Inaugural Lecture Series 2007/08 - University of Liverpool

Knowledge quarter
generates £1billion Universities
Work commissioned by urban
regeneration company,
Liverpool Vision and its
partners - the University of Liverpool,
Liverpool John Moores University,
Northwest Regional Development
Agency, Liverpool City Council and
BusinessLiverpool - reveals that the key
organisations within the city’s Knowledge
Quarter generate £1 billion in income per
annum, leading the development of
Liverpool’s knowledge economy.
The study, by Regeneris Consulting,
identifies the future development of the
Knowledge Quarter as a crucial driver of
the city region economy, and shows
that the area currently supports over
14,000 full-time jobs, around 7% of the
Liverpool total - in approximately just 1%
of the city’s geographical area. Many are
highly-skilled knowledge based jobs,
the key driver for the development of
modern cities.
A summary of the report has been
published as a ‘Prospectus for
Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter’ to
highlight the scale and potential of the
city’s key knowledge assets. It calls for a
clear planning and development
framework for the area to help create the
conditions, which will encourage further
growth and maximise value for the city.
Highlighted in the summary as main
priorities for action are the promotion of
the Knowledge Quarter nationally and
internationally, investment in under
performing areas and the creation of
opportunities for business incubation
between the universities.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor
Drummond Bone, said: “The global
reach of the University’s research and
teaching is vast and the continuing
development of the Knowledge Quarter
will increase our economic impact
overseas as well as in the UK. This is a
period of unprecedented investment for
the University in its 100-year history and
for a modern European city such as
Liverpool, the strategic importance of this
growth cannot be overstated.”
The city’s Knowledge Quarter is
centred around the core university
facilities of the University of Liverpool and
Liverpool John Moores University in the
east of the city centre, together with
Liverpool John Moores University’s city
campus to the north.
In addition to the universities, it
includes institutions of international
significance such as the Liverpool School
of Tropical Medicine and the Royal
Liverpool University Hospital and is
further enhanced by Liverpool Hope
University, Liverpool Community College
and Liverpool Institute of Performing
Arts (LIPA).
Access to Business Gateway
Prize draw winner Wendy England with Mark Ratcliffe, Head of
Marketing Business Gateway
Staff from across the University took time out
of their busy schedules to enjoy some valuable
interaction at the latest Business Action
Network meeting.
More than 50 colleagues from various
departments including Engineering, SACE, the
Management School and Medicine attended
the lunchtime meeting where they all had one
thing in common; an interest in knowledge
transfer activities.
The Business Action Network meetings are
organised by the marketing team in Research and
Business Services and provide staff with access to
the expertise available in the Business Gateway
Unique enterprise
for entrepreneurs
in England must do more
to nurture the next generation of
entrepreneurs states a report published by
the National Council for Graduate
Entrepreneurship (NCGE).
The report, produced on the back of the
largest survey ever conducted into enterprise
and entrepreneurship activity and provision,
included 122 universities, serving a total
student population of 1.75 million. It maps the
scale and scope of provision, engagement
and climate for enterprise and
entrepreneurship in the sector.
According to the NCGE report, engagement is
concentrated in too few subject areas –
business and management in particular – and
universities need to adopt a wider view of
entrepreneurship, embedding enterprise
across all disciplines. The NCGE report urges
action to scale up engagement across nonbusiness
disciplines so that all students are
exposed to meaningful learning experiences.
Dr Paul Redmond, Head of the Career and
Employability Service, said: “Encouraging
students to be enterprising in their careers is
one of the objectives of the Careers and
Employability Service. Whether our students
aim to become self-employed or work for
organisations, learning how to be enterprising
is an essential 21st century skill.
“This is why we have recently launched ‘The
Next Big Thing’ – a unique enterprise
programme which enables students to learn
how to develop business plans, identify niches
in the market and compete for enterprise
funding. We are also able to link students with
their own personal business mentors – local
business men and women who are committed
to helping our students succeed in business.”
team. Business Managers representing all sectors
across the University, including the new BioMedical
team, were at the meeting to answer questions
and provide advice.
The networking lunch was sponsored by the
Northern Leadership Academy and Professor Fred
Mahoney from the Management School delivered
a short presentation about the Academy and the
benefits it can provide to staff.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 19
February and will be sponsored by
VentureNavigator. Please contact Business
Gateway if you would like more information. Tel
48350 email business@liv.ac.uk
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