hosted Liverpool Chamber Day at Aintree Races. It was great to meet so many members at one event, where a fantastic day of racing and networking was enjoyed by all. Members can now register their interest for the 2024 race day by contacting any of the membership team. I highly recommend registering your interest as soon as you can - it’s a day that’s not to be missed.

On my second week at the Chamber, we hosted a trade summit, welcoming Ukrainian delegates to Liverpool. The event was held in recognition of Liverpool hosting the Eurovision song contest this year, on behalf of Ukraine, and was the first-ever bilateral meeting to have taken place in the UK outside London. It was an honour to be part of such a historic event, however the experiences shared by our Ukrainian guests gave a sad insight into the reality of day to day life for them, their families and colleagues.

The Chamber #WellConnected and Chamber Social events offered further opportunity to spend time with members. It’s been great to engage with so many businesses at our networking events and to learn about the range of companies within our membership base. These events really highlight the warmth and welcoming nature of the Chamber membership community. Details of upcoming #WellConnected and Chamber Social events can be found on the Liverpool Chamber website.

James Parker – Business Engagement Officer

We’re thrilled to be hosting our annual Innovation in Business Awards at the magnificent St. George’s Hall in association with Blok ‘N’ Mesh. Taking place on Thursday 26th October, it’s set to be a spectacular evening as we celebrate the successes of businesses and individuals who contribute to the business community within the Liverpool city region.

With 500 guests expected to attend, we’ve introduced new award categories including Innovative Product or Service, and Leadership Innovation, to reflect the measures businesses have taken in the pursuit to retain customers and staff amongst the current climate.

Our new Membership and Business Growth Managers, Helen Kinsella and Tom Morgan-Wynne joined us at the beginning of June. The pair have hit the ground running, meeting new and existing members alike. Their enthusiasm has been electric and both are determined to ensure that our members make the most of chamber services in order to grow their businesses. Please drop Helen and Tom a message if you would like to meet them for a coffee.

In addition, I would like to extend a special thanks to our new Strategic Partners; Help to Grow, Warwick Development and ComCab. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you and I’m looking forward to working together.

My first couple of months have been fantastic and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. Please make sure that you say ‘hello’ at future Chamber events if we’ve not already met.

Last years’ awards was my first Chamber event and it was impressive to see so many local businesses come together to celebrate each other’s success. I’m absolutely delighted to be part of the planning process in the build-up to this flagship event that celebrates individuals and businesses who’ve helped drive our city region.

Nominations are still open and there are limited sponsorship opportunities available. If you’d like to secure your tickets or would like further information regarding sponsorship and raising your profile amongst 500+ business professionals, please contact james.parker@ liverpoolchamber.org.uk.

How have you found your first couple of weeks?

Helen: I really feel like I have hit the ground running since starting at the Chamber. I received a great response on LinkedIn when I announced that I had become part of the team, which kept my calendar full for the first few weeks. And my colleagues gave me great support in fully understanding our brands values.

Tom: It feels like I have joined the Chamber at a very exciting time, and I have enjoyed my first month. From the get-go, everyone in the team has made me feel so welcome and included. It has been such a pleasure to work alongside a team that is dedicated to helping our members. I’ve learned so much, and it’s been a pleasure to meet members to learn about how they are growing their businesses and what it is the Chamber can do to help them with their goals.

What area of the role are you most excited to develop?

Helen: For me, the area I am most excited to work within is engagement with our members. I come from a background of account management, so establishing and building relationships is where I feel I thrive. I’d love for all of our members to feel that they can reach out to anyone in our team for help or guidance, and receive a friendly voice at the end of the phone or over a brew.

Tom: There are so many elements to the role but one area I am excited to develop is engagement with technology focused businesses. I have an interest in all things technology so I’m keen to get my head stuck into that industry. Specifically, I want to develop how the Chamber can be a part of the new way that we work and live with new technologies such as AI.

If you would like to discuss how membership with the Liverpool Chamber can support your organisation, or you would like to know how to make the most of our Partner Services, please contact Lizzie Johnson or James Parker via lizzie.johnson@liverpoolchamber.org.uk or james.parker@liverpoolchamber.org.uk.

Utilising the 212km full fibre network that is being built across the six local authorities of the city region, LCR Connect provided the digital highway that enabled the successful delivery of the week-long celebration and Saturday’s final.

The grand final was broadcast live from Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena to a global television audience of more than 160 million people, with performances running throughout the week, including fringe events as well as two semi-finals.

LCR Connect is a joint venture between the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, led by Mayor Steve Rotheram, which owns 50% of the venture, alongside ITS, and NGE, who are delivering the network across the Liverpool City Region.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Staging a global spectacle like the Eurovision Song Contest to hundreds of millions of viewers around the world was a massive triumph for our area – and one that was made possible, in part, by our world-class infrastructure.

“Through LCR Connect, we’re delivering the fastest internet speeds in the country and positioning ourselves at the forefront of the UK’s digital revolution – and stand ready to attract the thousands of well-paid jobs and training opportunities it will bring to our area. We’ve shown the world that nowhere is more capable, or qualified, to host global events than the Liverpool City Region.”

The network, which is on track to be completed this year, is designed to significantly improve connectivity, and will support internet access for businesses and other organisations, making the city region among the best-connected areas of the UK.

Working with the BBC, technology partners and the National Cyber Security Centre, experts from LCR Connect and joint venture partners ITS and NGE provided the design and deployment of the network.