TOGETHER FOR YOU

SUCCESSES spanning investment, economic development and tourism in the Liverpool City
Region are highlighted in The Mersey Partnership’s Annual (TMP) report 2004-2005 published last week.

The report details:-

1. £14m additional economic benefit to the Merseyside economy from the TMP-led
Sector Development Programme

2. Capital investment projects worth more than £185m and over 2000 jobs created or
safeguarded from TMP projects during the year

3. The £1bn value of the tourism industry to the City Region’s economy.

4. TMP Membership at its highest-ever level (432 Member organisations)
5. Positive National Media coverage valued at more than £1m generated by TMP

TMP Chair Roy Morris said:- “Liverpool is alive to the sights and sounds of economic
revival. Together, we are all contributing to our City Region’s remarkable renaissance.
The Mersey Partnership’s success is built on what we are all able to contribute and
accomplish together.”

TMP’s Annual Reports shows the Merseyside economy is delivering sustained growth.
Liverpool is the UK’s fastest growing city, business growth rates at 2.2% outstrip the
North West (1.3%) and UK Levels (0.9%). Over the last 5 years 43,000 jobs have been
created and the population figure is steadying.

Making the most of our beautiful coastline the Mersey Waterfront programme has funded a
series of impressive projects, which have contributed to the completion of 10km of new
paths, some 11.5 hectares of land reclamation and 15 hectares of improved habitat.
Significant funding for the Mersey River Festival in 2004 helped that event attract a
further £3.65m

Roy Morris added:- “Working together our partnership is contributing to the City Region’s growth. Behind the headlines there are some very real stories of success including
investments from great companies and global brands like arvato, Getrag Ford, JP Morgan and Computer Sciences Corporation. Liverpool John Lennon Airport is seeing unprecedented growth in new routes and our tourism industry is now worth more than a billion pounds a year. The indicators are that investment interest remains high. I’m looking forward to the coming year with confidence and determination.”

The Annual Report also reviews TMP’s corporate activity, which achieved over 400 pieces of
positive media coverage for the City Region placing Liverpool and Merseyside in the news
every day of the year. A copy of the Annual Report is attached. It can also be viewed at
www.merseyside.org.uk.

The Chairman has today introduced Robert Crawford to TMP’s Members as their new Chief
Executive succeeding Thomas O’Brien who left the organisation to return to the World Bank
last month.

Roy Morris added:- “The selection of Tom's successor was a rigorous process with
involvement from an excellent group of the company’s stakeholders. This has, I believe,
led to us appointing an outstanding candidate. Robert Crawford has very wide knowledge and experience in a variety of fields and I am certain his arrival here will allow us to continue taking all aspects of our business forward.”

Robert Crawford said today:- “In the course of preparing to join The Mersey Partnership, I
have studied an impressive amount of information, facts and figures about this City
Region’s resurgent economy; attractiveness to investors and unique appeal to visitors.
But for me, the most striking endorsement of what is happening here is to be seen, and
heard, on the streets of Liverpool and elsewhere in the City Region.

My early visits have left me with a strong impression of an impressive renaissance
creating new confidence in Liverpool and Merseyside. The contents of this report
reinforce the evidence that clearly demonstrates that Liverpool Is a City Region on the move and that our Partnership is driving the pace of change. Achievements to date form
the foundation on which we can continue to build a strong and sustainable regional
economy. Our success in this vital area recently led to us being designated the region’s recognised Sub Regional Partnership by the Northwest Regional Development Agency. This is an important recognition of the strength, value and performance of our Partnership.”

Continental Market

YES it is back again.  The Continental Market will be on Lord Street, Southport from Friday 30 September 2005 to Sunday 2 October 2005.  For more information call Southport TIC on:- 01704 533 333

AXA IDENTIFIES DRAMATIC INCREASE IN CRIME RELATED BUSINESS INSURANCE PAY-OUTS

THE latest findings from the AXA Business Crime Index has revealed an increase of 24% in the number of crime related business insurance claims settled during the 2nd quarter of 2005 when compared to the first 3 months of this year. The Index, which is based on AXA’s claims database, revealed that between April and June, the value of the average crime related business insurance settlement was £3,743.

According to AXA research, half of all employers claim that one of the main reasons why there is so much criminal activity against businesses is that there is a lack of police presence as well as security systems such as CCTV. Overall, 59% of businesses think that
their local authorities could do more to protect them from crime.

The extent of the problem:-

Criminal activity targeted towards employers accounts for 18.8% of all business insurance claims settled by AXA. This is not surprising given that as many as 3 out of 4 retailers and half of manufacturers could experience at least one criminal act during the course of a year.

AXA’s Business Crime Index indicates that the most frequent type of crime related claim settled is theft followed by malicious damage. Violent crime represents a very small number of claims in the Business Crime Index as few incidences result in financial loss. However, the insurer says that this underestimates the true scale of the problem because up to 1 in 4 retailers could experience violent criminal activity over the course of a
year.
 

% of all Crime Related Claims Settled Q2 2005 (cost)

% of all Crime Related Claims Made Q2 2005 (numbers)

Neil Mercier, property insurance manager at AXA, said:- “These results highlight how serious and prevalent the threat of criminal activity is for businesses. Employers must remain vigilant at all times and take precautions to minimise the risks to their premises and employees.”

Professor Martin Gill, Perpetuity Research & Consultancy International, Leicester University said:- “It is striking to find that victims lament the lack of police interest in business crime, this is common. However, it is not likely to change. While there are some excellent schemes helping businesses, especially in some city centres, business crime remains a low police priority. This AXA finding contributes to the growing body of knowledge which says that businesses need to ensure they implement the right security, not just any security, and that they come together to help each other in the fight against crime.”

Commenting on the results of AXA's latest Business Crime Index, Steven Hill, Policy Adviser for the British Chambers of Commerce, said:- "These findings highlight that crime remains an on-going problem for British firms. BCC will continue to call for all police forces to record business crime as a separate statistic. This will ensure that the problem is properly measured and should spur more forces to take action to address the issue. Business should also play its part by ensuring that simple steps are taken to reduce the risk of crime, such as securing all doors and windows."

Nottingham experienced a near 10% increase in the percentage of claims resulting from crime in Q2, and remains at the top of the city business crime table. 27.5% of all AXA business claims settled in that city during the last 3 months of 2004 were crime related.
Nottingham is followed by Derby (26.6%), Leicester (24.7%) and Norwich (23.4%).

Middlesbrough (12.8%) remains the city with the lowest percentage of crime related business insurance claims settled over this period.

www.liverpoolreporter.com

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