Business leaders sought to shape Liverpool City Region's growth sectors

IN April, Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Combined Authority approved plans to integrate the work of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which provides a voice for the City Region's business community, into the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

An appointments process for members of the new Business and Enterprise Board has started and will provide a voice for business across the area.

The Combined Authority is also now seeking recognised business leaders in 3 key sectors - advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences and the digital and creative industries - to volunteer their expertise and time as members of new cluster boards.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "Our area is fortunate to be home to a thriving innovation economy, boasting world-leading clusters in infectious disease control, advanced manufacturing, and AI - and I want to help those businesses unleash their full potential. Our cluster boards present an opportunity for business leaders to work with us, to make their voice heard and help identify the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for their sectors. I want to position our area at the forefront of UK science and innovation and take advantage of the thousands of well-paid jobs, training opportunities and investment it will bring; and our business leaders will have a vital role to play in helping us achieve that ambition."

These new cluster boards will bring focus to these industries in recognition of their strengths and growth opportunities as evidenced in the City Region's Plan for Prosperity. Cluster boards will be able to set up task groups to address issues affecting the performance and competitiveness of the sector and wider LCR economy.

Following a national review of the work of Local Enterprise Partnerships, the Combined Authority was required by Government to integrate the functions of the LEP into its own governance structure.

LEPs are voluntary partnerships between local or Combined Authorities and businesses, 1st set up by Government in 2011.

Since the creation of the Combined Authority, several LEP related functions, such as setting local economic priorities and leading on economic growth and job creation, have already moved across to the Combined Authority.

Under the new plans, a new Business and Enterprise Board is being set up within the Combined Authority, as 1 of the main means of engaging with the local business community.

This board will ensure representation from priority industry sectors in the City Region and the wider business environment. Its purpose will be to articulate business views about the main economic opportunities and challenges facing the Region so they can be reflected in policy priorities.

The Business and Enterprise Board will be the primary strategic link between business and the Combined Authority. Representation on the board will be ensured for key industry cluster chairs, Higher and Further Education, social economy, and the Liverpool Visitor Economy Partnership. Further representation will be sought from other significant business sectors, such as port and maritime logistics, professional and business services, third sector and built environment.

The Business and Enterprise Board and cluster boards will typically be composed of 14 members broadly representing the LCR geography but with the flexibility to co-opt members to plug gaps in areas of expertise, local geography or to ensure greater diversity.

In all cases, the Combined Authority will endeavour to ensure that the new boards reflect communities across the City Region, including:- a commitment to achieve gender balance with 50% of seats across all boards for women.

A stakeholder convention will also be established to enable existing business networks, clusters, and the wider business base across LCR to come together periodically to learn about research and intelligence undertaken within LCR and discuss business needs and future business engagement activities.

Cllr Mike Wharton, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Business, said:- "These cluster boards will play a key part in shaping the future of our economy, helping to drive investment and growth in the manufacturing, health and life sciences and digital and creative sectors. It is vital that business leaders continue the good work that has been done through the LEP and provide a link between industry and the Combined Authority."

For more information, visit:- LiverpoolCityRegion-CA.Gov.UK.

Mayor Steve Rotheram tells of pride after year that saw fairer, more equal City Region:- 'move closer than ever'

MAYOR Steve Rotheram has told of his pride following a year that saw the Liverpool City Region:- 'move closer than ever' to offering its 1.6m residents a fairer, more equal future.

The Mayor was writing in the Combined Authority Annual Review which sets out major achievements during:- 2022 to 2023 in delivering a fairer, stronger, cleaner, connected and vibrant City Region with no one left behind.

Highlights include the introduction of a �500m fleet of new publicly owned trains, a new hydrogen bus fleet and progress towards bus reform.

Major developments in driving innovation in the City Region, success in delivering jobs, training, skills and apprenticeships, and installation of the Region's half publicly owned joint venture LCR Connect, an 220km ultrafast full fibre digital network, also feature in the review. And the 64 page document shines a light on progress towards reducing inequality, promoting diversity and inclusion, delivering social value and providing support during the cost of living crisis.

It also celebrates investments that strengthened the economy, supported businesses to thrive and create well-paid jobs, and helped the City Region host a Eurovision Song Contest that earned a perfect:- 'douze points' from fans, organisers and politicians.

In his foreword, Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, says:- "From the thousands of jobs, training and skills opportunities we've created, to the vital investments we've made to support our residents through the cost of living crisis, I'm incredibly proud of the progress we've made to transform people's lives for the better. At every step of this journey, our residents have been at the heart of our decision making. Because, for investment to mean anything, local people and communities have to feel its benefits. As Mayor, I am making sure that we are putting our money where our mouth is to help our people and businesses to thrive. Looking to the future, I want to take advantage of our strengths; and potential - and turn them into profitable businesses, creating better, greener jobs and bringing greater prosperity to local people. Ours is a Region on the rise. As its mayor, I want to build a vibrant and inclusive Liverpool City Region that is the best place possible for the 1.6m people who live and work in our area to succeed; an area where no 1 is left behind."

A joint statement on behalf of the Combined Authority portfolio holders who are also leaders of the City Region's 6 local authorities, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral, says:- "We are all very proud of the places that we lead and that our collaboration is enabling our Region to shape a prosperous future for our residents. This Annual Review demonstrates what we can achieve by coming together at the Regional level, making the most of devolution, and the difference it can make for the people who live here. Prioritising jobs, skills and fairness, improving transport, housing, delivering social value and dealing with the climate emergency are important to all of us. That is why we will continue to work together as a team to address these issues and deliver the vision for a fairer, stronger, cleaner City Region - where no 1 is left behind."

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Chief Executive Katherine Fairclough says:- "In this, our second Annual Review, you will see the continued progress and momentum built during 2022-2023. These achievements, include the 1st of the new, state-of-the-art trains coming into service, progressing the reform of bus services, creating thousands of jobs, opportunities for residents to build their skills, helping people who are homeless into stable tenancies and people who are long term unemployed in to work. We remain optimistic for the future, but many challenges remain, not least of these being the national economic picture and the impact of the cost of living on the Combined Authority, its constituent Local Authorities and the people we serve."

To view the full Annual Report please click here.

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Business leaders sought to shape Liverpool City Region's growth sectors

Mayor Steve Rotheram tells of pride after year that saw fairer, more equal City Region:- 'move closer than ever'