The Liverpool Knowledge Quarter has appointed the Director of one of the UK’s largest regional property developers, Colin Sinclair, as its Executive Director.
Colin is currently Director at Bruntwood and prior to that was Chief Executive of Manchester’s Investment and Development Agency, MIDAS. He brings with him a wealth of experience in marketing, inward investment, and business and property development.
He has worked on a variety of large-scale projects during his time at Bruntwood, including their diversification into the science and technology markets, and most recently the futuristic neo office development in Manchester city centre.
Shared strategy
Colin said: “After six enjoyable years at Bruntwood this is an exciting new challenge. I’m really looking forward to working with the partners to create one of Europe’s leading innovation districts, positioning the Liverpool City Region as one of the most attractive locations in the UK for science and technology, biomedicine, creativity and research.”
In the past 18 months Colin has also been Bruntwood’s lead Director in Liverpool, where the business has focused on creatively-designed collaborative workspace. In his new role he will lead on the development of a shared strategy for the Knowledge Quarter, building on the academic, health and cultural assets of the partners.
University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the Knowledge Quarter Board, Professor Janet Beer, said: “Our aim is to establish the Knowledge Quarter as one of the UK’s most successful locations for knowledge creation and innovation, as well as a strong economic area that is more than the sum of the parts. Colin has an outstanding track record in this area and we are looking forward to working with him.”
Expansion
The Knowledge Quarter helps generate £1 billion in income per year, supporting more than 14,000 jobs and contributing to the expansion of the city region, including major redevelopment projects such as the £335 million new Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “The Knowledge Quarter is hugely important, not just for the future economic success of Liverpool, but also the wider City Region. This is a hugely exciting time as we see a number of major developments being delivered. Colin already has an excellent reputation in the city and I am very much looking forward to working with him, starting with promoting the city at the international real estate event, MIPIM, this week.”
The post is funded through a partnership between the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Teaching Hospital Trust.
Colin will begin his role on the 1st of May and will be based at Liverpool Science Park.