The Culture of Capital
There has been an awful lot of tittle-tattle recently about the supposed character of Liverpool. Let's get something clear from the outset: Liverpool is unique; it does have an extraordinary civic character.
Brighter authors than this one have recognised that a vibrant culture is one of the important contributing factors to a bustling economy. The two are linked. "And an economy driven by ideas has more chance of success within regions and companies with a culture of dissent, dispute, disrespect for authority, diversity and experimentation."* Sounds like Liverpool to me?
There is something so very typically Scouse about the passionate stances on all sides in the row over the different routes for the proposed trams system.
There's even something endearing about the fact that a new organisation, Downtown Liverpool, has split in two, just a year after the organisation was set up to debate the future of the city and represent the private sector interests.
And there's a sentiment around that seems to mutter darkly about what went on in the 1980s as if the city should be ashamed. One commentator said recently: "Liverpool was a politicised city. It was buzzing with resistance to Thatcher and her now discredited policies. Surely we should be celebrating this period as an example of solidarity rather than being embarrassed about it or trying to erase it from our sanitised history." **
Even the response of the private sector was a positive development, a positive coming together of minds and deeds from which the seeds of private/public partnership, property investment and urban regeneration were born.
Throughout the magazine this month there are examples of the unique nature of the Liverpool mind, the spirit and the attitude that Professor Tom Cannon has been charged with bottling and harnessing in order to generate a business culture in the city region.
Everywhere you go around the world the English accent you are most likely to hear is the Scouse one. Liverpool is a net exporter of talent across the world, and some of our most successful business leaders come from the city of Liverpool.
Conversely, there are others who pop in and eventually stay for life. Our guest columnist this month is one of those. Arabella McIntyre-Brown didn't so much like the city so much she stayed, but she's also written a terrific book about the hidden history of the city - the culture of industry and enterprise.
At a time when Manchester has drifted through a process where a former record sleeve designer has come up with the phrase "original, modern" as a set of guidelines for everything we think and do, then please can I have a ringside seat for the opening night of the fight for Liverpool's identity.
Michael Taylor, editor
As Professor Tom Cannon, chief executive of Ideopolis, bounds swiftly across the reclaimed wood floorboards of Liverpool's London Carriage Works restaurant he is both jovial and apologetic for being five minutes late.
The tale of a tram - after a wrangle over routes that threatened to derail the plans once and for all, is the city back on track?
When Pets at Home was sold to Bridgepoint Capital in July this year, it made founder Anthony Preston £3115m richer and became one of 3i's most successful investments ever.
The calibre of advertisers in Midlands Business Insider speaks for itself. Whether promoting deal activity or selling internet services, the advertiser list reads like a who's who of the business community.
Unrivalled information. The quality of the editorial, original research and statistical data has helped position the Insider magazines as an unrivalled source of regional business information.
Unrivalled information. The quality of the editorial, original research and statistical data has helped position the Insider magazines as an unrivalled source of regional business information.
Unrivalled information. The quality of the editorial, original research and statistical data has helped position the Insider magazines as an unrivalled source of regional business information.
Unrivalled information. The quality of the editorial, original research and statistical data has helped position the Insider magazines as an unrivalled source of regional business information.
Production details for our Insider magazines, including advertisement sizes, file formats and mechanical and copy details.
The ABC audit verifies paid-for subscriptions, controlled free, combined paid-for and controlled, newstand and bulk circulation.
