Official launch of 08businessconnect

OUR Editor Patrick Trollope was one of the invited guests to the official launch of 08businessconnect. The event was marked by movers and shakers from Merseyside including Phil Redmond, Sir David Henshaw (Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council), Cllr Warren Bradley (Leader of Liverpool City Council) and Debbie Thompson (Head of Alliance & Leicester's new Liverpool Business Centre). They met with businesses from across the region on Tuesday 31 January to highlight the economic importance of combining business and culture.

Over 500 08businessconnect members gathered at St George's Hall to hear how the business club can assist them in capitalising on the vast array of opportunities being created by the city's European Capital of Culture 2008 status, on the backdrop of music, arts and theatre. The event was aimed at letting members find out more about 08businessconnect's programme for 2006 and also to have networking opportunities. The programme for 2006 will have yet more networking opportunities and also events will be hosted at cultural venues and will provide members with expert advice ranging from local and international trade to market development.

Nichola Lee, Director of 08businessconnect comments:- "The business club was formed following business demands for involvement in business opportunities surrounding culture. In response, we have created 08businessconnect which includes a programme of business networking events, provided an online trading platform, online business forums, an exclusive 08businessconnect logo for members to use and, last night, launched a partnership with Arts and Business.

Initiatives such as these create more opportunities for businesses to share resource, contacts, expertise and best practice to generate further economic growth. More than 700 members have signed up for 08businessconnect since the membership drive in November, which, coupled with the sheer demand for tickets and feedback from members last night, implies that we're meeting business demands."

Nichola continues:- "Connecting culture and business will feature as a core element of all events, however, forthcoming networking opportunities have been developed to appeal to the broad range of interests of all 08businessconect members. Best practice will be shared in an interactive and engaging way, so that members can fully benefit from the value of all events."

Following its new link with Arts and Business Cultural Capital Fund, 08businessconnect members will be able to obtain matchfunding when investing in the arts for the first time. Paul Smith at Arts and Business explains:- "There are numerous artistic initiatives taking place across the region, which provide businesses with new methods of meeting objectives. For example, the arts can be successfully used to raise brand awareness, train and reward staff or for community relations. We will matchfund any new businesses investing in the arts and provide them with the necessary support to maximise the potential that they can deliver."

08businessconnect members can continue their networking from last night's event, while sharing more best-practice and expert advice by logging on to the business club's new online 08businessconnect forums. Members can also forge links and trade with other businesses via the business clubs online trading platform (Liverpool ABC) and find about the latest cultural tenders (Liverpool Tender) in the area. The trading platform is hosted on 08businessconnect's website and provided by the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.

Nichola Lee concludes:- "We're continually listening to members to ensure that the business club continues to provide the relevant support that they require. At last night's event we linked music, arts and a theatre group posing as business people and handing out business cards for a prize draw entry, to highlight the many synergies between culture and business. This was combined with a discussion of how culture can influence the city's economic development and business networking, proving that there is a natural coalesce between business and culture."

More information on '08 Business Connect' and how to become a member is available on the club's website at:- www.08businessconnect.com 

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