Cameron backs Liverpool's enterprise vision

13.12.2011

PRIME Minister David Cameron has congratulated Liverpool as it prepares to host the world's first Festival of Entrepreneurship.

In his message, Mr Cameron praises the city for the "unique way" in which "the public and private sectors are collaborating" and how the event will "create a real legacy for Liverpool and theUKfor many years to come."

There are just 100 days to go before the start of the festival next March, the highlight of which is the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, which will see more than 3000 entrepreneurs from more than 120 countries coming to the city.

Last month, Lloyds TSB was announced as a headline partner for the highly prestigious event and will provide a senior executive speaker on the opening day of The Congress.

The Prime Minister said: "I am delighted that the Kauffman Foundation has chosenLiverpoolas the first European host city of its prestigious Global Entrepreneurship Congress.Liverpoolis a city with a proud entrepreneurial reputation.

"It is a city of great creativity and innovation and a city with renewed confidence and ambition, committed to sparking enterprise in the young and helping others to unleash their ideas.

"The Congress inLiverpoolwill attract some of the world's leading economists and entrepreneurs who are a key part of our strategy for growth and enterprise. The public and private sectors are collaborating in a unique way to ensure it will encourage debate, inspire talent and create a real legacy for Liverpool and theUKfor many years to come.

"I support everyone in this country who wants to create jobs, wealth and opportunity and I congratulate Liverpool Vision on their ambition and wish the Congress and this first global Festival of Entrepreneurship every success."

Max Steinberg OBE, chief executive of Liverpool Vision, said:  "The Prime Minister clearly understands how we are looking to bring more investment and develop further enterprise activity in theUKand specifically toLiverpooland the city region.

"He acknowledges that ours is a city with a proud entrepreneurial reputation that is lighting the fire of enterprise in the young and encouraging others to be entrepreneurial and having the government's endorsement will galvanize our ambition.

"This is a further opportunity to consolidateLiverpool's place on the world stage and to be seen as a global capital of enterprise culture, providing lasting benefits and relationships that will help grow and sustain the city's economic growth.

"It is gearing up to be a fantastic event with an impressive line up of speakers with many more high profile names yet to be announced."

Delegates to GEC 2012, which takes place at the Arena and Convention Centre from 12-16 March, will hear from speakers including:

• Carl Schramm, CEO of the Kaufmann Foundation
• Jalak Jobanputra, Senior Vice President,New York City Investment Fund
• Lord Michael Heseltine
• Sir Terry Leahy, former Tesco CEO
• Dr Chris Luebkeman, Director for Global Foresight and Innovation, Arup
• Steve Felice, President, Dell (Consumer, Small and Medium Business)
• Martha LaneFox,UK's digital champion and co-founder of lastminute.com
• Deb Leary OBE, President of the British Association of Female Entrepreneurs
• Ashok Rao, Chairman & CEO, TheIndusEntrepreneurs (TiE) 
• Katherine Corich, Founder & Director, Sysdoc Group

The Festival of Entrepreneurship begins over the weekend of the 9^th -11th March with 'Start Up weekend' a dynamic 48 hours through which new businesses are born.

The GEC 'Main Event' on Tuesday 13^th will explore a number of key themes:

• Growth Strategies from Entrepreneurs:  From Start-ups to Iconic Brand
• Finance for start ups
• The spirit of British Enterprise
• Highlights from the participating 123 countries
• Policies to advance entrepreneurship

Throughout the week there will be a whole range of established GEC events such as 'Your Big Year', Software City and Cleantech Open as well as themed days focusing on women's entrepreneurship, social enterprise and Liverpool Business Fair.

The GEC concludes with a gala dinner at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral on Thursday 15^th March with tickets costing from £125.

Tickets for the GEC Main Event on Tuesday 13^th March start with an 'early bird' offer of £150, available until December 16^th.

For more information on packages available, sponsorship opportunities and the Festival of Entrepreneurship fringe programme visit www.gec2012.com  You can also follow GEC 2012 on Twitter @gec2012 and join the Facebook page www.facebook.com/gec2012