New children's book about a spaceship crash landing in Liverpool is set to inspire next generation of innovators

DOZENS of Primary School children helped well known local author Natalie Reeves Billing launch her new book designed to inspire the next generation of innovators.

Pupils from Pleasant Street Primary School joined Natalie at:- 'The Spine in Knowledge Quarter Liverpool' (KQ Liverpool) to read extracts from the illustrated book, called:- 'The Animates, Learning in Liverpool.'

It tells the tale of a group of animals; including:- a panda, sloth, ostrich and mouse; that crash land from space at Liverpool Science Park and have to repair themselves and their ship with the help of local innovators around the KQ Liverpool innovation district.

Written for:- 6 to 8 year olds, the aim is to place copies of the book in every Liverpool City Region Primary School. Natalie said:- "This has been such a great project to work on. Distilling complex concepts into engaging, fun and palatable stories has been just as insightful for me as for the young readers. We want children everywhere to know that there is a place for them and their specific skills and talents within the innovation sector."

Emily Robson, Assistant Chief Executive of KQ Liverpool, said:- "The Life Sciences Investment Zone plans involve supercharging Liverpool City Region's economy, creating 8,000 new jobs and saving lives across the world. KQ Liverpool will be at the engine room for those plans and we are keen to show the next generation of innovators the opportunities that exist here. Our new book aims to provide a unique way of doing that and, by engaging young children in the ideas of invention and creativity, we hope it allows them to see what their own future might hold. It was wonderful to watch the children enjoying the story and see an interest in innovation sparking into life among a new generation of pioneers."

The Animates; Learning in Liverpool was specially commissioned by KQ Liverpool in partnership with Connected Places Catapult and was also launched in front of a business audience.

It is part of a major focus on inspiring and training the next generation of local innovators, while retaining more graduates to power the City Region's innovation ambitions.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Executive Director of Investment Dr Aileen Jones said:- "These are hugely exciting times for innovation in the Liverpool City Region. Innovation Investment Week will allow us to celebrate and showcase our creativity, entrepreneurship and scientific brilliance. We have a new Life Sciences Investment Zone, which like our Freeport, offers significant opportunities to businesses and investors wishing to capitalise on our world leading innovation capabilities. They also offer massive opportunities to local people through the creation of thousands of high quality jobs. It is vital we give local people the right skills to take advantage of these opportunities. Natalie's excellent book is sure to fire the imagination of children and inspire some on a creative, innovative and scientific path."

The book was launched at The Spine which is the northern headquarters of the Royal College of Physicians and is located at Paddington Village, Liverpool City Council's flagship development site.

The launch ushered in the City Region's 1st ever Innovation Investment Week which will showcase the Region's world leading innovation and billions of pounds of opportunities.

4 days of innovation themed activity includes a local launch of the City Region's new Life Sciences Investment Zone, a Dragons' Den style pitching event, a pharma industry conference and the City Region's third Innovation Investment Summit.

Evening events include:- a Pint of Science; which features talks by more than 40 academics from:- the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and Liverpool School of Tropical Science (LSTM) at pubs in the City Centre and Wirral. Tomorrow (Tuesday), University of Liverpool Professor Matt Rosseinsky; recipient of last year's Eni Award which is often described as the Nobel Prize of energy research; will address a special audience at the Materials Innovation Factory.

Experts from around the world will gather for the day long Innovation Investment Summit at LJMU's Student Life building on Thursday, May 16.

Liverpool City Region has more than £725m of live innovation projects with a further £1.9bn in development. The Life Sciences Investment Zone, which started operating in April, is expected to attract an extra £800m of public and private sector investment and create 8,000 new jobs and is in addition to AstraZeneca's £450m investment in its Speke facility announced in March.

The City Region is 1 of only 3 places in the UK to benefit from both Investment Zone and Freeport status.

Mayor Steve Rotheram has set a target to invest 5% of the City Region's economy each year on R&D by 2030; nearly double the UK target. Achieving the 5% target would deliver an estimated £41.7bn of gross economic benefit, a 10% increase in productivity and 44,000 new jobs.

The City Region is a world leader in infection prevention and control, materials science and AI solutions and emerging technologies with growing strengths in net-zero and maritime innovation.

Cruising into a new career with Mersey Ferries

MIHAI Muntean is 41 and lives in Birkenhead. In September 2023, Mihai became Mersey Ferries oldest apprentice, as he embarked on a 3 year Marine Engineering apprenticeship and snapped up a second chance at a career on the water.

Mihai's career began at an early age. At 18, he was enrolled in National Service in Romania and, while his preference was to join the Navy, that wasn't meant to be. Instead, he learnt the basics of mechanics and left after his service to work in a car body shop. With the call of the sea ringing in his ears, he knew he should make a career change and enrolled in College where he learnt the skills needed to become a Bridge Officer. Upon completion of his qualification, he set out for cruise ships and led a great life at sea, working on the Bridge of various cruise liners while seeing the world, port by port, and climbing the ranks to First Officer.

Cruise ships didn't just bring Mihai the skills he needed to sail a ship, this is also where he met his wife and made the decision to move to the Wirral and start a family. However, before he could get back out to sea, Mihai had an accident that meant he would never be able to sail again and would have to give up the job he loved. This is when he discovered the Mersey Ferries.

Applying for a summer job to learn more about the Ferries and see if this would be something he could enjoy, Mihai was delighted when he was offered a permanent role. And, given his skills and experience, it wasn't long before he was offered the opportunity of an apprenticeship. Due to his injuries, he would no longer be able to work on the Bridge however, he found a renewed use for his mechanical training and was delighted this could be the very thing to get him back on the water. In September 2023, he began his apprenticeship as a Marine Engineer and is excited for what this new career has in store.

For 5 months each year, until 2026, Mihai will be at College in Fleetwood, for the remainder of the year, he will be back on the water helping to keep the Mersey Ferries running through the busy summer months and putting his new skills to good use. From September 2026, presuming all goes to plan, Mihai will be a qualified Level 3 Marine Engineer and will be able to spend the remainder of his career working with the Mersey Ferries, carrying out routine maintenance on the existing vessels and being part of the crew that gets the new vessel onto the Mersey. Mihai has been given a second chance at a new career doing something he loves, and he couldn't be happier.

When asked what starting an apprenticeship in your forties was like, Mihai offered the following wise words of wisdom:- "starting again is always going to be challenging, but it is also very rewarding. I am being given the chance at a new and unexpected career, 1 that keeps me on the water and working for an organisation that is full of history. I'm also surrounding myself with new people who get to share their experience with me and offer me a new perspective on life. I'm grateful there are so many varied apprenticeships available within the organisation; I never knew this would be an option for me and I wouldn't have had this chance had it not been for the apprenticeship scheme. I would recommend apprenticeships to everyone - you get to learn a job while being able to use the skills right away, it's something not every career path can offer you. It's a great way to find a career you enjoy."

Mihai has been offered his apprenticeship as part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority programme. Working with Mersey Ferries is just 1 of the opportunities available, there are several more, along with a variety of potential roles available to people from all backgrounds. To find out more about apprenticeships and the ways in which you can apply, please visit:- LCRBeMore.Co.UK.