Last week marked the beginning of the International Business Festival, the biennial event that brings businesses from across the world to the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool. The nine themed days, spread over three weeks, are an opportunity to hear from experts and prominent figures in each field. The University is exhibiting each day, showcasing the wide range of expertise we have available to collaborate with businesses.
The themes for the week were Global Economics, Urbanisation and Cities, and Sustainable Energy, all essential areas to the future of UK business. Staff from Business Gateway, the Management School, National Oceanography Centre and Heseltine Institute where on stand to speak to the delegates at the Festival.
The University of Liverpool’s Professor Michael Parkinson hosted the Urbanisation and Cities day, moderating a series of fascinating sessions involving the Northern Metro Mayors and Lord Michael Heseltine. Lord Heseltine praised the success of devolution and stressed the importance of continuing this agenda.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Janet Beer moderated discussions between Sadiq Khan and Steve Rotheram, who both stressed the need to focus on providing the right training for cultivating a skilled workforce, and the importance of their mayoral roles in light of government paralysis over Brexit. Both had a positive outlook on collaboration between the Mayor of London and the Northern Metro Mayors, acknowledging the significant advantage held by Sadiq in London but also emphasising its success should not be and does not have to be at the expense of Northern cities such as Liverpool.
The University’s Heseltine Institute, in collaboration with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, hosted a highly successful debate on Skills and the Digital Economy in the Liverpool City Region. A lively Q&A followed the panel member’s insightful contributions, their messages resonating with the audience to produce an engaging debate. There were calls to engage young people at an early age and teach the ever-growing importance of digital skills, whilst also stressing that a balanced and inclusive approach to this engagement is key. Zoe Wallace, panel chair and head of the Agent Academy, spoke about the necessity of bridging the gap between education and employment.
Week two events
You can still attend IBF for week two with themes such as Future Transport, Manufacturing and Global Logistics and Shipping.
The next series of University led events at IBF will take place on Wednesday, 20 June:
The Agility Centre: ‘Developing strategies and solutions for successful supply chain management’ Register here.
Wednesday 20 June, 09.30am – 10.15am. The Exhibition Centre Liverpool, the Terrace.
Presenters: Professor Andy Lyons (Professor in Operations and Supply Chain Management) and Dr Jorge Hernandez (Senior Lecturer in Operations & Supply Chain Management)
‘Supply chains, transparency and modern slavery: beyond compliance’ Register here.
Wednesday, 20 June, 10.30am – 12pm. The Exhibition Centre Liverpool, the Terrace. Presenters: Alex Balch (Professor of Politics and Co-Director of Centre for the Study of International Slavery (CSIS)
For the full University of Liverpool at IBF programme and to register for tickets, please visit: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/international-business-festival/our-presence/