Economic development agency Liverpool Vision is to shut down after 20 years, with its functions taken in-house by the City Council.
Vision chief executive Max Steinberg is to step down after eight years at the helm, while the 37 staff employed within Marketing Liverpool and Invest Liverpool will move from the Capital in Old Hall Street to the Council’s Cunard Building.
The formal transfer will take place on March 31st next year.
Steinberg said: “As a born and bred Liverpudlian it’s been a huge privilege to have been part of the success of Liverpool Vision creating jobs, generating investment and marketing the city to investors and visitors.
“There are significant opportunities and challenges ahead and I am confident that the new arrangements will enable us to combine and amalgamate to strengthen and enhance the delivery of some of the most important priorities in the Inclusive Growth Plan.
“On a personal note I’m honoured the Mayor has asked me to continue to play a role in delivering the inclusive growth agenda and look forward to continue to making a contribution.”
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson added: “Liverpool Vision has been a key player behind the city’s transformation and the city’s appeal to tourists and investors has boomed since its creation.
“I now want to build on these successes and the time has come to integrate the capabilities and expertise of the Vision staff with teams in the city council. I believe that this will create a really strong foundation, to ensure that we meet the challenges ahead, to maintain momentum, and ensure that growth is shared around all of our communities.”
Marketing Liverpool will continue to promote Liverpool on a national and international basis as well as working closely with the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership to deliver destination marketing for the city region – notably via the Visit Liverpool platform.
Liverpool Vision was set up in 1999 and was the UK’s first Urban Regeneration Company. It was tasked with leading the physical transformation of the city into the new millennium with schemes such as the new Arena at the Kings Dock and Liverpool One.
In 2008, a re-organisation of Liverpool Vision saw its operations merged with both the Liverpool Land Development Company and Business Liverpool to form a single economic development company.
