DLIB NEWSLETTER - SPRING 08


	INTRODUCTION
	Spring has sprung and DLIB is delighted to unveil its most ambitious and exciting summer events programme in our latest business bulletin. We also look at the local election results, which appear to have left us with more questions than answers. Our regular ‘Be Our Guest’ spot features local PR guru, Dougal Paver and property giant Knight Frank is the business of the month. There is the usual smattering of news all things Liverpool, and we report on your views about the Mipim property fest. Read on, enjoy, and register for some of the great events we have in store for you!


	TOTALLY FRANK
	DLIB Chairman urges the Liberal Democrats to choose their Leader carefully when they debate the issue next week. READ MORE You can hear Frank ‘talking frankly’ on City Talk’s Dean Sullivan show on Monday’s 2pm-3pm. Or visit his weekly Liverpool Daily Post blog at www.frankmckenna.merseyblogs.co.uk


	VISION CHIEF TO ADDRESS SELL OUT EVENT
	The Chairman of the new Liverpool Vision board, Michael Parker, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Liverpool Business Oscars, hosted by DLIB, in association with the Northwest Development Agency, Brabners Chaffe Street, No name Kitchens and City Talk. The event, which takes place at the Sefton Park Palm House in July, is a sell out.


	AND THE NOMINEES ARE…
	The shortlist for each Oscar category was announced at a glittering party hosted by La Cubanita. To check out the candidates and to vote for your favourites, please CLICK HERE. To view the gallery from what was a great party, CLICK HERE.


	LABOUR MAKES GAINS, BUT LIB DEMS HOLD ON
	As was widely predicted, the 2008 Liverpool council elections were the most keenly contested for years.Despite gaining four seats, and seeing the ruling Liberal Democrats lose a further seat to the Green Party, Labour’s hopes of forming an administration at Liverpool City Council for the first time in a decade were scuppered when Warren Bradley announced the defection of an Independent Councillor to the Lib Dems, giving them an overall majority! However, with a far from united ruling group (see below), the Standards Board set to rule on complaints against Bradley and his colleague Mike Story, and a pending criminal prosecution of a Lib Dem Councillor, how sustainable is that slimmest of majorities?


	BRADLEY FACES LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE
	No sooner had the polls closed than leading Liberal Democrats were lining up to announce their intention to challenge Warren Bradley for the council leadership. Richard Kemp and Paul Clein emerged as definite challengers, whilst there are strong rumours that the experienced Flo Clucas will throw her hat in the ring too. Bradley, who has been in the job for just over two years, is confident that he can see off his opponents, but clearly the Lib Dem ship is not a happy one at present.


	LIVERPOOL ONE SUPREMO ACCEPTS TMP CHALLENGE
	After months of searching, the Mersey Partnership (TMP) finally recruited a Chairman to work alongside its Chief Executive Lorraine Rogers, in the shape of the impressive Rod Holmes. Rod has been the steady hand that has delivered Liverpool ONE for Grosvenor, and during that time he has gained a reputation for straight talking, integrity and definitely a ‘doer’. This is a good appointment for TMP, and it is to be hoped that Rogers and Holmes can become the dynamic duo needed to drive forward the Liverpool city-regions inward investment and tourism ambitions.


	TRAM SCHEME BACK ON TRACK?
	A group of leading businessmen and politicians, including Peel Holdings Chairman John Whittaker, have come out in support of a renewed bid for Merseytram. During April transport secretary Ruth Kelly said she would welcome a renewed bid for Line One from Liverpool to Kirkby. Merseytravel says it hopes to submit a new business plan for the scheme by the end of the year.


	CITY TALK LISTENERS BACK DLIB CAMPAIGN
	DLIB’s campaign for zero tolerance featured as City Talk’s ‘big issue’ in early April. The all speech stations on line poll showed that 75% of its listeners backed a zero tolerance approach to crime and disorder in Liverpool City Centre.


	TRINITY MIRROR ACQUIRES RIPPLEFFECT
	Liverpool Daily Post owner Trinity Mirror has completed the acquisition of DLIB member company Rippleffect, in a deal that is set to be worth up to £6 million. Rippleffect is a market leader in the development and operation of websites, and boasts a client base that includes Everton F.C., Chester Racecourse and Living Ventures. Ripple won the best media agency business Oscar in 2007, and its MD, Ben Hatton, won the inaugural Young Entrepreneur ‘Livercool’ award back in 2004.


	DLIB CHAIRMAN APPOINTED TO NHS TRUST BOARD
	The Chairman of Downtown Liverpool in Business Frank McKenna has been appointed as a non-executive director of Aintree University Hospital Trust. The three year appointment was confirmed in April, and Frank commented: “I am delighted to have been given an opportunity of working for one of the most successful NHS Trusts in the region, and I am greatly looking forward to this new challenge.”


	MIPIM – PISS UP OR PROMOTION?
	In our last bulletin we posed the issue: ‘The property fest that is Mipim is seen by some as nothing more than a chance to ‘sexy network’ in Cannes, whilst others argue that attendance for cities that are looking to improve their image and attract inward investment is essential. Do you think that Liverpool needs to be at Mipim? An overwhelming number of you said YES, Liverpool should be represented at the event. CLICK HERE to view the result.


	MERSEYTRAM – DREAM OR REALITY?
	Leading business leaders and politicians have renewed calls for the government to fund a Merseytram. But, do you think Liverpool will ever have a tram system? CLICK HERE to vote.


	BRABNERS CHAFFE STREET
	PATERNITY LEAVE AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS There could be big changes just around the corner thanks to proposed new rules governing paternity leave. READ MORE


	KNIGHT FRANK
	Knight Frank is an international property agency, with a strong Liverpool presence. Its city centre based residential development department handles the sales of new homes and land ranging from beautiful countryside property to modern apartments for glamorous city living. CLICK HERE to read more.


	CALLING ALL REDS
	Calling all REDS… CLICK HERE for an amazing “Anfield Experience…


	LIVERPOOL EMPIRE
	Evita, Evita, Evita… Absolutely NO contest. The World Premiere of a brand new national tour opens in Liverpool from Thursday 22nd May till Saturday 7th June: Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s EVITA. Featuring some of the most famous and inspiring stage music ever written, including the classic songs ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’, ‘On This Night of a Thousand Stars’ and ‘Buenos Aires’, EVITA brings to life the dynamic persona of Eva Peron, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Peron. [Box Office: 0844 847 2525. 24 hours]


	LIVERPOOL PLAYHOUSE
	Plus, don’t miss Roger McGough’s unmissable comical adaptation of Moliere’s classic, Tartuffe which opens at the Liverpool Playhouse for a three week run from Friday 9th May. [Box Office: 0151 709 4776]


	LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL
	McCoy Tyner Trio with Special Guest Joe Lovano Tuesday, 27 May 2008 7.30pm It is not an overstatement to say that modern jazz has been shaped by the music of McCoy Tyner. His blues-based piano style, replete with sophisticated chords and an explosively percussive left hand has transcended conventional styles to become one of the most identifiable sounds in improvised music. His harmonic contributions and dramatic rhythmic devices form the vocabulary of a majority of modern jazz pianists. Gloria Gaynor with special guests The Drifters Sunday, 25 May 2008 7.30pm Gaynor hit the international pop charts in the '70s with the groundbreaking international disco hit I Will Survive. Thirty years later it remains one of the best-loved and instantly recognisable tracks from the Disco era. Returning to the UK for her first tour in 20 years, Gaynor will perform all the hits from her glittering career - in her own words Never Can Say Goodbye. The Drifters are best known for their timeless classics Saturday Night at the Movies, You're More than a Number in My Little Red Book, Under the Boardwalk and Come on Over to My Place. Eric Bibb Monday 26 May, 7.30pm Arriving in Liverpool on a world tour, the American blues singer and guitarist Eric Bibb brings with him material from of his new album, released in April, and a band of renowned players including Danny Thompson and Trevor Hutchinson (Waterboys and Lúnasa) sharing stand-up bass duties, drummer Larry Crockett and Yana Bibb (Eric's daughter) on backing vocals. Bibb's music is where blues meets gospel and soul. The Phil Box Office [0151 709 3789]


	DOUGAL PAVER – PAVER SMITH
	The PR industry loves nothing more than naming a day. Of late we’ve gone to naming weeks! CLICK HERE for more


	DLIB IS FOUR!!!!
	Bigger than ever, better than ever! This year we celebrate our fourth massive year with the kind of lavish decadence only DLIB knows how to deliver. Our host for this most auspicious of occasions is the exclusive London Carriage Works at the Hope Street Hotel. Paul Askew chef patron and hotly tipped for the first Michelin star for the city will create a grudite table, food art that only a true master could present. Our resident ‘rat packer’, the ultra talented Alan Cross will provide the entertainment, alongside some special party games and surprises that we are sure you will enjoy. ‘Sexy network’ the night away on Thursday 22nd May at THE summer birthday bash of the year. CLICK HERE to register for this very special event.


	LA CUBANITA HOSTS OSCAR SHORTLIST PARTY
	A fantastic night of fabulous fun, food and entertainment at new city bar/restaurant La Cubanita, was the backdrop to the announcement of the nominees for the 2008 Liverpool Business Oscars. Almost one hundred DLIB members, along with our media partners City Talk, turned up to hear breakfast show presenters Phil Easton and Kim Hughes reveal the shortlists for the seven Oscar categories. Online voting has started in earnest, and you can register your votes by CLICKING HERE. So weather its Rippleffect, Paver Smith or Ubiquity; or AFL Architects, Keppie Massie or Knight Frank; or A2Z Rooms, Davis Taylor or Nemesis; or a nominee in one of the other categories, be sure to cast your vote for the company that you think is deserving of an Oscar!


	LIVERPOOL BUSINESS OSCARS –SOLD OUT!
	The spectacular Sefton Park Palm House will once again be the venue for the Liverpool Business Oscars, on the evening of Thursday 24th July 2008. This year promises to be more lavish an occasion than ever before, with a Cuban theme planned for the night. All tables have been fully booked, though we have started a reserve list in case of any late cancellations. Contact Sarah Wilcox, Tel. 0151 227 1633, for further information.


	LIVERPOOL BUSINESS WEEK
	In association with the Northwest Development Agency, Brabners Chaffe Street, No name Kitchens, Grant Thornton and City Talk, DLIB is organising the inaugural ‘Liverpool Business Week’ in June. Contributors to what promises to be a fabulous celebration of enterprise and entrepreneurship will include Steve Broomhead, Tony Caldeira, Phil Redmond, Lorraine Rogers, Joanne Jennings, Jim Hancock, Derek Hatton, and many more. Full details coming soon...


	JOIN ‘THE BUSINESS CLUB WITH ATTITUDE’
	Midas, Knight Frank, Barclays, Tesco and Keppie Massie are just some of the big name companies that are part of the DLIB movement. To see what benefits membership of the fastest growing business club in the North West can bring to your business, please CLICK HERE.