Council leadership tell staff:- "We can be the best if we complete our journey to excellence"

LIVERPOOL City Council's new leadership team have told staff that the Local Authority can become 1 of the very best in the country if it delivers a transformation programme to improve services.

Around 600 members of the workforce attended the event at St George's Hall, with staff who were not able to make it able to watch a recording of the event.

It was the 1st time that all staff have heard from the new Chief Executive Andrew Lewis and Council Leader, Cllr Liam Robinson, both of whom took up their positions in May.

The leaders outlined their vision of becoming a leading Council that residents can be proud of, which gets the basics right and raises standards.

Addressing the conference, they highlighted the success of the City's staging of the Eurovision Song Contest as an example of how the whole organisation came together to put on what has been widely acclaimed as the most successful event in its history.

They also explained that, as part of a wide ranging transformation of the Council to deliver best value and modernised services, there will be opportunities for staff to take on new roles, with training and upskilling provided.

Liverpool City Council Leader, Councillor Liam Robinson, said:- "Politicians and Council staff have 1 common goal, and that is to provide the very best services we can for our residents. Services which put our citizens' needs 1st and which are there to improve the lives and life chances of everyone who lives in our City. A shared goal is a powerful tool for change and I know that, together, we will help the Council to modernise, improve and reach its full potential. Mutual respect, trust and kindness are at the heart of collegiate team working and the Cabinet and I are looking forward to continuing to work closely and successfully with the Corporate Management Team and staff at all levels of the organisation."

Liverpool City Council Chief Executive, Andrew Lewis, said:- "None of us have any illusions about the progress we need to make as an organisation, working with the Commissioners, to establish ourselves as a good and improving Council across all our services, and to better serve the people of Liverpool. However, there is no doubt from what I have seen of the passion and commitment of the workforce, that the Council has the potential to be one of the best in the country. We are on a journey to excellence, and it will not happen overnight, but firm foundations are already in place."
 

North West sees strong Foreign Direct Investment growth in 2022 as UK projects fall, EY report reveals

THE North West was the UK's 3rd best performing Region for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in 2022, up from fifth in 2021, according to EY's latest UK Attractiveness Survey.

The North West attracted 88 FDI projects in 2022, up 19% from a total of 74 the year before. Meanwhile, overall UK projects fell 6%, from:- 993, to 929. Only London (299) and Scotland (126) attracted more FDI projects than the North West in 2022.

While the UK as a whole saw projects in Digital Technology fall by almost a quarter, the North West bucked this trend, with Digital Technology projects in the Region up by 25% year on year. The Region's strong performance in 2022 was also underpinned by significant growth in project numbers for the Electronics and IT and Finance sectors, while Sales and Business Services, Manufacturing and Research and Development were the North West's most prominent FDI activities.

The North West's share of all UK projects increased to 9.5%, surpassing its recent peak of 8.7%, in 2020.

Excluding London, Manchester attracted more FDI projects than any other UK City in 2022 with a total of 45, up from:- 31, in 2021. Meanwhile, Liverpool and Warrington ranked joint 14th for investment outside the capital, attracting 7 FDI projects each last year.

Stephen Church, EY's North Market Leader, said:- "The North West delivered a strong FDI performance in 2022, cementing its place as one of the most attractive Regions for foreign investment in the UK. The increase in digital tech projects in the Region, amid a nationwide decline in project numbers, is particularly notable. This growth aligns with the continuing appetite our transactions teams in the North have seen for investment into digital technologies and capabilities in the Mergers and Acquisitions market in recent months. The North West's diverse sector mix also played a key role in 2022's performance, with growth supported by significant year-on-year gains in the Finance and Transportation Manufacture and Supply sectors. The excellent results across the North also demonstrate how Regional and local leaders can help create business-friendly environments that align with an area's specific strengths, challenges and needs. By empowering local areas to make decisions and implement policies that both support and encourage inward investment, the UK can take further advantage of its Regional strengths and unique selling points to attract diverse investment opportunities."

Sentiment and employment results mixed despite growth in project numbers for the North West

Of England's 9 Regions, respondents ranked the North West as the 4th most likely destination for planned FDI projects, with 5% saying they were planning to expand or establish operations in the Region, compared to 43% for top ranked London. The East of England and Yorkshire and the Humber were just ahead of the North West on 6%.

The Region's top three sectors (Digital Technology, Finance and Electronics and IT) contributed a combined total of 32 FDI projects in 2022, with a total combined growth of 11 extra projects year on year.

Digital Technology was the North West's frontrunner, accounting for 20 projects, up from:- 16, in 2021. Meanwhile the Electronics and IT and Finance sectors were joint 2nd, accounting for 6 projects each.

Sales and Marketing was the top activity driving the North West's FDI projects in 2022, with 41 projects, followed by manufacturing on 19; up from:- 12, in 2022. Research and Development was the 3rd most common activity in 2022, with 14 projects, up from:- 11, in 2021.

Despite encouraging growth in project numbers, the Region had the third lowest number of jobs per project in England at 42 - although this was well ahead of London's 32 jobs per project.

UK second in Europe for FDI, while over 50% the UK sees FDI growth

Nationally, over 50% of the UK's nations and Regions attracted more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in 2022 than they did in 2021. The UK hosted 929 FDI backed projects in 2022, the second highest project total in Europe, albeit down 6.4% from 993 projects in 2021.

London (299 projects) was still home to the most FDI projects out of any UK nation or Region in 2022, but its share of all UK projects has fallen to 32% from a high of 49% in 2019.

Scotland (126 projects), the North West (88) and West Midlands (74) recorded the most projects outside London, while the biggest gains in England from 2021 were seen in the North East (33%), Yorkshire and the Humber (28%) and the East Midlands (23%).

The English Regions joining London and the South East in seeing project declines from 2021 were the South West (down 17%) and the West Midlands (down 5%).

The strong results across the North; all three Regions saw double digit growth; were underpinned by resilience in the digital sector and growth across a range of key activities, including:- manufacturing, sales, research and development, logistics, and headquarters projects.

Meanwhile, declines in the digital sector were the biggest drag on performance for the South of England. Digital projects in London almost halved from:- 194 in 2021 to 107 in 2022, with significant falls also seen in the South East and South West. Despite this, the UK still led Europe for tech FDI.

Across Europe, France held onto top spot for total project numbers for a fourth consecutive year, although the UK once again ranked highest in Europe for new projects and continued to deliver more total jobs and jobs per project than Germany and France - trends consistent with the UK's pivot in strategy to focus on value over volume when attracting FDI.

Hywel Ball, EY's UK Chair, said:- "The strong FDI performance of Scotland, Wales and England's Regions in 2022 is a clear success for the UK. Notably, when asked to identify the policy area in which improvements would most increase the UK's attractiveness, the investors we surveyed were most likely to pick the geographic rebalancing of the UK economy. While London's attractiveness will endure, despite ups and downs, policymakers need to build on the clear interest in investment outside the capital."