Influential House of Commons Select Committee chooses Liverpool City Region for 1st national visit

AN influential committee of MPs has used its 1st official visit to learn how the Liverpool City Region's UK-leading approach to innovation is maximising its world-leading strengths and driving economic growth.

The House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee (DSIT) yesterday (TUES) visited key assets at Knowledge Quarter Liverpool, including the Materials Innovation Factory partnership between the University of Liverpool and Unilever.

The Committee also toured the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, with its flagship national Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON) programme, and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) at Liverpool Science Park, where MPs were welcomed by Mayor Steve Rotheram.

Select Committee Chair Chi Onwurah MP chose the City Region as an example of good practice after being impressed during an innovation-themed fringe event at the Labour Party Conference in September.

Home to the UK's 1st sub national Innovation Board, the Liverpool City Region has been developing its unique place-based innovation approach; founded on UK leading collaborations between industry, academia and the public sector; for more than 10 years.

Mayor Rotheram has set a target to invest 5% of Liverpool City Region's GVA in Research and Development by 2030, which would deliver an estimated 44,000 extra jobs, £20m GVA, and a 10% increase in productivity.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "It's a great sign of confidence in the Liverpool City Region that the committee has chosen to visit us as part of its national fact-finding mission. Our Region is a powerful example of how innovation, driven by collaboration between businesses, universities and public sector partners, can unlock growth and deliver lasting benefits for local communities. We'll continue to invest in cutting-edge research and development, ensuring that we're enhancing our world-class innovation assets but also creating thousands of high-quality jobs and driving the UK's future prosperity."

The cross-party committee's role is to ensure policy and decision making at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is guided by scientific evidence.

It will use its fact-finding mission to inform a Parliamentary inquiry into the UK innovation landscape to identify how the Government could improve regulation, investment and funding.

The Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, Chi Onwurah MP, said:- "The Committee was delighted to visit Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter today and see some of the ground-breaking science and technology developments it houses. Not only this, but the KQ is a great example of how innovation can boost Regional economic growth and benefit local communities. Today, we've also launched an inquiry to explore how innovation investment can kickstart growth and prosperity in the UK's Regions. What we've heard today will feed into this and has reinforced the importance of ensuring that innovation helps communities across the country."

Professor Janet Hemingway, Founding Director of iiCON said:- "LSTM has just celebrated its 125th Anniversary. The journey began with support from local business. It is timely that the Select Committee is able to see for itself the relevance of its activity to industry today, as highlighted by the LSTM-Led Consortium iiCON, a £222M programme which provides access to cutting edge technology to support business and brings much needed new infection therapeutics to market."

Colin Sinclair, chief executive of Knowledge Quarter Liverpool, said:- "Through collaboration and a sense of shared ambition across our partnership, we have been able to create a dynamic innovation district in the heart of Liverpool City centre, harnessing and amplifying our strengths in health and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, materials chemistry, robotics and creative and digital technology. We were delighted to welcome the Select Committee today and it is incredibly rewarding to see that the Government has identified Knowledge Quarter Liverpool as an exemplar of how innovation can drive economic growth and create better outcomes for our local communities across the Liverpool City Region."

University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones said:- "It was a great pleasure to welcome the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee to the University to tour the Materials Innovation Factory (MIF), our flagship centre for materials discovery. The visit provided the opportunity to showcase the MIF's pioneering research, exceptional facilities and unique partnership model which supports academic-industrial collaboration, drives innovation and boosts economic growth in the Region and the UK."

Heaton Mersey Makers Market

HEATON Mersey, would you believe we're approaching the last market of 2024 already!? With just days away from Christmas and are so excited to bring you the best of the North West makers, bakers and creators.

Expect to be greeted by the festive cheer of over 30 handmade, artisan small businesses. There will be local artists, live music, FREE children's crafting hot drinks by Coffee King Ltd, and of course all the incredible artisan eats and sweet treats you can dream of.

There are so many benefits to shopping small business and there's no better time to support local than Christmas. With the competition of big sales events and businesses it's so important to invest in your local community and the incredible artisans working hard on our doorstep year round, creating high quality, fairly priced ethical products. The Makers Market promotes local, artisan, handmade businesses selling unique work you can't find anywhere else. So be sure to pop to your local market this year to stock up on a bounty of the finest Christmas goodies!

There will be an abundance of incredible food traders, bringing their fabulous artisan products including:- Brownies, blondies, rocky road, cake on sticks, cookie sandwiches, sourdough, liqueurs, free-from cakes, mince pies, millionaire shortbread, hot chocolates, coffee and more!.

There's plenty for the handmade and art aficionados too with stalls including:- Photography sessions, crochet, crystals, home decoration, greeting cards, candles, fused glass artwork, 3D prints, jewellery, essential oils, organic skin and haircare products, prints, t-shirts, woodcraft, Christmas decorations, stickers and more!

The absolute best of the North West will be showcased in this fun filled and family friendly event filled with holiday cheer, so bring your loved ones as it's, the last Heaton Mersey market of 2024, and it's one not to be missed!

You don't have to leave your furry friends at home either, all of markets are dog friendly!

For more details please visit:- TheMakersMarket.Co.UK.