Area Managers support local business associations
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Liverpool is seeing a growing number of local business associations, many of which, including The Old Swan Business Association and the Lodge Lane Business Network are formed with the help and support of our Area Managers.
These local groups compliment the activities of larger organisations such as The South Liverpool Business Network or the Eastern Approaches Business Leaders Group.
Liverpool Vision’s Head of Business Support Tony O’Neill explains:
“These associations bring together businesses for mutual benefit, including inter-trading, sharing information and best practice and providing a collective voice when raising issues to service providers.”
However Liverpool’s business associations are involved in a variety of other activities. Tony said:
“The South Liverpool Business Network recently hosted a highly successful ‘Question Time’ style event, bringing together the representatives from Liverpool’s major political parties; Warren Bradley for Labour, Joe Anderson for Liberal Democrats and Tony Caldeira for Conservative. This allowed local business leaders the opportunity to query local government business strategy and helped political leaders to learn more about the issues facing local businesses.”
The SLBN is one of the city’s oldest associations, dating back almost ten years and having a long-standing relationship with Liverpool Vision. Another long-standing group is the Eastern Approaches Business Leaders Group (EABLG). Formed in 2002 and involving around 450 businesses over the years. Tony said:
“EABLG has attracted high-profile speakers including Colin Hilton and Phil Redmond to its three-monthly breakfast meeting. In addition, the group co-operates with other associations including Stanley Market Tenants and Edge Lane Fruit & Vegetable Traders Associations. In total the businesses represent some £90m of turnover.”
Despite this success many business associations struggle to get going. Liverpool Vision’s Area Manager for South Liverpool, Paul Chapman explains:
“Most business owners support the idea of a local business association. However a lack of experience in organising a business association coupled with the day-to-day pressures of running their own businesses leads to the stagnation or loss of many associations”
This is one of the key ways that the Liverpool Vision’s Area Managers are helping. The Old Swan Business Association (OSBA), for example, was formed in 2008 with direct support from Liverpool Vision. Liverpool Vison’s Area Manager for East Liverpool, Phil Linley said:
“We organised a business survey to assess the demand for such an organisation, identified key local business leaders and facilitated early meetings to develop what is now a self-supporting association. OSBA is delivering real benefits to its 120 members including a series of business improvement surgeries.”
A more recent association is the Lodge Lane Business Network (LLBN) which followed the successful Old Swan model. LLBN has developed a newsletter to promote its activities to others in the area. The members have also focused on developing a strategy to use the ethnic diversity of this area to attract more local people to shop in their local district centre.
Tony O’Neill said:
“Liverpool Vision’s Area Managers help to overcome the challenges faced when starting and running a business association, they ensure that every association has the best possible chance of delivering long-term tangible benefits for its members. “
For contact details of any of the local associations mentioned, please contact the Area Managers Team.
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The Capital, 39 Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9PP Telephone: +44(0)151 600 2900
Email: info@liverpoolvision.co.uk