Liverpool Express

An invitation to do business

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Liverpool has unveiled its plans for the UK’s International Festival for Business 2014 (IFB 2014) at MIPIM, (Marché International des Professionels d’Immobilier) the world’s largest property fair in Cannes.

More than 100 key decision makers and business leaders from across the UK and international property sector packed into the Radisson Blu to hear Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson invite them to Liverpool in summer for more than 150 world class business events including several for property.

He said: “IFB is an opportunity to show off the depth of business excellence that exists in Liverpool, the city region and the North West as well as the UK.

“If you are not yet considering IFB, then I ask you to do so, because like MIPIM in March it will be the place internationally to do business in June and July and is for anyone who wants to take their business large or small, to the next level and every sector is covered including property.”

Max Steinberg CBE, chair of IFB 2014, also spoke, outlining the key property offer at IFB, including PlaceEXPO in Liverpool’s commercial district which is a dedicated property campus for the duration of the festival and the UK Property Forum, a national and international platform for property developers, investors, agents and architects, taking place July 1-2.

UK Property Forum is supported by the British Property Federation whose chief executive Liz Peace will be attending IFB and was the keynote speaker at the IFB MIPIM event.

She said: “The more I looked into it (IFB 2014) I realised it was a fantastic opportunity – not just for Liverpool but for the whole of the UK. And the fact that you get the UK to focus on Liverpool as that point for inward investment, business activity and culture I think is absolutely terrific. I see Liverpool IFB as very much the opportunity to stress that the whole of the UK is open for business.”

Liverpool has returned to MIPIM for the first time since 2011 to promote IFB 2014, SUPERPORT, £11bn of development projects, as well as the city’s commerce, creativity and connections.

(Left ro Right) Ged Fitzgerald, city council chief executive, Liz Peace and Max Steinberg
Liz Peace addresses the audience at MIPIM

Nelson memorial restored in park

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A historic monument which had to be removed to allow for the building of the new Alder Hey Hospital has been relocated.

The Nelson memorial in Springfield Park has been restored and relocated from its original site to an area of the park which is not affected by the hospital building.

The the Friends of Springfield Park staged a ceremony to mark the restoration and relocation of the memorial.

 The Lord Mayor, Councillor Gary Millar, unveiled a plaqaue on the monument and  Stephen Twigg MP, local residents and schoolchildren along with representatives of the Royal Naval Association and cadetswere present at the ceremony.

The memorial is a 40 feet tall obelisk made from red sandstone. It is a Grade 11 listed monument which had a brass plaque inscribed with the words: “Sacred to the memory of the illustrious Nelson who gloriously fell in defence of his country and to whose skill and valour Britons are indebted for domestic security and tranquil enjoyment of the produce of their industry.”

It was commissioned in 1806 to commemorate the death of Lord Nelson by a Mr Downward, a sugar refiner, who owned Springfield House. He offered the memorial to the city but it was rejected as being too small with one member of the Common Council describing it as “a half-Nelson”.

Mr Downward then had it erected in the grounds of his house and it has stood there since.  The park was acquired by the council in 1907.

Contractors Land O’Rouke have funded the restoration of the monument and it will now have a plaque honouring Mr Downward. The Alder Hey Hospital Trust funded the memorial’s plinth and a path leading to it.

Local Councillor Tony Concepcion, who is also chair of the Friends of Springfield Park, said: “The monument is a fascinating part of Liverpool’s heritage and we are delighted that it has been restored and will now be back in the park in a prominent position.

“A new Springfield Park is being created for use by all the community as part of the Alder Hey development and it means we will have a first class park alongside a world-renowned hospital.

“And while we are looking forward to having a new park for the 21st century we are retaining and celebrating an important part of our history.”

The new park will include a multi-use games area, a play area, football pitches and seating.