Back in 2003 Sarah and I started a joint venture with one of our customers called ‘Liverpool back in business.’ We’d just been selected as European Capital of Culture for 2008 and our venture was going to take advantage of this renewed interest in all things Liverpool and give visitors to the city ‘insider’ tours of a place getting ready to welcome the world. We bought the domain name, engaged partners, tried it out, set up a website. Did everything, in fact, except sell our idea to enough people. Too far ahead of the game? Maybe, because now it looks like Liverpool really is back in business.
I’m here at West Africa House, opposite the Liver Buildings, for a book launch. And to see and celebrate what two of my friends, Fiona Shaw and David Parrish, are contributing to the well being of our city. And I’m here to talk business.
Yes, normally this blog concerns itself more with the society and structure of Liverpool than the grubby business of making money. But the blog is, let’s face it, part of the website of the business that’s kept me and Sarah going these past 20 years. And it’s business, trading, commerce, creativity and ideas that help pay for the running of the city. That turned the little port into a city in the first place. So business does matter, even though I don’t usually talk about it much.
We’ll come back to David and his book, bur first Fiona and what she’s up to.
Fiona Shaw is a writer, editor and publisher. She runs Wordscapes and published Sarah’s book back in 2010. And now she’s part of the editorial team who have just launched ‘The City Tribune.’ It’s a website as well as a publication with an international remit to look at what makes cities work and connect with each other.
This first edition looks particularly at Liverpool. With articles on culture, planning, business, music, theatre, industry, science, technology, football and tourism.
It’s a good read and its publication ties in with the International Festival for Business that’s begun in Liverpool this week.
Obviously I wasn’t queuing up to see David Cameron open the Festival the other day. But I am glad it’s here. Particularly if it generates jobs and income for the Liverpool City Region (which I gladly note the IFB literature is calling it, rather than tired old ‘Merseyside’).
There’s a lot of talk of ‘investment’ about though and I’ll be keeping an eye on that. In case, for example, the city were to get served up as a cheap labour market you can ‘invest’ in and make off from with fat profits for your distant shareholders. I’m more interested in ideas that create money that’s made here, stays here and improves the quality of the lives of everyone who lives here. As you’ll know if you’ve been around this blog a while, I’m no fan of global capitalism and its austerity politics so I’ll be looking to welcome honest and ethical business ideas. Because that’s what this city deserves.
Anyway, let’s put the soap box away for now and have a look around while we’re waiting for the book launch to start.
Starting up on the top of Liverpool One.
I’m no fan of the place as you may know, but it’s been a great success with many and has finally linked the town centre with the waterfront.
Our walk takes us along this path though.
Through the business district.
And across to the waterfront, to the IFB hub.
With another hub next to it. Hub overkill?
You can read much more about the International Business Festival on its website. But here I am, entering the smoky glass buildings on the waterfront I so dislike.
Looking into the face of global capitalism?
Admiring this locally built car for one, the BAC Mono.
I feel like I’ve walked into a future version of Liverpool. Recognisable only from bits of the past still here.
Until I turn the next corner and I see this.
A Dazzle Ship.
Being painted up in Canning Graving Dock, by Cammel Laird’s workers.
It’s to be part of the Liverpool Biennial arts festival and also to mark 100 years since the Great War, when Dazzle Ships were first used.
Astonishingly they were a sort of camouflage. Now obviously any enemy vessel could clearly see that ‘There’s a big multi-coloured ship over there.’ But the clashing stripes and directions made it very hard to tell how far away it was. Whether they worked or not still seems to be the cause of some debate.
But this is very beautiful and should get a lot of visitors this summer.
In fact, as Fiona notes in The City Tribune, visitors are very important for Liverpool.
Most of those visitors surely taking a ride on the Ferry.
And being down here at the Pier Head on a pleasant evening, I do what I always do.
Photograph our Three Graces.
The Liver, Cunard and Port of Liverpool Buildings.
Of the three this is my favourite. Like another cathedral in a city that already has two.
Though its gates are still calling it the home of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.
A very grand reminder that Liverpool’s wealth and existence came from our sea trading.
Liver and Cunard Buildings with the ‘Pro Patria’ war memorial.
Continuing round the block the magnificent buildings from the city’s wealthy past keep coming.
Tower Building.
We even had our own branch of the Bank of England.
The Mersey Tunnel building, much more than a ventilation shaft.
Back round to the far side of the Port of Liverpool building. Walk nearly over.
So what a grand place we have here for our IFB visitors to see?
Passing this on the way. A reminder of where much of our wealth came from.
Finally we’re back at West Africa House for the book launch. Itself a part of the International Festival for Business.
Signing in to ‘Oh me oh my’
David Parrish is a business adviser who particularly concentrates on the creative businesses. He’s worked with businesses in over 30 countries, including with us, a sense of place. His new book is primarily a ebook.
To be read on your phone or iPad.
‘Chase One Rabbit – Strategic Marketing for Business Success’ is 63 ideas about what it says. Not necessarily to be read all in one go, but whenever you’ve got a few minutes to spare. Like having Dave inside your phone with a good idea just when you need one!
It’s a lovely place, filling up. 150 people are arriving. Fiona’s down there in the black flowery dress. She’s edited and published the book.
There are copies in book form here this evening, along with Dave’s previous book. Fiona’s husband Tom on the bookstall there.
Dave had just written ‘T-Shirts & Suits’ nine years ago when we first got to know him. Since then we’ve both been each other’s customers as well as friends. So it’s great to be here to see the new book launched.
Both Dave and Fiona speak.
To a very friendly reception.
And afterwards there’s a very long queue of appreciative people waiting to talk to Dave and get him to sign their copies of the book.
Dave’s sister is here with him, watching him sign another book.
An evening spent with good friends and their families, who are truly investing in the city, investing themselves. While outside the windows The Port of Liverpool Building watches over us.
Then off for the bus home. Full of Liverpool, full of life.
So welcome to Liverpool all you International Festival for Business delegates from all over the world. Enjoy yourselves, have a good look around, talk to us and get a real sense of our place. As you can see from just this walk around one block and this look at what some of us are up to it’s a very special place, this place we call home. In fact, just like you probably think about your own place, we think it’s one of the greatest cities on Earth. The great City State of Liverpool. Welcome.
More about how to get ‘Chase One Rabbit’ here, plus reviews of the book.
And you can pick up your copy of ‘The City Tribune’ from (amongst others) Camp and Furnace, Baltic Social, Unit 51, the Bluecoat, the Culture Hub at Mann Island, Leaf, Bold St Coffee, the Albert Dock’s IFB pop-up and Oomoo on Smithdown. You can also read it online.
