Liverpool Chamber member and the city’s largest accountancy firm Grant Thornton staged a traditional Chinese tea ceremony to officially mark its sponsorship of the city’s pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.

The firm, based in the Royal Liver Building, was one of the first businesses to sign up to support Liverpool’s presence at the Expo, which has been dubbed the ‘Business Olympics’.

Representatives from Grant Thornton and Liverpool Vision took part in the ceremony at City Rendezvous which is used in Chinese culture to show respect and also mark special occasions.

Managing partner Neil Sturmey said: “Liverpool’s business community has witnessed continued growth over recent years; sectors from leisure and retail through to the universities and property led regeneration have all played their part in the city’s revival.

“The Expo gives us the perfect opportunity to display just what we have achieved as a city to a global audience. And being closely connected with the next big superpower will certainly help Liverpool’s continued recognition across the world as a rising business community.

“Our plans for the Expo include hosting a number of exclusive VIP events, in conjunction with our Shanghai office. While the guest lists are yet to be confirmed we will be taking the opportunity to link up with some of their Chinese business clients and key contacts.”

Mike Taylor, Director of Investment and Enterprise at Liverpool Vision, said: “The professional services sector is one of the jewels in Liverpool’s business crown, with a worldwide reputation and significant expertise in global affairs. The city is ideally placed to capitalise upon this reputation so we are delighted Grant Thornton have signed up to be sponsors. We believe they will reap major benefits from their presence at the Expo.”

Grant Thornton employs over 400 people across offices in Liverpool and Manchester and already has an active and fast growing presence in the Chinese city.

The Shanghai office of Grant Thornton International through local mergers 3 years ago has grown to employ over 400 staff.  

Neil said: “On a more internal business level, our involvement will also help us build personal connections with our colleagues in Shanghai. We expect that will create UK - China opportunities for Liverpool office and the wider North West firm. Members of Liverpool Vision have already visited the offices to meet the team, and we are keen to build on these connections further during our stay in the city”.

More than 200 countries will be represented at the 184-day exhibition, which is preparing to attract 70m visitors to the site.

Liverpool’s pavilion in the Urban Best Practice Pavilion is expecting to welcome 1m people – up to 6,000 a day. 

Pictured above are Neil Sturmey (Grant Thornton) and Mike Taylor (Liverpool Vision) with waitress Ivy.

Liverpool Hope University hosts an after-hours networking event for local businesses

Monday, 15 March 2010, 5.30p.m. – 7.30p.m

Join us to hear the views of two leading members of Liverpool Hope University on  successful approaches to business, as we emerge from this current recession

Ken Pye
Executive Director of Continuing Professional Development 

“Ethical Business as a route to profitability and impact”

Ken will talk about the necessity for and the inherent value of ethical business practices in a post-recession, 21st economy.  He will describe how professionals from all sectors and in all sizes of organisations need to develop a more holistic vision, if they are to succeed in business and meet their aims and objectives in an uncertain world.

Tony Bradley
Senior Consultant in Organisational Development

“My Future – Our Future”

Tony will reflect on his varied career to offer stories of success, failure and the consequences of aligning personal values, quality performance, real changes, products and people with what the business is aiming to do.  He says he is no guru, but he does have something interesting to say to today’s business community.

Venue
Liverpool Hope University
Lecture Theatre Complex
Hope Park, Taggart Avenue
Liverpool L16 9JD

For more information or to BOOK YOUR FREE PLACE please contact  Becky Hoare at hoareb@hope.ac.uk  or call 0151 291 3480/3005

Liverpool Vision and HEFCE are sponsors of this event

Please book your places by Wednesday, 10th March 2010

Refreshments will be provided upon arrival.

With the London Olympics just two years away, the Team GB hopefuls are now midway through their training programmes.

As a proud sporting city, Liverpool regularly produces world class athletes. Local boxer, James Dickens is a multi-award winning flyweight, with a European Youth Championships Gold Medal and Golden Belt Championship among his many wins and is a realistic Olympic champion

James started boxing while at school and joined Salisbury Boxing Club in Everton. He explains: “I really enjoy it, I love the buzz of training and sparring.” He has a natural talent for the sport and at the young age of 18 he had already captained the England team in a match against Ireland.

James is now focusing clearly on the London Olympics in 2012, he has been looking at opponents and says: “I’m looking forward to 2012, I’m ready to box at that level, I know who I’ve got to beat and I know I can do it.”

James has represented Britain in competitions in Italy, Hungry, Germany, Poland and India, he says his best boxing memory is winning a European bronze medal for England at the European Championships in Hungary. Describing his international matches, James continued: “It feels great to be boxing for England and Great Britain in UK fights, I’m really proud to represent Liverpool. My aim is to turn professional after the Olympics.”

Talking about his sporting heroes, he said: I admire Mike Tyson for his strength and Ricky Hatton as a successful British fighter.” James is keen to emulate Ricky’s success and his ambition is to fight in Las Vegas and Madison Square Garden, New York, the top venues for professional fighters.

He takes his training and his Olympic goals very seriously and is committed to success in his sporting career and is an extremely focused and disciplined athlete.

To continue his training James needs your support and is looking for part time paid employment to work around his training camps with the British Team. Adecco are assisting James free of charge in his hunt for work - for further information contact David Wafer at Adecco premier on 0151 243 5900