ThIS Summer - Commercial District BID by Liverpool BID Company

Inside... IN & AROUND BID Leisure

WHETTING APPETITES International Festival of Food

LET’S TALK Max Steinberg

THIS: Sporting Life

LET’S DEBATE The Glass Ceiling

#IFB2014 BID Picks

SUMMER 2014

GET CONNECTED to the district’s fastest ever broadband

WELCOME TO THE SUMMER... Councillor Gary Millar

LORD MAYORAL ACHIEVEMENTS A Year In Numbers 2013-2014 1,600 Events 5 Freedom of the City honours 90 award ceremonies 200 business events 75 school events Met over 60 major overseas delegations Released 3 music CDs Shook 40,000 hands Given over 1,000 speeches to over 100,000 people Saved 2 war memorials Raised more than £250,000 for local charities Jet-skied, abseiled, climbed walls and fought fires

I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Commercial District BID and its members for being so wonderfully supportive whilst I’ve been Lord Mayor of Liverpool. It has been an honour and a privilege for me to have worked with so many organisations across the Commercial District BID. I’m often asked what it’s like being Lord Mayor. I have to say “imagine the best job in the world and then multiply it by 100” – that’s what this job is like! Commercial District BID www.thecommercialdistrict.com 0151 233 5381 Twitter: @Lplcommdistrict Facebook: /TheCommercialDistrictBID If you have any queries about the magazine or want to feature, please email info@thecommercialdistrict.com

I would like to publically thank our amazing Town Hall staff; my colleagues and everyone who has helped make my job look easy. In particular, I would like to thank my Consort Steve Macfarlane for all his support; without his help and that of my fundraising committee, we would not have been able to help raise in excess of £250,000 for local charities. Liverpool is a fantastic city and its residents are truly amazing! From ordinary citizens and organisations Design: Agent Marketing Editorial: Agent Marketing & The BID Company.

No part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the distributor. The articles in this magazine are for information purposes only. THIS assumes no liability or responsibility for

to our diverse communities - all are a credit to what is the ‘best city in the world’. It truly has been a privilege serving and promoting the City of Liverpool and I know I will miss being its Lord Mayor and Ambassador. By the time this article is printed I will be finishing my term and returning to life as a Councillor for Old Swan, motivational public speaker, business adviser and entrepreneur. I will still be doing my Gadget Spot on City Talk 105.9FM every Monday at 7.20am and still any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information; nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, event or organisation has been provided by such individual, event organiser or organisation with permission. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of THIS.

co-own Parr Street Studios and Hotel. I might even research more of our city’s fascinating history. You will see me around Dale Street as I work and live in the centre of the Commercial District. If you see me, say “hi” and if you fancy a catch up, tweet @garymillar or send an email to: gary.millar@liverpool.gov.uk. Best wishes for the future – it’s going to be bright and it’s going to be positive!

BID NEWS

Record sales for Medicash

This Sporting Life ON THE EVE OF A MAJOR SPORTING SUMMER, KEN ROGERS LOOKS AT HOW THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT BECAME HOME TO A LEADER OF THE PUBLISHING PACK… By Ken Rogers, Managing Director, Trinity Mirror Sport Media Sport publishing once manifested itself most powerfully in the typical brash back page format of regional and national newspapers. Readers could not get enough of the minutiae of everyday life at the nation’s sporting venues. Football remains at the heart of almost every casual conversation, binding us together as a sporting tribe. The big change is that fans are now much more sophisticated. Sport publishing is no longer a piece of cake. It’s a science that will profit the wise and destroy the careless. In the late 1980s and early 1990s I realised that the traditional Saturday newspaper football editions, published for close on a century and available within 30 minutes of the big games ending, suddenly felt very old fashioned. As a former sports editor and chief football writer of the Liverpool Echo, I remember studying a technical report at that time about how our reporting of the great game was about to change forever. It went something like this. A microchip would be inserted into a football and as the ball was moved around the pitch, fans would track its movement via a simulated pitch graphic on their computer screens.

Meanwhile, in an adjacent text box, the match report would build up courtesy of the stadium reporter. I marvelled at this innovation, and then had an obvious second thought. Why wouldn’t we just watch the game live on TV? Someone else at Sky Television was clearly having the same light bulb moment. The TV cash registers would now ring up mega millions to tempt the clubs. The game, as we knew it, would be transformed. From the Echo sports desk, we began to talk to the big clubs about supporting their publishing options. We brought many pluses to the table including a complete understanding of the fans, an obvious route to market, and an archive stretching back over a century. In 2002 we launched the independent Trinity Mirror Sport Media specialist publishing unit, leaving our sports desk roots behind. We worked productively with Liverpool FC for ten years on programmes, magazines and books. At present we have partnerships with seven leading Premier League clubs (Everton, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion). We work with Scottish champions Celtic and have international partnerships with the Welsh

Rugby Union and the Football Association of Wales. We are also selected publishing partners for the prestigious 2015 Rugby World Cup. We have produced international golf and tennis event magazines and have a library full of specialist books. We continue to operate in a production sense from Trinity Mirror’s regional headquarters in the BID area where we have journalists, graphic artists, sales and marketing functions, various online selling portals, and a talented new business development team, but we readily embed writers in specific football locations with a complete knowledge and understanding of the local scene. One thing that will never change is the sheer passion and love for sport that bridges and links every generation. The great Bill Shankly had it right. He put the fans on a much higher pedestal than the stars themselves. Every football coach and owner should read his official autobiography. And before you ask, yes, we have the rights for that title too, and the print and digital editions that remain live!

MATT ALLEN www.medicash.org

Health cash plan provider Medicash achieved its fourth successive year of record breaking sales with a 56 per cent rise in employerpaid policies in 2013. The firm sold a total of 25,305 policies to business and individual policyholders in the year to 31 December 2013, up by 46 per cent from 13,620 in 2012 and worth a total value of almost £2.7m. Medicash also enjoyed the best start to a new year in its 140-year history with a total of 13,125 new policies sold in the first quarter of 2014. Ninety-five per cent of new policies sold in January to March inclusive were employer-paid schemes, reflecting the ongoing success of a Medicash strategy to target growth in this area of business and sector-leading customer service. Medicash became the only health cash plan provider to achieve the highest possible ranking of ‘exceptional’ and three gold stars in the poll of 25,000 customers and employees. Matt Allen, finance director of Medicash, said: “The Group has aligned its growth strategy to market trends by focusing its efforts on growing its employer-paid policyholder base. Despite competitive pressures, we are pleased to report the continued growth in premiums and policyholder numbers whilst improving the claims ratio.”

BID NEWS

Liverpool Firm Wins Most Active Agent Accolade

Salt House Bacaro 47 Castle Street Liverpool L2 9UB 0151 665 0047 salthousebacaro.co.uk @salthousebacaro

BRIAN RICKETTS hitchcockwright.co.uk

Commercial District BID-based property agent, Hitchcock Wright & Partners has been named Most Active Agent in the North West in the office sector, by national magazine, Estates Gazette.

The title is awarded to the regional winners of the EGi Deals Competition, which celebrates the number of transactions completed between 1st January and 31st December 2013 and is widely recognised as one of the top accolades within the industry. Recognition is given to the top five agencies in each category, plus an overall winner for each region, across 12 regions. EGi received a record-breaking number of entries for its ‘Most Active Agent 2013’. Hitchcock Wright & Partners, based on Castle Street and set up in 1992, previously received the accolade from 2005 to 2009. Brian Ricketts, head of the office agency, says the award was a huge achievement: “This is a fantastic award and my team and I are extremely proud to have won. However, we realise that it is only possible to win such prestigious awards with the help and support of our clients and fellow joint agents who, without their involvement, we wouldn’t have any instructions to let and sell in the first place!

After a tough six or seven years or so it’s great to see all of our hard work has finally paid off, and hopefully this will encourage further investment in the city from outside investors and existing developers and clients.”

This is a fantastic award and my team and I are extremely proud to have won.

This quarter has seen a plethora of new organisations join Commercial District BID from restaurants to private medical centres, we really are spoilt for choice. So instead of introducing you to just one organisation, we sat down with three promising newcomers – give them a warm welcome…

Bacaro opened its doors earlier this year and is already asserting itself as a ‘must-visit’ destination. The brain child of Jonathan Poole and Patrick Smith, the Venetian-themed Bacaro boasts Liverpool’s first Campari bar and a specially formulated menu, put together by head chef, Matt Walsh.

LET’S MEET

Bacaro

The menu varies with classics like Fritto Misto to somewhat more adventurous dishes like roasted monkfish with pancetta and bean cassoulet. Our mouths were already watering when we sat down with co-owner, Jonathan Poole to find out more.

“After the fantastic successes we’ve enjoyed with our sister sites, Salt House Tapas and Hanover Street Social, we wanted to create an individual, urban and relaxed offering for the Commercial District – and so Bacaro was born! The location is just perfect for us too – right on Castle Street, which has a great European

vibe these days. Bacaro is the perfect location for a snack and a cocktail at the bar, a leisurely meal in the restaurant - even an Aperol spritz after work. It really does work well to suit the variety of guests who come through our doors each day. We’re incredibly proud of Bacaro; we’ve married fresh Italian small

plates and great cocktails and set it against a beautiful backdrop, friendly service and great tunes. We hope you love it as much as we do!”

LET’S MEET

Pall Mall Medical

Pall Mall Medical 5 St. Paul’s Square Liverpool L3 9SJ 0151 244 4262 pallmallmedical.co.uk @pallmallmedical

Introducing Commercial District BID’s first private health care centre This brand new health centre can be found in St Paul’s Square, off Old Hall Street. Pall Mall Medical boasts state-of-the-art facilities, private GPs, consultants and surgeons as well as offering occupational health and corporate medical services to businesses of all sizes. We spoke to press officer, Mark Hayward on why they chose to locate their new offering in the Commercial District:

“This is the perfect location for Pall Mall Medical’s third site. Based in the heart of the city centre, with many corporate organisations on our doorstep, we really feel like we are in the perfect spot!” Commercial District BID members can benefit from Pall Mall Medical’s expansive portfolio of private healthcare which is readily available to self-paying and private

medical patients. With over 1,500 products and services available from their St Paul’s Square base, specialist areas include aesthetics and cosmetics, private medicals and health screenings, vaccinations, dermatology, cancer detection and a host of scans and tests. Mark continues: “We understand that people have very busy lives, especially in and around the

Commercial District. It’s easy to put things off when we have a lot on so we wanted to offer flexibility to our clients – delivering services at a time that suits them. For patients’ peace of mind we offer extended opening hours, no waiting times and convenient appointments are also available.”

BID NEWS

Landlords Urged to Prepare for Legal Changes

New App and Website for BID

Commercial landlords will have to give tenants a notice period before sending in the bailiffs, under new rules introduced in April.

Liverpool BID Company is to develop an app and website focusing on leisure, retail offers and events in Liverpool city centre.

Lisa Evans, commercial property solicitor at Kirwans law firm, is warning commercial landlords that the ancient remedy of distress (which allowed landlords to recover rent arrears by seizing a tenant’s goods up to the value of the rent arrears and selling them without notice or permission from the court) has now been replaced by the Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery Process (CRAR).

seven days to clear any outstanding debts before bailiffs can enter the property.

The new app, which will aim to uniquely link businesses in both Commercial District BID and City Central BID, is set to be launched in the autumn.

The new process, which will only apply to leases of commercial premises and cannot be used where any part of the property is residential except in certain circumstances, will allow a landlord to take control of goods in lieu of unpaid rent only if the outstanding amount is equal to or greater than seven days’ rent arrears.

The new measures, which aims to crack down on aggressive bailiffs, are part of a wider package of reforms which will implement Part 3 of the Tribunals, Courts & Enforcement Act 2007.

However, in cases where the landlord considers there to be a risk that the tenant may move or dispose of goods in order to prevent them from being taken, they can make an application to the Court which may allow a shorter period of notice in the above instances.”

For more information contact Kirwans directly on 0151 229 1899 or visit www.kirwanssolicitors.co.uk

Lisa explained: “Under CRAR, landlords will have to send an Enforcement Notice to the tenant before appointing bailiffs. The tenant will then be given

The design company will be appointed in early June with the app to be available across both Apple and Android formats.Other key features of the app are to include: • •

• •

A geolocated guide for offers and events A platform to provide exclusive offers and services for employees within the BIDs Loyalty scheme with rewards provided by BID businesses A website to underpin and enhance the app

new audiences, win new customers and strengthen its links with your existing base. The more businesses that use the app, the more it will work for them and we’ll be asking members to encourage all their employees to download the app so they gain maximum benefit from working in the city centre.’’ The BID company is currently reaching a weekly audience of approximately 50,000 across its media platforms and is aiming to double that within six months of the app launch. A guide on how to use the app as a BID business will be published in late summer, supported by workshops.

The app will be launched to coincide with the return of Liverpool’s 55,000 strong student population and the build up to Christmas. Jim Gill, chair of Commercial District BID, said: ‘’The BID app has huge potential for businesses to reach brand

You’re Hired! BID takes the apprentice route Liverpool BID Company has hired two new apprentices, who will be supporting companies across the city’s two business improvement districts. Samantha McCauley, 17 from Wirral, and Christian Carden, also 17, from West Derby, both started their new jobs at BID in May on a 12-month apprenticeship. Their appointments have been supported by the Chamber of Commerce and the Liverpool City Council Apprenticeship team. The main role of the apprentices will be informing businesses of what the BID can do for them, gaining information and expressing

ideas on how to improve the BID areas. Before joining the BID team, Samantha was working in a café, but as a frequent visitor to Liverpool, she saw the potential of the role and had to apply. Samantha said: ‘’I am very happy to be joining the team and to be given a chance to improve the city centre is very exciting.’’ Christian studied an Accountancy and Business Admin course at Liverpool Community College and then volunteered for four months at BID supporting the team across several campaigns and events. On joining the BID team,

Christian said: ‘’I want to help make Liverpool city centre an even more attractive place to work in, visit and enjoy. I’m really proud to have a chance to help my city.’’ The BID team is further expanding by recruiting a Member Liaison Officer, who will help with the demands of a busy year coming up from the International Festival for Business to the launch of a new BID app in the autumn. CEO of the Liverpool BID Company, Bill Addy said: “The recruitment of these two new members to the BID team is a further sign of our commitment to our

businesses. They will be a great asset to the team and I look forward to working with them.’’

BID NEWS

Employer Pool Rebranded as Beyond Recruitment

30 James Street Liverpool L2 7PS 0151 236 0166 signatureliving.co.uk @30JamesStreet

...home to the city’s first rooftop terrace Champagne bar...

PAULA GLASSEY fusion21.co.uk

Employer Pool, a social recruitment service provided by Fusion 21, has rebranded as Beyond Recruitment.

This social enterprise, recruits skilled candidates from areas of high unemployment, enabling organisations to meet their corporate social responsibility (CSR) objectives whilst ploughing profits back into those communities. In a highly competitive and rapidly changing operating environment, the agency continues to evolve and has re-launched to reflect the diversity of its clients and services. This includes offering specialist consultants who recruit for construction, professional services, social housing, mechanical

and electrical roles across various sectors and at most levels from entry level to senior positions. Based on Old Hall Street, the business aims to take the work conducted under Employer Pool and guide it to the next level, both professionally and commercially by offering a wider service range and continuing to give a dedicated consultant to help fill placements. For more information, contact Paula Glassey on 0845 672 9644 or visit: www.fusion21.co.uk/ training-employment/ beyond-recruitment/

Having only been open since April, 30 James Street has already gone from strength to strength in establishing itself as a key offering in the heart of the Commercial District. Signature Living is behind the hugely anticipated £5.5 million transformation of the former HQ of the White Star Line into a luxury hotel.

We spoke to Lawrence Kenwright, Signature Living proprietor about his experience developing the building and what’s in store for the city: “30 James Street is our most exciting project to date – one which I personally have been really looking forward to working on.

LET’S MEET

30 James St

It has been a phenomenal experience bringing such a landmark and historic building back to life – lots of hard work and passion has gone into restoring the building and rightly so. We’ve created a luxury hotel, restaurant and rooftop bar that further adds to Liverpool’s growing tourist and cultural offer. The response from guests so far

has been amazing – many of whom have already booked to come back again!” The venue is home to the city’s first rooftop terrace Champagne bar, where 200 guests can enjoy drinks whilst overlooking spectacular views of the river and The Strand below.

30 James Street offers a unique mix of history and luxury – while refreshing Liverpool’s role in the story of the Titanic - and is set to quickly establish itself as a first class offering.

BID NEWS

Spotlight on Tracey Crosbie

EVENTS MANAGER thecommercialdistrict.com “I’ve been at the BID Company since its inception in 2003. I started my working life at Croxteth Country Park, basically the back yard of where I grew up, spending countless hours with my friends, building dens in the rhododendron bushes. In Croxteth Country Park, I worked alongside some amazing people, many of whom I am still friends with today. Here I was able to get involved with many activities including building the first real Nativity with live animals. I even helped with assisting a female cow give birth! From Croxteth, I joined the City Council’s Arts and Culture Unit and then onto the Cultural Events Unit to assist in organising the millennium events before going into City Centre Management where I met Paul Rice. Paul was an avid supporter of BIDs and managed to secure NWDA funding to trial Liverpool as a pilot following a visit to America. Upon a successful BID vote, Paul asked me to join the team on secondment as the Senior Event Manager. In many ways the BID team has become a onestop-shop for all external event organisers, whilst organising our own outdoor events to animate the areas at key seasonal retail times. We have delegated powers to hire out the city centre for commercial activities to generate additional income to enhance the event programme. We keep the city centre diary for all activities to avoid clashes with environmental works, filming, charitable causes and public information. This information is circulated to all front line officers, licensing and emergency services and promotes a well-managed city centre. It can be a complex job and no two events are ever the same but I’m really fortunate in being able to organise events that make a difference in my city, which I love.’’ To hire a promotional space in the city centre email: tracey.crosbie@citycentralbid.net

Max Steinberg Chief Executive - Liverpool Vision Chair - IFB 2014

Liverpool is a fantastic city, with great people and a dynamic business community. PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON

Liverpool is currently preparing for the biggest business festival the UK has ever seen – the International Festival for Business (IFB). With the number one objective of fostering new business relationships and harnessing opportunities that may lead to direct commercial trade for Liverpool, we had to know more – and who better to talk to than Max Steinberg, chief executive of Liverpool Vision? Hi Max, can you tell us about IFB? The genesis of the festival came from a report ordered by Sir Terry Leahy and Lord Heseltine, which was based around rebounding Britain. From this, came the idea to create an exhibition event for the UK - which hasn’t been done since 1951. This idea gained support from Government and Mayor Joe Anderson agreed to the proposal that Liverpool should absolutely be the host city. Together, we developed the concept that this festival should not only highlight business

and industry excellence in the UK, but also be used to showcase the very best of British products. In January 2013, David Cameron launched IFB in line with the Government’s ambition of realising economic growth by doubling UK exports by 2020. We’re now just a few weeks away from the festival with around 200 events scheduled in designed to help do just that. Firstly, we had to come up with a rich and diverse programme, showcasing the best of British and our 200 strong event programme sets out to achieve this. Secondly, we had to ensure that the British businesses we wanted to get involved in the festival, would actually participate. We now have a range of disciplines being showcased; Manufacturing, Science & Technology, Higher & Further Education and Research and Knowledge, Creative & Digital to name but a few. The Government has invested £5 million into this, alongside a very strong set of festival supporters,

LET’S TALK TO

Max Steinberg The overriding target is to gain £100 million worth of foreign direct investment as a result of the festival…

such as Financial Times, Virgin Trains, Siemens, DWF and Santander. Thirdly, we had to ensure it was not just a case of ‘Brits selling to Brits’. We wanted to bring the rest of the world to Liverpool - something we have now achieved. We have representatives from around 70 countries coming to Liverpool - something I am very proud of. What does this mean for Liverpool? I think the fact that this is a UK-based festival and it is being hosted in Liverpool and not London is a huge advantage for our city. Being European Capital of Culture in 2008 proved that Liverpool is a major world culture centre and now the fact that we are hosting an event of this scale will make it clear that Liverpool is a major commercial centre. We have a Mayor in Joe Anderson who consistently emphasises the fact that Liverpool is open for business – and now the rest of the world will see this too.

We have gone through a major renaissance; and now we must be recognised as an economic powerhouse that will ultimately create growth in the North. We are shining the light on Liverpool, the North West and the North this is our wow moment, to really show how much we have changed. We will have tens of thousands of people visiting this city and we will be telling them “we are open for business and we want to do business.” What are you looking forward to most? It’s difficult to draw out some key highlights from such a broad and diverse catalogue of events; however, I’ll try. The Mayor had an ambition to bring in 25 Mayors from around the world to show how cities are driving the economy. We now have a total of 135 city leaders from around the world attending – some of the world’s major cities are sending their Mayors to IFB and I think that is just brilliant.

I’m very pleased to say that Accelerate 2014 will be returning again this year, following on from the success of last year. We’re bringing in major opportunities for growing businesses; providing a unique accelerator for growth, motivation and an opportunity to connect. We have a collection of the brightest business minds and inspirational speakers taking part, such as Michelle Mone OBE (Founder of Ultimo and MJM International), Karen Brady CBE (Small Business Ambassador) and Wayne Hemingway MBE (Founder of HemingwayDesign). Africa Rising also looks to be a great event. It will provide a platform for African businesses and countries, within several different industry sectors, to demonstrate the opportunities across the continent. And finally – what legacy do you want the festival to leave for the city? The overriding target is to gain £100 million worth of

foreign direct investment as a result of the festival - and this is imminently achievable. This is a huge opportunity for businesses and commerce, the work really starts when the festival finishes. We must make sure that the contacts we make during the festival are fully exploited and used. This is why I hope people will register and join the Business Club. The Business Club gives you access to more than 1,200 businesses who have registered - and I hope everyone will recognise this as the huge opportunity it is. I hope people will join, register and take part in what is set to be a fabulous festival for Liverpool and the best opportunity to do business. ifb2014.com

BID INTERVIEWS

ANDY OAKES Business Development Manager bwm.co.uk

KATIE MYERS Branch Manager keppiemassie.com

affect the market. Mortgage lenders will be looking at how they assess affordability a little more closely and that may have an impact on some buyers that could present some challenges for the property market. What do you want to see more of from your BID? I would like to see many more enthusiastic, passionate firms continuing to move here. The more forward thinking, innovative and ambitious businesses that make BID their home, the better for each and every organisation based here. Tell us about the business.

Tell us about the business.

We’re a proactive firm specialising in charities, commercial entities, fast growing companies and high net worth individuals. We believe in continually developing our services, meeting our clients’ requirements and giving added value whenever we can.

As a residential estate agency, we offer a whole range of services from sales and lettings valuations to mortgage advice. We are totally committed to our clients and offer flexible valuation and viewing times, beyond the working day. As Branch Manager, my role involves looking after the day-to-day operations and managing our fantastic team. With the residential market picking up the way it has done it’s a very demanding job, but I love it.

What are the advantages of being part of a Business Improvement District? First impressions count - so it is important that the area around our office is thriving; which in turn gives both existing and prospective clients a feel good factor when they visit us. Aims for your organisation in the next 12 months? As the economy recovers, we plan to expand in line with the new commercial opportunities that are arising whilst ensuring our clients also grow to meet increased demand in their sectors. Biggest challenges over the next 12 months? To play our part in recognising growth opportunities for our clients and helping to turn their plans into reality. What do you want to see more of from your BID? Encouraging members to meet and interact with each other both socially and professionally.

If you would like to be featured in our autumn issue, please contact us by emailing: info@thecommercialdistrict.com

QUICK FIRE Q&A Favourite Restaurant in the BID? San Carlo (luckily just beneath our offices!). If you could visit one BID organisation for the day which one would it be? Liverpool Vision, to present a signed Everton shirt to Max Steinberg! Best kept secret in the BID? McGuffies. Best thing about Liverpool? The people and the positive can-do attitude. Favourite holiday destination? South of France. Favourite summer song? “Wake Me Up” by Aloe Blacc. You know it’s summer when... John Lewis get their Christmas stock in!

What are the advantages of being part of a Business Improvement District?

QUICK FIRE Q&A Favourite restaurant in the BID? Marco Pierre White at Hotel Indigo.

Aside from the prestige that comes with being based in the Commercial District, it’s the atmosphere. It is so vibrant around this area. The buzz on Old Hall Street and Castle Street during the working week is tangible and infectious. That motivates you to have a successful day - it really lifts you.

If you could visit one BID organisation for the day which one would it be? Elaine Cunningham Interiors.

Aims for your organisation in the next 12 months?

Favourite holiday destination? Anywhere in Italy.

To continue to grow. As the market continues to recover we’d like to increase our market share in sales as well as maintaining our status and reputation as a leading letting agent. Biggest challenges over the next 12 months? I think it will be interesting to see how the Mortgage Market Review regulations, which came into play in April,

Best kept secret in the BID? If I knew it wouldn’t be a secret! Best thing about Liverpool? The friendly people.

Favourite summer song? Will Smith feat. Jazzy Jeff “Summertime.” You know it’s summer when….. You can wear your flip flops!

BID INTERVIEWS

CHRIS DANKS Director cyberhostpro.com

ALEXANDRA VINCENT Business Engagement Representative liverpoolchamber.org.uk

Cotton Exchange Building. It’s all very exciting times for Cyber Host Pro.

and contribute to the region’s social and economic wealth and prosperity.

What will be your biggest challenge over the next 12 months?

Biggest challenges over the next 12 months? I think our biggest challenge over the next 12 months will be capitalising on the opportunities from the International Festival for Business. The IFB is a massive opportunity not only to showcase the city, but for local businesses to really get involved with all the events that are taking place and maximise on the opportunities presented to them.

For our client base to continue growing at such a fast pace. Over the past three years, we have seen significant demand for our services and we hope that a steady flow of new clients will continue. What do you want to see more of from your BID?

Tell us about the business. Cyber Host Pro is one of the leading hosting service providers in the UK. We offer innovative web solutions to local, national and global businesses. Our services include domain name registration, email set-ups and superfast web hosting. Our customer base, which now stands at over 2,000 clients, is constantly developing and we are currently hosting 100,000 websites on our profound servers. What are the advantages of being part of the BID? Being surrounded by a thriving hub of like-minded business professionals and entrepreneurs. It is brilliant to be supported by such a closeknit community, which inspires drive and determination. The BID area benefits from excellent transport links; Moorfields and James Street train stations are a stone’s throw away; which is ideal for residents, commuters and the general-public alike. Aims for your organisation in the next 12 months? To increase our growing customer database by introducing a diverse range of advanced technological developments. We understand that our customers’ hosting solutions are the lifeblood of their businesses. Therefore, the new optimised functions will allow them to manage their operations better. In the hope of further expanding our business potential, we are currently in the process of recruiting new staff members. We are also on the move in June, to a bigger office in the

We would like to see more networking events, in order to bring together local businesses from different sectors.

QUICK FIRE Q&A Favourite restaurant in the BID? Trattoria 51. If you could visit one BID organisation for the day which one would it be? Trinity Mirror. Best kept secret in the BID? Bean coffee shop in Exchange Station. Best thing about Liverpool? Friendly people and great business vibe. Favourite holiday destination? Miami Beach. Favourite Summer song? 5 Seconds of Summer’s ‘She Looks So Perfect.’ You know it’s summer when… You walk through Exchange Flags and there is queue for the seating area outside Gourmet Coffee.

Tell us about the business. We are a network of 1,400 businesses, supporting the development, growth and sustained economic viability of our Chamber members and the wider business community of Liverpool City Region. The way in which we do this is by facilitating networking, encouraging and supporting businesses to trade internationally and by creating employment opportunities through apprenticeships. What are the advantages of being part of the BID? Many of our members are located in the Commercial District which provides us with opportunities to connect with them on a regular basis. Commercial District BID provides a conducive business environment and encourages economic growth and cross sector networking which is something both us and our members benefit from. Aims for your organisation in the next 12 months? Our main aim is to connect with even more businesses and help them to grow. We also want to continue to create employment in the city. We have been the most prominent business representative in Liverpool for over 200 years and our objective is to continue to develop our reputation as a catalyst for our members’ growth. We are passionate about why we are here; we want to ensure that Liverpool businesses are successful

What do you want to see more of from your BID? We would like to see more engagement with the Chamber from BID members. There are so many opportunities to access Chamber services to make a positive contribution to the running of your business and we want to work closely with the BID to make that positive contribution. QUICK FIRE Q&A Favourite restaurant in the BID? San Carlo, the lobster linguine is to die for. If you could visit one BID organisation for the day which one would it be? Liverpool Football Club offices in Chapel Street. Best kept secret in the BID? Jenny’s Bar on Fenwick Street does amazing cocktails! The staff are so friendly too! I would really recommend BID members paying a visit. Best thing about Liverpool? The people; funniest and friendliest people I have ever met. Favourite holiday destination? Barbados – so I can lay off the fake tan for a week or two! Favourite summer song? ‘Waves’ by Mr Probz. You know it’s summer when… I swap the fake tan for Piz Buin!

LET’S DEBATE

At Morecrofts we see a lot of both new and established business people come through the doors for legal advice. It’s struck me that in the past decade in particular the amount of females among these has risen substantially.

It’s only in recent years that the legal sector has grown to be regarded as a business, although in this area Morecrofts is unique in that we are predominantly female-led in terms of senior management.

We are at a point now where your gender isn’t seen across the boardroom table. What’s taken notice of is forward thinking, fearless decisions and good management.

We’re almost within touching distance of the arrival of the International Festival for Business (IFB) and as such, we wanted to speak with four key players of Liverpool’s business scene, all with one thing in common they are all women. Here at Commercial District BID, we’re incredibly proud to be based in such a forward thinking and diverse city; however, have we reached true gender equality in our business world yet? Read on to find out…

Is Liverpool’s business community woman friendly?

I have seen the working environment change since I left school so that women can reach the top of their professions with the right company. As a woman, I don’t feel disadvantaged by my sex in the business community but find that most of my peers are male. At times, being a woman in the business community is an advantage as I tend to meet up with other like-minded women with similar goals which facilitate being able to share ideas and tips. I find women can be more direct in their approach

to forging relationships as, at the risk of stereotyping, their time is restricted by domestic commitments so they tend to be more focussed! I find Liverpool’s business community a very lively and friendly place where introductions can be made easily and informally, where people are proud to be working in the best city in the world.

My initial thought on being asked this question was - ‘why?’. Personally, I feel Liverpool’s business community has always been massively women friendly and I have never felt taken any less seriously as a woman. Liverpool Chamber has numerous businesses owned and operated by women who liaise and network regularly and our own Senior Management team has a strong female presence. Testament also as to how women friendly the city is, you will see many key businesses with women at the

helm, Sue Weir at Medicash, Alison Lobb Managing Partner from Morecrofts Solicitors and Denise Barrett-Baxendale, CEO of Everton in the Community and Deputy CEO of Everton FC to name just a few!”

As a city we tend to see more men in politics and positions of authority. I am constantly frustrated by the lack of female representation at large conferences and events held in the city.

achievements more and using bigger events as a platform to represent women as positive role models.

In recent times of austerity it is no secret that women were disproportionately affected, and Liverpool has felt this greatly. Liverpool could be ‘friendlier’ to women by recognising their

DEBATERS

BID NEWS

ALISON LOBB

Managing Partner Morecrofts

Insurance Firm Mercer Moves to No. 4 St Paul’s Square

CATHERINE HIGGINS

Solicitor & Managing Director Catherine Higgins Law

Global insurance broker and risk management consultant, Mercer, has agreed a 10-year lease with English Cities Fund to move to No 4 St Paul’s Square in the heart of the Commercial District BID. JENNY STEWART

Chief Executive Officer Liverpool Chamber of Commerce

Mercer will occupy 22,395 sq. ft. on the fourth and third floors of the business hub. Mercer is currently based in nearby Exchange Station, owned by the Homes & Communities Agency. English Cities Fund said the letting is the largest in Liverpool this year. The firm has agreed a lease for the whole of the fourth floor and half of the third floor at No 4 St Paul’s Square, joining GVA, Santander Corporate and CBRE in the building.

MAGGIE O’CARROLL

Chief Executive Officer The Women’s Organisation

The 109,000 sq. ft. BREEAM ‘excellent’ building was developed speculatively by ECf and completed in 2011. More than 42,000 sq. ft. has now been let in the building. Phil Mayall, Development Director at ECf, said: “We look forward to continued success throughout 2014 as more and more businesses see the benefit of being situated in a highly sustainable building in the centre of the city’s thriving Commercial District BID.”

GET CONNECTED

I want Liverpool to be the best digitally connected city in the UK. This scheme is a major leap in taking the city’s economy to the next level. MAYOR JOE ANDERSON

BID Company’s Mike Doran looks at a scheme that will propel Liverpool’s next great leap forward.

of superfast broadband, with Liverpool at the vanguard as part of the SuperConnected Cities programme.

Ask yourself these three questions:

Liverpool BID Company will be Liverpool City Council’s delivery partner for the scheme and a number of meetings have been held with BDUK (Broadband Development UK) to develop the project.

Would your business benefit from faster, better broadband? Would you invest in a faster, better broadband connection if someone gave you money towards the cost? Would up to £3,000 interest you? If you’ve said yes then you will be pleased to hear that Commercial District BID is to spearhead a ‘game-changing’ digital revolution in Liverpool city centre this summer. The BID is to work with Liverpool City Council to oversee the implementation of a £1.5m scheme to improve broadband infrastructure across the city. The scheme will be delivered via a Connection Voucher up to the value of £3,000 to cover capital and equipment costs of getting a better, faster connection to businesses. The scheme will be live mid-June and all SMEs are invited to apply. It is being implemented as part of a national drive to provide a much better service

Liverpool BID Company has given its commitment to delivering the scheme in ensuring all eligible businesses in the city centre have the opportunity to apply. During the next few months details of the project will be shared via a number of avenues – breakfast briefing meetings, email and print campaigns and the BID will be using our close links with key stakeholders to ensure all SMEs are included. In addition we, the BID, will be engaging with suppliers via workshops and giving interested organisations guidance and support where required. Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID Company, said ‘’This broadband scheme is a game changer for Liverpool city centre. It’s going to make a huge impact to the efficiency and productivity of businesses and make Liverpool an even more

attractive place to do business. This goes to the heart of our plans to support our members by improving their working environments.’’ Mayor Joe Anderson added ‘’I want Liverpool to be the best digitally connected city in the UK. We have a long road ahead to achieve this but this scheme is a major

leap in taking the city’s economy to the next level. We are competing on a global stage and investment in our digital infrastructure is a priority of the first order. Liverpool BID Company is ideally placed to help implement this scheme and ensure our private sector is given the tools to make Liverpool an international player.’’

Time to Get Connected

How does the voucher scheme work? The business will pay any VAT charged and the monthly line rental. Your voucher can be used towards the cost of making the physical connection to your business premises - it cannot pay for monthly rental or for any IT equipment you use in your business.

The connection needs to give a real change in service speed - upgrading to a minimum of 30Mbps on a shared line or 20Mbps on a dedicated business grade line (must be at least double the current speed). The scheme also allows for joint applications - which landowners and agents

could broker for the tenants in their buildings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which could allow for an amalgamation of vouchers to potentially allow for suppliers to provide a larger, more advanced solution. Different suppliers would give their recommended solutions and the businesses would decide which to go with.

There is more info on the vouchers scheme at connectionvouchers.co.uk If you would like further information contact Kevin Whittaker, Operations Manager at Liverpool BID Company, on 0151 233 4733.

IFB EVENT LOCATIONS

nsRSdt od LinLd ee

l St

11 t

LLin o

ri cto

LLin od no dn onRd Rd

t Rwd S dosnha LRinen

te Wa

8 6

dt n RS doale n D i L

LTi inthd eobn aRrd n

de d Para ocneRss LiPnrdin

t RlldS oHna ndd LiOl

20 21

e St

n ra

22 23

S Rdr nove o n d inHa

25 24

Lin Dduon ke R Sd t

Hardma

n St

Hop

Lim eS t

d t St Ren nm do LiPnar lia

the BID guide to the

International Festival for Business

9th June - 22nd July ifb2014.com

nn dd o oo nnR dd R

KEY

Liverpool Cathedral

Walker Gallery

Everyman

Liverpool Building Foresight Centre

LJMU

Adelphi Hotel

Town Hall

Exchange Flags

Museum of Liverpool

Crowne Plaza

Maritime Museum

ACC

Mann Island

20 Chapel Street

Tate Liverpool

Port of Liverpool

Malmaison

Hilton Hotel

West Africa House

Radisson Blu

Royal Liver Building

The Plaza

World Museum

St. George’s Hall

No.4 St. Paul’s Sq

Library

John Lennon Art & Design Building

IFB BID PICKS

IFB International Festival for Business

For full details of all International Festival for Business events please visit ifb2014.com

BID PICKS With approximately £6 billion of major investment since 2000, Liverpool’s economy has grown faster than the UK’s. 3rd January 2013 was the day that Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the International Festival for Business 2014 would be taking place in Liverpool; a testament to the city’s growth. The city is preparing to take centre stage; ready to welcome 70 countries into Liverpool to showcase the 200 strong events we have planned. To make sure you don’t miss a beat, the team at Commercial District BID has handpicked their top ten recommendations. Diaries at the ready, please....

PlaceEXPO: Future Cities 17 JUNE PlaceEXPO, No 4. St Paul’s Square, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9SJ Cities, Enterprise & Urban Business

This event will showcase the best of UK architectural and engineering skills in planning, designing and building smart cities. The event sets out to advise businesses on how to make better informed decisions around energy, transport, housing and business. PlaceEXPO: Future Cities will promote exportable skills to developing countries and emerging city leaders around the world. The event is aimed at businesses interested in working in China, UAE and other rapidly developing economies, as well as students of city planning and people whose operations are led by technology.

50 Day Showcase 2 JUNE > 18 JULY Citywide

Low Carbon & Renewables

Come and see how you create the buildings of the future from the buildings of the past. This event will show delegates how to make green building technology affordable, mainstream and desirable for people who have to live or work in low carbon, high efficiency buildings.

Accelerate 2014

IBDE Global Economic Forum

20 JUNE

16-18 JUNE

25 JUNE

2 JULY

ACC, Kings Dock, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 4FP

Crowne Plaza, St Nicholas Pl, Princes Dock, Liverpool L3 1QW

IFB Hub, No. 1 Mann Island. Mann Island, Liverpool L3 1BP

Brabners, Exchange Flags, Liverpool, L2 3YL

Cities, Enterprise & Urban Business

Knowledge, Professional & Financial Services

Accelerate 2014 provides a unique accelerator for growth, motivation and an opportunity to connect businesses. The event will help delegates to think smarter, connect to a wider audience and grow their business. Accelerate 2014 provides a platform for high profile, entrepreneurial keynote speakers from a range of business sectors to inspire delegates wanting to start their own business or take their current business to the next level.

IBDE’s Global Economic Forum 2014 provides an opportunity to discuss global economic challenges as well as exploring strategic business, trade and investment opportunities worldwide in the quest to set global economic growth back on track. This event will enhance the profile of UK and other international business interests and expertise.

Renowned speakers will explore the growing impact of digital technology on the legal profession, the implications for their technology suppliers, and the emergence of the ‘legal technologist’. Ongoing developments in automated document assembly, legal expert systems and, eventually artificial intelligence are set to have a tremendous impact. These developments will influence the future of lawyers and technologists, the future of legal services, and possibly the nature of law itself. Above all, the session will address the difficult question of technology and access to justice.

The World According to Finance Directors is a half day conference aimed at business leaders and finance specialists. The event showcases high calibre speakers offering a view from the top on the financial impact of trading internationally.

Business Planning for City and Regional Innovation

dot-art Schools Exhibition

27 JUNE

17 MAY > 8 JUNE

The Foresight Centre, University of Liverpool 1 Brownlow St, Liverpool L69 3GL

PlaceEXPO, No 4. St Paul’s Square, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9SJ

IFB Hub, No. 1 Mann Island. Mann Island, Liverpool L3 1BP

Higher & Further Education & Research

Walker Art Gallery, William Brown St, Liverpool L3 8EL

Knowledge, Professional & Financial Services

With the expanding gap in economic performance between London and other parts of the UK and Europe, this event aims to bring the planning, business and higher education communities together to explore how each of these sectors can work together to establish a positive context for city and regional innovation.

Liverpool City Region’s school children will see their own names alongside the likes of Rubens, Rembrandt and Riley in a new exhibition partnership between the Walker Art Gallery and dotart Schools. It is hoped the project will encourage young people to engage with the arts and enable their first steps towards a creative career path.

This event will examine the crucial topic of what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in a global world. This will be a rare opportunity for delegates to gain an insight into some of the best practice in the UK and hear from some of the most inspirational business leaders.

This one day event is looking to match products and services of UK businesses with the needs of overseas buyers. The event will also provide a platform for investigating the opportunities for international businesses to invest in the UK and is themed around opportunities in the educational and professional services sectors.

Day 3 - B2B Meetings only. To maximise on the opportunity of meeting international partners; day three of IBDE Global Economic Forum will be reserved for one-to-one meetings only.

21st Century Legal Technology

Insider Breakfast: The Atlantic Gateway Dream 2014 17 JUNE

The World According to Finance Directors

Speakers include Keith Warburton – Global Business Culture, Peter Matza – The Association of Corporate Treasurers, Danielle Stewart – The Institute Advisory Panel.

UKTI - Professional & Business Services 2 JULY

BID AT YOUR LEISURE

Making Waves As reported in the first issue of THIS, a group of partners including Liverpool ONE, City Central BID, Anglican Cathedral and Commercial District BID are working together to provide a direct bus link into the city centre for visiting passengers on 24 cruise visits. The Cruise Connector Bus will provide tourists with a free and easy bus service allowing them to experience the best that the Commercial District has to offer. Mike Doran, Communications Manager at Liverpool BID Company said: “Along with our partners, we want to make sure that cruise passengers receive the warm Liverpool welcome that the city is renowned for. Plus, it is vital to making a good first impression of Liverpool to a very important – and growing – tourism sector.” The free shuttle service has been developed by the partners to take full advantage of the number of visitors arriving at the Liverpool Cruise Terminal. The aim of the Cruise Connector Bus is to increase the partners’ share of the Liverpool visitor economy, estimated to be over £3 billion per year. The arrival of the Cruise Connector Bus has helped increase footfall in the

Commercial District BID area and subsequently generated more income for the restaurants, hotels and bars in the area. Mike continues: “The free shuttle bus also means those who wish to hit the shops while they’re here can move easily between the ship and the main shopping and leisure areas. Providing this free service, via a very small contribution from the BID levy, has been hugely popular and appreciated by both passengers and businesses alike and we’re delighted to see it on the road again.’’ James Rush, Chair of the Hoteliers Association said; “Liverpool Hoteliers Association is delighted to see the return of the Cruise Connector Bus as it really does give cruise passengers visiting the city that much needed link and easy access to several attractions including Liverpool ONE, Albert Dock, Tate Liverpool and of course, the Commercial District. Those visitors play a big part in our overall economy during the summer months and this is our chance to showcase the strong partnerships that we have and an opportunity for everyone to work together.”

What’s Cooking? Popular Liverpool restaurant, What’s Cooking? has invested a six figure sum to take over the food and beverage operation within boutique hotel, 62 Castle Street. The new venue will be called What’s At Sixty Two? The deal with hotel operator, Centre Island, has seen the conversion of a 5,000 sq. ft. space into an exciting new venue, creating a dynamic collection of bar and restaurant, private dining, boardroom, meeting and social spaces. Located within the Grade II listed hotel, What’s At Sixty Two? adds to the already thriving restaurant and bar scene in and around Castle Street. Creating 50 new jobs, What’s At Sixty Two? offers a southern soul menu, the flavours of which are

inspired by Memphis and the Deep South. Owner Guy Lawrenson, who has more than 35 years in the hospitality industry, said: “This is an exciting new chapter for the What’s Cooking? brand, and in the evolution of this fantastic building in the heart of Castle Street. ‘’What’s At Sixty Two? will blend perfectly into this vibrant mix, offering a flavour of the Deep South in a space that is dynamic to match any mood.” For booking enquiries contact 0151 236 2232, visit whatsatsixtytwo.com, email suzannewatson@whatscooking.co.uk, or follow on Twitter @WhatsAt62

Hotel Indigo Liverpool snaps up

Hoteliers Association meeting

Hotel Indigo Liverpool, on Chapel Street, hosted a touring photographic exhibition, showcasing a collection of works from the World Photography Organisation. The WPO and Hotel Indigo asked for budding photographers to “capture” the local neighbourhood stories of eight cities across the UK, including Liverpool, which have influenced the design of the Hotel Indigo properties in each location.

More than 50 hoteliers and restaurateurs from around the city met at Fazenda in Exchange Flags on 17th April as part of Liverpool Hoteliers Association’s monthly networking event. Organised by Chairman and General Manager of Malmaison, James Rush, it was an opportunity to discuss the up and coming cultural calendar for the city and make new contacts. LHA is a non-profit organisation run by the city’s hoteliers, who are dedicated to championing Liverpool.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Behind the scenes

Walking through the streets of the Commercial District, you can easily take for granted how impressive our surroundings really are. The area is full of amazing buildings steeped with history. From the old White Star Line shipping office at 30 James Street to the old Bank of England, each building is as impressive as the last in its own unique way. Some of the buildings have stood for hundreds of years, seeing wave after wave of generations of people coming in and out of the area. However, what remains is the impression these landmarks make on the people coming into the Commercial District. For this issue, we take a closer look at some of the buildings that are being brought back to life.

Tithebarn Project

Aloft Liverpool

Cotton Yard

Number 1 Old Hall Street

If you’ve walked past Tithebarn Street recently, you may have noticed building work at the former Churchill House - former home of Churchill’s restaurant and, latterly, the Sports Golf Bar.

North John Street is about to welcome a brand new hotel, in the form of the urbaninfluenced, modern and vibrant design of Aloft Liverpool.

What was once the epi-centre of the world’s cotton industry, the old trading hall at the Cotton Exchange is being brought back to life as a state-of-the-art workspace.

Old Hall Street is one of Liverpool’s famous seven streets and was first created in 1207 when King John set up camp in advance of invading Ireland.

We spoke with development manager of Capital & Centric Plc, Louise Pearson, to find out about plans afoot. “We spotted the sad empty 1970s office building and loved the challenge it offered. It’s in a great location within the Commercial District and we felt we could do something really cool with the space. ‘’We’re taking the 1970s architecture and preserving the best bits that look to the past whilst redirecting it into the future. There are a lot of people out there that wanted us to flatten this building but getting rid of this building wasn’t a sustainable solution for us, not when it can be saved, repaired and made great again. ‘’We’ve finished the strip out phase of our works and are about to start the main refurbishment where the building will be reduced in height initially. Seems mad? Well, we wanted to share those cracking views the previous caretakers got all to themselves. We’re opening up the roof space into a terrace for our tenants to enjoy with a brew or a butty when they need a bit of space away from their desks or to have meetings up there.” Anticipated completion date: March 2015.

This offering intends to provide a social guest experience, at an affordable price point. We spoke with Mark Ashall, director of Ashall Property to go behind the scenes. “We’re both excited and proud to have the opportunity to regenerate and preserve the great heritage of this Grade II* listed building and provide Liverpool with a vibrant, design-led hotel complete with restaurant and meeting space. ‘’This signing is the culmination of two years of dedication and we remain indebted to Liverpool City Council for assisting with this project from the outset and to English Heritage for their continued support.” Guestrooms will feature the brand’s signature high ceilings, oversized windows and an ultra-comfortable platform bed as well as large walk-in showers with complimentary Bliss Spa® products. The hotel will also boast the re:mix lounge and w xyz bar. The re:charge fitness centre offers an opportunity to re-energise. The unique re:fuel by Aloft introduces a convenient deli option for guests on the go, with an array of food and drinks available 24 hours a day.

Anticipated completion date: Autumn 2014.

We spoke with Colin Forshaw, head of property at Bruntwood about Old Hall Street’s redeveloped addition. “Now known as Cotton Yard, this unique space still retains many of the original features of the old trading hall including marble pillars and ornate ceilings. The open-plan layout is ideal for a sole occupier who is looking for an exclusive, high-profile presence in the Commercial District as this space also benefits from having an Old Hall Street entrance. The occupier will also receive the bonus of private use of the restored yet secluded courtyard. ‘’As with the rest of the Cotton Exchange building, Cotton Yard benefits from unrivalled internet connectivity and is one of the few buildings in the UK where you can order a 100Gbps internet connection if needed.”

The team at Downing has secured the prestigious address of No. 1 Old Hall Street and has created a new Flexi-Office hub. We chatted with senior agency surveyor, Robin Ellis at Downing to get the full lowdown on their new offering. “No. 1 Old Hall Street is a great example of 1960s Modernist architecture – the building’s elegant, engineered frame stands in stark contrast to many of the more ornate buildings in the business district. It showcases a new approach to architecture pioneered in the 60s, with bright, airy office spaces. The late 60s almost saw the building become part of ‘city in the sky’ - an ambitious plan by Liverpool City Council to create aerial walkways above the city streets. You can still see the remnants of the proposed walkway above the building’s entrance.

He continues: “The end result is an open and inviting new workspace in one of the most historic buildings in Liverpool – an inspiring mix of classic design and modern facilities. Cotton Yard is available to view immediately!”

“The building has continued to evolve and is now home to Downing’s newest Flexi-Office hub. The space is already home to landmark tenants including the Chamber of Commerce and the ever popular Out to Lunch. The hub offers Downing’s highestspecification Flexi-Offices to date with nine newly-refurbished FlexiOffices ranging in size from 140 sq ft to 1,090 sq ft.”

Anticipated completion date: Autumn 2014.

Anticipated completion date: May 2014.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF FOOD

International Festival of Food Restaurant Bar & Grill

Viva Brazil

Piccolino

Etsu

Thanks to Mat and the team @RBG_ Liverpool last night. Excellent as ever.

I’ve eaten 13 types of meat today in one sitting. I think it’s safe to say @VivaBrazilL1 is my favourite place on the planet.

Had a lovely meal @Piccolino_Liv with the family… food very nice & staff so friendly! Will certainly be going back sometime.

Fab dinner @EtsuRestaurant thanks for the great welcome and best Japanese food in Liverpool.

Signature Dish

225g Sirloin Steak with Béarnaise Sauce and Hand Cooked Chips

Picanha - considered to be the most exquisite cut of beef

Linguine al Gamberetti - king prawns, chilli, courgette and parsley

Suzuki - Pan fried sea bass fillet served with your choice of sauce

Head Chef Barry Nugent

Head Chef Dave Dobie

Head Chef Matty Simpson

Head Chef Tatsuya Ueda

Price Range £26 - £39

Price Range £9 - £24

Price Range £13 - £30

Price Range £6 - £14

Trip Advisor Rating

Restaurant Bar & Grill, Brunswick Street, Liverpool, L2 0UU

Viva Brazil, 36 Castle Street, Liverpool, L2 0NR

Etsu, 25 The Strand, Liverpool, L2 0XJ

0151 236 6703 individualrestaurants.com

0151 236 8080 vivabrazilrestaurants.com

Piccolino, 14a Cook Street, Liverpool, L2 9QU 0151 236 2555 individualrestaurants.com

0151 236 7530 etsu-restaurant.co.uk

As Liverpool gets set to host the International Festival for Business and the eyes of the world turn to the World Cup, here at Commercial District BID we decided to take a tour of the globe - right here on our doorstep. From rustic Italians to delicate Japanese eateries, there has never been a better time to branch out from your familiar culinary haunts to try something new. Keep your hands inside the vehicle, your taste buds are in for a treat…

Franco’s

Meet

La Viña

Salt House Bacaro

Franco’s is one of my favourite Italian restaurants in Liverpool!

Having an unbelievable steak in @Meet_Official by far the best steakhouse in Liverpool #BestSteaksinTown.

Fantastic evening at @LaVinaLiverpool last night. Spanish cuisine at its finest!

The chicken dish in Liverpool’s @salthousebacaro is absolutely divine, Elderflower Bellini is a must too #toogood.

Signature Dish

Signature Dish:

Signature Dish

Spaghetti del Cuoco - mixed seafood pasta with chilli, garlic, white wine & lemon juice

Lomo Gitana, 10oz fillet mignon wrapped in bacon, tomato and topped with peppercorn sauce

Montado de Lomo - marinated pork loin with Catalana sauce.

Black Pudding & Chicken Liver - a combination of Stornoway black pudding with pan fried chicken livers

Head Chef Shaun Rogers

Head Chef Juan Hidalgo

Head Chef Jesus Guijarro-Lopez

Head Chef Matt Walsh

Price Range £15 - £30

Price Range £20 - £40

Price Range £20 - £30

Price Range £9 - £14

Trip Advisor Rating

Franco’s, 48a Castle Street, Liverpool, L2 7LQ

Meet, 50 Brunswick Street, Liverpool, L2 0PL

La Viña, North John Street, Liverpool, L2 5QY

Salt House Bacaro, 47 Castle Street, Liverpool, L2 9UB

0151 236 3375 francosliverpool.com

0151 258 1816 meetsteakhouse.co.uk

0151 255 1401 lavina.co.uk

0151 665 0047 salthousebacaro.co.uk

GUIDE TO SUMMER

A Guide to Summer Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be a busy, busy summer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; think European Capital of Culture busy. So with that in mind, the Commercial District BID team picked the events they are most looking forward to over the coming months.

BILL ADDY CEO

MIKE DORAN Communications Manager

ÁLVARO SÁNCHEZ Social Media Officer

KEV WHITTAKER Operations Manager

What event are you most looking forward to this summer?

The whole summer!

The World Cup!

The Giant Spectacular!

Why are you looking forward to this event?

International Festival for Business.

I struggle to identify just one event from this epic summer; I am looking forward to everything! From giants on the streets to giants on the greens, the IFB, music and sea there is something for everyone - it’s an old phrase but the world really is in one city this summer.

It’s the World Cup. And it’s in Brazil! The time difference means most matches are after work, so can be enjoyed in many of the great bars in the city centre. With warmer and lighter nights getting home will be less of a chore. The atmosphere is always special and with Everton and Liverpool providing so many players - most matches will have a local interest.

Last time the giants came to Liverpool it was just incredible. The story captured the hearts and the imagination of everyone who saw the production and it really brought the city together - plus it generated international exposure for Liverpool. I can’t wait to discover the story behind it this time! Plus, there’s a new family member on her way – the little girl’s Grandmother – I can’t wait to see her!

fifa.com

giantspectacular.com

JENNIFER CONNOR Event & Promotions Officer

TRACEY CROSBIE Event Manager

LIAM FITZSIMMONS University Intern

SAMANTHA MCCAULEY Member Liaison Apprentice

What event are you most looking forward to this summer?

Brazilica.

THIS summer event in Exchange Flags from the 18th - 22nd August.

The International Mersey River Festival.

Liverpool International Music Festival.

Why are you looking forward to this event?

Working with the local restaurants, we will be creating a mini food and drink offer and encouraging the surrounding businesses and office workers to join us against the amazing back drop of Exchange Flags. The event is designed to allow our members the chance to ‘meet your neighbours’. Members are invited to spend time relaxing in the sun in our bespoke deck chairs whilst being entertained by the Comedy Trust Festival.

The International Mersey River Festival celebrates everything that is great about our city, incorporating a weekend of maritime and musical entertainment. Liverpool was born as a result of the enormity of its sea fairing trade, becoming the biggest trading port in the world. However, since its decline, music has played a massive role in regenerating Liverpool as a vibrant and global destination for millions of tourists every year.

I love music and there is nothing better than seeing bands live. The atmosphere can be electric. The Liverpool International Music Festival gives local musicians a fantastic chance to showcase their talents to a new audience and it is also a great opportunity for the local community to come together and have loads of fun!

thecommercialdistrict.com

liverpoolwaterfront.org

limfestival.com

Why are you looking forward to this event? Brazilica was my personal highlight of last summer and I’m really looking forward to it even more this year as it’s going to be bigger and better than ever. The festival is nine days of music, dance, exhibitions and film. Williamson Square hosts the main stage and the Brazilian marketplace which is then followed by the magical night-time carnival parade. The city is just so vibrant during Brazilica; it’s a real party atmosphere.

brazilicafestival.co.uk

Why are you looking forward to this event?

Why are you looking forward to this event? IFB2014 is a fantastic, highly ambitious event for the city. There are over 200 business-focused events with opportunities for all businesses, no matter their size, to get involved during the 50 days of the programme. During the festival we really are on the world stage - an ideal opportunity to show why Liverpool really is the greatest city in the world! ifb2014.com

YOU’RE INVITED THE LARGEST GLOBAL GATHERING OF BUSINESS EVENTS DURING 2014